Etiwanda freshman Julia Jimenez commits to Michigan softball

Etiwanda freshman Julia Jimenez announced on Twitter that she has committed to play at the University of Michigan.

Jimenez received the offer from the Wolverines before even starting her first season as a member of the Eagles softball team. IMG_0766.JPG

“It’s definitely overwhelming. It’s an honor and very humbling,” she explained in an email. “I am glad to see all my hard work and dedication pay off. The road only gets harder from here and now I have to work twice as hard.”

Jimenez, who was being recruited as a shortstop, stated that she also had full ride scholarship offers from Louisville and Texas A&M.

“It has been very exciting and stressful at the same time but it is a good stress at least,” said Gloria Jimenez, the mother of Julia.

Despite only being a freshman, she believes Michigan is the right place for her.

“It is a well balanced school,” Julia said. “All of the athletics, the education and the coaching staff.”

She made her verbal commitment over the phone with Carol Hutchins, the Wolverines’ softball coach.

“She said she would be honored to be my coach,”  Jimenez said. “She referred to me as a Wolverine and told me it is not about the size, but it’s the fight.”

Gloria believes the game of softball has really helped her daughter grow into the person she has become.

“It has really made her focus on her education, it has taught her life lessons and how to overcome failure,” Gloria said. “It has made her a stronger minded young lady and she is extremely confident on and off the field.”

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Chino Hills’ Tannon Snow breaks CIF single-season home run record

Tannon Snow, a University of Washington commit, went 5 for 5 with three home runs for the Chino Hills Huskies in the victory over St. Lucy’s, 22-7, on senior night.

Snow’s second home run broke the CIF Southern Section single-season home run record, according to Huskies head coach Mike Southworth.

Chino Hills softball players Tannon, left, a senior, and Taylon Snow, a sophomore, have both committed to play at the University of Washington. (John Valenzuela—Inland Valley Daily Bulletin Staff Photographer)

Chino Hills softball players Tannon, left, a senior, and Taylon Snow, a sophomore, have both committed to play at the University of Washington. (John Valenzuela—Inland Valley Daily Bulletin Staff Photographer)

Snow’s third home run increased her record and total on the season to 23 home runs.

The win also provided the Huskies sole possession of the Baseline League Championship for 2015.

“It was a pretty amazing day,” Southworth said.

Tannon’s sister, Taylon Snow contributed to the Huskies with a 3 for 6 performance as she scored two runs and brought in three. Kylie Michael went 3 for 4 for a three-run home run against the Regents.

Chino Hills will wrap up the season next week with games against Etiwanda and Los Osos.

“These next two games will be a big deal for us as we prepare for CIF,” Southworth said.

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Montclair wins first softball league title since 1989

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A league title has been a long time in coming for the Montclair High School softball team.

In fact, coach Gilbert Diaz says his girls were in the gymnasium looking at the different league championship banners in anticipation of securing that league title, the last of which came way back in 1989.

“One of the girls said to me, `Coach we weren’t even born,’ ” Diaz said with a chuckle.

It has indeed been that long.

But the Cavaliers (18-4) secured that long-awaited league title with a 9-4 win over Ontario today. It didn’t come easy. They trailed 3-0 in the sixth inning before regrouping.

Diaz, in his sixth year heading the squad, said the celebration wasn’t that elaborate. Yes the league title was nice. But he thinks his team is capable of more than winning a league title. He is looking for a playoff win or two before he’ll call the season a complete season.

The Cavaliers had battled for years with little success against Chino which has since departed for the Hacienda League, as well as Don Lugo which had been the perpetual runner-up to Chino.

Montclair, ranked No. 5 in Division 3, has been led by senior pitcher Brittany Violette, who has signed with Division I College of Charleston. The only other senior on the squad is catcher Taylor Plant.

Designated player Monique Cazares (.438) is the team’s leading hitter and she is just a sophomore. Third baseman Jocelyn Alvarado (.362) is just a junior.

So Diaz is hoping he has built a good foundation for the future.

The youth programs in the area are getting better which can only help. The other key is being able to keep the players at home who should be going to the school.

Diaz said when he started with the the program there were no players who competed year round in travel ball. Now he had five. But he knows many teams he’ll compete have a roster filled with those. But this is a good start!

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