Orange County baseball stat leaders through March 22

• March 25, 2025

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Orange County baseball stat leaders through Saturday, March 22.

To be included, teams must have their stats up to date on the MaxPreps.com leaderboards.

BATTING AVERAGE

RUNS BATTED IN

RUNS

EARNED-RUN AVERAGE

STRIKEOUTS

​ Orange County Register 

Orange County baseball Top 25: Orange Lutheran, Mater Dei, Cypress move up in rankings, March 24

• March 24, 2025

This week’s Orange County high school baseball rankings.

Notable this week: No. 1 Huntington Beach improved to 6-0 after winning all four of its games last week, including a three-game sweep of Marina in the Sunset League. … The Oilers, Cypress, JSerra and Mater Dei play this week in the Boras Classic South tournament. … Cypress moves up to No. 5 after beating JSerra twice last week. …  Laguna Beach improved to 10-0 last week and moved up four positions in the rankings. … Crean Lutheran and Trabuco Hills enter the Top 25 this week.

ORANGE COUNTY BASEBALL TOP 25

(Records through Sunday, March 23)

1. Huntington Beach (6-0): The Oilers are off to a 5-0 start in the Sunset League, having defeated Marina three times and Fountain Valley once last week. Trent Grindlinger homered in three straight games, Jayton Greer homered twice. Jake Frohn and Otto Espinoza led the Oilers’ pitching. Huntington Beach plays Aquinas at Mater Dei on Tuesday at 9 a.m. in the first round of the loaded Boras Classic South tournament.

Previous ranking: 1

2. Orange Lutheran (8-1): The Lancers won the championship of the Bishop Gorman tournament in Nevada, outsourcing their four opponents 35-5. Josiah Hartshorn hit .667 in the tournament with four home runs and eight RBIs and Noah Haros hit .583 with four RBIs.

Previous ranking: 3

3. Mater Dei (8-0): The Monarchs beat Murrieta Valley 4-0 and Pacifica of Oxnard 7-4. They play Ayala at home Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the first round of the Boras Classic South.

Previous ranking: 5

4. Santa Margarita (6-2): The Eagles lost twice last week, to Villa Park and Los Osos, and defeated Damien. They play in the Boras Classic South, opening against Paloma Valley on Tuesday at noon at JSerra.

Previous ranking: 2

5. Cypress (7-4): The Centurions swept JSerra in a two-game series by scores of 7-4 and 4-3, and defeated Bishop Amat 2-1. They are in the Boras Classic South, opening against Carlsbad on Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Mater Dei.

Previous ranking: 6

6. Foothill (8-3): The Knights beat El Modena 2-1 to improve to 3-1 in the Crestview League and beat West Linn of Oregon 9-4 in the Anaheim Lions Tournament.

Previous ranking: 7

7. El Dorado (9-2): The Golden Hawks beat Fullerton 2-1 in 11 innings and Palos Verdes 6-0. Julian Rodriguez pitched six innings and Logan Steenburgen went five innings in the win over Fullerton. Jacob Alvarez struck out seven over six innings in the win over Palos Verdes.

Previous ranking: 8

8. JSerra (3-3): The Lions were swept by Cypress in a two-game nonleague series. They play at home against Cathedral Catholic at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Boras Classic South.

Previous ranking: 4

9. Servite (8-2): The Friars went 1-1 in the Anaheim Lions Tournament last week, with a 4-3 loss to Reno and a 5-0 win over Lakeridge of Oregon. Toby Kwon struck out 11 batters in five innings in the win over Lakeridge and Tomas Cernius was 3 for 7 during the week.

Previous ranking: 9

10. Los Alamitos (9-1-2): The Griffins won two of three from Edison in Sunset League play. Wyatt Joyce is batting .406 with 13 hits and 10 RBIs in 12 games.

Previous ranking: 12

11. Villa Park (8-3)

Previous ranking: 11

12. Fullerton (6-4-1)

Previous ranking: 10

13. Aliso Niguel (10-3)

Previous ranking: 13

14. Newport Harbor (7-1)

Previous ranking: 15

15. Edison (7-4)

Previous ranking: 14

16. Fountain Valley (6-5)

Previous ranking: 16

17. Corona del Mar (6-4)

Previous ranking: 17

18. Marina (7-5)

Previous ranking: 18

19. Laguna Beach (10-0)

Previous ranking: 23

20. Trabuco Hills (8-1-1)

Previous ranking: Not ranked

21. Woodbridge (8-5)

Previous ranking: 20

22. Mission Viejo (6-5)

Previous ranking: 19

23. Crean Lutheran (8-2)

Previous ranking: Not ranked

24. Capistrano Valley (6-5)

Previous ranking: 21

25. Capistrano Valley Christian (6-4)

Previous ranking: 22

​ Orange County Register 

Tax season is a prime time for scams. IRS uncertainty could add to the issues this year

• March 24, 2025

By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS

NEW YORK (AP) — There’s a lot of information (and money) on the table during tax season. That also makes it a prime time for scams.

