Archive for the ‘Sports’ Category

Shaper Dennis Jarvis pushes the envelope when it comes to design.

 

Best Shop Shaper: Dennis Jarvis, Spyder Surfboards

Best underground shaper: Dennis McGivern

Surfers who wonder why a consensus has never been reached on what makes the perfect surfboard, should talk to our readers’ picks for best shop and best underground shaper.

This year’s Best Shop Shaper Dennis Jarvis and Best Underground Shaper Dennis McGivern both started in the surfboard business in the late 1970s sweeping foam dust out of shaping bays – Dennis under the tutelage of Eddie Talbot, McGivern under Wayne Miyata. Several decades and many thousands of boards later the two have arrived at very different opinions on what makes a good board.

“Deep dish concaves are making a comeback,” Jarvis said last week as he shaped a board featuring a step bottom, deep concaves in the tail and a lot of tail rocker. The board is for South Bay surf standout Dane Zaun.

“I’ve always found the best boards have flat bottoms and smooth easy rocker. I like the old tried and true,” McGivern said when we spoke to him last week.

Both are eloquent in defense of their beliefs.

The bottom experimentation, Jarvis said, is driven by the desire for a board that is fast and loose, but also thicker for easier paddling. Both Jarvis and McGivern agree that potato chip-thin boards are out of favor, even with the pros.

“When I was a kid I wanted to ride a board that the pro I wanted to emulate was riding. Now Kelly Slater is riding a pig at Pipeline,” Jarvis said by way of explaining the acceptance of thicker, easier to paddle boards.

Jarvis calls the board he is designing for Zaun a Fireball Fish. The flat nose area provides speed, the concave tail makes the board loose.

The concave bottom and crown deck put the rails under water. So Jarvis said he’s making softer rails that won’t catch on hard turns.

McGivern was a glasser before he was a shaper and estimates he’s glassed over 200,000, starting back when Pat Reardon owned Shoreline Glassing.

McGivern has a more subjective view of what makes a good board.

“A lot is in the eye of the beholder. Some of my favorite boards have been god-awful ugly,” he said. But it’s doubtful those were boards he made.

“I’m adamant about superior quality. I surfed well as a kid and I’m able to transfer that into a board that is what competitive surfers want,” he said.

McGivern is back making boards where he began, in the old Shoreline factory on Cypress in Hermosa Beach, which is now run by Aquatech.

“I do it the old way. I shape the boards, glass them, and sand them. I take it through every step instead of sending the work to people who may not have the enthusiasm I have.”

Their different approaches not withstanding, both agree that every surfer, regardless of ability, should talk to his or her shaper.

“I don’t shape stock surfboards. Every board is made for somebody to match their ability, even if they don’t know what they want,” McGivern said.

Jarvis is taking custom board making into the digital age with a CAD program on a computer in his Pacific Coast Highway shop where he’ll work with surfers on the designs of their boards. After the current remodel is completed, he plans to install large monitors to show off the design as it develops.

Dennis Jarvis, Spyder Surf, 2461 Pacific Coast Hwy. HB. (310) 374-8276. 65 Pier Ave., HB. 310-374-2494.

Dennis McGivern, call for appointment. (310) 936-7138.

Best Surf Shop, Skateboard, Snowboard: Spyder Surf

Some businesses branch out. Some sink deep roots. Dickie O’Reilly and Dennis Jarvis have chosen to sink deep roots in the South surf/skate/snow community. Their two stores earned Best Of titles in the surf shop, skate shop, snowboarding and men’s clothing categories.

Jarvis has been shaping surfboards since he opened the first Spyder shop on Pacific Coast Highway in 1983. Top local surfers and pros including Tom Curren rely on him to push the envelope in design. But he hasn’t forgotten that, as he put it, “The average surfer just wants a board that floats and he can have a good time on.”

In addition to surfboards, the PCH store has large skateboard and snowboard departments. The most popular skateboards, Dickie said, feature bamboo and koa decks with clear grip tape that shows off the wood grain. In snowboards, boards with rocker that made their appearance last year are now the most popular boards he said. They’re more forgiving, Dickie explained.

Spyder II on Pier Plaza in downtown Hermosa earned O’Reilly and Jarvis their Best of Men’s Clothing honors. The good news for surfers, O’Reilly said is that the comfortable and stretchy board shorts that were in the $80 to $200 range last year are now competitively priced with traditional cotton/polyester shorts, in the $40 to $60 range. In clothing, he said denim jeans and Sanuk’s “These are not shoes, they’re sandals” shoes are among Spyder’s most popular items.

In keeping with its commitment to community, Spyder II will once again host the Surfers Walk of Fame festival on April 17, headlining by pro surfer turned rock star Donavan Frankenreiter.

Spyder Surf, 2461 Pacific Coast Hwy., HB. (310) 374-8276. Spyder II, 65 Pier Ave., HB. (310) 374-2494.

Surf, Skate and Snow Runner up: ET Surf, 904 Aviation Blvd., HB. (310) 379-7660.

 Best Neighborhood Gym: The Yard

Delivering state-of-the-art training methods based on scientifically sound principles, The Yard maintains a comfortable atmosphere for world-class athletes and weekend warriors alike. Run by Troll Subin, The Yard offers top-flight trainers who provide the same service to their local clientele as they do the many Olympians and professional athletes they train such as Maria Sharapova, Kobe Bryant, Mike Dodd, Nancy Mason, Carson Palmer, Mike Piazza and Eric Karros.

“Our service is among the finest and people feel at home here,” said long-time trainer Luiz DeFreitas. “It truly is a neighborhood gym. You can park out front on the street, enjoy the surroundings of the beach and feel like family. Each week, I train people who have been with me since I started at The Yard in 1996. Many of our professional athletes call us when they are away during the season just to see how things are.”

The Yard: 1106 Hermosa Ave, Hermosa Beach. 310-376-4011

Health Club: BCHD’s Center for Health & Fitness

The most comprehensive fitness center in the South Bay offers more than 15 classes with childcare services available for the low cost of $10/month. In addition to yoga, pilates and a registered dietician, the 17,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility features more than 50 pieces of equipment, freestyle weights ranging from 2-200 pounds and personal TVs on treadmills and elliptical machines.

“Nobody gives you more for just $27/month,” CHF General Manager Mat Wessels said. “We have a welcoming, community gym feel with all the benefits of a big facility and none of the crowds, which are features that attract our outstanding members.”

Center for Health & Fitness: 514 N. Prospect Ave., 2nd Floor, RB, 310-374-3426 ext. 147

Runner-up: Spectrum, 819 Harbor Drive, RB, 310-376-9443. 2250 Park Place, El Segundo. 310-643-6878.

Celebrating its 33rd year, the Manhattan Beach 10K draws thousands of runners and spectators to the city, many who enjoy the festivities of the Hometown Fair held the same weekend. Photo by Ray Vidal

 

Best Race: Manhattan Beach 10K

Founded in 1978 by a group of local runners, the Manhattan Beach 10K Run has held true to its original concept of being a true community event without the aid of corporate sponsorship. The Race Committee is comprised solely of volunteers and the City of Manhattan Beach provides law enforcement, paramedics and public works support.

“Profits” acquired from entry fees at fed back into the community in the way of scholarships to high school seniors living in Manhattan Beach along with upgrades to recreation facilities at local schools and parks. Throughout the years, the event has donated more than $250,000 to the community.

Nathalie Higley, 40, of Redondo Beach, is the women’s two-time defending champion. An elite distance runner who is a perennial top finisher in local races, Higley said the Manhattan Beach 10K is one of her favorite events. “It’s a great local race with lots of people. The race goes for a good cause, helping the kids’ high school and various causes. It’s nice when people race not just for the money.”

The course, which begins at 3rd Street at Valley and Ardmore, winds through the city, ending at the Manhattan Beach Pier. Last year the event attracted more than 4,000 runners of all ages including some of Southern California’s elite athletes.

The 2010 Manhattan Beach 10K tradition continues on Saturday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 a.m. where – in the community spirit — medals will be awarded to the top 10 finishers in each group. For more information, visit MB10K.com.

