BREAKERS ROUNDUP: Seeking perfection
The relentless pursuit of perfection isn’t just a car slogan for the Laguna Beach High boys’ volleyball team.
The Breakers are constantly trying to get better, which is what happens when you’re trying to win a CIF Southern Section Division II title. So they weren’t entirely happy with Wednesday’s 25-13, 22-25, 25-16, 25-20 victory over Costa Mesa, even if it finished off an undefeated Orange Coast League season.
“We’re not bringing total intensity to each point,” said Coach Lance Stewart, whose team couldn’t hold a 16-14 lead in dropping Game 2. “There’s a tendency to let up ... [but] it’s always nice to win league. It’s hard to go undefeated and win a league championship in any sport. We’ve now got some higher goals to achieve.”
Junior Scotty Chapel led the Breakers (20-5, 8-0 in league) with 18 kills. Reed Thompson and Travis Woloson had 10 each. Senior Harrison Phelps led the team with 20 digs, and sophomore Robbie McKnight had 31 assists.
“We had good moments where we played around full strength, but a lot of the time we were around 80%,” said Phelps, the libero.
The Breakers should be bolstered by the return of senior outside hitter Cooper Gwaltney in time for the playoffs, although Stewart said he didn’t know how sharp Gwaltney would be.
The CIF Southern Section Division II pairings will be released Monday; Laguna Beach is expected to be the top seed.
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BASEBALL
Laguna Beach remained in the hunt for the Orange Coast League title by stomping Estancia, 17-3, Tuesday at Estancia High.
The Breakers (14-10, 7-2 in league) play Estancia again today at Laguna Beach High. A win, and two more in next week’s big regular season-ending series with Costa Mesa, and Laguna Beach can win its first league title in 46 years.
Costa Mesa (16-6, 9-1) can clinch at least a share of the league title with a Laguna Beach loss in any of the three games.
Junior Casey Miller got the win Tuesday against Estancia, improving to 6-3. Senior Dillon Pierce was three for six with two doubles, and senior Gabe Stansbury had a bases-clearing triple and four RBIs overall. Sophomore shortstop Chris Paul was two for five with his fifth home run of the year and four RBIs himself.
The Breakers erupted for six runs in the second inning and four more in the fourth, taking a 10-0 lead.
“We’re a young team and we’ve been lacking confidence at times,” Coach Jeff Sears said. “Today, a lot of confidence showed up. We executed very well.”
Miller, who had the first two Estancia batters reach via error, stayed calm and had a no-hitter going until the fourth.
“A lot of poise on the mound,” Sears said. “He’s been pitching very well for us.”
Miller struck out seven and walked just one, and has just a 2.05 ERA for the season.
Paul is batting an even .500 and Stansbury is hitting .412.
“Everyone on this team can hit,” Miller said. “Everyone on the team contributed to this win. It makes it a lot easier to get a victory when you score that many runs.”
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BOYS’ GOLF
Laguna Beach senior Duane Hewlett finished second at the Orange Coast League individuals finals, completed Wednesday at the Skylinks Golf Course in Long Beach.
Hewlett carded a one-under 71 in the second round, for a two-round total of 144. That was second to Estancia’s Ryan Knapp (142).
The top three advance to CIF Individuals, and Hewlett is the lone Breakers player to advance. Skylar Perkins shot a total of 146 for fourth place, with Mike Cannon (154) in fifth.
“I was pretty happy,” said Hewlett, who had five birdies on his round. “I was kind of going for first place, but I’m happy to move on. [The course] was playing pretty long.”
The Breakers, who shared the league title with Estancia but are the top-designated team for CIF playoffs, begin play at the CIF Southern Team Divisional on Monday at Tijeras Creek Golf Club in Rancho Santa Margarita.
Hewlett said the team hasn’t played at that course yet this season.
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