Prep talk: Using creativity, Jefferson baseball rises again
For the first time in 100 years, Jefferson High in Los Angeles has converted its football field into a baseball/softball field to allow its teams to play games on campus and have a practice field, thanks to support from its administration and the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Jefferson received the No. 1 seed for the City Section Division III baseball playoffs and opens action on Thursday. The softball team is in first place in the Exposition League.
Advertisement
The baseball team has had just two winning seasons in the last 21 years and played at a local recreation center that had become increasing difficult to get permits for. With athletic director Jose Fuentes providing support and coaches Humberto Figueroa and Diego Castaneda leading the way, the Democrats have risen to enjoy a memorable season.
Third baseman/pitcher Ivan Martinez, shortstop Matthew Lopez, catcher Luis Zaragoza and pitcher Nathan Echeverria have led Jefferson.
The school is undergoing modernization with planned baseball and softball fields scheduled to be completed by the end of 2028.
For now, they have what Fuentes calls "their makeshift sandlot." …
Advertisement
The eight-team City Section Open Division baseball playoffs begin Wednesday. The schedule: No. 8 Chatsworth at No. 1 Venice; No. 7 Granada Hills at No. 2 El Camino Real; No. 6 Poly at No. 3 Birmingham; No. 5 Cleveland at No. 4 Sylmar.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
86 days until the Texans' 2025 season opener: Who has worn No. 86?
86 days until the Texans' 2025 season opener: Who has worn No. 86? The Houston Texans are less than 100 days away from kicking off the 2025 season in Los Angeles against the Rams at SoFi Stadium and we're counting down the days until a victory ensues on the west coast. Texans Wire will each day tell you which player has worn the number of the day leading up to kickoff and pick the player who ensured the number best during their time at NRG Stadium. As for today, let's take a look at who has won No. 86 since the inaugural season in 2002. Texans players to wear No. 86 No. 86 currently belongs to tight end Dalton Schultz. After a mixed career with the Dallas Cowboys, Schultz signed a one-year, prove-it deal in 2023 with the Texans. That season, he became a breakout security blanket for C.J. Stroud, catching 9 passes for 63 yards. The next offseason, he inked a three-year, $36 million extension. An underwhelming 2024 season has put eyes on Schultz's long-term status for beyond 2025. Because of his contract, Schultz will make the team this fall, but second-year pick Cade Stover out of Ohio State could take over a majority of first-team reps. But is Schultz the best player to ever wear the No. 86 in a Texans' uniform? Right now, he's close. TE Dalton Schultz (2023-present) TE Mason Schereck (2022) WR Jester Weah (2018) TE James Casey (2009-2012 WR Jabar Gaffney (2002-2005) Best Player: Jabar Gaffney. Schultz with a solid season will likely take over this spot in 2026, but Gaffney's role as a No. 2 receiver in the early stages of the team's tenure. Gaffney never took over games and was constantly dealing with injuries, but he averaged 42 catches over four seasons. He also finished with seven touchdowns and averaged 13.8 yards per attempt. Gaffney wasn't re-signed after his rookie contract was up, but many older Texans fans remember his impact as the secondary option behind Andre Johnson. With few options, it's a process of elimination for
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
There's A Lot to Like About Cadillac's Chances to Win 24 Hours of Le Mans
After its four teams advanced to Hyperpole, Cadillac locked up the front row in qualifying for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. There's only one goal left for the American manufacturer. Can Cadillac win the 93rd running of the world's most famous sports car race? The odds look better than any of the first two years that Cadillac V-Series.R teams have raced at Le Mans with their LMDh hybrids against the dominant LMH hybrids of Ferrari and Toyota. This year, a Cadillac was either first or second in the first three practices and in the qualifying sessions. The key is avoiding major errors, said Gary Nelson, the team manager for the No. 311 V-Series.R of Action Express Racing that qualified eighth. 'The last two years, the big thing for us was making mistakes,' said Nelson. 