Mookie Betts stays hot as Dodgers hammer Giants

• September 20, 2026

LOS ANGELES — Mookie Betts is showing that the view from the top offers a wide range of possibilities.

Hitting in Shohei Ohtani’s leadoff spot for the second consecutive game, Betts’ four-hit performance Saturday topped his three-hit output from Friday and started some serious downhill momentum toward a 10-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants.

The victory kept the Dodgers two games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the best record in the National League with seven games remaining. That includes four games against the Giants, who continue to limp toward the finish line of a miserable, injury-riddled season.

Betts couldn’t be feeling better, with his past two games part of a run of 10 hits over the last three games he has played. After more than two months of looking for an offensive leader, Betts has charged into the role, while reaching base five times Saturday.

The Dodgers also have been transformed by the emergence of Will Smith, who returned at the start of September after three months away because of neck inflammation. He had a home run among his three hits to give him homers in consecutive games, with three over his past eight contests.

There is also 21-year-old rookie Josue De Paula, who has continued to operate with ease since arriving in the major leagues last week. De Paula had a two-run single Saturday and walked twice while scoring two runs.

All of it overshadowed Tarik Skubal’s ninth start for the Dodgers. The two-time American League Cy Young Award winner was far from his best, allowing four runs on eight hits over five innings. His three strikeouts were his fewest in an outing with his new club.

And yet the offense allowed Skubal (11-7) to pick up the win, while improving to 4-2 with a 2.95 ERA for the Dodgers.

The offense was not only productive, it was steady. The Dodgers scored runs in each of the first six innings and when they were held scoreless in the seventh, Betts still reached base with a walk.

Betts opened the game for the Dodgers with a leadoff double and scored on a Max Muncy double. Betts brought home his own run with an RBI single in the second.

The Dodgers received Smith’s home run in the third and got an RBI double from Betts in the fourth but were still tied 4-4 heading into the bottom of the fifth. They blew the game open from there, getting a go-ahead two-run single from Tommy Edman and an RBI pinch-hit single from Miguel Rojas for a 7-4 lead.

They scored three more times in the sixth, getting a Smith RBI single followed by a two-run single from De Paula.

The Dodgers now have a 5-4 lead in the Giants in the season series and are in line for a sweep Sunday, which would be their first against their longtime rival since April of 2024.

More to come on this story.

​ Orange County Register 

Newport Harbor boys water polo reloads with South Coast Tournament title

• September 20, 2026

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NEWPORT BEACH — Caruso Polenzani and Sean Anderson stretched their arms high out of the water at the top of the perimeter as Newport Harbor’s boys water polo team defended a 7-on-6 advantage by Cathedral Catholic in the closing seconds of the South Coast Tournament semifinals on Saturday.

The duo forced a shot toward the middle of the Sailors’ defense and into the chest of 2-meter guard Owen Marks.

Newport Harbor’s defensive stop sealed a dramatic 16-15 victory that ignited a wild celebration not usually seen early in the season.

But it was no ordinary victory for the host Sailors.

And it was no ordinary day for the Orange County powerhouse.

Newport Harbor later defeated Miramonte of Orinda 11-10 in the finals on a perimeter strike by Anderson on the first possession of sudden-death overtime.

The Sailors celebrated a third consecutive South Coast Tournament title and ended Miramonte’s bid to be the first Northern California champion since the tournament began in 1977.

Anderson forced overtime and tied the score 8-8 with a goal from the wing with three seconds left in regulation.

In sudden-death overtime, Cooper Kelly won the sprint that set the stage for Anderson, who scored all four of his goals starting in the fourth period.

Newport Harbor’s dramatic title run as the No. 4 seed began against No. 1 Cathedral Catholic. The Sailors produced a win soaked with significance.

Newport Harbor upsets top-seeded Cathedral Catholic 16-15 in the semis of South Coast Tournament and is fired up! Great sign for a young team on multiple levels @NH_SailorSports pic.twitter.com/cBzZRYVhPI

— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) September 19, 2026

The Sailors avenged a 12-10 loss against Cathedral Catholic in late August at Newport Harbor High.

Polenzani led the Sailors (8-1) by exploding for 10 goals, including the winner on the extra man with 21 seconds left in the fourth period.

