Menifee Pony Baseball Sets Tryouts for Middle School Teams

Patriots Hope to Continue Winning Tradition in a New Season

In the last two seasons, the Heritage High School football team has compiled a 23-4 record, advancing to the CIF finals and semifinals. So what does that mean to coach Kraig Broach as the Patriots open practice for a new season?

Back to square one, that's all.

"A winning tradition, that's neat ... that's cool," Broach said. "But ultimately the fact is, it has no bearing on what carries over to this season and this team."

Even so, Broach expressed excitement about his team's chances Wednesday as he watched the Patriots go through workouts in helmets and shorts on the second day of practice. Players will be in pads for the first time on Friday as they continue to prepare for an Aug. 30 opener against San Jacinto at home.

A solid group of returning starters includes seniors Sione Takitaki and Limihai Hilo, who will join junior Isiah Morrow in a two-back set rotation. Morrow's older brother, Jamal, is at Washington State this fall after rushing for 2,092 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. But despite that loss, Broach is confident about the team's ability to move the ball on the ground.

"Jamal was one of the best players and best kids I've ever been around," Broach said. "It will be exciting to watch him on Saturdays this fall. But that's also the neat thing about high school football. You get to work with kids and see them progress.

"Besides, this school is now getting old enough that we're starting to get the younger siblings of the players."

Besides Isiah Morrow, another example of the sibling connection is quarterback Brett Virgil (left, with Broach), who will start as a sophomore this season. Two years ago, his older brother Chad was the Patriots' QB. Today, Chad plays at Mt. San Jacinto College.

"Yes, he's a sophomore, but he has all the qualities at some point to be a very good quarterback, and that some point is now," Broach said.

Other key returning players are tight end and defensive end Evan Rodriguez; offensive lineman Nick Gomez; linebacker Caleb Marquez; linebacker McKinley Grant; and defensive back and wide receiver Stefan Patterson.

"I like our running backs and offensive line," Broach said. "We are young at quarterback and we're not very big on the defensive line. Our skill players are pretty good size, but our linemen aren't real big. We're replacing three starters on the defensive line."

Although it's too early to know exactly how things will shape up for the Patriots, Broach knows hopes are high for his team because of what it has accomplished in recent seasons.

Paloma Valley Opens Football Practice With Standout Potential

Linemen take part in drills Tuesday on the first day of practice at Paloma Valley High School.

Returning some key starters from last season's high-powered offense, the Paloma Valley High School football team opened practice this week with high hopes for another standout season.

Last year, the Wildcats opened the season 5-0, survived the loss of several starting linemen during the Sunbelt League season, and made a playoff run all the way to the CIF Central Division semifinals, finishing the season 9-4 overall. The return of starting quarterback Brent Boehm for a third season and a group of talented wide receivers gives the Wildcats the potential for another dangerous passing attack.

"I think this will be the best offense we've ever had," Coach Bert Esposito said Tuesday after the team's first practice in pads. "Besides Brent, we have four other quarterbacks who are very good. We call them our 'stable.' Plus, we're six or seven deep at receiver. We feel we can throw the ball anywhere on the field and someone will be there to catch it."

Boehm (right) is not throwing in early workouts because of mild tendinitis, giving extra reps to quarterbacks Jake Newton, Michael Valencia and Pohaku Kakeaku-Paiva. Any of them could be a capable backup to Boehm, who passed for 2,329 yards and 22 touchdowns last fall.

The receiver corps includes C.J. Parker, who caught 25 passes for 437 yards and 4 TDs last year; and Anthony Smith, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound speedster who specialized in the 100-meter dash for the Wildcats last spring. Other receivers expected to play key roles are Valencia, Eliott Smith, Phillip Hauser, Lance Kreutzer and Fred Lundy.

Paloma Valley had a successful passing league season, culminating in the championship of the recent Lancaster Tournament. Esposito credits the program's nearly year-round training regimen for its success once the season starts.

"Everyone picks their own 'dead' period," Esposito said about the three weeks CIF requires teams to do nothing but have the weight room open. "We give them the last week of school, then three weeks off before passing league. By the end of the school year the kids are spent, so why fight it? The passing league helps prepare us, but now it's time for real football."

