Dodgers stunned again as Diamondbacks complete shocking NLDS sweep

• October 12, 2023

PHOENIX — Lightning does strike twice and the Dodgers are the charred victims, left smoking and unrecognizable as the 100-game winner they were during another pointless regular season.

For the second consecutive year, the Dodgers were eliminated in their first playoff series despite facing a team that finished a distant second behind them in the National League West. The Arizona Diamondbacks will move on to the NL Championship Series after hitting a postseason record four home runs in one inning and beating the Dodgers, 4-2, on Wednesday night to complete a shocking three-game sweep in the NL Division Series.

“There’s not a lot of words other than hurt, disappointed, frustrated and a little bit embarrassed,” center fielder Kiké Hernandez said of the feeling in the clubhouse after the game.

First baseman Freddie Freeman also struggled to answer questions.

“It’s hard to find words right now,” he said. “Yeah, it’s hard to put into words right now. Frustrating. Me and a lot of us didn’t play the way we wanted to. They just came out swinging in all three games and beat us.”

The Dodgers have lost six consecutive postseason games since winning Game 1 of their ill-fated NLDS against the San Diego Padres last fall. Twenty-two games better than the Padres during the 2022 season, they were 16 games better than the Diamondbacks during the 2023 regular season. They went 1-6 against those two teams in October.

“I don’t know the answer, and it’s ironic that these are teams that we’re very familiar with,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “You get in a series and it gets flipped on its head, I just don’t know that answer.”

The first team in baseball history to win 100 games or more in four consecutive full seasons (2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023), the Dodgers have been utter failures in the postseason those same years. They followed those epic regular seasons with first-round exits in three of the four postseasons, advancing only in 2021 when they stalled out in the NLCS instead.

“I mean, it’s obviously super frustrating,” All-Star Mookie Betts said. “There’s no real known cause for it. They played better. We didn’t do much. I can’t speak for all of us, but I know for sure I did absolutely nothing to help us win. There’s no words for it.”

The Diamondbacks led at the end of all but two innings in this series, dominating the Dodgers in every phase.

The Dodgers’ three starting pitchers – Clayton Kershaw, Bobby Miller and Lance Lynn – recorded a total of 14 outs between them while allowing 13 runs.

According to Elias Sports, the 4⅔ innings from their starters are the fewest by the starting pitchers in the first three games of a postseason series in MLB history.

But the Dodgers were able to outhit their pitching problems all season thanks in large part to their two MVP candidates – Betts and Freeman. But Betts and Freeman were no-shows in the postseason. They went a combined 1 for 21, the lone hit an infield single by Freeman in the first inning of Game 2. Over the two NLDS losses to the Padres and Diamondbacks, Betts has batted .080 (2 for 25). Stretching back to 2021, he is 3 for 38 in his past 10 postseason games.

An offense that has averaged 5.4 runs per game over the past two regular seasons (first in the majors in 2022, second this season) has managed just 2.6 per game in two postseason series.

“Not good. I don’t know. It just did,” Freeman said when asked how that happened.

“We didn’t do it for three days. Not good by us.”

The Dodgers were 4 for 38 (.105) with runners in scoring position during last year’s NLDS defeat (including an 0-for-20 stretch). This year, they slipped in the clutch again, going 4 for 17 (.235) with RISP against the Diamondbacks. Only four consecutive two-out singles in the seventh inning (producing their only runs of Game 3) buoyed this year’s number.

“(That is) just how playoff series go,” Hernandez said. “You’ve got to capitalize every time you have a chance. You only get so many chances. … We weren’t able to capitalize. Regardless of what they did offensively, for us as a group and a unit and a lineup and the guys that we have and what we’ve been doing all year, to score only two runs in each game. … They just played better. There’s no other way of putting it. We fell short and we didn’t capitalize on the few opportunities that we had. We’re here now.”

Only the bullpen performed up to its regular-season standard, holding Games 2 and 3 close with 7⅓ scoreless innings in Game 2 and 5⅓ scoreless innings in Game 3.

Out of it after the first innings of Games 1 and 2, the Dodgers at least stayed in this one until the third inning.

Lynn held the Diamondbacks scoreless for the first two – the only two innings in this series during which the Dodgers didn’t trail by multiple runs.

But he gave up a leadoff home run to Geraldo Perdomo in the third inning and another homer to Ketel Marte two batters later.

It was hardly shocking. Lynn led the majors with 44 home runs allowed during the regular season But he gave up another home run to Christian Walker two batters after Marte’s 428-foot shot.

When Gabriel Moreno followed by sending a 2-and-1 fastball from Lynn into the Dodgers’ bullpen, it was briefly ruled a home run. A replay review overruled that – so Moreno hit Lynn’s next pitch 420 feet into the center field seats, taking the foul poles out of play.

