Random thoughts ... and babblings ...
La Habra multi-sport athlete Jordan Sachs forsakes baseball for a part in a school play but keeps his hand in athletics by calmly clearing 6 feet, 6 inches -- that's one inch higher than he is tall -- in last week's track meet. Rumor has it he barely missed at 6-8. Is Westmont College paying attention? ...
Is any local baseball or softball team going to step up and establish itself as the area's dominant program? Several teams have shown momentary promise, but nearly all have stumbled and lack the necessary consistency. La Mirada softball, bidding to make it nine consecutive Suburban League championships on coach Rich Trujillo's watch, is fresh from an impressive performance in the prestigious tournament in Arroyo Grande, where the Matadores were 3-1, the loss a 3-1 decision to Royal in the championship game. La Mirada (13-3 overall, 4-0 in league) faces a major challenge this week with back to back games against Mayfair, also 4-0 in league. They share second ;place behind Norwalk (6-0). ....
For a moment or two, it looked like the Dodgers had signed themselves a $25 million singles hitter. ...
Just before Pete Gonzalez was unceremoniously "terminated" from his position as St. Paul's head football coach, there was an unconfirmed report that Gabe Encinas, after sitting out this past season, planned to play football for the Swordsmen this fall. Nothing further on the subject has been heard, other than he might be waiting until the baseball season is over to make his decision. The fact he might be considering it is exciting. Yes, yes, the general consensus among the local "experts" is that baseball is his future, and the possibility of injury, but wouldn't it be great to watch his considerable talents at tight end or wide receiver, or even quarterback one more season before he moves on? No offense intended to any of the returnees at any of those positions. ...
It's about time to start considering candidates for the Daily News boy and girl Athlete of the Year. Last year's honorees were La Habra's Petey Puga and La Serna's Lee Lopez, ...
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About this blog
Roger Murray is the prep sports editor for the Whittier Daily News.
Does anyone notice the low writing levels of St. Paul bloggers?
coach fitch stinks and has always. whitter look foreward or stay in the same place. Get a outside coach.
Yo Roger,
When are the 605 AllStar Football Rosters coming out?
OC AllStar Game rosters are below.
http://ocvarsity.freedomblogging.com/2009/04/24/football-north-roster-for-oc-all-star-game-set/45379/
to Come on Murray:
Now maybe the sports programs can Win?
The last time Whittier's football team won a CIF Playoff game was 1994!!! Coach Fitch's teams were very, very, very good. He left in 1994. He took his whole staff with him. Certain parents may not have liked him, but his staff sure did (including the A.D. Ed Lishok). Since then, under the present coach, Whittier teams have not come close to their POTENTIAL!
Varos has ZERO to do with that program. If he wanted to make a change, the administration would not let him. The administration is overpleased with SUB-MEDIOCRITY in football. Too bad for those 150 kids per year!! If they did make a change "certain very important parents" might be upset. And the administration is very scared of those parents. Why else would they carry so much weight? Sometimes parents can really screw things up. Just think of all the winning football teams (recent) Whittier would have had if it were not for that handful of parents that did not like Fitch.
Winning can teach kids a lot about life.
It has been over 20 years since Whittier's baseball team has won a playoff game!! (maybe 25 years)
Through four or five different coaches.
Varos had nothing to do with that!! The football and baseball teams have been through many Athletic Directors during their "hard times"!
And the other "major sport": basketball: like I said Varos' teams have done much better than the two or three coaches teams before him.
The Water sports at Whittier have been excellent as has the long distance running since they hire a real legit coach a few years ago.
NOW THE GIRLS: water sports are very successful.
Soccer, Volleyball and softball have not done well for a long time.
Varos had nothing to do with that!!
Girls basketball: very, very successfull in league.. They have an excellent coach!! and a couple of sisters who were awesome.
I will agree on one thing. I wish Varos would have put his box-scores in the paper. I can't understand why he did not.
Watch and see.
It’s hard to believe that ER is practicing on Saturdays with kids from other high schools. My son is a returning starter and he himself isn’t practicing on Saturday. But it sounds good. We do need all the practices we can get.
I have been in the area for a while. And Mike Varos stepping down may not be such a good thing.....Do you realize that Whittier's basketball team was a 1 and 9 team just about every year before he took over. (after Cooper)
His 4 and 6 teams look pretty good when compared to what the teams were like before he got to Whittier.
And when he had talenthis first couple of years his teams reached the 2nd round of the playoffs. They did not lose in the first round like God Almighty Coach Lowe's teams do. As a matter of fact, one of those years they were only a couple of points from getting to the Quarterfinals when they barely lost to Victor Valley.
And, the biggest question of all. WHO WILL WHITTIER HIRE? Will they search and create a teaching position. In other words... "Do they care?". Don't be surprised if the basketball program worsens!! Whittier High School does not exactly have a habit of looking for quality coaches.
I heard 1 parent was involved. If the program does worsen, blame it on him. These schools are so scared of parents. No wonder why there are fewer Teacher/coaches out there. They are tired of the "BULL"! The EGO inside some of these parents heads. Like I said, certain parents can take all the fun out of coaching.
I am a parent so I see a lot of it. But for this parent of a football/basketball guy at Whittier to continue to "but in", I think it is terrible.
I hope he is happy
Murray have you heard any news about area releaguing, I was reading fred's blog and all the changes that are going on in the MT SAC area. How about this area?
Random thought, does anyone know where coach Gil Jimenez is going to coach this year? Boy that guy could put a fire under anyone.
Mike Varros stepping down. Man thats the best news comming out of Whittier this year. Now maybe the sports programs can work together, and start winning. Test scores are going up big time, over at the school.
Babblings, word is El Rancho's football team is practicing on saturdays and that a few of those players are from other high schools. That are planning to transfer to the ranch at the end of the year, is that legal?
He has no choice! Good move by the Whitter Admin.
I hear that Mike Varros of Whittier is stepping down as AD & Boys basketball coach for next year!