Up for grabs

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers BATTLE FOR THE BALL—Thousand Oaks High's Paul Gober, right, scores against Warren goalkeeper Robert Bacerra during Tuesday's CIF-SS Division IV wild-card match. T.O. won, 19-10. "Why not us?"

It's the question several local boys' water polo teams are contemplating as the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division IV playoffs gets underway in earnest this afternoon.

More than any other season in recent memory, earning a section banner is within reach for many in the 16-team field, said Agoura High head coach Dustin Litvak.

"Anyone can win it," said Litvak, who guided the Chargers to their first CIF-SS title in 2007.

"It's totally up for grabs. It'll come down to the team that plays the best over the next two weeks."

Royal head coach Steve Snyder, who's taken the Highlanders to the postseason in each of his 29 years at the helm, agreed that there is no prohibitive favorite this time around.

"The division is wide open. Anybody can beat anybody else," Snyder said.

After splitting the Marmonte League championship, Agoura and Royal had a coin flip to determine the league's No. 1 seed.

Royal (19-9) won the coin flip and was sent to the bottom of the Division IV bracket, opposite topseeded Arroyo Grande (21-2) of the PAC 7 League.

Agoura (20-9) begins defense of its crown by hosting Oaks Christian (14-7) in a crosstown clash of local powerhouses.

Junior 2-meter P.J. Iannone fuels the Chargers' attack with a teamleading 102 goals. Goalkeeper Bruk Campbell has also played well, as has defender James Altmann and driver David Sparks.

Oaks Christian, second-place finishers to Malibu in the TriValley League, returned only one starter from last season's team, senior Collin Baratte. Still, a collection of talented sophomores, including goalkeeper Travis Radke and Alec Follmer, have the Lions poised to give Agoura all they can handle.

"They are a young squad, but I think they're going to come out with a lot of energy," Litvak said of Oaks Christian. "I expect it to be a battle all the way throughout.

"Having them at our home pool is a definite advantage, but in the last couple of years we've had a pretty easy first-round game. Obviously this isn't going to be so simple."

The Chargers face a potential quarterfinal matchup against Arroyo Grande. If Agoura and Arroyo Grande both advance, Litvak said Saturday's match would be played at AHS.

Royal hosts Carpinteria (8-8) in Round 1. Mira Costa, the team that's eliminated the Highlanders in the semifinals during the past two years, is a potential foe in Saturday's quarterfinals.

"It's the best seed we've had from the CIF in a quarter century," Snyder said. "This is unbelievably good."

The coach said Royal has its sights set on delivering some payback to Mira Costa.

"I'm really hoping that our guys realize that it's our job to return the favor," Snyder said.

Thousand Oaks, third-place finishers in the Marmonte League, defeated Warren 19-10 in a wildcard matchup Tuesday afternoon at TOHS. Junior utility Christian Brock scored six goals for the Lancers (21-9) to push his season total to 98.

TOHS faces Righetti (18-8) today on the road. According to Lancer head coach Mike Giles, Thousand Oaks has only advanced to the quarterfinals "two or three times" since the 1960s.

"We have our work cut out for us," Giles said. "They've got the home crowd, it's a three-hour drive, and it gets cold and windy up there.

"But I think we have a shot. If our guys play well and come out fast—we really do have a talented team with great senior leadership and some excellent underclassmen—then this should be a good game. We have a chance to surprise them."

Newbury Park (15-12) will bring 10 seniors to its first-round match at Cerritos (20-9). Junior setter Thomas de Lyon and senior driver Russell Baade must be in top form for the Panthers to pull off the upset.

"As far as nerves, I don't think they'll be real nervous," NPHS head coach Dave Gleisberg said. "We just want to go out there and play smart water polo, and the rest will fall into place."

All matches except for the Agoura-Oaks Christian contest are scheduled to begin at 3:15 p.m. The Lions and Chargers play at 3:30.