Spring sweet so far for Breakers
In the final week before spring break, Laguna Beach High athletic teams turned in strong performances and several teams continued to streak in Orange Coast League action.
The baseball, boys’ volleyball, boys’ tennis, boys’ golf, boys’ and girls’ swim teams, and girls’ track and field, posted recent league victories.
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Baseball
The Breakers took their consecutive victories in Orange Coast League play to 51 by rolling to recent wins over Costa Mesa and Godinez.
In league play Tuesday, the Breakers erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the second inning and went on to take a 10-4 victory from visiting Costa Mesa. Sophomore Jeff Bruyntjens went two for two with a home run and drove in two runs, senior Connor Basile two for two with a pair of doubles and two RBIs, senior Zak Kovacic two for two with a double and RBI, junior Dante Faicchio two for three with a double and RBI, junior Connor Coscino had a hit and two RBIs, and junior Dustin Angus had a hit and RBI.
Sophomore pitcher Blake Burzell (four innings, two hits, two walks, six strikeouts) got the win.
The Breakers improved to 3-0 in league and 3-6 overall.
“We ran the bases really well as a team, and put pressure on the Costa Mesa defense,” Laguna Coach Mike Bair said.
The Breakers’ league winning streak hit 50 Friday when they routed host Godinez, 12-2. Angus doubled twice and drove in four runs, Kovacic had two hits and three RBIs, and sophomore Jack Loechner, (four innings, five hits, one run) took the win.
Bair said his team performance “great execution.”
“It was great to see our bats come alive,” he said.
The Breakers traveled Thursday to take on Sage Hill, the top-ranked team in CIF Southern Section Division 6. The score wasn’t available at press time. They resume league play Friday with a 3:15 p.m. game at Saddleback.
The Breakers also will play in the Ryan Lemmon Invitational during spring break. They open the 16-team tournament Saturday at 12:15 p.m. against Irvine at Windrow Park in Irvine. The tournament continues Monday and runs through Wednesday.
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Boys’ Volleyball
The Breakers (3-5 overall) launched their Orange Coast League season Tuesday at Dugger Gym against Godinez, and the defending league champions swept the Grizzlies, 25-17, 25-15, 25-18, to win their 69th-consecutive league match.
Junior outside hitter Pete Obradovich had a game-high 19 kills and 11 digs. Junior middle blocker Barry Greenough had eight kills and four digs, junior defensive specialist/opposite Bruce Knill had 10 digs, and junior libero Cole Paxson had 36 assists.
Last weekend, the Breakers, ranked No. 2 in CIF Southern Section Division 2, went to Santa Barbara to compete at the 41st annual Dos Pueblos Invitational at UCSB. They advanced through pool play to the Gold Division bracket, then swept Palisades (25-22, 25-22) and Westlake (No. 4 CIF-SS Division 1, 25-23, 25-17) to reach the semifinals. They finished tied for third place with Simi Valley (No. 8, CIF-SS Division 2) for third place after falling to Saddleback Valley Christian (No. 1, CIF-SS Division 4, 25-15, 25-17).
Oak Park, the top-ranked team in Laguna’s division (CIF-SS Division 2), won the tournament by sweeping Saddleback Valley Christian in Saturday’s final, 25-17, 25-12
The Breakers played a league match Thursday at Costa Mesa. The score wasn’t available at press time.
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Swimming
The Breakers’ boys’ and girls’ varsity teams each went to 2-0 in Orange Coast League competition Wednesday by defeating host Godinez at Santa Ana Valley High. The boys won by a 126-39 score, the girls, by a 133-28 final.
The Breakers had a 1-2-3 finish in the boys’ 100 freestyle. Billy Renner won the event in 51.21 seconds and was followed by Camden Benson (53.11) and Judge Washer (53.60). All three swam to a new best time in the event.
The Breakers previously competed March 18 at the Mission Viejo Invitational at the Marguerite Aquatics Center. Forty schools competed at the meet and the Laguna girls’ team finished ninth overall, and the boys’ team took 17th-place.
In her first meet of the season, Laguna diver Liv Mitchell took second place among 43 divers (441.10 points) and qualified for CIF, Laguna co-head Coach Beth Weber said.
“We went in to this meet with the goal of achieving more CIF automatic time cuts, especially in relays,” Weber said. “Our team did outstanding in prelims, achieving 22 new best times. In finals, we accomplished our goals with eight new CIF automatic time cuts. Our team had 11 top-15 finishes in finals.”
