Prep roundup: teams wrapping up their seasons

DOWNEY - The Downey High School baseball team currently has an overall record of 15-13 and finished league play with a record of 6-9.The Vikings are the number four entry in the C.I.F. Division III playoffs from the San Gabriel Valley League. Gahr (20-5, 13-2) was the league champion and number one entry. Paramount (18-9, 12-3) was the number two entry and Warren (19-9, 9-6) was the number three entry. Downey played in a wildcard game on Tuesday against Rialto (17-10, 11-4) at Rialto and won 7-0 behind a strong pitching effort from Randy Labaut. The Vikings traveled to Palm Desert yesterday for their first round matchup at Palm Desert (20-8, 11-1). The score was unavailable at press time. Downey has won four of their last five games, including their wildcard win Tuesday. Downey defeated Dominguez 12-0 at Dominguez on 4/30, defeated Dominguez 11-0 at Downey on 5/3, defeated Lynwood 5-2 at Downey on 5/7 and lost to Lynwood 5-0 at Lynwood on 5/9.

*The Downey High School boys' volleyball season came to an end last Thursday against top seeded Camarillo at Downey, 25-18, 25-21 and 25-17 in the second round of the C.I.F. Division III playoffs. Downey defeated Santa Ana at Downey on May 7, 25-17, 25-13 and 25-21 in their first round matchup. The Vikings finished their season with an overall record of 18-8 and a league record of 5-3. Coach Rand said he was pleased with his team's hard work and effort. Rand maintains that "our success is based upon good kids working hard."

*The Downey High School softball team currently has an overall record of 20-10 and finished league play with a record of 7-3. The Lady Vikings are the number three entry in the C.I.F. Division III playoffs from the San Gabriel Valley League. Warren (20-7, 9-1) was the league champion and number one entry and Paramount (13-11, 8-2) earned the number two entry. Downey is currently ranked 17th in the C.I.F. Division III poll and are ranked seventh in the latest Long Beach Press-Telegram area poll. Downey played Tuesday at Santa Fe (12-11) in a wildcard game and defeated the Lady Chiefs 11-5 behind a strong pitching effort from Anissa Hamilton. The Lady Vikings lost a double header to the Lady Chiefs earlier this season, 4-3 and 7-4, at Santa Fe. The Lady Vikings faced Division III top seed Highland (24-4) at Highland yesterday in the first round of the playoffs (score unavailable at press time).

*The Downey Calvary Chapel softball team are the number two seed in the C.I.F. Division V playoffs. The Lady Grizzlies finished their regular season with an overall record of 20-4 and a league record of 8-0. The Lady Grizzlies are the 2013 Alpha League champions. DCC hosted Lompoc (12-10-1, 7-5) on Thursday at Columbus High School (score unavailable at press time). Lompoc defeated Azusa (9-12, 7-7) 12-1 in a wildcard game on Tuesday to advance. The Lady Grizzlies will continue to ride the strong right arm of pitcher Larissa Petakoff (Colorado State) throughout the playoffs. Senior standouts catcher Sydney Colenzo (Cal State Fullerton) and shortstop Bridget Castro (Utah) continue to lead the charge for the DCC C.I.F. Division V title run. The Lady Grizzlies were C.I.F. Division VI champions in 2011.

*The Warren High School softball team finished their regular season with an overall record of 20-7 and a league record of 9-1 to win the San Gabriel Valley League championship. Warren hosted a first round playoff game yesterday against Kaiser (15-12, 9-6). There was no score available at press time. Kaiser defeated Knight (14-9, 9-5) on Tuesday in a wildcard game. The Bears are ranked 7th in the latest C.I.F. Division III poll but are not seeded for the playoffs. Highland is seeded first, Burbank is seeded second, California is seeded third and Bishop Amat is seeded fourth, respectively. The Bears have been playing well and Coach Starksen is pleased with the improvement she has seen as the season has moved forward. The Bears are looking forward to making a deep run in the C.I.F. Division III playoffs.

*The Warren High School girls' swim team has seen their season come to a close. The Bears finished C.I.F. last weekend in Riverside and had several standout swimmers receive attention for their efforts. Four Lady Bear swimmers returned to compete in the finals. Valerie Orozco placed 11th in the 200 IM and 6th in the Butterfly. Kim Shepherd placed 16th in the 500 Freestyle. Valerie Orozco, Kayla Casas, Kim Sheperd and Destiny Hernandez placed 11th in the 400 Freestyle relay. According to Coach Cordero, new school records were set in the 100 Butterfly, 500 Freestyle and the 400 Freestyle relay. Cordero further said that "every race was a best time, with the most impressive race being the best for last. The 400 Freestyle relay dropped 5 seconds from their season best time." Cordero concluded by saying that "the team finished 20th of 50 scoring teams there. A respectable finish given that we moved up a division in swimming this year." Warren boy standout swimmer Brandon Yi finished in 11th place in the 100 Breaststroke. Yi's time of 1:03.74 marked his personal best time. Warren Boys' coach Rick Nichols is proud of his senior's accomplishment and how hard he has worked to get there.

*The Warren High School baseball team finished their season with an overall record of 19-9 and a league record of 9-6. Warren, the number three team form the S.G.V.L., was defeated at home Tuesday by Cathedral City (14-15, 6-6) 5-0 in a wildcard game for the C.I.F. Division III playoffs. The Bears made a nice run this season by winning 12 straight games and 18/19 at one point. The Bears led the San Gabriel Valley League standings from the beginning of league play until the next to last week of the season. Tough late season losses to Paramount and Gahr had the Bears finish in third place in the final league standings. Coach Pearson had a young team this season with several standout underclassmen who will return next year with more experience and skill under their belts. Things are certainly looking up and heading in the right direction for Warren baseball.

*The Warren High School boys' volleyball team has seen their season come to an end as well. The Bears finished their season with an overall record of 20-8 and a league record of 8-0. The Bears are the 2013 San Gabriel Valley League champions. Warren defeated Placentia Valencia at home on 5/7 by the scores of 25-20, 25-16 and 25-17 in the first round of the C.I.F. Division III playoffs. The Bears then defeated San Marino at San Marino on 5/9 by the scores of 21-25, 25-16, 25-22 and 25-22. The Bears played a nailbiter at Crossroads last Saturday in the third round and came up short. Warren lost in five sets 19-25, 24-26, 25-20, 27-25 and 18-16. Coach Simons is very proud of his team and the strides they made this season. Warren will reload for next season and once again put another quality team on the court.

********** Published: May 16, 2013 - Volume 12 - Issue 05