Playoffs Begins for Fall Sports : Glendale High Tries to Put an End to Frustrations in Water Polo

Pete Loporchio has coached less-talented water polo teams in his seven years at Glendale High, but none has caused more frustration than this season’s.

Glendale (12-12) has lost nine games by two goals or less. But Loporchio believes it is more a reflection of inexperience than ability.

“We’re getting there,” Loporchio said. “But we’re not there yet.”

Loporchio could have dismissed Glendale’s first eight losses if the team had won its last game. Muir scored with 24 seconds left to defeat the Dynamiters, 13-12, in last week’s Pacific League finale. Muir has won seven consecutive league titles.

“Losing all those close games has kind of demoralized us,” senior goalkeeper Jerry Walton said.

Loporchio is hopeful that the damage was minimal. Glendale will play host to El Dorado today in the first round of the Southern Section 3-A playoffs at 3:15.

Loporchio hopes his second-place team compares favorably with any first-place team. “We have one of the best two-meter men in California,” he claimed.

Many who have seen 5-10, 150-pound Lawrence Ocon play agree.

Despite frequently being double- and triple-teamed, the senior has scored a school-record 106 goals this season. Also, he holds the school record for most goals in a game, having scored 10 against Whittier this season.

“He’s intelligent, quick and very tough physically,” Loporchio said. “Teams try to stop him and he still produces four or five goals a game.”

Said Walton: “He takes a lot of the pressure off of everybody. When we need a goal, he knows that he’s the one who is going to score it.”

And when the opposing team is on offense, Walton or goalkeeper Kerry Planeggar are responsible for stopping drives. Walton and Planeggar, both seniors, share time in goal. It has been a successful partnership.

A first-team all-league selection last season, Walton is more experienced in goal and passes well, but Planeggar has shown great improvement this season, Loporchio said. At 6-0, Planeggar has strong legs and a wide arm span that allows him to get good distance out of the water, his coach said.

“They complement each other very well,” Ocon said. “They’ve really pushed each other.”

Teams to watch:

In the 3-A Division, Crescenta Valley will play at top-seeded San Clemente. In the 2-A, La Canada will play at El Rancho. Both games are today at 3:15 p.m.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

The La Canada volleyball team this season has learned that things sometimes are not what they seem.

Case in point:

After an upset loss to Flintridge Sacred Heart earlier this season, some players began to wonder whose side Coach Bobbie Estes was on.

“They tend to think that I get too carried away with being serious and structured,” Estes said. “They said, ‘We’re afraid to come to the sideline during timeouts because you’re going to yell at us.’ They said, ‘You gave up in that game.’ I never give up.

“That was what they were interpreting. And like a lot of things, if somebody perceives you as being that way, it really doesn’t matter if you are or not. So we talked about what I needed to change, what they needed to change. We really pulled it together.”

La Canada (11-2) hasn’t lost since.

Tonight at 7:30, the Spartans play host to Calabasas in the first round of the Southern Section 3-A playoffs. La Canada, which has won the past three Rio Hondo League championships, tied Temple City for this season’s title.

La Canada, 38-5 over the past four seasons, has never advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs. Last season, the Spartans were ousted by Colton.

“Last year was a real transitional team,” Estes said. “I had some seniors . . . I didn’t miss them graduating. I miss them as girls but I don’t miss them as athletes. One was an exceptional athlete but the other girls were not focused.”

This season’s team is a solid mix of intensity and ability, Estes said. Chris Puttler may be the most talented of all. The 6-0 senior recently moved from middle blocker to outside hitter.

Playing opposite Puttler is 5-11 senior Gabie Adams. The Spartan offense is run by senior setter Jane Leisner. When Leisner rotates to the back row, Erin Weaver, a 5-9 sophomore, takes over the right side.

Middle blocking duties are handled by 5-9 sophomore Jenny Pasqua and 5-11 senior Melinda O’Brien. When Estes needs a replacement at middle blocker, outside hitter or back row specialist, 5-9 sophomore Amy Colyar is the first player off the bench.

