Hundreds gather to say goodbye to Fred Fraijo, loving family man and coach who touched many; Softball fundraiser on Thursday at Irwindale Park

The Northview baseball and softball teams, its alumni, and any past players that played for coach Fred Fraijo are welcome to participate in Thursday’s softball game at Irwindale Park in honor of Fred. The game will start at 5 p.m., with friends joining the field at 6 p.m. All donations and snackbar proceeds will benefit to the Fraijo family.

Hundreds gathered at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Irwindale on Tuesday to say goodbye to Fred Fraijo, who died last week in a motorcycle crash. Fraijo, 49, was beloved as a devoted family man and dedicated assistant softball coach at Northview High School who often provided one-on-one training in his backyard. Northview players attended the funeral wearing team jerseys, while co-workers at Sierra Aluminum Co. in Fontana – where Fraijo worked 23 years as a plant manager – arrived on motorcycles with black T-shirts that read “Fred Fraijo rode hard to the end.”

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

The Glendoranator, Gretchen Jaques, will represent Team USA, and chooses Texas


Glendora’s Gretchen Jaques, arguably the best girls swimmer in the history of the San Gabriel Valley, has been selected to represent the United States on the 2010-2011 National Youth Team. The National Youth Team is a stepping stone to the USA National team where many athletes go on to represent the country in international competitions.

The USA Swimming 2010-2011 National Youth Team was selected from the top six times in Olympic events for 18 & U athletes at the 2010 Conoco Phillips National Championships and 2010 Speedo Junior National Championships. Gretchen qualified with her time of 26.22 in the 50 meter freestyle.

After visiting the University of Texas, Jaques verbally committed to attend there next fall and will be signing her letter of intent during the early signing period in November.

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

Girls Volleyball: Bonita gets sweet revenge, beats Los Altos in four games in Hacienda showdown

Bonita High School needed four games to win its second Hacienda League match of the season Tuesday.
But for the Bearcats, there was more at stake than an advantage in the Hacieida League standings.
There was a little case of some sweet revenge, which Bonita believes it got after a 29-27, 25-23, 24-26, 25-20 victory over Los Altos.
The Bearcats (11-2, 2-0), getting 22 kills from senior outside hitter Katie Kirby and 42 assists from senior setter Ashley Maxfelt, vied it as payback for the Conquerors’ five-game victory to win their first CIF-Southern Section girls volleyball title last fall.
Los Altos, getting 11 kills and eight aces from Jazmen Russell and 15 kills from Amanda Brown, slipped to 7-3 and 1-1.
Bonita outside hitter Katie Kirby: “It’s revenge. We wanted it bad. We wanted to prove a point.”
Bonita coach Adriana Contreras: “Los Altos is a great team, both offensively and defensively, and they obvisiously brought their A game in games 1 and 2. But we’ve been preparing for this match since the beginning of the season. My girls did well.”

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

Breaking News: Bishop Amat’s Brock Booth wins appeal, is eligible Friday against Cathedral

Bishop Amat athletic director Michael Manzo confirmed today that South Hills transfer Brock Booth won his appeal to the CIF-Southern Section and is eligible to play football for the Lancers on Friday against Cathedral. Booth, a tight end who has been practicing all season, was denied eligibility after South Hills challenged his transfer to Amat, citing it was for “athletically motivated,” reasons. The Booth family appealed the decision to a CIF hearing panel, which reversed the decision on Tuesday. Not only will undefeated Bishop Amat welcome Booth, but Glendora transfer Wallace Gonzalez (receiver) becomes eligible Friday after sitting out a full year, giving QB Rio Ruiz two new weapons to play with. “The (Booth) family was thankful they were able to present their case in front of the appeals panel at CIF and that the matters were cleared up,” Manzo said. “They’re (Booth family) looking forward to enjoying Brock’s senior year, and Brock is looking forward to contributing to the football team in any way he can.”