The junior snapped a 15-15 tie by scoring off an assist from left-hander Davis Kipp, who earned the exclusion in transition following a save goalie Lian Kim.

If the names of Newport Harbor’s contributors sound new, they should. The two-time defending CIF-SS Open Division champion graduated the starting core from its squad last season and has reloaded with several young players.

In the field, the Sailors started four juniors, one sophomore and a freshman.

Kim is the team’s lone senior.

The first-year starter played a pivotal role against the Dons with eight saves, including a few that sparked goals at the other end of the pool.

Despite their youth, Newport Harbor’s players displayed impressive composure in a riveting semifinal that produced three lead changes and 10 ties.

One of the Sailors’ best responses came in the second period after Cathedral Catholic scored the first three goals to open an 8-5 lead.

After a timeout by Newport Harbor coach Ross Sinclair with 5:35 left in the quarter, the Sailors netted three unanswered goals to tie the score.

Anderson, a junior, netted the first goal and Polenzani scored the next two.

Newport Harbor finished 7 for 9 with the extra attacker and held Cathedral Catholic (7-1) to a 3 for 8 effort.

Kim made three of his saves against the Dons’ power play. He blocked a shot on the counterattack late in the third that kept the score deadlocked 12-12. Moments later, Polenzani scored but the duel stretched deep into the fourth period.

End 3: Newport 14, Cathedral 12 pic.twitter.com/zovrKlfpwd

— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) September 19, 2026

Braylen Axline scored six goals to pace the Dons.

The Newport Harbor-Cathedral Catholic rivalry heated up last season as the schools played six times. The Sailors went 5-1.

Over the summer, a club powered by Cathedral Catholic players defeated Newport Beach in the 18-and-under final at Junior Olympics.

“I’m sure we’ll see them a couple more times,” Cathedral Catholic coach Tommy Corcoran said of Newport Harbor.

​ Orange County Register 

Man O Rose wins again at Los Al, ends rider’s drought

• September 20, 2026

CYPRESS — His confidence shaken by a bad slump, Edwin Maldonado needed something, anything, he could count on. He got it Saturday at Los Alamitos in the familiar four-legged form of Man O Rose.

Bouncing back from a disaster at Del Mar that typified the jockey’s recent fortunes, Man O Rose and Maldonado faced a challenge most of the way in the E.B. Johnston Stakes but pulled away late to win the race for the third year in a row.

It didn’t look as easy as bettors expected in making Man O Rose ($3.40) a heavy favorite, or as easy as when the now 6-year-old gelding won the race for California-breds by open lengths after taking clear leads in 2024 and 2025. Man O Rose won this time by 2-1/4 lengths over Speedy Wilson after fighting off third-place Mr. Disrespectful. The 1:36.13 for 1 mile made this the slowest of the three wins, mostly because of a 25.85 final quarter-mile.

But Maldonado said he never had a doubt. It may have been a while since he felt that way.

“These are the type of horses that keep you around,” Maldonado said. “It’s a tough game, up and down. I was in a little bit of a slump after leaving Del Mar, (but) we’re back in the winner’s circle, thanks to this guy here.”

A little bit? The 43-year-old Maldonado had lost with his past 51 mounts before Saturday’s victory. He went 3 for 71, a 4% win rate, and finished tied for 18th in wins during the Del Mar summer season. His percentage declined for the third major meet in a row since he went 6 for 32 (19%) and tied for eighth at the 2025 Del Mar fall meet.

“It happens to the best of us. You’ve just got to keep your head down and keep working,” said Maldonado, who has long embraced the power of positive thinking and self-help books. The good thing is, from here there’s only way (to go), up. I can’t go any lower than I was.”

In the Los Alamitos winner’s circle, Maldonado held up three fingers to the camera to mark Man O Rose’s triple success in the $75,000 E.B. Johnston.

“It kind of lifts your spirits,” he said. “You need to win. If you’re not winning, nobody wants you.”

Bred and owned by retired oncologist Bruce Zietz of West Hills and trained by Jeff Mullins, Man O Rose won for the 13th time in 22 career starts that have taken him from sprints to miles and dirt to turf.

