Breakers remain alive in playoffs
Moving on.
That’s a mantra that fits the Laguna Beach High baseball team.
The Breakers have earned themselves a spot in the CIF Southern Section Division 4 baseball quarterfinals for the second time in three seasons, thanks to a pair of victories that has thrust them into a Friday matchup with Whittier California.
Laguna’s most recent postseason triumph came Tuesday in Riverside, a 4-0 shutout victory that was its 17th win of the season.
The Breakers, champions of the Orange Coast League, now travel to face Cal Hi. The Del Rio League champions advanced by knocking off host Fullerton (Freeway League No. 2) in another second-round contest Tuesday, 4-1.
The Breakers (17-12) and Condors (20-9) will play at 3:15 p.m. at Rio Hondo College.
Laguna secured another playoff game by combining a complete-game shutout pitching performance of junior Ashton Goddard with a staunch defense and timely offensive to hold down a Patriot team that had knocked out top-seeded Chino Don Lugo (6-3) in a first-round game May 19.
“Offensively, we were able to create momentum with quality at-bats and take advantage of some mistakes made by Patriot,” Laguna Coach Mike Bair said. “Our pitching/catching combo with Goddard and [Will] McInerny was outstanding and delivered us a great win.
Zak Kovacic broke a scoreless tie with an RBI single in the fourth inning. The Breakers added to their lead by producing three runs in the top of the seventh. Pinch hitter Cutter Clawson singled, pinch hitter Grady Morgan belted an RBI triple, Jack Simon had an RBI single, Dante Faicchio and Connor Basile both singled, and Dustin Angus brought in the fourth Laguna run with a sacrifice fly RBI.
Faicchio had two hits to pace Laguna’s 10-hit attack.
Goddard, a junior, was in command and held the Warriors to only two hits. He struck out nine and walked just one.
Patriot, the third-place team from the River Valley League, ended the year 18-12.
“Patriot was well coached and played us extremely tough,” Bair said. “They had a great season and some tough senior players who left it all out on the field.”
In its postseason opener May 19 against Savanna, Laguna took a 4-0 lead on the visiting Rebels after the first three innings and went on to post a 4-2 win.
Kovacic had two hits and drove in two runs to lead the offense. Angus (RBI), Simon, Faicchio, Basile and McInerny all doubled. Alex Baker and Jack Loechner both singled.
Blake Burzell (five innings) picked up the pitching win. The sophomore allowed two runs, two hits, one walk and struck out five. Senior John Ogden threw two innings and struck out two.
Bair said Burzell will start Friday’s quarterfinal game.
Cal Hi has won or shared the Del Rio League championship the past five years and in seven of the last eight years.
The Breakers and Condors reached the division semifinals two years ago before being eliminated.
The Laguna-Cal Hi winner advances to the division semifinals next Tuesday and will face the winner of the Friday quarterfinal game between Tri-Valley League champion Ventura St. Bonaventure and San Andreas League champ San Bernardino San Gorgonio.
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Twitter: @MikeSciacca
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