Hello, and welcome to a different version of Prep Rally. My identify is EricSondheimer. This can be a huge week for giant video games and large occasions for a number of highschool sports activities.
Arcadia Invitational takes middle stage
Among the finest observe and discipline meets within the nation will happen Saturday evening at Arcadia Excessive. It’s the Arcadia Invitational, the place the boys’ 100 meters is so loaded with high runners that the day meet was restricted to athletes who had occasions of 10.76 or sooner.
Seeing USC-bound Max Thomas go in opposition to Gardena Serra junior Rodrick Nice is definitely worth the worth of admission ($22) within the 100 and 200. However that’s only a teaser to an evening that would produce plenty of data. The 400, 800 and three,200 will likely be memorable. The hurdle races will characteristic UCLA-bound Jadyn Marshall, coming in from Stockton St. Mary’s.
Newbury Park’s distance stars will likely be represented.
For ladies, Mira Costa’s Dalia Frias, the Gatorade state cross-country runner of the 12 months, will do battle with freshman Sadie Engelhardt of Ventura and Sam McDonnell of Newbury Park. Soccer star Alyssa Thompson of Harvard-Westlake will exhibit her velocity going in opposition to Jordan Washington of Gardena Serra within the sprints.
However it’s not simply observe and discipline this week.
In baseball, No. 1 Orange Lutheran and No. 2 Yucaipa are touring to Cary, N.C., to compete within the Nationwide Excessive Faculty Baseball Invitational that begins Wednesday. Additionally competing is Huntington Seashore and Servite.
Within the Metropolis Part, the preseason No. 1 and No. 2 groups, Granada Hills and Birmingham, are set for a two-game West Valley League collection Tuesday evening at Birmingham and Thursday afternoon at Granada Hills.
Corona and Norco will play three video games in an enormous Huge VIII League collection starting Monday.
Seth Johnson is flexible
Seth Johnson wasn’t purported to do something particular.
Two days earlier, the San Bernardino Cajon Excessive observe and discipline sensation had received the highschool boys’ pentathlon on the Nike Indoor Nationals in New York. So for this March 15 twin meet in opposition to Beaumont, head coach Tracy Jackson satisfied Johnson to relaxation. Simply compete in a single occasion, the excessive leap, as an alternative of his ordinary 4. Simply notch an honest rating and chill out.
Certain, Johnson was listening. However he simply felt good.
Taking photographs on the facet, his mom, Mia, instructed Jackson that her son was gearing as much as hit a private file. Earlier than the coach knew it, his protégé was bending his backbone like a slinky over a bar six-feet, nine-inches excessive. With the smack of his again in opposition to the pad, Johnson was abruptly the state chief within the excessive leap.
A have a look at one of many state’s most versatile observe and discipline performers.
The Gabriela Jaquez story
For individuals who really feel disillusioned a couple of lack of school scholarship provides, Gabriela Jaquez of Camarillo Excessive is the proper position mannequin for what can occur within the offseason when a participant works laborious and continues to develop her abilities.
Nowadays, when eighth-graders are receiving scholarship provides, Jaquez didn’t obtain a ladies’s basketball scholarship supply from her dream college, UCLA, till July 16, 2021. That's thought-about very late within the basketball recruiting course of and a exceptional achievement on her half.
“It’s an awesome story of the right way to maintain on to your goals,” UCLA coach Cori Shut stated. “She had one Pac-12 supply going into her final summer season and simply labored and labored.”
Right here’s her story.
Baseball
There ought to be a big crowd for a uncommon Metropolis Part showdown beneath the lights on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Birmingham. The Patriots are taking up Granada Hills for West Valley League supremacy. It’s nice that Granada Hills coach Matt Matuszak agreed to play the sport beneath the lights as a result of others have declined and it'll enable gamers and followers from throughout the world to see the sport.
Sierra Canyon continues unbeaten at 18-0 and isn’t more likely to be challenged till enjoying within the Boras Traditional April 20.
Right here’s the hyperlink to this week’s high 25 rankings.
Sherman Oaks Notre Dame has the possibility to clinch not less than a share of the Mission League championship if it sweeps Loyola this week. The Knights are tied with Harvard-Westlake, which is able to nonetheless have six league video games. Notre Dame finishes its league season, then could have simply 5 video games remaining — the Boras Traditional and a nonleague recreation.
“It’s bizarre,” Notre Dame coach Tom Dill stated.
Throughout its journey to Alabama final week, Harvard-Westlake misplaced the reigning Mission League MVP, Touissaint Bythewood, to a wrist damage diving for a ball.
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Baseball protest
Birmingham baseball coach Matt Mowry filed a protest within the backside of the third inning final week in opposition to Chatsworth when the umpire didn't declare a batter out for utilizing an unlawful bat. Birmingham ended up shedding 3-0.
A Metropolis Part committee will hear the protest on Tuesday and decide. It appears to be like just like the Patriots have likelihood of prevailing as a result of the umpire didn't correctly implement the rule. Mowry adopted the process of protesting instantly. If the protest is upheld, the sport could be replayed from the time of the protest with one out within the third and Chatsworth forward 1-0.
Jarrod Hocking steps up
Jarrod Hocking’s arms are linebacker thick despite the fact that he hasn’t performed soccer since his freshman 12 months.
“At Servite, we undoubtedly get after it within the weight room,” the 5-foot-9, 180-pound senior middle fielder stated.
Confirmed Servite baseball coach Shawn Gilbert: “He likes the load room.”
With these highly effective arms, fast toes and uncanny hand-eye coordination, Hocking has found that baseball suits him completely. He entered this week batting .437 with 17 hits, 9 RBIs and 6 extra-base hits because the leadoff hitter by means of 11 video games.
