BASEBALL

Mater Dei and Capistrano Valley, which have finished 1-2 in the South Coast League the last five years, resume their duel for the 1997 title Friday at the Cougars’ home field. The game will be more important to Capistrano Valley, which lost to Mission Viejo on Wednesday and has a tie. Mater Dei is unbeaten in league. Saturday, Esperanza and Fountain Valley will play for first place in the Sunset League at noon in Fountain Valley.