los angeles times

High school baseball and softball: Friday’s scores

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL, SOFTBALL SCORES

Friday’s Results

BASEBALL

CITY SECTION

Angelou 16, West Adams 1

Bell 1, LA Roosevelt 0

Birmingham 2, Chatsworth 0

Diego Rivera 22, Manual Arts 3

El Camino Real 5, Taft 3

Grant 4, VAAS 3

LACES 7, LA Hamilton 1

LA Marshall 10, Bravo 1

LA University 10, Westchester 0

LA Wilson 7, Eagle Rock 1

Monroe 11, Arleta 0

Northridge Academy 6, AMIT 3

Panorama 8, Reseda 6

San Pedro 5, Rancho Dominguez 2

Smidt Tech 12, Rise Kohyang 1

SOCES 16, Canoga Park 1

South East 8, Huntington Park 2

Venice 18, Fairfax 1

SOUTHERN SECTION

AAE 22, Lucerne Valley 1

Alhambra 13, San Gabriel 0

Alta Loma 12, Chaffey 0

Aliso Niguel 7, Capistrano Valley 4

Anaheim 8, Saddleback 6

Anaheim Canyon 1, Garden Grove Pacifica 0

Arlington 8, Paloma Valley 1

Artesia 16, Whitney 0

Azusa 17, Duarte 0

Banning 5, Desert Mirage 2

Bishop Amat 13, Gardena Serra 3

Burbank Burroughs 2, Arcadia 1

Cantwell-Sacred Heart 15, Pasadena Poly 5

Canyon Springs 5, Vista del Lago 1

Carpinteria 4, Santa Paula 2

Century 4, Loara 3

Cerritos 18, Pioneer 1

Chaparral 8, Murrieta Valley 4

Charter Oak 12, Northview 6

CIMSA 17, Victor Valley Christian 4

Claremont 5, Bonita 2

Coastal Christian 3, Valley Christian Academy 2

Corona 9, Corona Centennial 3

Corona Santiago 3, Riverside King 0

Covina 8, West Covina 4

Crossroads Christian 23, Grove School 2

Cypress 2, El Dorado 0

Desert Hot Springs 19, Cathedral City 13

Edgewood 10, La Puente 0

El Segundo 10, North Torrance 7

El Toro 8, San Juan Hills 3

Etiwanda 13, Damien 1

Gabrielino 26, El Monte 3

Ganesha 26, Pomona 0

Garden Grove 7, Placentia Valencia 3

Garden Grove Santiago 19, Western 12

Glendora 12, Diamond Bar 0

Golden Valley 9, Canyon Country Canyon 4

Hacienda Heights Wilson 8, Rowland 5

Harvard-Westlake 10, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 4

Hemet 3, Riverside North 0

Hesperia Christian 9, Big Bear 5

Highland 9, Eastside 0

Huntington Beach 11, Fountain Valley 1

Indian Springs 7, Pacific 3

Irvine 7, Sage Hill 1

Kaiser 3, Arrowhead Christian 0

Katella 9, Laguna Hils 3

La Canada 5, Temple City 1

Laguna Beach 10, Portola 1

Lakewood 7, Long Beach Cabrillo 3

La Mirada 9, Warren 1

Lancaster 11, Littlerock 2

La Serna 11, California 2

Liberty 9, Moreno Valley 8

Linfield Christian 9, Woodcrest Christian 6

Long Beach Wilson 5, Compton 0

Los Alamitos 4, Corona del Mar 1

Los Osos 7, Chino Hills 6

Magnolia 6, Santa Ana Valley 1

Malibu 7, Channel Islands 2

Maranatha 33, Village Christian 2

Marina 6, Edison 4

Mary Star of the Sea 16, St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy 2

