We can peak ahead, coaches can’t …

Coaches and players can’t talk about the “next” round, but reporters can. Huge semifinal coin flips were held at the CIF-SS office on Wednesday, with the results as follows. In D-2 baseball, Glendora would be at home against Mira Costa and on the road at La Mirada. Damien is home no matter what against either Yucaipa or Santa Barbara. In D-3, Bonita is on the road at either San Gorgonio or Paloma Valley and Bishop Amat would be home over sweltering Indio (thank goodness) and on the road against Fullerton. In softball, Bonita would be on the road at Ayala or Aliso Niguel in D-3 while Glendora would be home against Chino Hills, or on the road at Oaks Christian. In D-5, San Dimas would be home against Whittier Christian or on the road at San Marino. South Hills would be at home against either Savanna or La Canada.

Below: Bonita coach Ken Carlson, hoping to guide his No. 1 Cats all the way to the finals.

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

Quarterfinal Shakers: The Glendora’s and Bonita’s looking swell, leading eight to the Elite Eight

Three of the four softball teams hit the road in the quarters while three of the four baseball teams are at home. I’m starting to really, really wonder if Bonita and Glendora are on a collision course in the D-3 softball playoffs. When you hear of how the Tartans won it, surviving in 12 innings after La Habra’s dramatic comeback, and Bonita getting another shutout from the big lefty, it makes you wonder if this is destined to happen. San Dimas and South Hills in particular have looked great in the D-5 playoffs, but now they’re both facing powerful Olympic League teams, which also boasts No. 1 Whittier Christian, which is still in the playoffs. In baseball, there have been some upsets in D-2, particularly Damien, which knocked off No. 3 Redlands East Valley. It’s appearing more and more that with some fortune, Glendora and Damien could reach the semis, then who knows? Is that too much to ask? Bonita, Bonita, Bonita, the baseball team we (I) keep overlooking. All they’ve done is win, and now they’re doing it dramatically in the form of seventh-inning rallies, the formula teams use to stretch chemistry to championships. If you’re not pulling for them, you don’t like feel-good stories. Bishop Amat? I got the text they were trailing 6-4 in the 6th and almost dropped my cell. Twenty minutes later, they were up 14-6 and cruising. Now at home, or uh, at Rio Hondo College and with the “Animal” on the mound, should Amat honks really be worried?


Above: Glendora’s “Gnarly” Carly Argyle survives a 12-inning marathon in a win over La Habra.

CIF-Southern Section Quarterfinals
Thursday’s games
Softball
Division 3

Mission Viejo at Bonita, 3:15 p.m.
Glendora at Warren, 3:15 p.m.
Division 5
San Dimas at Sun Valley Village Christian, 3:15 p.m.
South Hills at Cerritos Valley Christian, 3:15 p.m.

Baseball
Friday’s games
Division 2

Placentia Valencia at Glendora, 3:15 p.m.
Damien at El Toro, 3:15 p.m.
Division 3
Lancaster at Bonita, 3:15 p.m.
Division 4
Torrance vs. Bishop Amat at Rio Hondo College, 3:15 p.m.

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

Baseball Results: Bishop Amat, Damien, Bonita, Glendora advance; South Hills, Northview lose

Long trips worth it for Glendora, Bishop Amat, but not South Hills … Read on

Damien knocks off third-seed Redlands East Valley, behind more strong pitching and timely hitting.
Mier lifts Bonita to dramatic win in the bottom of the seventh.

CIF-Southern Section baseball playoffs
Today’s second round results

Division 2
Glendora 5, Harvard-Westlake 3
Damien 6, Redlands East Valley 2
Division 3
Lancaster 8, South Hills 7
Bonita 2, Downey 1
Division 4
Bishop Amat 14, Colony 6
Indio 14, Northview 4
Division 5
Lompoc 4, Sierra Vista 0

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

Softball Results: Glendora wins marathon in 12 innings, San Dimas, Bonita, South Hills win; Arroyo, Northview, Bishop Amat all bow out


San Dimas pitcher Kortnie Clark shows her relief after the Saints held on for a 7-5 win over West Covina. San Dimas took a 7-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh, but a homer and grand slam got the Bulldogs back in it. They actually brought the tying runner to the plate, but a pop out ended it.

Today’s CIF-SS Playoff Results
Softball
Division 2

Bonita 1, Sunny Hills 0
Glendora 11, La Habra 6, 12 innings
Division 4
Aquinas 3, Bishop Amat 2
Division 5
San Dimas 7, West Covina 5
South Hills 18, Barstow 0
La Canada 4, Northview 3
Division 6
Grace Brethren 10, South El Monte 8
La Salle 2, Arroyo 1

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

Spring Football: Walnut trio making it tough to name a starting quarterback

By Aram Tolegian, Staff Writer
Walnut High School’s football team has gotten an early jump on the season, but that hasn’t made the quarterback battle an easier decision for coach Mike O’Shields. The Mustangs are auditioning three would-be signal callers for the job of throwing to Washington-bound receiver Aubrey Coleman. The race is between senior-to-be Brandon Roach and juniors-to-be Kevin Lopez and Chris Mendez. (To continue, click thread)>

Continue reading “Spring Football: Walnut trio making it tough to name a starting quarterback” »

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

Muir’s legendary football and track coach, Jim Brownfield, passed on Monday. He was 81

Jim Brownfield, who coached John Muir High School to national prominence in the 1980s and 90s, died Monday. He was 81. The two-time national coach of the year spent 16 years at Muir – from 1980-1996 – compiling a 191-14-1 record, 22 league titles and six CIF championships. Under Brownfield, Muir won two CIF-Southern Section football titles in 1985 and 1986. He led the girls Mustangs track team to four CIF-SS track tiles and two CIF State tiles in 1985 and 1989.

San Gabriel Valley Newspaper Group Managing Editor Steve Hunt, the Pasadena Star-News prep editor during Jim Brownfield’s tenure at Muir, wrote a touching column on Monday honoring Jim:

James Lewis Brownfield was one of the most amazing men I ever had the good fortune to know, report on, and count as a friend. I was unprepared for his death Monday, even though I knew he had been in poor health since he underwent heart surgery more than a year ago. (To continue, click thread)

Continue reading “Muir’s legendary football and track coach, Jim Brownfield, passed on Monday. He was 81” »

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email