As the regular season schedule dwindles to a close, it’s time to crown league champions in a variety of spring sports throughout South County and start preparing for the upcoming San Diego Section playoffs.
Baseball, softball, boys and girls lacrosse, boys and girls track and field, boys volleyball, boys and girls swimming, boys golf, girls gymnastics and boys tennis are all spring sports.
The Eastlake Titans and Otay Ranch Mustangs entered the week undefeated in Mesa League baseball play and tee off a key two-game series this week. The Mustangs (4-0 in league, 13-8 overall) host the Titans (5-0, 22-3) on Wednesday, then travel to Eastlake on Friday.
The Titans are ranked first among teams in the Division I section power rankings while Otay Ranch is ranked fifth among Division II teams.
Eastlake junior Micah Pietila-Wiggs earned honors this week after being named one of the San Diego Hall of Champions Prep Athletes of the Month for April.
The Chula Vista Spartans (6-2, 17-7) had opened up a two-game lead in the South Bay League standings on the Olympian Eagles (4-4, 14-10) after splitting a two-game series with Mater Dei Catholic last week.
Chula Vista is ranked second among Division IV teams in the section power rankings while Olympian is fifth in the same division.
Both Eastlake and Chula Vista won their respective divisions in this year’s City/Metro/Grossmont tournament.
Softball powers this year are not too surprising. Mater Dei Catholic carried the section’s No. 6 power ranking among Division I teams into this week, followed by Bonita Vista at No. 8 and Eastlake at No 10.
Mater Dei Catholic (19-6 overall) led the Mesa League standings entering the week with a spotless 6-0 league record, followed by Bonita Vista (4-2 in league, 18-6 overall), Otay Ranch (4-2, 10-11-1), Eastlake (3-3, 14-7), Olympian (1-5, 7-16-1) and Hilltop (0-6, 8-18).
Otay Ranch stands fifth in the Division II section power rankings.
Bonita Vista captured the championship title of the recent Falcon Fiesta tournament by defeating Rancho Buena Vista, 6-5, in a 10-inning contest; Hilltop finished runner-up in its own tournament earlier this spring.
Mater Dei Catholic opened the season by winning the Gold Bracket at the Cougar Classic with a 10-0 win over Patrick Henry and advanced to the semifinals of the Hilltop tournament, dropping a 7-1 decision to eventual tourney champion Steele Canyon.
The Lady Crusaders most recently finished 3-2 at the Crew Classic in Anaheim with victories against Capistrano Valley, Fresno Bullard and Villa Park.
Mar Vista (18-6 overall) entered the week leading the South Bay League standings with an 8-0 league record, followed by Southwest (7-2, 14-9), Chula Vista (6-2, 13-5), Montgomery (4-5, 5-17), Sweetwater (2-6, 6-15), Castle Park (2-7, 8-11) and San Ysidro (0-7, 3-13).
Mar Vista is second among Division IV teams in the section power rankings while Southwest is seventh in the division.
The boys volleyball season is winding down. Eastlake carried at 7-0 record into this week’s Mesa League games against Otay Ranch (Tuesday at home) and Olympian (Wednesday away).
Otay Ranch lurked right behind the Titans with a 6-1 league record.
Following Tuesday’s 3-0 sweep by the visiting Mustangs, the teams were tied with 7-1 league records heading into their respective final regular season games.
Olympian entered the week 4-4 in league play, 13-10 overall, while Bonita Vista was 2-6 in league play, 15-13 overall. Hilltop was 1-7 in league play, 12-13 overall.
Eastlake (12-5) swept Otay Ranch by scores of 25-22, 25-21, 25-22 in the teams’ initial league matchup on April 20 on the Mustangs’ home court.
Otay Ranch (30-6) prevailed by scores of 25-20, 25-21, 25-22 on Tuesday.
The teams could meet again in the upcoming section playoffs.
Otay Ranch advanced to the semifinals of last week’s Scripps Ranch tournament before ending a 5-0 run a loss to Vista Murrieta.
The Mustangs played a total of 10 games at the Las Vegas Easter Classic, finishing 7-3 against teams from throughout California and Nevada.
Joseph Valadez tops the Mustangs with 272 kills on the season while Oscar Campos leads the team with 52 aces, Roan Sharkey tops the team with 38 blocks, Ariel Asignacion leads the team with 275 digs and Evan Diehl tops the team with 825 assists.
