The Scouting Guru has been all over the San Gabriel Valley and beyond, and like always, he’s offered to share his thoughts, free of charge. Don’t hate, enjoy it for what it’s worth, which is one man’s opinion on the talent in the San Gabriel Valley.

Guru says: Needless to say, it has been a very busy May and June for your friendly friend here on the recruiting trail. The month of May was spent with college coaches on the west coast and the month of June has seen us working college camps (including USC and UCLA). For this column, let’s take a look at what I will call “the big three” These are the three best college recruits for the San Gabriel Valley and see what is going on with their recruiting. (To continue, click thread).

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Above: Charter Oak Co-MVP Travis Santiago
All Miramonte League
Baseball
MVP: Travis Santiago (Charter Oak), Rouric Bridgewater (Diamond Ranch).
First Team
Brian Tuttle, Bonita
Adam McCreery, Bonita
Derek Goodwin, Diamond Ranch
Robert Mier, Bonita
Joe Munoz, Los Altos
Gio Morales, Los Altos
Aaron Henry, Charter Oak
Evan Highley, Bonita
Joe Reynoso, Charter Oak
Matt Gelalich, Bonita
De Jon Wallace, Charter Oak
Anthony Ramos, Bonita
Chris Holden, Charter Oak

Softball
MVP: Chloe Wurst, Bonita
First Team
Courtney Gano, Los Altos
Sydney Stewart, Diamond Ranch
Kayla Papez, Charter Oak
Vanessa Bracamonte, Wilson
Jackie Campa, Bonita
Breeana Sandoval, Bonita
Nicki Sprague, Charter Oak
Mariah Midyette, Los Altos
Alyssa Villalpando, Los Altos
Cassie Andrews, Charter Oak
Jennipher Solis, Los Altos
Clarice Spathias, Bonita.

Baseball
All San Antonio League
MVP: Cody Doyle, South Hills, Sr.
First Team
Pitcher: Andrew Morales, South Hills, Sr.
Pitcher: Dakota Behr, South Hills, Sr.
Pitcher: Ruben Chavira, Walnut,Sr.
Catcher: Bryce Harrison, Walnut, Jr.
Infielder: Jacob Shirley, South Hills, Sr.
Infielder: Christian Ibarra, South Hills, Sr.
Infielder: Andrew Guzman, Nogales, Fr.
Infielder: Richie Rollice, South Hills, Jr.
Infielder: Brett Bonilla, Walnut, Jr.
Infielder Alan Gonzalez, Nogales, Sr.
Outfielder: CJ Saylor, South Hills, So.
Outfielder: Kevin Costello, Nogales, Sr.
Outfielder: Andrew Roddy, South Hills, Sr.
Outfielder: Albert Lemus, Nogales, Sr.
Utility: Ty France, South Hills, So.

Above: West Covina’s Dakota Monarrez, the MVP

Softball
MVP: Dakota Monarrez, West Covina, Jr.
First Team
Alexandra Robles, South Hills, Fr.
Alyse Gutierrez, West Covina, Jr.
Andrea Gutierrez, West Covina, Sr.
Britney Rodriguez, South Hills, So.
Camille Herrera, West Covina, Sr.
Deanna Alfaro, Nogales, Jr.
Justine Chavira, Walnut, Jr.
Juunae Dai’re, West Covina, Sr.
Kaylea Snaer, Rowland, Fr.
Kristen Stewart, South Hills, So.
Laura Banuelos, Rowland, Jr.
Mariah Gurule, Walnut, Jr.
Mariah Gurule, Walnut, Jr.
Mercedez Cundiff, Rowland, Jr.
Sam Nieves, South Hills, Jr.
Sidney LaFollette, South Hills, So.

Over the next week I will be in and out and working on all-area and football stuff, so won’t be blogging too much (I’m actually in a severe Lakers depression, though I expect them to win two straight at Staples and won’t accept any other scenario). I will start posting all-league teams over the next few days so you’re on your own to comment on threads already up, or if you wish, email or send a comment of a topic you would like discussed. BTW, Argentina, Germany and still to play Brazil and Spain are my World Cup favorites.
Below: Congratulations to all our graduates ..

By Nathan Cambridge, Correspondent
COVINA - Bonita High School junior Robert Mier homered to help the Grey team defeat the Blue 3-1 in Saturday’s third annual KG Sports Training Foundation Underclassmen All-Star Baseball Game at Gladstone High School. “It’s fun to play with a bunch of guys you have been playing against all year,” Mier said. “It’s a really neat experience.” (To continue, click thread).

