Playoffs

BOYS' LACROSSE Corona del Mar 16, Dana Hills 5 CORONA DEL MAR - Senior Casey Mix had four goals and three assists to lead the top-seeded Sea Kings in the first round of the U.S. Lacrosse Southern Section South Division playoffs. Senior Todd Kitzens had two goals and three assists and senior Chris Von Der Ahe had one goal, four assists and four groundballs for CdM (16-2), which plays host to Beckman on Thursday. Sophomores Max Kline (three goals), Ben Paltiz (one goal, one assist)

The Vanguard University softball team is the No. 3 seed in a six-team double-elimination tournament that will advance one team into the four-team NAIA softball championship opening-round tournament. The Lions (34-22) will meet William Jessup on Thursday at 11:45 a.m. at Concordia University in Irvine. Vanguard finished second in the Golden State Athletic Conference, which has four teams in the event that runs through Saturday. Concordia, ranked No. 1 nationally, is the top seed. Simpson, representing the California Pacific Conference, is the No. 2 seed.

CORONA DEL MAR - Two losses this week did not provide the Corona del Mar High girls' lacrosse team with a lot of momentum going into the U.S. Lacrosse Southern Section South Division playoffs. But, as the Sea Kings showed last year, anything can happen once the playoffs begin. The postseason was the talking point Wednesday, after CdM dropped its Pacific Coast League finale to league champion Beckman, 9-6, at home. Corona del Mar (13-7, 7-3 in league) finished tied for second in league.

Blake Grable had never played in a basketball gym as packed as Corona del Mar High's on Feb. 22. It seemed like it was standing-room only. It seemed like the entire school came to watch the Sea Kings play La Verne Damien in the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 3AA playoffs. Grable's uncle, Don, is the athletic director at CdM, and on that night, he told fans to squeeze in to make room for others. There just wasn't enough room for more than 1,000 bodies to find a seat.

Jennifer Broderick will be stepping down as the girls' water polo coach at Estancia High, Athletic Director Jessica Perry said Tuesday. FOR THE RECORD: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the athletic director as Jennifer Perry. Broderick is a full-time teacher with a large work load and doesn't feel like she has the time to continue the type of program she wants to run, Perry said. The coaching job will be open. Before it is filled, Broderick will continue leading the team and helping out with the hopes of a smooth transition, Perry said.

Corona del Mar High senior guards Blake Grable and Max Stone made first-team All-Pacific Coast League in boys' basketball after they led the Sea Kings to a runner-up finish in league and the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 3AA playoffs. The duo lifted CdM (21-10, 8-2 in league) to its first semifinal appearance since the 2006-07 season. The Sea Kings broke through after three straight seasons exiting in the quarterfinals. Grable elevated his play in league and the playoffs, and averaged 12.7 points per game for the season.

Rob Wigod, the commissioner of the Southern Section, wants to start a debate over whether there are too many teams being allowed in the Southern Section playoffs because of Blue Book Rule 3214.1. That rule, passed several years ago, allows schools that did not earn a guaranteed entry from their league into the playoffs in every sport but football, basketball and wrestling as long as their school finished in the next place beyond that league's guaranteed number of entries and the school has an overall record of .500 or better.

SAN DIEGO - The Corona del Mar High boys' volleyball team won two of three matches at Alliant University on Friday to finish second in its pool at the Best of the West Tournament. Coach Steve Conti's Sea Kings advance to the 16-team Gold Division playoffs on Saturday at the Epic Volleyball Club in Poway. Eric Ctvrtlik had eight kills and Joey Martino seven in a 25-19, 21-29 triumph over a Valencia West Ranch program that boasted two 6-foot-11 players and another 6-9. Matt Ctvrtlik had 10 assists for the Sea Kings.

The walls of the main gym at Corona del Mar High School are covered with banners proclaiming the CIF championships won over the years by the school's athletic teams. There are multiple blue-and-white banners for football, boys' basketball, girls' volleyball, cross-country, tennis, track and field, baseball — you name it. There is only one for girls' basketball. It happened in 1983 — almost 30 years ago. It was brought home by a team with only eight players that put together an amazing playoff run after finishing second in Seaview League play.