Page 14 - Dinuba Sentinel 8-9-18 E-edition

B6 | Thursday, August 9, 2018
Sports
The Dinuba Sentinel
Sports participation numbers remain high
Sophomore Evan Lara gets ready to throw a pass during a recent practice. Lara takes over quarterback duties for the Cardinals who open the season against Coalinga on Aug. 17.
Cardinals
Continued from Page B1
White pointed out that the team had 10 different offensive line combinations that dealt with injuries and players being ineligible.
“I think hopefully we can get some consistency on the o-line,” White said. “Theoretically they can be better than last year.
Anchoring the offensive line is Rosales who was an all-league performer last season. Rosales also played on the defensive line, White said.
Running back Jerry Huerta, who rushed for over 2,000 yards last season, returns to lead the offense. Freddi Arciga returns at fullback and linebacker positions. Sophomore Evan Lara will be quarterback and look to returning all-league wide receiver Chris Huerta. Aidan Rodriguez will also be another
Emperors
Continued from Page B1
However, the squad returns junior quarterback Josh Magana, who threw for over 2,200 yards and 32 touchdowns.
“Josh had a nice breakout season as a sophomore and put up some good numbers,” Scharton said.
Despite losing close to 40 seniors from last year’s team and with it their entire offensive line, Scharton said there are players who saw significant playing time ready to step in.
Defensively, the Emps will be strong.
“Our defensive line is really strong,” Scharton said.
Leading the way on defense
OHS Football Schedule
Aug. 17 at Coalinga High School 5/7 p.m. Aug. 31 at Granite Hills High School 5/7:15 p.m. Sept. 7 at Strathmore High School 5/ 7:15 p.m. Sept. 14 at Avenal High School 5/7:15 p.m. Sept. 21 at Caruthers High School 5/7:15 p.m. Sept. 28 at Riverdale High School 5/7:15 p.m. *Oct. 5 vs. Fowler High School 5/7:15 p.m. Oct. 12 at Minarets High School 5/7:15 p.m. *Oct. 19 vs. Parlier High School 5/7:15 p.m. Oct. 26 at Orange Cove High School 5/7:15 p.m.
*Tenative on Stadium Completion
target for Lara.
“Chris has size and Aidan
has track speed and is a soccer player but he’s also a really good football player,” White said. “We have good weapons.”
The Cardinals, who were in the East Sierra League a year ago, are now part of the West Sequoia
will be defensive end Ray Alvarado and defensive linemen
League and joined by Caruthers, Fowler, Minarets, Orange Cove, Parlier and Riverdale.
“We’re in a new league and it’s going to be a hard league,” White said. “Caruthers went to the state playoffs and won Valley. Fowler’s always good and Riverdale’s good.”
Joshua Sanchez and Ray Alvarado.
George M. Villagrana | The Dinuba Sentinel
Special to the Sentinel
High School sports participation continues to increase in California and is at an all-time high for the sixth consecutive year according to the 2018 California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Sports Participation Survey. Up by 2.95% since the previous survey in 2017, 808,557 student-athletes are competing in education-based athletic programs in California.
Along with the overall participation increase in high school athletics there were a few sports that saw noticeable increases across both genders. Of the top 10 sports, swimming and diving saw the largest percentage increase, a combined 4.46% or 2,307 more participants (4.84% or 1,439 participants increase for girls; 3.94% or 868 participants increase for boys), followed by golf with a 3.29% increase or
611 more participants (5.74% or 462 participants increase for girls; 1.41% or 149 participants increase for boys).
Additionally, girls’ wrestling participation continues to increase, this year by 17.33% as 781 more girls are competing in the sport for 5,286 total participants as of 2018.
Football (11-player) continues to lead the top 10 boys’ sports with 94,286 participants which decreased, by 2.87% (2,793 participants).
Track and field (56,606) is the second most popular sport, which increased participation by 1.02% since 2017 followed by soccer (53,262); basketball (47,584) and baseball (44,477) round out the top five boys’ sports. The rest of the top 10 include cross country (32,951), boys swimming and diving (22,872), wrestling (22,441), volleyball (20,790) and water polo (17,143).
For girls, soccer captured the top spot for the third consecutive year with 47,186 participants, followed by former top 10 leader track and field (46,327 participants). Volleyball is third with 45,139 participants which increased by 1.37% since 2017, followed by basketball (34,631) and softball (33,400).
Additionally, traditional competitive cheer participation claimed the 10th spot, ousting lacrosse, with 9,212 participants in its first year as an approved CIF sport. Other sports were swimming and diving (31,161), cross country (25,377), tennis (23,428) and water polo (16,085).
The CIF’s 1,606-member schools participated in the survey as part of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) nationwide survey that measures the number of students competing in sports in the country.
DHS Football Schedule
Aug. 17 at Porterville High School 5/7 p.m.
Aug. 24 vs. Redwood 5/7:30 p.m.
Aug. 31 at Reedley High School 5/ 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 7 vs. El Diamante High School 5/7:30 p.m. Sept. 14 vs. Edison High School 5/7:30 p.m. Sept. 28 at Central Valley Christian 5/7:15 p.m. Oct. 5 at Selma High School 5/7:30 p.m. Oct. 12 vs. Kingsburg High School 5/7:30 p.m. Oct. 19 vs. Exeter High School 5/7:30 p.m. Oct. 25 at Hanford West High School 5/7:15 p.m.
*Home games in bold
Parker Waters | Special to The Sentinel
Dylan Lee starred at College of the Sequoias and played at Fresno State before being drafted in the 10th round by the Miami Marlins in 2016.
Lee
Continued from Page B1
Marlins, Lee is delivering each time he’s called upon.
Lee started the year as a member of the Jupiter Hammerheads where he posted a 6-2 record with a 1.45 ERA. In 31 innings of work, he struck
out 25 batters allowing a home run but issued 19 walks. In June, he was assigned to Double A Jacksonville where he continued to shine appearing in 12 games tossing 15 innings while allowing five hits with 19 strikeouts and a walk. On July 28, Lee was assigned to New Orleans upon receiving the news from his manager Lee said he notified
his parents.
“My dad started crying, he
couldn’t talk and passed the phone to my mom,” Lee said.
So the days of living out of suitcase as Lee stated continue so as long as he’s playing baseball and staying healthy.
“I’m taking it day by day,” Lee said. “And we just keep winning.”