SGV/Whittier Prep Sports Zone: Tuesdays with Escarcega, Tuesday, May 21st, 2024

A take you insider Cal High Softball's emotional filled game with Gahr, Rosters for the SGV All-Star Baseball Game and more.

Cal softball team after their loss to Gahr in a CIF-SS Softball Div. 2 championship game in Irvine on Saturday. (Escarcega)

IRVINE – Unlike the brethren in baseball, softball players have a constant destination for the championships – Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine. 

It’s no fault for anyone that is involved in baseball. This year provided an unusual situation that the section hasn’t seen in years. The alternatives were not many. 

Dodger Stadium: The Dodgers were in town for the weekend series with the Reds.

USC: The baseball facility is undertaking a new renovation.

Cal State Fullerton: Hosted UC Irvine is a weekend series.

Long Beach State: Hosted Hawaii for a weekend series. 

Angels Stadium: Hosted Long Beach State for their graduation ceremonies. 

As you can see, there weren’t a lot of choices when it came to finding a venue for baseball. 

That’s not the case for any stakeholder in Softball. You know what the end game is regarding sectional finals – the third weekend in May in Irvine. Many enjoy the softball finals so much that they won’t attend the baseball finals. One of those is Gahr head softball coach Rey Sanchez. 

“This is the best finals anywhere,” Sanchez said. “And I’m a baseball guy.” 

So when the California Condors softball team arrived for their evening with destiny last Saturday night, many felt that this was going to be the year. After many close calls, this felt like this was the year.

One of the main reasons was that this might be the last time that Jason Ramirez might be around a dugout due to his battle with ALS. But, the other fact was this – the Condors were built for this game. They had the hitting, the defense, and the pitching. It all came together in 2024 and many teams didn’t have an answer. 

They couldn’t get around Alexis Salas’ 62-64 MPH fastball. They could figure out the movement of Pricilla Ramirez’s pitching repertoire. They couldn’t pitch around Cal’s version of Shohei Otani (Shirley Acevedo). Just ask Jason Clay at La Serna, AJ Reyes at Santa Fe… or Rey Sanchez at Gahr (their opponent in the final). 

They got a first-hand look at California’s machine earlier in the year and lost 7-0 with Salas throwing a one-hitter. 

But the softball gods insist that you get tested at Deanna Manning. Nothing is guaranteed. History tells us that. 

Just ask Villa Park’s Sydney Somerndike. 

In 2021, she was named the Gatorade Player of the Year the week of the finals. The softball gods didn’t care. It took one swing of the bat from Upland’s Emily Capobianco to propel the Highlanders to an improbable Division 2 championship. 

Just as anyone associated with the 2019 South Torrance softball team. All it took was one throwing error for their dreams to be dashed away in a 3-1 loss to Cypress in the D-2 final. 

Just ask Mission Viejo slugger Alyssa Palomino. She had a chance to tie the game against Yucaipa late in the seventh inning of a 1-0 Division 2 game in 2015. With many thinking that she would turn on one for a homer, pitcher Brooke Bolinger had other thoughts and retired the slugger on a pop-up that would end the game. 

The bottom line is simple – the softball gods could care less about storylines or other stuff conjured up by the media. You have to play 21 outs. If you make mistakes, not produce when the game is on the line, the softball gods can give you a cruel outcome that will everyone stunned. 

You can add the 2024 California High School softball team to this ever-growing list. 

Beforehand, the optimism within the Condor program was at an all-time high. Ramirez had a good night's sleep on Friday (“I slept great,” Ramirez said), the players were relaxed as they were warming up on an adjacent field. All appeared to be well. 

And the pitching plan looked solid. Salas would pitch the first four innings, then Ramirez would finish the final three. 

But the softball gods know how to throw a wrench into everything. 

We made a video that broke down the game that led to Gahr’s improbable 5-4 win over the Condors.

Here are three key points to the game that will be discussed in years to come. 

