Sea Kings

Bryce Alderton Brian Ricker, who guided the Laguna Beach High girls tennis team to the CIF Southern Section Division I semifinals last year, will take the reins at Pacific Coast League rival Corona del Mar beginning next fall. Ricker, 42, fills the position vacated by Scott Feichter, who resigned after one season. The Sea Kings lost to Peninsula, 11-7, in the CIF Division I finals last fall. "I consider [CdM] one of the top programs in the country with never-ending great players and a great history.

BOYS' VOLLEYBALL Tournament of Champions SANTA BARBARA — Cody Caldwell had 26 kills, two aces and seven digs to lead Newport Harbor High past rival Corona del Mar, 25-22, 25-13, 25-17, in the quarterfinals Friday. Rusty Sary added 14 kills and Ian Sequeira had 37 assists and two blocks for Newport Harbor (16-6), which will face Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach in the semifinals Saturday at 10:45 a.m. The Sailors beat Long Beach Wilson in the first round, 25-14, 19-25, 25-15, 25-16.

SAN BERNARDINO — The Corona del Mar High baseball team saw its season end, coming out on the wrong end of a pitchers' duel Tuesday at Cajon of San Bernardino. Cajon pitcher Tanner Clark led his team to a 2-0 win in a wild-card game of the CIF Southern Section Division III playoffs. Clark struck out seven and gave up just four hits in his shutout to improve to 9-1. Corona del Mar junior pitcher Eric Morris (6-4) wasn't that far off, striking out four with no walks, while giving up only four hits and one earned run. Cajon (18-8)

Under Coach Ryan Schachter, the Corona del Mar High boys' basketball team has finished first in the Pacific Coast League in four of his first five seasons. In Schachter's sixth season at the school, the Sea Kings are back in contention for a league crown. But they're looking up, instead of down. The Sea Kings have reeled off three straight wins in league play, putting them in second place, two games behind first-place Woodbridge. The Sea Kings can get closer to the top spot on Tuesday, when they have a showdown at home against Woodbridge at 7 p.m. Three weeks ago, CdM (12-9, 4-2 in league)

ALISO VIEJO — The Corona del Mar High boys' volleyball team was the odds-on favorite to advance in Saturday night's CIF Southern Section Division II quarterfinal match. Establishing an odds-on favorite to lead the team in kills would be a bit more problematic for the Sea Kings and their fans. Junior outside hitter Parker Brown did the honors in this one, pounding down 12 of them as CdM eased to a 25-14, 25-16, 25-15 victory at Aliso Niguel. Top-seeded Corona del Mar will play host to Trabuco Hills in a semifinal match at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

COSTA MESA - Friday night marked the first time under the lights for two coaches in charge of their new high school football teams. Even though it was a scrimmage, the evening offered Corona del Mar's Scott Meyer and Costa Mesa's Wally Grant a chance to evaluate their players in game situations. There were plenty to play through before the two programs kick off the season on the road on Sept. 2. From how the teams looked at Jim Scott Stadium, the Sea Kings are more in harmony.

It's more of the same, with a twist, for the Corona del Mar High football team. Last week, in a last-second loss to El Toro, the Chargers only threw six passes the entire game. For the most part it was run, run, run. This week, the Sea Kings (1-1) will face Troy (1-0), with a wing T offense that has shown the ability to produce with the run, while also mixing in an explosive passing game. The Sea Kings, ranked No. 5 in the CIF Southern Section Southern Division, meet the Warriors, ranked No. 2 in the CIF Southeast Division, tonight at 7 at Fullerton High.

The present state of the Corona del Mar High varsity football team appears just fine. The Sea Kings have the second seed in the CIF Southern Section Southern Division playoffs. They play host to Los Amigos in a quarterfinal Friday at 7 p.m. at Jim Scott Stadium. The future of the program also looks great, if a lower-level team's success is any indication. CdM's freshman football team went 10-0 this past season. It was the first time the Sea Kings' frosh team went undefeated, Coach Jerry Jelnick said.

CORONA DEL MAR — The wind can drive you crazy. Playing Corona del Mar High in girls’ water polo and having to go against the wind in the second half proved too maddening for Foothill to handle Saturday. The Sea Kings ran away with a 9-1 nonleague home victory to improve to 11-0 on the season. CdM, which is expected to be the top-ranked team in CIF Southern Section Division I when the new poll is released, turned it on after leading 3-1 at halftime. Margot Money said it had been 10 days since CdM last played a match.

