Orange County shows muscle on selection Sunday

Orange County water polo flexed its muscles again Sunday, securing three of the top four seeds for the CIF-SS Division I boys playoffs.

Second-seeded Newport Harbor (23-4), No. 3 Corona del Mar (22-5) and No. 4 El Toro (25-3) grabbed the spots behind No. 1 and undefeated Loyola of Los Angeles (28-0).

Loyola has never reached a section final and has made the semifinals once (1996). Last season, the Cubs lost in the first round to Ventura, 10-8.

Because of its limited playoff profile, Loyola coach Erik Healy said recently that his team considers itself an underdog this postseason.

“(We) enjoy that role,” he said at the Hank Vellekamp No. 2 Tournament.

If the seeding were to hold, Loyola would face El Toro in the semifinals Nov. 18 at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center. Newport Harbor and Corona del Mar would clash for a third time in the other semifinal.

“I’m happy to be in the top four (seeds),” El Toro coach Don Stoll said. “I think we are where we’re supposed to be.”

Defending Division II champion Mater Dei (22-5) earned the top seed in the division. The Monarchs are attempting to become the first back-to-back champion in Division II since Corona del Mar claimed three consecutive titles, 1999-2001.

JSerra (15-9), runner-up to Mater Dei is the Trinity League, is seeded second.

South Coast League champion San Clemente (15-11) earned a first round bye but could play host to 2008 Division II runner-up Servite in the second round Thursday.

In Division III, Laguna Beach (17-11) is seeded third and on the same side of the bracket as defending champion and No. 2 seeded Montebello. Last season, Montebello beat Laguna Beach, 10-6, in the semifinals.

Defending Division VII Katella (18-10) is seeded first in the second-year division. Empire League rival Valencia (17-5) is seeded second, followed by Garden Grove League champion and No. 3 Los Amigos (8-14) and No. 4 Lakeside. In the final last season, Katella defeated Valencia, 7-1.

The playoffs begin Tuesday. All seven divisional finals will be play at Woollett on Nov. 21.