The CIF-Southern Section celebrated its 100th anniversary by selecting the 100 greatest high school athletes in Southern Section history. Each athlete attended a Southern Section School. There were 14 chosen from the combined circulation areas for the Whittier Daily News, San Gabriel Valley Tribune and Pasadena Star-News listed below. Who do you think should of made the list? To view the full list, visit the CIF-SS website. Spokesperson Thom Simmons said the list will be posted later today.

1918 – Chris Paddock, track, Pasadena
1937 – Jackie Robinson, baseball, Muir
1939 – Jack Kramer, tennis, Montebello
1940 – Ralph Kiner, baseball, Alhambra
1943 – Glenn Davis, football, Bonita
1963 – Bob Seagren, track, Pomona
1964 – Stan Smith, tennis, Pasadena
1971 – Pat Haden, football, Bishop Amat
1979 – Bruce Matthews, football, Arcadia
1979 – Gary Zimmerman, football, Walnut
1979 – Jill Sterkel, swimming, Wilson
1981 – Mike Powell, track, Edgewood
1989 – Tracey Murray, basketball, Glendora
1996 – Stacey Nuveman, softball, St. Lucy’s

The annual senior boys/girls basketball all-star game between the Tribune and Star-News is on Friday, April 26 at Damien High School. The girls game is at 6 p.m, followed by the boys game at 8 p.m. The Tribune boys and girls all-area teams will be published on Wednesday in the Tribune and online, and on Thursday, we’ll announce the roster for the boys and girls teams.

By Steve Ramirez
twitter.com/SteveRRamirez
EL MONTE – The race for the Mission Valley League baseball title got a little tighter Friday.
Arroyo made sure of it.
Derick Martin singled in the go-ahead run in the sixth and Randy McCormick induced a double-play with the tying run at third with one out in the seventh and the host Knights moved into a first-place tie with Mountain View with a 3-2 victory in a battle of the top two teams in the league.
Arroyo, also getting RBIs from McCormick and Lorenzo Perez, improved to 6-7 overall and 5-2 in league play. Jordan Santone and Jose Moreno had RBIs for Mountain View, which slipped to 7-9 and 5-2.
“This was definitely one of the biggest wins of the season,” Martin said. “Hopefully, we can carry this momentum and try to keep it going and build the gap between us and everybody else.”
Continue reading →

By Steve Ramirez
twitter.com/SteveRRamirez
AZUSA – There was nothing on the line Thursday night at Azusa Pacific but pride.
That was enough for the Bonita and Northview high school baseball teams, who battled 11 innings before the Bearcats, ranked No. 1 in the Valley this week, outlasted the Vikings, 3-2.
Jacob Blunt had the game-tying RBI in the seventh and Austin McGilvra had a RBI double in the 11th for Bonita, which improved to 15-2-1. Northview, getting a two-run double in the sixth from Dom Baca, dropped to 13-4.
The Vikings, who missed a chance to win it in the eighth when Alex Labor was thrown out at the plate trying to advance on a passed ball, loaded the bases with two outs in the 11th. But reliever Sam Stavang struck out Michael Carlos to end the game.

By Steve Ramirez
twitter.com/SteveRRamirez
COVINA – Charter High School, after losing 14-12 to Chino Hills on Tuesday, knew it couldn’t afford to open Sierra League play with back-to-back setbacks.
Pitcher Brooke Clemetson and catcher Monique Mata the Chargers won’t have to.
Clemetson tossed a five-hitter and struck out seven and Mata had two hits and two RBIs to lead host Charter Oak to a 3-1 victory over South Hills.
The Chargers, also getting and RBI from Clemetson, improved to 16-3 overall and 1-1 in the Sierra League. Lexi Robles had a RBI in the seventh for Charter Oak, which slipped to 11-4 and 0-1.
“In this league, you feel like you have to win everyone you can get, especially after the disappointment on Tuesday,” said Charter Oak coach Scott Higuera, whose team saw Chino Hills rally back from a 12-6 deficit three days ago. “I was hoping the we would bounce back, and despite a shaky seventh inning, I liked our effort today.” Continue reading →

