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Aaron Judge hits 2 homers in his return to the Sacramento area

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Aaron Judge celebrated his return to the Sacramento area by hitting two home runs Saturday in a losing effort for the New York Yankees against the Athletics to extend his major league leading total to 14. Judge is playing in the Sacramento area for the first time since college in […]

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Aaron Judge hits 2 homers in his return to the Sacramento area

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Aaron Judge celebrated his return to the Sacramento area by hitting two home runs Saturday in a losing effort for the New York Yankees against the Athletics to extend his major league leading total to 14.

Judge is playing in the Sacramento area for the first time since college in New York’s first visit to the A’s temporary home near California’s capital.

Judge was born in Sacramento and grew up not far away in Linden and had many friends and family in the crowd of 12,113 at the minor league park that is hosting the A’s.

“It just felt like being home,” Judge said after the Yankees’ win Friday night. “Any time we play the A’s, that’s always something that’s familiar to me and close to home, to me. It was special.”

After going 1 for 4 with a walk and two near homers in the series opener, Judge granted A’s owner John Fisher his wish Saturday in an 11-7 loss by the Yankees.

He led off the fourth inning with a homer off JP Sears and then connected again to lead off the sixth against Justin Sterner to the delight of the Yankees fans in attendance, many of whom chanted “MVP! MVP!”

“Not surprising,” Yankees starter Carlos Rodon said. “Once again putting on great swings like he always does. Really good player.”

The second homer gave Judge 14 on the season and gave him 41 career multi-homer games — fourth most in Yankees history.

Judge leads the majors in batting average (.396), on-base percentage (.486), slugging percentage (.772) homers and RBIs (37).

When the A’s announced their plans last season to play in this minor league park, Fisher said he was excited to see what players like Judge could do in a stadium known for offense.

“We’re excited to be here for the next three years playing in this beautiful ballpark, but also being able to watch some of the best players in baseball, whether they be Athletics players or Aaron Judge and others launch home runs out of this very intimate, the most intimate ballpark in all of Major League Baseball,” he said.

The ball carried well for everyone with the teams combining for six homers — including a go-ahead, three-run shot by Shea Langeliers for the A’s that pitcher Fernando Cruz was shocked carried over the wall.

Cruz said he went to back up home plate, assuming it would be a potential sacrifice fly only to see the ball carry out.

“It’s the same for all of us,” Cruz said. “It’s the same for the other team, the same for me, the same for my other teammates. Just have to come back tomorrow and do the same thing, pitch and locate a little better.”

Games at this stadium that had previously been solely used in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League have had a combined 2.75 home runs per game — up more than 40% from the rate of homers hit last season at the Oakland Coliseum.

“I’m sure as the summer builds up and the heat builds up, the PCL is known for that,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said about the way the ball carries. “I’d be speaking out of turn if I said I knew how this place is going to play throughout. Today was a little different throughout.”


AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

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City Church holds inaugural volleyball camp | Local Sports

City Church concluded its inaugural volleyball camp on Thursday. The four-day event was held at the Shenango Recreation Complex and hosted 75 girls with the age group spanning from fifth to 11th grade. × This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in […]

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City Church concluded its inaugural volleyball camp on Thursday.

The four-day event was held at the Shenango Recreation Complex and hosted 75 girls with the age group spanning from fifth to 11th grade.


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Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

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Mottley: Chris Gibbs was the “very epitome of the Bajan spirit”

People who have influence over the youth have a responsibility to let them know about those who made Barbados a special place. That is one of the takeaways for Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley as she reflected on the life of the late Chris Gibbs, a founding member of the world famous group The Merrymen […]

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People who have influence over the youth have a responsibility to let them know about those who made Barbados a special place.

That is one of the takeaways for Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley as she reflected on the life of the late Chris Gibbs, a founding member of the world famous group The Merrymen and an outstanding sportsman.

Gibbs passed away on Tuesday and in a statement, Mottley said she was “mindful that despite his immense familiarity among older Barbadians, most of our school-age citizens probably have no idea who he was or his contribution to national life”.

