BASEBALL NOTEBOOK: HIGHLAND ASCENDS THE BULLDOGS HAVE SHOT AT POSTSEASON.Byline: Heather Gripp Staff Writer The way the Highland baseball team played early in the season, reaching .500 and being in playoff contention this late in the season seemed like lofty goals. A win today would put the Bulldogs (8-9) at .500 after starting the season 4-7. ``We're climbing up the ladder from a deep hole we dug ourselves in,'' Highland coach Todd Zucker said. ``The team as a whole, everybody has definitely gotten better.'' Fred Rico Alfredo Rico Cruz (born July 4, 1944 in Jerome, Arizona) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He was signed by the Baltimore Orioles before the 1964 season, and later drafted by the Kansas City Royals from the Orioles in the 1968 rule V draft. and D.J. Medlin have been leading the offense, but the main factor in the team's turnaround has been a focus on fundamentals. Hitters are learning not to try to hit home runs and to hit where the ball is pitched instead of pulling everything. Defense also has been heavily stressed. ``I had to shut things down and go back to baseball 101,'' Zucker said. Going from a program that has been among the league's elite in recent years to one struggling with little varsity experience left players discouraged. Now, there is a possibility of a playoff berth, but being able to have fun again is the primary concern. ``We can't afford to do anything but look ahead to the next game,'' Zucker said. ``The second we lose focus on what's right in front of us, we're out of it. The way this team started, (Southern Section) playoffs would be a great accomplishment, but I have to bring out the cliche and say all we can do is take it one game at a time. ``They're having fun again, that's the key thing.'' --Alone in first: Lancaster moved back into sole possession of first place in the Golden League by defeating Palmdale 7-6 on Wednesday. A recent slump by Quartz Hill facilitated the move for the Eagles. The Rebels went 1-3 at last week's Baldwin Park Baldwin Park, city (1990 pop. 69,330), Los Angeles co., S Calif., a suburb of Los Angeles, in the fertile San Gabriel valley; settled 1870, inc. 1956. Its industries include metal fabrication, printing, and plastics manufacturing. tournament and continued to struggle by losing to Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley 10-8 on Wednesday. --Briefly awakened a·wak·en tr. & intr.v. a·wak·ened, a·wak·en·ing, a·wak·ens To awake; waken. See Usage Note at wake1. [Middle English awakenen, from Old English : Saugus seemed to be overcoming its lack of offense last week, but the Centurions' bats were quiet again when Foothill League play resumed Tuesday. Saugus was held to five hits in the 3-2 loss to Valencia. The loss to the Vikings puts the two teams in a tie for third place. They play again today at Saugus at 3:15 p.m. During last week's Babe Herman Floyd Caves "Babe" Herman (June 26 1903 - November 27 1987) was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball who was best known for his several seasons with the Brooklyn Robins (now the Los Angeles Dodgers). tournament, the Centurions had nine hits in a 6-1 victory over Beverly Hills Beverly Hills, city (1990 pop. 31,971), Los Angeles co., S Calif., completely surrounded by the city of Los Angeles; inc. 1914. The largely residential city is home to many motion-picture and television personalities. . There was also a 5-1 win over Rancho Cucamonga Rancho Cucamonga (răn`chō k  'kəmäng`gə), city (1990 pop. 101,409), San Bernardino co., S Calif. that included Adam Tripp's second home run
and a bases-loaded triple by Garner Humphrey. Even in a loss to eventual
finalist Crescenta Valley The Crescenta Valley is a small inland valley in Los Angeles County, California. Its name derives from its crescent-like shape, with the convex portion facing roughly northeast and the concave portion southwest. , Saugus had 10 hits led by a 3-for-4
performance from Andy Warren Andy Warren may refer to:
--Another try: Canyon tries to become the first team since Burroughs of Burbank in 1997 to take a series from Hart when the Cowboys play today at Hart. Canyon upset the previously undefeated Indians 4-2 on Tuesday, but another win could be even more difficult. ``This was a tough loss for us to handle,'' Hart senior Chris Gagnon said. ``This is going to make us play that much harder to win. ``(Canyon) played a great game, but there were things we did we weren't happy about. We can't make the mistakes next time.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Daniel Mendoza Daniel Mendoza (5 July 1764[1] – 3 September 1836) (often known as Dan Mendoza) was an English prizefighter, who was boxing champion of England 1792-95. He is sometimes called the father of scientific boxing. (14) and his Highland High baseball teammates have risen into playoff contention after a slow start this season. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News |
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