GAME FACE: Northview’s Sarina Jaramillo throws out San Dimas’ Kennedy Anderson in last week’s 4-3 loss to San Dimas.

This week’s softball rankings:
1. Bishop Amat (16-4) – A 3-1 loss to Vista Murrieta followed by an 8-6 win over Etiwanda during the Corona Santiago tournament. Amat is dominating the Del Rey so thoroughly it’s only test before the Division 3 playoffs comes in tournaments or non-league games. Lancers ranked third in D-3.
2. Chino Hills (18-6) – Undefeated in league but not the dominating Huskies we remember. They had to rally to beat Charter Oak 14-12 and snuck past St. Lucy’s 1-0. They also had a 4-2 win over Ayala so while they deserve the No. 2 spot, maybe the best is yet to come.
3. Ayala (13-4) – Bulldogs pitcher Morgan Ettinger has carried them. She’s 12-4 with a 1.36 ERA and 99 strikeouts. However, run support has been the difference. The Bulldogs have allowed the fewest runs (35) among Sierra League teams, but only has scored 73. Compare that to Chino Hills’ 159 runs scored, and there’s your difference.
4. South Hills (13-5) – Huskies are hanging tough, getting a split last week to go to 2-2 in the Sierra, but they have Chino Hills, Claremont and Charter Oak up next. Safe to say, playoff fate riding on next three.
5. Charter Oak (16-5) – After blowing a lead and the game to Chino Hills 14-12, the Chargers answered with a 3-1 win over South Hills. But they took a huge step back last week, losing to Ayala (1-0) and Claremont (4-0), and now suddenly are in a three-way tie for last at 1-3.
6. San Dimas (14-8) – The Saints remained undefeated in the Valle Vista with a 4-3 win over Northview and will probably run the table until they meet Northview again in the league finale the final week.
7. Bonita (16-6) – The Bearcats knocked West Covina out of league contention with a sweep over the Bulldogs last week to go 6-0 in the Hacienda, and they should continue to dominate the next two weeks with home-and-away games vs. Los Altos and Walnut. It will likely all come down to the final week, when it finishes the season with two against Diamond Bar, one game back at 5-1.
8. Northview (14-5) – The Vikings are 6-1 in the Valle Vista in what is a two-team race with San Dimas. Northview and San Dimas should cruise until they meet again, and when they do, I’ve got Northview in the rematch.
9. Duarte (13-3) – Some have wondered why a team on a 12-game win streak and 8-0 in the Montview is only ranked eighth? Schedule, schedule, schedule. Just remember this, Duarte lost 10-0 to Covina in its own tournament. Safe to say, the Montview isn’t extremely difficult this season.
10. South El Monte (11-4) – Same questions asked of Duarte asked about South El Monte too. And while they’re undefeated and dominating the Mission Valley, can’t forget an 11-5 loss to Nogales and 10-2 loss to San Dimas. Again, schedule, schedule, schedule.

PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE MT. SAC RELAYS
Highlights and Interviews from the 2013 Mt. SAC Relays

PHOTO: Former Covina star Romontay McClain (Azusa Pacific) runs past former West Covina High standout BeeJay Lee (USC) as he finished third in the 100-Meter Olympic Development Elite during the Mt. SAC Relays. It brought back memories of the two going at it in high school.

By Steve Ramirez
Staff Writer
LA PUENTE — The mark of a good baseball team is to win when it’s not at its best.
Bishop Amat High School proved the adage Friday, getting an RBI single with with one out in the seventh to score a 3-2 victory over rival St. Paul in a Del Rey League game at Bishop Amat.
The Lancers, who overcame four errors and four walks from three pitchers to beat the Swordsmen for the second time this week, improved to 9-10 overall and 2-2 in league play.
St. Paul, which had tied it at 2 following a throwing error in the sixth, slipped to 15-9 and 2-2.
“Good teams find a way to access damage control,” Bishop Amat coach Andy Nieto said. “That’s what it was. We got ourselves in difficult situations. But we have a motto of if you give up one, fight hard to not give up two; if you give up two, fight hard to not give up three and so on.
“In those innings, it was one hit away from opening it up. We gave up one each time. I’m proud of these guys, because that takes tough guys in that situation to put the frustration of the error behind them and get the focus on the next out, which is what we did. That’s a good sign.”
Continue reading “Baseball: It’s not pretty, but Amat gets by St. Paul, 3-2” »

The Tribune rosters for the tenth annual Tribune vs. Star-News boys/girls all-star senior basketball game have been finalized. Damien High will host the games on Friday, April 26. The girls game is at 6 p.m., followed by the boys game at 8 p.m. First practices for both teams are scheduled next week. Bishop Amat coach Richard Wiard will coach the girls, who will practice on Monday at Bishop Amat between 7-9 p.m. Damien coach Matt Dunn will coach the boys team, which will practice on Tuesday from 6:30-8 p.m. at Damien High School.

