Spring sports started in the rain; playoffs beckon in the sun

By Jay Bedecarré 2 years ago
Photo courtesy Concord High School AthleticsConcord High baseball team is still in the hunt for a post-season berth in the NCS Division II playoffs. The Minutemen have a 9-7 record overall and are 3-3 in the Diablo Athletic League.
Concord High baseball team is still in the hunt for a post-season berth in the NCS Division II playoffs. The Minutemen have a 9-7 record overall and are 3-3 in the Diablo Athletic League. (Photo courtesy Concord High School Athletics)

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (April 24, 2023) — The spring sports season began in fits and starts with athletes dodging inclement weather to train and compete but the weather has changed and league, section and state competition beckons starting at the end of April and running through the first week of June for baseball and softball.

This senior class missed their freshman season and had an abbreviated sophomore schedule due to the pandemic but will be able to complete their final high school athletic competition under more normal conditions with North Coast Section, NorCal and State championships in the next six weeks.

Clayton Valley Charter and De La Salle have floated near the top of the Bay Area baseball rankings all season. The Ugly Eagles are 10-4 overall and 2-0 at the start of the Diablo Athletic League season. De La Salle lost a rare doubleheader earlier this month to Saint Francisco bouncing the Spartans from the top spot in the rankings. They are 13-4 overall and 6-1 in the East Bay Athletic League.

Northgate is 4-0 in early DAL softball play and the Broncos are 9-2 overall. Clayton Valley Charter is 8-3 having won its only league game.

Track and field

In track and field there are several athletes ranked in the top six NCS season performances.

The Clayton Valley Charter 4×400 boys relay team is No. 1 in the latest NCS rankings. Carondelet’s Brianna Meredith leads all girls long jumpers (and is tied for second in the triple jump) and Clayton Valley Charter sophomore Santia Ali is the top triple jumper.

De La Salle’s all-round standout Chukwunonso Udeh is first in the high jump at 6-7, second in the 110 hurdles, third in the long jump, sixth in the 100 and seventh in the 300 IH.

Alex Lamoureux of College Park is third in the 800 and fifth in the 1600. Isabelle Ruff ties for the second best 800 mark and her teammate Zoe Lahanas has posted high NCS marks in three events.

Carondelet and CVCHS girls have high relay rankings while the De La Salle boys 4×100 relay is currently third.

Lacrosse and swimming

Defending NCS champion De La Salle lacrosse is 13-3 overall and 4-1 in East Bay Athletic League. Northgate boys are 10-2 with both losses coming in DAL play, where they are 3-2.

Several local swimmers are ranked among the top 10 in California. On the boys side, De La Salle’s Zachary Elian and Northgate teammates Andrew Hallett and Mason Wendler plus Spartan and Bronco boys relay teams have posted top 10 marks.

Carondelet has four swimmers with high state rankings. Cougars Stephanie Iannaccone, Bailey Hartman, Ellie Butler and Maddie Gomez cover most strokes in the top 10 while all Carondelet relays are near the top of state marks.

Spring Sports Schedules

Badminton

  • EBAL Tournament May 6 (Dougherty Valley)
  • NCS Championships May 13
  • NorCal Championships May 20 (Newark Memorial, Newark)

Baseball

Competitive Cheer (Stunt)

Golf (Boys)

  • DAL League Championships May 1
  • EBAL League Championships May 1
  • NCS Division II Championships May 8
  • NCS Division I Championships May 15
  • NorCal Championships May 22
  • CIF State Championships May 31

Lacrosse (Boys & Girls)

  • DAL Championships Apr. 25-28
  • EBAL League Games Mar. 24 – Apr. 28
  • NCS Playoffs May 2-11

Softball

  • DAL Mountain League Games Apr. 13 – May 11
  • DAL Valley League Games Mar. 16 – May 11
  • DAL Foothill League Games Mar. 28 – May 11
  • EBAL League Games Mar. 14 – May 4
  • EBAL Championships Week of May 8
  • NCS Playoffs May 16-27
  • NorCal Championships May 30 – June 3

Swimming & Diving (Boys & Girls)

  • DAL JV Invitational Meet Apr. 29 (Campolindo High)
  • DAL League Championships Apr. 27-29 (Campolindo High)
  • EBAL League Championships Apr. 28-29
  • NCS Championship Meet May 4-6 (Concord Community Pool)
  • State Championship Meet May 11-13 (Clovis Olympic Swim Complex)

Tennis (Boys)

Track & Field (Boys & Girls)

Volleyball (Boys)

  • EBAL Playoffs Apr. 27-29
  • NCS Playoffs May 2-11
  • NorCal Championships May 16-20
Jay Bedecarré
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.

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