Baseball Preview: Breakers return seven starters

Another season of Laguna Beach High baseball gets underway this weekend.

The 2016 Breakers are looking to build on past successes. A year ago, the program went 20-7 overall with 14 of those wins coming in another perfect run to the Orange Coast League championship. The Breakers have won the last three OCL titles and will bring an Orange County-record 48-game league winning streak when they launch their league season March 15.

The Breakers, who start their season with a doubleheader Saturday at El Modena, return 11 lettermen including seven starters from last season. Included in that group is Ashton Goddard, the 2015 OCL Pitcher of the Year, first-team all-league players Alex Baker and Blake Burzell, and second-team all-league players Dante Faicchio, Jeff Bruyntjens and Zak Kovacic.

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Laguna Beach Baseball

Head coach: Mike Bair (5th year)

Coaching staff: Chris Duncan; Ben Julianel; Tim Soobzokov.

CIF Division: 4

Last year’s record: 20-7

Last year’s league finish: 14-0 (champion)

CIF results: Reached second round.

Varsity roster: Will Bonn (2B/OF, Jr.); Will McInerny (C/P, Sr.); Dante Faicchio (3B, Jr.); Jack Simon (CF, Sr.); Lance Stewart (P, Jr.); Jack Loechner (UTIL/P, Soph.); Alex Baker (OF/1B, Sr.); Jeff Bruyntjens (SS, Soph.); Lucien Georges (C, Jr.); John Ogden (P, Sr.); Grant Potratz (2B/OF, Jr.); Connor Coscino (MINF, Jr.); Ashton Goddard (P, Jr.); Blake Burzell (P, Soph.); Dylan Smith (OF, Jr.); Zak Kovacic (OF/P, Sr.); Connor Basile (1B, Sr.); Dustin Angus (INF, Jr.).

Returning with honors: Ashton Goddard (P, 2015 league pitcher of the year, Jr.); Alex Baker (OF/1B, Sr.); Blake Burzell (P, Soph.); Dante Faicchio (3B, second-team all-league, Jr.); Jeff Bruyntjens (SS, Soph.); Zak Kovacic (OF/P, Sr.).

Coach’s take: “This year’s team takes much pride in their defense, base-running and quality at-bats,” Bair said. “Our six seniors will all be major impact players who lead by example.”

Season keys: “Throw strikes, one error or less per game, quality at-bats,” Bair said.

The schedule: Their season opener just a day away, the Breakers next week will start play in the Newport Elks Tournament. They’ll then play three consecutive league games beginning with a March 15 home game against Estancia. In late-March, they’ll compete for the Ryan Lemmon Tournament title.

Season opener: 10 a.m. doubleheader Saturday at El Modena.