By Fred J. Robledo, Staff Writer
After watching South Hills High School pitcher Adrian De Horta work out of several jams and come up with his best magic with the game on the line in the seventh, all Claremont coach Geoff Ranney could do was tip his cap.
De Horta pitched a complete game shutout to lead South Hills to a 2-0 victory, bearing down after Wolfpack leadoff hitter Jeremy Giles belted a one-out double in the seventh to put runners on second and third with the Wolfpack’s big hitters to follow.
But De Horta got Josh Chua to strikeout, then got slugger Nick Costello to fly out to end the game.
“He threw an incredible game,” Ranney said. “We were in situations with opportunities to score several times and he just pulled up his belt up and got down to business.
“We asked our guys to compete today, to be there all seven innings and get those opportunities, but he (De Horta) got the best of us.” (To continue reading, click thread)

Thursday Scores
Sierra League
Ayala 9, Charter Oak 1
South Hills 2, Claremont 0
Valle Vista League
San Dimas 4, Nogales 3
Baldwin Park 6, Covina 3
Montview League
Duarte 13, Workman 3

Continue reading →

By Aram Tolegian, Staff Writer
There’s nothing like the re-leaguing process to bring out the high school kid in even the most respected administrators among us.
Oh yes, every four years principals, athletic directors and in some cases even superintendents get together and put on a display befitting something you might see in the quad any day of the week during a lunchtime quarrel between jilted teenaged lovers and their respective groups of friends.
Alliances are formed. Enemies are made. Scapegoats are manufactured.
Certain evidence is cast aside. Success (popularity) is punished and the end result of all of this is new-look leagues for our local sports teams to compete in.

Continue reading →

Great day of baseball with two league games for sole possession of first. Sierra Vista (10-3, 4-1) will go for the sweep traveling to La Puente (5-8, 4-1) for first in the Montview after beating the Warriors 2-1 earlier in the week. South Hills (12-5, 4-2) will host Claremont (8-5, 4-2) for first in the Sierra after losing 12-11 to the Wolfpack. That series is tied 1-1. Also, San Dimas (14-5, 4-1), a 4-2 winner at Nogales Tuesday, can put the Nobles (14-2, 1-1) in a big hole with a sweep at home today. It’s gut-check time for Nogales, which started 12-0 but is 2-2 in its last four. And then there’s a great way to end the night with two of the areas best teams squaring off at Azusa Pacific when Northview takes on Bonita at 6 p.m.

Today’s Baseball Games
Non-league
Northview vs. Bonita at Azusa Pacific, 6 p.m.
Sierra League
Claremont at South Hills, 3:30 p.m.
Chino Hills at Charter Oak, 3:30 p.m.
Damien at Ayala, 3:30 p.m.
Valle Vista League
Nogales at San Dimas, 3:15 p.m.
Covina at Baldwin Park, 3:15 p.m.
Pomona at Wilson, 3:15 p.m.
Montview League
Sierra Vista at La Puente, 3:15 p.m.
Bassett at Gladstone, 3:15 p.m.
Ganesha at Azusa, 3:15 p.m.