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No time to relax in the summer, over the next two months Aram, Steve and I will be working on PrepXtra, a magazine of 40-50 pages that will serve as our prep football preview instead of the traditional six-page newspaper special section that we produce every fall. This will be similar to our Rose Magazine and with the additional space we will be able to write a preview of every football team in the area, not just a league overview with a capsule. It’s the most ambitious project we’ve tried yet, which will include columns, features, and of course a cover story and picture that will set up the 2010 season. I’m taking suggestions on the cover shot and story, and any other items you would like to see in the magazine.

Last year’s cover: It was the “Drive for Five,” with Charter Oak coach Lou Farrar winning out and winning his fifth title. Now all three will be in the Sierra League. We’re taking suggestions for this year’s cover shot. Any thoughts?

The second annual KG Sports Training Foundation Underclassmen All-Star Game will take place Saturday at 2 p.m. at Gladstone High School. The foundation will award two scholarships, one for $1,000 and another for $500. Keppel coach Houston Hernandez and his staff will coach the Blue team, and Covina coach Pete Loaiza will coach the Grey team, flanked by Darren Murphy (Northview), Tom Quinley (Charter Oak), Gil Adame (Covina) and Andrew Hanson (Covina) as his assistants. The rosters are as follows:

Above: South Hills’ Ty France is one of the huge standouts playing on Saturday.

Blue team: Angel Acosta (Gabrielino); Vince Albelo (Gabrielino); Julian Jarrard (Temple City); Calvin Copping (Temple City); Gary Acuna (Al- hambra); Frankie Wright (Al- hambra); CJ Saylor (South Hills); Ty France (South Hills); Dom Martinez (South Hills); Doug Mayberry (San Marino); Haram Park (Arcadia); KJ Edson (Arcadia); David Hubinger (St. Francis); David Olme- do (St. Francis); John Alexander (Glendora); David Ortiz (Bosco Tech); Brennon Martinez (Bosco Tech); Mark Jebbia (Maranatha); Chris Rucker (Pasadena); Robert Lain (Pasadena); Ives Brown (Pasadena); Max Katz (Keppel); Matt Lee (San Dimas); Nate Rousey (Crescenta Valley); Elliot Surrey (Crescenta Valley); Dylan Mersola (Burbank); Sergio Luna (Cathedral); Chris Flores (Cathedral); Mike Aguilar (Montebello); Anthony Milan (Montebello); Daniel Lopez (Montebello).

Grey team: Jason Martinez (Covina); Andrew Carrillo (Covina); Vinny Venegas (Covina); KC Huth (Bonita); Adam McCreery (Bonita); Robert Mier (Bonita); Matt Gelalich (Bonita); Steven Baltierra (Wilson); Daniel Farfan (El Monte); Mark Roche (Arroyo); Steven Adame (Arroyo); Antonio Gonzalez (Damien); Jose Chavez (Damien); Obryen Sanchez (Whittier); Stephen Zavala (Whittier); Daniel Moriel (El Rancho); Will Walters (Walnut); Adrian Velasco (Monrovia); Mark McMahon (Whittier Christian); Bobby Ramos (Northview); Tyler Grijalva (Northview); Xavier Martinez (Northview); Travis Santiago (Charter Oak); Aaron Henry (Charter Oak); Fernando Gonzalez (Baldwin Park); George Johnson (West Covina).

Jerone Cox, who left Duarte for Baldwin Park but was ineligible, will suit up for the game. Also, Amat studs Johnson, Cazares and Kane stand out.

By Aram Tolegian
West Covina High School football coach Mike Maggiore liked what he saw right away from his East squad during Monday’s opening practice for the Hall of Fame All-Star Game on June 25 at Baldwin Park. Maggiore estimated he had 35 players participating with others held up by prior commitments related to end-of-school-year activities. (To continue, click thread).

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I want you to know what I wrote about Derek Fisher was nothing more than an April Fools joke, look at the date I wrote the ridiculous piece about benching him. You know I wasn’t serious, right?

