Baseball (20-8, 15-0)
![layer Dante Faicchio, who broke the season’s double records, receives the well wishes of his parents, Nick and Diana. photo courtesy of LBHS Baseball Boosters.](https://www.lagunabeachindy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/1-sports-dante-Faicchio-SC_3463-600x419.jpg)
For only the fifth time in 79 seasons of varsity play, Laguna completed the league undefeated with a sweep of third place Estancia last week to conclude the regular season.
On Tuesday, May 9, at home, Jack Loechner went the distance striking out five for a 5-0 shutout of the Eagles. Dylan Smith had a key hit driving in two runs. The following day at Estancia, Breakers rallied for four runs in the seventh to pullout a 6-2 victory.
Dante Faicchio broke the season doubles record with the 50th in his career, surpassing Chris Paul (2008-11) and becoming the third player in Southern Section history to hit 50 doubles. The record is 55 set in 2010 and the Orange County mark is 54.
For the season, Faicchio has 21, good for third all-time in So Cal history and one short of the county mark. The 2017 team has made their mark in the Laguna record book and will finish among the top six teams all-time. The 231 runs scored ranks third in school history.
Up this week is the opening round of the Southern Section CIF Division 2 playoffs. The new power playoff groups have placed Laguna in Division 2 of seven divisions and the Breakers will open at Trabuco Hills this Friday, May 19, at 3 p.m. at the Mustang campus. Trabuco is 17-9-1 on the year and holds a 19-7 series edge on Laguna, last playing in a non-league contest last season. There are 35 teams in the ultra-competitive Division 2 playoff with Trinity League champion St John Bosco the top seed.
Statistical Leaders after 28 Games:
Batting Average: .451 Dante Faicchio, .426 Dustin Angus, .420 Cutter Clawson, .388 Grady Morgan
Hits: 46 – Dante Faicchio, 43 – D. Angus,
Doubles: 21 – Dante Faicchio
Runs: 44 – Dante Faicchio
Stolen Bases: 11 – Dustin Angus
RBI – 36 – Dustin Angus
Appearances: 14 – Lance Stewart, 12 – Blake Burzell, 11 – Jack Loechner
Pitching Wins: 7 – Jack Loechner, 6 – Blake Burzell
Innings Pitched: 54.2 –Jack Loechner, 48.1 Blake Burzell
ERA: 2.18 – Jack Loechner, 2.67 – Lance Stewart, 2.90 – Blake Burzell
Strikeouts: 55 – Blake Burzell, 49 –Jack Loechner
Team Batting Ave is .366 (ranks 3rd all-time)
Team ERA is 2.97 (ranks 6th all-time)