The Reds, rallying together after the loss of their manager last Spring, decisively captured the Los Al Youth Baseball Pony Division championship, downing the Red Sox 9-1 in the championship game on June 8. Johnny Kovacevich picked up the win with help from Tyler Glaser and Moses Montes.
    The Reds who finished the regular season in second place in the National League with a 19-7 record, advanced to the final game by defeating the Padres 3-2 in the semi-finals, and the Blue Jays 6-5 in the quarterfinals. They opened their playoff run with a 7-2 win over the Tigers.
    The Reds were coached by Rich Carr who assumed the reins after Rick Carr (no relation) passed away suddenly on March 20.

    Rick Carr’s many friends have organized a golf tournament and dinner to raise funds for the education of deserving children in Rick's name. The first event will take place August 28, 2006, at Long Beach’s Skylinks Golf Course. More information can be obtained by clicking here.

In other LAYB playoff results:
    MUSTANG – The Angels, who finished in third place in the American League, got hot at the right time and not only foiled the first place, undefeated Dodgers attempt at a perfect season, but captured the Mustang playoff championship trophy at the same time with a 11-8 win in the championship game.
    The Angels went 10-6 in the regular season before winning four straight in the playoffs. But for a while it looked like they might not get past their first post-season game, needing a last-inning run to down the Reds 11-10 in their first-round game.
    Then, rallying behind the pitching of Nick Varonos, Chase Broersma, and James Denevan, the Halos convincingly downed the Nationals 11-3, and thumped the first-place (American) Rangers 6-3 to advance to the title game.
    The Dodgers went through the regular season without a blemish, compiling a 15-0 mark to take the National League crown. In the American League, the Rangers (12-3-1) edged out the Yankees (12-4) to take that division crown by a mere half game.

    BRONCOS -- The Blue Jays, who finished the regular season with a 15-2 record, finished their season just as strong, downing the Cardinals 9-2 in the Playoff Championship game. The Cardinals had topped the National League regular season with a 11-6 mark.

LAYB Mustang Playoff Champs

LAYB MUSTANG PLAYOFF CHAMPION ANGELS upset the previously unbeaten Dodgers to win the LAYB playoff championship — members of the team include Harrison Knott, Jonathon Brinkman, Will Abatine, James Denevan, Dennis Owen, Ryan Fageaux, Chase Broersma, Lucas Lovato, Adam Kolkin, Ryan Zuanich, Nick Varonos; Manager: Mark Broersma; Assistant Coaches: Jon Breitbarth, Dennis Owen

      Local all-star Pony Baseball teams from St. Hedwig, Seal Beach and Los Al Youth Baseball begin sanctioned all-star tournament action, with aspirations of earning a berth in the Pony championships in August.
      The tournaments are double-elimination and most are scheduled to be completed by July 10. Mustang Division began Sunday in Garden Grove and Placentia. At Garden Grove the Seal Beach squad downed St. Hedwig Blue. LAYB’s White (C) squad opens against Fountain Valley White on Wednesday, while the LAYB Blue unit plays La Mirada Red on Thursday.
      LAYB’s Red squad plays at Champion Field in Placentia on Wednesday.
      In the Bronco Division, the St. Hedwig Red team, playing at Garden grove, already notched a win over the Fountain Valley Blue squad. The LAYB Red and White teams, playing in Westminster, also both notched first round wins on Sunday, downing the St. Hedwig Blue and Fountain Valley White teams, respectively. The two LAYB teams meet on Saturday. Los Al Blue begins play in Placentia on Saturday.
      In the Pony 13 level – LAYB fell to Cypress in a first round game on Sunday, and now must face Laguna Niguel this Saturday.
      The older Pony teams begin play July 13 at the LAYB Fields.
      Sanctioned all-star tournament schedules can be accessed at the following website. http://www.pony.org/home/default.asp?menu_category=Baseball&menuid=566&parholdid=557 (Just click it, it'll be easier.

