Angel City wins first game under coach Becki Tweed

• June 18, 2023

SAN DIEGO — In interim head coach Becki Tweed’s first match of the season, Angel City Football Club defeated San Diego Wave FC 2-1 on Saturday on the road. It was the team’s first match win since May 7.

Defender M.A. Vignola scored the game-winning goal in the 88th minute to give Angel City the win.

Angel City recorded 13 shots with 5 being on goal. Though San Diego had 58.1% of the possessions in the match, Angel City limited the Wave to just 8 total shots.

“It’s a great moment and something I need to be really present in and process,” Tweed said. “We needed this as a group, we needed to come together and we needed these 3 points more than anything.”

San Diego came into Saturday’s match as the No. 1 team in the league with 20 points and a record of 6-3-2.

Angel City made a coaching change earlier this week, firing previous head coach Freya Coombe on Thursday and promoting Tweed to interim head coach.

The club struggled to find a clean shot in the first half, recording just 2 total shots and none on goal.

Early in the second half, San Diego defensive midfielder Kristen McNabb scored on a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty box to put Wave FC up 1-0 in the 57th minute.

Angel City responded when Paige Nielsen scored her first goal of the season on an assist from Clarisse Le Bihan in the 69th minute.

In the 88th minute, Vignola found a lane near the left side of the box and fired a shot that went under San Diego goalie Kailen Sheridan’s right arm and into the left corner of the goal.

Vignola said was relieved when the shot went in.

“(All I was thinking was) low and hard, better finish this,” Vignola said. “I saw it in the back of the net and I was like ‘Oh yeah it was good.’ ”

Nielsen said winning this game was important because of the rivalry with San Diego as well as where Angel City is in the standings compared to San Diego Wave FC.

“We needed that one. We knew the momentum it would take our entire team to grind a game out and that’s what we did today,” Nielsen said. “It was a team performance. We did the dirty things right.”

Angel City will play its next two games at home, starting with the Houston Dash on June 25. They will face San Diego again on June 28 as a part of the UKG NSW Challenge Cup.

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Angels blow six-run lead in loss to Royals

• June 18, 2023

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Angels’ bullpen had arguably been the single biggest reason for the team’s resurgence this month.

It may have been too much of a good thing.

A corps of heavily-worked Angels relievers blew a six-run lead in the seventh and a one-run lead in the ninth in a gut-wrenching 10-9 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Saturday afternoon.

The meltdown spoiled a day that included Shohei Ohtani’s major league-leading 23rd homer, two Brandon Drury homers and an encouraging game from slumping Mike Trout.

All signs seemed to be pointing to yet another victory for a team that won 10 of its previous 12, largely on the strength of a bullpen that had a major-league best 1.43 ERA in that span.

“They’ve been unreal,” Manager Phil Nevin said. “There’s a reason why we put ourselves in the position we’re in as far as the way the last two, three weeks have gone. I’ve asked a lot out of them. They’ve been used a lot. You’ve got throw strikes late in the game. They didn’t do that today.”

Rookies Kolton Ingram and José Soriano combined for four walks and a hit batter, setting the stage for Chris Devenski to be on the mound when the lead disappeared in the eighth and the victory disappeared in the ninth.

Devenski had a two-run lead when he entered in the eighth and then the Angels gave him another one-run lead when he came back for the ninth.

Closer Carlos Estévez was not available because Nevin said he decided after his rough outing on Thursday that he needed two straight days off.

“He’s just been used a ton,” Nevin said. “For us to get where we want to be, I need Carlos Estévez and I need him healthy.”

Devenski did not pitch on Friday, but he had worked three of the previous five days.

“I don’t believe in fatigue,” Devenski said. “I just didn’t get the job done. I let my team down so I gotta bounce back and go back out there tomorrow and work hard.”

In the ninth, Devenski gave up a leadoff bloop single to Edward Olivares. Pinch-runner Dairon Blanco then stole second and took third when catcher Chad Wallach’s throw went into center field.