“I got behind in counts and they made me pay. Plain and simple, and that’s what they’ve been doing all series,” Lynn said.

It was the first time in postseason history that a team has hit four home runs in one inning and Roberts watched all 1,626 feet of home runs before pulling Lynn.

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“You’ve got two outs and a low pitch count, and you figure that this run of right-handed hitters, you’ve got to be able to navigate it somewhat with two outs, nobody on base (after Walker’s homer),” Roberts said. “Then two homers later you’re down 4-0.

“I had some guys ready (in the bullpen). Obviously, I can’t predict the future. I try not to be reactionary and get ahead of things. I just can’t predict the future. The way he was throwing the baseball, I didn’t expect that.”

No one in the Dodgers’ clubhouse expected to be packing up for the winter so soon. But there they were, winners of 211 games over the past two regular seasons but just one in two postseason series.

“We just didn’t play well. It’s as simple as that,” utility man Chris Taylor said of the back-to-back postseason failures. “I don’t think there’s a magic answer. It’s not like, ‘Oh, if we did this, we would’ve (won).’

“At the end of the day, they played better than we did. When you get to this late in the season, usually the hot team wins. They’re feeling good right now. They’re playing the best baseball they’ve played all year, I think. And we were probably playing our worst baseball we’ve played all year.”

Count ’em!

The @Dbacks are the first team in MLB history to hit FOUR homers in a single #Postseason inning! pic.twitter.com/gW89bANgtu

— MLB (@MLB) October 12, 2023

Gabriel Moreno made sure his next swing was VERY fair! #Postseason pic.twitter.com/nBX1RYx6wb

— MLB (@MLB) October 12, 2023

“You can point to a million different things, but at the end of the day, you gotta play well.” @mookiebetts speaks on his struggles and the relationships created this season. pic.twitter.com/L8A1QBiJpJ

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) October 12, 2023

“It’s hard to find words right now… me and a lot of us didn’t play the way we wanted to.” –@FreddieFreeman5 pic.twitter.com/ouvmmq5h4X

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) October 12, 2023

Dave Roberts tips his hat to the Diamondbacks and reflects on the #Dodgers’ performance in the postseason. pic.twitter.com/t73XRsgftO

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) October 12, 2023

“Obviously, it’s just a disappointing end.” Clayton Kershaw speaks on his emotions after tonight’s loss. pic.twitter.com/t1DcYaufxA

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) October 12, 2023

The @Dbacks beat LA. #Postseason

(MLB x @BudweiserUSA) pic.twitter.com/WHhGj1BVXW

— MLB (@MLB) October 12, 2023

​ Orange County Register 

Short-handed Kings adjust to their new normal

• October 12, 2023

LOS ANGELES — The Kings went into battle for the first time this season on Wednesday night, yet when they hosted the Colorado Avalanche they were far from full force or even complete attendance.

Carrying 21 players due to salary cap constraints and down all the way to 19 in uniform at game time as a result of Arthur Kaliyev’s suspension and Viktor Arvidsson’s lower-body injury, the Kings also dressed an unbalanced defense corps due, in large part, to other logistical concerns.

For the players in the dressing room, this is the new normal.

“Take it day-to-day and try to stay in the present. We know we have a good team, but when you’re missing a soldier, it can have an impact,” said center Phillip Danault, who added that he while was confident in the team’s culture, the situation definitely presented a novel challenge.

In some ways, it mirrored the situation the Kings and other teams experienced in the long shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, which wreaked havoc on seemingly everything, including all the best-laid plans in sports between 2020 and 2022. That upheaval went beyond the playing surface, too. As a result of the vast adjustments that had to be made in order to complete the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs and play two seasons with varying fan attendance capacity, the NHL and its players’ association drastically re-worked their Collective Bargaining Agreement to reflect the new economic realities, reconfigure escrow processes and implement what has been a nearly flat salary ceiling to this day, likely to see its first significant increase next season.

As General Manager Rob Blake and Coach Todd McLellan have been very quick to point out, the Kings are not the only organization in this situation or a similar one with a shortened roster and, sometimes, a short bench, too.

“Three or four teams are now forced to dress 19 skaters as they are choking for cap space. On top of that, many teams are being forced to carry less than full 23-man rosters for the same lack of cap space. As it stands now, the players have collectively lost 28 NHL jobs from opening night rosters,” player agent Allan Walsh said via text message.

“Allowing the Upper Limit to rise just another $1 million would have alleviated this issue,” he added. “The NHLPA approached Gary Bettman this past summer to negotiate some flexibility to the upper limit and was rebuffed. The NHLPA understood very well what was coming.”

McCLARY HONORED

The Kings sported stickers on their helmets on Wednesday in honor of Lou McClary, the team’s NHL security representative for 42 years from its inception in 1967 all the way through 2009. McClary died in August at age 96.

