The heat was on for the Trabuco Hills Mustangs at the bottom of the sixth as they hoped to come back from 8-4 deficit.
With Trabuco's Dylan Tanner on base, junior Nick Heili hit the only home run of the game to score two for Trabuco. Ryan Kearney followed with a double to continue the offensive outburst, and Matt Wong recorded an RBI to close the deficit to 8-7. But the Laguna Beach Breakers stopped the Mustangs there, exiting with an exciting one-run win.
This first round CIF Southern Section game took place at Trabuco Hills High School (Mission Viejo) and made for a close matchup. The visiting Laguna Beach Breakers went undefeated in League, proving ready to take on Sea View League champions, Trabuco Hills. The competition matched the expectation.
Laguna Beach built its lead at the top of the first when Trabuco pitcher Broox Mahr allowed an RBI base hit to the Breakers' Kolton Freeman that scored Dante Faicchio. The scoring didn’t end there. Cutter Clawson drove in Dustin Angus to extend the lead to two, and the Breakers continued with three more runs off Mahr at the top of the third.
Then the bottom half of the third brought hope for Trabuco. The Mustangs' Daniel Johnson hit a solid drive to drive in teammates Ryan Kearney and Matt Wong. Laguna worked to further secure their lead the next at bat, with a pitching change from Trabuco to put Ryan McCarrell on the hill. Laguna’s Dante Faicchio drove in teammate Will Bonn to extend the Breakers' lead.
Trabuco Hills again continued to chip away at Laguna's lead when Nick Heili doubled, and Thibert's RBI sent Heili home. Johnson followed, driving in Thibert. With their two runs, the score became 6-4.
The last two innings brought a close battle, ultimately leaving Laguna Beach to advance to the next round. Breakers Pitcher Jake Lochner expressed his plan for upcoming CIF games.
“The pitching is there, we just got to have the whole team pull through,” Lochner said.
Coach Sears agreed and praised his team for working hard against the Mustangs.
“Trabuco is a great team, and our close group of guys and they know what works for them," Sears said. "We appreciate the support of the families and friends during the spring season.”
The Breakers will face Newbury Park on Tuesday to decide who will advance to the next round.
