Softball-Baseball: Breakers score 10-0 win over Costa Mesa

It’s nearing the midway point of the Orange Coast League softball season and on Tuesday, the Laguna Beach High Breakers went into the win column for the first time.

Laguna was impressive in winning its initial league contest in four attempts in shutting down visiting Costa Mesa, 10-0, at Thurston Middle School.

Halle Redfearn pitched the shutout and Jennifer Sorensen, Jessica Roediger and Sophie Trabizi had key hits for the Breakers who improved to 1-3 in league and 3-16 overall.

Laguna Coach Nicole LeMottee said Trabizi recorded her first hit of the season.

Tuesday’s win ended a three-game winless streak for Laguna, which scored its second-most runs in a game this season. The Breakers put up 11 runs in an 11-2 nonleague win against Santa Ana Valley March 15.

The loss put Costa Mesa at 1-4 in league.

“We seem to be working better together as a team, and are looking forward to the remaining games of the season,” LeMottee said.

Laguna was coming off a 7-4 loss at Godinez April 24. Roediger and Jordan Hartman had big hits in the setback.

The Breakers took on Saddleback in league play Thursday. The score wasn’t available at press time.

Laguna is back in action Tuesday for a 3:15 p.m. league game at Estancia. The Breakers are back home Thursday for a 4 p.m. game at Thurston against league-leader Calvary Chapel.

—

Baseball

The Breakers gutted out a tough win Tuesday over Calvary Chapel to stay alone in first place in the Orange Coast League standings.

Freshman Dante Faicchio delivered the go-ahead, two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a tie score and send Laguna to an eventual, 4-2 victory.

The win allowed Laguna to distance itself from second-place Calvary Chapel as it completed the second of three rounds of league play. It put the Breakers, the No. 7 team in CIF Southern Section Division 4, at 10-0 in league and 19-2 overall. They hold a two-game edge over the Eagles, who fell to 8-2 in league.

It was the closest margin of victory in 10 league games for the Breakers.

In addition to Faicchio’s game-winning hit, Richie Nunis had a hit and RBI and Preston GrandPre, Grant Wilhelm and Will McInerny had hits for Laguna.

GrandPre also got the pitching win. The senior went the distance and struck out nine.

“Clutch pitching and hitting was the difference,” said Laguna Coach Mike Bair whose team won its seventh straight game. “A tough win.”

In a previous league game April 25, Laguna completed a 3-0 league sweep of Estancia by routing the visiting Eagles, 13-2. Jake Smith went three for four with a double, home run and two RBIs. Wilhelm threw five innings to get the win.

“We beat a solid team that is well coached,” Bair said. “We played really hard and stuck with the game plan of quality at bats, throw strikes, play catch and run the bases smart which made us victorious.”

Laguna goes for a league sweep of Calvary Chapel when the teams meet Friday (3:15 p.m.) at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa. Bair said Grant Wilhelm (8-0) will get the start. It will be Wilhelm’s second start against the Eagles. The senior struck out eight and got the win in the first meeting between the teams March 28, a 7-2 Laguna victory.

The Breakers twice take on Godinez next week beginning with a 3:15 p.m. game Tuesday at Laguna. The teams play May 9 at Godinez.

—

CIF Weekly Rankings

Baseball: Laguna Beach (No. 7, Division 4).