Teams to watch:

In the 4-A Division, Glendale plays host to El Dorado and Hoover visits Louisville. Flintridge Sacred Heart is the No. 1 seed in the Small Schools Division and plays host to Liberty Christian. All games are today at 7:30 p.m.

CROSS-COUNTRY

Catherine Edwards may have the best and worst kick in Crescenta Valley.

Edwards excels on the hills but admittedly lacks sprinting speed at the finish. The 5-2, 114-pound senior has proven abilities outside cross-country, however, earning a purple belt in karate.

Edwards, 17, studies Tae Kwon Do five days a week. Crescenta Valley Coach Keith Gilliland said it has improved her concentration. Unfortunately it has also increased her injuries.

“I’m always pulling or destroying something,” Edwards said. “I was going to go this week, but Gilliland doesn’t want me to. When it comes down to these last two meets then I guess I’d better get my act together. “

Considering that Edwards is the team’s top runner and that the Southern Section 2-A preliminaries are on Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College, Gilliland’s request seems reasonable. Edwards led Crescenta Valley to its second Pacific League title in a row last week, finishing just two seconds behind Arcadia’s Caryn Sivas at 19:43. It was Edwards’ first finish under 20 minutes.

No matter how Crescenta Valley does in the Southern Section finals November 14th, Gilliland said his teams--past and present--have already made an impact.

“Our cross-country teams have put Crescenta Valley on the map,” Gilliland said. Perhaps not enough to make everyone forget Brad Holland and the glory days of Crescenta Valley basketball. But they are trying.

Edwards has been one of the reasons for the change. Her improvement has been as much mental as physical.

“I think probably the main improvement is her concentration,” Gilliland said. “If you take your mind off what you are doing you lose contact with the other runners.”

Teams to watch:

In the girls race, Hoover participates in the 4-A Division while La Canada (2-A) and Flintridge Prep (1-A) also be represented.

In the boys race, Hoover (4-A), Crescenta Valley (4-A), St. Francis (3-A) and La Canada (2-A) have teams participating. All races will be Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College starting at 8 a.m.

GIRLS TENNIS

Pat Rogerson will have a difficult decision to make when it comes time to select a most valuable player from her Glendale girl’s tennis team.

She may want to award the entire team. Glendale’s balance has produced a Pacific League title and a No. 1 seed entering today’s home match against Miraleste in the first round of the Southern Section 4-A playoffs at 2 p.m.

Since no odds-on favorite exists, a review of the candidates is necessary.

Tracy Fabian and Lynn Reynolds: Fabian, the only senior, is a four-year member of the varsity team. With Reynolds, a junior, they finished 30-0 in league doubles play.

Claudia Bowmann and Debbie Boger: Bowmann, a junior, will play the No. 1 singles in today’s playoff match. Boger, also a junior, will play No. 3 singles, but in doubles they finished 24-0 in the league.

Kristy Kneiding and Deborah Wacker: The No. 2 doubles team is also the youngest pair on the team. Kneiding is a sophomore and Wacker is a freshman.

Caroline Yerkes and Michelle Nishikawa: The juniors comprise the No. 3 doubles team.

Keiu Ling: The junior will play No. 2 singles. She advanced to the third round of the league singles tournament by ousting Arcadia’s top player.

“Everyone is equal,” Fabian said. “We can play against any of our teammate and not know who is going to win.”

But Rogerson isn’t relying on an individual player to produce Glendale’s first-ever Southern Section championship. She is counting on the doubles teams. While most teams stack the singles, Rogerson has loaded the doubles with her most experienced players.

“Everyone is really versatile,” Boger said. “They can play either doubles or singles and we can look at our opponents lineup and switch it around to take advantage of their weaknesses.”

Glendale’s success has come slowly. They have never advanced past the first round of the playoffs. And for the first time Glendale defeated league-power Arcadia, 11-7. Rogerson, who took over the program four years ago, will lose only Fabian to graduation.

Teams to watch:

In the 4-A Division, Hoover visits Mira Costa. La Canada plays host to Thousand Oaks in a 3-A match. In the 1-A Division, Flintridge Sacred Heart visits San Dimas. All matches start today at 2 p.m.