Hills Big Today. When Melchor pitches Nogales stands a chance at beating most.I'm guessing he will be seeing more action as time goes by. Great job Kenny

CO/WC
Charter Oak Swept the double header.

Valle Vista

Whats funny is how BP might finish second this year.

?

Does anyone know who won & what the scores were of the Charter Oak / West Covina doubleheader on Saturday?

Is Covina baseball the new Ganesha/Pomona??? Can Pomona beat Covina? This is funny

Last night in a game played at Arrowhead Credit Union in San Bernardino Yucaipa hs beat AB Miller 9-1 led by the 2 hit pitching of Frankie Martin(CSF recruit). Yucaipa is one of the best teams in D2 and now has a great closer in sr 3b-p Matt Davidson(USC) who pitched the 7th inning. Davidson who earlier beat Damien is one of the best players to come out of the IE. As a frosh he was the San Bernardino county player of the year as a pitcher-1b and a member of the USA national team. He was Yucaipa's #1 pitcher the past 3 years and this year looks to be the closer. Yucaipa is in D2 with all the other great teams all over so-cal.

glendora i think got beat on a squeeze play that scored a run or two in game one then they unleashed the beast against some avg arms in game two. why cant the tartans put together some good games in league?

Longtime Damien,

you certainly know your stuff and thank you for clearing up any confusion. I sure hope we have a program again finally that will restore some respect to the baseball side of things at Damien. Damien has some faults, for sure, but it is a school with lots of character and good kids and those kids deserve quality programs. I too remember fondly many moments in Damien athletics. I remember the Dick Larson football days, the LeDuc basketball days, the Sheridan baseball days, which I consider to be the best in the 3 sports. Now I think we can be there again in each major sport on campus. I just hope this economy doesnt hurt our ability to bring in the quality athletes like we always have. I hope Gano, Dunn, and Leyva/Gross can help bring in those players. At least that's what I think the plan of Fr. Travers is. We'll see how it all plays out. Good luck to all!

glendora split losing the first game 3-1 and winning the second 15-5. I think Gonzalez and Smigelski pitched for sure but not sure which order or which game. A boxscore from the paper would sure be helpful. Just my take but I believe these two arms to be a better pair than the pair of Pluto and Cage who have been bombed in two straight outings vs bonita and diamond bar.

Does anyone know how Glendora did in their doubleheader yesterday? Who pitched for them?

For all you drive-by bloggers and haters whoever you are, let me set the record straight. Damien did win a playoff game in '05 with Robert Verdi, now the principal of Colton HS, at the helm. It is Damiens only playoff win from '01 to present. There may be some confusion with some on the blog because it was a wild card win that put damien into the first round where they subsequently lost. So, yes they did have a playoff win that year but Damien has not made it out of the first round since 2000 when they lost to Riverside Poly in round 2 (Sheridan's last game at helm), '99 when they lost to Poly in the semis (blew a 7-4 6th inn lead), or of course '97 when that infamous team won the d2 CIF title defeating La Mirada at Anaheim stadium. That title remains my all-time Damien sports moment, and I've seen hundreds. So hopefully these facts, amidst much garbage on the blog, will serve to educate those on the reality of the situation. Best of luck to the '09 Spartans! Hopefully they can win in the playoffs and etch their name in the Damine baseball history books. Good Day

sincerely,
A Longtime Damien Sports Lover

dosomethingfirst,

uh ????? damien's last playoff win was 05. when they were D 1. that would make it 4 years buddy....

dosomethingfirst,

uh ????? damien's last playoff win was 05. when they were D 1. that would make it 4 years buddy....

valleysports

What makes you think he was ineligible? You shouldn't say anything until knowing the truth. He has the grades now and then!

Leyva the man,

ok so you pronouncing yourselfs in the playoffs guaranteed after a 1-0 start? Ok all you other sierra league teams, damiens getting a little cocky after one game. If it sounds delusional, dont worry its just damien talking. Also why dont you ask your coach why he left claremont in a lurch and then why he did the same thing to laverne and ask him if he plans to do the same thing to this years freshmen when they're seniors. We'll see what happens. Furthermore, without gross Leyva couldn't and wouldn't do jack ****

Any info on CO. WC would appreciate..!

