Thanks Mates, Northview sweeps the boys from down under, winning friends instead of trophies
By Steve Ramirez
COVINA - It's nothing new to see the Northview High School baseball team playing a game in the summer. But the opponent Tuesday was noticeably different. Tyler Grijalva had three hits and two RBIs as the host Vikings completed a three-game exhibition series against the Australia Expos with a 7-4 victory. But the experience outweighed the wins for Northview, which also scored victories on Saturday and Sunday.
"When we set this up, we thought it be would fun," said Northview coach Darren Murphy, who received an Australian flag from the Expos after the game Tuesday. "We've never had an experience like this, playing Australians. But one of the things I like to do is give the kids a new experience. I gave myself one too. It's pretty emotional. Our kids got really close to these kids in three days. It was a cool experience."
The Expos, which feature players ranging from age 16 to 19 to form a varsity-level team, are in the middle of a California tour. They played a game in San Francisco before their three-game set against Northview, and they're scheduled to begin a five-game series in Redlands this weekend.
"We don't have high school baseball in Australia," said catcher Jake Webster, who went 2-for-2 and scored a run in Tuesday's series finale.
"This is all we have, and the experience is unbelievable. It's a great ground (field), great people. And it's a great experience coming here to play baseball against such a high-quality Northview team."
The Vikings, who won CIF- Southern Section Division IV in 2008 and advanced to the second round this past season, showed some of that ability early on.
Northview, also getting two hits from Eddie Pedroza and a solid pitching effort from Christian Raygoza, led 1-0 after two innings on an RBI single by Daniel Ramos before pushing the advantage to 4-0 in the third on RBIs by Grijalva and Pedroza and two Australia errors.
Australia, getting an RBI single from Webster and an RBI groundout from Jarrod Cavanagh, made it 5-2 in the sixth before Grijalva countered with a two-run single in the bottom of the inning for a 7-2 advantage.
"It was a great experience," Grijalva said. "It doesn't matter where they come from, they still play the game the same way as us. They play hard.
"It was great. The first day, one of their players came up to us and was real nice. The next thing you know we're talking to him for an hour or so. It was a great experience."
Australia - whose junior squad went 2-1 against Northview's junior varsity/freshman team - didn't go quietly, though. The Expos loaded the bases with two outs before making it 7-4 on a two-run single by Jake Thomson.
"That's what we are all about," Webster said. "We're happy we could come back and give them a little bit of a run at the end."
Northview's Johnny Soreian then struck out Colin Tilini to end it.
"This is going to be a (summer) tradition now," Murphy said. "They were very competitive. They know how to play, and are a good group of guys.
"We've played other summer teams, but this was something completely different, and it was fun.
"Who knows? Now there's talk about us maybe going to Australia one day."
steve.ramirez@sgvn.com
(626) 962-8811, Ext. 2296
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that last name GRIJALVA sound so familiar??
the reason they come to the usa to play baseball
is because no body gives a rats ass about baseball down under.
i play in the countrys winterball years ago
no crowd,no interest at all
its all about there assie football down under.
they think where pussy in the nfl
because we where helmets and pads..they should of caught on along time ago..
its not going to happen..
inless they put up the money and we take over all baseball down under mate.so as they say
go drink some piss and get shitty
This is an AWESOME story that I just now noticed. I am sorry for that. What a cool experience for the Vikings! This kinda stuff should happen to more San Gabriel Valley teams. I am always in support of "hands on education" in regards to other countries.
BRAVO VIKINGS!!!
Azusa Fan, not every school will grace the papers and have players names on the tips of every wagging tongue but high school sports is what it is. Basically a time to enjoy our kids, see old friends, and watch as our a community comes together for a common cause. The Azusa fans have been a breath of fresh air on this blog so thanks for that. We're all better off when we ignore those that seek to cause trouble for their own entertainment. Tell me what does the season look like for AHS and who are the big names to watch for. Also Azusa Fan could you please share the AHS teams that people should take notice of?
Best of luck this year.
Peace!
Heads Up,
I want to apologize for letting myself get to that level. I have alot of passion for the game and those comments brougth out the worst of me!
Overtime you get tired of hearing those types of remarks and i lost it. Thanks for putting things back in perspective.
PEACE!
GIOVANNI MEIR
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6467622.html
AZUSA FAN, don't let this person get under your skin. You have been a refreshing breath of fresh air showing an honest love of your school and a unabashed love for your son. The attacks you're under are just to get you riled up and will ultimately make you regret ever engaging this person(s). The sad fact of the matter is this person has done this over and over and over again yet never tires of this game. He will respond with half truths or out right lies just to keep you engaged and angry yet couldn't care less about any topic or position as long as some one engages his rants and makes a fool out of himself. You honestly care what he says, he doesn't.
A Town Fan,
You must have too many illegal fireworks taken away from you last night, so you all angry homey. This is about leagues and the way you wantin some with me just reiterates what I'm saying. The Montview League is thugville. Look at every team there, it's as badass as the talent in that league. Just get some more m80's and try lookin cool at the park holdin your pants up with hand in the pockets.
Now your TOPDI*K;
First you came in as LICKA... A LONG TIME... Now your TOPDIC*. Come on Vato LOCA, what's it going to be? By the way, what is it with you and your NUTS? Do you have to remind yourself that you have a pair, or you just fantasize about them. Your not no LOCO! Your a brother who's running his mouth and talking a lot of BS, CUZ...
Do me a favor bro, why don't you take alittle ride on the (A) TRAIN and pay me a little visit LOCA... This isn't about leagues no more Topper.. Come on BAD AZZ in SAN DIMAS YOUR GETTING, WHAT DID YOU CALLED IT, NUT SMELLY...
Azusa Fan,
"Don't you know I'm loco?" I said it, that's right, I said it. The Montview League is about as good as the bottom of my nuts smell. Be honest homeboy, don't take it personal or you feeling like you have to call me out to represent cuz you from A-Town...chill dawg, no other compadres online making sure you keepin' it real. This is a blog, no warfare. You make think where I'm from sucks...SO WHAT, I don't give a damn..all I know it aint no BS, your league sucks!!!
Licka what nuts?
Come-on, where you at? You came in here all billy bad azz banging your chest like KING KONG! This wasn't your conversation and you took it upon yourself to ear hustle and then run your mouth. Your little story, and what you think of Montview View league was pretty degrading to me! I hope I run into you someday, and then you could tell your cute little story again directly to me, instead of the computer. Next time mind your own business and hold your tongue.
LICKA, WHAT'S UP PUNK? COME ON (STUD) WHERE YOU AT??? YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT HAVING NUTS. This has nothing to do with this blog now. I'm waiting... Come ON WOMEN, lets go shopping at LOWES.
BTW I'M IN AZUSA AND WHAT FOOL.
LICKAMYNUTS;
You know what, i'm taking this personal punk! I'll tell you what SAN DIMAS sh*t head! Your so bad to say your from San Dimas, let me know where you at. I'm in AZUSA,i'm around 5 miles from their. Better yet meet me at LOWES! YOU TELL ME THE DAY AND TIME AND I'll BE THERE! LICKA...
Didn't your SAN DIMAS CHUMPS GET SPANKED BY ROSEMEAD! or maybe because your baseball team won, now your running your mouth!.
Azusa Fan,
You mention a visit to Azusa, Bassett, Workman, La Puente, and Gladstone to see the football practices...why? I can just go to local pop warner leagues and see the undersized go getters doing their thing. You see, it's like when the women think they can play football or when men think they can shop as good as women...it's just not going to happen. I'm sorry, but if you are stud, you gotta leave that little league and come play with the big boys. Montview League is like bowling with bumpers put on. BTW, I'm from San Dimas. Home of The Champs.
AMAT 73'
I APPRECIATE the support! Like you said, these people that come in here making those comments never say what league or school their supporting, and It must make them feel real good and proud! But in reality they sound very foolish. I know the Montview league is not in top of the food chain, but the constant bashing and the remarks on how bad the league is not COOL!
