All eyes are on the spring sports as both the baseball and softball teams begin their seasons after each having a successful 2018 that culminated in the softball team winning the CCCAA state championship. The winter sports, however, are far from being done. The number 10 women’s basketball team in California continued their impressive season, while the men’s basketball team suffered two tough losses, though a .500 regular season finish is still well within reach. Continue reading for everything that happened this week in Mountie sports.
BASEBALL
The baseball team started off their season with a bang as they came out hitting on Friday with a 12-1 victory over Victor Valley to open their 2019 campaign. Tyus Santa Anna went three for five with two runs and two RBI including an RBI triple. Victor Valley had five errors to help the Mounties score four runs. Jacob Kampen picked up the win, going five innings while allowing three hits, three walks, and no earned runs, including a strikeout. They carried their momentum into their second game, defeating Glendale, 8-4. Omar Veloz and Santa Anna each had RBI doubles. Glendale also had shaky defense as three of the Mounties’ runs came off four errors. Christian Longoria picked up the win. He also went five innings, giving up two runs on six hits and two walks, with three strikeouts. They will look to go 3-0 on Tuesday, Jan. 29 at Riverside.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
It was a totally opposite week for the men’s basketball team. They lost 65-60 to LA Trade Tech on Wednesday. Cyree Dunnell led the team with 17 points. Israel Mansker and Daniel DeJoya each had double-doubles. Mansker had 15 points and 11 rebounds. DeJoya had 10 points, 10 boards, and also threw in six assists. They were severely undermanned against Chaffey on Friday, losing 80-50 with only six players active for the game. Dunnell and Akinola Branco were the only ones to score double digits as they each had twelve. They were severely out-rebounded 42-17. The team is now 8-11 and will look to right the ship on Wednesday at ELAC.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
The women had a couple of comfortable wins this week. They took down LA Trade Tech on Wednesday 76-60. Jade Hughes was big with 21 points and seven rebounds. Natalia Shpegel had 15 points and four assists. Tiana Douglas scored 12 points and picked up three blocks. They then took out Chaffey on Friday 71-51. It was a balanced attack with Shpegel leading the way with 16 points. Douglas had 14 points and seven boards. Aujanae Mayes had a very good defensive game, racking up an impressive six steals. Hughes was not far behind in terms of blocks as she had five. They will look to continue their great season at 16-5 on Wednesday, Jan. 30 at ELAC.
SOFTBALL
The defending state champion softball team started their season in Bakersfield over the weekend. It started off rough with a 6-5 walkoff loss to San Mateo in a battle of the top two ranked teams in the state and the defending champs were taken down to start off the new campaign. After trailing 4-0 the Mounties were able to come back to tie it at five in the sixth inning. Candace Haliburton had a huge game with three hits, two RBI, and a homerun. Vicky Gutierrez also brought home two runs. Briana Wheeler suffered the loss in this one. She went four innings, gave up six hits, four earned runs, including two homeruns. The team was able to bounce back in their Sunday doubleheader. They shut out Bakersfield in the first game 8-0. Eight different players recored an RBI, including Caitlyn Felina who had a three-hit game. It was a big third inning, as five of their runs would come across. Alexis Silvas pitched a complete game, giving up four hits, two walks, and striking out six. The team only needed five innings to take down Santiago Canyon, 9-0. Adriana Ramirez had a monster game, with two doubles, a homerun, and five RBI. Ciara Granado also had a big two-run homerun. Wheeler came back in a big way as she pitched the complete game with one hit, one walk, and seven strikeouts. With a 2-1 start to the season, the team will now head to Antelope Valley on Thursday, Jan. 31.