By Steve Ramirez
twitter.com/SteveRRamirez
CHINO HILLS – Lakewood High School didn’t need much to beat Chino Hills, but the Lancers don’t need much when Janelle Hayes is in the circle.
Thursday was no exception.
Hayes tossed a four-hit shutout and struck out 11 and Lakewwood advanced to the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 semifinals with a 2-0 victory over host Chino Hills in a quarterfinal game at Big League Dreams Park.
The Lancers, getting a pair of RBI singles from Kylie Lundberg and Montana Dixon, improved to 23-6 and will travel to Millikan, a 5-3 victor over Ayala, in Tuesday’s semifinals.
Trish Parks gave up for hits and struck out 10 for the Huskies, who finished 25-8. Chino Hills, which was seeking its second consecutive CIF-SS title after winning Division 3 last season, also received two hits from Shianne Brannan.
“It is what it is,” Chino Hills coach Mike Southworth said. “We hadn’t been shut out all year, so for them to shut us out, (Hayes) was obviously pretty effective. She worked the outside part of the plate really well, and that’s softball.
Chino Hills coach Mike Southworth: “It is what it is. We hadn’t been shut out all year, so for them to shut us out, (Hayes) was obviously pretty effective. She worked the outside part of the plate really well, and that’s softball. Her placement of her pitches was good enough to cause our kids some problems. It was tough.”
Lakewood coach Andy Miramontes: “We just had little base hits that we were able to cash in. It was a little flair here and there. I told the girls with a pitcher like (Parks), you just have to concentrate on putting the ball in play, which is what they did.”
Lakewood’s Janelle Hayes: They were helping me out, because they were taking some aggressive swings. Lindsay has been making some fantastic plays the past few games, so even when they hit it deep, I knew she was going to make a play. I was confident she was going to catch it.”

Here’s how I described Tuesday’s controversial call in Northview’s 5-4 win over South Torrance. The new video that surfaced seems to show that the South Torrance runner may have touched home. In Tuesday’s story I wrote: South Torrance was still trying to understand a controversial call moments earlier that took its go-ahead run away.
Trailing 4-2 in the top of the seventh, South Torrance loaded the bases with one out. Kyle Henmi doubled in the gap to score the tying runs with the go-ahead runner, Josh Rotuna, rounding third and colliding with Vikings catcher Gabe Rojo in a play at the plate. The umpire ruled Rotuna out, then after noticing that Rojo dropped the ball, ruled him safe, giving South Torrance a 5-4 lead. Northview appealed, arguing the runner never touched home and the umpire agreed, ruling the runner out at home, tying the score 4-4.
“The (umpire) called him out, then safe, then they rule he never touched the plate, a little confusing, “South coach Grady Sain said. “He (runner) wasn’t ruled out until after the play was dead and then they appealed.
“It’s one of those things where it could have gone either way and unfortunately it went their way.” Northview will advance to the quarterfinals to face Oaks Christian. Vikings coach Darren Murphy said he had a clear view of the play at home.
“It (the call) was a huge momentum changer but at the end of the day coaches always want the right call and that was the right call,” Murphy said. “He never touched home plate. Rojo’s tag knocked him off his feet and he was never within two or three feet of the plate.” This was obviously much closer than two or three feet. It appears Rotuna’s foot did swipe home. In any case, tough for any of the umpires to know for sure, so surprised the call was changed on appeal. If I had to make the call based on the video, I’d rule him safe.

RECRUITING NEWS: 2015 prospects Cordell Broadus and Kanya Bell both picked up offers from Nebraska today. #GoHuskers!

