NOTEBOOK : A Soccer Title--at Last--for Garfield

The Garfield High boys’ soccer team defeated Bosco Tech, 2-1, July 27 in the final of the inaugural Bosco Tech Summer Cup in Rosemead.

But the Bulldogs’ most satisfying victory no doubt was a 1-0 victory over Belmont in their semifinal match on a goal by Javier Romero.

The Sentinels beat Garfield in round-robin competition earlier in the six-team tournament. In February, Belmont beat Garfield in overtime in the City Section quarterfinals, handing the Bulldogs their only defeat of the season.

Belmont went on to beat Bell in the City final but was stripped of its title for using an ineligible player. The title wasn’t awarded to anyone because the violation was discovered after the season.

As a result, Garfield (9-0-3), Bell and San Pedro each earned the dubious distinction of finishing the season undefeated without a City title.

“It’s a double-edged blade for us as well as them,” Garfield Coach Gerardo Campos said. “It was tough for us and I felt bad for them. We left this tournament with a good feeling, but it should be a close and interesting season.”

Juan Robles and Jesus Mata, who are among eight returning players for Garfield, each scored goals in the final of the Bosco Tech tournament.

Gerardo Gomez, Mando Morales, Oscar Fuentes, Dennis Valladares and Juan Herrera are other returnees for Garfield, which notched victories over Bishop Amat and St. Paul, and tied Lincoln in tournament play.

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Yolanda Gomez of Belmont High, who finished second in the 1992 City Section cross-country finals, will attend Pepperdine University, choosing the Waves over Fresno State and College of Notre Dame in Northern California. The Malibu school has a cross-country program but track is only offered as a club sport. But Gomez, whose brother Roman was a two-time state champion in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters at Belmont, said proximity and a preference for cross-country over track were determining factors.

Steve Soliz of Cal State L.A., a 1993 Cleveland Indians 13th-round draft pick, has been promoted from Class-A Kinston to the Indians’ affiliate at Akron-Canton in the double-A Eastern League. Soliz batted .264 with three home runs and 19 runs batted in 51 games. He also played in the Carolina League all-star game for the Southern Division last month.

Quarterback David Guerra and lineman Marco Aguirre, who helped Garfield High to the Southeastern Conference title, will attend Mt. San Antonio College. Lineman Eddie Pasillas and linebacker Manuel Rodriguez of Garfield will play for Redlands, an NCAA Division III school.