Page 11 - Mid Valley Times 6-3-21 E-edition

Thursday, June 3, 2021
Sanger boys soccer is 2-time section champs
Apaches outlast Tulare Union for second straight DII crown, SHS girls fall in finals in OT to Hanford
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
The Sanger-Tulare Union Division II boys soccer cham- pionship on May 28 had all the intensity of a World Cup match — and then some.
The top-seeded Apaches (20-1-1) and No. 2 Tribe (15-2- 3) battled for nearly 110 min- utes of ever-increasing action at Tom Flores Stadium, and looked headed to deciding sec- tion supremacy via a shootout. But in the waning seconds of the second 5-minute sudden death session, a handball in the goal box gave SHS a pen- alty shot.
On the penalty kick, junior midfielder Julio Hernandez stared down TU goalkeeper Brayden Bettencourt and drilled a shot into the lower right portion of the south goal as Bettencourt lunged to his right. The goal set off a wild celebration among Apache nation in the stadium, giving Sanger its second consecutive DII title with a 3-2 triumph.
Sanger, the defending
Northern California regional championship, didn't have a chance to defend that crown as the Apaches were placed in the Southern California re- gional bracket. They drew the No. 2 seed, and hosted No. 7 Hart High from Newhall on June 1. Results of the match
were unavailable at press time.
A win would give Sanger a second home game against the winner of No. 3 seed San- tiago and No. 6 San Pasquel at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 3. That winner would advance to the region finals Saturday, June 5,
Sanger High's Julio Hernandez (left) watched the flight of his penalty shot hit the back of the net — as Tulare Union goalkeeper Brayden Bettencourt dove to- ward the right — for the decisive goal in sudden death over- time on May 28 at Tom Flores Stadium. The 3-2 victory gave the Apaches their second consecutive Division II champi- onship.
Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
The Sanger High girls soccer team lined up for intro- ductions before the May 28 section Divi- sion II title match at Hanford High.
Sanger High School / Photo Contributed
with the higher seed hosting. Aliso Niguel High in Aliso Vie- jo (near San Juan Capistrano) is the top seed.
"It was well-played on both ends, that's an incredible pro- gram in Tulare Union," Sanger coach Alex Gutierrez said. "They fought us, they knew
exactly how to play us. I've coached against [coach] Mike [Shaffer] for four years now and it's never been an easy game. They deserve all the accolades they received."
Gutierrez said the team needed to play patient, as TU's tight defensive pressure neutralized the Apaches' open passing and ball movement. After a scoreless first half, the visitors got on the board first at the 52 minute mark when Jesus Enriquez convert- ed on a header off a centering pass. But in the 58th minute, sophomore forward Isaiah Vil- lalobos soared above defend- ers during a scrap in front of the net to score the equalizer.
Both teams amped up the offensive pressure, and 68 minutes in Villalobos headed in the go-ahead score while colliding with keeper Betten- court. But the Apaches didn't hold the lead for long, as a min- ute later Alan Vindiola tied the score with his own header.
Both teams then had threats throughout the rest of regula- tion and both overtime ses- sions, including a great save by Sanger's goalkeeper in the closing seconds of the second 10-minute OT. It finally came down to Sanger's big break late in sudden death, and Her- nandez cooly converted.
"It was very intense and
SeeSOCCERonpage A18
Sanger girls tennis rules section DII
Free soccer and volleyball sports camp in Reedley
MVT Staff Report
A free soccer-volleyball sports camp for students grades 4 through 8 is sched- uled for the weekend of June 12-13 in Reedley.
The camp, sponsored by the Fellow- ship of Christian Athletes and Corner- stone Community Church in Reedley, will be held at Washington Elementary School, 1250 K St. Camp runs from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 12, and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 13. There will be coaches working with players along with food and fun.
Early registration is available is avail- able at Cornerstone Community Church, 2160 11th St. in Reedley, or register at the event. For more information, call (559) 967-0485.
Reedley closes in on NYL softball crown
MVT Staff Report
Sanger High School's girls cap- tured the Central Section Division II team championship on May 25 with a 7-2 victory over El Diaman- te of Visalia at SHS courts. Sanger won five singles matches and two doubles matches.
