May 2009 Archives

There is a Wine Tasting Fundraiser for Dallas Humphreys at the Winery on Saturday, May 30.

Dallas, as you might know, is an 11-year-old East Long Beach Pony League baseball player whose battled with leukemia was covered in a Press-Telegram story last month. He is currently in his second round of five chemotherapy treatments.

The Winery is located at 3379 Cerritos Ave. in Los Alamitos, and the event is being held from 6-10 p.m.

Tickets are $25 and include wine tasting, appetizers and a raffle, with prizes that includea TV, autographed baseballs and Lakers tickets.

For more information, call Michele Antonaras (562) 221-6877 or Diane Munoz (562) 229-4563.

The Rams will play host to Riverside Poly in the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs on Friday. The game will be played at Long Beach CIty College at 3:15 p.m.

PREP PLAYOFFS
CIF-SS Schedule

BASEBALL
Second Round
Tuesday at 3:15 p.m. unless noted

Division I
Millikan at Villa Park

Division III
Downey at Ocean View
Corona del Mar at Paramount

Division IV
Northview at St. Paul

Division V
Downey Calvary Chapel at Beaumont

SOFTBALL
Second Round
Tuesday at 3:15 p.m. unless noted

Division I
Corona Santiago at Los Alamitos

Division II
Lakewood at Mayfair
La Mirada at Los Osos

Division III
Warren at Tesoro

Division VI
Marymount at Mary Star

Division VII
Downey Calvary Chapel at Connelly
St. Matthias at Eastside Christian

BOYS TENNIS
Semifinals
Tuesday at 3 p.m. unless noted

Division IV
Cerritos at Sage Hill

BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Semifinals
Wednesday at 7 p.m. unless noted

Division I
Loyola at Wilson

Division III
Norco at Mayfair

Division IV
South Torrance at Downey

LA CITY SECTION SCHEDULE
SOFTBALL
Championship Games
Wednesday

City Division
San Pedro vs. Banning at UCLA, 4:30 p.m.

Invitational Division
Narbonne vs. Eagle Rock, 2:30 p.m.

The first round of the CIF Southern Section baseball playoffs was not kind to local teams, as only five made it to Tuesday's second round.

Only champ Millikan is still alive from the Moore League, champ Downey and Paramount are still active from the SGVL, and no one from the Suburban League made the cut. Can a case be made for the SGVL being the strongest league?

Thoughts on some of Tuesday's matchups:

Millikan at Villa Park: Can Andrew Culver continue the momentum from Friday night's 8-4 emotional comeback victory over Mission Viejo when the Rams travel to Villa Park?

Downey at Ocean View: Will Jesse Silva stay hot on the mound and will the Vikings bats continue to scorch when they travel to Huntington Beach?

Corona del Mar at Paramount: Jessie Miranda will likely get the ball and have his first CIF experience on the mound after having a solid regular season.

Downey Calvary Chapel at Beaumont: Was the Grizzlies two-game losing streak to end the season a fluke after bouncing back in the first round of the playoffs?

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Girls
Akawkaw Ndipagbor, So., Poly
The Jackrabbits sprinter took first in the 200- and 400-meter dashes at the CIF-SS Division I track and field prelims at Trabuco Hills High. She ran a 24.00 in the 200 and a 53.54 in the 400 and qualified as the leading contender for the finals on Saturday.

Boys
Jonathan Worrell, Sr., Lakewood
The big right-hander did what no one else could do in the Moore League this season - beat Millikan. He tossed a two-hit shutout with seven strikeouts, leading the Lancers to a 4-0 win in the regular-season finale.

If you would like to nominate an athlete of the week, send an email to dave.werstine@presstelegram.com

CIF-SS PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
BASEBALL
First Round at 3:15 p.m. unless noted
Thursday

Division II
Chino Hills/Burbank Burroughs at La Mirada
Mayfair/Redlands at San Luis Obispo
Bellflower/Burbank at GG Pacifica
Glenn/Huntington Beach at Chino

Division IV
Oaks Christian at St. Paul

Division VI
St. Anthony at Sage Hill

Friday
Division I
Poly at Tesoro
Lakewood at Edison
ML King/Mission Viejo at Millikan
Wilson/Corona Roosevelt at Capistrano Valley

Division III
Walnut/El Rancho at Downey
Garden Grove at Paramount
Gahr/Rancho Alamitos at Alhambra

