Page 9 - Sanger Herald 5-24-18 E-edition

SangerSports
SANGER HERALD * PAGE 1B * THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2018
Sanger softball team tops Hanford in a thriller
By Mike Nemeth
Sanger Herald
The prediction was made, and it was right on.
Sanger’s softball Apaches pulled out a win in the seventh inning against Hanford by a 9-8 score in a game fraught with some controversy and lead changes. But, indeed, the Apaches waited until the last possible minute to score a couple runs May 18 on their home field and continue on in the California Interscholastic Federation Central Section Division II playoffs.
The Bullpups left none too happy.
Mike Nemeth / Sanger Herald
The Apaches celebrate after scoring two runs in the final inning to win the playoff game against Hanford.
took off with teammate from Reedley College. Stephanie Herring after The pair participated in a the game to graduate dual enrollment pathways
program that shaves a couple years from their undergraduate degrees.
Sanger still must get through the semi-final match against Redwood to make it to the championship and return to the Margie Wright Diamond at Fresno State. That moment, at least, Mata had no doubt.
Nor did Vanessa Hernandez, who crossed home plate in the final inning.
“We should’ve beaten them by 15 honestly,” Hernandez said, upping the final score a couple more times. “But everything happens for a reason. Learn and move on. That was a team effort.”
“We did an amazing job,”
said Valerie Ruiz, who took over pitching duties late in the game. “Thanks to my team. And we’ll keep working hard to get where we want to be.
“Good game, huh?”
Definitely. But beating Hanford was no easy task. Sanger scored two runs in the first inning. And at the start at least, the Apaches appeared to be in control, playing smart and tight. Emily Fortaney served as starting pitcher.
The game continued, pitchers dueling until the fifth inning. Aryssa Danell, a sophomore, pitched for the Bullpups.
In the top of the fifth, Hanford switched on the offense, flipping the
score from 2-1 Sanger to 6-2 Bullpups. Coach Erica Pennington briefly subbed Maddy Mata in to pitch but then went with Ruiz to limit the damage.
In all, Hanford scored five runs in that inning — much to the chagrin of Apache fans.
But Herring led the recovery at the next at-bat with a single and a stolen base. Then she got the first of three runs.
Hanford didn’t let up, but neither did the home team.
The reporter can be contacted by email at sangerheraldsports@gmail. com or by phone at the Herald at (559) 875-2511.
“We’re going to Valleys,” said Ashley Mata, who
down Sunnyside & Madera
Boys
By Mike Nemeth
Sanger Herald
The Apaches knocked out their first two playoff games on the way to the California Interscholastic Federation Central Section Division II baseball championship, beating Sunnyside and Madera.
Sanger vs. Sunnyside
Apache Jake Harrell had just pitched a winning playoff game, throwing a dozen strikeouts and ending the game on a double play in the top of the seventh inning.
He’d completed a 1-0 dual with Sunnyside pitcher Jose Lemus, who last year signed with Fresno State, making him the first Wildcat to go to a Division I college baseball team.
“Felt good,” Harrell said of the win. He had just raked the Sanger High home field pitcher’s mound and complimented his opponent. “He’s good. We’re going to be future teammates, too. We’re both committed to Fresno State.”
Harrell, a junior, still has another season with the Apaches.
“Know what they call him?” Zack Jaurique asked, referring to Harrell. “Million dollar arm.”
“Jake always gets it done for us,” said Jaime Pacheco.
Sanger coach David Cuellar laughed with his
Mike Nemeth / Sanger Herald
Ryan Esparza slides into home plate for a score against a Madera team that did not want to lose at home.
And in this case, it was No. 3 seed Madera with the bye. Sanger got the No. 6 seed in the CIF Division II playoffs. The Apaches faced No. 3 Madera in the quarterfinals May 17, and the Apaches played No. 2 El Diamonte, which beat No. 7 Mount Whitney 2-1. The semi-final contest was May 22.
Sanger vs. Madera
Alec Flores took the pitcher’s mound against arch rival Madera, delivering 108 pitches before being relieved by Boissonneault in the bottom of the eighth with Sanger leading 7-4.
The score didn’t change. Alex Avalos put an an exclamation point on the win, catching a drive by Madera’s Jerry Hernandez. The final play put an end to a wild contest that went into extra innings with an outcome far from certain.
But what a game. And Jaurique’s dad, Jesse, had called it. After the win against Sunnyside, he predicted a second-round playoff victory. “I know we will,” he said with some emphasis.
