Lightning could rule finals

Sage Hill’s girls’ tennis team boasts the top three singles players in the Academy League.The Sage Hill School girls’ tennis team is expected to dominate the Academy League finals, which start today at 1 p.m. at the Balboa Bay Club and conclude Saturday with the singles and doubles semifinals and finals at 11 a.m.

All three of Sage Hill’s singles players -- juniors Sarah Geocaris and Stephanie Langer and sophomore Ashley Adams -- are undefeated in the Academy League this season.

Sage Hill has been ranked No. 1 in CIF Southern Section’s Division V all season. The team is 15-3, with its only losses coming against Laguna Beach, Corona del Mar and Northwood -- all bigger schools.

The Corona del Mar High girls’ tennis team hosts the Pacific Coast League tennis finals today at 11 a.m. and Monday at 1 p.m. at Corona del Mar High.

CdM’s No. 1 doubles team of Haley Young and Miranda Young are undefeated in the Pacific Coast League at 27-0. Corona del Mar’s No. 2 team of Danielle Kaiden and Lindsay Zotovich are 20-2 in league action.

The Sea Kings, despite losing their top two singles players in Jill Damion and Ali Walters, still boast three solid singles players in senior Rachael Miller (the No. 2 seed in the league finals), junior Michelle Atkins (the No. 3 seed), and freshman Flora Lee (the No. 4 seed).

The Sea View League cross country finals are slated for today at Irvine Regional Park at 2 p.m. The Newport Harbor girls are tied for first with Woodbridge going into the finals and have hopes of going to the CIF Southern Section finals and the state meet. The Newport girls are led by Whitney Blue and hope to get a boost from Melissa Mead, Taylor Bryson and Lauren Maddox.

Kenny Rakestraw, who had his appendix removed Oct. 22 and returned to practice Nov. 1, is expected to compete for the Newport Harbor boys.

“Physically, I think he’s all right,” Newport Coach Nowell Kay said. “But he hasn’t really been able to test it out.”

Mike Puncel and Murphy Hitchcock are other strong runners for the Sailors (2-8). Runners must finish in the top six to advance to CIF individually.

The CIF Southern Section Girls’ Individual Golf Championship is set for today at 7 a.m. at the Diamond Bar Golf Club in Diamond Bar. Estancia’s Bridgett Gleason and Lina You and Corona del Mar’s Katie McKitterick are among those who qualified.