The loser of tonight’s game between Capistrano...

The loser of tonight’s game between Capistrano Valley and San Clemente will be behind the eight ball in the South Coast League race. Seventh-ranked San Clemente (17-6, 6-1) is tied with No. 4 Mater Dei for first place; 10th-ranked Capistrano Valley (16-7, 5-2) is in third. San Clemente plays Mater Dei on Tuesday.

Given No. 8 Huntington Beach’s loss to Marina on Tuesday, the Sunset League game tonight between the Oilers (15-7, 4-3) and sixth-ranked Esperanza (17-5, 6-1) has lost some luster. An Esperanza victory will give the Aztecs a two-game lead with two to play--but they will win the league title outright if No. 9 Marina (16-5, 4-3) loses at Los Alamitos (8-12, 1-6). Marina might be without leading scorer Natalie Nakase (ankle); the last time they played, Nakase made a four-point play with five seconds remaining for a one-point victory.