Foothill baseball’s pitching strength shows in shutout of Villa Park

• March 8, 2025

SANTA ANA — The Foothill baseball team got an outstanding outing from starting pitcher Adam Ujiie and clutch relief performance from Kyle Telson in a 2-0 victory over Villa Park in a Crestview League game Friday at Foothill High School.

The victory is the fifth in a row and the second shutout in a row for the Knights (6-1, 2-0), who are ranked No. 7 in Orange County. Foothill has notched three shutouts and allowed 11 only runs over seven games.

The Spartans (5-2, 0-2) had scored 53 runs coming into the contest.

Ujiie took a no-hitter into the seventh inning but was replaced by Telson after giving up back-to-back hits to Nate Lewis and Shawn Romero.

“He really battled,” Foothill coach Chris Price said. “That’s just the kind of a guy he is. He just went out there and did what the team needed him to do.”

Telson came in and got the first hitter he faced to hit into a double play and got the final out on an infield pop-up.

“Coach (Iran) Novick does the thinking for me,” Telson said of Foothill’s pitching coach. “He tells me where to throw the ball. I just throw it there.”

On Telson’s performance, Price said: “He’s got ice in his veins. He’s another guy who is able to hit his spots and he loves those moments.”

Ujiie also credited Novick for his successful outing.

“I trust him 100 percent,” Ujiie said. “And the defense was incredible. The guys behind me really did the job.”

The Knights scored both of their runs with two outs in the third inning.

Sean Green reached on an error. A.J. Nagler then hit a single, but an error on the play put runners on second and third with two outs. Gavin Lauridsen then singled to bring home both runners.

Jack McGuire and Logan Hoppie also pitched well for Villa Park.

McGuire, who started the game, got the side in order in the fourth after giving up two runs in the previous inning.

Hoppie stranded runners on third base in his two innings of work.

Also see:

Orange County baseball preview: Santa Margarita ready for another challenging season

​ Orange County Register 

Chris Bohjalian drew the Starship Enterprise on his mom’s Hemingway first edition

• March 8, 2025

Chris Bohjalian is the author of 25 books, most recently “The Jackal’s Mistress.” Here, he takes the Q&A to discuss the book and share some recommendations.

Q. Please tell readers about your new book.

“The Jackal’s Mistress” is a Civil War Romeo and Juliet, inspired by a true story. A hero of the Vermont Brigade was left to die in the Shenandoah Valley after the Union Army moved deeper into Virginia in 1864, and a rebel woman – whose Confederate husband had been captured at Gettysburg – had to decide how much she was willing to sacrifice to save him. He’d already had a leg amputated by surgeons and most of one hand blown off by cannon fire. The risks to herself and her young niece grew more dire every day. In 2022, I realized there was a fascinating novel in this story: romance, drama, history. And, yes, I saw this as a tale that would be shockingly timely right now.

Q. Is there a book or books you always recommend to other readers?

That changes all the time. This spring I have been recommending Geraldine Brooks’s “Memorial Days”; Sally Rooney’s “Intermezzo”; Ta-Nehisi Coates’s “The Message”; and Tom Lamont’s “Going Home.”

Q. How do you decide what to read next? 

My editor or my wife or my daughter recommends something, or I read a review in a newspaper. Also, I am sort of in the business, and so I receive no fewer than four galleys every week of my life. My home is a series of Jenga towers of books.

Q. Do you remember the first book that made an impact on you?

There might be three that earn that distinction. I still know the last sentence of Esther Forbes’s “Johnny Tremain” from elementary school: “A man can stand up.” I still know the first sentence of Joyce Carol Oates’s “Expensive People” from middle school: “I was a child murderer.” (I read it on my own, not for a class.)

And, as a little boy, I drew a pretty accurate Starship Enterprise in the sky above the Caribbean Sea on the dust jacket of my mother’s first edition of her copy of Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea.” I think we have to count that.

Q. Is there a book you’re nervous to read?

I am avoiding any book about politics right now as if it’s a deadly snake.

Q. What’s something – a fact, a bit of dialogue or something else – that has stayed with you from a recent reading?

Oh, so many moments from Sigrid Nunez’s, “The Vulnerables,” especially when the characters, including a renowned book editor, are laughing about odd lines of dialogue that would make great titles for novels, i.e., “The men will take care of it.” (I am calling dibs right now on, “Let the Men Do It.”)