And you former Claremont players,

Maybe one of you should step up and coach cause I'm not sure that a little league coach is gonna cut it. I know, I got a better idea maybe you should start taking permits again from Pomona so some real athletes can can take the field in Wolfie uniforms.

dosomethingfirst,

Exactly! 5 games and we are 4-1. This thread began because pinheads like you want to pass judgement on something you know nothing about. I don't know if we will win one playoff game this year, but what I do know is that we will be in the playoffs and prepared for whoever we play. Leyva and Gross will be coaching, I will be in the stands watching and you will be sitting on you backside at home pounding sand holding on to the nineties. Now that I have made my point clear, let the man do his job and you shut your pie hole.

Leyva The Man

Give me your best agrument for Damien being the best team in the valley. Sounds a little emotional after 5 games, but take your best shot.

Then give me your agrument for "Leyva being the man" and have some history with you...

Way to go DR Nation! Looks like CO is delivering another spanking your way, imagine that?

Ok Al (aka Leyva the man),

we'll listen up

signed,
Former Claremont players

Walnut Colapse again. They just find a way to lose ballgames and give them away. No Disrespecting WC but Walnut just has this way of playing not to lose instead of play to win.

Damien hasnt done jack **** since the late 90's and I dont want to hear anything about how good they are until they win a friggen playoff game again. How long has it been? I believe 9 years if my memory serves me correctly. So until Leyva starts winning playoff games and brings the program to where it was in the late 90's then I dont want to hear it! Its only been 5 games

damien has an outstanding hs pitching staff that was underutilized by former coaches vasquez pro and others. leyva has walked into this staff and his success with the program going forward will be with the development of the underclassmen. at claremont he was not responsible for the development as much as the on field managing during the season. my opinion is hes a good hs coach but has always wanted more in terms of notoriety, expanded levels of coaching like his brother that once coached the phillies. commitment issues have been raised a couple different places but if damien gets this guy for the long haul they should be in good shape provided they still command a good enrollment of talent. my sources tell me their enrollment and talent base is down. plus as long as carroll stays there he will undermine in his way and make it difficult for leyva to excell to the fullest. right now i imagine is the honeymoon period there. time will tell.

How is that freshmen baseball player academically eligible at Charter Oak when he left South Hills at the end of first semester ineligible. Can't go from one school to another changing a player's eligibility. Grades sent over to CO on his transcript had him ineligible.

Listen Up Leyva Haters!

He is OUR coach and doing exactly what he is supposed to do and that is coach and win games. Gross is also doing what he was hired to do, taking a deep pitching staff and making them the best in the valley. My boy has been a part of the baseball program for a few years and I can tell you that Leyva is fair, coaches well, and is building a program. Most importantly, my son is inspired and excited to be part of the program, I couldn't say that before. If you don't have a boy in the Damien baseball program don't worry about Leyva. Leyva is doing just fine. In other words, mind your own business! His team is 4-1 and arguably the best team in the valley. Just remember that, before you spew you your toxic venom on the internet highway. We are #4 in the valley and moving up with a bullet. Even if we drop one or two along the way, Leyva is the man and building a program that many will flock to and others will loath because Damien will dominate.

Spartans Rule!

Go BullDogs..
W.Covina won 3-1 over Walnut on Fri.. Lets see how they do @ C.O. on Saturday should be a good game..

tuffquestions |

You sound pretty close to these two. What did they do at Claremont? Not much!

Gross left after kid left and he's more into hunting and his show than anything else. May know how to play the game but be a coach is a different story...

Leyva, we'll this guy can't be trusted and when times get tough, he's runs.

Just ask the Claremont group!1

Go Chargers ..!

Good work keep it up close games with good ball clubs,makes for good season..

SGV sports fan,
Cantwell no way! HUGE win for Amat! I'm joking if you didn't know! That's a joke when your so excited about beating Cantwell! how sad is that?

Whitey,

the admin got lucky with those two coaches but for how long? Given the past, that's a fair question. Also, I still contend that the next 2 offseasons will determine the damien program and whether it can become championship caliber like in 1997. Will Leyva stick around or go play fantasy minor leaguer? And will Gross continue to put the time in? And are they getting the talent to become championship caliber? Everybody, they're playing in div 2, not d4,5 stuff. There are some serious teams to go through.

Congrats to Bishop Amat Baseball on bouncing back with an impressive 17-0 win over Cantwell-Sacred Heart on Friday. Zuniga pitched a gem, great defense, awesome hitting led by shortstop Genzuk with 3 hits, 3rd baseman Rios, left fielder Anderson, and center fielder Rodgiguez all had key hits. Let's see if they can keep this up.

gabrielino 5 arroyo 3 - mission valley league. calvin chambers (2-1) 13 Ks, 31st strikeout served of season.

