Latest news with #ValleyMissionLeague
Los Angeles Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Canon King and Venice High look to earn a trip to Dodger Stadium
There was pure joy as Canon King ran toward his Venice High teammates standing outside the dugout after touching home plate to complete a home run. He launched a group chest bump with Dylan Johnson, who went tumbling through the dirt like a kid playing in a sandbox. 'This feels great,' King said later. 'We've worked so hard for four years.' Venice (27-2) is tantalizingly close to earning a trip to Dodger Stadium to play for the City Section Open Division baseball championship. The Gondoliers play Sylmar at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Cal State Northridge in the semifinals. The other matchup as part of a doubleheader has El Camino Real facing Birmingham at 3 p.m. In many ways, these two games impose far more pressure on players than reaching the championship game, because each player so badly wants to make it to Dodger Stadium to fulfill dreams of a lifetime. 'It's magical,' King said. To see King's smile and excitement last week after hitting his sixth home run in a 4-1 playoff win over Chatsworth offered a hint of his value and importance to a surging Gondoliers team. He's a three-time Western League MVP. He's committed to Cal State San Marcos, has gotten all A's for four years on his report card except for one B in chemistry freshman year and one B in AP Spanish. He's a born leader and 'loves' being named Canon by his father, a high school teacher and former amateur rapper whose best friend had Canon as his last name. 'The energy is infectious,' he said of the team's success. 'It's all coming together. Our team chemistry has been high. Our practices have been so productive.' Coach Kevin Brockway has 16 seniors on the roster. The Gondoliers haven't won an upper division championship since 1972 and are trying to follow the same improbable path as last year's champion, Bell, which hadn't been to a final since 1953. Venice was given the No. 1 seed even though El Camino Real and Birmingham came from the stronger West Valley League. But the Gondoliers went 18-0 in the Western League and have the defensive prowess to do well, with a solid catcher in Charlie Nisbet, a dependable shortstop in Daniel Quiroz and King in center field. Sylmar, the Valley Mission League champion, went to Dodger Stadium jtwo years ago for the Division I championship game. Pitcher Alex Martinez remembers starting at third base as a freshman. 'It's crazy,' he said of the atmosphere. 'Overwhelming for sure. It looks different, even when the ball is up in the air. It blends in.' He threw a shutout last week in Sylmar's Open Division win over Cleveland. Coach Ray Rivera has come to rely on him as a pitcher and hitter. 'He trusts me with the ball and in special situations,' Martinez said. He thinks the Spartans are coming into Tuesday's game feeling good about themselves. 'This team is special this year,' he said. 'This team can beat anyone if we play our game.' Venice knows the challenge ahead, first having to get past Sylmar, then one of the two West Valley League powers, El Camino Real or Birmingham. Whatever happens, King is ready, though he's thankful the games are 6 p.m. on Tuesday and 1 p.m. on Saturday. The Gondoliers don't do well with morning games. 'We're notorious for Saturday morning games,' he said. He'll get everyone to go to bed early the night before. None of them will sleep well anyway thinking of the possibilities. 'Surreal,' is how King put it if the Gondoliers can make it to Dodger Stadium on Saturday.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Prep baseball roundup: Corona hits eight home runs in 23-3 victory
Prep baseball roundup: Corona hits eight home runs in 23-3 victory After being shut out last week and losing its No. 1 ranking, Corona baseball responded Monday by hitting eight home runs in a 23-3 Big VIII League win over Corona Centennial. Anthony Murphy hit three home runs and finished with four hits and six RBIs. Gavin Flores hit two home runs and had seven RBIs. Seth Hernandez, Ethin Bingaman and Jesiah Andrade also hit home runs. Corona had 24 hits against eight Centennial pitchers. Advertisement Corona is 20-2 and 9-1 in league. La Mirada 2, Bellflower 1: Kevin Jeon went three for three for La Mirada. Sylmar 11, Verdugo Hills 0: Alex Martinez threw a five-inning no-hitter. Rickee Luevano hit a three-run home run. Kennedy 6, San Fernando 5: The Golden Cougars won the Valley Mission League game despite three hits from Ramon Amezcua. Bell 3, Roosevelt 0: Adolfo Esquivel threw a three-hitter with six strikeouts. Laguna Beach 3, Laguna Hills 2: Thomas Gonzales struck out 11 in six innings for Laguna Beach. San Clemente 3, Mission Viejo 0: The Tritons won their seventh consecutive game. Mike Erspamer struck out 12 and gave up three hits in 6 2/3 innings. Advertisement St. Francis 1, Cathedral 0: Noah Aguilar-Tanphanich struck out seven in five scoreless innings for St. Francis. Summit 10, Grand Terrace 0: Kody Smathers threw five scoreless innings and Isaac Castanon had three RBIs during Summit's 16th consecutive victory. Los Osos 2, Upland 1: Reagan Samples struck out five in five innings for Los Osos. Damien 7, Chino Hills 3: Elius Kelly and Bobby Logue hit home runs for Damien. Etiwanda 8, Rancho Cucamonga 2: Jack Holquin and Noah Frias pitched the Eagles to a Baseline League upset. Vista Murrieta 10, Murrieta Valley 0: Vaughn Neckar struck out eight and threw a no-hitter. 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.
