Orange County scores and player stats for Saturday, Oct. 14

• October 14, 2023

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

Scores and stats from Orange County games on Saturday, Oct. 14

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

SATURDAY’S SCORES

BOYS WATER POLO

NORTH VS. SOUTH CHALLENGE

Mater Dei 14, Laguna Beach 11

Loyola 8, Santa Margarita 5

Semifinals

JSerra 14, Sacred Heart Prep 5

Newport Harbor 9, Harvard-Westlake 6

​ Orange County Register 

Dodgers player-by-player breakdown as tough roster decisions loom

• October 14, 2023

As the Dodgers’ front office quickly swivels to offseason planning, it has one obvious problem: a dozen more 40-man roster players than a 40-man roster can hold.

Not only will the Dodgers need to make fast decisions about their surplus parts, they will need to make room for any additional 40-man roster promotions, and players they intend to acquire this offseason.

Here’s a closer look at the decisions the Dodgers must (and must not) make about each player in the days and weeks to come:

SIGNED PLAYERS

Mookie Betts: Signed through 2032. Nothing to see here, other than how high he finishes in the National League MVP voting.

Freddie Freeman: Signed through 2027. See above.

Chris Taylor: The only other Dodger with a guaranteed contract beyond 2024, Taylor’s utility job is safe.

Miguel Rojas: After the Dodgers extended his contract through 2024 upon acquiring him from the Marlins, Rojas will get another chance to fill the backup infielder job projected for him before Gavin Lux tore two knee ligaments in February.

Austin Barnes: Poised to back up Will Smith in 2024 after a subpar season at the plate in 2023.

Tony Gonsolin: Will make $3.4 million next season while he rehabs from Tommy John surgery.

TEAM OPTION

Max Muncy: His 175 home runs since 2017 rank 21st among active players. Throw in his plate discipline, credible baserunning and defensive versatility, and Muncy’s $10 million option is a bargain.

Lance Lynn: The Dodgers’ greatest offseason need is starting pitching. Few healthy and reliable options exist in free agency beyond a handful of established names (Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Aaron Nola, Blake Snell, Eduardo Rodriguez, Sonny Gray, Jordan Montgomery). Lynn, who turns 37 next year, would slot into the second tier if his $18 million option is declined. The right-hander went 7-2 with a 4.36 ERA in 11 regular-season starts as a Dodger. His home-run rate – especially in Game 3 of the NLDS – left much to be desired. The choice between exercising Lynn’s option or his $1 million buyout could depend on the status of Clayton Kershaw, the front office’s desire for a top-tier starter, and how they price the market for a steady-if-unspectacular veteran.

Joe Kelly: As they did with Lynn, the White Sox threw in a 2024 club option on Kelly ($9.5 million) that the Dodgers must now reckon with. Kelly’s stuff is still electric, but he’s made fewer appearances in every non-pandemic year since 2018 because of injuries. If the Dodgers’ offseason game plan does not include stockpiling rubber-armed starters, Kelly remains a good fit.

Daniel Hudson: A pitcher who’s made only 28 appearances the past two years, and ended each season grappling with a knee injury, rarely gets a $6.5 million guaranteed contract (the value of Hudson’s option). If Hudson wants to keep pitching at age 36, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Dodgers try to bring back the right-hander for less money.

Alex Reyes: Did not pitch in 2023 because of injuries. His option will be bought out.

Blake Treinen: Is unlikely to have his option exercised after missing most of the year recovering from a shoulder injury, then struggling to re-establish himself in the minors.

ARBITRATION ELIGIBLE

Walker Buehler: 2024 will be a pivotal year for Buehler, who is eligible for free agency after the season. He figures to be healthy, motivated, and paid about $8 million, according to MLB Trade Rumors’ estimate.

Will Smith: His bat faded down the stretch before reappearing in the NLDS, but his steady work behind the plate was a frequent reminder of Smith’s status as one of the best catchers in MLB.

Dustin May: After re-injuring his elbow, May won’t pitch much in 2024, but he’ll get a slight raise from his first-year arbitration salary.

Evan Phillips: Established himself as one of the game’s top closers (24 saves), a role he’s likely to reprise in 2024.

Brusdar Graterol: Ended the regular season with 25 consecutive scoreless innings, then took a “hidden perfect game” into the postseason. Will enter next season as the Dodgers’ top set-up man.

Caleb Ferguson:  A 3.43 ERA across 68 appearances established Ferguson as one of the most durable relievers in the bullpen.

Alex Vesia: Struggled to adapt to the pitch clock early in the season, finishing with a 4.35 ERA in 56 appearances.

Yency Almonte: A down year (5.06 ERA) ended early because of a knee injury. That raises the possibility that Almonte will be non-tendered, but the prediction here is he gets another chance.

Gavin Lux: It will be interesting to see how Lux’s first-year arbitration salary is affected by the major knee injury that wiped out his entire 2023 season.

Victor Gonzalez: Two lefties (Ferguson and Vesia) were usually enough for Dave Roberts in 2023, and Gonzalez didn’t have the punchout stuff to force his way into more than 34 games. In his first year of arbitration eligibility, a non-tender would be a surprise.

Ryan Yarbrough: Went 4-2 with a 4.89 ERA after the Dodgers acquired him from Kansas City, then was left off their NLDS roster. Next season, Yarbrough could be a valuable piece in a rotation that figures to be short on left-handers or a bullpen lacking multi-inning relievers.

