CIF Sports Roundup: Warren High's Hollis and Sandoval qualify for CIF Masters
Warren track athlete, Joaquim Sandoval, will be competing in the 3200-meter event at the CIF-SS Track and Field Masters Meet in Moorpark on Saturday. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
DOWNEY – Two of the eight CIF DI Warren track and field competitors will continue their season in the CIF-Southern Section Masters after great performances in the Finals last Saturday (May 16) at Moorpark High School.
Warren junior distance runner Joaquim Sandoval, who placed ninth in the CIF Division 1 Prelims (May 9), set a new school record with a time of 9:02.22 and finished fifth in the CIF DI Finals (May 16).
Kymani Hollis, a senior who is still undecided on his college choice, finished fourth in the CIF Finals with a shot put of 56’11.50”.
Prior to his shot put, Hollis suffered an injury as an errant throw by a competitor rolled into the back of his heel.
After a trainer taped it up, Hollis was ready for his throw.
Hollis, who transferred to Warren from St. John Bosco, previously set a personal best of 58-5 in the CIF Prelims.
The Masters will be held Saturday (May 23) at Moorpark High.
“It’s really exciting,” said Sandoval, of competing in the upcoming CIF Masters. “It’s the farthest I’ve gone in track and it’s exciting to continue racing my best this late in the season.
“I’ll be going up against the ones I raced on Saturday (CIF Finals) and the top guys from every division. I’m excited to face the best competition I’ve faced this season and it’s going to be a fast race.”
Both Warren Boys Track coach Ramon Miranda and assistant coach Anthony Prado, who is the assistant coach for boys distance, stated how proud they were of Sandoval.
“I’m very excited and can’t wait for Saturday (Masters) and hopefully they (Sandoval and Hollis) will advance to the CIF State meet.”
Prado added, “I’m very proud and (Sandoval) is a great worker since we got him in his freshman year. We couldn’t ask for a better leader and better example for the rest of the team.”
In addition to the Warren Track & Field duo advancing, the Bears Baseball team, with an 11-1 win in the CIF second round, advanced to the quarterfinals this Friday (May 22).
Bosco in CIF DI Quarterfinals
Also advancing to the quarterfinals in DI was St. John Bosco.
Bosco, which is the defending CIF-SS D1 and State Champions, opened this years’ post season with DI victories over Cypress (2-1) in the first round and Sierra Canyon (4-3) in the second round.
The Braves will play Saturday (May 23) at La Mirada High School at 11:00 am in the quarterfinals.
“We’re excited about our team with such a veteran roster of players from last year’s championship run,” St. John Bosco coach Andy Rojo said. “The new playoff format has proven to be ultra-competitive with talented teams battling it out each game.”
Warren Baseball advances to CIF D3 Quarters
The Bears (17-13), which lost in the second round of the 2025 CIF D3 playoffs, have advanced to the ’26 D3 quarterfinals with a first round 8-3 win over West Ranch and a second round 11-1 win over Palos Verdes.
Warren, which finished third in the Gateway League this season with Downey, had some ups and downs later in the season this year as they had won seven in a row starting in mid-March. Then the Bears lost nine in a row beginning in early April and are currently on a four-game winning streak into the playoffs.
They will host St. Francis (16-13-1) Friday (May 22) in their quarterfinal game. Game time is 3:15 pm.
Warren softball falls in CIF second round
Warren, which finished tied with Gahr for second place in the Gateway League, ended its season with a second round loss in the CIF-SS D II to Whittier Christian, 9-3.
The Bears (18-11, 5-3) opened the playoffs in the first round with an 8-1 win over Thousand Oaks. La Mirada won league with a 6-2 record.
Calvary Chapel softball loses historic first round game, 28-27
With a 12-run lead in the top of the fifth inning in a CIF-SS D VIII first round game (May 14), the Grizzlies seemed headed to the second round.
Calvary was in the post season after a years’ absence and had everything going against Hawthorne Math & Science Academy with a 26-14 lead heading to the bottom of the fifth. The Grizzlies had just scored 12 runs in the top of the inning.
Four innings later, the Aviators had outscored Calvary, 14-1, through the eighth inning and won the game.
Calvary actually scored a run in the top of the eighth only to see the Aviators walk off with two in the bottom of the inning.
“I have nothing but praise for the Hawthorne team,” Calvary Chapel Softball coach Phil Ledesma said. “We had a (12) run lead in the 5th inning but Hawthorne kept fighting. We took a one-run lead (27-26) in extra innings but they scored two runs to beat us. Both teams hit exceptionally well but we came up on the losing end.”
The Calvary Chapel Baseball team also lost in the first round, 16-7 to Crossroads Christian in CIF D9.
PMA baseball loses first round game to Santiago
In a CIF-SS D9 game, the Warriors, who were in their second consecutive post season game after a 30-year absence, lost a tight, 7-6 game to host Santiago of Garden Grove Tuesday (May 9).
With the loss, PMA finished at .500 (15-15) on the season.
The Warriors took a 5-3 lead in the second inning, but Santiago came from behind and with the score tied, 6-6 in the fifth, the Cavaliers scored a run in the bottom half of the inning to lead, 7-6, and held on for the win.
“(Tuesday) was a tough one, but I’m proud of the way our guys competed,” PMA coach Scott Sovern said. “We jumped out to a 4-0 lead early (first inning), and credit to Santiago for battling their way back. We knew going in it was going to be a fight with the way they had come back in games earlier this season.”
The Warriors took a 4-0 lead in the first, but Santiago answered with three of its own in the bottom half of the inning, to trail, 4-3.
The Warriors added to their lead with a run in the second inning to lead, 5-3.
Santiago scored another three in the third inning to lead, 6-5. However, the never-say-die Warriors tied the game, 6-6, in the fifth inning after Sebastian Perez singled in pinch runner Ahryan Olmos.
Leading the way for the Warriors in the game was freshman Aidan Do with two hits (2 for 4, R), while six other players had one hit each.
“It’s not the outcome we wanted, and losing in the second round hurts, but not everyone gets a season worth remembering,” Mason Sovern said. “We gave everything we had and left it all on the field. I’m proud of our team and everything we accomplished together.
“Our boys fell just short, but you can never question the effort or compete level they showed.”
Adam Gates, Diego Ramirez and Sovern added doubles.
“As tough as this loss is, it was valuable experience for our young core,” Sovern added. “Moments like this help build teams and prepare them for the future. This group learned a lot this season, and they’ll use it as motivation heading into next year. I’m proud of this team and everything they accomplished.
“Our boys fell just short, but you can never question the effort or compete level they showed.”
On the season, Scott Sovern added, “We had a great run this season. This team improved every single day and continued to battle all year long. Our young core carried us in many big moments.
“Sovern, Aidan Do, Michael Buckingham, Diego Ramirez, Abel Hurtado, and Jason Maciel all stepped up and showed what the future of PMA baseball looks like.
“We return 17 of the 20 players in the program and will add a strong incoming freshman class.”
PMA softball loses in first round to Faith Baptist
After missing the playoffs last season, PMA came into the playoffs winning five of its last seven games in the regular season
Unfortunately, the season came to an end in the first round, as host Faith Baptist won 18-4.