Valadez and Ocampo led Otay Ranch with 15 and 12 kills, respectively, in Tuesday’s sweep while Diehl served five aces, recorded 12 digs and collected 31 assists.
League finals
The Metro Conference dive finals are scheduled Friday, May 5, at the Loma Verde pool. Competition starts at 2:30 p.m.
The Mesa League swim finals are scheduled Saturday, May 6, at Mater Dei Catholic High School, starting at 9 a.m. The South Bay League swim finals follow at approximately 11:30 a.m.
The Mesa League and South Bay League track finals are scheduled May 11 at Otay Ranch High School. League prelims are scheduled Tuesday, May 9, starting at 3 p.m.
League JV finals are Saturday, May 6, at 9 a.m. at Otay Ranch High School.
Spring Sports Previews
Baseball
Montgomery Aztecs
Veteran head coach Manny Hermosillo lists Jose Cerda, a senior infielder-right hand pitcher, sophomore catcher-outfielder Juan C. Cerda, senior third baseman-right hand pitcher Jorge Martinez, junior outfielder-left hand pitcher Iran Torres, senior outfielder-right hand pitcher Michael Quintana Roo and senior first baseman Reyes Murillo as the team’s impact players in 2017.
Junior right hand pitcher-third baseman Hernan Gomez has been the team’s impact newcomer.
Hermosillo lists his team’s strength as pitching, calling the defense “adequate.”
Despite changing leagues (from the former Metro-South Bay League to the Mesa League), Hermosillo still expects his team to post a winning season against what he referred to as “tougher competition.”
The Aztecs entered the week with an overall 13-10 record and are currently ranked third among Division II teams in the section power rankings.
Montgomery improved to 2-3 in Mesa League play after sweeping the Bonita Vista Barons last week. The Aztecs used a 10-hit attack to post a 5-1 victory at Bonita Vista on April 26, then shut out the Barons, 6-0, in a home game last Friday.
Jose Cerda hit a home run and drove in two runs to highlight the 5-1 win while Gonzalez Alejandro stroked two doubles, Rigo Duarte hit a two-bagger and Martinez smashed a triple.
Martinez pitched a complete game, allowing four hits and one run.
Montgomery scored six runs on eight hits in the return match-up, with Alejandro driving in two runs and Murillo, Juan C. Cerda and Duarte each recording one RBI. Torres pitched six innings to pick up the win with relief help from Hernan Gomez.
BV freshman Nate Nankil, who allowed five earned runs on six hits in two-plus innings, took the loss.
Hilltop Lancers
Hilltop returns six starters but will rely on underclassmen in several areas this season. The Lancers have had to find some new arms, in particular, according to head coach Kurt Gritts, with just one pitcher returning from last season.
Top returners include first team all-league selections Oscar Ramirez, Stephen Rasmussen and Alex Tejeda and second team all-league picks Daniel Ochoa and Kelton Wenger.
Ramirez, Wenger and Tejeda are all on the MLB radar for the next level.
On the plus side, Gritts expects a strong defensive effort from his team with the entire infield returning with the exception of the first base position.
Hilltop has held its own four games (2-2 record) into Mesa League play after moving up from the former Metro-Pacific League.
The Lancers swept San Ysidro, another Mesa League newcomer, to open Mesa League play before dropping back-to-back games to Otay Ranch, which entered the week undefeated in league play.
Hilltop entered the week with an overall 11-10 record.
Softball
Otay Ranch Lady Mustangs
Otay Ranch High School softball coach David Marin said the Lady Mustangs have garnered success this season on the strength of the team’s pitching and defense.
The east side Chula Vista team entered the week with an overall 10-11-1 record but ranked among the section leaders in the Division II power rankings.
Marin said team goals this season have been to play hard to “be a good teammate.”
“We hope to go deep in the CIF playoffs,” he said.
Otay Ranch improved to 4-2 in Mesa League play after defeating neighborhood rival Olympian, 3-0, last Friday.
Senior Desiree Luquin, junior Jessica Bachtell, freshman Naliah Garcia each drove in one run while senior Jazzy Vasquez pitched a complete game four-hitter, striking out five batters.
The Lady Mustangs have received support throughout the lineup this season.
Junior shortstop Kassy Solis leads the team with a .500 hitting average. She also leads the team in runs scored (17) and hits (33).
