Time to bring out the bats and gloves

By OC Tribune Staff on February 19, 2019 • ( Leave a comment )

BASEBALL and softball are taking center stage now as winter sports wind down for local high schools (Shutterstock).

t’s not technically spring yet – not for another month – but the spring sports are taking over the world of high school sports. That means baseball, softball, track and boys’ volleyball and more, but primarily as fan attention goes, baseball and softball.

League play generally starts in March, which makes February a lollapalooza of non-league and tournament contests punctuated by rain delays and cancelled – and perhaps rescheduled – games.

So it’s tough for us to put our ink-stained fingers on just how things will shape up for the 2019 seasons. Our High 5 rankings won’t start until March 4, but here are a few guesses.

The top baseball teams in The Trib’s coverage area (Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Stanton and Westminster) will likely include Huntington Beach High, which returns three players already destined for university squads next year. Also looking strong are La Quinta and Garden Grove.

In softball, the area is a bit better represented. Look for Huntington Beach, Pacifica, Edison and Marina to be among the powerhouses for 2019. But don’t overlook Santiago and La Quinta.

The Lobos have quite a bite

Winter sports are still hanging on quite a bit, or shall we say bite? The Los Amigos High girls’ soccer team is the sole local team still in the playoffs.

The Lobos will be hosting the Westridge Tigers of Pasadena in the Division 5 championship game Friday at Garden Grove High’s Monsoor Stadium at 4 p.m.

Los Amigos has a better record (20-3-1) than Westridge (11-6-4), but the Tigers have a slight edge in performance against common opponents. Both teams beat Katella, but Los lost 1-0 to Costa Mesa, while Westridge won 1-0.

Speaking of soccer, the two new stadiums for the Garden Grove Unified School District are/will be a blessing for boys’ and girls’ soccer. Instead of playing on muddy and sometimes faintly-marked fields (pitches, to be soccer-correct) with little or no seating, teams using Monsoor Stadium at Garden Grove High and the under-construction facility at Bolsa Grande can look forward to playing at an all-weather facility with permanent markings in front of new, comfortable and well-lit seating.

Play ball, Mr. Presidents!

The Presidents’ Day holiday Monday provided an opportunity to get some baseball and softball contests in. Here are some scores from those games. Some teams played two games.

BASEBALL