2 detained as persons of interest in fatal shooting in Cerritos

• March 12, 2025

CERRITOS — A man and a woman considered persons of interest in a fatal shooting on a bicycle trail in the Coyote Creek Riverbed in Cerritos were detained, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announced Tuesday.

The duo was detained by officers from the Fullerton and Anaheim police departments Monday following a chase, according to the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for potential filing and formal charges, authorities said.

Deputies initially responded west of Carmenita Road on the bike path of the Coyote Creek Riverbed around 12:30 p.m. Feb. 25 to reports of shots fired, the Sheriff’s Information Bureau reported.

Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics arrived at the location to render medical assistance but pronounced the victim dead at the scene. He was later identified as Cuauhtemoc Garcia Zuniga, 66.

It was unclear what motivated the shooting.

Anyone with additional information about the fatal shooting was urged to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org

​ Orange County Register 

Ducks fade late in loss to league-leading Capitals

• March 12, 2025

ANAHEIM — The Ducks stepped into the ring with one of the NHL’s best and biggest teams and proved once again they could now go blow-for-blow with the heavyweights, though at the end of the night, they were the ones on the mat.

They fell to the Washington Capitals, 7-4, on Tuesday night at Honda Center in a seesaw affair that became the Caps’ fifth straight win, keeping them in a points tie with the Winnipeg Jets in the Presidents’ Trophy race.

Drew Helleson, Pavel Mintyukov and Frank Vatrano notched a goal and an assist apiece for the Ducks. Jacob Trouba also scored. Lukáš Dostál made 36 saves.

Washington’s Aliaksei Protas continued his breakout season with a hat trick. Former King Pierre-Luc Dubois had a goal and two assists. Dylan Strome, Nic Dowd and Anthony Beauvillier also scored. Alex Ovechkin didn’t add to his hot pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s career NHL goals record (he remains nine goals from passing Gretzky’s mark of 894), but he did chip in three assists. Tom Wilson and Brandon Duhaime each contributed two helpers. Logan Thompson stopped 25 shots.

“If it was a fight, both teams were punching in the third period, back and forth, it was actually a really entertaining game to watch,” Ducks coach Greg Cronin said. “I’m sure the fans enjoyed it, but we have to learn from [it].”

The final frame was a thriller with six total goals scored.

Before Protas deposited his empty-netter, Beauvillier had iced the victory for Washington by way of his goal with 1:36 to play, with the outcome in question to that point.

Dowd had put the Capitals ahead after Leo Carlsson’s missed connection with Trouba in the neutral zone created an odd-man-rush goal, and a game-winner, for the Caps at 13:25.

“The winning goal was on a turnover, and it was needless, we just should have moved the puck forward and put it deep. We had momentum,” Cronin said.

Vatrano had knotted the score with a short-side snipe, 6:18 into the third period, giving him his third consecutive 20-goal season.

Early on, the two sides exchanged goals in a 28-second span between Mintyukov’s flinger from the blue line at 4:26 for the Ducks and Protas’ second goal of the night at 4:54. He was left unattended on the doorstep after cruising past a stationary Alex Killorn.

The middle frame saw the Capitals maintain territorial control and establish it on the scoreboard with the period’s only goal.

It could have been worse for the hosts, but Dostál stood tall and, at times, on his head. He was “terrific,” Cronin said.

He made a glove save on Taylor Raddysh’s against-the grain shot, marked for one post as Dostál moved toward the other. His full, desperate extension allowed him to knock the puck down with his glove. He had robbed Raddysh in the first period as well on a deft deflection that defined high-danger.

Cronin said the second period was when the Capitals’ easily-identified advantages in size and experience shined through, and that he was proud of his team’s response in that third as a result.

“In the second period, they got it deep and they pinned us in our zone. They’re physical and they’re strong and they’re all connected,” Cronin said. “They let the puck do the work most of the time, then they barrel their way to the net, and they challenge your will to compete.”

Dubois’ go-ahead goal and three-point showing hastened a scoring pace that already had him on track for a career high after enduring his worst campaign in the NHL a year ago with the Kings. After being buried behind the net by Radko Gudas and Sam Colangelo, Dubois rose to his feet, circled in front and tipped the shot of another former King, Matt Roy, in for a goal.

“It was fun, a lot of back and forth, and I thought a lot of guys played well. There’s 2-1 tight games, and then there’s [7-4] tight games,” Dubois said.

