SOFTBALL: Apaches move back to top spot

SP at Monrovia today.

Good luck to your graduating seniors!

We at SP think LC is a great school and sincerely wish nothing but the best for you and your children.

SP Softball fan and others,
That's right LC should move to the pacific leage - we only dominated you in every sport except softball and there we split. You are genius - walk up and smell the coffee. Oh yeah, nice langue - maybe you should set and example for the childern of SP and clean it up - or join another blog - you really need to grow up and learn to set and example - remeber our children look to their parents - so take you foul langue to the pasadenaprep.com blog. just be easy on la salle - his son plays there.

Playing ball isn't fun?

The kids I know don't "worry" about having fun ... fun happens. To me the most fun would be having a great time at the dance on Friday night and then sweeping a doubleheader against a good team the next day.

Lets not make this about something that it isn't. It is about REscheduling, not fun. SP kids aren't playing on their prom either, but if the Alverno AD or coach scheduled it, it is his responsibility to reschedule it. Simple deal.

Can't fun and living up to commitments go hand-in-hand?

God forbid that the "kids" actually worry about having fun.

Well said,

One of the great things about Coach Williams from SP is that he really wants his team to face all of the best non-league teams that he can and Michelle Escamilla is definitely one of the best pitchers in the area. She can pitch on any level. I am sure Coach Russo feels the same.

Fun or not fun is not the issue here, however, integrity of schedule is important. Allowing teams to pick and choose what games in a preset schedule they play, especially if they feel like something else would be more fun ... just isn't right. It comes down to commitment and following through on commitment. That is very important!!!

Glad to hear that Alverno recognized that the games with SP aren't meaningless and following through on a pre-scheduled commitment is important.

Plus, it will be interesting to see how Alverno does against a team like SP. If I were Alverno I'd relish the opportunity to play SP and quiet the pundits that suggest that Alverno plays a schedule against relatively non-competitive teams and that they haven't been tested by a pitcher since they lost to Sacred Heart early in the season.

Good luck to both teams.

...once more in English please.

"No wonder we all think you are rich stuck up a-holes, becuase you really all are.

Posted by: SP Softball Fan"

That is so true they have nothing else better to do then spam. They need to stop talking a start playing better.

From what I understand, efforts are now being made to reschedule the games, so it is no longer an issue.

Its about rescheduling, these games are scheduled way ahead of time and you are limited in the amount of games that you can play, so it is important that you make a strong effort to reschedule conflicts.

Does a forfeit make the "winning" side feel important? Who cares. The majority of the girls will have more fun at a dance than playing against the Tigers in meaningless games.

Sacred Heart and they lost

All of those w's and a #3 ranking must feel too good to take a chance. Have they played anyone with a winning record?

I assume that a prescheduled game that one-sidedly gets cancelled should then be counted as a forfiet (especially when the reason is there is a dance the night before). It also adds some significant question, why has Alverno not been responsive to rescheduling their games with South Pasadena?

Just got confirmation that Alverno has cancelled their games against South Pas for this Saturday. Bummer.

chkyrslf,

YOu make a valid point about ALL high sports not just softball.

Administrators and AD's are afraid to stop or say something to the parents that donate monies to the schools. It is too bad some schools have to rely on so much money from the community. It seems that in La Canada the parents think that money gives them a voice. When their voices are ignored; The parents have then used to this blog to call out the other parents or players.

There is no excuse for calling out players. NONE - It is hard enough to be in high school without other parents pointing you out.

Parents need to be an example, and show their kids how to deal with people face to face.

Jeff S.

chkyrslf,

YOu make a valid point about ALL high sports not just softball.

Administrators and AD's are afraid to stop or say something to the parents that donate monies to the schools. It is too bad some schools have to rely on so much money from the community. It seems that in La Canada the parents think that money gives them a voice. When their voices are ignored; The parents have then used to this blog to call out the other parents or players.

There is no excuse for calling out players. NONE - It is hard enough to be in high school without other parents pointing you out.

Parents need to be an example, and show their kids how to deal with people face to face.

Jeff S.

Maybe, the administrators should show up at games and see the same parents behaving badly in person.

Maybe the administrators are unwilling to tame parents who contribute significant monies to their school.

I really am not sure if that is the case, but I am just throwing it out there. It is not pointed at anyone specifically.

I hope this thread doesn't turn negative again after these comments. I hope it stays constructive.

Relative anonimity is built in to this blog, but I believe it is best if people do not use the anonimity to be hurtful. Hopefully people only say things that they could say to each other face-to-face without a fist fight breaking out.

