Costa Mesa Tournament’s second weekend
As the sports world continues to be captivated by the high drama of March Madness, a few things should be kept in mind.
Any team seeking to make a deep run into the tournament needs to get hot at the right time, and it wouldn’t hurt if they have a difference-maker.
Making the Sweet 16, otherwise known as the start of the second weekend, is quite an accomplishment.
All softball teams in the Costa Mesa Tournament get to participate in the second weekend, but some got there more successfully than others.
Among local teams, Newport Harbor fared the best. The Sailors (4-7) earned wins against Century and Laguna Beach.
Sophomore third baseman Leah Freeman went five for seven over the two games.
In Newport Harbor’s 8-2 victory over the Centurions, Samantha Del Toro went two for two with two doubles and a run scored.
Against Laguna Beach, Diana Surber had three hits, including a home run and a double as the Sailors defeated the Breakers, 10-0.
Clare Austin made a rare start in the Laguna Beach game. She allowed just two hits while striking out six in a complete-game shutout.
Newport Harbor opposes Crean Lutheran in its final game of pool play at 11 a.m. on Saturday morning at Tewinkle Park. If the Sailors win, they could play for the tournament title at 5 p.m. that day.
Several other area teams are competing in the tournament. Laguna Beach and Los Amigos have each gone 1-1 through the first two games. Costa Mesa and Corona del Mar are still looking for their first win of pool play.
Despite being shutout, Laguna Beach is a team on the rise. The Breakers (5-3-1) opened the week as the No. 4 team in the CIF Southern Section’s Division 7 rankings.
Estancia also had a good week, winning three out of four after sweeping a Saturday doubleheader against Brethren Christian.
Eagles shortstop Emily Kubisty went seven for eight with seven runs, four stolen bases, four runs batted in, and three triples in that span.
Marina throws become more formidable
The Vikings’ boys’ track and field team is set to receive a big boost with the return of one of its key contributors.
Marina Coach Carlos Castellanos said that senior thrower Jake Arnold (right foot) has been cleared by a doctor to resume “some throwing.”
Castellanos added that the team has to ease him in, as the pain persists on the outside of his foot. Arnold is able to do lunges and light squat workouts.
The team does not plan to dress Arnold for the Beach Cities Invitational on Saturday, but the Vikings remain hopeful that Arnold will return for next week’s tri-meet with Edison and Huntington Beach.
Arnold possesses lifetime best marks of 65 feet, 5 inches in the shot put and 168 feet, 9 inches in the discus.
Kyle Tsu broke the school’s discus record with a throw of 176 feet, 8 inches in a league meet on Wednesday. Another Marina athlete could challenge for a school record before this season is over.
Noah Holmes did not participate in Wednesday’s dual meet against Newport Harbor, but he will return to the track for the Beach Cities Invitational at Huntington Beach High.
Castellanos believes that Holmes could take his 300-meter intermediate hurdles time below 40 seconds this weekend. The school record in the event is 39.08 seconds, set by Ben Forbes in 1998.
Holmes’ personal record is 39.72 seconds, which he ran at the CIF-SS Division 2 Prelims last year as a junior.
Twitter: @ProfessorTurner
