Page 7 - Sanger Herald 11-22-18 E-edition

SangerSports
SANGER HERALD * PAGE 1B * THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2018
Harrell signs with Fresno State, forecasts good season
By Mike Nemeth
Sanger Herald
Jake Harrell has no problem with the notoriety that comes from standing atop the pitcher’s mound, baseball in hand.
There he’s in charge, using his pitching skill to derail an opposing team’s offense, one batter at a time. He ignores the taunts from the other side, compartmentalizes the roar of the crowd and occasionally casts a acknowledging nod to his teammates.
But on Nov. 14, Harrell found himself singled out for a different sort of attention, one he appeared less comfortable with. This time his teammates sat in the audience and everybody from his principal, Al Sanchez, and coach David Cuellar to family members said what a great guy he was.
“He’s always had something special,” said Niko Scalise, one of his
Mike Nemeth / Sanger Herald
Jake Harrell said the Bulldogs have a good program.
coaches on the Central Valley Marlins, a travel team. Fellow Marlins coach Brandon Simon said Harrell had been with the team “since he was little.”
Harrell signed a letter of intent to play for Fresno State next year, the first of Sanger High’s class of 2019 to do so. He was honored with a formal Athletic Scholarship Recognition ceremony in the school’s library where everyone was treated to refreshments and custom-made cookies to commemorate the event.
Brian Penner, Sanger High athletic director, said more scholarships are expected to be issued as Sanger seniors choose their colleges and universities.
“It’s a good school, scholarship offer and good baseball program,” Harrell said before the ceremony began. And he said he’s known Fresno State would be his destination since he verbally committed his sophomore year.
Harrell will join Vanessa
Hernandez, who joined the Bulldogs this year, and other former Apaches who accepted positions on the water polo team.
Harrell still has a season of baseball this spring, and he said he’s looking forward to it. “We’ll be good this year,” he said. “We’ll be really good. We start practicing after Christmas.”
Former teammate Anthony Schwamb, who graduated this year, said he understood something of how Harrell felt. “As a teammate, he’s one of the best,” Schwamb said. “But people who know him know he’s very humble. He thinks about the greater good, the greater good of his team.”
And Schwamb said Harrell will do very well at the college level. Schwamb said he plans to play football for the College of the Sequoias in Visalia next year.
Cuellar compared Harrell to Luis Ortiz, a former Apache who was
called up to the majors with the Baltimore Orioles in September. Ortiz also reportedly has recovered from his injury and is “feeling good.”
“This is our second time dealing with somebody of such high caliber,” Cuellar said.
And Cuellar said Harrell doesn’t act any different from his teammates. “He’s just another player,” he said. “Jake was the last person to ever act like he was on a pedestal. He’s given everything to this baseball program the last three years. If I tell him something, he does it. That right there is contagious, and it goes a long way.
“He’s one of the dominant pitchers in the Valley.”
Sanchez said Harrell’s been part of Hallmark Charter School since the seventh grade, following another alum, Ortiz. He said Harrell “has the greatest support system
See Harrell, Page 2B
Runners race to finish at section meet
By Mike Nemeth
Sanger Herald
As Emanuel Salas neared the finish line at the California Interscholastic Federation Central Section Cross Country Championship, he spotted teammate Danny De Loera about 50 yards ahead.
“I was dying,” Salas said of the Nov. 15 event. “We were far apart.”
But something sparked Salas to exponentially increase his speed. “I started going faster,” he said. “Longer strides. Then I hit the grass and gave it everything I had left.”
The Sanger High freshman shot past De Loera, a sophomore, and Santa Maria senior Noel Santiago to finish the 5,000 meter race by 10ths of a second ahead of the pair. Hundreds of runners from schools across the central San Joaquin Valley in multiple divisions gathered at Fresno’s Woodward Park for the annual meet.
“Snatched at the end,” De Loera said of Salas. “I was leading the whole time.”
Sanger placed ninth for boys Division II with Liberty-Bakersfield, San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria taking the first three slots. Salas, the top Apache finisher, came in 26th at 16:55.01 minutes and De Loera 28th. Not far after them came freshmen Jaden Terrones and David De Loera and sophomore Jayden Olea.
About 30 seconds separated the Sanger runners, and their hustle at the end of the race won them the praise of coaches. “Way to fight,” said assistant coach Clay Manning after the race. “That’s how to battle.”
Coach Sean Marzolf said to the team, “The first mile was quick. You put yourself in the race.”
Manning said the “spread,” which he defined as the time separating top five Apache finishers was one of the best, or closest, in the season.
“Great race,” Terrones said. “Felt more energetic. I haven’t felt like this in
Mike Nemeth / Sanger Herald
Danny De Loera, foreground, closes in on the finish line with Emanuel Salas just behind. Salas caught up. Below, the girls Division II race starts with Diana Garcia leading the Sanger group. She finished first for the Apaches.
awhile.”
The boys and girls ran
end. This time, that didn’t happen as many Apaches went all out, with some collecting personal best
For the girls, freshman Diana Garcia again led the Sanger runners, placing 18th with 20:20.47 minutes. Teammate Nia Lamas,
who had to pull out of the County Metro Athletic Conference championship the week before, cheered her teammates from the sidelines. Madera junior Unique Ford won the race, followed by three runners from San Luis. Lamas and Ford normally duel for the win in most of their races.
Sanger placed seventh overall for the girls team scores. San Luis was first and Monache second.
Lamas said she dealt with being a spectator “as best as possible. This isn’t my year, but next year will be.” And she said the advice she gives to her teammates: “Race for nobody but yourselves. No matter
what, we’re always proud.” Garcia said the first mile was too fast, but “I think I gave more on the third
mile.”
Jennifer Recinos placed
second amongst Sanger runners, and fellow sophomore Juliet Garza smashed her personal best time in a blistering finish for third. Freshman Sienna Bianchi placed fourth and sophomore Jahari Garcia fifth.
“I was really hurting,” Garza said. “I was telling myself I’d already be hurting so I might as well get something from it.” And she said the third mile was
See XC, Page 2B
fast first miles, which in
a 3.1 mile race can work
against a runner by the times.