Breakers still lead pack

The 2016 Orange Coast League baseball title race is entering its stretch run and the Laguna Beach High Breakers continue to lead the pack.

Laguna entered the week with a one-game lead on Calvary Chapel in the league standings, and kept that distance by scoring a 4-3 victory Tuesday at Estancia.

A two-run double by Connor Basile in the top of the sixth wiped out a 3-2 Estancia lead, and sophomore right-hander Blake Burzell pitched three innings of relief and took the win.

Basile was one of four Breakers with two hits in their 10-hit attack. Dante Faicchio (triple, walk), Dustin Angus (walk) and Jack Simon (two runs) each also had two hits. Faicchio also had two RBIs.

Laguna, which won for the seventh time in its last 10 games, ran its league record to 11-1 and improved to 13-11 overall.

“We got to see another level of our toughness and competitiveness [today],” Laguna Coach Mike Bair said. “It was a great team win and huge momentum for a chance at a league title.”

The Breakers picked up their 10th league win Friday at Saddleback. They produced 14 hits and 15 runs, allowed only one hit and struck out 15, in a shutout of the Roadrunners.

Among the 15 hits were six doubles. Basile (double) led the charge with four hits to go with two RBIs, and Faicchio doubled and drove in a team-high three runs. Zac Kovacic (double) had three hits, Ashton Goddard doubled and had two RBIs, Cutter Clawson doubled and singled, and Simon doubled.

The pitching win went to sophomore right-hander Jack Loechner (4-2) who threw four innings and surrendered only one hit and a walk to go with seven strikeouts. Relievers John Ogden (two strikeouts), Clawson (two walks, three strikeouts) and Will McInerny (three strikeouts) each pitched an inning and held the Roadrunners hitless as the Breakers took the league series, 3-0.

The Breakers conclude their three-game lead series and look for a sweep of Estancia when they host the Eagles at 3:15 p.m. Friday. Burzell (5-5) will draw the start, Bair said.

The focus for the Breakers is all about Friday, and on deck next week is their series completion with Calvary Chapel in the final week of the regular season. The Breakers host the Eagles at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, and play at Calvary Chapel at 3:15 p.m. Thursday.

Calvary Chapel improved to 10-2 in league and stayed in the title hunt with an 8-0 shutout Tuesday of Saddleback.

“The last three games of the year, we feel confident and eager to execute our style of baseball and have huge hope to win a league title,” Bair said. “Our players seem to be firing on all cylinders right now and are playing solid baseball.”

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Softball

The Breakers traveled to Costa Mesa for an Orange League game Tuesday, and lost to the Mustangs, 16-5.

In a league game April 28 at Godinez, the Breakers (0-7 league, 2-14 overall) fell, 17-0, to the Grizzlies.

The Breakers played Saddleback Thursday. The score wasn’t available at press time. Next week, they go to Estancia for a 3:15 p.m. game Tuesday and close out their league and regular season hosting Calvary Chapel at 4 p.m. Thursday at Thurston Middle School.