The Capitals played imposingly for much of the first period, accumulating a 19-8 advantage in shots on goal. But a swarming swath of the first 20 minutes got the Ducks through them tied, 2-2, with each team holding a lead early.

With 1:46 showing on the clock, the Capitals tied the score after Dubois won a faceoff, leading to an Ovechkin shot attempt that was blocked by the foot of Radko Gudas. Gudas went to the ice in pain, at which point Protas pounced and rifled a shot past Dostál.

The Ducks had gone up 2-1 on Helleson’s fourth goal of the season, half of which have come in the past two games, a kneeling one-timer at the 5:20 mark.

They had equalized behind Trouba’s first goal as a Duck. Troy Terry navigated the neutral zone and later received the puck back below the goal line from Frank Vatrano. Terry spotted Trouba between the hash marks for a shot and then a follow-up bid, 29 seconds before Helleson’s goal.

“We had spurts where we were playing good, but for the most part I don’t think we had our best game, and we still hung with the best team in the league,” Helleson said. “That shows confidence. But there’s no moral wins, because points are huge at this time of year.”

Strome, the brother of Ducks center Ryan Strome, got the puck rolling with a goal just 2:07 after the opening faceoff. Ovechkin’s outlet for Wilson created a two-on-two rush with the Ducks scrambling and Strome skating past the mark of Trevor Zegras.

The Ducks will go from the throwers to the sprinters, in track-and-field terms, as they traveled Tuesday night for Wednesday’s meeting with speedy Utah HC in Salt Lake City.

​ Orange County Register 

MANÁ expands record-breaking Kia Forum residency with four Inglewood shows

• March 12, 2025

Following their recent historic Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nomination, iconic Mexican rock band MANÁ is returning to Inglewood this fall as part of their highly anticipated Vivir Sin Aire Tour.

The band will perform four nights at the Kia Forum on Nov. 14-15 and Nov. 21-22, further cementing their legacy in the city’s live music history.

With these performances, MANÁ will set a new record for the most arena concerts ever played in Los Angeles, surpassing Bruce Springsteen’s long-standing record of 42 shows. The Vivir Sin Aire Tour—named after one of their most popular songs—will take the band to 21 cities across North America, launching Sept. 5 in San Antonio, TX. The tour will also mark their first-ever stops in Nashville, St. Louis, Baltimore, Montreal, and Detroit, alongside multi-night runs in Chicago, Dallas, Phoenix, San Jose, and Miami.

Tickets for the general public will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, March 14 at Ticketmaster.com.

Known for their powerful lyrics, high-energy performances, and deep connection to their fans, MANÁ continues to be a defining force in Latin rock. Their latest tour promises a fresh production while celebrating their biggest hits from across their four-decade career.

These concerts will make MANÁ the first all-Spanish-language band to be nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a milestone that underscores their lasting influence in Latin rock and beyond. Their nomination is a testament to the band’s decades-long impact, paving the way for Latin artists in mainstream rock. The 2025 inductees will be announced in late April, marking a historic moment for MANÁ and Latin music as a whole.

Beyond the music, the band is using this tour to give back. A portion of ticket sales will support the newly created MANÁ “Latinas Luchonas” program, honoring the legacy of vocalist Fher Olvera’s late mother, Rosario Sierra. In partnership with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, the initiative will provide scholarships, mentorship, and resources for Latina entrepreneurs.

​ Orange County Register 

Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki appears poised to thrive in MLB

• March 12, 2025

GLENDALE, Ariz. — While Roki Sasaki’s pitching exploits in Japan are legendary, there is at least one person close to him who is sure the best is yet to come.

For a pitcher who fired a perfect game in 2022 as a member of the Chiba Lotte Marines, then followed it in the next outing with eight more perfect innings, the idea that there is more to offer borders on the absurd.

The Dodgers will find out soon enough after Sasaki officially was named the team’s starter for the second game of the season on March 19 in Tokyo against the Chicago Cubs.

If anybody should know Sasaki’s potential, it would be Tadahito Iguchi. The former World Series winner as the starting second baseman for the 2005 Chicago White Sox was Sasaki’s manager for the pitcher’s first three seasons in the Japan Pacific League from 2021-23.

Iguchi was the one who made the somewhat controversial decision to remove Sasaki from an April 17, 2022, start against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, when his young pitcher was three outs away from a second consecutive perfect game.

In the perfect game and the eight-inning follow-up, Sasaki had a combined 33 strikeouts in 17 innings. And the way Iguchi sees it, more domination will come, in time.

