Baseball: Division 1 surprise is fifth-place Corona
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Corona (17-14) finished in fifth place in the Big VIII League but is now one win away from making the Southern Section Division 1 baseball semifinals. The Panthers will play El Dorado in the quarterfinals.
Corona has come out of the wild-card bracket to knock off Valencia, Pacific View League champion Camarillo and Marmonte League champion Agoura. Daniel Pena threw a complete game against the Chargers on Tuesday.
The other big surprise is two Foothill League teams are still alive, West Ranch and Saugus. The Foothill League appealed to be placed in Division 2 in the new playoff groupings but was rejected. Both schools have their ace pitchers, JC Cloney and Justin Donatella (9-2), ready to go in Friday’s quarterfinals. West Ranch will play top-seeded Orange Lutheran at home. Saugus will have to face Newbury Park and ace Luke Eubank. Saugus won a coin flip to be the home team.
Saugus is making its first appearance in the quarterfinals since 1991. ‘For West Ranch and Saugus to make it is pretty cool,’ Saugus Coach John Maggiora said.
The best game could be the Orange County showdown between Esperanza and host Mater Dei. Esperanza ended the regular season struggling but has regained its form. Mater Dei is expected to have Ty Moore ready to go on Friday.
The quarterfinal winners will advance to Tuesday’s semifinal doubleheader at Blair Field in Long Beach. The Division championship is set for next Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Dodger Stadium.
-- Eric Sondheimer