LJ softball: Open D5 playoffs Wed., 5/20

By Ed Piper

La Jolla's softball team (8-0 in the Central League, 13-11 overall) enters the Division 5 playoffs Wed., May 20 at home, carrying a 10-game winning streak.

Starting pitcher Jacey Taylor, in the pitching circle because Coach Anthony Sarain doesn't have anyone else--except shortstop Ella Pearl, who usually takes over for Taylor in later innings as another member of the team playing out of position--will have another chance to break La Jolla's school record for home runs in a career.

Jacey (playing for the Vikings 2023-2026) hit three home runs Thurs., May 14, in LJHS's final regular season game against High Tech. That puts her at 27 for her quadrennium at the coastal school, tying Emmy Cardenas (2020-2023).

Taylor, with her third home run in a shortened five-inning game, broke Emmy's single-season record, 12 home runs, with her 13th shot in 2026.

After her first home run on the day, a line drive to center-right, which this reporter witnessed, she came back to the Vikings' dugout and declared, "I didn't think it was going to be a home run."

"We go as far as our pitching takes us," was Sarain's basic statement as his team increased their league-winning advantage over Kearny (4-4), Hoover (4-4), High Tech (3-5), and Crawford (1-7).

Sarain's 2016 team won the CIF Division 4 title, and finished as runner-up the next year.

La Jolla's last league title was 2021, when Cardenas was a sophomore. "They just walked her the next year," said her dad, Rich, of the 2022 season, when the Vikings' cupboard was more bare of talent at multiple positions.

This team has anchors at catcher (junior Aviv Laska), third base (freshman Ellie Thomson), shortstop (Pearl, a sophomore), and centerfield (senior Savannah Putnam). Putnam was named to the all-league team last year.

Taylor and Pearl appear to be in consideration for league Player of the Year, determined the coaches, usually the pennant-winner. They could be named co-Players of the Year, or one solo. It would be unthinkable that Jacey would not be named to at least share that honor. She is the only player in the Viking dugout with more than one home run, and her RBI total (66) more than doubles the next closest player (Aviv, with 31).

Pearl has 12 doubles, Taylor 15.

La Jolla's opponent Wednesday is Orange Glen, who is seeded eighth. (The Vikes are seeded first.) LJHS has homefield advantage throughout the playoffs, since they go in with the top seed.

Southwest (SD) is seeded second and is playing in the lower bracket, to split up the favored teams across the brackets. To show you how fast the team quality falls off, no respect meant for the other squads, Hoover is seeded fourth. La Jolla demolished the Cardinals in league, 24-12 and 26-6.

LJ baseball: Vikings' comments before Senior Game 5/13

By Ed Piper

Before La Jolla's Senior Game Wednesday, May 13, head coach Gary Frank was asked the "mindset" for his players for the impending game against Lincoln, which had won Monday's game, delaying the Vikings' from celebrating the City League title.

Frank was serious--more serious than two days later before the third game against Lincoln.

"We're just going to try to play well and finish our last game," the 30-year head coach said.

Talk about your seniors.

"A great group of kids, like every four years. We've had a great run. We're going to miss them." Seven seniors were honored before the game, with their families walking from third base to home plate, and the individual players walked from first base under bats held over their heads--a La Jolla tradition whose origin this reporter doesn't know--by teammates on each side of the baseline midway to home plate.

Players joined family at the plate, after which Stephanie Alvarez took photos.

Frank was asked, when was your last league title?

"2022, Hank (Hansen's) freshman year." This year's seniors were eighth-graders looking up.

What is a key for today?

"Play our game. Note let the moment be too big. Get one more win today." The Vikings lost, setting up Friday's title-deciding game at Lincoln.

*  *  *

Ryan Khourajian, a midseason transfer from Cathedral Catholic, has had a stellar second half of the season, playing first base and catching.

In Wednesday's (May 13) game, Frank listed Khourajian to start behind the plate, moving Carter Strauss to second base. Ryan: "Obviously, I like catching. It's my main (position), but also first base. I've been playing it (first base) a lot lately. I'm tall (an advantage at first base)."

*  *  *

Seniors and their favorite MLB player, announced during the Senior Game festivities:

Andrew Cardenas - Jackson Merrill, Padres

Harper Lane - Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (retired)

Charlie "Chubs" Martin - Michael Jordan (teammates laughed at this - not known for his baseball!)

Oliver Obler - Travis Jankowski

Luke Cripe - Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres

Zoran Shepanski - Jake Cronenworth, Padres

Renner Smith - Jedd Gyorko, former Padre

LJ softball: Jacey hitting homers 'was great'

By Ed Piper

Emmy Cardenas attended La Jolla's baseball game Friday, May 15, at Lincoln to decide the league title.

Cardenas, the LJHS solo record-holder for home runs in a season and in a career until last week (May 14), was asked about first baseman Jacey Taylor's three home runs in Thursday's game against High Tech High. The trio of blasts broke Emmy's single-season record of 12, setting it to 13. Taylor tied Cardenas' career record at 27 homers.

Smiling, she said, "It was great. I was asking her before the third one, 'Have you ever hit three home runs in a game?' She said, 'No.' I haven't either--I hit two in a game.

"Then she it it (the third homer)."