“He is, of course, in the middle of his development right now and he will be improving throughout the year,” Iguchi said through an interpreter, in between watching Shohei Ohtani at-bats in a recent Cactus League game. “That is the goal, the next step.

“His potential, nobody knows his future potential. The fastball and forkball combination is great. If he can play throughout the year, he will be a strong contributor to the team.”

After pitching three Cactus League innings against the Cincinnati Reds in support of starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto last week, while reaching 99 mph and retiring six of the last seven batters he faced, Sasaki made his first start and final Arizona appearance against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday and thrived.

The right-hander gave up a lone single over four scoreless innings with two walks and two strikeouts. He did not allow a run over his seven Cactus League innings.

“There were a few things that didn’t go the way I wanted today,” Sasaki admitted through an interpreter. “I sort of reverted to some bad habits. But to have those come out in a game before Opening Day, so that I can adjust them in time, is a good thing.”

The Dodgers will have to open a 40-man roster spot in order to add Sasaki when the final roster is due before the March 18 season opener.

“He earned the spot,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, whose new contract became official on Tuesday. “I’m very proud of him. For a young player to pitch for the Dodgers, obviously he’s talented and we’re excited to have him. I think it’s going to be great for him. It’s great for us. It gives us a great chance to win and it’s great for baseball.”

HIGH FIVE

Roberts named Dustin May the Dodgers’ No. 5 starter, rewarding him after a difficult rehab process from Tommy John surgery, that also included extended downtime for an esophageal tear. May last pitched in the major leagues on May 17, 2023.

Fellow fifth-starter candidate Tony Gonsolin tweaked his back lifting weights in recent days, making the Dodgers’ decision an easier one. Roberts said Gonsolin will open the season on the injured list and will remain in Arizona to resume his progression toward being a starter.

May also will remain in Arizona when the team travels to Japan. He will rejoin the club for the March 23-25 Freeway Series exhibition games against the Angels. The day of his 2025 regular-season debut is still being decided.

While Yamamoto and Sasaki will make starts in Japan Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow will fill the Nos. 3 and 4 slots, with Roberts declining to say which pitcher gets which spot.

HAVE A CATCH

As Shohei Ohtani’s bullpen sessions have been put on hold, while he attempts to return to pitching this season, he has participated in a pair of flat-ground throwing sessions on the outfield grass to a catcher.

The most recent flat-ground session came Tuesday morning when Ohtani was throwing in the 88-90 mph range, while using his complete arsenal of pitches.

The Dodgers still have not pinpointed a return to the mound after Ohtani had a second major elbow surgery in late 2023, but it is not expected to come until after April at the earliest. His bullpen sessions from a mound are delayed at least until the team returns from Japan.

“He’s been throwing. He hasn’t stopped throwing. But I don’t know when he’s going to throw his next bullpen,” Roberts said. “… He understood the process. He’s ramped up with the hitting and to let that (pitching) part of the process slow down and not intensify both things, he was on board.”

MILLER PLAN

Bobby Miller will continue his preparations for the season after the team departs by advancing to a two-inning, 30-pitch simulated game in the coming days. Miller’s most recent appearance was a 20-pitch live batting practice.

Miller has not pitched in a game setting since he was hit in the head by a comebacker from the Cubs’ Michael Busch in a Feb. 20 Cactus League game.

The 25-year-old is looking to rebound this season after he struggled to a 2-4 record with an 8.52 ERA in 13 major-league starts and had 30 walks in 56 innings pitched.

SLOW PROGRESSION

While the Dodgers have not confirmed their 31-player traveling party for the Japan trip, Roberts did reveal that infielder Hyeseong Kim will not be a part of it. Roberts said the new addition from South Korea will open the season at Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Kim participated in each of the final seven Cactus League games, mostly off the bench, and went 0 for 2 with a strikeout Tuesday, while batting .207 in the spring with a .613 on-base percentage.

“The last four days have been really good for him,” Roberts said of Kim, who spent time in center field. “He looks much more comfortable at bat. The defense has been really good, and we feel that it is most important for him to stay here, get at-bats and play in games to help him get ready for the season.”

NOTE

Mookie Betts did not participate in either of the final two Cactus League games, with Roberts saying his shortstop was dealing with an illness Tuesday.

​ Orange County Register 

Dodgers rout Indians in their Cactus League finale

• March 12, 2025

THE GAME: The Dodgers scored nine runs over the first three innings and finished off a 10-4 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in a Cactus League game on Tuesday in Glendale, Arizona.

