Orange Lutheran was young a season ago, but the potential was undeniable.
After starting the season 4-5, Coach Steve Miklos’ team finished as Trinity League champs and compiled an overall record of 21-10.
With just about everyone back this season, Orange Lutheran has hit the ground running. The Lancers are off to a 9-0 start and have won the Brea Olinda and Saddleback Valley tournaments.
“The experience of last year helped immensely,” Miklos said. “I think we surprised some people last year. This year, I don’t think we’re going to come up and surprise anyone. We’re a year older and didn’t lose much.”
Sophomore right-hander Maddy Dwyer is 7-0 with a 0.65 earned run average. Add to that the Lancers’ loaded lineup, and you’ve got one of the five best teams in the county.
Junior shortstop Mackenzie Boesel and senior outfielder Hanna Boyd are both batting over .500, while Alyssa Millan and Dwyer are batting in the .400 range.
“We’ve gotten off to some slow starts before, but this year we’re weeks ahead of where we normally are,” Miklos added. “Hopefully we can keep it going. It’s great to win in March, but it all comes down to how you play in league. If you don’t do well in league, nobody cares that you won in March.”
Orange Lutheran will look to keep its perfect start going today when it travels to play La Mirada in a doubleheader. The Lancers will host Esperanza on Thursday before playing a doubleheader against Fountain Valley on Saturday.
BEST OF THE WEST UPDATE
After playing in a tournament last week in Arizona, top-ranked Mission Viejo and No. 5 Pacifica will resume play Saturday in the semifinals of the Best of the West Tournament.
The Diablos (8-0) and the Mariners (3-2) are the lone county schools to reach Saturday’s semifinals at 11 a.m. at Pacifica. Mission Viejo will play Saugus, while the Mariners take on Norco.
The championship game is 3 p.m. at Pacifica.
The Diablos won their second consecutive Dave Kops Tournament of Champions crown this past weekend, and now they have an opportunity to capture their second straight Best of the West title.
Mission Viejo topped Pacifica, 5-0, in last year’s final.
Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com
