Page 16 - Dinuba Sentinel 5-31-18 E-edition

B8 | Thursday, May 31, 2018
Sports
Youth Baseball
Dodgers got to 4-1,
chase Braves for top spot in city league
the bottom of the second inning but rallied off nine runs to close out the inning. The rally was started Dodgers’ Blake Herrera, who drove the first three runs of the inning on a shot left field.
He then added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning after hitting a homerun deep over centerfield.
As impresive as the Dodgers have been this season, they are currently chasing the Braves, who are sitting atop the league with a 5-0 record. Also competing for the top spot are the Braves, who are also 4-1.
Tomorrow’s games will feature the Rangers against the Giants and the Braves against the A’s. Games will be played at Felix Delgado Park beginning at 6 p.m.
The Dinuba Sentinel
Annual Summer Basketball Camp to be held June 12-14
Dodgers’ Blake Herrera stars down a pitch during their 12-2 victory over the Pirates. He four RBIs in the game, including a homerun in the third inning to give his team a 10-2 lead and subsequent victory.
Lady Emps
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After sophomore Jordynn Acevedo worked her way to a full count, the Lady Emperor took her turn at the outfield fence, rocketing one off the leftfield fence to score two runs. Then, after Dinuba managed to load the bases with just one out, a sac fly to right field by senior Carlee Newlin ended up scoring two runs when Acevedo tagged up from third and a passed ball help Garcia come home as well, giving the Lady Emperors a 6-4 lead.
The, after a quick scoreless third inning, Selma began inching their way back into the game. They added one run in the fourth inning when an odd bounce off the first base bag allowed Selma’s Marissa Cerda to come home.
The Lady Bears then tied the game in the fifth inning as they stayed aggressive at the plate. They also continued to zero in on first pitches. Selma’s Carrie Posada sent the first one she saw to shallow left field to drive in the tying run.
Dinuba High ace pitcher Kirsten Martinez managed to escape the inning by getting two fly-outs.
But the Lady Emperors could not manage any more runs, going three-and-out in the bottom of the fifth, with the momentum shifting over to Selma.
The Lady Bears got their first three batters on base in the top of the sixth, the first on yet another first-pitch base hit, the second on a
beam and the third on Cerda’s third hit of the game. Bases loaded with no outs, Moreno would drive in another two runs for Selma off a ball hit deep to left field.
Selma added two more runs in the inning to finish with four in the inning and all but take the wind out of Dinuba’s sail. The Lady Emperors’ offense went stale in the final innings, and Selma continued adding to their lead. Lady Bears’ Genesis Rodriguez brought in another run in the seventh inning, again taking advantage of a well-placed first pitch by sending it into the outfield. And a sac fly by Selma’s Ashley Paz brought in the Lady Bears’ final run of the game, capping off an eight-run rally to run away with the division title
“I think we had the momentum going in,” said Patterson. “But we started hitting fly balls, getting that ball up in the air and didn’t take advantage of some opportunities. But basically it was their day today.”
For Dinuba the game was the culmination of one of the best seasons in Lady Emperor’s softball history. The Lady Emperors steamrolled through most of the season and earned their No. 1 seed every step of the way.
“I’m proud of them,” added Patterson. “I told the girls that we’ve come so far this year, and I couldn’t have asked for more. Of course you want to win, but how far they’ve come and the adversity we battled through
and what we’ve worked through, I couldn’t be more proud of the girls.”
But the team also knew that in order to get to the next level they’d have to go through Selma. The Lady Bears had Dinuba’s number for the last couple of years, but Dinuba was young, good, and getting better.
This year Dinuba was great. But in order to be the greatest you have to beat the greatest. Dinuba nearly did that on April 17 when they took a 4-3 lead into the seventh inning only to have Selma extend the game into extra innings and rally five runs in the eighth to win 9-6
But Lady Emperors exacted their revenge at the beginning of this month when they took it to the Bears by smashing five early home runs to beat their rivals in Selma 8-2. That win propelled the Lady Emperors and they went on to win their first league title in eight years.
The team loses three seniors from their roster, seniors Faith Kodur, Bailee Garza and Carlee Newlin. As for next year’s season, the season won’t begin until late February. But as for the work to be put in, well, the team could be seen Monday morning on Dinuba High’s softball field, honing their skills as many of them prepare for travel league, added experience that will only add to next year’s season.
After all, it’s a long season.
Kirsten Martinez
DINUBA High SCHOOL SOFTBALL
Dinuba High junior Kirsten Mar- tinez was named Athlete of the Week for her peformance in last Wednesday's Division III semi- nals match against Tehachapi. Martinez not only had eight strike outs and allowed no earned runs as the Lady Emps ace pitcher, she also went 4-for-4 at the plate, with a double and a 3-run homer, ending the game with 6 RBI's to lead Dinuba to an 8-2 victory and shot at a Valley title.
Rick Curiel | The Sentinel
second better.
“That’s almost unheard of,”
said Dinuba High School track coach Lucas Lichtenwaldt. “What Daniel has done in just a year’s time is nothing short of remarkable.”
Friday, Martinez becomes the fourth consecutive Dinuba High hurdler to advance to the State prelims. Of the previous Emperor hurdlers, none have advanced to Saturday’s finals.
“Daniel stands a very good chance at making the finals,” said Lichtenwaldt. “If he
does, it will be the first time in school history.”
In order to do so, Martinez will need to finish in the top three of his heat, one of three during the prelims. The top three finishers in each heat will move on to the State Finals on Saturday.
Regardless of how Martinez finishes, his career on the track will continue as next year he will take his speed to Fresno City College, where he will be attending school and running on the Rams’ track team.
By Rick Curiel
Sentinel staff report
Dinuba High School will be hosting their 12th Annual Emps Summer Basketball Camp beginning on June 12.
The camp will be held at the Dinuba High School Gym from 9 to 11 a.m. The camp is open to boys entering grades third
through eighth who are looking to improve their basketball skills.
The cost for the camp is $10 per participant and space is limited. For more information, or to register, contact or text Jeff Schofield at 289-7163. He may also be reached via email at jschofie@dinuba.k12.ca.us.
Sports@thedinubasentinel.com
Last year the Dodgers took the Dinuba Major’s Youth Baseball division by storm and steamrolled through the season on their way to a league championship.
This year the team looks just as good, with a few new players but lots more experience.
“We only lost our first game,” said Dodgers head coach Marcos Nunez. “But we had four of our starters playing in a tournament for the junior high. Since then we’ve won every game.”
Their record improved to 4-1 last Friday with a twelve-run rally to beat the Pirates 12-2.
The Dodgers actually found themselves down 2-0 going into
Martinez
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