High School Roundup: GrandPre commits to Cal

Preston GrandPre has committed to becoming a California Golden Bear.

The senior-to-be at Laguna Beach High, a shortstop on the Breakers’ baseball team, committed July 30 to play baseball for the Cal program.

GrandPre, who also was in the sights of several other Division 1 programs, said he will sign with the Bears when the National Letter of Intent early signing period starts Nov. 13.

“I really had planned on committing during the summer before my senior year,” GrandPre said. “I knew where I wanted to go and the offer was there. I’m really excited to be going to Cal.”

GrandPre said several other schools had shown interest in him including Pacific-12 Conference schools Oregon, USC, UCLA, Utah and Washington State.

Long Beach State, Fresno State, Loyola Marymount, Hawaii, Arkansas and Oklahoma also expressed interest, he said.

“What drew me to the Cal program was that it was in the Pac-12 and all of the coaches were top-of-the-line guys,” GrandPre said. “I love them. They’re really good guys.

“Cal has an amazing campus, great academics, and it’s a good college town.”

An All-Orange Coast League player, GrandPre has started for the Breakers the past two years and will play his third varsity season in 2014.

As a junior, GrandPre hit .347 with eight doubles and three triples, and scored 28 runs during the 2013 season.

“An excellent shortstop,” Laguna Beach Coach Mike Bair said of GrandPre. “Plus, [has the] arm, great speed and agility, excellent baseball instincts, [and] shows much potential with his bat.

“Cal is fortunate to receive a solid baseball player in Preston GrandPre.”

GrandPre will join former Laguna Beach player Chris Paul on the Cal baseball roster. Paul was a record-setting player and team MVP in both football (2010) and baseball (2011) at Laguna Beach High and was named the school’s Male Athlete of the Year for the 2010-11 school year.

Paul, who completed his sophomore year at Cal in the spring, plays infield and outfield for the Bears.

“I’ve known Chris since I was six or seven and our families are good friends,” GrandPre said. “Plus, [Laguna Beach teammate] Robbie McInerny also is going to Cal. I’m really looking forward to joining them up there.”

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Boys’ Basketball

A fun and competitive Laguna Beach High boys’ basketball alumni tournament was played Saturday at Dugger Gym. A team made up of former players who donned Laguna uniforms between 1998-2000, won the tournament for the sixth time.

The 1998-2000 team, which lost out on the title last year, included Travis Hanour (2000), Jesse Obrand (1999), Kurt Beimfohr (1999), Chris Sirianni (1998), Nick Reynolds (1998) and Chase Satrappe (1999).

Laguna Coach Bret Fleming said seven teams competed for this year’s tournament title. He said Rick Reigel, Class of 1981, was the oldest competitor in the tournament, and noted Chuck Herpick, a member of Laguna’s 1953 CIF championship team, attended the event.

“The tourney was really competitive and it was a great opportunity for our current players to connect and get to know many of the guys who came before them and built the program,” Fleming said.

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Water Polo

Two Laguna Beach High athletes will compete in international competition over the next few weeks.

Former Laguna Beach standout Nolan McConnell, now at Long Beach State, is a member of the USA Water Polo Junior Men’s National Team for the FINA Men’s Junior World Championships at Szombathely, Hungary. McConnell, an attacker, and the Junior Men’s team start tournament play Monday against Spain.

The tournament runs through Aug. 18.

Makenzie Fischer, who will enter her junior year at Laguna Beach High next month, is on the USA Water Polo Junior Women’s National Team roster for the upcoming FINA Women’s Junior World Championships.

The Junior Women’s team, coached by Dan Klatt, will compete Aug. 19-25 at Volos, Greece and opens tournament play against Kazakhstan Aug. 19.

Fischer, a utility player, is the only high school player on the team.

FINA Women’s Junior Team roster

Makenzie Fischer, utility (Laguna Beach); Ashleigh Johnson, goalie (Princeton); Jillian Yocum, goalie (UC Irvine); Tiera Schroeder, attacker (California); Eike Daube, utility (USC); Mackenzie Barr, utility (UCLA); Kodi Hill, defender (UCLA); Monica Vavic, attacker (USC); Emily Donohoe, attacker (UCLA ); Alys Williams, defender (UCLA); Ashley Grossman, center (Stanford); Rachel Fattal, attacker (UCLA); Kiley Neushul, attacker (Stanford).

FINA Men’s Junior Team roster

Nolan McConnell, attacker (Long Beach St.); Adam Abdulhamid, attacker (Stanford); McQuin Baron, goalie (Mater Dei); Bret Bonanni, attacker (Stanford); Alex Bowen, attacker (Stanford); Garrett Danner, goalie (UCLA); Matt Farmer, center (UCLA); Jack Fellner, attacker (UCLA); Jackson Kimbell, defender (Stanford); Danny McClintick, attacker (UCLA); Chancellor Ramirez, defender (UCLA); Ryder Roberts, attacker (UCLA); Alec Zwaneveld, center (UCLA).