The records continued to fall for Glendora High School junior Gretchen Jaques at the Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach during Tuesday’s CIF-Southern Section Masters Meet, which is a collection of the best of the best from the four CIF-SS divisions. Jaques, who owns the CIF-SS overall record in the 200-yard individual medley, a time of 1 minute, 57.91 seconds she set at the Division 2 finals on Saturday, blew away the competition in the Masters medley. She won by almost four seconds, finishing in 1:58.88 to set the Masters Meet record and breaking Chaminade’s Meghan Hawthorne’s previous record of 2:01.18 that she set in 2008. Jaques also set a Masters record later in the 100 breaststroke, winning in 1:00.47 to break Jordan Danny of Hart’s 2008 record of 1:02.19.

El Rancho wanted no part of Diamond Ranch’s Rouric Bridgewater, perhaps the best kept secret in the San Gabriel Valley (I know, blame us). Bridgewater, batting .588 with 10 home runs, 40 RBIs, 11 doubles and four triples, hit a home run in the first inning then was intentionally walked four times in the Panthers’ eight-inning 9-8 win. The lesson here: Maybe if they waked him five times El Rancho would have won.

Above: La Serna’s Connor Burke (7) knocks the ball loose from Los Altos catcher Steven Camberos (2) as he slides in safely at home plate in their 2-1 wild-card win over the Conquerors.

Tuesday’s Wild Card results
Baseball
Division 2
Chaminade 3, Diamond Bar 2
Division 3
Diamond Ranch 9, El Rancho 8, 8 innings
Palmdale 6, Nogales 3
La Serna 2, Los Altos 1
Division 4
La Salle 3, Covina 2
Division 5
San Jacinto 10, Mountain View 0
Serrano 3, Gladstone 1
Santa Ynez 7, Azusa 3

Softball
Division 3
Cajon 10, St. Lucy’s 0
Dana Hills 4, Los Altos 2
Division 5
Rowland 15, Gladstone 0
Covina 13, Tahquitz 0
Sierra Vista 1, Montebello 0

Division 2
This is like trying to predict the Central Division football playoffs, where upsets aren’t really upsets, and anyone can be knocked off in any round. This is the toughest of all the divisions, but the fact is even if you’re a Glendora fan and want to pencil them through with your heart, it’s a the smart bet anyway because they have a great No. 1 in Adam Plutko with the staff support to go deep. It’s a challenge, but the Tartans have as good as shot as anyone. Damien could get No. 3 seed Redlands East Valley in the second round, but I’m not sure they have the pitching depth to win round-after-round like Glendora. Same goes for Diamond Bar, who have to win a wild-card game. So, here is how it will shake out.
Semifinals
Glendora vs. La Mirada
El Toro vs. Crespi
Championship
Glendora over Crespi

Division 3
Beckman and Alhambra are the top two seeds, but South Hills is still the best in the division and will prove it again. Huskies pitcher Andrew Morales showed me a lot in his 4-3 loss to Bishop Amat. He wasn’t afraid of the pressure or the crowd, nearly out-pitching Amat’s Paul Paez. He’s a gamer plus they have a guy named Dakota Behr who can pitch too. Bonita has been such a surprise, but too bad they would have to play the Huskies in the quarters. If they didn’t do it last year, not sure how they can this year. Walnut will be my sleeper, getting an unproven team like No. 4 Hemet in the second round that they can handle, so here is how it shakes out.

Semifinals
Beckman vs. Walnut
South Hills vs. Alhambra
Championship
South Hills over Beckman

Division 4
Look, if Bishop Amat doesn’t win it, it will be the biggest upset in any division by far. Hope that doesn’t add any pressure, it’s just the truth. They know it, you know it, we all know it. So who will be there with them? I absolutely loves Northview’s draw, especially if Eddie Pedroza is healthy. Oaks Christian could be dangerous if they meet in the quarters, but I like them to sneak though. St. Paul, Monrovia and Palm Desert are the best bets in the bottom half. Don’t sleep on St. Paul, they have a 1-2 punch on the mound better than anyone outside of Amat.

Semifinals
Bishop Amat vs. Northview
St. Paul vs. Palm Desert
Championship
Bishop Amat over St. Paul

Division 5
This is actually a difficult division. Maranatha has a major league first-round draft choice pitching, Woodcrest Christian and Tahquitz ae for real, making it a real chore for Sierra Vista or La Puente to advance past the second round. I love Sierra Vista’s chance when Christian Huerta’s pitching, but that might not be enough, especially if they reach the quarters and face No. 1 Woodcrest Christian.

