Jack Renkens from Recruiting Realities will be at Diamond Ranch at 7 p.m. tonight to give his motivational speech on the recruiting process, and it’s free for anyone interested in attending. Renkens is a motivational speaker who tours the country informing parents, players and coaches about the realities of the recruiting process and college sports.
With all the talk about Bishop Amat and Northview, the spoiler will be San Dimas.
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Today’s wild-card resutls
Division II
Glendora 10, West Torrance 1
Damien 10, Miller 4
Chino Hills 5, Burroughs 2, 8 inn
Division III
El Rancho 6, Walnut 3
Laguna Hills 6, Wilson 1
Los Altos 3, Elsinore 3
Division IV
Baldwin Park 6, Carpinteria 5
Division V
Cathedral 3, Arroyo 2
Citrus Hill 14, Azusa 3
Gladstone 9, Bosco Tech 2
Division II locals: Glendora (WC), Damien (WC), Chino Hills (WC), Chino.
Division II seeds: 1. El Toro, 2. Yucaipa, 3. Notre Dame, 4. Palos Verdes.
What should happen: The Sierra teams received tough draws, but it is what it is, making it extremely tough for the wild card teams to get out of week one. This isn’t like softball, pitching is a problem since teams will throw No. 1’s today and go with No. 2’s in the first-round on Thursday.
Prediction: Glendora and Damien will win wild card games at home. The Tartans would get another wild-card winner in round one, but then a huge second round game against top-seed El Toro ends their season, but will be fun to watch. Damien might want to throw their No. 2 today in hopes of having a chance on Thursday against No. 4 seed Palos Verdes. I know that’s not conventional wisdom, but why not take a shot. I wouldn’t be surprised if a Sierra team gets to the quarters, but getting two that far doesn’t appear realistic.
Division III locals: Charter Oak, South Hills, Nogales, Bonita, Walnut (WC), Wilson (WC), Los Altos (WC)
Division III seeds: 1. Beckman, 2. Bonita, 3. San Gorgonio, 4. Lancaster
What should happen: First, scratch all the wild cards, none of them will get to the first round. The top seeds are tough, but this could be a division full of surprises.
Prediction: For a No. 2 seed, Bonita could face a very tough game in the second round against Alhambra, but they should survive to face South Hills in the quarterfinals. In fact, I like Bonita’s chances of reaching the championship game. In fact, pencil it in. Nogales is my sleeper. They have a great No. 1 pitcher in Andrew Melchor, arguably as good as anyone in the division. Melchor could pitch games one and two, and two could be against Charter Oak in the second round. The quarterfinals could come against No. 1 Beckman, which likely ends Nogales’ season. But don’t count out the Nobles, I’ve seen teams ride No. 1 pitchers in the playoffs, and they’re riding this destiny thing. Does Bonita win it all? I’m not feeling it, but won’t be surprised if they do.
Division IV locals: Bishop Amat, Northview, San Dimas, Baldwin Park
Division IV seeds: 1. Bishop Amat, 2. Northview, 3. Torrance, 4. San Dimas.
What should happen: Bishop Amat and Northview meeting in the championship game, but hold that thought.
Prediction: I felt all along that Northview and Bishop Amat are good, just not as good as last year. But that doesn’t mean they’re not good enough to get back to the championship, I just won’t be surprised if they get knocked out along the way. Northview’s big hurdle could come in the second round against St. Paul, who has two solid pitchers to throw at them. Here’s how I will break this down, San Dimas will play Bishop Amat in the semifinals, and I’m predicting the big upset, Saints over the Lancers in a thriller. Northview will get past St. Paul and find its way to the championship, but San Dimas comes full circle and knocks off the Vikings in Anaheim. It’s about redemption, hunger, and a good story (haha). Bishop Amat-Northview seems to good to be true. This is the year of the spoiler, and who better to play the role than Mike Regan’s Saints.
Division V locals: Sierra Vista, South El Monte, La Puente, Arroyo (WC), Azusa (WC), Gladstone (WC).
What should happen: Quick early exit by local teams? Not so fast. There aren’t a bunch of world beaters in this division, and we have some teams that could make runs.