The Wildcats are taking part in two-a-day practices, working out early in the morning and early evening, to avoid the heat. Emphasis in the early workouts is on discipline, such as moving special teams units on and off the field in a timely manner.

"You have to set the tone early," Esposito said. "At some point, if you wait too long as a teacher, you're not going to change anything they do. If you don't set the tone early, it will catch up to you."

As Esposito puts his players through drills in the early going, he also is keeping an eye on the development of a strong running back group. David Solis (215 carries, 1,838 yards, 24 TDs) has graduated, but sophomore Demarco Prewitt (left) appears ready to step into the starting role. Parker, Anthony Smith and Elliott Smith also figure to see playing time.

"They're not big power backs, but that's not our style anyway," Esposito said.

Much of the offensive line is new, but overall the Wildcats are bigger than last year. The defensive line returns senior Kre Webb (6-0, 230), whom Esposito says has gained about 25 pounds.

"We're bigger up front than last year," Esposito said. "What it comes down to on defense are the linebackers."

Middle linebacker R.J. Benz will play a key role in that unit.

The secondary features Lundy and Parker at cornerback; Flex Bogroff at strong safety; and Valencia at free safety.

The Wildcats open the season Aug. 30 at San Bernardino High. Their home opener is Sept. 6 vs. Sultana.

Special teams is emphasized in early workouts. Here the field goal unit gets in some work.

Coach Bert Esposito (center) addresses his team after practice.

Registration for Menifee Pony Baseball Saturday at Ralphs

Menifee Pony Baseball will accept registration for its next season this Saturday, July 27, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of the Ralphs market at Newport Road and Antelope Road.

Interested persons should look for the maroon Easy-Up in front of the store. To avoid the lines, you may also sign up from home at www.menifeebaseball.com.

Benefits of playing Menifee Pony Baseball include:


-- Machine pitch by age 5
-- Kid pitch and base stealing by age 7
-- Pickoffs and leading off by age 9
-- Complete MLB rules in play by age 11
-- High school level baseball play by age 13
-- Highly competitive middle school baseball program; play for your school!
-- Highly competitive high school baseball program (ages 15-19)

Registration fees range from $60 for Filly (ages 4-5) to $90 for Pony (ages 13-14). Fees for play in the middle school and Colt-Palomino divisions are $150 for an extended schedule.

7u Pony Team Completes Standout Season in World Series

The Menifee Pony Baseball 7u Kid-Pitch All-Star team finished third in its pool and sixth overall in Pony Baseball's 7u Kid-Pitch World Series.

After going 3-0 in the Super-Regional to reach the World Series, the team went 2-2 to place sixth overall. Menifee Pony Baseball congratulates the entire 7u All-Star team, along with its coaches and its manager, Heath Thomas.

MVLL 9/10 All-Stars Standout Postseason Ends in Sectional Final

The Menifee Vallkey Little League 9/10 All-Stars finished an outstanding postseason with a 5-4 loss to Magnolia of Riverside in the sectional championship game Wednesday night in Murrieta.

A note from John Dreher of MVLL posted on the league's Facebook page:

I would like to thank our 9-10 All-Stars for a fantastic run in the tournaments. Joe, Guido, and Wes had these young men ready to play and play they did. We are so proud of you and consider you winners. Thank you to everyone for the support you showed for this team. I would also like to thank all our other All-Stars who played the games with all their heart and soul. Thank you to the managers and coaches, and the parents for letting your kids play Menifee Valley Little League.

Menifee 9/10 All-Star Team Plays for Sectional Title Tonight

The 9/10 all-star team from Menifee Valley Little League defeated Magnolia Riverside 11-1 Tuesday night and will play Magnolia in a rematch tonight at 6:30 for the sectional tournament title at Hunt Park in Murrieta.

If the team wins the double-elimination tournament tonight, it will advance to San Diego for the next level of play in the Little League postseason. Menifee is 6-1 overall in postseason play.

Wes Wohlwend, who coaches the team along with Joe Kirby and Guido Monachino, had high praise for his players going into the championship game.

"Watching the kids execute all the baseball skills we have taught them is so rewarding," Wohlwend said. "It is important for them to learn the benefits of hard work and also to learn how to win and lose. Life is competitive at every level and baseball helps kids shape the way they deal with winning and losing."