Coronado High School’s Baseball Team had a fine week, as they swept three games in the Division IV Playoffs and continued their quest for a CIF title in 2006.

After drawing the No. 2 seed, ranked behind only No. 1 Santa Fe Christian which currently boasts a 27-1 record, the Islanders (18-14 overall) were guaranteed that all of their games would be played on their home field until the CIF Finals. Coronado’s first playoff game was a bracket-play-in contest against Army-Navy last Tuesday, which the Islanders won handily by the score of 11-1.

The contest featured the varsity pitching debut of Tucker Johnson and the sophomore right-hander didn’t disappoint, throwing four shutout innings to earn the victory. Johnson walked one Warrior, struck out six and yielded four hits in his outing.

Success in playoff baseball is predicated largely on pitching, a concept not lost on Islander Head Coach Sam Ceci. "Tucker gave us four solid innings and he did great. He gave us exactly what we wanted. Then we turned it over to Brian Crabb, Ryland Gill and Chas Marks."

If you are the No. 2 seed in a 16-team bracket that means your first playoff outing will be against the No. 15 seed. Frankly Army-Navy wasn’t a strong team, but the Islanders never let the Warriors get started. Without a 10-run mercy rule in force during the playoffs, Ceci played his entire roster, sending 17 different Coronado hitters to the plate, who in turn responded with a total of 14 hits. Your Natterer’s scorecard from that game looks like an outline of the myriad plot points from "The Da Vinci Code."

Senior Blake Spitzer earned an honorary mention in the ‘Chicks Dig the Long Ball’ sweepstakes, Coronado Division, as he led off the bottom of the first inning with an inside the park home run. Spitzer, a senior catcher, was one of three Islanders with two-hit games. The other two were freshman Keith Englehart and senior Ryland Gill, who also drove in three runs and scored twice. Senior shortstop Max Weinfurtner scored twice and drove in two.

Tuesday’s victory over Army-Navy earned Coronado the right to play in what is now an eight-team, double elimination tourney. Their first round opponent was Horizon and their star senior pitcher Steven Winnick, is considered to be one of San Diego County’s best. "He threw 130 plus pitches," said Ceci. "The guy was a warrior. He gave us all we could handle. We scrapped well and we were thrilled to get a win over that guy."

The Islanders threw another freshman in to the pitching fray, and Kyle Couture responded with another strong outing, yielding one earned run over 4.1 innings. Marks pitched 1.2 frames and earned the win, with sophomore Josh Fink throwing the final two innings to earn the save. Coronado prevailed 6-4, scoring three runs in the first and one run each in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Only one of the four Panther runs was earned.

Weinfurtner and Kevin Couture (senior brother of Kyle) each had two hits, while RBIs were credited to Weinfurtner, Jimmy Gersonde, Couture and Benson Lorden.

A victory at this time of the year earns you another game, so Friday the Islanders were back on their home diamond, hosting No. 3 seed Christian High School. Coronado prevailed over the Patriots 7-3 in a spirited affair played in front of a standing-room-only crowd at Strand Field.

Couture the Elder took the ball for Coronado and pitched a complete game, pacing the Islanders to a 7-3 victory. "It was not Kevin’s best stuff," said Ceci of the right-hander’s outing Friday. ""But it certainly was good stuff. It was nice to see him go the distance and get back into the win column. He pitched out of several jams we got him in to. We made three (fielding) errors, which always seemed to be against their first hitter (of the inning)."

In fact, Couture was charged with only two earned runs in the game, struck out eight Patriot hitters and seemed to be able to throw a well-located fast ball whenever he needed to get out of a jam. Couture now has a sparkling earned run average of 1.51 for the season and has struck out an even 100 opposing hitters.

The Christian game was unique in several ways. The first being Coronado sent eight hitters to the plate in the second inning, scored four runs, and hit only one ball out of the infield. Second, the Islanders had their running shoes on, stealing eight bases in the game. Third, seemingly every play Ceci called, the Islanders executed well, including a suicide squeeze play in the sixth that was one of two much-needed insurance runs Coronado plated in the frame.