Runner-up: Redondo Beach Super Bowl 10K/5K.

by Randy Angel

With only a week of action under their belts, the boys volleyball teams from Mira Costa and Redondo will get a litmus test this weekend when the squads compete in the prestigious Best of the West tournament in Poway.

Mira Costa is ranked No. 2 in the CIF Southern Section Division I pre-season poll behind Loyola. There is a strong possibility the Mustangs will face at least one of their division opponents. Among the 32 teams competing in the tournament, which includes top teams from the San Diego area and Hawaii powerhouses Iolani and Punahou, six teams join Mira Costa as top-ten teams in the Southern Section’s Division 1 rankings.

Coach Mike Ninnis’ Mustangs opened their season with a 25-13, 25-19, 25-19 victory over Long Beach Wilson. Kevin Donohue recorded 11 kills and Eric Mochalski added 10 for Mira Costa, who will play Bellarmine (San Jose), Mission Viejo and Cathedral Catholic Friday in pool play.

Mira Costa tuned up for the upcoming tournament with a non-league game against Bishop Montgomery Tuesday. The Mustangs swept the Knights 25-10, 25-13, 25-13 behind Chris Orenic’s six kills. Bryce Miller had 18 assists and Kyle Burgoyne added four kills and nine digs. Bishop Montgomery is ranked No. 2 in Division 4.

Redondo began its season by defeating Los Alamitos for the first time in four years. Ryan Olson had 13 kills and seven aces, Riley Theunissen added nine kills and Michael Vellutato contributed 28 assists and four aces. Redondo recorded 16 aces in the 25-19, 25-13, 25-13 victory.

Last weekend, the Sea Hawks earned a fifth-place tie in their own Varsity Pre-Season Classic. Olson was selected to the all-tournament team, recording 45 kills and 10 aces in three matches.

The Sea Hawks defeated South (No. 1, Div. 4) before losing to St. John Bosco (No. 4, Div. 1) in three games. Redondo rebounded to beat Santa Monica (No. 6, Div. 3) 2-0. Palos Verdes (No. 9, div. 1) tied for third in the tournament and will also represent the South Bay in Poway this weekend.

In a non-league match Tuesday, Redondo defeated North 25-13, 23-25, 25-19, 26-24.

Redondo’s pool play matches in the Best of the West tournament will be against Poway, St. Francis and Chico tomorrow. The Sea Hawks play a non-league match at Mater Dei Tuesday at 6 p.m. ER

 

by Randy Angel

Club volleyball is in full swing and things look promising for Beach Cities Volleyball with four teams in its club winning gold in recent tournaments.

The Beach Cities 13 Gold girls team traveled to American Sports Center in Anaheim where it defeated Seal Beach, Mission Viejo and T-Street VBC en route to a gold medal.

Shea Deck-Jacoby and Charise Montgomery filled in for injured setter Maddy Simones while Evie Gollas and Karly Eastley had strong serving games. Other key contributors were Tamar Davis, Leah Bledsoe, Ronginae Davis, Javana Zahedi, Michaela Lang and Lydia Champagne.

With almost a month off between tournaments, the 14 Gold girls team played its third qualifier at CSU Dominguez Hills. After beating Surf City behind the defensive play of Lyndsay Allen, Gabby deGuzman and Bella Di Domenico, the team defeated TCA OC 14-Black behind the contributions of Ashley Murray, Tyler Spriggs, Kara Hoover, Maddy Peach, Natasha Dutko and Daria Clark. A victory over second-seed Laguna Beach in the third match moved the squad into Division 1.

The girls on the 14 Platinum team maintained the club’s winning ways, earning gold at Cypress College in its third qualifier of the season. The team defeated third-seed Surf City 25-13, 25-10, the 900 Sq. Ft. VBC 13-Steve team 25-20, 25-10 and the Epic 14-2 squad by a score of 25-14, 25-16.

BCVC 16 Gold took top honors at Cypress College, beginning with a 23-25, 25-19, 15-13 win over third-seed Coast VBC 16. After downing North County Edge 16-Gabi 25-19, 25-18, the girls emerged victorious in a hard-fought battle with DSVC 16-SMACK, beating their opponents 20-25, 25-22, 15-11. ER

Basketball

The HAX Basketball Academy is offering its High School Training clinic. Sessions are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-8:30 p.m. at Hangar Athletic Exchange, 3203 Jack Northrop Ave. in Hawthorne. Year-round sessions are also available Tuesdays and Thursdays for boys and girls in kindergarten through 8th grade. Cost is $199/month. For more information call 310-219-0600 or visit HAXLA.com.

Tennis

West Coast Beach Tennis is holding a St. Patrick’s Day Tournament Saturday and Sunday at the two new beach tennis courts at 14th Street and The Strand. For additional information, contact Salokas at 310-614-4869.

Running

Nathalie Higley, 40, of Redondo Beach continues to be one of the area’s elite runners winning the women’s division of the 19^th annual Brea 8K Classic which fielded a record 2,000 registrants. Higley completed the 4.96-mile course in 28 minutes, 41 seconds.

Soccer

American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) Region 17 of North Redondo has been awarded a Platinum Regional Assessment Award for the 2008-09 AYSO season. The award honors Region 17 for overall excellence and its commitment to serving its communities and other AYSO Regions.

Swimming

Online priority registration for returning members of the Junior Lifeguard Program is available until 5 p.m., Friday, Mar. 26. Registration for newcomers begins at 9 a.m. April 26 for the Mira Costa Swim test on Saturday, May 8. Open to boys and girls ages 9-17, the five-week program teaches beach and ocean skills and runs from Monday, June 28 through Friday, July 30. Cost is $420. For more information or to register, visit watchthewater.org/jg.

Volleyball

A 4-person coed beach volleyball league will begin on March 23. The Tuesday league will be played north of the Hermosa Beach Pier from 6-8 p.m. Cost is $250 per team (40 teams max.). Registration must be made prior to league start date at the Hermosa Beach Community Center, 710 Pier Ave. or online at hermosabch.org. For more information, contact Bill Sigler, bill@smacksportswear.com and/or Chris, cyj@prankmonkey.org.

Registration is ongoing for the United States Youth Volleyball League’s (USYVL) spring season. Open to boys and girls ages 7-15, the Hermosa Beach league is held at South Park and runs from April 12 through June 9. The coed format provides instruction in a safe, low pressure environment that focuses on sportsmanship and teamwork. Fees are $145 through Monday. Late registration will be available for $180 Tuesday to April 1. To register, visit usyvl.org.

Golf

The South Bay Police and Fire Memorial Foundation will hold its 16th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Golf Tournament Monday at the Los Verdes Country Club in Rancho Palos Verdes. First tee off is at 7 a.m. with a second shotgun start beginning at 12:30 p.m. Proceeds from the event help provide financial support for families of fallen or disabled safety personnel. Honorary Chair will be Manhattan Beach resident and comedian Bill Engvall. Also participating will be NFL Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway, owner of Manhattan Beach Toyota/Scion. For more information, contact Sherry Kramer, 310-640-1520 ext. 236, skramer@continentaldevelopment.com or visit sbpoliceandfire.com.

Camps

AdventurePlex, 1701 Marine Ave in Manhattan Beach, will be holding a Spring Break Camp for boys and girls ages 6-12 beginning Monday, March 29 and running through Friday, April 2 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Activities include rock climbing, ropes course (ages 8 and up), crafts, Adventure Room play, fitness gaming and cooperative games on the Sports Court. All camp staff is CPR-, First Aid- and AED-certified. Cost is $185/week or $50/day. To register, visit adventureplex.org or call 310-546-7708.

Kurt Baker of Star Sports Performance is hosting free speed, power and agility camps on Saturdays from 8:30-10 a.m. at Aviation Field to teach the lifts and movements used to build powerful, explosive and fast athletes. Baker holds a degree in exercise with over 25 years experience and is certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist, a USA Weightlifting Coach and a NIKE SPARQ Testing Coach. Space is limited. Call 310-748-3667 to register. ER 

by Randy Angel
Umbrellas remain at the ready, fireplaces still glow in the evenings and local youth recently enjoyed a few days off from school for “Ski Week.” But the season has changed for high school athletes who begin their spring season this week. 

