SPORTS BRIEFS: Downey’s Miguel Soto named Coach of the Year

DOWNEY – Downey High School wrestling coach Miguel Soto has been selected as the 2015 Long Beach Press-Telegram’s Wrestling Dream Team Coach of the Year. Coach Soto was selected for the honor after the Viking wrestling team won the 2015 C.I.F. Southern Section Western Division dual meet championship by defeating top seeded San Marino in the final at Millikan High School 33-32 in February.

The Viking wrestling program has claimed C.I.F. team titles in three of the past five years with Soto as head coach (2011, 2012, 2015). Soto began teaching and coaching at Downey in 2005.

Soto is quick to point to his coaches as a big reason for the program’s sustained success. Coach Rios, an English teacher at Downey, has been a huge part of Downey’s wrestling program and serves as the junior varsity coach.

Soto also points to three former wrestlers, whom are now coaching on his staff, as having a huge impact on the program. Rudy Calderon (2011), Josh Ho-Lopez (2011) and Jorge Guerrero (2014) all wrestled for Coach Soto and have made strong contributions to the wrestling program.

Soto is also appreciative in the growing number of alumni who help fundraise and host tournaments. Soto had 20 alumni helping out at Downey’s last tournament this season as a symbol of the program’s growth and support.

Soto maintains that he has “been blessed to have some great coaches from California and Missouri who have helped coach and mentor me along the way.” Soto concluded by saying “many of these coaches are hall of fame inductees in their respective states, one being a two-time Olympian.”

Soto is extremely proud of his team and program’s success. Many people have spent countless hours getting the Downey wrestling program to this point. Coach Soto, his staff and alumni look to the future and the possibility of making this program even stronger.

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The Downey High School baseball team currently has a record of 9-11 and are 1-0 in S.G.V.L. play after defeating Lynwood (9-2, 0-1) at Lynwood 6-2 on Tuesday.

The Vikings were defeated by South Hills at South Hills 1-0 on 4/7 and defeated Charter Oak at Charter Oak 5-4 on 4/13 in games earlier this month.

Downey started S.G.V.L. play on Tuesday when they defeated Lynwood and will host Lynwood later today to complete their away and home series. The Vikings will host cross-town rival Warren next Tuesday and will then travel to Warren on Friday. Downey will then face Gahr, Paramount and Dominguez in the upcoming weeks.

Downey comes into S.G.V.L. play having won eight of their last 13 games and at one point enjoyed a modest four game winning streak. The Vikings have had a busy preseason schedule and hope to continue playing well.

As a team, Downey has a .248 batting average, a .350 on base percentage, have stolen 20 bases, have a team ERA of 2.58, a .938 fielding percentage and have scored 47 runs.

Downey has been led by seniors Gabriel Peregrina and Randy Labaut. Peregrina is hitting .342 with 13 hits, five RBI and nine runs scored while Labaut is hitting .327 with 18 hits, seven RBI and six runs scored.

Coach Gonzalez, his staff and players are looking forward to the start of league play. Gahr, Paramount and Warren will challenge Downey for the league title. Downey was the 2014 San Gabriel Valley League champion and look to defend that title.

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The Warren High School baseball team currently has an overall record of 15-6 and are 1-0 in S.G.V.L. play.

The Bears competed in the St. Paul Easter Tournament over Spring Break and were defeated by Crean Lutheran 5-4 on on 4/4 and defeated Cantwell-Sacred Heart 8-2 on 4/6. Warren defeated Mayfair at Mayfair 4-3 on 4/7 and defeated John Glenn at Warren 5-1 on 4/8.

Warren started S.G.V.L. play on Tuesday when they defeated Gahr (10-8, 0-1) 7-6 and will travel to Gahr later today to complete their home and away series.

In the Gahr game on Tuesday, the Bears scratched two runs across in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the score at six and then completed the comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning when Junior Ruiz singled in the winning run. The winning run was set up when Antonio Monroy and Steven Nuno each got base hits to get on base.

The Bears will travel to cross-town rival Downey next Tuesday and will then host Downey on Friday. Warren will then face Dominguez, Lynwood and Paramount in the upcoming weeks.

Warren comes into S.G.V.L. play having won seven of their last eight games. The Bears have had a busy preseason schedule and hope to continue playing well.

Thus far, Warren is 7-0 at home, 7-5 on the road and 1-1 in neutral site games. The Bears have scored 117 runs, given up 73 and are currently on a four game winning streak. The Bears are currently ranked 83rd in the state, 48th in the Southern Section and 17th in Division 2.

Coach Pearson, his staff and players are looking forward to the start of league play. Downey, Gahr and Paramount will all challenge Warren for the league title. Downey was the 2014 San Gabriel Valley League champion.

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The Warren High School softball team currently has an overall record of 10-3 and are 1-0 in S.G.V.L. play. Warren defeated Gahr (10-6, 0-1) 5-3 on Tuesday and traveled to cross-town rival Downey (9-9, 1-0) yesterday (score unavailable at press time).

In the Gahr game, Gahr got out to an early lead by scoring one run in the top of the first inning. The Bears answered back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first inning courtesy of a Whitney Pemberton two-run home run. The Bears led 2-1 at the end of an inning of play. The Bears held the Gladiators scoreless in the top of the second inning and added another run in the bottom of the second. Warren led 3-1 after two innings of play.

Neither team scored in the third or fourth inning. The score was still 3-1 Warren after four innings of play. The Bears held Gahr scoreless in the top of the fifth inning and added two more runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Bears led 5-1 at the end of five innings of play. Neither team scored in the sixth inning and the score remained 5-1 going into the seventh inning.

Gahr added two runs in the top of the seventh inning and brought the score to 5-3. That was as close as the Gladiators could get as Warren closed the door and held on for the 5-3 win. Jissel Caballero pitched a complete game for the Bears and was helped out on offense by Nadia Amezcua and Megan Narvaez’s two hits each.

After the Downey game, Warren will host Mayfair on 4/20, will host Dominguez on 4/21 and will travel to Lynwood on 4/23. Coach Starksen, her staff and players are excited for the start of league play. Warren was the 2014 S.G.V.L. co-champion with Gahr last season.

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Published: April 16, 2015 - Volume 14 - Issue 01