Polo Powerbase

Players from Orange County high schools and community colleges are liberally sprinkled throughout rosters of most teams playing in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation water polo championship, which begins today at Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach. Here is a thumbnail look at each team:

Pepperdine

* National ranking: No. 1

* Record: 22-1

* County connections: Mike Marriner, Laguna Beach, So., goalkeeper; Jeremy Pope, Golden West, Jr.; Brian McAllister, Newport Harbor, Sr.; Alan Herrmann, Dana Hills, Sr.; Christian Jensen, Laguna Beach, Jr.; Dallas Hitchcock, Aliso Niguel, Fr.

California

* Ranking: No. 2

* Record: 20-5

* County connections: Jeff Moloughney, Capistrano Valley, Sr.

Phinney Gardner, San Clemente, Jr.; Chris Dornin, Laguna Beach, So.; Jerry Smith, Servite, Fr.; Brian Cordori, Corona del Mar, Sr.

Stanford

* Ranking: No. 3

* Record: 17-6

* County connections: Thad Buzolich, Corona del Mar, So.; Brian Heifferon, Servite, So.; David Hay, Foothill, Jr.; Crosby Grant, Corona del Mar, Jr.; Kendall Benson, El Dorado, Fr.

USC

* Ranking: No. 4

* Record: 16-6

* County connections: Darin Smith, Marina/Golden West, So., goalkeeper; Sean Hylton, Costa Mesa, Fr.; Jim Farley, San Clemente, Fr.; Johnathon Hewko, San Clemente, So.; Allen Basso, El Toro, So.; Erik Larson, Marina/Golden West, Jr.; Grant McGann, Laguna Beach, Fr.

UCLA

* Ranking: No. 5

* Record: 13-10

* County connections: Sam Grayeli, Costa Mesa, Jr.; Andrew Bailey, San Clemente, Fr.; Brian Brown, Foothill, Fr.; James Palda, Corona del Mar, So.; Aaron Harries, Canyon, Jr.; Samuel Bailey, San Clemente, So.; Jeff Marchiolatti, Corona del Mar, Fr.

UC Irvine

* Ranking: No. 6

* Record: 10-13

* County connections: Tom Davis, La Habra, Sr., goalkeeper; Kevin Brantley, Foothill, Fr.; Mike Foley, Tustin, Fr.; Dan Hayes, University, Fr.; Tom Norton, Corona del Mar, Sr.

Pacific

* Ranking: No. 7

* Record: 7-11

* County connection: none

Long Beach State

* Ranking: Tied for 8th

* Record: 10-16

* County connections: John Pearce, Los Alamitos, Fr.; Matt Sakatani, El Toro, Fr.; Matt Tilton, El Toro, Jr.; Eric Ploessel, Los Alamitos, Jr.; David Martindale, Newport Harbor, Fr.; Andrew Ruga, Troy, Fr.; Brett Walker, Los Alamitos, Fr.

UC Santa Barbara

* Ranking: Tied for 8th

* Record: 9-12

* County connections: Joey Pacelli, Villa Park, Fr.; Eric Scholten, Tustin, Sr.; Lance Wahlert, Capistrano Valley, Jr., goalkeeper.