Santa Monica

Patrick Laverty The collective sigh of relief from the Corona del Mar High sideline as the final whistle blew Tuesday was as strong as any Santa Ana wind. After Santa Monica simply peppered the Sea Kings' goal in the final minutes in an attempt to tie the score, the Sea Kings escaped with a 1-0 victory, knocking off the No. 4 seed in the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs on their way to the quarterfinals. The Sea Kings (14-3-6), who notched their first postseason victory in 11 years in the first round, will face St. Francis (24-5-1)

SANTA MONICA - Corona del Mar High's girls water polo team, ranked No. 6 in CIF Southern Section Division IV, walloped host Santa Monica, ranked No. 4 in Division IV, 14-4, Saturday. After a slow start, where the Vikings (13-3) led 2-1 after the first quarter, the Sea Kings (10-7) exploded for 10 goals in the second and third to pull away. Melinda Tucker, with five goals, led CdM's offensive assault. Danielle Carlson and Christina Hewko scored three each, and Hayley Hapeman and Lauren Guthrie each got two goals.

This time, it counts. Unlike previous meetings between the two schools, all preseason scrimmages, today’s 5 p.m. nonconference football game between Orange Coast College and visiting Santa Monica, will count on each team’s record. OCC is attempting to bounce back from a mistake-filled season-opening loss. The Pirates (0-1) lost three fumbles and threw two interceptions in their 27-10 setback at Citrus last week. Santa Monica opened its season with a 48-27 loss to San Diego Mesa.

SANTA MONICA - Top-seeded Corona del Mar made short work of host Santa Monica High Saturday morning in CIF Division IV girls water polo, shelling the Vikings, 16-6, to advance to Wednesday's semifinal. Christina Hewko and Brittney Bowlus each scored four goals and Daniella Giacomo and Danielle Carlson each scored twice as CdM (23-6) dominated. Jessica Harkins and Jessica Fries added single tallies and goalie Jessica Wlls had five saves and a steal.

TORRANCE — Junior Reed Williams had two assists and a goal to lead the Corona del Mar High boys’ soccer team past host Bishop Montgomery, 3-0, in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs Friday. Sophomore Brian Ford scored on an assist from Williams in the 24th minute. Then Williams scored in the 34th minute after Miles Kellerman’s assist. Paul Zubatov closed out the scoring in the 58th minute, making good on Williams’ goal. CdM (7-7-4)

TODAY Baseball College -- UC Irvine at USC, 6 p.m.; Cal Baptist at Vanguard, 2 p.m. Basketball College men -- Vanguard at Christian Heritage, 7:30 p.m. College women -- Vanguard at Christian Heritage, 5:30 p.m. Soccer High school girls -- Canyon at Corona del Mar, 3 p.m.; Costa Mesa at Santa Monica, at John Adams Middle School in Santa Monica, 3 p.m. Softball College -- Vanguard at...

The Volleyball Festival held at the Phoenix Convention Center hosted over 525 teams from Brazil to Canada with many teams from Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The Opening Ceremonies was held at Chase Field which is the indoor baseball stadium for the Diamondbacks baseball team. Complete with fireworks and a march-in of all the teams, it was very exciting for the Orange County Volleyball Club girls. The five-day tournament was an outstanding experience for the girls. The OCVBC 17 Blue team won the 17s championship, which was played at the US Airways Arena on the same court that the Phoenix Suns play (we were looking for Steve Nash to appear)

BASEBALL Vanguard 4, Biola 0 COSTA MESA — Junior right-hander Richard Jessup went the distance, allowing five hits and striking our four in a Golden State Athletic Conference game Wednesday. Jessup walked four to improve to 2-0 as the host Lions (5-3, 1-2 in conference) scored single runs in the second, fourth, fifth and eighth and played errorless defense to record their first conference win. Junior shortstop Zach Leighton opened the scoring with an RBI single to score his brother Tyson Leighton in the second.

The Santa Monica Bob Burns Restaurant has met the same fate as its Newport Beach counterpart -- closed down after more than 30 faithful years in the community. The restaurant, at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and 2nd Street, with its dark wooden walls and good old fashioned comfort food, has been privy to many a New Year's kiss and more than a few marriage proposals. The same was true for the Fashion Island store, which closed its doors Dec. 31, 1998 after its lease with the Irvine Co. ran out. In the case of the Santa Monica eatery, owner Bonnie Burns, daughter of restaurant founders Bob and Elizabeth Burns, said the family decided to sell its property for personal and financial reasons.

Carlson-Solmssen Bonnie Kay Carlson of Santa Monica and Andrew Barnard Solmssen of Santa Monica exchanged wedding vows on May 17 in the garden of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Holt in San Juan Capistrano. The bride, daughter of the late John Carlson and Mrs. John Carlson of Corona del Mar, wore an ivory, silk, Vera Wang gown. Her matron of honor was Mrs. Kenneth Solomon, and her bridesmaids were Mrs. Anabelle Avery, Mrs. Courtney Cooney, Miss Kate Corrigan, Miss.