Q. Do you have any favorite book covers?

The original hardcover of “The Secret History.” A classic and so radically different from anything else.

Q. Do you listen to audiobooks? If so, are there any titles or narrators you’d recommend?

I love audiobooks. In 2024, I actually listened to one more audiobook than books I read on paper. My favorite narrator is Grace Experience. Yes, she’s my daughter, but she is a fantastic audiobook narrator.

Q. Is there a person who made an impact on your reading life – a teacher, a parent, a librarian or someone else?

The creative writing professor at my alma mater who would not allow me into her creative writing seminar after reading one of my short stories and said, “I have three words for you: be a banker.”

Q. What’s a memorable book experience – good or bad – you’re willing to share?

When I was researching the Armenian Genocide for “The Sandcastle Girls,” my love story set in the midst of the nightmare, I thought some days my head might explode. I’m a grandson of two survivors, and so I felt the pain acutely of what my ancestors endured.

Q. Is there a book that tapped into an emotion you didn’t expect? 

Well, since March of 2020, I can find myself weeping alone in the woods with my dog when I am finishing an audiobook. This is only weird because even baseball books can do me in. So, I tell myself it is because life is ephemeral and all about saying good-bye, and ending a good book is just one more indicator of how transient our lives really are. (Just for the record, I am not sure I ever cried before March 2020. Good Lord, I was a Netflix comedy special when I was eulogizing both my parents or very good friends before then.)

Q. Do you have a favorite bookstore or bookstore experience?

I am in heaven when I’m in a bookstore. Same with libraries. I could browse for hours. We still have a totemic connection to books made of paper, and I can tell you where I was and the state of my life just from the dust jackets of so many books in my personal library. For instance, the cover of Henry Roth’s “Call it Sleep” instantly catapults me back to the snack bar at Smith College, where my wife went to school, and the smell of the onions the cooks there placed on the hamburgers.

Q. If you could ask your readers something, what would it be?

Should I write a novel narrated by a dog or a cat?

​ Orange County Register 

Dodgers pitching coach: No ‘template’ for bringing Shohei Ohtani back as pitcher

• March 8, 2025

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The road back to two-way player status doesn’t come with a map.

Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior said the decision to “slow play” Shohei Ohtani’s throwing program as the team is preparing to head to Japan was a pivot made in “the last 72 hours or so” in response to the very unique situation Ohtani presents.

“It’s been one of those things where … we’re having to lean on him a lot,” Prior said Friday. “We don’t really have this template or road map or even experience really dealing with a guy with a two-way situation. So we’re leaning on him, on how he’s feeling. I know they’re trying to control overall workload management with his left shoulder, coming back from that (surgery). The hitting, getting ready for the season – clearly, he’s an important part of our offensive side of the ball.

“I think right now, there’s a little bit of a shift towards making sure he’s dialed in, ready to go, from a DH standpoint. It was going to get a little weird, you know, in Japan, just because of the days off and workouts and stuff like that. So I think this was a good time to just kind of like de-load and make sure he’s geared up, ready to go, and then continue to throw and then gear up once we get back.”

Ohtani threw four bullpen sessions in a little over a week, building up to 30 pitches in the Feb. 25 session. But he has not thrown off a mound since then, continuing to play catch and throw on flat ground.

Prior said there was nothing negative that precipitated the decision to back off on Ohtani’s throwing program that he was “aware of.” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said trainers continue to monitor Ohtani’s velocity during his flat-ground throwing sessions and it is “just right where it needed to be.”

The Dodgers made a similar decision last fall. Ohtani built up to throwing bullpen sessions late in the regular season but stopped throwing off a mound and limited his work to playing catch in the outfield on an occasional basis while focusing on being the Dodgers’ DH during their postseason run.

“It’s not something that’s ideal,” Prior said. “But you find different ways. It’s not something personally or professionally we’ve gone through, as far as trying to manage.

“There are a lot of variables that are unique to his situation. So I think it’s just about having an open mind and trying to be cautiously optimistic and take the right approach. Again, a lot of this is kind of where Sho is at and making sure he feels comfortable with what he’s doing.”