Semifinals
Woodcrest Christian vs. Montclair Prep
Maranatha vs. Tahquitz
Championship
Maranatha over Woodcrest Christian

Bishop Amat has been formidable since the freshman took over

Division 3
The big question is Bonita really the top seed? You will have a better answer by the second round when they likely face Freeway League champion Sunny Hills and Yolando Rios, who has a 0.77 ERA after against a pretty tough schedule. My heart wants Bonita, but some strange losses down the stretch to Charter Oak and Los Altos make me wonder. Glendora on the other hand is playing well, hitting the ball as well as I’ve seen them it the past three years. So, here’s my final four.
Semifinals
Sunny Hills vs. Ayala
Glendora vs. Oaks Christian
Championship
Oaks Christian over Ayala

Division 4
The only local is Bishop Amat and I’ve got a great feeling about this. Once they take care of Rancho Alamitos at home, they will likely get No. 4 seed Aquinas (23-2-1). They have a great record but haven’t played anyone, losing to Bonita 8-1 early in the season in the Palm Springs tournament. Compare that to Amat, losing to the likes of Mater Dei 1-0 and beating St. Joseph at the near of the year and I like the Lancers. Here is how this will shake out.
Semifinals
La Quinta vs. Bishop Amat
Torrance vs. Santa Monica
Championship
Santa Monica over La Quinta

Division 5
There is no way I’m picking against San Dimas this time of season, especially the way they came on again, pounding Northview at the end of the season. This team just get it, and I like their road, going through a fourth seed like Duarte to get to the semifinals. The Saints should beat Pasadena Poly, and West Covina could be dangerous, but I like their trip to the semifinals. Northview and South Hills are on the bottom half, but I just don’t see it.
Semifinals
Whittier Christian vs. San Dimas
Cerritos Valley Christian vs. La Canada
Championship
Whittier Christian over Cerritos Valley Christian

Division 6
This will be short and sweet. South El Monte is the fourth seed, but Arroyo is probably still better. Either way, neither of these teams have enough pitching to get it done. If South didn’t do it with Reina, they probably won’t do it this year. I don’t see either team getting past the second round
Semifinals
Marymount vs. Oxford Academy
Oak Hills vs. La Salle.
Championship
Marymount over Oak Hills

Above: Anderson rushed for 1,121 yards and 22 touchdown in helping the Lancers capture the Serra League title and advance to the second-round of the Pac-5 Division playoffs.

Breaking News: Keith Anderson, the father of Bishop Amat junior running back/outfielder Jay Anderson, informed us this afternoon that Anderson will not play football for the Lancers in the fall, opting to concentrate on his studies and baseball his senior season.
“It was a difficult decision, but Jay’s not going to play football,” Keith Anderson said. “I called and spoke with (Bishop Amat coach) Steve Hagerty and informed him. It was a decision as a family, after his mother and I sat down and talked with Jay about it that we all felt as a family it was best for him to focus on baseball his senior year.”
Although Anderson had not been attending mandatory football weightlifting sessions so that he could concentrate on baseball and his studies, Keith Anderson believed that wouldn’t have prevented him from playing football, which was speculated.
“I think it all would have been worked out if Jay was going to play,” Keith Anderson said. “If Jay decided later he wanted to play, I’m sure Steve wouldn’t of said flat out that you couldn’t play football at Bishop Amat. He never told me that, and I don’t think he would have handled it that way.”
Keith Anderson said his son wants to focus on baseball in hopes of earning a scholarship and being the best baseball player he can by concentrating on the sport all year round.
“He’s (Jay) never had a chance to do this, to be in the type of showcase tournaments that he’s wanted to be in because of football,” Keith Andreson said. “He’s done a lot of great things in football that we’re all proud of, but he’s looking forward to the opportunity of devoting himself 100 percent to baseball.”