On the diamond, Mira Costa and Redondo begin their baseball seasons with new head coaches. On the court, both schools continue their rivalry in boys volleyball with Mira Costa ranked No. 2 in the CIF Division I pre-season poll, and on the track, a pair of accomplished distance runners will lead the Mustangs and Sea Hawks in girls track. 

 

Baseball
Both schools open their seasons competing in the El Segundo Tournament. Mira Costa plays at San Pedro tomorrow at 3:15 p.m. before hosting Long Beach Poly at 11 a.m. Saturday and Torrance at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday. 

Cassidy Olson begins his first year as skipper for the Mustangs after a one-year – and controversial – stint at rival Redondo. Mira Costa comes off a 20-12 season and a second-place finish to Palos Verdes where it went 7-1. 

Olson will benefit from returning first team All-Bay League selections Kyle Demarco and Jake Jelmini along with second team honorees James Glawe and Lucas Whitehill. 

Demarco was the team’s leading hitter in 2009, boasting a .429 average. He will anchor the infield at the shortstop position. At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, Jelmini led the team with a .611 slugging percentage while Whitehill led the Mustangs in home runs (5) and RBIs (36). Glawe will play a key role on the pitching staff. 

After serving many years as an assistant coach, Bradey Thurman returns as head coach at Redondo. He’ll have the task of turning around a program that finished 10-19 last season, including a disappointing 1-9 league record. 

Key returners are third baseman/pitcher Chris Jump, shortstop/pitcher Alex Mistuloff, outfielders Joey Hoy, Nick Ridio and Shawn Sokolsky and second baseman Daniel Marquez. 

The Sea Hawks open the El Segundo Tournament at South in a 3:15 p.m. contest tomorrow. They host Narbonne at 11 a.m. Saturday and travel to Oak Park for a 3:15 p.m. game Tuesday. 

Boys Volleyball
Mira Costa ran the table in the Bay League in 2009, finishing with an impressive 33-2 season record. Unfortunately, its second loss came in an upset to Mater Dei in the semifinals of the CIF Division 1 playoffs. 

Head Coach Mike Ninnis continues to run the perennial powerhouse volleyball program that is Mira Costa. This season’s edition will be led by 6-foot-5 Eric Mochalski, a third team All-CIF selection last year.
Joining the basketball star will be first team All-Bay League players D.J. White and Davis Waddell. Second team honoree Kevin Donohue will help form a strong nucleus for the Mustangs. 

Mira Costa hosts Long Beach Wilson tomorrow at 7 p.m. and Bishop Montgomery Tuesday at 6 p.m. 

 

Redondo comes off a second-place finish in the Bay League and a 14-1-1 record. The young Sea Hawks lost to San Clemente in the opening round of the 2009 playoffs. 

Coach Duncan Avery will rely heavily on first team All-Bay League outside hitter Ryan Olson (6-6) along with second team selections Michael Vellutato, a 6-foot setter, and 6-foot-5 middle blocker Austin Moore. 

The Sea Hawks host the Redondo Varsity Pre-season Tournament tomorrow and Saturday before playing at North Tuesday at 4:45 p.m. 

Softball
Coach Dick Amberik has four All-Bay League players returning to his Mustang squad, which finished with a 12-17-1 record and was runner-up to Palos Verdes in league play. 

Catcher/outfielder Katie Saunders (.412, 19 RBIs, 6 triples) and middle infielder Amanda Gard (.286, 17 runs) will join second-team all-league centerfielder Jonele Conceico (.449) and outfielder/pitcher Amanda Padilla (.445) as team leaders. 

Mira Costa opens its season competing in the Cypress Tournament this weekend. 

Redondo kicks off its season playing in the Downey Classic Saturday. Coach Jennifer Dessert also has four returning all-league players. The Sea Hawks, who had only two seniors on their 2009 roster, finished fourth in the Bay League and the season with a 9-18 record. 

Pitcher/first baseman Brett Aspel (.326) and catcher/outfielder Sonia Colavita (.329, 14 RBIs) are returning first team All-Bay League players. Second team members returning are catcher/outfielder Cindy Zamudio (.388) and centerfielder/third baseman Linda Park (3 HR). 

Boys Lacrosse
Mira Costa Coach Dave Vinci’s boys team competes in the Foothill Tournament Saturday at 5 p.m. The defending Bay League champions host Peninsula Monday at 7 p.m. before traveling to Chadwick for a 4 p.m. match Tuesday. 

The Mustangs went 13-5 in 2009, falling to undefeated Loyola 8-7 in the finals of the LA Regional Tournament. 

Coach Phil Comito’s Redondo squad begins its season at Crespi next Thursday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m. The Sea Hawks finished the 2009 campaign with a 6-8 record. 

Girls Lacrosse
Redondo begins its fourth season Monday, March 15 hosting Peninsula at 6 p.m. Coach Tom Borgia’s Sea Hawks are the defending league champions and are coming off a surprising 17-2 season that saw the team reach the title match of the LA County Championships. 

Mira Costa comes off a 16-5 season and was the only team to beat Redondo during the regular season. Coach Patty Perkinson’s Mustangs play at Peninsula Wednesday. 

Boys Tennis
Last season, Mira Costa was ranked No. 8 in CIF Division 1 entering the playoffs. The Mustangs play at Marina today at 3 p.m. before taking on Loyola Tuesday at 3 p.m. in the Bay Area Classic Tournament. 

Redondo hosts Santa Monica today and El Segundo Monday before traveling to South Tuesday. Each match is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. 

 

Track and Field
Redondo’s boys are defending Bay League champions. The Sea Hawks travel to Beverly Hills today for a 2:45 p.m. meet. The squad will compete in the Paramount Relays Saturday at 8 a.m. 

Mira Costa hosts Warren today at 2:15 p.m. The Mustangs host a three-way meet with El Segundo and South Saturday. 

Swimming
Mira Costa begins its season in the J. Marrow Invitational in Beverly Hills on Tuesday, March 23. The Mustang boys and girls teams placed second in the Bay League last season. The boys finished 14th in CIF Division 2. 

Redondo swims at El Segundo today at 3 p.m. Both teams finished fourth in the Bay League in 2009. ER

Editors Note: With rain in the forecast, the dedication for the new Beach Tennis courts in Hermosa Beach has been postponed until April. The St. Patrick’s Day Tournament remains scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, March 13 & 14.

by Randy Angel
West Coast Beach Tennis will inaugurate Hermosa Beach’s two permanent courts at 14th Street and The Strand with a ceremony, professional exhibition and free clinic beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday.
On Jan. 26, members of the Hermosa Beach City Council unanimously approved the courts, which will provide space for the up-and-coming sport of beach tennis, without jeopardizing existing volleyball courts. Similar to badminton but faster, beach tennis is played with standard tennis racquets, de-pressurized balls.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony with Hermosa Mayor Michael DiVirgilio will be held at 11 a.m., followed by a Pro Exhibition match at noon. A history of the sport, clinics and open play will follow. The festivities conclude with a raffle at 4 p.m. and a party at Baja Sharkeez in Hermosa Beach.
“We are so excited and thankful to be able to call Hermosa Beach the official home of Beach Tennis in Southern California,” Beach Tennis co-owner Marty Salokas said. “We’ve spent many hours working with the city officials in getting to this point and the great thing is that it is free to play. We’re offering a standard invitation for everyone to come out and play with us and have some fun. It’s a much smaller learning curve than tennis.”
Although Beach Tennis has been an established professional sport in Europe for the past 20 years, it was only introduced in the United States five years ago.
Salokas and his partner, Donny Young, former ATP player and coach, formed an All-Hermosa Beach team that competed in tournaments last year in Ft. Lauderdale, Bermuda, New York, South Carolina, Long Beach, and San Diego. They plan to play in the Pro Exhibit on Saturday.
Salokas said that Beach Tennis will have a kick-off tournament at the new courts March 13-14, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.
“We have been blessed to travel around the world playing this sport,” Young said. “We are really pushing the development of the sport in Hermosa and up and down the coast of Southern California.”
Salokas and Young are co-founders of West Coast Beach Tennis Co., an organization helping to build the sport by hosting clinics, forming leagues and tournaments, providing private coaching, and selling equipment. The company has grown to include two women’s pro teams and seven men’s teams from Seattle to San Diego.
For additional information, contact Salokas at 310-614-4869. ER

Running
G.I. Joe, in conjunction with the City of Hermosa Beach, will hold the annual spring Pier-to-Pier Run/Walk Saturday at 7 a.m. Approximately four miles, the sand course goes to the Manhattan Beach Pier and back. Entry fee is $30. Entrants receive a T-shirt, goodie bag and prizes. To register, call 310-318-0280 or visit hermosabch.org.

