Briefs: CdM’s Ford earns top PCL honor
Recent Corona del Mar High graduate Brian Ford continues to garner honors as a two-sport star.
Ford earned the Pacific Coast League Male Athlete of the Year award after excelling on the baseball and soccer fields.
Ford wrapped up a stellar baseball season in which he received first-team all-league and second-team CIF Southern Section Division III laurels.
Ford was one of the best center fielders in Orange County. He used his speed well and only committed one error with the Sea Kings (13-11, 7-8 in league).
At the plate, Ford batted .444 with 12 runs batted in and a team-best 10 doubles. He scored 28 runs, was 15 of 17 on stolen-base attempts and had a .505 on-base percentage.
During the soccer season, Ford led the Sea Kings to the semifinals of the CIF Southern Section Division III playoffs.
The midfielder received first-team all-league, all-state and was named second-team All-American by ESPN RISE.
Ford converted two penalty kicks in the playoffs for CdM (16-3-7, 6-2-2). For the season, he finished with 11 goals and five assists.
Ford plans to play soccer at UC Davis.
— From staff reports
Ford, Morrow All-CIF
Corona del Mar High senior outfielders Brian Ford and Will Morrow each received second-team All-CIF Southern Section Division III honors in baseball.
Ford and Morrow excelled at the plate and defensively for the Sea Kings (13-11, 7-8 in the Pacific Coast League). Ford covered a lot of ground in center field with his speed, committing only one error. Morrow had one of the best arms in right field.
Ford, a first-team all-league pick, batted .444 with 12 runs batted in and a team-best 10 doubles. He scored 28 runs, and had a .505 on-base percentage.
Ford is heading to UC Davis to play soccer.
Morrow, a first-team all-league selection, led CdM with a .500 batting average and he had 17 RBIs.
Morrow had a .650 slugging percentage and .554 on-base percentage. He homered twice, doubled four times, scored 23 runs and was five for five in stolen-base attempts.
— From staff reports
Caldwell All-CIF
Newport Harbor High senior standout Cody Caldwell earned All-CIF Southern Section Division I honors in boys volleyball for the second straight year.
Caldwell, a 6-foot-6 outside hitter bound for Loyola Chicago University, helped the Sailors to their third undefeated Sunset League title in four seasons. He also led Newport Harbor (24-9, 10-0 in league) to the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs for the second straight year.
Caldwell, the Sunset League MVP, recorded an area-best 641 kills and 221 digs. He finished with 43 blocks and 32 service aces.
Mater Dei senior opposite Zack La Cavera was the CIF Division I Player of the Year.
— From staff reports
McLaren, Papa shine
Newport Harbor High’s Maddy McLaren and Corona del Mar High’s Cassidy Papa have been selected for the U.S. women’s water polo youth national team travel roster, USA Water Polo has announced.
McLaren and Papa will travel with the team for a training trip to Hungary, July 16-27.
McLaren and Papa were both Daily Pilot Dream Team selections this year. McLaren, a defender who will be a senior for the Sailors, led Newport Harbor with 60 goals.
Papa, an attacker who will be a junior at Corona del Mar, had 56 goals as part of the Sea Kings’ well-balanced attack.
—From staff reports