Breakers respond well in doubleheader

The Laguna Beach High baseball team tuned up for the start to the Orange Coast League season by splitting a doubleheader Tuesday against San Juan Hills.

The Breakers dropped the opening game, 4-2, but came back to down the visiting Stallions, 3-1, in the second game.

In the opener, junior Steven Harrison went two for two with a run scored.

“We just missed on a couple timely hits that could have earned us a win,” Laguna Coach Mike Bair said of the Game One loss.

Senior Kurt Rebone ran his pitching record to 2-0 in Laguna’s 3-1 win in the second game. The Breakers’ offense was powered by junior Richie Nunez, who went two for three with a double, run batted in and run scored, and senior Larry Stewart, who was two for three with a double.

The Breakers wrapped play on March 8 at the Newport Elks Tournament, where they went 4-1 and finished in third place. Their final game was a 2-0 decision over visiting Westminster. Senior Jackson Rees threw just 65 pitches in recording the win and also went two for three on offense.

At 5-2 overall, Bair said his squad so far had had a “great start to what we believe will be a great season.”

The Breakers’ season shifts gears Friday with the opening of their OCL schedule. They play host to Saddleback at 3:15 p.m.

“We are ready for league,” Bair said. “Pitching and defense wins league titles and we are doing both very well right now. We like our chances to make a run for the OCL title this season.”

Bair plans to send Rees to the mound for Friday’s league opener. Rees is 2-0 with an earned-run average of 0.00, and has 13 strikeouts, Bair said.

Laguna continues league play Tuesday with a 3:15 p.m. game at Estancia.

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Softball

The Breakers travel Friday for a 3:15 p.m. game at Santa Ana. They return home Monday to play host to Saddleback Valley Christian in a 3:30 p.m. nonleague game at Thurston Middle School.

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CIF Weekly Rankings (week of March 11)

Baseball: Laguna, No. 10, Division 4.

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Twitter: @MikeSciacca