Wander Suero: Had his contract selected from Triple-A in September and got into five games, posting a 7.88 ERA. Likely to be non-tendered.

TEAM CONTROL

James Outman: Will collect Rookie of the Year votes after establishing himself as the team’s everyday center fielder.

Michael Grove: Fared better in six games as a reliever (4.24 ERA, .219 opponents’ batting average) than 12 games as a starter (6.75 ERA, .319 batting average).

Bobby Miller: His start in Game 2 of the NLDS notwithstanding, Miller was the most dependable rookie starting pitcher (11-4, 3.76 ERA) of the five the Dodgers relied on in 2023.

Ryan Pepiot: Only five pitchers in either league had a lower ERA (min. 40 IP) from the day Pepiot debuted (Aug. 19) until the end of the regular season.

Emmet Sheehan: The 23-year-old was inconsistent after making the leap from Double-A, but held opponents to a .210 average while striking out more than a batter per inning.

Miguel Vargas: Never hit enough (.195/.305/.367) to justify his playing time, earning a ticket to Triple-A at midseason, then was outplayed by Michael Busch with a promotion at stake.

Gavin Stone: Although he showed flashes of potential, inconsistency and ineffectiveness limited Stone to 31 innings at the major-league level.

Michael Busch: The Pacific Coast League MVP did little (.167/.247/.292) in 27 major-league games. If the Dodgers opt to sign (or re-sign) a veteran DH, Busch is an ideal trade candidate. If they don’t, he’s an adequate fall-back option.

Kyle Hurt: The 25-year-old right-hander appeared in only one game out of the bullpen late in the season, but could be competing for a big-league rotation spot in spring training next season.

Jonny DeLuca: A 24-game cameo showcased DeLuca’s ability to hit, run and field, establishing him as a depth outfielder for 2024.

Bryan Hudson: The 6-foot-8 lefty made six appearances and logged a 7.27 ERA.

FREE AGENTS

Clayton Kershaw: His offseason is effectively an exploration of a two-part question: Will his balky left shoulder allow him to pitch to the level he desires in 2024 and, if so, where does he want to pitch? The Dodgers and Texas Rangers were Kershaw’s only considerations last winter. Before anyone can debate whether that’s the case again, Kershaw must resolve the question about his health.

Julio Urías: Will not be re-signed after ending the season on administrative leave while MLB investigates a domestic violence incident.

Jason Heyward: Considering how his season ended (.813 OPS in 124 games), it’s hard to believe it began with a minor-league contract. Heyward will command a major-league contract somewhere this offseason. Considering how the Dodgers successfully rebuilt his swing and maximized his talent in a platoon arrangement, they can’t be ruled out.

J.D. Martinez: His one-year, $10 million contract looks like a bargain in hindsight. His 33-homer, 103-RBI season was a key ingredient of the Dodgers’ 100-win campaign. Shohei Ohtani represents the only way the Dodgers upgrade their DH position via free agency. Busch offers an intriguing in-house alternative. There’s a chance the Dodgers prefer re-signing Martinez to either of those alternatives, but it seems relatively small.

David Peralta: The veteran left fielder gave the Dodgers perhaps all they could ask from him (.259, seven homers, 55 RBIs) on a one-year, $6.5 million contract. Peralta turns 37 next season, a tough age to be a part-time corner outfielder in free agency. The Dodgers might consider him redundant if they re-sign Heyward. The emergence of DeLuca, and possibly corner outfield prospect Andy Pages, could have the same effect. In any case, Peralta seems unlikely to be back.

Shelby Miller: Was quietly excellent (36 games, 1.71 ERA, .905 WHIP) in a season interrupted by injury. The Dodgers would love him to repeat that effort in 2024, but he’ll have plenty of suitors eager to give him a raise on his $1.5 million base salary.

Kiké Hernandez: Gave the Dodgers an average bat and versatile defense – exactly what was expected – after arriving in a midseason trade with Boston. He fits on any roster, even more on a team locked into one DH who doesn’t play the field. Bringing back Martinez, or signing Shohei Ohtani, only makes a reunion with Hernandez more possible.

Related Articles

Ryan Brasier: Revived his career and stabilized the bullpen with a 0.70 ERA and sub-1 WHIP after joining the Dodgers in June. Will get a hefty raise above the major-league minimum wherever he signs.

Amed Rosario: Did well to learn second base on the fly and provide a right-handed bat off the bench after being acquired from Cleveland for Noah Syndergaard in July. It wouldn’t take much to make his roster spot redundant – a bounceback season by Miguel Vargas, a return to health by Gavin Lux, re-signing Hernandez – making it unlikely Rosario returns to the Dodgers.

Jimmy Nelson: After finally returning to health, Nelson did not pitch well enough in the minor leagues to earn a big-league roster spot – an anticlimactic ending to a Dodger career marred by injuries.

​ Orange County Register 

CIF-SS girls volleyball playoffs pairings, schedule for all nine divisions

• October 14, 2023

CIF-SS GIRLS VOLLEYBALL PLAYOFFS

DIVISION 1

Pool-play format; winner of each pool meets in championship game

POOL A

#1 Mater Dei

#4 Sierra Canyon

#5 Marymount

#8 Palos Verdes

POOL B

#2 Mira Costa

#3 Huntington Beach

#6 Alemany

#7 Los Alamitos

Pool A Round 1

Wednesday, Oct. 18

All matches start at 6 p.m.

