From staff reports
The Tournament of Roses Association, through its Rose Bowl Game, will host a NCAA Youth football clinic Saturday morning at Jackie Robinson Park in Pasadena.
The clinic, for children ages 5-14, is free and will be from 10 a.m. to noon. Registration is slated for 9 a.m.
Local coaches and former and current players will provide instruction in a variety of football skills.
Robinson Park is located at 1081 N. Fair Oaks Avenue in Pasadena.
The clinic is hosted by the Rose Bowl Game in partnership with the NCAA Football Youth Initiative.

File photo by Chris Burt

By Steve Ramirez, SGVN
BAKERSFIELD - There will be a time when the Rio Hondo College baseball team will look back at arguably the best season in school history and feel good about what it accomplished.
But not today.
Josh Silver had an RBI single and Phillip Roa an RBI double in the 12th inning and Cosumnes River College won its first California Community College Athletic Association state title Sunday with an 8-6 victory over Rio Hondo at Bakersfield College.
The Hawks finished 28-16 and secured the north’s third consecutive CCCAA title. It the first three-peat for the north since Fresno City won consecutive championships in 1961, ’62 and ’63.
The Roadrunners, getting five hits and an RBI from Andrew Stein and three hits and an RBI from former South Hills High standout Cody Doyle, finished 40-5. Rio Hondo’s accolades this season include winning 33 consecutive games from February to this weekend and going 24-0 in winning the Foothill Conference for the third time in three years.
This was the Roadrunners’ second trip to the CCCAA Final Four in three seasons and their first time in the championship game.
“This is disappointing for the next day or so,” Rio Hondo coach Mike Salazar said. “But it’s one game, and in the whole season we won 40.
“Yes, only one team can be happy when the season’s over, so disappointing right now. But as you look back on the whole (season) entirely our (guys) did a great job.”
Cosumnes River was just a bit better Sunday and responded like good teams do by escaping a bases-loaded situation in the 11th and winning it in the 12th.
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FANTASTIC FOUR: From left, former South Hills standouts Dominic Martinez, Christian Ibarra, Cody Doyle and Andrew Morales have had quite an impact on the Rio Hondo College baseball team.
(Keith Durflinger / Staff Photographer)

Here’s my story on four former South Hills High School baseball players who have Rio Hondo College on the brink of a state championship:

By Steve Ramirez, SGVN
twitter.com/DailyNewsSports
WHITTIER — Rio Hondo College has been arguably the most consistent baseball program in the California Community College Athletic Association in recent years.
The Roadrunners, who face Cosumnes River College of Sacramento on Friday at 6 p.m. at Bakersfield College, are in the CCCAA Final Four for the second time in three seasons and have won the Foothill Conference title three out of the past four.
One of the keys to the Roadrunners’ success has been a connection that can be traced back to South Hills High School.
Rio Hondo’s recent standouts came from the West Covina school, and it’s no different this season, in which the Roadrunners have been led by former Huskies Christian Ibarra, Cody Doyle, Dominic Martinez and Andrew Morales.
All four were key players on South Hills’ CIF-Southern Section Division3 championship team in 2009 and now have the Roadrunners on the brink of a CCCAA title.
“It’s odd because, on average, maybe one or two players will play college baseball from a high school team,” said Rio Hondo coach Mike Salazar, who is in his 12th season with the Roadrunners. “To have four from the same high school who are playing on a college team is very special. It shows what a good job they did, what their coaches did at their high school.
“It’s been good to have them here. We’ve had a lot of good South Hills players. Every South Hills player who has come here has (received) a scholarship (to a four-year school). When they hear (what those players have accomplished), they trust us.”