Garcia is next up at the plate with a .467 hitting average. She’s scored 10 runs and driven in nine.
Luquin, a catcher, ranks third on the team with a .386 hitting average and tops the team with 15 RBI.
Freshman outfielder Briana Solis is fourth with a .373 hitting average. She leads the team with two home runs.
Vasquez is 6-2 in the pitching circle with one save in 17 appearances this season.
Senior third baseman Hazell Diaz has been another impact player among the team’s returning group with a .323 hitting average, 10 runs scored, 20 hits and six RBI. She’s also cracked one home run.
Naliah Garcia and Briana Solis have been the team’s impact newcomers this year.
Eastlake Lady Titans
Eastlake entered the week with a 14-7 overall record while batting an even .500 in Mesa League play.
Top returners this season include sophomore catcher Sharlize Palacios, the 2015-16 Player of the Year, junior third baseman Keila Bosinger, senior second baseman Serriah Harrington, sophomore left fielder/second baseman Taylor Tropp and senior center fielder/first baseman Isela Casillas.
Both Harrington and Casillas earned all-league second team honors last year.
Palacios is the team’s top hitter this spring with a .558 average. She’s smashed eight doubles, one triple and two home runs while collecting 14 RBI and scoring eight runs.
Harrington is batting .489 with 13 runs scored and 16 RBI while Bosinger ranks third on the team with a .451 average with 17 runs scored and 10 RBI.
Tropp (.368 average) tops the team with 18 RBI while Casillas (.348 average) has contributed to the team’s success by scoring 13 runs and delivering eight RBI.
Freshman pitcher Sierra Tufts, with a 10-3 record and one save in 16 appearances, has been the team’s impact newcomer.
Eastlake coach Anthony Richter believes his team has the potential to go deep in the upcoming division playoffs.
“We have a freshman pitcher and sophomores who are stepping up, as well couple of the seniors who are helping in steering the ship in the right directions,” Richter said.
He said the team’s goals will depend on the team “buying into ultimate goals.”
Boys volleyball
Hilltop Lancers
Hilltop’s boys volleyball team advanced to last year’s San Diego Section Division II semifinals and came within a whisker of advancing to the section championship game after dropping an emotion-filled five-game contest to the rival Bonita Vista Barons.
Both the Lancers and the Barons are grouped into the Mesa League this season. Hilltop dropped a five-set thriller 25-23, 14-25, 19-25, 25-20, 13-15 to visiting Bonita Vista on April 26 to fall to 1-7 in league play.
The Barons, who finished runner-up in last year’s CIF finals, improved to 2-6 in league play, 15-13 overall.
Senior outside hitter/middle blocker Nicholas Tabares led the Lancers with 23 kills in the match. He also contributed two aces, five blocks and 13 digs.
Senior setter Alex Welch led Hilltop with 35 assists while junior Gus Ferreira paced the hosts with 25 digs.
Both Tabares and Welch were named to last year’s all-league team while Hilltop was a member of the Metro-Pacific League.
Impact newcomers this year include junior middle blocker Armando Bueno and junior libero Brendan Murphy. Bueno ranks third on the team in total kills while Murphy ranks third on the team in total digs.
Hilltop made a jump up to Division I after the Lancers had the most successful season in Tyler Reeves’ five years as the varsity coach, posting a 23-9 record.
Reeves said the team returned only three players from last season’s squad. At 12-13 on the season, the remade Lancers have experienced their share of growing pains.
But the season isn’t quite over, so hope for a better finish remains.
“Our goal for the season is to compete hard in our league and finish high enough in the power rankings in order to get a home playoff game,” Reeves explained.
Playoffs start Monday, May 8 (play-in rounds), Tuesday, May 9 (Division III- IV) and Wednesday, May 10 (Division I-II).
PREP SPORTSLINE
Baseball
Mesa League
Wednesday, May 3
Eastlake 8, Otay Ranch 1
Montgomery 8, Hilltop 1
Bonita Vista 6, San Ysidro 3
Friday, May 5
Otay Ranch at Eastlake, 3 p.m.
Hilltop at Montgomery, 3 p.m.
San Ysidro at Bonita Vista, 3 p.m.
