Sports Shorts: Breakers Reach Girls Volleyball Finals in Anaheim

Laguna Beach High’s girls volleyball team, No. 3 in the CIF Southern Section Division 1A coaches’ preseason rankings, lost to Dos Pueblos of Goleta, 25-19, 25-22, in the finals of the Foothill Queen’s Court preseason tournament Sunday at the American Sports Center in Anaheim.

Dos Pueblos, ranked No. 2 in Division 1AA, finished 8-0 in the tournament while the Breakers were 6-2. Laguna Beach defeated Edison, 32-30, 25-21, in the semifinals.

Edison finished third and Corona del Mar was fourth in the Division 1 standings.

Breakers Gain Top Polo Player Transfer

A couple weeks ago it was reported in the Orange County Register that junior Riley Thomas, an All-Pacific Coast League second-team water polo player from Woodbridge High had transferred to Laguna Beach, the defending CIF Southern Section Division 3 champions.

The story was confirmed by Breakers coach Ethan Damato, who told the paper, "He [Thomas] was our leading scorer during summer ball," and added that Thomas had been cleared to play by the Southern Section.

Thomas joins a team that is No. 1 in the Division 3 coaches' preseason poll and features returning utility player Nolan McConnell and goalie Erik Henrickson.

Catching Up, Bidding Adieu

If you were on vacation all summer (like some of us), you might not have heard that Jeff Sears, who guided the Laguna Beach High baseball team to unprecedented achievements last spring, resigned his position in July to take over as baseball coach at Servite High. He will also teach three classes at the high school, which is located in Anaheim.

"It was a great opportunity for me to move up the ladder," Sears told Mike Sciacca of the Coastline Pilot, whose story can be found here.  "Not in the sense of our players, but in the chance to compete in the Trinity League. It's a great fit, a great opportunity."

Sears had been coach at Laguna Beach for four seasons, compiling a 71-46 record. This spring, the Breakers won their first league championship in 48 years, set a school record with 27 victories and advanced to the playoff quarterfinals for the first time.

"Laguna Beach was a great place," Sears said. "Everyday, I basically got to go to paradise to coach.... The family atmosphere was tremendous. I had great support and that was a tremendous feeling. I'll take that with me."

Mike Baird, Sears' assistant coach, who took over running the team on an interim basis, is now its full-time head coach, according to Mike Churchill, Laguna Beach's athletic director.

Time Keeps on Ticking, Ticking...

Did you know that if a football team leads an opponent by 35 points or more by the end of three quarters of play this season, there will be a running clock during the fourth quarter?

This “mercy rule,” approved by the CIF Southern Section last spring, will be in effect for all CIF Southern Section football games -- nonleague, league and the playoffs -- beginning this fall.

During a “running clock,” the clock will be stopped only after a score, a fair catch, a charged team timeout or an official’s timeout. Coaches can agree to establish a running clock earlier in the game, but if the points gap between the teams is reduced to less than 35 points in the fourth quarter, the running clock will remain in operation.

Read more about the new "mercy rule" .

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