Claremont High School girls swimming had a surprise in store for Marina High last Saturday, narrowly edging out the top-rated team in the 200-yard freestyle relay.
Competing in the finals of the Husky Invitational at Chino Hills High School, Claremont took the top spot at 1:40:88 and broke a school record in the process
In just seventeen minutes and 26 seconds, four Claremont boys—senior Sergio Espinoza, junior Owen Bishop, senior Tab Backman and junior Ryan Renken—crossed the finish line for the 4 x 1600 meter relay in first place, shattering the Claremont High School record by 24 seconds and setting the fourth fastest time nationwide for 2016. Read about their story and how CHS boys tennis continues to roll.
Former major league pitcher Warren Spahn once said that “Hitting is timing and pitching is upsetting timing.” And that is exactly what Bonita junior Destinee Lopez did to Claremont at home on Wednesday, as the Bearcats blanked the Pack 3-0 in the Palomares League opener.
Lopez pitched the entire game, striking out 14, with many batters frozen watching the umpire punch them out.
The Burbank Bulldogs probably assumed they would easily win their matchup with Claremont on Wednesday. After all, Claremont is currently in last place in the Pacific League while Burbank is ranked second, just behind Burroughs. From the very start, however, it was clear the Wolfpack was going to be competitive.
From HEALTHY LIVING: On March 19, Claremont High School senior Spencer LaMott was promoted to first-degree black belt by his senseis at Goltz Judo. He has nine more black belts to go, but the teen is well on his way to becoming a judo master.
The belt switch-up, from brown to black, is just one of many achievements Spencer, 18, has garnered in his sport of choice. COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff
The Claremont High School Wolfpack track and field team is off to a strong start, highlighted by a double victory over Ayala Tuesday, including a good showing at California Relays over the weekend.
At the California Relays, held at Cerritos College, the team set blistering fast times. The girls and boys almost swept all distance relays—girls and boys both won the 4 x 1600 and the 4 x 800 relays, and the girls won the distance medley relay, while the boys came second in that event.
Claremont Junior Savannah Hentz slides into third base for a triple on Wednesday during the Pack’s non-conference game against Covina in Claremont. Hentz scored on a sacrifice ground ball on the next play helping to set up Claremont’s 8-2 victory over the Colts. COURIER photo/Steven felschundneff
Good pitching from sophomore Jack Noble combined with 11 hits gave Claremont a solid 5-2 win over A B Miller Tuesday in Claremont. The team put in a much more focused effort including some very good fielding which made the difference in the final score.
Junior Matt Hohn had two singles for three at bats and came up with some key defensive plays at third base. The Pack is now 2-3 in early season play.
More details in our next edition.
Assistant baseball coach John Ellis has a mantra, of sorts that he repeats during the game: “Routine plays, played routinely,” which unfortunately was sorely missing Wednesday as Claremont High was soundly defeated by Chino Hills 11-2 at CHS. A combination of eight errors and too many wild pitches by Claremont gave away what was otherwise a competitive game.
Claremont High School boys tennis starts this season with a lot of new players and a new coach, Kathy Settles. However, coach Settles is not new to CHS, being both a parent and the coach of the girls team. “We are going to be good this year,” said coach Settles. “We brought in four freshman who are playing year round so they have added a ton of depth."
Claremont High School’s CIF bid came to an end Wednesday as the boys soccer team, the last CHS team standing, lost their second round playoff game, 1-0, at Quartz Hill High School near Lancaster.
The previous day, the girls soccer team lost to San Luis Obispo in a shootout after a scoreless tie at the end of overtime. The Tigers landed two more penalty kicks than the Pack, winning 4-2.
Kyle Scalmanini looks for space to shoot during the first half of the Pack’s CIF quarterfinal loss to Edison, 78-71, Tuesday in Claremont. Scalmanini had a great game scoring 26 points and setting the pace during a fourth quarter drive that brought Claremont within two points of the Chargers. Ultimately Edison got a couple of last minute fast breaks that kept them ahead. COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff
Claremont High School boys basketball won a nail biter, 64-63 Friday against West Ranch in the second round of the CIF tournament in Valencia. The Pack had a comfortable lead at the half largely because of a very high scoring first quarter however they saw their advantage narrow in the second half.
With the victory the Pack will face Edison at CHS on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Claremont High School sophomore Julian Bravo celebrates after he scored the winning goal on Friday in the first round of the CIF tournament in Claremont. The Wolfpack and visiting Pioneer Valley High School Panthers played to a scoreless tie after regulation and Bravo’s goal came in the first sudden death overtime period. COURIER photo/Steven Felschundneff