Palos Verdes at Mater Dei

Marymount at Sierra Canyon

Pool B Round 1

Wednesday, Oct. 18

All matches start at 6 p.m.

Los Alamitos at Mira Costa

Alemany at Huntington Beach

DIVISION 2

First round

Thursday, Oct. 19

All matches start at 6 p.m.

Redondo at Mayfield

Chino Hills at Torrance

Chaparral at South Pasadena

Oaks Christian, bye

Edison at Lakewood St. Joseph

Lakewood at Vista Murrieta

Aliso Niguel at Corona del Mar

Orange Lutheran at Etiwanda

Long Beach Wilson, bye

El Toro at Temecula Valley

Newport Harbor at Chaminade

Santa Margarita at Ontario Christian

Corona Santiago at San Clemente

Bishop Montgomery at La Canada

Murrieta Valley at Rancho Cucamonga

Millikan at JSerra

DIVISION 3

First round

Thursday, Oct. 19

All matches start at 6 p.m.

Santa Monica at Beckman

Marina at Glendora

La Salle at Village Christian

Notre Dame Academy at Schurr

Cypress at Dana Hills

Buckley at Redlands

Saugus at Canyon Anaheim

El Segudo at Roosevelt

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame at Long Beach Poly

Beaumont at Crean Lutheran

Villa Park at South Torrance

Santa Barbara at Pasadena Poly

Yucaipa at Hart

Norco at St. Margaret’s

Bonita at Trabuco Hills

San Marcos at Campbell Hall

DIVISION 4

First round

Thursday, Oct. 19

All matches start at 6 p.m.

Burbank Burroughs at West Ranch

West Torrance at Warren

Bishop Diego at Royal

Arrowhead Christian at Rim of the World

Dos Pueblos at Thousand Oaks

St. Lucys at Xavier Prep

Riverside Poly at El Dorado

La Habra at Crescenta Valley

Archer School at Arcadia

Windward at Yorba Linda

Agoura at Walnut

Claremont at Sunny Hills

Cerritos Valley Christian at Paloma Valley

Flintridge Sacred Heart at La Serna

Summit at Kennedy

Westridge at Capistrano Valley Christian

DIVISION 5

First round

Thursday, Oct. 19

All matches start at 6 p.m.

Corona at Ventura

Palm Desert at Riverside Burroughs

Temple City at Woodbridge

Valencia at Camarillo

Corona Centennial at Barstow

Louisville at Quartz Hill

California at Hillcrest

Oxford Academy at Northwood

Los Altos at Irvine

Sonora at Oak Hills

Culver City at Cerritos

Flintridge Prep at Santa Fe

Mary Star at San Dimas

Pacifica Christian/Newport Beach at Diamond Bar

Temescal Canyon at Rancho Christian

Whittier Christian at La Reina

DIVISION 6

Wild-card round

Tuesday, Oct. 17

All matches start at 6 p.m.

A: Oakwood at Crossroads

B: Vistamar at Grand Terrace

C: Western Christian at La Quinta/La Quinta

D: St. Monica Prep at Costa Mesa

E: Paraclete at Lancaster

F: Sultana at Gahr

First round

Thursday, Oct. 19

All games start at 6 p.m.

Winner A at Sacred Heart L.A.

Winner B at Dun Lugo

Northview at La Sierra

Winner C at Mayfair

Winner D at United Christian Academy

Moorpark at San Gabriel

Winner E at Santa Clarita Christian

Cate at Ocean View

Linfield Christian at Grace

Westminster at Calvary Chapel/Santa Ana

Tarbut V’Torah at Nordhoff

Desert Christian Academy at La Mirada

Winner F at West Valley

Coachella Valley at Silverado

Trinity Classic Academy at Highland

Glendale at Valley View

DIVISION 7

Wild-card round

Tuesday, Oct. 17

All matches start at 6 p.m.

A: St. Pius-St. Matthias at Artesia

First round

Thursday, Oct. 19

All matches start at 6 p.m.

Saddleback at Pacifica Christian/Santa Monica

Lakeside at Fontana

Rancho Alamitos at Indio

Ramona Convent at Nogales

Segerstrom at Southlands Christian

Knight at Excelsior Charter

CAMS at Leuzinger

Mark Keppel at St. Mary’s Academy

Winner A at Wildwood

Beverly Hills at Westminster La Quinta

Azusa at Coastal Christian

Adelanto at Gabrielino

Covina at Loma Linda Academy

Pomona Catholic at Chino

Carter at Orange Vista

Twentynine Palms at Norwalk

DIVISION 8

Wild-card round

Tuesday, Oct. 17

All matches start at 6 p.m.

A: Desert Mirage at Ontario

B: San Jacinto Valley at Eisenhower

C: Desert Christian/L at AB Miller

D: Channel Islands at Los Amigos

E: Marshall at Tahquitz

F: Valley Christian/SM at Geffen Academy

First round

Thursday, Oct. 19

All matches start at 6 p.m.

Winner A at Temecula Prep

Sierra Vista at Santa Ana Valley

Inglewood at Cal Lutheran

Samueli Academy at San Luis Obispo Classical

Winner B at Le Lycee

La Sierra Academy at Liberty

Santa Clara at Carpinteria

Winner C at Lighthouse Christian

Winner D at Jurupa Valley

Winner E at Jurupa Hills

Winner F at Academy of Academic Excellence

Patriot at Western

Firebaugh at Ganesha

Coast Union at Villanova Prep

Hueneme at Hillcrest Christian/Thousand Oaks

Faith Baptist at Orangewood Academy

DIVISION 9

Wild-card round

Tuesday, Oct. 17

All matches start at 6 p.m.