By Aram Tolegian
Bassett High School has named Aubrey Duncan its new varsity football coach, replacing Craig Cieslik, who resigned last week after just over a month on the job. Duncan, the school’s track coach, was head coach of the Los Angeles Amazons professional women’s football team. Bassett hired Cieslik in late April to replace Leon Ward, who was let go by the school after three seasons. Poor player turnout during spring practices – the Olympians reportedly were down to 13 players – led to Cieslik’s abrupt resignation. Duncan was part of Ward’s staff last season and applied for the open job during the offseason before the school went with Cieslik. Bassett went 4-6 last season and hasn’t had a winning record since 2003, when it won the Montview League under coach Pete Smolin.

Fresh off of winning the Division 2 championship on Saturday, Glendora High pitcher Adam Plutko was selected in the sixth round, and 183rd overall by the Houston Astros during Tuesday’s Major League Baseball amateur draft, joining Jiovanni Mier, who was drafted in the first round by the Astros last year from Bonita.

By John Honell, Correspondent
Thirty-nine high school seniors played their final softball game before moving on to the college level in Monday’s North-South San Gabriel Valley All-Star game at Mt. SAC. The North got outstanding pitching from a pair of Valle Vista League stars to down the South 9-2. San Dimas’ Kortnie Clark started for the North, went five innings and held the South scoreless while giving up three hits and striking out eight. She also singled off longtime rival Chloe Wurst of Bonita in her first at-bat. “It’s really good to get a hit off Chloe,” Clark said. “She’s really good. It’s a real honor to be here but it’s bittersweet. It’s good to move on and do other things, but it’s kind of sad to leave after all this time.” (To continue click thread)

Below: South’s Kim Hernandez of Bishop Amat slides safe back into third base with North’s Brianna Dworak of Glendora Monday’s San Gabriel Valley all-star softball game.

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Congrats go out to former Diamond Bar standout Gary Brown, a Tribune All-Area selection in 2007, who was drafted in the first round of the MLB Draft by the San Francisco Giants with the 24th pick.

Brown has played for Cal-State Fullerton for the past three seasons. He was drafted in the 12th round out of high school, but opted to hone his skills in the college game first. Obviously, it paid off.

With Mater Dei winning the Division I title on Saturday night, which is a team that both Bishop Amat and South Hills defeated, even the L.A. Times’ Eric Sondheimer admitted that Glendora makes a solid case to be considered the No. 1 team in Southern California after finishing 27-2-1. In fact, after covering five champions in three years, Bishop Amat and Northview in 2008, San Dimas and South Hills in 2009, and Glendora in 2010, I would have to say that Glendora is the best of them all. They have everything you want, three No. 1 caliber pitchers, great defense, great offense, and the type of chemistry that comes with growing up as neighborhood kids and making the dream happen in the final. And look where they’re going, Adam Plutko (UCLA), Joe Winterburn (UCSB), Joseph Woodward (UCSB), Jacob Smigelski (LMU), Clint Harwick (Point Loma) and Jacob Cage (Azusa Pacific) — all on full or partial athletic scholarships.

Above: Glendora’s Joe Winterburn is greeted by Bishop Amat’s Jerry McClanahan after hitting a home run during the SGV all-star game Sunday at Moor Field in Alhambra.

By Nathan Cambridge, Correspondent
Sunday’s 15th annual San Gabriel Valley All-Star Game played at Alhambra High School’s Moor Field marked an opportunity for 49 high school seniors to represent their schools for the final time. The Red team took it to another level by hitting three home runs in a 12-7 victory over the Blues. Glendora’s Joe Winterburn, starting at catcher for the Red team, hit a three-run home run in the first inning. Winterburn won overall MVP honors to add to a resume that included winning a CIF-SS Division2 championship on Saturday.

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By Steve Ramirez, staff writer
LAKE ELSINORE — It took Glendora High School nearly six decades to reach its first CIF-Southern Sectional baseballchampionship game. It proved to be worth the wait. Second basemen Joseph Woodward went 3 for 3 and pitcher Adam Plutko outdueled highly-touted Taijuan Walker and the Tartans won their first CIf-SS title with a 10-3 victory over Yucaipa in the Division 2 title game at The Diamond in Lake Elsinore. (To continue reading, click thread).

