Walnut’s Gholar ready: Walnut High School boys basketball standout Bryan Gholar’s senior season could easily have ended last July. Instead, it will fittingly end on Saturday night in the Tribune/Star-News All-Star Classic at Damien High.

What: Eighth annual Tribune/Star-News All-Star Classic
When: Saturday, April 23
Where: Damien High School
Girl’s game: 4:00pm
Boy’s game: 6:00pm
Admission: $8 adults, $5 students/children

By Aram Tolegian, Staff Writer
The Tribune boys All-Star basketball team’s final practice in preparation for Saturday’s showdown against the Star-News was a lot like the first, only this time this situation on offense got a lot more unclear. It could be because the Tribune played the type of hustling defense in Thursday’s tuneup not usually associated with an All-Star game. At least that’s what La Verne Lutheran High School coach Eric Cooper has to be hoping as Saturday’s game looms.

Continue reading “All-Star game: Tribune names slam dunk and 3-point contestants for Saturday’s game” »

Garrett Pendleton is going to Cal Lutheran, where he will certainly have a huge impact. In a shortened season because of injuries, the 6-foot-5 QB came on strong in midseason, helping the Bearcats advance all the way to the CIF-SS Southeast Division title game against West Covina. Although Bonita lost 37-33 in a thriller, Pendleton had arguably the best game of his career, completing 26 of 42 for 352 yards and a touchdown. In ten games he threw for 2,033 yards and 22 TDS.

By Fred J. Robledo
This could be a sign of things to come.
Bishop Amat ended its long drought in Orange County’s prestigious Hard 9 National Classic, avenging one of its only two losses with an easy 12-1 victory over Esperanza in the championship Thursday night at Cal State Fullerton.
Bishop Amat’s Adam Alcantara hit a towering two-run home run in the fourth and the Lancers used their steady duo of pitchers to get the job done again, ace lefty Daniel Zamora starting and striking out five in three innings before giving way to junior Rio Ruiz, who made quite an impression in only his third career appearance.
All Ruiz did was strike out the side in the fourth with fastballs clocked at 92 MPH, and pitch four shutout innings, allowing one hit with seven strikeouts.
Jay Anderson had a triple, double and three RBIs, Ryan Serrato collected three hits, Wallace Gonzalez was named the tournament MVP and the Lancers broke it open with five runs in the fifth inning to cruise to the championship. (To continue click thread)

Esperanza 010-000-0 — 1-3-4
Bishop Amat 300-232-X — 12-12-2
Daniel Zamora, (4) Rio Ruiz and Bernardo Zavala; Blake Mitchell, (3) Brett Pinkham (4), Matt Ripley (5), Chris Conners (6) and Brandon Morones. HR– Adam Alcantara, 3B – Jay Anderson
Records: Bishop Amat 20-2; Esperanza 14-8

More on the Lancers: The L.A. Times’ Eric Sondheimer has video of Rio Ruiz pitching, and wrote glowingly about his 92 MPH fastball, writing, “Bishop Amat has been reluctant to use him on the mound, fearing its defense would be weakened without him at third base or his control might not be good. But if he pitches like he did, there could be a 10-year-old playing third base because all he’ll be doing is watching strikeouts.

Continue reading “Baseball: Bishop Amat blows away Esperanza 12-1 to win the National Classic for the third time” »

South Hills High School completed a season sweep over Ayala, the defending CIF-Southern Section Division 3 softball champion, with an 11-5 victory Thursday afternoon.
The Huskies (13-5, 7-2) scored eight runs in the first inning and never looked back in their third win of the season over the Bulldogs (9-9, 6-5).

Valle Vista League Baseball
San Dimas 9, Nogales 8, 9 innings
Covina 12, Northview 5

What: Eighth annual Tribune/Star-News All-Star Classic
When: Saturday, April 23
Where: Damien High School
Girl’s game: 4:00pm
Boy’s game: 6:00pm
Admission: $8 adults, $5 students/children

By Aram Tolegian, Staff Writer
For all of the talent during the Tribune boys All-Star team’s first practice Wednesday at Damien High School, it was an unassuming group that set the tone once the scrimmage began. The quintet of Walnut’s Bryan Gholar and Aubrey Coleman, Bonita’s Jordan Butler and James Northup and Los Altos’ Alvin Tan won four out of five games against some of their more physically talented teammates. “It surprised me a little bit, but we all know each other and play in the same league and have a feel for what each other does,” Northup said. “We just tried to be quicker and smarter and not turn the ball over.” (To continue click thread)

Below: Bonita’s James Northup made a big impression with coaches and Wednesday’s practice.

Continue reading “Boys All-Stars: Tribune boys team goes through hard practice, but looks great in preparation for Saturday’s showdown with the Star-News” »

By Steve Ramirez
Bishop Amat’s slow start to the high school baseball season is ancient history. The Lancers, after losing their first two games, now look like one of the best teams in the state, if not the nation, after taking down another traditional power on Wednesday.
Bernardo Zavala hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning and Ryan Serrato was dominant on the mound in relief to lead Bishop Amat to a 2-1 victory over San Diego Section power El Capitan of Lakeside in a National Classic semifinal game at Cal State Fullerton. (To continue click thread).

2011 Hard 9 National Classic in Orange County
Wednesday’s semifinals
Bishop Amat 2, Lakeside El Capitan 1
Esperanza 9, IMG Academies 2
Thursday’s championship game
At Cal State Fullerton
Bishop Amat vs. Esperanza, 7 p.m.

Continue reading “Baseball: After knocking off No. 1, Amat holds on for 2-1 victory over San Diego champion El Capitan, and will play in Thursday’s National Classic championship at CSUF” »