Breakers roar in Lions tourney action

Playing five games at various sites over a five-day period, the Laguna Beach High baseball team came up with several big performances at the Anaheim Lions Tournament that impressed Coach Dave Dopf.

“I was pleased with the way our team played in several areas,” said Dopf, whose Breakers went — he thinks — 4-1 in the tournament. “I was impressed with the way we jumped out in top in all but one of our games. We’re hitting the ball really well, getting clutch hitting to move guys over and just having great at-bats, in general.

“We lost to Diamond Bar, but I really liked the way our guys battle back.”

At Brookhurst Park on Wednesday, the Breakers jumped out to an 8-2 lead on Pacifica through five innings, but the Mariners scored five runs in the top of the sixth to draw within 8-7, and five more in the top of the seventh, to take a 12-8 lead.

At that point, the situation literally darkened for the Laguna team as the lights went out at Brookhurst Park, and Laguna was unable to get in its final at-bat. The head umpire suspended the game, Dopf said.

“Normally when a game is suspended due to an unforeseeable circumstance, like rain, lightning or the lights going out, the game reverts back to the previous inning. In that case, we’d win the game, 8-7. I’ll have to call the tournament director to see what the decision is.”

Dominick Robusto went three for four with a double, triple, RBI and three runs scored, Dalton Sype three for three with a double, two RBI and stolen base, Rob Cortright two for three with a double and two RBI, and Trevor Pierce singled twice, stole a base and drove in a run.

The Breakers suffered a big blow in the game when starting left-fielder and No. 5 hitter Dillon Pierce injured himself diving for a ball in the sixth inning. Dopf said that Pierce suffered a broken collarbone and “probably” is lost for the remainder of the season.

Prior to taking on Pacifica Wednesday, the Breakers won three straight games since a tournament-opening 8-6 loss to Diamond Bar in a game where Laguna battled back from a 5-0 deficit.

On Tuesday, Laguna whipped Western, 14-5.

Offensively, Robusto went three-for-three with two triples, three runs scored and two stolen bases. Cortright went two for four with a triple that cleared loaded bases and four RBI, Sype was two for three with two runs and three RBI and Nathan Pickett went two for four with two runs scored.

Laguna won both tournament games it played Monday, defeating Magnolia, 9-1, and Paso Robles, 11-4. In both games, the Breakers shot out to a quick lead to gain control. In routing Magnolia 9-1 at Amerige Park, Laguna scored three runs in the first inning and one or more in each of the next four innings to roll to an 8-0 lead.

Robusto and Gabe Stansbury each doubled during the three-run first inning. In the fourth, Sype delivered a two-run home run to give the Breakers a 7-0 advantage.

Robusto and Stansbury — who finished with two RBI — each doubled twice. Pickett, Cortright and Burk also doubled.

Pickett, Burk, Trevor Pierce and Dillon Pierce also drove in runs.

Pickett, a senior right-hander, got the win, his third of the season.

In beating Paso Robles 11-4 in their second outing Monday, the Breakers raced to a 6-0 lead in the first inning and scored three more runs in the bottom of the second to take a commanding 9-0 lead.

They scored their final two runs in the bottom of the fifth, after the Bearcats had drawn to within 9-4.

Pickett came up with two big hits for Laguna, a two-run homer in the first inning followed by a double in the fifth. Dillon Pierce doubled and tripled and he and Pickett each had three RBI.

Cortright, Stansbury and Sype each had an RBI Junior Julian Deline recorded the win to improve his record to 2-0.

Prior to spring break, Laguna fell to host Calvary Chapel, 2-1, in an Orange Coast League game Friday at Vanguard University.

The Breakers continue spring break action with a nonleague doubleheader Saturday at Ocean View. First pitch in game No. 1 is 10 a.m.

Dopf said that since he switched up his batting order seven games ago, the new-look starting nine line-up has hit close to .450 as a team.

“It’s been incredible,” he said. “I don’t think that we have had less than 10 hits in those seven games.”

In softball

Laguna opened its Orange Coast League slate last week and lost to host Costa Mesa. The score was not available at press time. The Breakers return from spring break next week to host league foe Estancia at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday.