Page 9 - Dinuba Sentinel 9-20-18 E-edition

Sports
“As soon as Johnny saw the nish line in the distance, he took off and left the rest of the eld.”
Cross Country coach Lucas Lichtenwaldt on John- ny Padilla’s win in Tehachapi
The Dinuba Sentinel
Emperors tame the Tigers, 30-7
B1
Thursday, September 20, 2018
DHS Football
Devon Mendoza works his way through the Edison defense during the first half of Friday’s win over the Tigers. Mendoza led all rushers in the game with 144 yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns.
“Johnny ran with (Hakala) for most of the the third mile because he was unsure of the course,” said coach Lucas Lichtenwaldt. “As soon as Johnny saw the finish line in the distance, he took off and left the rest of the field. It was a good opener for him.”
Lichtenwaldt noted that the course was tough but was pleased with the overall performance.
“They challenged themselves and came out looking really well,” Lichtenwaldt said.
Senior Nicholas Amezola placed sixth overall for the Emperors in 18:49 and Diego Estrada cracked the top 10 placing ninth in 19:05.
Sophomore Jaime Soto was 20th in 20:19 while Javen Hernandez and Richard Chaves finished 25th and 31st overall with times of 21:00 and 21:40.
Alejandro Gallegos was the lone participant in the junior varsity race and he was 10th in a time of 14:34.
OHS Football
OHS Volleyball
Jonathan Padilla makes a late push to win his rst race of the season
In the frosh-soph boys race Isaac Flores was 13th overall in 15:31. Other runners competing in that 2-mile race were Isaiah Romero (23rd, 17:52), CJ Smith (24th, 19:07 and Esteban Martinez (25th, 19:15).
In the girl’s race, Dinuba and Wasco battled for the team crown as the Tigers came out on top by a point, according to Lichtenwaldt.
“The girls did really well,” he said. “Wasco has one of the top runners in the Valley.”
The Tigers took the top two spots behind Sayra Raya (21:21) and Valeria Valdez (22:00).
The Emperors were paced by Jackie Delgado, who finished third in 22:16.
Delgado was followed by Luz Diaz, who was sixth in 23:05, Jasmine George was seventh in 23:45 while Ali Ontiveros was eighth in 23:46. Amanda Soto had a
See Opener, Page B7
By George M. Villagrana
Sports@dinubasentinel.com
In his first cross country meet of the season, Dinuba High senior Jonathan Padilla made it a memorable one.
Twelve seconds separated the top four runners but it was Padilla who crossed the finish line in a time of 18 minutes, 20 seconds to win the varsity boys race at the Beat the Heat Invitational last Wednesday in Tehachapi.
Matthew Hakala of North-Bakersfield (18:26), Travis Lee Sturckgow of Tehachapi (18:28) and Juan C. Ramirez of Wasco (18:32) were close behind.
DHS Cross Country
Strong opener for Padilla
Perez’s big night lifts Cardinals
Orosi to face unbeaten Caruthers on Friday evening
By George M. Villagrana
while the Buccaneers are still searching for their first win of the season.
As a team, Orosi finished the game with 397 yards of offense. The Cardinals defense did not allow Avenal to reach the endzone, holding the Buccaneers to a pair of field goals.
Ahead 21-3 at the half, Perez scored on a nine-yard run to increase the lead to 28-3.
The defense got into the scoring act when Dominic Martinez intercepted a pass from Avenal quarterback Kenny Viera returning it for a touchdown. Martinez had a great game finishing with two interceptions and four tackles. Perez scored again from 3-yards out as the Cardinals lead grew to 42-3.
See Cardinals, Page B7
George M. Villagrana | The Dinuba Sentinel
Sports@thedinubasentinel.com
Sheanne Baniaga records a kill during a key West Sequoia League match against Minarets High on Monday night. The Cardinals improved to 16-4-1 overall after defeating the Falcons.
