Annelise Lindberg is just one of key players on the Miramonte girls’ lacrosse team, which has its sights set on postseason success – along with the other spring sports’ teams, which are also looking forward to the North Coast Section playoffs.
The high school season wraps up in May, and though spring sports don’t quite get as much attention as football and basketball, there’s still a lot going on – and a lot of hard-working athletes and coaches are looking to cap the school year with postseason success.
The North Coast Section runs playoffs in all California Interscholastic Federation-approved sports, and even though spring seasons have not been completed at press time, here’s an admittedly incomplete overview of how the NCS postseason looks for each of the Miramonte programs.
BASEBALL
After playing the toughest preseason schedule of any team in NCS Division 3, the Matadors pounded a struggling Mt. Diablo team, 16-0, in their first Diablo Athletic League game. And to qualify for the NCS playoffs, Miramonte will need to continue to win league games, as it will have to have a .500 record in league play to earn a bid.
That goal is well within reach, though, as only Berean Christian and Northgate have winning records in the DAL Valley division. Some power production would help, though, as the Mats have yet to muster many extra-base hits – which means starting pitchers Casey Yung and Austin Biello will have to keep opposing offenses under control.
The details:
Division 3 (of 5)
NCS playoffs May 20-31
NorCal playoffs June 3-7
cifncs.org/sports/baseball/index
GOLF
Miramonte boys’ golf is a perennial power, and this year is no different. Expect continued postseason success, and a deep postseason run. It would be a welcome change, though, if the Mats didn’t have to travel to the North Bay for the NCS postseason tournament and play on a course much more familiar to their main rivals than to Miramonte’s golfers.
The details:
Division 2 (of 2)
NCS championship May 12 at Foxtail North
NorCal Regional championship May 27
cifncs.org/sports/golf/index
LACROSSE
Despite not having a coach until a week before the season, the Miramonte girls have the top MaxPreps’ ranking in NCS Division 2, and have already recorded a decisive 23-12 win over local and NCS rival Campolindo. The Matadors are outscoring their opponents by an average of 8.5 goals a game, and are getting outstanding offense from the trio of Sawyer Bohlig, Sydney Gray and Mackenzie Pearce.
If Miramonte can keep the momentum going, the Mats have the best shot at an NCS title of any other spring team.
The details:
Division 2 (of 2)
NCS playoffs May 6-15
cifncs.org/sports/lacrosse/index
SOFTBALL
The Matadors have bounced back after a slow start, winning seven of eight games through April 15, and look primed to compete for the Diablo Athletic League Valley title. Things might be a little more challenging in the NCS Division 3 playoffs, but Gianna Granzella, Abby Warren and Lucy Daoust are playing well enough to give Miramonte a chance to make a little postseason noise.
The details:
Division 3 (of 5)
NCS playoffs May 20-31 CIF Regional championships June 3-7
cifncs.org/sports/softball/index
SWIMMING & DIVING
Though Miramonte has traditionally been strong – if not dominant – in water sports through the decades, postseason success might be hard to come by this spring. The team has lots of depth, but the structure of NCS and CIF playoffs rewards outstanding individual efforts most of all.
The details:
NCS Diving championship May 8
NCS Swimming championships May 9-10
CIF State championships May 15-17
cifncs.org/sports/swimdive/index
TENNIS
With a win over 10-win Acalanes and a close loss to 6-1 Campolindo, the Mats have shown they can compete with top teams, and given the NCS postseason structure, they will have two shots at playoff success.
The first is in singles’ and doubles’ competition, where individuals or pairs play in traditional tournament formats, and the second is the team competition, where the results of the individual and doubles’ matches all count in determining the winner.
The details:
Division 1 (of 2)
NCS championships (singles/doubles) May 9-10 NCS championships (team) May 13-17
CIF NorCal championships (team) May 23-24 CIF State championship (team) May 31
cifncs.org/sports/tennis/index
TRACK & FIELD
Traditionally, the focus for track and field is more individual than team, as athletes look to improve their times and distances during the spring so they can peak for the DAL meet, and hopefully for the regional events that follow.
It’s a hard road, though, and even qualifying for the Tri-Valley meet is the mark of a good season – and making the Meet of Champions is an accomplishment.
The details:
Tri-Valley area meet May 17
Meet of Champions May 23-24
CIF State championship May 30-31
cifncs.org/sports/track/index
VOLLEYBALL
In a rebuilding year for the volleyball program, qualification for the NCS playoffs – which would require a .500 record in DAL play – is a bit of a long shot. Still, wins over Alhambra and Berean Christian could make it happen if the Mats take care of business against the league’s bottom-feeders.
The details:
Division 3 (of 4)
NCS playoffs May 6-15
NorCal championships May 20-24
CIF State championships May 31
cifncs.org/sports/volleyball/index
