Rain, lightning disrupt opening games of regional playoffs
There was rain, lightning and some comedic reactions for the strange June weather Tuesday that disrupted the opening day of the Southern California regional baseball and softball playoffs.
'Is it raining in June?' asked a stunned El Camino Real baseball player as a downpour fell in Woodland Hills before a Division 2 game against Point Loma. Two fans used artificial turf to shield their heads during a drizzle.
The Division 1 baseball game between Patrick Henry and host Santa Margarita was halted in the fourth inning with Patrick Henry leading 2-0 because of lightning. It will resume Wednesday. The Division 1 softball game between Poway and Ayala was postponed because of rain.
Most games eventually were played and finished.
Point Loma 6, El Camino Real 4: Trailing 6-1 going into the bottom of the seventh inning, the City Section Open Division champions gave Point Loma a scare, scoring three runs and having the bases loaded with two out until Hunter Weller ended the game with a strikeout in a Division 2 opener. Point Loma is the Division I champion from the San Diego Section.
Druw Frost had three hits. A three-run seventh aided by an El Camino Real error helped the Pointers. Phoenix Brant struck out five in 6 1/3 innings. RJ De La Rosa, JJ Saffie and Gavin Farley had RBI singles in the seventh for El Camino Real.
St. John Bosco 2, St. Augustine 1: Jack Champlin picked up the save after strong pitching from Griffin Tagliaferri and Brayden Krakowski. Moise Razo gave the Braves the lead in the third with an RBI double. St. John Bosco will host Villa Park on Thursday in the Division I semifinals.
Villa Park 5, Granite Hills 4: It took nine innings for Villa Park to prevail on the road. Nate Lewis had four hits and three RBIs, including the tie-breaker in the top of the ninth.
Crespi 4, Mater Dei 3: Mikey Martinez hit a three-run home run and Jackson Eisenhauer threw two hits of shutout relief with four strikeouts. Crespi will play the the winner of Santa Margarita-Patrick Henry on Thursday.
University City 5, Birmingham 2: The Patriots gave up four runs in the seventh to fall in a Division III opener. University City will play Dos Pueblos, a 10-2 winner over St. Anthony
Venice 5, Trinity Classical 2: Canon King had a double and triple and Daniel Quiroz added two hits and two RBIs for Venice. Venice will play at Mt. Carmel on Thursday.
Banning 3, Lemoore 2: The Pilots won their Division IV opener. Angelo Duarte had a walk-off single in the seventh. AJ Herrera had two hits and two RBIs.
Westlake 5, Rancho Bernardo 3: The Warriors won in Division II and will host Eastlake in the semifinals. Olivia White had a home run.
Legacy 5, Elsinore 4: Isabella Medina had two doubles in the Division III win. Breann Lipoid hit two home runs for Elsinore. Legacy will play at St. Bonaventure, a 6-5 win over Southwest EC.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
USMNT's Patrick Agyemang, once an overlooked striker, is now a World Cup hopeful
Patrick Agyemang was playing Division III college soccer the last time the U.S. men's national team sent anything resembling a first-choice squad to the Concacaf Gold Cup. It was the summer of 2019, and Agyemang was about to enter his second season at tiny Eastern Connecticut State University, a 30-minute drive from his hometown of East Hartford. His goal of becoming a professional soccer player — let alone a legitimate candidate for the USMNT's 2026 World Cup squad — was a distant dream for the then-19-year-old striker. "Obviously, I had doubts," Agyemang told FOX Sports in a recent phone interview. "I've always had the utmost confidence in myself. But I wasn't sure. I'm playing D-III, and all I really knew was guys get drafted from Division I. Where I'm from, not many people make it in this game." Jump forward five years, and Agyemang is about to come full-circle. On Saturday in East Hartford, he'll likely take the field as the U.S.'s starting striker in the Americans' pre-Gold Cup friendly against Türkiye. With top forwards Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi unavailable because of injury, Agyemang figures to log big minutes in the national team's final tournament before the main event next summer. A strong showing would go a long way toward sticking around for the World Cup. And there's no reason to think Agyemang won't have one. A towering center forward at 6-foot-4, he has succeeded at every level he's played at so far. His stellar two seasons at ECSU got him a transfer to D-I school Rhode Island. In December 2022, expansion team Charlotte FC picked him 12th overall in the MLS SuperDraft. This winter, he earned a January camp invitation to the USMNT on the strength of his breakout 2024 MLS season, during which he had 10 goals. He then scored in January exhibitions against Venezuela and Costa Rica, which earned him a roster spot for the Nations League finals in March. Playing alongside first-teamers like Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie, Agyemang had the Americans' only goal in a 2-1 loss to Canada in the