The first shot was a line drive over the fence in center-right. "I didn't think it was going to go out," said Jacey to her teammates when she got back to the dugout.

After a reporter left, her other two home runs went to center-left, one into the planter with palm trees beyond centerfield.

LJ baseball: 'Just another day at the office'

By Ed Piper

The stage was set, and La Jolla coach Gary Frank was standing outside the slim dugout on the Lincoln High School field Friday afternoon, May 15. He was asked what the team's mindset was, going into the title decider:

"To come out and play a good game, play to the best of our ability, and we should be fine.

"Just another day at the office."

Obviously, the long-time head coach was trying to project calm and to set a tone for his players. They had lost two straight to the Hornets in the three-game series to end the City League schedule, and they needed to change whatever they were doing.

The dugout, before Frank's response to a reporter's query, was eerily quiet. Hopefully, it communicated grit and resolve, but you didn't know if the silence was going to lead to an activated state on the field--after a pair of disappointments earlier in the week, 3-1 and 6-2.

Frank was asked, "Who is a key player or key players in the game today?"

"Every one on the roster. We're going to need 16 deep to win this game today." The Vikings did, by a breath, 7-6.

*  *  *

Senior Andrew Cardenas was slated to start on the mound for La Jolla. Pitching coach Koa Scott described Cardenas' pitch mix:

"Four-seam cutter, two-seam cutter, curveball, and changeup."

How does he have to use his repertoire to be effective?

"Low in the zone, try to get (outs)."

*  *  *

Frank, before that, said what his senior righthander needed to do:

    --"Command the zone."

    --"Pitch to poor contact."

    --"Let our defense do their work."

LJ baseball: Senior Game 5/13

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ track @ CIF D3 Finals @ Canyon Hills - 5/16

Photos by Ed Piper

Leed Smoole (center) wins his heat in the 100 meters

and the Division 3 title at the D3 Finals

Sat., May 16, at Canyon Hills.

Check out the quad muscle

on his left leg as he makes

his last steps before the

finish line.

Janae Stanley-Castillo unleashes a third throw

in the finals of 38'9" to take second place

in the division.

Janae, a junior, with her dad, Ivan Castillo:

"He made breakfast for me this morning. I don't

usually eat breakfast. I didn't like it. He cooked

two eggs, hashed browns, and avocado.

But it was good protein."

The sportswriter/photographer's

choice of Kona ice: five different

flavors, tons of syrup before

the competition. (Note pen in hand.)

LJ baseball 7, Lincoln 6 - decides City League title - 5/15

Senior Andrew Cardenas threw 6 2/3 innings

of ball in the title decider at Lincoln,

bringing the Vikings to the brink of a title.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

In the contentious fourth inning on Lincoln's home field Friday evening, May 15, La Jolla scored five runs against reliever Dom Mendoza to move out to a 6-0 lead.

After a foul popup by Viking Brady Wilson fell uncaught, Hornet coach Jesse De La Torre claimed that his two infielders on the left side, the shortstop and third baseman, had somehow been interfered with by the opposing third-base coach, Viking head coach Gary Frank. The game was delayed while De La Torre went out on the field, pointing and arguing his case with the plate umpire.

With the tension now so thick you could cut it, Lincoln came back with five runs of their own in the bottom of the seventh inning to pin the Vikings' backs against the wall: Could they survive the rally, hold on, and win the City League title after losing two straight games to their rivals down the 805 Monday and Wednesday?

After a courageous six-and-2/3-inning performance by righthander Andrew Cardenas, Frank brought in ace Charlie Smith with one out left to be recorded in the game. After walking pesky catcher/pitcher Oscar Lopez, the sophomore gave up a home run to Mendoza--his third in the three games this week--to bring home a trio of runs.

It was now 7-6, and La Jolla had no more room for error to take home the elusive championship in regulation innings. Smith then calmly induced Ari Estrada, the Hornets' fourth-slot hitter, to pop out to shortstop Brady Wilson, and the bench ran out to mob Charlie and celebrate briefly.

Vikings players stream from the bench to join

players on the field after the final out

at 6:45 p.m.--a long, long game.

It was an almost-bitter victory that will long be remembered in red-and-black circles. The what-if's are horrendous, but thankfully for Frank and gang, the newly-crowned City League champs await Division 3 postseason play Wed., May 20.

*  *  *

In the said fourth inning, Hunter Durfee got aboard on a hit-by-pitch. Mendoza, a sophomore, then walked Reed Turner. Zach Gergurich bunted, fielded by Mendoza in front of the mound. Dominick whirled to throw a laser to get Durfee at third, but he was too late. That loaded the bases.

Brady Wilson flied out to left, temporarily lowering the dial on the momentum. Back to the top of the order, Carter Strauss walked, forcing in the first of the five runs, giving La Jolla a 2-0 lead.

Harper Lane hit a laser that hit off first baseman Isaiah Kellough's glove, and beyond him onto the infield dirt, plating Turner. Charlie Martin, after back-to-back strikeouts earlier, lofted a fly to right, where replaced starter Sebas Estrada was now stationed, for a sacrifice fly, driving in "Snacks" Gergurich.

Ryan Khourajian then singled sharply to right, and the fifth and final run scored in the person of Harper Lane. The Vikings led, 6-0.