Fitness
AdventurePlex, 1701 Marine Ave. in Manhattan Beach, will be holding am Open Ropes session for ages 8 and up boys on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. A perfect activity for families and groups, participants will bond while solving problems, overcoming obstacles and having lots of fun. Groups of seven will start every hour and will take approximately 45 minutes to complete the course. Cost is $20. Advance registration is recommended at adventureplex.org or by calling 310-546-7708.

Volleyball
A 4-person coed beach volleyball league will begin on March 23. The Tuesday league will be played north of the Hermosa Beach Pier from 6-8 p.m. Cost is $250 per team (40 teams max.). Registration must be made prior to league start date at the Hermosa Beach Community Center, 710 Pier Ave. or online at hermosabch.org. For more information, contact Bill Sigler, bill@smacksportswear.com and/or Chris, cyj@prankmonkey.org.

Registration is ongoing for the United States Youth Volleyball League’s (USYVL) spring season. Open to boys and girls ages 7-15, the Hermosa Beach league is held at South Park and runs from April 12 through June 9. The coed format provides instruction in a safe, low pressure environment that focuses on sportsmanship and teamwork. Fees are $145 through Mar. 15. Late registration will be available for $180 March 16 to April 1. To register, visit usyvl.org.

Golf
The South Bay Police and Fire Memorial Foundation will hold its 16th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Golf Tournament Monday, March 15, at the Los Verdes Country Club in Rancho Palos Verdes. First tee off is at 7 a.m. with a second shotgun start beginning at 12:30 p.m. Proceeds from the event help provide financial support for families of fallen or disabled safety personnel. Honorary Chair will be Manhattan Beach resident and comedian Bill Engvall. Also participating will be NFL Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway, owner of Manhattan Beach Toyota/Scion. For more information, contact Sherry Kramer, 310-640-1520 ext. 236, skramer@continentaldevelopment.com or visit sbpoliceandfire.com.

Basketball
The HAX Basketball Academy is offering its High School Training clinic. Sessions are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-8:30 p.m. at Hangar Athletic Exchange, 3203 Jack Northrop Ave. in Hawthorne. Year-round sessions are also available Tuesdays and Thursdays for boys and girls in kindergarten through 8th grade. Cost is $199/month. For more information call 310-219-0600 or visit HAXLA.com.

Dave Miller, former New Orleans Hornets/NCAA basketball coach is hosting his Saturday Night Basketball Class through March 27 meeting from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Spectrum Athletic Club South Bay using a state of the art NBA training facility. Open to boys and girls ages 6-14, the camp’s primary goal is to teach fundamentals while combining physical activity, sportsmanship and positive values that produce life skills. For more information or to reserve a spot, call 310-995-2932.

Camps
AdventurePlex, 1701 Marine Ave. in Manhattan Beach, will be holding a Spring Break Camp for boys and girls ages 6-12 beginning Monday, March 29 and running through Friday, April 2 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Activities include rock climbing, ropes course (ages 8 and up), crafts, Adventure Room play, fitness gaming and cooperative games on the Sports Court. All camp staff is CPR-, First Aid- and AED-certified. Cost is $185/week or $50/day. To register, visit adventureplex.org or call 310-546-7708.

Kurt Baker of Star Sports Performance is hosting free speed, power and agility camps on Saturdays from 8:30-10 a.m. at Aviation Field to teach the lifts and movements used to build powerful, explosive and fast athletes. Baker holds a degree in exercise with over 25 years experience and is certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist, a USA Weightlifting Coach and a NIKE SPARQ Testing Coach. Space is limited. Call 310-748-3667 to register. ER

 

by Randy Angel

Mira Costa had its last hope of bringing home a CIF title for the winter sports season quashed Wednesday when its girls basketball team lost in the quarterfinals.

Coach Don Braunecker’s Lady Mustangs ended their season with a 65-49 road loss to No. 4 Summit. Jasmine Rutledge scored a team-high 17 points, Joelle Herron added 16 and Kylie Nakamine had 12 points for fifth-ranked Mira Costa.

Mira Costa began its quest for a CIF Division 1A title with a 54-23 home victory over Los Alamitos when Jordyn Priestley hit 6-of-8 of her 3-point attempts and scored a game-high 22 points for the Mustangs. Rutledge recorded 10 points, 14 rebounds and five steals and Nakamine added 11 points. 

In the second round Saturday, Priestley was held to just seven points, but nailed her second 3-pointer of the game with just eight seconds left in regulation, giving the Mustangs a 33-30 victory over visiting Chaparral. 

Rutledge scored a team-high 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds and had four steals. Joelle Herron added eight points for the Mustangs. 

The girl’s loss came a day after Mira Costa’s boys basketball and soccer teams saw their seasons end with disappointing losses.

Coach Henry Myar’s boys basketball team, which entered the Division 2A playoffs as the No. 10 seed, gave second-seeded Pasadena a battle for most of the game, much to the delight of the overflow crowd at Fischer Gym some who were shooed away from standing in front of the shot clock.

But fouls and turnovers led to a 77-68 loss, costing Mira Costa what Myar believes would have been the program’s first appearance in the semifinals. The Mustangs reached the quarterfinals for the first time in six years.

“I thought I was going to try new ground and get to the semis,” Myar said after congratulating his players on their season. “I thought our guys had a terrific year. I’m really proud of them. They started out by winning the Pacific Shores Tournament, which we’ve never done before and they won three out of four games in their other two tournaments.”

Mira Costa kept pace with the aggressive Pasadena team that Myar said resembled Bay League champion Leuzinger, the No. 3 seed in Division 1A.

“Our scouting reports showed they are similar teams,” Myar said. “They have a lot of athletes and players that do well.”

In the first half, Mira Costa fought off a high-pressure defense to create breakaways and hang with the favored Bulldogs. Elliott Ozer hit one of his three 3-pointers at the buzzer giving the Mustangs a 32-29 lead at halftime.

“I couldn’t see the shot clock but had a pretty good idea of the time left,” said Ozer, who finished with a game-high 25 points. “We outplayed them (Pasadena) most of the game but the change of tempo and the mistakes in the fourth quarter hurt us. We did a lot better than I thought we’d do this season. We made a good run.”

The physical contest created a number of infractions but the disparity in fouls (Mira Costa made 12-of-14 free throws while Pasadena connected on 33-of-40) hindered the Mustangs, who held a six point advantage midway through the third period.

As Thomas Johnson sat on the bench with foul trouble, Pasadena outscored Mira Costa 8-2 to tie the score at the end of three quarters.

The Mustangs regained the lead before what Myar believes was the turning point of the game.

“It’s a two-point game and we get called for an offensive foul,” Myar related. “Then we have a couple of turnovers and all of a sudden it’s an eight point game.”

Eric Mochalski scored 20 points, including an electrifying dunk to cap off a steal, and Johnson added 12 points and eight rebounds.