Although I don’t have a child that plays softball I do have a daughter that plays two varsity sports at a local high school. If the athletic director at our school became aware of a parent posting blog hate messages aimed at players and other parents, that parent wouldn’t be attending any more games in the future. Maybe the powers that be at the high schools in question should get copies of this thread.

Fred,

Do you know if Alverno will actually be playing against SP this Saturday? It is rumered that Alverno has pulled out of the game because of a prom the night before, but has chosen not to reschedule.

Whatcha say we hold off on the LC talk for a little while? There are other more interesting topics in the softball world right now?

For instance...anything else.

If LC feels challenged in RHL, they be at least equally as challenged in the Pacific League with Arcadia, CV, Burroughs, and Burbank. Appropriate level of competition is not the issue at LC.

Big week in the RHL:

Today-Monrovia@TC
Tomorrow-SP@Monrovia

If La Canada was in the Pacific League, they'd be having a decent season with a shot at the playoffs.
I'd like to see the real Foothill League "reborn" with La Canada, CV, Burbank, Burroughs, Glendale and Hoover as members.

Come on now, lets calm down and get to better discussions. It sounds like you may have just stumbled on this page and you are just reacting, but we are trying to head in a better direction.

I cannot believe I read most of the comments looking for good food for thought about softball and ended up with, for lack of a better term, sh*t. Mainly from LC.

No wonder we all think you are rich stuck up a-holes, becuase you really all are.

i dont think it is right to change this blog that was supposed to be a disscussion column into a personal battle between two people. No one wants to hear about it. Since aparently you both know who each other are, Real Man and Jim M, take it somewhere else.

I agree with everything LCFan2 has to say and plus if you dont have good players you dont have a good team..

Some of you need to take a deep breath, blow it out, and get back to the topics ... I'm asking to please, watch the personal attacks. Realman and Jim M, I think you've made your points already..

Jim -

FYI: I do not have kids in college -

The people of the blog have spoken wiser words than both of us -

So...How about those Dodgers?

None of us are interested as to how any of you sleep in La Canada. You are all ridiculous and give it a rest. Please take your petty discussions elsewhere.

Read what was written by "long winded" this morning and take it to heart.

Realman, you're not. You hide behind multiple posts and create ill will and let all of La Canada down. You hide behind your hidden donations to the school to get what you want and you cant even pay for your kids college. I'm not telling you to not do what you're doing. That is up to you and you family, but now everyone knows who you are and it's become sad because you've not only let your family down you've let down the community.

Please don't respond and just let it die. I have a funny feeling you can't do that because guilt is to strong an emotion for you. Then again if you do post again, please tell us how you sleep at night.

Jim M.

I would be surprised to have a Columbine like attack on at most sporting events. The larger events have security and the smaller events mostly draw parents and supporters. Even though it is not out of the question, most of the participants in sports are part of the school culture. The people that have been institgating the school tragedies are "outcasts," for lack of a better word. I hope that events like these never happen again --

Jim M, I stand behind what I said. The simple statement is that you think that your actions are right and supportive when others think your actions are wrong and divisive.
I think that you really do need to coach somewhere, because you cannot just be a spectator.

Please do not rattle their cage.

a post from another site that should make some of you stop and think about how far you are willing to take your disagreements about KID'S sports.

"As I followed the news of the terrible tragedy at Virginia Tech I started to wonder if something like that could happen at a high school sporting event.

The more I though about this and remembered some of the near fights I had seen at my kids’ games over the years (kids and parents) I came to the conclusion that it wouldn’t surprise me if some crazed lunatic with a gun went postal at a high school athletic function..

What do you think? Could something like Columbine happen at a high school game?"

LC,

I don't think that the "holier than thou" blog was written by somebody from SP. I think we are officially scared of you guys now. I believe it was one of your own.

I'm kind of sorry I'm going to miss the next LC softball game. However "realman" won't show up at the next game in person nor will he show up and admit it is him all along sending these posts. I have an awesome relationship with the Head Coach Justin and with Coach Chuck and "realman" is the one who is posting and replying to the same blogs just to stir trouble.

LC softball is much better off because of the promotion of Chuck and Justin being the head coach. The only thing their guilty of is caring to much. "Realman" is the same guy who thinks he can make a contribution to the school and it will benefit his girl or maybe girls, who knows, sorry we all do know. We all know who he is so please don't respond to him anymore.

He won't come up to me at the games because he will hide behind the name "realman" even though all the Ringer parents I've talked to have told me who he is.

Hey when we all take a look at "realman" at the next game just wish him well and let it go. Afterall he got all of us to write in this blog didn't he.

If I'm not talked about I'm not admired and it's just that simple. It does bother me to think anyone coulc write a blog entry and blame it on me as if I'm writing about any player on the team. Sorry, but that is just not me.

