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Los Angeles Times
20-04-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
CdM boys' lacrosse caps undefeated league season with win over rival
Corona del Mar took care of the last two things on its list before the truly important games arrive, a mere formality for the boys' lacrosse powerhouse, perhaps, but significant nonetheless. Garrett Ip and Owen Majit led the fifth-ranked Sea Kings to a 16-5 home triumph Friday afternoon over archrival Newport Harbor to make it 14 of 15 Battle of the Bay conquests and complete their fifth successive Sunset League title run. Now, after a final tuneup Wednesday at No. 7 Foothill, it's on to the big stuff. 'We always have our eyes set on that CIF championship, and I think that's always the goal here at CdM,' said Ip, a senior attacker and midfielder who was a freshman reserve when the Sea Kings won their third Southern Section title in 2022. 'Winning league's very important, but we have our eyes on the prize.' The rivalry? 'It's fun,' Charlie Hamilton, a co-captain alongside Ip and Jake Card. 'It's still a rivalry. Every other sport is always intense, but it's good to get off your shoulder. It's just fun. And winning league is a goal we have, and it's nice to get it done.' The Battle of the Bay is 'a special thing,' said Corona del Mar head coach G.W. Mix — 'it's meaningful to the kids' — but more so something of an annual rite for the lacrosse team, which has wholly dominated the series, with 19 victories in 20 meetings since the Southern Section certified the sport in 2007, eight of the last 10 by double digits. The result was not unexpected. 'We talk to the kids about that, particularly this time of year,' Mix said. 'It's far more important that we get better than we focus on the Battle of the Bay and sinking the Sailors and all of that other hullabaloo that goes along with it.' The Sea Kings (14-5, 4-0 in the Sunset League) have won three CIF Southern Section titles — in 2012 and 2016 before the Southern Section began administrating the postseason and again three years ago. They've since reached the semifinals and quarterfinals and will face stiff competition, primarily from several Catholic powerhouses. Brackets will be revealed next Friday. Ip and Majit are returning All-CIF standouts headed for elite liberal arts colleges in New England to play for top NCAA Division III schools — Ip to Williams, Majit to Bowdoin — who have played together since third grade. Mix says 'they're incredibly skilled with the stick, incredibly quick and fast, and that's a deadly combination for an offensive player [who] understands the game really, really well.' 'They work all the time,' said Mix, whose nearly five decades in the game includes stints as head coach of two NCAA programs, as president and general manager of the late Major League Lacrosse club L.A. Riptide, and as founder and executive of Surf Dawgs Lacrosse, a Newport Beach-based youth program that has fueled CdM's success and contributed to Newport Harbor's roster. 'They're those kids that when I drive by on a Saturday afternoon and I look through the fence, they're out here shooting. Every weekend in all fall and all summer. The best players we've had here are the kids that continuously work on their own to get better. 'It's no different in any other sport. You hear that about all the great ones, right? They know what they want to do, and they put their minds and bodies to it, and they get after it. That's what makes those two really special, is that they practice their craft all the time, dodging and shooting and throwing the ball around. The good news is they drag some of the others out there with them, which tends to make us a little better.' That work ethic, Ip said, is what he admires most about his brother, Logan, who led CdM's 2022 charge and is now a junior midfielder and captain for Harvard's top-10 team. 'He definitely played a big factor [in my development],' he said. 'We used to shoot in the backyard all the time. ... He's a really hard worker, and he's a smart player. He taught me to study both the aspects of playing the game and the mental side of the game.' Mix calls Logan 'phenomenal, and as good a player as he was, he was every bit as good a leader and every bit as good a human being.' Garrett is 'very similar' to his brother. Garrett says he is 'better than my brother.' 'Good for him,' Mix said. 