Division V
S. El Monte at Downey CC

SOFTBALL
First Round at 3:15 p.m. unless noted
Thursday

Division I
Los Alamitos at Simi Valley

Division II
Wilson at Laguna Hills
Don Lugo at Norwalk
Poly at Redlands
Mayfair at California
Chaparral at Lakewood
Whittier/Mira Costa at La Mirada
Cerritos/Millikan at Vista Murrieta

Division III
Highland at Warren
Paramount/Sonora at Los Altos
Gahr/St. Bonaventure at Righetti
Downey/Dana Hills at Glendora

Division IV
Arrowhead Chr. at St. Joseph

Division V
Valley Chr./La Puente at West Covina

Division VI
Mary Star at Gabrielino

Division VII
Avalon at Rolling Hills Prep
Lennox Academy at Downey CC
Animo at St. Matthias

CIF LA CITY PLAYOFFS
BASEBALL
First Round
Wednesday at 3 p.m.

Division I
Garfield at San Pedro
Poly at Narbonne
Banning at Palisades

SOFTBALL
Semifinals
Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.

Championship Division
Granada Hills at San Pedro
Chatsworth at Banning

Press-Telegram Softball Top 10

1. San Pedro ... Area's No. 1 team is into the LA City semifinals.
2. Los Alamitos ... Should get to quarterfinals in very tough Division I, but anything more is gravy.
3. St. Joseph ...  The No. 4 seed in Division IV has the ability to go all the way.
4. La Mirada ... If the Matadores can hit the ball, they will be a hard team to beat in Division II.
5. Lakewood ... Moore League champs have shown to be very good and not so good. Which team will show up in Division II postseason?
6. Carson ... Eliminated in LA City quarterfinal, extra-inning heartbreaker.
7. Mayfair ... If Monsoons can get past first round, Lakewood awaits in second round and that doesn't bode well.
8. Wilson ... See La Mirada.
9. Norwalk ... Not sure the Lancers can hold up for more than a round or two in Division II.
10. Warren ... Even though Bears won SGVL, not sure they were the best team.

And a few questions:

With the Moore League as week as it is, how will that hurt Lakewood's and Wilson's chances to go deep in the playoffs?

Which of the Suburban League tri-champs - La Mirada, Norwalk and Mayfair - will last the longest?

Overrated and underrated teams?

Press-Telegram Baseball Top 10

1. Millikan ... Seem to have a failry nice path to the Division I quarterfinals.
2. Lakewood ... If there is a No. 3 entry that can beat a No. 1, it is likely the Lancers.
3. Downey ... It would really seem that Division III is up for grabs, and the Vikes are right in there.
4. Paramount ... Could make some noise in Division III if the Pirates can put it all together.
5. Wilson ... The best wild-card team in Division I, but can the Bruins show the Moore League's depth by going a couple of rounds?
6. Gahr ... The Gladiators will have to come out of the wild-card ranks to make a run in Division III.
7. Poly ... Not particularly sold on the Jackrabbits, so could be a short stay.
8. La Mirada ... Date with Division II No. 3 seed SO Notre Dame awaits Matadores in second round.
9. Mayfair ... Got a nice wild-card draw in Division II, but not too much expected from Monsoons.
10. Downey Calvary Chapel ... Two losses to Maranatha to close the season cost the Griz an easier way deep into the Division V playoffs.

And some questions:

The Moore League seemed to be very deep and talented this year. But how will its teams fare against the rest in the playoffs?

Of the local league champs - Millikan, La Mirada, Downey - which team has the best chance to win a CIF title? And why?

Who's overratted and who is underrated?

Hurrah!!!

The Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool is back in business after about a week's worth of repairs, which means the the CIF Southern Section Swimming and Diving Masters Meet will be held Tuesday in Long Beach as previously scheduled.

All of the CIF-SS Swimming finals have been moved to Mt. SAC from Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool because of repair issues at the LB facility.

Times for each event will remain the same.

Mt. SAC is located at 1100 N. Grand Ave, Walnut, CA 91789. Parking is available in the lots south of Temple. Parking is $2.

Also, this is an outdoor pool, so bring your owh shade.

The pump system at Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool, which has been down for several days now, is still under repar, causing the CIF to relocate Thursday's Division III prelims and the Division IV finals to Mt. SAC.

Times for each event will remain the same.

Mt. SAC is located at 1100 N. Grand Ave, Walnut, CA 91789. Parking is available in the lots south of Temple. Parking is $2.

