Skipping back on the diamond

Mike Sciacca

The last time Skip Andrews coached on a prep softball field, it was

the 1987 season, as junior varsity coach at his alma mater, Laguna

Beach High.

He will get his first taste of varsity coaching Saturday when the

Breakers open their 2005 season against La Quinta in Costa Mesa

Tournament play at Costa Mesa High.

Andrews was named Laguna Beach varsity head coach only 3 1/2

weeks ago, so he’s got off to a late start with the team.

“Laguna will have a young team with each player seizing challenges

as they arise as a learning experience to better both themselves and

the team,” he said. “Having each player maximizing their individual

potential in the role they play while developing and maintaining a

strong team chemistry, will be the key to success for the Breakers.”

Returning for Laguna in 2005 are three starters from a year ago:

junior pitcher Lauren Delgado, junior second baseman Meagan

McCullough and senior catcher Simone de Vilmorin.

“Since we have just three returning starters, we don’t have that

continuity that having a lot of returners allows a team,” Andrews

said. “The challenge is to put together a team in a short period of

time.

“One big thing we do have in our favor is having a key returning

pitcher in Lauren.”

Andrews, a 1979 graduate of Laguna Beach High, got a first-hand

look at his squad Tuesday during a home scrimmage against La Quinta.

The Breakers will get another look at those same Aztecs when the

two squads face off Saturday at 9 a.m. in the opening round of the

Costa Mesa Tournament.

Laguna will play a second tournament game at 1 p.m. Saturday.

“It’s going to be a learning curve for us, early on,” Andrews

said. “I look at tournament games and nonleague games as chances for

this team to grow. It’s the league games that I am looking forward

to, to see how this team has developed.

“I’m glad to be able to do what I can to help out with the

program. I’m a Laguna guy.”