Are the Titans on the Road to Omaha?


Above: This photo courtesy of CWSomaha.com shows the quest for all 64 teams in the NCAA Division I baseball tournament – Omaha’s Rosenblatt Statium.

As you all know, Fred’s biggest passion outside of prep sports, is his beloved Lakers.
Mine includes the Cal State Fullerton baseball team, which is on the right path on the Road to Omaha and the College World Series. I followed the Titans to Omaha in 2001 and 2003, and have been to every home Regional and Super Regional since 2000. I also traveled to a regional in San Diego two years ago. To continue reading click thread

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The biggest decision baseball coaches make on Tuesday is who to pitch. Do you stay with No. 1, or go with No 2? It’s never an easy decision

I always find the second game of the baseball playoffs the most interesting. I remember a few years back watching Temple City’s big stud Ryan Tucker pitch game one, pitch game two (started a new week), throw three innings in game three, and come back to start in the semifinals (game four) because it’s a new week again. Your No. 1 pitcher can almost carry you to the championship game if that’s what you choose to do. Division IV hasn’t played since last Thursday, so what do teams like Northview, Bishop Amat and San Dimas due on Tuesday? Do they stay with their No.1’s or go to their No 2’s like a normal week. Even teams that played Friday have the same decision, especially a team like Sierra Vista, who has a No. 1 in Christian Huerta that could carry them a few rounds. These are do-or-die scenarios, so expect the best to be on the hill if they’re available?

Below: The Northview-St. Paul game is a perfect example, will Vikings coach Darren Murphy stay with Eric Ruvalcaba (pictured below), who threw a shutout in the first round or go to left Eddie Pedroza? The same is true for St. Paul, do they stay with No. 1 Gabe Encinas, or take their chances with hard-throwing Chris Wilson, the former South Hills Covina resident who knows the Vikings well? Decisions, Decisions.

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The Scouting Guru is back with a Top Ten of the best football teams in the Inland Empire

I listened to what everyone said about expanding our blog coverage to the Inland Empire. I will not overdue it, but I think including all Sierra League teams in here is fine because of the crossovers with Glendora, Diamond Bar and Damien. We should also be including Ganesha and Pomona too. Football is a different story. Each week I will do an Inland Empire football top ten in the fall, and let the Scouting Guru do his thing as well. There’s nothing wrong with giving I.E. folks a thread to talk. So, the Guru has a Spring Top Ten Inland Empire Poll that he broke down over the weekend. Check it out by clicking on the thread….

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Play Prep Editor, If you had to pick four games to cover, which ones would you choose?

This looks like a first round, so many San Gabriel Valley teams still alive in the “Sweet 16,” but Tuesday is separation day. With that in mind, what are the must-cover games?

CIF-SS Baseball and Softball playoffs
Tuesday’s semifinals
Baseball
Division II

Dos Pueblos (16-11) at Damien (20-8)
Notre Dame (23-5) at Chino Hills (17-10)
Division III
Charter Oak (16-9) at Palmdale (14-13)
Los Altos (13-11) at Santa Monica (17-14)
South Hills (18-8) at Hemet (17-9-1)
Bonita (20-5) at Alhambra (17-10)
Division IV
Bishop Amat (24-5) at La Habra (17-8)
San Dimas (20-5) at Sonora (18-10)
Northview (21-4) at St. Paul (17-12)
Division V
Sierra Vista (19-6) at Sultana (15-8)

Softball
Division III

Los Altos (21-6) at Oak Park (17-10)
Ayala (21-10) at Aliso Niguel (19-10-1)
Alemany (21-7) at Chino HIlls (21-10-1)
Knight (21-5-1) at Glendora (19-4)
Division IV
Lakeside (14-8) at Bishop Amat (17-12)
Division V
San Dimas (22-4) at La Canada (19-7)
San Jacinto (17-5) at Azusa (16-8)
South Hills (16-9-1) at Village Christian (24-5)
Northview (16-8) at Woodcrest Christian (17-9)
Whittier Christian (20-6) at Rowland (14-13)
Santa Ana Calvary Chapel (19-6-1) at West Covina (15-10)
Division VI
Big Bear (14-11) at Arroyo (14-9)
South El Monte (19-6) at Desert Mirage (13-10)

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Karynn Dunn dominating again, wins three more CIF-SS titles; Price duo, Rogers also win

Qualifiers for Friday’s Masters Meet in Cerritos

Diamond Ranch’s Karynn Dunn won in her signature events, the 110 hurdles, long and triple jump, giving her six Division III individual titles since last year. How did the Price siblings and other fair? Read it all from our track man, Andrew Campa.

Also, check out Keith Birmingham’s photo gallery, more than three dozen pictures from Saturday’s championships.

CIF-Southern Section Division I, II, II, IV Results, All Here!

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Calvary Murrieta softball forfeits game because of illegal batting practice, what a shame

All season we tossed wiffle balls at the girls before games. This is my first year as head coach, and If I had known that this was not allowed during the playoffs, I would not have done itCalvary Murrieta coach Tiffany Bleil.

The Division V’s top softball seed Calvary Murrieta forfeited its 4-0 victory over Barstow because it participated in an illegal pre-game whiffle-ball batting practice. Yes it’s true, and San Dimas could benefit because they were on track to meet Murreita in the quarterfinals. Why does it feel like the punishment doesn’t fit the crime. Take away a home game maybe, but the season? I’ve always hated this rule, and wonder why opposing coaches or athletic directors call you on it. If a coach see’s this happening, why can’t you walk over and explain what they’re doing is illegal. If he argues and continues on, then pursue it and turn it over to CIF. But if the coach shows genuine remorse, and may not know the rule and stop immediately, then shake hands and play. Or like I always say, “Do the Right Thing.” Who wants to win this way? And more importantly, you’re punishing kids that worked all season, and their entire careers for an opportunity they will never get back because of a silly rule. I know as a competitor, I wouldn’t want to put my uniform back on if I advanced this way.
Steve’s take: This one of the rare occasions where Fred and I disagree. To me, this is a rule to combat an unfair advantage, and Calvary Murrieta won a playoff game by having an unfair advantage. The Murrieta coach can say she didn’t know the rule, but isn’t there an adage that states ignorance of the law is no excuse? She states that they hit with whiffle balls throughout the season. I guess she doesn’t know that there’s a difference between that and the real thing. But I think what it really comes down to is: There was a playoff game played, the team that won had an unfair advantage, and when that happens, the winner must forfeit.

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Lets add the Inland Empire to our blog coverage

We have boundaries for the Tribune, Bulletin and Sun, but we can do whatever we want on the blog. With more commenters trickling in from Ayala, Chino Hills, Chino etc, as we move forward we will include these teams in the blog so their fans have a place to vent and talk about their games. It won’t be as thorough as our local teams, but as we get into the fall, I will do an Inland Empire top ten football thread, and track their scores on Friday nights. So this is to all you Inland Empire folks, which teams should I concentrate on most and why?

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