Back Bay rivalry in pool tonight

It’s been several years since the Corona del Mar High boys’ water polo team has played Newport Harbor in a regular season game. That will change tonight, when the teams play at 6 at CdM.

But the two teams don’t have to look back far to remember their last meeting. It came in the 2005 CIF Southern Section Division I semifinals, an epic Back Bay battle where the Sailors eventually came out on top by a 13-12 score.

Newport Harbor graduate Clay Jorth scored the game-winner in the second overtime of that game, and younger brother Clinton Jorth — who missed that game due to injury — now leads the Sailors with 34 goals scored as a junior. Other standouts include seniors Nick Yeager, Riley Hayes, Blake Hockenbury and goalie Bryce McLain, as well as juniors Brandon Parole, Collin Sherman, Colin McKibbin and goalie Myles Christian.

Leading the way for Corona del Mar is senior Mike Berry, who leads the team with 56 goals scored. He has a steady cast of fellow seniors around him, including Ryan Hultman, Nick Jones, Ryan Kent, R.J. Baldoni, Greg Sanford and goalie Brian Peotter.

Fans may expect another thrilling game tonight, if rankings are any indication. The Sea Kings, led by second-year coach Barry O’Dea, are ranked No. 4 in CIF Southern Section Division I, while the Sailors, led by sixth-year coach Jason Lynch, are ranked No. 5.

Both teams are currently leading their leagues — the Pacific Coast League for Corona del Mar and the Sunset League for Newport — with 3-0 records. And both have already had tournament success this season.

Newport Harbor (13-4) advanced to the semifinals of both the South Coast Tournament and Southern California Invitational, while Corona del Mar (13-6) finished second at the SoCal Invitational and has already beaten Servite, the No. 2 team in Division II, twice.