Blanco scored on a single by Maikel Garcia. He then stole second and went to third on a bunt, and Samad Taylor knocked in the winning run with a fly ball that dropped on the warning track, ending the Royals’ 10-game losing streak at the Angels’ expense.

“I just didn’t get the job done,” Devenski said. “It’s gonna eat at me a little bit, but I’ll go back out there and prove what I got.”

The nightmare began for the bullpen when Ingram entered for his major league debut with a seemingly comfortable 8-2 lead in the seventh.

Ingram retired the first hitter he faced, but then he didn’t retire any of the next four, including two walks. Right-hander Jacob Webb relieved him with the bases loaded and he gave up a double to Bobby Witt Jr. Ingram was charged with three runs.

The Angels still had a three-run lead when Soriano entered in the eighth. Soriano had not allowed a run in any of his first six big league games. Soriano got the first out, but then he walked two straight hitters, hit a batter and gave up a single off the right-field fence.

Devenski, who has been the Angels’ best reliever with runners on base, then gave up a two-run single to Witt, tying the game.

Right fielder Mickey Moniak bailed out Devenski with a diving catch, preserving the tie after eight innings.

That set the stage for Trout to have his biggest moment in weeks.

The Angels’ superstar has been mired in the worst slump of his career, a six-week slide in which he had hit .199 with a .669 OPS. He felt a few recent games this week were encouraging, and on Saturday afternoon he hit two balls at 111 mph or harder, one of them for a double play.

When he came up in the ninth inning, he had a chance to save the Angels after their meltdown.

Andrew Velazquez led off the inning by drawing a walk against Aroldis Chapman, and then he stole second and third. Chapman pitched around Ohtani to bring up Trout, whose slump has been marked by his difficulty hitting high velocity.

Chapman’s first two pitches were 100.3 mph and 101.3 mph. Trout took one for a ball and swung through one. The third was 99.6 mph and Trout yanked it past the drawn-in infield for an RBI single.

“I felt good,” Trout said. “It’s been a slow process, a little slower than I want it to be, but it’s coming along. I feel a lot better up there the last couple days. It’s a step in the right direction.”

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Thousands celebrate earning degrees from UCI

• June 18, 2023

UC Irvine’s Bren Center has been filled with joyous graduates and proud families all weekend as more than 8,200 students celebrate earning degrees.

The commencement ceremonies hosted by UCI’s various schools started Friday and continue through Tuesday – back in May, the schools of Law and Medicine hosted their ceremonies.

Related: Check out all of our local graduation coverage.

This academic year, 8,966 bachelor’s degrees were completed – 46% by the first in their family to earn a college degree – and 1,815 master’s degrees. There are 100 new medical doctors and 393 new Ph.D. holders; 167 graduates now have law degrees.

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Cover girl Martha Stewart proves it’s never too late

• June 18, 2023

So incredibly motivating to see Martha Stewart at 81 make the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.

I, too, was contacted to do a two-page spread. However, it was just one photo of me in a bikini, but it took two pages.

I refused.

I have nothing against Martha. She looks fantastic. It is not even jealousy, as you may think.

I, too, grow my own coconuts, making my daily pina coladas at the bar I built by hand, decorated with tiles created and designed in my own kiln.

But she eats healthy meals, cutting out bread and pasta. I’d rather cut out my heart than to eliminate those staples.

Thus, so that you are not disappointed, do not look for me to be a cover girl except in the police gazette if I decide to rob a bank. (It is so tempting with all the leftover masks I own.)

True, inside me lives a skinny gal trying to get out. Usually I shut her up with a bowl of spaghetti or a chunk of pumpernickel. Sometimes I don’t eat it but stuff my ears instead because my inner hungry child sure makes a lot of noise.

Let’s face it: I have never, ever met a bowl of pasta I did not like. And I am very friendly to many other foods. It is my nature to be accommodating.

But I must declare I overdo it on holidays – starting at Thanksgiving and ending at Easter/Passover /Ramadan, as I am an “equal eat on any holiday” activist. Plus special occasions, sporadically, are doing me in.

On Earth Day, I celebrated many international delicacies found on Earth and delivered by Amazon Fresh, Instacart and Uber Eats.