third-place game. Over what was a disastrous weekend for Mauricio Pochettino's team, the play of Agyemang and Diego Luna — who helped set up Agyemang's strike — was the lone silver lining. "I think the confidence in him has grown," Luna said this week of his fellow USMNT newcomer. "Just to feel like you're able to compete and play with these guys and contribute with a goal — it's a good feeling," Agyemang said. He's carried that self-belief into this camp. "You look at a forward and you can tell when they're confident; they start taking their chances a little bit better," U.S. defender Walker Zimmerman said following Tuesday's training session in Chicago. "They're more energized to make those extra runs on both sides of the ball. And that's what he's doing right now." Still, Agyemang has plenty of room to improve. Pochettino described him as "raw" in January. Privately, the Argentine has encouraged him to be cleaner on the ball, though Poch is clearly happy with his progress. He and assistant Miguel D'Agostino even went to visit with Agyemang and veteran defender Tim Ream at Charlotte's training facility this spring. "First touch, the first movement to get the separation between defenders — those are little things I'm definitely trying to learn," Agyemang said. "They want me to believe in myself, because they see potential to keep going." After almost a year together in Charlotte, Ream has gotten to know Agyemang well off the field, too. "He's got a personality," Ream said. "He's not quiet or shy, he has his opinions, but he's also a sponge. "He's trying to constantly improve and be a better player in the locker room, in video sessions, constantly asking questions," continued Ream, a veteran of the English Premier League and the 2022 World Cup, where he played every minute of the Americans' four games. "That's kind of what propels you and helps you get to that next level." Agyemang's performances for both the national team and The Crown are generating interest from European clubs. A move overseas seems inevitable at some point, before or after the World Cup. But before that comes Saturday. Agyemang's parents and two older brothers have yet to see him play for the U.S. in person. They'll get that opportunity just steps away from where Patrick's unlikely journey began. "I've always dreamed of playing in that stadium," said Agyemang, who has asked U.S. Soccer for 25 tickets to Saturday's match. "That it can potentially happen this week is surreal." The same can be said about his journey to this point. "To see where I've come from, even two years ago, to where I am today, that development is crazy," Ageymang added. "I just want to keep going." Doug McIntyre is a soccer reporter for FOX Sports who has covered United States men's and women's national teams at FIFA World Cups on five continents. Follow him @ ByDougMcIntyre . The USMNT's final 26-man roster for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup is here. With Sergiño Dest and Zack Steffen being added to a long list of key players missing out, the spotlight turns to the youth-driven squad. Alexi Lalas, David Mosse, and special guest Rob Stone break down who's in, who's out, and what it means for the U.S. heading into the tournament and leading up to the summer of 2026. recommended Get more from Gold Cup Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
Former Big Leaguer Says MLB 'Protected' Shohei Ohtani in Betting Scandal
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Four months after Ippei Mizuhara was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for stealing from Shohei Ohtani to pay for gambling losses, the saga comes to life once again. Former three-time All-Star and 2005 American League Manager of the Year Ozzie Guillen is speaking out about the situation, and he believes Ohtani was the one secretly gambling. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 05: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at bat against the New York Mets in the first inning at Dodger Stadium on June 05, 2025 in Los Angeles,... LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 05: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at bat against the New York Mets in the first inning at Dodger Stadium on June 05, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. More"Everyone knows that Shohei Ohtani took a chance (by gambling) and they (Major League Baseball) protected him," Guillen told Fernando Ballesteros of Pure Baseball in Puerto Rico. Mizuhara was sentenced to 57 months in prison for stealing from Ohtani back in February just before the season started. The Dodgers have stood by Ohtani's side as prosecutors have stated multiple times Ohtani was the victim in this situation. However, many baseball fans on social media, particularly fans of rival teams, believe what Guillen is saying to be true. There is still some belief in the baseball world that Mizuhara took one for the team to prevent Ohtani from being banned. Ohtani has since moved on from the situation as he continues to produce a strong season at the plate for the Dodgers with a slash line of .295/.389/.648. He's totaled 23 home runs and 39 RBI as the designated hitter this season. Guillen has always been known by baseball fans for speaking his mind, so this statement shouldn't come as a surprise. As of now, though, there's zero evidence to support his claim. It could be out of spite, jealousy or a combination of both. More MLB: Dodgers' Max Muncy Remains Possible DFA Candidate as Trade Deadline Looms
