Madera captures Silver Division title
For The Madera Tribune The Madera Coyote girls water polo team celebrates a Silver Division victory at the El Capitan Tournament over the weekend.
The Madera Coyote girls water polo won four out of five games, including three wins Saturday to win the El Capitan girls water polo Silver Division championship in Merced.
“The girls are coming into midseason form and they are looking very dangerous,” head coach Erik Baymiller said. “I can’t wait to continue.”
The Coyotes opened the tournament by splitting their Friday games.
Madera defeated Buhach Colony-Atwater 15-11 in the tournament opener, but lost 9-8 to Clovis East later in the day.
“Buhach was fast and physical, but we played very smart and reversed everything they threw at us,” Baymiller said. “We played a very good Clovis East team. It was a very exciting game and I’m happy to say we’re entering midseason form and are now starting to put things together.”
Madera lost to Bullard by two earlier in the week and Clovis West defeated Bullard-Fresno by 12 so Baymiller knew what his team was up against.
The Coyotes were dominant in their run to the Silver Division championship, outscoring their opponents 42-15.
Madera opened division play with a 15-7 victory over Clovis North’s B team. Jessica Diaz, who scored 23 goals in three games Saturday, got her day started with seven goals against Clovis North.
Ceaira Chavira added four goals and Sami Crenshaw and Gabby Ruiz each scored a goal.
Madera then picked up a 13-4 win over Modesto. Diaz led the Coyotes with eight goals. Tara Goertzen added two goals. Chavira, Serenity Giron and Emily Goertzen each scored a goal.
In the division title game, Madera cruised to a 14-4 win. Diaz scored eight goals, Chavira added three more with Goertzen scoring two and Ruiz adding another.
“I’m very proud of the girls,” Baymiller said. “They played like champions.”
Madera played at Edison-Fresno on Tuesday and hosts Madera South on Thursday in their annual breast cancer awareness game.