CCCAA FINAL FOUR AT BAKERSFIELD COLLEGE
Friday
Consumnes River (25-16) vs. Rio Hondo (38-3)
Note: All games in the double-elimination tournament will be available via live webcast at coasports.org
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Staff Photo by Leo Jarzomb

By Steve Ramirez, SGVN
twitter.com/DailyNewsSports
SANTA FE SPRINGS – Bishop Amat High School has been the Del Rey League’s dominant softball team the past two years.
The Lancers showed that prowess Tuesday.
Alexis Gonzalez went 3 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs and Sabrina Anguiano was solid in the circle and Bishop Amat closed in on its second consecutive league title with a 6-0 victory over rival St. Paul at Little Lake Park.
Amanda Sanchez also had two hits and scored two runs for the Lancers, who improved to 17-4 overall and 8-0 in the Del Rey League. Amat, which had 13 hits, stretched its lead over the second-place Swordsmen to three games with four games left.
Cassie Padilla, Miranda Larios and Kristina Villalobos also had two hits each for the Lancers.
Justine Andrade had two hits for St. Paul, which slipped to 13-11 and 6-3.
Anguiano carried a perfect game into the fifth before finishing with a four-hittier with two strike outs. It was her sixth shutout in league play.
Gonzalez had a RBI single in the first and a two-run home run in the third.
Bishop Amat coach Jesse Mendez: “With our pitching and our defense the way it is, we just have to trust our bats. Today the girls came to play. We didn’t have any errors, Sabrina pitched and we hit the ball. They always come to play.”
St. Paul coach Roberta Argott: Once the game got a little bit longer and we got our second time around seeing (Anguiano), we got used to her. We started getting some hits and we got some good hits. But again, she came back and produced when she needed to. We got caught on her heals, so to speak, of not being ready at the right moment to come through and get back into the game. We just missed it.”

SACRAMENTO — As far as women’s basketball is concerned, Mt. San Antonio College has set the bar over the last decade in the California Community College Athletic Association.
The Mounties, who won state titles in 2004 before a three-peat run from 2006-08, added to that lore Sunday.
Shawlina Segovia scored 19 points and former San Dimas High School standout Ashley Burchfield had 11 and Mt. SAC won its fifth CCCAA title with a 68-58 victory over Foothill in the state championship game at Cosumnes River College.
The five state titles puts the Mounites one behind Ventura, which won it’s sixth in 2010. Mt. SAC, also getting 14 points from tournament MVP Morgan Mason and nine from Danielle Peacon, finished 31-3, losing to East Los Angeles in Febuary and twice to Ventura in November and December.. It was also Mt. SAC’s second title-game win over Foothill, beating the Owls, 65-57, in 2008.
Raeshel Contreras had 24 points and Nikki Powell 10 for Foothill, which finished 30-5.
Mt. SAC coach Brian Crichlow: “This is a true testament of what this program is all about.. It’s about all the players who were here before these girls, coach Beeman, the hard work of all the assistant coaches … everybody. It’s just a true testament of everybody working together. There’s no one person bigger than the team. We’ve been preaching that for years, and everybody played a part in this victory.”
Mt. SAC’s Shawlina Segovia: “Morgan’s a tough player. She has the most heart on our team. When they try to shut her down, they forget that other people can score, too. But we played as a team and that’s where this outcome came from. No one was selfish on the team, and that’s what got us the win.”

BAKERSFIELD — Northview High School’s Bryan Salinas came up short in his quest to become the fourth Viking to win a state wrestling title.
But the weekend was hardly a failure for the sophomore, who followed up last season’s appearance at the CIF State championships with a fourth-medal after winning two of four matches Saturday at Rabobank Arena.
Salinas, who wrestles at 145 pounds, was joined on the medal podium with Chino Hills’ Brody Goens, who was fifth at 182, and Christian Martin, who was seventh at 113.
“It’s a good feeling,” said Salinas, who advanced to the semifinals on Friday before going 1-2 on Saturday, losing in the third-place match to Simi Valley’s Samuel Duchene, 6-5. “I would have liked to win that last match, but I made a few mistakes.
“But overall, it’s a great to finish fourth. I just want to keep improving. I’ll comeback next year and improve.”

