University of Antelope Valley underdogs go to World Series
New softball team beats out USC and UCLA
LANCASTER, Calif.—It’s only been September since the women’s softball team of the University of Antelope Valley has been practicing together. But even in that short time, they’ve seen some lows but also some unexpected victories.
The new program at the growing college has really made an impact in the local athletics world. They’ve beaten out top schools like USC and UCLA to take the Southern Pacific Conference title. The Pioneers, as they’re called, finished up the season with a 12-0 record. Now the ladies are headed to the National Club Softball Association World Series in Columbus, Ga. which begins April 14.
“I’ve never been to anything like this,” said Pioneer outfielder Laurisha ‘Bolt’ Hollenshed. “I’m just really excited about it, and it’s a new opportunity for me.”
Hollenshed is new to the university. She actually stumbled upon tryouts for the team, but never heard about the school before. So she enrolled and is majoring in health and fitness. The sophomore admits the journey to success for her team has not been easy.
“It has been a challenge. We have been practicing since September with non-stop, two-a-days,” she shared. “Airforce was the first team we played. We lost. We weren’t used to each other then. But over the months, we got to know each other.”
With a little growth, hard work and sisterhood, the ladies have made it to a new level in their athletic career and season.
The Pioneers will travel to Columbus, where they will begin with scrimmages against Miami University, Florida State University, and the Naval Academy. Things will begin to heat up the following day, as the Pioneers take on the 10-2 Florida State Seminoles in a double-elimination series to kick-off their World Series bid.
The UAV Pioneers are currently fundraising for their trip, hosting a talent show at the Park View Campus Gym on Saturday at 6 p.m. It is open to the public, with a $5 donation at the door.
The team will also be selling local business discount cards for $10. On Monday, dine at the Lancaster Texas Cattle Company and let them know that you are there to support the Pioneers Softball Team. A percentage of sales will go toward funding their trip. For more information, contact Coach Sarah Adams at sarah.adams@uav.edu.
LOS ANGLES, Calif. — In a major case of academic poaching involving crosstown rivals, USC has lured away two prominent neuroscientists from UCLA with a promise to expand their internationally renowned lab, which uses brain imaging techniques to study Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, autism and other disorders, it was reported today.
Another team will earn an automatic bid into the NCAA men’s basketball tournament with a conference tournament victory Wednesday.
Bucknell and Lafayette were scheduled to meet in the Patriot League final at 7:30 p.m. EST.
The winner will join the teams that have already automatically qualified for the NCAA field:
• Belmont (Ohio Valley Conference)
• Creighton (Missouri Valley)
• Davidson (Southern)
• Florida Gulf Coast (Atlantic Sun)
• Gonzaga (West Coast)
• Harvard (Ivy League)
LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Jim Buck, who coached at Van Nuys High School for 33 years, will receive a lifetime achievement award today at a luncheon held in conjunction with the 85th annual Farmers Classic men’s tennis tournament at the Los Angeles Tennis Center at UCLA.
Although he retired from Van Nuys High School in 1998, Buck is a volunteer assistant coach with the USC women’s tennis team and is active in junior tennis in Southern California.
The Passion for Christ Movement (P4CM) is a grassroots ministry dedicated to helping Los Angeles County at-risk youth develop life skills and spiritual direction. The members of the movement are concerned with impacting the present generation to create a better future, and they offer their services to the community voluntarily.
P4CM has shared the gospel with people all over the world through their Internet testimonials and Ex-shirt campaign which is still going.
Ronald L. Brown, a graduate of Compton’s Centennial High School, the University of Southern California and the UCLA School of Law, became the first African American appointed to the office of Los Angeles County public defender on Tuesday. Brown has been with the agency since his admission to practice law in 1981. According to the new public defender, he was raised on welfare in Watts and Compton. He will supervise more than 700 attorneys in his new post, and in his former position as assistant public defender was responsible for hiring more than 300 of them.