'In a lot of ways, he may be, because he's done some things that Logan didn't have to do. Logan had a really good group around him, a lot of good teammates that are all playing Division I lacrosse now. Garrett hasn't had quite the supporting cast, but he's had a bunch of wonderful kids around him, no doubt.' Ip started Friday's romp a minute and a half in, assisted the first of two Alex Aldoroty goals to double the advantage, then added a fourth just before the end of the first quarter. The Sea Kings had six before Newport Harbor struck, and Mix began emptying his bench after halftime. Ip and Gavin MacBeth off the bench finished with a hat-trick and two assists, Majit tallied a goal and four assists, and Domingos Alves and Auggy Luong added two goals. Griffin Habermehl and Hamilton led a dominant defense, and Tucker Rosenberger and Card were key in buildup and in counterpress. Braden Brock led Newport Harbor (6-10, 0-2) with two goals and an assist. It was CdM's fifth straight Battle of the Bay triumph, by far the tightest of the five. The Sailors' only win in the series was a 5-4 decision in 2019, to win the Sunset League title, and they've not been to the playoffs since. Winning their remaining games — at home Monday against 10th-ranked Los Alamitos (14-3, 2-1) and Wednesday against Huntington Beach (7-8, 0-3) — would give them the Sunset League's other automatic playoff berth. An at-large berth, otherwise, appears unlikely, acknowledged third-year head coach Blake Lenk, a former Newport Harbor standout. He's playing a longer game. It's a junior-heavy team, and next year looks promising. 'We have a lot of areas to develop,' Lenk said. 'The biggest thing is overall mindset. We look to focus on not tallying wins and losses, but rather tallying wins and lessons, because there's always something to learn every time we get out there on the field. 'They've got a lot to learn, but they bring the effort, attitude, energy. Those are the things we can control. As long as we can keep in control of the things that we can control, we can expect positive results out of them.' Winning a CIF title 'would be a dream,' said Hamilton, who as a freshman was brought up from junior varsity for the playoff run in 2022. 'We've just got to keep our head down and block out the noise and keep rolling. As long as we worry about ourselves and take care of the small things, I think we'll be fine.' The other contenders are mostly Catholic schools, led by defending champion Santa Margarita (13-2), Trinity League champion Mater Dei (11-3) and Los Angeles Loyola (17-3), California's top-ranked side. Loyola is 'a different level,' said Mix, whose team was drilled, 16-4, two weeks prior by the Cubs. They're significant title favorites. The only teams to beat them come from states with deeper lacrosse cultures. 'They've got speed and athleticism and depth,' said Mix, who had Cubs coach Jimmy Borell on his roster during his Riptide tenure. 'I was giving him a hard time after the game, talking about the embarrassment of riches that he has there. But he's got a great culture and a great group of kids. They work hard, play hard, but they're talented. Just big, strong, athletic kids.' Ip isn't intimidated. 'They're a pretty talented team,' he said. 'But I think I'll take my group of guys up against any group any day of the week.'
Los Angeles Times
05-04-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Corona del Mar girls' lacrosse celebrates seniors, secures Battle of the Bay win
Corona del Mar High senior Meg Vanis woke up knowing Thursday would be a big day for her. She turned 18 years old, for one thing. Vanis and the CdM girls' lacrosse team were hosting rival Newport Harbor on senior night, for another. 'I was super nervous, just because it's so many things riding on one day,' Vanis admitted. 'Birthday, senior day, Battle of the Bay. It's a bunch, but my teammates helped me calm down a little bit.' Everything worked out just fine for the Sea Kings. They blanked the Sailors in the first half on their way to a 15-6 Sunset League win. Senior Rihanna Quinn led CdM (12-5, 2-0) with four goals. Vanis and Ashley Solarczyk, another senior, each scored twice. Vanis had scored the game-tying goal late against Huntington Beach in a league opener on Tuesday, the 100th of her CdM career. Her game-winning goal in overtime of that match gave CdM a 10-9 victory. 'I have loved my time here,' said Vanis, who transferred from JSerra as a sophomore. 'My 100 goals, I really got the majority of those from my teammates. They made it happen for me. They're my biggest cheerleaders, and they just make me so excited to be the best player I can be.' Defense was a story for CdM against Newport Harbor (2-11, 0-2), particularly since the Sailors were successful on many of the draw controls behind the efforts of senior Hailee Devries. Corona del Mar junior goalkeeper Sofia Petek made 15 saves for the hosts, who led 8-0 at halftime. She said senior Anita Oranghi and junior Gabi Bales were also key in the defensive effort. Petek, who stands just 5-foot-2, played on the program's second junior varsity team last year. Coach Jessica Murray said she's improved a lot and has only been playing goalie for a little more than a year. 