Sea Kings, Lightning on road for wild-card games

A coin flip didn’t do the Corona del Mar High boys’ soccer team any favors, but the Sea Kings will take on their newfound challenge when their postseason begins today.

CdM (5-8-3) will play at Sunny Hills (10-9-4) in a wild-card match of the CIF Southern Section Division III playoffs at 3 p.m. The Sea Kings tied with Beckman for second place in the Pacific Coast League, but the Sea Kings lost the coin flip and were designated the league’s No. 3 representatives. The Sea Kings also dropped in the league standings because they had a win converted into a tie. Laguna Hills protested a Sea Kings’ victory over the Hawks Jan. 11 because an extra overtime period was played, breaking a league rule. CdM and Laguna Hills, which won the PCL, were each granted a tie.

The Sage Hill boys, in CIF Division VI, begin their playoff action with a rarity. Today, at Desert Mirage High in Thermal, will be the first time the Lightning have started the postseason with a wild-card match.

— From staff reports