Long Beach Poly Secures First Round Win Over Edison – The562.org
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial. The562’s high school softball coverage is sponsored by Playmakers. Visit LetsBePlaymakers.org for more information on their adaptive sports programs. If you walked up to LBCC’s softball field hoping to catch the first round of CIF Division 4 playoffs between Long Beach Poly and Edison, […]
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial.
The562’s high school softball coverage is sponsored by Playmakers. Visit LetsBePlaymakers.org for more information on their adaptive sports programs.
If you walked up to LBCC’s softball field hoping to catch the first round of CIF Division 4 playoffs between Long Beach Poly and Edison, you might be very confused to see 30 identical players on the turf. Each team wore identical uniforms from their pinstripes down to their socks, but the Jackrabbits brought the bats and energy on their way to a 5-1 win over the Vikings.
As Poly geared up to take the field, Ki’ele Ho-Ching; the 2024 Moore League Player of the Year, No. 1 recruit for the class of 2026 and an Oklahoma University commit; returned to her place on the field at shortstop for the first time this season – and she immediately made her presence known.
After starting Poly pitcher Tegan Breaux struck out the first two Edison hitters, senior Sophia Hannappel was the first Viking to get on base after a line drive deflected off the glove of first baseman Kween Tauala. Sophomore Aubrey Catron hit a deep fly to the left field wall that sent Hannappel racing for home, but she couldn’t outrun Ho-Ching’s arm.
As the cutoff man positioned in left field, Ho-Ching completed the relay on a one-hop shot to keep Edison scoreless in the first inning. She completed another huge relay from left field in the top of the fourth to prevent another Edison run.
“We cut those two girls off at home with those terrific relays, even with her cannon not being at 100%,” Head Coach Elizabeth Sanches said. “75% Ki’ele is still 120% everybody else. So, we’re grateful.”
While the relays could easily be added to Ho-Ching’s defensive highlight reel, her and junior Emoni Lam Sam held down the left side of the infield with more top-notch defense. The two Division 1 commits knocked down any ball that came at them, which helped hold Edison to six hits throughout seven innings.
“Honestly, it was a little hard at first. The mental side of it is a lot,” Ho-Ching said of her defensive return. “Not playing for one, then all of a sudden coming back and just being thrown back out there, first play, first throw, a relay. I didn’t expect to throw the ball at all today, to be honest, but hey, I threw it like 20 times.”
Ho-Ching and E. Lam Sam are two major players in the strong junior class at 1600 Atlantic. E. Lam Sam was defensively clean on the turf but also played a big role in the lineup, going 2 for 4 with two RBI doubles to left field.
Long Beach Poly was the first to get on the board in the bottom of the third. Freshman Victoria Sepulveda led the inning off with a single to right field and was moved over to second off a sac bunt from junior Persja Lam Sam.
E. Lam Sam knocked in her first RBI as the next batter, followed by another RBI double from Tauala, who was also 2 for 4 on the day.
Edison responded in the top half of the fifth inning with their only score of the game. After Catron led off with a double, she was thrown out by Ho-Ching’s second relay on another left field double from sophomore Elina Garcia.
Garcia advanced to third on the throw from Ho-Ching. Sophomore Savannah Fisher was walked to put runners threatening at the corners. A double pickle resulted in a run for the Vikings after a misthrow got out of the Jackrabbit infield.
With a close 2-1 score, Poly’s bats came alive in the bottom of the fifth. P. Lam Sam was hit by a pitch and soon driven in off Emoni’s second RBI double. Emoni came around to score herself when junior Alayna Veavealagi singled to right.
Junior Janelle Morris doubled to move Veavealagi to third, who eventually scored off an RBI single from junior Sunni Vaafuti. Morris was 3 for 3 and the only Jackrabbit to swat 1.000 on the day.