“Chris Gibbs, along with (Sir) Emile Straker, Robin Hunte, Willie Kerr and Peter Roett, performing authentically Caribbean musical styles as The Merrymen at home and in many of the world’s best-known capital cities, compelled countless visitors to return over and over again,” she noted.

“A lover of our most prolific natural resource, the sea, Chris distinguished himself as a national representative and team captain in the sport of water polo, completed the enviable feat of swimming around the island as part of a relay team in 2003, and made international headlines at the age of 58 as the only Caribbean national to swim the English Channel.”

The Merrymen’s Chris Gibbs, Emile Straker, Willie Kerr and Robin Hunte thrill the crowd, with Peter Roett on drums. (GP)

Full statement below:

As I reflect on Chris Gibbs’ passing this week, I am mindful that despite his immense familiarity among older Barbadians, most of our school-age citizens probably have no idea who he was or his contribution to national life.

This ought to be a reminder to all of us who have responsibility for, or influence over, our youth and who are concerned about what appears to be our failure as a society to consistently pass on the values that created that true Bajan spirit, which made Barbados a special place, that we have a critically important task ahead of us.

Chris was the very epitome of the Bajan spirit. He was as caring as he was humble. He revelled in the Bajan culture, particularly in sports and music, and like many Barbadians of old, he was self-taught in the areas in which he excelled. His life is a potent lesson for every young Bajan with a goal – it is within you to determine your future success, regardless of where you start or what obstacles confront you along the way.

As one of the founding members of the most recognised Barbadian musical group of the 20th century, The Merrymen, Chris not only played a key role in the development of our entertainment industry but was an essential part of the cultural element that gave the island’s tourism its stable foundation.

Chris Gibbs, along with (Sir) Emile Straker, Robin Hunte, Willie Kerr and Peter Roett, performing authentically Caribbean musical styles as The Merrymen at home and in many of the world’s best-known capital cities, compelled countless visitors to return over and over again.

A lover of our most prolific natural resource, the sea, Chris distinguished himself as a national representative and team captain in the sport of water polo, completed the enviable feat of swimming around the island as part of a relay team in 2003, and made international headlines at the age of 58 as the only Caribbean national to swim the English Channel.

For his successful swim across the English Channel, Chris was awarded the Barbados Service Medal and in 2022 he was conferred with the Order of the Republic.

On behalf of the Government and people of Barbados, I extend sincere condolence to his family and friends and encourage all young Bajans to take a leaf from his book.

May his soul rest in peace and rise in glory. (PR/SAT)



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Heading outside: Dodge crowds on rainy, cool Smith Rock weekend

Heading outside: Dodge crowds on rainy, cool Smith Rock weekend Published 3:29 pm Thursday, June 19, 2025 1/4 Swipe or click to see more Mountain bikers ride in the Swampy Lakes Area during summer. (Bulletin file photo) 2/4 Swipe or click to see more Anglers fly fish the Crooked River just below Prineville Reservoir. (Bulletin […]

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Heading outside: Dodge crowds on rainy, cool Smith Rock weekend

Published 3:29 pm Thursday, June 19, 2025

1/4

Swipe or click to see more

Mountain bikers ride in the Swampy Lakes Area during summer. (Bulletin file photo)

Last week, I mentioned that local trails needed some precipitation, but there was none in the forecast. Hours after the column was published online it rained all evening. While I hate being wrong, it was a pleasant surprise.

Rain is in the forecast Friday and Saturday this week, and shouldn’t hurt the trail one bit. With temperatures topping out in the mid-50s, there are chances of rain both days. Lows could dip into the 30s overnight. Temperatures are expected to rise Sunday with highs reaching into the 60s and overcast skies. Then it’s a return to summer weather starting next week, with highs in the 70s and clear, sunny skies.

Below are some recommended spots for recreation this weekend.

