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.

Vikes double up in round 1

Valencia boys tennis head coach Annie Kellogg summed it up best by quoting the opposing coach.

CIF volleyball roundup: Foothill one and done

The Foothill League collectively went 0-for-3 in the boys volleyball playoffs this season.

West Ranch volleyball ousted in first round

Valencia Country Club hosts U.S. Open qualifier

Johnny MacArthur just got one step closer to playing in one of the world's biggest golf events.

Valencia's Chad LeDuff: Fitting of the distinction

People used to tell Christy LeDuff that her son had a gift.

Canyon baseball takes out the drama against G.V.

The Canyon Cowboys have been involved in a lot of wild games in recent weeks in Foothill League play.

Max Homa, Valencia graduate, wins Pac-12 individual title

Valencia High graduate Max Homa claims he was stressed out and nervous all week long.

Hart's Myles Franklin named All-State sophomore

Hart High sophomore Myles Franklin was named an All-State sophomore by Cal-Hi Sports.

West Ranch goes 10-0 in Foothill League play

The West Ranch Wildcats completed a season sweep through Foothill League play on Tuesday with a 3-1 win over the Valencia Vikings by scores of 22-25, 25-18, 25-17 and 26-24 at West Ranch High School.

Foothill League track finals up next

All the focus was on the track at Tuesday's Foothill League track and field prelims at Valencia High School. Qualifying heats were held for seven varsity events in both boys and girls on Tuesday, all of which were running events. Finals for the field events will be held on Friday at Valencia, along with the rest of the league finals. In the meantime, the stage has been set for some tight competition in multiple events ...

TMC baseball sweeps major conference awards

The Master's College baseball earned a conference title on Saturday, and the team was rewarded with a cluster of awards on Tuesday with the release of the 2013 Golden State Athletic Conference baseball awards.

Cal's Max Homa leads by five at Pac-12 finals

Though it wasn't done with as much flare as the day before, Max Homa remained steady in the third round of the Pac-12 Men's Golf Championship.

Saugus' Rachel Eaton: Assuming her role

Every team has to have its role players.

Max Homa breaks course record at Pac-12 finals

On the first day of the 2013 Pac-12 Men's Golf Championship, Valencia High alumnus Max Homa broke a course record by carding a 9-under 61 at the North Course of Los Angeles Country Club on Monday.

Three COC products sign with NFL teams

The 2013 NFL Draft wrapped up this past weekend, but three more College of the Canyons products signed on with teams on Monday as undrafted free agents.