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By Steve Ramirez
BAKERSFIELD - Northview High School assistant wrestling coach Bobby Bellamy felt sophomore Bryan Salinas left a little bit on the table after finishing second during last week’s CIF-Southern Section Masters Meet.
The 145-pound competitor didn’t make the same mistake Friday.
Salinas used a steady effort to march his way to the semifinals to lead area competitors during the first day of the CIF State championships at Rabobank Arena.
The sophomore is one of three locals still in position to earn a top-eight medal and the only one alive for a title. The Chino Hills’ duo of Christian Martin (113) and Brody Goens (182) lost in the quarterfinals and both must win morning matches to advance to the medal rounds.
Northview, which qualified a school-record seven competitors to this event, is just left with Salinas. The Vikings, whose best team finish was fifth in 2006, is ninth after one day with 36 points. Traditional state power Clovis, which has seven in the semifinals, leads with 164.5.
Northview’s Vincent Parra (106), Eric Ochoa (113), Daniel Valles (138), Javier Arellano (152), Steven Lopez (160) and Eddie Bernal (182); Diamond Bar’s Nathan Pike (113); Walnut’s Michael Sill (132); Rosemead’s Alberto Flores (145); South Hills’ Trevor Behr (152) and West Covina’s Brad Ojala (170) lost in consolation and didn’t advance.
The meet concludes today with the consolation fifth round scheduled for 9 a.m. The semifinals are slated to begin at 9:30 am., with the finals at 7:15 p.m.
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TEMECULA – It remains to be seen if the Northview High School wrestling team can win a CIF State championship.
But one thing is certain – the Vikings are the best in the CIF-Southern Section.
Northview flexed its muscle Saturday, qualifying a school-record seven for next weekend’s state championships in Bakersfield and outdueling Corona Centennial for the team title, 101.5-98, during the CIF-SS Masters Meet at Temecula Valley High School.
Sophomore Bryan Salinas led the Vikings’ charge with a second-place finish at 145pounds. Other Northview qualifiers were Vincent Parra (106, third), Eric Ochoa (113, eighth), Daniel Valles (136, third), Javier Arellano (152, ninth), Steven Lopez (160, eighth) and Eddie Bernal (182, eighth).
The Vikings’ dominance capped the area performances that saw 14 competitors qualify for state, scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.
Chino Hills’ Christian Martin, who beat Diamond Bar’s Nathan Pike, 10-2, in the 113-pound final, was the area’s only champion. Other local qualifiers were Pike, Walnut’s Michael Sill (132, fourth), Rosemead’s Alberto Flores (145, seventh), South Hills’ Trevor Behr (152, fourth), West Covina’s Brad Ojala (170, fifth) and Chino Hills’ Brody Goens (182, sixth).
Northview assistant coach Bobby Bellamy: “This tournament’s a meat-grinder. It’s extremely difficult to get through this tournament and healthy to the next tournament. I’m just pleased we got seven guys to state. It’s the most guys Northview has ever had. It’s another milestone. We’ve never had seven state qualifiers. Hopefully, we can take them to Bakersfield and get them on the podium. I’m just so ecstatic. I’m overwhelmed with joy. I’m just so pleased with their effort. We have kids like Eric Ochoa, who placed fifth at (divisionals) and placed eighth here. Those kind of efforts … it’s just amazing.”
Chino Hills Christian Martin: I thought I could get to the semifinals and finals. But to tell you the truth, I wasn’t sure I could take it. After I saw who I had in the finals, I was confident I could beat him. I just went out there and wrestled smart.”

Above: Chino Hills alum Ifo Ekpre-Olomu will play in Monday’s 98th Rose Bowl Game. (Photo provided by Eric Evans/Oregon Sports Information)

University of Oregon football coach Chip Kelly has one rule: The best players, regardless of class, play. He’s lived up to that statement, showing no qualms to play talented, but inexperienced freshman, including two years ago when running backs LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner found their way into the lineup, and this year is no different. One of those is former Chino Hills star Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, who has made a sudden impact for the Ducks, being part of defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti’s seven defensive-back rotation.
Below is today’s story of Ekpre-Olomu.

