Baseline League prediction: It's a repeat... well, sort of
Baseline League play begins tomorrow. Here is my guess at how it will end:
Rancho Cucamonga: 4-1
Upland: 4-1
Etiwanda: 4-1
Los Osos: 2-3
Claremont: 1-4
Alta Loma: 0-5
An outright champion in this league is a rarity. To find an example, one has to look as far back as... well, last season. This begs the question: How in the WORLD did Rancho Cucamonga go unscathed despite the presence of an eventual CIF finalist (Upland), a semifinalist (Los Osos), and a team (Etiwanda) that lost a one-point playoff game to the other semifinalist?!? I mean, the guy quarterbacking Los Osos last season played against Oregon on Saturday!
As good as the defending CIF-champion Cougars (5-0) are again, the odds are just weighted too heavily against another undefeated run through the Baseline League. Etiwanda (3-2) is too much better. Undefeated Upland's defense is probably the best single unit in the entire league (though the Scots' defensive numbers may be slightly inflated by the league's weakest nonleague schedule outside of Claremont - this is not to say their schedule was weak). And Los Osos (2-3) took one of the best teams in the Southland to OT two weeks ago.
Alta Loma is clearly improving and Claremont (4-1), which won two games the last two seasons combined, is capable of an upset or two with the explosive offense it has developed. The Wolfpack could turn the entire leage upside down with a win over Rancho Cucamonga Friday night.
Leave a comment. Ask a question. Or e-mail me at clay.fowler@inlandnewspapers.com
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About Clay
Clay Fowler has been covering high school sports for six years in California and Texas. He was born in Dallas, attended the University of Texas and worked in Central Texas before joining the Daily Bulletin staff in 2006.
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You are nuts.
Besides Los Osos, Upland had the leagues TOUGHEST nonleague schedule.
I like the challenge, but Rancho is taking it all the way! They have a great offense: Watson, Boyd, Randall and Sateki...get it right! And they have cougar pride!
Well all I have to say is the boyz from the city of Chino Hills play with Heart...I know the Chino Hills High wants Ayala High BIG time this year...But Im still going with the BULLDOGS...Maybe it will be only a two way tie this year and not a three way tie...LOL!
Rancho Vs. Los Osos - I was at the game and I was very dissappointed in coach Baez's approach to the game. They were clearly out coached and Los Osos played with great emotion against an over matched team. It should have been a blow out for the Cougars, but the Bruins did not take kindly to being the visitor team on their own home field. Baez should have anticipated the level of intensity this game needed. Bad play calling lost the game not the kids on the field.
And the Los Osos win over Etiwanda? Hey, what about the predictions? and for Saturday's 11/14/09 newspaper, Upland gets that much exposure? Now really, DONT BE SILLY! Just quit it........
And the Los Osos win over Etiwanda? Hey, what about the predictions? and for Saturday's 11/14/09 newspaper, Upland gets that much exposure? Now really, DONT BE SILLY! Just quit it........