Mira Costa began its quest for a CIF title with a 54-50 road victory over Del Rio co-champion La Serna. Ozer scored a game-high 21 points and gathered five rebounds, Johnson added 12 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks and Mochalski contributed 10 points and five rebounds for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs kept the ball rolling Friday, beating No. 7 Sergerstrom 64-57 to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2004. Johnson played a stellar game at center scoring 20 points, grabbing 20 rebounds and blocking seven shots. Ozer added 18 points and Mochalski contributed nine points, seven rebounds and three blocks for Mira Costa.

Boys Basketball 

Redondo entered the post season as the Bay League’s No. 3 team and defeated visiting J.W. North 65-51 in the opening round of the Division 2AA playoffs. 

Jamar Cannon scored 30 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, Austin Moore recorded 12 points, Brandon Boyd added 10 points and six assists and Dylan Irwin contributed nine points and seven rebounds in the Sea Hawks, but that’s as far as they would go. 

After his offensive barrage in the first-round win, shooting star Jamar Cannon was held to nine points Friday and host Redondo fell to No. 5 Murrieta Valley 58-48. 

Irwin did his best to make up the scoring deficit, recording 16 points while adding nine rebounds and two steals at the center position, but it wasn’t enough for the Sea Hawks, who ended their season with a 17-11 record. 

Bay League runner-up Peninsula (19-8), suffered an 86-83 overtime loss to visiting Villa Park in the opening round of the Division 2A playoffs. 

Leuzinger (22-6) earned the third seed in Division 1A and have had little trouble so far in the playoffs. The Olympians defeated Lancaster 90-65 and Capistrano Valley 76-60 before eliminating No. 11 Roosevelt 68-45 Tuesday. Leuzinger advances to the semifinals where it will face No. 2 Loyola (26-2) Friday at a neutral site to be selected by Leuzinger. 

Palos Verdes (9-16) represented the Bay League in Division 3A, but was no match for second-seeded Harvard-Westlake, losing 79-43 in the opening round. The division’s top-seeded team, Serra (27-2) began its run for a CIF title beating Servite 78-47 and Pacifica/Garden Grove 88-53. The Cavaliers throttled No. 9 Golden Valley 102-63 Tuesday and will face No. 4 Gahr (25-5) Friday at a neutral site to be determined by Gahr. 

Bishop Montgomery and North earned the ninth and tenth seeds, respectively, in Division 3AA. Bishop Montgomery defeated Artesia 56-48 and North survived a scare, beating Buena 75-72 in overtime. 

The teams weren’t so fortunate in the second round. Bishop Montgomery (16-10) lost at No. 8 La Habra 59-52 and North (18-11) fell to No. 7 Arroyo Grande 72-64. 

In Division 4AA, Pioneer League representatives El Segundo and Lawndale were seeded sixth and twelfth, respectively. After beating Santa Paula 76-61, El Segundo defeated No. 10 San Juan Hills 66-61 in the second round. The Eagles (19-11) lost to No. 2 Lutheran/Orange 69-52 Tuesday in the quarterfinals. 

Lawndale (13-16) defeated host Estancia 47-36 in the first round and San Luis Obispo 58-44 last Friday. The Cardinals were eliminated by No. 4 Bishop Amat 63-49 Tuesday. 

In Division 5A, No. 10 Vistamar (El Segundo) and No. 16 Chadwick lost their second-round games. After defeating Nuview Bridge 47-45, Vistamar (17-8) lost to No. 7 Bellarmine-Jefferson 56-38. Chadwick (12-11) beat Wildwood 74-60 before losing to top-seeded Renaissance Academy 63-42. 

Boys Soccer 

The first round of the CIF Division 1 playoffs was brutal for the Bay League teams, with Mira Costa being the lone survivor. 

Bay League runner-up and ninth-seeded Mira Costa edged visiting Crespi 3-2 with a second-half comeback capped off by Mathias Gesser’s winning goal in the 59th minute. Nick Ziglio and Jake Wilson scored the first two goals for the Mustangs. 

Mira Costa (18-3-5) advanced to the second round, playing at fifth-seeded Edison Tuesday. After the Chargers scored in the 12^th minute, the Mustangs did all they could to catch up but failed to find the back of the net, suffering a 1-0 season-ending loss. 

Mira Costa outshot Edison 4-3 and held a 9-2 advantage in corner and free kicks, but that was little consolation for the Mustangs and goalkeeper Daniel Caves, who recorded two saves to keep his team in the game. 

Redondo concluded its season with a 3-1 loss to league champion West in the Bay League finale. The Sea Hawks finished 2-8 in league and 5-12 overall. 

The biggest upset of the opening round occurred when No. 3 West (18-2-3) lost just its second game of the season, falling at home to St. Francis 2-1. 

Leuzinger (15-5-4) lost at Esperanza 2-1 while wild-card winner Palos Verdes (11-9-5) gave top-seeded Millikan all they could handle, falling to the Rams 1-0 in two overtimes. 

In Division 4, Pioneer champion North defeated Calvary Chapel 2-1 in overtime and upset No. 6 Diamond Ranch on the road Tuesday. Noah Nutter recorded six saves for his 13th shutout of the season. The unranked Saxons (19-5-5) host No. 4 Norwalk (15-4-2) Thursday at 3 p.m. 

El Segundo (15-6-2) saw its season end when host University (13-5-1) shot down the Eagles on penalty kicks 6-5 after the teams were tied at 2-2 at the end of regulation. 

Wild-card winner South (11-7-5) lost a 1-0 heartbreaker at No. 7 Santa Monica (14-5-3) in the first round. Bishop Montgomery (7-10-2) had its season end with a 2-0 loss to visiting Channel Islands in wild-card competition. 

Vistamar (10-7), a freelance school in El Segundo, earned a berth in the Division 7 playoffs but lost to Rosamond 5-1 in the first round. 

Girls Basketball 

Redondo clobbered West 50-19 in its Bay League finale and, coupled with Palos Verdes’ loss, finished in a second-place tie with the Sea Kings with a 7-3 league record. Ella Mason scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Michelle Lowery added eight points for the Sea Hawks. 

Unfortunately for Redondo, it was the final game it would win this season, losing to eighth-ranked Long Beach Jordan 58-40 in the first round. Shayna Stuart scored 10 points to lead the Sea Hawks who finished the season with a 13-15 record. 

Palos Verdes represented the Bay League as the 5th seed in Division 3A and throttled visiting hosting San Marcos 60-27 in the opening round before beating Buena Park 66-49 Saturday. The Sea Kings (22-7) were eliminated Wednesday, falling to No. 4 Bonita 55-38. 

West (11-17) earned an at-large bid in the same division and upset 16th-seeded Wilson of Hacienda Heights 40-38 in the first round before falling at No. 1 Santa Margarita 59-28. 

In Division 2A, Peninsula (10-16) earned an at-large berth but lost to Pacific View co-champion Rio Mesa 60-55. Pioneer co-champion South (21-9) earned the 6th seed but was upset by No. 11 Rio Mesa 63-47 after downing Westlake 39-30 in the opening round. 

Pioneer co-champion North (24-4) earned a 5th seed in Division 3AA and defeated Newport Harbor 58-41 in the first round. The Saxons went on to defeat Beckman 62-23 Saturday but lost at No. 4 Buena 60-50 in the quarterfinals Wednesday. 

Torrance (11-14) earned an at-large bid and beat Marlborough 60-48 before losing a tough battle to second-seeded Inglewood 58-52 in the second round. 

In Division 4AA, Del Rey co-champion Bishop Montgomery was granted the No. 2 seed while El Segundo earned a 15th seed. Bishop Montgomery ran all over Lompoc 71-28 and El Segundo held off Ocean View 50-46 in first-round competition before the two South Bay schools faced each other at El Segundo Saturday. 

The host team was no match for Bishop Montgomery, which dominated El Segundo 72-25. El Segundo finished its season with a 13-15 record. 

Bishop Montgomery (25-6) defeated Alemany 59-58 in the quarterfinals and will host No. 3 Lutheran/Orange at Redondo Union High School Saturday at 7 p.m.

