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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​ Orange County Register 

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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​ Orange County Register 

The Audible: Among Dodgers, Bruins and Trojans, who’s best defensively?

• October 11, 2023

Jim Alexander: Welcome to the day-early Audible, which we’re posting Wednesday instead of Thursday while we know for sure the Dodgers still have any season left. All we know definitely is that they’ll be asking Lance Lynn to prevent a sweep by Arizona tonight, and the major-league leader in home runs allowed will be pitching in a park that’s said to be more amenable to the longball than usual if, as expected, the Diamondbacks decide to leave the Chase Field roof open.

As ugly as it’s been in Games 1 and 2, with Clayton Kershaw uncharacteristically shelled, Bobby Miller succumbing to rookie stage fright and Arizona’s aggressive hitters taking advantage, do you really want to watch the bottom of the first in Game 3 if you’re a Dodger fan? Maybe, instead, check the score at 6:25 or so and see if it’s safe to watch the rest of the game.

Mirjam Swanson: Sounds like a good strategy, if you’re a Dodger fan: Give it a minute or 20.

One thing’s for sure, Lynn won’t have rookie stage fright. One of the things that was appealing about him when he came to L.A. was his postseason experience, including three games he pitched against the Dodgers – remember his two scoreless innings to complete the Cardinals’ 13-inning victory over the Dodgers in Game 1 of the 2013 NLCS or, four days later, his Game 4 performance: 5⅓ innings to earn the victory in another Cardinals win.

And as ugly as it’s been for the Dodgers the past couple games, I just can’t imagine this group getting swept in this first round. Right?

Right???

As determined as the Dodgers are to staying even keel, there’s gotta be some sense of pride or panic that’ll get their bats revved up, no?

And if they do, man, will that be disappointing. And you know what the conversation will immediately turn to…

Jim: The pressure’s already on Dave Roberts. During yesterday’s off-day availability, the Dodger manager did his presser via Zoom, and one questioner pressed him (no pun intended, but whatever) about why he wasn’t at the ballpark and why the team wasn’t doing a full-scale workout?

His answer to the latter made sense: “For some people they need to be there, they want to be there, and some guys I think it’s great they stay away. That’s why it’s optional. I think as much time as we spend together, some guys need to be away. And for me, I welcome that. There’s no cookie-cutter, one way to do things.”

Those who don’t have a close-up view of the day-to-day process probably are convinced that if you’re losing, you’re not grinding enough and need to do more, when in some cases it’s the exact opposite. And these guys all have their routines that have worked all season. Even with the situation as dire as it is, I’m not sure a radical change helps.

Which leads me to the other, scarier part of the question. When asked where he was on the day off, Roberts said he was in a meeting with the front office. That’s not uh-oh in the sense of his job’s on the line, necessarily (though some fans wouldn’t have an issue with that). It’s more uh-oh along the lines of, what exotic and risky strategies are Andrew Friedman and his quants going to suggest to the manager?

Maybe to use Michael Grove or (God forbid) Caleb Ferguson as an opener in front of Lynn tonight? Remember, before Game 5 of the Division Series in San Francisco two years ago, one of the front-office functionaries suggested using Corey Knebel as an opener in front of 20-game winner Julio Urias, for no other reason than to disrupt Gabe Kapler’s platooning. That was the same night the Dodgers used Kenley Jansen in the eighth and Max Scherzer in the ninth to close out the game and the series. Short-term gain, long-term pain; Urias had nothing in his first LCS start against the Braves, and Scherzer had a dead arm and couldn’t pitch the fateful Game 6, forcing Walker Buehler to go on short rest.

In other words, the more influence the front office has on strategy, the more there is that can go wrong. That’s the overthinking I discussed in Tuesday’s column. So unless the front-office functionaries have some sort of magical way of getting Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman going at the top of the lineup, I wouldn’t listen to them. Unfortunately, the manager is obligated to.

Mirjam: It could also be a more sensible lineup change – maybe Chris Taylor and Kiké Hernández starting? ’Cause they’ve got to do something to kickstart the offense. What’s the tally over their past five postseason games (all losses, as everyone knows)? Like, 4 for 38 with runners in scoring position? They’re not going to get perfect pitching, or even close to it, so they gotta start scoring.

They’re facing Brandon Pfaadt today, and while it won’t be his postseason debut, he’s not exactly a weathered, confident vet, having allowed seven hits and three runs in 2.2 innings during the Wild Card Series.

Seems doable.

Jim: Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen are momentum stoppers, for sure. Pfaadt’s splits are fairly neutral in his limited sample size (19 games, 18 starts) on the big-league level this season: An .858 OPS by right-handed batters against him, .862 by lefties. And Roberts did talk about getting Kiké in the lineup today: “I do love the at-bats Kiké’s been taking and kind of trying to figure out if changing the lineup a little bit as far as structure makes sense.” So we’ll see.

That said, Mookie’s been struggling for a while now, after we got spoiled by his unbelievable August (1.355 OPS, 11 homers, 30 RBI). But one at-bat might be all it takes for him to get it going again.

OK, on to other matters. USC gets the lion’s share of college football headlines in SoCal, deservedly so, but are we spending too little time on what UCLA’s Chip Kelly is (finally) building in Westwood? You saw the Bruins beat Washington State last Saturday. This week they’re at Oregon State – and not to make light of a brutal situation for the Cougars and Beavers, but if UCLA sweeps those two do they win the Pac-2 championship?

Anyway, what’s your take on what you saw from the Bruins?

