'Tis the Season for Mira Costa

CIF titles are what Mira Costa banks its season on. Bay League championships? They're an afterthought no matter how many they win.

Ask the coaching staff the last time they’ve failed to win a league crown. They scratch their heads and almost plead amnesia.

The Mustangs claimed another league title in boys volleyball Tuesday, knocking off host Redondo in four games (25-22, 25-21, 21-25, 25-23) behind the excellent play of outside hitter D.J. White and opposite hitter Weston Carico.

They got plenty of help from a strong supporting cast, just another reason the Mustangs are one of the favorites in the Division I playoffs.

On Thursday, they capped an unbeaten run in league—again—beating host Palos Verdes in four games (25-15, 25-23, 16-25, 25-22).

The focus now is on winning another CIF championship, the last one coming in 2008. They captured the Division II regional title last year after falling in the CIF Division I final to Loyola in four games. Mira Costa finished the season 37-2.

This year they’re rolling again at 31-1, their only loss to Newport Harbor in five games in the Santa Barbara Tournament in April. 

“It’s been a good year and now it’s time for the real season,” said Mira Costa co-coach Sean Shoptaw. “Hopefully, we’ll get everyone back healthy and start getting back into our routine and start working toward the bigger goal, which is winning a CIF title. That's always our goal and we’re looking forward to pursuing it again.”

Against Palos Verdes, where they played without White and Keith Waddell, who were out with the flu, Mira Costa got a workout, particularly the reserves. They responded well, though, shaking off an erratic performance in the third game to close it out in four.

Costa got a boost with the return of senior outside/opposite hitter Jake Miller, who hadn’t played in three weeks because of a knee injury. He was effective against the Sea Kings, recording six blocks and seven kills.

“It’s good to get him back. He’s a big key for us and what we do,” Shoptaw said.

Senior outside hitter Zack Proctor and Christopher Orenic had 13 kills apiece against Palos Verdes and Karl Acres finished with 12.

Against Redondo, White finished with a team-high 16 kills, four blocks and seven assists, while Carico added eight kills and four blocks. Middle blocker Acres played well, converting eight kills, several coming at crucial points in the match. And Costa got some key contributions from libero Brooks Varni, outside hitter Orenic and setter Kameron Bain.

Redondo, which was swept by the Mustangs at Mira Costa last month, believed it had a chance for an upset in its home gym. But even with the crowd a bit amped up, the Mustangs showed again they are an unmovable force.

“It feels great,” White said about beating Redondo and winning the league crown, but refusing to take credit for it despite his stellar play. “It was a real team effort. Westy really stepped up big for us. And our setter, Kameron Bain, played out of his mind.”

Carico was coming off an MVP performance in last Saturday’s successful run in the Redondo Varsity Classic. Mira Costa defeated San Clemente in the title match. Carico and White figured prominently again, but so did Tony Ensbury and Keith Waddell, who along with White, missed the Palos Verdes match with flu.

Costa will find out Sunday whether it’s the top seed in Division I. It has been ranked behind Santa Margarita in the weekly CIF division rankings, despite defeating the Eagles in the Best of the West Tournament. We’ll see how that plays out Sunday.

Regardless, Costa will be coming to play.

“We’ve just got to play steady,” Shoptaw said. “We’ve got to be aggressive and take care of the ball. Ball control and defense and playing aggressively. But we’ve got to take care of the ball."

Softball race heats up

With Peninsula dropping two in a row, the Bay League softball race got tighter this week.

A three-way tie for first is the result, and two of the leaders, Palos Verdes and Peninsula, square off today at Peninsula.

Palos Verdes, which beat Redondo on Wednesday, and Mira Costa, which defeated Leuzinger, caught Peninsula, which had won five straight league games before dropping consecutive games to Mira Costa last Friday and West Torrance, in a crushing loss, on Wednesday. All three teams are 5-2 in league.

Palos Verdes centerfielder Sammi Gyerman, who had a strong outing in the Sea Kings win over Redondo, is looking forward to the clash with Peninsula.

“It’s very exciting to play them,” said Gyerman, who went 4 for 5 with two doubles, two RBIs and three runs scored in a 9-6 win at Redondo. “It’s going to be a battle royal. I think we can get the job done, but we’ve got to hit. We’ve gotten a lot closer as a team and been giving it our all, so that’s definitely been a big part of our winning lately.”

Offensively, the Sea Kings have been more consistent, their pounding out of 16 hits against Redondo evidence. The key though is securing a playoff berth.

“God willing, we’re peaking at the right time,” Palos Verdes coach Cassis Morales said. “We’re starting to hit the ball well and that’s helping. We’re starting to roll with things.”

Sea Hawks hanging tough

Despite Wednesday’s setback to Palos Verdes, Redondo remains within sniffing distance of first in Bay League play.

Redondo coach Jennifer Dessert said next week’s contests against Peninsula and Mira Costa are crucial. In other words, the Sea Hawks need to snap out of their inconsistency.

“The loss to PV was tough,” said Dessert, whose team is just one game back of first. “But I was really happy about Jennifer’s late home run in the game. I went and talked to her before she went up to bat and told her some things she needed to correct and she followed through.

“We’re looking ahead. We have Leuzinger on Friday, but our big week is next week. If we can sweep Pen and Costa, we’re really in a good position to make the playoffs. It’s anyone’s ball game, though we’re still in a good place.”

Jennifer would be Stevens, who drilled a solo homer—her sixth of the season—in the seventh inning in Redondo’s loss to Palos Verdes. Pitcher Brett Aspel also homered, lining a three-run shot over the right-center fence in the second inning.

Third baseman Linda Park, who is hitting over .400, will also be a factor in Redondo’s stretch run. She’s a solid performer and is second to Stevens in homers with five. She also has a good glove.

Redondo visits Mira Costa on Tuesday before it hosts Peninsula on Thursday.

Mira Costa boys lacrosse hardhitting

The Mustang boys lacrosse team takes on Agoura Saturday at home at 7:30 p.m. in a second round CIF Playoff game. The boys beat Westlake 15-3 at home in a physical game last Tuesday. 

Redondo riding high with the sticks

The Redondo girls team kicked off the U.S. Lacrosse Southern Section Championship North Division with a 15-5 first-round victory over Palos Verdes Tuesday. The Sea Hawks advance to Saturday’s division semifinals, where they will meet Palisades Charter at 6 p.m. at Redondo.

Redondo coach Tom Borgia is expecting a few fireworks.

“They like to run and gun like we do and not too many teams like to do that with us,” he said. “It should be interesting.”

Against Palos Verdes, Julia Denney, the team’s leading scorer, led the Sea Hawks with four goals and an assist, while Allison Field and Brittany Ross each scored a pair of goals and recorded an assist. Sisters Micayla and Allison Kotzbach also scored two goals apiece.

Hailey Newman, Bailey Czech and Emily Field each scored one.

Freshman goalkeeper Heather Czech, who had 10 saves, had a “terrific game,” Borgia said.

The winner of Saturday’s match advances to Tuesday’s final for the North Division championship against the Agoura-Santa Barbara Cate winner at a site to be determined.

Meanwhile, the Redondo boys earned a historic first with a 14-8 Division I decision over Crespi in the opening round of the U.S. Lacrosse Southern Section playoffs. Harrison Faecher scored five goals and got plenty of help from Taylor Romero, Eddie Clites, Dion Guth and Dominic Pelus, who scored two goals each. Goalkeeper Chad Cimonek recorded 18 saves.