Serra, of Gardena, is the top seeded team in Division 5AA and earned an opening-round bye. The Cavaliers ran over Ontario Christian 66-23 in the second round and beat No. 9 St. Bonaventure 66-42 Wednesday. Serra (22-6) plays No. 12 Brentwood (11-17) Saturday at a neutral site to be determined by Brentwood.

Seeded fourth in Division 5A, Chadwick beat Sherman Indian 61-29 and Aquinas 49-43 before eliminating visiting Saddleback Valley Christian 51-34 Wednesday. The Dolphins (18-9) play top-ranked St. Anthony (20-9) Saturday at a neutral site to be determined. 

Girls Soccer 

Reaching the playoffs for the first time in five seasons, Redondo hosted Edison Friday in the opening round of the Division 1 playoffs. The scrappy Sea Hawks remained in a scoreless battle until Edison (13-5-4) scored in the 65th minute to end Redondo’s short-lived playoff run. The Sea Hawks finished the season with an impressive 14-6 record.

Mira Costa defeated Calabasas 1-0 in its wild-card match Wednesday after Alex Rosen scored the game’s lone goal in the third minute. 

In the second round of the playoffs, Mira Costa (16-6-3) fell behind 2-0 at the half to No. 4 Santa Margarita (17-2-3), rallying to tie the game on an Annie Curry with about one minute left. But with 10 seconds left in regulation, Santa Margarita scored to end the Mustang’s season. Morgan Hilby scored the first goal for Mira Costa. 

Despite completing its regular season undefeated, Palos Verdes could only garner a No. 10 seed in Division 1. Nevertheless, the Sea Kings were the only Bay League team to make it out of the first round after beating Rosary 1-0 Friday. 

Palos Verdes’ season ended on a sour note, losing its first game of the season to unranked Murrieta Valley (15-5-4).  Palos Verdes finished the 2009-10 campaign with a 21-1-4 record.

The final Bay League representative, West (10-11-4), fell to Dos Pueblos 2-0 in its wild-card match. 

In Division 5, South earned a No. 2 seed and defeated Village Christian 2-0 before eliminating Ramona Convent 3-1 Wednesday. The Spartans (20-5-3)play at Warren Friday at 3 p.m. 

Pioneer runner-up El Segundo (15-5-1) held the No. 4 spot but, despite outshooting its opponent 18-3, suffered a 2-1 upset at the hands of visiting Ocean View. Torrance (11-10-2) also failed to make it out of the first round, losing at No. 9 Lakeside 3-1. 

North (13-13-1) saw its season end with a 3-2 loss at Santa Ana in a wild-card match. 

In Division 3, Chadwick (15-4-2) began its postseason beating Artesia 1-0 and Righetti 2-1. the Dolphins play at Martin Luther King Friday. 

Vistamar (17-3-1) began its Division 7 playoff run with a 2-1 victory over visiting Connelly. The team traveled to No. 4 St. Genevieve for a second-round contest but lost 2-1. 

Girls Water Polo 

Bay League champion Palos Verdes throttled Tesoro 19-5 in the first round and remained on a roll, downing Newbury Park 20-5 Saturday. The Sea Kings advanced to the semifinals where they eliminated San Clemente 9-7 . The win marks the first time the Sea Kings have reached a CIF title match in girls water polo. Palos Verdes (24-8) will face top-seeded Laguna Beach (20-5) for the CIF Division 2 championship at 2:45 p.m. Saturday at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center in Irvine. 

Bay runner-up Mira Costa (14-14) traveled to South Coast runner-up Dana Hills in its first-round match but lost in triple overtime 8-7. Marissa Purcell scored five goals and Laura and Emily Milstead had one each for the Mustangs. 

Redondo concluded its season with a 9-3 victory over West in its Bay League finale. Jaycee Baldus scored three goals and Devon Cohen and Tiffany Morales added two goals each for the Sea Hawks who finished 3-6 in league and 9-14 for the season. 

Peninsula (5-14) fell to visiting Mission Viejo 12-6 in a wild-card game. 

In Division 5, Ocean League champion El Segundo (13-6) earned an 8th seed but lost to No. 9 La Habra 5-2. Torrance (19-12) played its final contest of the season last week, losing at Alta Loma 12-5 in the division’s only wild-card match. 

Prep League champion Chadwick earned the top seed in Division 6 and had little trouble defeating Cate 17-2. It was a different story for the Dolphins in their second round contest at Bonita Saturday. It appeared Chadwick’s season was over when Bonita went ahead 10-9 with just 1.6 seconds left on the clock, but Carlyn Robertson scored from mid-pool with 0.3 ticks left in regulation to send the match into not one — but five — overtime periods. 

Dana Ayoob’s goal in sudden death propelled Chadwick (20-7) into the semifinals where it lost to No. 3 Los Altos 7-4.

Wrestling 

No wrestlers from Mira Costa or Redondo finished in the top five at the CIF Inland Division Individual Championships at Fountain Valley High School, but three grapplers will represent the Bay League at the Masters Meet Friday and Saturday at Temecula High School. 

West sends two athletes to the event after Kyle Taketa (140) took 2nd and Kyle Pivovaroff (171) placed 4th. Peninsula’s Mitch Seymour qualified with a 4^th-place finish in the heavyweight division. 

In the CIF Coastal Division, North will send five wrestlers to the Masters, including champion brothers Johnson and Kenny Mai. Johnson placed 1^st in the 103-pound division and Kenny won the 112 weight class. 

Other Saxons to advance are Daniel Wada (2^nd, 119), Masato Fukushima (3^rd, 125) and Matt Wasan (3^rd, 130). 

Torrance’s Sam Lee captured first place in the 160 division while teammate Eric Carrillo finished 5^th in the 135-pound weight category. Charles Wood (285) qualified with a 5^th-place finish for South. 

Visit easyreadernews.com for updated game results. Complete brackets are available at cifss.org. ER

Baseball/Softball

Redondo Union High School is hosting its alumni baseball game Saturday beginning with the Home Run Derby contest at 9 a.m. Batting practice will be held at 11:30 a.m., followed by the Alumni vs. Varsity game at 1 p.m. All former lettermen are invited. For more information, contact Bob Martin, 310-567-4405, or Head Coach Bradey Thurman, bthurman@rbusd.org.

Running

American Martyrs School is hosting its 30th Annual 5K Run/Walk Saturday at 8 a.m. The race course is a fast, challenging 5K (3.1 miles) through the Manhattan Beach Tree Section. Medals will be awarded to the top three in each age group along with individual and group costume contest winners. An awards ceremony and breakfast will be held after the race. Fees are $28 for adults, $23 for children or $55 per family. Registration is available online at active.com or on the campus playground at 1701 Laurel Ave., Manhattan Beach, the morning of the race.

G.I. Joe, in conjunction with the City of Hermosa Beach, will hold the annual spring Pier-to-Pier Run/Walk Saturday, March 6 at 7 a.m. Approximately four miles, the sand course goes to the Manhattan Beach Pier and back. Entry fee is $22/runner until Feb. 19 ($30 thereafter). Entrants receive a T-shirt, goodie bag and prizes. To register, call 310-318-0280 or visit hermosabch.org.

Volleyball

Beach Cities Volleyball Club will be hosting the inaugural 12s Girls Brisbane Australian Classic Friday, Feb. 26 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Rolling Hills Prep Gym, 1780 Oak St. in Torrance. For more information, visit beachcitiesvbc.com.

A 4-person coed beach volleyball league will begin on March 23. The Tuesday league will be played north of the Hermosa Beach Pier from 6-8 p.m. Cost is $250 per team (40 teams max.). Registration must be made prior to league start date at the Hermosa Beach Community Center, 710 Pier Ave., or online at hermosabch.org. For more information, contact Bill Sigler, bill@smacksportswear.com and/or Chris, cyj@prankmonkey.org.

Registration is ongoing for the United States Youth Volleyball League’s (USYVL) spring season. Open to boys and girls ages 7-15, the Hermosa Beach league is held at South Park and runs from April 12 through June 9. The coed format provides instruction in a safe, low pressure environment that focuses on sportsmanship and teamwork. Fees are $145 through Mar. 15. Late registration will be available for $180 March 16 to April 1. To register, visit usyvl.org.

