Fall teams battle for league honors, NCS playoff berths

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Sept. 28, 2022) — Competition is underway in all the fall sports with tournaments and invitational meets going on during the next two months along with league games and matches, all gearing up for league and North Coast Section championships.

Girls Golf

The Diablo and East Bay athletic league championships are both set for Oct. 17 following a busy season of dual matches that began last month in both leagues. The North Coast Section championships are Oct. 24 (Division II) and Oct. 31 (Division I).

Water Polo

Last year was a banner season for local water polo with De La Salle, Northgate boys and Carondelet all winning NCS titles on the same day. The Spartans won their first-ever Open Division championship and first of any kind in NCS since 2004, Northgate boys defended their Division II title and Carondelet won its first-ever NCS water polo championship claiming the D-II girls title.

NCS tournaments for boys and girls run Nov. 2-12.

Girls Volleyball

Carondelet reached the quarterfinals of Division II and Berean Christian in D-V last fall for the top local performances.

DAL Valley Division began play last week while the Foothill Division including Northgate begins league matches next week. The Cougars EBAL slate started last week. North Coast runs Oct. 25 through Nov. 5 with the NorCal Championships Nov. 8-15 and the CIF State finals Nov. 18-19.

Cross Country

The Ed Sias Invitational began the cross country season in earnest last Saturday in Martinez. Clayton Valley Charter boys took second in the large schools varsity race for the top local performance. Alan Solari was fourth to lead the strong Ugly Eagles placing.

College Park boys were fifth with sophomore Jack Rattary taking third overall. In the small schools boys race Northgate was led by Robert Benard in sixth and Nicholas Knisley seventh for the Broncos who finished seventh in the team standings.

College Park was led by Missy LeClaire’s 14th place as the Falcons were sixth in the large school girls race. Clayton Valley Charter girls took eighth as Skylar Bennett led the way in sixth place. Megan Malloy was ninth and Northgate took fourth place in the small schools girls race. Carondelet was close behind in sixth place.

The De La Salle Nike Invitational is this Saturday in Concord at Newhall Park. The Diablo Athletic League has its Center Meets on Sept. 28 and Oct. 19. The DAL league championships are Nov. 5 and EBAL league meet the same day. NCS Meet of Champions is Nov. 19 at Hayward High School with the CIF State Meet Nov. 26 at Woodward Park in Fresno.

Girls Tennis

DAL tennis matches for seven Valley Division schools in a double round-robin format began last week and run through Oct. 20 while the Foothill Division is underway this week through Oct. 18. EBAL tennis runs all the way to Nov. 1. The DAL division championships are the last week of October. NCS team championships are Nov. 8-12 with the singles and doubles tournament Nov. 14-15. The NorCal team tournament is Nov. 15-19.

Fall Sports Schedules

Cross Country (Boys & Girls)
DAL Center Meets Sept. 28 and Oct. 19
DAL Championships Nov. 5 (Hidden Valley Park, Martinez)
EBAL Championships Nov. 5 (Newhall Park, Concord)
NCS Championships Nov. 19 (Hayward High School)
CIF State Championships Nov. 26 (Woodward Park, Fresno)

Golf (Girls)
DAL League Matches Aug. 29- Oct. 12
EBAL League Matches Aug. 18 – Oct. 13
DAL League Championships Oct. 17 (Contra Costa Country Club, Pleasant Hill)
EBAL League Championships Oct. 17
NCS Division II Championships Oct. 24
NCS Division I Championships Oct. 31
NorCal Championships Nov. 7
CIF State Championships Nov. 16

Tennis (Girls)
DAL League Matches Sept. 6 – Oct. 20
EBAL League Matches Sept. 1 – Nov. 1
DAL Division Championships Oct. 27-28
EBAL Championships Nov. 3-7
NCS Team Championships Nov. 8-12
NCS Singles/Doubles Championships Nov. 14-15
NorCal Team Championships Nov. 15-19

Volleyball (Girls)
DAL League Games Sept. 6- Oct. 20
EBAL League Games Sept. 8 -Oct. 20
EBAL Championship Oct. 22
NCS Playoffs Oct. 25 – Nov. 5
NorCal Championships Nov. 8-15
CIF State Championships Nov. 18-19

Water Polo (Boys & Girls)
DAL League Games Sept. 21 – Oct. 26
EBAL League Games Sept. 1 – Oct. 27
DAL Division Championships Oct. 27-29
NCS Playoffs Nov. 2-12
NorCal Tournament Nov. 15-19