FREEWAY LEAGUE (Div. 4)
Sonora’s revival in the Freeway League under a well-known coach is one of storylines to watch during the final week of the regular season for boys water polo.
With 79-year-old Jim Sprague at the helm with co-coach Stephen Kim, the Raiders (14-13, 5-3) are locked in a three-way tie with Troy and La Habra for second place in the Division 4 league.
Sunny Hills has clinched at least share of the league crown with a 7-1 record.
Sonora plays at Buena Park on Tuesday and plays host to La Habra on Thursday. The games, scheduled for 3:15 p.m., will be meaningful, especially for a Sonora program that finished 1-9 in league last season. And with new CIF rules, there are no at-large berths this season.
“The kids have bought-in to double workouts (morning and afternoon) and watching film,” said Sprague, a six-time CIF champion now in his second season at Sonora. “I’m still the video master.”
The Raiders feature only nine upperclassmen in their program but have developed enough talent to contend. Senior Kyle Shubin scored twice in overtime last week as Sonora beat defending league champion Troy, 13-12, in the replay of a controversial overtime period.
Seniors Daniel Babashoff and Chance Lyster play 2 meters while Conrad Napier and goalie Ben Angula are promising sophomores. Babashoff’s great aunt is Olympic swimming legend Shirley Babashoff, the gold medalist and world-record holder from Fountain Valley.
Sprague said the Raiders have battled to be consistent, a trait he believes has hit several other Freeway League teams.
“There’s no cinches in this league,” he said.
Here’s a look at the other league races to watch on Super Tuesday:
CRESTVIEW (Div. 2)
No. 4-ranked Foothill plays at rival Villa Park on Tuesday for the league title. Both squads are 2-0 in the new, four-team league that also includes Esperanza and Canyon. The Spartans are the defending champion after edging Foothill, 5-4, last season.
EMPIRE (Div. 6)
It’s a big week for surprising Kennedy, which is 3-0 in league but faces likely its toughest tests. The Fighting Irish play host to Valencia on Tuesday in a match that could decide the league title. Valencia also is 3-0 in league and coming off the challenging Steve Pal Memorial Tournament.
On Thursday, Kennedy plays at Tustin. The Tillers are 2-1 in league and have been ranked in Division 6.
GARDEN GROVE (Div. 7)
There’s a logjam at the top of the Division 7 league after Los Amigos defeated Garden Grove, 8-5, last week behind 22 saves by goalie Celso Sanchez. “That was the best game we’ve played all year,” Lobos coach Manny Lepe said.
Garden Grove suffered its first league loss and ended league with a 3-1 record. Los Amigos and Rancho Alamitos are 2-1 entering the week and could finish with matching 3-1 records with victories on Tuesday night. Los Amigos plays Bolsa Grande while Los Amigos takes on La Quinta (1-2).
NORTH HILLS (Div. 3)
The Mustangs, making the transition from Division 7, will attempt to claim the league crown outright Tuesday with a victory against visiting El Modena. Yorba Linda and Brea Olinda, a winner in overtime against El Dorado on Monday, have already claimed the two automatic playoff berths from the new, four-team league.
PACIFIC COAST (Div. 1)
First-place Corona del Mar (9-0) and second-place Northwood (7-2) face off Tuesday at CdM but both teams have clinched automatic playoff berths. Irvine (5-4 in league) can secure the third and final automatic playoff berth Tuesday with a victory against University, which could leave Woodbridge on the outside of postseason.
SEA VIEW (Div. 3)
Capistrano Valley and Trabuco Hills could be headed for a tie for the league crown but don’t lose track of Aliso Niguel. The Cougars (6-1 in league) close out Sea View League play on Tuesday at third-place Aliso Niguel (4-2) and coud clinch at least a share of the title with a victory. Coach Steve Yancey’s squad then takes on Division 3’s top-ranked team, Laguna Beach, on Thursday.
The Mustangs are 4-1 in league with league matches this week against Laguna Hills and Aliso Niguel.
So the Wolverines play the two front-running teams this week, so things could get interesting in the Sea View.
SOUTH COAST (Div. 2)
Dana Hills plays host to San Clemente on Tuesday in another match for a league title. The two-time defending league champion Dolphins (6-0 in league) won the teams’ first meeting in league and are seeking to claim the outright title. San Clemente enters with a 4-1 record.
What to update your teams’ record on OCVarsity.com or your players’ stats? Contact Dan Albano at dalbano@ocregister.com for a password
