PHOTOS: League leading Laguna Beach powers past University for decisive road win

Laguna Beach junior Branson Wade fires a pitch as University’s Sean Maher takes a lead Wednesday. The first baseman is Dylan Yencho. (Photos courtesy Nicolas von dem Bussche).

Laguna Beach High School’s baseball team won handily on the road 9-0 Wednesday afternoon spoiling senior day at University and excelling in all aspects of the game.

The Breakers lead the Pacific Coast League with a 12-1 league record and 22-3 overall mark and won their fourth in a row. Laguna Beach has already clinched the league title.

To see the slide show, click on the first photo:

University's Brennan Collins gets ready to throw a Becker Sybirski of Laguna Beach takes a lead. The Uni first baseman isIsaac Hsieh.

Laguna Beach runner Lincoln Adams dives back to first base. Uni first baseman is Isaac Hsieh.

University third baseman Andrew Down gets ready to make a tag.

Laguna Beach players celebrate a home run by Lucien Reed.

University reliever Micah von dem Bussche fires a pitch to Thomas Gonzales of Laguna Beach.

University's second baseman Chase Nguyen tries to tag out a Laguna Beach runner.

Otis Boultinghouse of Laguna Beach takes a swing. The Uni catcher is Luke Emrich.
Photo courtesy Susan J. Emrich

Laguna Beach players, including No. 22 Thomas Gonzales, celebrate.
Photo courtesy Susan J. Emrich

Laguna Beach opened the scoring in the second inning with a rare three-run single by junior center fielder Otis Boultinghouse, his first of three hits on the day. Laguna Beach added a run in the third on an RBI double by senior right fielder Lucien Reed.

Reed added a solo homer over the left center field fence in the fifth inning, a rare event given University’s spacious left field power alley.

Meanwhile, Jjunior righthander Branson Wade pitched four scoreless innings stranding six Trojan base runners to improve his record to 10-1 on the season. Senior righty Thomas Gonzales pitched three scoreless innings to finish, striking out eight including an immaculate final seventh inning when he struck out the side on nine pitches.

For Laguna Beach, juniors Jackson Arrasin and Parker Moore each had a pair of singles while Gonzales scored three runs.

University (12-13, 5-8) was limited to three hits by pitcher Brennan Collins, junior catcher Luke Emrich and junior rightfielder Shawn Ho.

Junior shortstop Sean Maher had two stolen bases. The Trojans were guilty of five errors, but only the last two led to two unearned runs. The teams meet again Friday afternoon at Laguna Beach.

University needs to win to have a chance to reach the .500 overall mark and have a chance of advancing to the CIF playoffs as an at-large team.

—Courtesy Daryl Bogard, For OC Sports Zone