Dodge crowds on rainy, cool Smith Rock weekend

With rain in the forecast, it might be a good weekend to head to Smith Rock if you’re looking for some nice hiking and to avoid the climbing crowds. Smith Rock has a variety of hiking loops, ranging from a couple of miles to the 7.3-mile Summit Loop.

With 1,700 feet of elevation gain, the Summit Trail loop takes hikers on a challenging route with views of the whole park. Other trail and loop options include Homestead to North Point loop, reverse Misery Ridge loop and Wolf Tree to Burma and back. These are all great hiking and running options in Smith Rock State Park. See the area’s rock formations and outcroppings from different vantage points as well as the surrounding High Desert and Cascade Mountains. Dogs are welcome in the park but must be on a leash.

Smith Rock day use fees are $5 year-round. The park is a couple miles east of Terrebonne and about a 40-minute drive from Bend.

Venture up to the Swampy Lakes Area trails

Many high-country trails in the Swampy Lakes Area are rideable, according to reports on bendtrails.org this week. Besides some of the higher sections and Middle Flagline, which is closed until Aug. 15 for elk calving, most of the trails are clear of snow and should be riding well now or within a week or two.

These high-elevation trails are reachable from Skyliner and Swampy Lakes trailheads as well as Phil’s Upper Whoops. This early in the season I would suggest parking on the Whoops access road or Skyliner Trailhead and seeing how far up the mountain you can ride on these trails. According to reports, Flagline Tie and Swampy/Dutchman trails still have snow and Swampy Lakes Loop is in variable condition.

When starting at the Swampy Lakes Sno-park — permit not necessary during summer months — take Swampy Lakes Loop to Swede Ridge or S.S.T and Sector 16 or Tumalo Ridge. Experienced riders could also venture over to black diamond Southfork for a fast, technical descent. Keep in mind it is a two-way trail — watch out for climbers.

After a day of riding, draw straws to see who’ll drive the car back so the rest of the group can bomb down into town via Phil’s trails. These trails are prone to winter deadfall so be on the lookout for downed trees and branches.

Low flows on Crooked bring good trout fishing

Since flows have dropped below 300 cfs on the Crooked River, anglers report excellent trout fishing on the river, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) website.

The river is open to fishing all year below Bowman Dam. Following several months of high flow releases for flood control, flows have dropped below 300 cfs and fishing has improved.

Anglers may encounter bull trout now that there is volitional passage on the river at Opal Springs. Anglers who catch a bull trout should release it unharmed and report their catch to the US Fish and Wildlife Service at crookedbulltrout@fws.gov.

ODFW staff will be conducting annual fish population monitoring June 24 through 27 on the Crooked River between Big Bend and Cobble Rock Campgrounds.

Bowman Dam is just south of Prineville, on the west end of Prineville Reservoir. The Crooked River is fishable from there to where it converges with the Deschutes River at Lake Billy Chinook near Culver.

For more fishing reports, check out the ODFW’s website.

Weekly activities at Pine Nursery Park

Find a variety of activities at Pine Nursery Park in northeast Bend. The 159-acre community park has baseball and soccer fields along with field space for ultimate frisbee, lacrosse and other sports. Other features include beach volleyball courts, a disc golf course, a 14-acre off-leash dog are, all-abilities playground, pickleball courts, a fishing pond, natural areas and fitness and paved trails.

There are typically weekly disc golf competitions as well as pickup soccer on the grass field Tuesdays and Thursdays starting around 5-5:30 p.m. There’s also an ultimate frisbee group that usually plays on Thursdays plus pickleball and volleyball groups playing regularly.

Recent reports on the ODFW website say anglers have had results fishing in the Pine Nursery Pond for rainbow trout and recently stocked largemouth bass. The fish limit is two per day.

For a full list of conditions updated regularly, visit bendbulletin.com/conditions-report.

Ian Haupt: 541-617-7821 or ian.haupt@bendbulletin.com.