Year-round, fraudsters may use a handful of common tactics to try to steal your identity, money or other sensitive information. As you prepare your annual tax return, due April 15, experts stress it’s important to be extra vigilant.

This year, scammers might take particular advantage of uncertainty stemming from recent workforce cuts impacting thousands of jobs at the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. These layoffs and the potential for even more widespread reductions also raise questions about resources, including the IRS’s bandwidth to respond to scams reported by consumers.

Here’s what to know about tax scams and how to stay safe:

Identify the signs of tax scams

Tax scammers may try to reach you in a number of different ways — from lookalike emails, texts or phone calls impersonating the IRS to unsolicited social media offers that promise a suspiciously high refund. But there are a handful of common red flags to keep an eye out for, including:

— Sense of urgency

— Isolation tactics or threats

— Promises of a big payday

— Suspicious website links

Cybersecurity experts stress that scammers prey on emotion — and will often try to evoke fear or uncertainty. Many tax scams will ask you to act fast or click on a malicious link right away. Others will make you think you did something wrong, going as far as threatening an arrest if you don’t respond. Scammers may also isolate you from contacting others, such as a trusted accounting professional or even a family member.

Many tax scams also advertise big payouts, but at a price. Some “ghost” preparers, for example, will charge you for preparing your tax return — often with promises of maximizing your refund — but never sign it. They may then file a fraudulent return in your name, with an inflated income or fake deductions to boost the refund, and switch the bank account listed to claim your money.

The IRS will never initiate contact via email, text or social media with requests for your personal information — and urges consumers to only use trusted, accredited tax professionals if you need help preparing your return. Those who have fallen victim to scams are also encouraged to report them. You can find more information on the agency’s official website.

What’s different this year?

Tax scams can be all the more convincing if they meet the moment. And this year, experts warn that cyber criminals or “social engineers” might take particular advantage of uncertainty around the IRS cuts.

“Uncertainty is probably one of the biggest motivating emotions that social engineers take advantage of,” said Dave Chronister, a prominent “ethical hacker” and CEO of Parameter Security, noting that scammers might use news of these cuts and impersonate the IRS to falsely promise taxpayers “new” ways of filing.

Similar tactics emerged during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and following legitimate rounds of federal aid — with some scammers making false claims about additional stimulus checks, for example.

All it takes is just “a little bit of common knowledge” to “nudge you” into trusting them, Chronister explains.

Beyond how scammers use the news, the IRS workforce cuts could slow the agency’s ability to actually respond to scams, Chronister and others note. As a result, malicious websites or predatory social media campaigns may not be taken down as quickly — and victims of fraudulent returns could have to wait longer for answers.

“There is potential for reduced oversight,” said Chris Pierson, chief executive of cybersecurity firm BlackCloak. “If you have less individuals to be proactive within an agency that is housing, I mean, an amazing treasure trove of data and information — that obviously is concerning … (and could) create a riskier environment for the consumer.”

Asked for comment, the IRS pointed to its “Dirty Dozen” list of common tax scams to watch out for this year, among other steps taxpayers can take to protect themselves from identity theft and fraud. But the agency did not immediately comment on whether recent or future workforce cuts would impact its enforcement resources.

Scams are also becoming more sophisticated, most recently thanks to the rising adoption of generative artificial intelligence. Experts warn that this technology is being used create “hyper-realistic” phishing messages, including video or audio deepfakes, and can allow scammers to target more people at once through automation.

Pierson also warns of the fallout from recent high-profile data breaches — including the National Public Data breach, which made headlines last year for reportedly leaking a massive amount of sensitive information on the dark web, including full names, social security numbers, contact information and mailing addresses. Having that information out there could lead to more fraudulent filings, he explains, or “confidence scams” — where cyber criminals share one piece of information they have, like an address, to get people to trust them and share more.

How can I protect my information and money?

File as soon as you can.

Nobody is eager to sit down and do their taxes, but getting it out of the way early — and before any scammers potentially try to file something in your name — makes a huge difference, Chronister explains. He adds that taxpayers can play it safe by sticking to what they know.

“If you’ve always been using TurboTax, use TurboTax. If you always use an accountant, use your accountant,” Chronister said. He notes that you should also keep your information safe by password-protecting any past filings downloaded to your device and using a VPN when on public Wi-Fi.

