Enjoyable matchup: Mitty at Los Gatos
It needed to occur this manner. It needed to be Archbishop Mitty coach Danny Sullivan, a former Los Gatos star quarterback and assistant coach, going in opposition to his alma mater within the first spherical of the Central Coast Part Division I playoffs.
Sunday, when Sullivan arrived on the part seeding assembly, the primary individual he noticed was Los Gatos coach Mark Krail.
They already knew the matchup was a actuality, having calculated the factors the CCS makes use of to seed groups.
“We simply began laughing,” Sullivan mentioned.
Sullivan led Los Gatos to a CCS championship in 2005 beneath then coach-Butch Cattolico earlier than shifting on to Arizona State. He returned to Los Gatos to teach beneath Cattolico and later Krail, successful a CCS title with each.
The matchup Friday night time received’t be the primary time Sullivan has coached in opposition to Los Gatos. He additionally did it when he was the coach at Palo Alto.
“I believe any probability somebody will get a possibility to type of be again the place the nostalgia and the recollections come again is fairly particular,” Sullivan mentioned Sunday. “However having carried out it a few years in the past I believe is useful for me. I can actually deal with the sport.”
Sullivan had some lean seasons as a coach however turned issues round this 12 months, going from one win final fall to seven and a spot within the division reserved for the part’s high eight groups.
Krail is blissful for Sullivan.
“His first two years there have been tough, clearly, however to his credit score and the youngsters’ credit score, they hung in there effectively and had a very nice 12 months,” Krail mentioned. “They’re a pleasant soccer staff. It’s going to be numerous enjoyable. They’ve obtained some actually proficient gamers on each side of the ball.”
— Darren Sabedra
Is Wilcox able to repeat?
Wilcox went down this path final season. The Chargers misplaced to Los Gatos in league play, had been positioned in Division II and went on to seize part and regional championships earlier than narrowly dropping in a state ultimate.
Is the Santa Clara faculty prepared for a sequel?
Wilcox misplaced to Los Gatos once more in the course of the common season, an consequence that put the Chargers again in Division II.
Seeded No. 1, Wilcox has a superb shot at one other future. The Chargers open the playoffs Thursday at house in opposition to Lincoln-San Jose.
“We're excited,” Wilcox coach Paul Rosa mentioned in a textual content Sunday. “I believe it’s a extremely aggressive bracket and (there) are numerous good groups that may win it. Must be enjoyable.”
— Joseph Dycus
Is the system truthful to league champs?
Whereas Wilcox has a superb shot in Division II, Los Gatos must win a division that features the part’s high groups (ie Serra, St. Francis and others) to achieve a regional.
Is that truthful?
“I’ve mentioned this to anyone that may pay attention,” Los Gatos coach Mark Krail mentioned. “In our case, and definitely in Wilcox’s case previously, for those who win your league, then, man, go play the large boys since you’ve had a championship to have a good time and also you’ve had an awesome 12 months to speak about.
“Those I really feel dangerous for are the groups that don’t win their league after which by advantage of the purpose system they find yourself in Division I. That’s robust. It was Half Moon Bay a few years in the past. Palma this 12 months. Wilcox was half some extent from that. That half rubs me the unsuitable method. It’s good to go to your banquet and have one thing to have a good time, proper? In case you received your league, that’s one thing to have a good time.”
— Darren Sabedra
Unfortunate No. 8 seeds
Within the CCS, generally dropping has its benefits, successful its disadvantages.
That was clear once more Sunday.
The CCS makes use of a aggressive fairness mannequin for its soccer playoffs, rating the groups that qualify from 1 to 40. The highest eight groups are positioned in Division I, the subsequent eight in Division II and down the road.
As at all times, it’s a smoother path to be No. 9 in these rankings than No. 8, No. 17 over No. 16, No. 25 over No. 24 and No. 33 over No. 32.
Who're the unfortunate eighth seeds?
Palma (Division I), Lincoln-San Jose (Division II), Terra Nova (Division III) and Overfelt (Division IV).
And the lucky No. 1 seeds?
Wilcox (Division II), Soquel (Division III), Sequoia (Division IV) and Westmont (Division V).
