Burroughs wins its pool in El Segundo...

Burroughs wins its pool in El Segundo Tourney

The Burroughs High baseball team has gotten off to a great start

in Pool B of the Gold Division in the El Segundo Tournament. The

Indians won all three games and will face Arcadia on Thursday at a

time and place to be determined in the tournament’s semifinals.

The Indians opened the tourney with a 1-0 victory against Lynwood

on Friday. Mike Diaz went the distance, pitching a two-hitter and

striking out 13.

Kyle Williams had the game-winning hit, a two-out single in the

bottom of the seventh.

On Saturday, Burroughs defeated Redondo, 6-5. Josh Campbell earned

the win and Williams and Diaz delivered the offensive punch, each

collecting two run doubles in the fourth inning.

On Monday, the Indians routed Fremont, 16-1, in a game that was

called after five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule. Brent

Fekety earned the win, and Diazk, Bryan Sheehey, Zack LeMaster and

Williams all had good days with the bat.

Providence volleyball tourney begins today

Over the past nine years, the Providence High boys’ volleyball

tournament has established itself as one of the best, if not the

premier small-school showcase, in Southern California.

But even with the departure of Village Christian -- the top-ranked

team in CIF Southern Section Division IV -- Pioneer Coach Andrew

Bencze still thinks the 10th annual installment of the tournament --

which kicks off today -- could be the best yet.

With four of the top five teams returning from last year’s event

and all 32 matches scheduled to take place in the school’s 9,800

square-foot gymnasium -- the featured attraction inside the Fritz B.

Burns Student Activity Center -- it’s easy to see why the

coach/athletic director is so optimistic.

“It’s just a better atmosphere because for the first time you’re

going to have all 16 teams on campus,” said Bencze, whose squad (2-1)

advanced to the tournament final the past two years -- losing to

Village Christian both times -- and last won it in 1997.

“Watching other teams play can only make the kids better. When you

have the opportunity to see big-time [matches], that’s where you want

to be.”

The Pioneers’ road to a potential third straight appearance in the

final begins at 4:45 p.m. today against Ribet Academy. Providence

could earn a potential quarterfinal matchup with its junior varsity

team, which meets Santa Clarita Christian at 3:30 p.m. today.

Bellarmine-Jefferson is also in Providence’s half of the bracket,

as the Guards meet Armenian General Benevolent Union at 6 tonight in

their opener.

The four-day tournament -- which concludes with Saturday’s

championship match at 8 p.m. -- follows a best two-of-three format

the first three days and a best three of five on the final day of

competition.

Other teams competing include L.A. Cathedral, Flintridge Prep,

L.A. Windward and Pasadena La Salle.