— Coach Maine (@BrahmaFootball) May 23, 2013

By Aram Tolegian Staff Writer
The family of Diamond Bar High School football player Antonio “Noodles” Hull has hired an attorney to help appeal the CIF-Southern Section’s declaration of his ineligibility until Nov. 9. 2013.
Hull, a junior-to-be, transferred from West Covina to Diamond Bar this offseason with hopes of playing for the Brahmas this fall. Earlier this month, the CIF-Southern Section office declared him ineligible for varsity football participation until Nov. 9, 2013 after West Covina disputed the transfer on grounds that it was athletically motivated.
West Covina provided the CIF-Southern Section office with a letter from Hull’s father, which left the ruling body no choice but to declare Hull ineligible under Rule 510, which includes athletic motivation among other things.
Hull’s family will now state its case to a state appeal committee and they’ll do it under the guidance of Chris Prussak, an Orange County-based attorney who claims he specializes in CIF appeals cases.
“One hundred percent of athletes who make their appeal to CIF, they’re athletically motivated,” Prussak said. “They want to play athletics, therefore they are athletically motivated. Tell me the different degrees. It doesn’t say there are different degrees in the blue book, so I don’t understand that term.”
Hull shined as a sophomore at West Covina last fall, earning Tribune Newcomer of the Year honors after playing quarterback, running back and safety for the Bulldogs.
He was expected to be in the mix to play quarterback for Diamond Bar and also start at safety for the Brahmas.
On Aram’s In the Huddle blog, he further wrote that Prussak will also argue that it’s unconstitutional for CIF to step in and say Hull is ineligible when he made a valid change of residence. Other parts of his case will include academics and safety/threat issues that have been alleged in other emails.
Broadus gets another offer
Diamond Bar wide receiver Cordell Broadus added LSU to his growing list of suitors when the Tigers became the latest big-name college team to offer the junior-to-be.
Broadus, whose father is famous rapper Snoop Dogg, already has offers from USC, UCLA and Washington, to name a few.
Scoby to miss spring
New Monrovia running back Kurt Scoby won’t join the team until after spring practice in order to focus on academics, according to Wildcats coach Ryan Maddox.
Scoby, who last played at St. Paul, decided to transfer to Monrovia after several stops this offseason. Under an agreement with Monrovia principal Darvin Jackson to get his academics in order, Scoby won’t participate in team drills until this summer.
“He’s in the process of getting everything squared away grades-wise,” Maddox said. “He’s in good standing. He wanted to focus on his education and focus on getting into a Division I college.
“He’ll join us in the summer. Kurt will make the adjustments and know what’s doing. He’ll be just fine.”
Monrovia is loaded at running back with returner Darione Jones and two sophomores-to-be with bright futures in Cameron Johnson and Anthony Marquez.

Northview baseball will likely face Oaks Christian’s 6-foot-4 righthander Phil Bickford in Friday’s Division 4 quarterfinal at home. Bickford, a potential Major League Baseball first-round selection in this year’s draft, was clocked at 96 MPH during a 4-1 victory over Bonita for the Redondo tournament title. Bickford draws a lot of attention from scouts, so expect a big crowd tomorrow. Interestingly, Bickford, a starter all season, has not started in the playoffs, making relief appearances in both. Bickford took over in the fourth in the Lions’ 1-0 win over San Marino and didn’t enter until the sixth inning in the Lions’ 5-2 win over Savanna. “It’s a little unusual, I’m not sure if he’ll start or of this is their way of using him in every game,” said Vikings coach Darren Murphy, who expects to face him at some point. “He’s as good as advertised, that’s for sure. We don’t need five or six (runs), we need one or two and hopefully you do that by plugging away and hoping there’s a crack.”

Aram’s In the Huddle Blog has some big news to report. Damien sophomore Elijah Jones has transferred to Upland and Charter Oak junior Alex Powell, the younger brother of former Chargers stud A.J. Powell, has transferred to rival South Hills. Aram also is reporting that Antonio “Noodles” Hull, who transferred from West Covina to Diamond Bar and was declared ineligible by CIF (athletically motivated), has hired an attorney to appeal the decision.

What do we always say about baseball in the San Gabriel Valley, we can beat anyone. South Hills, Bishop Amat, Diamond Bar, San Dimas, Baldwin Park and Northview all win, giving SGV 6-0 record in Division’s 2-4. Bring on the freaking quarterfinals …

Photo gallery of Northview, South Torrance
By Fred J. Robledo, Staff Writer
COVINA — How quickly momentum swings, just ask South Torrance.
Northview’s Kollby Oriti walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh to force in the game winning run, scoring Alex Labor from third to give the Vikings a 5-4 victory over visiting South Torrance in the second round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 4 baseball playoffs on Tuesday.
“I’d rather hit my guy in,” Oriti said. “But who cares, we got the win and we’re moving on.”
South Torrance was still trying to understand a controversial call moments earlier that took its go-ahead run away.
Trailing 4-2 in the top of the seventh, South Torrance loaded the bases with one out. Kyle Henmi doubled in the gap to score the tying runs with the go-ahead runner, Josh Rotuna, rounding third and colliding with Vikings catcher Gabe Rojo in a play at the plate. (To continue click thread).