Mirjam: My take? No one has to climb atop a soap box to defend UCLA’s defense. Because the Bruins’ defense is LEGIT. And it has to be, because they have provided some cover for Dante Moore’s inevitable growing pains at QB.

Defense can seem boring, right? We like scoring! We like shootouts! That’s the exciting stuff.

But the type of defense UCLA is playing IS exciting. You could just feel how frustrated QB Cam Ward and Washington State were getting, as they continually got stuffed and stymied – and if not that, intercepted or stripped.

Ward hadn’t thrown a pick all season, 161 attempts altogether. The Bruins intercepted him twice – and forced two fumbles. They held a Cougars offense that came in having scored more than 30 points every game to just one offensive touchdown in Saturday’s game, a 25-17 UCLA win at the Rose Bowl.

Nationally, the Bruins are allowing just 3.74 yards per play, fewer than anyone in the nation. And they’ve given up only five offensive touchdowns in five games – second-fewest in the the nation.

Their success on that side of the ball is all the more stark considering all the problems we’re seeing on defense across town – though those issues are mostly just manufactured by the media, of course.

Jim: D’Anton Lynn for Coordinator of the Year. The Bruins’ defensive coordinator and son of former Chargers’ head coach Anthony Lynn has radically transformed that unit, so it is possible. And it is another testament to the benefits of adding fresh eyes and fresh ideas to your coaching staff.

See where I’m going with this?

Across town, Alex Grinch is embattled, again, as the Trojans’ defense alternates between great plays and missed assignments/blown coverages/whiffed tackles. And the impassioned (if implied) defense of his buddy by head coach Lincoln Riley is sounding increasingly hollow. Here’s Riley after Monday’s practice, complaining that, yes, it’s a media narrative that the Trojans’ defense is below par:

Asked Lincoln Riley about perception of the defense and he delivered a very impassioned answer in which he said, basically, the media “had their mind made up” that at any sign of adversity, a change would need to be made.

Pretty interesting watch for #USC fans: pic.twitter.com/u186Ze7BHL

— Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) October 11, 2023

It sounds so disingenuous, Riley’s take that, essentially, all these great things are going on that those of us on the outside don’t see or don’t recognize or can’t possibly understand. (That old “you never played the game” shibboleth isn’t overt, but it’s lurking just below the surface.)

But you don’t have to have played the game to recognize that, for example, blowing a 48-21 lead in the fourth quarter and being within an onside kick of having to go to overtime at Colorado is a failure. And you don’t have to have played the game to understand that what we’re seeing from the Trojans’ defense right now isn’t going to work against Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. or Oregon’s Bo Nix, just to name two.

Having to outscore people every time out isn’t sustainable. (Come to think of it, that’s the same lesson the Dodgers have been learning the last few days.)

Mirjam: Disingenuous is one way to put it.

This is Emperor’s Got No Clothes territory: You know how UCLA is giving up a few blades of grass every play? The Trojans are allowing 5.72 yards per play. You know how the Bruins have allowed just five offensive TDs all season? USC’s allowed 21.

And the Trojans have faced second- or third-string QBs among their first six opponents, who are collectively 10-24. Their next six opponents are, at this point, 26-7.

But don’t believe your eyes, believe Riley – whose own defense needs work, too.

Not his defense on the field, but his defensive posturing. Letting some well-founded criticism so clearly get under his skin – and, in turn, his players’ skin – seems misguided.

He’s implied Grinch was calling the right plays but that his players weren’t tackling as well as they do in practice (which, only the Trojans know – because their practices are closed).

But why not issue a healthy challenge to his players instead of throwing them, underhandedly, under the bus?

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Why not call them out, say it aloud: You can do better, I know you can! If I was a player, I’d rather that than be subtweeted in a news conference while my boss attempts to keep pressure off him and his coaching staff?

Riley’s comment about the media’s response “the first second there was any adversity this year”? I’m looking at HIS response.

But! They do have Caleb Williams, and as long as they have him, they might actually be able to outscore everyone all season.

The Dodgers, though, they’ll need to score more than two runs tonight.

​ Orange County Register 

New Texas-style barbecue joint opening in Costa Mesa

• October 11, 2023

Texas-style barbecue’s popularity in O.C. shows no signs of slowing down. The latest contender is Holé Smokes.  Founded by Ian Bason, a second-generation restaurateur who leads the day-to-day operations at his family’s Mexican restaurant, Holé Molé, and chef Dan Ramon, a Texas native and BBQ enthusiast, the Costa Mesa eatery will officially open Thursday, Oct 12.

“After more than a year filled with smoke, patience and a lot of love, Holé Smokes is bringing the heart and soul of Texas barbecue to Orange County,” Bason said in a written statement. “This venture has been an eye-opening experience in restaurant ownership and a true testament to the strength of family, and although there were more setbacks and trials than anticipated, we know the wait will be well worth it.”

The inaugural menu will feature brisket, tri tip, pulled pork, smoked shrimp, St. Louis-style ribs and chicken, all of which can be purchased per plate (with one or two sides) or by the half pound. Plates come with such barbecue staple sides as mac and cheese, broccoli slaw, potato salad, beans, chips and queso, and fries.

Holé Smokes also prepares brisket and pulled-pork sandwiches, as well as smashburgers.

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All meats are smoked on the premises using pecan and oak logs. The restaurant will seat 50 guests inside, 18 at the expansive bar and 30 on the patio. It opens in the same complex as Doria’s Haus of Pizza and Green Chilis.

Holé Smokes will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Find it: 1500 Adams Ave., Unit 100B in Costa Mesa; holesmokes.com

​ Orange County Register