Breakers stampede through league

Laguna Beach never gave Saddleback a chance Tuesday. It also showed Costa Mesa no mercy a week ago.

The Breakers continued their mastery of the 2011 Orange Coast League baseball race and beat Saddleback for a second time this season, going on the road this time to gain a 14-0 victory.

With the league title already in hand, Tuesday’s win put Laguna, ranked fourth in CIF Division 4, at 14-0 in league and 24-2 overall.

Prior to outscoring Saddleback and Costa Mesa, 29-1, in their last two games, the Breakers had edged Costa Mesa, 3-2, on May 3.

“We’ve played pretty well in the past week,” Laguna Coach Jeff Sears said. “That 3-2 game against Costa Mesa, both teams played phenomenal. It was a great ballgame to watch. To come back a few days later and beat them the way we did was impressive. We really got after it a little bit. Our guys just don’t want to let down.”

Laguna was dominant May 6 against Costa Mesa. The Breakers led all the way in routing the host Mustangs, 15-1, to sweep the league series (3-0) from the Mustangs. They scored two runs in the second inning on Chris Paul’s two-run home run, scored four in the third and put the game away by scoring nine runs over the final three innings.

Paul started and Jackson Rees pitched the seventh. Paul got the win and ran his record to 8-1. The two combined on a three-hitter

Laguna racked up 15 hits off Costa Mesa pitchers. Austin Paxson doubled twice and Paul and Stewart both had a double.

Laguna registered 13 hits Tuesday and jumped on Saddleback for 13 runs over the first two innings.

The Breakers scored seven runs in their first at-bat, scored six more times in the second inning and got their final run in the sixth. Freshman Steven Harrison clubbed a three-run home run to highlight the seven-run first inning explosion.

Keaton Jones doubled twice in the opening inning and Paul, Harrison and Paxson also doubled in first two innings.

Jones got the pitching win and improved to 6-0. He, Larry Stewart (fourth inning) and Jack Pillsbury (fifth) combined on to three-hit the Roadrunners.

The Breakers completed their regular season Thursday at Saddleback. The score wasn’t available at press time.

The CIF baseball playoff brackets will be announced at noon Monday.

Laguna has won the program’s first league championship in 48 years. Among the records the Breakers have set in 2011 are most overall wins and most league wins. They’ll take the next step in their remarkable season May 20 when they open CIF playoff action.

“We practiced hard today (Wednesday) and we lifted after practice. This team has kept it going,” Sears said. “We’re excited about the playoffs and hosting a CIF game. For these guys, it’s been a one-game season throughout the season, all 27 games.”

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Softball

Laguna’s hopes for a CIF playoff berth were dealt a big blow Tuesday.

The Breakers, who had defeated Costa Mesa in the first Orange Coast League meeting of the season between the schools on April 25, fell at home to the Mustangs, 6-3, at Thurston Field.

Laguna never got untracked against the Mustangs. Katie Anderson provided the Breakers with two offensive highlights, the first coming on a solo home run. Anderson also doubled and drove in two runs. Taylor Romatoski had an RBI single.

Breakers ace Haley Putnam threw a complete game, with one earned run and seven strikeouts.

Tuesday’s loss followed another disappointing setback May 5 when Laguna lost, 8-4, to a Godinez team it had defeated on April 15.

The two losses left Laguna at 5-5 in league play heading into the regular-season finale Thursday (May 12) at Saddleback. The score wasn’t available at press time.