CIF-SS Baseball Playoffs
Tuesday’s Second Round Results
Division 2
South Hills 4, San Clemente 3
Division 3
Bishop Amat 8, Palm Desert 6
Diamond Bar 6, St. Paul 0
Division 4
Northview 5, South Torrance 4
San Dimas 1, Santa Ana Calvary Chapel 0
Baldwin Park 6, La Serna 3
Division 5
Village Christian 14, El Monte 1
Oak Hills 14, Sierra Vista 1
FRIDAY’S QUARTERFINALS
Division 2
South Hills at Vista Murrieta, 3:15 p.m.
Division 3
Mira Costa at Bishop Amat, 2:30 p.m.
Diamond Bar at Gahr, 3:15 p.m.
Division 4
Oaks Christian at Northview, 3:15 p.m.
Sonora at San Dimas, 3:15 p.m.
Baldwin Park at La Sierra, 3:15 p.m.

Continue reading →

By Steve Ramirez
twitter.com/SteveRRamirez
SAN CLEMENTE – South Hills High School looked down, but the Huskies showed Tuesday they are never out.
Jonathon Ayala had a two-run double in the sixth and David Denson hit a lead-off home run in the eighth and South Hills rallied for a 4-3 victory over host San Clemente in a CIF-Southern Section Division 2 game.
The Huskies, also getting a home run from Isaiah Gonzales, improved to 22-6 and advanced to Friday’s quarterfinals against Vista Murrieta at a site to be determined today by coin flip.
The Tritons, who led 3-0 after four innings on a home run by Jake Terkoski and RBIs by Lucas Herbert and Brock Eissman, finished 23-10.
South Hills, after being held to three hits through four innings, looked like its season might end. But the Huskies refused to give in.
Gonzales started the comeback when he lined a home run to right field to make it 3-1 in the fifth. South Hills then loaded the bases in the sixth on an error, a walk and a hit-by-pitch. Ayala followed with a two-run double to right field to tie the score at 3.
Denson, after reliever Adrian De Horta escaped a San Clemente’ rally in the seventh, led off the eighth with a home run to left-center for the 4-3 lead.
De Horta retired San Clemente in order in the eighth.
South Hills coach Kevin Smith: “It was a team win. The kids just kept battling, kept fighting. They believed they could do it. I’m just really emotional. It’s a great win for us, for the program, for the school, for these kids. It’s just a great win. I’m so proud of our kids to battle back, to be down three runs on the road. We could have just rolled over, died and the season’s over. But they kept fighting, fighting and fighting.”
South Hills’ David Denson: “I just told myself to try my best and get a hit. I didn’t try to go for the fence. All I can do is try and do the best I can, and that’s what I did.”
South Hills’ Adrian De Horta: “I tried not to think ahead. This thing can get away from you, if you think like that. I tried to think one pitch at a time and my defense made some great plays behind me.”

UPSET, Sierra Vista shocks Citrus Valley, 4-2: Things finally caught up to Citrus Valley’s softball team. Three seasons of unprecedented success – two league titles, two CIF-Southern Section title games and one CIF-SS championship – came to an abrupt halt with Tuesday’s 4-2 loss at Sierra Vista in a CIF-SS Division 5 second-round game.

CIF-SS Softball Playoffs
Tuesday’s Second Round Results
Division 2
Ayala 3, Mission Viejo 2
Chino Hills 3, Yucaipa 1
Lakewood 1, Bonita 0, 8 innings
Dana Hills 5, South Hills 3
Charter Oak 5, Redlands East Valley 0
Division 3
La Serna 4, Bishop Amat 3
Division 4
Paloma Valley 1, South El Monte 0
Division 5
Sierra Vista 4, Citrus Valley 2
San Dimas 1, Santa Ana Calvary Chapel 0
Northview 7, Jurupa Hills 1

Thursday’s quarterfinals
Division 2
Millikan at Ayala, 3:15 p.m.
Lakewood at Chino Hills, 3:15 p.m.
Charter Oak at Oaks Christian, 3:15 p.m.
Division 5
Sierra Vista at Montebello, 3:15 p.m.
San Dimas at Silverado, 3:15 p.m.
Barstow at Northview 3:15 p.m.

What: West Covina High School Football Camp
When: June 17-19, 5 to 7 p.m.
For: Ages 6-13
Camp Inlcludes …
- Instructors will include former and current college players along with Bulldog coaches and players.
- $40.00 Fee – Cash or Check (made out to West Covina Football Boosters)
- Includes: Bulldog Camp T-Shirt, 3 – 2 hour sessions of instruction, Camp Certificate and Pizza Night (last night of camp)
- Register now (send to West Covina High School Football Boosters, 1609 E. Cameron Ave, West Covina, 91790) or Monday, June 17
- Any questions, Contact Camp Director: Corey Tello @ 626-859-2900 ext. 2945 or Mike Maggiore 626-859-2900 ext 2980

It’s almost impossible to choose the right games to cover when there are so many to choose from. But predictions? I’ve got those. I’m predicting a great day for the Valle Vista, and not so great for the others. I’ve got the VVL going 3-0 along with South Hills advancing in D-2 and Diamond Bar in D-3. I’ve got Bishop Amat going down in Palm Desert as well as Sierra Vista and El Monte. In softball, you’ve got a train wreck waiting to happen. I’m predicting all five area teams in D-2 will go down, Bonita, Ayala, Chino Hills, Charter Oak and South Hills. I only have two softball teams advancing, Bishop Amat and San Dimas.