Glendora’s championship photo gallery

CIF-SS Division 2 championship
Score by innings
Yucaipa 100-101-0–3-5-1
Glendora 030-304-x–10-12-0
How they scored:
Yucaipa 1st: Leonard Malfvon singed to center field. He advanced on a sacrifice and scored on a line-drive triple down the left field line by Wyatt Padgett. Glendora’s Adam Plutko got Taijuan Walker and Matt Hardison on groundouts. Yucaipa 1, Gledora 0.
Glendora 2nd: Kyle Layton lead off double to right. Jacob Cage singled to right, Layton beating the throw home, Cage advances to second, 1-1. Brennan Salgado tripled to right center, scoring Cage for a 2-1 lead. Max Shih walked, first and second. Joseph Woodward follows with a single to left, Salgado scoring, 3-1.
Yucaipa 4th: Grady Espinosa hit a one-out triple to center that would have been a homer in any high school park. He scored easily on Alex Morabito’s ground-out to second, trimming the Tartans’ lead to 3-2.
Glendora 4th: Salgado leads off with a walk, followed by Shih, who walks after trying to bunt, then working the count. Yucaipa’s 6-foot-5 pitcher Taijuan Walker comes out of the game, Pedro Cota in to replace him. Joseph Woodward beautiful bunt up third, the throw sails away, Salgado scoring, Shih to third, Woodward to second, still no outs, 4-2. Clinton Harwick comes big, smacking a single to center to drive in Shih and Woodward, Tartans leading 6-2.
Yucaipa 6th: With two outs, Matt Hardison singled, Dallas Alexander running for him. Grady Espinosa singled, putting runners on first and third. On Adam Putko’s pickoff attempt at first, a balk was called, Alexander scoring, Espinosa to second.
Glendora 6th: Clinton Harwick lead single. After a strikeout, John “the best swing in the valley” Alexander drove a double off the wall in left-center, scoring Harwick, 7-3. Winterburn walks, first and second. Layton promptly triples to left-center, driving in Alexander and Winterburn to go up, 9-3. Layton scores on a pass ball, 10-3.

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The 100 and 200 meters are the most anticipated for a reason, they crown speed, and for Covina High’s Remontay McClain, it means he’s the fasted in California after winning a pair of state titles in Clovis on Saturday. He won the 100 meters in 10.45, and the 200 in 20.85. But that’s just part of it, he broke what has to be the longest drought in Valley history. I thought Bonita chasing its first baseball title since ’51 was crazy, but Remontay took it back to the 20s. His two titles were the first for Covina track since 1924. That’s gotta be a record no matter what Joe Amat says Speaking of Amat, give it up for Kylie Price, she finished second in the long jump and sixth in the 100 meters

GAME STORY
By Fred J. RobledoStaff Writer
LAKE ELSINORE — The sight of Bonita High School’s Matt Gelalich walking gingerly into the press room and burying his head in his hands explained it all. The Bearcats’ improbable run through the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 baseball playoffs ended on a sour 2-1 loss to Ocean View in the championship on Saturday at The Diamond in Lake Elsinore. (To continue, click thread).

Bonita championship game photo gallery

CIF-SS Division 3 championship
Scoring by innings
Bonita ‘Cats 100 -000-0 — 1 4 2
Ocean View 011 -000-x — 2 5 4
How they scored:
Bonita 1st: Robert Mier led off the game with a single to left, and moved to second after a catcher’s pick-off attempt sailed to right rield. After Matt Gelalich’s ground out to first moved Mier to third, he scored on Evan Highley’s fly out to center, staking the Bearcats to a 1-0 lead.
Ocean View 2nd: Blake Hitchcock and Timothy Robinson led off the second with back-to-back singles, then moved to second and third respectively after Adam McCreery’s pick-off attempt on Hitchcock skidded to center. Nick Schulenburg’s grounder to third scored Hitchcock, but McCreery stuck out the next two to get out of the inning tied, 1-1.
Ocean View 3rd: Colton Johnson smacked a triple to lead off the inning and scored on Blake Walker’s ground-out to Mier at second, giving the Seahawks a 2-1 lead. Mier might have had a play on Johnson, but juggled the ball before getting the out at first.

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Craig Cieslik has resigned as head varsity football coach at Bassett after just over a month on the job. The Olympians were reportedly down to 13 players during spring practice. Cieslik was hired in late April to replace Leon Ward. Cieslik was previously head coach at La Sierra High School for two seasons in 2007 and ’08.

Covina High School’s Remontay McClain will be the favorite in the 100 meter finals at tomorrow’s state finals in Clovis after winning his heat in 10.34 on Friday, the fastest time in the nation this season. Bishop Amat’s Kylie Price qualified for the finals in both the long jump and 100 meters.

Above: Look, Remontay can even beat Superman.