Last time out at Del Mar, Man O Rose was eased to a last-place finish in the Green Flash Handicap, having surprisingly been allowed to race after breaking through the starting gate, bloodying a foreleg and expending energy by running the length of the backstretch.

Man O Rose had no trouble Saturday.

The two-week Los Alamitos meet, the second of the Orange County track’s three short daytime thoroughbred seasons, ends Sunday.

Kazushi Kimura leads the jockey standings with seven wins, three more than Edgar Payeras and Armando Aguilar; Kimura has no mounts Sunday because of a suspension that allowed him to ride only Speedy Wilson in the final three days, while Pereira and Aguilar are named to ride in all nine races Sunday.

Peter Miller leads the trainer standings with four wins, one more than Jesus Uranga. Miller has a horse in one race Sunday, Uranga three.

​ Orange County Register 

Denis Bouanga sets LAFC scoring record in draw with Earthquakes

• September 20, 2026

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Denis Bouanga scored his franchise-record 79th career regular-season goal for Los Angeles FC on Saturday night in a 2-2 tie with the San Jose Earthquakes.

Reid Roberts scored in the eighth minute of stoppage time for San Jose (12-8-6), which is unbeaten in five straight.

Aaron Long was shown a straight red card in the 36th minute and LAFC (11-8-8) played a man down the rest of the way.

Son Heung-min added a goal and an assist and Hugo Lloris had seven saves for LAFC. Son has five goal contributions (two goals, three assists) in the past four games.

Bouanga, on the counter-attack, put away a first-touch shot off a cross from Son that slipped between the legs of defender Dave Romney to make it 2-0 in the 53rd minute. Bouanga has scored a goal in back-to-back games and moved past Carlos Vela (78) on LAFC’s regular-season goals list.

Son bent a low shot from 24 yards out past the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Angus Gunn and inside the near post to open the scoring in the 34th minute.

Preston Judd put away a header off an entry played into the area by Timo Werner in the 70th for the Earthquakes. Gunn had one save.

Up next

LAFC: Play next Saturday at Dallas.

​ Orange County Register 

Andy Benesh, Taylor Crabb reach AVP Laguna Open semifinals

• September 20, 2026

Andy Benesh and Taylor Crabb showed Saturday why they are the top-seeded men’s team at the AVP Laguna Open.

The duo defeated No. 4 James Shaw and Ryan Wilcox in straight sets, 22-20, 21-16, to advance to Sunday’s semifinals.

“We’ve been playing well this season and we’re trying to continue that,” Benesh said.

Benesh and Crabb opened the tournament with a straight-set victory over No. 16 Cash Adamsen and Jacob Kim, then outlasted No. 9 Hagen Smith and Logan Webber in three sets.

They will play at 1 p.m. Sunday against an opponent to be determined.

The No. 2 team of Chase Budinger and Trevor Crabb also advanced to the semifinals, defeating No. 3 Mathias Berntsen and Hendrik Mol, 21-16, 21-17.

Budinger and Crabb did not drop a set in their three matches Saturday.

“We were very confident coming in here,” Budinger said. “And then we had more of an incentive to win these first matches. We’ve been having to get thrown into the contenders (bracket) and really have to battle in these long tournaments. We did not want that to happen this tournament.”

They opened with straight-set victories over the Nos. 15 and 7 seeds before beating Berntsen and Mol.

Trevor Crabb said he is looking forward to the possibility of meeting his brother Taylor in the final.

“There’s always a rivalry, but it’s nice now that we’re both on the opposite sides of the semis,” Trevor Crabb said.

Crabb and Budinger will also play at 1 p.m. Sunday.

CORY, NEWBERRY ADVANCE DESPITE INJURY

Savannah Cory and Devon Newberry reached the women’s semifinals despite Newberry sustaining an ankle injury earlier in the day.

The second-seeded duo defeated Kylie DeBerg and Hailey Zacca in straight sets, 21-18, 21-17, in their third match Saturday.

“It’s been a grind, so we’re just really, really excited and really proud of the progress we made today,” said Cory, who had a match-high 15 kills and 12 digs. “And we’re hoping we can finish on top tomorrow.”

Cory and Newberry were familiar with many of their opponents after facing them at other tournaments over the past three months, but their path through Saturday’s bracket was hardly easy.

