Survive and advance

Sure it's a dated motto, but in Hart softball's case, it was apropos Friday. The old "survive and advance" credo from last season's run to the CIF-Southern Section Division I title game. The Indians survived Friday against 20-win Pacifica of Oxnard in the first round of the Division I softball playoffs with a 6-2 victory at home. Now they advance to play the winner of the Mater Dei-Royal game. Hart (24-4) survived despite playing most ...

Saugus drops 5-2 decision to Norco

At the beginning of the season, Saugus' principal told baseball coach John Maggiora that in the history of the program, the team has averaged 17 wins a year. After falling to Norco 5-2 Thursday afternoon, the Centurions finished the season with, you got it, 17 wins.

Indians pummel Warriors

The radar guns were in place. Most of the teams in the Major Leagues were represented, including the Arizona Diamondbacks with general manager Josh Byrnes. It was the first round of the CIF Division I playoffs. And the first batter at the plate had the last name Dykstra. No pressure Michael Montgomery.

Vikings empty Fountain

Valencia's Josh Corralles was one out away from tossing a complete game shutout in a first round, CIF Southern Section Division I playoff match up against Fountain Valley on Thursday.

Valencia Volleyball advance in CIF

The Valencia's boys volleyball team continues its dominance throughout the CIF-Southern Section Division II playoffs.

Viking's glass is only a quarter full

Valencia ignored the motto, "The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat" in a boys' varsity tennis match-up against Palm Desert High School.

Three's not a crowd

Hart must be happy that they beat Valencia twice this season. Those two wins proved to be the difference in the final Foothill League baseball standings, meaning Hart (21-6, 14-1) was on the inside track for a higher ranking when the CIF Southern Section Division I brackets were announced on Monday afternoon. With the league title in its back pocket, the Indians secured the third seed in the Division I playoffs, which start Thursday afternoon. ...

Locals Holen, Weltig, MacArthur and Homa advance to finals in Palm Desert

CAMARILLO - It took a chip-in for a birdie on the sudden death playoff hole on Monday at Sterling Hills Country Club in Camarillo to get the last player in, but when all the scorecards were added up, four Foothill League golfers earned a trip to the CIF individual finals. Thirty players were slotted to advance, but the guaranteed cutoff score of 74 left room for two more athletes with scores of 75 on the day.

Bauer tames Wildcats

Trevor Bauer made a bet at the beginning of the baseball season that he would get 100 strikeouts .

Area swimmers don't miss a beat

It was a strong showing from the Foothill League top competitors at the preliminaries held at Belmont Plaza. The leagues top swimmers competed to qualify for the CIF Southern Section-Toyota Division II finals Saturday.

Eight isn't enough

The only suspense for the Valencia softball team Thursday afternoon was the coin toss. After a 14-0, five inning win at West Ranch to finish in a tie for first place in the Foothill League, every Vikings player took a coin and flipped. The majority had tails. Today at 7:30 a.m. when the real coin is flipped to determine whether Hart or Valencia get the No. 1 seed from the league, the Vikings (24-5, 9-1) will go with tails.

Taking the first step

For a volleyball team whose goal is to win the CIF championship, falling behind 3-0 in the first game of their first round match isn't the best way to start the journey.

Hart of champions

The current attitude of Hart baseball can be summarized in two words: Not satisfied. With a 6-0 win at West Ranch on Wednesday afternoon, Hart assured itself at least a share of the Foothill League title, a feat it hasn't accomplished since 2001. But the Indians are looking toward the future; Friday when they can win the title outright and next week when the CIF playoffs begin.

Vikings make playoffs

With the regular season Foothill League baseball coming to an end Valencia and Saugus are shifting their focus to the postseason. "We achieved our goal this season of making it to CIF," said Valencia head coach Jared Snyder. "We want to make a run in the playoffs, and you never know what can happen."

Keeping the pace

If the ritual that Madison Shipman and Jessica Spigner perform at the start of each inning brings them luck, its working. The duo, dubbed "9-11"  - not only for their jersey numbers - but also because they are often known for their emergency services when the Valencia softball team is in a tight spot.

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 ...

All locals miss cut at CIF golf playoffs

There's one word for it - shock.

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.

Softball CIF brackets released, six SCV teams in

Coming into the 2013 softball season, there was a lot of hope within the Santa Clarita Valley that come playoff time, a Foothill League team could make a run.

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