Miller 13, San Bernardino 1

Millikan 11, Long Beach Jordan 0

Mission Viejo 2, Beckman 0

Montebello 10, Bell Gardens 2

Mountain View 11, Arroyo 4

Muir 6, Hoover 2

Newbury Park 7, Agoura 2

New Roads 11, Lennox Academy 0

Norco 18, Eastvale Roosevelt 0

Nordhoff 2, Fillmore 1

Norte Vista 4, Rubidoux 2

Northwood 4, Irvine University 3

Norwalk 13, Dominguez 1

Oak Hills 7, Serrano 6

Oaks Christian 7, Thousand Oaks 6

Orange 16, Bolsa Grande 2

Oxford Academy 9, Glenn 1

Oxnard Pacifica 14, Ventura 12

Palmdale 13, Antelope Valley 3

Palos Verdes 3, Mira Costa 2

Paraclete 11, Bosco Tech 0

Paramount 16, Firebaugh 0

Pasadena 8, Glendale 0

Quartz Hill 8, Knight 1

Redondo Union 8, West Torrance 3

Ridgecrest Burroughs 2, Apple Valley 1

Rio Hondo Prep 4, Flintridge Prep 4

Rio Mesa 7, Buena 6

Riverside Poly 9, Heritage 0

Rosemead 9, Pasadena Marshall 6

Salesian 13, Verbum Dei 0

San Marcos 8, Oxnard 5

Santa Ana 9, Westminster 4

Santa Rosa Academy 15, San Jacinto Leadership 0

Saugus 8, Hart 6

Savanna 3, Estancia 1

Schurr 14, Mark Keppel 11

Sierra Canyon 9, St. Francis 2

Simi Valley 4, Moorpark 3

Sonora 3, Sunny Hills 2

South Torrance 10, Santa Monica 1

St. Anthony 7, Cathedral 6

St. John Bosco 6, Santa Margarita 1

Sultana 11, Hesperia 7

Temecula Prep 7, Bethel Christian 6

Temecula Valley 9, Great Oak 5

Trabuco Hills 5, Dana Hills 2

Tustin 16, Segerstrom 5

University Prep 8, Excelsior Charter 4

Upland 6, Rancho Cucamonga 4

Valencia 6, West Ranch 0

Valley View 17, Lakeside 7

Vasquez 10, Valley Torah 3

Viewpoint 15, Army-Navy 2

Vista Murrieta 6, Murrieta Mesa 2

Western Christian 14, Webb 2

Westlake 9, Calabasas 6

Whittier 3, El Rancho 1

Woodbridge 15, St. Margaret’s 5

Yorba Linda 8, Troy 5

INTERSECTIONAL

Bishop Diego 10, Dunn 7

SLOCA 13, Shandon 1

SOFTBALL

CITY SECTION

Animo Venice 14, Animo Watts 4

Arleta 10, Sun Valley Poly 0

Chatsworth 16, Cleveland 1

Downtown Magnets 19, Animo Bunche 18

Eagle Rock 7, LA Wilson 1

El Camino Real 14, Taft 2

Granada Hills 6, Birmingham 2

Granada Hills Kennedy 8, Chavez 6

Harbor Teacher 13, Gardena 2

Jefferson 19, West Adams 17

LA Hamilton 20, Fairfax 0

LA Marshall 7, Bravo 2

Lincoln 15, Franklin 8

Maywood Academy 18, Sotomayor 1

Maywood CES 24, Torres 23

Orthopaedic 14, Central City Value 4

Reseda 21, Monroe 3

San Fernando 8, Verdugo Hills 5

Triumph Charter 18, Sun Valley Magnet 8

Venice 10, LA University 0

Westchester 11, Palisades 10

SOUTHERN SECTION

AAE 10, Hesperia Christian 9

Anaheim 11, Los Amigos 2

Apple Valley 22, Serrano 2

Arrowhead Christian 1, Aquinas 0

Arroyo 23, Mountain View 3

Ayala 10, Bonita 8

Bethel Christian 15, Temecula Prep 2

Big Bear 25, Lucerne Valley 0

Bishop Montgomery 15, Long Beach Jordan 7

Bolsa Grande 26, Saddleback 5

Buena 9, Rio Mesa 8

Cathedral City 23, Desert Hot Springs 2

Charter Oak 22, Hacienda Heights Wilson 0

Colton 21, San Gorgonio 1

Corona Centennial 3, Corona Santiago 0

Costa Mesa 20, Godinez 7

Covina 14, Rowland 3

Duarte 21, Azusa 2

Edgewood 11, La Puente 0

El Monte 14, Gabrielino 6

Fullerton 10, Segerstrom 2

Ganesha 11, Pomona 0

Glendora 11, Walnut 0

Hemet 6, Paloma Valley 2

Heritage 13, Vista del Lago 10

Hesperia 12, Ridgerest Burroughs 4

Lakeside 16, Perris 0

Magnolia 31, Westminster La Quinta 14

Miller 10, San Bernardino 3

Monrovia 10, San Marino 0

Newbury Park 10, Fillmore 1

Nogales 12, Garey 10

Northview 8, West Covina 0