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Each player wore the sticker on his helmet in the position where the Ace Bailey and Mark Bavis sticker was typically displayed for one night.

“The L.A. Kings are incredibly saddened by the passing of Lou McClary, long-time NHL security representative and tremendous friend,” the Kings said in a statement. “Lou represented the Kings and hockey in Los Angeles with great pride dating back to our inaugural season. We will miss Lou’s unmatched vigor and enthusiasm, and our thoughts are with Judy, Brian, and the McClary Family at this difficult time.”

SPANISH BROADCASTS ANNOUNCED

The Kings will have a dozen home games broadcast in Spanish on Tu Liga (1330 AM) again this year, a tradition that began in the 2018-19 season with play-by-play man extraordinaire Francisco X. Rivera. His “goooooooooooooooool” calls will resonate alongside a new analyst after Nano Cortés opted not to return this season.

Broadcasts will be available Nov. 9 (Pittsburgh), Nov. 16 (Florida), Nov. 18 (St. Louis), Dec. 27 (San Jose), Jan. 2 (Toronto), Jan. 4 (Detroit), Jan. 20 (New York Rangers), Jan. 22 (San Jose), Jan. 24 (Buffalo), Feb. 10 (Edmonton), Feb. 20 (Columbus) and Feb. 24 (Ducks).

​ Orange County Register 

WNBA Finals: A’ja Wilson, Aces rout Liberty, grab 2-0 series lead

• October 12, 2023

By W.G. RAMIREZ The Associated Press

LAS VEGAS — It’s rare that the Las Vegas Aces leave Coach Becky Hammon speechless. After Wednesday night’s dominant performance in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals, she was in awe.

A’ja Wilson scored 26 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and the Aces routed the New York Liberty, 104-76, to take a 2-0 series lead in the best-of-five series.

“The character of this team and their absolute buy into the person to the left or right’s success is authentic,” Hammon said. “And it’s tough to deal with when you share the ball and people are skilled and competitive. They were good tonight. They don’t leave me speechless very often, but they executed defensively, offensively shared it – everything we’ve been asking them to do.”

Wilson finished 10 for 16 from the field on her way to recording her 26th double-double this season – including her fourth of the playoffs. She’s the third player in WNBA Finals history to have at least 25 points and 15 rebounds in a game.

The defending champion Aces are now one win away from becoming the first team since the 2001-02 Sparks to repeat as champions. Game 3 is Sunday in New York. No team has ever rallied from a 0-2 deficit in the WNBA Finals.

“We know what’s on the line and we had to make sure we came out and took care of home court,” Wilson said.

Chelsea Gray also had a double-double with 14 points and 11 assists, throwing some beautiful no-look passes for easy baskets. Jackie Young finished with 24 points and Kelsey Plum had 23. It was the second straight game that the guard trio dominated the Liberty.

“Vegas is playing their best basketball at the moment,” New York coach Sandy Brondello said. “They’re playing with a lot of confidence, you see the chemistry that they have. And for us, we haven’t taken the steps forward, we haven’t shown it. We’re disappointed, very disappointed, because we’re a way better team (than) what we showed.”

Jonquel Jones (22), Breanna Stewart (14), Betnijah Laney (12), and Sabrina Ionescu (10) accounted for 76.3% of New York’s points, as the Liberty got just 18 points from six others who played.

New York, which lost by 17 in Game 1, came into the game a perfect 9-0 after losses this year. The Aces made sure that streak ended with a dominant first and third quarter. They opened the game scoring 19 of the first 21 points, with 12 points coming from 3-point range. Las Vegas hit seven of its first nine shots – a blistering 77.8% clip – including four 3-pointers.

New York, meanwhile, missed nine of its first 10 attempts.

“It started with our defense,” Gray said. “We kept our pressure up, our physicality and we were able to play with our flow offensively.”

The Aces’ lead grew as high as 21 points in the opening period before taking a 38-19 lead into the second quarter. Las Vegas set a new record for most points in the first quarter of a WNBA Finals. It was also the most points the Aces scored in any quarter all season.

The Liberty came charging back from a 22-point second-quarter deficit behind a 12-0 run and outscored the Aces 25-14 in the period to cut Las Vegas’ lead to eight, 52-44 at halftime. Jones scored 16 of her points in the second quarter.

New York couldn’t carry its momentum into the third, however, as the Aces used a 17-3 run to extend their lead to 69-47. The Aces outscored the Liberty 28-13 in the third quarter, with 20 points coming from Wilson and Young.

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The Liberty couldn’t close the gap and now will try to avoid getting swept.