'It was a big jump, but it was really exciting,' Petek said. 'I have really good teammates.' Other goal-scorers for CdM included seniors Helena Fratantaro, Annika Soderstrom and Maile Lyle, juniors MK Angeloff, Miley Perisi and Bales and freshman Bijou Luong. Angeloff had a team-best six ground balls. Senior Casey Sharbrough led Newport Harbor with five goals and six ground balls. First-year Sailors coach Delaney Knipp, an alumna of the program from the class of 2019, called Sharbrough the heart and soul of the team. 'I'm really proud of the girls,' said Knipp, who played NCAA Division I lacrosse at Kent State, rebounding from a torn anterior cruciate ligament as a sophomore to compete three more seasons. She is the Sailors' third varsity coach in three years and has another program alumna, Caroline Farley, as the assistant and junior varsity coach. 'It's been a season of fighting as hard as we can,' Knipp said. 'There's been a little bit of turbulence over the last couple of years, a couple of changes in coaching staffs, but this is a group that really wants to buy into the process. That fight that you saw in the second half [when the Sailors were outscored just 7-6], that's the team that we're aspiring to be the whole time.' Newport Harbor continues league play after spring break next week with a home match against Los Alamitos on April 15. As for CdM, the Sea Kings are headed toward a possible showdown for the league title at Edison on April 22 in their regular season finale. The Chargers are also 2-0 in league after Thursday's 6-5 win over Huntington Beach. First, CdM has to take care of business at Los Alamitos on April 17. 'We're in the hunt,' said Murray, whose team finished second in league to Edison last year as the Chargers earned their third straight league title.
CBS News
02-04-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
San Jose Giants, Oakland Ballers will face-off in "Battle of the Bay 2.0"
SAN JOSE — A new chapter in Bay Area baseball kicks off Wednesday Baseball has been a big part of Bay Area history, but the A's leaving Oakland brought an end to the long-standing Battle of the Bay, at least that's what people thought. Then, president of the San Jose Giants Ben Taylor had what felt like a far-fetched proposal. "It was one of those late-night ideas," said Taylor. "There's a void that has to be filled." Taylor grew up in the Bay Area and played baseball through high school. He looked forward to seeing the Giants and the A's face off each year and was disappointed it was over, so he reached out to the owners of the Oakland Ballers to propose a new "Battle of the Bay 2.0." This time it will be between San Jose and Oakland. "We're taking a piece of the Bay Area history that has meant so much to this area and this region of fan and bringing it back," said Taylor. Co-founder of the Ballers, Paul Freedman, jumped at the opportunity. "We just want to make sure that the excitement of baseball stays around," said Freedman. "To our knowledge the first time in the history of baseball that an independent minor league team is playing an affiliated minor league team." The Giants are single-A affiliate for the San Francisco Giants; the Ballers play in the independent Pioneer League. "It's a big opportunity for them to show up in the spotlight, televised game, and see what they can do," said Freedman about his team. The Ballers haven't started spring training yet, but they're going to try to be ready for their first appearance at Excite Ballpark in San Jose, potentially in front of 3,200 fans. "You get an intimate entertainment experience that you just don't have much of anywhere else in the Silicon Valley," said Taylor. Taylor said people will be traveling from across the Bay Area to see the Battle of the Bay 2.0. "We've got folks driving down from areas of Northern California that we don't generally see tickets purchased from, certainly folks are going to be purchasing hotel rooms, staying the night enjoying everything San Jose has to offer in addition to the game," said Taylor about the economic impact of the game. Both teams hope this will be just the first meeting in a long, friendly rivalry. "This is the inaugural season but will be far from the last time that this game takes place," said Taylor. They'll be creating new traditions for a new era of Bay Area sports.
