Canyon Lake Cougars Win Pony Middle-School World Series

The Canyon Lake Cougars, champions of the Menifee PONY Baseball 2013 middle-school league Pony Division, defeated the Temecula Youth Baseball champions 13-6 last Wednesday to win the TYB/MPB World Series, two games to none.

This is the second straight year the Cougars won both the MPB Champions Cup as well as the TYB/MPB Tournament. The MPB Pony Division Champions Cup trophy will be on display in Canyon Lake Middle School's trophy case until the fall 2014 season, when it will be engraved and placed at that season's champion's school.

This is the third season Menifee PONY Baseball has been involved in the Middle-School Baseball program with TYB. Team tryouts are held each August and the season runs from September into November. Teams consist of players from each middle school, creating a middle school baseball team where there would otherwise be none.

Menifee PONY Baseball organizes and supports these school-based teams in an effort to create school pride and unity within local schools. For more information, visit WWW.MENIFEEBASEBALL.COM.

The Cougars were managed by David Jones. The players are Caiman Coles, Ryan Freyre, Willy Rauch, Kyle Basham, Brandon Sapp, David Jones, Zane Neckar, Zach Oropeza, Jordan Patillo, Dallas Grant, Tyler Diminyatz, Devlin Lindeman and Chris Lefevre.

Heritage High to Host Semifinal Playoff Game Friday Night

Matt Palmer leaps high to intercept a pass in last Friday's game -- his seventh pick in the last three weeks. Photo by Matthew Anderson

For the third consecutive season, the Heritage High School football team will play in the CIF-SS football semifinals when the Patriots play host to Colony High of Ontario Friday at 7 p.m.

Having lost in the CIF finals two years ago and in the semifinals last year, the Patriots with a win Friday would put themselves in position to win their first CIF championship the following week. Yet no one on the team is talking about anything other than the task at hand this week.

"La Quinta was a running team. They're big and physical," coach Kraig Broach said about the team Heritage defeated on the road last week, 42-12. "Colony is kind of the polar opposite of La Quinta. They're more athletic and they spread the ball out."

Granted, the Titans (9-3) like to throw the ball and pick up yardage in big chunks. Sophomore quarterback Josh Thompson has passed for 1,951 yards and 20 touchdowns this season. But Colony can run the ball, too. Senior Devan Imbach has rushed for 1,068 yards and 12 TDs. Heritage defenders will have to be ready for anything when they face the Titans, who knocked off third-seeded Riverside Poly last week, 45-35.

When Colony puts the ball in the air, Heritage defensive back Matt Palmer will be ready. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound senior had two more interceptions last week against La Quinta, giving him seven picks in his last three games and nine for the season.

"I don't know why people keep throwing the ball my way, but if they want to keep throwing a jump ball to a guy 6-3, I'll take it," Palmer said. "So far I've been taller than every receiver I've faced, so that gives me an advantage."

Broach said there's more to it than that.

"Matt does a great job of assignment football," the coach said. "We have him playing deep and he knows where to be to go for the ball."

The Heritage offense also is coming into Friday's game running in high gear. Running back Limihai Hifo rushed for 270 yards and two touchdowns on runs of 90 and 29 yards. His ability to bust the big play is a key for the Patriots (11-1). Hifo has run for 1,470 yards and 15 touchdowns while sharing the rushing duties with three others.

Sione Takitaki has rushed for 638 yards and 10 touchdowns, Isaiah Morrow has rushed for 660 yards and 6 touchdowns and Jalen Glover has run for 410 yards and 4 TDs. Even sophomore quarterback Brett Virgil (above) has rushed for 400 yards and 5 scores.

Virgil also can throw when he has to, evidenced by a 61-yard touchdown pass to Chris Nile and TD passes of 8 and 65 yards last Friday. On the season, Virgil has thrown for 1,040 yards and 14 touchdowns.

"Limihai had three runs over 50 yards and Brett had two touchdown passes over 50," Broach said. "That changed the whole complexion of the game."

And now with a more wide-open offense coming to town this weekend, the Patriots defenders must be ready. Palmer, for one, says he will be.

"From what I've seen, Colony runs a spread offense and is a lot like Paloma (Valley)," he said. "The key for us is, once we shut down the run, expect the pass. I'm gonna love that."

Gates open at 6 p.m. for Friday's game. Ticket prices are $8 for adults, $5 for students and children.

Senior running back Limihai Hifo pics up big yardage against La Quinta. Photo by Matthew Anderson

Chris Nile prepares to haul in a 61-yard touchdown pass in the La Quinta game. Photo by Matthew Anderson

Paloma Valley Boys Basketball Season Begins Today

The Paloma Valley High School boys basketball team gets a jump on other local high school winter sports teams when it opens the season today at noon in the first round of the Jurupa Hills Tournament.

The Wildcats will face La Quinta in their first game. After competing in the tournament this week, Coach Michael Pfeiffer's squad will begin play in the Beaumont Tip-Off Classic Dec. 3.

The Heritage High boys basketball team, as well as the Heritage and Paloma Valley girls teams, all begin the season next week. Boys and girls soccer and wrestling also gets into full swing next week. Schools are out this week for Thanksgiving break.

Coaches of all varsity sports are invited to email menifee247sports@gmail.com to report scores.

Paloma Valley's Season Ends With 41-35 Loss to Kaiser

Demarco Prewitt crosses the goal line for a touchdown in Friday night's playoff game, won by Kaiser. Photos by David Stovall

By Zac Force

Despite a big night by sophomore running back Demarco Prewitt, Paloma Valley High's football season ended Friday night with a 41-35 loss to Kaiser in the CIF-SS Central Division quarterfinals.

Prewitt rushed for 275 yards and three touchdowns for Paloma Valley (10-2), which rallied from a 14-point deficit to tie the score at 35-35 late in the fourth quarter. The tying score came on a 93-yard fumble return by the Wildcats' Michael Valencia (below left, in an earlier play).

But Kaiser responded with a 75-yard touchdown drive capped by quarterback Raymond Padilla's 6-yard TD run.

Paloma Valley had one final possession but lost the ball on a fumble and Kaiser went on to victory.

"We had too many mistakes. That isn’t like us," said Paloma Valley coach Bert Esposito. "It wasn’t a specific mistake that we made; it was the amount of mistakes we made."

Even in defeat, Esposito expressed pride in the accomplishments of his players this season.

"This was an amazing season," he said. "The kids really earned it and it was one of the best in school history."

On the very first play from scrimmage, Prewitt took off for a 71-yard touchdown run, giving Paloma a 7-0 lead. Kaiser then bounced back with a defensive score when Paloma quarterback Brent Boehm’s fumble was returned for a 60-yard touchdown.

Prewitt struck for two more first-quarter touchdowns, giving the Wildcats a 21-7 lead heading into the second quarter.

The second quarter was relatively quiet. The only score came on a 47-yard touchdown run by Kaiser's Padilla. This touchdown seemed to spark Kaiser, which rattled off 21 unanswered points in the third quarter.

Faced with a 35-21 deficit going into the fourth quarter, Paloma Valley finally found the end zone with a touchdown pass from Boehm to wide receiver R.J. Benz, cutting the lead to one possession. Then came Valencia's fumble return for a TD.

Unfortunately for the Wildcats, Padilla engineered the winning drive for Kaiser moments later.

Kaiser’s 492 rushing yards nearly doubled Paloma’s 256 rushing yards. Even though Paloma had 134 passing yards to Kaiser’s 18, the Wildcats still had 120 total less offensive yards.

Paloma was called for 11 penalties for 100 yards while Kaiser only had 5 for 34 yards. Kaiser more than doubled the Wildcats' time of possession with 32:18 to just 15:42 for Paloma.

Heritage Advances to CIF Semifinals By Beating La Quinta

Limihai Hifo rushed for 270 yards and two touchdowns, Brett Virgil passed for three TDs and Matt Palmer intercepted two passes Friday night to lead Heritage High to a 42-12 win at La Quinta in the CIF-SS Central Division football playoffs.

The Patriots led from start to finish and improved their record to 11-1, earning a spot in the semifinals next Friday at home against Colony High of Ontario. It will be the team's third consecutive appearance in the semifinals.

Heritage took a 13-0 lead in the first quarter and was cruising, 36-12, by halftime. Virgil threw two touchdown passes to Evan Rodriguez (8 yards and 65 yards) in the first quarter and one to Chris Nile (61 yards) in the second quarter.

Hifo scored on runs of 90 yards and 29 yards. Sione Takitaki added a 2-yard TD run.

Palmer's two interceptions on defense gives him seven in the last three games and nine for the season.

Heritage, which lost in the CIF finals two years ago and in the semifinals last year, will be facing a Colony team that knocked off Riverside Poly 45-35 Friday night.

Castor, Barnes Named Paloma Valley Athletes of the Week

Two Paloma Valley High School athletes exemplifying endurance and determination were honored this week as Menifee 24/7 Athletes of the Week.

Zackery Castor (left) competed the entire season with a leg injury for the boys cross country team. The injury, suffered in preseason training, slowed his progress, but Castor managed to compete in all his team's races and remained the Wildcats' top runner throughout the season.

"As we came to the last races of the season, Zack was finally getting healthy and able to train like his normal self," said cross country coach Joe Ellett. "I just wish we had a couple more weeks to get him up to speed.

"While Zack was not able to meet the goals he had set coming into this season, he showed determination and dedication to his team by persevering through the injury and spending countless hours in the pool and on a stationary bike to maintain some amount of fitness. I am very proud of this young man."

Even though he was still recovering from the injury, Castor ran a 16:19 in the CIF Prelims at Mt. San Antonio College last weekend, finishing first among Paloma Valley runners.

"I was bummed out about it because I knew I wouldn't be able to train up to the season," Castor said about his initial reaction to the injury. "I ran in all the meets but I was missing the training that would allow me to compete at my full ability."

Senior defensive end Dalvin Barnes (not pictured) is one of the leaders of the Paloma Valley defense. Including last week's playoff victory over Chino, Barnes had 25 total tackles in just six games since becoming eligible following the transfer to Paloma Valley. He also has three sacks.

"Dalvin is a tremendous asset to our program," said Wildcats coach Bert Esposito. "He came new to our football program at the beginning of the year and had to sit out the first five games due to the transfer rules. He is now our second leading sack leader and is climbing up the list of tackles for the year.

"He is a great kid with a great personality, plays hard, is very coachable and we love to have him here as a lifetime Wildcat."

Palmer, Taoete Named Heritage High Athletes of the Week

Matt Palmer and Dayanerrah Taoete pose with their Menifee 24/7 Athlete of the Week award certificates.

Two of Heritage High School's most consistent athletes this fall have been honored as the Menifee 24/7 Athletes of the Week.

Senior defensive back Matt Palmer has been one of the leaders of the Patriots' defense all year long. He had one of his biggest games of the season in last week's 21-7 playoff win over Arlington, intercepting three passes. That gives him seven for the season.

The week before, in a victory over Elsinore, Palmer had two interceptions. He appears to be peaking at just the right time.

"I'm just doing my job as a DB," he said. "It's just getting into my zone and looking for the ball. Sometimes it's being in the right place at the right time, too.

"Last year was my first year playing DB ever. Before that, I was just a receiver. That helps me now as a DB because I know what receivers like to do. That gives me an advantage."

Senior outside hitter Dayanerrah Taoete just completed an impressive season for the volleyball team. She was a steadying influence for the team, which came together under new coach Lindsey Sappington.

"I've learned a lot from our new coach," Taoete said. "I can definitely use those things in club."

Taoete hopes to continue her career in college, so she will play a full season of club volleyball through July.

"In club, you face better competition," she said. "Those are the people who are really serious about going on. I'm looking forward to it."

Taoete said her highlight of the season was when the Patriots beat crosstown rival Paloma Valley for the first time ever.