Oilers are impressive in summer

The Huntington Beach High girls’ basketball team defeated the South Torrance Spartans to win the San Diego Classic title Sunday.

The tournament, started in 1987 with eight teams, is the nation’s largest high school girls’ basketball tournament. This year’s event had 352 teams from California, Arizona, Oregon and Washington.

The Oilers, coached by Russell McClurg, are: Lauren Ogata, Alyssa Shapiro, Merwa Asizi, Kelsey Minato, Maya Kennedy, Emi Harase, Kala Johnson, Maddie McKinley, Sarah Boggeln, Noelani Viloria, Chelsey Pinegar, Amber Page, Sasha Mancisidor and Meghan White.

?

BASEBALL

The Ocean View High American Legion baseball team will begin its bid for a district tournament title at 7 tonight when the squad takes on Mission Viejo at Glover Stadium in Anaheim.

Ocean View, Mission Viejo, Dana Hills and Whittier high school-aged teams are in the district tournament, which is a double-elimination event. The winner of the tournament advances to play in next week’s area tournament.

Ocean View enters the district tournament as the top team from north Orange County with a record of 14-1.

“We’ve had a good summer considering we bat 14 or more players a game,” Ocean View Coach Shane Borowski said. “Summer league is typically a time to play everyone and see who can contribute and compete at the varsity level.

“We play in the American Legion league because of the abundant amount of teams you get to play against. I had no expectations of playing in the district tournament, but with really consistent pitching and defense, we were able to put together a 14-game win streak that put us into it.

“It’s tough to put together a good team in the summer when there are so many other commitments, which is why I’m so happy about the consistency in our play. Even when we don’t get our varsity returners at a game, we’re still playing well. It is very encouraging.”

?

Club water polo

The Huntington Beach Water Polo Club will send both its 12- and 14-and-under boys’ teams this weekend to the National Junior Olympic Tournament.

The tournament begins Saturday and runs through Tuesday at various pool sites in Orange County.

Huntington’s 12-Under team will open the tournament at Mater Dei High in Santa Ana. The 14-Under team will begin tourney play at the Woollett Center in Irvine.

The 10-Under coed and 14-Under girls teams will open Junior Olympics tournament action July 31.

In addition, the club’s female players won a silent action to attend a July 2 breakfast with the 2008 USA women’s national team that will compete next month in Beijing. The day included attending the national team’s training session in Los Alamitos.

“This was an awesome opportunity to inspire the younger girls to reach for their short-term and long-term goals,” said John Filipponi, club coach and administrator for Huntington Beach Water Polo Club. “Hopefully one day, Huntington Beach Water Polo Club will have players representing our country at the Olympics.”

Filipponi said the 2008 fall club season begins in early September at the Golden West College pool. For information on the fall session, visit www.hbwaterpolo.com.

MIKE SCIACCA covers sports. He can be reached at (714) 966-4611 or by e-mail at michael.sciacca@latimes.com.