"Realman" is kind of a weak individual who truly gets his joy out of the blogs. When most have creative input, he likes to create hate and isn't that what the world needs less of?

By the way "realman" the weather is awesome in Hawaii.

Jim M.

Although a little "long winded" and a bit preachy ... that blog entry this morning is dead-on and very well stated. I hope that blog entry makes it to our administrators at LCHS and for those of you it points to, look in the mirror and you won't like what you see. Most of us who support LC softball are not like the few who have contributed to making this another very difficult season for LC softball.

AMEN, THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE THAT CONDEMN THE PERSONAL ATTACKS.

This blog is for discussion - NOT CRITICISM OF PLAYERS OR PROGRAMS

Fred, you have some good topics here. Public vs. private, nominations for outstanding performances - Let us all regain our focus

Another long winded holy than thou blog from SP - still bitter about being no hit by lowly LC. Get off your high horse and worry about your own very under performing team and rabid parents - you included. Save your pity and get your kids to start hitting. I am not happy about some of these blogs about LC - in fact they make me sick - but your your preaching is even worse. You need to get a life outside your daughter's softball.

I give up - this is the nuttest blog ever.

WOW … La Cañada parents who have made these blog posts, you should truly be deeply ashamed of yourselves! Sometimes I wonder if it just one very troubled individual or a small related group (with numerous aliases) who just have some misguided agenda.

Over the past several months you have used this blog to:

• criticize other teams
• minimize softball players from other teams
• criticize “true” travel ball
• criticize your own coaches
• criticize other schools academically
• shameless personal self promotion (most of the time, self promotion that is unsubstantiated with performance)
• further personal agendas
• post absolutely ridiculous excuses for the continued substandard performance of your team (every school and it’s athletic teams have similar challenges)

For these La Cañada parents, your actions extend way beyond passionate support of the softball team and you are an embarrassment to the La Cañada community. Now you have hit an all-time low:

• calling out individual kids on your own team (under an anonymous signature, but you should realize no one is truly anonymous on a computer)!

That is unconscionable … frankly, some of you are truly in need of psychological help and there is a true fear of what will happen if your actions continue to go uncheck by the administration at La Cañada High School. La Cañada officials need to step in and put in place a “zero tolerance policy” … any player and/or parent who makes any negative statements about the team, a coach, a player, or the opposition … they (both parent and player hand-in-hand) should be immediately ejected from the field and further team participation. Then maybe the latest new La Cañada coach will be able to effectively coach and develop a competitive team.

Beyond what is posted on this blog anonymously or under multiple names, the sideline actions during games are deplorable by some La Cañada Parents. The bellowing, under the guise of coaching, from the sidelines from non-coaches to specific players is intolerable and typically you show your own ignorance for the game and your own ego problems. Game time instruction from the sidelines, especially from a non-coach, is not only an ineffective way of “coaching,” it seriously hurts and undermines player performance rather than helping and supporting.

I truly feel sorry for the La Cañada kids. The reason for your unsuccessful softball seasons is not because of a lack of player or coach talent. The La Cañada softball teams under perform because some of the La Cañada parents have absolutely no understanding of what are the basic elements of developing a competitive athletic team and that lack of understanding is extended to their kids who are softball players and that type of sentiment spreads like a cancer within a team. These basic elements are mandatory precursors to identifying athletic skill and developing those skills into athletic talent that supports positive team performance. These La Cañada kids certainly have talents and much advantage that extend beyond sofball, however, athletically some of these La Cañada softball players don’t understand discipline, hard work, mental/physical toughness, selfless/egoless team play, and the hard work it takes to be accomplished athletically. Also, many of your players are allowed to make excuses for their personal substandard athletic performance and are allowed to not accept responsibility for their personal play … because this vocal group of misguided La Cañada parents are constantly laying blame on other issues and now they have resorted to “eating their own” (truly sad parent behavior from a very affluent community).

La Cañada, your team competition and the individual athletes who are having success start with a firm understanding of these basic elements previously mentioned and build from there with proper parent support. Please don’t take this as an indictment of all La Cañada parents and their kids, however, the most vocal of you continue to kill your softball program and are making it an awful experience for all of your kids. Moreover, your game time antics and your behavior on this blog are deplorable and should not go unchecked. Remember you are not truly “anonymous” and anything put on any internet blog can be very easily tracked!

Poly73, you seem to suggest that most of the smart kids are at Poly and typically smart kids can't be great softball ball players.

Why do you feel compelled to make excuses for the Poly team ... they are doing pretty well, but don't demean the teams that are doing better. Also, there are many very academically smart kids outside of Poly who are also great softball players.

