Baseball (7-2, 2-0)
Laguna 13, Saddleback 0
As expected, the Breakers opened their 75th league campaign with an easy shutout victory over the Roadrunners in a contest played on Friday, March 15 at Skipper Carrillo Field. It was 9-0 Laguna after one inning as Jackson Rees threw four shut-out innings allowing three hits. Also pitching in relief were Richie Nunis, Dade Shields, and Cameron Hall, each throwing one inning. Laguna had a season high 11 hits for the game.
Laguna 8, Estancia 0
Breakers earned the win on Tuesday, March 19 at the Estancia Field as Kurt Rebone (3-0) threw a one hitter and the Laguna bats belted out a season high 13 hits. The second straight league shutout is still short of the school record four thrown in 1997 and the three consecutive shutouts in 1958.
The biggest league test is this Friday, March 22 when Laguna travels to face Calvary Chapel (5-3, 2-0) and their fine pitching staff.
Statistical Leaders through March 19 (9 games)
Batting Average: ,500 Luke Simon
.421 Blake Hester
.421 Steven Harrison
Hits: 10 Jackson Rees
Runs Scored: 7 Preston Grand Pre
RBI’s : 7 Richie Nunis & Steven Harrison
Doubles : 4 Grant Wilhelm & Larry Stewart
Home Runs: 2 Steven Harrison
Pitching Wins: 3 Jackson Rees & Kurt Rebone
ERA: 0.00 Jackson Rees
Team Batting Average: .303
SSCIF D-4 Poll for March 18: 1 – Oaks Christian, 2 – Northview, 3 – Nogales, 4 – Kaiser, 5 – Monrovia, 6 – San Dimas, 7 – Sonora, 8 – Don Lugo, 9 – Laguna Beach, 10 – San Marino, Others: Baldwin Park, Alhambra, Norte Vista, La Sierra.
Boys Golf 2-7, 0-2)
Lost to Sage Hill 217-229 on March 14 and to Calvary Chapel 217-229 on March 19.
Softball (3-9)
Breakers went 1-5 since the last report, losing 9-3 to San Juan Hills on March 12, 14-5 to Walnut on March 13, and 6-4 to Brea-Olinda on March 14, all as part of the Laguna Hills softball tournament. On March 15 Laguna dropped a 5-3 contest at Santa Ana but defeated La Quinta/Westminster 11-1 on Saturday, March 16 in a Costa Mesa Tournament contest. This past Monday, Laguna lost to Saddleback Valley Christian 4-2.
Swimming
Breakers opened their league season this past Thursday at their chief league rival, Costa Mesa. Next home league meet will be April 10 with Calvary at the local pool.
Boys Tennis (2-6, 2-0)
Laguna Beach opened league play on March 12 against Saddleback. Jeff Spitz swept all three sets (7-5, 7-6. 6-2) and both Matthew Meisberger (4-6, 6-3, 6-1) and Noah Raddach (0-6, 6-0, 6-2) won two of their three matches in singles play. All three doubles teams swept, with the following scores: No. 1 doubles Ryan Gee and Oliver Nasiell (6-1, 6-1, 6-0), No. 2 doubles Owen Weber, Alex Duong (6-2, 6-0, 6-0); No. 3 doubles Jared Boetes and Tim Nguyen (6-0,6-0,6-0).
On Thursday March 14, Laguna edged Estancia 11-7 for the showdown with the team’s chief league challenge.
Morgan Lebby swept all his matches at No. 1 singles (6-0, 6-0, 6-1). The other wins for Laguna came from the doubles teams of Ryan Gee and Oliver Nasiell, who won all three matches (6-4, 6-3, 6-0), Alex Duong and Owen Weber who also swept (6-4, 6-1, 6-3) and Matt Meisberger and Tim Nguyen who won two of three matches (1-6, 6-4, 6-2).
This past Tuesday, the Breakers lost to Dan Hills, 14-4.
Boys Volleyball (4-3)
San Clemente defeats Laguna 25-23, 25-23, 20-25, 22-25, 17-15
Breakers almost pulled off the season’s top upset falling to So Cal’s undefeated top team San Clemente in a match played on Wednesday, March 13 at the winner’s gym. Laguna played their best of the season and held a 12-10 lead in the fifth set. Weston Barnes had 25 kills, Jackson Pries 13, Noah Blanton nine kills and six blocks, Jake Hexberg with 15 digs and two assists, and Grif Fair with three aces and 50 assists.
40th Annual Orange County Tournament
Breakers battled to sixth place in the 16-team Division I bracket this past weekend played under a best-of-five set format for the first time ever . This year’s tournament finished close to county rankings, with only Orange Lutheran falling well below expectations. Play opened Friday at Edison with Laguna defeating Servite 25-18, 25-15, 26-24 with Laguna substituting throughout the match. In the nightcap, fourth-ranked Mater Dei defeated the Breakers 25-21, 25-18, 25-18 as Laguna lacked energy after delay between matches.
On Saturday, Breakers held off Edison in the fifth place semifinal 25-19, 25-22, 24-26, 18-25, 15-6 as it took until the fifth set for the squad to get down to business. After losing a point on a technical ruling prior to the start, Laguna was never threatened. Grif Fair had two solo blocks while Weston Barnes and Jack Wyatt provided the firepower.
In the last match, Laguna dropped a five-set thriller to fifth-ranked Esperanza 17-25, 25-20, 19-25, 25-23, 9-15 . Top play went to Weston Barnes with 17 kills while Noah Blanton added 15 and Maxx McCarter 11.The two division rivals will meet on April 27 at the Aztec’s gym.
Darren Utterback’s JV squad defeated San Clemente 25-21, 22-25, 16-14 in their match played prior to the varsity contest, revenging their lone set loss of the season to the Tritons in the Foothill JV tournament playoffs.
Photo by Robert Campbell
