LJ baseball: The prize - 8 hours of driving

By Ed Piper

La Jolla, by winning Tuesday's (May 19) CIF play-in game at Vista, gets rewarded with an eight-hour, four-hours-each-way drive to Blythe today, May 20, to face Palo Verde in the first "real" round of the Division 3 playoffs.

Said Paolo Bregant, with an injured shoulder, at Monday's (May 18) Padres-Dodgers game at Petco Park, where I ran into him on the trolley, "Palo Verde is (supposed to be) pretty good."

Said someone in the Vikings' dugout Tuesday during the win over host Vista, "Even El Centro hates to play Palo Verde" (because of the long drive).

This reporter is not going to drive there. (In fact, at this writing, 12:27 p.m., I would never make the four-hour drive in time for the start of the game in Blythe.) Some of the La Jolla side attendees yesterday were talking about going: principal Chuck Podhorsky, who said motel rooms were $59 if he stayed overnight; Rich Cardenas, father of Andrew and Emily, wasn't sure, but I can't imagine him not going; Jose Arzate, the father of probable starter Will Griebe-Arzate, said he couldn't go due to work.

My Google Maps app on my iPhone says the 148 miles to PVVHS ("Valley" comes after Palo Verde) would take three hours, 40 minutes. My wife thought I was going to go when I called her driving home to Clairemont from Vista and told her the distance. I said no.

The route, which I have never taken from San Diego, goes east on I-8, exit near Holtville (for the annual wrestling tournament) on Highway 111, north on Highway 115, east on the continuation of the 78 (which begins in North County in Oceanside), and north on South Lovekin Blvd. Insane.

Instead, I'll take the easy drive from Rancho Bernardo, back to the Clairemont area, on to La Jolla High, for the softball team's opening Division 5 playoff game at home.

LJ baseball: Avenging a 17-0 loss

By Ed Piper

Johnny Agbulos, La Jolla assistant coach, said before the Vikings' play-in game at Vista Tues., May 19, "In 2016 (when he was a senior in high school), we lost to Vista 17-0. We got one hit.

"They (the host Panthers) earned it. It was in Division 1."

Said the fifth-year coach: "La Jolla lost to Poway in the CIF semis. Now it's up to the 2026 Viking team to avenge that loss."

Quite a history. An ancient era for today's student-athletes. But Agbulos let everyone know about the bigger picture, during Head Coach Gary Frank's tenure (which goes way back).

*  *  *

LJ baseball 8, Vista 4 - D3 play-in round - 5/19

Harper Lane runs to the plate, followed closely

by Charlie Martin, as Coach Gary Frank (far right)

signals to hold up Ryan Khourajian (not in view)

at third base. Joseph Crudo had the big blow,

a two-run double in the top of the first

as La Jolla broke out to a 2-0 lead at Vista.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Joseph Crudo had a key knock with a two-run double as La Jolla scored three runs in the top of the first and went on to defeat Vista, 8-4, in a CIF Division 3 play-in round game Tuesday, May 19.

A teammate said Crudo had a "career day" after the second baseman hit the double, a single, and another double from the fifth slot in the order during the postseason game.

After experiencing offensive troubles against Lincoln in losses earlier last week, then scoring five runs in the fourth Friday to clinch the City League title by the narrowest of margins over the Hornets (half a game in the standings), Coach Gary Frank's Vikings put up three runs in the first inning, then three more in the fourth, to win going away over the host Panthers on a hot Vista day.

Against starter Seth Coleman, Harper Lane walked after Carter Strauss, leading off with a walk, was thrown out trying to steal in the top of the first.

Charlie Martin singled, then Ryan Khourajian--sporting a 1.148 OPS--followed with another single off the righthander to load the bases.

Crudo, a junior hitting .404, looking calm but determined, doubled over leftfielder Sonny Prue's head to plate Lane and Martin. Frank, coaching third base, held up Khourajian on third as the throw came in.

The Vikings weren't done, though. Hunter Durfee bounced a hard single into right field, bringing Khourajian in to score. Reed Turner lined out sharply to third baseman Noah Huezo to end the inning. The visitors led, 3-0.

Panther the pig (my name for him) in the Ag Dept.

at Vista High waits  before the start of the

Vikings-Vista play-in game Tuesday afternoon.

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) opens the Division 5 playoffs Wed., May 20 at home, riding 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 of the season.

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, 2015.

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 by 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 home field 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 spread 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."