Baseball/Softball: Laguna gets a little payback
Ten months ago, Laguna Beach went to Torrance for a CIF Southern Section Division 4 semifinal baseball game that eventually would need nine innings to determine which team would advance to the division’s championship final last June.
Torrance rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth to survive that game, 4-3, and the following week would capture the division title. Wednesday at Windrow Sports Park in Irvine, the Breakers handed the Tartars a little payback.
Laguna overcame an early 5-0 deficit and rallied to tie the score, went ahead for the first time in the bottom of the fifth, went in front for good in the sixth and finally held off a Torrance rally in the seventh to claim a 10-9 victory at the Ryan Lemmon Invitational.
Jake Smith went two for three, walked, had an RBI, stole three bases and scored twice for the Laguna offense. Cole Coscino (RBI), Anthony Norelli (double) and Alex Baker (double) had two hits each, Jack Simon doubled and drove in a pair or runs, Dante Faicchio singled with an RBI, and Will McInerny doubled.
McInerny threw a complete game, striking out six to go with seven hits and four walks.
“It was a crazy game,” Laguna Coach Mike Bair said. “We played poorly defensively and did all the things we weren’t supposed to do but somehow, we were able to fight back with our offense. Anthony Norelli and Will (McInerny) had key hits and everyone, really, contributed in some way.
“It was one of those games that I felt was like a boxing match. Both teams took their punches and we were left standing at the end.”
The win put Laguna at 3-1 in the tournament and sent the Breakers to 9-5 overall. They faced Tustin (2-2 tourney) in a consolation game Thursday. The score wasn’t available at press time.
At the tournament Tuesday, Laguna was shut out for only the second time this season in a 6-0 loss to Marina. Faicchio had the lone hit for the Breakers in a game Bair said was a “tough loss.”
Marina (4-0) played Long Beach Millikan (3-1) for the tournament title Thursday.
Laguna had started the tournament with consecutive victories.
In an opener Saturday, the Breakers scored six runs over the third and fourth innings and went on to defeat Santa Clarita Golden Valley, 7-3. McInerny had three hits including a double and drove in three runs, and Norelli and Connor Basile both had two hits. Zak Kovacic pitched a complete-game for the win. The junior gave up six hits, walked two and struck out two.
“Kovacic pitched great and we took advantage of some of their mistakes with some timely hits and great base-running,” Bair said.
Laguna followed that win by withstanding a late Woodbridge rally Monday to hold off the Warriors, 9-8. Kovacic went three for three and scored three times, McInerny, Faicchio and Norelli each had two hits and an RBI, and Baker singled with an RBI. Sophomore Ashton Goddard (winner) pitched two innings and didn’t allow an earned run.
“Great team win,” Bair said. “Clutch hitting, timely pitching, (and) solid defense.”
Before starting the Ryan Lemmon Invitational, Laguna completed the first round of Orange Coast League play April 2 when it hosted Godinez. The Breakers stand alone atop the league standings after blitzing the Grizzlies, 16-0.
The Breakers outslugged the Grizzlies, 15-2, in improving to 5-0 in league. Seven of those hits were doubles. McInerny (double, RBI), Kovacic, Faicchio (double), Simon (double, three RBIs) and Jake Smith (double, two RBIs), each had two hits. Jack Loechner and Jeff Bruyntjens both doubled and had an RBI, and Kovacic doubled.
Goddard didn’t allow a hit or walk and struck out three in four innings’ work for his first of two wins during the past week.
The win over Godinez pushed Laguna’s OCL win streak to 39 games.
The Breakers shut out three of five league foes during the first round of league play, outscoring the opposition by a whopping 55-5.
“We’ve been playing really solid defensively, our hitting has been getting more consistent, and our pitching has improved,” Bair said of his team’s early league run. “We’ve really been cutting down on the number of walks given up, and we’ve gotten better with our command of our off-speed pitches.”
Laguna takes the big stage next Tuesday when it goes to Angel Stadium for a 3:30 p.m. nonleague game against El Modena.
“We’re so excited,” Bair said. “It’s a dream come true to play in a professional stadium. We’ll have our JV team warm up with us and then head up to their seats for the game. This is really a neat opportunity for our program, and El Modena is a good, solid team and it should be a great challenge.”
The Breakers also are back in OCL action next week and play consecutive games against Costa Mesa. They host the Mustangs at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday and the teams meet April 17 at Costa Mesa.
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Softball
The Breakers have been idle since an April 1 nonleague game which they lost, 21-0, to Saddleback Valley Christian.
Laguna (0-8) begins its Orange Coast League schedule next week.
The Breakers play a 3:15 p.m. game Tuesday at Costa Mesa, and host Saddleback at 4 p.m. Thursday at Thurston Middle School.
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Twitter: @MikeSciacca