Breakers in charge of OCL

Through its first five games, it hasn’t been difficult for the Laguna Beach High baseball team to score runs, or pick up a victory, against Orange Coast League competition.

The defending league champions are now 5-0 in league play, getting that fifth win April 4 by rolling past visiting Costa Mesa, 14-4. The victory, which ended the first round of league play for the Breakers, took Laguna’s league win streak to 24 games.

Coach Mike Bair called it “just another solid Breaker win.”

Laguna, the sixth-ranked team in CIF Southern Section Division 4, improved to 13-2 overall.

In five league contests, the Breakers have pushed across 71 runs. On the flip side, they’ve given up only 14, and have won by no fewer than five runs in any league game.

“We take pride in not giving away any at-bats, and that approach has been a bright spot for us,” Bair said.

Against Costa Mesa, Laguna put up a pair of runs in the first, second and fourth innings, then added five runs in the fifth to open up an 11-0 lead. The Mustangs scored their four runs in the top of the sixth, but the Breakers came right back to score three more runs in the bottom-half of the inning.

Senior Richie Nunis went four for four with three RBIs and scored twice to power the Laguna offense which accumulated 17 hits. Senior Steven Harrison hit a home run and drove in three runs, and senior Preston GrandPre had two hits including a double with two RBIs. Freshman Dante Faicchio had two hits including a double and an RBI, and junior Callan Cochran and sophomore Zak Kovacic both had two hits and an RBI.

Starter Grant Wilhelm got the win and improved to 4-0. The senior didn’t allow a hit, walked one and struck out seven in four innings. Nunis and sophomore Jack Simon also took to the mound, and the trio combined on a two-hitter.

Laguna took on Capistrano Valley Christian Wednesday. The score from the nonleague game wasn’t available at press time.

The Breakers are idle next week and return to league play April 19 against Saddleback.

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Softball

The Breakers took a 1-0 lead on Calvary Chapel Tuesday, but a rough third inning did them in, and the host Eagles pulled away for an 11-1 victory in Orange Coast League action at TeWinkle Park in Costa Mesa.

A triple by senior Jordan Hartman drove in senior Veronica Clancy for Laguna’s lone run.

The Breakers slipped to 0-2 in league and 3-11 overall.

Calvary Chapel, ranked sixth in CIF Southern Section Division 5, opened its league season Tuesday.

The Eagles improved to 12-4 overall.

“We played very strong and are improving every game,” Laguna Coach Nicole LeMottee said. “We are coming together as a team given the rough start to our season, and will use spring break to make the improvements needed to be successful this season.”

The Breakers are idle next week. They return to the diamond April 22, visiting San Juan Hills for a 3:15 p.m. nonleague game.

Laguna resumes OCL pay April 24 at Godinez.

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CIF Weekly Rankings

Baseball: Laguna Beach (No. 6, Division 4).