      In tune up action, three Los Alamitos teams won championships at the East Long Beach all-star which ran from June 17-June 30.
     
      The Pintos started strong from the tourney’s first day of pool play, pasting a 21-0 win over Torrance Red. They followed that up with a 13-2 win over East Long Beach Blue, a 15-5 win over Cheviot Hills Blue, and then defeated East Long Beach Red 11-5 in the title game.
      Complete Pinto scores can be seen here.
      In the Mustang Division, both Los Al entries captured their brackets, with the LAYB A team downing Torrance 5-0 in the A title game, and the B’s gaining revenge on East LB 6-5 in the B championship match.
      Complete Mustang scores can be seen here. Rosters http://www.layb.org/06_invitational/06_LAYB_ALL_STARS.pdf

      It was tough going for the Los Al Girls Softball League all-star teams at the ASA "B" District held in Cypress two weeks ago. No LAGSL teams advanced to the State Championships which are being held this week in Lancaster.
      However, providing some sunshine to a tough all-star season, the LAGSL 12-and-under “B” team captured its second all-star tournament championship of the post-season, dominating the field to win the Carpinteria All Star Classic June 23-25th.
      At the District Tournament, the 8's faced a tough schedule, losing 8-1 to eventual tourney runner-up West Garden Grove, but then rallied to thump Laguna Niguel 14-1, before falling to Huntington Beach 3-1.
      The 10 A's posted a 7-3 first-round win over Irvine, but then fell 2-1 to Huntington Beach, and 6-2 to Laguna Niguel.
      The 12's drew a first round bye then downed Irvine 8-5 in their first round match up but then in the winners bracket semi-finall they ran up against a Laguna Niguel buzz-saw that skewered them 17-0. Perhaps still reeling, they were eliminated after a 7-3 loss to Huntington Beach.
      It was "two and a 'cue" (two losses and a season-ending barbecue) for the 14's who lost two tough games in their district outing. After drawing a first round bye, the Los Al 14s fell to Mission Viejo 8-6, and then in the losers bracket they dropped a 5-4 contest to Laguna Niguel.

      At Carpinteria, the 12 B’s 'mercied' three of their five opponents, including an 11-1 victory over Sierra Madre in the championship game. They opened pool play with a 3-2 win over West Valley, then bombarded both Ontario (18-2) and Chino (12-1). They won a 5-4 semi-final affair over Seaside, before their romp over Sierra Madre in the finale.
      Christine Ostrich once again turned in a solid pitching performance throughout the tournament while Paige Mullins delivered game-winning hits in the two close encounters with West Valley and Seaside. Front row: Christine Ostrich, Kori Meachum, Kharissa Duran, Gabby Thury, and Paige Mullins. Back row: Manager Gene Schugg, Coach Bob Mullins, Danielle Schugg, Kayti Sutherland, Alexa Coffing, Cheyenne Perez, Reanna Schelhaus, Kailey Pukini, Morgan McGee, and Coach Pat McGee.
      In the “Not that anybody asked me” department. . . Although it is permissible to do so, LAGSL officials did not send any “B” teams (or “Blue” teams as they are called in this day of festering political correctness) to the sanctioned district tournaments, but this year’s 12 B’s made a good argument for re-considering that policy.
      Not only did the 12 B’s prove their mettle by beating a number of A teams from other communities, but as local history has often demonstrated, all-star selection is an imperfect science at best with merit sometimes taking a backseat to past reputation and fatherly connections.
      So, if teams prove they can play with the A teams, why not consider sending two teams to minimize the potential oversights of the elders?