Palma went 8-2 and performed a troublesome non-league schedule, with wins in opposition to Sacred Coronary heart Cathedral and Soquel.
The Salinas faculty’s reward?
A visit Saturday to No. 1 total seed Serra.
CCS commissioner Dave Grissom mentioned the margin between receiving a No. 8 seed or the No. 1 seed within the subsequent division is usually some extent or much less.
“There have been years while you’ve needed to have a tie-breaker between an eight and a one seed,” Grissom mentioned. “That didn't occur this 12 months.”
Final month, after his staff’s loss to Sacred Coronary heart Prep, Half Moon Bay coach Keith Holden made it clear how he felt in regards to the system.
“I hate to say this, however I'll say it as a result of it’s completely true: with regards to playoffs and the way they seed you, dropping really helps you — and that’s unhappy,” Holden mentioned. “Sacred Coronary heart Prep, they received state final 12 months. However they received state as a result of they had been a reasonably low seed.”
— Joseph Dycus
Mountain View: Three wins are sufficient
You is perhaps questioning how Mountain View, which completed 3-7 total and 1-4 in its league, had sufficient energy factors to qualify for the playoffs.
Right here is how (utilizing the CCS factors system):
Every staff will get two factors per win. That’s six factors.
Every staff will get some extent for taking part in “A” league groups. Mountain View performed eight. That’s eight factors.
Every staff will get 0.5 factors for taking part in “B” league groups. Mountain View performed two. That’s one level.
Every staff will get one level for taking part in a league champion. Mountain View performed three (The King’s Academy, Sacred Coronary heart Prep and Los Gatos). That’s three factors.
Every staff will get 1.5 factors for taking part in a staff ranked in calpreps.com’s Prime 100 at 8 a.m. on the day of the seeding assembly. Mountain View performed two (Los Gatos and Sacred Coronary heart Prep). That’s three factors.
Every staff will get one level for taking part in groups ranked No. 101-150 on calpreps.com at 8 a.m. on the day of the seeding assembly. Mountain View performed two (Mitty and Wilcox). That’s two factors.
Mountain View’s whole: 23 factors.
That was sufficient to get the Spartans the No. 2 seed in Division IV and a house recreation Friday night time in opposition to seventh-seeded Homestead (4-6).
— Darren Sabedra
Decrease-league dilemma: What about us?
Rancho San Juan was one of many groups that, if the CCS had just a few extra slots accessible, doubtless would have been in.
The brand new Salinas faculty is simply in its third season of varsity soccer, so the present seniors obtained their introduction to this stage within the spring season post-COVID as sophomores. Now, as seniors, they'd a sensational season, going 8-2 and beating SCVAL/PAL Lake champion Woodside in non-league play.
However within the PCAL Cypress, solely the league champion certified. Rancho San Juan misplaced twice, leaving the Trailblazers within the struggle for one of many 5 at-large spots. Rancho San Juan head coach Troy Emrey mentioned he had a sense the information out of Sunday wasn’t going to be constructive for them, however discovering out they missed the playoffs nonetheless left him dissatisfied for his seniors.
“I felt like they should have a playoff path and play a recreation,” Emrey mentioned. “I don’t assume there are numerous groups within the state of California that received eight video games and didn’t go to the playoffs. It sucks to be part of that unique group as a substitute of the unique group going to the playoffs.”
Whereas he isn’t precisely certain the easiest way to make it occur — extra groups within the divisions that exist already? Including one other division completely? — Emrey believes the CCS ought to make the playoffs extra accessible and add some further spots. Whether or not they win each playoff recreation or lose within the first spherical, simply making the playoffs in any respect imply a lot to colleges like his.
“The youngsters need nothing greater than to maintain taking part in,” Emrey mentioned. “They had been all bummed after they obtained the information in the present day. Having the chance to be in the identical match as groups all the way in which from Sacramento to San Diego, competing for a similar trophy, it’s a cool factor for them.
“It’s nice for the scholar physique as effectively, [and] helps us proceed to construct our faculty tradition. The power to take part in one thing like this does wonders for a college and a program.”
— Alex Simon