GUARD PLAY

For the second straight game, New York’s guards struggled to find their offensive rhythm, finishing 9 for 34 from the floor. Laney finished 4 for 15, Ionescu was 2 for 10 and Courtney Vandersloot – who didn’t score her first point until the fourth quarter – was 3 for 9. The trio – which combined to shoot 40% from 3-point range during the regular season – is now 20 for 60 (33.3%) from the field in the series, including 8 for 33 (24.2%) from behind the arc.

STOKED TO SHOOT

Kiah Stokes finished with eight points after making a season-high two 3-pointers. Her first one came during Las Vegas’ opening run in the first quarter. Her second one was the Aces’ first basket of the second quarter. In five separate games, she hit one 3-pointer during the regular season.

“For her to come out and have the night that she did today doesn’t come as a surprise because we see the work that Kiah puts into practice every single day,” Wilson said. “They can continue to look overlook Kiah, sleep on her all day. We love her in our locker room.”

​ Orange County Register 

ALDS: Abreu homers again to power Astros past Twins, into 7th straight ALCS

• October 12, 2023

By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Sports Writer

MINNEAPOLIS — The Houston Astros gathered in the clubhouse with their bottles and goggles to toast another postseason victory, when Manager Dusty Baker called Justin Verlander forward to lead the celebration.

“I’m doing the World Series!” Baker said. “You do this one!”

Verlander, after a profanity-punctuated speech that had teammates roaring with laughter, started the cork-popping countdown at seven – one for each consecutive American League Championship Series appearance.

José Abreu homered for the third time in two games, a two-run rocket in the fourth inning that launched the Astros to their seventh straight ALCS with a 3-2 win that eliminated the Minnesota Twins in Game 4 of their AL Division Series on Wednesday night.

“We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the bond that we have and the relationships that we have in this locker room, and we hold each other accountable in a good way,” said Verlander, who returned to the Astros in August via trade from the New York Mets. “Obviously, this team is built different. These guys are built different. When it’s time to step up, we play our best baseball.”

José Urquidy gave the defending World Series champion Astros another solid postseason start, withstanding home runs by Royce Lewis in the first and Edouard Julien in the sixth before handing the ball to the bullpen.

Hector Neris and Bryan Abreu combined for five strikeouts over 2⅓ hitless innings. Ryan Pressly, who pitched five-plus years for the Twins before a trade to Houston in 2018, struck out the side in the ninth for the save. He froze Max Kepler with a full-count fastball to end it, leaving former Astros star Carlos Correa on deck.

“Oh yeah, we knew, and I was trying not to have nightmares, because I remember when Carlos was with us he hit that ball up in the right-center field seats up there,” Baker said, referring to Correa’s homer at Minnesota in a 2020 Wild Card Series. “But we never got to Carlos, so that was a great, great victory.”

Correa hit .409 with three doubles and four RBIs in the series.

“I wanted that at-bat so bad. I know Pressly very well, and it would’ve been a fun matchup,” Correa said. “It didn’t get there, but it’s the way it was supposed to be.”

Houston will host in-state rival Texas in Game 1 of the ALCS on Sunday, when Verlander is scheduled to make his 36th career postseason start.

“They know us, and we know them,” Baker said, “and it’s going to be a heck of a series.”

The Astros, who are 56-34 in the playoffs since 2017, hit 10 homers in the series. Abreu had eight RBIs.

“They never give up, and they understand that this is the time where the greats need to be good,” Abreu said through an interpreter.

Urquidy, much like Game 3 starter Cristian Javier, had an October track record to rely on after a forgettable regular season. The right-hander, who has logged 42 postseason innings and made his seventh start in the playoffs, missed three months with shoulder trouble this year.

Michael Brantley got the Astros started with a solo shot in the second against Twins starter Joe Ryan, who was pulled after that inning in Manager Rocco Baldelli’s all-out attempt to extend the series.

Caleb Thielbar, the only left-hander on the roster, gave up a leadoff single in the fourth to Yordan Alvarez, a win for the Twins considering he had two doubles and four homers in the series. With one out, Abreu hit a 1-and-0 fastball to the opposite field for a 3-1 lead.

The rest of the relievers gave the Twins some energy back from the crowd, particularly when Chris Paddack pitched 2⅓ hitless innings with four strikeouts. But the home team just didn’t have enough hits to overcome all those swings and misses.

Lewis gave the Twins another big-moment home run, a smash to left field with a similar trajectory to the one he hit in his first postseason at-bat in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series sweep over Toronto.

Bad luck cost them a critical extra run. Julien led off the game with a double, but Jorge Polanco followed with a line drive straight at Jeremy Peña that was sharp enough to give the shortstop time to make a diving tag on Julien for the double play.

“We didn’t get it done in this series,” Baldelli said. “We got beat, but I couldn’t be happier with what I saw from so many of our guys, and I told them that.”

