THE GREAT EIGHT
That’s how many local teams are ranked in this week’S CIF Southern Section polls for spring sports.
In Division 2 baseball, Pacifica is ranked fifth, just behind Cypress. They’ll meet twice soon in a couple of games which will decide the Empire League title. Rancho Alamitos, the leader in the Garden Grove League, is rated fourth in Division 3.
Pacifica, atop the Empire League, is rated second in Division 1 softball, trailing only Norco. In fourth place in Division 4 is Garden Grove, the first place team in the Garden Grove League.
In boys’ volleyball, Western is rated 10th in Division 3, while Magnolia is third in Division 4.
The boys’ tennis rankings have La Quinta eighth in Division 4 and fifth in Division 5.
DUCKING OUT?
The Anaheim Ducks are out of the running for a Stanley Cup playoffs spot, but one prize they can still claim is to talk future Hall of Famer Teemu Selanne into coming back for the 2012-3 campaign.
During Sunday’s 2-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, the fans attending the Ducks’ season finale at Honda Center chanted “One more year! One more year!”
He scored the lone Anaheim goal and, at 41, is the team’s leading scorer.
“It was unbelievable,” said Selanne, who has not publically announced his plans for next year. “It’s almost funny that they were chanting for an old guy like me. But it was great. Obviously there ‘s a lot a respect from our fans. I’ve always had a very special relationship with them, and it’s just an honor to play for them.”
The Ducks played the Canucks in Vancouver Tuesday night, and suffered a 5-4 shutout loss.
Tonight (Thursday) they will be in Edmonton, then close out the year in Calgary on Saturday.
Rancho runner steals base against Los Amigos.
Most of the local high school baseball and some of the local prep softball league races are underway, complicated a bit by rain and varying spring break schedules.
In baseball, the top two teams in the Garden Grove-Stanton-Westminster area are Pacifica and Rancho Alamitos. The Mariners started 12-3 overall and will battle Cypress (13-2) for the Empire League title. Rancho Alamitos (10-1) is the favorite in the Garden Grove League and is currently in first place, followed by La Quinta and Garden Grove.
Softball is once again topped by Pacifica (13-1), which sits atop the Empire League and will likely win the crown again and challenge for a CIF Division 1 title.
Garden Grove (6-3) is the favorite in the Garden Grove League race, just getting underway. Bolsa Grande (4-3) and La Quinta (5-7) may provide some stiff competition for the GGL pennant.
Westminster (5-2) and Orange (7-6) could be strong contenders in the Golden West League.