They opened with a straight-set victory over No. 15 Molly Martin and Madison Shields before facing No. 10 Ally Batenhorst and Sara Hughes.

Midway through that match, Newberry needed a medical timeout after injuring her ankle near the net.

“I just kind of fell in a hole, so it kind of just rolled inward,” said Newberry, who still recorded a match-high 12 kills. “So not fun, and honestly, it was probably more scary than in pain. And Sav (Savannah) was the best partner and carried me pretty much through the rest of that match.”

Cory and Newberry still won in straight sets to advance.

Cory said she was surprised they would not have to face either the world’s third-ranked team of Thâmela Coradello and Victoria Lopes of Brazil or top-seeded Kelly Cheng and Megan Kraft after both pairs were eliminated.

Cory said their passing and setting remained consistent throughout the day. Their primary adjustment after Newberry’s injury was for Cory to “play to the left side,” reducing how much Newberry needed to jump.

Cory and Newberry will play in the semifinals at noon Sunday against an opponent to be determined.

​ Orange County Register 

UFC 331: Sean Sharaf shocks the world with 12-second KO

• September 20, 2026

LOS ANGELES — You could say Sean Sharaf had a puncher’s chance. Not that anyone was giving him one.

But the Anaheim native and Santa Ana heavyweight made his biggest punch count, finding the chin of heavily hyped prospect Gable Steveson and recording a jaw-dropping 12-second knockout on the UFC 331 main card Saturday at Crypto.com Arena.

Sharaf, 33, was 0-2 in the UFC and as high as a 12-to-1 underdog but was undeterred all fight week long.

As Steveson (4-1) led with a left in the opening seconds of their bout, Sharaf (5-2) cracked him on the jaw with a hellacious left hook. Steveson’s head snapped back and he tumbled backward and fell. The crowd roared as Sharaf followed with two punches before referee Frank Trigg called it off.

In an exclusive interview Tuesday, Sharaf, who served in the Marines for six years, said he saw the fight as his chance to shock the world.

“Everyone sees it as like, ‘Oh, it’s a big name. You should be scared,’” Sharaf said. “But I see it as this big opportunity for me to take everything and all the hype that he has right now and make it my own.”

Not only was Sharaf’s UFC career possibly on the line, but it was against a guy seen as a can’t-miss future champ after his days of being a five-time All-American wrestler at Minnesota and 2020 Olympic gold medalist.

And Sharaf called his shot four days ago: “Most of my life, I’ve been the underdog. Nothing new. Back against the wall, ready to shock the world.”

Shahbazyan shines

And they say you can’t go home again.

Five years after moving to Las Vegas to better his life and career, Glendale native Edmen Shahbazyan returned with a unanimous-decision victory over tough middleweight Brunno Ferreira.

The fight seemed to hang in the balance of the third and final round, with Shahbazyan capitalizing with a late, brief takedown of the Brazilian and two knockdowns in the final seconds.

The judges scored it 29-28, 29-28, 30-27 for Shahbazyan, who has now won four of his past five fights.

In his first local fight since a 30-second TKO of Daniel McWilliams in April 2018 at California Xtreme Fighting 12 in Burbank, Shahbazyan (17-6) had the support of the local crowd early and often and called out his Armenian brethren after the fight.

“I’m gonna celebrate tonight. You know where I’ll be. Glendale Burbank!” the smiling 28-year-old Shahbazyan yelled.

The fight started patiently and technically, with Shahbazyan utilizing calf kicks to keep Ferreira (15-5) away and off balance. Ferreira got more active in the second round, getting in more strikes and appearing to even the scorecards.

The action was fairly even in the third before Shahbazyan picked up the pace. He secured a body lock and landed a quick takedown. In the final minute, Ferreira went for a spinning move and Shahbazyan clipped him at the tail end of it with a left to the jaw, Ferreira hit the mat briefly.

After the clap signifying the bout’s final seconds, they traded shots, with Shahbazyan again dropping Ferreira with a hard right, as a result handing him his third consecutive loss.

Vera rises to the occasion

Marlon Vera needed a win in the worst way and came through.

The Newport Beach bantamweight, as an underdog to Charles Jourdain and having lost three in a row, stepped up in a must-win fight and delivered a masterful performance in a third-round victory.