A: Waverly at Silver Valley

B: River Springs/Hemet at Pacific Lutheran

C: Pilgrim at Century

D: Magnolia Science at River Springs Magnolia

E: Ambassador Christian at Newbury Park Adventist

F: Mountain View at Newport Christian

G: Orange County Christian at University Career Academy

H: Lucerne Valley at University Prep

I: Santa Rosa Academy at Grove

J: Beacon Hill at International School/L.A.

First round

Thursday, Oct. 19

All matches start at 6 p.m.

Winner A at Rosemead

Winner B at Indian Springs

Winner C at Liberty Christian

Noli Indian at Edgewood

Winner D at Hesperia Christian

Animo Leadership at de Toledo

Winner E at New Harvest Christian

Winner F at Cornerstone Christian/W

Canyon Spring at Palm Valley

Calvary Baptist at Redlands Advent

Mesrobian at Academy Career Exp.

Winner G at Garey

Winner H at Providence/SB

Winner I at Shalhevet

Winner J at Acaciawood Academy

Bloomington at Moreno Valley

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register 

How Latino-owned businesses and entrepreneurs are driving the U.S. economy

• October 14, 2023

For 27-year-old Irán Sanchez Salazar, being a Latino entrepreneur in Los Angeles is a source of immense pride.

The Bell resident, who spent two years in Mexico waiting for his permanent residency paperwork to come through, took that time to hone his craft and pursue a career in specialty coffee. Now Sanchez Salazar co-owns a coffee brand called “Malcriada,” with a menu inspired by Mexican and Chicano heritage and culture. In 2022, Sanchez Salazar and his girlfriend started making and selling the beans and blends at pop-ups across southeast L.A.

“I think for me, being a Latino-owned business is something I really take with me everywhere I go,” Sanchez Salazar said. “For us, it’s very important. It’s part of our mission: to preserve the culture that we inherited and also share it with other people.”

Sanchez Salazar is among a growing number of Latino Americans pursuing entrepreneurial dreams — and whose demographic has become a major driver of U.S. economic growth. New reports, released in mid-September and October during Hispanic Heritage Month, show that Latinos in the U.S. are propelling the economy forward — both as consumers and business owners. As older, non-Latino workers retire, research shows younger Latinos stepping into the labor market, contributing through personal businesses, spending and tax revenues.

With nearly 5 million Latino-owned businesses nationwide, Latinos generate more than $800 billion in annual revenue, according to a report card from the U.S. Treasury Department and the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative, released Oct. 12. The U.S. is home to over 62.5 million Latinos — 19% of the U.S. population, the report says.

An annual study, from UCLA Health’s Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture and California Luthern University, shows the total economic output of U.S. Latinos was $3.2 trillion in 2021 — up from $2.8 trillion in 2020 and $1.7 trillion in 2010.

The report also noted Latinos in the U.S. have the fifth largest GDP — gross domestic product, a measure of the overall value of goods and services — in the world, larger than that of India, France or the U.K. It represents a growth of 7.1%, adjusted for inflation, and surpasses the $3 trillion mark for the first time, researchers said. Researchers said the numbers are driven by rapid gains in Latino income.

California also had the largest Latino economic output in 2021, amounting to $682 billion — followed by Texas and Florida, according to the latest U.S. Latino GDP report by the Latino Donor Collaborative, published in late September. With a growing consumption and purchasing power, the California Latino economy alone would rank the 21st largest in the world, between Poland and Switzerland.

Despite economic challenges, businesses shuttering and high unemployment rates during the coronavirus pandemic, more Latino entrepreneurs are starting their own businesses.

Nearly 25% of all new entrepreneurs in 2021 were Latino, research shows. Areas with a higher proportion of Latino and Black residents saw large increases in business application rates in 2020. Also, from 2019 to 2022 — during the pandemic and as businesses continued to recover — median weekly earnings increased 2.4% for Latino workers, accounting for inflation. Unemployment rates in this community also hit a record low last September, at 3.8%, according to the Department of Labor.

Notable among the numbers: younger Latinos are joining the workforce, spending and starting businesses.

The Latino Donor Collaborative report emphasizes this demographic as “significantly younger” than other groups. The majority are under age 25, with the most common age range being 10-to-14 years, compared to 60-to-64 years among non-Latinos.

A combination of “robust population growth, high labor force participation, and increasing human capital will continue to drive the dynamic growth witnessed so far,” the report says.

More Latinos are also graduating — though at lesser rates than their White peers — and becoming employed. This influx of younger, working-age Latinos, alongside economic advancements, is what’s making a difference, said Sol Trujillo, co-founder of the Latino Donor Collaborative.

“The Latino GDP is growing bigger every year, simply because of age. It’s a youthful cohort. If you took all Anglo Americans in the country, aged zero to 100, the most populated age for that cohort would be 58. If you took all the Latino Americans in the zero to 100 category, the most populated age would be 11,” said Trujillo. “There’s a million Latinos in the country turning 18 every year… they’re now supplying almost 80% of all workers in our economy.”

