Four things and one wild guess

1 Diamond Bar High School golfer Bethany Wu already has an impressive collection of hardware entering today’s CIF State semifinals. After her team claimed its first CIF championship on Oct. 23, Wu won the CIF-SS individual championship Nov. 1.

The sophomore, who recently issued a verbal commitment to UCLA, was one of two players to shoot under par as her 3-under 67 earned her a two-shot victory.

“Right at the end of the year she’s playing her best golf,” Diamond Bar coach Tony McCabe said. “She’s a premier player, so she has a chance every time she steps on the course. There’s about 11 or 12 elite players and she’s one of them.”

The Brahmas play today in the state semifinals in Murrieta with the hopes of being one of three teams to advance to the state finals on Nov. 13. The top 12 individuals also will advance. Diamond Bar has shown an affinity for clutch play this postseason. During the competition that advanced the Brahmas to the state semifinals, Wu birdied the last four holes and teammate Isabelle Shee birdied three of the last four to advance the team by one stroke.

2 Miller High School Athletic Director John Romagnoli said he wasn’t surprised when football coach Marcus Soward resigned last week.

“We knew it was coming,” he said. “Marcus had to do what was best for his family.”

Soward resigned from his position, citing the fact he he did not have a guaranteed teaching position for next season.

Romagnoli said thereĀ is no timetable in place yet for hiring Soward’s replacement.

“The football season’s still going on,” Romagnoli said. “But last time (two years) ago we were overwhelmed by the number of applicants. We’ll have a lot of applicants, but the trick is getting them on campus.”

3 It’s early, but the Baseline League volleyball teams are enjoying their new postseason home.
Previously in Division 1A, one game into their stay in Division 2AA all three Baseline League teams are still alive. On Tuesday, league champion Los Osos swept its opening match while second-place Rancho Cucamonga and third-place Alta Loma won in four games.

Last season Los Osos and Rancho Cucamonga exited the playoffs in the first round. For two-time defending league champion Los Osos, it was the second time in three years it lost its playoff opener.

This season, Los Osos and Rancho Cucamonga spent extended time ranked in the top 10 of the division – they finished the regular season ranked No. 6 and No. 7, respectively – and the Baseline League is hoping the benefits of the division switch last a couple more weeks.

4 The Bonita boys water polo team found out early it won’t be defending its CIF-SS Division 5 championship.
The lone wild-card game in the division advanced Burbank Burroughs to a first-round matchup with Riverside Poly courtesy of an 8-6 win over Bonita.

The Bearcats were dominant last season on the way to their first CIF-SS title in six years and sixth championship in the program’s history. Bonita will have to wait until next season for a shot at No. 7.

With the prep football playoffs beginning Friday, my wild guess this week is that at least two teams from the Inland Valley will win CIF championships. Ontario Christian and Summit are No. 1 seeds and Carter is a No. 2. Upland and Rancho Cucamonga have some stiff competition in the Inland Division, but I think at least one of them will be in the finals.

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