Tables turn on Breakers
The first time the teams met, Laguna Beach had Saddleback Valley Christian’s number. In a rematch Wednesday, the Warriors were able to even the score with the Breakers.
Defensive mistakes and the inability to find clutch hits with runners on base cost the Laguna Beach softball team in an 8-5 loss at SVC. One offensive highlight was turned in by sophomore Veronica Clancy, who tripled.
“We didn’t play our game,” Laguna Coach Alan Ludloff said. “Defensive mistakes and (we) left a lot of runners on base. Just couldn’t get the clutch hits when we needed them. I also give them credit, Saddleback Valley Christian played an errorless game.”
Laguna (4-4) had an easy time of it with SVC when the teams met last week at the Costa Mesa Tournament. The Breakers rolled to a 14-1 victory and ended up 4-1at the tournament to win the Silver Division title. They finished fifth among 20 Orange County teams entered in the tournament.
Laguna plays its home opener Friday, hosting Oxford Academy of Cypress at 3:30 p.m. at Thurston Middle School. The Breakers play a pair of nonleague games next week, starting with a Tuesday game against Anaheim. They’ll take on Santa Ana on Thursday. Both games start at 3:30 p.m. and are at Thurston Middle School.
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Baseball
The Breakers, idle since wrapping up play March 9 at the Newport Elks Tournament, start their Orange Coast League season at 3:15 p.m. Friday at home against Estancia.
Laguna Coach Mike Bair said that junior Kurt Rebone (1-0, one save) will start against the Eagles.
The Breakers (3-2) are the defending league champion.
“The OCL will be tough this year,” Bair said. “I believe there are three teams who will be in the running for a league title, including Laguna Beach, but I also believe there are four teams in this league who can beat you any given day.
“Estancia will be tough. They pitch well and are off to a great start of the season. We will need to execute offensively and play error-free baseball.”
Laguna claimed third place in the Costa Mesa bracket of the Elks Tournament by winning their final game, 8-5, at Westminster on March 9. Blake Hester went two for four with two runs batted in, Preston GrandPre went two for four with a run scored, Robbie McInerny doubled with an RBI and Steven Harrison had a hit and RBI. Sophomore Grant Wilhelm recorded the win and Rebone earned a save.
Estancia (4-1) also played at the Elks Tournament and reached the title game of the Costa Mesa Division on March 9, where the Eagles lost, 3-2, to champion Segerstrom.
All five games the Breakers have played in the first two weeks of the season were part of the Elks Tournament.
“Our defense, from our first game to our fifth game, really improved,” Bair said. “Our hitting, lead by Hester and McInerny, is starting to be infectious to the rest of the team. Grant Wilhelm has been a real nice surprise on the mound, going 2-0.”
Bair said that Larry Stewart, a junior pitcher and outfielder and a key returning starter from last year’s team, had an appendectomy one week before the start of the season. Bair said that Stewart “plans to start practicing” next week.
Laguna has three league road games on tap next week. The Breakers first play Tuesday at Calvary Chapel, play Wednesday at Costa Mesa and close out the week Friday at Godinez.
Twitter: @MikeSciacca