“[Morris] made the adjustments and was able to trust her hands and trust her experience and trust her reps and stay back long enough to where she was driving it, not just to the right side, but right in the gap, in the perfect spot to get those runs in,” Sanches said.
This series of offensive adjustments from Poly’s junior class proved to be successful, as the bottom half of the fifth saw the Jackrabbits increase their lead 5-1. The home team rode this lead all the way to the end, defeating Edison after seven innings.
“Today, we went through the lineup once, and then the adjustments were instantaneous,” Sanches said of her team’s offensive rebound amidst some defensive and call struggles. “There’s 17 other girls out there to pick you up. Everybody has a bad day. We just got to be able to pick each other up.”
Breaux went the distance for the Jackrabbits, striking out five across the seven innings. Poly now turns their attention to Saturday when they will travel to South El Monte.
“I’m approaching our practice tomorrow as one that the girls can curate themselves based off of what their needs are and whatever they need us to do,” Sanches said of her team’s preparation. “Whatever it is that they need us to do, tomorrow is what we’re going to do. But, we’re still going to keep it loose, we’re still going to keep it relaxed, and we’re still going to keep it fun.”
SALT LAKE CITY. – Utah volleyball sophomore Neea-Maria Joki made the 15-athlete roster for the Finland Senior National Women’s Volleyball Team competing for the European Championship in early autumn. The Finland National Team will whittle their roster down by one to 14 before competing in their two European Championship qualifying games in August. “Neea’s participation […]
SALT LAKE CITY. – Utah volleyball sophomore Neea-Maria Joki made the 15-athlete roster for the Finland Senior National Women’s Volleyball Team competing for the European Championship in early autumn.
The Finland National Team will whittle their roster down by one to 14 before competing in their two European Championship qualifying games in August.
“Neea’s participation on the Finnish Volleyball National Team is a huge honor and opportunity,” said Utah Volleyball head coach Beth Launiere. “This is a big step for Neea, and is representative of the type of player she is and the direction she is headed in her volleyball career. We’re so excited for her to play against the best players in the world, and to represent her home country as well as Utah Volleyball. Utes fans are going to love watching her play this fall.”
Joki transferred to Utah this past spring after spending one season with Clemson Volleyball. As a Tiger, Joki made a quick impact being named to the ACC All-Freshman Team, leading Clemson in aces with 27, and finishing third on the team in scoring with 292.5 points (2.81 points per set).
Utah’s pin attacker is no stranger to competing at a high level for her home country as a member of the Finnish Volleyball Junior National Teams (U14-U19) where she won the North European Championships (NEVZA) four times (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022), was voted the 2022 Breakthrough Player of the Year in the Finnish League, and was named the 2021 Finnish Volleyball Female Junior of the Year.
Joki isn’t the only Ute representing on the National-level this summer, joining teammates Devyn Wiest (USA U19 World Championship team), Kamryn Gibadlo (USA U21 National Training team), and associate head coach Alyssa D’Errico (assistant coach for the USA U19 World Championship team).
For an inside look at the Utah Volleyball program, including tournament, roster and news updates, fans can follow the Utes on social media (Twitter: @UtahVolleyball | Instagram: @utahvolleyball).
Photo credit: Pixabay/Studio040 Five swimmers living and training in the Eindhoven region managed to qualify for the world championships in Singapore. The athletes managed to qualify via the National Championship or via selection for the World Long Course Swimming Championships, from 27 July to 3 August. Out of the 13 players selected for the Dutch […]
Five swimmers living and training in the Eindhoven region managed to qualify for the world championships in Singapore. The athletes managed to qualify via the National Championship or via selection for the World Long Course Swimming Championships, from 27 July to 3 August.
Out of the 13 players selected for the Dutch swimming team at the World Cup, five are training at the Pieter van den Hoogenband Swimming Stadium at the Tongelreep: Thomas Jansen, Nyls Korstanje, Sam van Nunen, Marrit Steenbergen and Maaike de Waard.