Golf

The South Bay Police and Fire Memorial Foundation will hold its 16th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Golf Tournament Monday, March 15, at the Los Verdes Country Club in Rancho Palos Verdes. First tee-off is at 7 a.m. with a second shotgun start beginning at 12:30 p.m. Proceeds from the event help provide financial support for families of fallen or disabled safety personnel. Honorary Chair will be Manhattan Beach resident and comedian Bill Engvall. Also participating will be NFL Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway, owner of Manhattan Beach Toyota/Scion. For more information, contact Sherry Kramer, 310-640-1520 ext. 236, skramer@continentaldevelopment.com or visit sbpoliceandfire.com.

Basketball

The HAX Basketball Academy is offering its High School Training clinic. Sessions are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-8:30 p.m. at Hangar Athletic Exchange, 3203 Jack Northrop Ave. in Hawthorne. Year-round sessions are also available Tuesdays and Thursdays for boys and girls in kindergarten through 8th grade. Cost is $199/month. For more information call 310-219-0600 or visit HAXLA.com.

Dave Miller, former New Orleans Hornets/NCAA basketball coach is hosting his Saturday Night Basketball Class through March 27 meeting from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Spectrum Athletic Club South Bay using a state of the art NBA training facility. Open to boys and girls ages 6-14, the camp’s primary goal is to teach fundamentals while combining physical activity, sportsmanship and positive values that produce life skills. For more information or to reserve a spot, call 310-995-2932.

Camps

Kurt Baker of Star Sports Performance is hosting free speed, power and agility camps on Saturdays from 8:30-10 a.m. at Aviation Field to teach the lifts and movements used to build powerful, explosive and fast athletes. Baker holds a degree in exercise with over 25 years experience and is certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist, a USA Weightlifting Coach and a NIKE SPARQ Testing Coach. Space is limited. Call 310-748-3667 to register. ER

by Randy Angel

Mira Costa’s girls basketball team won its third consecutive Bay League crown, downing Palos Verdes 45-32 to complete an undefeated league season and earning the fifth seed in Division 1A as it enters the CIF Southern Section Toyota Championships.

Jasmine Rutledge scored a game-high 12 points while Joelle Herron and Kylie Nakamine added 10 points each for Head Coach Don Braunecker’s Mustangs, who rode a 12-game winning streak into the postseason. Mira Costa began its quest for a CIF title with a 54-23 home victory over Los Alamitos.

Jordyn Priestley was 6-of-8 on 3-point attempts, scoring a game-high 22 points for the Mustangs. Jasmine Rutledge recorded 10 points, 14 rebounds and five steals and Kylie Nakamine added 11 points.

In the second round Saturday, Priestley was held to just seven points, but nailed her second 3-pointer of the game with just eight seconds left in regulation, giving the Mustangs a 33-30 victory over visiting Chaparral.

Rutledge scored a team-high 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds and had four steals. Joelle Herron added eight points for the Mustangs.

Mira Costa (22-7) travels to Fontana Wednesday to take on No. 4 Summit (23-5) in a 7 p.m. quarterfinal contest.

Redondo clobbered West 50-19 in its Bay League finale and, coupled with Palos Verdes’ loss, finished in a second-place tie with the Sea Kings with a 7-3 league record. Ella Mason scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Michelle Lowery added eight points for the Sea Hawks.

Unfortunately for Redondo, it was the final game it would win this season, losing to eighth-ranked Long Beach Jordan 58-40 in the first round. Shayna Stuart scored 10 points to lead the Sea Hawks who finished the season with a 13-15 record.

Palos Verdes represents the Bay League as the 5th seed in Division 3A and throttled visiting hosting San Marcos 60-27 in the opening round before beating Buena Park 66-49 Saturday.

The Sea Kings (22-6) play at No. 4 Bonita (23-3) Wednesday.

West (11-17) earned an at-large bid in the same division and upset 16th-seeded Wilson of Hacienda Heights 40-38 in the first round before falling at top-seeded Santa Margarita 59-28.

In Division 2A, Peninsula (10-16) earned an at-large berth but lost to Pacific View co-champion Rio Mesa 60-55.  Pioneer co-champion South (21-9) earned the 6th seed but was upset by No. 11 Rio Mesa 63-47  after downing  Westlake 39-30 in the opening round.

Pioneer co-champion North (24-3) earned a 5th seed in Division 3AA and defeated Newport Harbor 58-41 in the first round. The Saxons went on to defeat Beckman 62-23 Saturday and will travel to No. 4 Buena (20-8) Wednesday.

Torrance (11-14) earned an at-large bid and beat Marlborough 60-48 before losing a tough battle to second-seeded Inglewood 58-52 in the second round.

In Division 4AA, Del Rey co-champion Bishop Montgomery was granted the No. 2 seed while El Segundo earned a 15th seed. Bishop Montgomery ran all over Lompoc 71-28 and El Segundo held off Ocean View 50-46 in first-round competition before the two South Bay schools faced each other at El Segundo Saturday.

The host team was no match for Bishop Montgomery, which dominated El Segundo 72-25. Bishop Montgomery (24-6) plays at Alemany (21-7) in the quarterfinals. El Segundo finished its season with a 13-15 record.

Serra, of Gardena, is the top seeded team in Division 5AA and earned an opening-round bye. The Cavaliers (21-6) ran over Ontario Christian 66-23 in the second round and host No. 9 St. Bonaventure (15-13) Wednesday.

Seeded fourth in Division 5A, Chadwick (17-9) beat Sherman Indian 61-29 and  Aquinas 49-43. The Dolphins advance to the quarterfinals where they will host No. 12 Saddleback Valley Christian (20-8).

Boys Basketball

On the final day of Bay League competition, West upset host Redondo 64-57, dropping the Sea Hawks into a third-place tie with rival Mira Costa, a 55-40 winner at Palos Verdes.

Redondo and Mira Costa finished with identical 16-10 season and 5-5 league records while Bay champion Leuzinger ran the table with a 10-0 league record and Peninsula went 6-4 to capture second place.

Redondo entered the post season as the Bay League’s No. 3 team and defeated visiting J.W. North 65-51  in the opening round of the Division 2AA playoffs. But that’s as far as the Sea Hawks would go.

After scoring 30 points in the first-round win, shooting star Jamar Cannon was held to nine points Friday and Redondo fell to visiting Murrieta Valley 58-48.

Center Dylan Irwin did his best to make up the scoring deficit, recording 16 points while adding nine rebounds and two steals, but it wasn’t enough for the Sea Hawks, who ended their season with a 17-11 record.

Mira Costa  began its quest for a Division 2A title with a 54-50 road victory over Del Rio co-champion La Serna. Elliott Ozer scored a game-high 21 points and gathered five rebounds, Thomas Johnson added 12 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks and Eric Mochalski contributed 10 points and five rebounds for Mira Costa.

The No. 10 Mustangs (18-10) kept the ball rolling Friday, beating Sergerstrom 64-57 to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2004.

Johnson played a stellar game at center scoring 20 points, grabbing 20 rebounds and blocking seven shots. Ozer added 18 points and Mochalski contributed nine points, seven rebounds and three blocks for Mira Costa, which hosts second-seeded Pasadena (22-6) Tuesday at 7 p.m.

The division’s sixth-seeded team, Peninsula (19-8), suffered an 86-83 overtime loss to visiting Villa Park in the opening round.

Leuzinger (20-6) earned the third seed in Division 1A and had little trouble defeating Lancaster 90-65 and Capistrano Valley 76-60. The Olympians host No. 11 Roosevelt (19-10) Tuesday.

Bishop Montgomery and North earned the ninth and tenth seeds, respectively, in Division 3AA. Bishop Montgomery (16-10) defeated  Artesia 56-48 and North (18-11) survived a scare, beating Buena 75-72 in overtime.

The teams weren’t so lucky in the second round. Bishop Montgomery lost at La Habra 59-52 and North fell to seventh-ranked Arroyo Grande 72-64.

