Page 11 - Reedley Exponent 3-29-18 E-edition

B3 | Thursday, March 29, 2018 www.reedleyexponent.com
Velarde's lead alma mater to soccer title
Eric and Anthony Velarde led RHS to D-III crown
ers during offseason when he didn't really have to. I'm just glad that all the work he put in paid off.”
Eric said sharing the side- lines with Anthony was a big help to him, especially after Eric had a baby boy earlier in
the fall.
“To have my brother
coaching with me was a spe- cial feeling,” Eric said. “A lot of days I was tired and he took over practice and it made it a lot easier. It was just amazing to have him there by my side.”
Anthony is following in his brothers footsteps in more ways than one.
Just like Eric, Anthony currently is attending Fresno Pacific University, where he plays soccer.
He hopes to play profes- sionally in the future but after watching his brother on the sidelines this year, he knows that he would like to be a coach as well.
“I learned a lot of from him. We are two different types of coaches but I think that is why we work so well together,” Anthony said. “He knows how to manage play- ers and get the best of out of them which is something I am learning. Every year he improves, and I am glad I am
SeeVEALRDE onpageB4
By Chris Aguirre
Chris@midvalleypublishing.com
Eric Velarde, Reedley High Pirates boys soccer head coach, stood on the field at the Mineral King Bowl in Visalia on Feb. 23, enjoying the mo- ment as his players poured onto the field to celebrate Reedley High's first section title since 2011.
It was Eric's senior year team in 2011 that won the Sec- tion Championship. That year, Eric's little brother, Anthony, was a freshman.
In 2018, the brothers once again led the Pirates to a sec- tion title, this time as coaches.
This is what Eric Velarde always envisioned when he became the head coach in 2014.
“I cried tears of joy and happiness. The work you put in as a player is much differ- ent than that of a coach. As a player I was out on the field and could control the game,” Eric said. “As a coach you spend a lot of time with work that is not seen. It makes each of them so special that I can never put one above the oth- er.”
Velarde graduated from Reedley High in 2011. He then attended Fresno Pacific University where he played soccer for the Sunbirds.
Coming back to Reedley High was always the plan for Velarde, who wanted to bring a Section title to his hometown of Reedley.
“I always tell the players how much of an honor and privilege that it is for them to put that Reedley High jersey on every single time they are on the field,” Eric said. “I re- ally wanted to win this title for the program, for what it means to play for Reedley. I have played in state club fi- nals, I have played in National Finals and won those. None of those mean as much to me as winning for Reedley.”
Anthony, the Pirates assis- tant coach, saw firsthand how important it was for his older brother to lead Reedley High to the championship.
“It was extremely satisfy- ing. He has given everything to this program,” Anthony said. “From looking at endless hours of game footage to see what the team can improve on, to training with the play-
Reedley High Soccer / Photo Contributed
Eric Velarde, Reedley High Pirates boys soccer head coach (center), poses with his two brothers Anthony, (right), and Christian after winning the CIF Central Section Division II Championship on Feb. 23 in Visalia.
Eagles baseball downs Chavez High
Staff Report
The Immanuel High Ea- gles baseball started play in the Selma Kiwanis Classic in dominant fashion.
Led by JT Friesen – who pitched a complete game al- lowing no runs and striking out seven batters – the Eagles defeated the Cesar Chavez Ti- tans ofDelano10-0onMarch 26 at the Immanuel High Sports Complex.
Bradley Collins-Dunn had three RBIs, while Roman Ro- sales had two RBIs. Derek Wood, Chris Gurrola and Dylan Kent each had one.
The Eagles then lost to Sierra Pacific High School of Hanford 12-5 in the second game of the tournament on March 26.
Collins-Dunn and Rosales each had two RBIs.
Immanuel continued play in the Selma Kiwanis Classic on March 27 against Sequoia High of San Francisco. No score was available at presstime.
They then played Coal- inga High on March 28 in the final day of the tournament. No score was available for the
SeeIMMANUEL onpageB4
Chris Aguirre / The Exponent
JT Friesen, Immanuel High Eagles pitcher, had seven strikeouts to help lead Immanuel to a 10-0 win over Cesar Chavez High of Delano on March 26 at the Immanuel High Sports Complex.
File Photo / The Exponent
The Reedley College Tigers baseball team improved to 6-3 in the Central Valley Conference after winning two out of three games against Cerro Coso College.
RC baseball defeats Cerro Coso College
RHS baseball and softball compete in tournaments
Staff Report
Reedley High baseball opened play in the Fresno Easter Classic on March 26. The Pirates split two games that day.
The Pirates lost to Chow- chilla High 12-1 to open the tournament. They rebounded with a 6-3 victory over Sierra High of Manteca.
In the Pirates win, J.P Pre- ciado was the winning pitcher. Matt Vargas went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Reedley High continued play in the Fresno Easter Clas- sic on March 27 against Gran- ite Bay High of San Francisco. They then played San Joaquin Memorial High on March 28 at Buchanan High School. No scores were available at pres- tige.
A full report on the Pi- rates' games will be published in the April 5 edition of The Exponent.
RHS Softball
The Reedley High Pirates
See REEDLEY on page B4
The Reedley High Pirates softball team competed in the Kerman High Tournament March 24, 26 and 27 in Kerman.
The Pirates opened the tournament with a 12-0 win over Mendota High on March 24.
They then lost to Kerman High on March 26.
A full report of the Pirates' performance will be published in the April 5 edition of The Exponent.
File Photo / The Exponent
Staff Reports
The Reedley College Ti- gers baseball team was in a fourth-place tie in the Central Valley Conference after win- ning two out of three games against Cerro Coso College.
The Tigers won the first game 4-3 on March 20 at Reedley College. They then lost the second game of the series 7-6 on March 23, be- fore winning the third game 9-4 on March 24. Both of the final two games were played in Ridgecrest.
As of March 27, the Tigers were tied with a 6-3 with Fresno City College record in the CVC.
On March 20, Sid Lacy was the winning pitcher. Brady Barcellos threw eight innings, allowing just two runs and striking out six bat- ters.
Cooper Morrison and Kev- in Page each had two RBIs.
On March 23, Cerro Coso College scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to secure the win.
Reedley College's Blake Hernandez and Nick Marti- nez each had two RBIs. Josh Mares had a home run.
On March 24, down 4-1 en- tering the ninth inning, the Ti- gers scored eight runs in the top of the ninth to take the lead and goontoa9-4win.
Schyler Sicoli had three RBIS. Gabe Grijalva and Ty Bamford each had two RBIs.
The Tigers played Saddle- back College on March 27 at Reedley College. No score was available at presstime.
They then will play Ba- kersfield College on March 28, at Bakersfield College.
Reedley College opens a three-game series against Fresno City College on Tuesday, April 3, at Reedley College.
The Tigers and Rams will continue the series on Thurs- day, April 5, at Fresno City College. The final game of the series will be played on Saturday, April 7, at Reedley College.
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