By Keith Lair, Staff Writer
CLOVIS - It was easy to think of Covina High School’s Remontay McClain as an afterthought. And why not? McClain has shown vast improvement this season, but as far as being among the state’s elite? That didn’t happen until Friday. The junior made people who had not heard of him stand up and definitely take notice. Serra’s George Farmer, considered one of the heavy favorites going into the meet, said McClain has “come out of the woodwork.” (To continue, click thread).

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South Hills-Whittier Christian photo gallery

By Andrew Campa
IRVINE - The South Hills High School softball team had been counted out so many times this season there perhaps was no better way to respond to fans and detractors than by winning a CIF-Southern Section ring. While the plan was in place, defending Division 5 champion Whittier Christian was an unwilling partner. The No. 1-seeded Heralds rallied behind another brilliant effort from Courtney McGee in claiming their third division title in six years with a 4-0 win in Friday’s championship game at Deanna Manning Stadium. (To continue, click thread).

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I’m banking the Valley is going to add two more baseball titles to its resume on Saturday, that’s how good I feel about Bonita and Glendora’s chances. We were going to blog on Coveritlive, but our friends at the CIF office, which means media relations giant Thom Simmons, emailed me this, “Feel free to tell your readers you would love to “coveritlive” but, the heartless CIF is denying you.” Believe me, Simmons actually loves us, he reads our blog (and swears he doesn’t comment) and is one of the best media relations people in the business, so I’m cutting him some slack. That leaves two alternatives, do you want us to twitter updates on the blog, or do a live blog inning-by-inning scoring updates on the thread or both. Either way, we’re going to get the info to you as soon as possible, with quotes and pictures afterward.

Above: Glendora’s Kyle Layton

By Fred J. Robledo, Staff Writer
There are some unique ties between the Glendora and Bonita high school baseball teams, which will compete for divisional titles on Saturday at The Diamond in Lake Elsinore. Bonita (24-4-1) will face Ocean View (21-9) in the Division 3 championship at 1 p.m., followed by top-seed Glendora (26-2-1) and Yucaipa (27-6) battling for the Division 2 crown at 4:30. (To continue, click thread)

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San Gabriel Valley’s best again helping Fullerton. Here’s a story I wrote for today about four former area players who are keying Cal State Fullerton’s run to the postseason – and beyond.

FULLERTON – Cal State Fullerton’s base is in the heart of Orange County.
But there have been instances in recent years where the Titans have added some San Gabriel Valley flavor. Fullerton’s run to the College World Series final four in 2001 and 2003, as well as its road to the 2004 national title was paved with players who once called the 626 area code home.
It’s the same this season for the Titans, whose quest for the school’s fourth CWS championship has been aided by four former area players – Gary Brown of Diamond Bar High School, Tyler Pill of Covina, Richie Pedroza of Northview and Noe Ramirez of Alhambra.
All will be key elements when the Titans open the Division I regional playoffs against Minnesota tonight at 8 p.m. at Fullerton’s Goodwin Field.
These four players haven’t forgotten where they came from.
“I think we all represent (the area) well,” said Pill, whose older brother Brett starred at Fullerton and was one of the heroes on the 2004 national title team. “This shows what type of talent that plays in the San Gabriel Valley.
“Since we’re up here competing and making a big impact in this program, it shows other teams, other coaches that a lot of talent comes from the San Gabriel Valley, and they will start looking for more who come from (here). I think as long as we keep performing well, there will be more San Gabriel Valley guys up here.”
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With the baseball season officially over, Bishop Amat turns all its attention to football from now until December, if they’re still playing that long. This will be our bloggers’ opportunity to offer their impressions of spring practice, what you see at quarterback and the other impact positions. Who will carry the rock if Jay Anderson really doesn’t return to concentrate on baseball. Who will carry them in the trenches? Who are the newcomers that will make an immediate impact, and the returners that have to step it up. And as always, what’s the 411, the mood in Lancerland, the inside scoop. You know we all want to know.

By Fred J. Robledo, Staff Writer
For those interested in classic baseball matchups, it will be hard to find a better one than wild-card entrant Yucaipa (27-6) taking on top-seeded Glendora (26-2-1) in the CIF- Southern Section Division 2 championship at The Diamond in Lake Elsinore at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. That’s because the Tartans are sending out UCLA-bound right-hander Adam Plutko, also a potential high draft choice in this month’s Major League Baseball amateur draft. (To continue, click thread).

Above: Glendora will face highly regarded 6-foot-5 pitcher Taijuan Walker, who has been clocked in the mid 90s.

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