Southern Section Eliminates Edison From Playoffs

Edison High School was eliminated from the postseason playoffs Friday when Southern Section administrators ruled against the Sunset League’s four-way playoff plan to determine the league’s third-place representative.

The Chargers, who were in third place with a 5-3 league record, were forced to forfeit all their league victories Tuesday for using an ineligible player, Servite transfer Baron Coenen. Coenen, it was determined by Huntington Beach School District officials, was not living in Edison’s attendance area.

On Thursday, Coenen and his parents appealed the ruling. But league officials determined Coenen was ineligible and the Edison forfeits remained. They also ruled that Edison, Huntington Beach, Marina and Westminster would play a single-elimination playoff today, provided Huntington Beach and Westminster finish tied for third place.

On Friday, however, the Southern Section overruled the league’s plan.

Said Edison Coach Jon Borchert of the latest development: “I better not say anything that might shorten my teaching career. So, I better just say ‘no comment.’ ”

Borchert said all week that the Chargers had followed the Southern Section’s procedures and had done nothing wrong. Coenen was cleared by the Southern Section after sitting out the season opener. Borchert said that he felt the Chargers were being punished unfairly.

Huntington Beach and Westminster tied for third and will have a one-game playoff at 7:30 tonight at Ocean View.