Rotary, Javier’s pick up playoff victories

Rotary rode the two-hit pitching of Rex Strombotne to a 4-2 victory over Team Hobie in the first round of the Laguna Beach Little League Majors Division postseason tournament Monday at Riddle Field.

The two hits Strombotne gave up in a complete-game effort were a double to Shane Selfridge and a home run to Derek Reigel.

Rotary cracked the scoreboard first, getting the game’s initial run on a walk to Kyle Jaffe followed by an RBI triple by Shane Takabayashi. An overthrow later in the inning allowed Takabayashi to score.

Hobie responded with a run in the bottom half of the first when Jack Pillsbury and Reigel drew walks and Selfridge doubled. Reigel attempted to score the tying run, but he was tagged out at the plate.

Hobie tied the score in the bottom of the third on Reigel’s home run.

That tie didn’t last long, though, as Rotary scored twice to seize the lead for good in the top of the fourth.

A walk to Camron Hauer, a base hit by Blair Hanson and a double by Sundance Severino led to the two runs and a 4-2 lead.

Rotary played errorless ball on defense and was led by the play of catcher Ryan Takabayashi, second baseman Hauer, first baseman Nick Channels, Shane Takabayashi at shortstop and both Hanson and Jaffe at third base.

Hobie played a tough game defensively and was led by the play of Reigel and Selfridge at shortstop. Pillsbury pitched four solid innings and Reigel and Alex LeBon also saw action on the mound.