For in-game updates, news and more for all the San Clemente High School sports programs, follow us on Twitter @SouthOCSports and on Instagram @South_OC_Sports.
Boys Distance Runners Earn Photo-Finish Win, No. 1 National Time at Arcadia Invitational
One of the most prestigious track meets in the country produced two of the biggest results in San Clemente track and field history in the Arcadia Invitational last Friday and Saturday, April 5-6, at Arcadia High School.
In the boys distance races, San Clemente’s reigning state champion 4x800-meter relay team produced the most dramatic result of the weekend for the Tritons’ first-ever win at the Arcadia Invitational on Friday.
Seniors Taj Clark and Jackson Brownell led off the relay, with sophomore Dallin Harrington taking the third leg. In the anchor leg, senior Brett Ephraim held off the national leader in the 800 meters, JSerra sophomore Alden Morales, to break the tape at the finish line and push the Tritons just 0.06 seconds ahead of the Lions for the 4x800-meter relay victory. Ephraim ran a leg of 1:51.45, compared to Morales’ leg of 1:51.37.
Clark, Brownell, Harrington and Ephraim combined to clock a national top-10 mark in the event at 7:50.22.
The 4x800-meter relay was contested for the first time at the CIF level last season, where the Tritons won the event’s inaugural running at the CIF-SS Masters and CIF State Championships.
On Saturday, San Clemente showed its proficiency over multiple distances in the 4,000-meter distance medley relay.
Senior Pierce Clark took the opening 1,200-meter leg, and senior Lucas Sidhu took the 400-meter second leg. Brownell ran the 800-meter third leg, and Ephraim anchored again on the 1,600-meter closing leg.
San Clemente won the race by 0.58 seconds over second-place Mira Costa and posted the best DMR time in the nation this season at 10:13.20. The distance medley relay is not run at CIF competitions.
Next up for the Triton track and field program is the Orange County Championships on Saturday, April 13, at Mission Viejo High School.
Boys Volleyball Continues Unbeaten Run Through League
To open the second round of South Coast League play, the San Clemente boys volleyball team posted yet another sweep victory to maintain its stranglehold on the league standings.
In their first match in 14 days due to spring break, the Tritons swept San Juan Hills, 25-12, 25-14, 25-11, at home on Tuesday, April 9, for their third straight league sweep and fourth sweep in five league matches. San Clemente (19-6, 5-0) has dropped just one set in league play in a four-set win over Tesoro (15-6, 4-1).
San Clemente can clinch at least a share of the South Coast League championship at Tesoro on Thursday, April 11. San Clemente finishes up at Trabuco Hills on Monday, April 15, and at home against Aliso Niguel on Wednesday, April 17.
The Tritons remain on top of the CIF-SS Division 3 poll in the No. 1 spot ahead of No. 2 Fountain Valley, No. 3 JSerra and No. 4 St. Margaret’s. San Clemente has been at No. 1 in Division 3 since the first poll was released on March 11.
Girls Lacrosse Extends League Win Streak to 30, Hosts No. 1 Foothill Friday
The train keeps rolling in the South Coast League for the three-time defending league champion San Clemente girls lacrosse team.
The Tritons came back from spring break for their first game in 12 days and showed no rust in a 16-6 drubbing of visiting San Juan Hills on Tuesday, April 9. San Clemente led, 11-1, at halftime.
San Clemente (11-2, 4-0) has now won 30 league games in a row dating to April 16, 2019. The Tritons have now outscored league opponents this season by a combined 43-goal margin, 66-23.
The Tritons will step out of league play for their biggest test before the CIF-SS playoffs begin at the end of the month, as San Clemente hosts top-ranked Foothill on Friday, April 12, at 5:30 p.m.
Foothill (11-1, 3-0) is ranked No. 1 in CIF-SS Division 1. San Clemente is ranked No. 6. Foothill has defeated nearly all comers this season with wins over No 2 Marlborough, No. 3 Redondo Union, No. 4 Santa Margarita and No. 9 Mater Dei. The Knights’ only loss came outside CIF-SS competition to Torrey Pines.
Foothill has won three consecutive CIF-SS Division 1 championships and four straight top-level championships, including the U.S. Lacrosse Orange County and Southern Section titles before CIF-SS administration in 2021. Over those four seasons, Foothill has a combined record of 68-4.
San Clemente is 1-6 all-time against Foothill, with the Tritons’ lone win over the Knights coming in 2018. San Clemente lost twice to Foothill last season in the regular season, 11-7, and in the CIF-SS semifinals, 11-5.
Baseball Closes Spring Break Tourney with Win, Turns Back to League
San Clemente won two of its three games in the Ryan Lemmon Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine last week and now heads back into its Sea View League schedule.
Following an 11-4 win over Northwood on Tuesday, April 2, San Clemente continued scoring early in a 6-2 win over Camarillo on Wednesday, April 3. The Tritons scored four runs in the first inning and another in the third inning.
Sophomore Dax Conrad collected three RBI and scored two runs on a 2-for-2 day at the plate. Seniors Pearce Brown and Bradley Seifert and junior Cade Cerone each recorded an RBI. Senior Brock DellaVedova scored two runs and hit a triple.
Brown went four innings on the mound and allowed no runs on five hits with a walk and seven strikeouts.
San Clemente (10-10, 3-3) began the second round of Sea View League play at El Toro (5-14, 1-5) on Wednesday, April 10, but results were not available at press time. The Tritons host the Chargers on Friday.
San Clemente plays one final tournament makeup game on Monday, April 15, against Long Beach Poly before hosting Aliso Niguel (12-7, 3-3) in league play on Wednesday, April 17.