CIF-SS BASEBALL PLAYOFFS
Tuesday’s Second Round
Division 2
South Hills at San Clemente, 3:15 p.m. — Pick (South Hills)
Division 3
Bishop Amat at Palm Desert, 3:15 p.m. — Pick (Palm Desert)
Diamond Bar at St. Paul, 3:15 p.m. — Pick (Diamond Bar)
Division 4
South Torrance at Northview, 3:15 p.m. — Pick (Northview)
San Dimas at Santa Ana Calvary Chapel, 3:15 p.m. — Pick (San Dimas)
La Serna at Baldwin Park 3:15 p.m. — Pick (Baldwin Park)
Division 5
Village Christian at El Monte, 3:15 p.m. — Pick (Village Christian)
Oak Hills at Sierra Vista, 3:15 p.m. — Pick (Oak Hills)

CIF-SS SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS
Tuesday’s Second Round
Division 2
Mission Viejo at Ayala, 3:15 p.m. — Pick (Mission Viejo)
Chino Hills at Yucaipa, 3:15 p.m. — Pick (Yucaipa)
Bonita at Lakewood, 3:15 p.m. — Pick (Lakewood)
Dana Hills at South Hills, 3:15 p.m. — Pick (Dana Hills)
Redlands East Valley at Charter Oak, 3:15 p.m. — Pick (Redlands E)
Division 3
Bishop Amat at La Serna, 3:15 p.m. – Pick (Bishop Amat)
Division 4
South El Monte at Paloma Valley, 3:15 p.m. — Pick (Paloma Valley)
Division 5
Citrus Valley at Sierra Vista, 3:15 p.m. — Pick (Citrus Valley)
Santa Ana Calvary Chapel at San Dimas, 3:15 p.m. – Pick (San Dimas)
Northview at Jurupa Hills, 3:15 p.m. — Pick (Jurupa Hills)

RESULTS/WEBCAST: The CIF-Southern Section track finals complete results from Saturday’s Division 1-4 races at Mt. SAC.

Over 100 photo’s from the CIF-SS track finals by Keith Birmingham
By Steve Ramirez
Bonita High School’s Marissa Scott has been one of the top athletes during the past few seasons.
She lived up to that billing Saturday.
Scott led the area efforts at the CIF-Southern Section divisional track and field championships at Mt. San Antonio College, taking first in the 800-meter run and a solid third in the 1,600 to qualify in both events for next week’s Masters Meet at Cerritos College.
Other top performances included Claremont’s Brittany Brown, who won both the 100 and 200 in Division 3; Bishop Amat’s Darren Andrews, who was second in the 100 in Division 3; Damien’s Adam Williams, who was second in the 800 in Division 3; Bonita’s Nikki Wheatley, who was third in the Division 3 triple jump and fifth in the long jump, and Glendora’s Cade Lindsey, who was second in the 110 hurdles in Division 3.
“My focus was to just qualify for Masters. I did that in the 800 and 1,600, so I’m real happy about that,” said Scott, who won the 800 in a personal-best 2 minutes, 13.93 seconds and finished third in the 1,600, also setting a personal best at 4:55.03. “I just wanted to move on and do my best.”
Both races were quite similar, with Scott taking the final lap with a shot at victory.
In the 800, she pulled away down the stretch to beat San Juan Hills’ Kylee Vandenberg (2:15.86) and Mater Dei’s Ashlyn Rambo (2:17.08). The opposite happened in the 1,600, where she was passed down the stretch by winner Sydney Segal (4:52.53), of Beverly Hills, and Bishop Montgomery’s Danielle Shanahan (4:53.31) to finish third.
“I was really pleased with my race in the 800,” Scott said. “I (had a personal best) last week, so I came in pretty confident. I had a good feeling. I tried to stay calm and focus and do my best.
“I ran pretty similar to what I did last week. I knew the last 400, I could really make my move, which I did.”
Andrews finished a solid second in the 100, breaking a personal record with a 10.54.
“I’ve been practicing for this day. It was a good day today,” Andrews said.
“It feels great, putting the hard work together. Mission accomplished.”
Brown dominated the Division 2 sprint events, easily winning the 100 in 11.49 and taking the 200 in 23.68.
Wheatley, who advanced to the state meet last season in the triple jump, will again get that chance after finishing third and qualifying for the Masters with a leap of 38 feet, one-half inch. She was fifth in the long jump at 17-1/2.
“I felt I did good,” Wheatley said. “I just wanted to make it to Masters. I know I can get better and improve as I keep going on.”
Williams and Lindsey each earned second-place finishes, Williams with a 1:56.27 in the 800 and Lindsey with a 14.81 in the 110 hurdles.
Webster was third in the Division 3 triple jump at 46-9 3/4. He also qualified for Masters.
Other strong area efforts were turned in by Walnut’s Ty’Jalayah Robertson, who was third in the Division 1 triple jump and qualified for Masters with a mark of 38-1/4; Chino Hills’ Dillon Groener, who was fourth in the Division 1 pole vault at 15 feet; and Arroyo’s Sam Garcia, who qualified for Masters after a fourth-place finish in the Division 2 3,200 at 9:20.97.
Rowland’s Dylan Thompson qualified for Masters with a mark of 45-4 1/2 in the triple jump.