Who cares LC is 1 -6 in league and 4 - 10 - they are arguing about who is the tallest midget.

I am hoping to see an all out brawl at the next LC game...

between their own parents.

Who would win in a cage match between Real Man and Jim M?

given Poly's admission standards it is amazing what they are able to accomplish year in and year out - almost every year it looks the they are done for the following year and they reload - just look at this year with i think it is 8-9 freshman on a 12 person roster. I thought they were not even going to be able to field a team this year. I am not putting them in the league with the top teams in RHL or Arcadia so bloggers from those schools save it. It is fun to watch and the difference in that team from the start of the year to now has been great to see. I have seen a few games and the improvement has been remarkable.

Poly has two good pitcher - they just aren't great pitchers and they are young - freshman and sophmore - give them time.

Just to note about Jim M. He is an excellent coach one of the best of not the best in the area in Youth sports - and everyone who plays for him gets substantially better. There is no way he is knocking any player on this blog - Coaches yes and by the way they desreve it (anyone who defends Wheeler is dosen't really know him). It is complete BS for Real Man or anyone else to accuse him of that. He defended the most dislike player on the football blog - who left the Gladiators because of playing time - because he simply does not believe in being critical of kids who are trying. His Gladiator team just set a record for academic scholarships 11 with the HS graduating class (my boy was one)- both my boys played for him and he was the best coach they ever had. I think the cheap shots that have been taken at him are complete disgrace and are made by envious or can't hack it parents and players - and believe me in LC as you can tell there are a ton of them - everyone inh LC know who Realman is and he is one of them as is the guy who said he is a former player - there is no one who made it through with Mulligan would write that - I know because my one son played for him for 5 years - there are plenty of quitters in LC who would though.

Man, I thought the soccer blog had some low blows, but softball wins easily.

LOL. Real Men. Now that's funny.

Wow.

Please, personal attacks are a bore. We had gotten on a decent subject about divisions and public vs private schools. Very few people care about your personal problems with idividual parents and coaches.

You are headed toward hurtful behavior.

Realman,
Finaly somebody calls out Jim M for who he really is. He is a frustrated coach who can't find a job because of his antics. I have played for him in the past and agree that he is a good coach, but he has lost his way. He has turned into a hateful, devisive, and selfish human being. He has been dismissed from many coahing positions in the past including,La canada JV football, Banned from the Gladiator program, CV Football, and San Gabriel Football.He is a good X and o guy but his ego has caused him to loose sight of the spirit of the game.He has made many attempts to coach in the WSGV, but has been denied the opportunity because of his ego.Winning at all cost is the only thing that he understands. He regularly recruited for his Gladiator teams just so he could show everybody how good of a coach he is.

Former Mulligan Player

Fred,

I think you need a seperate page for LC fans.

Please!

Jim M,

You continue to show your disrespect for all you may see the real you. I have seen you at the games and have heard what you have said. From the football field to the softball field you disrespect any player or coach that does not follow your philosophy or coaching style. You are on these blogs, criticizing players and coaches. You need to grow up, deal with people face to face, not publicly call out players when you are not the coach. If you want to be a parent or family man, great. Then shut up, sit in the stands, talk to the coaches privately. If the coaches, choose not to listen, that is their choice.
May be you need to take your kids to a private school where you can coach, and save the programs.

Everyone knows what you are saying; Wheeler is a weak coach - no kidding - Coach V is new, and he is definitely better than the prior coach. (Of course, he is not perfect) Stop being a divisive force on these blogs.

It is obvious that you have a great relationship with your former players, but you need support their new coach, not constantly tear down the coaches and the programs. Maybe you cannot see the damage that you are causing, but others do.

Support or shut up - stop trying to coach from the "stands."

The true coward is one that cannot admit that he is wrong.

As the norm for these blogs. The bloggers that have the biggest mouths or points fingers at people are the ones that are Anonymous. I think I'm finsihed even participating in the blogs when guys like anonymous who would wet their pants in a dark alley get the opportunity to point fingers at me and then just hide. Smells like the coward I know.

Funny but money can't hide the truth this time Anonymous. And it may be time for depends my friend. However it's clear you're still a little hurt from playing your two innings a game in little league and not getting invited to the team party year after year.

I'm sorry, but Uh, back to the bench player.

Jim M.