Top-15 finishes by the Breakers: Kasey Karkoska (girls 100 backstroke, 57.34, CIF automatic time, winner; girls’ 200 individual medley, 2:07.34, CIF auto time, fourth); Cameron Karkoska (boys’ 200 IM, 1:52.56, CIF auto time, second; 100 back, 52.30, CIF auto, fourth); Max Morgan (boys’ 100 free, 46.97, CIF auto time, winner; boys’ 100 breaststroke, 1:00. 57, CIF consideration time, seventh); Claire Kelly (girls’ 500 free, 5:23.28, PR and CIF consideration time, 15th); Harper Dix (girls’ 100 back, 58.19, CIF auto time, 10th); Girls’ 200 medley relay (Harper Dix, Kasey Karkoska, Sophie Leggett, Kyla Whitelock, 1:53.36, CIF auto time, eighth); Girls’ 200 free relay (Harper Dix, Bella Baldridge, Kyla Whitelock, Kasey Karkoska, 1:41.37, CIF auto time, fifth); Liv Mitchell (diving, second).
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Boys’ Tennis
The Breakers, ranked second in CIF-SS Division 4, took on Sage Hill Wednesday at The Tennis Club in Newport Beach and dropped an 11-7 nonleague match to the Lightning.
In singles, No. 1 Ryan Gee (0-6, 6-4, 6-0) won two sets and in doubles, the team of Ethan Gee/Hayden Seitz picked up two points (6-2, 6-7, 6-0).
The outcome put the Breakers at 6-2 overall.
“It was a close match and unfortunately, we lost most of the very close sets which would have changed the end result,” Laguna Coach Don Davis said. “However, the boys played well and are continuing to improve.”
One day earlier, the Breakers upped their Orange Coast League record to 2-0 Tuesday by defeating visiting Godinez, 17-1. In singles, Ryan Gee (6-0, 6-0, 6-0), No. 2 Charles Keller (6-1, 6-0, 6-0) and No. 3 Tristan Krogius (6-0, 6-0, 6-0) swept. Sweeping in doubles at the No. 1 line were the teams of Ethan Gee/Seitz (6-2, 6-0) and Gee/Jake Pietig (6-0), and No. 2 team of Mason Lebby/Blake Hawkins (6-2, 6-2, 6-3).
The Breakers, who started league play March 17 and defeated Estancia, 16-2, took on Saddleback in league action Thursday. The score wasn’t available at press time.
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Track and Field
The Breakers started their Orange Coast League season Wednesday against Godinez, and split at the varsity level with the Grizzlies. The Laguna girls’ team won, 96-22, and the boys’ team dropped a close, 65-57 meet, at Guyer Field.
First-place varsity finishes for the Breakers in Wednesday’s league meet:
Girls: 4x100 meter relay (Laguna “A”: Regan Caraher, Lauren Struss, Rose Niejermier, Shanai Auguis, 53.22); 1,600 meter run (Hannah Konkel, 5:39.14); 100 meter hurdles (Carmen Nichols, 18.64); 400 meter run (Coco Putnam, 58.55); 100 meter dash (Shanai Auguis, 13.82); 800 meter run (Regan Caraher, 2:31.16); 300 meter hurdles (Sidney Williams-Goldberg, 52.25); 200 meter dash (Coco Putnam, 26.35); Long jump (Blake Turner, 13-07.00); Triple jump (Blake Turner, 31-09.00); High jump (Blake Turner, 4-06.00); Shot put (Jackie Cenan, 38-01.25); Discus throw (Jackie Cenan, 114-00).
Boys: 110 meter hurdles (Charlie Warner, 16.92); 400 meter run (Cale Airey, 54.15); 300 meter hurdles (Brody Seebass, 42.51); 3,200 meter run (Ryan Whitlock, 10:35.25); Long jump (Brody Seebass, 18-08.50); Triple jump (Charlie Warner, 38-06.50); High jump (Charlie Warner, 5-06.00).
The Breakers hosted the 48th annual Laguna Beach Trophy Invitational Saturday at Guyer Field. Coco Putnam of the Breakers won the varsity girls’ 400 meter dash (57.91) and was second in the varsity girls’ 300 meter hurdles (45.21).
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Boys’ Golf
The Breakers went to 2-0 in league play March 17 by defeating host Estancia, 206-251, at Mesa Verde Country Club (par 36) in Costa Mesa.
Max Brown took low medalist honors with a 40 score, and the Breakers squared their overall record at 3-3.
“The boys played really well at Mesa Verde,” Coach Scott Finn said. “The golf course was in great condition with the greens rolling extremely fast.
“I’m really proud of the guys working together in their groups to assist and encourage one another. They really enjoy playing together.”
The Breakers and Eagles met again in league action. The score wasn’t available at press time.
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Softball
The Breakers were in action Thursday and opened their home slate against Century. The score from the nonleague game wasn’t available at press time.
The Breakers travel next week for a 3:15 p.m. nonleague game Tuesday at Bolsa Grande.
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CIF Weekly Rankings (released Monday)
Boys’ Tennis: Laguna Beach (No. 2, Division 2).
