With the spring break over, Mission Bay teams will look to league action soon. But before that happens, several teams will wrap up tournament play. Baseball Mission Bay (5-7), under head coach Dennis Pugh, opened action last month in the Bill Whitaker Invitational. The Bucs defeated Chula Vista (3-2), with losses to Saints, Francis Parker, San Marcos and University City, respectively.
Moving on to action in the Bill Dickens Tournament, Mission Bay topped Foothills Christian and Sweetwater, with a loss to Mater Dei Catholic.
In the San Diego Lions Tournament, the Bucs defeated Roosevelt and Valley Center, with losses to Bishop Manogue and South, respectively.
Mission Bay is slated to meet Mar Vista in a return to the Bill Dickens Tournament on Thursday (April 5).
Once tourney play is over, the Bucs will be at Clairemont (April 9), host San Diego (April 11) and visit University City (April 13). Softball The Bucs, under head coach Vince Ichihara, came into play this week with a record of 5-2 and on a three-game winning streak. The Bucs got there with wins over Helix, Chula Vista, and Madison, respectively. Mission Bay is scheduled to host San Diego on April 5. Track and field Mission Bay, under head coach Danny Perez, looks to duplicate or even improve on the great finishes a season ago by the boys and girls, respectively.
In 2017, the boys finished undefeated (7-0) to capture their first league title since the mid-1990s. The girls finished strong in third place with a 5-2 record. The Bucs return many CIF finals competitors such as Blake Edmunds (400m), Alyssa Hernandez (triple jump and 300m hurdles) and Xavier Brandon (CIF Division II runner-up in the triple jump). Perez also noted the addition of freshmen with Karrin Evans (400m, 4x100m) and Gina Queck (1600m, 800m, 3200m).
Perez also expects big things from junior Nick Archer (high jump, long jump, triple jump, 400m, 4x400m), sophomore Lillian Robinson (has a lifetime best of 17-feet 4 inches in the long jump), junior Savaughn Davis, a first-time track athlete looking to come off a strong basketball season, and junior Ronnie Latting.
“This year team success is about who practices hard and who competes on the meet days,” Perez commented. “We have a strong team. With the addition of strong CIF basketball players, we expect to be competitive in our league on the boys’ side, and just as competitive on the girls’ side.” According to Perez, the coaching staff is filled with a passionate group; including assistant head coach Greg Farrar, head football coach Dane Roman, who coaches throws, and CIF Open Division champions head boys basketball coach Marshawn Cherry, who will coach sprints. They are joined by former head coaches who won a CIF track title – Jim Cerveny mid-distance, and Tony Griswold, long and triple jump; retired MB teacher and running guru Barry Dancher, coaching distance; and former Patrick Henry stand out, Jimmy Darling, coaching high jump. Perez will assist with the sprints, and jumps.