San Gabriel Valley East-West photo gallery

GAME STORY: Charter Oak High School’s Aaren Vaughns scored three times and Chino Hills quarterback Matt Simko threw two touchdown passes and ran for another as the East took care of the West with a 42-18 win in the 34th Hall of Fame All-Star Game on Friday night at West Covina High.
The win upped the East’s lead in the series to 32-10-2. It also was the East’s sixth consecutive win in California’s longest-running high school all-star football game.

By Fred J. Robledo, Staff Writer
When Baldwin Park’s Dominic Hilo watched Century centerfielder Chris Santana stop running, he knew it was time to get his trot on.
Hilo’s grand slam in the third inning combined with pitcher Ben Fonseca’s complete game, 11 strikeout performance was more than enough to lead Baldwin Park to an easy 8-2 victory over Century in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 4 baseball playoffs on Friday.
Baldwin Park (21-5) will face La Serna, a 4-1 winner over La Habra, in the second round on Tuesday. Home field will be determined by a coin flip on Saturday.
“We’ve worked hard to get to this point,” Hilo said. “We’re trying to make a run at this thing, we’ve got four games to go.” To continue reading, click thread

San Dimas 7, Torrance 1: It wasn’t just gloomy weather that cast a shadow over Friday’s CIF Division 4 first-round baseball game between San Dimas and Torrance. The game was played with the Saints’ 2009 CIF championship banner, won against the Tartars, in the backdrop and draped over the wall in center field at San Dimas High. All of the players have departed from four years ago, but the result was the same as No. 4-seeded San Dimas (23-6) knocked Torrance (15-13) out of the playoffs with a 7-1 win. It was the Saints’ first postseason victory since beating the Tartars at Angel Stadium four years ago.

South Hills 2, Rio Mesa 1: South Hills’ baseball team got a two-hit pitching performance from senior Adrian DeHorta and defeated Rio Mesa 2-1 in a CIF-Southern Section Division 2 first-round playoff game on Friday. The Huskies will face the winner of the San Clemente-Mayfair matchup in a second-round game on Tuesday at a site to be determined.

CIF-SS BASEBALL PLAYOFFS
Friday’s First Round Results
Division 2
South Hills 2, Rio Mesa 1
La Mirada 7, Damien 4
Aliso Niguel 7, Claremont 1
Division 4
Northview 7, Ramona 4
San Dimas 7, Torrance 1
Baldwin Park 8, Century 2
Kaiser 3, Nogales 0
Tuesday’s Second Round Updated
Division 2
South Hills at San Clemente, 3:15 p.m.
Division 3
Bishop Amat at Palm Desert, 3:15 p.m.
Diamond Bar at St. Paul, 3:15 p.m.
Division 4
South Torrance at Northview, 3:15 p.m.
San Dimas at Santa Ana Calvary Chapel, 3:15 p.m.
La Serna at Baldwin Park 3:15 p.m.
Division 5
Village Christian at El Monte, 3:15 p.m.
Oak Hills at Sierra Vista, 3:15 p.m.

Continue reading →

GAME PREVIEW: A shootout is expected today when East meets West in the 34th Hall of Fame All-Star Game for soon-to-be graduating high school football seniors.
The question is whether the West can keep up with the East, which once again appears to have a decided talent edge on paper. The East leads the overall series 21-10-2 and has won the last five meetings. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m at West Covina.

