Islander Girls, Boys Lacrosse Teams Set for Semis

With the boys and girls CIF lacrosse playoffs divided into two divisions for the first time in the San Diego Section, the path to a championship may be a bit clearer for two very strong Coronado High teams.

In the Division II semifinals, the Islanders boys team (17-4) hosts San Marcos (9-8) Wednesday night at 7, and on Thursday evening at 7, the Coronado girls team (18-1) hosts Canyon Crest Academy (12-6).

For the first nine seasons (2002-10) that lacrosse was sanctioned by the San Diego CIF, all eligible teams were placed in one division. Last year, 16 teams fought for one title, but this year, eight teams are competing in each of the Division I and II brackets, with a champion to be crowned in each.

Playing with the "big boys," the Coronado boys team under coach Alex Cade finished as runner-up to La Costa Canyon in 2008 then beat the Mavericks in the 2009 championship game. Coach Jessica Battle's girls team has made the title game on three occasions, losing to high-enrollment powerhouses La Costa Canyon (2005 and 2008) and Torrey Pines (last year). The last two were one-goal losses.

In last week's quarterfinals, the boys routed St. Augustine 17-1 and the girls breezed by Santana 23-6. Should they advance to Saturday's championship games at Westview High, the boys would play at 3 p.m., taking on the winner of Wednesday's Bishop's at Cathedral Catholic game, and the girls  would go at 11 a.m. against the Cathedral Catholic at La Jolla semifinal winner.

Softball team hitting the (long) road

The high school softball seedings committee didn't do Coronado any favors. The Islanders travel out to Imperial High for a Division IV play-in round game Wednesday, and if they win there, they turn around and visit Palo Verde High in Blythe on Friday at 3:30 in a quarterfinals game.

After a 4-5 start, coach Tony Isabella's team won nine of its last 10 games to finish the regular season at 13-6, including an 11-3 Western League mark.