TRIBUNE BOYS TEAM
Primitivo Gomez, Arroyo
Osnar Garcia, Workman
Mike Peters, Covina
Jared Dizon, Damien
Korey Hackett, Claremont
Nnadi Udengwu, Diamond Ranch
Skyler Williams, La Verne Lutheran
Jordan Stokes, San Dimas
Danny Johnson, Northview
Chris Arzadon, Rowland
Keith Cavanaugh, Damien
Joseph Cook, Bishop Amat
Joseph Dionisio, Rowland
Ryan Ramirez, Bonita
Jeriko Santos, South Hills

TRIBUNE GIRLS TEAM
Yewande Alabi, Diamond Bar
Amanda Britt, West Covina
Imari Brown, Duarte
Kelli Calton, Wilson
Mauriana Clayton, Bishop Amat
Aileen Giang, El Monte
Jasmine Hamori, Los Altos
Tai Lark, Diamond Ranch
Jessica Lupercio, Arroyo
Imani Payton, South Hills
Leeah Powell, Bishop Amat
Kristi Sakamoto, Ayala
Stephanie Vana, Bonita
Jennifer Vasquez, Bishop Amat
Megan Ward, Northview

One year after earning Tribune player of the year honors, La Verne Lutheran grad and Arizona freshman Grant Jerrett is making himself available for the NBA Draft. Question is, why? He only averaged 5 points and 3 rebounds for the Wildcats and was hardly an impact player. But he is 6-foot-10, shoot’s 3s and has the type of game that could translate to the NBA someday. But no way is he a fist round pick. He’s the type of player someone like the Lakers get late in the second round. Good luck, but a baffling decision.

What: 55th Mt. SAC Relays
When: Today-Saturday
Where: Mount San Antonio College, Walnut College and Olympic Developmental races begin at 10:15 a.m. today, high school races start at 5:50 p.m.; Competition for all starts at 7:30 a.m. Saturday

By Erik Boal, Staff Writer
High school competition at the 55th Mount San Antonio College Relays begins tonight with multiple state and national leaders commanding the spotlight at one of the country’s most prestigious meets.
Several elite distance races are scheduled for today, with sprinters and hurdlers competing Saturday in individual events and relays, along with standout jumpers and throwers.
Here are 10 must-see events for any track and field fan planning to attend the meet:

6:05 p.m. today — Boys 4 x 800 relay
Loyola produced the national-leading time of 7:44.13 this season April 6 at the Arcadia Invitational, but No. 4 Redondo Union, No. 5 Rancho Cucamonga, No. 9 Centennial of Las Vegas and No. 17 Vista Murrieta are ready for the rematch with Cubs, who could challenge Dana Hills’ 2009 meet record of 7:40.30.

8:20 p.m. today — Girls 4 x 1,600 relay
Redondo Union is also scheduled to compete in the 4 x 800 relay earlier, but the Seahawks and Saugus have taken turns in recent years lowering the state record and it could be challenged again in this marquee matchup. Redondo is ranked No. 1 in the country this year in the 4 x 800 and distance medley relay and could add another nation’s best mark here.

11 a.m. Saturday — Girls 300 hurdles
The state’s two fastest performers in the low hurdles — Great Oak’s Jade Miller and Long Beach Poly’s
Kymber Payne — will produce a rematch of their battle two weeks ago at Arcadia, with Rancho Cucamonga’s Jordie Munford, last year’s state runner-up, also scheduled to run, in addition to Carson’s Dayna Hurd and Alemany’s Skylin Harbin.

12:45 p.m. Saturday — Girls 100
Long Beach Poly’s Arianna Washington delivered one of the most memorable performances at Arcadia with her national-leading 23.34 in the 200 meters. Now she’ll look to improve her season-best 11.81 in the 100 against a field that includes state-leader Brittany Brown of Claremont (11.71), St. Mary’s Academy’s Sierra Peterson (11.86), Etiwanda’s Kayla Richardson (11.93), Oaks Christian’s Schuyler Moore (wind-aided 11.97) and Redlands’ Margaux Jones.

1:55 p.m. Saturday — Boys 4 x 100 relay
Serra’s Lloyd Siscard will have already competed in the 300 hurdles, but he’ll also be counted on here for the state-leading Cavaliers (41.45) against a field that features California’s top five teams and seven of the top nine — including Roosevelt, Loyola, Notre Dame, Castro Valley, Vista Murrieta and Long Beach Poly — this season.

3 p.m. Saturday — Girls long jump
Harvard-Westlake’s Courtney Corrin produced the nation’s best jump under all conditions with her effort of 20 feet, 2 1/4 inches at Arcadia. She’ll take aim at the meet record of 20-3 1/2, with Los Osos’ Kira Moreland, Simi Valley’s Madisen Richards, Redlands’ Margaux Jones, Roosevelt’s Akia Armstrong and Vista Murrieta’s Michelle Norman also part of this talented lineup.