Gold
In long track swimming, the events are divided into distances and types of strokes. Think freestyle, backstroke, butterfly stroke and breaststroke in 200 metres, for example. The most successful sports swimmer from the region going to the World Championships in Singapore is Marrit Steenbergen from Geldrop. At the previous World Championships, she won gold in the 100-metre freestyle and with the relay team in the 4×100-metre freestyle. Earlier, she captured bronze twice: at the 2016 World Championships with the 4×100-metre freestyle relay and in 2022 on the 4×100-metre medley.
Water sports
TeamNL is yet to announce which event each swimmer will compete in at the World Championships. The Dutch team will leave for Singapore in the second half of July. When they arrive in the Asian country, there are also world championships of several other water sports, such as water polo, diving and synchronised swimming.
Historic sub-9 steeplechase by Lemngole leads Alabama at NCAA Championships | Sports
Alabama track and field star sophomore Doris Lemngole from Kenya, East Africa, defended her women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase national title on the final day of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The four-time national champion ran a blistering 8:58.15 race, marking the first time in NCAA history that a woman has run a sub-9:00 time, […]
Alabama track and field star sophomoreDoris Lemngolefrom Kenya, East Africa, defended her women’s 3,000-metersteeplechase national title on the final day of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
The four-time national champion ran a blistering 8:58.15 race, marking the first time in NCAA history that a woman has run a sub-9:00 time, while also capturing this year’s world-leading time in the event.
Katelyn Adelfrom Zurich, Switzerland also made Alabama history on the final day of the heptathlon, as the freshmen used three consecutive personal record setting performances in the long jump (6.18m| 20-3.50), javelin (36.57m| 119-11), and 800m (2:16.85) to secure a school-record 5,834-point total. With Adel’s eighth-place, podium finish, she became the first student-athlete to earn All-American honors (first team) since Kaylon Eppinger in 2012.
High jumperMiracle Ailesfinished things off for the Crimson Tide with a tied-for-13th-place finish to successfully secure Second Team All-American recognition. UA women’s track and field team finished the NCAA championship national meet in Eugene, Oregon, in 19th place with 14 points.
“I’m extremely proud of the effort and determination our team displayed throughout the four days of competition,” Head CoachDan WatersSaid. “Samuel Ogazicapturing his first national title in the 400 meters andDoris Lemngolesuccessfully defending her steeplechase crown in historic fashion were exceptional accomplishments. Across the board, though, our student-athletes rose to the occasion, earning All-America honors in several events, and represented the University of Alabama with great pride and integrity. Their performance is a true reflection of the hard work and commitment they’ve shown all season.”
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RENO, Nev. – With the 2025 volleyball season quickly approaching, season tickets are now on sale, as announced by the athletics department on Monday. Tickets can be purchased by calling (775) 348-PACK or by clicking here. Fans will not want to miss any of the action inside Virginia Street Gym this […]
RENO, Nev. – With the 2025 volleyball season quickly approaching, season tickets are now on sale, as announced by the athletics department on Monday.
Tickets can be purchased by calling (775) 348-PACK or by clicking here. Fans will not want to miss any of the action inside Virginia Street Gym this season, with new theme nights and giveaways scheduled.
The Pack, led by Head Coach Shannon Wychoff-McNeal, will have 12 home games, including hosting a three-day tournament in mid-September.
Nevada returns multiple standout players from last season, including Bella Snyder, Kinsley Singleton, Sierra Bernard and Masyn Navarro.
After making an appearance in the Mountain West Tournament in the 2024 season, the Pack are ready to once again make a run for the conference title.
Season ticket pricing and home schedule can be found below.
Season Ticket Pricing
Adult Season Tickets – $65
Senior (55+) Season Tickets – $55
Family Four Pack Season Tickets – $150 ($37.50 per ticket)
Youth Season Tickets – $30
2025 Home Schedule
Thurs. Sept. 11, 6 PM – Nevada vs. Eastern Washington
Fri. Sept. 12, 5 PM – Nevada vs. Pacific
Sat. Sept. 13, 12:30 PM – Nevada vs. CSUB
Thurs. Sept. 25, TBA – Nevada vs. Utah St.