Isn't amusing the LCFan2 picks on the only players that did not play for Mulligan on the Ringers? What low class - -

Smells like Jim M. is using more names for posting -

Wow, It is amazing hearing private schools complaining about public schools having an advantage. Poly along with La Salle and most of the other private schools have all certainly had their days in the sun, recently. If the RHL teams were playing "down" with the amount of travel ball players that they have, do you not think that they would have won CIF in recent years? The winner of D5 last year was a private school, and all divisions have multiple private schools in their division's CIF polls, and all of those teams have less students than their competing public schools. If it bothers you that your private school does not use its advantage to stay ahead of the public schools, maybe you should send your kid to a school that has a healthier girls athletic department.

Your argument points in the direction of your schools moving down, rather than RHL teams moving up. But, your insinuation that public schools have some sort of unfair advantage is absurd. Public schools have to take anyone who shows up at the door from the district. Private schools go through applicants with a fine tooth comb and pull out the elite. If you do not think that these schools take athletics and athletic families into consideration, you are nuts.

Pitchers become pitchers because they work very hard at it from a young age. There are several kids at the local private schools, including Poly, who showed quite a bit of promise as young pitchers in rec ball but did not keep working at it. Now their high school teams do not have pitchers. It could have been them.

Also many kids at private schools do not play travel ball, because their parents do not feel like they need a scholarship to go to a good college. This may be true, but often times young athletes in this siuation do not get the necessary training to keep up with other more "needy" players.

I am not sure what Arcadia's district borders are. You may want to check that out before making accusations. Most cheaters get it done by using someone else's address.

Poly doesn't even have one pitcher.(Tough admissions perhaps?) Monrovia has two...another coincidence or is this typical of a bigger school playing in a division below?

Arcadia has Temple City and El Monte residents attending it's schools. would that be recruiting?

There are Pasadena addresses that are in the San Marino School District. There are also San Gabriel addresses that are in the SM school district.
Unfortunately for La Canada-there are La Canada addresses that are in the CV district.

do you really think those parents are shelling out BIG bucks to send their kids to private schools for the athletics? Football maybe...

Numbers dont lie...1000+ pool vs 200 girls. Who has a better chance of getting more pitching?

I'm sure San Marino has done everything by the book but do those girls really need Latin?

They do not have an advantage. Public schools are subject to the general population and have a much lower ratio of quality athletes to general students. It is why they have established these rules. Some private schools do not recruit athletes but they are being catgorized with most private schools that do legally.

If a school like San Marino does what you are saying then they are in violation of CIF rules. If that is the case these accusations should be substantiated and reported to CIF.

you mean to tell me:

A school with 800-1000+ girls to choose from doesn't have a clear advantage over a school with 200-300 girls?

And Public schools don't recruit?? Can you say San Marino.. They have been fielding girls from Pasadena for several years!

As far as Arcadia goes, they have 3700 students as opposed to RHL's D5 teams varying between 1500-2000 students.(That is pretty much doubling the size.)

And as far as a team like La Salle, the CIF is trying place private schools by their past performances as a team. This is because their are no limitations for private schools with recruiting and there are no borders limiting them in acquiring athletes and top students. This is probably more of a problem for boy's sports than girls, but private schools usually attract whole families and people with similar ties (example-status.) This can cause an advantage as far as acquiring athletes may go.

This has been a problem for years that private schools recruited and public schools can not because of border restrictions.

I think it is good because they are trying to level out the playing field.

It was probably hardest on La Salle, because they were overrated in general because of the players that they lost. They are still a tough team, though and will probably continue to improve.

To answer your question, nothing is tainted especially since these teams all play each other. If anything is tainted it is the schools that have more students or are private schools and they are continually challenged by smaller public schools like in the RHL.

It also points out that the D5 private schools, such as Mayfield, Westridge, RHP, etc are grossly underachieving in athletics

for who?

Only one comment why relatively big public schools like Monrovia, TC and SP play down in D5?

Arcadia is in D3. They even moved LaSalle to D4?

There are only 6 divisions, right? Aren't those W's against legitimate D5 teams a little tainted?

c------f,
I completely agree with you - there is no reason for any kid to get called out on this blog for something on the field - I know those kids and they are trying their best - I don't care if they have committed 100 errors this season and have struck out everytime thay have gotten to the plate. LCfan2 grow up. You are making us looks worse than we really are - coaches are fair game - kids aren't.

LCFAN2,

I am not an LC fan, parent, or anything else, but I think it is really low class of you to call out your 2nd baseman's lack of success this year in a forum like this. It seems ugly and hurtful. Kids do read this forum and your kid's losing season with La Canada does not justify your childish behavior. Grow up and look for something positive, because the time that parents have with their kids are limited and it should be valued for what it is, not criticized for what they hoped it would be.

Actually Giampolo from Polytechnic, who is a junior that currently plays softball for the University of Michigan, has a chance of extending her career to an Olympic and professional level. And I hate to tell you that the quality players from SGV who are getting scholarships are all top students. In other words, their homework is a priority.