Los Angeles Times
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Prep baseball roundup: Corona hits eight home runs in 23-3 victory
After being shut out last week and losing its No. 1 ranking, Corona baseball responded Monday by hitting eight home runs in a 23-3 Big VIII League win over Corona Centennial. Anthony Murphy hit three home runs and finished with four hits and six RBIs. Gavin Flores hit two home runs and had seven RBIs. Seth Hernandez, Ethin Bingaman and Jesiah Andrade also hit home runs. Corona had 24 hits against eight Centennial pitchers. Corona is 20-2 and 9-1 in league. La Mirada 2, Bellflower 1: Kevin Jeon went three for three for La Mirada. Sylmar 11, Verdugo Hills 0: Alex Martinez threw a five-inning no-hitter. Rickee Luevano hit a three-run home run. Kennedy 6, San Fernando 5: The Golden Cougars won the Valley Mission League game despite three hits from Ramon Amezcua. Bell 3, Roosevelt 0: Adolfo Esquivel threw a three-hitter with six strikeouts. Laguna Beach 3, Laguna Hills 2: Thomas Gonzales struck out 11 in six innings for Laguna Beach. San Clemente 3, Mission Viejo 0: The Tritons won their seventh consecutive game. Mike Erspamer struck out 12 and gave up three hits in 6 2/3 innings. St. Francis 1, Cathedral 0: Noah Aguilar-Tanphanich struck out seven in five scoreless innings for St. Francis. Summit 10, Grand Terrace 0: Kody Smathers threw five scoreless innings and Isaac Castanon had three RBIs during Summit's 16th consecutive victory. Los Osos 2, Upland 1: Reagan Samples struck out five in five innings for Los Osos. Damien 7, Chino Hills 3: Elius Kelly and Bobby Logue hit home runs for Damien. Etiwanda 8, Rancho Cucamonga 2: Jack Holquin and Noah Frias pitched the Eagles to a Baseline League upset. Vista Murrieta 10, Murrieta Valley 0: Vaughn Neckar struck out eight and threw a no-hitter.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Prep baseball roundup: Norco gets 17 hits in win over Corona Centennial
Prep baseball roundup: Norco gets 17 hits in win over Corona Centennial Sophomore Dylan Steward (left) and freshman Jordan Ayala had big games on Monday for Norco. (Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times) Norco collected 17 hits and hit two home runs to win the first game of a three-game Big VIII League series against Corona Centennial 15-3 on Monday. Kevin Leon hit a three-run home run and finished with seven RBIs. Daniel Luther hit a three-run home run. Freshman Jordan Ayala had three hits and three RBIs. Sophomore Dylan Seward scored four runs. Advertisement Sun Valley Poly 10, Kennedy 3: Brenis Mayorga finished with three hits and five RBIs for Poly, which is 7-0 in the Valley Mission League. Sylmar 10, San Fernando 0: Mike Andrade had three RBIs and Luis Mendoza threw a five-inning shutout for Sylmar in a Valley Mission League game. Garfield 4, Legacy 2: Victor Alvarez struck out nine for Garfield. Bell 4, South Gate 0: Manuel Pasillas struck out eight in five innings and Jayden Rojas had two hits for Bell. Long Beach Millikan 4, Trabuco Hills 0: Adrian Ramirez had three hits and Thomas Ramsey struck out 10 in a complete game for Millikan. Damien 6, Etiwanda 3: Brady Bickham had the key hit during a four-run sixth inning for Damien. Advertisement Temecula Valley 10, Vista Murrieta 2: Chase Hilt threw a complete game in a Southwestern League opener. He also had three hits. 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.
Los Angeles Times
08-04-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Prep baseball roundup: Norco gets 18 hits in win over Corona Centennial
Norco collected 17 hits and hit two home runs to win the first game of a three-game Big VIII League series against Corona Centennial 15-3 on Monday. Kevin Leon hit a three-run home run and finished with seven RBIs. Daniel Luther hit a three-run home run. Freshman Jordan Ayala had three hits and three RBIs. Sophomore Dylan Seward scored four runs. Sun Valley Poly 10, Kennedy 3: Brenis Mayorga finished with three hits and five RBIs for Poly, which is 7-0 in the Valley Mission League. Sylmar 10, San Fernando 0: Mike Andrade had three RBIs and Luis Mendoza threw a five-inning shutout for Sylmar in a Valley Mission League game. Garfield 4, Legacy 2: Victor Alvarez struck out nine for Garfield. Bell 4, South Gate 0: Manuel Pasillas struck out eight in five innings and Jayden Rojas had two hits for Bell. Long Beach Millikan 4, Trabuco Hills 0: Adrian Ramirez had three hits and Thomas Ramsey struck out 10 in a complete game for Millikan. Damien 6, Etiwanda 3: Brady Bickham had the key hit during a four-run sixth inning for Damien. Temecula Valley 10, Vista Murrieta 2: Chase Hilt threw a complete game in a Southwestern League opener. He also had three hits.
