CONGRATS TO THE CHAMPS!

Final scores from all 12 valley championship baseball and softball games:

BASEBALL:
Division I: Stockdale 6, Clovis West 2
Division II: Edison 11, San Joaquin Memorial 6*
Division III: Hanford 11, Madera South 7
Division IV: Washington Union 2, Selma 1
Division V: Liberty Madera-Ranchos 7, Corcoran 4
Division VI: Orange Cove 6, McFarland 5

*Edison’s first valley title in baseball in school history (85 years)

SOFTBALL:
Division I: Buchanan 5, Stockdale 3
Division II: Tulare Western 3, Golden West 2
Division III: Hanford West 2, Hanford 0
Division IV: Kerman 9, Kingsburg 8
Division V: Liberty Madera-Ranchos 5, Riverdale 3
Division VI: Laton 10, McFarland 9

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CLOVIS BEST

The Golden Eagles take home the Fresno Easter Baseball Classic Championship over rival Clovis East.

By Megan Poindexter
VSP Senior Writer-

A year after losing to Clovis East 9-2 in the finals or the Fresno Easter Baseball Classic, Clovis West got some redemption in holding off the T-wolves with a 4-1 victory to capture the title of the tournament, which is celebrating its’ 40th anniversary.

“Our goal was to come out and win the championship,” said Clovis West head coach Kevin Patrick.

The game started off with a slow start, as the first three innings were scoreless, until the Eagles finally got on the board in the top of the fourth. Jared Lee got things started for Clovis West with a double to right field. After the hit Clovis East starting pitcher Ryan Crew was replaced by Jeff Owen, who surrendered a double to Sean Silva that landed in left center to score Lee and put the Eagles up 1-0.

“We wanted to win this game but we came out kind of flat in the beginning,” said tournament J.D. Salles. “But Silva kept us n the game when we were behind offensively.”

Silva not only provided some timely hitting, but also pitched a complete game recording four strikeouts to earn co-pitcher of the tournament.

His only run allowed in the game came in the bottom of the fourth. Alan Awrabi started the rally for the T-wolves with a single and was followed by a double from senior Jose Perez.

With Awrabi on third and Perez on second, Brian Gadd lined out for the second out of the inning, but it was enough to bring Awrabi home and tie the game.

“Our approach at the plate wasn’t good early on,” said Patrick. “But it was our pitching and defense that kept us in the game.”

And that’s exactly what helped Clovis West, as they were unable to get any real offensive rhythm going until the top of the ninth inning where they scored their final three runs of the game.

The rally began as Jacob Alvarez drew a walk and Eric Karch singled. Both runners scored off a single by Connor Williams to extend the lead to 3-1.

The games’ final run was scored as Connor Buss flied out to allow Williams to cross home plate.

Salles was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player as the senior was productive both at the plate and on the mound, hitting two doubles and recording four RBI and six runs in five games. In his appearance against a tough Pleasant Grove team he pitched a full game with nine strikeouts.

“It’s feels good to MVP, but honestly I’m just glad we won,” said Salles. “Losing 9-2 last year kind of left a bitter taste in mouth.”

Winning the tournament is a plus for the Eagles, but now its’ back to business as next week they return to Tri-River Athletic Conference (TRAC) play to face of against Central.

However, its’ opportunities such as the Fresno Easter Classic that allow teams to develop more in giving guys that don’t normally get playing opportunities a chance to get some experience.

“The TRAC is such a grind,” said Patrick. “But we use things like the Easter Classic as a way to relax and give guys playing time.”

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GUESS WHO? T’WOLVES, EAGLES IN CLASSIC FINALE

Clovis West can thank Clovis for propelling them into the Fresno Easter Classic championship game.

By George Takata
VSP Senior Writer-

Thanks to a 4-0 performance and the Clovis Cougars, the Clovis West Golden Eagles advance to take on Clovis East in the title game of the Fresno Easter Classic. CW needed the Cougars to beat Rocklin or score at least five runs against them to advance regardless of the outcome. Clovis beat Rocklin 6-1 Wednesday night.

