Page 9 - Sanger Herald 2-7-19 E-edition

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SANGER HERALD * PAGE 1B * THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019
Hernandez begins career as a Fresno State Bulldog
By Mike Nemeth
Sanger Herald
Vanessa M. Hernandez knew several years ago this softball season could bring some confusion to the Fresno State program.
The cause is another Vanessa M. Hernandez, well known in Sanger circles as one of the standouts on Apache coach Erica Pennington’s always competitive teams. Amongst the Bulldogs, who are shooting for a conference title, the newcomer gets referred to as Little Nessa.
But that’s somewhat confusing, too. Sanger’s Vanessa is taller at 5-foot- 10 than center fielder Vanessa from Hesperia High who is 5-foot-6. On the official roster, Little Nessa is the Vanessa without the M.
Not that it matters to the two mostly affected
“We’re buddies,” Big Nessa said.
And she said she knew of Little Nessa since Sanger’s Vanessa committed to Fresno State early in her high school career. She
Mike Nemeth / Sanger Herald
Vanessa M. Hernandez at practice recently. She's teamed with another softball player with her same name.
played varsity since she was a freshman at Sanger High, graduating last year.
“I’m used to it,” Big Nessa said. She’s in her fifth year, having redshirted her first.
The pair, in addition to the name thing, are apparently fast friends and also talked about the upcoming season under coach Linda Garza, now in her third year guiding the Bulldogs. The team had a preseason media day at Margie Wright Diamond on Jan. 29. The team kicks off the season against No. 1 ranked UCLA, last year’s defending NCAA champions, at the Hawaii Paradise Classic in Honolulu on Feb. 7.
To the question of playing to win this season, Big Nessa said, “Oh yeah. Totally.” And on Little Nessa, she added, “So much fun to be around. So much talent.”
And Little Nessa, who didn’t look the part standing next to her name twin, said Big Nessa has taken her under her wing.
Little Nessa called her teammates “fun and
energetic. It’s easy to fit in because they’re all weird like me.” Of coach Garza, she added, “She makes me better on the field. She believes in me and gives me confidence.”
Big Nessa, one of the team leaders, was the first after Garza to be interviewed by the various television journalists gathered in the corner of the stands that day. But before her turn in front of the live-action cameras, she posed for a photo with Little Nessa.
Garza said she has full confidence in her players, especially her Nessas, and intends to win it all. “We’re going to use that old-fashioned work ethic,” she said. “We’re going to do everything we can. We play one of the top teams right out of the gale. Let’s go and doit.Ourgoalistogoto the post season.”
Infielder Rachel Minogue said regardless of UCLA’s ranking her Bulldogs will try to knock them from their perch. “We’re seen as the underdog,” she said. “And that helps. For me, it’s better.” She said
her team’s lineup has quite a few players who can deliver. The key, she said, is “staying consistent throughout the season.”
And catcher Haileigh Galvan, who was a standout for the Bulldogs last season, said the Red Wave fan base energizes her to play her best. Hailey is one of three with her first name. There are also pitcher Hailey Dolcini and infielder Haley Fuller. To make it more confusing, there’s Bailey Clifton, listed as a utility player.
Pitcher Danielle East said her team has the talent. “It’s happening,” she said.
Little Nessa said she’s fitting in as she prepares to begin her first season as a Bulldog. “I came in with a Sanger mentality,” she said, defining that as “you have to work twice as hard. And it’s just another reason to work twice as hard for Sanger and my family.”
She said days are busy with classes starting early and practice every day sometimes continuing late.
See Softball, Page 2B
Apaches make a statement, 5-1
season. Maybe there’s a Valley ring at the end.”
Luis Villegas scored about 4 minutes into the half, shifting the momentum squarely in Sanger’s direction. Hunter Reick had started off the half nearly scoring in the opening minute.
“I got that one chance, andIhadtogoforit,” Villegas said.
