Laguna Hills Bashes Away in Victory Over University

University Coach Chris Conlin has a warning for any team unimpressed with Laguna Hills’ early record.

“They have athletes as good as any school in the county,” said Conlin, after sitting through the Hawks’ 10-3 victory over the Trojans in Pacific Coast League play.

“The difference between their athletes and ours is night and day.”

On Tuesday, the difference between the teams, which have had a friendly yet intense rivalry the last few seasons, was muscle. Laguna Hills had it, University did not.

The meat of the Hawks’ order--Nick Harvey, Tom Banning and Danny Lee--combined for eight of the team’s 13 hits and drove in all 10 runs.

Banning had huge day, driving in five runs on a single, two doubles and a grand slam in the fourth.

Harvey had three hits and an RBI single. Lee scored a run with his infield grounder and added a three-run homer in the sixth.

“All of them had good at-bats today, especially with two strikes,” said Hawks’ Coach Pete Tereschuk, whose team improved to 6-4, 2-0 in league.

What will determine Laguna Hills’ fate this season is whether a leader can emerge from the pitching-by-committee system Tereschuk is using. “I have eight guys who all throw the same, and I’m going to use them all,” Tereschuk said.

It’s doubtful freshman Mike Spraitz can establish himself as the Hawks’ ace, especially if Tereschuk keeps him on a tight pitch count as he did Wednesday, removing Spraitz after 62 pitches.

Spraitz did make it through the required three innings to record his second victory.