Prep talk: Ryan Zurn is preparing for his play-by-play days
Eighth-grader Ryan Zurn, the son of La Mirada baseball coach Jimmy Zurn, hopes to be doing play by play of his father's games.
(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)
In this new world of schools live streaming sporting contests and allowing students to pursue their dreams of becoming the next Vin Scully, Ryan Zurn is very much on the path of doing just that.
The son of La Mirada baseball coach Jimmy Zurn has been the school's public address announcer since he was 9 years old.
Advertisement
In the fall, he'll be a freshman at La Mirada, and he doesn't want to play baseball. He wants to be a play-by-play announcer, and his father is investigating how his school can start streaming games and allow Ryan to practice his craft.
It's inspiring when teenagers know exactly what they want to do entering high school and begin the process of fulfilling their goal. Ryan Zurn intends to do just that. …
At the Texas Relays, sophomore Benjamin Harris of Servite won the 100 meters in a wind-aided 10.35 seconds.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
Advertisement
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
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
How the Rams make sure rookies bond to start pro careers
Rams rookie linebacker Josaiah Stewart paints a bird on a hallway wall at Odyssey Charter School in Altadena, which was affected by the Eaton fire. (Gary Klein / Los Angeles Times) Josaiah Stewart quickly studied the assignment, focused intensely, and went to work. The Rams linebacker delicately gripped a paintbrush, dipped it into a cup of green paint, and began filling the outline of a bird traced onto a wall of an Altadena school rebounding from the Eaton fire. Advertisement A few feet away, Rams tight end Terrance Ferguson and defensive lineman Ty Hamilton maneuvered their huge frames to add their own artistic touches to the hallway mural. It was the latest rookie bonding experience for the 2025 draft class, a six-player group that includes several expected to play prominent roles for a team regarded as a Super Bowl contender. 'We've got a great group,' said Ferguson, a second-round pick. 'All the guys have bought into a lot of rookie bonding stuff by the team. 'It's cool that they really lean into building that relationship. … We're all going through this for the first time, transitioning to the NFL, so it's been a lot of fun.' Rams rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson prepares to contribute to artwork at Odyssey Charter School in Altadena. (Gary Klein / Los Angeles Times) Ferguson is regarded as the heir apparent to veteran Tyler Higbee, who is in the final year of his contract. Yet the dynamic Ferguson, a former Oregon star, won't have to wait until 2026: He appears on track to have a large role in coach Sean McVay's offense. Advertisement Stewart, a third-round pick from Michigan, adds another dimension to an edge-rushing group that features NFL defensive rookie of the year Jared Verse and Byron Young. Running back Jarquez Hunter, a fourth-round pick from Auburn, is competing to back up Kyren Williams, who is in the final year of his rookie contract. Hamilton, from Ohio State, adds depth to a defensive line led by Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske, while fellow fifth-round pick Pooh Paul from Mississippi does the same for an inside linebacker corps that features Omar Speights and Nathan Landman. Receiver Konata Mumpfield, a seventh-round pick from Pittsburgh, is learning from Davante Adams, Puka Nacua, Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington. Advertisement Several rookies said veteran players have welcomed and embraced them, helping them absorb the playbook and all that is expected of them on the field. Assistant head coach Aubrey Pleasant has helped oversee the rookies' collective transition to becoming pros, McVay said. Rams rookie defensive lineman Ty Hamilton goes to ground to add his touch to hallway mural at Odyssey Charter School in Altadena. (Gary Klein / Los Angeles Times) 'We've really tried to lean into the types of people where there's different personalities, but there's still our core values or experiences that these guys have gone through that have tested their mental fortitude, their resilience,' McVay said, adding, 'The most important thing is as a team, how do we come together? How do we really lean on one another? But when you are going through a similar experience, it's been fun to be able to watch those guys mature and be able to grow together.' Advertisement The rookies have bonded on the field during organized team activities, and off the field on excursions for meals, movies and places such as an escape room. The community events play a large role, Paul said. 'This is something I personally enjoy doing with the rookies simply because it really just shows, like, what we stand for outside the shoulder pads,' Paul said during a break from painting in Altadena. 'We've been doing a great job with that, bonding with each other, getting to know each other's backgrounds, where we come from, our collegiate careers and what helped us get to where we are today.' Organized team activities conclude this week, but the rookies will be together again next week when the Rams travel to Maui for a minicamp. On Tuesday, the six draft picks and other first-year players that signed as undrafted free agents will join Habitat for Humanity to rebuild homes in Lahaina that were damaged in 2023 wildfires. Advertisement It will be another opportunity to work side-by-side, as they did in Altadena. 'It's a tight group,' Stewart said after finishing his painting in Altadena. 'We all bond, and events like these really bring us together.' Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Letters to the Editor: It's not just L.A. The world isn't ready for a U.S.-hosted Olympics