The plan for now is to have Ohtani “ramp back up” when the Dodgers return from Japan and prepare for their home opener on March 27. He will start facing hitters in simulated-game settings at some point after that.

“But we’ll just see kind of where we’re at after the next 10 days, two weeks,” Prior said.

Prior also pointed out that the Dodgers’ depth in starting pitching options allows them to put no pressure on Ohtani to return quickly and focus instead on having him at full strength for another postseason run.

“This isn’t a situation where we need him to round out five starters, in a traditional sense,” Prior said. “He’s not going to be a traditional starter anyway. He’s going to be pitching probably once a week, and the idea is to make sure we have him at the right time of the season to maximize it.”

Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani exploring options with pitching mechanics

Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani gears up for return to mound, 2-way duties

​ Orange County Register 

Deadline extended for LA-area wildfire survivors to apply for federal aid

• March 8, 2025

LOS ANGELES — The deadline for victims of the Los Angeles wildfires to apply for assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been extended until March 31, officials announced Friday.

The deadline was previously Monday.

“Thank you to FEMA and the Trump Administration for granting California’s request to extend the individual assistance program as our communities in Los Angeles continue to rebuild and recover,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement announcing the extension. “I urge Angelenos impacted by the Eaton and Palisades to apply for federal assistance to help get back on their feet.”

FEMA assistance can help wildfire victims pay for rent, temporary housing, home repairs and other needs not covered by insurance. The FEMA grants do not have to be repaid.

People can apply for grants at disasterassistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362, or by visiting at Disaster Recovery Center.

The deadline was also extended to March 31 for people to apply for disaster unemployment assistance, which benefits workers who are not eligible for regular unemployment benefits and lost their jobs or had their hours cut due to the wildfires. Applications are available through the California Employment Development Department.

​ Orange County Register 

Michael Conforto stays hot as Dodgers beat Mariners

• March 8, 2025

THE GAME: Michael Conforto drove in three runs with a double and a home run as the Dodgers beat the Seattle Mariners, 6-4, in a Cactus League game on Friday night at Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona.

PITCHING REPORT: Justin Wrobleski has been one of the most impressive pitchers in camp this spring. He started against the Mariners and allowed just three hits and a walk in 3⅓ innings while striking out five. Over 9⅓ innings this spring, Wrobleski has allowed two runs on six hits and one walk while striking out nine. … Giovanny Gallegos and Jack Dreyer each retired the side in order in their inning. Gallegos struck out one, Dreyer two. … Matt Sauer retired six of the first seven batters he faced and struck out four in two hitless innings. But he lost the Dodgers’ shutout and gave up four runs in the ninth inning before Dodgers manager Dave Roberts came out to pull him from the game. Before the non-roster right-hander could leave the mound, Roberts put his arm around Sauer and gave him the news that he would be on the travel roster to Tokyo next week. “He’s had a good spring,” Roberts said of Sauer, who made his big-league debut with 14 appearances for the Kansas City Royals last season.

HITTING REPORT: After a slow start to the spring (2 for his first 17 in Cactus League games), Conforto has gone 5 for 6 in the past two days. He drove in two with a double in the third inning then hit his first home run of the spring in the fifth. … Kiké Hernandez had a pair of singles and drove in a run. He is 7 for 19 with three doubles this spring. … Michael Chavis was 2 for 3 with a single and a double and scored two runs.

UP NEXT: Dodgers (RHP Tyler Glasnow) vs. Chicago White Sox (RHP Davis Martin), Saturday, 12:05 p.m. PT at Camelback Ranch, SportsNet LA, 570 AM

​ Orange County Register 

Santa Anita horse racing consensus picks for Saturday, March 8, 2025

• March 8, 2025

The consensus box of Santa Anita horse racing picks comes from handicappers Bob Mieszerski, Eddie Wilson, Kevin Modesti and Mark Ratzky. Here are the picks for thoroughbred races on Saturday, March 8, 2025.

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​ Orange County Register 

Dana Point celebrates with annual Festival of Whales

• March 8, 2025

The Dana Point Headlands are a key navigational point in the migration of gray whales between Alaska and Baja California and the community is again celebrating this weekend being the whale-watching capital.