By Fred J. Robledo
There were no real surprises following the CIF-Southern Section baseball playoff pairings on Monday, with Sierra League champion Glendora High School the top seed in Division 2, and Del Rey League champ Bishop Amat the top seed in Division 4, which is where the Tartans and Lancers finished in the polls. Defending Division 3 champion South Hills, which lost a game to Walnut down the stretch, was awarded a No. 3 seed, with wild-card games on Tuesday afternoon and first-round games on Thursday for Division’s 3 and 5, and Friday for Division’s 2 and 4. (To continue, click thread)

CIF-Southern Section area Baseball Pairings are here, or you can go straight to the CIF-Southern Section website to view the pairings sheets.

CIF-SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS
Division 2
Friday’s first-round
Top Half
Wild-Cards on Tuesday
Top Half
No. 1 Glendora vs. Peninsula-Norwalk winner
Foothill vs. Arroyo Grande-Harvard-Westlake winner
Upland vs. Arlington-Redlands winner
Arcadia vs. Valencia-Atascadero winner
La Mirada vs. Rancho Cucamonga-Vista Del Lago winner
Alemany vs. Rialto-Burbank winner
Mira Costa vs. San Marcos-Nipomo winner
No. 4 Cypress vs. Woodbridge-Burroughs winner
Bottom Half
No. 3 Redlands East Valley vs. Bellflower, San Luis Obispo winner
Damien vs. Palos Verdes-Pasadena winner
Canyon Springs vs. Pacifica-Alta Loma winner
El Toro vs. Dos Pueblos-Loyola winner
Paso Robles vs. Chaminade-Diamond Bar winner
Santa Barbara vs. Los Osos-AB Miller winner
Mayfair vs. Crescenta Valley-Northwood winner
No. 2 Crespi vs. Yucaipa-Rancho Verde winner

Division 3
Thursday’s first-round
Wild-card on Tueday
Top Half
No. 1 Beckman vs. Highland-Warren winner
Colton at Charter Oak
Bell Gardens at California
La Quinta at Ocean View
Rancho Alamitos vs. Cajon-Corona del Mar winner
Santa Monica at Quartz Hill
Gahr at Walnut
No. 4 Hemet vs. Diamond Ranch-El Rancho winner
Bottom Half
No. 3 South Hills vs. Beverly Hills-Montebello winner
Santa Fe at Lancaster
University at Downey
Bonita vs. Orange-Elsinore winner
San Gorgonio vs. Nogales-Palmdale winner
Garden Grove at Culver City
No. 2 Alhambra vs. La Serna-Los Altos winner

Division 4
Friday’s first-round
Top Half
Wild-Cards on Tuesday
No. 1 Bishop Amat vs. Patriot-Oak Park wild-card winner
Colony at Estancia
South Pasadena at Savanna
Torrance vs. Victor Valley-Cathedral wild-card winner
Fullerton vs. South Torrance-Calvary Chapel winner
Temple City at Oaks Christian
Jurupa Valley at Indio
No. 4 Nortvhiew vs. Bastow-Century wild-card winner
Bottom Half
No. 3 St. Paul vs. Costa Mesa-La Canada wild-card winner
Kaiser vs. Troy-La Quinta wild-card winner
San Dimas at Garey
El Segunodo vs. Carpinteria-Magnolia wild-car winner
Monrovia vs. Covina-La Salle wild-card winner
St. Bonaventure at Sonora
Anaheim at Granite Hills
No. 2 Palm Desert vs. Don Lugo-Laguna Beach wild-card winner

Division 5
Thursday’s first-round
Wild-Cards on Tuesday
Top Half
No. 1 Woodcrest Christian vs. Aquinas-Desert Mirage winner
Sultana at Calvary Chapel
Serra at Lompoc
Sierra Vista vs. San Jacino-Mountain View winner
St. Monica at Heritage
Gabrielino vs. Paracle-St. Josephs winner
Big Bear at Arrowhead Christian
No. 4 Montclair Prep vs. Gladstone-Serrano winner
Bottom Half
No. 3 Maranatha vs. Calvary Murrieta-Twentynine Palms winner
Citrus Hill at Hesperia
South El Monte at Campbell Hall
Western Christian vs. Azusa-Santa Ynez winner
La Puente at Lompoc Cabrillo
Cathedral vs. Whittier Christian-Rim of the World winner
Linfield Christian at Yucca Valley
No. 2 Tahquitz vs. Ontario Christian-Village Christian winner

Continue reading “CIF-SS Baseball Pairings, Bishop Amat and Glendora earned No. 1 seeds; South Hills at No. 3” »

By Fred J. Robledo
Bonita High School softball coach Ken Carlson wasn’t bothered at all when Ayala coach John Ameluxen last week discussed the Bearcats’ lofty No. 1 ranking in the final Division 3 poll, questioning the Bearcats’ strength of schedule and noting their non-existent history in the postseason. On Monday, the Miramonte League champion Bearcats were awarded the top-seed in the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 playoffs, with wild-card games Tuesday and the first-round on Thursday. (To continue, click thread)

CIF-Southern Section area softball pairings listed below, or you can go straight to the CIF-Southern Section website to view the pairings sheets.