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Palm Beach boys volleyball first team, second team, honorable mention and coach of the year

FIRST TEAM Steve Barnes, Seminole Ridge, Volleyball. Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Steve Barnes, OH, Seminole Ridge senior: Led the Hawks to 23 wins and 3A state semifinal appearance; recorded 388 kills, 201 digs, 74 aces, 23 blocks and .378 hitting percentage; had 13 kills and 10 digs […]

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FIRST TEAM

Steve Barnes, Seminole Ridge, Volleyball. Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Steve Barnes, Seminole Ridge, Volleyball. Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Steve Barnes, OH, Seminole Ridge senior: Led the Hawks to 23 wins and 3A state semifinal appearance; recorded 388 kills, 201 digs, 74 aces, 23 blocks and .378 hitting percentage; had 13 kills and 10 digs in regional final win.

Dylan Guillenea, Dr. Joaquin Garcia, Volleyball. Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Dylan Guillenea, Dr. Joaquin Garcia, Volleyball. Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Dylan Guillenea, setter, Dr. Joaquin Garcia senior: Led the Bulldogs to 20 wins and 2A regional quarterfinal victory; registered 570 assists, 146 kills, 123 digs, 56 blocks and 27 aces; recorded 53 assists in a match.

Evan Holowecky, Seminole Ridge, Volleyball. Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Evan Holowecky, Seminole Ridge, Volleyball. Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Evan Holowecky, setter, Seminole Ridge freshman: Led the Hawks to district title and 3A regional championship; finished with 983 assists, 193 digs, 42 kills, 37 blocks and 28 aces; recorded 47 assists and 10 digs in state semifinal.

Ryan Huff, King's Academy, Volleyball. Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Ryan Huff, King’s Academy, Volleyball. Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Ryan Huff, OH, King’s Academy senior: Led the Lions to 22 wins and 1A state title; recorded 172 kills, 140 digs, 40 assists, 37 aces and 27 blocks; registered 10 kills and winning point in state championship.

Adam Masri, Dr. Joaquin Garcia, Volleyball. Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Adam Masri, Dr. Joaquin Garcia, Volleyball. Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Adam Masri, MH, Dr. Joaquin Garcia senior: Led the Bulldogs to 2A regional semifinal appearance; finished with 212 total blocks, 167 kills, 32 digs, 17 aces and .408 hitting percentage; registered 17 kills and 16 blocks in a match.

Chris Tang, Boca Raton, Boys Volleyball (Boca Raton High School Athletics/Courtesy)
Chris Tang, Boca Raton, Boys Volleyball (Boca Raton High School Athletics/Courtesy)

Chris Tang, OH, Boca Raton senior: Led the Bobcats to 18 wins, district title and 3A regional final appearance; led team in serve receptions and service aces; placed first in 15U Provincials Championships for Ashbridge’s Bay Beach Volleyball in Ontario.

Nicholas Watson, Volleyball, Suncoast. Spring All-County in Deerfield Beach on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Nicholas Watson, Volleyball, Suncoast. Spring All-County in Deerfield Beach on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Nicholas Watson, libero, Suncoast senior: Led the Chargers to 23 wins, district title and Class 2A state semifinal appearance; recorded 357 digs, 73 assists and 25 aces; had 36 digs in a match; registered 23 digs in regional final win.

