Ready for the season

Mike Sciacca

The Laguna Beach High softball team will open its 2003 season on

Saturday against the Century Centurions in the first round of the

Costa Mesa Tournament.

Mike Roche will begin his 20th year as head coach with an early

start -- 8:30 a.m. -- at TeWinkle Memorial Park in Costa Mesa.

Roche’s upcoming season features several key returners from last

year’s squad, which finished with a record of 6-15.

“This is a fun group to coach and they have a great attitude,”

Roche said of his Breakers. “We have a lot of good athletes but we

lack experience.”

Laguna finished 2-8 in Pacific Coast League last season and the

team is looking to return as a top contender in the league for the

first time since the 1996 team lost a bid for third place.

Among those players returning are second-team all-league pick

Hilary Frimond, and Jocelyn Turner, who was an honorable mention

selection.

Here’s a capsule look at the 2003 Laguna Beach softball team:

LAGUNA BEACH

LEAGUE: Pacific Coast

2003 RECORD: 6-15 overall; 3-7 in Pacific Coast League

KEY RETURNERS: Hilary Frimond, SS, second-team all-league, .386

avg.; Jocelyn Turner, P, 1.32 ERA, honorable mention; Laura Herbert,

1B, .323 avg.; Katie Jones, 3B, .285 avg.; Quinn Johnson, OF, .222

avg.; Cassie Caputo, 2B, .229 avg.; Ginny Wieldand, OF, .209 avg.;

Leigh Ziegler, OF, .219 avg.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Lauren Delgado, P/2B; Simone de Valero, C.

SEASON OPENER: Saturday, vs. Century, Costa Mesa Tournament

OUTLOOK: With eight returners in the lineup, Laguna figures to

improve on last season’s six-win total.

The program is looking to return to the CIF playoffs for the first

time since 1990.

“Our strengths are our attitude and teamwork,” Roche said. “We

play a very competitive schedule, which should be fun.”