'We're always trying to not repeat our mistakes and hopefully we don't come up with some new ones. Then we'll see where the cards fall.' The British Jota team and its pole-winning No. 12 driven by Alex Lynn and the runner-up No. 38 of Earl Bamber contested the first three rounds of the World Endurance Championship as newcomers to Cadillac, having replaced Chip Ganassi Racing as the factory representative for the GM brand. Entering the Test Day, Jota relied on the massive compilation of digital records from Action Express's previous two trips to Le Mans. Last year, Jota won at Spa with its Porsche 963, the only privateer team to have won a Hypercar race in the WEC. With seventh on the grid its best showing, the Ferrari crews of AF Corse, winners of the first three WEC rounds and the last two Le Mans 24-hours, appeared to be focused on race preparation. The new Balance of Performance (BoP) has dictated compensating for a loss of top speed. According to drivers, the search for lap times has played havoc with the 499P's race set-up. But, throwing down a gauntlet, the Ferraris were first and second in the final night practice. Toyota Gazoo Racing also appeared to be focused on consistent race pace in place of qualifying. After the No. 7 GR010 Hybrid surprisingly missed the Top 15 in the first round, the No. 8 managed only 10th in the final round. Qualifying lasts for just one flying lap on low fuel and fresh Michelins. The grueling race is another matter. 'The hard work really starts (once qualifying ends),' said Will Stevens, co-driver in the No. 12 Cadillac. 'It's a long road ahead but after qualifying we're pretty confident.' If the new BoP has indeed brought the LMH cars of Ferrari and Toyota back to the field, it means Cadillac, including the Wayne Taylor Racing entry that starts 14th, will have plenty of competition from the fellow LMDh-based cars of Alpine, BMW and Porsche. Porsche Penske Motorsport will be in its third season of a three-car entry. But it has not been Penske perfect with the No. 6 Porsche 963 being banished to the back of the field for being underweight in qualifying. Before Mathieu Jaminet qualified his No. 5 Porsche third, a wheel came off on course. "We've had a busy and quite difficult few days, but qualifying has shown once again: When it comes down to it, our team is fully there," said Jonathan Diuguid, managing director of Porsche Penske. The No. 4 Porsche, where Felipe Nasr and Nick Tandy will try to add a Le Mans victory to wins in the Rolex 24 at Daytona and Sebring 12-Hour, starts fifth. Laurens Vanthoor, starting 21st in the No. 6, will also try to complete endurance racing's triple after co-driving with Nasr and Tandy in Daytona and Sebring. The BMW M Team WRT (fourth and sixth on the grid), and the Alpine Endurance Team (ninth and 12th) each gave Ferrari a run in the previous round at Spa and can be expected to challenge in the 24-hour, where fuel mileage, pit strategy and tire wear will be significant factors as well as track position and driving. Only the new Aston Martin Valkyrie and Peugeot's still struggling 9X8 are considered such long shots in a crowded field that they are out of the running.
Fox Sports
20 hours ago
- Fox Sports
INDYCAR Announces INDY NXT by Firestone Penalties at WWTR
INDYCAR INDYCAR has announced penalties for the No. 29 Andretti Global entry and driver James Roe ahead of this weekend's event at World Wide Technology Raceway. Per standard late-race procedures, as a lapped car in the INDY NXT by Firestone Grand Prix of Detroit, the No. 29 was ordered and twice failed to take the final lap restart at the rear of the field alongside other lapped cars. Additionally, during the final lap of the race, the No. 29 was penalized for blocking the No. 40 – a lead-lap car. The following penalties from the INDY NXT by Firestone rulebook were left 'pending' and scheduled to be applied and served at the next event: Rule 3.1.7. Failing to follow the direction of INDYCAR. Rule 3.2. Blocking – Any Driver who moves in reaction, altering their line based on the actions of pursuing Competitors, may be penalized. Roe has been placed on probation for his next three INDY NXT races. At the event at World Wide Technology Raceway, the No. 29 will not be permitted to qualify and will start Sunday's race at the rear of the field using tires scuffed from Saturday's practice. Members may contest the imposition of the penalties detailed in the review and appeal procedures of the INDY NXT by Firestone rulebook.