1. Replacing Salas with Ramirez in the 6th inning. 

2. Valerie Vasquez’s at-bat before Shirley Avevedo’s home run in the seventh inning. 

3. The failed attempt by Hailey Chavolla to field Natalia Hill’s foul ball by inches that would have clinched a sectional title. 

Anyone who knows me knows I love to say, “Decisions and Consequences.” That was the case here. We will never know what would’ve happened if Salas had not been taken out after the walk to Hill. We would have never known what would have happened if Vasquez had gotten a base hit in her at-bat in the seventh inning. But, we know what would have happened if Chavolla was able to make the play. 

It's not the fault of these talented players. But that’s what makes baseball and softball so much more romancing. It’s called “The Science of the Sport.” You break down the game into segments and play the “What If” game. 

We all know what happened next. Hill gets on base, and Marley Cortez brings in both runners with a single to center. 

Game over. 

Dreams shattered. 

Softball has a distinct way of making the moments so dramatic. One swing of the bat can make or break a season.

Or a dream. 

Just ask La Mirada softball coach Brent Tuttle. In the last two appearances in the softball playoffs, he took a lead into the seventh inning only to lose both games on one swing of the bat. 

As you can imagine, the postgame circle for Cal was filled with emotion. The players were fighting off the tears of pain that came with coming so close to winning a sectional title. 

It was like taking your lady to that secret spot to ask her to marry you, only to be left at the Alter. It was like having seven of the eight horses covered in the last leg of a pick-6 bet (having picked the previous five winners) at Santa Anita with the only horse not on your ticket winning the race. 

If a heart could drop to the ground, it would have done so on this night. 

Each coach had a chance to speak with the players, then it came time for Jason Ramirez to speak. For two minutes, all he could do was bow his head and cry. Words that sometimes are hard to come by were even harder at that moment. When you have ALS, the countdown clock is not your best friend. 

Everyone cried. 

Then the circle got tighter. The girls knew the closer they got together; it might have given Ramirez the strength to provide some much-needed words. 

It helped. 

“All we needed was one out,” Ramirez said. “I’m so proud of you, no matter if we won or lost. This is a team that I’ll never forget. Let’s go win a state (regional) title. I love you so much.” 

With that, the players came in tight, broke it down, and then went to the dugout to pick up their belongings and try to compress the events that just occurred. 

As for Ramirez, he put that emotion aside and said to me “Hey, what do you think?” 

All I could do was give my condolences and say, “Time to win state.” To which his answer was, “I agree, but I didn’t want it to happen this way.” 

As I was departing the stadium, I felt compelled to walk over to the Gahr dugout and congratulate Sanchez. It was at that moment that he gave a tight hug to his star player in Hill. I was fortunate enough to capture the hug in a photo. 

(Escarcega)

After small talk, he said, “If I was to lose to one coach – it would be to that guy over there,” as he pointed to Ramirez as he was being wheeled off the field. 

I responded with one word “Competition.” 

His answer was short and distinct, “That’s right.” 

The game was a culmination of a fantastic weekend at Deanna Manning that saw Garden Grove Pacifica defeat Orange Lutheran 3-0 in the much-anticipated D-1 Final. 

It wasn’t fantastic for anyone with Cal High softball. 

They once again felt the wrath of the softball gods – giving everyone one final lesson. 

You have to play all 21 outs.

The Condors found out… the hard way. 

AZUSA WINS AREA’S ONLY BASEBALL TITLE

The CIF Southern Section expanded its divisions from seven to eight for baseball and Azusa took full advantage of them. 

The Aztecs won the section’s first Division 8 final with a 5-0 win over Pacifica Christian of Orange County. And kudos go out to Josh Torres pitching a two-hitter and struck out 12. The Aztecs did it with hometown kids. Most of these kids won’t be playing collegiate baseball or in a venue like they did on Saturday in Lake Elsinore. 