      Local volleyball standouts Rachael Moss and Geena Urango added another club volleyball championship to their resume as their TCA Third degree squad captured the title in youth volleyball’s top division, the 18-Opens, at the Junior Olympics Girls National Volleyball Championships held in Atlanta this past week.
      The pair both made the 18 Opens all-tournament team. Last Fall they led the Los Al High volleyball team to the CIF Southern Section and State championships. Moss, a senior, will attend Duke University this Fall while Urango, a junior, has committed to USC for 2007.
      TCA downed Mizuno Long Beach (with former Griffin teammate Alex Filkins) in the championship match, 25-20,25-17,25-20.
      The Junior Olympic Volleyball National tournament is divided into three groups with the Open Division consists of the Elite teams who have qualified through their play in the winter and spring tournament qualification season.
      In the 15s National Tournament, the Golden West 15s won a bronze medal. Locals on the team include Los Al soph-to-be Rebecca Pelke. 

     While the girls were finishing up their action in Atlanta on July 5, the boys began raising the roofs this week in Minneapolis-St. Paul. They enter the third round of pool play today.  While the girls were finishing up their action in Atlanta on July 5, the boys were raising the roofs in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Los Al senior-to-be Kevin Carroll was named to the National all-tournament team in the 17 Open.   Subsequently, Carroll began training with the US Junior National team. 

      Schedules and results are available at the US Volleyball Boys site.

The Los Al High Boys Basketball Summer League continues next week with the Griffins, the defending CIF Division I champs, facing two tough tests.
      On Monday night, Los Al will host always tough Long Beach Poly and Wednesday they take on Woodbridge.
      The complete schedule is available online at http://www.losalboysbball.com/id71.html. (But it does take a long time to load -- webmaster, consider using PDF files -- smaller and much better quality for things like schedules.)

As usual, lots of Griffins earned some post-season notice on the various high school all-league and miscellaneous all-star teams.

SOFTBALL     Anna Cahn was named by the OC Register to their second team All-OC squad. (interestingly, she was not selected to the All-Sunset League team)

    Jordan Wheeler – 1st team All-CIF
    Kelly Hannaford – 2nd team All-CIF

BASEBALL
    Junior First baseman Logan Flagg (who batted .397 on the season) was 2nd team all CIF.
    Senior pitcher Danny Farris who won eight of Los Al’s 19 wins was named to the Long Beach Press-Telegram’s Dream Team (second team)
     Senior second baseman Sean Beckley was named to the All Sunset League first team.
     Senior outfielder Ryan Prechtl was named all-Sunset League (second team) for the second year in a row.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL
    Kevin Carroll was named to the Long Beach Press-Telegram Dream 2nd team and was third team all-Orange County.  

BOYS GOLF
    Senior Kenny Roberts was named to the Long Beach Press-Telegram’s Dream team second team.

      The Long Beach Junior Crew Women's Eight charted a ninth-place finish at the Youth National Crew Championships held June 9-11 on Harsha Lake, outside Cincinnati, Ohio last weekend.
      Locals on the LB squad include coxswain Daphne Hazlehurst, a senior at Los Alamitos HS. Other area rowers are Anastasia Alexander (soph., Wilson HS), Lauren Counter (senior, Poly HS), Carolyn Johnson (junior, Poly HS).
      The US Rowing Youth National Championship is an invitation only event, with crews qualifying by their performance at one of 13 regional qualification regattas. The LBJC women's Eight qualified by medaling in their event at the South West Regional Championship in May. Results are available at http://usrowing.org/uploads/docs/06youthnationalspacket.pdf
      Other locals on the LB crew teams are: Bree Hernandez, senior. A former Los Al track athlete and member of the school record setting 4x100 relay team, Bree took up rowing at the LBYC summer camp last year and moved from the novice team to the JV Eight Squad. Her athleticism enabled Bree to be recruited by UCLA. James Long-Lerno - senior, men's varsity. Nathan Welch - senior, men's varsity. Chris Edmunds - junior, men's varsity. Ryan Ford - junior, men's novice. Max Galloro - junior, men's varsity. Jonathan Oliveras - sophomore, men's varsity. Alex Cours - freshman, women's novice team. Taylor Vella - freshman, women's novice. Karlee Mortensen - freshman, women's novice. Chelsea Laio - freshman, women's novice.
      LBJC alumna Jessica Meredith (Los Al '03) is an assistant coach who also rowed for 2 years at UCLA.