With overall “youthfulness, strong work ethic, deep family values, entrepreneurial spirit, healthy lifestyle and patriotism… Latinos are poised to power the U.S. economy into the mid-21st century, continuing to be a source of economic strength and resilience that benefits all,” researchers from the 2023 U.S. Latino GDP Report said.

Latinos’ growing purchasing power, representation

Being able to express themselves and pursue passions, while making a living, is top of mind for many Latino small business owners. These young creatives are just getting started.

Coffee connoisseur Sanchez Salazar was proud to hear about the growing Latino GDP. He and his business partner hope to one day open up Malcriada cafés of their own around southeast L.A.

“I think this information is good to see how much of this country we carry on our shoulders,” he said. “I like to believe I’m one of those people who are really hard working and do things without expecting. For generations, we don’t necessarily expect the best working conditions, the best benefits… Latinos are here to contribute. We’re not freeloaders.”

Seis Solis Wine Co. owner Christopher Rivera sells wines wholesale in Orange, Santa Ana and across the region, with dreams of opening up a tasting room in Orange County. The Northern California native said that grapes are grown Lodi, but the coronavirus shutdown made him redirect business online.

The company’s name — Seis Soles, the “sixth sun” — is inspired by Aztec ancestry and lore, respecting traditional Mexican family values while promoting new ideas. It represents the growth of “a new generation’s culture and values,” according to the website. Rivera’s business model supports representation and inclusivity which, he said, the wine industry needs more work on. He hopes to create a brand “that Latinos can identify with” and can be shared.

“I launched (Seis Soles Wine Co.) because Latinos are growing in purchasing power, in political power and in representation, especially in California,” Rivera, 38, said. “People always kind of pigeonhole us and act like we’re a monolith. They have almost a caricature of what a Latino or Mexican might be in California. Now, our disposable income tends to be increasing, as we’re expanding out from just manual labor jobs… we’re coming into our own, learning new things and participating in the economy.”

After finding a lack of inclusive children’s clothing to gift to her expecting uncles, L.A. resident Jessica Sosa-Cardenas co-founded a children’s clothing brand called PeaTree, selling hand-sewn, organic onesies and children’s clothes at pop-up markets and retailers across the region.

Now the small business, started by two second-generation Mexican sisters in 2019, carries a range of children’s clothes that represent being Latinx. PeaTree’s collections also celebrate LGBTQ+ parents and those with children through in vitro fertilization, surrogacy or adoption.

Sosa-Cardenas said PeaTree contributes to the community through local partnerships. She feels it’s important to uplift other women of color and their businesses.

“To work on this brand that is representative of my culture is so huge because it’s the double layer of not only being Latino, but also being a woman, and knowing that I was able to achieve all of this. I want it to be an example of what true commitment and hard work can do,” Sosa-Cardenas, 38, said. “The love for my family, the love for my culture, the love for our traditions is what it’s all about.”

Related links

Latino family businesses thriving in Inland Empire
8 Latino financial influencers to follow in 2023
LA program helping small, diverse businesses land construction contracts
Latino entrepreneurs fill a niche in Whittier commerce
Report shows widening gap between Latino and White students who graduate college
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pitches tough immigration policies to LA Latinos

Staff writer Allyson Vergara contributed to this report. 

​ Orange County Register 

Peter Gabriel delivers ‘So’ hits and new ‘i/o’ songs in powerful Kia Forum show

• October 14, 2023

At the end of the night, after old songs and new, Peter Gabriel wrapped up a gorgeous night at the Kia Forum with a challenge to the audience.

“What happens next is up to you,” Gabriel said as he left the stage followed by members of his band, one by one, until only Manu Manu Katché’s booming drumbeats remained, echoing through the arena as the crowd sang the final haunting refrain of “Biko.”

In one way, his words reflected the message of the song just finished: Can you find the courage of Steve Biko, the South African anti-apartheid activist, whose fight against that evil cost him his life?

But in the broader sense, Gabriel could have been talking about every song in the set on Friday, and the themes that he’s explored in his music throughout his life: “Birth and death, with sex in the middle,” as he’s described the songs on his new album, “i/o,” but also war and peace, humankind and nature, kindness and love.

Be brave, and our world thrives, the 73-year-old English singer-songwriter said in words and music throughout 22 songs and three hours on Friday. Be blind, and do we even survive?

The concert in Inglewood was Gabriel’s first in the Los Angeles area since 2016 at the Hollywood Bowl when he and Sting, who made his own return at the Bowl a week ago, shared the stage for two nights at that venue.

Unlike then, when the set included hits from both artists’ catalogs, this stop was something quite different. Yes, it included some of Gabriel’s best-loved songs – he played five of nine songs from the 1986 album “So,” perhaps his biggest critical and commercial success.

But Gabriel also played 11 of 12 songs from “i/o,” his first album of new material in 20 years; it hasn’t even been formally released yet, though nine of the new tracks have been released as singles, arriving one by one on the full moon every month since January.

That’s a big ask of any audience, and if you came hoping to hear “Shock the Monkey,” “Games Without Frontiers,” or deeper album tracks, well, you went home disappointed. But Gabriel’s audience isn’t like others, and for the most part, went with him wherever he chose to go on Friday.

The night, which was divided into two sets with an intermission, opened softly with Gabriel walking on stage alone to introduce the show to come. We’re going to travel through time tonight, he said, and consider our lives and our world and the power we have, for good or ill, to change things.

