Foothill League boys tennis preview: Vikings’ youth could open door

A team with talent is one thing. Add depth and experience to the equation, and you've got a championship-caliber program. To be precise, you've got Valencia boys tennis, which hasn't lost a Foothill League match since April 26, 2006, an 11-7 defeat against Hart. That makes it a 41-match winning streak for Valencia headed into today's opening of league play, and it's won at least a share of the last eight league titles. The talent ...

Foothill League boys tennis preview: Recently singles

Athletes come in many shapes, sizes and abilities. No matter the sport, there are always the types that were born with the talent and physique to advance to the highest levels of competition. Some are flat-out bred to play from a very young age. Then there are the athletes like Valencia senior Tayven Townsend, who never had anything handed to him as he worked his way through the ranks of high school and club tennis. ...

College baseball: Just a minor shift

A little tweak to the lineup and the whole attitude changed. Coming off four straight losses in the Western State Conference, South Division, College of the Canyons baseball was looking for answers at the plate. COC used a big seventh-inning rally to end a four-game losing streak with 9-4 win over Los Angeles Valley College on Saturday at COC. "We made some changes today," said COC head coach Chris Cota. "We put a couple guys ...

Prep tennis: Familiar names on top

The ultimate measuring stick for Foothill League teams in boys tennis is actual league competition.

Prep baseball: Vikes aim for fences

There wasn't much Canyon pitchers could do about it. Valencia's hitters had them figured out from the first at-bat. Five home runs helped the hot-hitting Vikings turn their Foothill League opener into a 12-2 runaway over Canyon on Friday at Valencia High School. Against the Cowboys' finesse style of pitching, Valencia (5-1, 1-0) got on the board early and didn't let up throughout the day. "We did a great job of being really patient," said ...

Prep softball: Knights turn heads, turn away Cards

Two years ago, Trinity Classical Academy didn't have a varsity softball team. Now, it's a team quickly gaining respect from its opponents. On Thursday, that opponent was Santa Clarita Christian, which quickly found out Trinity had some capable hitters. The Knights put together a 19-10 victory of SCCS at William S. Hart PONY Complex. "A lot of these girls are playing softball for the first time and I think it takes a lot of courage ...

Boys volleyball: Indians win without a key piece

There wasn't anything special about what Hart boys volleyball did on Wednesday. The team was good enough to play basic, fundamental volleyball and come out on top. Despite trailing at one point in each game, the Indians topped outmatched Crescenta Valley 3-0 on Wednesday at Hart High. They won the games 25-21, 25-18 and 26-24 with starting setter Chris Leclair sidelined due to a rolled ankle during a practice earlier in the week. To account ...

Prep volleyball: Miscues gum up G.V.

Even the experienced teams need a grace period sometimes. Golden Valley boys volleyball might have to chalk this one up to a cautionary tale early in the season. The senior-laden team had trouble communicating and made several unforced errors on its way to a 3-0 loss to Burroughs of Burbank on Tuesday at Golden Valley High. The Grizzlies dropped the games by scores of 25-17, 25-19 and 25-22. Despite the Indians coming in as the ...

Volleyball: Legacy builds

Even for the most casual of volleyball fans, it's enough to impress. But only a fanatic would be excited about details like 33-foot tall ceilings, and the nearly brand-new blue and gray Sport Court material that lines the playing surface of the four Olympic-size volleyball courts. Each court is separated by professionally installed netting, and each one has ample space behind it - ideal for serving - while white boards are painted on the wall ...

College baseball: Mustangs falter for fourth time

In non-conference play, The Master's College baseball team looked promising despite its youth.

College hockey: COC wins national title

California teams aren't known for fielding good hockey teams, much less winning championships.

College softball: Cougars find the right lineup

For most of the non-conference season, College of the Canyons softball had been shuffling around its wealth of young players, testing different lineups and positions.

Prep baseball: Cardinals begin again

Santa Clarita Christian's baseball team has plenty of early season rust to shake off. That didn't stop it from making a run after falling behind by seven runs in its season opener. The run fell short, as Frazier Mountain ran away late for a 12-6 win Wednesday at The Master's College. The Cardinals (0-1) scored all six of their runs in the fifth inning, which pulled them within one run at 7-6. "I'm not worried ...

College baseball: Starting to find a formula

According to head coach Chris Cota, College of the Canyons baseball isn't where it needs to be this season.

College baseball: Finding the fun again

The last time Troy Neiman remembers having this much fun playing baseball, he was 12 years old.

'Cowboy Round-Up’ passing tournament a success

When Canyon High football head coach Rich Gutierrez thought of the idea of hosting a passing tournament in the spring, his goal was to get some top level football programs involved.

CIF track and field finals: Onward they move

Was it the traditional display of dominance for the Foothill League? Not exactly.

COC's Tim White wins state triple jump title

One year later, Tim White wasn't going to let anyone get in his way of a state championship.

Golden Valley's Azaria Hill: Athlete in her blood

Clusters of runners whiz by every couple of minutes.

Valencia can't handle Harvard-Westlake in Division I playoffs

Foothill League announces all-league boys volleyball

Einstein baseball is in and out

In its first playoff appearance in team history, Albert Einstein Academy baseball didn't get any breaks.

Valencia baseball wins CIF-SS Division I wild card

The bats may be coming around just in time for Valencia Vikings baseball. Patient and effective hitting put Valencia in front early and an A.J. Balta grand slam put the game out of reach as the Vikings beat the Westlake Warriors 11-2 on Tuesday in a CIF-Southern Section Division I wild-card matchup at Valencia High School. "We saw the pitches we wanted and we hit them," said Balta, who started for the first time in ...

Valencia tennis caps it off in the quarters

One break of serve here, another tough bounce there, and that was enough to prevent the Valencia Vikings boys tennis team from moving on in the postseason.

COC men's golf wins its sixth state title

College of the Canyons golf head coach Gary Peterson still vividly remembers when his men's golf team won its first state championship 20 years ago.

COC softball knocked out of playoffs

It isn't the kind of repeat College of the Canyons softball was looking for.

Season slips away from COC baseball

Everything seemed to be set up perfectly for College of the Canyons baseball.

COC softball inches closer to state

Once again, College of the Canyons softball is one win away from making the state finals.

Usuals get it done at CIF track and field prelims

Golden Valley, Saugus and Canyon were the three clear frontrunners throughout the Foothill League track and field season.

West Ranch tennis can’t match up

No matter how the lineup was arranged, West Ranch Wildcats boys tennis was going to have a tough time.