Baldwin Makes Her Mark in 100 Meters

There’s another elite sprinter on the Southland track and field scene.

That was clear in the 13th Mission Viejo Trabuco Hills Invitational on Saturday when senior Jasmine Baldwin of La Puente Bishop Amat upset Shalonda Solomon of Long Beach Poly to win the girls’ 100 meters in 11.60 seconds.

Solomon was the No. 2-ranked girls’ 100- and 200-meter sprinter in the U.S. last year behind Allyson Felix of North Hills Los Angeles Baptist, but Baldwin edged her in a photo finish as both were credited with the fastest time in the state this year.

Solomon, who has signed a letter of intent with South Carolina, later scored a decisive victory over Baldwin in the 200 by running a meet-record 23.70 to Baldwin’s 24.69. But the sight of Baldwin running stride for stride with Solomon in the 100 brought the crowd to its feet.

“I didn’t expect to beat her,” said Baldwin, who ran 11.85 in the 100 for the Southern California Cheetahs club team last summer but did not compete at the high school level the previous two years while living in a group home. “I just had to go out there and do my best and that’s about it.”

Junior Brandon Bethke of Lake Forest El Toro also turned in a yearly state-leading mark when he won the boys’ 1,600 meters in a career-best 4:10.69.

-- John Ortega

Long Beach Wilson, running against some of the best teams in the nation at the Texas Relays in Austin, put on a dominating performance, winning the 400 relay in 44.93, the 800 relay in 1:35.22 and the 1,600 relay in 3:40.91.

The Bruins’ time in the 400 relay makes them the fourth-fastest team in history with the sixth-fastest time and their 800 relay time is the third fastest ever run.

Senior Carol Rodriguez, junior Tiana Hood and freshman Ebony Collins were on both relays with sophomore DeAna Carson on the 400 relay and Danielle Eichelberger on the 800 relay.

On Friday, Wilson won the 3,200 relay.

Softball

On the strength of a run-scoring triple by Ashlyn Watson, Garden Grove Pacifica defeated Anaheim Canyon, 1-0, to win the Santa Ana Foothill Roundtable Invitational at Hillview School.

Pacifica (13-2), ranked second in the Southland, emerged from eight teams, six of whom were ranked by The Times.

Junior Brittany Weil (10-2) outdueled Canyon’s Lisa Geer (8-1), allowing two hits to Geer’s three. Weil struck out five, and got the run she needed in the sixth inning when Crystal Vieyra got aboard on one of Canyon’s four errors.

Watson hit a long fly off the center field fence, Canyon outfielders collided going for it, and Vieyra scored easily.

Canyon (13-5) is ranked fourth after beating No. 5 Norco, 1-0, earlier. Pacifica defeated No. 18 Foothill, 5-0, to reach the title game.

-- Martin Henderson

Boys’ Golf

Anaheim Esperanza could find itself unseating two-time tournament champion Murrieta Valley when the two take to the links Monday in the Corona Santiago Invitational at Eagle Glen Golf Club in Corona.

This year’s tournament will boast its most competitive field to date, Santiago Coach John Lane said, with newcomers Santa Ana Mater Dei, Redlands East Valley and Chino joining San Dimas, Corona, Corona Centennial, Long Beach Millikan, Upland, Chino Hills Ayala, Apple Valley Granite Hills, Phelan Serrano and Wildomar Temescal Canyon.

Esperanza (10-2, 2-0) most recently posted a 185-191 Sunset League victory over Huntington Beach (9-2, 1-1), ranked No. 4 in the Southland by The Times, at Yorba Linda Country Club on Tuesday.

Temescal Canyon could also provide some competition for Murrieta Valley after losing by only five strokes, 196-201, to the defending Southwestern League champions Thursday, at the SCGA Members Club in Murrieta.

-- Rafer Weigel

Football

Jeoff Meek has been hired as football coach at Santa Ana Saddleback. Meek, son of former Anaheim Esperanza coach Gary Meek, was an assistant at Esperanza for 10 years and an assistant at El Modena for the last three. He replaced Jerry Witte, who retired after 25 seasons.