GOING DEEP

The Astros hit four homers in their 9-1 win in Game 3, even taking Sonny Gray – the runaway major league leader in fewest home runs allowed per nine innings this year – deep twice.

Their patience, confidence and power made Ryan a vulnerable opponent, considering the right-hander was making his first career postseason start after allowing 24 homers over his last 14 turns. Hall of Fame member Bert Blyleven was the only other Twins pitcher to give up that many long balls in a 14-start span.

Twins batters set the all-time record with 1,654 strikeouts this year, a whopping 413 more whiffs than the Astros had with the third-fewest in baseball.

SERIES STREAKS

The only club with more consecutive league championship series appearances than Houston was Atlanta with eight NLCS trips from 1991-99. There were no playoffs in 1994 due to the players’ strike.

POWER COMPANY

In just his sixth playoff game, Lewis – a former JSerra High standout who has overcome several injuries in recent years to shine this year – tied Greg Gagne with four postseason home runs for the second-most in Twins history, one behind Hall of Fame member Kirby Puckett. Gagne and Puckett each played 24 postseason games on their way to winning World Series titles in 1987 and 1991.

UP NEXT

Houston went 9-4 against the wild-card Rangers this season, giving the Astros the tiebreaker for the AL West title after both teams finished 90-72. Texas led the division for most of the year, but the Astros beat Arizona on the final day of the regular season and the Rangers lost at Seattle.

​ Orange County Register 

Newport Harbor girls flag football handles Corona del Mar in statement win

• October 12, 2023

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NEWPORT BEACH — There was no doubt this time. Newport Harbor’s girls flag football team made sure of that Wednesday night.

Junior Maia Helmar tossed four touchdowns and intercepted a pass on defense as the Sailors defeated Back Bay rival Corona del Mar 27-0 in a Sunset League game between nationally-ranked teams at Newport Harbor High.

The Sailors (22-1, 11-0), ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps, had edged No. 4 Corona del Mar (18-4, 9-2) by margins of 12-7 and 12-6 in overtime earlier this season. The latter game featured a controversial pass interference penalty that became part of storyline entering Round III.

But before a large crowd for the Rams’ Game of the Week, Newport Harbor raced to a 14-0 lead at halftime and added two more touchdowns in the second half to deliver a decisive result.

“It should have been (this) way for the other two games,” Helmar said, “(but) it was the nerves because they are our rival school and they are a very good team.”

After Helmar capped the scoring with a long pass down field for a 30-yard TD strike to sophomore Ella Woods, Newport Harbor’s rallying call surfaced.

“There’s no question now,” someone said along the Sailors’ sideline.

“There shouldn’t be,” Newport Harbor coach Jason Guyser said. “It wasn’t about trying to beat them by a lot of points. It was just about making (the result) clear.”

“I thought (we) played amazing,” the coach added. “Other than when we beat Woodbridge 33-13, I think these are our two best games.”

Newport Harbor scored on its first two drives.

Helmar, who also plays soccer and softball, capped the first possession with a 4-yard TD pass to senior wide receiver Kate Kubiak, an Oregon committed soccer player. Junior Abigail George caught the extra-point to make it 7-0.

Newport Harbor’s defense set up the score as senior pass rusher Emma Chaix recorded a sack on fourth down to give the offense the ball at the Corona del Mar 43.

On the Sailors’ next drive, Helmar punctuated a long march by throwing a 9-yard touchdown to junior Audrey Burns. Freshman Maddy Michel grabbed the extra-point as the Sailors built a 14-0 advantage.

In the second half, Newport Harbor’s defense provided another spark. Sophomore safety Cooper Dick deflected a pass to Helmar for an interception at the Corona del Mar 42.

Helmar capped the ensuing possession by rolling out to her left and tossing a 2-yard TD strike to George as the lead swelled to 21-0.

“The biggest difference was they executed on offense and we did not,” Corona del Mar coach Yvonne Sturgeon said. “Not just our league, but this area, this section of flag football is a powerhouse. … Maia throw some great balls tonight.”

Helmar also played well on defense. From her outside linebacker spot, she grabbed flags on three of four plays to force Corona del Mar to turn the ball over on downs late in the game. Burns, a cornerback, recorded the other tackle with a diving flag pull.

On the ensuing possession, Helmar launched her long TD pass to Woods.

Corona del Mar was led by speedy junior QB Alexa Rokos, who plays point guard in basketball.

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​ Orange County Register 

Mater Dei girls volleyball completes Trinity League dominance, sets focus on CIF-SS title

• October 12, 2023

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA — At the start of the girls volleyball season, Mater Dei’s players set a goal to win the team’s eighth consecutive Trinity League title and to do it by sweeping every league opponent.

