BREAKERS ROUNDUP: Eventful track meet features tie

The Laguna Beach High track and field teams saved the best for last in their Orange Coast League meet with Costa Mesa, held Wednesday at Estancia High.

The Breakers girls and boys both came up big in the 1,600-meter relay, salvaging a win and a tie, respectively.

Laguna Beach’s girls won the event to edge the Mustangs, 69-67, and complete an undefeated league dual meet season. The boys also won the event and finished tied, 66-66.

For the Breakers girls, Marissa Merchant, Tori Toma, Beverly Ronses and Jessie Goodman was the winning team. Coach Scott Wittkop said Goodman caught a Costa Mesa runner in the last 100 meters to win it.

“All of them ran great races,” Wittkop said. “It was huge of them to step up.”

On the boys’ side, Wittkop said the team of Graham Harris, Alex Wheeler, Tommy Newton and Sean Pigden won by four-tenths of a second (3:34.4) to pull out the tie. Another highlight occurred in the high jump, where Andre Parker (6 feet, 2 inches), Billy Darnell (6-0) and Devin Kent (5-10) swept the top three spots.

Wittkop was happy with the tie, especially considering many of the top distance boys like Blake Hofmeister and Matt Neev didn’t run to gear up for league finals.

The Orange Coast League preliminaries are Monday at Estancia High, with the finals Thursday.

In action from Saturday, several Breakers fared well at the Orange County Championships at Mission Viejo High. Senior Holden Penney finished fourth in the girls’ long jump (16-11 1/2 ), and Hofmeister was also fourth in the seeded boys’ 1600 meters (4:21.29).

Hofmeister, a junior, also placed fourth in the 3200 in 9:17.60. Brett Linkletter was seventh in the long jump with a mark of 20-9 3/4 .

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BOYS’ TENNIS

The Breakers clinched their second straight Orange Coast League title after topping Estancia, 15-3, Tuesday.

Laguna Coach Aaron Talarico said the Eagles went with a strategy of putting their top two singles players, Ely Zaidler and Danny O’Neil, together in doubles. They swept, but the Breakers also won every other set.

Laguna Beach, ranked No. 6 in CIF Southern Section Division IV, hasn’t really been challenged at all in league.

“I think our closest match was 14-4 against Calvary Chapel, the first time we played them without Jake [Michaels],” Talarico said.

The Breakers (11-6, 8-0) finished league play at home against Costa Mesa Thursday, and are at University today. The Trojans, with a ton of top-ranked players, are ranked No. 1 in Division I.

“It’ll be a fun match,” Talarico said. “Uni is just so loaded with good players. I just want our guys to compete; that’s what I’m looking for.”

League individuals are Tuesday and Wednesday at Laguna Beach. Michaels, Chris Lavery and Benito Romeo will possibly all be battling it out for singles champion honors, with Calvary Chapel’s Alex Grosek also in the mix.

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BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL

The Breakers finally got their Orange Coast League test “” and they passed.

Visiting Calvary Chapel pushed Laguna to five games Tuesday night, but it was the Breakers who survived a 21-25, 25-12, 25-19, 23-25, 15-9 decision on their home court to improve to 18-5, and 6-0 in league.

It was the first time the Breakers, still the top-ranked team in the CIF Southern Section Division II coaches’ poll, had been pushed past three games in a league match this season.

“We were due for a match like that,” Coach Lance Stewart said. “Calvary Chapel is very well-coached and they played extremely well. We didn’t play bad, but I don’t think we brought the type of intensity we need. We did just enough to win.”

Travis Woloson had 19 kills for Laguna and Scott Chapel added 17 kills and a team-high 22 digs. Robbie McKnight had 34 assists, and both he and Chris Bailey added nine kills.

Calvary Chapel (15-14, 2-3) served nine aces.

The Breakers were again without senior outside Cooper Gwaltney (back), although Stewart is optimistic he will back for the final two league matches.

Laguna Beach plays at Estancia Monday and plays host to Costa Mesa Wednesday to finish the regular season.

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BASEBALL

Laguna Beach is on a bye from Orange Coast League play this week, although the Breakers do entertain Valley Christian at 10 a.m. Saturday in a nonleague doubleheader at Laguna Beach High.

In their most recent league game, the Breakers topped Godinez, 2-0, on April 24. Senior Gabe Stansbury and sophomore Chris Paul both had RBI doubles, and senior Dillon Pierce was also two for three with a run scored.

Junior Casey Miller got the complete-game shutout, allowing four hits and three walks while striking out seven.

Laguna Beach (11-10, 6-2 in league) gets back into league play with a game at Estancia Tuesday. League leader Costa Mesa (8-1 in league) lost against Calvary Chapel, so the Breakers will be either one or two games back after the Mustangs and Eagles play again today.

The Breakers, trying to win their first league title in 46 years, face the Mustangs in a crucial home-and-home series beginning May 12 at Laguna Beach.

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or by e-mail at [email protected].