CBS News
02-04-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Battle of the Bay 2.0 to pit the Oakland Ballers against the San Jose Giants
A new chapter in Bay Area baseball kicks off on Wednesday when the a couple of local minor league teams face off in an extension of a long-standing traditional rivalry. Baseball has been a big part of Bay Area History, but the A's leaving Oakland brought an end to the long standing Battle of the Bay. At least that's what people thought. Then Ben Taylor -- the president of the San Jose Giants, the Minor League affiliate of the San Francisco Giants -- had what some initially thought was a far-fetched proposal. "It was one of those late-night ideas," said Taylor. "There's a void that has to be filled." Taylor grew up in the Bay Area and played baseball through high school. He looked forward to seeing the Giants and the A's face off each year and was disappointed it was over. So he reached out to the owners of the Oakland Ballers to propose a new "Battle of the Bay 2.0" that would be between the teams in San Jose and Oakland. "We're taking a piece of the Bay Area history that has meant so much to this area and this region of fans and bringing it back," said Taylor. Oakland Ballers co-founder Paul Freedman jumped at the opportunity. "We just want to make sure that the excitement of baseball stays around," said Freedman. "To our knowledge the first time in the history of baseball that an independent minor league team is playing an affiliated minor league team." The Ballers play in the independent Pioneer League. "It's a big opportunity for them to show up in the spotlight, a televised game, and see what they can do," said Freedman about his team. The Ballers haven't started spring training yet, but they're going to try to be ready for their first appearance at Excite Ballpark in San Jose, potentially in front of 3,200 fans. "You get an intimate entertainment experience that you just don't have much of anywhere else in the Silicon Valley," said Taylor. Taylor says people will be traveling from across the region to see the Battle of the Bay 2.0. "We've got folks driving down from areas of Northern California that we don't generally see tickets purchased from. Certainly folks are going to be purchasing hotel rooms, staying the night, enjoying everything San Jose has to offer in addition to the game," said Taylor about the economic impact of the game. Both teams hope this will be just the first meeting in a long, friendly rivalry. "This is the inaugural season, but will be far from the last time that this game takes place," said Taylor. The leadership of the two teams are aiming to create a new tradition for a new era of Bay Area sports. Those unable to attend the game in person can catch all the action on PIX+. First pitch is Wednesday night at 6 p.m.
Miami Herald
01-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Norfolk State releases schedule for debut season of Michael Vick
The Norfolk State University Spartans are gearing up for an exciting 2025 football season under the leadership of first-year head coach Michael Vick. The season kicks off on August 28th with a home opener against Towson University at William 'Dick' Price Stadium in Norfolk, Virginia. This matchup sets the stage for a competitive lineup of games that will test NSU both at home and on the road. On September 6, the Spartans host Virginia State University in the annual 'Battle of the States,' a rivalry game that promises intense action and local pride. The following week, on September 13, Norfolk State faces a challenging away game against Rutgers University, providing an opportunity to compete against a Big Ten opponent. Returning home on September 20, the Spartans take on Sacred Heart University, aiming to capitalize on their home-field advantage. The team then embarks on a series of away games, starting with Wagner College on September 27. October 4 marks the 'Battle of the Bay' against Hampton University, a storied rivalry that always draws significant attention. The road stretch continues with a game at Wofford College on October 11. After a bye week, the Spartans celebrate Homecoming on October 25, hosting South Carolina State University-a game that is sure to draw alumni and fans for a festive weekend. The team then faces consecutive away games against Delaware State University on November 1 and North Carolina Central University on November 8. The final home game of the season is on November 15 against Morgan State University, providing fans one last opportunity to support the team at William 'Dick' Price Stadium. The regular season concludes with an away game at Howard University on November 22. With a balanced mix of home and away games, including traditional rivalries and challenging non-conference matchups, the 2025 season offers NSU numerous opportunities to showcase their talent and resilience on the field. The post Norfolk State releases schedule for debut season of Michael Vick appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
