Sports Briefs: Tyler Tungate powers Downey past Paramount

DOWNEY – The Downey High School baseball team is atop the San Gabriel Valley League standings with an overall record of 16-8 and a league record of 6-1. Downey defeated Paramount 4-1 at Downey Tuesday behind a strong pitching performance from Tyler Tungate. With the win, Tungate improved to 7-2 and owns an 0.82 ERA. Tungate struck out six and only gave up four hits over seven innings in the win. With the loss, Paramount fell to 11-14 overall and 5-2 in league play.

Downey will travel to Paramount later today to finish their home and away series with the Pirates. If Downey can beat Paramount later today, the Vikings will be in the driver seat for a league title. If Paramount wins at home, Downey and Paramount will be tied for the S.G.V.L. lead at 6-2.

Downey will play Dominguez (4-14, 0-7) next week in their last two regular season games of the year before the Division 3 playoffs start. Paramount will travel to Warren next Tuesday and will then host Warren next Thursday in their league finale. The Bears are 21-4 overall and 4-3 in league play.

The Downey High School softball team lost to cross-town rival Warren at Downey Tuesday 4-3. With the loss, Downey fell to 8-16 overall and 3-4 in S.G.V.L. play. With the win, Warren improved to 17-4 overall and 6-1 in league play.

Downey has three regular season games remaining on their schedule. Downey hosted Gahr yesterday (score unavailable at press time), will travel to Paramount next Tuesday and will close out their regular season at home against Dominguez next Thursday.

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The Downey High School boys’ swim team secured their third straight San Gabriel Valley League title. The Vikings finished their season with a perfect overall record of 11-0 and a league record of 3-0.

According to Coach Delhousay, “this year’s team had a great balance of experience and new talent which made Downey a complete team.” Key wins this season came against Santa Fe 93-76, La Mirada 92-77, Kennedy 101-69, Whitney 96-74, Warren 130-40 and Paramount 122-48.

The team was led by junior Mike Kim. Kim won the 200 IM with a time of 2:08.5, 100 Backstroke in 59.5 and 100 Breaststroke in 1.05.6. Tadeo Marquez finished the 100 Butterfly in 55.5 and 200 Freestyle in 1.52.5. Nick Apodaca finished the 50 Freestyle in 22.9 and anchored the 200 Medley and Freestyle Relays.

Danny Benitez, Frankie Gonzales and Preston Medina continued to drop their times in the 50 and 100 Freestyle events, respectively. Christian Kim in the 100 Butterfly and Backstroke, Gerardo Flores in the 100 Butterfly, Tim Nilan in the 200 and 500 Freestyle and Daxton Penn in the 100 Breaststroke all filled valuable roles.

Marcus Powell and John Choi continued to improve throughout the season as well. Ryan Cruz in the 500 Freestyle, Christian Gomez in the 100 Breaststroke, Luis Valencia in the 500 Freestyle and 100 Backstroke all made key contributions in meets and supplied much needed depth. Omar Martinez also contributed in the 100 Freestyle.

Coach Delhousay is extremely proud of how hard his swimmers have worked this season. In eight years of coaching at Downey, this is the first undefeated season for Coach “D.” San Gabriel Valley League Finals concluded yesterday (results unavailable at press time).

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The Warren High School girls’ swim team is looking to win their 5th straight S.G.V.L. title and have had a busy schedule preparing for it.

In most recent competition, Warren lost to Millikan 90-80, defeated cross-town rival Downey 106-64 and defeated Gahr 108-57. The Lady Bears defeated Whitney 113-55, defeated Downey Calvary Chapel 109-61, defeated Sunny Hills 91-78 and defeated La Serna 93-78.

San Gabriel Valley League Championships are taking place this week. The league championships are a swim meet in which all four schools swim against each other. The top eight fastest qualifiers from Prelims will return to Finals for scoring. The meet will determine the outright league champion for both the girls’ and boys’ teams. This meet will also serve as the last opportunity to lower or qualify for C.I.F. consideration or automatic time standards.

Thus far, the Lady Bears have qualified for C.I.F. in the following events. The 200 Medley Relay with Brittney Baron, Jocelyn Castro, Valeria Orozco and Kayla Casas. The 200 Freestyle with Kim Shepherd, the 200 IM with Valeria Orozco, the 50 Freestyle with Justine Castro and the 100 Butterfly with Valeria Orozco. Warren has also qualified for the 100 Freestyle with Justine Castro, 200 Freestyle Relay with Stephany Velazquez, Kayla Casas, Jocelyn Castro and Brittney Baron and the 100 Backstroke with Brittney Baron and Yatzyl Lajud. The Lady Bears have also qualified for the 400 Freestyle Relay with Valeria Orozco, Kayla Casas, Jocelyn Castro and Kim Shepherd.

Coach Cordero likes the balance her team has. Seniors Kelly Tovalin, Jocelyn Castro and Kayla Casas continue to provide senior leadership. Juniors Kim Shepherd, Valeria Orozco, Brittney Baron and Erin Gonzalez have “star power.” Sophomore Justine Castro and freshmen Yatzyl Lasjud, Stephany Velazquez and Adriana Jacinto all represent the future of Warren swim. Cordero is looking forward to some fast finishes and another successful trip to C.I.F. at Riverside Community College next week.

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The Warren High School boys’ track team defeated cross-town rival Downey 78-58 on Thursday, April 24th. For their efforts, the Bears are the 2014 San Gabriel Valley League champions.

Ricky Thomas won the 100 and 200 meter sprints and teammate Yander Salgado placed second in both events. Ben Gonzalez won the 3200 meter run en route to a sweep by Warren in the event. Jonathan Lio won the pole vault with a personal best mark of 13’3. Christian Escobedo won the 400 meter race and Ozzie Zarate won both the discuss and shot put.

Warren won the Frosh/Soph S.G.V.L. title as well with a narrow 69-67 win over Downey. Michael Angelo Zavala won the triple jump and 400 meter race. Bryan Pluma won the 1600 and 3200 meter races, respectively. Sergio Santana and Matthew Sanchez also contributed key points to secure the Bear win. This victory marks the third year in a row that Warren has won the Frosh/Soph league title.

The Warren High School girls’ track team also defeated cross-town rival Downey 74-52. For their efforts, the Lady Bears are the 2014 San Gabriel Valley League champions.

Shakura Tyler won the 100 meter sprint and Victoria Porter won both the 200 and 400 meter races. Porter set a new school record with a time of 57.47 in the 400. Yajaira Zarate won both the 1600 and 3200 meter runs.

Coach Miranda and Coach Waldron are extremely proud of their athletes and all the hard work they have put in this season. The S.G.V.L. Championships are being held this week at Downey and will conclude later today.

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Published: May 8, 2014 - Volume 13 - Issue 04