Mustangs win Varsity Classic
Mira Costa’s boys volleyball team remained the top ranked team in the state after going undefeated to capture the Redondo/Mira Costa Varsity Tournament. Team members include (front row, l-r) Karl Acres, Bryce Miller, Jay Muller, Tony Ensbury, Scott Enos, Kyle Burgoyne, Eric Mochalski Kevin Donohue, (back row) Coach Mike Ninnis, Dylan Ramey, Davis Waddell, Chris Orenic, Michael Beals, John Hausle, Jace Olsen, D.J. White, Ryan Wheeler, Coleman Palm, Evan Hein, Coach Sean Shoptaw and Trainer Tim Cooper. Photo by Connie Donohue
Ranked as the nation’s top boys high school volleyball team, Mira Costa is running on all cylinders after sweeping every match to capture the Redondo/Mira Costa Varsity Classic Tournament and taking down rival Redondo 25-14, 25-10, 25-21 in a Bay League showdown Tuesday.
The Mustangs improved their season record to 28-1 and 8-0 in league play. Seniors Eric Mochalski and Jace Olsen each had eight kills while Kevin Donohue and D.J White added seven. Setters Michael Beals and Bryce Miller combined for 33 assists for Mira Costa, which concludes its regular season with home matches against Palos Verdes Thursday at 3:15 p.m. and Santa Barbara Friday at 7 p.m.
Palos Verdes, which swept West Tuesday and is ranked No. 9 in the Division 1 poll, would earn a share of the Bay League title with an upset of the Mustangs.
Mira Costa had little trouble knocking off Valencia (No. 4 in Division 2) for the Varsity Classic crown with a 25-13, 25-12 victory. Mochalski was named MVP of the tournament after recording 30 kills and 11 blocks in four matches on Saturday. Donohue and White were named to the all-tournament team for Mira Costa which defeated Servite, Westlake and Dana Hills to reach the finals.
In pool play on Friday, the Mustangs swept Bishop Montgomery, Torrance and Rancho Bernardo behind Donohue’s 17 kills and seven blocks, Olsen’s 15 kills and seven blocks and Beals’ 33 assists.
A.J. Anello and his Redondo teammates attempt to keep their playoff hopes alive with a win at Peninsula Thursday. Photo
Redondo saw its record drop to 20-11 and 3-4 in league after the loss at Mira Costa Tuesday. Ryan Olson led the team with 10 kills and Riley Theunissen added seven kills for the Sea Hawks who conclude Bay League action Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at Peninsula.
Redondo entered the week after enjoying some success in the Varsity Classic tournament. The Sea Hawks won their pool, sweeping La Jolla, Beverly Hills and Oak Park on Friday. Theunissen had 31 kills, Olson added 28 kills and Michael Vellutato contributed 61 assists on the day.
Advancing to the Gold Division, Redondo beat Foothill before losing to Rancho Bernardo and finalist Valencia. Ryan Mather had 18 kills, Brandon Hielhe added 17 and Andy Price had 38 assists in the three matches.
Baseball
After spending one season as head coach at Redondo High, Cassidy Olson faced his successor for the first time Wednesday. Mira Costa (12-13, 6-1) scored eight runs in the final inning to emerge with a 14-10 road victory over the Sea Hawks Wednesday evening.
Lucas Whitehill kept the Mustangs in the game with a three-home run performance. Jake Jelmini blasted a three-run home run put Mira Costa ahead after Kyle Demarco tied the game wtih an RBI double in the seventh inning.
The two squads meet again tomorrow at Mira Costa in a 3:15 p.m. contest. The Mustangs play at St. Paul, the fourth-ranked team in CIF Division 4, today in a non-league game.
Lucas Whitehill hit three home runs for Mira Costa in the Mustangs 14-10 win over host Redondo. Photo
Mira Costa suffered its first blemish in league play Friday suffering a 3-2 road loss at Peninsula. The defeat dropped the Mustang’s into second place behind undefeated Palos Verdes, which won its first of two games against West this week with a 15-0 home victory Wednesday.
Mira Costa wraps up Bay League action next week with a crucial away-and-home series with Palos Verdes on Tuesday and Thursday.
Redond0, 2-5 in league play, had its playoff hopes diminished last week when West swept the Sea Hawks. Head Coach Brady Thurman’s squad rebounded to win a consolation game in the Redondo Tournament Saturday, outscoring St. Bonaventure 10-4 behind Chris Jump’s 2-for-2, six RBI performance. Dylan Hatch added a 2-run homerun and Joey Hoy went 3-for-3 in the victory.
After facing rival Mira Costa this week, Redondo plays a home-and-away series with Peninsula on Tuesday and Thursday that could determine the final playoff berth from the Bay League. The Panthers entered the week tied with the Sea Hawks with a 2-4 record and beat Leuzigner 4-0 Wednesday behind Cristian Torres’ perfect game.
Boys Lacrosse
Second-seeded Mira Costa (14-3) hosts Downey (12-5) Thursday at 5 p.m. in the second round of the Southern Section North Division tournament. Two of the three Mustang losses came in close games against top-seeded Palos Verdes, which hosts Malibu Thursday.
Mitchell Hymowitz and Mira Costa's boys lacrosse team enter the Southern Section North Division tournament as the second seeded team. Photo
Mira Costa has defeated Downey 12-5 and 19-4 this season. The victor advances to take on the Chaminade-Palisades winner Saturday at Palos Verdes High School in a semi-final contest.
The LA final will be held at Chaminade at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The winner advances to take on the Orange County champion Friday or Saturday, May 14-15 at an Orange County venue yet to be determined.
In the LAXPower.com ratings, Corona Del Mar holds the top spot in the rankings with Palos Verdes listed at No. 4 and Mira Costa at No. 6.
Track and Field
Redondo hosts the Bay League track and field finals Friday at 6 p.m. Showcased will be members of Redondo’s girls team and the Mira Costa boys team which captured league dual meet titles this season.
CIF Divisional Prelims will be held Saturday, May 15, followed by the finals on Saturday, May 22. The Masters Meet is slated for Friday, May 28 at Cerritos College. The CIF State Championship Meet will be held Friday and Saturday, June 4-5 at Veterans Memorial Stadium at Buchanan High School in Clovis.
Boys Tennis
Mira Costa knocked off Palos Verdes 10-8 to earn a share of the Bay League title with Palos Verdes and Peninsula. It has been eight years since Mira Costa (13-2, 6-2) claimed a league title and Coach Joe Ciasulli is looking for a deep run in the CIF playoffs. Mira Costa, Peninsula and Palos Verdes are ranked fifth through seventh, respectively, in the Division 1 poll.
Playoff pairings will be announced Monday and will be posted on www.cifss.org. ER