Also, this is an outdoor pool, so bring your owh shade.

Check back for more updates, including whether Friday's Division I finals will need to be moved too.

With the pump system at the Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool still under repair, the CIF Southern Section has moved the Division I prelims - which are to be held Wednesday - to Mt. SAC.

Mt. SAC is located at 1100 N. Grand Ave., Waldnut, CA 91789

The Mt. SAC is an outside facility, so spectators might want to bring an umbrella and etc. for shade.

Check back here for updates on any other prelims moved

Press-Telegram Baseball Top 10

With a week to go in the regular season, here is how the top 10 shapes up...

1) Millikan (19-9): Moore League champs; first time since 2001; won 15 of last 17
2) Downey (21-4): SGVL champs; first time since 1986; won 16 of last 17
3) Lakewood (18-10-1): Won last four after dropping four straight; second in Moore League
4) Paramount (16-9): Swept Gahr to move into second in SGVL; won 11 of 12
5) Wilson (19-10): Can finish 3rd or 4th after win over Poly and finishes season vs Compton
6) Gahr (17-8): After breezing through season, lost 3 of 4 SGVL games and will likely take 3rd.
7) Downey Calvary Chapel (17-4): Alpha League champs; first time since 2003; won 14 of last 16
8) La Mirada (16-11): Have one game lead over Mayfair with two left vs Norwalk
9) Mayfair (15-10): Won five games in a row; trail La Mirada by one; have two left vs Glenn
10) Poly (14-16): Games left vs Lakewood and Cabrillo; could finish anywhere between 2nd-4th

The CIF Southern Section Division IV preliminary swimming heats scheduled for Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool in Long Beach on Tuesday have been moved.

The meet will now take place at the Mills Aquatics Facility at Mt. San Antonio College. Event and race times are still the same with the first race scheduled to get underway at noon.

The change in venue was necessitated by a failure of the Belmont Plaza pool pump system.

Repair of that pump system might require additional days beyond tomorrow, which could mean the move of other divisional prelims.

Check back for up-to-date info.

Downey High wrapped up its first league title since 1986 - yes, 1986 - with a 5-0 win over crosstown rival Warren on Friday night.

The San Gabriel Valley League champion Vikings improved to 21-4 overall and 12-1 in league.

But it wasn't so much that Downey won, but how.

Senior right-hander Chris Munoz (7-0, 0.14 ERA) threw a no-hitter, walking three and striking out eight. He also had a triple, home run and three RBIs.

How do you spell MVP. Probably M U N O Z. He is 7-0 with an area-low 0.14 ERA and is hitting .480 with an area-leading seven home runs.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Girls
Victoria Dubrowskij, Jr., Lakewood
Dubrowskij placed first in the vault, balance beam, uneven bars and the floor exercise for a combined score of 37.5 and won the all-around title at the Moore League gymnastics finals last week.

Boys
Chase DeJong, Fr., Valley Christian
The freshman right-hander threw a no-hitter with a season-high 15 strikeouts in a 7-0 victory over LA Baptist on Friday. He missed out a perfect game by walking three and hitting another.

*I would like to nominate the Mayfair High School Girls Varsity Track and Field Team as Athlete of the Week as they beat Bellflower High School today (4/30) to win their 7th consecutive Suburban League Championship. It was a great season for them and they deserve the recognition. Also, if possible, it would be nice to have the Mayfair Boys Varsity Track and Field Team as Athlete of the Week as they also defeated Bellflower to place 2nd in the Suburban League behind Cerritos after having a phenomenal season. They brought home many team trophys on Saturday invitationals against many top teams in the LA and Orange Counties and also Inland Empire. PLEASE consider both of these two great teams as they walked away with a great league record and it would be nice to see them get the recognition that rarely get, but deserve.

To all that sent in nominations, thank you.

If you would like to nominate an Athlete of the Week, please send an email to dave.werstine@presstelegram.com

Press-Telegram Softball Top 10

And the new No. 1 this week is....

1. San Pedro
2. Los Alamitos
3. Lakewood
4. St. Joseph
5. La Mirada
6. Mayfair
7. Carson
8. Wilson
9. Norwalk
10. Downey

Press-Telegram Baseball Top 10

1. Millikan
2. Downey
3. Gahr
4. Lakewood
5. Wilson
6. Paramount
7. La Mirada
8. Downey Calvary Chapel
9. Poly
10. Mayfair