Youth scene: Locals take top spots

Nine competitors captured a division championship Saturday at the Chubasacos HB Bodysurfing Competition.

The fifth annual event was held in one- to two-foot surf at Ninth Street in Huntington Beach. Competitors ranged in age from under 12 to over 60.

Division results

12-Under Coed: 1T. Natalie Doumanian, Joe Nickerson; 3. Augie Cunningham; 4. August Gordon; 5T. Eddie Baca, Wade Sherlock.

Girls (ages 13-19): 1. Ariel Burns; 2. Annaliese Rogers; 3. Abigail Steggemeier; 4. Hailey Tripodo.

Boys (13-19): 1. Noah Prohaska; 2. Josh Palmer; 3. Kane Varon; 4. Keir Oxford Pope; 5T. Christian Franzen, Colby Livingston.

Women (20-and-over): 1. Tish Denevan; 2. Nanz Zekula; 3. Katelyn Eaton.

Men (20-39): 1. Eric Tucker; 2. Matt Henry; 3. Ryan Zschomler; 4. Vince Trotter; 5. Jan Michael Pineda; 6. Kenny Bray.

Masters (40-59) 1. Richard Loughridge; 2. Sal Castro; 3. Casey Pepe; 4. Eric Ackerman; 5. Steve Hunter; 6. Kurt Schneider.

Legends (60-and-over): 1. Tar Larner; 2T. Mark Johnson, David Endelman; 4. Humphrey Sumner.

Handboard: 1. Steve Hunter; 2. Richard Loughridge; 3. Jack Bassham; 4. Aiden Weschler; 5. Brett Zschomler; 6. Nathan Rodriguez.

— Mike Sciacca

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Softball

The Huntington Beach Elite, a Under-12 Gold All-Star team representing Huntington Beach Girls Softball, earned a tie for ninth-place among 44 teams in its division Aug. 3 at the 2013 Amateur Softball Assn. B Western National Championship.

The tournament, which started July 31, was held at the Peoria Rio Vista Sports Complex at Peoria, Ariz.

THE won both pool-play games, defeating Mountain View Los Altos (17-5, mercy rule) and Goleta (6-1), to gain the top seed in its pool. In elimination round play Aug. 2, THE beat Long Beach Heartwell (11-2, mercy rule) but lost, 13-3 (mercy rule), to Carlsbad.

In elimination losers’ bracket action, THE scored mercy rule wins against both Glendora (17-6) and Goleta (9-1) but lost, 3-2, to El Rio in an eight innings, international tie-breaker in a game played in 111-degree temperatures.

THE finished the tournament with a 5-2 record, scored 65 runs and mercied four opponents. Each of its seven opponents were from California.

The regional drew teams from as far east as Montana and Texas.

The tournament appearance marked the second year in a row that a 12U Gold team from Huntington Beach Girls Softball has qualified for the ASA B Western National Championship.

During the 2013 All-Star season, THE played in eight tournaments that started in late-May and ended with the Western Regional. The team compiled an overall record of 29-9-1 in tournament play.

The Huntington Elite are: Malia Cockrell, Alyson Fullbright, Emily Gray, Sage Malvin, Danika McKee, Makayla Nieto, Kelly Ryono, Megan Ryono, Serena Starks, Jennifer Swartz, Malia Temple, Serah Villegas, Shayla Thomas. Manager: Mark Fullbright. Coaches: Van Starks, Don Ryono, Greg Villegas, Bob Roysdon.

— Reader submission