Tesoro

Chris Yemma Corona del Mar High girls soccer Coach Bryan Middleton has a distinct philosophy for the first half of every season: to prepare for the middle and end of the year. After all, the league schedule and playoffs are what matter the most, so why not be prepared? So, Middleton stacked his nonleague schedule again this season with quality opponents. The Sea Kings opened their season against Dana Hills, ranked No. 8 in CIF Southern Section Division I, Mater Dei, No. 7 in Division I, Arcadia, No. 1 in Division II and Martin Luther King Jr. of Riverside, No. 1 in Division IV. CdM had a similar opening schedule in 2003-04 and started 1-4-1, but rebounded and were prepared for later teams.

I read the Thursday Daily Pilot article regarding the escalation of the cost of the new loop road at Newport Coast Elementary with great concern ("Price tag for new loop road balloons"). As a former resident of the Tesoro neighborhood, I feel the story focused far too much of the blame on the Tesoro residents instead of on the elected officials, where blame truly lies. To begin with, the residents of Tesoro only heard about this project for the first time in the form of a flier stuffed into their mailboxes on June 18 to notify them of an informational presentation at the school on June 21. This was to be followed immediately the next night with a vote on the matter by the City Council and groundbreaking within a week or two. Obviously, the council had more than four days notice to prepare to vote on the matter since it made the agenda and construction contracts were already underway.

Deirdre Newman Work on a road meant to reduce traffic near Newport Coast Elementary School ballooned 47% over the original bid, extra spending that has two councilmen concerned. The road already generated a significant amount of controversy when residents in the nearby Tesoro gated community threatened a lawsuit to stop the work. The City Council closed out the contract Tuesday for work on the road, which cost about $650,000. But there is still more work to be done on the project to appease the Tesoro residents, including landscaping and installing an automatic gate to restrict access.

Rick Devereux The final Corona del Mar High football game before Halloween figured to be a thriller, in more ways than one. With a festive halftime show and costumed venders working the concession stand, it was bound to be a freaky evening between the Sea Kings and Tesoro. The Titans held off CdM, 20-7, in a Pacific Coast League game at Newport Harbor High. It was anything but an easy win for the visitors. Tesoro (6-2, 3-0 in league) had to settle for a 45-yard field goal from Joe Robles after the CdM (4-4, 1-2)

Corona del Mar High's boys volleyball team faced a familiar foe Friday, beating Tesoro, 25-23, 25-16, 24-26, 25-18, in Pacific Coast League action. The two teams played Wednesday at Tesoro, with CdM sweeping three straight games. The schools played twice this week because they were the only two not on spring break. "It was unusual circumstances," Sea Kings Coach Steve Conti said of the back-to-back matches. Corona del Mar (11-7, 4-0 in league)

TODAY Baseball College -- UC Irvine vs. Long Beach State at Blair Field, 6:30 p.m. High school -- Corona del Mar at Tesoro, 3:15 p.m.; Westminster at Costa Mesa, 3:15 p.m.; Estancia at Orange, 3:15 p.m.; Newport Harbor at Aliso Niguel, 3:15 p.m.; Viewpoint at Sage Hill, 9 a.m. Softball Community college -- Saddleback at Orange Coast, 3 p.m. High school -- Costa Mesa at Arroyo Grande tournament....

Steve Virgen A funny thing happened on the way to Corona del Mar High's quest for an undefeated season in Pacific Coast League boys and girls track and field. Jeritt Thayer -- yes, the same senior who plays shortstop on the CdM baseball team -- competed for the Sea Kings in a PCL dual meet against visiting Tesoro Thursday. He finished third in the 800 meters (2 minutes, 11.5 seconds) as he entered the event by chance. He came to support his friends on the track and field team and Coach Bill Sumner asked for his help.

Bryce Alderton This season for Corona del Mar High boys golf coach Mike Starkweather brings with it a certain element of uncertainty, but that is a good thing in his mind. Starkweather said each player on this year's team has the capability to be the medalist, making the seventh-year coach breathe a little easier. "There is not one guy who we will depend on," Starkweather said. "They have to depend on each other and that makes for a great team concept.

Steve Virgen With less than a week left before its Pacific Coast League showdown with Northwood High, Corona del Mar's boys soccer team went out and had some fun Friday against visiting Calvary Chapel. The Sea Kings laughed and poked fun at each other, as five players did the same type of celebration after their goals in Corona del Mar's 6-0 victory over the Eagles. The win moved the Sea Kings into first place with 20 points, one ahead of Northwood (6-2-1 in league)

Senior guard Jay Northridge scored a game-high 26 points while Ryan Lance and Pancho Seaborn each tallied 16 points, but the visiting Corona del Mar High boys basketball team fell short in a 67-62 Pacific Coast League defeat to league-leading Tesoro Friday night. Lance, who tied his career-high in points, hit three of CdM's season-high 13 three-pointers as part of his 11-point fourth quarter while Northridge scored the other 10 points in the final period.