Sea Kings dominant in first round

CORONA DEL MAR — For the big matches at home, Corona del Mar High has a bagpiper play.

The bagpiper has performed a handful of times before the start of the boys’ water polo action. It’s not as if CdM needs a boost at home.

The bagpiper has been spotted on top of a roof overlooking the pool. He probably could’ve played in the water for CdM Wednesday.

The No. 3-seeded Sea Kings continued to win at home, beating Esperanza, 12-7, in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs.

In 13 matches at home this season, CdM has lost once. The loss came against the No. 1-ranked team in the final Division I coaches’ poll.

The Sea Kings (23-5) have rolled ever since falling to Loyola of Los Angeles on Sept. 25. CdM is playing for another shot at the Cubs.

The road to the finals got a little easier. The Sea Kings play host to their second straight playoff game Friday, when they face Ventura (19-9) in the quarterfinals at 5 p.m.

“If we can put it together, I’m pretty confident in our ability to go all the way,� CdM senior Max Bergeson said. “We’re going to try and see if we can do it.�

The start to matches is something CdM has to work on before it can claim its first section crown since 2001.

Things began as usual for the Pacific Coast League champions. Seventy-seven seconds into the match, they fell behind, 1-0.

CdM trailed not once, twice, but three times in the opening quarter. As he usually does, Bergeson rallied the team. The left-hander scored four goals and made two steals.

Bergeson’s first three goals tied Esperanza, 3-3, early in the second quarter. On a five-meter penalty opportunity, Bergeson put it away. He skipped a shot to the right of goalie Kevin Homrighausen.

Early on, Homrighausen played well for the Aztecs (14-15), the third-place team from the Sunset League. The matchup was on its way to turning out to be more competitive than CdM’s 18-9 nonleague victory against Esperanza on Oct. 6.

Homrighausen made nine saves and looked to have another midway through the first.

With Matt Williams hanging on Bergeson’s back like a towel, somehow the utility player fired a shot. It was good and proved to be the hardest of Bergeson’s goals.

“I got lucky,� Bergeson said with a smile.

The Aztecs weren’t so fortunate defending Chase Watson. The 6-foot-7, 230-pounder had his way in two meters, scoring four goals.

Watson’s first goal with 5:12 left to play in the second quarter gave CdM a 4-3 lead, its first advantage. Michael Liao scored the first of his two goals of the game and Watson added another as the Sea Kings went into the halftime ahead, 6-4.

When it seemed like Esperanza found itself back in it, down by one goal after Kevin Masone scored two of his team’s three goals in the third quarter, Bergeson answered.

On a breakaway, Bergeson found the back of the cage. The Sea Kings went on to score the match’s final four goals, ensuring the return of a certain sound before Friday’s match.

“He’ll be here again,� CdM Coach Barry O’Dea said of the bagpiper. “We wanted to do something different and have something that was unique to this team, a signature.