PITCHING REPORT: Roki Sasaki gave up one hit over four scoreless innings in an efficient 41-pitch outing in advance of his major league debut on March 19 against the Cubs in Tokyo. He walked two with two strikeouts and threw some extra pitches in the bullpen before departing to the clubhouse. … Landon Knack followed by allowing three runs on three hits over 2⅓ innings. … Blake Treinen gave up a run over two-thirds of an inning, Kirby Yates allowed three base runners while recording just one out and Tanner Scott pitched a scoreless inning.

HITTING REPORT: Shohei Ohtani played in games on consecutive days for the first time this spring and walked twice in a six-run first inning, including one with the bases loaded, when the Dodgers walked six times overall. His day ended after three plate appearances over two innings. … Freddie Freeman, playing in his fourth consecutive Cactus League game, was 0 for 3 with a strikeout. … Tommy Edman hit a two-run home run in the first inning from the right side of the plate, his third overall of the spring to tie Freeman for the team lead. Edman also had a bases-loaded walk in the first. … Andy Pages had a two-run single in the second inning. … The Dodgers worked 11 walks over the first three innings and had 13 walks in the game.

UP NEXT: With the abbreviated Cactus League schedule complete, the Dodgers will fly to Japan on Wednesday then face the Yomiuri Giants in an exhibition game on Saturday (3 a.m. PT) at the Tokyo Dome, SportsNet LA, 570 AM

​ Orange County Register 

Man gets a year in jail for fatal Santa Ana hit-and-run

• March 12, 2025

SANTA ANA — A 42-year-old man pleaded guilty Tuesday and was immediately sentenced to a year in jail for a hit-and-run crash that killed a pedestrian in Santa Ana.

Eric Serafin Bahena pleaded guilty to a felony count of hit-and-run with permanent and serious injury and a misdemeanor count of destroying evidence.

Bahena accepted a plea deal from Orange County Superior Court Judge Terri Flynn-Peister, who sentenced him to 364 days in jail and placed him on two years of formal probation. He was given credit for 282 days behind bars since his arrest.

31-year-old Ralph Marin of Santa Ana was killed after the collision, police said. Bahena then tried to destroy the vehicle that struck the victim, according to court records and police.

Officers were dispatched at about 12:30 a.m. Oct. 20 to Bristol Street and Park Lane, where the victim was found in the roadway, according to the Santa Ana Police Department.

Police set up surveillance at two places in Santa Ana to track down the suspect and the vehicle involved in the collision. Bahena was arrested leaving a home in the 1800 block of West Glenwood Place, and the vehicle was found in the 1600 block of West Third Street, police said.

He was convicted of buying or receiving a stolen vehicle or equipment in April 2005, and pleaded guilty in March 2016 to driving under the influence of alcohol and without a valid driver’s license, according to court records.

​ Orange County Register 

This week’s bestsellers at Southern California’s independent bookstores

• March 12, 2025

The SoCal Indie Bestsellers List for the sales week ended March 9 is based on reporting from the independent booksellers of Southern California, the California Independent Booksellers Alliance and IndieBound. For an independent bookstore near you, visit IndieBound.org.

