Briefly In Sports

Palmer, Team USA win tournament

The U.S. Girls’ Youth National Volleyball Team, featuring Laguna Beach High sophomore Allison Palmer, won the NORCECA Girls’ Youth Continental Championship on Sunday in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Second-seeded Team USA defeated top-seeded Mexico, 25-19, 25-21, 15-25, 25-17, in the gold-medal match.

With the victory, the U.S. Girls’ Youth National Team qualified for both the 2011 FIVB Girls’ Youth World Championship tournament in Turkey, as well as the IOC Youth Olympics, to be held in August in Singapore.

Palmer was a setter on the team.

Writer in all-star basketball game

Laguna Beach High junior Emily Writer has been named to the Girls’ Elite Underclass South team for the Orange County High School All-Star basketball games, which are Saturday at Concordia University.

The Girls’ Elite Underclass game is scheduled for 1 p.m., the third of six games on the schedule for Saturday.

Writer was a first-team All-Orange Coast League selection this year for the Breakers after averaging 22.6 points and 7.5 rebounds. She also broke her own school record by scoring 53 points against Costa Mesa on Jan. 26.

The games are sponsored by the Orange County Optimists and the Efusjon Energy Club as a charity event. Tickets are $10 for adults, and children and students get in free.

JV baseball crushes Estancia

After a week’s hiatus, and behind a very balanced attack, the league-leading Laguna Beach junior varsity baseball team continued its winning ways with an 11-1 mercy-rule victory victory over second-place Estancia on Tuesday. With the win, the JV Breakers moved their record to 15-1 and 8-1 in league play.

The Breakers offense was led by second baseman C.J. Rodrigues, who had a three-for-four day at the plate with one triple, one run batted in, one stolen base and two runs scored. One of the Breakers’ hottest hitters this year “” third baseman Travis Clawson “” added two RBIs with a two-for four-day, while outfielder Sean Carney added another three RBIs.

The Breakers’ balanced attack also featured RBIs from designated hitter Blake Hester and first baseman Larry Stewart, and a two-for-four day at the plate by shortstop Jack Pillsbury.

Left-handed pitcher Alex LeBon turned in another strong performance, scattering four hits and allowing no earned runs. With the victory, LeBon improved his record to 6-0 with one save and lowered his earned run average to 1.17. The JV Breakers take on the Eagles again today at home.