Latest news with #Westlake
Los Angeles Times
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Marina softball beats Westlake to win first CIF title in 30 years
IRVINE — Mia Valbuena had offered up nothing short of sheer dominance in the circle during the postseason for the Marina softball team. So it wasn't going to take much offensively for the Vikings to feel good about their chances in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship game. The production came early, and then it came often. Avi Valbuena and Eva Mazzotti each drove in four runs, as Marina beat Westlake 8-1 on Friday at Deanna Manning Stadium to deliver the program's first section title in 30 years. The Vikings had taken the lead before Mia Valbuena, the Michigan-committed right-hander, had thrown her first pitch. It was her twin sister whose two-out, bases-loaded double scored two runs in the top of the first. Shelly Luth, who co-coaches the Vikings with Dan Hay, called striking first in the contest 'huge.' First baseman Ava Kim had an infield single, Mia Valbuena also singled and center fielder Rachel Ruiz walked before Avi Valbuena, the designated player, laced the ball inside the left-field line. 'It just sets the pace for [Mia Valbuena],' Luth said. 'She's such a fierce competitor, and that's just insurance for her to go out there. Mia tends to think that she has to do it all on her own, and she knows it's not true, but you know, that's the funny thing about pitchers. You know, they wear it, and so we've been working really hard. … 'We have a mental coach for all of them that we brought in. She's been amazing for all of them to reset. One pitch. Don't make it bigger. Be present. Be in the now.' Avi Valbuena said her sister gave her 'a really hard high-five' after the first-inning hit. She added a single to drive in two runs in the third inning. When she returned to the dugout, she said she received 'an even harder high-five.' Marina (19-13) won its sixth CIF championship overall and first since 1995, when the Vikings completed a set of back-to-back Division I titles against Foothill and Mater Dei. Luth was the Vikings' bench boss then, too. 'I've been to the championship game once with Canyon,' Hay said. 'We fell short. [I have] been to the semifinals five or six times. This is my first championship, and I couldn't have written the script any better than doing it with Shelly. 'We came back out of retirement together and thought we'd be here two or three years, and this is our eighth season with Marina. Coaches strive to have their teams peak at the right time, especially at the end of the year in playoffs, and this team started to peak the minute playoffs began.' Mia Valbuena's postseason numbers epitomized that peak performance. She allowed a total of two runs across five games in bracket play, racking up 56 strikeouts over 33 innings pitched. The junior ace struck out 13 batters in the championship game. When the final out was recorded, the Marina bench emptied out onto the field. In short order, Mia Valbuena was crowned with a Viking helmet. 'That was me,' Avi Valbuena said. 'I brought it out and put it on my sister.' Pride was on the mind of Mia Valbuena when asked her thoughts on ending the extended section title drought for Marina. 'Our entire school is really proud,' she said. 'It's really amazing to have this feeling right now.' Avi Valbuena and Mazzotti (two doubles), the Vikings' sophomore shortstop, each had three hits. Catcher Gabby DiBenedetto had two hits and a run scored. Left fielder Halle Piramo scored two runs, and Ruiz reached base safely three times and scored twice. Marina will not compete in the CIF State Southern California regional playoffs, Hay said. Westlake (19-14) broke up the shutout in the sixth inning on a double by first baseman Lily Barrett. After the Vikings completed their postgame engagements, their fans wrapped them in hugs as they ascended the stairs out of the stadium down the right-field line. 'It was crazy to see a crowd like that for us,' Mazzotti said. 'I'm only 15. I haven't seen a crowd like that anywhere. It was amazing. Being able to see our team come together from the beginning of the season and producing this on the field, it was awesome.'
CBS News
25-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Nine water safety tips to keep kids safe in the pool this summer
You may be planning a dip in the pool or lake this Memorial Day weekend. Aquatic experts encourage you to take steps to make sure everyone is safe before going into the water. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages one to four, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Carly Drohan is the aquatics leader at Life Time Westlake. She urges people to take precautions before having fun in the water. "Make sure you're being attentive, and make sure we're keeping our eye on our children at all times and not in our phones," Drohan said. Drohan encourages parents to practice the 25-10 rule. The 25-10 rule "If your child cannot swim 25 meters, you should keep an adult that can swim confidently within about 10 feet of them at all times in case something were to happen," Drohan said. Make sure you have tools nearby in case someone starts struggling in the water. "Make sure that you're going to utilize the Shepherd's hook or the ring buoy that's going to be near any body of water that you're going to be playing in," Drohan said. Another tip is to use a mesh or foam life vest for your child instead of an inflatable one. "Inflatables could potentially pop and then create even more of a hazard if your child is going to be left with one arm in the water and such like that," Drohan said. Stay hydrated Drink enough water, particularly with electrolytes, and get your kids in swim lessons as soon as possible. "You can get your kiddos in swim lessons as young as three months old to at least get that water acclimation and safety skills built up so that by the time that they start to get a little older and more excited to explore the pool themselves, they're a bit more comfortable," Drohan said. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. "Always reapply when you're getting out of the water and making sure that after you're in the sun, using that aloe lotion and rehydrating the skin after you get out of the water as well," Drohan said. Wear bright or neon swimsuits since they're easier to spot in the water. Finally, get CPR certified in case you need to save a life in an emergency.