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

Tribune Super 35 Rankings: Bishop Amat well ahead of the pack, but Bonita, West Covina join top five with Hacienda League ready to start

Question: I am convinced that if Charter Oak and South Hills were in the Hacienda and back in the Southeast Division they would have a tough time this year. But with Bonita 4-0 and West Covina coming off three big wins, could both of them compete in the Sierra?

1. Bishop Amat (4-0) — Not only the best fans, best tailgating and best place to watch a high school football game. They proved once again, they’re better than anything else in the Valley too after racing to 35-0 halftime lead over Damien.
2. Chino Hills (3-1) — After falling from No. 2 a couple weeks back, the Huskies climb back up after wins over Tesoro and Pomona. After what Tesoro did to South Hills, it makes the Huskies’ win look even better.
3. Bonita (4-0) — Who would have thought at the beginning of the year the Bearcats would climb this high in the rankings.
4. West Covina (3-1) — Consecutive wins over Venice, South Hills and Glendora have Bulldogs neck-and-neck with Bearcats as co-Hacienda League favorites.
5. Ayala (4-0) — The record looks great and they get our respect, but the truth is, they have played the easiest nonleague schedule of all Sierra League teams. The truth comes next against St. Paul and league play, which starts next week.
6. Glendora (3-1) — The Tartans had one the turnover battle to race to a 3-0 record, but it came back to bite them in a losing effort against West Covina.
7. Charter Oak (2-2) — Losing to Rancho Cucamonga and losing their starting quarterback Travis Santiago stings, but at least they have back-up Josiah Thropay, who would start on most teams in the Valley.
8. Claremont (3-1) — Pulls out a great win over Rowland after losing to Bonita a couple weeks back. Now the question, are they really Sierra League contenders?
9. Rowland (3-1) — All that Raiders momentum came to a screeching half against Claremont, but it’s just one game. You know they will compete in the Hacienda with Bonita and West Covina.
10. Azusa (3-0) — Kind of tough to ask La Puente to host Azusa in the first week of Montvliew league action, but it is what it is. The winner will in all likelihood capture the title.
The Rest: 11. Diamond Bar (4-0). 12. San Dimas (2-2), 13. Damien (2-1); 14. South Hills (1-2). 15. Walnut (2-1), 16. Covina (3-1), 17. Arroyo (3-1), 18. Diamond Ranch (1-3), 19. Rosemead (2-1); 20. Wilson (2-1), 21. Pomona (3-1), 22. Sierra Vista (3-0), 23. La Puente (2-1), 24. Baldwin Park (0-4), 25. Nogales (1-3), 26. El Monte (1-2), 27. South El Monte (1-2), 28. Ganesha (1-2), 29. Northview (0-3), 30. Los Altos (0-4), 31. Workman (1-2), 32. Bassett (1-2), 33. Mountain View (1-2), 34. Gladstone (0-3), 35. Duarte (0-2)

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email

More sad news from the SGV: Longtime Wilson girls basketball and softball coach Ed Bruyninckx passed away Sunday night

It is with deep sadness we report that longtime Wilson girls basketball and softball coach Ed Bruyninckx passed away on Sunday of an apparent heart attack. “The girls and the school is pretty devasted,” Wilson football coach Brian Zavala said. “Grief counselors have been called in and everyone is doing their best to cope with it.” Bruyninckx, this newspapers girls basketball coach of the year in 2008 when he led the Wildcats to a 23-5 record and their first league title since 1994, was as good as it gets and as well liked and respected as any coach I’ve dealt with. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. “He was a wonderful guy, one of the nicest guys you ever dealt with,” Rowland coach Gordon Hamlow said. “I got to know him for a number of years, he’s one of those good guys who got it done, and an excellent coach as well.”

Funeral Services: On Thursday, 10 a.m., at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 16750 Colima Rd, on corner of Colima and Dawn Haven in Hacienda Heights. The burial will follow shortly after at Forest Lawn in Covina.

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email