Briefs: CdM’s Hunter is league defensive MVP

Corona del Mar High senior center back Will Hunter was named the Pacific Coast League Defensive MVP for leading the boys’ soccer team to a league championship.

Hunter is on the first team with two teammates, junior midfielder Will O’Connor and senior midfielder Jack Tomei. The CdM trio contributed to the Sea Kings’ fourth league title during Coach George Larsen’s seven seasons at the helm.

Hunter played a key role to CdM (17-3-1, 9-1-0 in league) holding opponents scoreless 11 times. He added three goals and an assist.

O’Connor finished with 10 goals and five assists.

Tomei recorded five goals and an assist.

The Sea Kings, who lost at home to Arroyo Grande in penalty kicks in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs, had seniors Blake Munger, Leo Alves and Brett Haney on the second team.

Beckman senior forward David Lee was the Pacific Coast League MVP.

—

Locals honored

Estancia High senior midfielders Kevin Pizarro and Andy Ceja, and senior defender Tony Hernandez, as well as Costa Mesa junior midfielder Daniel Vargas, and junior defenders Jeyson Calderon and Estevan Bahena received first-team All-Orange Coast League honors in boys’ soccer.

Pizarro, Ceja and Hernandez led Estancia (13-6-4, 5-3-2 in league) to a runner-up finish in league and the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division 4 playoffs, where the Eagles lost to South Torrance in penalty kicks.

With the help of Vargas, Calderon and Bahena, Costa Mesa (8-9-2, 5-4-1) took third in league and returned to the postseason for the first time in five years. The Mustangs fell to Pacifica, 1-0, in the wild-card round at home.

Pizarro is a four-time first-team selection, finishing with 10 assists and two goals.

Ceja had three goals and an assist.

Vargas totaled nine goals and eight assists.

The second-team picks from Estancia were sophomore goalkeeper Yonathan Lopez, senior midfielder Salvador Escalante and sophomore forward Andy Martinez.

Costa Mesa junior midfielder Reis McMann and senior keeper Axel Morales-Bravo made the second team.

The Orange Coast League MVP went to Godinez senior midfielder Edgar Adame.

—

Sage Hill’s foursome awarded

Sage Hill School sophomore defender Chase Munger is one four Lightning boys’ soccer players on the All-Academy first team.

Munger and first-team members junior Nelson Kim and seniors Gabriel Gamboa and Noah Koumas played vital roles to Sage Hill’s runner-up finish in league and its trip to the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division 6 playoffs. The Lightning (11-9-1, 9-3-0 in league) lost at La Canada Flintridge Prep, 3-1.

Sage Hill seniors Jacob Rosenberg, Robbie Rosoff and David Dewey received second-team recognition.

Whitney junior midfielder Edward Malacon was the Academy League MVP.

—

Lions’ pitcher lauded

Vanguard University junior Chris Lumanlan has been named Golden State Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week in baseball.

The Irvine Valley Community College transfer, who sat out last season to rest a weary right arm, made the first start of his Vanguard career in a crucial GSAC series opener against then-No. 6-ranked Westmont on March 22. He pitched seven shutout innings, allowing five hits to earn the victory in a 3-1 triumph and improve to 2-0. He walked one and struck out three.

In seven previous appearances, all in relief, Lumanlan had worked 9 2/3 innings. For the season, he has allowed 10 hits and struck out 15 in 16 2/3 innings, with an earned-run average of 1.08.

No. 15-ranked Vanguard entered the week 23-8-1, 13-5 in conference, one game behind first-place Westmont.