Football:
I’ll concede that I don’t possess the same math skills as Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting, but there are a number of WTF matchups in the first round of the CIF-SS playoffs.
And there is no greater example than Division 3.
To start, undefeated Charter Oak (10-0) and 9-1 Pasadena both open the postseason on the road.
In that same bracket, Ayala (8-2) travels to top-seeded Corona del Mar (7-3).
The icing on the D-3 monstrosity is that while COHS and PHS travel, Upland, who finished 6-4, gets a first-round home game.
Northview (8-2), the reigning D-10 champs, moved up four divisions to D-6, and they’ll travel to Ramona.
Apparently winning the VVL didn’t do the Vikings any favors.
Another head scratcher is the draw that Claremont got.
The San Antonio League champs, who went 7-2, have to travel 60 miles to Newhall and battle a Hart (4-6) program that finished fourth in the Foothill League.
In Division 10, Rio Hondo Prep (8-1), who lost one game all season, heads to Norwalk (9-1), while La Salle (5-5) and Muir (4-6) got first-round home games.
Maranatha (9-0-1) faces fellow Cottonwood League competitor, Santa Rosa Academy (9-1), for the second time in three weeks.
The Minutemen handed the Rangers their only loss of the regular season.
In that same D-13 bracket, Azusa (9-1) has to travel to 5-5 Jurupa Valley.
The Aztecs won their first nine games and outscored their opponents by a combined margin of 396-55.
Perhaps the most glaring absence from the playoffs is Bonita.
The Bearcats (6-4) had victories over the San Antonio (Claremont) and Valle Vista (Northview) league champions.
And BHS lost to the Rio Hondo League champs (Monrovia) by one point, and undefeated Charter Oak by a field goal.
The only local showdown is in Division 9.
West Covina (5-5), the San Antonio League’s second-place team, heads to SDHS (6-4), who finished in a three-way tie for second with Diamond Ranch and Los Altos.
The Saints, Panthers and Conquerors all went 1-2 in Valle Vista League play.
Good luck and good health to all of our local programs.
CIF-SS Playoff Schedule:
Division 2:
Oaks Christian (7-3) at Rancho Cucamonga (8-2)
Division 3:
Ayala (8-2) at Corona del Mar (7-3)
Charter Oak (10-0) at Yorba Linda (10-0)
Pasadena (9-1) at El Modena (10-0)
Tesoro (6-4) at Upland (6-4)
Division 5:
St. Francis (7-3) at Silverado (8-2)
Yucaipa (6-4) at Etiwanda (5-5)
Division 6:
Northview (8-2) at Ramona (9-1)
Division 7:
Glendora (4-6) at Mayfair (6-4)
Claremont (7-2) at Hart (4-6)
Division 8:
Northwood (9-1) at Monrovia (8-2)
Division 9:
West Covina (5-5) at San Dimas (6-4)
Division 10:
Sunny Hills (3-7) at La Salle (5-5)
Rio Hondo Prep (8-1) at Norwalk (9-1)
Tustin (3-7) at Muir (4-6)
Covina (6-4) at Cantwell Sacred Heart (9-1)
Division 11:
La Canada (6-4) at Campbell Hall (8-2)
Division 13:
Santa Rosa Academy (9-1) at Maranatha (9-0-1)
Azusa (9-1) at Jurupa Valley (5-5)
Division 14:
Duarte (5-5) at Bolsa Grande (5-5)
Lynwood (6-4) vs Gladstone (7-3) at Citrus College
Photo by Josh Thompson/Chino Valley Champion Baseball: The Chino Hills pitching staff deserves the lion’s share of the credit for the Huskies earning a spot in this weekend’s CIF-SS Division 5 championship game. Favian Vasquez and Andrew Baldomino teamed up on a four-hit shutout in Tuesday’s 2-0 victory at Chino High School. In four playoff […]
Baseball: Arcadia saw its remarkable 2024 season come to an end on Tuesday. The Apaches fell at Hart, 7-2, in the semifinal round of the CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs. Arcadia pitching hit six Indians’ batters. Fernando Palencia got the loss after allowing six runs (three earned) on three hits over four innings. Palencia issued three […]
Baseball: Things looked great for the Ayala baseball program in Tuesday’s CIF-SS Division 2 semifinal at Moorpark. The Bulldogs led the Muskateers 5-0 in the top of the fourth inning. MHS, however, scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and they got four more in the fifth to secure a 7-5 victory. […]
Pictured throughout the years L-R: Glaspy & four-time state champion runner, Remontay McClain, and Glaspy w/Covina’s all-time TD leader & quarterback, Jake Duronslet Football: Editor’s Note: Two weeks ago, I sent an email to Covina Valley School District Superintendent Elizabeth Eminhizer to give her and the district a chance to make a statement, but Mrs. […]
Baseball: Azusa has earned its spot in this weekend’s CIF-SS Division 8 title game. The Aztecs claimed a 9-5 victory over Edgewood. AHS out-hit EHS, 14-9, on Tuesday. Edgewood’s Raymond Tafola was charged with four runs on five hits over two innings. He walked one and fanned three Aztecs. Noah Ramirez went five innings, and […]
Baseball: The St. Francis 2024 postseason victory tour continued Tuesday in Ontario. The Golden Knights defeated Ontario Christian, 3-1, in the semifinal round of the CIF-SS Division 4 playoffs. St. Francis scored once in the top of the third and they got two more in the seventh to outlast the Knights. Aiden Mahoney earned the […]
Softball: To view a photo gallery by Conrad Hunziker III, click on the Facebook link here: Facebook Although its 2024 season came to an end on Saturday in a CIF-SS Division 7 semifinal loss (8-6) to Eastside, Muir made gigantic progress and they should be celebrated. Their 21 wins is the program’s most in at […]
Baseball: Chino Hills earned its spot in this coming Tuesday’s CIF-SS Division 5 semifinal round. The Huskies rode the arms of Brody Buoncristiani and Andrew Baldomino to a 7-0 victory over their visitors from Montebello. Buoncristiani went 5 1/3 scoreless innings and he allowed three hits. Buoncristiani issued a pair of walks and struck out […]
Girls Athlete of the Week: Alyssa Galindo and the Etiwanda softball program had a memorable and highly successful week in the CIF-SS Division 3 playoffs. The Eagles went 3-0, including wins in the second round (6-0 at La Canada), quarterfinal (3-0 over Redondo Union) and semifinal rounds (5-1 at West Torrance) to earn a spot […]
