Softball preseason Top 10

monrovia pair
Monrovia’s Adrienne Guerra and Elise McCarthy (photo by Walt Mancini)
A look at the softball Top 10:

1. Monrovia
The Wildcats have made long runs in the Rio Hondo League and CIF-Southern Section playoffs the last couple of years, but have come up empty in winning both.
2. La Salle
The Lancers return eight starters and have added a freshman that coach Rich Diaz expects to make an immediate impact.
3. Maranatha
The Minutemen have already lost two players to season-ending injuries, but they still have reasons to be confident, as nine players return.
4. La Canada
The Spartans finished only one win away from the Rio Hondo League title and are legitimate contenders again.
5. Temple City
The Rams have strength up the middle.
6. Rio Hondo Prep
Prep League Player of the Year Alexis Parker returns, along with five other seniors.
7. Pasadena Poly
The Panthers may not start off fast, but the they could finish by challenging for the Prep League title.
8. Alverno
The Jaguars will have to wait on the five just-returned soccer players to get back into softball shape before they will make any headway.
9. South Pasadena
The Tigers are rebuilding, but they return starting pitcher Cassie Baca and have some talented first-year players.
10. Duarte
Falcons coach Paul Viteri knows it will likely be a tough season.

The story is at http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/sports/20140303/prep-softball-preview-guerra-mccarthy-will-lead-monrovia-softball-team

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Saturday’s basketball semifinals

Boys
5AA

San Gabriel Academy 101, Pacifica Christian 44
Final: vs. Saddleback Valley Christian
5A
Renaissance Academy 52, Orangewood Academy 29
Final: vs. Santa Clarita Christian

Girls
Open consolation

Alemany 61, Keppel 47
3A
Inglewood 50, South Pasadena 43
Santa Margarita 69, La Canada 57
5A
Pasadena Poly 70, Santa Clara 39
Final: vs. Desert

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Wrestling: Wick brothers score Masters titles; San Marino takes eighth


By Stephen Ramirez, @SteveRRamirez on Twitter
ONTARIO —
The road to the CIF State wrestling championships didn’t run through the San Gabriel Valley on Saturday. It just seemed that way.
The area, led by brothers Evan and Zander Wick, of San Marino High School, scored four individual titles and had 19 competitors qualify for next weekend’s state meet in Bakersfield after putting together solid performances at the CIF-Southern Section Masters championships at Citizen’s Business Bank Arena.
The area champions were the Wicks, who won titles at 120 and 26 pounds, respectively; San Dimas’ David Gonzalez (106) and Northview’s Ricky Padilla (152). All followed up divisional championships last weekend with Master titles on Saturday.
Northview, whith a section-best six state qualifiers, won the team title, with San Marino, which qualified three, finishing eighth.
Also qualifying from the area were Northview’s Richard Casillas (106, sixth), Vincent Parra (113, third), John Rivera (132, third), Anthony Martinez (182, eighth) and Bryan Salinas (160, second); Rowland’s Miguel Juarez (106, seventh) and Mario Lopez (138, fifth); Bishop Amat’s Nigel Ruiz (145, second); San Marino’s Julian Flores (132, second); Bonita’s Seth Morales (170, third); Damien’s Kaulin Garcia (182, ninth); Diamond Bar’s Dandrell Johnson (220, fourth); Arroyo’s Lois Hernandez (220, eighth); Charter Oak’s Joseph Alexander (132, fifth) and Glendora’s Guillermo Padilla (285, fifth).
Northview, with a section-best six state qualifiers won the team title.

For Zander Wick, Saturday’s 4-2 victory over Riverside King’s Kristian Vasquez, was all about redemption. Vasquez eliminated him at Masters last season.
He got some revenge after using two takedowns for a 4-1 lead before winning, 4-2.
“It was a drive from last year, because I didn’t make state,” Wick said. “Really, it was just me wanting to come back and win this, because last year I didn’t place.”
Evan Wick, who qualified for the state meet last season, but didn’t place, gets a second chance after wins by fall and technical fall and two decisions, including a 6-2 victory over West Torrance’s Yoshito Funakoshi in the finals.
“It’s definitely good,” Wick said. “I hadn’t had a Masters title under by belt yet. It’s good to come here, win CIF, win Masters. It’s good momentum for state.”
Gonzalez, ranked in state top 10 earlier this season, won against a higher-ranked opponent for the second consecutive week. Last week, he beat Northview’s Casillas, who was sixth in the state, for the Central Division title and followed it up with a 2-0 win over Alta Loma’s Zander Silva, who was rated No. 2. He scored a takedown with three seconds left in the first period than withstood a switch attempt by Silva in the final seconds.
“It feels really great,” Gonzalez said. “Last week, I had a tough match against Casillas and won, and this week against Silva. It’s a great to win a CIF belt, then a Masters belt. State is up next.”
Padilla, ranked No. 11 state, was dominant in winning at 152. He jumped out to leads of 3-0 and 7-1 before beating Hemet’s Caleb Wilson, 14-6.
“It’s great just to be here,” Padilla said. “I’m just looking forward to continuing that at state and placing.”
Nigel, who lost to Corona Santiago’s Justin Thomas, 7-2, is Amat’s first state qualifier since 2008.
Salinas, ranked No. 1 in the state, lost in an upset at 160.

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