Thursday night’s first pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Clovis West’s Stan Bledsoe Field. A coin toss will determine who the home team will be.

Had Rocklin won, they would have played the Cougars at 1 p.m. so they could get on the road back home at a decent hour. Rocklin is about a three hour drive from Fresno.

Over the past three years, Clovis East and Clovis West have played each other in the valley championship football game, valley title basketball game twice, and now the Fresno Easter Baseball Classic.

The TRAC rivals are going in opposite directions. Clovis West sports a 4-1 league record, good for a first place tie with Buchanan. Clovis East is bringing up the rear at 0-5.

The Eagles beat the Timberwolves 8-2 March 27.

WEDNESDAY’S SCORES:

Sheldon 15, San Joaquin Memorial 12
Rocklin 10, Hoover 0
Buchanan 7, North 0
Davis 6, Sunnyside 2
Bullard 7, West 1
Central 3, McLane 2
Clovis 2, Yosemite 0
Lemoore 7, Woodside 6
Clovis East 7, Garces 0
Hanford West 5, Reedley 3
Clovis West 11, Crater 1
Madera 6, Hanford 1 (9 innings)
Edison 4, Pleasant Grove 3
Sierrra 11, Sanger 5
Frontier 4, Fresno 3
Fresno 6, Woodside 2
Buchanan 8, Bullard 3
Clovis 6, Rocklin 1
Clovis East 6, San Joaquin Memorial 0
Clovis West 4, Pleasant Grove 1

CHAMPIONSHIP
Clovis East (4-0) vs. Clovis West (4-0) tonight, 6 p.m. at Clovis West’s Stan Bledsoe Field

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OREGON TRAIL

Crater High School makes the long drive to the Fresno Easter Classic every year.

By Megan Poindexter
VSP Senior Writer-

16,550.

That’s the number of people that live in Central Point, OR.

A city engulfed and consumed by one school and one school only: Crater High School.

The Comets are the center of a city that has blossomed to find its’ own identity in its’ 120 year history, despite being constantly overshadowed by larger cities such as Medford.

However, its’ things such as the Crater High baseball team’s appearance in California that stirs up chatter and gets local fans excited about the upcoming season.

The school made its’ third straight appearance at the Fresno Easter Classic this year, and despite going 1-3 in the tournament, the team will head back to their hometown with their heads held high.

“Coming to Clovis reveals our weaknesses so we can improve and get better,” said Crater head coach Jay Campbell. “We did some things well here, but any time you get to see teams like Clovis West it’s a great opportunity.”

In Campbell’s teams’ fourth and final game of the tournament they faced of against local powerhouse Clovis West, who is looking to win the tournament for the third consecutive year. But unable to get much going offensively, they suffered an 11-1 defeat, the game ended in the bottom of the fifth inning due to the CIF 10 run mercy rule.

While losing at the tournament can be disappointing, it has been a tremendous learning experience for a team now 11-5.

According to Campbell, there are many differences in high school baseball from Oregon to California, and the Golden State is far more prestigious in terms of the level of play.

“In Oregon, we don’t see teams this good,” said Craig Kathol, who pitched for the Comets in the loss to Clovis West. “We come just trying to step up our game and level of play.”

Three years ago, Campbell had been looking for a tournament in California that would showcase some of the state’s best talent.

At the time he had a roster with 12 seniors he felt would be competitive, so he stated searching on the Internet for tournaments that excelled and came across the Fresno Easter Classic.

So, he called around and entered his team, and now they are back again.

The 2007 Comet team that was the first to come to Fresno, ended up winning the division 5A Oregon state championships.

At last years tournament the Comets’ beat San Joaquin Memorial, Edison and Roosevelt while suffering a 9-0 loss to Bullard to finish with a 3-1 record.

And, while this year the team suffered losses to Woodside, Lemoore and Clovis West, they were able to put together a win against Hoover.

There are only six seniors on the 14-member roster, and the youth has definitely played a factor this year.

“We are obviously young in spots,” said Campbell. “The seniors are all guys that we depend on though.”

