SAN JUAN PREPS ROUNDUP

BY ZACH CAVANAGH, THE CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

For in-game updates, news and more for all the San Juan Capistrano high school sports programs, follow us on Twitter @SouthOCSports and on Instagram @South_OC_Sports

JSerra Baseball Resurgent Again, Hosts Quarterfinals on Friday

Playoff pressure? Back-to-back, onegame elimination situations? That’s nothing new for these Lions.

JSerra got nearly another complete-game performance on the mound in the second round on Tuesday, May 9, and three home runs in the fifth inning to continue their late-season surge and defeat Etiwanda, 6-1, in the Division 1 second round at JSerra Catholic High School.

The defending CIF-SS Division 1 champion Lions will host Sierra Canyon in the quarterfinals on Friday, May 12.

This season, JSerra, which opened the year with 18 players with NCAA Division 1 commitments, started the season 3-5, including losses in its first four Trinity League games. The Lions then, once again, turned on the jets to advance to the championship game of the National High School Invitational, clinched a playoff spot on the league’s final day and earned the No. 4 seed in CIF-SS Division 1. Read this full story at thecapistranodispatch.com.

CVC Baseball Punches Up in Division 2, Falls in Second Round

Capistrano Valley Christian got a strong six innings on the mound by Michigan State commit Hunter Long, diving plays in the outfield by Jake Beauchaine, self-created offense on the basepaths by Indiana commit Hayden Carlson and a five-run fifth inning to pull away from Temecula Valley, 7-1, in a first-round game at San Juan Sports Park.

CVC then hosted No. 1 seed Aquinas in the second round on Tuesday, May 9, and lost, 3-2.

With 13 straight league titles and a Division 2 playoff win under its belt, Capistrano Valley Christian isn’t going unnoticed as a baseball program growing in prominence. The Eagles have four NCAA Division 1 commits on the roster in seniors Hunter Long (Michigan State), Hayden Carlson (Indiana) and Adrian Blanchet (USC) and junior Andrew Johnson (USC).

Read this full story at thecapistranodispatch.com.

Hurtado Tosses 2 No-Hitters in JSerra Softball’s First Playoff Wins

Junior Eva Hurtado has made an indelible mark on JSerra softball history in less than a week.

The Lions captured their first two CIFSS playoff wins in program history with back-to-back no-hitters from Hurtado in an 8-0 win over Warren on May 4 and a 7-1 win over Canyon on Tuesday, May 9.

Hurtado posted nearly identical statlines in both games with no runs, no hits, six strikeouts, three walks and one hit batter against Warren, then one run, no hits, six strikeouts, three walks and one hit batter against Canyon.

JSerra hosted No. 1 seed Moorpark in the Division 2 quarterfinals on Thursday, May 11. Results were not available at press time, but if the Lions advanced, they would travel to California High of Whittier or Great Oak in the semifinals on Saturday, May 12.

San Juan Hills Girls Lacrosse Falls in First CIF-SS Quarterfinal

Relentless was the only word to describe the San Juan Hills girls lacrosse team on Monday night, May 8.

After visiting Crescenta Valley went up, 3-0, in the early minutes of the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinals, the host Stallions did not turn and run. San Juan Hills clawed its way back to a one-goal deficit on seven different occasions on Monday, but the No. 4 seed Falcons did just enough to stave off the comeback.

Crescenta Valley led by three goals four separate times, as the Falcons held off San Juan Hills’ charges, 15-14, in the third round of the CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs at San Juan Hills High School.

San Juan Hills won two playoff games for the first time in program history, advancing to its first CIF-SS quarterfinal.

Read this full story at thecapistranodispatch.com.

St. Margaret’s Boys Volleyball, JSerra Track, Boys Tennis Play for CIF-SS Titles

The defending CIF-SS Division 4 champion St. Margaret’s looks to complete a dominant run in the Division 3 playoffs on Saturday, May 12. The No. 1 seed Tartans have swept their first four playoff matches and face No. 3 seed El Segundo for the Division 3 championship at 9:30 a.m. at Cerritos College.

The JSerra track and field program could potentially sweep the Division 3 championships in the CIF-SS Finals on Saturday at Moorpark High School. The Lions girls are heavy favorites with 24 entries and 18 athletes qualifying for the finals. The JSerra boys will be in a tighter race with 12 entries and 10 athletes qualifying.

JSerra boys tennis, the No. 2 seed in Division 2, will take on No. 1 seed Sage Hill for the CIF-SS championship on Friday, May 12, at 11:20 a.m., at the Claremont Club.

CVC’s Powell Wins CIF-SS Golf Southern Regional; 4 More Qualify for Finals

Capistrano Valley Christian golfer Luke Powell shot at 7-under-par 67 to win the CIF-SS Southern Individual Regional by one stroke at the Los Serranos Country Club South Course in Chino Hills.

Powell and four other San Juan Capistrano golfers qualified for the CIF-SS Indi- vidual Championship on Thursday, May 18, at River Ridge Golf Course in Oxnard. San Juan Hills’ Ryder Rasmussen (71) and Bradley Smolinski (73), as well as St. Margaret’s Keegan Carnell (72) and Jack McGrory (72). also qualified.

San Juan Hills’ Schmitt Wins CIF-SS Swim Title; 13 Entries Qualify for State

San Juan Hills senior David Schmitt blazed an Orange County record to win the CIF-SS Division 1 100-yard butterfly championship in 46.47 seconds on May 5. Schmitt also qualified for the state championships in the 200-yard individual medley, and the Stallions’ 200-yard medley relay team also qualified for state.

JSerra’s Ryder Dodd (200-yard freestyle, 100-yard butterfly), Bode Brinkema (50-yard freestyle) and the Lions’ 400yard freestyle relay, 200-yard freestyle relay and 200-yard medley relay teams all qualified for state in Division 1.

On the girls side, JSerra’s Sydney Willson (200-yard freestyle, 500-yard freestyle), Ava Withey (200-yard freestyle) and the Lions’ 200-yard medley relay team also qualified for state.