Laguna girls’ tennis clinches another title

Another Orange Coast League title? No sweat for the Laguna Beach High girls’ tennis team, which had already clinched it going into Thursday’s final league match at Costa Mesa.

“We’re coming together fine,” said Coach Alec Horton, whose team improved to 7-0 in league following a 17-1 triumph over Estancia on Tuesday. “I just hope everybody stays healthy.”

The Breakers haven’t really been challenged in league. They were challenged in a nonleague match Wednesday against old rival Corona del Mar, though, where the Sea Kings came up with a 15-3 victory.

Senior Maddie Jaeger won a pair of singles sets and freshman Taylor Nederlander won one for Laguna Beach, which was missing two top players in Lauren Michaels and Haley Moss.

“We knew going in it was going to be a tough day at the office,” Horton said of playing CdM, ranked No. 4 in the CIF Southern Section Division I coaches’ poll.

Laguna Beach now prepares for the Orange Coast League individuals tournament, which begins at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Laguna Beach High.

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BOYS’ WATER POLO

The Breakers had come up short on a number of tough games against other top-ranked teams in Division III, which was part of what made a 12-7 victory over Damien on Oct. 23 so satisfying.

Damien came into the game ranked No. 3 in Division III, with Laguna No. 4. But in this week’s poll, the teams have flip-flopped. Nolan McConnell led the team with six goals against Damien, while David Brunner and Spencer Dodson scored two each.

“We set the tone in the first quarter,” Coach Ethan Damato said. “It was just a fun game. The guys were intense. I saw the look in their eyes and they weren’t going to lose It was a good win. It was probably our last opportunity to move up in the rankings.”

Laguna Beach also won its first two games of the Hank Vellekamp Tournament over Esperanza and El Modena by identical 11-6 scores, and played at Costa Mesa in its final Orange Coast League game Wednesday.

The Hank Vellekamp Tournament continues today as the Breakers play Northwood.

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GIRLS’ GOLF

Laguna Beach senior Grace Komoroczy finished second at the Golden West League individual tournament, which concluded Tuesday at the El Prado Golf Course in Chino.

Komoroczy shot a two-day total of 157, one behind Estancia’s Ashley Peters (156). Christianne Kinder came in sixth (187) and Taylor Weiss was eighth (194).

Komoroczy advances to the CIF Southern Section Individual Southern Regionals, which are Monday at Hemet Golf Club. The Breakers, who finished second in league, are also preparing for the CIF Southern Team Divisional, which is Thursday at El Prado.

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CROSS-COUNTRY

The Laguna Beach High boys’ cross country team finished tied for eighth in the Division IV sweepstakes race at the Mt. SAC Invitational on Oct. 23, although the Breakers were resting most of their top runners.

The top finisher for Laguna Beach was Sean Pigden, who came in 16th with a time of 16 minutes, 51 seconds. He was followed by sophomore Jeff White (33rd, 17:20) and junior Aaron Swartz (37th, 17:28).

On the girls’ side Laguna finished seventh in the Division IV sweepstakes race, paced by Natasha Strickland (15th, 19:57) and McKenna Nokes (16th, 19:58). Parker Yamasaki was 25th in 20:23, and Marisa Merchant took 51st in 21:35.

“I was really pleased with Natasha, McKenna and Parker’s races,” Coach Steve Lalim said. “Marisa Merchant felt a little flat, Gerry Artman had been sick all week and Kativa Strickland is still battling a hip injury. I like what we got out of our No. 1, 2 and 3 runners and once we get everyone healthy, I think we’re really going to surprise some people. Come November, we’ll be firing.”