      The Los Al High Roller Hockey Club team – yes, there is a team and it’s been around since 2003 – captured the Interscholastic Hockey Federation (IHF) Junior Varsity “A” championship by downing Newport Harbor in their title game on May 9.
      Currently the IHF sponsors four different levels of play (frosh/Soph; JV “B”; JV “A” and Varsity).
      The Griffin team, composed of skaters ranging from freshman-to-seniors, consists of Justin Castagna, Chris Makiuchi, Kevin Morrison, Tyler Post, Kenny Sabraw, Brett Shaver, Nolan Smith, Spencer Thomas, John Thompson, Brett Webber, Nick Weldon and David Finney. Paul Morrison is the coach, assisted by Lance Malinowski.
      The Griffins opened the IHF playoffs with wins over Villa Park and then Esperanza, before advancing to the championship match against Newport Harbor.
      The hockey team was recognized at the May 22nd school board meeting for their accomplishment.

    Four local youth basketball players, Zach Sturm, Trevor Pepper, Jake Self, and Haven Fielding helped the Cypress Centurions 7th Grade All-Net team go 6-1 in their Spring League, and then take 2nd place in the NJB All-Net Spring Tournament with a 3-1 record, playing in the top 7th grade division. 
    Pictured front, l-r, Zach Sturm, Jimmy Jackson, Brian Mojica, Michael Marques. (Back row) Haven Fielding, Trevor Pepper, Mike Neary, Jordan Castenada, and Jake Self. Not pictured: Coach Tony Marques.

      Approximately 590 students (just over 90% of the senior class if you count the non-paying gate crashers who were intercepted and energetically informed of the errors of their ways) attended Grad Night in the Los Al High gym this year on June 21.
      Most students had a good time although scattered reports said a few more than normal were out of line – i.e., acting like self-centered, egotistical, the world-revolves-around-me jerks who not only seemed intent on ruining it for next year’s class but were also quite disrespectful to the volunteer parents who busted their butts to put the event together and then worked all night so the kids could have a good time.
      Despite the negatives Grad Night organizers were quick to say the vast majority of grads were well behaved (for 18-years olds anyway) and had a great time - although a few might not want to see photos of them after the hypnotist did his thing on them.
      Click here for photos of the gym after the set-up and during the event itself.

    The Bickerstaff Center for Student-Athlete Academic Services at California State University, Long Beach was officially dedicated on Wednesday, June 21, beginning with an afternoon reception, program and tour.
    The center is named after 49er athletics benefactors Glen and Debbie Bickerstaff of Rossmoor, who were recognized during the dedication ceremony.
    The Bickerstaffs, who have quietly made contributions totaling over a million dollars to the college over recent years, are fans of many sports, but are especially avid about LB State girls volleyball. 

Click here to go to the LB State Press Release.

Click here to read the OC Register article on the event

Here are some video links for those who can't get enough Los Al High action.

Los Al High Girls Soccer 2006 -- This is a clip from the year end banquet video showing the Esperanza Sunset League game and the CIF playoff games for the Los Al 2005-06 Girls soccer team. Final game is CIF Div I quarterfinal against Upland, which went through four overtimes before being decided on penalty kicks

Pep Rally workout - Los Al High Baseball players (and ASB characters) Trent DeLazzer and Casey Simon perform a routine with the Los Al song girls. What's impressive (or scary) is they're not that bad.

THE LOS AL HIGH CLASS OF 1976 30 YEAR REUNION will be held Friday August 25th & Saturday August 26th, 2006. The Saturday night event will be held at Old Ranch Golf Club. If you are interested in more information, or you have information on fellow alums, contact Jackie Caplan Wiggins. See you there!!