Along with lots of opportunities to get on a charter boat to see the passing whales — though you can often spy them from the rocky outcroping of the headlands — the 54th annual Festival of Whales will feature three days of fun activities for families.

A three-day carnival filling Lantern Bay Park got underway Friday evening, replacing the annual parade during renovations at the Dana Point Harbor.

Still to come this weekend, there will be Wyland art sessions, marine conservation talks, classic cars and art shows, a treasure hunt, entertainment and more activities for kids and adults.

If you go

When: The carnival is 3 to 10 p.m. March 8 and 3 to 9 p.m. on March 9; activities go all day on March 8 and 9, see online for times

Where: Lantern Bay Park and around the Dana Point Harbor; using the free trolley and Harbor shuttle services are recommended for getting there, see more online

Cost: Varied

Information: festivalofwhales.com

​ Orange County Register 

LAFC, healthy and happy, sets sights on Seattle payback

• March 8, 2025

The Los Angeles Football Club’s season-long marathon is off to a pacey start.

In the midst of eight games over 26 days coming out of the preseason, “we need everybody and everybody is taking good care of themselves,” defender Yaw Yeboah said Friday.

“It looks like the group is really happy and that is helping us a lot on the field to see everyone smiling and working for each other and being there for each other,” the Ghanaian noted. “Probably that’s the most important thing.”

Good vibes come easier, of course, with positive results.

LAFC (2-0-0, 6 points) stands out among a handful of MLS teams that have not dropped points in the league. They’re also delivering in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, putting themselves in a great spot to reach the competition’s quarterfinal round.

Focused on the now (starting strong while players ramp up to full fitness) and the then (centering players’ health and freshness, physically and mentally, for the long haul) requires a balancing act that was honed while the club played 103 matches (56-26-21) the past two years.

“You have to keep an eye on the bigger picture and general loading and less on results and advancing,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said prior to his team’s third MLS regular-season matchday, a nationally televised clash with Seattle at Lumen Field.

Midfielders Igor Jesus and Timothy Tillman are considered questionable with flu-like symptoms, but Cherundolo expects to field a team that is “more than capable of coming away with points.”

Seattle has also participated in five matches, earning a point from a pair of league contests while reaching the CONCACAF Round of 16, drawing Cruz Azul 0-0 in the first leg at home Wednesday.

By beating Columbus 3-0 in the first leg of their CONCACAF Cup series this week, Cherundolo’s side allowed itself some leeway in terms of lineup options against the opponent who eliminated them in last year’s MLS Cup Western Conference semifinal at BMO Stadium.

That upset, courtesy of a Jordan Morris winner in extra time, ended an impressive 7-0-2 run in all competitions for the Black & Gold versus Seattle, conceding a trio of goals while securing six clean sheets over a three-year span. LAFC remains unbeaten in its last five matches (3-0-2) against the Sounders in the state of Washington.

The rivals’ first encounter of 2025 won’t mark the MLS debut of Turkish designated player Cengiz Ünder, though the 27-year-old playmaker arrived in Los Angeles earlier this week and participated in his first training session with the group Friday.

“Cengiz is somebody who knows how to score, knows how to be effective, is a very good winger,” Cherundolo said. “We think he can be a very good fit for our model.

“He looked fresh. I don’t think it should take long at all.”

On loan from Fenerbahçe until June 30, Ünder joined young attackers David Martínez and Nathan Ordaz, who swapped time on the wing alongside Denis Bouanga, Jeremy Ebobisse or Olivier Giroud.

LAFC’s depth and congested schedule could mean Martínez, Ordaz and Ünder get time at other positions, Cherundolo said.

Enjoying his “flow state” and good form coming out of preseason, Ordaz assisted on LAFC’s game-winning goal in the regular-season opener and scored the third against Columbus. Martínez, meanwhile, assisted on the CONCACAF Cup Round 1 game winner to advance past Colorado, and started three of LAFC’s five games.

The addition of Ünder “just means that everybody has to get a little better,” Cherundolo said. “I don’t think it hurts anybody’s path. On the contrary.”

LAFC AT SEATTLE SOUNDERS

When: 1:45 p.m. Saturday

Where: Lumen Field, Seattle

TV/radio: Apple TV (MLS Season Pass), FOX, FOX Deportes/710 AM, 980 AM

​ Orange County Register