CLICK HERE FOR A PHOTO GALLERY OF WEDNESDAY’S LA CANADA-SAN MARINO GAME

By Miguel A. Melendez, Staff Writer

SAN MARINO – It wasn’t exactly dj vu, but it sure came close.

Just like it did nearly a month ago in the first meeting, the La Canada High School softball team capitalized on San Marino errors, and again it was Lauren O’Leary and Anna Edwards leading the way, helping the Spartans to a 2-0 Rio Hondo League victory Wednesday afternoon.

O’Leary, a junior, flirted with a perfect game before ending with a stellar two-hit performance in which she struck out 15.

Edwards, also a junior, hit her fifth home run of the season in the sixth to give La Canada (13-2, 4-1) a cushion, but it was her speed on the bases in the first that paved the way for the win.

Edwards, the leadoff batter, hit a fly to center, and it appeared San Marino (10-5, 3-2) was in for a routine out. Instead, the ball dropped, allowing Edwards to safely reach second base. She stole third during the next at-bat, and a check throw to third was mishandled, allowing Edwards to score the winning run.

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CLICK HERE FOR A PHOTO GALLERY FROM TUESDAY’S PREP-POLY GAME

Runs haven’t seem hard to come by these days for Pasadena Poly. Matt Saeta’s three-run home run in the first got it started and Hunter Merryman went 2 for 3 with four RBIs to lead the Panthers to an 11-1 Prep League mercy-win over Flintridge Prep on Tuesday afternoon at Pasadena Poly. Poly’s Jordan Kutzer struck out five in four innings pitched to pick up his fourth win of the season. Charlie Baxter and Brian Holman pitched two scoreless innings. The battery allowed only one run on two hits. Pasadena Poly (9-2, 4-0) visits Flintridge Prep (6-6, 3-1) on Friday. The Rebels scored their lone run in the second when Will Peterman connected on a 1-2 pitch and hit a home run over the right field wall. This is the second time in five days I’ve seen Poly in action. I gotta say, they’re probably the most underrated team in the valley. Poly played Arcadia tough and led 1-0 heading into the fourth, but a miscue in the outfield opened the gates and the Apaches won, 9-1. The Panthers lost only 3-0 to Monrovia, beat San Marino, 7-4, and beat La Canada, 6-5. Poly and Maranatha go at it later this month under the lights at Jackie Robinson Stadium.

STAR-NEWS BASEBALL RANKINGS

1. Monrovia (12-1)
2. Alhambra (14-3)
3. Arcadia (12-3)
4. Temple City (8-6-1)
5. Pasadena Poly (8-2)
6. Maranatha (9-8)
7. St. Francis (9-6)
8. Pasadena (9-7)
9. San Marino (8-7)
10. La Salle (6-8)

STAR-NEWS SOFTBALL RANKINGS

1. La Caada (12-2)
2. San Marino (10-4)
3. Monrovia (9-3)
4. La Salle (9-3)
5. Mayfield (7-3)
6. Maranatha (9-10)
7. San Gabriel Mission (10-1)
8. San Gabriel (8-7)
9. Ramona Convent (8-2)
10. Temple City (8-9)

It was an improbable comeback, one that Gabrielino High School assistant baseball coach Artie Casas called “the most amazing comeback I’ve ever been a part of.”

Gabrielino (7-8, 3-2), in the semifinals of the AA Division in the St. Paul Easter Tournament last Wednesday, trailed St. Anthony 12-1 after the first inning. The Eagles scored nine runs in the fourth, added four in the 11th and won, 21-17. Gabrielino lost in the finals, 8-1, to Glenn, but the Eagles hope the comeback fuels their momentum as they resume Mission Valley League play Wednesday at home against South El Monte.

Casas said two of the 12 runs in the first were earned, the rest coming on miscues.

“Like most young teams we were kicking the ball around the infield,” Casas said. “Then all the elements came together – pitching, defense and hitting.”

Sophomore Angel Acosta pitched seven scoreless innings in relief, struck out 14, and went 3 for 4 with two doubles and three RBIs. Keith Clapp was 4 for 7 with two home runs and four RBIs. It’s the first time in school history anyone has had a multi-homer game.

Acosta came in the fourth with bases loaded and one out. He gave up two unearned runs. His three-run double in the 11th fueled the Eagles’ win. Clapp’s second home run came on a 1-2 count. He also had a two-run double to right center.

