CIF-SS PLAYOFFS
BASEBALL
SEMIFINALS
DIVISION 2
Etiwanda 3, Arcadia 2: Etiwanda took a 2-0 lead in the fourth off consecutive singles and a leadoff triple and made it 3-1 with another set of consecutive singles. Arcadia got within 3-2 in the fifth after George Papavasiliou led off with a double. Tyler Dominguez’s sac bunt moved him to third and then Papavasiliou scored on a balk. There was a controversial play in the bottom of the seventh when Erik Trask was called out at first despite the first baseman’s foot off the base. Arcadia coach Nick Lemas asked the first base umpire to call for help at home, but to no avail. The final two batter struck out to end the game and the Apaches’ dream season.

DIVISION 6
Pasadena Poly 5, Desert Christian 1: Brian Holman pitched six innings and gave up just one hit for his 13th win of the season. Jordan Kutzer hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning after Hunter Merryman’s two-run double in the third inning. The Panthers will play Saturday at 3:30 against the Oxford Academy/Bishop Union winner at UC Riverside.

SOFTBALL
DIVISION 5
La Caada 6, South El Monte 2: Lauren O’Leary was a little shaky, hitting three batters and a couple walks, but prevailed, giving up three hits and two earned runs to lead the Spartans. Aubri Thompson connected on two of La Caada’s seven hits of the game. The Division 5 championship game against Beaumont will be either Friday or Saturday at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine.

By Miguel A. Melendez, Staff Writer

GARDEN GROVE — There was a perfect balance of brilliance, clutch-through performances and steady poise Friday afternoon from the Arcadia High School baseball team.

KJ Edson was brilliant on just two days rest, epitomizing true durability and consistency for the second-seeded Apaches.

Greg Papavasiliou was clutch, time and again proving that the No. 7 hitter is also dangerous task, in front of a standing-room-only crowd and on the road at Pacifica High, no less.

Erik Trask was steady, never succumbing to pressure in the biggest game of his career.

The junior right-hander delivered when called upon, culminating a strong outing with a strikeout to end a standoff to send the Apaches to their first semifinals trip since 1987 with a 2-1 win over Pacifica in the quarterfinals of the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 playoffs.

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Continue reading “Baseball: Edson, Trask, lead Arcadia to first semifinals trip since 1987 with gritty 2-1 win over Pacifica; Pasadena Poly gets past Capo Valley Chr. 11-7; Maranatha falls on the road to Oak Hills, 7-4.” »

We will have reporters at every game today. I’ll make the drive to Orange County and cover Arcadia at Pacifica of Garden Grove. As soon as I land at the nearest Starbucks I’ll post results along with final scores of the other games. Our Clay Fowler at the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin will cover Maranatha at Oak Hills of Hesperia and our Nathan Cambridge will cover Capo Valley Christian at Pasadena Poly.

CIF-SS PLAYOFFS
TODAY’S QUARTERFINALS
ALL GAMES 3:15 P.M.
DIVISION 2
Arcadia at Pacifca/GG
DIVISION 5
Maranatha at Oak Hills
DIVISION 6
Capistrano Valley Christian at Pasadena Poly

By Miguel A. Melendez, Staff Writer

The last and only time the Arcadia High School baseball team won a CIF-Southern Section championship was in 1965 under Lani Exton in Division IV-A, then the highest division.

The Apaches also reached the finals the year before. But after consecutive finals appearances, Arcadia went 13 years before making its next finals in 1978 and needed another nine years before reeling off another deep run to the semifinals in 1987.

Since then, success in the playoffs has eluded the Apaches. Mike Parisi never got past the second round in four years at the helm, and Sean McCorry didn’t either following Parisi in three years as coach.

Four painful postseasons saw coach Nick Lemas and Arcadia bounced in the first round.

His fifth season has proven to be more fortunate as the Apaches make their deepest playoff run in 24 years when they visit Pacifica of Garden Grove today at 3:15 p.m. in Division 2 quarterfinal action.

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Continue reading “Baseball: Arcadia makes its deepest playoff run in 24 years, visits Pacifica; Maranatha hits the road against Oak Hills; Pasadena Poly hosts Capo Valley Christian. Check back for scores later. Can the WSGV go 3 for 3?” »

MAYFIELD STORY: One close play is all it took to decide the fate of the Mayfield Senior School softball team on Thursday afternoon. Josie Luck was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a passed ball and host Kern Valley scored a 4-2 victory in the CIF-Southern Section Division 6 quarterfinals. (CLICK ON THREAD TO READ STORY)

By Miguel A. Melendez, Staff Writer

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE – The last time La Caada trailed in a game was just over a month ago.

And much like they did then, the Spartans, albeit trailing just 1-0 this time, showed resilience and were unfazed while playing from behind.

Megan Siepler’s three-run double in the second inning was all La Caada needed as Lauren O’Leary took care of the rest by going the distance in the circle and striking out 10 in the Spartans’ 8-1 victory over Katella on Thursday in the quarterfinals of the CIF-Southern Section Division 5 playoffs.

The top-seeded Spartans (24-3) make their second semifinals appearance Tuesday when they host South El Monte.

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Continue reading “Softball: La Caada heads back to the semifinals with 8-1 win over Katella; Mayfield falls to Kern Valley, 4-2.” »

CIF-SS PLAYOFFS
BASEBALL
SECOND ROUND SCORES
DIVISION 2
Arcadia 5, Alemany 2
DIVISION 4
Palm Desert 5, La Salle 4
DIVISION 5
Maranatha 5, Campbell 4
DIVISION 6
Pasadena Poly 15, Crean Lutheran 0

SOFTBALL
SECOND ROUND SCORES
DIVISION 5
La Canada 7, Hemet 0
Katella 3, Keppel 0
South El Monte 8, Duarte 3
Arroyo 3, San Marino 1
DIVISION 6
Rim of the World 3, Flintridge Prep 1
Citrus Valley 8, San Gabriel Mission 3
Mayfield 1, Carpinteria 0, 10 inn.