Paloma Valley Track Standout Nesbitt is Athlete of the Week

Sophomore track and field standout Jemena Nesbitt of Paloma Valley High School has been selected as the Menifee 24/7 Athlete of the Week for her recent efforts in the sport.

Nesbitt was Sunbelt League champion in the 100-meter hurdles and finished third in the 300 hurdles. She also qualified for the CIF prelims and set a personal record in the 100 hurdles there.

"Jemena did an amazing job this season, improving her times in the hurdles," said her coach, Juan Merida. "This was truly a gtreat accomplishment, considering she is only a sophomore and had never run track before."

Final Menifee AYSO Registration Set for May 31

For more information, click here.

Menifee FC U12 Soccer Team Takes Second in Big Tourney

Standing: Coach Rios, Brianna, Catalina, Heather, Tayler, McKayla, Coach Gonzalez. Seated: Breanna, Aubrey, Aryana, Katie, Adrianna, Naveah, Danielle.

Menifee FC, the Menifee AYSO U12 Girls Spring Select soccer team, won second place in the Moreno Valley Thunderbird Classic Tournament over the Memorial Day weekend. It was a three-day tournament that drew competitive teams from all over Southern California.

Going into the championships on Monday, the team was undefeated and in first place in its pool. Menifee FC easily won the first game of the finals, beating the Moreno Valley U12 Extra team, 4-0. In the championship game against undefeated Beaumont a few hours later, they were outscored and awarded second place for the tournament.

In their first year together, the team has had great success. Coach Bernie Rios and Assistant Coach William Gonzalez have led this team to victory throughout the season. They finished the AYSO spring season tied for first place with the Corona Spring Select team. Next weekend they will head to Riverside for the playoffs.

Heritage High Softball Team to Host CIF Quarterfinal Game

The Heritage High School softball team will play a home game against Santa Monica High Saturday at 3:15 p.m. in the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division 4 playoffs.

The Patriots advanced to the quarterfinals with a 14-5 victory over Garden Grove on Thursday. Heritage is 19-10 this season.

Seating for event is limited, so fans are advised to arrive early, according to athletic director David Drake. Parking will be available in the north parking lot by the AG facility or in the lot by the football stadium. No parking is allowed on the roads behind the field.

Paloma Valley High Standouts Honored as Athletes of the Week

Top performances by four spring sports athletes were recognized this week by Menifee 24/7 with Athletes of the Week awards from Paloma Valley High School.

Senior Michael Valencia (left) was one of the leaders of the boys volleyball team, which dropped out of the CIF playoffs in the third round May 17 with a five-game loss to top-seeded South Pasadena. The Wildcats stunned the Tigers by taking them to a fifth game and losing that decisive game by only two points, 15-13.

Paloma Valley won the Sunbelt League title because of the play of people like Valencia, who will go on to play at football the University of La Verne next fall.

"Michael has brought our team to another level," said Katie Bradley, Valencia's coach. "His intensity and determination to excel is contagious on the volleyball court. Michael played a major role in taking our team to the third round of the CIF playoffs, the furthest in school history for the program."

Savanna Ruiz (above) has been a steadying force for the Wildcats softball team, which is 21-7 overall after beating Oak Hills 4-2 Tuesday in the first round of the CIF playoffs. Paloma Valley will play at home against La Quinta today.

Ruiz is hitting .362 with 3 home runs and 21 RBIs.

Anthony Lee was one of the key players for the Wildcats baseball team, which wrapped up the Sunbelt League title and entered the CIF playoffs with a 19-6 overall record. He played a huge role in the team's league-clinching win over Temescal Canyon, making three big defensive plays and going 2 for 3 at the plate.

Samantha Flores won the 800, 1,600 and 3,200-meter races in the Sunbelt League finals. She went on to compete in the CIF prelims.

Atkins, Eaton Named Menifee 24/7 Athletes of the Week

Track standout Torrey Atkins and softball star Juliet Eaton were honored by Menifee 24/7 as Athletes of the Week for their postseason accomplishments at Heritage High School.

Atkins is the only representative of the Patriots' track program still competing this spring. He finished first in the 110-meter high hurdles (14.26) and in the 300 intermediate hurdles (38.93) at the CIF Southern Section prelims May 17 at Trabuco Hills High School. With those efforts, he qualified for the CIF Finals May 24 at Cerritos College.

Last year, Atkins' season ended at the CIF Finals. His goal this spring is to finish in the top nine, qualifying for the CIF Masters Meet the following week. Top qualifiers there advance to the state meet.

Atkins' speciality is the 110 high hurdles, where his personal best is 14.1. He's hoping to do even better than that to ensure he advances against top-notch competition on Saturday.

"I want to get into the 13s," Atkins said about his goal for a time this weekend. "I'm tired of running in the 14s. The 300 hurdles, I'm not serious about it until I get in the blocks. The 110 is my favorite. I know I'm going against the best athletes."

Eaton had a huge day Tuesday in the Patriots softball team's 10-0 victory at Arroyo High in the first round of the CIF playoffs. The senior first baseman hit three home runs on consecutive at-bats -- nearly doubling her season total.

"After the third one, my teammates didn't even walk out to greet me," Eaton said with a laugh. "They just bowed down and asked me to sign their bats."

Eaton said she and her teammates are confident about the team's ability to advance further in the playoffs. The Patriots are at home against Garden Grove today.

"We have a lot of momentum," Eaton said about the Patriots, whose overall record is 18-10 overall. "Our team chemistry is great."

Velivis, Gayk Named Santa Rosa Athletes of the Month

A pair of talented sophomores attending Santa Rosa Academy have been honored as the Menifee 24/7 Athletes of the Month, sponsored by RE/MAX Diamond Realty.

Softball player Madison Velivis and golfer Ray Gayk each received a certificate from Menifee 24/7 and a Target gift card from Larry Nemelka, representing RE/MAX Diamond Realty.

Velivis plays first base for the Rangers softball team, which just completed the first year of the program. The team struggled to win games as new players came on board, but the leadership of a more experienced player such as Velivis helped build a foundation for future success.

"The girls had good character and we all kept our spirits up," Velivis said. "I've played softball since I was 7, but a lot of the girls were new to the sport. Me and another girl were kinda captains and tried to be team leaders. The girls were all really receptive to learning about the sport. Most of them will be back for next year."

Gayk continued to improve as a golfer in his second year of the program, and the team progressed as well. He shoots in the low 40s on Santa Rosa's home course at Menifee Lakes Country Club.

"As a team, we really progressed," he said. "Last year we had seven or eight players and this year we had around 16. Overall, we had a very good season. But we weren't in a league yet, so it's harder to get into postseason tournaments."

Gayk was introduced to the sport by his father when they played in the Santa Rosa Tournament when he was in the seventh grade. He joined the golf team as a freshman.