605 CLARIFICATION: Read, and relax.

This was posted by one of the ‘Anonymous’ guys, so I don’t know who the
‘guy who runs the 605 game …’ is, but it is the same response
received here when Rich Estrella was contacted, and he’s as close to the
game as anyone.

‘Every year (I go back over 20 years with this game) we have players who didn’t get selected to play in the 605 game, who just show up with gear, hoping to “tryout” to make the team. If you saw players just signing up, that’s “Roll Call.” There are no try outs, never have been any tryouts, never will be any tryouts. Anyone who says they have seen what you saw is just misunderstood. ALL PLAYERS ARE NOMINATED BY THEIR COACHES. Not all make it. If a team is short a position like offensive line and all you have left from your nominees is running backs and DB types, then we reach outside the nominees back to the 605 member schools and get one. That is the only way to get on the squad without a nomination.’

One last Grigsby item from my source:
His name, as well as no other California HS players’, was never given
the selection committee for consideration. More important, even if he
was cleared to play, it wouldn’t be with the West team. Period.

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JUST THINKING: A couple of things come to mind …

A couple of recent happenings deserve a mention.

La Mirada’s baseball team won its ninth consecutive Suburban League
championship Tuesday. It is not surprising.
Coach Kim Brooks’ program consistently is among the most prepared of any
area program. Fundamentally sound, mentally as well as physically, year
after year is the key.
At season’s start, he always throws down the gauntlet by saying the
Matadores are the team to beat, and how tough the league will be, but
then his players win another league title and make it look easy in the
process.
And as impressive as it is to win league, it merely is another page
in his play book that is built around winning a CIF championship. League
is nice, but his program always has the bigger picture in mind.
The program’s success creates built in pressure, but it appears the players thrive best under those conditions.
* * *
La Mirada coach Rich Trujillo’s softball program got a late start, but the
Matadores girls have been keeping pace with the guys the past seven seasons.
This year, it was Suburban League championship No. 7 in a row. It’s not nine, but seven ain’t too shabby.
Trujillo’s philosophy is simple: Fundamentals and little ball, with some long ball
mixed in whenever available, and it has been like clockwork. Steady,
productive, successful, dependable.

Congrats definitely are in order for both programs.

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FOOTBALL: 605 East team roster …

Remembering this is an offseason all-star game and always subject to adjustment, here is the roster for the East squad in this year’s 40th Annual 605 All-Star Football Classic:
Artesia — Le Quan Lewis DB/WR
California — Craid Taylor DB, Robert Arriola TE
Cerritos — Marlow Hawkins, DB/WR, Victor Lee LB
Gahr — Lemuel Johnson DB
John Glenn — Elias Cuevas TE, David Neff QB, Matt Granillo DL, Juan Enriquez OL
Kennedy — Seth Guarado P/K, Dominic Estrada OL
La Habra — Greg Francis DB
La Mirada — Joshua Robbins WR, Joshua Lomeli DB
La Serna — Jon Potts RB, Gilbert Rodriguez WR, Michael Ellison K/P
Los Altos — Matt Castaneda QB
Mayfair — Mose Denton DB/WR, Ronnie Goforth QB/WR, Curtis Bedgood RB
Norwalk — Eddie Lopez WE, Andres Gonzalez OL/DL, Joshua Werand DB
Pioneer — Diego Sauceda TE, Kelsey Thompson DB/WR, Robert Perez OL
LB Poly — Demetrius Portes LB/FB, Joshua Tuyao OL
Sonora — Terrance Foster DB, Matt Moody LB/FB
Santa Fe — Manuel Lopez LB/FB, Romeo Pellum WR/DB, Angel Molina QB,
Miguel Garcia LB, Mark Acuna LB, Felipe Martinez DL, Albert HernandezOL
Sonora — Terrance Foster DB, Matt Moody LB/FB
St. Paul — Joe Morales LB/FB, Michael Peak LB, Andrew Vega OL, Joe Perez OL, Joshua Gracieux DL
Whittier — Issac Garcia RB, Joe Avalos DL
HH Wilson — Daniel Bernal DB/RB

The game will be played Saturday, June 2 at La Mirada High School.

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FOOTBALL: It’s still too early, but for the sake of conversation …

Yo, footballfan:
From too far in the distance, and in no particular order, this what this
fall’s football looks like:
1. Santa Fe.
Because it’s Santa Fe, and until somebody knocks the Chiefs off their
perch, that’s enough. The area’s best back-up quarterback returns,
although he may be pushed hard by the young man coming up from last season’s
freshman team (and no, he didn’t transfer in from anywhere!)
2. St. Paul.
Swordsmen will build on last season and have some new personnel to make
it easier. Quarterback may be a concern.
3. California.
A prototype quarterback returns, big, strong and experienced. The
question is how the new guy at the helm is accepted by a community that
feels it was robbed of its coach.
4. La Habra.
Because it’s La Habra. If there is an area program that can come close
to mirroring Santa Fe, it is the Highlanders’. Hard to find a weak spot,
and if it has one, it’ll be corrected by the time league rolls around.
5. Pioneer.
I know, I know, but don’t sell the Titans short. A good QB last year
will be better this year, two of the area’s best — and most honest —
running backs return, and increased paricipation that includes more than
a handful of solid prospects are reason for the DRL take a second look.
6/7. La Serna/El Rancho.
New coaches always bring with them renewed optimism. How far they can
develop it is always questionable. But give them a chance.
8. Whittier Christian.
Small school with a big school appetite. Coach/A.D. is legitimate and so
is the program, which dodged a bullet when he almost left but changed
his mind. The stud horse the Heralds have ridden the past two seasons is
gone, and undoubtedly they will feel a draft from the void, but he
leaves a solid legacy on which to build a new one.
9. Whittier.
Probably should be listed higher, but the question lingers: Was last
season’s remarkable — and impressive — performance a one-shot deal?
Staff says no, merely a stepping stone to higher expectations. Only time
will tell.
10. La Mirada.
Matadores didn’t achieve early season expectations a year ago, riding a
rollercoast season that was sometimes brilliant and sometimes frustrating. A
strong finish a year ago coupled with a new season brings reason for for
new expectations, hopefully more realistic.
11. Cantwell.
Small school dreaming bigger. Increased participation always a good
sign, and mental approach surely will benefit from rugby program’s
success.
12. Montebello.
Inconsistency last season makes looking ahead difficult. A lot of
question marks.
13. Schurr.
Defending division champions lost many key players. A tough act to
follow, but same coach that got them to the final in ’06 figures to make
them at least competitive in ’07.

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VOLLEYBALL: Ranking the area’s playoff entries.

Eight local high schools earned berths in the CIF Southern Section boys volleyball playoffs.
Only three of them, El Rancho, Whittier Christian and Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary, will open play at home.
On the road are Montebello,, Whittier, La Serna, La Mirada and St. Paul.
All of them open play Friday night.
Here is their schedule:

Division III:
Palmdale (11-7) at El Rancho (15-2)
Montebello (10-4) at Redlands (18-2)
Whittier (14-4) at Paraclete (16-3)
La Serna (11-4) at Beverly Hills (12-11)
Division IV:
Corona (8-7) at Whittier Christian (14-3)
La Mirada (11-6) at Torrance (12-14)
Division V:
MIlken Community (9-9) at Cantwell (10-8)
St. Paul (9-8) at Southwestern Academy (9-4)

Looking at it from a distance, best chances to advance:
El Rancho, La Serna, Cantwell.
Even money to advance:
Whittier, La Serna, Whittier Christian.
In tough:
Montebello, La Mirada.

Does anyone have a closer look at it?

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