Photos by Sandra Hsieh
Tennis:
Today marked the conclusion of the Coastal League Individuals Tournament, a tournament each league in the Southland runs during this week.
The top two singles players and doubles teams in each league will represent their respective leagues in the CIF-SS Individuals Sectionals Tournament next month – the largest tournament of its kind in the nation.
Third place finishers will serve as the alternates for their league, if one of the top two are unable to play.
Though not considered in the top tier of league players entering the tournament, despite owning Maranatha’s best singles record, Reggie Park surprised the rest of the league’s players and coaches with his focus, tenacity, clutch play, and composure during the two-day tournament, inserting himself into that top tier.
During yesterday’s quarterfinals match, he upset the No. 4 seed, Donavan Thompkins (Wildwood), in the third set super tie-breaker, 4-2, 1-4, 10-6 to advance to today’s semifinals against the undefeated top seed, Collin Chen (Geffen Academy/UCLA).
Thompkins defeated Park earlier this season in their only contest.
Chen not only ended up winning the tournament, but only surrendered two total games the entire tournament.
One of those games was to Park.
In the match for 3rd place, Park faced No. 2 seed, Dylan Holyoak (Geffen), who had never lost to Park.
The first set looked familiar, as Holyoak prevailed, 6-1.
Park responded in the 2nd set, however, winning 6-2, and then prevailing in the 3rd set tie-breaker, 10-6, to secure 3rd place.
Today’s result is even more impressive, considering that Park just started playing tennis two seasons ago, alternating between the No. 3 doubles slot and coming off the bench.
Deciding that tennis would be his sport, he dedicated himself to improving.
Last season, he vaulted to the No. 1 doubles position, ending as the Individuals tournament runner-up (along with partner, Matt Yip), while upsetting the No. 2 seed from Geffen Academy/UCLA along the way.
This year’s move to the singles lineup was a big step forward for Park, who has made big strides at his new position, as is evidenced by this week’s results.
Fellow singles player, Cherif Sauma, as well as doubles team, Nate Schumann/Russell Sze also had strong showings this week, with each coming within a third set tie-breaker of joining Park in today’s semifinals.
Sauma lost his quarterfinals match, 1-4, 5-4(3), 7-10 to the eventual singles runner-up, while Schumann/Sze lost theirs, 4-1, 0-4, 4-10 to the eventual 3rd place finisher.
The Minutemen hope to ride the momentum it garnered at the tournament into next week’s first round CIF-SS team playoff match.
Division placement and first round opponents will be released on Saturday, May 2.
Photos by Sandra Hsieh Tennis: Today marked the conclusion of the Coastal League Individuals Tournament, a tournament each league in the Southland runs during this week. The top two singles players and doubles teams in each league will represent their respective leagues in the CIF-SS Individuals Sectionals Tournament next month – the largest tournament of […]
Photos by Conrad Hunziker III (https://www.instagram.com/anamorph.sports.photos/) Baseball: Muir accomplished four things on Thursday. The Mustangs secured a 10-2 victory at Pasadena. They swept their rivals at PHS. MHS secured the No. 4 seed out of the Pacific League. And they extended their current win streak to 11 games. Muir out-hit Pasadena, 14-5. Noah Hunziker went […]
Baseball: Maranatha just finished the month of April 12-0 and they secured an eighth consecutive Olympic League championship. Two days after dropping a 19-6 beatdown on their visitors from Valley Christian, the Minutemen claimed a 13-1 victory at VCHS in Cerritos. MHS has one more Olympic game left, as they host Valley Christian on Friday. […]
Softball: San Dimas kept its playoff hopes alive thanks to a 16-6 Hacienda League victory at South Hills in five innings. The Saints out-hit the Huskies, 14-5, and they scored 14 runs in the top of the fourth inning. Parker Milton was roughed up for six runs on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings. Milton […]
College Baseball: Citrus College will host Pasadena and Cypress in the first round of the 3C2A playoffs starting on Friday morning. The three-day event runs through Sunday, and it features a double-elimination format. PCC and Cypress meet up on Friday morning at 11 am. The loser of that game battles Citrus at 3. On paper, […]
Volleyball: Marshall opened the CIF-SS Division 7 playoffs with a five-set victory over their visitors from La Mirada. The Eagles won by scores of 25-19, 21-25, 27-25, 19-25 and 19-17. Marshall Becker led the way with 16 kills. David Amador provided 30 digs. And Jensen Myers chipped in with nine kills. Up next: The Eagles […]
Softball: Bonita pounded out an 11-3 victory at Walnut. The Lady Bearcats out-hit the Mustangs, 11-3, including a 5-2 advantage in extra-base hits. Trailing 1-0, BHS scored nine runs in the top of the third inning. Aubrey Birtness went the distance and allowed 11 runs (six earned) on 10 hits and three hit batters. Birtness […]
Softball: Glendora took one more step towards securing the Palomares League’s No. 2 playoff seed. The Tartans dominated their way to a 12-1 victory over Claremont in five innings. Gianna Messick went all five innings, and she allowed one run on four hits. Messick didn’t issue a walk and registered four strikeouts. Danni Stanton went […]
Baseball: After starting Palomares League play 1-5, the Walnut baseball program enters the final game of the 2026 season just one-game back of Glendora for second place. Dylan Nunez tossed a four-hit shutout in the Mustangs’ 2-0 victory over their visitors from Diamond Bar. Nunez scattered four hits. He issued one walk and registered eight […]
