Breakers regain league’s top spot
Tuesday turned out to be a pivotal day for the Laguna Beach High baseball team.
The Breakers took care of their business by defeating visiting Saddleback, 8-1. That same afternoon, Godinez, which ended the Breakers’ 53-game winning streak April 15, scored a 9-4 home win over Calvary Chapel. The two results gave the Breakers sole possession of first place in the league standings, and dropped Calvary Chapel from a share of the lead.
In Tuesday’s over Saddleback, Dustin Angus homered, Dante Faicchio singled and had two RBIs, Will McInerny doubled twice, and junior Ashton Goddard (four innings pitched) didn’t allow a run in improving to 3-2.
Coach Mike Bair said his team combined “solid defense, pitching and hitting,” in upping its league record to 9-1, and overall mark to 11-10.
Laguna previously hosted Costa Mesa April 22, and took a 15-5 win from the Mustangs. McInerny homered among two hits and drove in five runs. Grady Morgan doubled with two RBIs, Connor Basile (double) had two hits and an RBI, Goddard doubled with an RBI, Zak Kovacic singled with an RBI, Grant Potratz had an RBI, and Faicchio and Jack Simon (double) each had two hits.
The pitching win went to sophomore Jack Loechner (four innings, no runs, two hits, one walk, six strikeouts).
The Breakers scored five times in the bottom of the first inning and held a 9-0 advantage through three innings.
“Our offense never let up and kept the game out of reach,” Bair said. “It was nice to see our bats produce a bunch of runs.”
Since having its 53-game winning streak snapped two weeks ago at Godinez, the Breakers have been on a roll in league play. They’ve outscored the last four league opponents, 38-12, in going 4-0 and regaining the league lead.
“I think the loss [to Godinez] was a great wake-up call and I believe we are starting to play our best baseball at the right time of the season,” Bair said. “This team has toughened up and has become very focused and is ready to compete for a league title and CIF championship.”
Laguna stepped away from the final stages of its league season to conclude play Wednesday in the Newport Elks Tournament which started in early-March. The Breakers lost their final tourney game, 11-1, at Corona del Mar. McInerny had an RBI double and Angus doubled twice.
The Breakers travel to Saddleback for a 3:15 p.m. game with the Roadrunners in the final game of a three-game league series between the teams. The Breakers have won the first two matchups.
Bair said Loechner will start Friday.
Next week, the Breakers play Estancia twice starting with a 3:15 p.m. Tuesday game at Estancia. The teams meet again May 6 at Laguna.
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Softball
The Breakers lost two Orange Coast League games in the past week. They were upended, 14-1, by Calvary Chapel Tuesday at TeWinkle Park in Costa Mesa, and lost, 22-4, to visiting Estancia April 21.
The Breakers played a league game Thursday against Godinez. The score wasn’t available at press time. They’ll travel next Tuesday for a 3:15 p.m.) league game at Costa Mesa, and host Saddleback at 3:15 p.m. Thursday at Thurston Middle School.