Michigan is not an easy school academically and you do not get an athletic scholarship there if you are not
an excellent student.

LCfan2,
Homework is more importatnt - not one girl in the SGV is going pro as a softball player.

Anon 10:36, if there was it would have been full of parents from the LC football team. Coaches at LC are flame proof just look at Wheeler. Thank God we luck out with Hoffman and the Water Polo coach.

Maybe HS softball has just turned into the luck of the draw - where the team that lucks out and has the most travel ball players living in their area wins and those that don't are just out of luck and HS coaching and practice doesn't really matter - if that is the case - everyone should just chill and take HS for what it is a youth community league for fun and travel ball is for the real players - it is too bad it has come to this - but it does seem like that is the way it is.

Isn't there a place besides this blog for LC parents to get counseling?

Softball God,
too bad those SF 62 and 63 football teams had to graduate - they really dominated everyone - including back to back 4A CIF championships. Talk about a living in the rear view mirror.

LaCanada wants to win, but they have several things working against them. Their second baseman has had one hit all year and struck out 18 times and never sits. They have had several injuries that have really hurt a team that is one deep at best. They have pinch runners who have been picked off base three straight times. They have players that hit home runs and jump over the plate only to be called out. That have school singers who have to go on trips to sing for the school. They have a shortstop who's Mother teaches at LC who distants themselves from the team and the Mother/Teacher who only wants to divide the team. Parents who want to blame the hard working girls for their problems and parents who agree with them. It's a tough job to coach softball at LC, but then what is High School Softball nowadays? It's nothing more than recess to some schools and zero girls get recruited by what the do in high school they all get they're attention in travel ball. Travel ball is the answer to the janitor or coach who has no experience getting the Varsity job.

Let's face it if the parents of LC girls excepted the preparation they get in softball in a math class they're would be hell to pay. Afterall isn't it all abouot fun.
Because having fun teaches life's lessons on how to be competitive.

All you have to do is look at the same parent who wants their daughter to have "fun" and not put a emphases wining and watch them go crazy when little Becky isn't getting the proper amount of homework to prepare little Becky for college.

You just can't win.

Let's not forget La Salle moved up two CIF division levels this season.

not every team

Too bad la salle graduated their whole squad last year, it was so much fun to watch the girls dominate every team in the area.

Fred,

I was looking forward to the matchup between Alverno and South Pasadena next week. Now I am hearing that Alverno has cancelled the games and is not rescheduling, can you tell me if this is true?

SP will be fine this year, I hope your kids are having a good time playing ball, because that is what really counts.

I love these SP guys, I bet they would love to see that LC coach stay there forever. SP has more sideline coaches than any other team and I am not counting that annoying lady who yells at all of your games. It was really a great decision by LC not to pitch the girl who no-hit Sp the first time around.

remove 2 players and SP is the same as LC - Let's not get carried away with SP they are in the same league as the top two teams

How does Flintridge Sacred Heart come back with 8 seniors and a sick pitcher like Jessica Ferri, and lose to every tough team they have played against except an early win against Alverno? Is it errors or coaching or both?

chkyrslf,
You make a lot of sense, you must be a coach or a former coach.

LC has had two years of awfulness - new coach needs time to recreate a successful program.

lcbasketballguy,

You are making a mistake putting LC in the same catagory as SP, TC, or Mon. They do not have the same quality of play. The first win against was all about SP's inability to hit at the time as well as where their heads were athe time.
And I wouldn't recomend blaming it on your new coach either. It takes a while to change the work ethic and approach to playing in order to develop a winning attitude and work ethic.

The three teams at the top of the RHL have coaches and players that have been developing skills and standards of play over the course of several seasons.

I recommend you don't start blaming people, but start working hard with them to change your schools approach to the game and start developing good pitching.

Trust me SP is more than ten runs better than LC right now, as are the rest of the top RHL teams.

The reality is that LC has no #1 pitcher - just leftovers after the last few years.

It is more fun to watch Mulligan "coach" from the sidelines and coach his former Ringers players. Nothing like dividing a team --

c----f,
I am not sure the LC team is better this year - the players are the team isn't - there is really no excuse for LC is lose to SP by 10 runs talent wise.
SP may be better but they are not 10 runs better. The first game showed that. LC just is not comming together as a team. Most of the younger teams which LC is has gotten better as the year has gone on - LC is going in the opposite direction. I still didn't know what they were saving their number 1 pitcher for.

