Downey teams off to good start in softball
DOWNEY – The Downey Calvary Chapel softball team currently has an overall record of 3-8 and are 1-0 in Academy League play. The Lady Grizzlies are on a two-game winning streak after starting their season 1-8. DCC defeated Valley Christian 13-12 last Thursday at home and then defeated Whitney at Whitney 6-5 in their league opener on Tuesday.
The DCC vs. Whitney game was a nailbiter. DCC scored two runs in the first inning and led 2-0 after Whitney did not score in the bottom of the first inning. DCC added another run in the top of the second inning and held Whitney scoreless. The score after two innings of play was 3-0 DCC.
The Lady Grizzlies did not score in the top of the third inning but Whitney managed to get a run across in their half of the inning. DCC led 3-1 after three innings of play. DCC did not score in the fourth inning but Whitney pushed their second run across in the bottom of the fourth inning. The score after four innings of play was 3-2 DCC. DCC scored one run in the top of the fifth inning and held Whitney scoreless in their half of the fifth. DCC led 4-2 after five innings of play.
DCC did not score in the top of the sixth inning and Whitney pushed three runs across in the bottom of the sixth inning. The score at the end of six innings of play was 5-4 Whitney. DCC was not done though. DCC pushed two runs across in the top of the seventh inning and took the lead back 6-5. The Lady Grizzlies then buckled down and did not allow Whitney to score in the bottom of the seventh. DCC held on for the hard fought 6-5 win on the road.
The Lady Grizzlies will host Crean Lutheran of Irvine later today. Crean Lutheran is 7-7 overall and are 0-1 in Academy League play after losing to Oxford Academy of Cypress 10-5 on Tuesday.
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The Warren High School baseball team currently has an overall record of 8-1 and are 0-1 in S.G.V.L. play after losing to Gahr 5-4 on Tuesday.
Gahr (11-2) is currently ranked number 1 in Division 3 and Warren is close behind. Tuesday’s game was the league opener for both schools.
The Bears will host Gahr later today in the second part of their away and home series with Bear ace Alan Trejo on the mound. Today’s game against Gahr is extremely important. If Gahr wins, they will have a two game lead over Warren and own the tiebreaker. If Warren wins, the two teams will be tied with the rest of league play in front of them. Things are heating up and only one league game has been played.
Warren has a busy spring break scheduled. Warren will play Chula Vista in the LIONS Tournament on 4/15, will play Brighton of Salt Lake City, Utah, on 4/16 and South High School of Torrance in the Chatsworth Tournament on 4/19. The Bears will return to league play when they host cross-town rival Downey on 4/22 and will then travel to Downey on 4/25 for their home and away series.
Gahr, Paramount and Downey are consistently the teams to beat in league play. Coach Scott Pearson, his staff and players are looking forward to playing well in league and securing a good seed for their Division 3 playoff run.
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The Downey High School baseball team currently has an overall record of 9-7 and are 1-0 in San Gabriel Valley League play.
The Vikings are on a six-game winning streak and are playing their best baseball of the season. The Vikings have played exceptionally well at home by winning six of seven games. Downey played Firebaugh of Lynwood yesterday in the Edison Tournament held at Downey High School (score unavailable at press time).
The Viking six game winning streak started with a 6-1 win against Los Altos of Hacienda Heights at Downey on 3/26. Downey then defeated St. Anthony’s of Long Beach 7-0 at Downey on 3/28. The Vikings then defeated Mary Star of the Sea of San Pedro at Downey 4-3 on 4/3 and then defeated Millikan at Millikan 3-0 on 4/5. Downey opened up S.G.V.L. play on Tuesday with a 9-0 win against Lynwood at Downey.
Downey will travel to Lynwood later today to play the Knights in the second game of their home and away series. The Vikings will then play Covina on 4/21 in the Edison Tournament before playing cross-town rival Warren at Warren on 4/22 and hosting Warren on 4/25.
Downey has been led on offense by seniors Tyler Tungate and Gabriel Llanes. Tungate is hitting .372 with 16 hits and seven RBI. Llanes is hitting.318 with 14 hits and nine RBI. The Viking pitching staff has improved as well. Tyler Tungate is 4-1 with a .23 ERA and Randy Labaut is 3-1 with a 2.50 ERA.
Gahr, Warren and Paramount will once again be the teams to beat in league play. The Vikings are playing well, looking forward to league play and earning a spot in the Division 3 playoff bracket.
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The Downey High School softball team currently has an overall record of 7-10 and are 2-2 in league play.
The Lady Vikings are currently on a four-game winning streak and playing their best softball of the season. Downey traveled to cross-town rival Warren yesterday for the first of their two scheduled league games (score unavailable at press time).
Downey’s winning streak started with a 19-0 win against Dominguez at Dominguez on 4/3. The Lady Vikings then swept a double header against Santa Fe at Downey 4-0 and 11-1 last Saturday. Downey then defeated Lynwood at Downey 10-0 on Tuesday to even their league record at 2-2.
Downey will play in the Thousand Oaks Tournament against Hart High School of Newhall on 4/19 and continue to play in that tournament through 4/26. The Lady Vikings will return to league play against Lynwood at Lynwood on 5/1.
The Lady Vikings have been led on offense by senior captains Rachel Rodriguez, Daphne Gaspar and Brittany Juarez. Rodriguez is hitting .536 with 22 runs scored, 30 hits and 7 RBI. Gaspar is hitting .469 with 13 runs scored, 23 hits and 13 RBI. Juarez is hitting .357 with 10 runs scored, 15 hits and 5 RBI. Junior Anissa Hamilton leads the Lady Viking pitching staff with 5 wins and a 3.21 ERA. Hamilton has 31 strikeouts, three complete games and has pitched 61 innings.
Coach Karzen, his staff and players are gearing up for the second round of San Gabriel Valley League play and a spot in the Division 3 playoff bracket.
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Published: April 10, 2014 - Volume 12 - Issue 52