But they made memories that will last a lifetime with the parents and relatives in the stands reveling in the moment. I know the feeling all too well, one of my nephews plays in the Colony program and was brought up for the playoffs. Even though he didn’t play in the game, he was on the roster of a team that won a sectional title and will get his championship ring. 

As his uncle, I couldn’t be prouder. He worked hard for that moment and will reap the rewards that come with winning a sectional title.

I can feel for those who are a part of the St. Francis and South El Monte teams. They came so close to winning a sectional title. St. Francis took the hard road getting to the game via a brutal Mission League schedule and a tough playoff bracket. 

Remember how I mentioned that the softball gods can be cruel, the baseball gods are just as cruel. 

Congratulations Azusa and now … let’s get those rings! 

AREA RUNNERS QUALIFY FOR THE STATE TRACK MEET

Former CIF Southern Section Assistant Commissioner Rainer Wulf also had to answer the tough question of why the section had to have a Masters Meet. 

“We can’t send our best runners to state without this meet,” Wulf would say. “I know that many coaches would prefer not to have this meet, but protocols dictate that we do it.” 

Coupling that in with the fact that it is the section’s busiest weekend of the year with the baseball and softball finals, you can see why many didn’t make the trek up to Moorpark HS. 

But the area did well with the highlight being Dylan Ochoa’s thrilling win in the 400 meters. Ochoa won the race in 47.01, diving at the finish line to get his chest across first. It was a reminder of his days on the football field as a wide receiver. Ochoa will be one of the event’s main contenders to win a state title this weekend in Clovis. 

South Pasadena’s Mia Holden, a UCLA commit, qualified for the 300 hurdles with a second-place effort of 43.07 seconds. She also qualified in the 100 hurdles. 

Abigail Errington, Holden’s teammate at South Pasadena, also qualified for the state meet with a second-place finish in the 1,600 (10:20.36). Also qualifying for the meet in the event was La Canada’s Maya DeBrouwer (10.23.19). 

South Pasadena’s Keeran Murray, one of the top middle-distance runners in the area, qualified for the state meet in the 800 (1:53.02). 

Keppel’s William Lui, the fastest sprinter in the area, qualified for the state meet in the 200 (21.50). Marshall’s Hagop Marmarian finished second in the boy's shot put (59 feet, 9 inches) and La Canada’s Erin Makhanian and Katie McGuiness qualified in the girls long jump. 

Fans can watch the state championships (behind a paywall) this weekend on FloTrack or NFHS Network. 

BASEBALL ALL-STAR ROSTERS REVEALED. 

The rosters for the annual SGV All-Star Game which will be held on Saturday, June 2nd at South Hills HS were announced on Tuesday. There will be an admission charge for the two games including the Underclass Game. 

Here are the Rosters for the All-Star Game. 

BLUE TEAM

Kody King                                San Dimas

Jude Favela                            San Dimas

Fernando Palencia                 Arcadia

Gabriel Lopez                          Arcadia

Andrew Miller                          Maranatha

Edwin Segovia                        West Covina

Aaron Sandin                          Bishop Amat

Josh Torres                             Azusa

Thomas Lieb                           Maranatha

Moses Medrano                      Charter Oak

Gabriel Rincon                        SEM

Jacob Nguyen                         West Covina

Landon White                          San Dimas

Jared Brunk                            Bonita

Coleman Morning                   San Marino

Rocco Regan                          San Dimas

Ryan Castro                            San Dimas

AJ Beltre                                 Maranatha

Diego Vazquez                        Bonita

Andrew Medina                       SEM

Kasen Khansarinia                  San Dimas

John Nauertz                          San Dimas

Isaiah Hernandez                    Bishop Amat

Miguel Perez                           Bishop Amat

Andrew Alva                           Bonita

Carlos Hernandez                   Alhambra

Miguel Perez Bishop Amat

San Dimas Coaching Staff

Mike Regan Mark Chiappelli Jeff Coleman Alex Valadez Francisco Quintana Christian Longoria