Bassist Tony Levin, who’s played in Gabriel’s band for 47 years, joined him; sitting before a huge circular screen on which a closeup of the moon was depicted, they began to play “Washing the Water,” an old song, during which the other seven members of Gabriel’s band took their places in a semi-circle beneath the moon, then “Growing Up,” older songs from “Us” and “Up” respectively. (The man loves his two-letter titles.)

A trio of new songs followed, each with introductions by Gabriel, each with the work of a different contemporary artist chosen by Gabriel to illustrate the single and be used in the videos on screen.

“Panopticom” was inspired by the rise of AI, which holds the power to either kill us off more quickly or help us see and know our world in a clearer, positive way. The title track “i/o” reflects the manner in which modern life overwhelms and devours the natural world.

And sure, those are fine messages, but the songs don’t work because of that. They, and most of the new stuff, work because they arrived unfamiliar but finished like classic Peter Gabriel tunes. “i/o” was a catchy, fun upbeat rock song. “Four Kinds of Horses” might have been about war and peace, but to the ears, it’s a gorgeous moody piece carried by the cello, violin and French horn on stage.

The first part of the show did include a few old faves. “Digging In The Dirt” from “Us” remains a slightly under-appreciated companion to “Sledgehammer,” the No. 1 single from “So,” which closed the first half of the show with a joyful, energetic performance by Gabriel and the band, and a loud, enthusiastic response from the audience. (Guitarist David Rhodes, who’s played with Gabriel for 44 years, displayed an easy familiarity with the singer as they did a little synchronized step-and-kick dance during “Sledgehammer.”)

Even before the stop-motion animation of the “Sledgehammer” music video, Gabriel has explored the visual side of performance from his days in Genesis to his solo career, and the stagecraft on Friday was subtly beautiful as evidenced by the opening of the second set.

A stagewide transparent scrim obscured a clear view of Gabriel and the band as they opened with “Darkness,” from “Up,” and “Love Can Heal” from the new album. Gabriel sang behind it, sometimes in silhouette, sometimes, as the spotlights shifted, like a ghost behind the screen. At one point he seemed to “paint” on it, moving his hand to create swirls and streaks of green and red light that followed his onscreen shadow as he walked the width of the stage.

The bespoke artwork for each new song also added elements of happiness, sorrow, sometimes joy and laughter. “Love Can Heal” included a moody painting of a couple cocooned in an embrace by British artist Antony Micallef. It was followed by “Road to Joy,” one of the most fun and upbeat tracks on the new record with artwork by Chinese artist and human rights activist Ai Weiwei, who contributed a piece titled “Middle Finger in Pink.”

The back half of the show delivered more hits, including a trio from “So.” “Don’t Give Up” was lovely as ever, with cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson singing the duet part that Kate Bush did on the album. “Red Rain” was as powerfully thrilling as ever. And “Big Time,” the offbeat, upbeat bookend to “Sledgehammer” was pure, joyful fun.

Not much from Gabriel’s earliest solo albums was included in the set, though “Solsbury Hill” closed out the main set. “In Your Eyes” served as the first encore, done in a slightly rearranged version with a longer intro and outro to the gorgeous melody of the main track.

And then “Biko,” a song about suffering and injustice and the will to resist. Not tied to any particular conflict in the world, but clearly as relevant today as it was in 1980 when it arrived three years after his death. What happens next is up to you.

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register 

Orange County football standings: Through the Week 8 games

• October 14, 2023

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

Orange County football standings through games of Friday, Oct. 13:

TRINITY LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

St. John Bosco
3-0
1.000
126
34
7-1
.875
296
119

Mater Dei
2-1
.667
91
28
7-1
.875
304
71

Orange Lutheran
2-1
.667
78
78
5-3
.625
196
186

Santa Margarita
1-2
.333
62
101
5-3
.625
238
228

JSerra
1-2
.333
55
90
4-4
.500
189
156

Servite
0-3
.000
60
141
4-4
.500
270
226

SUNSET LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Los Alamitos
3-0
1.000
180
38
6-2
.750
377
166

Edison
3-0
1.000
99
55
5-3
.625
206
162

Corona del Mar
1-2
.333
62
97
4-4
.500
179
201

Newport Harbor
1-2
.333
101
114
3-5
.375
217
253

Huntington Beach
1-2
.333
71
119
4-4
.500
205
241

Fountain Valley
0-3
.000
30
120
3-5
.375
201
259

SOUTH COAST
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

San Clemente
1-0
1.000
20
10
7-1
.875
241
96

Tesoro
1-0
1.000
37
22
5-3
.625
204
138

Mission Viejo
0-1
.000
10
20
5-3
.625
257
146

Capistrano Valley
0-1
.000
22
37
7-1
.875
275
143

SEA VIEW LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

San Juan Hills
1-0
1.000
57
7
8-0
1.000
304
113

Trabuco Hills
1-0
1.000
58
24
5-3
.625
233
180

Aliso Niguel
0-1
.000
24
58
5-3
.625
220
150

El Toro
0-1
.000
7
57
2-6
.250
118
249

CRESTVIEW LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Yorba Linda
1-0
1.000
58
7
6-2
.750
295
155