SECOND TEAM

Graysen Amestoy, OPP, King’s Academy senior

Nathan Crow, OH, Boca Raton junior

Riley Joros, OH, Dr. Joaquin Garcia sophomore

Kyle Kiefer, OH, Atlantic Christian Academy senior

Carson Kramer, MH, Seminole Ridge senior

Dylan Smith, setter, Suncoast senior

Michael Swiderski, OH, Wellington senior

HONORABLE MENTION

Atlantic Christian Academy: Jamaury Augustin, Raymond Clair, Jonathan Gonzalez

Boca Raton: Jarrett Key, Aiden Rubino, Caleo Tsiapalis

Dreyfoos: Eric Jimenez, Beau McDowell, Luciano Suarez-Zavala

Dr. Joaquin Garcia: Garrett Deese, Cody Hollis, Conner Olson

Dwyer: Owen Goldvasser

Forest Hill: Nykolas Whitaker

John I. Leonard: Edgar Ramirez, Jerris Perez-Reyes, Brian Robaina

Jupiter: Tristan Brassington, Alessandro Groppi, Walker Weizer

King’s Academy: John Casey, Jake Manning, Jack Swartzbaugh

Lake Worth: Jaivaras Jackson

Olympic Heights: CJ Ehrhardt, Victor Hauari, Dymittry Terra

Palm Beach Central: Aiden Albury, Matthew Carr, Gian Paul Aviles

Park Vista: Tyler Gally, Landon Gilbert, Aiden Roney

Seminole Ridge: Addison Corey, Michael Deeds, Pierce Giebenrath

St. John Paull II Academy: Jack Rex

Suncoast: Eli Ergas, Thomas Supran, Chandler Westover

Trinity Christian: Carter Kuzmin, Paul Morency

Wellington: Jordan Higgins, Nico Martinez, Carlos Pelaez

West Boca: Vasyl Hlynskyy, Eduardo Prado, Maurice Sharaby

CO-COACHES OF THE YEAR

Danielle McCoy, King's Academy, Volleyball. Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Danielle McCoy, King’s Academy, Volleyball. Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Danielle McCoy, King’s Academy: The Lions finished 22-5, won the district and the boys volleyball program’s first state championship. “From the beginning of the season, we had something to prove after a tough loss last year in the regional championship game. The boys really worked hard this season and wanted to go all the way. I’m incredibly proud of the whole team, especially our seniors. … I am thankful for my assistant coach Mark Manning and I am going to miss all our seniors.”

Christian Spence, Suncoast, Volleyball. Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Christian Spence, Suncoast, Volleyball. Deerfield Beach on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Christian Spence, Suncoast: Guided the Chargers to a 23-2 record, district title and made a 2A state semifinal appearance. They defeated all their opponents from Palm Beach and Broward. “We went into the season wanting to prove we were the best team in Palm Beach County. Not only did we do that, but we also showed we were a top 10 team in the state.”



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'It's a movement'

When Janie and Stephanie Ellingwood went to a local brewery one night to watch a U.S. Women’s National Team soccer game with some friends, they didn’t think it would be a big deal to ask the staff to turn on the sound. The bartenders had always been friendly to the married couple, who frequented the […]

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'It's a movement'

When Janie and Stephanie Ellingwood went to a local brewery one night to watch a U.S. Women’s National Team soccer game with some friends, they didn’t think it would be a big deal to ask the staff to turn on the sound.

The bartenders had always been friendly to the married couple, who frequented the bar at least a few times a week. And they were the only patrons in the small room, situated away from the main viewing area where the volume was on full blast. So they were surprised when the staff curtly shot down their request without any explanation.

Inside a bar with greenery and flowers.

Opened in early June to coincide with Pride Month, Untamed Spirits is the first women’s sports bar in the city of Los Angeles.

(Alyson Aliano / For The Times)

The Ellingwoods continued watching the nail-biting game with subtitles, but as it got more and more exciting, customers began spilling over to their side of the bar. Before long, the small room was packed.

“We were all cheering,” says Janie. “We all gave each other high-fives.”

Exterior of Untamed Spirits

The wife-and-wife duo took over another sports bar in Silver Lake and turned it into Untamed Spirits, the first women’s sports bar in L.A.

(Alyson Aliano / For The Times)

Still, the staff refused to turn up the volume.

The experience left the Ellingwoods, who are diehard fans of the L.A. Sparks and season-ticket holders for Angel City Football Club, wondering why there weren’t any bars in Los Angeles where they could comfortably watch women’s sports without feeling ostracized. So they decided to create their own.

After months of searching for a location, the wife-and-wife duo took over another sports bar in Silver Lake — formerly known as Trophy Wife — and turned it into Untamed Spirits, the first women’s sports bar in the city of L.A.