Despite the disappointing record at the tournament, the Comets will take an eight hour ride back to their hometown, where fans will be just as excited about the rest of the season as they were before the team left.

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GOOD KNIGHT AGAIN; BEARS BEAT BULLARD FOR FOURTH TIME THIS SEASON

The Bears finish 2-1-1 in the Fresno Easter Baseball Classic.

By Joe Pacheco
VSP Contributing Writer-

Buchanan’s success this season against Bullard continued Wednesday afternoon in the Easter Classic as the Bears defeated the Knights 8-3 at Buchanan High School. It was the fourth time this year that the Bears have emerged victorious over the Knights when they have battled one another on the diamond.

Making his first start of the season for Buchanan was pitcher Steven Lozier, who picked up the victory after allowing three runs on five hits while striking out five in 4 2/3 innings. Lozier, who had missed the early part of the season due to academic reasons, was glad to be back with the team.

“It felt good to get back,” he said. “I felt like I did pretty good my first time out.”

Buchanan head coach Tom Donald was pleased with Lozier’s performance.

“He never stopped working hard,” he said. “We knew he was a very talented kid.”

Aside from the solid performance on the mound, Lozier was also able to help his own cause at the plate with an RBI double to right as part of a two run third inning that gave Buchanan a 3-0 lead.

A turning point in the contest took place in the top of the second inning. Trailing 1-0, Bullard’s LaBronze Sanderson led off the inning with a single to right and advanced to second a few pitches later on a wild pitch by Lozier. Buchanan catcher Matt Millar took advantage of a mental mistake by Sanderson when he picked him off of second after taking too big of a lead. The mistake proved costly, as two batters later Matt Meyer followed up a Ryan Cox walk with a single to left.

“Matt Millar does a great job behind the dish,” said Donald. “That was a huge play for him to be able to back pick the runner like that.”

The Knights made a valiant effort to get back in the game taking advantage of a couple of Buchanan mistakes. Trailing 5-0 with two out in the top of the fifth inning, Chewy Telesco started the rally, reaching first on an error by Buchanan second baseman Brett Bishop. Matt Salazar followed that up with a walk. With runners on second and third after a wild pitch by Lozier, Blake Dunn put the Knights on the board with a two run double which was followed by an RBI single by Aaron Weimer.

The three run inning was as close as the Knights would get as the Bears would add two more in the bottom half of the inning and one more in the sixth inning.

“They’ve been in all the games this year,” said Donald. “It’s that Bullard tradition. You can’t give them an inch.”

Buchanan hit two home runs in the game as Andy Mehas went deep to lead off the fourth inning and Brent Etiz began the fifth inning with a solo shot of his own.

It was the second game of the day for both teams, as each were victorious in their earlier contests with Buchanan defeating North Bakersfield 7-0 and Bullard topping West Bakersfield 7-1.

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HINKLE, FIVE RUN NINTH HELPS MADERA BEAT HANFORD IN EXTRAS

Coyotes ace Haden Hinkle strikes out seven; Bullpups out of title game contention.

By Megan Poindexter
VSP Senior Writer-

Five runs in the top of the ninth inning set Madera ahead of Hanford for good at the Fresno Easter Classic, as the Coyotes came from behind to earn a 6-1 victory and put an end to Hanford’s undefeated tournament record.

“Our goal was to knock them out because if we aren’t going to be in the championship game we don’t want anyone else to be in it either,” said Madera head coach George McWherter. “Most of the teams that are in contention to win this are from the Tri-River Athletic Conference, so it is a great tournament for us.”

Prior to the game, Hanford was just one of a handful of teams with a perfect tournament record and chance to play in the championship game, but that was ruined with the loss to Madera.

It was a close game from the beginning, as both teams got off to a slow start. But Hanford got on the board first when David Sumaya singled to left field to bring home Connor West to take a 1-0 in the third inning.

Three scoreless innings went by as Madera continued to struggle at the plate and it looked as though the Bullpups were going to hold on for the win still up by one point to start the seventh inning.

