Track and field: Fernandez is personality plus after big day

Spoke with a ton of athletes during Saturday's CIF state championships at Cerritos College, so many that I used nearly half of the paper in my reporter's notebook. In retrospect, German Fernandez was among the most entertaining kids to talk with.

I suppose I should mention that the senior from Riverbank High stole the show too. First, he broke the state meet record in the 1,600 meters with a time of 4:00.29. And for good measure, Fernandez set the national national record in the 3,200, winning in 8:34.23.

Afterward, he was candid. He spoke about his performance and his plans for the rest of the weekend. Celebrating at Disneyland was not an option, though. Fernandez was more concerned with heading back to Stanislaus County in time for his job as a host at Applebee's on Sunday.

Softball: Time to "evacuate" Irvine's Barber Park

Right before the Valencia-Simi Valley game started, a gentlemen from the Southern Section office taped a sign to the tables in the makeshift press box here at Barber Park. The sign said that the entire stadium needed to be "evacuated" before 9:30 p.m.

"I think they meant to say vacated," my colleague Martin Henderson pointed out.

Whatever the case, the Valencia girls are loudly signing "We Are the Champions" in the parking lot, reporters are feverishly typing into their laptops and the stadium light were just turned off. That's my cue to vacate the venue.

Hope you enjoyed our coverage of the Southern Section-Toyota softball championship games the last two days. To relive all the scores and highlights, click here.

-- Jaime Cardenas

Softball: Don't call it an upset; Momma said knock Simi Valley out

When the season ended, Valencia was ranked No. 4 in The Times' rankings. Simi Valley was No. 7 in those same rankings.

Even though Simi Valley, with its previously unbeaten record, was seeded No. 1 for the Southern Section-Toyota Division I playoffs and recently ascended to the nation's top spot in the StudentSports.com's rankings, the Pioneers were not that much better than Valencia-- at least, that's what I'm told.

With both of these teams being so evenly matched, Valencia's 3-0 victory Saturday at Barber Park in Irvine can hardly be considered an upset. If anything, it's vindication for the now two-time champions for ever being doubted. (For the record, they were not doubted by my colleague Martin Henderson, who told me before the game that he thought Valencia would win.)

So, having said all of that, using my best LL Cool J impersonation, don't call this an upset. Momma said knock you out.

-- Jaime Cardenas

Softball: Valencia defeats Simi Valley, 3-0

Simi Valley made it interesting at the end, but Valencia held on and beat the Pioneers, 3-0,  to win their second consecutive Southern Section-Toyota Division I championship Saturday at Barber Park in Irvine.

With runners on first and second with one out, Ali Mapes hit a line drive right back to pitcher Jessica Spigner, who caught the ball and threw to first for the game-ending double play.

Spigner, who was walked three times, finished with a four-hitter.

-- Jaime Cardenas

Softball: Valencia is three outs from winning Division I title

Simi Valley is down to its last at-bat Saturday night at Barber Park in Irvine. The Pioneers were able to hold Valencia scoreless in the bottom of the sixth inning and trail, 3-0.

Valencia is looking to repeat as Southern Section-Toyota Division I champions.

-- Jaime Cardenas

Softball: How dominating has Valencia been so far?

Valencia has had a runner reach second base in every inning of this Southern Section-Toyota Division I championship game, including just now in the bottom of the sixth. Simi Valley, on the other hand, had a runner reach second for the first time in the top of the sixth.

The Vikings are looking to add to their 3-0 lead with a runner on second with one out and Jessica Spigner in the on-deck circle.

-- Jaime Cardenas

Track: Poly wins girls' title, Dominguez takes boys' title

The Long Beach Poly girls' team took care of business in the 1,600 relay, winning in 3 minutes 40.87 seconds to capture the CIF state team title with 39 points Saturday at Cerritos College. It's the third consecutive state title for the Jackrabbits.

Dominguez clinched its first state track and field team title by winning the 1,600 relay. The Dons leapfrogged Los Gatos and finished with 36 points. Long Beach Poly was second in the relay and tied Los Gatos with 32 points, ending its two-year winning streak at this meet.

--Dan Arritt

Note: For up-to-the-minute results of the CIF state championship meet, check here.

Softball: Simi Valley's national title hopes fading fast

Valencia has definitely turned Barber Park into their house, with a fireplace and everything.

The Vikings added another run in the bottom of the fifth inning Saturday night and lead Simi Valley, 3-0, in the Southern Section-Toyota Division I championship game.

With runners on second and third, Simi Valley replaced starting pitcher, Amanda Oliveto, a sophomore, with Kelli-Jo Killingsworth, a junior, who got out of the inning without giving up another run.

Oliveto's final line: 4 2/3 innings pitched, eight hits, two runs, two earned runs, two walks and one strikeout.

Valencia is only six outs away from upsetting the top-seeded Pioneers, who are also ranked No. 1 in the nation, according to StudentSports.com.

-- Jaime Cardenas

-- Image by Jaime Cardenas

Track and field: Records fall in boys' and girls' 3,200s

Whew! What a meet the 2008 CIF state championships has turned out to be.

Jordan Hasay of San Luis Obispo Mission Prep broke a state meet record in the girls' 3,200 meters, holding off Laurynne Chetelat of Davis to win the eight-lap event in a stunning 9 minutes 52.13 seconds Saturday afternoon at Cerritos College. Chetelat finished in 9:52.51, which was also bettered the previous state meet record of 9:52.80, established by Kim Mortensen of Thousand Oaks in 1996.

Not to be outdone, German Fernandez of Riverbank came back from his record-setting time in the boys' 1,600 to smash the national record in the 3,200, winning in 8:34.23. The previous national high school mark was 8:41.10, established by Dathan Ritzenhein of Rockford, Mich., in 2000.

Combined with Christine Babcock's national record in the girls' 1,600, long-time track enthusiasts are calling this meet the greatest distance performance display they've ever since at the high school level.

-- Dan Arritt

Note: For up-to-the-minute results of the CIF state championship meet, check here.

Softball: Valencia tacks on another to take a 2-0 lead

In the bottom of the fourth inning Saturday night, Valencia's Madison Shipman, a sophomore, drove-in Shannon Fitzgerald with a two-out double to center. In the top of the fifth, pitcher Jessica Spigner put down SImi Valley in order on only five pitches.

Heading into the bottom of the fifth, Valencia is ahead, 2-0, in the Southern Section-Toyota Division I championship game at Barber Park in Irvine.

-- Jaime Cardenas