The Monarchs put an exclamation point on the regular season Wednesday by wrapping up another league title with a sweep of Santa Margarita, 25-13, 25-10, 25-20, at Santa Margarita High School.

The Monarchs (35-2, 8-0), who are ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps, are expected to be the No. 1 seed in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs. The playoff pairings will be released Saturday morning.

As one of the eight teams to be placed in the elite Division 1 bracket, the Monarchs will also receive an automatic spot in the CIF State Tournament.

The Monarchs lost only three sets in eight league matches and are riding a 15-game league winning streak into the playoffs.

Mater Dei’s last league defeat came in their first league match of the 2022 season against Santa Margarita.

“I think we have a really good senior class,” Mater Dei coach Dan O’Dell said. “When you have a really good senior group who sets the tone for the level, and they’re out there and they’re performing, it’s something that everyone’s bought into and everyone’s trying to reach that same level.”

The Monarchs got contributions from some of those seniors against the Eagles (16-10, 3-5).

Setter Julia Kakkas, who is headed to Brown, led Mater Dei with 31 assists.

Stanford commit Malyssa Cawa had 13 kills and senior Tessa Hurley served five aces.

The scoring leader for the Monarchs was hard-swinging sophomore Layli Ostovar, who finished with 16 kills, most coming from the left side.

Memphis Burnett and Brooklyn Drumright led the Eagles with nine and six kills. respectively.

The Monarchs won all three sets by opening up big leads early and not letting up.

Ostovar’s cross-court kill gave Mater Dei a 12-4 lead in the first set.

The Monarchs closed out the set with a 7-1 run, with Ostovar getting the final point on a kill from the left side.

In the second set, Isabel Clark (University of San Diego commit) held serve for the Monarchs’ first seven points with two points on aces.

The Eagles battled back from an 11-point deficit in the third set to get within three points at 23-20.

But the Monarchs put the set and the match away on Ostovar’s cross-court kill and Clark’s kill from the left side for the final point.

“Winning the (Southern Section) is now the next part of the goal,” O’ Dell said. “We’ll go in as the No. 1 seed, but it will not be easy. I think there’s a lot of seeds that will come up and will be ready for an upset and we’ll have a big bullseye on our backs.”

The Monarchs’ only defeats this season were to Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach and Cathedral Catholic of San Diego.

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​ Orange County Register 

Fryer on Football: Previews and predictions for Week 8’s other top games

• October 11, 2023

Mater Dei vs. St. John Bosco is the top game in Week 8 of the football season. Steve Fryer will have a separate preview and prediction for that game.

Here are Fryer’s previews and predictions for the other top games this week:

NO. 8 SAN CLEMENTE (6-1) VS. NO. 3 MISSION VIEJO (5-2)

Where, when: Mission Viejo High, Friday, 7 p.m.

Analysis: This major matchup is a South Coast League opener. San Clemente looks to have its best team in a few years. The offensive line that includes Connor Bachhuber and Ben Baker helps quick-footed running back Aiden Rubin lead the county in rushing with 1,175 yards, with an average of 168 yards a game. Mission Viejo’s excellent defense includes junior defensive lineman Jaden Williams, who has team highs of 59 tackles and 15 tackles for loss. Mission Viejo has defeated San Clemente the past two seasons, beating the Tritons 45-0 in 2021 and 49-14 last year. That could create a psychological advantage for Mission Viejo.

Winner: Mission Viejo

NO. 6 SANTA MARGARITA (4-3, 0-2) VS. NO. 2 JSERRA (4-3, 1-1)

Where, when: JSerra High, Friday, 7 p.m.

Analysis: Santa Margarita lost its league opener to St. John Bosco 42-7 then lost to Orange Lutheran 28-21 last week. JSerra beat Orange Lutheran both 24-14 before a one-sided loss to powerful Mater Dei last week 42-0. JSerra junior quarterback Michael Tollefson rushed for 120 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Orange Lutheran. Lions safety Jared Referente had eight solo tackles against Orange Lutheran. Santa Margarita’s offense is good and getting better. JSerra’s defense, though, will be the difference.

Winner: JSerra

Running back Steve Chavez eludes the JSerra High defense in the game between Orange Lutheran vs. JSerra in a Trinity League football game at JSerra in San Juan Capistrano, on Friday, September 29, 2023.. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

NO. 4 ORANGE LUTHERAN (4-3, 1-1) VS. NO. 5 SERVITE (4-3, 0-2)

Where, when: Cerritos College, Friday, 7 p.m.

Analysis: Orange Lutheran is better when ace  quarterback TJ Lateef is healthy, and Lateef is getting there after injuries limited his playing time and effectiveness in a few games. In last week’s 28-21 win over Santa Margarita he completed 22 of 30 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns. Steve Chavez rushed for 120 yards against the Eagles. Servite is much improved after its 1-9 record in 2022. Servite’s famous spirit still will be intact, even after the back-to-back losses. But Orange Lutheran has the talent edge.

