Boasts Coming True for Irvine Valley Coach

For the last couple of years, Irvine Valley softball Coach Ted Weatherford has been telling anyone who would listen that his program was getting better.

But because the Lasers play in the Orange Empire Conference, which sent three teams to the state tournament last year, it’s hard to get anyone to notice.

But last week, Irvine Valley won the San Diego City tournament, the first such title in the seven-year history of the program.

Jennifer Cessna won three games and was selected as the tournament’s most valuable player. Tami Harris was eight for 15, scored five runs and drove in three.

Irvine Valley has won 15 games this season, which is three shy of the school record set last year. The Lasers are still looking for such success in conference play, where first-place Fullerton (9-0) is just ahead of Cypress (9-1).

Rancho Santiago (6-3) is third, Riverside (6-4) fourth, Saddleback (3-6) fifth, Golden West (2-7) sixth and Irvine Valley (1-8) and Orange Coast (1-8) tied for last.

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Baseball: The chase for first-place Rancho Santiago starts again after teams took part in spring-break tournaments last week. The Dons (28-2-1, 11-1) have a three-game lead over Saddleback (25-4, 8-4) at the halfway point. Cypress (23-6-1, 6-4) and Riverside (25-5, 6-4) are third, and Orange Coast 11-17, 3-7) is fifth. Fullerton (17-14, 3-9) is sixth and Golden West (10-19, 2-10) seventh.