Cif Southern Section

NEWPORT BEACH - Most of the names of Corona del Mar High's football players didn't match the numbers on the roster. The program handed out to fans before the Sea Kings opened the CIF Southern Section Southern Division playoffs on Thursday featured last year's team. It was an honest mistake. But make no mistake about it - this year's group is playing a lot like the one last year did for CdM. The Sea Kings are now three wins away from mirroring what CdM accomplished last season - winning a Southern Division title.

COSTA MESA - As a former standout volleyball player, Coach Paul Muñoz knew what one of his best players was going through Tuesday. Abby Griffith showed up to Estancia High's first-round match in the CIF Southern Section Division 1-A playoffs not feeling her best. Muñoz said his 6-foot-3 middle blocker had the stomach flu. He offered the junior advice before the girls' home contest against Bishop Montgomery of Torrance. "I told her really it's important that she doesn't show [that she's sick]

For Corona del Mar High's Amy Matsuoka and Newport Harbor's Grace Ferrell, youth hasn't impeded them on the golf course. Experience has been on Estancia Cassie Stevenson's side. The three local golfers look to continue their impressive postseason runs. They are competing in the CIF Southern Section Individual Final at Western Hills Country Club in Chino Hills on Thursday. Tee time is at 9 a.m. Ferrell, a freshman, is coming off a five-over-par 79 performance, tying her for 25th place with two other players at last week's CIF Southern Section Southern Individual Regional at Recreation Park Golf Course in Long Beach.

NEWPORT BEACH - Midway through the second quarter, half of the stadium lights at Newport Harbor High went out. Maybe it was a sign for Marina to head home early on Thursday night. Whenever a football team has faced the Vikings in Sunset League play since 2005, it has been a sure win for the opponent. Newport Harbor hopes its 37-0 shutout of Marina guarantees the Sailors a berth into the CIF Southern Section Southwest Division playoffs. They certainly moved a step closer to qualifying for the postseason for the fourth straight year.

LONG BEACH - Newport Harbor High freshman Grace Ferrell, Estancia senior Cassie Stevenson and Corona del Mar freshman Amy Matsuoka finished among the top 51 girls to extend their season after competing in the CIF Southern Section Southern Regional individual golf tournament Wednesday morning at Recreation Golf Course. Ferrell, who finished tied for third in the Sunset League finals, shot a five-over-par 79, that included three birdies. Stevenson, who finished second in the Orange Coast League finals, carded an 81, and Matsuoka shot an 82, finishing third in the Pacific Coast League finals.

GIRLS' TENNIS Sunset League finals LOS ALAMITOS - Newport Harbor High seniors Megan Bathen and Kaitlyn Cosenza finished second in doubles Thursday at Los Alamitos High to advance to the CIF Southern Section preliminaries on Nov. 19. No. 2-seeded Bathen and Cosenza lost to top-seeded Sarah Edwards and Sophia Bott of Los Alamitos, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), 10-3, in the title match. It was the third straight league doubles final appearance for Bathen, who with then-partner Mindy Wheeler was a winner as a junior.

Throughout the Corona del Mar High campus, Scott Meyer sees construction. There are new parking lots paved and classrooms built. Ever since Meyer came to the school last year to coach football and teach social studies, it seems it has been under construction. He is waiting for the school to renovate the football field. The field needs lights, a new playing surface and bigger bleachers, so his Sea Kings can play Friday night games right on campus, instead of at Newport Harbor.

Scott Meyer can laugh about it now, but he wasn't four months ago. His Corona del Mar High football team almost lost a chance to defend its CIF Southern Section Southern Division crown this year. It just didn't seem right to Meyer, but the section had approved an appeal in April to remove the Sea Kings and the Pacific Coast League from the Southern Division playoffs. Proponents for the move believed the league dominated the Southern Division playoffs and the section needed to make a change.

Corona del Mar High seniors Parker Brown, Joe Ctvrtlik and Jack Reed were each named to the All-CIF Southern Section Division 2 boys' volleyball team after leading the Sea Kings to their second straight CIF Southern Section Division 2 title appearance. The three players are the only locals earning All-CIF honors this season. The trio tried to lift CdM to back-to-back section crowns for the first time in the program's storied history. The Pacific Coast League champion Sea Kings (25-7, 10-0 in league)

Ethan Cochran, Steve Michaelsen and Marty Taylor took turns heaving a rubber shot at a handball wall at Newport Harbor High Wednesday afternoon. They were training for Saturday's CIF Southern Section Track & Field Championships. All around them sounds and actions unfolded like that of a typical high school. Off to the side, football players banged at a rubber tire with a huge mallet. A few girls walked by giggling at the site. Off to the distance, a girl's voice sang, "Paparazzi," by Lady Gaga.