Also, click here to read about the 2012 Rose Bowl Hall of Fame class, which is former Wisconsin star Ron Dayne, announcer Dick Enberg and former Washington star George Fleming.

Here is today’s notebook, leading with Kelly addressing the Ducks’ struggles in BCS games and encounters when their opponents have had more than a week to prepare.

By Steve Ramirez
LOS ANGELES - So much for the adage that freshmen are supposed to be seen, but not heard.
Ifo Ekpre-Olomu is one of the exceptions.
The former Chino Hills High School star, despite his youthful status, not only has found his way on the field for the Oregon football team but he’s made an impact in the Ducks’ defensive back rotation.
He will put his talents on display when Oregon faces Wisconsin on Monday in the 98th Rose Bowl Game in Pasadena.
“For myself, I always have high expectations,” said Ekpre-Olomu, who has played in all 13 games and is the No. 2 cornerback behind starters Anthony Gildon and Terrance Mitchell. “Of course, I wanted to play this year. I got to do that. Now I’m just working my way up the depth chart trying to get more and more playing time.”
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Associated Press photo

As part of our coverage of the 98th Rose Bowl Game, here’s my story on Wisconsin’s Russell Wilson:

LOS ANGELES – There are a lot elements that were key for Wisconsin as the Badgers returned to the Rose Bowl Game
The X-factor is quarterback Russell Wilson, who is not a typical Wisconsin signal caller.
Wilson, a senior transfer from North Carolina State, added athleticism to a position that for years required nothing special, just someone who minimized mistakes while guiding an offense that used its mammoth front line and big running backs such as Ron Dayne and John Clay as focal points.
Wilson, at least for this season, changed that perception.
“The true sign of a great player is someone who can make something out of nothing,” said Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema, whose Badgers face Oregon in the 98th Rose Bowl Game on Monday. “A lot of times it might be a call offensively where the scheme for the success of that play shuts down and you have to make a change.
“Russell has made changes this year on first, second, third and even fourth down that have allowed us to stay alive and make a play.”
Wilson’s biggest audible came not at Camp Randall Stadium, but off the field.
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Northview High School will host a three-day baseball camp on Dec. 27-29.
The camp, which costs $30, will also be a homecoming of sorts for Pedroza brothers, Sergio, Jaime and Richy, along with 2008 CIF-Southern Section Division IV Player of the Year Aaron Elias and 2008 All-CIF catcher Robert Williams..
Sergio Pedroza was a high school All-American at Northview and was Big West Conference MVP during his three seasons with Cal State Fullerton, including helping the Titans to the 2004 national title. He is in the Miami Marlins organization. Jaime Pedroza, currently in the Dodgers organization, was All-CIF-SS at Northview and first team All-Big West at UC Riverside, with Richy Pedroza a starting shortstop for Fullerton this upcoming season. Elias, who helped Northview win the 2008 Division IV title, is playing at Jacksonville State. Williams is playing at Macalester University in Minnesota.
Northview coach Darren Murphy will be the lead instructor for the camp, which will include instruction on a variety of baseball drills. The importance of academics will also be discussed.
The camp will be from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each day.
More information is available via e-mail at centenojose84@gmail.com or by calling (626) 646-6132.

Mt. San Antonio College goes for its third consecutive CCCAA state title today, facing NoCal champ City College of San Francisco at 12:30 p.m. I’m up here for the game, and you can follow my twitter updates through my stat app below.

