Glendora’s Adam Plutko walked five but threw a no-hitter in a 2-1 victory over Placentia Valencia in the Division 2 semifinals. John Alexanders double scored Clinton Harwick and Jacob Smigelski in the first inning, and that was all the Tartans needed to advance to just its second semifinal ever, and first since 1989. Bishop Amat fell behind 6-1 early and never made it back, losing a shocker to Torrance, 7-3 in the D-4 quarterfinals. Bonita wins big, knocks off Lancaster 11-1 to reach semifinals for the fist time since 2001. We just learned that El Toro shutout Damien, 7-0

Above: Glendora’s Adam Plutko threw a no-hitter in Friday’s 2-1 victory.

Baseball
Friday’s games
Division 2
Glendora 2, Placentia Valencia 1
El Toro 7, Damien 0
Division 3
Bonita 11, Lancaster 1
Division 4
Torrance 7, Bishop Amat 3

Jacki Campa smacked a two-out hit to center to drive in two in the bottom of the seventh to give Bonita a dramatic 4-3 come-from-behind win over Mission Viejo. South Hills scored seven runs in the 7th to pull out a 10-3 victory while Glendora and San Dimas both lost after going to the seventh in tie games. Village Christian scored three in the bottom of the 7th to pull out a 3-0 win over the Saints and Glendora gave up a run in the bottom of the seventh to lose 3-2 to Warren.

Bonita game story
South Hills game story
San Dimas game story
Glendora game story

CIF-Southern Section Quarterfinals
Thursday’s results
Division 3
Bonita 4, Mission Viejo 3
Warren 3, Glendora 2
Division 5
Village Christian 3, San Dimas 0
South Hills 10, Cerritos Valley Christian 3

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR: Bonita will face Ayala’s Jessica Hall in Tuesday’s semifinals. After Ayala won, an O.C. reporter told Hall that Mission Viejo was beating Bonita and that’s who they would likely face next. Hall sounded disappointed she wasn’t going to face Bonita, noting that they wanted to face the Bearcats all along. This all stems from Bonita getting the No. 1 ranking, and No. 4 Ayala openly questioning the Bearcats’ credentials when the playoffs started. Well Ayala, now it’s time to walk the walk. You’re not the only team playing with a chip on you shoulder.

by Aram Tolegian, staff writer
Things are picking up at Los Altos as the Conquerors work through their second week of spring practice under new coach Jim Arrellanes. The Conquerors have 70 players in the program and not much in the way of position battles is known at this time. The quarterback position appears to be a two-headed monster in David Foyet and Shane Birnala, with the battle expected to continue well into the summer. One thing Arellanes does know is that returning skill player Scott Tibbs will get the ball in a lot of different ways. (To continue, click thread).

Continue reading “Spring Football: Newbie coach Jim Arellanes busy identifying his playmakers at Los Altos” »

By Aram Tolegian, staff writer
Workman High School football coach Scott Morrison isn’t ready to talk about position battles or coaching staff roles. He’s too busy making up for lost time after being recently hired to take over the Lobos’ program earlier this month. Workman has started spring practice and the early numbers are good with Morrison reporting that about 65 players are in the program and that number could grow. (To continue, click thread).

Continue reading “Spring Football: Workman growing in numbers under first-year coach Scott Morrison” »

By Steve Ramirez, Staff Writer
The Valley will double its pleasure at next week’s CIF-Southern Section boys tennis divisional finals, scheduled for The Claremont Club on Wednesday. Arroyo and Rowland high schools both advanced with victories in the semifinals on Tuesday. The Knights, the top seed in Division 5 after being a finalist last season, scored a 12-6 victory over Linfield Christian and will face No. 2 Arlington at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Arroyo, which beat Arlington in the semifinals last year, lost to Segerstrom in the championship round last year.

Continue reading “Boys Tennis: Arroyo, Rowland will compete for team titles on Wednesday in Claremont” »

Last year San Dimas’ Ariel Shore (soccer, softball) and South El Monte’s Manny Acosta (football, basketball, baseball) were named the athletes of the year. Who should take that picture this year?

The annual San Gabriel Valley Senior All-Star baseball game is on Sunday, June 6 at Alhambra High School’s Moor Field instead of Mt. San Antonio College, where the game has been in recent years. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m. Alhambra coach Steve Gewecke and Nogales’ John Romano run the event, and have released the rosters …

Blue Team
Head Coach: Nick Lemas (Arcadia), Assistants, Brad Blackmore (Monrovia), Dave Moore (Monrovia), Joe Laski (Gabrielino)
Infielders: Brian Tuttle (Bonita) SS, Erik Lewis (Damien) 2B, Evan Heighley (Bonita) 1B, Robert Nakamura (Monrovia) 2B, Mike Maldonado (Montebello) 1B, Garrett Tuck (Arcadia) SS/1BJonathan Larson (Arcadia) 2B/1B
Outfielders: Bobby Oatman (Damien) LF, Joseph Eusebio (Amat) LF, Greg Saldate (Alhambra) RF, Justin De La Nuez (Monrovia) CF, Anthony Ramos (Bonita) LF, Jonathan Tom (Arcadia) LF/CF
Pitchers: Paul Paez (Amat), Brandon McNitt (Amat), Dylan Covey (Marantha), Jonathan Beltran (Alhambra), Aaron Murphree (Monrovia), Derek Penilla (San Dimas), Danny Beckwith (Marantha), Ruben Chavira (Walnut)
Catchers: Jerry McClanahan (Amat), George Ortega (Damien), Keith Clapp (Gabrelino). Chris Alas (Alhambra)

Red Team
Head Coach: Kevin Smith (South Hills), Assistants, Barry Bacon (TC), Rich Remkus (Gladstone), Jacob Barendregt (Baldwin Park)
Infielders: Brandon Cage (Glendora) 3B, Jake Shirley (South Hills) 3B, Christian Ibarra (South Hills) SS, Alan Gonzales 1B, Adrian Carillo (Pasadena) 2B, Dusty Sanderson (TC) 2B, Tom Remkus (Gladstone) 1B, Charlie Baxter (Pas. Poly) SS.
Outfield: DJ Wallace (Charter Oak) RF, Jeff Crowe (Diamond Bar) RF, Chester Pak (Diamond Bar) CF, Chris Holden (Charter Oak) LF, Branden Pultz (TC) RF, Louis Torres (Sierra Vista) LF, Efren Aguilera (Baldwin Park) CF
Pitchers: Adam Plutko (Glendora), Jacob Smigelski (Glendora), Dakota Behr (South Hills), Brian Hill (La Salle), Eddie Pedroza (Northview), Justin Smith (TC), Christian Huerta (Sierra Vista)
Catchers: Joe Winterburn (Glendora), Cody Doyle (South Hills), Arman Valenzuela (Northvew)