He comes from a household the place sports activities are worshipped and appreciated twelve months a 12 months. His father, Denny, was a significant leaguer for 13 years. His mom, Venetta, performed basketball at Cypress Faculty. His twin sisters, Penelope and Iliana, have been soccer gamers at USC and Arizona, respectively, and set the stage for his or her youthful brother to comply with with ardour and dedication.
Right here’s a profile of Hocking.
Linemen making influence
Allegiance Athletics primarily based in Orange County held a one-day camp for highschool linemen in Orange County, and one of many administrators, Chris Ward, supplied ideas on among the high linemen he noticed.
MVP on offense was Kahlee Tafai of Leuzinger, a 6-foot-6, 305-pound class of 2023 participant. Different blockers that have been spectacular embrace Luke Baklenko of Oaks Christian, Sean Na’a of St. John Bosco and Sean Haney of St. John Bosco.
On protection, Michael Hughes, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound junior from Santa Ana, was among the best gamers, together with class of 2025 lineman Jireh Moe from Orange Lutheran and 2024 lineman TJ Ford from Chaminade.
Figuring out and creating linemen is without doubt one of the hardest duties for school recruiters. It’s not all the time about dimension, with the main focus additionally on power, method and dedication.
Zach retains getting higher
Former Oaks Christian working again Zach Charbonnet determined to return for one more season at UCLA and he’s not resting on his laurels. He regarded larger, stronger and sooner final week throughout spring follow.
Right here’s what he stated throughout an interview on Saturday.
Hunter Greene debut
Hunter Greene, a Sherman Oaks Notre Dame grad who was taken No. 2 total by the Cincinnati Reds within the 2017 newbie draft, is about to make his main league debut on Sunday in a begin in opposition to the Atlanta Braves.
Greene’s fastball has reached 100 mph. He has come again from Tommy John surgical procedure. He’s thought-about among the many high prospects within the Reds’ group.
Softball
Anaheim Canyon received the Michelle Carew event with a 2-1 win over Orange Lutheran within the championship. The stress was on all week for a event that introduced collectively the highest groups in California, and nobody was higher than Arizona State-bound pitcher Kylee Magee of Canyon.
Magee struck out 17 within the closing to forestall Orange Lutheran from celebrating its breakthrough week that noticed the Lancers knock off No. 1 Villa Park and likewise defeat Norco. Pitcher Brianne Weiss continues to excel for Orange Lutheran. She struck out 13 in opposition to Canyon.
Mya Perez of Norco is having fairly a junior season. She has hit 10 house runs and can be contributing as a pitcher.
Birmingham already has nicest softball discipline within the Metropolis Part and it'll get higher subsequent season as a result of the Patriots will likely be getting lights.
The Patriots additionally pulled off an upset, knocking off Granada Hills 2-1 in eight innings.
Lacrosse
Mater Dei continues to appear like the crew to beat in boys’ lacrosse.
Within the Monarchs’ newest huge win over a high quality opponent, they defeated Corona del Mar 14-8.
Evan Curry and Nate Chu every scored three targets.
Notes . . .
Constitution Oak has employed Marcus Bryan to be its boys’ basketball coach. . . .
Cleveland has employed Dagem Asfaw to be its boys’ basketball coach. He’s a Cleveland grad who was an assistant at Cal Lutheran. . . .
Probability Stephens from Riverside Poly has dedicated to Loyola Marymount basketball. . . .
After 25 years as an assistant women’ basketball coach at Rosary, Matt Raya has been employed as head coach at El Dorado. . . .
Standout level guard Cruz Billings from Foothill has dedicated to Chapman College. . . .
Sherman Oaks Notre Dame baseball coach Tom Dill earned victory No. 500 in his teaching profession. . . .
San Pedro has employed assistant Corey Walsh to be the varsity’s new soccer coach. He's the son of former Pirates coach Mike Walsh. . . .
Notre Dame has employed former LPGA skilled Bari Brandwynne to be the ladies’s golf coach. . . .
From the archives: Carter Graham
Sophomore infielder Carter Graham is off an awesome begin in his sophomore baseball season at Stanford.
He leads the Cardinal in hitting with a .382 common, together with six house runs.
Throughout his days at Chaminade, he was a high hitter and high pupil.
Right here’s a profile from 2020 on Grahada and his girlfriend coping with the COVID-19 shutdown.
The meals taster
Let’s begin a brand new characteristic — highlighting excessive colleges that provide fairly good meals selections for followers attending their sporting occasions.
First up is Notre Dame, which has an awesome snack bar for its evening baseball video games. On Lent, when Catholics aren't purported to eat meat, Shrimp Jambalaya was on the menu and what a tasty meal it was for $6. Rice, shrimp, scrumptious soup.
That is going to be enjoyable tasting colleges’ greatest dishes. You’re welcome to welcome the meals taster to drop by.
Suggestions
From Boston.com, a narrative on when highschool sports activities ends, it’s robust on dad and mom, too.
From SI.com, a narrative on Amari Bailey of Sierra Canyon.
From Detroitnews.com, a narrative on former El Camino Actual baseball participant Ryan Lavarnway explaining whether or not his Ivy League training was wasted after enjoying 15 years of baseball.
From OCRegister.com, a narrative on Mater Dei volleyball being the highest challenger to Loyola.
From the Los Angeles Instances, a narrative on a person who makes hoop goals come true to play abroad.
Tweets you may need missed
Till subsequent time...
Have a query, remark or one thing you’d wish to see in a future Prep Rally e-newsletter? E-mail me at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com, and comply with me on Twitter at @latsondheimer.
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