Come on LC fans, please, look at your record against RHL teams, whoever is pitching for you. The first game against SP was a fluke. Your team has improved its future, but I think when you have won 1 in your last 10 games and in those games you were outscored 107-28, silence and humility is a virtue.

This a not a dis, it is a reality check.

There was no holding back South Pas today. Their offense was very strong.

There is a lot of season left. It is going to be an interesting couple of weeks for the RHL.

I think SP would have still won - but at least it would have been more interesting.

Why in the world didn't LC pitch the pitcher who no hit or one hit South Pasadena last time the teams met - i don't get it.

All Area outfield Kyle Mulligan - I doubt LC will get more than one - given the league season.

Poly 7 Westridge 0

I think that with all the seniors on the varsity Monrovia team get to much publicity. There are several girls on that team that have done an outstanding job and should be recognized like Lexi and Brooke. Lexi is a really good catcher and she can also hit from the games that i have been at. I do not know why everyone thinks that there is only one catcher in the RHL league because cassie from sp has not done too many outstanding things.

I think the question is why are Mayfield, Maranantha, Westridge, RHP in D5.

South Pas mercies La Canada 13-3.

For starters...

2003 D5 CIF Champs: OLYMPIC League (Village Christian)

2005 CIF Champs: Whittier Christian (now in OLYMPIC League;Beat La Salle in Championship game!

2006 D5 Runner-up OLYMPIC League (Valley Christian)

Currently 2007 D5 #4 team OLYMPIC League (LAB)

The girl that beat Monrovia last year is now the starting pichter for Loyola Marymont. You can't call a whole league great because of one pitcher.

Marnie Hillier is a STUD! Olympic Leaguer continues to get overlooked. Remember who knocked off Monrovia last year!

Jenna Rodriguez is a Bulldog. Easily the MVP! Doing it all in D3 at that. That's not taking anything away from Monrovia's two aces. But Rodriguez is a workhorse. She makes her whole team better. Where would that team be without her? Hasn't she thrown every inning?

On a side note: Why is Monrovia, TC and SP still in D5? With the number of girls they get to pick from shouldn't they be playing with the big girls? Yet there they are in the same Division as Mayfield, Maranatha, Rio Hondo Prep and Westridge... Maranatha has about 45 senior girls in the whole school?

Take a peek at Maranatha Sophomore MARNIE HILLIER (OF/Utility).Although team is underacheiving...She is Putting up huge stats against some pretty good competition. .477 BA with 14 RBIs. FIRST TEAM ALL OLYMPIC LEAGUE as a Freshman.

MVP: Jenna Rodriguez (Arc)
Pitchers: Nicole Parada (SP), Jess Ferri (FSHA)
Catcher: Cassie Gogreve (SP)
Infielders: Krissy Mihm (Mon), Katie McWhirter (Mon), Veronica Grant (TC),
Outfielders: Alex Chavez (TC), Shelby Gibbs (Arc), Sam Rogers (Mon)
Utility: Britney Bateson (Mon)

Recognize this is an “All Area” All-star team and not a “Rio Hondo League” All-Star team.

Rodriguez, Parada, or Ferri should all be considered one of the 2 All Area Pitchers, and whichever is not one of the 2 All-Area Pitchers, they are without a doubt the top MVP to their team. All Pitchers are very valuable to their teams, however, without any of these specific 3 Pitchers, their respective teams would be no where near as competitive in very competitive Leagues. Also, when not pitching, all 3 are very good batters and are All-Area fielders and anyone of the 3 of them could be the 4th All Area infielder to my above list.

Both Rogers and Bateson are very good Pitchers but not as good pitchers as Rodiguez, Parada, or Ferri. A significant amount of their pitching success is due to the fact that they pitch for a truly excellent team. If either of them where to be the pitcher for SP or FSHA, they would have no where near the same result as the current SP or FSHA pitchers, nor would those other 2 teams have any where near the same as their current result. However, Bateson and Rogers are deserving of All Area recognition as Utility or Outfielder (either interchangeable).

These 12 players are truly the best choices and they are the very most deserving of All Area recognition and all 3 of the most competitive 3 Leagues in the area are represented. Also, in addition to the Pitchers, several of these other All Area players could be considered for MVP. For example, Alex Chavez has single handedly either saved games for TC (vs. SP, and FSHA), or won games with her bat (vs. SP). All this being said, a dominant Pitcher is always the true top MVP for any softball team (a top fielder or top batter is far easier to replace than a top Pitcher), especially when considering Rodriguez’s, Parada’s, Ferri’s irreplaceable extra value as the Pitchers to their teams.