South Bay League
Wednesday, May 3
Mater Dei Catholic 2, Sweetwater 1
Mar Vista 9, Castle Park 4
Chula Vista 8, Southwest 6
Friday, May 5
Sweetwater at Mater Dei Catholic, 3 p.m.
Castle Park at Mar Vista, 3 p.m.
Southwest at Chula Vista, 3 p.m.
Non-League
Monday, May 1
Olympian 5, Foothills Christian 0
Softball
Mesa League
Wednesday, May 3
Bonita Vista 8, Hilltop 2
Eastlake 9, Otay Ranch 0
Mater Dei Catholic 3, Olympian 0
Friday, May 5
Olympian at Bonita Vista, 3 p.m.
Otay Ranch at Hilltop, 3 p.m.
South Bay League
Wednesday, May 3
Chula Vista 25, San Ysidro 5
Southwest 6, Mar Vista 5
Sweetwater 13, Castle Park 3
Friday, May 5
Chula Vista at Mar Vista, 3 p.m.
San Ysidro at Montgomery, 3 p.m.
Castle Park at Southwest, 3 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse
Mesa League
Friday, April 28
Eastlake 5, Otay Ranch 3
Monday, May 1
Bonita Vista 10, Hilltop 6
Montgomery at Otay Ranch
Wednesday, May 3
Eastlake 1, Montgomery 0 (forfeit)
Otay Ranch 9, Hilltop 5
Non-League
Monday, May 1
Eastlake 11, Serra 10
Friday, May 5
Hilltop at El Capitan, 5:30 p.m.
Eastlake at Patrick Henry, 7 p.m.
South Bay League
Monday, May 1
Olympian 14, Mar Vista 0
Chula Vista 10, Southwest 0
Wednesday, May 3
Chula Vista 12, Olympian 3
Girls Lacrosse
Metro Conference
Monday, May 1
Otay Ranch 15, Mar Vista 2
Eastlake 16, Olympian 3
Hilltop 15, Castle Park 0
Bonita Vista 20, Chula Vista 5
Non-League
Tuesday, May 2
Rancho Bernardo 11, Hilltop 8
Metro Conference
Baseball Standings
Mesa League
Eastlake Titans 5-0, 22-3
Otay Ranch Mustangs 4-0, 13-8
Hilltop Lancers 2-2, 11-10
Montgomery 2-3, 13-10
Bonita Vista 0-4, 8-13
San Ysidro 0-4, 7-14
Saturday, April 29
Eastlake 6, Francis Parker 0
Friday, April 28
Montgomery 6, Bonita Vista 0
Eastlake 15, San Ysidro 5
Otay Ranch 5, Hilltop 2
Wednesday, April 26
Eastlake 13, San Ysidro 3
Otay Ranch 13, Hilltop 8
Montgomery 5, Bonita Vista 1
Monday, April 24
Eastlake 4, Montgomery 1
Saturday, April 22
Eastlake 15, Sweetwater 1
Friday, April 21
Eastlake 7, Bonita Vista 1
Otay Ranch 7, Montgomery 1
Hilltop 1, San Ysidro 0
Wednesday, April 19
Eastlake 7, Bonita Vista 2
Otay Ranch 1, Montgomery 0
Hilltop 8, San Ysidro 2
South Bay League
Chula Vista Spartans 6-2, 17-7
Olympian Eagles 4-4, 14-10
Castle Park Trojans 3-3, 13-8
Mater Dei Catholic Crusaders 3-3, 8-15
Mar Vista Mariners 3-3, 11-11
Southwest 3-5, 12-12
Sweetwater 2-4, 10-12
Saturday, April 29
Mar Vista 11, Mt. Miguel 3
Sweetwater 5, Muir 3
Muir 4, Sweetwater 3 (8 innings)
Friday, April 28
Chula Vista 9, Mater Dei Catholic 1
Olympian 7, Southwest 0
Sweetwater 11, Castle Park 4
Wednesday, April 26
Mater Dei Catholic 11, Chula Vista 10
Castle Park 4, Sweetwater 3
Olympian 5, Southwest 1
Monday, April 24
Mar Vista 7, Orange Glen 0
Friday, April 21
Chula Vista 5, Mar Vista 1
Mater Dei Catholic 5, Southwest 4
Olympian 3, Castle Park 2
Wednesday, April 19
Chula Vista 5, Mar Vista 1
Mater Dei Catholic 6, Southwest 3
Castle Park 4, Olympian 3