The IRS also suggests setting up an identity protection PIN, a six-digit number that can help protect you from someone else filing in your name. You can also freeze your credit — which experts recommend as an added line of defense against future identity theft and fraud, even if you haven’t been scammed. Freezing your credit prevents any new credit accounts from being created in your name. And you can always temporarily “unfreeze” if a check is needed to rent an apartment or apply for a loan. Credit freezes can be set up through three nationwide credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

And, again, remember that the IRS won’t randomly contact you by email, text or phone. When in doubt, go to the official IRS website and reach out directly.

Avoiding scams can also come down to pausing before you click or act on anything. “Take a breath, count to 10 and then go, ‘OK … is this too good to be true?’” Chronister sad. “‘Is my gut telling me something is off?’”

Chronister adds that social engineering is about emotion, not intelligence — and anyone can fall for it.

“It’s human to fall for these (scams),” he said. “They’ve been here since the beginning of mankind … So you have to stay vigilant, but don’t panic. Just keep your gut check going.”

​ Orange County Register 

Former NFL and college assistant coach pleads not guilty to hacking for women’s images

• March 24, 2025

By ED WHITE

DETROIT (AP) — A judge entered a not-guilty plea Monday for a former Baltimore Ravens and University of Michigan assistant football coach who is charged with hacking into the computer accounts of thousands of college athletes to find intimate images, primarily of women.

Matt Weiss’ appearance in federal court in Detroit was brief and came four days after a 14-page indictment was filed. He’s accused of unauthorized computer access and identity theft from 2015 until early 2023.

Weiss and attorney Douglas Mullkoff waived a public reading of the indictment and later declined to comment during a cold, windy walk to a parking lot.

Separately, a lawsuit seeking class-action status was filed Friday on behalf of a former University of Michigan female gymnast and a former member of the women’s soccer team.

The university violated its duty “by failing to supervise and monitor Weiss and as a result plaintiffs and thousands of others have had their privacy illegally invaded,” attorney Parker Stinar said in the lawsuit.

The university declined to comment.

Weiss gained access to the databases of more than 100 colleges and universities that were maintained by a third-party vendor, Keffer Development Services, and then downloaded personal information and medical data of more than 150,000 athletes, according to the indictment.

He then got access to the social media, email and cloud storage accounts of more than 2,000 athletes, as well as more than 1,300 students or alumni from schools across the country, the indictment states.

“His goal was to obtain private photographs and videos never intended to be shared beyond intimate partners,” according to the indictment.

Weiss spent two seasons with Michigan before he was fired in 2023 for not cooperating with a school investigation. He was co-offensive coordinator in 2022 when the Wolverines were 13-1 and played in the college football playoff.

He had previously spent more than a decade with the NFL’s Ravens in various coaching roles.

​ Orange County Register 

Trump administration cancels at least 68 grants focused on LGBTQ health questions

• March 24, 2025

By CARLA K. JOHNSON

A surge of grant cancellations hit researchers focused on the health of gay, lesbian and transgender people last week, as the Trump administration continues to target what it describes as ideologically driven science.

Last week the U.S. government terminated at least 68 grants to 46 institutions totaling nearly $40 million when awarded, according to a government website. Some of the grant money has already been spent, but at least $1.36 million in future support was yanked as a result of the cuts, a significant undercount because estimates were available for less than a third of grants.

Most were in some way related to sexual minorities, including research focused on HIV prevention. Other canceled studies centered on cancer, youth suicide and bone health.

Health and Human Services spokesman Andrew Nixon said the agency is “dedicated to restoring our agencies to their tradition of upholding gold-standard, evidence-based science.” The grants were awarded by the National Institutes of Health, an agency under HHS.

One canceled project at Vanderbilt University had been following the overall health of more than 1,200 LGBTQ people age 50 and older. Most of the money has been spent from the grant funding the project, but it was up for renewal in April, said Tara McKay, who leads Vanderbilt’s LGBTQ+ Policy Lab.

She said the grant won’t be renewed because of the termination, which jeopardizes any long-term results. Still, the Vanderbilt project had already generated two dozen published papers, including work used to train doctors to provide better care to LGBTQ people, increasing the likelihood of cancer screenings and other preventive care.

“That saves us a lot of money in health care and saves lives,” McKay said.

Insights from minority populations can increase knowledge that affects everyone, said Simon Rosser, who studies cancer in gay and bisexual men at the University of Minnesota.

“We now no longer have anywhere studying LGBT cancer in the United States,” said Rosser, who saw his grants canceled on Friday.