Foothill
1-0
1.000
22
21
5-3
.625
264
230

Villa Park
0-1
.000
21
22
7-1
.875
292
98

Brea Olinda
0-1
.000
7
58
5-3
.625
218
242

NORTH HILLS LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

El Dorado
1-0
1.000
41
0
4-4
.500
281
209

El Modena
1-0
1.000
41
20
4-4
.500
224
196

Esperanza
0-1
.000
20
41
3-5
.375
232
268

Canyon
0-1
.000
0
41
1-7
.125
121
302

EMPIRE LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Tustin
3-0
1.000
110
7
8-0
1.000
309
137

Cypress
3-0
1.000
115
28
5-3
.625
212
128

Crean Lutheran
2-1
.667
91
56
6-2
.750
267
122

Pacifica
1-2
.333
48
113
2-6
.250
126
275

Kennedy
0-3
.000
26
95
5-3
.625
226
144

Valencia
0-3
.000
42
133
3-5
.375
235
239

FREEWAY LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Troy
3-0
1.000
83
62
5-3
.625
271
223

Sonora
3-0
1.000
106
62
7-1
.875
241
161

La Habra
2-1
.667
129
53
4-4
.500
280
193

Sunny Hills
1-2
.333
41
93
4-4
.500
160
180

Fullerton
0-3
.000
97
106
2-6
.250
206
190

Buena Park
0-3
.000
46
126
4-4
.500
253
188

ORANGE COAST LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Santa Ana
5-0
1.000
257
52
7-2
.778
395
177

St. Margaret’s
3-1
.750
163
89
4-4
.500
251
218

Orange
2-1
.667
80
57
3-4
.429
175
197

Calvary Chapel
2-2
.500
120
105
4-4
.500
234
213

Estancia
1-2
.333
73
94
4-3
.571
202
126

Costa Mesa
1-3
.250
64
150
2-6
.250
112
257

Saddleback
0-5
.000
6
216
0-8
.000
22
339

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Northwood
1-0
1.000
35
7
4-4
.500
188
168

Dana Hills
1-0
1.000
21
20
6-2
.750
230
166

Laguna Hills
0-1
.000
20
21
7-1
.875
237
120

Portola
0-1
.000
7
35
4-4
.500
166
159

PACIFIC HILLS LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Beckman
1-0
1.000
31
7
7-1
.875
303
83

Irvine
1-0
1.000
13
9
5-3
.625
194
146

Woodbridge
0-1
.000
9
13
1-7
.125
91
190

University
0-1
.000
7
31
3-5
.375
176
183

ORANGE LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Western
3-0
1.000
171
14
7-1
.875
367
104

Santa Ana Valley
2-1
.667
69
82
3-5
.375
129
280

Anaheim
2-1
.667
97
63
4-4
.500
179
169

Savanna
1-2
.333
48
118
1-7
.125
110
320

Magnolia
1-2
.333
88
143
1-7
.125
115
408

Century
0-3
.000
67
120
1-7
.125
143
285

GARDEN GROVE LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

La Quinta
3-0
1.000
101
80
6-2
.750
237
142

Los Amigos
2-1
.667
68
46
4-4
.500
160
205

Rancho Alamitos
2-1
.667
54
43
5-3
.625
153
159

Bolsa Grande
2-1
.667
99
77
5-3
.625
224
250

Santiago
0-3
.000
76
97
3-5
.375
171
227

Loara
0-3
.000
57
112
0-8
.000
91
289

BIG 4 LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Segerstrom
1-0
1.000
64
0
5-3
.625
259
165

Marina
1-0
1.000
28
21
4-4
.500
139
173

Garden Grove
0-1
.000
21
28
2-6
.250
139
275

Katella
0-1
.000
0
64
1-7
.125
54
352

PAC 4 LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Laguna Beach
1-0
1.000
64
0
7-1
.875
352
142

Westminster
1-0
1.000
47
13
6-2
.750
261
74

Godinez
0-1
.000
13
47
3-5
.375
147
180

Ocean View
0-1
.000
0
64
4-4
.500
146
186

MESQUITE LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Capistrano Valley Christian
3-0
1.000
117
51
6-1
.857
226
118

Linfield Christian
2-1
.667
91
24
5-3
.625
234
110

Arrowhead Christian
2-1
.667
76
61
7-1
.875
248
129

Western Christian
1-2
.333
109
84
5-3
.625
289
205

Riverside Prep
1-2
.333
74
136
3-5
.375
182
285

Trinity Classical Academy
0-3
.000
38
149
2-6
.250
145
313

COTTONWOOD LEAGUE
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Whittier Christian
3-0
1.000
134
14
5-3
.625
275
148

Maranatha
3-0
1.000
93
40
7-1
.875
281
152

Santa Rosa Academy
2-1
.667
141
67
5-3
.625
327
145

Vasquez
0-2
.000
8
47
0-7
.000
35
248

Desert Christian Academy
0-2
.000
12
84
2-5
.286
104
112

Hamilton
0-3
.000
18
154
0-8
.000
90
328

PREP LEAGUE (8-man)
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA
W-L
Pct.
PF
PA

Chadwick
1-0
1.000
40
21
6-0
1.000
228
113

Flintridge Prep
1-0
1.000
55
22
6-0
1.000
297
127

Sage Hill
0-1
.000
21
40
4-2
.667
286
165

Windward
0-1
.000
22
55
1-4
.200
104
150

Related Articles

​ Orange County Register 

Rams look to put it all together against the Cardinals

• October 14, 2023

THOUSAND OAKS — In Week 2, the Rams’ offense had enough firepower, but the defense couldn’t get the requisite stops to win. In Week 3, the defense stymied Cincinnati, but the offense couldn’t convert on third down. In Weeks 4 and 5, the offense disappeared in the second half after strong starts to the game.