I asked Bishop Amat coach Steve Hagerty who his best running back is heading into spring football.
“I don’t know, there are about 12 of them that go to practice every Wednesday, it’s kind of tough to say,” Hagerty said. “(QB) Koa Haynes, probably. He’s our best running back. He was the second or third leading ball carrier last year and he’ll run a lot this season.”
So there you go, sort of.
Hagerty’s always had backs. Whether it was graduating Dionza Blue, Jay Anderson or Deshawn Gaisie, the player he moved from safety to RB in his first year as head coach at Amat. Gaisie turned into one of the areas leading rushers, so Hagerty’s not all that concerned.
But who are some of the names you might hear pan out?
How about Greg Flowers, a 6-foot senior listed as a linebacker last year. Or Devin Vasquez, a 5-foot-9 senior-to-be who carried the ball a few times. There is Gabe Perez, a JV up-and-coming back, and as Hagerty suggested, “there might be even be some young freshman, you never know.”
Young Freshman? On varsity? “I haven’t seen enough of them yet, but you never know,” Hagerty said. “But we feel like someone will emerge, because they always do.”
Want some interesting possibilities? How about junior-to-be Anthony Camargo, a 6-foot-2 receiver last year. “He’s a good one, we’re still trying to figure out what his best position is,” Hagerty said. Or how about free safety Michael Gonzalez, injured last year, but one of Amat’s best returning players. Or Adrian Ortega, another senior-to-be who could be moved from WR to RB.
“To answer your question, I don’t know,” Hagerty said. “We’ll let it sort itself out.”

Above: Diamond Bar quarterback Tyler Peterson had a big sophomore year. But will he remain at QB with Noodles in school?

By Aram Tolegian Staff Writer

When standout Antonio “Noodles” Hull left West Covina High School for Diamond Bar, it signaled the biggest transfer of the offseason.

In just a few short weeks, the mystery as to what position, exactly, Hull will be playing for the Brahmas this fall will begin to be solved.

A big early clue may come on April 20 when the Brahmas have their first passing competition of the season at Arroyo High against the Knights and Montebello.

“He wants to try and play quarterback and we’re going to let him compete at it,” Diamond Bar coach Ryan Maine said.

One problem, though, the Brahmas already have a quarterback in junior-to-be Tyler Peterson, who had a solid sophomore season.

Continue reading →

The first big passing competition in the Valley comes earlier than usual this season with the advent of the Charter Oak Tournament, which will take place on May 18 and feature 16 teams.

Locals playing in the tournament include the Chargers, La Serna, La Habra, Monrovia, Rosemead, Arroyo, South Hills, Glendora, El Rancho, Diamond Ranch and Muir.

The teams will be split into four pools and later re-seeded for a knockout tournament. First games are at 9 a.m.

Continue reading →

Daylon McCutcheon will not be on Bishop Amat head coach Steve Hagerty’s staff this season after accepting a position in the New York Jets organization.

McCutcheon was a standout player at Amat before attending USC and enjoying a professional career with the Cleveland Browns. He was a popular assistant on Hagerty’s in recent years.

Amat is currently practicing one day a week, on Wednesdays, and is expected to begin normal spring practice in late April. The Lancers return Tribune Offensive Player of the Year Koa Haynes at quarterback, but are light on skill position experience elsewhere.

Continue reading →

Tuesday’s Baseball Results
Valle Vista League
San Dimas 4, Nogales 2
Baldwin Park 8, Covina 4
Pomona vs. Wilson, 3:15 p.m.
Del Rey League
Serra 6, Bishop Amat 0
Sierra League
Claremont 12, South Hills 11
Damien 5, Ayala 4, 9 innings
Charter Oak 6, Chino Hills 4
Montview League
Sierra Vista 2, La Puente 1
Duarte 11, Workman 1
Gladstone at Bassett, 3:15 p.m.
Azusa at Ganesha, 3:15 p.m.

By Steve Ramirez
twitter.com/SteveRRamirez
LA PUENTE – If the Serra High School baseball team was hoping to make a statement in its first Del Rey League game, it made its point loud and clear Tuesday.
Soleman Bates tossed a one-hit shutout and had two RBIs and the visiting Cavaliers rolled to a 6-0 victory over six-time defending league champion Bishop Amat.
Serra, also getting three hits and two RBIs from Trent Hammond, improved to 14-5 overall. Bishop Amat slipped to 6-9.
Bates struck out 12 with two walks. He yielded just four baserunners and retired 11 out of the final 12 batters, including the last nine.
Serra led 4-0 after three innings, taking advantage of three Bishop Amat errors.
Bishop Amat coach Andy Nieto: “In important games the way you punch back and trade punches with the opponent is to equal them on defense. We gave them extra opportunities. We let a base-hit to right turn into a run. We let a well-positioned line drive turn into an extra at-bat that gave them two more runs.”