Third baseman Michael Baker-Denson led off the inning with a base hit and Ceci pinch ran Englehart, who promptly stole second. Jake McMahon sacrificed Englehart to third and Christian’s Head Coach Mike Mitchell made a pitching change, going with a left-handed reliever. With leadoff hitter Spitzer in the batter’s box, Ceci sent Englehart home on the suicide squeeze. Englehart had such a good jump on the play that he almost beat the pitch to the plate. Spitzer put down a perfect bunt, beating the throw at first while the speedy Englehart scored.

Spitzer then stole second, stole third and came home on a passed ball for the Islanders seventh and final run. The crafty Spitzer has now stolen 19 bases on 19 attempts this season.

One of the game’s big hits was a fifth inning double by the left-handed hitting Lorden, who pulled the ball sharply down the rightfield line for an RBI, driving in Gersonde. "That was a huge hit," Ceci said of Lorden’s effort. "That was the best ball we hit all day in terms of contact. It was a clutch hit and I loved it when he took second base. That was huge and we needed that run."

Leftfielder Alex Rowan, Weinfurtner and Baker-Denson all had two-hit games. McMahon was credited with two sacrifice bunts.

By virtue of Friday’s victory, Coronado advances to Tuesday’s game, when they will again host Christian in a 4 pm game. Saturday the Patriots eliminated The Bishop’s School from the playoffs in do-or-die game played at Francis Parker. Coronado now has two opportunities to defeat Christian in the double-elimination format, the first on Tuesday, the second on Thursday. If Coronado can win either game, they will play in the CIF Division IV Finals at SDSU’s Tony Gwynn Stadium at 10 am Saturday, June 3.

Still alive in the top half of the Division IV bracket are No. 1 seed Santa Fe Christian and No. 4 seed Francis Parker. SFC is undefeated in the tourney and Parker has one loss.

CHS Head Track Coach George Green checks in with final results of Sarah Player’s efforts in the CIF Track meet. "It took meet officials more than 10 minutes to resolve the outcome of the girls’ 300-meter hurdle race at the CIF finals Saturday. At stake was which of the two girls who crossed the finish line in a dead-heat for third place would advance to the state meet.

Islander junior Sarah Player and Torrey Pines’ Mallory Mainquist were so close, the time difference between them was less than one-thousandth of a second. The final state berth was finally awarded to Mainquist. The official time for both girls was 45.37 seconds.

This marks the third week in a row that Sarah lowered the Coronado High School 300-meter hurdle record. In addition to her fourth place overall finish in the hurdles (second among Division II runners), she was the fourth place Division II finisher in the high jump, after a grueling 4-hour competition.

Immediately after clearing 5 feet, Sarah had to check out to prepare for the hurdles. Upon returning, she cleared 5-2 for the fourth place slot. She finished her track season with school records in the 100-meter hurdles, the 300-meter hurdles, and a tie for the record in the 200-meter dash. She’ll be back next year as the county’s top seed in the 300-meter hurdles, as all three of the state qualifiers are seniors.

It was a big week for Your Natterer in the "If it’s free, it’s for me" sweepstakes, as the spring sports banquet season is in full swing. At the Boys Lacrosse banquet, held at the Coronado Yacht Club, Head Coach Alex Cade announced the following award winners: Coaches’ Award – Josh Capron; Attackman of the Year – Geoff Worley; Midfielder of the Year – Will Purvis; Unsung Hero Award – Kyle McArthur; Defender of the Year – Chris Arthur; Islander Sports Foundation Award for Integrity, Sportsmanship and Friendship – Purvis; Team MVP and City Conference MVP – Kelcey Fisher.

The Boys Lacrosse JV Awards were presented to: Unsung Hero – Patrick O’Brien; Coaches’ Award – Ryan Withouski; Defenseman of the Year – Ryan Sidorski; Midfielder of the Year – Jackson Cusick; Attackman of the Year – Sean O’Brien; and MVP – Ry Stanley.

The Boys and Girls Swimming and Diving Awards banquet was held at the Coronado Recreation Center last week. Head Swim Coach Dave Throop and Head Diving Coach Suzanne Brandley announced the award winners as follows: ISF Awards – Sandra Fernandez and Devin Farrell; Varsity Team Captain – Sean Castillo; Varsity Coaches’ Awards– Taylor Clarkson, Sandra Fernandez, Devin Farrell and Lee Sebring; Varsity Most Improved Swimmers – Alex Adamson, Alana Burgess, Kathryn Bailey and Sean Cook; Most Valuable Diver – Lauren Corcoran and Jonathan Trost; Varsity Most Valuable Swimmers – Molly Patrick and Preston Lujan.

