Page 9 - Mid Valley Times 7-14-22 E-Edition

Inaugural Cropper Camp a hit in Sanger
Thursday, July 14, 2022
Danny Jimenez / Photo Contributed
Ryan Warkentin, Reed- ley High's single season and career rushing lead- er, announced plans to walk on at Fresno State this fall.
Warkentin plans to walk on for Bulldogs
MVT Staff Report
Ryan Warkentin has upped his sights for college football for 2022.
The Reedley High graduate, who holds single season and ca- reer rushing records for the Pirates, plans to walk on with Fresno State's program this fall. Initially, he was set to play at College of the Sequoias in Visalia.
Three-sport letter winner Warkentin was named Male Athlete of the Year at RHS in 2021-22.
Sanger swim available at WAMS pool
MVT Staff Report
The city of Sanger Parks & Recreation di- vision resumed swim lessons this week at Washington Academic Middle School on July 11 after the communi- ty pool was temporar- ily closed after a car crashed into the facil- ity on June 29.
Parks and Rec of- ficials anticipates the Sanger Aquatic Com- plex should reopen in the near future, and thanked the Sanger Unified School Dis- trict for allowing the department the use of the WAMS pool.
Former Apaches standout, Fresno State teammates give football fundamentals instruction to 300 campers
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
Jalen Cropper experienced quite a few memorable moments at Tom Flores Stadi- um during his three years with the Sanger High football program. On July 9, the star Fresno State senior wide receiver made some new lasting memories at adjacent Dodson Field.
Cropper hosted the inaugural Jalen Cropper & Friends
Football Camp, a free
event that attracted
about 300 boys and girls ages 7-13 years. Camp- ers received snacks and water, and gifts includ- ed a t-shirt and swag bag.
"A lot of kids signed
up, but it's a blessing.
They're all here having
fun," said Cropper. who
had 12 of his Bulldog
teammates on hand to help provide instruc- tion in speed, agility and fundamentals.
Many parents packed the bleachers at Dodson Field with umbrellas and canopies to watch their youngsters mingle with Cropper and Bulldog teammates includ- ing fellow all-Mountain West preseason selections Jordan Mims (running back) and David Perales (defensive end).
"That was the main reason why I want- ed to do this [camp], just to see these kids have fun," Cropper said. "I know, growing up, that's definitely something I've always wanted to do. I wanted to do something to give back."
Parlier native Cropper was the most explosive offensive weapon for Sanger High's 2016 Central Section Division II championship team that went 13-1 and reached the Northern California Region- al semifinals. After playing at Buchanan High in Clovis his senior season, he's devel-
ABOVE: Jordan Mims, Fresno State senior running back, looked on and lent encouragement to a young camper participating in an agility drill on July 9.
RIGHT: David Perales, Bulldogs senior defensive end, demonstrated with a hop the footwork needed for an agility drill as young campers looked on.
Photos by Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
Jalen Cropper
Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
Jalen Cropper tossed a tennis ball to a young camper during route running drills at the Jalen Cropper & Friends Football Camp at Dodson Field in Sanger on July 9. Cropper, a Parlier native and former Sanger High standout, brought 12 of his Fresno State football teammates to the fun- damentals camp to instruct about 300 boys and girls at the free camp.
oped into a first team all-conference (and preseason fourth-team All-American selec- tion by Athlon magazine) receiving threat for a Fresno State team projected to be the favorite for the Mountain West title.
Coming back to Sanger to do the camp was a priority for Cropper.
"This was one of the main places that I was looking to do this camp. Just to be able to give back, and also show people where I came from; where I played," he said.
A sociology major specializing in child development who is set to graduate in De- cember, Cropper said his connection to kids goes back to his childhood where he was the oldest of many grandchildren.
"I've got a younger brother that just turned 3 in March, so just being able to [work with] kids and guide them in the right way — off the field and on the field – has al- ways been something that's at the top of my list," he said. "Hopefully, I'm able to impact some more kids' lives after football."
Reedley 11 All-Stars go 2-2 at District 10 tourney
Dinuba PeeWee wins SLYF passing tourney
MVT Staff Report
The Dinuba Emperors captured their PeeWee Division champion- ship at the Sequoia League Youth Football passing league tournament at Washington Intermediate School in Dinuba on July 9.
Dinuba was joined as tourney champs by the Shafter Command- ers (Junior) and Richgrove Warriors (Senior). Lineman Competitions were the Porterville Renegades (Se- nior), Shafter Commanders (Junior) and Goshen A (PeeWee) teams.
MVT Staff Report
Reedley won its second straight game in the Little League District 10 Tournament as the 11-year-olds edged Selma 5-4 in Selma on July 5.
The team, managed by former Sel- ma Little Leaguer Bobby Matthews, dropped a 10-9 decision to Madera Na- tional in consolation play on July 6 and was eliminated from the tournament.
Reedley finished the tournament with a 2-2 record, bouncing back from an opening 8-7 loss to Madera Ameri- can in Madera on June 28 to edge Sun- nyside, 14-13, on June 30 at Riverpark Field in Fresno.
Against Selma, three Reedley pitchers combined to strike out 17 Selma hitters in the six-inning contest. Starting pitcher Vayden Martinez struck out four of the seven batters he faced but allowed three unearned runs. Winning pitcher Aiden Paz struck out 12 in four innings.
Reedley broke a 4-4 tie in the fifth as Joseph Martinez doubled, stole third and scored on an error. The win- ners outhit Selma 9-3 with Brandon Matthews, Vayden Martinez and Paz all getting two hits.
Madera National advanced to the final by defeating Riverpark, and then lost 13-6 to Madera American in the
finals on July 8.
•••
Reedley's 10-year-olds dropped its two games in the District 10 tourney, losing to Sunnyside by an 8-3 score on June 27 and then getting outscored 15- 8 by Riverpark on June 29.
Reedley Little League went 1-2 in District 10 play, opening with a 9-0 loss to Madera American on June 26 before defeating Selma on June 27. The team then was eliminated in a 16- 7 loss to Sunnyside on June 28. Made- ra National edged Madera American in the finals by an 8-7 score on July 6.
Will Goldbeck contributed to this article.