League play starts

In four of the seven games the Laguna Beach High baseball team has played so far in the 2007 season, three have been against Valley Christian.

The Breakers met host Crusaders in a nonleague doubleheader Monday and split their latest meetings. Laguna won the first game, 8-5, while Valley Christian took the night cap, 9-4.

The teams first met on March 3 in the Newport Elks Tournament, where the Crusaders posted an 8-2 victory.

In Monday’s first game, junior Julian Deline came on in relief of junior Zach Nuno with two out in the bottom of the fifth and preceded to throw 2 1/3 perfect innings. Laguna’s offense did its part, too, as it scored four runs in the top-half of the sixth to wipe out a 5-4 deficit.

The one-out rally began with a Mike Bradvica single and continued with a Trevor Pierce single before Dillon Pierce delivered an RBI double that tied the score.

After Rob Cortright was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Dominick Robusto came up with a clutch, two-run double that gave the Breakers the lead for good.

A Bill Sanders ground out led to the final run of the inning.

Trevor Pierce went three for three with three runs scored, Sanders two for four with two RBI, Gabe Stansbury two for four with a double and Dalton Sype two for four.

“We really hit the ball well,” Laguna Coach Dave Dopf said. “I thought Julian stepped up big. He’s really coming on right now and becoming a legitimate pitcher.”

In Monday’s night cap, Laguna never led in a 9-4 loss.

Trevor Pierce went two for four with a double and two runs scored, Bradvica two for four with a double and Dillon Pierce two for four.

Laguna limited the Crusaders to just four hits, but 10 walks contributed greatly to nine runs.

“We walked way too many batters and just threw away too many balls,” Dopf said.

On Saturday, Laguna wrapped up play in the Newport Elks Tournament with a 6-5 win over host JSerra.

The Breakers took advantage of Lions errors to score two runs in the top of the first, then produced four runs in the third. The big hit of that inning was a two-run double by Nathan Pickett.

Laguna, 4-3 overall, begins Orange Coast League play Tuesday at Costa Mesa. First pitch is 3 p.m.

“I was concerned about our hitting until last night,” Dopf said of Laguna’s performance against Valley Christian that saw the Breakers rack up 23 hits in the two games. “We were hitting shots at guys and eventually, they will fall through.

“If we continue to hit the ball this way, play good defense and get our pitching going, we will do well in league. We’re a pretty good team.”

In softball

Visiting Capistrano Valley held off Laguna, 7-6, in a nonleague game Monday. Previously, the Breakers lost a tough one to La Quinta, 7-4, in an international tiebreaker in extra innings.

Laguna takes on Sage Hill in nonleague play at 3:15 p.m. today at Newport Ridge Park. The Breakers also will ply at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday against St. Margaret’s in a nonleague game at Cook Park.