Villegas also talked about how playing midfield is considered the “silent position” in the sport. The team controlling the midfield often wins the game, coaches have said. “I tend to move around to help out where I can,” Villegas said. “I just came out to make sure my (team got what it needed).
“We’re a good team. Every game (when) we should be winning, we slowed down. I feel my team is awake. We just have to keep going.”
Another few minutes after Villegas scored, Sebastian Padilla found the back of the net with an assist from Torres. Apaches were up 2-1.
“I’ve been out five weeks,” Padilla said after the game. “I’m back from
See Soccer, Page 2B Girls soccer team looks to build consistency on field
By Mike Nemeth
Sanger Herald
The half ended with the Apaches down by a goal.
While not exactly dominating, Madera South’s Stallions had stymied Sanger’s offensive drives with effective regularity. Stallions midfielder Christian Garcia, who in December was named a national player of the week by the United Soccer Coaches and MaxPreps. com, scored the only goal of the game and appeared unstoppable. Last year, he had been named MVP of the All-Madera Tribune Boys Soccer Team.
However, Apaches coach Alex Gutierrez and his assistants took the team to the southwestern corner of Tom Flores Stadium. What he said and how he and the coaching team framed their words mattered less than the effect of the message, which ignited a steamroller offense and punishing defense.
“They came out with a little more fire,” Gutierrez said after the Jan. 30 game.
Just a little.
By Mike Nemeth
Sanger Herald
The Sanger girls varsity soccer team has spent the season chasing wins but often coming up short.
“We’re on and off,” said Apache defender Monica Villicana after a 4-0 loss to Edison on Jan. 31. “We were going good every so often, but we weren’t staying consistent.”
The Tigers took control early during the daylight game on a couple goals by striker Abigail Borchers. Borchers, a junior, has committed to play for the University of California
Mike Nemeth / Sanger Herald
Apache Juan Garcia, left, reacts after scoring a goal. Gabriel Torres, No. 21, gave him the assist and dished two others.
Junior forward Gabriel Torres played like he owned the field, dishing out three assists and scoring
agoalonthewaytoan Apaches victory of 5-1. And while he wasn’t the only one, his teammates threatened to carry him on their shoulders after
the game. That they didn’t attested more to Torres’ modesty than their lack of enthusiasm.
play improved in the second half. “But you just have to play faster,” he said. “The game was decided in the first half. Overall, you’ve got to learn from your mistakes. We made mistakes, they executed. They won.”
Borchers was a big reason for Edison’s victory. Her acceleration with the ball proved nearly unstoppable as she would find a hole in the Apache defense, exploit it and race to the goal ahead of any Sanger defender to face Reyes.
Edison also was last year’s Valley Division II
the first half. But in the second that all changed, he said, adding, “I think it’s just momentum. He (coach Gutierrez) pretty much motivated us. He just said,
‘Pick it up.’”
They did.
“Honestly, the whole
Jasmine Guardado, right, duels Edison's Valeria Quiintero in an away game for the Apaches. Sanger fought but lost.
Berkeley, and Sanger goalie Mia Reyes prevented more potential scores by the Edison standout with several saves.
Villicana said it was an off day for the Apaches and chided her own play on the field. However, Villicana and the rest of the Sanger team fought for a win. Jasmine Guardado took several shots on the Tigers’ goal in the first half as did teammate Audrey Reyna. Antonia Perez fired a header at the net but missed.
Coach Mihailo Jovanovic told the team after the game that their offensive
champion and graduated few seniors last year, three of them starters. Tigers coach Larry Hinz said the plan is to repeat this year. “I hope so,” he said. “That’s the plan. The team’s playing really well. We have to consider ourselves the favorite.”
Yet, even fast moving, high-scoring Edison isn’t immune to competition. The team lost twice to Clovis North, which is Division I, and once to rival Bullard, which is in the County Metro Athletic Conference with Edison, Sanger,
See Apaches, Page 2B
Mike Nemeth / Sanger Herald
“We weren’t creating chances,” Torres said of
mindset changed,” said goalie Eddie Cuevas. “We’re just ready to finish off the