“This is the team that was going to take a little bit longer to develop because they’re so young,” Casas explained. “We’re so filled with sophomores. I want to say 70 percent of the team are sophomores; a couple seniors and two juniors, but the majority of sophomores play. It was going to take a little bit for the new sophomores to get used to the varsity level, because it’s a big jump from freshman ball to varsity.”

The game started at 3:15 p.m. and ended just before 7 p.m.

“Believe it or not, those 15 minutes made all the difference,” Casas said. “Because that’s the difference between finishing the game and the sun coming down on us.”

By Jim McConnell, Staff Writer

In sports, timing is everything. Proper timing is vital to the athlete and to the event. What is meaningful today may lose much of its meaning in a week, or a month or a year. Which brings us to Jim Brownfield. Up until about a year ago, Brownfield was a frequent contributor to this column. Since then, he has encountered serious health problems. Many of the athletes he coached would like to see some sort of lasting tribute to Jim. This columnist concurs. However, it isn’t that easy.

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Note: The participants will be notified this week and we will announce the rosters in Friday’s Newspaper and blog. Baldwin Park coach Marc Hart will coach the boys team and Diamond Ranch coach Mike James will coach the boys. The Star-News coaches are Pasadena High boys coach Tim Tucker and Muir girls coach Gary Johnson.

Boys and Girls Basketball All-Star Game
Seventh Annual Tribune/Star-News All-Star Classic
Saturday, April 24, Damien High School
SERIES RECORD
Boys: Star-News leads series, 5-1
Girls: Star-News leads series, 4-2

Above: Arcadia’s KJ Edson doing his thing against Glendora in the Apache Invitational final last week.

Spring break is over for most schools, except Monrovia, who resumes Rio Hondo League action next week after a 21-day absence. We have some big games this week starting Tuesday when Flintridge Prep (6-5, 3-0) visits Pasadena Poly (8-2, 3-0) in a Prep League baseball showdown. I had a chance to see the Panthers on Thursday at La Puente, and I gotta say I came away very impressed, particularly with pitcher Jordan Kutzer. He struck out six, allowed two runs on six hits in six innings pitched and went 4 for 4 at the plate to lead Poly to a convincing 14-2 win. On Wednesday, La Caada (12-2, 3-1) visits San Marino (10-4, 3-1) in a Rio Hondo League softball rematch. I didn’t get a chance to catch the first meeting, which the Spartans won 1-0. San Marino pitcher Michelle Floyd struck out 11 but allowed the winning run in the first inning. Anna Edwards did the honors. Lauren O’Leary and Lauren Cox combined for the no-hitter and 10 K’s. Also on Wednesday, Mayfield visits South Pasadena in an intriguing nonleague softball game. Thursday, San Gabriel visits Alhambra in softball, and our week culminates with all-day baseball on Friday. First, you can catch Temple City (8-6-1, 4-1) at San Marino (8-7, 3-2) in Rio Hondo League baseball. I’ll be there to watch the action as a fan. I say as a fan because I’ll be covering the Pacific League under the lights when Crescenta Valley (9-3, 3-0) visits Arcadia (11-3, 4-0) at 7 p.m. It’s time to bring out that grill and make those tasty cheeseburgers at Arcadia High. If not then it’s OK. Sitting next to John Valerio all game long is just as well a treat. …. Also wanted to say thank you to all for reading and posting. This past weekend we broke the 20,000-comment mark in my less than two years here at the Star-News.

Hello everyone, this is Fred J from the East Side of town. If you missed our complete coverage from Saturday’s Arcadia Invitational, it’s all here for you, including a race-by-race recap from dyestat.com. As far as coverage, Covina’s Remontay McClain highlighted the day events, and the night events were spectacular as always, with Arcadia’s Catrina McAlister stealing the show.

Above: Arcadia’s Catrina McAlister.

As we continue with track throughout the season, a wonderful new track site for San Gabriel Valley High Schools has been created. Coaches and athletes of the SGV are encouraged to click here, sign-up and register your marks. This is an easy way for the Valley and your local newspapers to follow Valley leaders on a weekly basis, which I also will continue to post for you by clicking on this thread.

The next big high school track events is this weekends Mt. SAC Invitational, click here for all the info.

For The Valley’s best times, click the thread

Above: San Dimas’ Katherine Salcedo’s at Saturday’s Arcadia Invite

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