Madera had a little something up their sleeves, as Nick Caraccilo and James Brager singled to get on base. With a full count Justin Nash followed with a sacrifice fly that allowed runners to advance and bring Caraccilo home to tie the game.

“We told out kids that they needed better pitch selection,” said McWherter. “Once they started picking the right pitches we started hitting better.”

High school teams normally only play through seven innings, but as the game was still tied 1-1 after the seventh the game continued.

Neither team scored in the eighth inning and then Madera exploded, scoring five runs in the ninth to finalize a 6-1 lead.

After the first three batters, the Bullpups were in a hole with two outs. One run was scored by a base hit from Nash, which was followed by James Gray drawing the walk to load the bases. David Allen singled to record two RBI and another single by Ryan Rivera brought in two more to extend the lead to five.

Although it took Madera awhile to get things started offensively, starting pitcher Haden Hinkle had a great outing from start to finish.

“Even when Haden is having an off day he is still a really good pitcher,” said McWherter.

The senior, who has yet to receive a scholarship to play college baseball, pitched all nine innings, finishing with a pitch count of 108 and recording seven strikeouts.

“The goal was to keep my pitch count down in the game,” said Hinkle. “But it’s great to score five runs in the top of the ninth and have that comfort going into the bottom of the inning.”

The Coyotes concluded the tournament with a 3-1 record and now will turn their attention to finishing the TRAC regular season. With tough competition, Hinkle believes that the tournament has only prepared his team more for finishing the season.

“We haven’t been batting well in the TRAC,” said Hinkle. “But we got our bats swinging at the tournament.”

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SOARING AGAIN

Clovis West undefeated in Easter Classic; DeLaTorre solid on the mound for Eagles

By: Chris Alvarez
VSP Contributing Writer-

The Clovis West Golden Eagles showed up to Stan Bledsoe Field on Wednesday morning a little after 8 a.m. under cloudy skies. They didn’t know whether they would be able to play on a field that was soaked from the rain through out the previous night and with rain prior to the game. After players, coaches and the field crew worked valiantly for nearly four hours, the field was ready for play.

Offensively, both teams started slow out of the gates. Part of the reason was Clovis West starting pitcher Chris DeLaTorre pitching a solid game for the Eagles. The junior righthander, struck out four of the first seven batters he faced and the game was scoreless after two. He used solid command to work both sides of the plate and mixing his pitches keeping Crater hitters off balance all game long.

The Eagles got it going in the third, when Jake Alvarez singled through the infield and into right field. Alvarez then stole second base and J.D. Salles was hit by a pitch setting up runners at first and second. Connor Buss stepped up and hit the ball off the rightfielder’s glove, scoring Alvarez. Jared Lee followed with a sacrifice line drive to center, which scored Salles and gave Clovis West a 2-0 lead. John Koretoff followed with a 2-out single to left, scoring Buss and just like that it was a 3-0 Eagles advantage.

Crater responded in the 4th inning, when Christian Massey went deep to center field for a solo home run, bringing Crater within two runs at 3-1. But Delatorre wouldn’t let that get hit to him, as he shut down the Crater hitters for the rest of the inning.

“I had my curveball and cutter working today. It’s also a tremendous help when your defense plays well,” said DeLaTorre.

“Chris looked good today. He was hitting his spots and his curveball was working,” said CW head coach Kevin Patrick.

Clovis West again responded in the 4th inning putting up 3 runs on 4 hits. Tommy Rowan led off with a hit, followed by an Eric Karch single up the middle putting runners on the corners. Alvarez hit a sacrifice fly to center scoring pinch runner Joe Smith. Salles followed with a hit and after he stole 2nd base, it was two runners in scoring position again for the Eagles. Buss hit a sacrifice fly to center scoring Karch and Jared Lee answered that with a two out hit to left scoring Salles and giving Clovis West a 6-1 lead.

“We are swinging the bats well right now. We knew coming into the year that pitching and defense would be a strength, but it’s nice to get the good situational hitting,” Patrick said.