Our local high schools are not the only ones putting their seasons on the line, Azusa Pacific University and Mt. San Antonio College are also in football playoffs. For Mt. SAC, it’s just trying to continue the status quo as the Mounties host Cerritos at 1 p.m. on Saturday, seeking their fifth consectuve Southern California title. Mt. SAC will be the favorite to advance to the CCCAA title game again after routing Cerritos, 51-0, last season. But both teams have won six consecutive games.
APU, meanwhile, after routing Ottawa, of Kansas, in the first round last week, has a monster tilt at Carroll, of Helena, Mont., in the NAIA quarterfinals. The host Saints have won six national titles since 2002, including last season. This will be APU’s second trip to Carroll in two seasons, losing 35-21, in the first round last year. The Cougars, who have never lost in the quarterfinals, are 0-6 lifetime against the Saints, and 0-2 in the playoffs, also losing 14-10 in 2004, in the semifinals. I guess that means the odds are in their favor, right?
Here’s a little something to inspire the Cougars on the eve of their monumental task. Although it’s not a football speech, the meaning is the same.

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CIF-SS just released the girls volleyball championship schedule for the weekend, and St. Lucy’s Priory, which is going for its second consecutive 2AA title, will face La Salle at 7 pm. on Friday at Cypress College in Gym 2.
This seemed as an obvious choice with St. Lucy’s being an all-girls school with no football team and the La Salle football team not making the playoffs. CIF-SS generally puts the championship-round teams on Saturday if their football teams are playing on Friday.

Former Covina High School standout Brett Pill, who also starred at Cal State Fullerton, was promoted from Triple-A Fresno to the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday.
The son, of Mike Pill, of Edgewood High School, and older brother of Tyler Pill, also of Covina and Cal State Fullerton, had a solid summer for the Fresno Grizzlies of the Pacific Coast League.

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By Steve Ramirez
LA MIRADA — Andy Gramajo will start in the backfield for the La Mirada High School football team this season. Just don’t expect him to be in that spot every time the Matadores come to the line of scrimmage.
The senior is La Mirada’s Mr. Versatility, capable of putting a dent in the opposition no matter where he lines up on the field.
“He’s been playing football his whole life,” La Mirada offensive coordinator Armando Rivas said. “He’s smart, knows our offense. He can play a number of positions. He’ll play running back, receiver, or even be our main guy in the Wildcat (formation) if we decide to run it.
“He’s smart, like a coach on the field, and he’s a great athlete who is the fastest guy on our team and has the best hands on our team. He’s going to be the guy we expect to carry the load.”

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LA MIRADA — Youth is being served for the La Mirada High School football team this season.
But that doesn’t mean the the Matadores can’t continue their recent tradition, which includes winning the Suburban League title the past two seasons and the CIF-Southern Section Southern Division in 2009.
If anything, the concept by most that La Mirada will take a step back, just fuels the Mats’ fire.
“We want to be the underdog every weekend,” said La Mirada offensive coordinator Armando Rivas, who is interim coach while head coach Mike Moschetti recovers from a pneumonia. “We want to be the team that no one knows what to expect. We’re going to thrive on that every week, build on that momentum, and get better.”

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1. Michael Ortega, St. Paul, Sr., 5-11, 176 – Ortega sets the tone, combing speed and power. He’s the key to the Swordsmen’s success this season after rushing for 1,196 yards and seven touchdowns in 2010. He also averaged an impressive 8.5 yards per attempt.
2. Tony Botello, Pioneer, Sr., 5-5, 155 – The Titans struggled in the Del Rio League, but it wasn’t because of Botello, who enjoyed a banner season, rushing for 1,189 yards and 12 scores. He will need another type year if Pioneer is to improve on its 5-5 overall record. Most believe he can.
3. Grant Escobar, Whittier Christian, Sr., 5-10, 165 – Escobar is one of the few holdovers from the Herald’s run to the Mid-Valley title game. He was a machine last season, rushing for 1,084 yards and 16 TDs. He’s one of the more versatile backs in the area, also taking time to catch 38 passes for 401 yards and two scores.
4. O.J. Medina, La Serna, Sr., 5-8, 170 –Medina saw limited action behind Richard Alvarez last season, but now it’s his turn and has the ability to be the go-to-guy after rushing for 765 yards and eight TDs. He also pulled eight yards a run in 2010.
5. Ronell Lone, El Rancho, Sr., 5-9, 172 – There is plenty of plus-side for Lone, who averaged more than 7 yards a carry last season, finishing 613 yards. He’s a key to El Rancho challenging in the Del Rio League.