Steve Sarkisian, the keynote speaker at Monday's CIF Southern Section football luncheon, delivered a short, but effective message to players and coaches. The University of Washington coach told them to enjoy the week, enjoy the experience. The players and coaches who were at The Grand in Long Beach are finalists for CIF championship games. Corona del Mar High's Brent Lawson, Erik Fisher and Aaron White, along with Coach Scott Meyer did their best to live in the moment. Frankly, it was probably the last time they could truly enjoy it. Later in the afternoon began the work week toward the big game: No. 2-seeded CdM (11-2)

IRVINE - The road has been tough for the Corona del Mar High boys' basketball team this season. It got harder for the Sea Kings on Monday night. In a must-win situation to keep their Pacific Coast League title hopes alive, their leading scorer forgot his game shorts. The Sea Kings were caught with their shorts down at Beckman and it cost them any chance at defending their league crown. They tried to pull themselves together late, rallying, only to fall short away from home again.

Jeff Johnston said his father, Jon, played point guard at Estancia High in the 1980s. "I think they had a really good team back then, at least from what he tells me," said Johnston, whose father led the Eagles to the CIF Southern Section Division 3-A title game in 1984. Twelve years later, Jon's son was born. Somehow, Jon raised a shooting guard. Growing up, Johnston was more of a slasher on the court. His style of play had to change before his sophomore season at Corona del Mar. Johnston had to learn how to play his father's old position.

COSTA MESA - It has been an eventful week for the Corona del Mar High girls' soccer team, even though Thursday's game against University was their only one of the week. On Tuesday, CdM learned it had clinched its second straight outright league title following Uni's victory over Beckman. On Wednesday, four of CdM's top players - seniors Ally Brahs (Washington), Amanda Stephenson (George Mason), Sydney Raguse (Michigan) and goalie Sarah Cox (Stanford) - signed national letters of intent.

The Corona del Mar High girls' soccer team clinched its second straight outright Pacific Coast League title on Tuesday, without playing a game. The Sea Kings (18-1-1, 7-0 in league) will be in first again after University beat Beckman, 1-0. Beckman and Northwood are both tied for second at 4-3-1 in league, but neither team can catch CdM. CdM is ranked No. 6 nationally by ESPNHS, as well as No. 2 in the state. The Sea Kings are also No. 2 in the CIF Southern Section Division I coaches' poll, and Coach Bryan Middleton said his team needs to win its last three games in league to make sure it secures a seed in the playoffs.

CORONA DEL MAR - Max Stone is the kind of basketball player who can come off the bench and drain a three-pointer on his first shot. That is exactly what the junior did Tuesday, as he opened the second quarter for Corona del Mar High with a three. Coach Ryan Schachter calls Stone his best outside threat, so he expects Stone to shoot whenever he is open. Stone passed up quality looks in the second, third and fourth quarters, only to frustrate his coach. Schachter needed someone to stop Woodbridge's fourth-quarter run, which gave the visitors their first lead since the opening quarter.

Under Coach Ryan Schachter, the Corona del Mar High boys' basketball team has finished first in the Pacific Coast League in four of his first five seasons. In Schachter's sixth season at the school, the Sea Kings are back in contention for a league crown. But they're looking up, instead of down. The Sea Kings have reeled off three straight wins in league play, putting them in second place, two games behind first-place Woodbridge. The Sea Kings can get closer to the top spot on Tuesday, when they have a showdown at home against Woodbridge at 7 p.m. Three weeks ago, CdM (12-9, 4-2 in league)

Coach George Larsen, as he does with every team he leads, walked up to the Corona del Mar High boys' soccer team before the season. Conor Roche knew what to expect during the meeting. He played under Larsen last season. This season was going to be much different. The team lost many key starters, some graduated and a handful opted to play for academy teams, instead of their high school. Roche was one of two starters returning to play for Larsen. Larsen treated Roche and the rest of the young team the same way as last season's talented one. "You guys go over there," Larsen ordered his players away from him. "[Figure out]

NEWPORT COAST - Corona del Mar High Coach Mark Decker spent a few minutes talking to Sage Hill School's former coach before the girls' basketball game on Monday. When Decker began coaching the Sea Kings five years ago, Lou Silverman was one of the first coaches he met. Since Silverman is no longer leading the Lightning, it was time for Decker to say hi to Sage Hill's new coach. The new coach's style reminded Decker of Silverman. Taylor Cohen coached under Silverman last season and Decker figured the Lightning would play CdM tough.

Newport Harbor High senior outside hitter Cinnamon Sary and senior libero Tatum Norton, Corona del Mar senior middle blocker Britton Taylor and junior setter Kelsey Humphreys, and Sage Hill School senior middle blocker Zoe Kreitenberg and freshman Halland McKenna each received All-CIF Southern Section recognition in their respective divisions for helping their girls' volleyball teams qualify for section championship matches. Sary and Norton led the Sailors (26-10) to the Division I-AA title match, the program's second appearance in three years.

GIRLS' BASKETBALL Northwood 43, Corona del Mar 30 CORONA DEL MAR — Karleh Wilson had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Sea Kings in the Pacific Coast League game Friday. Sam Coffman had five points and seven rebounds for CdM (9-11, 1-4 in league), which plays at Sage Hill Monday at 7:30 p.m.