Shirley Ann Beck Born April 13, 1930 in Santa Monica, CA, Shirley passed away on July 20, 2011 in Orange County. She spent her childhood in Oregon but moved back to California in the early 50's. She is survived by 5 children, 5 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild. She lived in Costa Mesa, CA for over 50 years. Memorial Services are pending. Her ashes will be scattered at sea with her beloved son, former husband, and friends.

The Volleyball Festival held at the Phoenix Convention Center hosted over 525 teams from Brazil to Canada with many teams from Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The Opening Ceremonies was held at Chase Field which is the indoor baseball stadium for the Diamondbacks baseball team. Complete with fireworks and a march-in of all the teams, it was very exciting for the Orange County Volleyball Club girls. The five-day tournament was an outstanding experience for the girls. The OCVBC 17 Blue team won the 17s championship, which was played at the US Airways Arena on the same court that the Phoenix Suns play (we were looking for Steve Nash to appear)

BASEBALL Orange Coast 9, Fullerton 6 COSTA MESA — The Pirates were led by Scott Stidham who had four runs batted in and three runs on three-of-four hitting with a home run in the Orange Empire Conference game Tuesday. Shortstop Jordan Beck had a home run and hit three for four with two RBIs and a run for OCC (18-15,10-9 in conference). Danny Lapchack went two for four with two runs, while Sam Micheals also went two for four with an RBI. Josh Lee got the win allowing seven hits and two earned runs on two walks and two strikeouts.

COSTA MESA — The plan was to flip the lineup, not the script. But visiting Santa Monica College was clearly not willing to play the feeble victim against Orange Coast College in the quarterfinals of the California Community College Athletic Assn. men’s volleyball state championship Tuesday night. The Corsairs, who were swept by the Pirates on Feb. 24 at OCC, required much more convincing this time, though the Pirates advanced with a 32-30, 30-27, 30-20 triumph. OCC (17-2)

SANTA MONICA — Orange Coast College football coach Mike Taylor got what anyone in his position would want from a season-opening game Saturday night. The Pirates’ 44-28 triumph over host Santa Monica first and foremost gave Taylor a winning smile. Other positives abounded, led by sophomore tailback Ray Holley’s 215 yards and three touchdowns on 29 rushing attempts. No serious injuries were apparent for OCC, which snapped a six-game losing streak that carried over from last season.

With six straight losses to end the campaign, some might suggest the 2008 season was one to forget for the Orange Coast College football team. So, perhaps, it is a positive that those who compiled the overwhelming majority of the statistical evidence last fall are no longer on the roster. “Obviously, we were a very sophomore-oriented team last year,” Coach Mike Taylor said of his 4-6 unit that, outside of a 41-14 drubbing at Palomar, suffered five setbacks by an average of just six points.

Marjorie Ann, beloved “Maggie,” Stamper, a 46-year resident of Newport Beach, died on May 28 of natural causes. Originally from Houston, Texas, Maggie majored in art history at the University of Houston and married James Clinton Stamper in Santa Monica in 1954. Maggie was a painter and mixed media artist and continued to study art in San Diego. As a resident of Newport Beach, California, Maggie was a Girl Scout Leader, Cub Scout Den Mother, an Orangewood Children’s Home volunteer and member of the Volunteer Clowns of Orange County and the Bloomer Brigade.

Coin flips is not how Reed Williams wants to decide outcomes. The Sea Kings haven’t benefited from them in recent years. Last season, they earned a wild-card playoff spot due to losing a coin flip, dropping the Sea Kings from second place in the Pacific Coast League to third place. Williams saw the playoffs begin on the road at Sunny Hills in Fullerton and end there as well in sudden-death overtime. “There was like a hill in the middle of the field,” Williams said is all he really remembers.

SANTA MONICA — Corona del Mar High boys’ soccer coach Pat Callaghan calls Reed Williams a difference-maker. The junior striker perfectly fit the coach’s description with his performance Wednesday. Williams, who recently verbally committed to UCLA, scored two goals and was helpful for another in CdM’s 3-1 win over Santa Monica in the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs. In the eighth minute, Williams gave the Sea Kings a 1-0 lead after putting away Jack Gorab’s through ball.

TORRANCE — Junior Reed Williams had two assists and a goal to lead the Corona del Mar High boys’ soccer team past host Bishop Montgomery, 3-0, in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs Friday. Sophomore Brian Ford scored on an assist from Williams in the 24th minute. Then Williams scored in the 34th minute after Miles Kellerman’s assist. Paul Zubatov closed out the scoring in the 58th minute, making good on Williams’ goal. CdM (7-7-4)