Everyone I know is anxious to mingle since the pandemic lockdown is over. I have to pay the consequences. Enough! Five parties, four restaurants, and a wedding. Please, no more food or toasts.

Remember when I thought I heard applause while walking, then learned it was my thighs hitting together?

Now it’s more like a crowd of screaming rock music fans giving a standing ovation to my jiggles and hanging participles.

Though frankly, I read in The New York Times that being overweight is not bad. They claim the Body Mass Index (BMI) may not be an accurate measure of health. Whew!

As long as I still fit into my earring from high school I’m OK.

Hmm. Can Martha do that?

Humor columnist and Laguna Woods Village resident Jan Marshall is the author of humor books for grownups, including “Dancin Schmancin With the Scars.” She also has written aspirational books for children – “The Toothbrush Who Tried to Run Away,” and “The Littlest Hero” and her latest, “Give the Kid a Hand.”  She’s the founder of the International Humor and Healing Institute in 1986. She’s a clinical hypnotherapist, a TV host and media humorist, and – above all – a proud great-grandmother. Contact her at [email protected].

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Servite football coach Chris Reinert hires coordinators

• June 17, 2023

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First-year Servite football coach Chris Reinert turned to the college ranks to find his offensive and defensive coordinators.

The Friars have hired former Saginaw Valley State assistant coach Cheyne Lacanaria as offensive coordinator and former University of Chicago assistant Jon Davidson as defensive coordinator, Reinert said.

Reinert, a graduate of Servite, arrived from the college ranks in December to replace Troy Thomas. Reinert had served as the special teams coach at the University of Colorado.

Reinert’s staff also includes the return of Frank Kalil as an assistant. Kalil will team with former Los Alamitos, UCLA and NFL lineman Alex Redmond to coach the offensive line.

Kalil’s sons Matt and Ryan Kalil were standout linemen at Servite who went on to play at USC and in the NFL.

Former Golden West College assistant Savea Harrington will coach the defensive line.

Denny Flanagan (Edison) will coach Servite’s freshman team.

The Friars are coming off a 1-9 season, the worst in school history.

Thomas and Servite “parted ways” after the campaign, ending his second tenure at the school after five seasons. In 2021, the Friars finished as the CIF-SS Division 1 runner-up to Mater Dei.

Servite opens the upcoming season by playing host to Silverado on Aug. 18 at Cerritos College.

Please send football news to Dan Albano at [email protected] or @ocvarsityguy

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Angels’ Jared Walsh still searching for swing after late start to his season

• June 17, 2023

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jared Walsh fought a battle to just get back onto the field, and now he’s fighting to stay.

The Angels first baseman missed two months dealing with neurological issues and insomnia that impacted his quality of life to the point that he sought help from a special clinic in Utah.

Those issues have improved enough for him to play, but still aren’t 100% behind him.

“It seems to be coming along,” Walsh said. “Trying to stay patient.”

In the meantime, the time spent away from the game has clearly had an impact on his performance. Walsh is hitting .111 with a .418 OPS in 24 games since he’s been back. He has struck out in 24 of his 74 plate appearances. His 11 walks represent the only bright spot in his numbers.

“I think taking two months off, without doing a ton of baseball stuff, and trying to hit these guys on a nightly basis has been tough,” Walsh said on Saturday, drenched in sweat from a session in the batting cage. “Don’t really have many pretty stats to look at up on the scoreboard. It feels like kind of starting over.”

Walsh said it’s been difficult to remain confident, but he’s trying to be as upbeat as possible, especially while the team has been winning.

“In terms of the controllables, I think I’ve done a good job,” Walsh said. “I’m still working hard. I think I’m being a good teammate. Bringing a good attitude. But there’s no question when your batting average is .110, looking at the scoreboard is difficult. I just try to be real conscious of what information I take in. I understand I haven’t lived up to my potential and there’s expectations and I haven’t met those yet. But it is what it is. I’ve just got to go about my business the right way and hope things turn soon.”