This is what makes a blog fun, to talk about the what ifs? I have some interesting proposals and scenario’s to share after speaking with sources involved in the discussions. What if, as CIF suggests, Damien, St. Lucy’s and Pomona Catholic are forced into the Catholic Athletic Association. Damien and St. Lucy’s are considering legal action to challenge the move to the CAA, but if everything plays out as CIF suggests, Damien, St. Lucy’s and Pomona Catholic’s preference, sources explained, is to be placed in the Camino Del Rey Association. St. Bonaventure, also, would prefer the Camino Del Rey Association if it has to move.

Then what? According to sources, teams in the Camino Del Rey Association would likely include: Bishop Amat, Bishop Montgomery, Gardena Serra, Cantwell Sacred Heart, Bosco Tech (boys), St. Bernard’s, St. Bonaventure, La Salle, St. Paul, Cathedral (boys), Mary Star, St. Monica, St. Joseph (girls), Damien (boys) St. Lucy’s (girls) and Pomona Catholic (girls). There would be 13 boys and 13 girls schools. More schools could be added or subtracted, but lets use this scenario under consideration. At that point, Camino Del Rey Association teams would be divided into two leagues for all sports except football, sources explained. And it would not be the same teams in the same leagues for all sports. Each sport (baseball, softball, basketball, etc), will look at the group of teams, and try to place them in two leagues with geography, competitive equity and playoff divisions in mind.

Just using geography, however, teams most likely grouped together for most sports include:
League One: Damien/St. Lucy’s, Bishop Amat, St. Paul, Cathedral/Pomona Catholic, La Salle, Cantwell Sacred Heart, Bosco Tech (boys)
League Two: Bishop Montgomery, Gardena Serra, St. Bernard’s, St. Bonaventure, Mary Star, St. Monica, St. Joseph (girls).

Football, however, would be completely different.
There are at least three football proposals already on the table for Camino Del Rey Association officials to examine, sources explained.

Proposal 1
Serra League, which would compete in Pac-5
Oaks Christian, St. Bonaventure, Bishop Amat, Crespi, Alemany, Loyola
Mission League of eight teams, divided into two leagues
Mission one: Notre Dame, Chaminade, Serra, Damien
Mission two: St. Paul, Cathedral, St. Francis, Harvard-Westlake
League D: La Salle, Bishop Montgomery, Salesian, Cantwell, Verbum Dei, St. Bernard’s
League E: Bosco Tech, St. Monica, Mary Star, Bell Jeff, St. Genevieve, St. Anthony

Proposal II
Eight team Serra League broken into two leagues, all compete in the Pac-5
Serra League Archdiocese Schools: Alemany, Amat, Damien, Serra, St. Bonaventure
Serra League Private schools: Crespi, Loyola, Notre Dame, Oaks Christan.
Mission League
Cathedral, Harvard Wesltake, La Salle, St. Francis, St. Paul
Del Rey
Bishop Montgomery, Bosco Tech, Cantwell Sacred Heart, Salesian, St Bernard
Camino Real
Bell Jeff, Mary Star, St. Anthony, St. Genevieve, St. Monica, Verbum Dei.

Proposal III
Serra League: Alemany, Bishop Amat, Crespi, Loyola, Notre Dame, Oaks Christian, St. Bonaventure
Mission League: Cathedral, Chaminade, Damien, Harvard-Westlake, Serra, St. Francis, St. Paul.
Del Rey League: Bishop Montgomery, Bosco Tech, Cantwell, La Salle, Salesian, St. Bernard
Camino Real League: Bell-jeff, Mary Star, St. Genevieve, St. Monica, Verbum Dei, St. Anthony.

Again, these are scenario’s shared with me under consideration when the new league cycle begins for the 2014-15 season.