Clovis West got back to work in the 5th inning when Sean Silva lead off with a base hit up the middle and then stole second base. With one out, Joe Smith’s single to right scored pinch runner Karson Allen, giving the Eagles a 7-1 lead.

The Eagles put the game away in the sixth inning when six consecutive hitters reached base to end the game via mercy rule. Salles lead off the inning, followed by a Buss double, Lee hit a 2 rbi single to right giving the Eagles a 9-1 lead. Michael Gilleland singled to left, and Alex Nahigian walked loading the bases. Alex Dibble put the game away when he hit a shot to the gap in left, scoring 2 runs and ending the game with an 11-1 Eagles win.

DeLaTorre picked up the win for the Eagles scattering four hits, allowing one run and striking out seven.

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RAIN ENDS DAY TWO OF EASTER CLASSIC EARLY

Championship game moved to Thursday; Five games postponed

By George Takata
VSP Senior Writer

The Fresno Easter Baseball Classic will be extended to Thursday, courtesy of Mother Nature. Rain postponed all of Tuesday’s 7 p.m. games. Those games will all be played at 4 p.m. Wednesday, with the championship game pushed back to Thursday. A starting time for the title game will be announced after Wednesday’s action.

TUESDAY’S SCORES:

AT EULESS PARK:
Lemoore-4
North-5

Woodside-3
Crater-1

Crater-8
Lemoore-13

Fresno vs. Woodside ppd. rain

AT BUCHANAN:
Garces-0
Yosemite-8

Hanford West-3
Edison-7

Hanford West-4
Central-6

Bullard vs. Buchanan ppd. rain

AT CLOVIS HIGH:
West-1
Madera-4

McLane-0
Rocklin-10 (6 innings)

West-12
McLane-6

Rocklin vs. Clovis ppd. rain

AT CLOVIS EAST:
Hanford-16
Hoover-4

Davis-14
Hoover-3

San Joaquin Memorial vs. Clovis East ppd. rain

AT CLOVIS WEST:
Sierra-10
Frontier-8

Reedley-8
Sheldon-7

Sunnyside-3
Sanger-13

Pleasant Grove vs. Clovis West ppd. rain

WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE:

AT EULESS PARK:
Sheldon vs. San Joaquin Memorial, 10 AM
Hoover vs. Rocklin, 1 PM
Fresno vs. Woodside, 4 PM

AT BUCHANAN:
Buchanan vs. North, 10 AM
Sunnyside vs. Davis, 1 PM
Bullard vs. Buchanan, 4 PM

AT BULLARD:
Bullard vs. West, 10 AM
Central vs. McLane, 1 PM

AT CLOVIS HIGH:
Clovis vs. Yosemite, 10 AM
Woodside vs. Lemoore, 1 PM
Rocklin vs. Clovis, 4 PM

AT CLOVIS EAST:
Clovis East vs. Garces, 10 AM
Reedley vs. Hanford West, 1 PM
San Joaquin Memorial vs. Clovis East, 4 PM

AT CLOVIS WEST:
Crater vs. Clovis West, 10 AM
Madera vs. Hanford, 1 PM
Pleasant Grove vs. Clovis West, 4 PM

AT EDISON:
Pleasant Grove vs. Edison, 10 AM
Sanger vs. Sierra, 1 PM

AT FRESNO HIGH:
Frontier vs. Fresno, 10 AM

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BULLPUP HIT PARADE

Hanford hits their way to 3-0 start at Fresno Easter Baseball Classic.

By Chris Alvarez
VSP Writer-

The hits just keep coming for the Hanford High Baseball team. The Bullpups are off to a 3-0 start in the Easter Classic after a 16-4 win over Hoover Tuesday at Clovis East High School. The Bullpups pounded out 14 hits and were continually putting the pressure on Hoover throughout the game.

Hanford led off the game with a run in the first, playing fundamentally sound baseball as Dalton Silva came up clutch with a two-out double to right scoring James Patton. The big innings came in the third and fourth, when Hanford put up five in the third and added four runs in the 4th inning. In the third, Hanford ripped four consecutive hits as Preston Scott, Josh Baneulos, Dalton Silva and Erik Casida all reached base safely.