Oak Hills 13, Sultana 3

Ocean View 10, Santa Ana Calvary Chapel 9

Orange 14, Century 0

Orange Lutheran 7, Mater Dei 1

Oxnard 13, San Marcos 1

Palos Verdes 10, Peninsula 0

Pasadena Poly 18, Westridge 4

Placentia Valencia 11, Troy 0

Rancho Christian 7, Citrus Hill 0

Redondo Union 10, Mira Costa 0

Rio Hondo Prep 11, Chadwick 1

Riverside King 12, Eastvale Roosevelt 2

Riverside Poly 9, Riverside North 5

Rosemead 16, Pasadena Marshall 3

Rubidoux 16, Norte Vista 1

Santa Clara 13, Del Sol 0

Santa Margarita 4, JSerra 3

Santa Paula 8, Village Christian 6

Sierra Vista 10, Baldwin Park 0

Simi Valley 8, Royal 0

Temple City 11, South Pasadena 1

Torrance 5, South Torrance 2

Tustin 2, Laguna Hills 0

University Prep 17, Excelsior Charter 1

Valley View 18, Liberty 14

Ventura 11, Oxnard Pacifica 1

INTERSECTIONAL

LA Roosevelt 16, Culver City 15

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High school baseball and softball: Thursday’s scores

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL, SOFTBALL SCORES

Thursday’s Results

BASEBALL

CITY SECTION
Angelou 17, West Adams 6
Collins Family 26, Central City Value 1
Fremont 10, Port of Los Angeles 4
Granada Hills Kennedy 5, San Fernando 4
Hollywood 10, Los Angeles 2
King/Drew 13, Locke 0
LA Marshall 10, Bravo 0
Maywood CES 4, Torres 3
Sotomayor 11, Maywood Academy 0
Sun Valley Magnet 15, Valor Academy 1
Sun Valley Poly 3, North Hollywood 0
Sylmar 8, Verdugo Hills 4
Triumph Charter 25, Community Charter 8
Valley Oaks CES 9, Bert Corona 4

SOUTHERN SECTION
ACE 8, Silver Valley 5
Adelanto 5, Silverado 2
Agoura 4, Newbury Park 3
Anza Hamilton 11, Sherman Indian 1
Aquinas 10, Ontario Christian 0
Bloomington 2, Eisenhower 0
Buckley 6, YULA 0
Cajon 14, Redlands East Valley 0
Calvary Baptist 23, NSLA 0
Carter 10, Jurupa Hills 9
Castaic 5, Quartz Hill 4
Cerritos Valley Christian 6, Whittier Christian 1
Chaparral 3, Murrieta Valley 0
Chino 11, Chaffey 10
Citrus Valley 9, Redlands 5
Colton 6, Arroyo Valley 3
Corona del Mar 6, Los Alamitos 4
Desert Christian 12, PACS 11
Desert Christian Academy 12, SJDLCS 3
Elsinore 10, San Jacinto 0
Environmental Charter 12, Animo Leadership 7
Fontana 13, Rim of the World 0
Foothill Tech 9, Grace 0
Granite Hills 7, Victor Valley 6
Hillcrest 3, Citrus Hill 1
Indio 7, Yucca Valley 4
Kaiser 6, Rialto 1
La Quinta 3, Rancho Mirage 1
La Salle 10, Alhambra 0
Leuzinger 11, Hawthorne 0
Los Amigos 5, Rancho Alamitos 0
Maranatha 11, Village Christian 3
Milken 13, de Toledo 3
Montclair 5, Don Lugo 4
Norwalk 3, Long Beach Poly 2
Oaks Christian 19, Thousand Oaks 5
Ontario 4, Diamond Ranch 3
Orange County Pacifica Christian 1, Capistrano Valley Christian 5
Palm Desert 9, Shadow Hills 2
Palm Springs 13, Xavier Prep 1
Pasadena Poly 10, Chadwick 4
Royal 7, Camarillo 0
San Dimas 2, Los Altos 1
San Jacinto Valley Academy 2, Nuview Bridge 0
San Marino 15, South Pasadena 4
Santa Ana Foothill 4, Villa Park 3
Santa Fe 10, La Habra 3
Segerstrom 9, Godinez 5
South El Monte 21, El Monte 0
South Hills 3, Colony 0
St. Bernard 5, Culver City 3
St. Bonaventure 5, Buena 0
St. Monica 7, Bishop Montgomery 6
Summit 4, Grand Terrace 3
Temescal Canyon 10, West Valley 0
Torrance 4, Millikan 3
Trinity Classical Academy 5, Santa Clarita Christian 0
Twentynine Palms 6, Coachella Valley 4
United Christian Academy 10, California Lutheran 0
Vista Murrieta 7, Murrieta Mesa 2
Westlake 18, Calabasas 5
Yucaipa 5, Beaumont 2

