SGV/Whittier Prep Sports Zone: PREP ROUNDUP, March 21, 2025
Cal rallies to defeat La Serna in Del Rio League softball; South Hills no hits San Dimas in baseball.
Josh Ibarra of Cal High drove in the winning run in a 6-5 win over La Serna. (Escarcega)
BASEBALL
DEL RIO LEAGUE
California 6, La Serna 5: When it comes to the Del Rio League, expect the unexpected. In one of the wildest finishes of the season, the Condors scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to produce a dramatic win over La Serna. The rally for the Condors began when Ricky Gonzales connected on a single to left that scored Joseph Loya, trimming La Serna’s lead to 5-4. Adam Vitela hit a grounder back to relief pitcher Jeremiah Diaz, who failed to field the ball cleanly, allowing Alex Vitela to score to tie the game at 5-5. Josh Ibarra hit a grounder to shortstop Ryan Barraza, who threw to the plate, but Jacob Duarte slid under the tag by Matt Hernandez for the winning run. The Condors appeared to have tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning when Efren Magallanes hit a double that scored Luke Martinez. However, the home plate umpire ruled that Martinez didn’t touch home plate, and Martinez was ruled out on appeal. Grady Long threw six strong innings, allowing three runs on three hits, and struck out seven. He didn’t give up a hit from the second through the sixth innings. The Lancers also got an enormous offensive performance from Gibson Laracuente, who went 4 for 4 and drove in a run. Andrew Gonzalez pitched one inning in relief for the Condors and picked up the win. Ibarra finished the day with two hits and two RBIs. With the win, La Serna and California are tied at the top of the league standings.
The game's final play giving Cal High a 6-5 win over La Serna. (Escarcega)
Santa Fe 7, Whittier 5: In another wild game in the DRL, Santa Fe scored three runs in the first inning and held off repeated comeback attempts from the Cardinals to pick up their first win of the league season. Javier Colon and Nicolas Alvarez had three hits, with Alvarez driving in three runs.
ALMONT LEAGUE
Alhambra 14, Schurr 0: The Moors scored eight runs in the second inning and cruised to a road win. Daniel Gonzalez had three hits with an RBI.
Montebello 16, San Gabriel 0: Montebello’s Nathan Ibarra went 3 for 3, including a double, and drove in four runs.
CAMINO REAL LEAGUE
Cantwell-Sacred Heart 5, Bishop Montgomery 1: Jackson Villagran struck out 11 in a complete-game effort for the Cardinals.
DEL REY LEAGUE
St. Paul 10, La Salle 0, 6 innings: The Swordsmen scored four runs in the third inning and two more in the fifth and sixth innings to come away with a home win that was called because of the mercy rule. Richie Avina went 3 for 4 and drove in two runs. Freshmen Troy Sibolboro had two hits and two RBIs. Fernie Soto pitched a six-inning complete game and struck out five.
HACIENDA LEAGUE
South Hills 7, San Dimas 0: Joseph Moreno had the Saints baffled all day as he threw 6.2 innings of no-hit baseball and struck out nine. He was taken out for pitch count purposes. Justin Romero came in to finish off the no-hit game. Diego Villareal went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI, and Carson Baker had a single that drove in two runs.
PREP LEAGUE
Pasadena Poly 6, Chadwick 1: Sophomore Caiden Kennedy allowed one run on hit and struck out 12 in a complete-game performance.
NONLEAGUE
Charter Oak 2, Upland 0: Marcus Reese struck out six, held the Highlanders to one hit in six innings of work, and secured the win.
Chino Hills 6, La Habra 4: The Huskies scored two runs in the second and third innings and held off a late seventh-inning rally by the Highlanders. Jackson Aguayo helped the Huskies offensive attack with two hits and two RBIs. La Habra’s Zach Lopez drove in two runs.
Northview 12, Maranatha 5: The Vikings scored ten runs in the seventh inning to pull out the win at Jackie Robinson Field. Matt Vasquez turned in a solid effort for the Minuteman with six strikeouts in six innings.
Whittier Christian 8, Marshall 0: Alex Valencia struck out 10 and tossed a two-hitter for the Heralds.
El Rancho 5, Oxford Academy 1: The Dons posted three runs in the third inning and two more in the sixth to earn a road win. Alex Aparicio had two hits and two RBIs, and Dominic Lopez also banged out two hits.
Other Scores
Garden Grove 2, South El Monte 0
Duarte 24, El Monte 7
Arcadia 31, Hoover 1
Monrovia 14, North Hollywood 3
SOFTBALL
RIO HONDO LEAGUE
La Canada 5, South Pasadena 0: Bentley Lebrecque tossed a one-hitter and struck out nine for the Spartans. With the win, the Spartans and Temple City are tied for first place in the league standings.
Temple City 7, Monrovia 6: The Rams scored two runs in the first inning, five more in the fifth, and held off a furious late rally by the Rams to post a road win. Melinda Lansford went 3 for 4 (with two doubles) and drove in two runs for the Rams.
AT THE LAGUNA HILLS TOURNAMENT
Schurr 7, Hillcrest 4 (Championship Game)
IN OTHER ACTION
La Mirada 4, La Habra 2: The Matadores scored two runs in the first inning and held on for a key nonleague win. Reese Hillard and Angelie Kennedy each had two hits. Montserrat Reyes-Cardenas struck out four in three innings of work and picked up the win. Georgia Rickenbacker went 2 for 3 for La Habra.
Bishop Amat 22, West Covina 3: Julyssa Jimenez connected on a two-run home run and drove in three runs for the Lancers in their win. Kayla Johnson went 3 for 5 (with two doubles) and amassed 4 RBIs.
Charter Oak 4, El Dorado 3: Mikayla Diebert sent the Charger fans home happy with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning for a nonleague win.
Mountain View 6, Pioneer 5: Junior Ashley Saldivar hit a three-run walk-off home run to push the Vikings past the Titans. Bianca Rivera tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning with a double. Leanna Ramirez picked up the win.
Mark Keppel 10, El Monte 2: Lauren Young hit a home run and drove in three runs in the Aztec's win. Robyn Guitron struck out 18 and picked up the win.