Bishop Amat Jr. High Weight Room Camp
Amat press release: Open to 7th & 8th Graders beginning TONIGHT and every Tuesday and Thursday from 6 to 7:30 p.m., for five weeks. Purpose is to gain a competitive edge in your strength and power development for your future in high school athletics. Wear athletic shirt & shorts, and running shoes. Cost is $15 per session or $100 for all ten sessions. Print PDF of registration flyer from school website under Boy’s Sports & Football. Call Coach Hagerty at 626-962-2495, ext. 6001 or email shagerty@bishopamat.org with questions

Third Annual Bishop Amat Alumni Flag Football Game
When: Saturday, May 11, 2 p.m.
Amat press release: All former players are invited to put their cleats and jersey back on one more time and run around Kiefer Stadium. The Odd graduation years will compete against the Even graduation years once again. Players are asked to contact Coach Hagerty at 626-962-2495, ext. 6001 to register for the game. At halftime, we will be holding a Punt, Pass & Kick Competiton for all pre-high school age kids who want to compete. There will be prizes for the winners. Tickets ($7 adults/$3 children) are being sold for the game in the Front Office and Athletic Office for those who want to come watch the Lancers of the Past compete for pride once again.

The L.A. Times’ Eric Sondheimer posted today that Damien, St. Lucy’s, St. Bonaventure and Oaks Christian are consulting with legal counsel in hopes of avoiding being sent to Parochial leagues beginning in the 2014-15 season. Damien and St. Lucy’s along with Oaks Christian and St. Bonaventure lost an appeal with CIF on March 19 trying to avoid being sent to the Parochial Leagues. Damien and St. Lucy’s were moved out of the Sierra League and Mt. SAC area alignment to the Catholic Athletic Association, which is scheduled to place the schools in a new league by the end of the month.

Stories
Saturday Night’s featured events
Saturday afternoon’s locals
Photo Gallery from Saturday’s Arcadia Invitational

By Steve Ramirez
twitter.com/SteveRRamirez
LA HABRA – There’s nothing in the Valley quite like San Dimas vs. Bonita.
The Saints and Bearcats, regardless of sport, always put on a show, and Friday was no exception.
Ashley Gauthier had a two-run single with two out in the sixth inning and San Dimas rallied for a 5-4 victory over Bonita in a Whittier Christian Tournament game that was halted after six innings due to a 90-minute time limit.
Deenah San Luis and Janell Wheaton also had RBIs for the Saints, who improved to 11-5. Bonita, getting a three-run home run from pitcher Bianca Cockrell, slipped to 10-7.
It looked bleak for San Dimas, which beat the time-limit by eight minutes and forced a sixth inning, which the Saints took advantage. San Luis, who went 2 for 3, led off with a double before Wheaton followed with a RBI single to cut it to 4-3.
Carlie Salm singled with one out before Rachael Connell drew a two-out walk to load the bases. Gauthier then followed with a pop up that fell between second and center field to score two runs and the 5-4 lead.
San Dimas coach Don Pollard: “Bonita used to be in our league and (the games) were always good battles. We don’t see them as much, but when we do, it’s alway a battle. Today was a good pitching duel. Bethie (Celaya) pitched a great game today, she finished and we had some timely hits late in the game to really help us out.”
San Dimas’ Ashley Gauthier: When I saw the pitch, I knew that was the one. I just went after it.”
Bonita coach Ken Carlson: You have to give credit where credit is due. Deenah is such a great hitter. We knew we had to be spot on with our pitching and we missed a couple spots. (They) capitalized off it.”

More than 3,900 athletes from more than 700 schools will compete. That’s 15 percent more schools than in past…Bonita’s Nikki Wheatley, pictured below, will compete in Saturday night’s girls invitational long and triple jump.

