Close-Knit Wilson Is Serving Early Notice

The scouting report on Hacienda Heights Wilson High was simple. It was also dead-on: Well-rounded, with solid pitching and catching.

The Wildcats opened their season at the San Dimas tournament and walked away with the championship, beating Rancho Cucamonga, 3-0, in the final Saturday, and this week find themselves ranked No. 2 by The Times.

Pitcher Jamee Juarez began the season with a three-hitter, two-hitter and one-hitter, and during the tournament, she struck out 43 in 28 innings--15 against Rancho Cucamonga.

There has been a new hero on offense every game. Yvette Pena had two runs batted in, providing the game-winning runs in a 4-1 victory over West Covina; Jenny Chacon and Juarez each had two RBIs in a 10-4 victory over West Covina; Jessica DeGiacomo drove in the winning run in the fifth inning of a 3-0 victory over Rowland, and Iris Gonzalez knocked in the winning run in the seventh inning in a 1-0 victory over Pomona Catholic.

Wilson is one team that can spread the wealth.

“Everyone’s made some big contributions,” Coach Walt Martin said. “Even our 9-10-11 players, who are alternating playing time, are doing a good job.”

Martin, who coached baseball nearly 30 years at Wilson and is in his 11th season with the softball team, admits he already has a soft spot for this group.

“This is a special team,” said Martin, who guided Wilson to the Southern Section Division III title in 2000. “Of the 11 girls, four are seniors, and they’re neat kids. Whatever we ask them to do--pick up rocks, pick up paper, rake the field--they do it. I think maybe that’s unusual for a team. You always hear a little bit of grumbling, but these [players] have a good work ethic....

“They’re all kind of best friends. They stick up for each other wherever they are, on campus, in the community, at games.”

Wilson should be better than last season’s team. Second baseman Tiffanie Wedell, one of four seniors, has recovered from a knee injury that hobbled her most of last season, and senior center fielder Annette Zamarripa has played a valuable leadership role.

It’s a collection of players that could be destined to repeat the title the school won two years ago. At least Martin likes to think so.

“We have good athletes ... and they can all play,” he said. “And they get along with each other. At times, I think, they get along with each other too well. It’s fun to be around.”

Bring it on: Foothill opened the season ranked No. 1 by The Times and No. 2 in the state. Along with some of the other top teams in the country, Foothill begins play Thursday in the Ramada Express Best of the West tournament at Bullhead City, Ariz.

Foothill has shown its mettle in the early going. The Knights defeated Fresno Bullard, 17-0, in their opener, and followed with a doubleheader sweep of Clovis the next day. Bullard was ranked No. 4 in the state and Clovis was No. 5. The top-ranked team in the state is Fairfield.

Most recently, Foothill played host to Lakewood, also in The Times’ top 25, and won, 3-1 and 6-0, behind two new pitchers, senior Alison Yin, a transfer from Pasadena Westridge, and freshman Lori Gilbert.

In its first three games, Foothill scored 15 runs in its final at-bat.

“Our history is that we never score at the end,” Coach Joe Gonzalez said. “We get ahead, and then play really good defense. But it’s been an explosion.”

Explosions, implosions: Matching Foothill in the good start department is Newhall Hart, which is in a rebuilding year but opened its season by winning its own tournament. Unranked in the preseason, Hart debuts at No. 6 in this week’s Times’ rankings after beating Whittier California.

Conversely, Esperanza dropped from fifth to 24th after losing its first three games--to No. 23 Capistrano Valley, No. 8 Anaheim Canyon and Dana Hills.

Not exactly what was expected of the team that played for last season’s Southern Section Division I championship.

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The Times’ Rankings

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