By Steve Ramirez
MONTEBELLO – Montebello High School’s Daniel Servin is a marked man.
The senior is the one player on the Oilers’ defensive that opposing offensive coordinators tag as the one guy that must be accounted for.
But Servin, one of the top returning defensive players is the area, is worth more to Montebello than the production he provides on the field.
“He lives by example,” Montebello coach Pete Gonzalez said. “He works hard in the weight room, he works hard at practice. He’s a great guy who goes out and plays.
“He makes everyone on our team better, because he plays so hard, so fast all the time. You can’t take a down off in practice, because if you take a down off, he’s going to make you look bad. He’s just one of those guys who is going to force you play hard all the time. He’s a great kid all the way around.”

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La Mirada football coach Mike Moschetti could miss up to a month after being diagnosed with pneumonia over the weekend. La Mirada football coach Mike Moschetti, who guided the Matadores to a CIF-Southern Section title in 2009, it’s first since the early 1990s, is out of action after being diagnosed with pneumonia over the weekend. He was hospitalized one night for observation, but is now resting at home.
La Mirada offensive coordinator Armando Rivas, who is interim coach in Moschetti’s absence, said the Mats coach could be out from a week to a month.
The Matadores, one of the few Whittier area teams to begin fall practice, have gone undefeated in the Suburban League the past two seasons and won the CIF-SS Southern Division title in 2009.

As part of our new all-encompassing sports blog, I began to look at the schedule for the Tribune and Whittier area teams and noticed some interesting crossover games during the nonleague stretch of the season.
Here are some of the best:

1. Charter Oak vs. Santa Fe, at Pioneer HS, Sept. 30
What a way to end the opening month of the season. This one could be promoted as the Best to the East Valley vs. the Best of Whittier. Now Bishop Amat and La Habra might have something to say about that. But it features two of the more consistent programs from each area in the past decade. Going into the season, you would favor Charter Oak, but there’s no doubt that the Chiefs could make it difficult for the Chargers.

2. La Mirada at Bishop Amat, Sept. 16
This one would have been one of the better early meetings last year when both were loaded. The Matadores are down a bit, but the Lancers also have to get a long without Rio Ruiz during the first couple of weeks, if not longer. But this one has to favor Bishop Amat.

3. La Serna at Bonita, Sept. 16
This is a reamatch of last year’s CIF-Southern Section Southeast Division semifinal, won by the Bearcats, 21-16. Both teams suffered some graduation losses, but it should be one of the better cross-over games. Give the advantage to the Bearcats. Same teams, same site, same result.

Game I would like to see:
How about the true battle of the Best of the East Valley vs. the Best of Whittier: Bishop Amat vs. La Habra. The Cal Preps projection page says it would be Bishop Amat 35, La Habra 21. I think it would closer, but it would be fun to see. Speaking of Whittier vs. the East Valley, why not a return of Bishop Amat vs. St. Pau…just sayin.

La Habra High School has fielded the most-consistent football program among the three areas over the past decade, advancing to seven CIF-Southern Section divisional championship games during the last 11 seasons, winning six.
The Highlanders have won four consecutive CIF-SS crowns, and they are expected to be in the running for a fifth.
But being the best is not about resting on your laurels, and La Habra is definitely not sitting still this season.
Just check the schedule, which includes a Sept. 16 meeting against Pac-5 stalwart Servite, and also includes face offs against El Dorado on Sept. 2 and Orange Lutheran on Sept. 23.
Aaron Porter, who has committed to UCLA, and company have their work cut out for them. How do you think they will do?

