Seahawks soar to MLK Day victory

The first quarter of Monday’s nonleague boys’ basketball game between Ocean View and Huntington Beach gave every indication that a dogfight would ensue the rest of the way.

The teams traded early punches, one taking the lead before the other regained it. A back-and-forth battle seemed imminent.

But then the game switched gears in the second quarter, and by halftime, there was little doubt as to which team would come out victorious.

Ocean View turned a second-quarter blitz into an insurmountable lead. The visiting Seahawks went from a four-point lead after one quarter to a 31-point lead at the half. They went on to register an 82-68 win.

…Continue reading Seahawks soar to MLK Day victory

Championship is twice as nice

No. 1, again.

A year after winning its first Southern Section championship, the top-ranked Laguna Beach boys’ water polo team retained its top billing for a second straight year by polishing off second-ranked Damien of La Verne, 14-8, Saturday in the Division 3 title match at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center in Irvine.

The Breakers were in unison in saying that they “stepped it up” in the final.

“This is awesome,” Laguna Coach Ethan Damato said moments after his team and coaching staff took a victory jump into the pool. “I think the pressure has been on this team all year and our guys have responded so well to every challenge. This (title) is something we’ve been wanting all year.

“What really impressed me was that this entire team stepped up big when we lost two key starters. That says a lot about our guys.”

…Continue reading Championship is twice as nice

Players, colleagues remember Coach Harris

Jim Harris, the face of Ocean View boys’ basketball and the man who gave the program its identity, died Sunday night after a struggle with liver cancer. The only boys’ basketball coach in the school’s history was 67.

Harris’ coaching career at Ocean View spanned 33 years. During that time, his teams won 19 league championships and three CIF Southern Section titles. He also coached the Ocean View girls’ varsity program, which is now headed by his daughter, Kim Morris.

His son, Jimmy, was an all-CIF player for his father and later an assistant coach. He has been the varsity boys’ co-head coach along with his father the past few years.

“Coach Harris is Ocean View basketball, even Ocean View High School, period,” Seahawks Athletic Director Tim Walsh said Monday. “He created the basketball program which today is looked at by so many as one of the best around. There was so much love around in whatever he did, whether it be basketball or at this school.”

Harris’ contributions stretched well beyond the hardwood, Walsh and current Ocean View varsity players Conor Clifford and Josh Mishler said Monday.

“He planted the palm trees that line the school along Warner Avenue,” recalled Walsh, a 1994 Ocean View graduate who played varsity for Harris for one year, was in the program for four years and said he attended basketball camps run by Harris before he entered Ocean View. “He always wanted to help do things for this school in any way that he could.

…Continue reading Players, colleagues remember Coach Harris

Ocean View given a hero’s welcome

Braydon Salzman (20) of the Ocean View Little League (center with arms out) celebrates with his team as hundreds of supporters came out their home field to welcome home the Little League World Series Champions as they came off the bus directly from the airport. (Steven Georges, Daily Pilot)

The Ocean View Little League All-Star team received the red carpet treatment upon their return home to Huntington Beach Monday night.

Arriving to chants of “OV,” and, “USA,” the All-Stars were greeted by an enthusiastic crowd that came out to support the 2011 Little League World Series champions. The players showed their poise as they stood before the gathering, a fireworks display illuminating the backdrop of the team as it stood in front of the league’s playing fields at Murdy Park.

Ocean View completed an incredible and unforgettable two-month postseason summer run on Sunday by coming from behind to defeat defending champion Japan, 2-1, at Williamsport, Pa., to become world champion. Ocean View is the first Little League team from Orange County to win the title, second team in three years from California to win it (Park View Little League of Chula Vista, 2009) and seventh from the state, overall, in the 65-year history of the iconic tournament.

…Continue reading Ocean View given a hero’s welcome

Next stop: Williamsport

The Ocean View Little League Majors All-Star team celebrates after Steven Kotkosky (44), second from left, crosses home plate after hitting a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning during the Western Regionals championship against Red Bluff on Saturday night at Al Houghton Stadium in San Bernardino. Kotkosky's blast gave Ocean View a 2-1 win and a berth to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. (KEVIN CHANG, HB Independent / August 14, 2011)

Ocean View is heading to the Little League World Series.