Vera (24-12-1) caught several Jourdain kicks and made the Canadian pay. He also went for the Muay Thai clinch in the center of the Octagon, slinging knees, fists, elbows and anything that would get through.

One uppercut from close range in the second round put Jourdain (18-9-1) down. And in that round, Vera cracked a downed Jourdain’s head back and also made him pay with a stiff left.

The end came more than halfway through the final round. A Vera left to the nose had Jourdain withering and falling to the canvas, signaling to the referee with 2:02 remaining that he was done.

Vera, who switched up his camp and coaches in an effort to right his career, knelt in the Octagon afterward, overcome with emotion.

Jourdain came into the fight on a three-fight winning streak – all taking place in his home country – with two Performance of the Night bonuses and a Fight of the Night bonus.

Menifield pushes past the pain

Nothing was stopping Alonzo Menifield.

His thumb broken in the first round, the L.A. native and light heavyweight toiled for two more rounds and earned a split-decision victory over previously unbeaten Iwo Baraniewski.

Menifield (19-6-1), a former football star at Canyon High and Glendale Community College, was going up against a 9-0 prospect that had never needed to go beyond four minutes in any of his fights.

Instead, Menifield had the Pole’s nose bleeding before the first round was over. After the second round of their slobberknocker, the broadcast caught Menifield’s injury, with the bone sticking through his left thumb.

And in the third round, Menifield still threw his left, not backing down against his tiring opponent. The judges scored it 28-29, 29-28, 29-28 for the Dallas 205-pounder.

Gandra works quickly again

Ryan Gandra connected. Ryan Gandra chased.

Once the Brazilian middleweight clocked Ozzy Diaz and the Los Angeles native began to retreat, it was the beginning of the end as Gandra hunted him down before earning the first-round knockout.

Diaz (10-5), who now lives and trains in Las Vegas, was backpedaling against the cage and doing his best to defend, but Gandra (11-1) was relentless. Eventually, Diaz had no other option but to sink toward the mat. Gandra unleashed power shot after power shot,  with the referee jumping in to stop it after 2:04.

Now 3-0 with three first-round knockouts in the UFC, Gandra extended his winning streak to 10 with all but one via finishes. Diaz lost for the third time in four UFC fights.

Brito wastes no time

One slip was all it took for Joanderson Brito to take advantage.

Giga Chikadze, a former kickboxing star, unleashed three consecutive kicks before missing on the fourth. The Huntington Beach featherweight slipped and fell and the Brazilian pounced, dropping rights and hammerfists for the first-round stoppage.

Referee Frank Trigg stopped the fight just 1:57 into the first round. It is the fourth consecutive loss for the 38-year-old Chikadze (15-7) and the third win in a row for Brito (20-5-1).

​ Orange County Register 

No. 12 USC football holds off Rutgers’ upset bid

• September 20, 2026

PISCATAWAY, New Jersey — The USC football team never trailed as a 22.5-point favorite against Rutgers Saturday, but never got comfortable either in a 42-35 victory.

King Miller rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown for USC. Quarterback Jayden Maiava passed for 277 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and Prophet Brown made the biggest play of the game with a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown, putting USC up 27-14.

USC improved to 4-0 ahead of next week’s Big Ten test against Oregon (3-1) in Los Angeles.

Rutgers had lost to UMass and Boston College in its first two game, but was never out of striking range.

Rutgers quarterback Dylan Lonergan passed for three touchdowns and running back Antwan Raymond rushed for 122 yards and a score.

Rutgers executed a fake punt to keep a second-quarter touchdown drive alive and amassed 460 total yards, one less than the Trojans.

The Trojans need to shore up their defense to compete with high-powered offenses like Oregon, Ohio State and Indiana in Big Ten play. USC gave up five plays of 20 yards or more against Rutgers. In three games, USC has allowed its opponents to score 10 of 13 times in the red zone.

Trojans star freshman receiver Trent Mosley sat out with a knee injury. Fellow freshman Kayden Dixon-Wyatt had five catches for 77 yards.

Rutgers has held a lead for just 2:54 this season. That came when it scored on its opening drive in a 37-21 loss to UMass in the first game and never led against Boston College and USC. Turnovers continue to be a major issue. The Scarlet Knights have a -7 turnover margin after Lonergan’s two picks Saturday, including the interception by Prophet Brown for a TD.

