Page 9 - Dinuba Sentinel 3-14-19 E-edition

Sports
“Kirsten was outstanding. She kept them off balance by hitting the corners inside
and outside.”
DHS softball coach Bryan Patterson
The Dinuba Sentinel
Emperors shut
B1
Thursday, March 14, 2019 DHS Softball
has yet to be determined, according to Patterson.
Patterson said the team played their best game of the season and possibly the last few years in their win against Bullard. The Knights reached the semis with a win over previously unbeaten Clovis North.
Senior Kirsten Martinez shined in the circle recording nine strikeouts and contributed at the plate with a run scoring double.
“Kirsten was outstanding,” Patterson said. “She kept them off balance by hitting the corners inside and outside.”
Bullard put pressure on Dinuba in the top half of the inning. The Knights had
See Win, Page B6
DHS Track and Field
Estrada
wins the
800 at
Coalinga
Sentinel staff
Dinuba High senior Diego Estrada won the 800 meter run in a time of 2 minutes, 08.83 seconds on Friday at the George Olson Invitational in Coalinga.
Teammates Danny Aurajo was fourth in 2:14.31 while Javen Hernandez was 17th in 2:31.11 and Jesse Gonzalez was 21st in 2:38.72.
Estrada was also sixth in the 1600 in 5:07.73. In that race, Dinuba’s Jonathan Padilla was 4th in 4:56.22 and Aurajo was fifth in 4:58.35.
In the high jump event, freshman Evyn Ruelas took 4th with a height of 5-2.
Karina Vieyra was the highest individual placer for the girls as she was third in the triple jump with a mark of 30-0. Kathryn Arroela was 6th (28- 1), Angela Cortez was seventh (26-4) and Jasmine Sandoval was eighth (26- 1). Vieyra also was 8th in the 300 low hurdles in 1:03.02.
Felicia Vela was 6th in the discus (78- 6) and was 7th in the shot put (27-00.5). In frosh/soph action, Natalie Cristoso was 5th in the 800 meter run in a time of 2;53.43. Monse Mendoza was 8th in
See Track, Page B6
Alexa Garcia dives into third base in a 4-0 win over Bullard in the Buchanan Preseason tournament on Saturday. The Emperors were scheduled to face Buchanan in the title game that night before rain moved in to postpone the game. The game will instead be played on March 23 at Buchanan with a time to be announced soon.
George M. Villagrana | The Dinuba Sentinel
The Dinuba High softball team continued its winning ways Saturday as the Emperors moved to 10-0 after a 4-0 win over Bullard at the Buchanan Preseason tournament.
The Emperors (10-0) were set to face host Buchanan, who defeated Stockdale in the other semifinals game, until the rain arrived at the Buchanan softball complex cancelling the last game.
“They wanted us to wait around but it was soaking wet. I didn’t want to risk our players getting an injury,” said coach Bryan Patterson said.
The game will be played on March 23 at Buchanan, although a start time
down Bullard in
a 4-0 win
By George M. Villagrana
Sports@thedinubasentinel.com
DHS Baseball
Dinuba
falls behind
early in a
9-3 loss to Sanger
DHS Soccer
Post season accolades
Sentinel staff
By George M. Villagrana
The Dinuba High boys soccer team rolled through their Central Sequoia League on their way to a perfect 10-0 mark. The Emperors eventually made it to the quarterfinals of the Central Section Division II playoffs where the season came to a close as they finished with a 19-6-1 record.
A few of Dinuba’s players were recently recognized for their outstanding campaigns led by Marco Garcia. The midfielder/half back was named the Most Valuable Player in the CSL, according to coach Ramiro Rodriguez.
Garcia may have not put up the numbers as some of his counterparts but the senior was very instrumental on both sides of the ball.
Rodriguez stated coaches loved the way he controlled the game and went on to say that it was a pleasure having him on the team.
There was a stretch of matches where the defense played outstanding holding opposing teams to a goal in four of their last eight matches, including four consecutive shutouts. The Emperors had the best goalie as junior Hilde Chavez was named the Goalkeeper of the Year, according to Rodriguez.
Junior striker/midfielder Santiago Rodriguez was also an all-first team member as he finished the season with 16 goals and eight assists.
The Emperors coaching staff was also recognized, garnering Coach of the Year
See Accolades, Page B6
Sports@thedinubasentinel.com
The Dinuba High baseball team fell behind early to Sanger and never recovered as the Emperors lost to the Apaches, 9-3, in the final game of the Central Valley Diamond Classic Saturday in Dinuba.
“It was a combination of us not playing well against a good team,” said coach Brent Morrelli. “We had some opportunities but we made a couple of mistakes.”
Dinuba dropped to 3-4 while the Apaches improved to 7-2. Sanger, who had a seven-game win streak snapped during the tournament with losses to Sierra Pacific and Selma, scored three runs in the first and second innings. The Apaches were held scoreless the last three frames as Dinuba scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Starter Justin Gonzalez threw two innings before being relieved by Ridge Huckaby, who pitched three innings before giving way to Josh Escobedo.
“Ridge came in and did a nice job for us,” Morrelli said.
See Dinuba, Page B6
George M. Villagrana | The Dinuba Sentinel
Dinuba will have
some big shoes to
Senior Marco Garcia was named the Central Sequioa League’s Most Valuable Player. Garcia along with a host of other teammates and the coaching staff received all-league honors.
DHS Basketball
ll next season
Dinuba finished the season with the most wins in program history (27) eclipsing the old mark of 23 wins by the 2013-14 team that featured Marcus McMaryion.
“We knew we could be pretty good,” Schofield said. “It took us awhile to get there.”
The team opened the season with seven straight wins and captured the Dinuba Invitational and Kingsburg tournament. The Emperors hit a few bumps in Central Sequoia League play before gaining traction again towards the end of the season. Dinuba overcame a tough loss in the Central Section Division III finals to Immanuel with home playoff wins over Sacramento Adventist, Argonaut-Jackson and
See Season, Page B6
By George M. Villagrana
Sports@thedinubasentinel.com
The senior group that is graduating from Dinuba’s basketball team will leave behind some big shoes to fill.
The group was led by Luke Rodriguez, Jonathan Calderon, Sebastian Garza, Jacob Rodriguez and Sinuhe Vargas.
Coach Jeff Schofield says leadership along with their size will be missed heading into next season. The seniors along with juniors Josh Magaña, Brian Ortuno-Campbell, Elias and Isaak Flores played a key role in the team’s success.
“Luke did alot for us,” Schofield said. “It’s tough to replace a player like that. We lost Sinuhe in the semis against Chavez and John stepped it up for us down the stretch.”
George M. Villagrana | The Dinuba Sentinel
Junior Josh Magaña will be the team’s top returning scorer next season for the Emperors.