Page 11 - Reedley Exponent 4-26-18 E-edition

B3 | Thursday, April 26, 2018 www.reedleyexponent.com Reedley College Athletics
Josh Allen returns to RC
By Chris Aguirre
Chris@midvalleypublishing.com
Josh Allen – one week before potentially being se- lected as the No. 1 draft pick in the NFL Draft – returned to Reedley College on April 19.
Allen, who played at Reedley College in 2014, was honored at the event and pre- sented with his Tigers No. 12 game worn jersey by the col- lege. He also spoke to the cur- rent Tigers student-athletes.
“This is pretty surreal to be back at Reedley College,” Allen said. “This is a place I became the player that I am. To be able to come back and share my experience with the current students is great. Hopefully that and use it for their own good.”
It was the first time Allen was on the Reedley College campus since 2014.
“It's the first time I've been back since I played here,” Allen said. “It's really cool to be out here and see all the support.”
The NFL Draft will be held on Thursday, April 26, at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas. It will air live at 5 p.m. on ESPN.
LaVonne Allen, Josh's mother, was thrilled to see her son be honored during the April 19 event.
“This brought tears to my eyes,” LaVonne said. “I knew what the day was going to be like, but when I walked in and saw it in person it was over- whelming. The balloons, the amount of people, the signs, Reedley College put together a great event and it makes us very happy.”
It was important for La- Vonne to see Josh return to Reedley College to give the current student-athletes the belief that they too can ac- complish anything.
“We are all about being humble and not forgetting your roots and where you got started,” LaVonne said. “This is very important to me to be able to get him back here so it gives people a motivation that they to can go to junior college and make a Division I team or pursue the dreams that they have.”
Allen played for Reedley College before transferring to the University of Wyoming. where he has attended and played the last three seasons.
Eric Marty, Reedley Col- lege Tigers football coach, said at the April 19 event, that Allen's story has made a big impact on current players.
“He left a legacy here of
Chris Aguirre / The Exponent
Diego Ranallo, Reedley High Pirates baseball second baseman, attempts to catch the ball during a game against Roosevelt High School on April 20 at Reedley High.
RHS baseball beats Roosevelt High
Josh Allen, former quarterback for Reedley College Tigers and University of Wyoming, was presented with his game worn jersey in a presentation in the student center at Reedley College on April 19. He was joined by David Santesteban, Reedley College athletics director (left) and Eric Marty, Reedley College football coach (right). BELOW: Josh Allen signs Reedley College memorabilia.
Staff Report
Roger Ortiz, Reedley High Pirates pitcher, had 16 strike- outs and two RBIs to lead the Pirates to a dominant win over the Rosevelt High Rough Rid- ers.
The Pirates defeated the Rough Riders 11-1 on April 20 in Fresno. Reedley High also defeated Roosevelt High 15-4 on April 17 in Fresno.
As of April 24, the Pirates were 2-2 in the North Yosem- ite League.
On April 17, Nick Torres picked up the win on the mound, striking out six batters.
Adam Morales and Kev- in Hernandez each had two RBIs, while Diego Ranallo was 3-for-4.
On April 20, Ortiz also was 2-for-2, with two RBIs and scored three runs.
Justin Rackley had two RBIs, while Morales was 2-for- 3 with a double.
Reedley High played McLane High on April 24 at Reedley High.
They will play McLane High on Friday, April 27, in Fresno.
The Pirates then host Fresno High School on Tues-
day, May 1, in Reedley.
RHS Softball
Reedley High softball's 21-game North Yosemite League winning streak ended on April 20 with a 13-11 loss to Fresno High in Reedley.
No details were available for the game.
The Pirates were coming off a 12-2 win over McLane High on April 17 in Fresno.
Reedley High played Hoover High on April 24 in Fresno. No score was avail- able at presstime.
The Pirates will play Sun- nyside High on Friday, April 27, in Fresno.
Reedley High then will play Roosevelt High on Tues- day, May 1, in Fresno.
RHS Track and Field
The Reedley High School Pirates track and field team will host the Reedley Invita- tional on Friday, April 27, at Reedley High School.
A full report of the event and results from the event will be published in May 3 edition of The Exponent.
what can happen through hard work,” Marty said. “We will continue to point to him as an example. We want him to understand that he has many people rooting for him.”
As a Tigers in 2014, Allen started six games, throwing 26 touchdowns and rushing for 10 touchdowns.
Allen said that his time at Reedley College helped him build the foundation for where he is in his football ca- reer.
“Reedley College allowed me to showcase who I was as a player. I wouldn't be in the situation I am in right now had I not come to Reedley College,” Allen said. “It was the stepping stone I needed.
See ALLEN on page B4
Photos by Chris Aguirre / The Exponent
Immanuel softball has big aspirations in Division V
Chris Aguirre / The Exponent
Brianna Duncan, Immanuel High Eagles pitcher, has a 10-7 record and leads Immanuel High with four home runs. She also has 15 RBIs.
By Chris Aguirre
Chris@midvalleypublishing.com
The Immanuel High Ea- gles softball team is in con- tention to do something that no other softball program IHS has ever done – win a Section Championship.
The Eagles currently are ranked No. 3 in Division V, ac- cording to MaxPreps, and in position to make a run in the playoffs.
Jessica Schendel, Imman- uel High head coach, said the team is excited about the op- portunity.
“We are thrilled about be- ing one of the top ranked team in the division,” Schendel said. “But we have to focus on tak- ing it one game, one inning, and one play at a time.”
As of April 24, the Eagles were 11-9 overall. They are 0-4 in the Central Sequoia League, which consists of Division II, III and IV teams.
Despite being 0-4 in the CSL, Coach Schendel believes the tough teams they play will help them moving forward.
“Playing in the CSL can be hard for a small school like us, but that just means that we
learn how to work hard and per- severe,” Schendel said. “That is what makes you step up your game, and it teaches you to think two plays ahead and not just one play at a time.”
Immanuel is led by junior Brianna Duncan.
Duncan as a pitcher has a 10-7 record on the mound this season. She has 114 strikeouts.
Duncan is also one of the leaders at the plate for the Eagles. She has a .452 batting average, with four home runs and 15 RBIs.
She also has eight doubles and two triples.
Samantha Lizaola, a senior catcher for the Eagles, has a .429 batting average and has 17 RBIs.
Mia Barbosa, a freshman, has a team leading .459 bat- ting average.
Barbosa also leads the team with 22 RBIs and is sec- ond on the team with three home runs.
“I think building a team starts the same every year. You have to figure out the personali- ties on the team and how they best work together,” Schendel said. “You have to build chem- istry and help the athletes learn
to play together. This team already has the competitive nature that drives you to want to win. We have just had to har- ness that competitiveness and make sure it is focused in the right direction.”
The Eagles play Kings- burg High School on Friday, April 27, at the Immanuel High Sports Complex.
They then will play Selma High on Tuesday, May 1, at the Immanuel Sports Complex.
“I think our team has a good combination of con- fidence and humility look- ing forward,” Schendel said. “They know that they have the talent to compete, but they also realize that they have a lot of work to do and need to continue to grow and get bet- ter with each practice leading up to playoffs.”
IHS Baseball
The Immanuel High Ea- gles baseball team is in a tie for first place in the Central Sequoia League after winning two out of three games against Exeter High School.
SeeEAGLES onpageB4