INTERSECTIONAL
HMSA 15, Vistamar 11
Shalhevet 3, Ambassador 2

SOFTBALL

CITY SECTION
Alliance Levine 22, East College Prep 7
Bert Corona 28, Valor Academy 11
Carson 11, Wilmington Banning 0
Fremont d. Harbor Teacher, forfeit
Garfield 7, LA Marshall 6
Hollywood 35, RFK Community 1
Lakeview Charter 18, Discovery 17
LA Roosevelt 12, Bell 7
Legacy 15, South Gate 4
Narbonne 23, Gardena 1
Northridge Academy 20, Panorama 1
Port of Los Angeles 14, King/Drew 0
San Pedro 15, Rancho Dominguez 0
Smidt Tech d. Rose Kohyang, forfeit
SOCES 23, Grant 0
South East 13, Huntington Park 3
VAAS 17, Vaughn 16

SOUTHERN SECTION
Agoura 11, Thousand Oaks 10
Alemany 6, Flintridge Sacred Heart 0
Alhambra 33, San Gabriel 0
Anaheim Canyon 7, Cypress 1
Antelope Valley 15, Palmdale 4
Anza Hamilton 20, California Lutheran 9
Arroyo Valley 6, San Gorgonio 0
Beaumont 6, Redlands East Valley 5
Bellflower 9, Firebaugh 4
Bishop Amat 11, San Dimas 8
Buena Park 15, Westminster 6
California 15, El Rancho 0
Calvary Baptist 27, NSLA 0
Camarillo 4, Royal 0
Capistrano Valley 5, Mission Viejo 3
Cerritos Valley Christian 12, Maranatha 2
Chaffey 8, Chino 5
Channel Islands 24, Hueneme 17
Citrus Valley 4, Cajon 2
Colton 8, Summit 7
Crescenta Valley 6, Arcadia 1
CSDR 13, Sherman Indian 12
Don Lugo 12, Montclair 1
Edison 6, Newport Harbor 0
Elsinore 16, West Valley 1
El Toro 4, Beckman 3
Environmental Charter 32, Lennox Academy 23
Esperanza 11, Crean Lutheran 5
Etiwanda 12, Rancho Cucamonga 2
Fillmore 17, Nordhoff 0
Flintridge Prep 10, Mayfield 0
Garden Grove Pacifica 3, El Modena 0
Glendale 17, Hoover 2
Great Oak 12, Chaparral 2
Hart 14, Valencia 3
Highland 10, Eastside 0
HMSA 17, Animo Leadership 1
Huntington Beach 15, Corona del Mar 0
Indio 11, Yucca Valley 0
Irvine 6, Northwood 3
Jurupa Hills 16, Eisenhower 0
Kaiser 6, Rialto 1
La Mirada 2, Gahr 1
La Salle 11, Bishop Conaty-Loretto 0
La Serna 6, Santa Fe 3
Leuzinger 10, Hawthorne 8
Linfield Christian 8, Ontario Christian 0
Long Beach Wilson 23, Long Breach Cabrillo 1
Los Altos 5, Colony 1
Lynwood 22, Dominguez 8
Marina 3, Fountain Valley 0
Marymount 15, Immaculate Heart 5
Mary Star of the Sea 10, Cantwell-Sacred Heart 9
Millikan 6, Long Beach Poly 1
Muir 22, Pasadena 2
Murrieta Mesa 3, Temecula Valley 0
North Torrance 9, West Torrance 5
Oaks Christian 23, Calabasas 0
Ontario 10, Diamond Ranch 4
Paraclete 11, Bishop Montgomery 0
Paramount 8, Norwalk 1
Quartz Hill 13, Knight 2
Riverside Notre Dame 16, Fontana 5
Rosary Academy 2, Irvine University 1
Sacred Heart of Jesus 6, St. Genevieve 1
San Clemente 4, Tesoro 0
San Jacinto Valley Academy 23, Nuview Bridge 1
San Juan Hills 13, Dana Hills 3
Santa Ana Foothill 10, Trabuco Hills 5
Santa Paula 18, Carpinteria 0
Saugus 9, Canyon Country Canyon 1
Schurr 21, Montebello 0
Shadow Hills 14, Palm Desert 8
Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 7, Harvard-Westlake 4
Sierra Canyon 11, Louisville 0