To the editor: Columnist Steve Lopez asks if L.A. will be ready for its close-up ('Three years away from the Olympics, L.A. is tripping over hurdles and trying to play catchup,' June 7). With the World Cup in one year and the Olympics in 2028, I don't think so. A more pressing question: Is the world ready for the United States to host anything? Does anyone think the countries that participate in the World Cup will show up? Will fans? We've already banned people from one participating country, Iran, from traveling here and are in the process of denying visas and arresting thousands. Fans of the World Cup will not show up just to be herded through turnstiles into the arms of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Fast forward to the Olympics. Today's protests will not stop. How does this city get ready for the Olympics? For tourists? I am deeply ashamed of what is going on in this country and fully expect the rest of the world to boycott us the way 65 nations boycotted the Russian Summer Olympics in 1980 after Russia invaded Afghanistan. Susan Polifronio, Los Angeles This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Inside Nike's all-women half-marathon in L.A.: the good, the bad and the surprising
After running — or more like barely surviving — my first half-marathon about a decade ago in Las Vegas, I had no desire to participate in a long-distance run ever again. That was until I learned that Nike was hosting the Nike After Dark tour, a women's race series designed to celebrate women and encourage them to get into the sport. The L.A. half-marathon — the tour's only stop in the U.S. — was slated to include a concert with Grammy-winning rapper Doechii at the end of the 13.1 mile race. Given that Nike has built a reputation for curating cool, culture-forward experiences, I figured this would be the perfect way for me to get out of my years-long retirement from running. Plus, several of my friends were participating so it was bound to be a good time. Advertisement Read more: 18 inspiring L.A. run clubs to kickstart your running era After training for several weeks at parks and tracks around L.A., I hit the pavement alongside nearly 15,000 participants — 43% of whom were first-time half-marathoners — on Saturday evening at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The event sparked a lot of online chatter — not all positive — with some runners calling the race disorganized and a marketing event catered to influencers. As for me, I experienced several highs during the energetic event, but also some moments of frustration and confusion. Here's how the night went down, from the starting line (and the journey in getting there) to the high-octane concert finale. Pre-race: Getting to the starting line was a marathon in itself Knowing that thousands of people were expected to participate in the event, I opted to get to the SoFi Stadium about an hour and a half early to avoid traffic. In hindsight, I should've arrived even earlier. Several streets were blocked off due to the race, but once I found the parking lot, it was easy for me to find a spot — much easier than it was at the recent Kendrick Lamar and SZA concert a few weeks prior. (While registration for the race started at $150, parking was thankfully free for those who secured a spot ahead of time.) After experiencing long lines and a delayed start time, runners gather in their assigned corrals to prepare for the 13.1-mile race. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) I followed a herd of people toward the entrance where we went through a security checkpoint, then a bag check line, which took about 30 minutes to get through. Afterward, I rushed outside to find my friends and waited in yet another line — this time for the porta-potties — which took about 40 minutes. The starting line, at last By this time, there were only about 10 minutes until race time and I still needed to stretch, so my group ran over to the starting corrals. The race was initially scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., but an emcee announced that it was being pushed back to 6:45 p.m. This made me nervous because the concert was set for 9:30 p.m., so this meant that I'd have less than three hours to finish if I wanted to catch the show. Advertisement In the weeks leading up to the marathon, some participants took to social media to voice their concerns about Nike changing its course time from four hours — as it stated on the registration form — to three hours. In one Threads post, a runner said: "If the whole purpose of this event was to reclaim running by giving women a space to feel safe running at night, then why wouldn't you be inclusive to runners of all paces?" In response to the feedback, Nike ultimately set the course time to three hours and 17 minutes, allowing for an average mile of 15 minutes per mile, according to a Nike spokesperson. The brand added a shorter course option, which was nine miles, so participants could still cross the finish line, receive a medal (a silver necklace with a giant Nike swoosh) and enjoy the concert. Despite the confusion, people were amped. "I'm at this phase in my life where I really want to prove to myself that I can do hard things," said Ayanna Fox, 29, of Chino Hills, on why she wanted to participate. Misty Garcia, 17, a Venice High School student, said: 'I felt like this race in particular was so interesting because it was going to be mostly women and it's about women empowerment, so I love it.' Advertisement As Charli xcx's "360" played over the speakers, Nike trainers along with Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles and Olympic hurdler Anna Cockrell, hyped up the crowd as each corral took off. This was the point when my nerves started to kick in because I was eager to get started. About 7:05 p.m., a burst of smoke popped. I was finally off and running. Host Elisa Hernandez, from left, Diljeet Taylor, Anna Cockrell and Jordan Chiles at the Nike After Dark Tour in L.A. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) Miles 1-7: The excitement of activations, DJs and cheering fans The first seven miles were the most exhilarating for me. I felt strong and confident about my pace. And for my legs, this stretch was smooth sailing. Hundreds of people were cheering from the sidelines and holding up signs with statements like "You run better than our government," "Hot girls run half marathons" and "Hurry up so we can drink." Drivers along the freeway were honking for us. DJs played upbeat house and hip-hop music. USC's band performed. Between the six- and seven-mile marker, we ran through a tunnel that was filled with flashing red lights and bubble machines. The energy was electric. Supporters cheer and hold signs as runners embark on the Nike After Dark half marathon in L.A. Several brands including Flamingo, Honey Stinger (which gave out free energy gels and snacks) and Beats by Dre had activations along the course. There was even a recovery station with couches, restroom trailers and snacks. Advertisement Read more: I walked 27.4 miles across L.A. in one day on Washington Boulevard. Here's what it taught me Miles 8-10: The pain sets in Just before Mile 8, my headphones died and that's when the hills started to get to me. I felt like I was running up and down a sharp roller coaster. Without music, I was forced to talk myself through the final stretch. But it was in these trenches that I noticed several sweet moments of community care: a volunteer passing out Bengay cream, a group of friends holding up a woman as she limped, runners shouting out their home countries and waving their flags in the wake of the ICE raids that were happening in our city at this very moment. It was a beautiful reminder of how much better we are as people when we support one another. Supporters record and cheer as runners embark on the Nike women's half-marathon at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) Around Mile 10, I spotted Chris Bennett, Nike's running global head coach, giving out high-fives and encouraging people to push forward. (He even ran with the last bunch of runners and helped them across the finish line.) (Clockwise from the top left) 1. Taylor Contarino waits in her assigned corral before the Nike After Dark half-marathon. 2. People gather in their assigned corrals. 3. Cassandra Grossman ties her shoes in her assigned corral before the Nike After Dark half-marathon. 4. Runners start the Nike After Dark half-marathon at SoFi Stadium. 5. A large group of runners move through the first turn for the Nike After Dark half-marathon. The final mile — or was it? As I neared the end, I felt bamboozled because there were at least two massive archways that looked like the finish line, but actually weren't. I still had a ways to go. I could've cried tears of joy when I finally reached the end. I clocked in at three hours and three minutes, which I was pleased with because my only goals were to finish, have fun and make it to the concert. The winner was Sofia Camacho, a drag artist and Nike run coach based in New York, who clocked in at one hour, 15 minutes and 25 seconds. Hundreds of supporters line the course as runners embark on the Nike After Dark Tour in Los Angeles. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) After grabbing my medal, I walked as fast as my sore limbs would allow back inside the stadium. The trek felt tortuous because we had to climb up multiple sets of stairs, then journey down a walkway that was roughly 10 levels that felt never-ending until we reached the bottom where the stage was. Some people gave up on watching the show simply because they didn't have the energy to make it down. The grand finale: Doechii brings the energy By the time I got there, I was disappointed to see that Doechii was already on her final two songs of her 30-minute set, but the energy was so high that I quickly forgot and just enjoyed the moment while I could. The show ended just before 10:40 p.m. while some folks were still running including one of my friends who missed the show and wasn't able to get a pair of Barbie pink Nike slides and socks they were passing out. The night ends and yet the trek continues After the show, we were instructed to exit the stadium — thankfully there was an escalator — but I still had to muster up the energy to go back to the entrance at the other side of the stadium so I could retrieve my belongings from the bag check area. My legs were finished by the time I got to my car. Advertisement Aside from some logistical issues and long wait times, I enjoyed participating in the Nike After Dark Tour. The course was challenging but doable, and running alongside thousands of women and allies of various ages and backgrounds at night felt empowering. Runners received a ton of freebies, particularly at the bib pickup at the Grove, which included a dri-fit T-shirt and makeup from Milk. As someone who typically avoids cardio in my workout sessions, this race has inspired me to continue hitting the pavement and exploring this beautiful city on foot. And who knows, I just might sign up for another race. Runners take off for the women's half-marathon, which started at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times) Sign up for The Wild newsletter to get weekly insider tips on the best of our beaches, trails, parks, deserts, forests and mountains. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