Running back Ismael Perez took over a bulk of Orosi’s rushing attack as the senior posted a season-high 199 yards on 20 carries and five touchdowns in 49-6 victory over Avenal High School Friday evening.
The Cardinals improved to 3-1 overall
Clash of WSL’s best goes to OHS
Orosi running back Ismael Perez, pictured here in a game against Strathmore, rushed for a season-high 199 yards on 20 carries and five touchdowns Friday evening against Avenal. The Cardinals will now travel to face Caruthers in an early showdown for both teams.
George M. Villagrana | The Dinuba Sentinel
By George M. Villagrana
Sports@thedinubasentinel.com
Opponents are finding it difficult to win a game at Dinuba High.
Trying to score has recently become even more of a task for teams facing the Emperors defense as was the case Friday evening.
Edison High, who entered the matchup fresh off a 37-28 win over Clovis North, was stymied by Dinuba’s frontline as the Emperors notched their fourth straight victory with a 30-7 win.
The Emperors (4-1) will have a bye this week before opening Central Sequoia League play at Central Valley Christian on September 28 in Visalia.
Thus far at home, Dinuba has held opponents to six points per game including a shutout win over Redwood. By game’s end the Emperors recorded five sacks, three fumble recoveries and
an interception.
Dinuba could’ve won by a larger score
had it not had two touchdowns wiped out by penalties.
Still, the Emperors were in complete control as their 20-7 halftime lead would increase to 27-7 in the third quarter after a 27-yard touchdown run by running back Devon Mendoza. That was set up by a long kickoff return by Brian Campbell. Mendoza’s run came ona4thand2playashefoundaseam and bolted for the endzone.
Edison tried to mount an answer only to have a screen pass intercepted by Ray Alvarado with 6 minutes, 56 seconds left in the 3rd.
The Tigers pieced together a drive early in the fourth quarter, marching inside the 10-yard line. Facing a 1st and goal from the 8-yard line, Edison
See Win, Page B8
George M. Villagrana | The Sentinel
Orosi High’s girls volleyball team had to be reminded that their West Sequoia League match against visiting Minarets was far from being over.
The Cardinals, who won the first two games, saw the Falcons capture the third set and were eyeing to force a fifth set when Orosi gathered just enough momentum to prevail in a battle of WSL unbeatens, 25-18, 25-23, 17-15, 25-21 Monday night.
Orosi improved to 16-4-1 overall and were scheduled to play at Riverdale on Tuesday. Results of that match were unavailable at press time.
The Cardinals, who looked a little weary at times after a busy weekend of matches, celebrated the victory after a Sheanne Baniaga kill.
“Every match is important,” said coach Mary Rodriguez. “We played in the Cal City Tournament and it was a
Cardinals take down Falcons in a early West Sequoia League showdown
great tournament for us. That’s going to help us down the road. But I’m very proud of our girls.”
Minarets couldn’t hold on to leads throughout the match and it proved costly. The Falcons held an 8-3 lead in the fourth set before the Cardinals took a 14-13 lead on a service ace from Monica Quevedo. The two squads traded points when the Falcons began to unravel. At 19 all, Orosi went on a 6-2 run as Minarets committed four errors before Baniaga sealed the match.
In the previous set it was almost a role reversal as the Falcons began to click on offense breaking open a 13-12 lead with a 12-5 run.
Minarets let a huge lead slip away in the second set after racing out to a 10-1 lead. The Cardinals caught the Falcons at 12 all and both teams traded leads of no more than two points until the very end when Orosi prevailed.
In the opening set, the Cardinals jumped out to a 14-9 lead only to have Minarets reel them in at 17 all. Tough serving by Rhenzel Campos, who had three straight ace services, pushed the lead to 22-18 before the Cardinals scored the last three points.
The Cards were coming off a tough
See Clash, Page B7
By George M. Villagrana
Sports@thedinubasentinel.com