by Christopher Mohr

 May 7, 2010 (Spring Valley) - Micherie Koria hit a grounder in the top of the eighth, driving home what proved to be the winning run in West Hills' 2-1 victory at Steele Canyon High School Friday afternoon. Pitching and defense dominated this game, making runs hard to come by and the slightest sign of offense a dramatic event.

Both starting pitchers, Noelle Johnson for West Hills, and Lorena Klopp for Steele Canyon, each threw complete games while dominating opposing hitters. Neither pitcher faced more than five batters in any inning.

May 1, 2010 (La Mesa) -- Three East County youngsters are going to Akron, Ohio, this July to compete in the National All-American Soap Box Derby. They will be winners of their divisions in the 8th Annual Drew Ford-Kiwanis Club of La Mesa Soap Box Derby. Who will they be?

That won’t be known until race day, Saturday, May 22, on Junior High Drive adjacent to La Mesa Middle School.

Proceeds to benefit San Diego Senior Olympics

by Christopher Mohr

April 7, 2010 (San Diego) - The CitySolve Urban Race series comes to San Diego on Saturday, April 24 at noon. The event is a scavenger hunt where participants, who are competing on teams, navigate the course by foot or public transportation while searching for clues and completing challenges along the way. It is a mini version of television's The Amazing Race competition, offering participants a unique perspective of the city that they likely would not see otherwise.

The top 25 teams are eligible to compete in the national championship in New Orleans on October 30. Of these 25 teams, the top three teams get free entry to the national championship, while the top team wins $300.

April 2, 2010 (San Diego) – San Diego State University’s Aztecs suffered defeat to the Horned Frogs of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth last night, where TCU scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat the 11th-ranked Aztecs’ 4-1.

by Christopher Mohr

(El Cajon) March 18 - It was as if fans of El Cajon Foothills Christian High School boys basketball team had found the perfect wave, riding on the performances of seniors Troy Leaf, Kalob Hatcher and Jvonte Brooks. As anyone from California knows, waves don't last forever; you enjoy the ride while it lasts.

The Knights' wave crashed with their 78-73 overtime loss last Saturday night to the visiting Wildcats of Windward High School from West Los Angeles. The two teams faced off in a Division V state playoff game at Granite Hills High School. Only six weeks ago, the they both played each other on February 6 at the same location. That game was a high scoring thriller with the Knights winning 87-86.

by Christopher Mohr

(San Diego) March 11 - If you like to watch basketball played above the rim, you would have enjoyed the matchup between the Hornets of Lincoln High School and the Cardinals of Hoover High School for the Division II section championship at Jenny Craig Pavilion Friday night. This battle between schools named after past U.S. presidents was a game that local high school hoops fans could not afford to miss.

Both teams' lineups featured athletic players that did not know the meaning of the term, 'vertically challenged'. Lincoln's starting lineup had an average height of 6'5", including 6'10" center Nathan Maxey. Hoover's lineup although not as tall, included 6'9" Angelo Chol.

by Christopher Mohr

(San Diego) March 5 - The Lady Wolfpack of West Hills High School captured their second straight girls Division II sectional basketball title Friday night with a 40-25 win over the Lady Wolverines from Westview High School (Rancho Penasquitos). The two teams faced off at the Jenny Craig Pavilion on the campus of USD, the site of all CIF San Diego Section championship basketball games throughout the weekend.

It became clear quickly that this was not going to be Westview's day when West Hills already had a double-digit lead before the Lady Wolverines could even get on the scoreboard. West Hills' stingy defense kept Westview in check as the Lady Wolverines were unable to generate much on offense or recover from the Lady Wolfpack's initial scoring surge. West Hills maintained their double-digit lead with a commanding 30-13 lead at halftime.

March 6, 2010 (Otay) – Approximately 3,000 rider have registered for the Gran Fondo cycling event, which starts tomorrow at 7 a.m. in downtown’s Little Italy with three routes. The longest route—a grueling 101 miles--heads into East County along Honey Springs and Otay Lakes roads. Motorists are advised to consider alternate routes.

by Christopher Mohr

(San Diego) February 19 - A.J. Holloway drained a 16-foot jumper with five seconds left in the fourth quarter to give the host Marauders of Mira Mesa High School a thrilling, come from behind 46-45 upset win over the visiting Tigers of Morse High School Friday night. The shot capped off an incredible 17-4 run in the fourth quarter by the Marauders, who found themselves down 41-29 at the end of the third quarter.

Holloway described his game-winning shot: "When I came in the game, I told coach, 'I feel it! I feel it!' Coach put me in the game last second, had a great pass from my point guard, Jeff Bradley, I felt the shot, got underneath it, nothing but nylon!"

by Christopher Mohr

February 14, 2010 (Coronado) - The Christian High School Patriots boys basketball team from El Cajon learned quickly in Friday night's game that they would not get the same hospitable treatment that many visitors to the island receive.

The Islanders of Coronado High School, unlike their counterparts at the local hotels and resorts, were not very nice hosts and established early that this game would be physical and even bruising at times. Both teams combined for an unusually high total of 36 fouls. It was the kind of treatment that one might expect from the top two rivals of the Central League.