CIF-Southern Section Softball Playoffs
Division 3
Wild Card Games
Tuesday, 3:15 P.M.
A–Lancaster at Kaiser
B–Pioneer Valley at Burbank
C–St. Lucy’s at Cajon
D–Fullerton at Aliso Niguel
E–Charter Oak at La Reina
F–Fillmore at Quartz Hill
G–Righetti at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame
H–Dana Hills at Los Altos
I–San Gorgonio at Chino Hills
J–Arcadia at Paramount

First Round, Thursday
Wild-card A at Bonita
Wild-card B at Sunny Hills
Wild-card C at Mission Viejo
Oak Park at Downey
Wild-card D at Alemany
Wild-card E at Highland
Paso Robles at Burbank Burroughs
Patriot at Ayala
Wild-card F at Glendora
La Habra at Tesoro
Crescenta Valley at Colton
Wild-card G at Warren
Wild-card H at Atascadero
Wild-card I at Summit
Chaminade at Knight
Wild-card J at Oaks Christian

Division 4
Wild Card Games
Tuesday, 3:15 P.M.
A–Morro Bay at St. Paul
B–Westminster at Culver City
C–El Segunod at Lompoc

First Round, Thursday
Wild-Card A at LQ La Quinta
Hawthorne at Buena
W. La Quinta at Ocean View
Hemet at South Torrance
Paloma Valley at Serrano
North Torrance at St. Joseph
Rancho Alamitos at Bishop Amat
Palm Springs at Aquinas
Wild-card B at Torrance
Dos Pueblos at Lompoc Cabrillo
Indio at Hesperia
Ontario Christian at Lakeside
Ventura at L St. Joseph
Segerstrom at Pomona Catholic
Apple Valley at Garden Grove
Wild-card C winner at Santa Monica

Division 5 wild-card games
Tuesday, 3:15 p.m.
A–Gladstone at Rowland
B–Rio Hondo Prep at Riverside Notre Dame
C–Magnolia at Temple City
D–Godinez at Village Christian
E–Tahquitz at Covina
F–Paraclete at Flintridge Prep
G–Victor Valley at Riverside Christian
H–Montebello at Sierra Vista

First Round, Thursday
Wild-card A at Whittier Christian
Western at Schurr
Costa Mesa at San Marino
Wild-card B at Calvary Murrieta
Wild-card C at West Covina
Pasadena Poly at San Dimas
Ridgecrest Burroughs at Beaumont
Wild-card D at Duarte
Keppel at Cerritos Valley Christian
Wild-card E at Mayfield
Woodcrest Christian at Barstow
Azusa at South Hills
Wild-card F at Heritage
Wild-card G at Savanna
Northview at Santa Ana Calvary Chapel
Wild-card H at La Canada

Division 6 Wild Card
Tuesday, 3:15 p.m.
A–Bishop Diego at Gabrielino
B–Los Angeles Lutheran at Mary Star
C–Lone Pine at Windward
D–Holy Family at Baptist Christian

Thursday, First Round
Wild-card A at Marymount
Viewpojnt at St. Monica
Lancaster Desert Christian at Alverno
Twentynine Palms at Maranatha
Marlborough at Oxford Academy
Big Bear at Bermuda Dunes Desert Christian
Silver Valley at Grace Brethren
Wild-card B at South El Monte
Wild-card C at Oak Hills
San Gabriel Mission at Ramona Convent
Mesa Grande Academy at Yucca Valley
Providence at Nordhoff
Carpinteria at Faith Baptist
Marshall at Boron
Whitney at Arroyo
Wild-card D at La Salle

Continue reading “Softball Pairings: Bonita earns Division 3 top seed while South El Monte grabs No. 4 spot in D-6; West Covina-San Dimas second-round possibility” »