HARDCOVER FICTION

1. James: Percival Everett

2. Dream Count: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

3. The God of the Woods: Liz Moore

4. The Women: Kristin Hannah

5. All Fours: Miranda July

6. Iron Flame: Rebecca Yarros

7. The Wedding People: Alison Espach

8. The Ragpicker King: Cassandra Clare

9. One Good Thing: A Novel: Georgia Hunter

10. Three Days in June: Anne Tyler

HARDCOVER NONFICTION

1. The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can’t Stop Talking About: Mel Robbins, Sawyer Robbins

2. How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith: Mariann Edgar Budde

3. On the Hippie Trail: Istanbul to Kathmandu and the Making of a Travel Writer: Rick Steves

4. The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World: Robin Wall Kimmerer, John Burgoyne (Illus.)

5. Golden State: The Making of California: Michael Hiltzik

6. The Creative Act: A Way of Being: Rick Rubin

7. One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This: Omar El Akkad

8. Do This Before Bed: Simple 5-Minute Practices That Will Change Your Life: Oliver Nino

9. I’ll Have What She’s Having: Chelsea Handler

10. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones: James Clear

MASS MARKET

1. The Way of Kings: Brandon Sanderson

2. 1984: George Orwell

3. Animal Farm: George Orwell

4. Dune: Frank Herbert

5. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: Douglas Adams

6. The Diary of a Young Girl: Anne Frank

7. It Can’t Happen Here: Sinclair Lewis

8. Dune Messiah: Frank Herbert

9. Carrie: Stephen King

10. The Count of Monte Cristo: Alexandre Dumas

TRADE PAPERBACK FICTION

1. Orbital: Samantha Harvey

2. Martyr!: Kaveh Akbar

3. Parable of the Sower: Octavia E. Butler

4. Funny Story: Emily Henry

5. Fourth Wing: Rebecca Yarros

6. North Woods: Daniel Mason

7. Long Island: Colm Tóibín

8. The Frozen River: Ariel Lawhon

9. You Dreamed of Empires: Álvaro Enrigue

10. I Who Have Never Known Men: Jacqueline Harpman

​ Orange County Register 

Orange County scores and player stats for Tuesday, March 11

• March 12, 2025

Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now

Scores and stats from Orange County games on Tuesday, March 11

Click here for details about sending your team’s scores and stats to the Register.

The deadline for submitting information is 10:45 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 p.m. Saturday.

TUESDAY’S SCORES

BASEBALL

GOLDEN WEST LEAGUE

Kennedy 2, Buena Park 1

NONLEAGUE

Garden Grove 10, Bolsa Grande 3

BG: Carrillo RBI, R, 1 diving catch. Montes De Oca HR.

Other nonleague scores

Fountain Valley 6, Lakewood 2

Foothill 12, Don Lugo 1

SOFTBALL

NONLEAGUE

Corona del Mar 9, Western 3

California 5, Sunny Hills 2

Brea Olinda 23, San Dimas 6

BOYS TENNIS

NONLEAGUE

Capistrano Valley 11, Tustin 7

BOYS GOLF

COAST LEAGUE

Orange 240, Magnolia 300

NONLEAGUE

Beckman 191, Canyon 209

Anaheim Hills GC (par 35)

Co-medalists: (Beck) Chang 37, Prasad 37. (Can) Duff 37

Other nonleague scores

El Dorado 213, La Habra 217

BOYS LACROSSE

SOUTH COAST LEAGUE

Aliso Niguel 17, Mission Viejo 2

NONLEAGUE

Westlake 14, JSerra 10

GIRLS LACROSSE

CRESTVIEW LEAGUE

Foothill 19, El Dorado 11

Yorba Linda 17, El Modena 5

SEA VIEW LEAGUE

Aliso Niguel 20, Mission Viejo 8

Beckman 17, Capistrano Valley 3

NONLEAGUE

Corona del Mar 14, Dana Hills 2

Mater Dei 15, El Segundo 11

GIRLS BEACH VOLLEYBALL

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Laguna Beach 4, St. Margaret’s 1

NONLEAGUE

JSerra 5, Aliso Niguel 0

El Dorado 3, Orange Lutheran 2

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

NORTH HILLS LEAGUE

Brea Olinda def. El Modena, 25-23, 28-26, 18-25, 25-17

COAST LEAGUE

Rancho Alamitos def. La Quinta, 25-14, 21-25, 25-22, 18-25, 15-13

FREEWAY LEAGUE

Foothill def. Crean Lutheran, 28-26, 17-25, 25-17, 25-23

Foot: Fernandez 17 kills, 3 blocks. Epperson 6 kills, 18 assists, 6 digs

GROVE LEAGUE

Western def. Loara, 28-30, 25-20, 15-25, 25-18, 17-15

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Northwood def. Portola, 25-20, 25-22, 25-22

University def. Laguna Beach, 22-25, 25-13, 25-23, 25-14

CRESTVIEW LEAGUE

Canyon def. Yorba Linda, 25-16, 25-20, 25-17

NONLEAGUE

Samueli Academy def. Tustin, 25-22, 25-17, 25-19

Calvary Chapel def. Fullerton, 25-19, 25-18, 25-16

Villa Park def. La Habra, 25-11, 25-15, 25-16

Mission Viejo def. Trabuco Hills, 20-25, 25-22, 25-12, 25-20

Beckman def. Orange Lutheran, 25-23, 25-21, 25-22

BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING

NONLEAGUE

Mater Dei 104, Long Beach 66

BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING

NONLEAGUE

Long Beach Wilson 93.50, Mater Dei 76.50

​ Orange County Register