LA HABRA’S 2011 SCHEDULE
Fri. Sept. 2, El Dorado @ Placencia Valencia, 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 9, @ La Mirada, 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 16, Servite @ Cerritos College, 7 p.m.
Fri. Sept. 23, Orange Lutheran @ Cerritos College, 7:30 p.m.
Thu. Sept. 29, ST. JOHN BOSCO, 7 p.m.
BYE
Fri. Oct. 14, *Sunny Hills @ Buena Park, 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 21, @ *Fullerton, 7 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 28, *BUENA PARK, 7 p.m.
Fri. Nov. 4, *Sonora @ La Habra, 7 p.m.
Thu. Nov. 10, *TROY, 7 pm.
*- denotes Freeway League game

San Gabriel Valley’s road to a Senior Babe Ruth national title got a little tougher Saturday.
Pat Wright had a RBI single to highlight a three-run rally in the fourth inning and Syracuse, N.Y. opened pool play in the Babe Ruth World Series with a 3-2 victory over San Gabriel at Johnson-O’Brien Stadium in Ephrata, Washington.
San Gabriel, which swept through the Pacific Southwest Regional two weeks ago in Modesto, continues pool play Sunday at 8 p.m. against host Ephrata. Syracuse faces Mobile, Ala. at 2.
San Gabriel concludes pool play against Ottumwa, Iowa at 5 p.m. on Monday. The top three teams in each pool than advance to bracket play, which begins on Thursday. The championship game is scheduled for next Saturday.
Syracuse scored all the runs it would need in the fourth inning. The rally was keyed by Wright’s RBI single. He then scored via a balk by San Gabriel starter Daniel Zamora, of Bishop Amat High School.
Syracuse starter Ryan O’Kane made it stand up. But he did have to stop a San Gabriel rally in the seventh.
Brennen Salgado, of Glendora, led off with a home run to make it 3-1. A double by Crescenta Valley’s Elliott Surrey and a single by Troy Prosertsit gave San Gabriel Valley a chance to tie it.
Jon Larson followed with a fly out before an RBI ground out by Andrew Medina cut it to 3-2. Kane, who gave up four hits, then struck out Nick Cooksey to win it.

As we are in the calm before the storm of the prep football storm, our colleague Aram Tolegian, our area football guru, has posted some of his predictions for the league title chases in several of our leagues.
Can’t say that I agree with all of his picks, but that’s what makes this fun.
My picks for league titles are the following::

Del Rio: Santa Fe
Hacienda: West Covina
Montview: Azusa
Mission Valley: Arroyo
Sierra: Damien
Valle Vista: San Dimas
Others: La Habra (Freeway), Schurr (Almont), Bishop Amat (Serra), and St. Paul (Mission).

New Stanford coach David Shaw

As part of this becoming the all-sports blog for are three San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, and part of our college football coverage, I will post a capsule of all Pac-12 teams for the upcoming season. We continue our trip in the Pac-12 North, and today we take a brief look at Stanford

STANFORD CARDINAL
Coach: David Shaw
Years at school: First
Record: 0-0
2010 Record: 12-1 (Beat Va. Tech 40-12 in Orange Bowl); 8-1 in conference.
Division: North
2011 prediction: First
Outlook: The Cardinal returns most of the key ingredients that helped Stanford to arguably its best season in school history. The missing link is coach David Shaw, who has replaced the vocal Jim Harbaugh. But the change at the top should not keep the Cardinal from their appointed rounds. The focal point will be Heisman Trophy favorite Andrew Luck, who is expected to be even better in 2011. The redshirt junior who threw for 3,338 yards and 32 TDs last year, will get help in RB Stepfan Taylor, who rushed 1,137 yards and defense keyed by DBs Delano Howell and Michael Thomas. The Cardinal will have two battle of the unbeatens: An Oct. 29 meeting at USC and Nov. 26 title at home against Oregon. Pick Stanford in both as this team looks headed toward the BCS title game in January.
Quotable: “Coach Harbaugh came in (four years ago) and fought a lot of battles that I don’t have to fight,” Stanford coach David Shaw said. “My job is to maintain a competitive spirit. Like I said before, that is one of the things that (Harbaugh) and I had in common. We were going to compete. We’re going to fight. There is a standard of play that we’ll play up to (here), and it’s my job that we’ll do that.”