Hyden’s hitting keys SG Roofing victory

Michael Hyden turned in a big performance at the plate Tuesday night

as SG Roofing edged Courtesy Auto Body, 5-4, in a well-played Laguna

Beach Little League AAA Division game at Riddle Field.

Hyden singled, doubled and tripled in three at-bats and scored

three runs as SG Roofing upped its record to 8-1.

SG Roofing had taken a 2-0 lead in the top-half of the first

inning as Hyden, Tyler Kesler and Jake Glazer pieced together

consecutive singles.

Courtesy Auto Body responded in the bottom of the inning, scoring

three runs to grab a 3-2 lead.

A Zach Cornwell walk, followed by singles by Griffen McMuller and

Santi Pierini, set up Matt Perella’s double which helped produce the

three runs.

The lead went back in SG Roofing’s favor in the top of the second

when Sammy Witte singled and scored on Hyden’s double and, two outs

later, Hyden stole home on a passed ball to make the score 4-3.

The see-saw game continued in the bottom of the second when

Michael Kimball doubled and Cornwell singled him home to knot the

score at 4-4.

Pitching and defense took over the balance of the final three

innings.

Kimball retired SG Roofing in the top of the third and Kesler did

the same to Courtesy in the bottom of the inning, a big lift coming

from catcher Jake Glazer throwing out a Courtesy runner attempting to

steal second base.

In the fourth, Hyden tripled to the centerfield fence and two

pitches later, he scored on a passed ball to give SG Roofing the lead

for good, 5-4.

Hyden completed the victory by striking out two and benefited from

second baseman Alex Gromet’s game-ending play.

In other games:

Quiksilver 14, Courtesy Auto Body 6

Playing on a new field at El Moro Elementary School, Quiksilver

got its offense rolling late but finished strong in defeating

Courtesy Auto Body, 14-6, in another AAA Division contest.

Blake Hofmeister delivered four hits to power Quiksilver on

offense. Cody Alter added two hits and singles went to Connor Hyland

and Jack Pillsbury.

Jake Johnson scored three runs for Quiksilver.

Closer Taylor Preston struck out three in the final inning to end

the game.

Alec Loechner started on the mound for Quiksilver and was relieved

by Alex Bekken.

Matt Perella hit a home run and finished with two hits overall as

did Courtesy Auto Body teammates Sante Pierni and Zack Cornwell.

Morgan Curry singled and Griffin McMullen and Patrick Stearns both

scored for Courtesy Auto Body.

The pitching of Michael Kimball kept Quiksilver bats at bay in the

game’s early stages.

AAA Division standings: 1) Five Feet, 9-1; 2) SG Roofing, 8-1; 3)

Police, 6-3-1; 4) Quiksilver, 4-2-3; 5) Prudential, 5-4-1; 6)

Courtesy Auto Body, 1-8-1; 7) First Team Nolan, 2-9; 8) Coldwell

Banker, 1-8.