One other special note (although not asked), All Area Coach of the Year would either be Randy Medina (Mon) or Bob Ellingsworth (TC). However, I would pick Ellingsworth because his coaching has been the clear-cut difference maker to that team. His coaching has put his team in a position to steal games away from better teams. TC is a good team and they’ve done well of late. I’d have to disagree with a previous blogger, they are not a great offensive team. They are a great defensive fielding team with glaring deficiencies at pitching. Their hitting is not their offensive strength (although better as of late), it is Ellingsworth’s coaching and the team’s speed that has been the offensive strength. Ellingsworth has truly manufactured runs with that speed, and in turn victories. He has artfully coached around the teams pitching challenges and at times inconsistent hitting. Moreover, he always identifies his opposition’s weaknesses, and coaches his team to attack those weaknesses. Temple City is very lucky to have him and he is lucky to have a committed group of players that follow his direction!

I think the New Coach move Kylie to Centerfield because on necessity. I know she has put in the hours to become a terrific outfielder. It their a ball in the gap she will go get it just like last year at Village Christian where she ran through the fence to save a home run.

She is a stud.

Kyle Mulligan was all league as a freshman at second base last year - when did she move to the outfield?

Katie Tripoli from La Salle should be looked at..only a sophomore and although La Salle has had a rough season, she is very consistant with the bat

Arcadia's Rodriguez continues to astound me. Not only did she pitch 17 full innings against Monrovia, she also had the game-winning hit.

The whole Lady Apaches team is full of talent, nearly every player contributes their fare share. It's difficult to single out a few top contributors besides the obvious Rodriguez.

Offensively, the freshman utility player Sam Miller has been astounding. The same can be said for her defensively as well. She started the season at catcher, then moved to first base, and now plays shortstop for the injured Dusty Gibbs.

Shelby Gibbs is her normal slap-happy self, one of the fastest players in the area. She's also made some great plays out in center. And Yvette Herzfeld, often under the radar, is one of the most consistant players I've ever seen.

Kylie Mulligan is one of the best defensive outfielder in the Rio Hondo Leage and area.

Plus she leads of and hits the snot out of the ball.

She gets my vote.

Bandit

from LC Cami Martin, Kyle Mulligan, Devon Zerebko,
Anna Brenner

SP spent their non-league play almost completly in Orange County playing D1- D3 teams with a world of tough opponents. Whether she played the whole game, started or finished she has been phenomenal. I assume you have seen her pitch.

Rogers is an excellent pitcher, but Parada has been the most valuable to her team compared to the rest of the league.

Yes Prada stats are better. But she has not faced the same level of teams asa Rogers has ( Glendora, Chino Hills, Charter Oak and Arcadia).

Fred,

How do you put FSH ahead of Temple City?

As far as Sam Rogers goes, she is an excellent pitcher, but if you are thinking in term of who has been the most valuable pitcher to her team you have to look at Parada's numbers. 107 K's in 90 innings pitched with a .620 era. She is the one thing that has kept her team in the mix while they were struggling with the bat.

McWhirter is an excellent player, but Mihm has taken so many hits away from opposing teams in every close game that I have seen them play, which isn't many. And since there are several pitchers to choose from as top dawg, I think you have to give MVP to a field player/hitter who has made the difference for their team, and she has done that.

I do think that you have to wait until league play has fully panned out before you award anybody anything. It is all about how you finish.

If TC comes back and wins RHL you have to look at Aguirre and if SP comes back and wins RHL you have to look at Parada or Gogreve.

PS: I am only speaking in terms of RHL because that is all I know.

Cassie,Jenna,Katie and Krissy these four should easily make all area first team. After that it gets a little tougher to pick.

As far as RHL, how can you not have Sam Rogers as a top pitcher. Or Katie Mcwhirter as MVP.

RHL favorites (it is hard to include La Canada and San Marino with no stats):

Krissy Mihm (Mon) - MVP, best athlete, best fielder, best hitter. Monrovia would be much less without her contributions.

Bateson (Mon), Parada (SP) - Two best pitchers. Easy call. Parada might be best if she had more offensive support early on.

Infielders - Krissy Mihm (Mon), Katie McWhirter (Mon), Shelby Gogreve (SP), Veronica Grant (TC). (all very athletic and make their teams much better.)

Catcher - Cassie Gogreve (SP), nobody tries running on her anymore. Looks like her bat has come alive.

Outfielders - Alex Aguirre(TC), Desiree Milosavlijevic (Mon),Hannah Komai (TC)

Utility - Lexi Long, very good catcher and hitter.

Sp is now 9-7 and won 6 of their last 8 games, scoring 35 runs and have the least amount of errors in the RHL. They are tied in the TC series 1-1 and still play Monrovia (who lost 2 of last 3) twice. I wouldn't count them out.