Bonita 5 Los Altos 0 Go Bearcats!

hey , Frank C. I told you about gross 6 months ago and how I learn more about baseball in 1 summer listening to him, than I aquired in the rest of my nearly sixty years combined......... you're right about Damien , no longer will the talent there be underdeveloped! The Administartion got very,very lucky with those 2 coaches.

Can't wait for the big game: Covina/Ganesha! that's going to be a barn burner.

Spartan Fan,

You have no clue on what your going to face against Diamond Bar! D.B.can flat out play.

Diamond Ranch better be dropped off of the top ten baseball list. They are horrible, they have zero pitching and no hitting! Drop em! That will be the last time this year that Diamond Ranch will be ranked higher than Diamond Bar. There is no comparison between the two.

One thing Henley better figure out right away.

Straight fastballs will kill you unless you know how to locate. Get Pluko out of of your buddies hands. He can't teach!

Another 5 HR's is killing us. Get a pitching coach or send out these kids for help.

Damien Wins Big!

Not sure what that means...? LA beat Chino Hills to get their only win this season so far! Not much of an accomplishment!

Michael Gonzales is the name of Glendora's third pitcher yesterday vs. Diamond Bar. He did a great job in limited work. He also shut down Diamond Ranch in 5 innings of work during the Glendora tournament. He's only a junior. Big things to come for that kid.

Said it before and I'll say it again...COACHING MATTERS !!!

Congratulations to the Damien Baseball team. Mark Garcia is a flat out stud and one of the nicest kids around. How this kid has flown under the radar is a mystery but hopefully he'll get his due this year.

Just caught wind of who Kevin Gross is and wow...a former Dodger as a pitching coach....pretty cool.

Maybe Father Travers will see the value of upgrading across the board. I've always believed the football program usually sets the tone for a school in terms of generating interest and bringing in talent, money and resources. Gano was a huge upgrade and now the Baseball team is shining bright, better days are clearly ahead.

Best of luck this year Spartans.

Spartan Fan,

Cant wait until we play you guys! Hopefully Whitehouse is pitching:)

Sincerely,

Brahma Baseball

Is San Dimas going to report their results this season?

Damien Wins Big!

Yesterdays game was not close. Whitehouse was spectacular. Each team in the Sierra League has one solid pitcher, but Damien is much deeper than anyone else. They still have Amhrein and Gonzales to pitch and a whole bunch of guys that can go 1,2, or 3 innings. They are so deep, this is what will make the difference in league and CIF. Additionally, the bats are alive and well. Ray Ortega 4/4 and Garcia 3/3 pounded yesterday. Garcia does it all, he pitches, fields and bats. He is the best all around player in league. Stay healthy and God Bless.

GO Damien!

Chester Pak is the real deal at DBHS. HUGE game against Glendora yesterday. I had read about Glendora's pitching and was anxious to see what they had to offer. Plutko's fastball is straight as an arrow and Cage throws about 80mph. Not impressed. They threw a guy in there to mop up in the 7th inning. He was their best pitcher by far. I don't know his name though. I'm guessing he will be seeing more action as time goes by. Great job Kenny....you and Jake are going to carry us to CIF!

DAMIEN IS THE REAL DEAL

San Dimas mercied Ganesha 12-1 in the 5th inning

Hey Diamond Ranch still want to play Diamond Bar in baseball? Remember all the smack talk about killing us in baseball?

WCHS Do they have hitting?

Word is that they have the makings of hittng ball club,frsh thru var..So if not this year next few..

Congratulations Diamond Bar! 0 errors! and bats on FIRE! Diamond Bar's defense played outstanding! closed the 5, 6 hole and used their cut off's on every hit. Mathews did a fantasic job!
This team played as a team! Let's take every game as it comes! Go DBHS!

So. Hills Big Today. When Melchor pitches Nogales stands a chance at beating most. When he is not on the mound Nogales becomes a normal team most can beat. West Covina / Walnut intresting game. Walnut needs pitching after what Diamond Bar and St. Francis did to them. West Covina has pitching but do they have the hitting?

Glendora loses 9-3 to Diamond Bar.
Plutko goes 5 innings.
6 earned runs on 3 HR's

Cage goes 1 inning.
3 earned runs on 2 HR's

Where is the pitching that everyone was talking about before the season started? I wasn't impressed with the Glendora bats either.

COVINA:
It's going to be a long,long,long,season. Hope you win one