Palos Verdes (9-16) represented the Bay League in Division 3A, but was no match for 2nd-seeded Harvard-Westlake, losing 79-43 in the opening round. Top-seeded Serra (27-2) began its run for a CIF title beating Servite 78-47 and  Pacifica/Garden Grove 88-53. The Cavaliers host Golden Valley in the quarterfinals.

In Division 4AA, Pioneer League representatives El Segundo and Lawndale are seeded sixth and twelfth, respectively. El Segundo (18-10) defeated No. 10 San Juan Hills 66-61 after beating Santa Paula 76-61. The Eagles play at Lutheran of Orange (21-7) Tuesday.

Lawndale (13-15) defeated host Estancia 47-36 in the first round before defeating San Luis Obispo 58-34 Friday. The Cardinals host No. 4 Bishop Amat (20-8) Tuesday.

Boys Soccer

The first round of the CIF Division 1 playoffs was brutal for the Bay League teams, with Mira Costa being the lone survivor.

Bay runner-up and ninth-seeded Mira Costa (18-2-5) edged visiting Crespi 3-2 yesterday and will face fifth-seeded Edison (20-4-2) tomorrow. Mira Costa’s second-half comeback was capped off by Mathias Gesser’s winning goal in the 59th minute. Nick Ziglio and Jake Wilson scored the first two goals for the Mustangs.

Mira Costa’s only two losses of the regular season were to Bay champion West (18-1-3, 8-1-1).  All soccer games with the exception of the final round are scheduled to start at 3 p.m.

Redondo concluded its season with a 3-1 loss to league champion West. The Sea Hawks finished 2-8 in league and 5-12 overall.

The upset of the day occurred when No. 3 West (18-2-3) lost just its second game of the season, falling at home to St. Francis 2-1.

Leuzinger (15-5-4) lost at Esperanza 2-1 while wild-card winner Palos Verdes (11-9-5) gave top-seeded Millikan all they could handle, falling to the Rams 1-0 in two overtimes.

In Division 4, Pioneer champion North (18-5-5) defeated Calvary Chapel 2-1 in overtime and advances play No. 6 Diamond Ranch (15-3-1).

El Segundo (15-6-2) saw its season shot down when host  University (13-5-1) beat the Eagles on penalty kicks 6-5 after the game ended at 2-2 in regulation.

Wild-card winner South (11-7-5) lost a 1-0 heartbreaker at No. 7 Santa Monica (14-5-3) yesterday. Bishop Montgomery (7-10-2) saw its season end with a 2-0 loss to visiting Channel Islands in Tuesday’s wild-card competition.

Vistamar (10-7), a freelance school in El Segundo, earned a berth in the Division 7 playoffs but lost to Rosamond 5-1 in the first round.

Girls Soccer

Redondo (14-6, 8-2) capped off its best season in years with a 4-2 overtime win at West. Samantha Witteman scored twice in the extra period to lead the Sea Hawks to a second place Bay League finish.

Reaching the playoffs for the first time in five seasons, Redondo  hosted Edison Friday in the opening round of the Division 1 playoffs. The scrappy Sea Hawks remained in a scoreless battle until Edison (13-5-4) scored in the 65th minute to end Redondo’s short-lived playoff run.

In a physical Bay League finale, Mira Costa tied league champion Palos Verdes 0-0. Even though the Sea Kings prevented Mira Costa from gaining its sixth straight league title, it was a moral victory for the Mustangs as they enter the postseason as the Bay League’s third-place team.

Mira Costa (16-6-3, 6-3-1) defeated Calabasas 1-0 in its wild-card match Wednesday after Alex Rosen scored the game’s lone goal in the third minute.

In the second round, Mira Costa fell behind 2-0 at the half to No. 4 Santa Margarita (17-2-3), rallying to tie the game on an Annie Curry with about one minute left. But with 10 seconds left in regulation, Santa Margarita scored to end the Mustangs season. Morgan Hilby scored the first goal for Mira Costa.

Despite completing its regular season undefeated, Palos Verdes (21-0-4) could only garner a No. 10 seed. Nevertheless, the Sea Kings are the only remaining Bay League team in the playoffs after beating Rosary 1-0 Friday.

Palos Verdes will host Murrieta Valley (15-5-4) Wednesday.

West (10-11-4) fell to Dos Pueblos 2-0 in its wild-card match.

In Division 5, South (19-5-3) earned a No. 2 seed and defeated Village Christian 2-0.  The Spartans will play at Ramona Convent (10-6-6) Wednesday.

Pioneer runner-up El Segundo (15-5-1) held the No. 4 spot but, despite outshooting its opponent 18-3, suffered a 2-1 upset at the hands of visiting Ocean View. Torrance (11-10-2) also failed to make it out of the first round, losing at  No. 9 Lakeside 3-1.

North (13-13-1) saw its season end with a 3-2 loss at Santa Ana in a wild-card match.

In Division 3, Chadwick (14-4-2) begins its postseason beating Artesia 1-0. The Dolphins host Righetti (19-6-1) Wednesday.

Vistamar (17-2-1) began its Division 7 playoff run with a 2-1 victory over visiting Connelly. The team will travel to take on No. 4 St. Genevieve in the second round Wednesday.

Girls Water Polo

In the final match of the regular season, Mira Costa held the lead four times in the first half, but couldn’t hold off Bay League champion Palos Verdes, losing to the Sea Kings 16-7. It concluded Palos Verdes’ run to a fourth straight league title, earning the Sea Kings (21-8) a No. 2 seed in the CIF Division 2 playoffs.

Palos Verdes (23-8) throttled Tesoro 19-5 yesterday and remained on a roll, downing Newbury Park 20-5 Saturday. The Sea Kings advance to the semifinals where they will play No. 3 San Clemente Wednesday at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center in Irvine. The victor will play the winner of the Laguna Beach-Agoura match for the CIF Division 2 championship Saturday at the same venue.

Bay runner-up Mira Costa (14-14) traveled to South Coast runner-up Dana Hills yesterday but lost in triple overtime 8-7.

Marissa Purcell scored five goals for the Mustangs.

Redondo concluded its season with a 9-3 victory over West. Jaycee Baldus scored three goals and Devon Cohen and Tiffany Morales added two goals each for the Sea Hawks who finished 3-6 in league and 9-14 for the season.

Peninsula (5-14) fell to visiting Mission Viejo 12-6 in a wild-card game last Tuesday.

In Division 5, Ocean League champion El Segundo (13-6) earned an 8th seed but lost to No. 9 La Habra 5-2. Torrance (19-12) played its final contest of the season last Tuesday, losing at Alta Loma 12-5 in the division’s only wild-card match.

Prep League champion Chadwick earned the top seed in Division 6 and had little trouble defeating Cate 17-2.

It was a different story for the Dolphins in their second round contest at Bonita Saturday. It appeared Chadwick’s season was over when Bonita went ahead 10-9 with just 1.6 seconds left on the clock, but Carlyn Robertson scored from mid-pool with 0.3 ticks left in regulation to send the match into not one, but five overtime periods.

Dana Ayoob’s goal in sudden death propelled Chadwick (20-6) into the semifinals where it will face No. 3 Los Altos (19-4) Wednesday.

Wrestling

Nine grapplers from Mira Costa and five from Redondo qualified for the CIF Inland Division Individual Championships held last weekend at Fountain Valley High School.

Capturing first place in their respective weight divisions at the Bay League championships were Austin Phillips (112) and Tajee Mobley (135) from Mira Costa and Brennan Abramowitz (145) from Redondo.

Other Mustangs advancing to this weekend’s tournament are Weston Carico (125), Alan Hoa (130), Nathan Aquino (140), Justin Tam (152), Joshua Stern (160), Tyler Emery (171) and Edgar Herrera (189).

Sea Hawks joining Abramowitz at the individual competition are Raymond Gandara (103), Devan Robinson (119) and alternates Matt Ulizio (215) and David Feiner (285).

Visit easyreadernews.com for updated game results. Complete brackets are available at cifss.org. ER