(East Los Angeles, CA)—The greatly welcomed change in seasons has arrived and coupled with the return of Daylight Savings Time, we now bring you our Spring Sports Newsletter of Community sporting events on as many levels as we can gather all pertinent information. In this posting we’re going to present a preview of the world-renowned Skechers Performance L.A. Marathon. In addition, we’ll offer a brief review of several events that we covered, some breaking and/or trending news items, plus a few more back-logged stories that we have not yet published. We greatly thank you for your patience and for your loyal following.
The 2019 Skechers Performance L.A. Marathon is set to spring into action this Sunday, March 24th as tens of thousands of runners from Los Angeles, Southern California, our nation and the world descend on the City of Angels to compete in one of the most elite marathons in the world. To learn more about this event, we encourage you to click here. Runners will assemble at 6:30 AM at Dodger Stadium and continue on course for the 26.2 miles to the finish line at the 
iconic Santa Monica pier. We have information that a small contingent of new marathoners representing the Boyle Heights Bridge Runners will take part. And, prior to this annual, exciting, and challenging L.A. Marathon, local organizers of the Crash Ride, and all interested riders, will assemble for their bike ride/tour, at 3:00 AM at Tang’s Donut Shop, 4341 Sunset Blvd., (now closed), located in East Hollywood, with roll-out set for 4:00 AM. Over a thousand cyclists are expected to turn out and it will be the best way to cycle from one end of the city to the other with absolutely no cars on the road. Read more by going to m.facebook.com/events
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We begin with the (27-7) ELAC Lady Huskies Basketball team. Congrats to Head Coach Bruce Turner, his team, and his coaching staff for another successful season as they returned to the CCCAA’s Elite Eight. However, in a very disappointing performance, they lost to Merced College by a final score of (89-74). On a most significant academic mention, a special acknowledgement goes to student-athlete, SO/#12 Mercedes Ortiz/Garfield HS, who was honored with an Academic Excellence Award by the CCCAA during its annual Pre-State Tournament, “Banquet of Champions,” for maintaining an overall 3.5 GPA. Knowing that when one season ends, another immediately begins, so thusly, in a just a few more weeks, Head Coach Bruce Turner, will begin his preparation for the Winter start of the 2019-2020 season as the always evolving recruitment efforts start to gather high gear. In a season-ending Press Release issued by the CCCAA Sports Information Association (SIA), the Lady Huskies placed #7 in the Final State “Top 20” Women’s Basketball Rankings. Diablo Valley College, this year’s State Champion, earned the #1 spot. Photo Credits: (Banquet) East L.A. College Women’s Basketball; & (Game) Erik Sarni, East Side Media
And by all means, we acknowledge and congratulate Huskies’ Head Coach, John Mosley 
and his outstanding Men’s Basketball program, for another highly productive and successful season by taking the top spot with a (9-1) record in the always competitive South Coast Conference. They also earned a #2 seed in the State Tournament. Unfortunately, and in an untimely manner, they were upset at home by the #11 seed Santa Monica Corsairs (63-60) in their 2nd round CCCAA playoff game. The Huskies finished the season with an overall record of (25-4). The entire Santa Monica College playoff game will appear in our “play-by-play” format our site shortly. Photo Credits: (Coach Mosley Instructing Players), Mario Villegas; & (Game Action), Tadzio Garcia, Former ELAC Athletic Dept. Contributor
We take this time to publicly thank and salute MLB’s Los Angeles Angels reliever, former Cal State Fullerton standout, and Ramona Gardens native-son, Noé Ramirez, for his generous gift of holding a FREE youth clinic for boys and girls, ages 7-12. Noe is currently an active roster player starting his 2nd full season with the club. The clinic was held at the Boys & Girls Club of Ramona Gardens just prior to the start of his reporting to the 2019 season’s Spring Training camp in late January. More than 75 kids were beneficiaries of his act of kindness. All participants received basic training tips from Noé, several of his designated baseball friends, and his professional colleagues. For their day’s efforts, all kids were treated to a FREE lunch. The Ramirez Family and the Boys & Girls Club staff played significant roles in making this much-appreciated youth sporting event happen for the community. Congrats to ALL for making this event a huge community success!
Photo Gallery: Erik Sarni, East L.A. Sports Scene Productions
The CIF/L.A. City Section announces the All-City Boys & Girls 
Basketball Teams. To see the full slate of players chosen by their playing Division, click here. The following Girls’ players selected from the Eastern League and representing Roosevelt, in Division 2, were Seniors, #42 Kimberly Mancillas (left photo) and#33 Arlyn Romero (right photo). Both student athletes played instrumental roles in helping the Lady Riders earn their trip to the City Section’s Division 2 Semi-Final game where they lost an extremely close game to Dorsey. And, now speaking of Garfield, although their playoff appearance was short-lived, they lost in the Division 1 first round to Venice, their selected All-City Division 1 player, was SO/Point Guard/Citlali Guardado. She led her team to 2nd place in the Eastern League as the Lady Bulldogs compiled a (10-2) record, (16-11) overall. Photo Credits: Bob Bernal, Jr./East Side Media
The UCLA Bruins softball team, currently ranked #1 in the country is once again being led by their All PAC-12 and All-American Pitcher/1B, #00 Rachel Garcia. Her dazzling pitching exploits and accomplishments continue to raise eyebrows all over the nation as the Bruins proceed through their season. Along with her Pac-12 Conference Player and Pitcher of the Week honors, redshirt junior Rachel Garcia on Tuesday was also named National Player of the Week by both the NFCA and USA Softball. To read more about this outstanding student-athlete, click here. Photo Credit: UCLA Athletic Dept.