Bullpups head coach Tim Scott says his team has done a good job of buying into the hitting philosophy at practice and it has paid off in games. According to Coach Scott, the team is averaging 12-13 hits per game and there are four or five players that have a batting average over .400. What makes this stat more impressive, is the fact that his team didn’t have a lot of varsity experience prior to this season.

“We have 10 seniors right now, but only two of those have game experience from last season,” said Scott.

The Bullpups were never shut out in a single inning, winning the game via the mercy rule. Five Hanford hitters hit doubles and the team consistently put good swings on the ball, driving the ball all over the field to the gaps and down the lines.

“We work on game situations every day during batting practice. Bunts, moving guys over and overall situational baseball. I think it’s really worked out well for us so far,” said Scott.

Hanford plays Madera at Clovis West Wednesday afternoon at one, weather permitting. The Bullpups are still in the running to play in the championship game which has been moved to Thursday because of rain Tuesday night.

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FOOTBALL ON HOLD

Edison’s T.J. McDonald is playing competitive baseball for most likely the last time ever.

By Megan Poindexter
VSP Senior Writer-

T.J. McDonald is known for his outstanding performance in football.

But what most don’t know is the kid is a pretty darn good baseball player as well, as he is helping a small Edison squad find their identity.

Something a lot of people have on their minds is why the 6 foot 3 inch senior is even playing baseball this spring. With a full-ride football scholarship to play strong safety at USC, many might think it to be smart for McDonald not to play any other sport at the risk of injury. But to McDonald, it’s about playing a game he loves for the last time.

“My attitude is that I can get hurt crossing the street,” said McDonald. “I just want to make the most of what is left in my senior year.”

It’s simple. McDonald is just trying to enjoy what is left of high school and that includes playing baseball.

“I tell him to be the best he can be every single play,” said Edison head coach Cliff Rold.

In his junior year he was a three-sport varsity athlete lettering in football, basketball and baseball.
The best thing about playing so many sports is that McDonald had been able to transition different things he learns from one game to another. He believes that in football being aggressive is part of the key to success while patience plays a major role in the game of baseball.

However, he uses aggressiveness in baseball when trying to get something going at the plate and patience in football is used for the timing of plays.

“I try to use what I learn in each sport and transfer it to the next,” said McDonald.

This year he has been able to excel even more in baseball, as he chose not to play basketball his senior year. In past years he was always coming into the baseball season late, but was able to start playing at the start of this season.

“He is a kid of great character and has been gifted to perform,” said Rold.

And while moving from sport to sport is a challenge in and of itself, McDonald said he also must stayed focused on what his No. 1 priority: school.

With practice year round he is doing homework any chance he can, whether it be at lunch or in free time, so that he is able to dedicate time to athletics.

“Luckily I have to great parents who stay on me because school is the most important thing,” said McDonald. His number seven baseball jersey is the same number his dad Tim wore as the Tigers’ quarterback.

Currently, McDonald is one of only 12 Tigers that make up the Edison baseball team, the smallest team in terms of numbers at this years’ Fresno Easter Classic.

But the team camaraderie and amount of athleticism that is present have helped the team overcome this problem.

“I have been blessed to coach some very good athletes,” said Rold. “Our motto is that we are the Dirty Dozen.”

On Tuesday afternoon, Rold’s team was able to come together and post 11 hits against Hanford West to record their second win of the tournament with a 7-3 victory. After two scoreless innings, Hanford West was the first to score in the top of the third when Cody Skaggs scored off a single by Will Stanton. In the bottom of the inning Skippy Ferreria hit a two-run homer to give the Tigers a one-run advantage.

Edison then scored two runs in the fourth and three in the fifth to solidify the win. McDonald led the team in hitting, going 3-4. He is now batting .396 with 15 runs scored this season.

“In a tournament situation you have to draw upon your heart to do things,” said Rold.

The Tigers are small in numbers, but large at heart and with the type of performances players like McDonald are giving they will be no surprise to any true Central Section baseball fans this season.

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