Predictions: I like Gladstone to win its wild card, but then it gets No. 2 Santa Ynez. Season over. Because Sierra Vista has one of the best pitchers in the division, I like their chances of reaching the quarterfinals, then it gets tougher against No. 1 San Jacinto. La Puente could win their first game, but Maranatha’s a tough second round game. All in all, I’m rooting for the Dons. Wouldn’t be shocked at all if they got to the semifinals, but history tells us otherwise.
Above: South El Monte’s Reina Gaber hopes to take the Eagles all the way
Today’s Wild-Card games
Division III
Charter Oak 6, Arcadia 4
Chino Hills 4, Mission Viejo 2, 10 innings
Division V
Schurr 8, Gladstone 3
Rowland 2, Riverside Notre Dame 1
Covina 9, Magnolia 1
Cerritos Valley Christian 6, La Puente 0
Division III locals: Los Altos, Bonita, Glendora, Charter Oak (WC).
Top Seeds: 1. Cajon, 2. Oaks Christian, 3. Crescenta Valley, 4. Ayala
What should happen: Top seeds should do well. This is an extremely tough draw for the best teams in our area. Even if Glendora gets past either Downey or Dana Hills, they would probably get Knight in the second round, a 16-4-1 team that could mean good night for the Tartans. Chances are Los Altos will likely get Sonora, a tough 16-12 team that finished third in the competitive Freeway league. That’s a coin toss. Then there’s Bonita, who will likely get Chino Hills. Tartans coach Reese Mitchell said Chino Hills is the best hitting team in the Sierra, which probably means one-and-done for the Cats.
Prediction: Bonita will not get out of the first round and because of its late season scoring problems, Glendora will probably lose in the second round. If Los Altos gets past round one, I like their chances of reaches the quaterfinals, but that’s as far as they can go.
Division IV locals: Bishop Amat
Top Seeds seeds: 1. Ocean View, 2. El Segundo, 3. Santa Monica, 4. St. Joseph.
What should happen: You would expect the Lancers to make another deep run after reaching the championship last year, but this isn’t the same team and the road appears much tougher.
Prediction: The Lancers lose in game one against Morro Bay, the second place team from the Los Padres league with a 20-4 overall record. They’re probably the best team from the Los Padres, but they finished a game back of St. Joseph.
Division V locals: San Dimas, Azusa, South Hills, Northview, Sierra Vista, West Covina, Gladstone (WC), Rowland (WC), Covina (WC), La Puente (WC).
Division V seeds: 1. Calvary Murrieta, 2. Riverside Christian, 3. Montebello, 4. Village Christian.
What should happen:This is the division where you will likely play “something” Christian. The only team with a realistic chance of doing anything is San Dimas, though it has a tough road having to likely play top-seed Calvary Murrieta in the quarters. The only wild-card team with a chance of moving on is Rowland, which could give Sierra Vista all it can handle in a first-round game, though I will go with the Dons.
\Predictions: San Dimas gets to the quarterfinals and gets knocked out. West Covina will get to the second round and the more I look at the draw, I like Sierra Vista’s chance of reaching the quarters should they get past Rowland. Other than than, everyone else will be one-and-done.
Division VI locals: South El Monte, Arroyo
Division VI seeds: 1. La Salle, 2. Maranatha, 3. Marymount, 4. South El Monte
Thursday’s first round: Arroyo at Baptist Christian; Sacred Heart of Jesus at South El Monte
What should happen: Anything, it’s a wide-open division with no bonafide threats. This isn’t a great year even by La SAlle and Maranatha’s standards, and they’re the top seeds.
Prediction: South El Monte will win the championship. With the exception of Lone Pine (16-6), I don’t see anything stopping the Eagles from marching to the semifinals and probably playing La Salle, who they will beat. Reina Garber is a senior and ready for this, and this team has played tougher competition in local tournaments.
Bill Schroeder was a little man who accomplished big things.
Among those accomplishments was the “inventing” of All-CIF teams. Before Schroeder, individual honors in high school athletics were viewed as gauche. Now, they are an accepted part of the sports landscape.
