Baseball: San Jacinto lost to Citrus Hill in the final inning, 2-nil Corey EvanTiger Andrew Rivero steps up to bat as Hawk Connor Guise prepares to pitch. ■ By Corey Evan / Reporter It doesn’t matter whether a game gets covered by the Valley Chronicle, because they’re all important to those playing them. That’s the attitude coach Rick Zepek and his San Jacinto High School baseball club strive to maintain. That attitude was put to the test on the afternoon of Friday, Mar. 9, as they squeezed in the Citrus Hill Hawks for a game. The first two innings came and went like the winds keeping the Tigers’ diamond cool that (more…)

CIF Boys Basketball: SJVA loses to the Cate School, 61-52 Photo by Corey EvanJeremiah Juarez tries to push past the Cate Rams. ■ By Corey Evan / Reporter Anyone who believes alternative schools don’t have good athletics programs needs to read this. The Wolfpack at San Jacinto Valley Academy have proven themselves to be CIF-caliber for 2018-19, going 5-6 in the South Valley League and 9-10 overall. This is a credible performance for a school without their own indoor gymnasium. But would their performance hold against the Rams from the Cate School, a world-famous boarding and day school in Carpinteria? With it being round two of CIF Division 5 playoffs, there (more…)

Boys volleyball: Hemet were shut out at home by Redlands, 3-0 Photos by Corey EvanCoach Joe Schnake, in pink, tries to keep his Bulldogs’ heads in the game. ■ By Corey Evan / Reporter We live in a blue state, no doubt you are aware. Being equally blue themselves, the Redlands High School volleyball boys would see a lot of red as they visited the Ted Smith Sr. Gym at Hemet High School on Thurs. Feb. 28 to take on the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs tipped the ball over the net first in set one, before the Terriers awoke and challenged them. Throughout this primary, the Terriers maintained a comfortable lead over (more…)

Baseball: MSJC outdated and outran Imperial Valley at home, 13-1 Photos by Corey EvanCarson McCafferty tries to knock one out of the park on Tues. Feb. 26. ■ By Corey Evan / Reporter The best batters are ready to bat, regardless of their backdrop. But would Imperial Valley College Arabs be that ready on Tue. Feb. 26 as they descended on the Mt. San Jacinto Eagles for some baseball? The first inning came and went with no notable action. But in the bottom of the second, with bases loaded, Kevin Gameros would take a sacrifice so Rigo Ano could take the first run of the day for the Eagles. Then off (more…)

Tahquitz: She wants to be a high school counselor, he wants to put the titans on the map Photos by Corey EvanClara thanks Coach Cordero for being there for her and the Lady Titans. ■ By Corey Evan / Reporter It’s not easy being green in the San Jacinto Valley, what with all the red, maroon and orange competition out here. But as the coaches at Tahquitz High School have observed, grade 11 athletes Clara Leary and Antoine Sullivan do it well. That’s why they are the Titan nominees for our winter MVP spotlight. Clara Leary Leary, a team captain who helped kick the Lady Titans soccer team into CIF for (more…)

West Valley: She wants to become an EMT, he wants to help stop cyber-criminals Photos by Corey EvanSenior Mallory Hoch, in her element. ■ By Corey Evan / Reporter If there’s anyone that proves participating in school sports helps prepare you for the rest of your life, it’s these bright young Mustangs. West Valley High School took a close look at each of their winter 2018-2019 athletes and selected seniors Mallory Hoch and Valentin Alonso for our MVP Spotlight. Mallory Hoch Hoch, who captained the Mustang Water Polo team in their 11-9 season for 2019, was nominated to our MVP Spotlight by Coach Rob Avila: “Mallory’s definitely one of the hardest (more…)

Baseball: West Valley hosted its Mustang Lead-Off tournament during the weekend of Feb. 21-24 Corey EvanPitcher Isaac Sandoval throws a wild one at the Mustang Lead-Off Tournament on Saturday. ■ By Corey Evan / Reporter With the recent rains starting to dry up, it’s finally time to play ball! The West Valley Mustangs could hardly wait to play on their home base during the weekend of Feb. 21-24. A total of nine teams went up against the ‘Mustangs Lead off Baseball tournament.’ Those teams were: Cathedral City, Granite Hills (Apple Valley), La Sierra (Riverside), Norte Vista (Riverside), Orange Vista (Perris), AB Miller (Fontana), Santa Rosa Academy (Menifee), Temecula Prep and Calvary (more…)

Boys basketball: Hemet lost to Beaumont at home 49-34 Photo by Corey EvanBulldogs Adrian Ludwig and Max Moore contend with the Beaumont Cougars on Jan. 4. ■ By Corey Evan / Reporter Friday nights mean fun for entertainment-seekers. But for those doing the entertaining, they also mean pressure – and lots of it. The Hemet High boys basketball team felt that pressure on Friday, Jan. 4 as they played host to the Beaumont Cougars. Right away, it was clear that the Bulldogs were not fully prepared to face kitty claws, as Beaumont would score first. In the first quarter of gameplay, they only put up four points against the Cougars’ nine. (more…)

Girls soccer: Hemet surprised Citrus Hill in second half, winning 3-nil Photo by Corey EvanOnce Hemet got going, Citrus Hill couldn’t keep up! ■ By Corey Evan / Reporter When something surprising happens, one might say it came out of left field. But when it happens on the soccer field, would one say it came out of left pitch? Regardless, it happened at Hemet High School on Wednesday, Jan. 2 as their soccer girls welcomed the visiting Citrus Hill Hawks. The first half of gameplay passed relatively uneventfully, with neither team scoring or receiving any significant penalty. But almost 10 minutes into the second half, Shayden Skinner broke the dry spell (more…)

Girls basketball: Hemet were up to the challenge against Beaumont, winning 54-43 Photo by Corey EvanThe Lady Bulldogs would have to work hard to distance themselves from visiting Beaumont. ■ By Corey Evan / Reporter Many high schoolers are perfectly happy staying inside where it’s warm during winter break. But others would rather be out playing basketball. Such is true for the Hemet High School girls basketball team. After taking time off with their families, could they possibly fathom competition from the Beaumont Lady Cougars? The Bulldogs showed that they were up for the challenge, scoring five points before Beaumont got on the board. In her efforts to keep up, Cougar (more…)