Sat. Sept. 27, TBA – Nevada vs. Boise St.
Thurs. Oct. 16, TBA – Nevada vs. Wyoming
Sat. Oct. 18, TBA – Nevada vs. Colorado St.
Sat. Oct. 25, TBA – Nevada vs. San Diego St.
Thurs. Nov. 6, TBA – Nevada vs. Fresno St.
Sat. Nov. 8, TBA – Nevada vs. San Jose St.
Tues. Nov. 11, TBA – Nevada vs. Air Force
Thurs. Nov. 13, TBA – Nevada vs New Mexico
Cathedral Catholic’s Mae Kordas is the Union-Tribune’s 2024-25 Girls Athlete of the Year
The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Girls Athlete of the Year for the 2024-25 school year is Mae Kordas, a senior multi-sport athlete at Cathedral Catholic High School. Here’s why Kordas stands as the best in San Diego this year: Mae Kordas High School: Cathedral Catholic Year: Senior Sports: Volleyball and beach volleyball Positions: Outside hitter, opposite […]
The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Girls Athlete of the Year for the 2024-25 school year is Mae Kordas, a senior multi-sport athlete at Cathedral Catholic High School. Here’s why Kordas stands as the best in San Diego this year:
Mae Kordas
High School: Cathedral Catholic
Year: Senior
Sports: Volleyball and beach volleyball
Positions: Outside hitter, opposite hitter and middle blocker (indoor) and blocker (beach)
College: Kordas is headed to Notre Dame, where she will play indoor volleyball.
Cathedral Catholic’s Mae Kordas attempts to block against Santa Ana Mater Dei’s Layli Ostovar during the CIF Southern California Regional final match at Cathedral Catholic High School on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Highlights: Two years ago, Kordas stood on the sidelines as a postseason callup from junior varsity. She watched the Dons win a state championship and get crowned mythical national champions. As a junior, she earned court time and finished sixth on the team with 67 kills. This season, the Dons again captured the CIF San Diego Section Open Division title and reached the SoCal Regional championship match.
Positionless player: If you think she’s a six-rotation outside player, Kordas will slide to the middle. If you think she’s a middle, she’ll camp out on the right side and stuff your best attacker. If you think she’s an opposite hitter, she’ll slide right into serve-receive and pass nails. Kordas finished her high school career as one of the most complete volleyball players in section history, earning Gatorade California Player of the Year honors.
Cathedral Catholic’s Mae Kordas, center, and teammates celebrate a point scored against Santa Ana Mater Dei during the CIF Southern California Regional final match at Cathedral Catholic High School on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
By the numbers: The Dons won their seventh state title as Kordas finished with 469 kills, 118 blocks and 108 digs. She also won a CIF title on the sand as a senior.
On taking state: “When it first happened, I didn’t process it because I didn’t think we were going to do that well on the season,” she said. “But now, looking back on it, it’s just so crazy to me. Being able to represent my school and my program, it’s just so amazing.”
On her favorite part of volleyball: “How competitive it is,” she said. “Being with my teammates and all fighting for the same thing. My team these past couple years has been really special, and we all got super fired up and wouldn’t let anyone stop us. Being on the court with them and fighting and never giving up has probably been my favorite part.”
Favorite memory of her four years at Cathedral Catholic: “Beating (No. 2 in the nation Santa Ana) Mater Dei this year in the regional final because it was my last game at home,” she said. “You always want to go into a game with a winning mindset, but realistically this might be our last game because Mater Dei was looking really good. We beat them earlier this season, but I knew that maybe that was fueling them. I think we beat them in four (25-20, 22-25,25-20, 25-22). I hadn’t seen that many people at a Cathedral Catholic game in a long time. Having that be my last game was really special.”