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Dean Cain says men shouldn't compete in women's sports; releases heartwarming film on girls' soccer team
Friday marks the nationwide release of family-friendly sports film "Little Angels", a triumphant story of a team of athletes and an unyielding coach, written, directed and produced by actor Dean Cain. "Little Angels" unfolds the story of Jake Rogers, a Division I college football coach, played by Cain, with $5 million and a take-it-or-leave-it chance for redemption on the line. A male-centric statement hurdles the lead into a reflective arc and, when writing the script, the red-card comment "soccer is for girls," was definitive, according to Cain. "It's always a joke I make," Cain told Fox News Digital. Dean Cain Says He Turned Down Being One Of The Highest-paid Actors On Tv To Raise His Son Alone "Soccer is the world's game and I make fun of soccer because I played as an American football player and that's just what we do. We make fun of soccer. We make fun of rugby." In 1988, after his collegiate football career at Princeton, Cain was signed to the Buffalo Bills as a rookie. His professional NFL career came to a halt when he injured his knee. Read On The Fox News App While the on-air declaration that soccer is for girls kicks off Rogers' journey to softening in "Little Angels", the topic of men in women's sports is not a cornerstone of the film. However, Cain is firm in his position that, after a certain age, boys and girls should not compete together. "I'm a huge, huge supporter of women's athletics," Cain told Fox News Digital. "I don't think men or boys have any business once they're past the age of 7 or 10 competing together." "When you get to those higher levels, I don't think that men should be competing with women, period, end of story," Cain said. "Many of my ex-girlfriends have been professional athletes, and I really have tremendous respect for women's sports. I think it's hugely important to have women be able to compete against women and do that." Dean Cain's New Christmas Movie Celebrates Faith: A 'Trip Back In Time To Bethlehem' The benchmark theme of "Little Angels" is purpose and perspective and reserves the plot for a heartwarming tale of teamwork and family. "There's a lot of me in that character," Cain said of Rogers. Despite public perception, Rogers cannot be defended from his offside remark about female athletes. "College football coaches get looked at sometimes like they're a deity of something, like they're a God of some kind," Cain said. Rogers is met with an ultimatum: coach a team of 12-year-old girls or lose $5 million. Films like "A League of Their Own," "The Mighty Ducks" and even the true underdog story of "Dodgeball" echo a similar sentiment and evoke childhood memories across generations. Dean Cain Says He 'Had To Get Out Of California': 'Land Of Ridiculousness' The timeless tale in each of these movies follows a team of misfits bonded together by both their love of the game and a defeated coach who finds inspiration through group aspirations. This narrative conjures wistful affection in a way that other genres outside sports dramas cannot. "Take a guy who is flawed in a situation where he doesn't want to be," Cain said. "Through human experience and being with these young ladies and other people, he teaches them teamwork and the value of team and family." The movie, starring Lou Ferrigno, Bryan Callen and Swedish actress Helena Mattson, began casting during the COVID-19 pandemic. "You hope that you get them together and they have chemistry," he said of the athletes. "They are the heart of the story." "The young actresses were phenomenal," Cain said of a cast including Alex Jayne Go and "Role Models" actress Alexandra Stamler. Cain's niece and goddaughter also star in the film as athletes. "I've been called Superman forever and that's great. I love it," Cain said. "If people call me Coach Jake after this, 'Hey Coach Jake,' that's a warm fuzzy for me. It's a big-time warm and fuzzy." Cain is working on four films this year, including a golf-centered movie that he is co-directing with his son. The world premiere of "Little Angels" was featured at the International Christian Film Festival (ICFF) in May. There, Cain was awarded with the ICFF Lifetime Achievement Award. "I've been producing for a long time and directing," Cain said. "Man, I don't feel like I'm anywhere near getting a Lifetime Achievement Award, so, I think they were just being nice to me." "Little Angels" hits theaters nationwide on Friday, June 6, article source: Dean Cain says men shouldn't compete in women's sports; releases heartwarming film on girls' soccer team
