For those who have ever participated in a chili cook-off either as a cook or participant, the flavor of the competition remains the same. It’s all about taste—and winning.
District Champs
The Los Alamitos 10U Red softball team went undefeated this past weekend, taking first place in the Central District Tournament and qualifying for the upcoming State Championship Tournament. They will compete in the State Championship over the Fourth of July weekend. Pictured are coaches, from left, Steve Mendoza, Michele Johnson and Head Coach Diane Lewis-Fleming. The team members (from left) are Erin Mendoza, Lauren Shimizu, Emma Sellers, Colby Barnett, Taylor Johnson, Carly Limosnero, Sophia Nugent, Katelyn Caneda, Kendall Lundberg, Mika Huskey, Ally Robbins and Grace Fleming.
Johnson named LAUSD Admin of Year
Dr. Mark Johnson, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, was recognized by the Los Alamitos Unified School District at the June 10 Board of Education meeting for being selected as the Administrator of the Year for Curriculum and Instruction.
Hopkinson makes literary offering
For the eighth year in a row, Hopkinson Elemetary School Kindergarten teacher Tere Fieldson will spend part of her summer break traveling to El Salvador to deliver what might be considered luxuries to small villages in the country.
Los Al marching towards tourney title
Los Alamitos — Los Al Pony All Stars (2-0) pitcher Cody Griffith closed out a 7-6 victory over West Garden Grove All Stars (0-1) Tuesday with three back-to-back strikeouts. Los Al remains undefeated going into their third game of the Los Alamitos Youth Baseball Invitational Tournament.
Garden Grove opened up the score after two quick runs in the first inning gave them the early lead. Los Alamitos surged back in the second inning after a big hit to right field by Griffith allowed Spencer Grimes to score. Griffith evened the score in the very next play after Garden Grove fumbled a catch at third base.
Los Al continued applying pressure scoring three runs in the third inning. A big hit to center field from Drew Graham allowed a runner on third to score. Later, Jackson Wells’ ground ball to left field gets by the Garden Grove third baseman allowing two runners to score.
However, the All stars from Garden Grove never let their morale falter and kept fighting until the end. As Los Al let off the pressure late in the game, Garden Grove came back to score four runs in the fifth inning.
Garden Grove’s Jack Vanderhill opened up the scoring in the fifth after getting on base. Next, Joey Gallo powered one into deep center field allowing two runners to score and got himself on third base.
Bubba Wolsky stepped up next and allowed Gallo to score with a deep hit to right field. Garden Grove was suddenly in the lead.
Los Alamitos dusted themselves off and finished the final inning strong. Edging two runs in at the top of the sixth inning was enough for Los Al to hold off Garden Grove.
With the game on the line Griffith started throwing heaters in the bottom of the sixth. He lets one runner on base, but then goes and strikes the next two batters out.
Daniel Quintana stepped up last for Garden Grove with no runners on and only one out left. With his coach shouting “watch for the curveball, wait for it,” it looked like a big play was coming.
But, Griffith kept his cool and threw three fiery pitches to strike Quintana out to end the game 7-6 in Los Al’s favor.
Los Al’s next game is on Thursday against Irvine All Stars at 5pm. Garden Grove’s next game is also Thursday against Fountain Valley All Stars at 7:30 pm. The Invitational’s championship game is on Sunday at 12:45pm.
Steggell vying for La Palma Council
La Palma realtor Michele Steggell has decided it’s “her time” to run for City Council.
Addressing a crowd of nearly 200 well-wishers and supporters in La Palma City Park Saturday, Steggell said she has three goals for the city.
Those goals include: public safety, fiscal responsibility and improving the quality of life in La Palma.
Boys & Girls Club of Cypress wins dodgeball title
The Boys & Girls Club of Cypress formed their first-ever dodgeball team this season. Team members were in fourth through sixth grade and practiced twice a week at the club. Over the past three months, the dodgeball team played over 15 games against a variety of other Boys & Girls Clubs in Garden Grove.
On Thursday, June 5, the team competed against the Main Branch team from Garden Grove to win the championship. After losing the first three games in the seven-game series, the Cypress team came back and won the remaining four games. Coach and Boys & Girls Club of Cypress staff member Isaac Rivera commented, “The kids were so excited and nervous during the games. It was an intense championship! The kids played hard and came back to win it- it was awesome”. The club was awarded a trophy at the conclusion of the game.
For more information about athletic activities at the Boys & Girls Club of Cypress, or for information about the club, please call 714-527-2697, stop by the club, or visit www.boysandgirlsclubofcypress.com.
Los Al rebounds to win All Star tourney
Down by 7 in the first inning, the Los Al Pony All Stars came back defeating the Fountain Valley All Stars 10-8 to win the LAYB Invitational Tournament on Sunday.
Cypress team makes run in sand
The Cypress AYSO Boys Under 9 team took second place overall in their division at the annual Huntington Beach Sand Soccer Tournament on June 7 and 8.
POTUS in Los Alamitos
President Barack Obama arrived at the Joint forces Training Base on Saturday, en route to give the Commencement Speech at the UC Irvine Graduation Ceremony at Anaheim Stadium. The president’s plane, Air Force One, landed at the JFTB, where the president boarded the Marine One helicopter for the trip to Anaheim Stadium. Pictured is Air Force One, after the ceremony, as it departs for Palm Springs where the president spent Father’s Day with his family. Courtesy photo
Los Al High celebrates Class of 2014
Los Alamitos High celebrated the graduation of its Class of 2014, at the school’s graduation ceremony on Thursday at the Stub Hub Center, Tennis Stadium in Carson.
Local real estate office toasts agency growth
Keller Williams, the largest real estate franchise by associate in North America recently announced that as of the end of April, their worldwide associate count broke the 100,000 mark with 100,575 associates.
Sand Champs
The Pacific Soccer Club, affiliated with Los Alamitos AYSO Region 159, girls team played in the Huntington Beach Sand Soccer tournament this weekend and won the tournament in their division. Their game scores were 11-1, 5-4, 7-0 and the championship score was 9-3. Pictured are (front row, left to right), Sofia Ferguson, Ella Salazar, Kaia Medby, Kelly Tou. Back row, Delilah Kishek, Ella Centeno, Cadence Michelotti, Layla Salinas and Isabella Reynoso (not pictured is Sara Caesar), Coach George Kishek and Head Coach Henry Salazar.