Some of the Montview League Schools are headed in the right direction, but truth of the matter is we lack the size,weight and speed like the other leagues. But you know what AL and Jackie! were good with that, and were just as happy to watch football on Friday's Nights just like the other LEAGUES! Oh yes and believe me the these schools are competeing against each other to win the Montview League Title!
I have an idea AL and Jackie for you both, why don't you come out to either AZUSA, gladstone,Duarte, Workman,Sierra Vista,Bassett and La Puente High Schools and tell these coaches how bad their FOOTBALL PROGRAMS are as their having practices, and see what kind of feed back you get!
What is all this bashing of the Montview league. To those that compete in the league it is just as important as any league in the SGV and rightfully so as we are all in this valley together.If one goes to CIF we should support them as you would want them to support us.At least man up and let us know where you are coming from,what league or school so we know what you base your idiotic bashing on. Hey Al what team or league do you watch or back that is not torture to watch.
Azusa Fan,
It it what it is...the Montview League is the ugly stepchild of the SGV. Doesn't mean there isn't 1 good one in the bunch, but as a whole, it's nothing to brag about. By the way, they up to coach pitch yet or still hitting off the tee in the Montview League?
Hey al;
you just had to throw your worthless two cents about the Montview League in. I bet anything you've done in your athletic career, can't come close to what some of these Kids HAVE DONE in that league!
Go ahead what you got? PEE WEE LEAGUER!
Watching a passing league game in football is like watching a group of baseball players play pepper in left field for an hour. Passing league games are overhyped games in the summer where offensive cooridinators are running a passing league offense and linebackers are flying out of their positions to go defend the pass. Is this real? Baseball is boring I'm about to hear right...well, for those who haven't played, they are the ones that say that...for those who are good and love the game never say baseball is boring. sometimes the patient game is ok to like. By the way, anything from the Montview League is torture to watch.
FBF SUCKS;
OH YES, watching a passing league game against Workman, is something to watch! This will be our competition this year and the Montview League title will be on the line this year.
Don't get me wrong, there's nothing like watching a good game of baseball, but I rather watch a good intense FOOTBALL PASSING LEAGUE GAME...
Watching a high school passing game in summer
sounds more exciting to me than watching a high school summer baseball game, its just a matter of ones taste, but I will say that it must have been a real neat experience to meet and play with fellow baseball players from another country.
Especially if some of the kids from each opposing team established friendships with each other and are now looking forward to meeting again. Its a great life experience for these boys.
FBSucks,
I was a 3 sport athlete in high school and a 2 sport athlete (football and baseball) in college. I don't say this to talk about myself, but simply to give my argument more validity. You can quote me when I say that football takes much more preperation than baseball. On a football field, you have elaborate blocking schemes, route running, reading of the defense/offense, and several times when you have to know how to react to certain things.
You have these baseball coaches who take hours and hours of BP and guess what the kids are still going to be kids and screw up. I'm not saying the kids don't screw up things in football, but people aren't playing football games a week after football season has ended.
I'm not knocking baseball at all. I love baseball. I just don't see the need to be playing in a game when the season ended a week ago. Football is right around the corner and we all know high school football generates more excitement and o yeah, football makes money for schools while baseball doesn't.
And BTW FBSucks, I play fantasy baseball, not fantasy football.
I involved in baseball and football during summer time. but i have to say that FBF SUCKS knows nothing about football.
FBN,
When it's April and we're getting spring football updates on stupid crap, is that what we need to read about at that time? Just skip the article and get back to your spring ball updates or fantasy football league you're in. What about kids that don't play football? Should they just sit around and wait for football? Summertime is 100% baseball time. Has and always will be. Haven't you heard the term "The Boys of Summer" that's refering to baseball players. OMG, i'm getting excited because of passing league contest between workman and azusa tomorrow. you kidding me, a touch football game. we played those on the street growing up.
Baseball doesn't start until April. Shouldn't these baseball guys be more concerned about summer passing leagues and linemen competitions especially since football is right around the corner. I don't understand how all these baseball guys think they have to play year round