Flores dueled Madera pitcher Brian Hefner, the 6-foot-4 senior who hit a home run in Sanger to win the game by a point earlier in the season. And it wasn’t easy. Madera’s a very good team with a lineup of strong batters. Hefner’s just one of them.
The Coyotes tied it at four
players as they grabbed their gear and headed off the field. “Yeah, I’m very happy,” he said. “Playoffs win. This is huge. That’s out eighth one-run game, so we’re good at one-run games.”
While Lemus showed off his talent May 15, fanning almost as many batters, nobody on his Wildcats team could rival the combined play of catcher Jose Quinonez
and shortstop Justin Boissonneault in the first inning.
The play earned the win.
Boissonneault had worked his way to third base, getting increasingly dirty as is his style given a penchant for stealing bases whenever possible. Quinonez took a bat and faced off against Sunnyside’s Lemus.
“I got a single into right field with two outs,”
Quinonez said later. And Boissonneault ran home for the score.
Sunnyside loaded the bases once after that but couldn’t deliver a score.
“I knew he was going to do it,” Boissonneault said of Quinonez getting the hit. “Right man, right spot. And behind the plate. Right field. Drove me in at the start of the game.”
The run was enough. “Great feeling,” said
Zack Jaurique, second base. “Especially for us seniors. Great team win.”
Outfielder Anthony Schwamb said he was glad they played the opening round. “It’s kinda good we played this week without a bye,” he said. “So we’re playing rather than sitting around.”
Next up was Madera. “We still have unfinished business with Madera,’ said Pacheco, another senior.
Sanger boxer makes undercard of a Save Mart Center title fight
By Mike Nemeth
Sanger Herald
Training in his back yard, Sanger’s Manuel “Manny” Cortes dreamed of getting the big bout.
He’s been a boxer much of his life and turned pro in 2016. But it wasn’t until this year, when he defeated Ivan Varela on March 24 at the Tower Theatre in Fresno that people began to notice.
And they’ll notice more come May 26 at the Save Mart Center when Cortes takes on Trevor Ballinger in one of the undercard fights headlined by the Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas vs. Jonas Sultan fight for the World Junior Bantamweight Championship. Ancajas
Mike Nemeth / Sanger Herald
Manuel Cortes says his fight Saturday is a great opportunity.
for me,” Cortes said. “It’s going to be a huge event, televised by ESPN.”
Other fights include Great Britain’s Kal Yafai making the third defense of his World Boxing Association super flyweight title against David Carmona. The Save Mart Center website also included references to undercard bouts with appearances by welterweight contender Jose Benavidez and Central Valley products Bryan Lua and Isidro Ochoa.
Cortes fights at 118 pounds. He’s not a big guy. But he’s solid muscle, and he gets high praise from longtime Sanger boxing coach Mario Irazoqui.
“Ferocious. A beast,” Irazoqui said of Cortes. “He
works harder than I’ve seen anyone work. He’s smart, humble. Treats everyone with respect. I hope he goes all the way.”
Irazoqui, also Sanger’s animal control officer, said the Save Mart bout is also important for Sanger boxing. Fighters packed the gym Monday night, filling up every space in the limited area. Kids worked out outside while trainers and coaches encouraged them and the older fighters wherever they could carve out some space.
“For Sanger to be on that card, it’s a huge accomplishment,” Irazoqui said. “We’re doing something right.”
Valenzuela is also grandfather to Marc Castro, 18, who has worked
out in the Sanger boxing gym and continues to stop by. Castro, profiled by the Sanger Herald in past stories, has earned a 114-6 total bout record, according to the Team USA website and is expected by many, especially in the Sanger boxing scene, to be a part of the next U.S. Olympic team.
Irazoqui said he’s known Valenzuela about 19 years. “We go way back,” he said. “He’s a great coach. He’s an inspiration to me, and he’s worked with three world champions.”
The reporter can be contacted by email at sangerheraldsports@gmail. com or by phone at the Herald at (559) 875-2511.
defends his International Boxing Federation title.
Cortes’ coach, David Valenzuela, predicted his fighter, who trains at the Sanger Youth Center boxing gym, will have an impact. “I can assure you, we’re going to make a lot
of noise,” Valenzuela said in Spanish.
Cortes, 28, worked out with his physical trainer Wilson Ignacio on Monday night in the ring, preparing for his big debut on Fresno’s largest stage.
“It’s a big opportunity