Football: Play in Hi-Lo League, will travel

Here are the approximate one-way distances in miles that the visiting schools in the Division 2 eight-man football playoffs will have to travel this week for first-round games:

One hundred ninety-eight, 340, 155, 175, 189, 1.3, 29, 381.

Wait, 1.3? Who got lucky?

That would be California Lutheran and host Wildomar Cornerstone Christian, who could travel between schools in the time it takes to microwave a bag of popcorn.

Big Pine and Lee Vining weren't so lucky. Big Pine must travel 340 miles for its game at Santa Maria Valley Christian and Lee Vining must go a whopping 381 miles--hope the Tigers build in time for bathroom breaks and McDonald's stops--for a game at Bermuda Dunes Desert Christian.

The lengthy travel is partially a result of five teams from the Hi-Lo League qualifying for the playoffs. By CIF policy, two teams from the same league can't face each other in the opening round. Thus the need for the lengthy road trips.

Baker Valley has to drive 198 miles to play Hope Centre at Daniels Field in San Pedro, Desert Chapel has to go 155 miles to play Camarillo Cornerstone Christian at Newbury Park High, Maricopa must venture 175 miles to play at Trona, Immanuel Christian has to endure 189 miles to play at Joshua Springs and First Lutheran has to go a relatively breezy 29 miles to play Price at Coleman Stadium in Inglewood.

Remember to pack plenty of good CDs and Little Debbie snacks.

--Ben Bolch and Eric Maddy

Comments

[Bob Smith]

It's not so bad for Immanuel Christian (private school), because we aren't required to sit on a bus to get where we are going. Volunteer drivers in their cozy vans, SUVs and trucks make ALL of our trips bearable. It's the public schools in the Hi-Lo League that suffer - especially when bus drivers have driving time limits to watch out for.
Love the Hi-Lo League! Glad I don't have to deal with So. Cal. Traffic everyday of my life!

[Keith Tomes]

Appreciate Bob's comments about the public schools in Hi-Lo. A trip of this nature can cost a small school like Baker Valley 1000's of dollars, when you count bus drivers, wear and tear on buses, fuel, over-night stays and food. We love Hi-Lo league as well but would like CIF to seriously consider revising policy about playoff play.