She said it: “I can’t think of anybody else that would be better for that nomination,” said Maya Evens, Kordas’ longtime Cathedral and club volleyball teammate who is also headed to Notre Dame. “She’s worked so so hard. I’ve watched her at practice and seen her get better every day. The way she carries herself so incredibly humble. She holds herself high, and it’s honestly so impressive to watch. I’m so proud of her, and I think that no one else deserves it as much as she does.”
Cathedral Catholic’s Mae Kordas hits against Torrey Pines’ Marina Vosloo during their game at Cathedral Catholic High School on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Family tree: Kordas’ parents attended Notre Dame. Mom Brett (Hensel), a Torrey Pines Class of 1992 grad, played volleyball for the Fighting Irish, while dad James played football for the school’s famed football team. Mae Kordas originally committed to Yale but changed her course after club nationals this spring.
On choosing Notre Dame: “If you ask anyone, I’m the biggest Notre Dame fan. I literally wear Notre Dame gear every day to school, so no one was really surprised,” she said. “Growing up in a Notre Dame family, it’s one of the strongest sports fan bases. They have an amazing community there. I feel like I’ve already been a part of it since I was a kid.”
On playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference, which had three of the top five teams in the final 2024 AVCA rankings: “It’s one of the best conferences in volleyball,” Kordas said. “It will motivate me to be the best version of myself. That’s what I want for myself. I’m going to have to work really hard because there are some really good volleyball players there. The competition isgreat.”
Ray Fisher To Be Inducted Into College Baseball Hall of Fame
Fisher will be inducted in the College Baseball Hall of Fame this coming February. Story Links Middlebury Hall of Famer and 1910 graduate Ray Fisher has been selected as part of 21 inductees into the Class of 2025 College Baseball Hall of Fame. Fisher, who will be inducted as a coach, was a standout pitcher […]
Fisher will be inducted in the College Baseball Hall of Fame this coming February.
Middlebury Hall of Famer and 1910 graduate Ray Fisher has been selected as part of 21 inductees into the Class of 2025 College Baseball Hall of Fame. Fisher, who will be inducted as a coach, was a standout pitcher for Middlebury from 1907-10 and had a stellar professional baseball career before transitioning to coaching duties for the University of Michigan.
Born in Middlebury, Vermont, Fisher arrived on campus in 1907 and immediately made an impact, striking out 18 batters in his first collegiate start against Colgate. The Panther accounted for all four of Middlebury’s victories that season, with three coming in shutout fashion.
After his sophomore year, Fisher signed a minor league contract with the Hartford Senators. As a rookie, he posted a .923 winning percentage, a record that stood for more than 50 years. Although he was no longer eligible to play collegiate baseball, Fisher returned to the Panthers as a coach in 1910, graduating alongside his teammates.
Fisher embarked on a 10-year major league career that began with the New York Highlanders in 1910. The right-hander achieved 100 career triumphs and a 2.82 career earned run average in over 1,700 innings on the mound. As a member of the Cincinnati Reds in 1919, Fisher posted a 14-5 record and helped the squad to the National League pennant and its first World Series Championship.
Retiring in 1921, Fisher accepted an offer from the University of Michigan to be its head baseball coach and re-integrated the squad in 1923. Over 38 seasons at the helm, the Wolverines tallied 661 wins, 15 Big Ten Titles, and defeated Texas for the program’s initial College World Series Championship in 1953. In 1970, the university renamed the baseball field after Fisher.
In addition to Middlebury’s Hall of Fame, the late Fisher is a member of the College Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame, the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, the University of Michigan Hall of Honor, and the Vermont Sports Hall of Fame. The class will be honored at the 2026 Night of Champions presented by Prairiefire on February 12, 2026, in Overland Park, Kansas, the home of the College Baseball Hall of Fame.