​ Orange County Register 

Dodgers’ Andy Pages on track to return Tuesday

• September 20, 2026

LOS ANGELES – Andy Pages went through the paces Saturday afternoon, grinding through an intense on-field workout in the clearest sign yet that he will be ready to return Tuesday to open the final home series of the regular season.

Pages wore a fitness tracker, similar to what soccer players use to monitor all aspects of physical fitness. Coaches and staff put Pages through an estimated five simulated innings all in a compressed window of time.

The All-Star center fielder not only tested his broken left hand, but he also pushed his physical fitness to the limits.

Pages went from hitting to defense to base running and then doing it all over again to make sure he is ready for the rigors of play next week. His return is expected to come in the opener of a three-game series against the San Diego Padres.

While that kind of energy output is typically done in a rehab game, there aren’t many minor league options remaining this late in the season.

One thing Pages will not get is the chance to hit off a pitcher at full velocity.

“I think that from what I understand, we don’t have really any available arms,” manager Dave Roberts said about the prospect of a live batting practice session. “A lot of our guys are playing in playoff games in the minors, and we have (Eric) Lauer, who’s on the IL. So, we don’t really have anyone.”

It is not ideal for a player coming off the uncertainty that comes with a hand injury. But Pages did show that his hand soreness has subsided enough to hit multiple balls over the outfield wall.

“I’m expecting good at-bats,” Roberts said. “I can’t speak to the performance. I just want him to have good at-bats, and I’m not sure where he’s going to hit. Somewhere middle to the bottom (of the order), I think. I think I’m waiting just like you guys are waiting to see how it looks.”

The Dodgers close the season with six consecutive games, including the season-ending series at San Francisco next weekend.

“Six in a row, and that seems pretty aggressive (for Pages),” Roberts said. “So, I think that we do want to get him as many at-bats as possible, but we have to make sure that his legs are under him, feeling good, so we don’t go backward or get injured in that respect. It is going to be a balancing act and just keeping a keen eye on Andy, for sure.”

Regardless of what his swing looks like, the Dodgers still trust him in center field. After all, his World Series-saving catch in Game 7 last season came as a late-inning defensive replacement.

“Playing a premium position and playing it well is hugely important,” Roberts said.

ROTATING THE ROTATION

Left-hander Blake Snell is not expected to pitch in the upcoming series against the Padres, but he has not been ruled out for the series against the Giants next weekend.

Snell left his start Thursday after one inning at Cincinnati because of groin discomfort.

“He’s trending very well,” Roberts said about Snell’s recovery in recent days.

Right-hander Roki Sasaki is expected to pitch in the upcoming series against the Padres, although his role has not yet been specified. There is a chance Sasaki could start a game against San Diego, or come out of the bullpen, which had been his expected role in the postseason.

“it will be multiples for sure,” Roberts said about Sasaki’s innings count. “I just don’t know exactly when.”

A LEADING MAN

Shohei Ohtani is still expected to return to play before the regular season ends next Sunday, although there remains no target date.

In the meantime, the Dodgers continue to weigh their options in the leadoff spot. Tommy Edman was there immediately after Ohtani went on the injured list earlier this month, Josue De Paula took a turn there and Mookie Betts has been the latest to stake a claim.

Betts hit two home runs from the leadoff spot Friday and was back at the top of the lineup Saturday.

“Yeah, I think that certainly there is an uncertainty with Shohei, all the while expecting him to be back,” Roberts said. “But you do got to kind of prepare for whatever, and I just think that Mookie’s swinging the bat well, has hit there many times throughout his career, so it just kind of makes sense.”

Betts had three hits Wednesday at Cincinnati and three more Friday against the Giants in the leadoff spot, including two home runs. He is batting .356 with six home runs and 18 RBIs in 15 September games.

ALSO

The Dodgers are expected to select a pitcher to pick up bulk innings Sunday in a hybrid bullpen game against the Giants, but the exact plan remains undetermined.

UP NEXT

Giants (TBA) at Dodgers (TBA), Sunday, 1:10 p.m.), SportsNet LA, 570 AM, 1020 AM

​ Orange County Register