Yorba Linda tops Canyon in CIF softball playoffs, 5-2.
Click here to read the game recap and view photos.
Video by Rick Lee, OCVarsity.com.
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Yorba Linda tops Canyon in CIF softball playoffs, 5-2.
Click here to read the game recap and view photos.
Video by Rick Lee, OCVarsity.com.
More videos on the OCVarsity blog:

LAST YEAR’S CHAMPION: Pacifica
TOP FOUR SEEDS: 1. Redlands East Valley, 2. Temecula Valley, 3. Los Osos, 4. Cypress.
ORANGE COUNTY AT-LARGE TEAMS: Yorba Linda, Laguna Hills.
COUNTY PLAYERS TO WATCH: Cesar Serna, Valencia; David Fletcher, Cypress; Kyle Molnar, Aliso Niguel; Brennan Guinet, Beckman; James Clothier, Northwood.
BEST WILD-CARD MATCHUP: San Juan Hills at Pacifica.
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These Orange County teams qualified as at-large teams …
Division 1 — Huntington Beach, Servite, Mission Viejo (fyi, Brea Olinda qualified automatically as the Century League’s No. 4 team, did not go in as at-large although league coaches indicated that would happen).
Division 2 — Yorba Linda, Laguna Hills.
Division 4 — Godinez.
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Pacifica shut out Yorba Linda 4-0 on way to winning the 26th Michelle Carew Classic. Kaylee Carlson pitched a complete game only giving up three hits.
Video by Jonathan Khamis, for OCVarsity.com.
Click here to read the game story.
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I did a live blog from the Yorba Linda High on Friday afternoon where the Mustangs were playing Redlands East Valley in the Brea Tournament finals. Here’s how it all went down:
LIVE FROM YORBA LINDA HIGH
I have the OCVarsity mobile press row set up at Yorba Linda High where the Mustangs (4-0) are about to do battle with Redlands East Valley (5-2) for the Brea Olinda Tournament championship.
The Mustangs are led by San Diego-bound pitcher Paige Von Sprecken.
The Wildcats are led by Long Beach State-bound Alexie Johnson, LSU-bound Sahvanna Jaquish, South Dakota State-bound Ashlyn Bender and Cal State San Bernardino-bound Summer Smith.
The umps have arrived, so IT’S TIIIIIIIIIIME!!! TO PLAY BALL!!!!!!!
Bender is in the circle for REV. They are playing at Yorba Linda, but for tournament reasons the Mustangs have been designated the visiting teams, so they are up first.
Holly Fauria goes down swinging and Dana Hendry and Taylor Townsend both ground out. That’s a 1-2-3 inning for Bender.
Let’s see how YL ace Paige Von Sprecken looks. Word on the streets is PVS has game.
The REV bench breaks into a “We love our freshman” chant, so I’m assuming lead-off hitter Riley Plogger is a freshman. Von Sprecken strikes out the frosh. One down.
Lauren Acosta goes down swinging. Two down.
Alexie Johnson draws a two-out walk.
Von Sprecken strikes out Sahvanna Jaquish to end the inning.
Yorba Linda 0, Redlands East Valley 0 after one inning.
Santa Margarita’s Kevin Ricks and Yorba Linda’s Jeff Gorman have been selected the coaches for Sunday’s Orange County all-star girls water polo match at Yorba Linda.
The match is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Ricks and Gorman guided their teams to CIF-Southern Section titles Saturday in Irvine. The Eagles claimed the Division 2 crown while Yorba Linda won Division 6.
Ricks will hold practice for the South all-stars on Thursday at Santa Margarita at 6 p.m. Gorman will run practice for the North on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.
Please send water polo news to Dan Albano at dalbano@ocregister.com
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Jessica Castellano scored twice and her sister, Amy, added one as Yorba Linda’s girls water polo team claimed its first CIF title by defeating Pacifica, 5-2, in the Division 6 final Saturday in Irvine.
It’s the first section title for the third-year varsity program guided by Jeff Gorman.
Yorba Linda also got 14 saves from first-year goalie Rebecca Stephenson.
Pacifica’s Melissa Thorn also had 14 saves in cage.
After blazing through the first couple rounds of predictions, I struggled with my picks for the water polo semifinals, going just 5-3. The picks don’t get any easier for what should be a great Saturday of water polo finals. But I’m to press on and finish what I started:
Division 1
Newport def. CdM (I wonder if the Sailors peaked in the semifinals but I still like the Sailors’ strength at 2-meter offense and defense and in goal with Harrington. And despite their 8-5 victory against Santa Barbara, they can shoot better than they did in the semifinals. The Haralabidis twins are difference-makers who can raise their games, so the Sea Queens will be make this a one-goal game. Key matchup to watch: Outside shooters Cassidy Papa, Stephania Haralabidis vs. Cleo Harrington. The potential loss of Maddie Musselman (injured) also is a big factor.)
SATURDAY’S CIF-SS GIRLS WATER POLO FINALS
All games at William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center, Irvine
DIVISION 6
YORBA LINDA (20-4) VS. PACIFICA (20-10), 10:30 a.m.
Outlook: One of these Empire League schools will claim its first section title. Both are in the finals for the first time. Top-seeded Yorba Linda and Coach Jeff Gorman, pictured left, have reached the section’s big splash in only its third season as a varsity program. The Mustangs defeated visiting Pacifica, 15-9, on Feb. 7 en route to its first league crown. Yorba Linda led, 11-3, at halftime. Jessica Castellano, Taylor Leach and Taylor Best combined for 12 goals in another balanced scoring effort while Rebecca Stephenson racked up 13 saves.
WEDNESDAY’S CIF-SS GIRLS WATER POLO SEMIFINALS
DIVISION 6
PALM DESERT (22-8) VS. YORBA LINDA (19-4)
Site, time: Santa Ana Valley, 6 p.m.
Outlook: The Empire League champion Mustangs certainly have played like a No. 1 seed. Coach Jeff Gorman’s team has outscored Savanna and Mayfield, 25-2, in advancing to the semifinals for the first time. One of Yorba Linda’s strength is balance, on offense and Read the rest of this entry »