CdM softball’s great season on the brink

An extended streak of league futility left Corona del Mar High’s softball program much maligned for years.

Call this year’s Sea Kings team a group of curse breakers, for they were able to win a league game for the first time since 2008.

Corona del Mar did not wait long to accomplish that feat this season, defeating Beckman in stunning fashion in the Pacific Coast League opener.

The team was in the playoff race to the very end, but it dropped its last two contests and now finds itself on the brink.

A record of 14-13 overall, 4-6 in league, leaves the Sea Kings hoping that those reviewing their application for bracket consideration take into account their incredible story.

How many teams looking for an at-large bid into the CIF Southern Section Division 6 playoffs can lay claim to a victory over their league champion? CdM earned a 7-6 victory over PCL winner Woodbridge in extra innings.

With their wins over Woodbridge (Division 3) and Beckman (Division 4), the Sea Kings have multiple wins against teams receiving the automatic bids from their league.

“I would love to think that our season is not over, but I’m being realistic about it,” Sea Kings coach Jordann Wakabayashi said. “There’s no guarantee, but we are practicing as if we are still playing.

“Hopefully, we’ll be recognized for what we have done this season, and we can get into the playoffs. If not, then we can hold our heads high knowing that we just had the best season that this program has seen in years.”

Corona del Mar’s last playoff appearance came back in 2007. The Sea Kings finished 13-14, 7-5 in league. They entered the postseason as the third seed out of the PCL, losing to Whittier La Serna, 4-0, in the first round.

The announcement that CdM would be placed in the Sunset League at the start of the 2018-19 school year appears to be an interruption to the progress made by the Sea Kings’ softball program. Wakabayashi said that sustainable success would be a challenge regardless of which league her team competes in.

“Our program is going to have a tough time in any league because we don’t have a dead-solid foundation,” she said. “Ideally, I would describe this season as ‘in the process of building up to a reputable program.’

“Realistically, I would describe this season as a combination of good timing and determination. We aren’t always going to have seasons like this, and we are losing our entire infield along with the heart of our lineup.

“I’m not thrilled with the move, but in the long run, it is what is best for the athletics department as a whole, so if the move is better for the department, then we will just have to work even harder next year to prepare for what’s to come the year after that.”

Hellgren, Crane lead CdM at PCL Finals

Leif Hellgren pulled off the distance double in the Pacific Coast League Finals for the first time in his career.

He earned his second straight league title in the 1,600 meters with a time of 4:27.02, holding off Woodbridge’s Ryuya Souther by two seconds.

The senior came back with a time of 9:50.04 to win the 3,200.

Mason Crane swept the throws for the Sea Kings. He produced a mark of 51 feet, 7 inches in the shot put, adding a heave of 161 feet in the discus.

Amanda Cooper notched the lone victory for the Sea Kings on the girls’ side, going 116 feet, 9 inches in the discus.

Joshua Means (800) and Bryce Clabaugh (discus) also extended their seasons among the Sea Kings’ boys.

Other CdM girls to qualify for the CIF-SS Division 3 Preliminaries were Raquel Powers (3,200), Paige Damron (300 hurdles), Simona Bocancea (discus), and Morgan Simon (pole vault).

CIF-SS Track and Field Preliminaries

When: Saturday, May 13

Division 1: at Trabuco Hills High

Division 2: at Moorpark High

Division 3: at Estancia High

Division 4: at Carpinteria High

Fan Information: For prelims facilities that charge for parking, the fee will be $5. Admission to the prelims is $8 for adults. It is $5 for students with ID and children (ages 5-13).

Andrew.Turner@latimes.com

Twitter: @ProfessorTurner