Page 11 - Reedley Exponent 2-15-18 E-edition

B3 | Thursday, February 15, 2018
www.reedleyexponent.com
High School Boys Basketball
King of the court
Jack Welsh thrills crowd in his first and last game
File Photo / The Exponent
Nate Kendricks, Immanuel High Eagles boys basketball player, shown in this picture from earlier this season, helped lead the Eagles to victories over Dinuba and Kingsburg High schools.
IHS hoops teams earn wins over Kingsburg
Chris Aguirre / The Exponent
Jack Welsh, Reedley High Pirates boys basketball manager who has Down syndrome, runs through a line of teammates during introduction of the starters on Feb. 8 at Reedley High School. It was Reedley High boys basketball Senior Night.
By Chris Aguirre
Chris@midvalleypublishing.com
The Immanuel High Ea- gles boys basketball team re- mained in second place in the Central Sequoia League, fol- lowing wins over Dinuba High and Kingsburg High School.
The Eagles defeated Di- nuba High 75-62 on Feb. 6 in
Dinuba and then throttled Kingsburg High 79-44 on Feb. 9 in Kingsburg.
Immanuel High also won a non-league game against Bakersfield Christian 63-62 on Feb. 8 in Bakersfield.
“This was a big week for us, and I'm very proud of the
See IMMANUEL on page B4
By Chris Aguirre
Chris@midvalleypublishing.com
Jack Welsh was the last senior introduced on Senior Night for the Reedley High Pirates boys basketball team on Feb. 8 against Fresno High.
Not only was it Welsh's
last game as a Pirate, but it also was his first.
Welsh, who has Down syndrome and has been the Pirates manager for the past three seasons, dressed out and started his first game in front of an excited crowd inside Reedley High School's gym.
After a shot near the bas- ket missed, Welsh grabbed a rebound and heaved up a shot near the free throw line. It went in.
Welsh raised his hands in the air in elation as his fel- low teammates, Fresno High players and the RHS students rushed the court to celebrate
with him.
“He is the heart and soul of
Reedley High,” said Brandon Nagle, Reedley High Pirates football coach. “He is always supporting his teammates, and it was nice to see the school come out and support him.”
SeeWELSH onpageB4
North Yosemite League Girls Soccer
Pirates capture second straight NYL title
Chris Aguirre / The Exponent
The Reedley High School Pirates girls soccer team pose after clinching their second straight North Yosemite League Championship. The Pirates defeated the Hoover High School Patriots 2-0 on Feb. 7 at Sal Gonzalez Field. The Pirates finished the NYL with a 10-0 record.
By Chris Aguirre
Chris@midvalleypublishing.com
It was a historic night for the Reedley High Pirates girls soccer team on Feb. 7 at Sal Gonzalez Field.
The Pirates defeated the Hoover High School Patriots 2-0 to clinch their sec- ond straight North Yosemite League Championship.
The Pirates finished the NYL season with a perfect 10-0 record. They also ended the regular season with a 18-6-2 overall record, which is a program record for wins in a season.
“The team persevered all season long,” said Bladimir Pizano, Reedley High head coach.“I am happy for the girls. They showed resiliency.
They have worked hard and never broke down mentally.”
It was the Pirates' third league championship in pro- gram history. The Pirates have gone 19-1 in the NYL over the past two seasons.
“The experience on this team has helped us win back- to-back titles,” Pizano said. “Being in the top position over the past years has really helped us not be nervous and really know how to act when we have a lead.”
The Pirates received the No. 4 seed in the Central Sec- tion Division III playoffs and hosted No. 13 seed Selma High on Feb. 14.
No score was available at presstime.
SeeSOCCER onpageB4
RHS earns No. 4 seed in Division III playoffs
Immanuel and Reedley High start spring sports
File Photo / The Exponent
The Immanuel High girls softball team opens the 2018 season on Tuesday, Feb. 20, against Sunnyside High School.
Staff Report
Reedley High and Im- manuel High are starting their 2018 spring athletics seasons. Here are opening games for Immanuel and Reedley High teams.
Baseball
The Reedley High Pirates baseball team opens the sea- son on Friday, Feb. 16, against Dinuba High School in Di- nuba.
The Pirates then will play Sanger High School on Thurs- day, Feb. 22, in Sanger in the first round of the Central Val-
ley Diamond Classic.
The Immanuel High Ea-
gles baseball team open the 2018 season on Thursday, Feb. 15, against Memorial High School in Fresno.
They then will play Lem- oore High on Tuesday, Feb. 20, in Lemoore.
The Eagles play Hoover High School on Saturday, Feb. 24, at the Immanuel High School Sports Complex.
Softball
The Reedley High Pirates softball team will open the season on Wednesday, Feb. 21, against Kerman High School in Reedley.
They then will play Wasco
See SCHEDULES on page B4
File Photo / The Exponent
The Reedley High Pirates baseball team will play Dinuba High School on Friday, Feb. 16, in Dinuba.