Opened in early June to coincide with Pride Month, Untamed Spirits joins a short list of bars in the U.S. dedicated to women’s sports, including Portland’s Sports Bra, which is expanding to four new cities including Las Vegas and Boston; Rough & Tumble in Seattle; Minnesota’s A Bar of Their Own; and Rikki’s in San Francisco. Long Beach’s Watch Me! Sports Bar, which opened its doors last July, was the first in California.

Stephanie, 37, who played professional golf for a few years, felt that L.A. needed something like this. “Something that’s a little bit classier, that isn’t sticky when you put your arms on the bar,” she describes.

“For once, I want to watch a game at the bar with sound on instead of some random spot in the corner,” Janie, 34, adds.

An employee cooking wings at Untamed Spirits

The bar is sleek and modern — a neon pink sign reads “Welcome to the Untamed Era,” and whimsical black and white illustrations cover a few of the walls.

(Alyson Aliano / For The Times)

On a recent Tuesday night, Janie was behind the counter pouring drinks, including their signature Angel City pink punch, for patrons sitting at the bar, which was adorned with rainbow flags and an Angel City Football Club flag. Meanwhile, Stephanie was floating around the space, checking on customers. The couple, who met while playing volleyball together at La Quinta High School, also run a made-to-order croissant bakery based in Orange County and remodel and manage residential properties throughout Southern California.

The bar is sleek and modern — a neon pink sign reads “Welcome to the Untamed Era,” and whimsical black and white illustrations cover a few of the walls. Menstrual products are displayed on the bathroom counter. The spacious patio is filled with plants and a sign that says “Watch Women’s Sports Here.” (There’s a TV in nearly every corner, so there’s no bad seat.) Although Untamed Spirits specializes in women’s sports of all kinds — even the more niche ones like kayaking, Janie says — the bar also plays men’s sports.

“Some people might call it a trend, but it’s not a trend,” Janie says. “I believe it’s a movement.”

“Some people might call it a trend, but it’s not a trend,” Janie says. “I believe it’s a movement.”

(Alyson Aliano / For The Times)

Sitting at a table with a date and two friends, Marina Sobreviñas, 31, says she’s found that queer bars like Hi Tops in Los Feliz are more likely to play women’s sports, but she felt that “it’s about time” there is a spot dedicated to them. She recalls her experience trying to watch the FIFA Women’s World Cup at a bar.

Bowl of kimchi fried rice at Untamed Spirits

Untamed Spirits offers bar food with an international twist with dishes like kimchi fried rice.

(Alyson Aliano / For The Times)

Four glasses of orange punch

Untamed Spirits sells nonalcoholic and alcoholic drinks including margaritas and a signature Angel City pink punch.

(Alyson Aliano / For The Times)

“There was like, one World Cup TV out of the 10 TVs they had going, and it was sort of fascinating,” she says. “Like, ‘Am I’m the only one wearing a jersey today? OK, no problem.’”

Sobreviñas says that women’s sports are just as exciting as men’s sports.

Lisa Marie Ornelas, 30, agrees. “Women [athletes], in a way, have a little bit more to prove,” she says.

Untamed Spirits arrives in L.A. at a time when interest in women’s sports is expanding at a “meteoric pace” across the globe, according to Nielsen. The 2024 NCAA women’s basketball tournament averaged nearly 19 million viewers (with a peak of 24 million viewers for the final game between Iowa and South Carolina), an 89% bump from the previous year. The WNBA draft audience jumped 511%, and overall interest in the league grew 29% between 2023 and 2024. The National Women’s Soccer League saw a 17% boost in interest between 2023 and 2024. With the heightened interest, ad spending also increased: In 2024, TV advertisers spent $244 million on women’s sports, a year-over-year increase of 139%, according to TV marketing firm EDO.

Patio of Untamed Spirits

Untamed Spirits has indoor seating and a spacious patio where patrons can enjoy sports of all kinds.