Great picture, but I’ve got some news for the West, they’ve got zero chance against the East in Friday’s Hall of Fame All-Star game at West Covina, 7:30 p.m. But nice to see that El Monte and West Coach Joel Sanchez is up to his old tricks with this photo.

And as soon as I post this, here come the tweets … love it, game on.

@sgvnsports #ClownCommentBro

— Brian Tabatabai (@BrianTabatabai) May 17, 2013

@sgvnsports You just got to believe.

— Coach Sanchez (@Lionfb) May 17, 2013

Highlights and interviews following Cathedral shocking 3-1 victory over Bonita, knocking off the defending champion and Division 3 top seed.

By Steve Ramirez
Staff Writer
LA VERNE – There’s a reason why CIF-Southern Section baseball playoff games are played on fields and not paper.
Bonita High School, which won the Division 3 title last season and was top seed this season, found out why Thursday.
Henry Martinez doubled home two runs in the top of the seventh inning and Willie Aguilar struck out Connor Renard in the bottom of the inning with they tying runs on second and third and visiting Cathedral shocked the No. 1 Bearcats, 3-1, in a first-round game at Las Flores Park.
Cathedral, which beat Xavier Prep, 4-0, in the wild-card round on Tuesday, improved to 15-16 and will face either Elsinore or Culver City in the second round on Tuesday. Bonita, which had tied the score at 1 on a bases-loaded walk to Austin McGilvra in the sixth, finished 26-4-1. The Bearcats, who are 58-6-1 during the past two seasons, also suffered their earliest playoff exit since losing to Northview in the second round in 2007. Bonita had gone to the finals, winning last season and losing in 2010, twice in the past three seasons.
“A lot of respect to Cathedral. They’re a tough team,” Bonita coach John Knott said. “But our guys played with a lot of heart. They didn’t quit, even after getting the first two out (in the seventh). We were a hit away from tying, and who knows. But I know Cathedral wasn’t going to back down either.
“It’s sad to end it this way, but we knew this was going to be a very tough game.”

CIF-SS Baseball Playoffs
Thursday’s First Round Results
Division 3
Cathedral 3, Bonita 1
Mira Costa 15, Los Altos 1
Diamond Bar, 3, West Torrance 0
Serra 12, West Covina 7
Division 5
El Monte 1, La Puente 0
Maranatha 7, Duarte 4
Sierra Vista 12, Mountain View 1
Continue reading →

Plenty of drama during the first-round of the CIF-Southern Section softball playoffs, Bishop Amat, the Tribune’s top team, trailed 2-1 going to the bottom of the seventh but rallied to defeat El Segundo, 3-2. South El Monte with the surprise result of the day, knocking off San Marino and super pitcher Michelle Floyd, 2-0. Other mild shockers, South Hills knocking off Pacific Coast League champion Beckman, 4-2. The Valle Vista league’s best two, Northview and San Dimas, both won easily and Charter Oak clobbered West Covina, 13-5

CIF-SOUTHERN SECTION SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS
Thursday’s First Round
Division 2
Bonita 8, Tesoro 5
South Hills 4, Beckman 2
Charter Oak 13, West Covina 5
Ayala 14, Don Lugo 2
Chino Hills 6, Montclair 3
Division 3
Bishop Amat 3, El Segundo 2
Division 4
South El Monte 2, San Marino 0
Patriot 17, Arroyo 6
Division 5
San Dimas 9, Alhambra 0
Northview 14, Katella 3
Sierra Vista 7, Calvary Murrieta 4
Jurupa Hills 13, Duarte 1

Tuesday’s Second Round
Division 2
Mission Viejo at Ayala, 3:15 p.m.
Chino Hills at Yucaipa, 3:15 p.m.
Bonita at Lakewood, 3:15 p.m.
Dana Hills at South Hills, 3:15 p.m.
Redlands East Valley at Charter Oak, 3:15 p.m.
Division 3
Bishop Amat at La Serna, 3:15 p.m.
Division 4
South El Monte at Paloma Valley, 3:15 p.m.
Division 5
Citrus Valley at Sierra Vista, 3:15 p.m.
Santa Ana Calvary Chapel at San Dimas, 3:15 p.m.
Northview at Jurupa Hills, 3:15 p.m.

Continue reading →

The play-in games have been completed, now the CIF-Southern Section baseball playoffs, sans Bishop Amat’s 12-3 victory over Garden Grove Santiago on Wednesday, kick into high gear, with first round games slated for today and Friday. I thought what a good time to look at the divisions involving local teams, where the area’s best hopes for championship glory rest with Division 3 defending champion Bonita. Here goes.

