Breakers get much-needed ‘W’

COSTA MESA — The relay went from left fielder Mike Opera to shortstop Keaton Jones, then to catcher Spencer Friedenrich as he tagged the runner out.

It was perfect execution on defense by the Laguna Beach High baseball team in an important Orange Coast League game Friday at Orange Coast College. And it helped preserve a big victory.

Laguna Beach won, 6-3, over first-place Calvary Chapel. The Breakers are now 3-3 in league, a big difference from 2-4 and now just a game back of the Eagles (4-2).

Costa Mesa is also now tied for first at 4-2 after beating Godinez on Friday. Estancia sits at 3-1, so the Breakers are still in fourth place. But the win definitely gives them some momentum headed into next week’s home-and-home series against last-place Godinez.

“It’s a huge difference,” Breakers Coach Jeff Sears said of evening up to 3-3 in league, after his Breakers’ only win against Calvary in three league games. “With four losses, you put yourself way behind the eight-ball. With three losses, it gives you the opportunity to take care of your own business. Our only hope is they don’t win out, but if they win out, it’s good for us too, because then we’ll make the playoffs. Right now, we’re sitting in fourth place and fourth place doesn’t get you much in terms of CIF.”

The relay play in question helped preserve what was a 4-3 lead in the fifth inning, gunning down Calvary Chapel’s Jared Pena at home after he attempted to score on a double to the wall by Brett Perry.

“I feel like that gave us the momentum back,” said junior pitcher Chris Paul, who improved to 3-1 and limited the hard-hitting Eagles to four hits. “It was a definitely a momentum-builder at that point... I just tried to throw a lot of strikes and just went after them. It seemed to work out pretty well.”

Paul finished strong, retiring Calvary Chapel in order in the final two innings. And Sears, who bemoaned his team’s lack of execution after Tuesday’s 5-0 loss to the Eagles, had plenty to be happy about.

“That [relay was] perfect execution on defense, and Chris executed on the mound,” Sears said. “You throw strikes and we make the plays, we’re going to be all right.”

Paul, Shane Selfridge, Erik Peruzzi and Raphael Vickers all had a pair of hits Friday for the Breakers.

Calvary Chapel has no league games next week, and Estancia plays crosstown rival Costa Mesa.

In Tuesday’s home game against Godinez, Laguna will be wearing pink uniforms and collecting donations in honor of breast cancer awareness.