(Alyson Aliano / For The Times)

“Women in general have been playing great sports for a long time,” says Stephanie. “I just think the right people who have the ability to put them in the spotlight are finally noticing.”

More women’s sports bars are expected to open throughout the country. Jax Diener, who opened Watch Me! Sports Bar in Long Beach with her wife about a year ago, recalls when women’s sports weren’t aired on TV at all. She went to the first WNBA game at the Forum in 1997.

Seating at Untamed Spirits

Untamed Spirits recently became an official bar partner of the Angel City Football Club.

(Alyson Aliano / For The Times)

“We used to come home after those games that were so exciting and turn on the sports that night to see the replays, and they weren’t even mentioned,” says Diener. “It was as if the league didn’t even exist.”

Diener says she was excited when she heard about another women’s sports bar opening in Southern California. “To me, it was really important for them to know that we’re in this together,” she says, adding that she has a text thread with other women’s sports bar owners where they share advice. “This is not a competition. This is women supporting women.”

Untamed Spirits recently became an official bar partner of the Angel City Football Club, which has a majority female-led ownership group that includes Natalie Portman, Abby Wambach and America Ferrera. The Ellingwoods will host their first watch party on Sept. 7 when the ACFC takes on Gotham FC.

Janie and Stephanie, who’ve been at the bar every day since it opened, say they are excited to eventually distill their own spirits, host more events and watch parties in the space and foster community among women’s sports lovers.

“Some people might call it a trend, but it’s not a trend,” Janie says. “I believe it’s a movement.”

Stephanie, left, and Janie Ellingwood with a dog

Janie, left, and Stephanie Ellingwood say they are excited to eventually distill their own spirits, host more events and watch parties in the space and foster community among women’s sports lovers.

(Alyson Aliano / For The Times)

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Serra gridders have high hopes with strong Spring-Summer showing

Serra quarterback Nicolas Johnson prepares to throw to a receiver in Saturday’s Los Angeles Chargers 11-on-11 Pass Football Invitational. (Photo by Joe Snyder) By Joe Snyder Over the past couple of months, Serra High’s football team participated in several Spring-Summer passing and other football fundamental events and head coach Scott Altenberg is seeking to bring […]

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Serra quarterback Nicolas Johnson prepares to throw to a receiver in Saturday’s Los Angeles Chargers 11-on-11 Pass Football Invitational. (Photo by Joe Snyder)

By Joe Snyder

Over the past couple of months, Serra High’s football team participated in several Spring-Summer passing and other football fundamental events and head coach Scott Altenberg is seeking to bring back contention for CIF-Southern Section and CIF-State crowns this fall.

The Cavaliers strength appears to be on defense, behind senior tackle Khary Wilder, a four-star recruit who already committed to Big 10 power Ohio State University. Fourth-year starting defensive lineman Daylon Reed is expecting a big season, along with University of North Carolina commit cornerback Marcellous Williams. Incoming junior cornerback-running back Wesley Ace is also getting a lot of Major Division I college offers, according to Altenberg. Also back is Mission League Defensive Player of the Year DeVohn Mosely, Jr., a safety on defense and a running back on offense.

Gone is quarterback Jimmy Butler, who is still undecided on his college decisions, and junior Nickolas Johnson appears to be favored as the starter. Sophomore Malik Tunai, though, could be one to watch. Both had some good passing games, including last Saturday’s Los Angeles Chargers 11-on-11 Classic at the Chargers Training Center in El Segundo.

Wide receivers Duvay Williams and Hakeem Crawford are key returning starters.

“We’re young at parts,” Altenberg said. “For us, we have a lot of guys back on defense. Offensively, Butler is gone and we are young.”

At the Chargers Invitational, Serra won two of three games with wins over Murrieta Valley and Agoura and a loss to Palos Verdes, last season’s CIF-Southern Section Division V and CIF-State Division IIA champion.