After a Week 1 in which they beat the Seahawks in every facet of the game, the Rams have yet to put together a complete performance again. And it’s cost them, going 1-3 across the past four weeks, only a throwback Matthew Stafford overtime drive getting the Rams back in the win column.

“I think guys are playing good football. I think we still haven’t put it all together,” defensive tackle Aaron Donald said. “I think once we do that, we’re going to be the team that we want to be. I think we got the talent here. I think we got the coaches. We just got to go out there, execute it and do it.”

The Rams (2-3) will try to put together that perfect game Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals (1-4), with a few key corrections to make.

On the defensive side of the ball, tackling was an issue last week against the Eagles. The Rams missed several key tackles on third downs that allowed Philadelphia to keep the ball moving on critical drives.

Though the Rams can’t take their own teammates to the ground in practice, Donald and defensive coordinator Raheem Morris said tackling was a point of emphasis this week, getting some thuds in at practice and discussing the issue in meeting rooms.

On top of that, the Rams are trying to eliminate the mistakes that allowed the 49ers and Eagles to put together quick drives to take the lead before halftime in each of the Rams’ previous two home games.

“I was mad about that. That lingered on me until about Monday night, honestly,” Donald said. “We gave up some plays and with some penalties that hurt us and some things that we could’ve done better. We got to try to eliminate that type of stuff, but we can’t have that as a defense. That’s not us, that can’t be acceptable. That just doesn’t sit well with me.”

As for the offense, consistency will also be key.

The Rams scored two touchdowns in three possessions in the first half against the Eagles last week. But Philadelphia pitched a second-half shutout. Across the past four weeks, the Rams are averaging 4.75 points in the second half.

And when the Rams have fallen into two-possession holes, the hurry-up offense that’s been such a big part of the team’s success hasn’t been able to sustain scoring drives.

“The execution is just a little bit off,” offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said. “We got to be better as coaches and make sure that the guys know exactly what we’re asking from them in those situations. It’s so close in so many circumstances.”

Related Articles

It’s still early in the season, with the Rams’ hopes of a playoff bid still alive. And the mistakes aren’t a matter of lack of talent, but execution. That’s why the Rams remain encouraged, though they know they can’t afford many more of these kinds of mistakes.

“Definitely in the NFL, you make two mistakes, you give up too many big plays, you tend to be the team to lose the game,” Donald said. “I think we got the talent here. I think we got the coaches. We just got to go out there, execute it and do it.”

CARDINALS (1-4) at RAMS (2-3)

When: 1:25 p.m. Sunday

Where: SoFi Stadium

TV/Radio: FOX (Ch. 11)/710 AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish); Sirius 386, 227

​ Orange County Register 

Angel City FC playoff berth on the line in season finale

• October 14, 2023

In its inaugural season, Angel City Football Club made it to the penultimate game of the season with a shot at making the NWSL playoffs, but ended up on the outside looking in.

This season, the second-year club heads into the final game of the regular season with another opportunity to make the six-team postseason.

“I think we’ve approached the last five games or the last part of the season in the same mindset that we have to approach Sunday,” ACFC defender and captain Ali Riley said. “We knew to stay in it (playoff chase) after being in 11th place, we were trying to win every game. We weren’t winning every game, but I think you were able to see that mentality, never give-up and we wanted to get a result out of every single game.

“We were really disappointed to drop those points at home (1-0, Oct. 2) against Orlando, but you saw that fight come out in Houston (2-1, Oct. 8).”

There are a lot of scenarios at play for Angel City (7-7-7, 28 points) in Sunday’s regular-season finale at home against the first-place Portland Thorns (10-6-5, 35 points). Entering the final day, only Portland and San Diego Wave FC have clinched a spot and Chicago and Kansas City are the only teams that have been eliminated from contention.

That means eight teams are still vying for four spots in the playoffs. Angel City, tied for seventh place, has a chance to move all the way up to third or the potential to end the season in 10th.

To clinch a playoff spot, ACFC will have to defeat the Thorns, who will be trying to win the NWSL Shield as the best team in the regular season. Angel City will also need a win or loss by Washington or a loss or draw by Orlando. Another path to the playoffs: an ACFC win, a draw or loss by OL Reign or a loss by Gotham FC.

“The away win was massive for us,” Angel City interim coach Becki Tweed said. “You can see the resilience and the belief in this team and if there’s one thing that I think you know from this season is that you can’t count us out.”

Angel City has never defeated the Thorns in NWSL play. The two wins have come in Challenge Cup last year (1-0, April. 24, 2022) and this year (2-1, July 29).

Related Articles

“We know that obviously Portland is a quality side,” Tweed said. “We’ve played them three times season already, the last time we played we came away with a good performance and three points. Even though it was in the Challenge Cup, it was still part of our streak and our second half (run) and we’ll be looking to duplicate that performance.

“They have threats all over the field, so we’ll be looking to negate their quality and also play to our best potential on the ball. We want to remain being us, that’s what’s got us here and we just have to be the best versions of ourselves.”

Portland (10-6-5, 35 pts) at Angel City FC (7-7-7, 28 pts)

When: 2 p.m. Sunday

Where: BMO Stadium

TV/radio: Paramount+/iHeart Radio

​ Orange County Register