By Keith Lair, Staff Writer
At some point in the future, winning a state high school track and field championship might not be enough. Winning a national title might be the expected goal.
The Arcadia Invitational is appearing to be a precursor to that ideal. The 46th annual meet features perhaps its deepest field with top athletes from 31 states and two foreign countries competing in the three-day meet, which began Thursday with the first day of decathlon and heptathlon events.
“The performances get better and better each year,” meet director Rich Gonzalez said. “We’re getting more and more kids traveling to high-end meets, and we’re one of the best.”
Nearly every California state leader will be competing, and several national leaders are scheduled to run in Saturday’s invitational portion of the meet.
More than 3,900 athletes from more than 700 schools will compete. That’s 15 percent more schools than in past years.
“It keeps getting bigger,” Gonzalez said.

Continue reading →

By Fred J. Robledo, Staff Writer
The Northview High softball tournament seems to bring out the best in Monrovia and junior pitcher Adrienne Guerra.
Guerra punctuated a strong week with a six-inning no-hitter to go with 15 strikeouts in a 6-0 win over Covina High for the tournament title on Thursday.
Guerra had six strikeouts over the first two innings and six strikeouts over the final two, walking just two batters.
It was her second straight shutout and she allowed just three runs during the four-game tournament.
Continue reading →

By John Honell
Charter Oak got an outstanding pitching performance from tournament MVP Nick Hernandez and knocked off Duarte 5-3 in the championship game of the Gladstone Tournament on Wednesday afternoon.
The defending champion Chargers (6-5) scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning then fought off a late charge by the Falcons for the win.
“Nick was outstanding today,” Chargers coach Tom Quinley said. “The kids played really well in this tourney. This is the best field we’ve seen this year and the kids appreciate playing on a nice field.”
Hernandez held the Falcons hitless until Grant Goldsmith singled with two outs in the sixth inning.
“I tried to pitch to spots and let my team do the work,” Hernandez said. “I try and get groundball outs and they were swinging at first pitches and that probably helped with my command of the ball today.”

Continue reading →

By Steve Ramirez
twitter.com/SteveRRamirez
ARCADIA – Arcadia High School was probably beginning to wonder if it would ever win its invitational baseball tournament again.
The Apaches, who hadn’t scored the tourney title in nearly a decade, put an end to those worries on Wednesday.
Austin Georgen gave up two hits and struck out seven in five innings and Arcadia combined three doubles with three Glendora errors in the first three innings en route to a 4-1 victory over the Tartans in the Arcadia Invitational championship game.
Brendan Toy had a double and scored two runs for the Apaches, who improved to 10-5. Glendora, getting two hits and an RBI from Garrett Ouellette, slipped to 11-5
Arcadia coach Nick Lemas: We’re playing our best baseball right now. It’s exciting. We’ve been in the championship game (against Glendora) before, and we finally got them. We were able to hit the ball a little bit in the first inning and take advantage of some mistakes that they made. We were able to get it done. It means a lot, because I don’t think we’ve won it since 2004. It’s been a long time, so it feels good.”
Glendora coach Dan Henley: We had opportunities. They weren’t huge opportunities, but we just failed to put the ball in play. They are a quality opponent and are on a roll right now. We were very happy to be in this game. No, we don’t like the result, but we’ll learn from it.”

Gladstone Baseball Tournament Championship: Duarte vs. Charter Oak, at Gladstone, 2 p.m.

By Steve Ramirez Staff Writer
twitter.com/SteveRRamirez
A victory in a spring break tournament usually doesn’t rank high on the priority list of most area baseball coaches.
Tuesday was the exception for Duarte High School.
Grant Goldsmith went 2 for 4 with a home run and four RBIs and Pablo Lopez was steady on the mound to lead the Falcons to a 9-4 victory over Covina in a Gladstone Tournament semifinal.
Duarte (6-7), also getting two hits each from Julian Ortega, will face Charter Oak in today’s title game at 2 p.m.
Anthony Moreno had a two-run home run for Covina (8-6).
“It’s a big win for us,” Duarte coach Brian Grimm said. “Any time you can beat a team from a higher division it’s big. (Some might) feel our league is a little lower, but we came out and played a complete game.
Continue reading →