In a thrilling finale against Agoura, Duvay Williams caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from Tunai to give the Cavaliers a 30-24 win. That was his second of two TDs in the game, with his other being 50 yards from Johnson. Brian Bose and Hakeem Crawford also scored touchdowns for Serra.

The Cavaliers begin the 2025 season against Palos Verdes, led by returning junior quarterback Ryan Rakowski, on Aug. 22 at El Camino College. Game time is 7 p.m. The Sea Kings figure to be in a close race with Inglewood, Lawndale Leuzinger, Culver City and Manhattan Beach Mira Costa for the prestigious Bay League title. Despite only a third-place finish in the rigorous Bay last season, P.V. defeated Santa Ana Foothill for the Southern Section Division V crown and Twelve Bridges from the Sacramento area for its first state championship.

The Cavaliers will be in a 7-on-7 passing tournament at Palos Verdes High Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m., before another highly regarded classic at powerhouse St. John Bosco in Bellflower on June 28 before ending that summer and going into the dead period before opening practice on July 28.

Serra continues to have a tough schedule. After visiting CIF-Los Angeles City Section school Hamilton High in the Palms District on Aug. 29, the Cavaliers have their first home game against Los Alamitos on Sept. 5. From there, Serra plays three consecutive road games at Orange Lutheran on Sept. 12, Oaks Christian in Westlake Village on Sept. 19 before opening the Mission League in what will be an early league showdown at Sierra Canyon in Chatsworth on Oct. 3. The Cavaliers, then, have their homecoming game against L.A. Loyola on Oct. 10 and have two more home league games against West Hills Chaminade on Oct. 17 and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame on Oct. 24. On Halloween (Oct. 31), Serra closes league at Bishop Amat in La Puente. All games start at 7 p.m.

__________________

Former Serra star Smith on a hitting tear

The Dodgers ended up winning two of three from San Francisco, losing the first game, 6-2, on Friday before coming back with wins of 11-5 on Saturday and 5-4 on Sunday.

Among the Giant players at Dodger Stadium was former Serra High standout player Dominic Smith. Smith went 2-for-3 including a two-run home run in the first game on Friday. He went 1-for-3, drove in a run and scored once on Saturday. Right now, according to sources, he’s hitting .343 this year for the Giants. He is 12-for-35 with seven runs batted in.

In his 12-year career, Smith is currently hitting .247 with 485 hits, including 64 home runs.

Before being traded to the Giants by the Cincinnati Reds earlier this season, Smith played for the New York Mets, Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox. He was drafted out of Serra High in the first round by the Mets in 2013. He was the 11th overall pick. He led the Cavaliers to their only CIF-Southern Section baseball title, winning the Division III championship over Manhattan Beach Mira Costa 12 years ago at Dodger Stadium. He hit a homer over the stadium fence, one of the few high school baseballers to do so.

Correction from last week’s South Bay All-Star Softball Game: It was Carson pitcher Gaselkle Pantoja; not Pantija. Sorry for the spelling error.

In that game, the American and National teams battled to a 5-5 tie on June 4 at Torrance High.

Torrance also had girls’ beach volleyball pair Kiana Greer and Anisa Olivas land on the Daily Breeze all-South Bay second-team, named last week. 

Pair of the Year went to Redondo sisters Addison and Avery Junk, who were very influential in keying the Sea Hawks to the CIF-Southern Section Division I championship with an inspiring 3-2 win over powerful rival, Manhattan Beach Mira Costa on May 3 at Long Beach City College.

They won the decisive split set match to help the Sea Hawks win their first CIF title in the brief three-year history of beach volleyball in the CIF. Mira Costa won the previous two crowns over Redondo in 2023 and 2024.

Head coach Mark Pa’aluhi was Coach of the Year for the Sea Hawks.

Also making all-area second-team were Libby Matsik and Spencer Clark of South Torrance.

Greer, meanwhile, was also CIF-Southern Section Division II shot put champion and finished fifth in the CIF-State Meet on May 31 at Buchanan High in Clovis. 



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