Downey, Warren baseball readying for start of SGVL play

DOWNEY -- The Downey High School baseball team currently has an overall record of 6-10 and will begin San Gabriel Valley League play next Tuesday when they host Paramount. 

The Vikings were defeated by Mary Star of the Sea of San Pedro, 2-1, in 11 innings on Monday and were defeated by San Dimas, 6-2, on Tuesday. The Vikings were then scheduled to play a “To Be Determined” opponent on Wednesday (score unavailable at press time).

The Vikings have been competing in the St. Paul Tournament over spring break. Downey defeated Schurr of Montebello, 8-2, on March 28 and defeated Serra of Gardena, 7-4, on March 31. Before the loss to Mary Star of the Sea last Monday, the Vikings were enjoying a modest four-game winning streak. 

Downey will begin league play when they host and travel to Paramount on Tuesday and Friday of next week, respectively.

Downey will then host Los Altos of Hacienda Heights on April 16 before their second rotation of league play against Dominguez on April 18 and 20. The Vikings will have their two-game series against cross-town rival Warren the first week in May.

Coach Gonzalez, his staff and players are gaining valuable experience during preseason play so they are prepared for the start of league play. 

Downey finished last season with an overall record of 14-13 and were 6-4 in league play. Downey was eliminated by West Torrance at West Torrance 5-2 in the wild-card round of the C.I.F. Division 3 playoffs.

WARREN BASEBALL: The Warren High School baseball team currently has an overall record of 10-4 and will begin S.G.V.L. play when they host Lynwood on Tuesday. 

The Bears were defeated by Bell at Warren, 4-3, on March 28 and defeated Mayfair at Warren, 8-2, on March 30 in Warren’s home tournament play. 

Warren is scheduled to play Poly of Sun Valley at Warren on Monday, Lynwood at Warren on Tuesday and Lynwood at Lynwood next Friday to complete the home and away series. 

The Bears will then travel to Valley Christian next Saturday and will compete in the home and away series against Paramount on April 17 and April 20, respectively. Warren’s much anticipated game against cross-town rival Downey will begin on May 1 at Warren and will conclude May 4 at Downey. Much will be determined in San Gabriel Valley League play after Warren and Downey play each other twice.

Coach Pearson, his staff and players are all looking forward to the start of S.G.V.L. play and competing for a league title and playoff spot. 

The Bears finished last season with an overall record of 19-10 and a league record of 8-2. The Bears defeated Long Beach Poly 3-2 in the wild-card round to advance. Warren was then eliminated by Peninsula at Peninsula 6-2 in the first round of the C.I.F. Division 3 playoffs. 

WARREN SOFTBALL: The Warren High School girls’ softball team currently has an overall record of 6-4 and will begin San Gabriel Valley League play when they host Lynwood on Tuesday. 

The Bears defeated Jesuit of Portland, Oregon, 12-2, on March 28 in the Savannah Showcase and are scheduled to play Trabuco Hills tomorrow in their first game of the La Mirada Showcase.

Warren will host Paramount at Warren on Thursday, will return to the La Mirada Tournament on April 14th and will host cross-town rival Downey on April 19 in the first of their two scheduled meetings. 

Warren is also scheduled to compete in the Thousand Oaks Tournament on Saturday, April 21 and Saturday, April 28.

The Bears finished last season with an overall record of 21-9 and a league record of 8-2. Warren finished second in league play last season behind league champion Gahr. 

Downey and Gahr will once again be the teams to beat in league play. Gahr has returning talent from their 2017 league championship team and Downey will utilize the talent of an undefeated junior varsity team in league play last season (10-0). Things will get interesting real quick once league play gets started.

The Bears defeated North Torrance at North Torrance 6-3 last season to advance to the second round of C.I.F. Division 2 play. Warren was then defeated by Santa Margarita at Warren 8-0. Coach Starksen, her staff and players are all looking forward to the start of league play and competing for a league title, playoff spot and run in the postseason playoffs.

DOWNEY SOFTBALL: The Downey High School softball team currently has an overall record of 9-4 and will begin San Gabriel Valley League play when they host Paramount on April 10. The Lady Vikings defeated Cal High at Downey, 7-5, on March 27 and defeated El Rancho at El Rancho 10-1 on March 29.

Downey will play Mira Costa in the La Mirada Tournament on April 7 and will return April 14 for more competition. The Lady Vikings will travel to Dominguez to face the Lady Dons on April 12 and will host Lynwood at Downey on April 17.  

The Lady Vikings’ varsity team finished last season with an overall record of 14-15, were 4-6 in league play and did not qualify for postseason play. Downey’s junior varsity team finished last season with an overall record of 24-4 and was undefeated in league play (10-0). This season the Lady Vikings look to compete for a league title, a playoff spot and a run in the C.I.F. Division 4 playoffs. 

Two games to watch out for in league play are when Downey travels to cross-town rival Warren on April 19 and when the Lady Vikings travel to defending league champion Gahr on April 24. Much will be learned after these three teams compete against each other in the first round of league competition. 

Coach Garcia, his staff and players are all looking forward to the start of S.G.V.L. play. The Lady Vikings are currently ranked 168th nationally, 37th in the state and ninth in Division 4 of the southern section.