“When you decide to cancel all the grants on sexual minorities, you really slow down scientific discovery, for everyone,” Rosser said. Young researchers will lose their jobs, and the field as a whole will suffer, he added.

“It’s a loss of a whole generation of science,” Rosser said.

Termination letters seen by The Associated Press gave as reasons that the research was “unscientific” or did “nothing to enhance the health of many Americans.”

That language felt personal and stinging, McKay said.

“My project’s been accused of having no benefit to the American people. And, you know, queer and trans folks are Americans also,” McKay said.

Associated Press data journalist Kasturi Pananjady contributed to this report.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

​ Orange County Register 

Popeyes has a new, shareable combo for $16.99; here’s what you get

• March 24, 2025

Popeyes has joined the ranks of fast food chains with March Madness promotions.

Popeyes’ promotion is called Boneless Bundle, and it includes 12 boneless wings, three chicken tenders and two sides for $16.99. That’s the Southern California price. In other states, it’s as low as $14.99.

We tested it with an online order. Here’s what we got:

We got to choose two flavors of boneless wings, six each, from a selection of eight. We picked Classic and Louisiana Garlic.

We chose Classic for the tenders. The other options were Spicy and the lower-calorie Blackened.

We got sauce for each of our chicken orders, which came to three packets.

We had five options for the sides: Cajun fries, mashed potatoes and gravy, colesaw, red beans and rice and mac & cheese, which was 50 cents extra. We went with the mashed potatoes and the colesaw.

The cost was $16.99, as advertised. With sales tax, it came to $18.48.

A six-piece order of boneless wings a la carte would cost $7.99. Three-piece tenders a la carte cost $11.59. Regular sides cost around $4.29 each. At those rates, the equivalant order would be $36.15.

Notice the deal doesn’t include beverages, which would add $1.29 to $3.99 each to the price. Also no biscuit.

For comparison, Wingstop’s Boneless Meal Deal costs $18.99. It includes 20 wings with the choice of four flavors, one large side and two dips. Again, no beverage.

Information: popeyes.com

​ Orange County Register 

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy resigns after 5 years in the position

• March 24, 2025

By LISA BAUMANN

Louis DeJoy, the head of the U.S. Postal Service, resigned Monday after nearly five years in the position.

He said in a statement that he told the Postal Service Board of Governors that Monday would be his last day on the job. DeJoy had said in February that he had intended to step down but hadn’t set a date. Deputy Postmaster General Doug Tulino will take on the role until the Board names a permanent replacement.

“I believe strongly that the organization is well positioned and capable of carrying forward and fully implementing the many strategies and initiatives that comprise our transformation and modernization, and I have been working closely with the Deputy Postmaster General to prepare for this transition, DeJoy said in the statement.

He added that “much work remains that is necessary to sustain our positive trajectory.”

DeJoy’s tenure was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, surges in mail-in election ballots and efforts to stem losses through cost and service cuts.

​ Orange County Register 

New center opens in Little Saigon featuring museum, culture exhibits

• March 24, 2025

By Dô Quyen

Contributing Writer

In a historic milestone, the Vietnam Cultural & Media Center opened over the weekend, uniting six Vietnamese American nonprofit organizations under one roof.

The large venue in Orange County’s Little Saigon will serve as a hub for Vietnamese culture, creativity and community pride, its organizers say.

“The center is a collaboration of six nonprofits with a common goal: a desire to connect our Vietnamese-American youths to their roots,” said Dr. Quan Nguyen, the center’s director and founder of the Museum of the Republic of Vietnam, which is the central exhibition in the 12,000 square-foot former warehouse in Garden Grove.

Nguyen and three speakers, a leader from each of the nonprofit groups, addressed more than 200 guests at a grand opening celebration Saturday that featured youth and cultural performances and an early opportunity to tour the center before it opened to the public Sunday. The speakers expressed a shared mission of preserving their history, language, music and traditions to ensure their culture continues to thrive for future generations.

“Let the center be a place where history is celebrated and where the future is built with knowledge and pride. Together, we will ensure that the history of the Republic of Vietnam will never be forgotten and that our culture will continue to thrive in the land of the free,” Nguyen said. The Republic of Vietnam was the official name of South Vietnam before it fell to the communist North Vietnam in 1975, which spurred an exodus of Vietnamese refugees, many of who went on to build Little Saigon.

Following the speeches, entertainers from the nonprofit groups performed popular songs while guests, many were older soldiers in military uniform, explored the museum exhibits with friends and family.

War and remembrance

As the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon approaches in April, Nguyen emphasized the need to address misconceptions about the war and the South Vietnamese army.

