'Truth will come out' in Baseline League
The Baseline League isn't just playing for a league title this season.
It's never lacked drama, but the prevailing opinion last season was the dramatics would end in league.
Based on last season's impressive playoff performance in its return to the CIF-SS Inland Division and this season's nonleague success against division teams, competition within the Baseline League will be more meaningful to the rest of Southern California than it has in some time.
Two teams enter league play undefeated and a third is ranked in the Inland Division top 10. This in a division in which the league managed a single collective playoff victory the last two seasons it was a member, 2006 and 2007.
Defending champion Rancho Cucamonga (5-0), which wasn't eliminated from the playoffs last season until double overtime in the semifinals, doesn't appear to have dropped off this season having allowed a total of 26 points against a respectable nonleague slate.
Upland (5-0), which is ranked third in the Inland Division - two spots ahead of Rancho Cucamonga - has gone through a tough schedule that included a blowout win over seventh-ranked Norco and an even more impressive victory over previously undefeated Los Angeles Loyola. The Highlanders feature a staggering amount of talent, including Division I caliber receiver Kenny Lawler and running back Donta Abron.
Etiwanda (3-2), at No. 9, lost to Norco and Vista Murrieta, last season's No. 2 seed that outlasted Rancho Cucamonga in the semifinals, by a combined nine points. The Eagles may feature the area's most dangerous passing attack behind senior quarterback Larry Cutbirth, who already thrown for 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns. Raphael Barr is the leading receiver in the Inland Valley through five games and 6-foot-5 Jordan Villamin may be the most physically gifted wideout in the area.
"I think there's no doubt our league is stronger than it was last season," Etiwanda coach Steve Bryce said. "We've proven we can play with teams in these other tough leagues that will be in the playoffs. It's going to be really interesting in our own league."
Los Osos (2-3) played as tough a nonleague schedule as any team from the league and the Grizzlies may be an overruled Vista Murrieta fumble from emerging with a winning record.
Glendora (2-3) entered the league last season having earned at least a share of the Sierra League title in three consecutive seasons and is a candidate to at least knock off a contender.
Alta Loma (2-3) ended its 20-game win streak this year under first-year coach Joe Szczepanski.
"I don't think any of us know how good we are," Rancho Cucamonga coach Nick Baiz said. "We can go off of reputation. But the truth will come out."
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.
Email Clay here
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