BREAKERS ROUNDUP: Laguna ready to open league

The Laguna Beach High baseball team (2-3) is busy preparing for its Orange Coast League opener, scheduled for 3:15 p.m. today at home against Godinez.

The Breakers need to bounce back after suffering a 15-1 loss to Ocean View in their last game of the Newport Elks Tournament on Saturday.

“Our guys realized that to be a champion, you have to prepare like a champion,” Laguna Coach Jeff Sears said. “Preparation is 90% of this game. This week, we’ll prepare well and put forth a better effort [against Godinez].”

Sophomore Chris Paul was two for three with a run batted in against Ocean View and senior Dillon Pierce also had a hit and scored a run.

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BOYS’ TENNIS

The Breakers fell to 1-3 after losing to Sage Hill, 12-6, on Tuesday. A highlight was the play of the No. 1 doubles team of senior Rex Miller and junior Mikey Rubel, who swept by scores of 6-3, 6-1, 6-3.

Sophomore Jake Michaels won two of three singles sets.

In earlier action, Laguna Beach won its first match of the year when it edged San Clamente, 10-8, on March 12. Michaels swept at No. 1 singles, and junior Christian O’Connor won two of three sets at No. 2 singles.

Miller and Rubel again swept at No. 1 doubles and Laguna got single set wins from Aaron Fong, as well as the doubles team of Alex Gromet and Hunter Moscow.

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BOYS’ GOLF

Laguna improved to 2-0 in the Orange Coast League after taking care of Orange, 195-260, on Monday. The Breakers’ Duane Hewlett earned medalist honors with a two-over-par 38 at San Clemente Golf Course.

In previous action, Laguna Beach shot a 194 in a tri-meet on March 12, which tied it with Newport Harbor and put it two shots behind San Clemente (192). For the Breakers, Hewlett and Mike Cannan led the way with one-over rounds of 36 at Talega Golf Club in San Clemente.

The Breakers (3-2-1) had another league match against Ocean View on Wednesday and then face off with Estancia on Tuesday, March 24 at 2:30 p.m. at Mesa Verde Country Club.

SWIMMING

Laguna Beach had some fast finishes at the Los Amigos co-ed relays Saturday, finishing 15th out of 30 schools.

The event allows boys and girls to compete together in super-sized relay races, and the Breakers placed first in the 12x50-yard freestyle relay.

The relay team consisted of girls’ team members Natasha Schulman, Taylor Capobianco, Taylor Dodson, Yoshi Andersen, Annika Dries and Madison Duncan, as well as boys’ team members Nicky Brunner, David Brunner, Alex Shusko, Nile Koegel and Nolan McConnell.

Laguna was second in the 8x100 free relay, which featured girls’ swimmers Schulman, Melena Masson, Dodson and Dries and boys’ swimmers Preston Head, David Brunner, McConnell and Koegel.

Coach Kari Johnson said she was happy with the way the meet went, even as the Breakers were missing many swimmers because of SAT testing and lifeguard tryouts.

Schulman got two automatic CIF Division III times in the 50 and 100 freestyles.

The Breakers are at Lake Elsinore for a meet Saturday and then prepare for their Orange Coast League opener, which is at home against Calvary Chapel and Godinez on April 1.

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TRACK AND FIELD

The Laguna Beach boys’ track and field team improved to 2-0 after topping La Quinta and El Dorado in a tri-meet March 12.

The Breakers tallied 72 points, La Quinta scored 45 and El Dorado had 41.

Junior Brett Linkletter was a three-event winner for the Breakers, taking the 100 meters in 11.78 seconds, the long jump (19 feet) and also the triple jump.

Laguna Beach also won the 4x100 relay (45.76) and 4x400 (3:48), and senior Horacio Acosta took the 800 in 2:14.01.

Sean Pigden was second in the 400 in 55.81 and also in the 200.

On the girls’ side, top finishers included senior Holden Penney in the 100 (13.76) and long jump (16 feet 6). Natasha Strickland won the 1600 in 5:46.71, followed by sister Kativa in third in 5:51.60.

Marissa Merchant (29.25 in the 200), Beverly Ronses (1:07.59 in the 400), Parker Yamasaki (2:44 in the 800) and Julia Millang (4-4 in the high jump) all earned second-place finishes.

The Breakers then went to the Irvine Invitational on Saturday. Top finishes included Penney in the long jump (third, again at 16-6). Jessie Good Man was 11th in the 200 meters (27.32).

On the boys’ side, Linkletter was eighth in the long jump (19-11.5) and ninth in the triple jump (40-4.5). Senior Andre Parker was ninth in the high jump (5-10) and sophomore Matt Neev was 10th in the 1600 in 4:29.49.

Both teams opened Orange Coast League action against Godinez on Thursday, the results of which were not available by press time.