The museum features the prominent 7-foot-tall “Retaking of Quang Tri Citadel Monument,” funded by donors for $450,000. Inspired by the Iwo Jima Memorial near Arlington National Cemetery, the monument depicts five Vietnamese soldiers raising a flag with the Quang Tri citadel wall and a pagoda serving as a backdrop. It pays tribute to the South Vietnamese’s victory in an intense 81-day battle in September 1972.

“When we first saw the statues, tears fell from our eyes,” said Viet Trung Nguyen, 82, of Garden Grove, who was a South Vietnamese captain who commanded 180 Marines in the battle. “We will always remember our brothers who paid the ultimate price for freedom and democracy.”

Three friends with him Saturday, also veterans of the Quang Tri battle, expressed their gratitude.

“Seeing the monument brought back memories, and I am very proud to have been a part of this battle,” said Sang Thanh Vo, 82, a former South Vietnamese Marine captain of a transportation unit at Quang Tri operations. But for Vo, the memories were bittersweet, he said, as he lost a close friend he knew from their training days at Thu Duc military academy.

“My children and grandchildren will ask about the monument when they see it. It fills me with pride to tell the stories of our heroes and victories achieved by the South Vietnamese Army,” said Vo, who attended with his wife.

The Quang Tri monument project began in late 2020 when the Westminster City Council approved its construction at Sid Goldstein Freedom Park. After the project met criticism over its size, authenticity and location, the council changed its mind, though the monument’s construction had already been paid for by the donors. In 2024, Quan Nguyen led a new, private nonprofit to bring the statue to the center.

Also on display are hundreds of artifacts, such as military uniforms, awards, medals, ID cards, photographs – from portraits to battle scenes – and heartfelt letters exchanged between soldiers and their families. One included letter, dated April 1965, belonged to Marine Maj. Minh Hang Lê, who was killed in action at age 31. He reportedly carried the letter in his uniform pocket, near his heart. He was the younger brother of Gen. Minh Dao Lê. Their youngest brother was fatally wounded.

In a far corner of the center, a floor-to-ceiling paper mache statue, “Thuong Tiec” (loosely translated: Remembrance), shows a mourning soldier resting with his rifle on his lap. The original statue stood at the entrance of the National Military Cemetery in Bien Hoa, but was later destroyed in 1975 following the Communist takeover.

“It’s fascinating to see what they went through or what their perspectives were back then,” said Aaron Pau, visiting from UC Riverside with a friend, Emily Nguyen, 25, of Newport Coast.

Ngoc Dung Nguyen, daughter of the late General Ngoc Lan Nguyen, said she was impressed with the museum.

“My husband and I came here in 1975 as refugees,” said Nguyen, who is featured in an upcoming documentary about her father. “As we assimilate into the mainstream U.S., we want our children to know where we came from, the sacrifices of our parents and why we are here.”

“I saw a multitude of ages from 3 up to 80 today. Everybody is so proud to be a part of this celebration of our culture,” said Nguyen, smiling. “I love that we now have a museum to showcase some of our history for our children.”

The center and community

Across from the military exhibit, an entire wall of the center is covered with a photo depicting Saigon’s famous Nguyen Hue street, transporting guests to Vietnam at the height of the city’s music, art and fashion before its fall.

Since its opening in 2016, the Museum of the Republic of Vietnam occupied a 1,000-square-foot office in Westminster. This year, a private donor helped it take up a new space at the center. As the museum transitions to its new location, Pauline Tang, chair of the center’s program Saturday, announced plans to install QR codes that will offer explanations for each exhibit in both English and Vietnamese.

“We will also expand our focus to include culture, the arts, and fashion at the museum,” said Tang.

In a cultural debut, they honored Minh Duc Hoai Trinh, known as a gifted author, composer and musician. Trinh studied in Paris and became a French television reporter before moving back to Saigon, where she was among the first female journalists.

“She was ahead of her time and was also very fashionable,” Tang said, pointing to a poster-size black and white photo of a stylish Trinh, smiling in Paris.

“Vietnam had a beautiful rich culture with our literature, art, music, fashion and so much more beyond the war,” Tang said. “We want to show the world the beauty of (the) Vietnam that we knew and loved.”

To promote cultural appreciation, the center will host tours for the public and local schools.

The front room will display works of emerging Vietnamese American artists, organizers said, and is currently featuring Linh Ho’s art, which includes paintings and colorful framed dried flowers. All proceeds from the sale of her art will be donated to the center.

The center will also showcase books and poetry from Vietnamese authors.

​ Orange County Register