The 11-12-year-old All-Star Major Baseball team from Huntington Beach won the Western Regional  championship in San Bernardino on Saturday night by rallying to defeat Red Bluff of Northern California, 2-1.

The Little League World Series starts Thursday in Williamsport, Pa. Ocean View will play Rhode Island on Friday.

Ocean View completed a week-long dominating run Saturday by staging an incredible sixth-inning rally before a crowd of 13,870 at Al Houghton Stadium. It trailed for five innings but needed just two pitches at the start of the sixth to take the lead for good. Nick Pratto opened with a triple to the right-field corner off Red Bluff starter Wesley Clawson and then clean-up hitter Steven Kotkosky drilled a low curveball off reliever Lane Pritchard for a home run to deep center field.

…Continue reading Next stop: Williamsport

Next stop: Williamsport

Ocean View is heading to the Little League World Series.

The 11-12-year-old All-Star Major Baseball team from Huntington Beach won the Western Regional  championship in San Bernardino on Saturday night by rallying to defeat Red Bluff of Northern California, 2-1.

The Little League World Series starts Thursday in Williamsport, Pa. Ocean View will play Rhode Island on Friday.

Ocean View completed a week-long dominating run Saturday by staging an incredible sixth-inning rally before a crowd of 13,870 at Al Houghton Stadium. It trailed for five innings but needed just two pitches at the start of the sixth to take the lead for good. Nick Pratto opened with a triple to the right-field corner off Red Bluff starter Wesley Clawson and then clean-up hitter Steven Kotkosky drilled a low curveball off reliever Lane Pritchard for a home run to deep center field.

…Continue reading Next stop: Williamsport

Ocean View rolls past Silverado, still undefeated

There was no quick start by Ocean View Wednesday against Silverado of Nevada, but a fast finish by the Majors All-Star team kept them undefeated in the 2011 Little League West Regional tournament at San Bernardino.

Ocean View broke away from a scoreless game by posting four runs in the bottom of the third inning, tacked on two more runs in the fourth and then put things out of reach with a five-run fifth, that led to an 11-3 victory over the state champs from Nevada at Al Houghton Stadium.

With the win, Ocean View completed pool play as the only undefeated team. In going 4-0, they outscored their opponents, 34-5.

…Continue reading Ocean View rolls past Silverado, still undefeated

Slater slays competition at U.S. Open of Surfing

There was talk before the start of the U.S. Open of Surfing that 2011 could be the year of the Young Guns.

Just days before Sunday’s Men’s final, former World Tour veteran and first-year contest director Pat O’Connell, felt the same way. But O’Connell was quick to warn of one thing: don’t overlook the veterans.

Nobody was able to overlook Kelly Slater at the Huntington Beach Pier over the weekend. Slater, at 39, showed why he is the winningest surfer in history by easily claiming his second U.S. Open title. He out-dueled 25-year-old Yadin Nicol of Australia by an overwhelming final score of 16.27 to 2.57.

It was Slater’s first triumph in Surf City since he won the 1996 Men’s title.

…Continue reading Slater slays competition at U.S. Open of Surfing

Teams head to playoffs

The CIF Southern Section winter playoffs got underway this week and several local prep teams earned berths, or were granted entrance, to the postseason party.

All regular season records and league finishes were supplied by the CIF-SS office.

Girls’ Basketball

The playoffs get underway Thursday for the local teams with the exception of Edison. The Sunset League champion Chargers (24-3) are the No. 1-seed in Division 1A and received a first-round bye. They will host the winner of Thursday’s game between Santa Fe (14-13, Del Rio No. 3) and No. 16 Arcadia (13-11, Pacific at-large) on Saturday.

…Continue reading Teams head to playoffs

Vikings have a running quest

Marina High School runners Catherine Durant and Richie Soto are both competing in the Surf City Marathon on Sunday. (SCOTT SMELTZER, HB Independent / February 1, 2011)

Catherine “Katie” Durant and Richie Soto have been on the run since their middle school days.

In that short time — a six-year period for Durant and four-year span for Soto — the two have grown into and excelled at cross-country and track and field as prep athletes at Marina High. They’ve both competed in the big invitationals and big meets, but neither has done a certain run.

Come early-Sunday, that will change.

Durant, 17, and Soto, 16, are entered in Sunday’s 15th annual Surf City USA Marathon and both will run the half-marathon, along with numerous other Huntington Beach residents.