Fall sports championships commence this month -

De La Salle has been in the NCS Open Division water polo championship match the past three years and junior Tanner Lustig (7) and his teammates are hoping to make that four in row. The Spartans are currently unbeaten in league play and are headed to a series of matches in Southern California this week at the North vs. South Challenge. (Photo courtesy De La Salle Athletics)

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Oct. 18, 2024) — It seems like the seasons just got underway but several high school fall sports begin post-season play this month with league and then North Coast Section and state competitions to follow in quick order.

Girls Golf – The Diablo and East Bay athletic league championships are set for next Monday, Oct. 21 with the conclusion of league dual matches this week in both leagues. The DAL Championships are in Vallejo at Blue Rock West GC. The NCS championships are Oct. 28 (Division II) and Nov. 1 (Division I).

Water Polo – De La Salle and Carondelet have enjoyed strong NCS performances in the last few years with three section titles between them since 2021. Both seem on target to repeat that this fall. The local Catholic schools are 6-0 in EBAL and are in top-flight tournaments over the next two weekends to test themselves against strong non-league opposition. College Park (16-3) and Northgate (14-6) boys have also had good post-season success in recent years and should be factors again at NCS this year. Northgate girls (11-4) won their first NCS title in 2022 and could challenge again in Division II.

NCS tournaments for boys and girls run Nov. 6-16.

Girls Volleyball – Carondelet leads the EBAL standings with a 9-1 record (18-9) overall while Clayton Valley Chater tops the DAL Valley standings (11-6 overall). Northgate (18-9) is the third likely section hopeful. The DAL playoffs are Oct. 22-26 and EBAL tournament Oct. 24-26. North Coast runs Oct. 29-Nov. 9. The NorCal Championships are Nov. 12-19 and the CIF State finals Nov. 22-23.

Cross Country – College Park junior Jack Rattary is third ranked this fall among all boy runners in North Coast Section while De La Salll senior Trey Caldwell is right behind in fourth. Caldwell is the defending NCS D-2 champion.

On the girls side, Katherine Buechter of CVCHS is the only local runner in the overall NCS top 50. In D-3, Carondelet junior duo of Gretchen Yakaitio (20th) and Lillian Zachary (24th) are the local leaders. Northgate has seven runners in the second half of the top 50 D-3 girls, boding well for their team depth at NCS.

Diablo Athletic League cross country has its final Center Meet Oct. 30 at Newhall Park in Concord. The DAL league championships are Nov. 9 in Martinez at Hidden Lakes Park and EBAL league meet the same day at Newhall. NCS Meet of Champions is Nov. 23 at Hayward High School with the CIF State Meet Nov. 30 at Woodward Park in Fresno.

Girls Tennis – DAL and EBAL league matches Oct. 24 and Oct. 26 respectively. The DAL division championships are the week of Oct. 28 and the EBAL Championships are Nov 7-11. NCS team championships are Nov. 12-16 with the singles and doubles tournament Nov. 18-19. The NorCal team tournament is Nov. 19-23.

High school sports fall schedules

Cross Country (Boys & Girls)
DAL Center Meet #2 Oct. 30 (Newhall Park, Concord)
DAL Championships Nov. 9 (Hidden Valley Park, Martinez)
EBAL Championships Nov. 9 (Newhall Park, Concord)
NCS Championships Nov. 23 (Hayward High School)
CIF State Championships Nov. 30 (Woodward Park, Fresno)

Flag Football
DAL League Games Sept. 4 – Oct. 30
DAL Playoffs Nov. 2 (Benicia High)
NCS Playoffs Nov. 12 & 14

Golf (Girls)
DAL League Championships Oct. 21 (Blue Rock West GC)EBAL League Championships Oct. 21
NCS Division II Championships Oct. 28 (Rooster Run GC)
NCS Division I Championships Nov. 4 (Paradise Valley GC)
NorCal Championships Nov. 12 (Berkeley CC)
CIF State Championships Nov. 20 San Gabrial CC)

Tennis (Girls)
DAL League Matches Sept. 10 – Oct. 24
EBAL League Matches Sept. 14 – Oct. 26
DAL Division Championships Week of Oct. 28
EBAL Championships Nov. 7-11
NCS Team Championships Nov. 12-16
NCS Singles/Doubles Championships Nov. 18-19
NorCal Team Championships Nov. 19-23 (Folsom)
CIF State Team Championships Nov. 30 (Fresno Pacific University)

Volleyball (Girls)
EBAL League Games Sept. 10 – Oct. 22
DAL Playoffs Oct. 22-26
EBAL Championships Oct. 24-26
NCS Playoffs Oct. 29 – Nov. 9
NorCal Championships Nov. 12-19
CIF State Championships Nov. 22-23 (Santiago Canyon College, Orange)

Water Polo (Boys & Girls)
DAL League Games Sept. 25 – Oct. 30
EBAL League Games Sept. 15 – Oct. 31
DAL Division Championships Oct. 31 – Nov. 2
NCS Playoffs Nov. 6-16
NorCal Tournament Nov. 19-23 (Sacred Heart Prep, San Francisco)

Jay Bedecarré

Sports and Schools Editor at The Concord Clayton Pioneer | sports@pioneerpublishers.com | Website

Jay Bedecarré is a long-time resident and writer in Concord and Clayton. He began his newspaper writing career while still a senior at Mt. Diablo High School and he has been part of The Pioneer since its inception in 2003. Jay also operates Bay Area Festivals, presenting events around the San Francisco Bay Area including Bay Area KidFest annually in Downtown Concord.