Locals make history, fall

Venturing where no Laguna Beach Little League softball team had gone before, the 10/11 age group All-Stars made the city proud by winning its first game in Section tournament play in history.

Laguna, coached by Johnna Gherardini and Lori Stanton, represented District 55 in the Section 10 tournament that began July 12 at Hudson Park in Long Beach.

“It was awesome,” Gherardini said of the league’s first experience in postseason softball play. “It meant the world to the girls to win that first game.

“As coaches, Lori and I could not be prouder.”

Laguna faced Long Beach teams in all three of its playoff games in the double-elimination tournament.

“We had no idea what we were up against, except for the fact that it was the 10th year that West Long Beach had an All-Star team,” Gherardini said. “Our girls were not only representing Laguna for the first time, but we were going to be playing rules that we never played before.

“In our league, there were no walks, we coached-pitched after four balls and stealing was limited to one base and you could not steel home. Pitchers could only pitch three innings a game. In this tournament, there was no limit on stealing, there was no coach-pitch and pitchers could pitch up to six innings a game.

“The other ringer was if you did not slide and the ball was anywhere near the base, you were out. We did not do much sliding throughout the year. Lori and I only had three weeks to try and teach these girls the new rules and get these girls to practice as a team. We had a lot to accomplish and felt very proud of these girls to have the courage to step up to the plate and take this challenge.”

Laguna 18, Long Beach 8 Playing its first-ever night game, Laguna’s postseason debut got off to quite a shaky start, as Long Beach bolted to a 5-0 lead in the second inning. From then on, however, it was all Laguna.

The locals began to rally back when Cory Kent sent a hit into far right-center field, continued with the hitting of Carly Mooshian, Brianna Boyd, Kira Hamilton and a hit by Anya Gourly.

Laguna, which scored 10 runs in the inning, would score another eight runs in the fourth inning, where the game ended on the mercy rule.

Katie Stanton was strong on the mound and finished with 11 strikeouts. Defensively, shortstop Chloe Mansour caught a hard hit line drive to prevent Long Beach from scoring, Kennedy Gherardini was solid behind the plate and Sara Ross, Ashleigh Glazer and Liz Fletcher also contributed to the big win.

Long Beach 24, Laguna 14

In a three-hour game played in near 90-degree heat, Laguna built a 9-2 lead before Long Beach roared back to win.

“I was so proud of our girls, they never had played so hard in these conditions,” Johnna Gherardini said.

Long Beach 11, Laguna 1

Laguna’s postseason experience came to an end Monday when a hot-hitting Long Beach team defeated Laguna in a game called after four innings.

“Although the girls were sad with some tears, they quickly remembered the thrills of that first win and were proud that they had come as far as they did,” Gherardini said. “As a coach, you have an empty feeling when it’s all done, but I was honored to have the opportunity to coach these very talented athletes who should be proud of what they did. I’m proud of the parents for all of their support. Laguna had more parents and grandparents in the audience then the home team.”

Softball All-Stars: Kennedy Gherardini; Katie Stanton; Cory Kent; Kendal Clawson; Carly Mooshian; Eliza Romero; Anya Gourly; Haley Putnam; Liz Fletcher; Chloe Mansour; Brianna Boyd; Ashleigh Glaser; Sara Ross and Kira Hamilton.