Winner: Orange Lutheran

NO. 13 NEWPORT HARBOR (3-4, 1-1) VS. NO. 12 EDISON (4-3, 2-0)

Where, when: Huntington Beach High, Thursday, 7 p.m.

Analysis: Newport Harbor won its Sunset League opener over Huntington Beach 59-21. Last week the Sailors were trounced by Los Alamitos 62-14. Los Alamitos has the ability to do that against good teams. Newport Harbor is a good team that has nonleague wins over Tesoro and La Habra. The way to recover from a one-sided loss is victory. That’s a difficult task this week, with the Sailors’ opponent being Edison. Edison’s offense for most of the program’s great history has emphasized the pass. This season that emphasis is on the run, led by junior Julius Gillick who is fourth in Orange County rushing with 1,039 yards. Edison’s defense and running game add up to an Edison win.

Winner: Edison

Tesoro quarterback Cash O’Byrne throws the ball during a nonleague game against Trabuco Hills on Friday, October 6, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

NO. 17 CAPISTRANO VALLEY (7-0) VS. NO. 15 TESORO (4-3)

Where, when: Capistrano Valley High, Friday, 7 p.m.

Analysis: Tesoro has played very well in its past two games, a 27-24 loss to undefeated San Juan Hills two weeks ago and last week’s 42-14 win over Trabuco Hills. Senior running back Travis Wood rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. Junior quarterback Cash O’Byrne coolly completed 16 of 22 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns. The Titans’ Dalton Hurd-led defense held Trabuco Hills to 50 yards rushing on 22 attempts. Capistrano Valley junior quarterback Tommy Acosta averages 146 yards passing and 104 yards rushing a game. Cougars junior receiver Hudson Campbell has 18 receptions for 240 yards and six touchdowns. Tesoro, which has not lost to Capistrano Valley since 2006, has a defense that can limit Acosta’s effectiveness and get the Titans the win in this South Coast League opener.

Winner: Tesoro

Fryer on Football last week: 3-2

Season to date: 28-12

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Los Angeles-area youth gymnastics coach under investigation for 2nd time in 5 years

• October 11, 2023

A Los Angeles-based gymnastics coach is the target of an investigation into his alleged inappropriate behavior involving young athletes for the second time in five years, according to confidential U.S. Center for SafeSport and USA Gymnastics documents obtained by the Southern California News Group.

The U.S. Center for SafeSport said it will investigate allegations by multiple parents that Colden Raisher, 35, has engaged in one-on-one texting with minor-aged girls he coaches at The Klub Gymnastics, a club in Los Angeles’ Silver Lake area, in violation of the U.S. Center for SafeSport and USA Gymnastics policies, according to SafeSport, USA Gymnastics and club documents.

SafeSport’s decision to investigate Raisher comes after USA Gymnastics referred the case to the Center last month citing the nature of the allegations, according to SafeSport and USA Gymnastics emails.

U.S. Center for SafeSport officials declined parents’ request to implement restrictions that would have prevented Raisher from having unsupervised contact with minor-aged athletes in the gym and elsewhere.

Raisher, director of the club’s girls competition team, was placed on paid leave by The Klub Gymnastics on Thursday pending the results of the gym’s own investigation into the allegations against him, club owner Mike Eschenbrenner told parents in an email.

“We are moving the case forward to our investigation’s (SIC) unit,” Jennifer Smith, U.S. Center for SafeSport intake coordinator, said in a recent email to a Klub parent. “A decision was made to NOT implement any temporary measure at this time, to include a no contact directive.

“For this reason, Mr. Raisher will not be notified at this time that we are investigating him, what the allegations are or who is talking with the Center. If he has heard there’s an investigation and reaches out, other than being told there is an open case, he will not be given any information at this time. Meaning, while the case proceeds, he will not be told right now that you and your daughter have anything to do with it.”

A USA Gymnastics investigator also confirmed in an email to another Klub parent that SafeSport has taken over the Raisher case.

“Due to the nature of the allegations, this matter was referred to the U.S. Center for SafeSport (the Center), an independent non-profit organization with exclusive jurisdiction over allegations of sexual misconduct, including child sexual abuse, as well as the authority to have discretionary jurisdiction over any alleged violations of the SafeSport Code for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement,” April Clark, a USA Gymnastics investigator, wrote to the parent.

In addition to being a method to engage inappropriate conversations and transmit sexually explicit images, texting and other electronic communication are widely regarded as a way for predatory coaches or officials to groom young athletes for inappropriate relationships and contact.