5 p.m. Saturday — Girls shot put
The state’s top three throwers — Dos Pueblos’ Stamatia Scarvelis, Alemany’s Nia Britt and La Sierra’s Tanya Sapa — will take aim at closing the gap against Ashlie Blake of Nevada, whose effort of 50-9 1/4 was enough to distance herself from the talented group of challengers at Arcadia. Notre Dame’s Ginika Iwuchukwu, Newbury Park’s Kendall Mader and Long Beach Millikan’s Destiny Talalemotu are also scheduled to compete.

6 p.m. Saturday — Girls high jump
South Pasadena’s Claire Kieffer-Wright, the defending state champion, prevailed in a three-way tiebreaker based on fewer attempts after clearing 5-10 at Arcadia. If she can equal or exceed her state-leading mark of 5-10 3/4, she’ll break Amy Acuff’s 1984 meet record of 5-10. Vashti Cunningham, who tied Kieffer-Wright at Arcadia and is the daughter of former NFL quarterback Randall Cunningham, is also scheduled to compete along with Harvard-Westlake’s Alex Florent.

6:05 p.m. Saturday — Boys 200
Notre Dame’s Khalfani Muhammad is the reigning state champion, but suffered a setback in this event against Roosevelt of Corona’s Elijah Mitchell by a 21.21 to 21.40 margin at Arcadia. They could both be chasing Devon Allen from Brophy Prep in Phoenix, who beat Mitchell and Muhammad last season at Arcadia, with Redlands’ Walter Jones and Camarillo’s Ahmed Obed also in the race.

7:35 p.m. Saturday — Girls Distance Medley relay
The only race Simi Valley star Sarah Baxter is scheduled to run this weekend is as the Pioneers’ 1,600-meter anchor on this relay. Even her efforts likely won’t be enough to challenge national-leader Redondo Union (11:51.82), which is aiming for Torrey Pines’ meet record of 11:41.84 in 2010, but Simi Valley could be one of several teams to eclipse the 12-minute barrier.
IF YOU GO

Continue reading “The 10 can’t miss, must-see events at the 55th Mt. San Antonio Relays tonight and tomorrow” »

2013 GIRLS SOCCER ALL-AREA PHOTO GALLERY
2013 GIRLS SOCCER ALL-AREA TEAM ONLINE STORIES AND BIO’S

Player of the Year: TATUM LOCKETT, Diamond Bar, Senior
While U.S. National team forward Alex Morgan is Diamond Bar High School’s most famous girls soccer graduate, she never earned the accolades that forward Tatum Lockett is leaving with. Lockett finished the season with 35 goals and nine assists to lead Diamond Bar to the Hacienda League title and a CIF-Southern Section Division 3 quarterfinal appearance.
She was named the Hacienda League most valuable player, was a Division 3 first-team selection and also has been selected the San Gabriel Valley Tribune girls soccer player of the year.
“I really didn’t expect all of this,” Lockett said. “You set goals and you want to exceed them, but what I learned from my coach and my family is just to keep on working. If you do your best and leave it all out there, there’s nothing more you can do.”
Lockett, a daunting striker who could finish through the run of play and on set pieces – particularly on headers – will continue her career at UC Riverside, which is no surprise considering her family bloodlines.
Lockett has two brothers who played football at Diamond Bar.
One is Bret Lockett, who continued at UCLA and is now in the NFL. And the other is Colin Lockett, who plays football for San Diego State.
But for Tatum Lockett, to be able to leave her own mark was extremely satisfying.
“I didn’t felt the need or pressure to live up to anything, but I wanted to make a name for myself and I think I did that,” Lockett said. “Since I was a freshman, there were a lot of expectations so for it to end like this, and to get (player of the year), I’m just really thankful and grateful to all my teammates and my family.”
Diamond Bar finished 19-4-3 and leaned on Lockett time after time to produce goals when it needed it the most.
“I had to kind of step up being a team leader,” Lockett said. “I felt I gave it my all and that we accomplished a lot this season. We didn’t win it all, but we competed and gave it everything we had.”

Coach of the Year: RUBEN GONZALEZ, Bishop Amat
The Lancers’ coach earned his second San Gabriel Valley Tribune coach of the year award after leading his club to its second CIF-Southern Section divisional title in three years, and third straight championship appearance. Bishop Amat defeated powerful Pasadena Poly 4-2 in the Division 3 championship after surviving a nerve-racking postseason playoff run that included a 4-3 quarterfinal victory over Diamond Bar, and a semifinal win over Yorba Linda that ended with Amat surviving in penalty kicks, 5-4, after a 0-0 tie in regulation and two overtimes.

