Town Breakers Drop Baseball Opener
LBHS Spring Sports Roundup
By FRANK ARONOFF

Boys Tennis (3-4)

Laguna opened league play yesterday after falling last Thursday to highly regarded Woodbridge 16-2.

The lone Breakers wins came in doubles as the teams of Jared Berkson/Ben Biscarrat and Noah Michelon/Rex Miller each picked up a win.

This past Tuesday, Laguna defeated Capistrano Valley Christian 11-7 on the local courts. Jake Michaels picked up two wins in singles and #2 player Benito Romero also picked up a victory. The Breakers took 8 of 9 doubles to seal the overall win.

Laguna is ranked #3 in the most recent CIF Division IV Coaches Poll.

Baseball (4-5, 0-1)

Coach Jeff Sears' worst fears came true as Laguna dropped their opening Orange Coast Town League contest with a 4-0 loss to Calvary Chapel/Santa Ana on Tuesday at Orange Coast College. The Breakers out hit the Eagles but gave up seven walks setting up scoring opportunities for Calvary.

Last Friday, Laguna split their doubleheader at Valley Christian winning the opener, 3-2 but could not hold off a Crusader rally in the sixth inning to lose the nightcap, 6-5.

Laguna hosts league favorite Costa Mesa today at Skipper Carrillo Field and will play next week in the Anaheim Lions Tournament organized by Kennedy High School in North Orange County.

Boys Golf (4-3, 3-1) Defending league champion Estancia showed no plans to give up their crown as they defeated Laguna 207-222 at Mesa Verde in Costa Mesa. The two teams won't meet again until April 16 in San Clemente.

Earlier this month, Bret McGaughey fired a par 36 to lead Laguna to a 194-231 win over Orange at San Clemente Golf Club and on March 13, the Breakers defeated Ocean View 196-212 at the local Laguna course - Aliso Creek Inn.

Boys Volleyball (9-6)

Late Wednesday Result

Laguna beat OC #6 ranked San Clemente (9-4) once more Wednesday night in Dugger Gym in a hard-fought fivegame match, 25-20, 29-27, 25-23, 19-25, 15-11.

Previously, the Breakers finished seventh in the 34th annual Orange County Championships last weekend in a county event that featured nine of the region's top 10 teams.

Laguna opened play on Friday with a 25-21, 26-24 win over the tournament's #3 seed, Fountain Valley (12-2) at their gym. Cooper Gwaltney led the Breakers with 13 kills while Michael Kahl and Chris Reames each provided 7 digs. The match ended with Jake Killian recording a solo block for the final point that left no doubt which was the better team. In Friday's nightcap, Laguna rallied to defeat a very good J Serra squad 26-24, 27-25. Shawn Merz was the key player for the Breakers with 18 kills.

On Saturday morning, Laguna defeated San Clemente (#6 OC, #7 Div-I CIF) 19-25, 25-22, 15-13 in an intense match that saw numerous lead changes and some very tough blocking by Laguna.

Merz led Laguna with 14 kills with Lorenzo Torriero picking up 9 kills and two blocks. Clay Knapp, Gwaltney, and Kahl each recorded solo blocks against the Tritons (7-2).

The victory put Laguna into the Final Eight playoffs for the 27th time in 32 years participating in this tournament.

The Breakers traveled to Edison High School to face a hot Corona del Mar team that easily handled Laguna to earn a 25-22, 25-18 win, The Sea Kings went on to defeat Newport Harbor and Foothill to capture their second all-time OC Title.

The weekend effort coupled with last week's regular season victory over CdM vaulted the Breakers to the #3 spot in CIF Div-II behind the two top teams in the nation, Valencia/Valencia and Santa Barbara. Corona del Mar is ranked #4 in the division, followed by Dos Pueblos, Claremont, Santa Ynez, Arcadia, arroyo Grande, and Ventura.

Also last weekend, Frosh Soph moved to 10-0 in regular matches with a 25-21, 25-21 win over Orange Lutheran. The undefeated JV and Frosh Soph will be in major mid-season tournaments this weekend featuring Southern California's top programs.