Manager Phil Nevin said the Angels will continue to give Walsh opportunities to get righted. They no longer play him against all right-handers, as was the plan initially. He was not in the lineup for Saturday’s game against a right-hander.

“He’s scuffling,” Nevin said. “There are some timing issues. When you take that much time away from the game at this point in the season, it gets tough, but he’s gonna get a chance. We still think highly of him. To get him going would be great for this group.”

The Angels have no easy solutions with Walsh at this point.

He is the best defensive first baseman on the team. His absence was felt throughout the infield early in the season. Gio Urshela is probably the second best first baseman, but now he’s out for an extended period with a broken pelvis.

If the Angels send Walsh to Triple-A, they’ll have to rely on Brandon Drury at first base, and that’s not his best position.

This weekend the Angels began trying Hunter Renfroe and Taylor Ward at first in pregame workouts, although they view Renfroe as a much more viable alternative there. That would also help alleviate the outfield logjam created by Mickey Moniak’s emergence.

Trey Cabbage, who is naturally an outfielder, has been playing some first base at Triple-A, and he’s hitting .293 with a .969 OPS. The Angels have concerns about Cabbage’s defense at first, as well as his ability to hit major league fastballs.

RENDON UPDATE

Anthony Rendon’s “day to day” wrist injury is going to last at least four days, with the injured list still a possibility if he can’t play on Tuesday.

Rendon was hit in the left wrist by a pitch on Thursday. Although X-rays showed no break, the joint is still swollen.

Nevin said they had hoped Rendon could play by Sunday, but he acknowledged on Saturday that “that might be a stretch.” The Angels are off on Monday, and then have two games against the Dodgers, followed by another off day.

“Tuesday is not out of the realm,” Nevin said. “If we get past that point, (the injured list) is probably something we have to discuss.”

UP NEXT

Angels (LHP Tyler Anderson, 3-1, 5.80) vs. Royals (RHP Zack Greinke, 1-6, 4.65), Saturday, 1:10 p.m., Kauffman Stadium, Bally Sports West,  830 AM.

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Goldendoodle mix Philly is full of happiness

• June 17, 2023

Breed: Goldendoodle mix

Age: 9 months

Sex: Neutered male

Size: 40-45 pounds

Philly’s story: Pups and Pals was told that Philly’s parents were both goldendoodles, but he looks more like a hunting breed, maybe a setter or Brittany spaniel. Whatever he is, he’s sure cute. He’s thin at 41 pounds so probably will be about 50 or 60 pounds when he’s grown. He’s good with kids and other dogs, but he’s so happy he bounces, which might not be the best match for little ones. He is crate- and house-trained and has so much joy to bring to a home. He’d do best in an active home with a yard where he can run and other activities to keep him in shape. He knows some basic cues but, being a baby, gets distracted easily. He is not appropriate for homes with someone allergic to dogs.

Adoption fee: $400

Adoption procedure: Visit Pups and Pals’ website for full adoption procedures and an application, which must be received before meeting Philly. If you have questions about Philly not answered on the website, please call 562-713-5103. Pups and Pals has other dogs if Philly is not your perfect match.

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Lab mix Jackson is fun, loving and ready to play

• June 17, 2023

Breed: Labrador retriever mix

Age: 18 months

Sex: Neutered male

Size: 65 pounds

Jackson’s story: Meet Promise 4 Paws’ class clown. Jackson is a typical Lab puppy who loves zoomies, walks and playing with other dogs. But he also loves to cuddle and chill on the lounger in his foster’s garden. He’s got a kind, affectionate demeanor. Like so many black dogs, Jackson languished in a high-kill shelter. After two months of going unnoticed by potential adopters, he was brought to the rescue’s attention by the shelter, where he was a staff and volunteer favorite. Rescue volunteers jumped in and saved him. Although he walks nicely on leash and knows some basic cues, he will benefit from some ongoing training.

Adoption fee: $450

Adoption procedure: To meet Jackson, contact Promise 4 Paws at 949-600-1964 or [email protected]. Find more information on the rescue’s website, Instagram and Facebook.

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