DIVISION 2
Seeds: 1. Redlands East Valley (22-4-1), 2. Temecula Valley (19-5), 3. Los Osos (20-2), 4. Cypress (21-8).
Locals: South Hills (21-6), Damien (17-10).
Darkhorse: La Mirada (19-10-1)
Projected champion: Los Osos
Thoughts: Locally, South Hills had another solid season, but the odds are stacked against the Huskies, who host Rio Miesa (11-13) today. South Hills should advance to second round, but will have to run the gauntlet, with likely facing San Clemente (22-8), which was the division’s top team for much of the season, in the round of 16 and No. 1 Redlands East Valley in the quarters. La Mirada features one of the better pitching staffs in the division and could pull off some surprises. Los Osos has had just a few slip ups, but has been lights out lately, so I go with “The Bears” Grizzlies.

DIVISION 3
Seeds: 1. Bonita (26-3-1), 2. Serra (24-5), 3. Gahr (20-5), 4. Palm Desert (16-7)
Locals: Bontia, Los Altos (16-9), Bishop Amat (17-11), Diamond Bar (19-6), West Covina (16-12-1)
Darkhorse: Bishop Amat
Projected champion: Bonita
Thoughts: Bonita, after going 61 years between CIF-SS titles, looks ready to go back-to-back. The Bearcats don’t have the offensive prowess they enjoyed last season, but very few can match their pitching. The exception to the rule might be Serra, which should also advance to the final, setting up an epic battle for title glory. Cathedral and starter Bryan Duenes might be the Bearcats toughest opponent prior to the final when they square off today. Go with the Bearcats in that one and for the division crown. Bishop Amat is a team to lookout for. The Lancers, after a slow start, have won 12 of 15, with the losses coming to Serra and Cathedral.

DIVISION 4
Seeds: 1. Oaks Christian (24-3-1), 2. Kaiser (23-3), 3. Laguna Beach (24-2), 4. San Dimas (22-6)
Locals: San Dimas, Northview (21-8), Baldwin Park (20-5), Nogales (22-6)
Darkhorse: Northview
Projected champion: Oaks Christian
Thoughts: Oaks Christian has never won a CIF-SS baseball title, but this year might be the exception. The Lions finished the regular season with 12 consecutive wins and feature arguably the top staff in the divisions, with their top two starters (Phil Bickford and Spencer Vogelbach) boasting ERAs under 2.00. Two of Oaks Christian’s three losses were to Division No. 1 seed Mater Dei and No. 3 Harvard-Westlake. There doesn’t appear to be a team in the division that can matchup, so I’ll go with chalk and pick the Lions. Northview, with victories over South Hills and close losses to Bonita and San Dimas, has shown it can matchup with most teams on a given day. The question is can the Vikings put a couple of those performances together. I can see Northview advancing to the quarters, where their season likely ends with a loss to Oaks Christian. Also be wary of San Dimas, which after struggling in the Arcadia Tournament, has found its way late and I wouldn’t be surprised of a 2009 repeat.

DIVISION 5
Seeds: 1. Paraclete (21-3), 2. Oaks Hills (21-7), 3. Ontario Christian (21-5), 4. Citrus Valley (19-5)
Locals: La Puente (13-10), El Monte (12-11), Duarte (13-12), Arroyo (13-8), Sierra Vista (17-5), Mountain View (10-14).
Darkhorse: Ontario Christian (21-5)
Thoughts: This division features the most area teams. But the added odds likely won’t keep Paraclete from making a title run. The Spirits are the team to pick after closing the regular season with 16 wins over their final 17 games. Sierra Vista, La Puente and Arroyo all should win first-round games, but all that gives La Puente and Sierra Vista, who shared the Montview League title, is encounters against the top two seeds. Arroyo has a tough matchup against Brentwood, and likely Ontario Christian in the second round.

By Aram Tolegian Staff Writer
The last time El Monte High School standout quarterback Brandon Martinez and Gladstone signal caller Kevin Amezquita were on the field together, they put on quite a show.
Perhaps the best show in the Valley last season. The game took place on Sept. 14. It was an epic that Gladstone won 68-66 in three overtimes. Both teams went on to complete their best seasons in decades.
On Friday, the pair will meet again as Martinez quarterbacks the West and Amezquita the East in the Hall of Fame All-Star Game at West Covina High.
Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.

