Laguna comes up short against La Salle
The 2012 season ended May 17 for the Laguna Beach High baseball team in Pasadena.
Second-ranked La Salle eliminated the Breakers from the CIF Southern Section Division 4 playoffs with a 6-2 victory. The Lancers, champions of the Del Rey League, scored three runs in the first inning and led, 6-0, through five innings.
Sophomore Steven Harrison, who had provided Laguna with last-inning heroics with a walk-off home run in a wild-card victory over Victor Valley, hit a two-run double in the sixth inning to account for the Breakers’ scoring. Senior Santi Pierini, juniors Robbie McInerny and Larry Stewart, and sophomore Grant Wilhelm also had hits for the Breakers.
La Salle (19-8-1) was defeated in the second-round Tuesday, 8-4, by St. Bonaventure.
“We faced a very solid pitcher (Bowdien Derby) and I was proud of our at-bats all game long,” Laguna Coach Mike Bair said. “We really competed and hit a lot of balls hard right at guys throughout the game and unfortunately, didn’t get enough to drop to score more runs.
“Overall I was very proud of our effort and focus, and in baseball, sometimes you just need a little luck to bounce your way and we just didn’t get that.”
Laguna went 18-9 and finished second in the Orange Coast League in Bair’s first year as head coach.
“It was such an honor to be head coach of the baseball program this year,” Bair said. “I definitely learned a lot and hope to improve in my coaching abilities to be even better for the 2013 season. The JV squad won their fifth league title in a row while the varsity team, hoping to repeat as league champs, didn’t quite get there. However, we learned how to compete together and played some really good baseball the past six weeks of our season and finished strong.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our players and their dedication this season and I know the players returning are confident to have an even better year in 2013.”
Laguna won 11 of its final 14 games of the season. Bair said the Breakers’ pitching staff gave up the fewest hits, home runs, triples and doubles in a single season in school history.
Twitter: @MikeSciacca