Schroeder inaugurated All-CIF teams in 1937. Working at the Helms Hall of Fame, he saw two things: 1) High school sports were becoming increasingly popular; 2) Southern California’s prep athletes were among the nation’s best.
Continue reading “Jim McConnell: Our Then & Now columnist takes a journey through CIF history” »
Click here for a look at the CIF-SS playoffs draw
Bishop Amat celebrates second of back-to-back Division V titles. The Lancers are looking to 3-peat and are expected to be the top seed in Division IV.
Division II seeds: 1. El Toro, 2. Yucaipa, 3. Notre Dame, 4. Palos Verdes.
Tuesday’s wild-card: West Torrance at Glendora, A.B. Miller at Glendora, Chino Hills at Burroughs Burbank.
Thursday’s first-round: West Torrance/Glendora winner vs. Pasadena-Redlands East Valley winner; Damien/AB Miller winner at Palos Verdes; Chino HIlls/Burroughs winner at La Mirada, Huntington Beach/Glenn winner at Chino.
Division III seeds: 1. Beckman, 2. Bonita, 3. San Gorgonio, 4. Lancaster
Tuesday’s wild card: Walnut at El Rancho, Wilson at Laguna Hills, Los Altos at Elsinore
Friday’s first round: Cajon at Charter Oak, Quartz Hill at South Hills, Pacific/Eastside winner at Bonita; Palmdale/Montebello winner at Nogales; Walnut/El Rancho winner at Downey; Wilson/Laguna Hills winner at Lancaster; Los Altos-Elsinore winner at Orange.
Division IV seeds: 1. Bishop Amat, 2. Northview, 3. Torrance, 4. San Dimas.
Tuesday’s wild-card: Carpinteria at Baldwin Park
Thursday’s first round: Santa Ana Calvary Chapel/North Torrance winner at Bishop Amat; Laguna Beach at San Dimas, Granite Hills/Indio winner at Northview
Division V seeds: 1. San Jacinto, 2. Santa Ynez, 3. Maranatha, 4. Woodcrest Christian
Tuesday’s wild-card: Cathedral at Arroyo; Citrus Hill at Azusa, Gladstone at Bosco Tech.
Friday’s first-round: Arrowhead Christian at Sierra Vista; South El Monte at Downey Calvary Chapel, Mary Star at La Puente; Arroyo/Cathedral winner at San Jacinto; Azusa/Citrus Hills winner at Maranatha; Gladstone/Bosco Tech winner at Santa Ynez.
Click here for a look at the CIF-SS playoffs draw
West Covina celebrates Friday’s San Antonio League clinching victory over South Hills
Division III seeds: 1. Cajon, 2. Oaks Christian, 3. Crescenta Valley, 4. Ayala
Tuesday’s wild card: Arcadia at Charter Oak
Thursday’s first round: Sonora/Paramount winner at Los Altos, Chino Hills/Mission Viejo winner at Bonita; Downey/Dana Hills winner at Glendora; Arcadia/Charter Oak winner at Knight.
Division IV seeds: 1. Ocean View, 2. El Segundo, 3. Santa Monica, 4. St. Joseph.
Thursday’s first round: Bishop Amat at Morro Bay
Division V seeds: 1. Calvary Murrieta, 2. Riverside Christian, 3. Montebello, 4. Village Christian.
Tuesday’s wild card: Gladstone at Schurr; Notre Dame at Rowland, Covina at Magnolia, Valley Christian at La Puente
Thursday’s first round: Gladstone/Schurr winner at San Dimas; Azusa at Victor Valley; Keppel at South Hills; Northview at Savanna; Rowland/Notre Dame winner at Sierrra Vista; Valley Christian/La Puente winner at West Covina; Covina-Magnolia winner at Calvary Chapel.
Division IV seeds: 1. La Salle, 2. Maranatha, 3. Marymount, 4. South El Monte
Thursday’s first round: Arroyo at Baptist Christian; Sacred Heart of Jesus at South El Monte
Saturday’s CIF-Southern Section prelims results
Division I, Division II, Division III, Division IV
The CIF-SS Finals are Saturday at Cerritos College