“It was touchdown after touchdown, just back and forth,” Martinez said while looking back on last fall’s game against Gladstone. “I think Friday’s game can become that type of game. It could turn out to be the same thing all over again.”
If Friday’s game does become a shootout, fans will be the biggest beneficiaries. The talented playmakers don’t stop at Martinez with the West and Amezquita with the East. Both teams have ample talent from other schools. But at its core, a large component of Friday’s game is El Monte-Gladstone.
The West will be coached by Martinez’s coach at El Monte, Joels Sanchez.
The East is coached by Albert Sanchez, who coached Amezquita at Gladstone.
Both coaches also have several others players from their schools on their rosters.
So given the familiarity that both Martinez and Amezquita have with what their coaches want to do, Friday’s
game could bring a level of offensive comfort that leads to plenty of points.
“It could be a shootout instead of one of those boring games like 3-0 or 10-6,” East coach Albert Sanchez said. “I’m hoping we can both light up the scoreboard.”
El Monte had a big lead in last September’s game before Amezquita helped lead a thrilling comeback. Once in overtime, both quarterbacks continued to make big plays with both their arms and legs.
Gladstone took a 68-60 lead and El Monte came right back and scored. The Lions had to go for two and convert in order to keep going, but running back Bryan Luevano, who had five touchdowns in the game, was stopped a half-yard short of the goal line.
Martinez finished the game with 346 yards passing and two touchdowns. He also ran for 110 yards and two scores. Amezquita had 234 yards and three touchdowns passing while also rushing for 94 yards and a score.
Performances like that were commonplace for both quarterbacks last season.
The wins followed and each team produced the best season in school history.
Gladstone earned a share of the Montview League championship and won its first playoff game since the 1970s. El Monte won its first league title in over 20 years and also ended a long playoff drought.
Martinez went on to post one of the best single seasons in CIF-Southern Section history and was named Tribune Player of the Year. Amezquita, who rushed for over 1,600 yards and threw 18 touchdown passes, was named to the Tribune’s All-Area first team at quarterback.
Although last September’s game was long ago, bad memories still linger for Martinez, who said a part of him wants revenge.
“Amezquita got away with that one, I believe,” Martinez said. “We worked really hard for that one. That feeling when Amezquita won that game, it was harsh.
“It’s the Hall of Fame Game, it’s for everyone to have fun and play hard. But I still kind of have that chip on my shoulder after losing that game to Amezquita.”

Bishop Amat-Santiago photo gallery

By Fred J. Robledo, Staff Writer
Remember Bishop Amat, the team with the huge pre-season expectations that dropped five of its first six and 10 of 16 to disappear off the radar and out of the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 baseball rankings?
That seems so long ago.
Bishop Amat routed visiting Garden Grove Santiago 12-3 in the first round of the Division 3 playoffs on Wednesday, the Lancers’ 12th win in their last 13 to improve to 18-11.
Just like that, the Lancers are one of the hottest teams in the division and the timing couldn’t be better.
“There’s nobody in this (division) that’s played a tougher schedule and is as battle tested as us,” Lancers coach Andy Nieto said. “We’ve gone through a lot and we’ve continued to fight the fight.
“Down the stretch we’ve won half a dozen one-run games. That means you’re defendng well, you’re pitching well and closing out games. It means instead of finding ways to lose games, you’re clutching-up and closing it out.” (To continue reading click thread)

CIF-SOUTHERN SECTION BASEBALL PLAYOFFS
Wednesday’s First Round Result
Division 3
Bishop Amat 12, Garden Grove Santiago 3
Thursday’s First Round
Division 3
Cathedral at Bonita, 3:15 p.m.
Los Altos at Mira Costa, 3:15 p.m.
West Torrance at Diamond Bar, 3:15 p.m.
West Covina at Serra, 3:15 p.m.
Division 5
El Monte at La Puente, 3:15 p.m.
Duarte at Maranatha, 6 p.m.
Mountain View at Sierra Vista
Friday’s First Round
Division 2
Rio Mesa at South Hills, 3:15 p.m.
Damien at La Mirada, 3:15 p.m.
Claremont at Aliso Niguel, 3:15 p.m.
Division 4
Northview at Ramona, 3:15 p.m.
Torrance at San Dimas, 3:15 p.m.
Century at Baldwin Park, 3:15 p.m.
Nogales at Kaiser, 3:15 p.m.

Continue reading →

4:30 mark: We discuss Andrew “Noodles” Hull’s transfer from West Covina to Diamond Bar that has been denied by CIF for athletically motivated reasons.
30:15 mark: Will Kurt Scoby ever play football at Monrovia?
38:15 mark: We discuss the Mt. SAC area realignment
47:00 mark: Damien moving to Pac-5, SGV All-star game on Friday, Charter Oak passing league on Saturday.
53:00 mark: Northview’s decision not to hire Brian Rice to succeed his father Ron Rice as the head basketball coach after Ron’s 41 years in charge.