The Apaches won four of the five singles matches, highlighted by Lil- ian Vang's comeback victory at No. 1 singles. The junior bounced back from a 6-3 loss in the opening set to win 6-3, and then prevailed in a 10- 6 tiebreaker. Other singles winners were senior Lisset Vaca (6-1, 6-1 at No. 2 singles), senior Alyssa Reese (6-3, 6-1 at No. 4), senior Meleanna Martinez (6-2, 6-3 at no. 5) and fresh-
Sanger High School / Photo Contributed
Sanger High School players and coaches celebrated the team's Division II girls ten- nis Central Section championship after a 7-2 win over El Diamante on May 25.
PREPS ROUNDUP
man Sienna Jordan (6-0. 6-4 at No.
sets at No. 2 singles, but teamed with senior Allison Hartsell to win 8-5 in the No. 1 doubles. Junior Gur- simar Virk and senior Sydney Re-
See PREPS on page A18
6).
Senior Lisset Vaca lost in straight
PREP SPORTS SCHEDULE FOR JUNE 3-JUNE 9
Events and matchups are subject to change. Attendance at most prep sports is limited to immediate family members
THURSDAY, JUNE 3 BASEBALL
Dinuba vs. Exeter, Exeter HS. 4/7 p.m. (JV/V) Immanuel vs. Central Valley Christian, ISC The
Yard, 4/7 p.m. (JV/V)
Reedley vs. Sunnyside, Sunnyside HS Fresno, 3:30 p.m. (JV/V)
Sanger vs. Edison, Sanger HS, 3:30/6:30 p.m. (JV/V)
Central Section girls Div. III quarterfinals, Sanger (if wins June 1) at Roosevelt, 6 p.m.
Dinuba boys/girls vs. Exeter, Ridge Creek Golf Course Dinuba, 4 p.m.
Sanger boys (if wins) at Southern California Regional Semifinal, matchups and site TBD,
3:30 or 6 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Dinuba vs. Exeter (Senior Night), Dinuba HS, 6 p.m. (Varsity only)
Immanuel vs. Central Valley Christian, ISC The Nest, 4 p.m. (V)
Reedley vs. Sunnyside, Sunnyside HS Fresno, 3:30/5:30 p.m. p.m. (JV/V)
TENNIS
State Regional Championships (Semifinals), matchups/sites/times TBD
VOLLEYBALL
Section Division I Boys Championship, matchups and site TBD, 6 p.m.
FRIDAY, JUNE 4 BASKETBALL
Central Section boys Divi. III quarterfinals,
West (4) at Sanger (5), Sanger HS, 6 p.m. Central Section Div. IV Reedley (if wins June 2) at Mira Monte, 6 p.m.
Immanuel (if wins June 2) vs. TBA, site TBA, 6 p.m.
TRACK AND FIELD
North Yosemite League Championships, Reedley HS, 3 p.m.
SATURDAY, JUNE 5 BASEBALL
Sanger vs. Bullard, Bullard HS Fresno, 11 a.m.
(JV/V)
Sanger boys (if wins) at Southern California Regional Final, matchups and site TBD, 3:30
Central Section Boys Championships, Blacklake Golf Resort Nipomo, 9 a.m.
Central Section playoffs first round, matchups and sites TBD, games at 3:30 p.m. without lights, 6 p.m. with lights
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9 BASEBALL
Central Section playoffs first round, matchups and sites TBD, games at 3:30 p.m. without
lights, 6 p.m. with lights
BASKETBALL
Central Section boys playoffs semifinals, matchups and sites TBD, 6 p.m.
Central Section Division II Girls Individual Championships, Lemoore Municipal Golf Course, 10 a.m.
TRACK AND FIELD
North Area Meet, Clovis East HS, time TBD East Area Meet, Exeter HS, time TBD
BASKETBALL
TENNIS
GOLF
SOCCER
GOLF
SOCCER
or 6 p.m.
State Regional Championships (Finals), matchups/sites/times TBD
MONDAY, JUNE 7
GOLF
Central Section Girls Championships, Madera
Golf & Country Club, 10 a.m.
TUESDAY, JUNE 8 BASKETBALL
Central Section girls playoffs semifinals,
matchups and sites TBD, 6 p.m.
GOLF
SOFTBALL