Battle for Sunset League Remains Close to the Last Week
It has been the tightest league race all season, so it’s only fitting that it comes down to the final week in the Sunset League.
Marina (8-1 in league), Esperanza (8-1) and Los Alamitos (6-3) have been as close as any three teams in the county, with a five-shot average margin of victory in matches between any two of the three.
And if it’s a steeplechase, Marina cleared the hurdle with a 129-138 victory over Esperanza Tuesday and now must get through the water jump in a match against Los Alamitos Thursday to earn a share of the league title.
“They picked up the first part of the challenge,” Marina Coach Frank Ruotolo said. “I felt good about them coming through like that.”
Still, it’s not a given considering the opponent and the course. Marina squeaked by Los Alamitos, 122-126, in their last meeting at Meadowlark, Marina’s home course. The match Thursday is at Long Beach Navy Golf Course, a course Marina has not yet seen.
“When you go to a different course, it’s a big disadvantage,” Ruotolo said.
Marina, which was 10-0 in league last year, might have clinched the title if not for a forfeit loss to Esperanza earlier this month when DeAnna Rungo had to withdraw with flu symptoms.
Marina senior Courtney Goebel, who leads the Vikings with a 38.8 average, says the league title means a lot.
“After last year everyone expected us to do it again, but we had a little more trouble,” she said. “It was a tough act to follow, but I think we’re doing a pretty good job.
Los Alamitos has been the tough-luck loser in this race, losing three matches by a total of 11 strokes.
SOUTH COAST SCRAMBLE
The South Coast League race comes down to a match Thursday between El Toro (9-0) and Dana Hills (8-1).
The Chargers defeated the Dolphins by two strokes at El Toro Marine Base the last time they met, but this time they meet at Monarch Beach, Dana Hills’ home course.
El Toro has steadily improved and took charge after squeaking by Dana Hills.
Megan Bielefeld and Nicole Cerniglia have shown great improvement since last year and Melissa Peters has led the Chargers most of the season with several rounds under 40.
But Coach Bob Bosanko is quick to point out that Kristin Mott and Mary Farley have been as valuable as anyone at times.
“It’s really been a team thing,” Bosanko said. “No stars on this team.”
PRACTICE PREFERRED
After clinching a spot in the Southern Regional tournament, Newport Harbor canceled a match against Edison Monday to play a practice round at Los Serranos, site of the regional.
“It was a great teaching day,” Newport Harbor Coach Jim Warren said. “We want to take advantage of this opportunity [to play in the regional]. We don’t want to be left saying ‘Maybe if we worked harder we could have gone on.’ ”
Brianna Rheel, the senior captain for the Sailors, was not among those that went to Los Serranos. Rheel will miss the remainder of the season with ligament and cartilage damage in her knee. She will have surgery in early November.
A LITTLE SLOPPY
Top-ranked University broke out of a late season slump Tuesday, if you want to call it that.
A 118-137 victory over Corona del Mar was the first sub-120 round for the Trojans since early in the season. They have a season-best 111 at Strawberry Farms.
“Right now we’re playing a little sloppy,” Coach Patti Anduri said. “We’re not playing as much as we want to.”
That hasn’t prevented some quality individual performances. Top player Angela Won shot a career-best two-under-par 34 Tuesday. She has two eagles this season, both on the fifth hole at Strawberry Farms.
No. 2 player Sunny Lee shot two-under 30 last week at Aliso Creek, breaking par for the first time.
LIGHT COMPETITION
Valencia is 16-0 and running away with the Orange League, yet the Tigers haven’t been in The Times Orange County rankings.
The reasons? Schedule and location.
All of the Tigers’ matches have been against Empire and Orange league teams, many of them first-year teams.
Valencia also plays most of its matches at shorter executive courses, making it difficult to accurately rate the Tigers.
“We definitely have not beat the best teams,” Coach John Winek said. “When push comes to shove, we’re probably not going to be in the top five at the regional. Our schedule and where we play is going to catch up to us in the playoffs.”
Winek added that there was no intention to soften the schedule.
“It’s not like the scheduling was done on purpose,” he said. “We wanted to help the new teams get started.”
Valencia has played at Dad Miller, Lakewood Country Club and Royal Vista this year. The Tigers’ average score over six matches on those regulation courses is 140.
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