…. but three teams will battle Friday for the league’s other two automatic playoff spots.

For now, California (13-12, 6-3), which lost to Whittier by a point Wednesday night, is second.
Santa Fe (12-14, 5-4), which defeated Pioneer Wednesday night, is third.
La Serna (11-14, 4-5), a winner over El Rancho Wednesday night, is fourth.
California and Santa Fe play each other Friday night, and La Serna finishes the regular season against Pioneer.
A Santa Fe win over California would earn the Chiefs a tie for second and would end La Serna’s chances for the third automatic playoff spot.
If California defeats Santa Fe and La Serna gets by Pioneer, Santa Fe and La Serna would be tied for third, and according to the DRL tie-breaker, La Serna would get the third spot.
“I think we have a chance to draw into the playoffs without the automatic berth,” Santa Fe coach Matt Zamora said, “but I would rather do it the automatic way.”
Wednesday night’s victory was a big step in that direction.
Since Thursday is a furlough day, more on the scenario concerning the boys race on Friday morning.

Some interesting ideas are being expressed concerning who and why should receive the Del Rio League’s Most Valuable Player Award.
Keep ’em coming, but consider this: an MVP is someone who, if subtracted from his team, would have the greatest impact on its success, or lack thereof. A Player of the Year is the individual whom, based upon his talent, you would select first if you were building a team.

Coach of the Year should be the individual who gets the most out of his players. This could be the individual whose team wins the championship even if he or she had the most talent with which to work, or perhaps someone whose roster lacked talent or experience and finished well back in the pack.

Any ideas about that one?

It’s official:
La Habra’s Ronnie Hillman signed with San Diego State, Randall Nygren signed with Southern Utah University (Cedar City) and Joe Casey signed with Hmbolt State University (Arcata).
Whittier Christian’s Mark Edwards signed with Evangel University, a small but very successful NAIA Christian school in Springfield Mo.
And La Mirada striker Lauren Cope signed with New Mexico State.
Not a lot of signees, but high quality, all of them.

Letter of intent day is Wednesday. Here is the brief list of area athetes who are expected to sign with colleges:

La Habra: Ronnie Hillman, RB/Rcvr (San Diego State); Randall Nygren, DB/QB (Southern Utah); Joe Casey, LB (Humbolt State). Possible – Willie Mayoral, OL (undetermined).

Whittier Christian: Mark Edwards, FB/LB/TE (Evangel University, Mo.)

La Mirada: Lauren Cope, Midfielder (New Mexico State)

Probables (but not committed officially):
Cantwell Sacred Heart: Jeffrey Taylor, WR/DB (San Jose State, Washington State); Kimble Tillman, WR/DB (undetermined)