Baseball: Laguna Beach wins Division 4 championship behind pitcher Ashton Goddard

Junior pitcher Ashton Goddard of Laguna Beach began Saturday’s Southern Section Division 4 championship baseball game against Kaiser so excited that on his first pitch, he hit leadoff hitter Oscar Rocha. Then he gave up a single. Soon it was bases loaded.

“We had a chance to jump all over him,” Kaiser Coach Michael Spinuzzi said.

Goddard, a Utah commit, settled down. He got a strikeout to end the inning and finished with a five-hit shutout to lead Laguna Beach past Kaiser, 2-0, at San Manuel Stadium. It was the Breakers’ first championship.

“It’s an incredible feeling to bring this trophy back to our city,” UCLA-bound catcher Will McInerny said.

McInerny was an unsung catalyst. He drove in the first run on a groundout in the first inning. He also was the leader behind the plate in keeping Goddard forcused and relaxed. They’ve known each other since playing Little League together.

“We’ve built this bond,” he said.

Zak Kovacic gave Laguna Beach an insurance run in the fifth, stealing home on an 0-2 count after getting a sign from Coach Mike Bair. They had been practicing the play all week.

What a comeback it was this season for Laguna Beach (20-12), a team that started the season 0-6. Goddard missed six weeks while dealing with a shoulder issue. But in the most important game of the season, he delivered, striking four and walking two.

“It’s overwhelming. It’s crazy,” he said of the accomplishment of winning a CIF title.

Armando Duenas was the tough-luck loser, giving up four hits in six innings.

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