After a week-long spring break, the spring season teams returned to full competition this past week with the regular season winding down.
Baseball
Entered this past week at 19-2, 9-0 with six games remaining, including the series this past week with Godinez. Breakers just need one win to clinch a playoff spot for only the 17th time in 73 seasons. Coach Jeff Sears in his fourth season has won more games than any previous baseball coach.
Breakers will play Costa Mesa (5-4, 10-9) next week and closeout with Saddleback (0-9, 3-16) the following week. CIF pairings will be posted at noon on Monday, May 16, at cifss.org.
Southern Section CIF Division IV Poll as of April 26:
1 – Bishop Amat, 2 – Palm Desert, 3 – Oaks Christian, 4 – Laguna Beach, 5 – Torrance, 6 – Indio, 7 – Chino, 8 – Troy, 9 – La Quinta/LQ, 10 – San Dimas Others: La Salle, Colony, Covina
Statistical Leaders through 21 games:
Plate Appearances: 88 – Keaton Jones, 83 – Austin Paxson, 80 – Chris Paul
Batting Average: .486 – Erik Peruzzi, .464 – Chris Paul, .408 – Keaton Jones, .372 – Larry Stewart
Hits: 35 – Erik Peruzzi, 32 – Chris Paul,
Doubles: 11 – Keaton Jones, 10 – Chris Paul, 8 – Erik Peruzzi, 7 – Steven Harrison
Triples: 2 – Erik Peruzzi, Keaton Jones, Chris Paul
Home Runs: 2 – Chris Paul, Steven Harrison
Runs Scored: 27 – Keaton Jones, 23 – Austin Paxson, Chris Paul
Runs Batted In: 30 – Chris Paul, 29 – Erik Peruzzi
Walks: 14 – Keaton Jones, 11 – Steven Harrison
Stolen Bases: 9 – Keaton Jones, 8 – Austin Paxson, Chris Paul
Pitching Innings: 47 – Chris Paul
Wins: 6 – Chris Paul
Strikeouts: 50 – Chris Paul, 22 – Keaton Jones
Earned Run Average: 0.74 – Chris Paul, 0.81 – Keaton Jones
Team Batting Average: .356
Team ERA: 1.71
Softball
Costa Mesa rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning to edge the Breakers 8-7 in a contest played at Costa Mesa this past Monday. The Mustangs (2-2, 4-13) tightened the race for the remaining playoff spots between Godinez (3-2, 7-12), Estancia (1-3, 4-15), and the Breakers (2-2, 7-5). Calvary Chapel (5-0, 14-5) appears unstoppable by the remaining league teams while Saddleback (0-4, 0-7) struggling to compete, giving up an average of 25 runs per game.
Against Mesa, Laguna ace Haley Putnam struck out 12 giving up only three hits, but the Breakers gave up seven errors on defense to let Costa Mesa back in the game. Laguna hosted Estancia today and travel to Godinez on May 5. A playoff spot may come down to their May 10 game with Costa Mesa at the Thurston School field.
Softball playoff bids will be released by CIF at 1 p.m. on Monday, May 16.
Boys Golf
The final regular season dual match will be played today against undefeated Estancia. Unless there is an upset, Laguna will finish tied with Calvary for second in the eight team league The top individuals will compete on Monday, May 10, for the league individual tournament with the final rounds on Thursday May 13.
Swimming
Breakers wrapped up their dual meet season yesterday at Costa Mesa and will return to the Mustang pool on May 3 for the league meet preliminaries with the finals on May 5. Laguna has won the past two boys meet titles and the past three girls league titles. The 2011 meet should add to this list.
Boys Tennis
The regular league season completed this past week and Laguna will host the league tournament next Wednesday and Thursday on the local courts. Team pairings for the playoffs will be released on Monday May 9 at 11 a.m. Laguna lost in the section semifinals last season and in the finals in 2009. Overall, Laguna is 71-35 in 38 previous playoffs. Breakers were CIF champions in 1973, 1980, 1982 out of seven appearances in the finals.
Southern Section CIF Division IV Poll as of April 26:
1 – Viewpoint, 2 – Paramount, 3 – Laguna Beach, 4 – Santa Ynez, 5 – Westminster, 6 – La Quinta/W, 7 – Cate, 8 – Segerstrom, 9 – Dunn, 10 – Linfield Christian. Other: Buckley
Track and Field
Laguna finished 4-1 in league dual meets and will travel to Scott Field at Estancia High School for the league meet next week. Finals will be on Thursday afternoon. The boys have won the previous four league titles but will be hard pressed to keep Godinez from taking the 2011 crown. Laguna girls are the defending champions and will be tested by the Grizzlies to retain their title.
Boys Volleyball
The regular season concludes next week and Laguna has won their fifth straight league title and the program’s 25th all-time title. Next Friday is the 28th annual alumni match with the varsity taking the court about 6 p.m. This event and auction attracts many of the programs alumni as far back as the first team in 1972.
Breakers will find out their playoff schedule on Sunday, May 8, posted at 9 a.m. at cifss.org. Breakers are defending D-II champions but will be challenged this season by Corona del Mar. Laguna lost to the Sea Kings earlier this season but are healthy and at 100 percent. Laguna is hoping for a deep playoff run and a chance to defend their state CIF Regional title. Breakers were regional champions the past two seasons.
Photo by Robert Campbell
After tagging the runner at the bag, Austin Paxson tries for a double play at first earlier in the season. Breakers seem headed for a playoff spot.
