High School Baseball: Laguna opens campaign Thursday
The Laguna Beach baseball team is ready for more.
A year removed from a record-setting season, the 2015 edition of the Breakers has been putting in the hard preseason work looking to pick up where last year’s team left off — with one of its most prolific seasons in program history.
Several members, including two all-Orange Coast League selections, return from a 2014 team that had a perfect run to the Orange Coast League championship, tied a school record for most wins (27) in a season, and matched the program’s best finish (semifinals) in CIF Southern Section postseason play. One of that team’s three losses was a 4-3 nine-inning semifinal loss to eventual Division 4 champion Torrance last June.
Coach Mike Bair’s Breakers begin their new campaign Thursday at the Newport Elks Tournament.
Below is a capsule look at the Breakers, who start the season with a No. 4 preseason ranking in Division 4.
Head coach: Mike Bair (4th year)
Coaching staff: Chris Duncan, Ben Julianel, Paige Nobles, Josh Arhart, Chad Concolino.
2014 overall/league records: 27-3; 15-0 (champion).
2014 CIF results: Reached Division 4 semifinals.
Returning varsity players: Callan Cochran (OF, Sr.); Anthony Norelli (OF, Sr.); Cole Coscino (P, Sr.); Jake Smith (OF, Sr.); Zak Kovacic (OF/P, Jr.); Jack Simon (2B/OF, Jr.); Dante Faicchio (3B, Soph.); Ashton Goddard (P, Soph.).
Returning with honors: Dante Faicchio (second-team all-league); Callan Cochran (second-team all-league).
Varsity newcomers: Blake Burzell (P, Fr.); Jeff Bruyntjens (SS, Fr.).
Coach’s take: “We are young, talented, and eager to compete this season.”
The schedule: “We moved up a bracket in the Elks (tournament) and also are playing in the Ryan Lemmon Invitational over spring break. We have some tough teams to play but that is exactly where we want to be, playing the best.”
Season opener: Thursday vs. Newport Harbor (Newport Elks Tournament).
2015 Schedule
Thursday: vs. Newport Harbor (Newport Elks Tournament)
March 7-13: at Newport Elks Tournament
March 20: *at Costa Mesa, 3:15 p.m.
March 24: *Saddleback, 3:15 p.m.
March 27: *at Estancia, 3:15 p.m.
March 31: *Calvary Chapel, 3:15 p.m.
April 2: *Godinez, 3:15 p.m.
April 4-10: Ryan Lemmon Invitational
April 14: El Modena (at Angel Stadium), 3 p.m.
April 15: *Costa Mesa, 3:15 p.m.
April 17: *at Costa Mesa, 3;15 p.m.
April 21: *at Saddleback, 3;15 p.m.
April 24: *Saddleback, 3:15 p.m.
April 28: *Estancia, 3:15 p.m.
May 1: *at Estancia, 3:15 p.m.
May 5: *at Calvary Chapel, 3:15 p.m.
May 8: *Calvary Chapel, 3:15 p.m.
May 12: *at Godinez, 3:15 p.m.
May 14: *Godinez, 3:15 p.m.
(*denotes Orange Coast League game)
Twitter: @MikeSciacca