It’s a four-way tie atop Sunset League
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Four teams have taken turns beating each other in the Sunset League, and now there is a four-way tie for first place among teams with one league loss apiece: Newport Harbor (6-2), Los Alamitos (6-2), Esperanza (7-1) and Edison (5-3).
This assemblage atop the league standings is due mostly to Newport Harbor’s 31-27 upset Monday of Los Alamitos, ranked No 18 this week by The Times. The Sailors were ranked earlier this season, but fell out when they were defeated by higher-ranked Esperanza, 28-7. Maybe they should be ranked again. Their only two losses are to Esperanza and Long Beach Poly.
The other key game in the league on Monday was No. 23 Edison’s 9-7 victory over No. 14 Esperanza.
Newport Harbor’s position is especially impressive knowing that the Sailors played in Division VI two years ago. Last season it was moved out of the Sea View League and into the Sunset, which competes in the Pac-5 Division.
And even though Newport was really considered the longshot from this group, the Sailors aren’t in bad shape:
- Newport plays Marina (3-5) and closes the season against Edison.
- Los Alamitos plays rival Esperanza and then Marina.
- Esperanza plays rival Los Alamitos and Fountain Valley (5-3).
- Edison plays rival Fountain Valley and Newport Harbor.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. This is the second year in a row that Newport posted a ‘big’ upset: Last season the Sailors beat Esperanza, 21-13, but it lost to Los Alamitos, 9-7. That loss has been avenged.
- Martin Henderson