The Junior Varsity Awards included: Coaches’ Awards – Sarah Parker and Joe Clarkson; Most Improved Swimmers – Allyson Arendsee and Jose Tijerina; JV Most Valuable Swimmers – Laura Luttrell and Andy Clapper.

The Boys Tennis season concluded a week ago and Head Coach Robbin Adair provides a wrap-up. "Five doubles teams and five singles players entered the Western League Tournament. The doubles teams of Chris Mitchell/Matt Oakley and Daniel Grazian/Frankie Harrison each faced seeded teams in the first round.

Both teams lost, but the entire crowd was glued to their matches, which were very close and very competitive. Chris and Matt lost 4-6, 6-7(9), while Daniel and Frankie lost 4-6, 5-7.

In singles, Krishna Samperio won his first round match, defeating a Scripps Ranch player 6-2, 6-3. In the second round, he upset the No. 5 seed from University City 5-7, 7-5, and 6-1. In the quarters he lost to the No. 3 seed from Cathedral Catholic 6-0, 6-3. For his efforts this year, he was chosen as part of the All-Western League First Team, which is quite an accomplishment for a freshman."

Three-sport star Megan Mushovic will be busy this summer in her ‘A’ sport of volleyball (as opposed to soccer and track & field, where she also excels). Mushovic will be among the select group of San Diego County high school volleyball players chosen to play in the San Diego All-Star Volleyball game. The game is being played June 2 at 5:30 pm at the Francis Parker H.S. gymnasium. Her summer activities include going to Reno, NV for the Volleyball Festival (June 24-30) and the Junior Olympics in Atlanta (June 30-July 5) with her club volleyball team… A few kids from the (CHS) Islander and (CMS) Pelican track teams ran with nearly 6,000 other competitors in the Over the Bridge Run a week ago Sunday. Eighth grader and rising Islander Sallie Privett placed second out of all female runners. Islander freshman David Grimes placed third in the Boys 13-17 Division. Seventh grader Cassie Callahan was third in the Girls 12 and Under Division, while Mollie Privett placed eighth and Abigail Callahan placed twelfth in the same age group… Katherine Wingert (CHS ’04), running for Carleton College won the 1,500-meter run in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships in the time of 4:38.64. The time was the third best in Carleton College history for the event and is under the NCAA provisional qualifying time for the distance.

Just when you thought the basketball season was over (NBA Playoffs, which never end, are excluded from the discussion), comes word that CHS Girls Varsity Head Coach Toler Goodwin will be holding his Islander Basketball Camp June 19 and 20.

Goodwin has over 15 years of experience coaching basketball at the high school varsity and national club levels. Campers will learn the fine points of ball handling, the triple threat position, post moves, rebounding, court spacing, passing, defensive keys and shooting technique. Players of all levels are encouraged to attend. The camp is aimed at both boys and girls in grades 3-8.

Each camper will need to wear proper basketball gear both days, including shorts, t-shirt and a good pair of basketball shoes. They will also need to bring a sack lunch and water will be provided. The camp runs from 9 am to 2 pm both days.

The camp costs $65 and will be held at the Coronado High School gym. Please contact Coach Goodwin at 619-282-4888 for additional information.

The 32^nd Annual Coronado Independence Day 15K Run – 5K Run/Walk is rapidly approaching. The race, which benefits the Islander Sports Foundation and the CHS and CMS sports teams, begins at Tidelands Park at 7 am. Last year a total of nearly 2,000 runners and walkers participated in the event.

The race course for the 15K event will again include the Naval Amphibious Base. The course is flat, with great scenery and is considered to be suitable for good racing results.

Entry fees are $25 before June 23^rd; $30 after that date; and $33 the day of the race. This year’s race is presented by GMH Promotions, a Coronado-based screen printing and embroidery company.

To register for the race or for more event information, please go to kathyloperevents.com or call 619-298-7400. Sign up today and get your July 4^th off to a great start.