Not without some help

You haven't heard a lot about Lelani Bernardino. Deservedly so, you've heard a lot about two of her teammates, one past teammate - 2007 state player of the year Jordan Taylor, one current - 2008 state player of the year candidate Jessica Spigner. But Bernardino is symbolic of what Valencia softball has been in 2008. Like her team, the senior outfielder has flown under the radar - probably unjustly. Valencia, the defending national champions and ...

Playing for the ship part two

And so it begins. The 2007-CIF Southern Section Division II champion Valencia softball team will defend its title today in the final round of CIF playoffs. Valencia (28-5-1) faces an undefeated Simi Valley squad today in the championship game at Deanna Manning Field in Irvine at 6:00p.m. The Pioneers have not dropped a single game this season, finishing atop the Marmonte League (30-0, 14-0) and entering into today's game as the No.1 seed in Division ...

Valencia V-ball named national champs

No shock here-The 2008 CIF-Southern Section Division II champion Valencia Viking volleyball team was named national champions by Web site rivals.com.

Johnny Mac is SoCal's best

Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and now Johnny MacArthur. The Hart High senior joined elite company Thursday, winning the CIF-SCGA Southern Regional High School Championship at the SCGA Golf Course in Murrieta Valley. MacArthur shot a 5-under 67 and won the tournament in the second round of a playoff. The Foothill League Most Valuable Player was the only local out of three to advance to the CIF-CGA State High School Golf Championship on Tuesday. Valencia's Max ...

Kelley: The pride of the long distance runner

Hart's Jimmy Kelley has come a long way this season. The senior has advanced to the state finals in the 3200-meter event for the first time in his high school running career. As a matter of fact, Kelley had never advanced further than the CIF-Southern Section Division I prelims. Kelley qualified for the state finals on May 31 at the Masters Meet setting a mark of 9:12.80, the sixth best qualifying time in that event. ...

Man behind the mask

Patience, effective leadership skills and dedication; just a few traits of a successful baseball catcher.

Spigner carries the day for Vikings

Jessica Spigner did it all. Literally. Valencia's senior pitcher hit two home runs, drove in three runs, and made the game saving play as the Vikings advanced to the CIF-Southern Section Division I Finals with a 3-2 win over Santiago Corona. "As she goes, we go," said Valencia coach Donna Lee. "She's our catalyst and she got us going from beginning to end." Spigner gave the Vikings an early cushion with a two run homer ...

Revenge is sweep for Valencia volleyball

CARSON - Give the Valencia boys volleyball team four chances to win a point and odds are they will find a way to win that point.

Impact freshman

Christian Lopes didn't hit like a freshman. He didn't field, run, or do any baseball activity like a freshman. Off the field, he didn't act like a freshman either.

Hart, Valencia fall in quarters...

All season, Hart pitcher Michael Montgomery has proved that he has the mental strength to overcome any battle he faces on the mound.

Battle of the Titans

In the 1980's, late May meant that basketball rivals the Celtics and the Lakers were preparing to face against one another in the NBA championships.

Hart, Valencia fall in quarters

It looked so promising early. But as fast as Christian Lopes leadoff home run cleared the left field wall, Valencia's ship sunk even faster. In a season where the Vikings exceeded everyone else's expectations, their last game of the season was an aberration. The end result, a 13-2 blowout at the hands of Simi Valley. The Vikings couldn't field. They had four errors. "When you make four errors against a team like this you're not ...

Valencia tennis players compete in CIF doubles

Valencia High tennis players Jack Zapala and Tyler Gottshall competed in the CIF-Southern Section round of 16 on Friday. The duo competed amongst all divisions in the southern section at the Seal Beach Tennis Club.

Deja-Vu-again

It's starting to look familiar. The 2007 CIF-Southern Section Division I champion Valencia Vikings softball team is one step closer to another championship. The Vikings advanced to the semifinals with a shut-out defeat over Corona 5-0 at Valhalla field.

Throwing stars

With the amount of success the Saugus High School girls cross country team has enjoyed over the last couple of years (two straight state titles), translating into further success with runners on the track and field team, the school's athletic identity has been its running program.

6 area baseball teams make postseason

For one of the most competitive baseball seasons in Santa Clarita Valley prep history, the area gets no rewards in the CIF-Southern Section playoffs.

Experiment a success for West Ranch lacrosse

The West Ranch Wildcats boys lacrosse team couldn't have dreamt of a more dramatic ending to its inaugural season.

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.

Abbey Weitzeil steals the show at CIF swim finals

As soon as Abbey Weitzeil touched the wall in the 100-yard freestyle for her second individual CIF title of the day, the Saugus sophomore spun around to check the results on the board.

Hart boys tennis falls to San Marino in rout

For the Hart Indians boys tennis team, the cause was rather simple.

Valencia tennis moves to quarters for first time since 2008

The Valencia Vikings continue on. For the first time since 2008 - when Valencia advanced to the quarterfinals of CIF-Southern Section Division I - the Vikings have made it past the second round. This time around, the Vikings play in Division II, and on Friday afternoon Valencia defeated the Temple City Rams 12-6 at Temple City High School. "The guys are stoked. They were really happy," said Valencia head coach Annie Kellogg. "I still had ...

Hart baseball misses out on playoffs for first time since 1986

Prep softball roundup: Hart softball sends Canyon home early

Weitzeil leads Foothill pack at CIF swim prelims

The champions: West Ranch baseball wins back to back titles

As soon as the ball reached the glove of West Ranch Wildcats first baseman Jordan Benty for the second out of a game-ending double play, the Wildcats came storming out of the dugout, dog piling in front of the mound in celebration.

The surprise champion: SCCS baseball wins Heritage League

The unlikely champion: Canyon High baseball shares title

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.

Golden Valley tennis sees school-best run come to end

The most successful boys tennis season in Golden Valley High history ended Wednesday with the Grizzlies losing 16-2 to La Canada High in La Canada in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division II playoffs.

Hart tennis clutches up to move on

The Hart Indians boys tennis team is still alive in the CIF-Southern Section Division II playoffs and it can thank two unlikely heroes.