RED TEAM

Matt Moreno- South Hills 

Zach Menlove- Monrovia

Nolan Adams- South Pasadena 

Erick Felix- Walnut

Ethan Sparks- Marshall 

Matt Garcia- Alhambra 

Jeremy Vargas- Montebello 

Ty Tancredi- Damien 

Henry Mcdonald- Pasadena Poly

Matt Velasco- Walnut 

Gus Salazar- Montebello 

Hunter Vigil- LaSalle

AC Nieto- LaSalle 

Sean Aspberger- Pasadena Poly 

Steven Jimenez- South Hills 

Paul Vazquez- South Hills 

Ivan Flores- Nogales 

Sid Danenhauer- San Marino 

Jake Mestas- Diamond Bar

Robert Murphy- Diamond Bar

Nick Lozano, Edgewood

Devin Robinson- South Pasadena 

Luke Bauer- South Hills 

Noah Ellison- Monrovia

Noah Malone – South Hills

Coach Manny Arana Montebello

SGV Underclass Game Rosters

BLUE TEAM

Christian Ortega                     South El Monte

Cristian Santoyo                     South Hills

Tomas Bilvado                        San Marino

Justin Pinedo                          Bishop Amat

Morgan Sullivan                      La Salle

Nate Callaway                        Marshall

Matthew Vasquez                   Maranatha

Jon Bracamante                     South Pasadena

Jonathan Blacklock                Nogales

Leo Pineche                            Arcadia

Josh Proctor                           Maranatha

Moses Aguirre                         La Salle

Jacob Campos                        Bishop Amat

Caiden Kennedy                     Pasadena Poly

Joshua Griffiths                      Monrovia

Matt Manzo                             South Hills

Troy Grise                               Monrovia

Jordan Vogel                           Arcadia

Gabe Guerro                           Bishop Amat

Frankie Zelaya                        Sierra Vista

Will Grabel                              Flintridge Prep

Chris Cardenas                       La Salle

Will Park                                 La Canada 

JJ Wilson                               San Marino 

Damien Catano                       Arcadia

Head Coach: Michael Gonzales South El Monte

Assistant Coaches: Mike Parisi South Hills, Anthony Esquer Nogales 

RED TEAM

Declan Bowers (Covina) P

 Quinton Mendoza (Diamond Bar) P

 Carson Baker (South Hills) P

 Max Murillo (West Covina) P

 AJ Flores (Northview) P

 Zack Escalera (Charter Oak) P

 Camden Farina (Bonita) P

 Jacob Pallan (Walnut) P

 Donovan Rendon (Covina) C

 Jacob Smith (Diamond) C

 DJ Johnson (Covina) 1B

 Aaron Jacobson (Glendora) 1B

 Anthony Baez (Walnut) 1B

 Ryan Silva (Covina) 3B

 Fernie Cruz (Montebello) 3B

 Vaughn Coleman (San Dimas) OF

 Cody White (Bonita) OF

 Marc Hernandez (Alhambra) OF

 Julian Salmon (Charter Oak) INF

 Martin Luna (Charter Oak) INF

 Aidan Yamazaki (Glendora) INF

 Joey Ramos (Northview) INF

Jayden Claros (San Dimas) Utility / Infielder

Adrian Oseguera (Pasadena) P

Eli Bechtel (Damien) UTIL.

Coaches David Lopez, Diamond Bar Tim O’Leary, Covina Pat Lodes Covina 

FINALLY… 

The high school football passing league season got started with the Charter Oak and Maranatha tournaments on Saturday. Charter Oak defeated Bishop Amat to win their tournament title and Maranatha captured their tournament championship with Burroughs winning the consolation championship. 

(Photo via Charter Oak Football on X)

(Photo via Maranatha Football on X)

Next week, our commencement address to the SGV Class of 2024. 

Have a great week.