CBS News
21-05-2025
- CBS News
Westlake apartment building evacuated after possible gas-related explosion
A Westlake apartment building was evacuated Wednesday afternoon after a possible gas-related explosion left a man significantly injured, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Authorities said around 2:19 p.m. smoke was coming from the attic vents of the two-story building in the area of W. Fourth Street and S. Bixel Street after a possible gas-related explosion occurred. According to an LAFD representative, a wall in a second-floor unit suffered structural damage, and there is a possible shifting of the roof over that unit. All tenants in the building were evacuated as a Building and Safety inspector evaluates the structure.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Canfield rolls to 4th straight district championship
CANFIELD, Ohio (WKBN) – Canfield softball defeated Westlake 9-1 in the Division III District Semifinals in the 2025 OHSAA Softball State Championships at Canfield High School Tuesday afternoon. Watch above for extended highlights and interviews! Cardinals were led by senior Sydney Lutz, who drove in three runs off a single and a double. Canfield's Jenna Havrilla also had two hits with a single and a triple. Marina Koenig and Alexis Johnson posted two hits each as well. Cardinal's pitcher Camryn Hrina recorded the win and gave up one run in five innings. Caylee Ortiz ended the game as she struck out four batters in the final two innings. Canfield plays next in the District Championship against Aurora on Thursday, May 22, at an undisclosed time and location. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
West Australian
12-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Wheatbelt's Trey Westlake and Nathan Wayne to highlight rural issues at 30th Y WA's Youth Parliament program
Two budding politicians from the Wheatbelt will take their fight to Parliament, joining regional youth from across Western Australia for the 30th Y WA's Youth Parliament program. Newdegate's Trey Westlake and Bruce Rock's Nathan Wayne are two of the 59 parliamentarians aged between 15 and 25-years-old selected to partake in the four-month leadership program. They will take part in three training days ahead of the July 6-11 residential camp, which will take them to State Parliament where they will debate bills before presenting them to the Governor, Premier, and Leader of the Opposition. As the Youth Member for Roe for the second consecutive year, Mr Westlake continues to prioritise regional issues, focusing on the agriculture, food and fisheries, and regional and State development government portfolios. The 16-year-old said his goal was 'to begin change and bring attention' to regional people. 'I originally joined Youth Parliament to gain real-world experience in politics,' Mr Westlake said. 'After participating last year, I came to realise it's more than just an experience it's a genuine opportunity to represent and advocate for my regional people with the audience being real members of parliament. 'While I may not be able to push bills through Parliament myself as I'm not a member, I can raise awareness and give regional youth a stronger voice in Parliament. 'I want to put regional issues on the map and hold decisionmakers to account.' Debating the live export ban in Parliament last year, Mr Westlake highlighted education, phone reception, power reliability, healthcare and roads as other important regional issues. As a high school student at Aquinas College, Mr Westlake said it was important to involve young people in politics because their challenges were 'unique' and 'often misunderstood or entirely overlooked' 'It's crucial that we have a seat at the table to highlight these issues and help shape the future that we'll inherit,' he said. 'We have ideas, experiences, and perspectives that are just as valid and valuable as anyone else's. 'That's why we deserve a voice.' For their first time in the program, Mr Wayne is the youth member for the Central Wheatbelt focusing on protection and sustainability in rural communities against climate change and shifting the negative dialogue between primary consumers and environmentalists. 'Research suggests rural communities and economics will be more negatively impacted by climate change than the metropolitan area,' the 24-year-old said. 'Primary producers and environmentalists actually have a lot in common than social commentary or the media tend to suggest. 'We have so much to gain by working together.' Part of the LGBTQI+ community, Mr Wayne also hopes to give the 'under represented' group in rural areas a platform.