TRIBUNE FIRST TEAM
Demi Lomeli, Bishop Amat, Senior
The ball-stopping defender was clutch during the Lancers’ march to the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 championship, earning Del Rey League first-team honors. She was part of a tremendous backline that boasted three starting defenders on the CIF-SS Division 1 first-team list.
Kelly Velasquez, Bishop Amat, Senior
The sturdy central defender usually marked the opposing teams best striker while also floating defenisvely to clean up breakdowns. She was argubaly the Lancers’ best defender, earning Del Rey League first-team and CIF-SS Division 1 first-team honors.
Morgan Quarternik, San Dimas, Jr.
The Valle Vista League first-team defender also was named to the CIF-SS Division VI first-team after anchoring the Saints’ backline to the divisional semifinals for the second straight season. The versatile Quarternik could do more than just defend, often helping her team build an attack.
Marissa Favela, Diamond Bar, Senior
The senior attacking midfielder helped the Brahmas to the outright Hacienda League title and quarterfinal appearance in the CIF-SS Division 3 playoffs. She finished with 14 goals and 10 assists, earning Hacienda League first-team honors and was a Division 3 second-team selection.
Yazmin Montoya, Bishop Amat, Senior
The sturdy ball-winning midfielder is the only Lancers player to be a starter on the 2011 and 2013 CIF-SS championship teams, and was part of three straight Lancers squad that reached the finals. She finished with 12 goals and 11 assists and was named to the All Del Rey League squad.
Nayeli Requejo, Bishop Amat, Senior
The Lancers’ small but feisty attacking midfielder was a clutch performer throughout the Division 3 playoffs in leading her team to its second championship in three years. Requejo was named the Division 3 player of the year after finishing with 24 goals and 17 assists. She also was a Del Rey League first-team selection.
Jessica Lopez, Sierra Vista, Jr.
The Montview League most valuable player tallied a whopping 37 goals to go with 40 assists for the league champion Dons, who finished 22-3-1 and advanced to the second round of the Division 6 playoffs. Lopez also was a Division 6 first-team selection for the second straight year.
Katie Zamora, Bishop Amat, Senior
The senior forward earned Del Rey League first-team honors and had a knack for scoring when her team desperately needed it, finishing with five postseason goals during the Lancers’ Division 3 playoff run, including a goal in their title-winning 4-2 victory over Pasadena Poly. She finished with 18 goals and 8 assists.
Ashley Gonzalez, Chino Hills, Jr.
Against extremely tough competition, the junior striker proved to be one of the areas best finishers with 30 goals and 11 assists for the Sierra League champions, who advanced to the Division 2 quarterfinals. Gonzalez also was selected to the Sierra League first team and was a Division 2 first-team selection.
Daisy Duran, San Dimas, Jr.
The Saints’ dangerous striker powered her team to the Valle Vista League title and a second straight appearance in the CIF-SS Division 6 semifinals. Duran led her team and the Valle Vista league in scoring to earn league most valuable player honors. She also was a CIF-SS Division 6 first-team selection.
Katelynn Oshima, Walnut, Senior
The Mustangs’ goalkeeper boasted 10 shutouts in earning Hacienda All-League first-team honors and helped her team to a second-place finish behind Diamond Bar in the league standings. She also anchored the Mustangs to an easy 8-1 victory in the first round of the Division 3 playoffs.

SECOND TEAM
Defender: Denise Garcia, Chino Hills, Jr.
Defender: Ariana Holmes, Claremont, Senior
Defender: Ciara Balderamma, Covina, Senior
Defender: Iris Yam, Diamond Bar, Senior
Midfielder: Mimi Rangel, Chino Hills, Senior
Midfielder: Micaela Estrada, Arroyo, Senior
Midfielder: Emily Castellano, Charter Oak, Senior
Midfielder: Hanna Chua, Claremont, Jr.
Forward: Daisy Ruiz, Sierra Vista, Jr.
Forward: Cassandra Reyes, Bishop Amat, Senior
GK: Britain Chaputa, San Dimas, Jr.

HONORABLE MENTION
Rachel Curley, Bonita, So.
Alisson Kung, Wilson, Jr.
Helena Kisor, Diamond Bar, So.
Angela Schmidt, Diamond Bar, Senior
Lena Suehrstedt, Bishop Amat, Senior
Jamie Peters, Bishop Amat, So.
Erin Harris, Walnut, Jr.
Cassie Duran, Walnut, Senior
Samantha Verduzco, Los Altos, Jr.
Sarah Becerra, Los Altos, Senior
Amanda Ball, Chino Hills, Jr.
Madison Stark, Claremont, Jr.
Claire Damon, Claremont, Senior

Continue reading “Girls Soccer All-Area team: Diamond Bar’s Tatum Lockett and Amat coach Ruben Gonzalez earn top honors” »