By Loren Kopff
For a lot of high school students, this is spring vacation time. But for a lot of the area baseball and softball teams, they will be keeping busy with tournaments in preparation for the final three weeks of the regular season.
The Gahr baseball team, which won 11 of its first 13 games this season, dropped a 1-0 decision to Warren last Friday, then proceeded to lose the first three games of the Hard 9 Baseball Club National Classic which began this past Monday. The Gladiators fell to San Jose-based Valley Christian 3-2, then lost to J.W. North 4-2 this past Tuesday and (South Jordan, Utah) Bingham 2-1 this past Wednesday. Gahr (11-6) squared off against Santa Margarita on Apr. 17 and will resume San Gabriel Valley League action on Tuesday with a home encounter against Paramount. Gahr has lost all six games by a combined nine runs and is on its longest losing streak since losing all five games of the Newport Elks Tournament in 2012.
In other baseball action, Cerritos (6-10) will play Ontario Christian on Saturday in pool play action of the St. Paul Easter Baseball Tournament. On Monday, the Dons will hook up with St. Monica and on Tuesday against Salesian.
John Glenn will visit Peninsula on Saturday in a Redondo Tournament game, then resume action in the St. Paul Easter Tournament on Monday against either Notre Dame or St. Paul. The Eagles (13-2 overall, 5-0 in the Suburban League) edged La Mirada 1-0 this past Tuesday on a five-hitter from junior Victor Sanchez, his fifth complete game this season. Sanchez improved to 6-0 as Glenn snapped a 10-game losing streak to the Matadores. The Eagles have already won two more games than each of the past two seasons and hosted La Mirada on Apr. 17.
Valley Christian won two games in a row for the first time this season after a 6-2 triumph over St. Bernard this past Tuesday. The Crusaders (6-7, 1-5 in the Olympic League), who also edged Maranatha 2-1 last Friday, hosted St. Bernard on Apr. 17 and will do the same against Village Christian on Tuesday.
Whitney remained winless in 10 games this season after falling to St. Margaret’s 20-1 last Friday. The Wildcats, who hosted Brethren Christian on Apr. 17, will return to action on Apr. 26 with a road game at Avalon.
SOFTBALL
Artesia dropped to 5-9 overall and 0-7 in the Suburban League following a 19-0 loss to Norwalk this past Tuesday. The Pioneers have scored only one run in league action this season. After a road meeting with Norwalk on Apr. 17, the Pioneers will be off until Apr. 30 when they visit Mayfair.
Gahr blanked Paramount 13-0 last Thursday as freshman Naomi Dickerson and junior Destiny Vasquez combined on a three-hitter. Four players had two hits apiece as the Gladiators (11-8, 4-0 in the San Gabriel Valley League) visited Dominguez on Apr. 17. Gahr will next be in action on May 1 when it travels to Warren with a possible league title on the line.
Glenn was blanked by La Mirada 15-0 this past Tuesday on a no-hitter. The Lady Eagles (7-9, 2-3) hosted the Matadores on Apr. 17 and will visit Cerritos on Apr. 30. Norwalk’s win over Artesia improved its mark to 6-10 overall and 5-2 in the circuit. Norwalk’s first game after the break will be on Apr. 30 at La Mirada.
After losing 13 straight games, Valley Christian has won two in a row including a 9-1 win at Village Christian last Thursday. The Lady Crusaders, who are 2-0 in the Olympic League, will host Heritage Christian on Tuesday.
Whitney was edged by Crean Lutheran 3-2 this past Tuesday to fall to 3-5 overall and 1-2 in the Academy League. The Lady Wildcats will be off until hosting Oxford Academy on Apr. 29.
FUNDRAISING
The Gahr softball varsity team will be having a Flapjack fundraiser on May 4 from 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. at the Applebee’s in Norwalk at 12129 Imperial Highway. Half a dozen Gahr softball players will actually serve breakfast for the two hours. Tickets, which are $10, are still available with half of the proceeds going to the team. For more information, please call Stephanie at (562) 215-2156.