The U.S. Center for SafeSport and USA Gymnastics have “prevention policies” stating that all one-on-one electronic communications between adult participants and minor athletes must be open and transparent and include another adult participant, whether it be another adult coach or parent or participant. Those communications include texts, emails, phone or video calls, social media, direct messaging and gaming platforms.

The Klub Gymnastics has a similar policy, Eschenbrenner wrote in the email to parents.

“One or more of our kids have been engaging in one-on-one text messaging with other their coach(es),” Eschenbrenner said in the email. “One-on-one text messaging is when your child/gymnast has a texting/DM conversation without at least one parent or adult coach on the text chain. Let me be clear, this is a violation of SafeSport policies and a violation of our TKB Team Policies.”

It is not clear whether Eschenbrenner or Klub employees were aware of the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s decision to investigate Raisher.

Raisher and Eschenbrenner did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

“I have not had the opportunity to review any possible text messages as of yet,” Russell Prince, an attorney for Raisher, wrote in an email to SCNG on this week. “However, it’s my understanding that the club requires the team coaches to provide their personal cell numbers to the families through the Team Handbook. It’s important to remember that if text messages do exist, they may not violate the one-on-one communication policy – and I am certain if any messages do exist they are not ‘grooming’ in nature. Certainly, I would expect that if inappropriate messages did exist the person who contacted you with their complaint would have provided them to you to elevate the nature of your reporting on it. If there are indeed text message exchanges between the family, athlete, and coach, they will be produced for review by either USA Gymnastics or the U.S. Center for SafeSport.

“It’s coach Raisher’s understanding that a complaint has been filed, but it remains unclear where that complaint was filed. We have reached out to the USAG and the Center to seek their assistance in determining who has jurisdiction of the matter and what investigator will be assigned to review any formal documentation related to the complaint. Finally, those text messages are confidential under federal statute and the release of the text messages publicly would likely be a proactive violation of the Code at the Center. It’s unfortunate coach Raisher can’t produce any potential messages outside of the formal investigation. It’s fundamentally unfair for the rules that govern sport to allow complainants the latitude to do as they wish in circumstances such as these, but disallows a coach the ability to publicly disseminate any exculpatory evidence that exists. In this case, that would likely be the text messages themselves.”

USA Gymnastics first received complaints from Klub Gymnastics parents about Raisher over the summer, according to USA Gymnastics documents.

A U.S. Center for SafeSport investigator has not been assigned to the Raisher case at this point, according to a SafeSport document. Such an assignment might not be made for up to 12 weeks, Smith wrote in an email to parents.

Raisher was suspended by USA Gymnastics in 2018 while he was being investigated by the national governing body for alleged inappropriate behavior. Under terms of the 2018 suspensions, Raisher was allowed to continue to coach but was prohibited from having any “unsupervised contact with minors.”

The Klub Gymnastics employees said at the time they were unaware of Raisher’s suspension or the allegations against him until they were questioned by SCNG about the investigation and sanction.

Raisher, in a brief interview with SCNG at the time, said he didn’t have time to go into the specifics of the allegations against him. The USA Gymnastics by-law his suspension is based on stated that his “continued participation could be detrimental to the sport or its reputation.”

“There was no physical or sexual abuse,” Raisher said. “I’ve never done anything questionable. I’m one of the good guys in the sport. USA Gymnastics is trying to cast a very wide net. They’re trying to catch a lot of bad guys. I agree with that. But now anybody can report anything.”

He said in 2018 that the allegations were made by officials at another gym. He previously worked at Golden State Gymnastics in Burbank.

“This has nothing to do with Safe Sport or anything sexual,” Raisher said. “I changed gyms a couple of months ago and they’re retaliating against me.”

Golden State said in a statement in 2018 that it “has not made any complaints against Colden Raisher.”

Raisher said in 2018 he would be willing to talk about his case and explain why he was innocent of the allegations when he had more time, but did not respond to subsequent requests from SCNG to do so.

A USA Gymnastics hearing panel in November 2018 chose not to extend Raisher’s suspension. “After four days of testimony, released a formal decision finding there was no reasonable cause to withhold or encumber Mr. Raisher’s professional membership,” Prince said in an email. “Mr. Raisher was asked to complete additional education regarding coaching techniques that USAG had just begun to use. The requirement was timely completed.

“That document is confidential under the rules.”

Raisher regularly posts coaching technique videos on YouTube that show him working with gymnasts.

“This is a very tough decision and one that we did not take lightly,” Eschenbrenner wrote in the email to parents last week. “There have been enough accusations that we feel this is the best and only direction to go in until we get more clarity.

“To be clear, Colden is innocent until proven guilty and yet I know it looks otherwise since he is on leave. For that reason, I am also asking for you to share your support for his return. You can do that by clearly communicating what you know of your daughter’s own one-on-one text messages especially if you find no issue.”

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