SPORTS BRIEFS: CC cruises past Saddleback

DOWNEY – The Downey Calvary Chapel softball team improved to 3-1 on Tuesday with a 16-6 win against Saddleback Valley Christian at Columbus High School. The Lady Grizzlies also defeated San Gabriel Mission 18-2 at Columbus last Thursday. DCC defeated Arrowhead Christian 15-5 on 2/28 in their season opener before being defeated by Pioneer at Pioneer 10-0 on 3/3.

In the DCC/Arrowhead Christian game, junior Madie Chapman recorded four strikeouts in her complete game performance. Junior Cailey Linn had a bases loaded double in the first inning, junior captain Tiana Rodriguez hit a two run home run in the third inning and sophomore Vanessa Sanchez scored four runs. Senior captain Cassidy Hemmings also went 2-3 with two runs batted in in the winning effort.

Through four games, the Lady Grizzlies have a team batting average of .368, an on base percentage of .500, have hit three home runs, have stolen four bases and have scored 49 runs.

DCC will play at Lutheran later today. The Lady Grizzlies compete in the Academy League against Crean Lutheran, Oxford Academy, Whitney and Brethren Christian.

Head coach Al Rodriguez and his players are excited for this season to get underway and are looking forward to the start of league play. The Lady Grizzlies begin league play at Brethren Christian on April 14.

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The St. John Bosco wrestling team placed fifth at the California state wrestling championships at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield last weekend with a score of 111.5. Clovis finished first with 276.5 points, Poway was second with 189.5, San Marino was third with 128, Buchanan was fourth with 120 and St. John Bosco was fifth.

The Braves had four wrestlers place at the state meet, including three state champions. Freshman Cade Olivas (106), senior Anthony Valencia (170) and senior Zahid Valencia (182) all claimed state titles. Sophomore Danny Salas (195) placed seventh. The Valencia brothers each won their third state title in four attempts.

Cade Olivas (106) pinned Ivan Gomez of Waterford at the 1:41 mark of the first period in his first match. Olivas pinned Robert Areyano of Selma at the 3:24 mark of the second period in his second match, defeated Ethan Leake of Buchanan 10-2 in his third match, defeated Jordan Aquino of Vacaville 11-4 in his fourth match and defeated Liam Cronin of Servite 12-4 in the state championship match.

Anthony Valencia (170) pinned Nic Maden of Stockdale at the 1:36 mark of the first period in his first match. Valencia defeated Ayden Garcia of Calaveras by technical fall 17-1 in his second match, defeated Jonathan Hunter of Golden Valley by technical fall 17-4 in his third match, defeated Antonio Gutierrez of Bakersfield by pin at the 1:39 mark of the first period in his fourth match, defeated Abel Garcia of Oakdale by pin at the 1:14 mark of the first period in his fifth match and defeated Josh Hokit of Clovis 11-4 in the state championship match.

Zahid Valencia (182) pinned Bobby Posadas of Grace Davis at the 1:39 mark of the first period in his first match. Valencia defeated Julian Perez of Bellarmine by pin at the 1:55 mark of the first period in his second match, defeated Julio Fuentes of Golden Valley by pin at the 3:24 mark of the second period in his third match, defeated Chasen Blair of Rancho Bernardo by technical fall 19-4 in his fourth match and defeated A.J. Nevills of Clovis 11-3 in the state championship final.

Danny Salas (195) lost his first match to Rory McClellan of El Camino Real by pin at the 1:39 mark of the first period. Salas bounced back to defeat Lamont Reed of Oakland Tech by pin at the 1:26 mark of the first period in his second match, defeated Rachaun Wagstaff of Vista Murrieta 6-2 in his third match, defeated Patrick Penick of Anderson 4-3 in his fourth match, defeated Anthony Stenschke of Sierra Pacific 7-2 in his fifth match, defeated Willie Amen of Las Lomas 2-1 in his sixth match, was defeated by Wooan Young of Buchanan 5-0 in his seventh match and defeated Yates Hunter of Lincoln by default in the 7th place match.

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The fourth rotation of middle school sports is boys’ baseball and girls’ softball. There is an eighth grade team (varsity) and a sixth and seventh grade team (junior varsity) for each gender.

Varsity games will start at 2 p.m. and junior varsity games will start at 3:35 p.m. Each game is scheduled to last 1:25 and determine a winner. Each game will also feature a starting batter count of one ball and one strike (1-1) in order to speed games up. All games will be finished by 5 p.m.

Games will be played Mondays and Wednesdays in a home and away format starting this Monday. In other words, teams will play each other twice a week rather than first and fourth, second and fifth and third and sixth as previous sports have done.

Games will start next week when Doty plays Stauffer and Griffiths plays Sussman. The second week of games will include Doty playing Griffiths and Stauffer playing Sussman. The third week of games will conclude with Doty playing Sussman and Griffiths playing Stauffer.

This format of two teams for each gender has never been done before. Games should be competitive and exciting. Teams have conducted tryouts and held practices. Four more city championships are up for grabs. Come out and watch a game and support middle school sports at a middle school near you. Track and field will be the last sport this school year and will follow baseball/softball.

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The Warren High School baseball team currently has a 4-1 record.

Warren swept Serrano 10-6 and 5-0 in a doubleheader on 2/28. The Bears then defeated Rancho Cucamonga 13-0 on 3/3, were defeated by Bonita 12-7 on 3/5 and defeated Victor Valley 2-1 on 3/7.

Warren played Chino Hills at Warren on Wednesday (score unavailable at press time) and will play Serra on 3/17 at Warren. The Bears will begin S.G.V.L. play against Gahr at Warren on 4/14. Warren will travel to cross-town rival Downey on 4/21 and host the Vikings on 4/24. Coach Pearson, his staff and players are looking forward to the start of league play.

Warren finished last season with an overall record of 29-5 and were 7-3 in S.G.V.L. play. Downey (20-9, 9-1) was the 2014 S.G.V.L. champion. The Bears tied for second with Gahr.

The Warren High School girls’ softball team currently has a record of 2-2. Warren defeated Bishop Montgomery 8-0 on 2/28, were defeated by Harbor Teacher 6-4 on 2/28, defeated Mayfair 2-1 on 3/6 and were defeated by Redondo Union 8-0, also on 3/6, in the Redondo Union Tournament Gold Final Championship Game.

Warren traveled to Kennedy yesterday (score unavailable at press time) and will travel to Santa Fe on 3/17 and La Serna on 3/19. The Bears will begin S.G.V.L. play when they host Gahr on 4/14. Warren will travel to cross-town rival Downey for their city showdown on 4/16.

Coach Starksen, her staff and players are looking forward to the start of league play. The Bears finished last season with an overall record of 22-6 and were S.G.V.L. co-champions with Gahr at 9-1. Warren earned the number one league seed in the C.I.F. playoffs by defeating Gahr 2-1 in their second round league game after losing to Gahr 6-5 in their first league game.

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Published: March 12, 2015 - Volume 13 - Issue 48