Silverado 20, Adelanto 8
Simi Valley 4, Moorpark 1
Sonora 8, Brea Olinda 4
South El Monte 7, El Monte 1
South Hills 9, Alta Loma 4
St. Bonaventure 19, Bishop Diego 2
St. Monica 8, Ramona Convent 7
St. Paul 6, Lakewood St. Joseph 4
St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy 16, St. Mary’s Academy 4
Sunny Hills 9, Troy 2
Tahquitz 15, San Jacinto 12
Temecula Prep 18, California Military 0
Temescal Canyon 8, Ganesha 7
United Christian Academy 22, La Sierra Academy 2
Upland 5, Los Osos 1
Vasquez 15, Desert Christian 0
Victor Valley 9, Granite Hills 3
Viewpoint 10, Archer 0
Vista Murrieta 12, Murrieta Valley 10
Warren 7, Downey 0
Westlake 5, Newbury Park 2
West Ranch 19, Castaic 1
Whittier Christian 12, Heritage Christian 0
Windward 17, Oakwood 1
Yorba Linda 8, Villa Park 5
Yucaipa 14, Redlands 1

INTERSECTIONAL
Golden Valley 16, Van Nuys 6

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How to find L.A. hikes where spring is in full bloom

I’ve come to resent the frenzy around superblooms.

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Not because I don’t love seeing our hillsides blanketed with nature’s bounty, but because it misses the point that every wildflower that bursts out of the ground is its own sort of miracle. Have you ever slowed down on the trail just to stare at an individual California poppy and considered how in the world a seed that’s a fraction of an inch (1/20 to be exact-ish) became this bright orange delicate thing before you?

For me, each wildflower I spot on the trail is an opportunity to practice gratitude. I hope I can persuade you to consider the same.

With that same energy, I’d like to teach you how I find wildflowers and other plants I love, both as a hiker and outdoors journalist. Here is what I consider as I’m searching for the best spring hikes.

A large gnarled tree with huge brown branches with small green leaves over a dirt path.

A large oak tree provides shade over a trail in Franklin Canyon Park.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

1. Learn the landscapes

L.A. County is home to a multitude of diverse plant habitats, with each offering its own range of wildflowers, shrubs, trees and more. And often, these landscapes can be interspersed among each other.

Hikers around L.A. commonly encounter plant habitats and ecosystems that include:

  • Coastal sage scrub: Found at lower elevations (generally below 3,000 feet), this fire-adapted plant community often includes bright yellow bush sunflower, sticky monkey flower (orange blooms), deerweed (orange and yellow blooms) and fragrant California sagebrush and black sage, which features white and bluish blooms; this is a great plant habitat to hike when you want to really stop and smell things.
  • Chaparral: Often said to be the most extensive vegetation type in California, chaparral is found throughout Southern California’s mountain ranges up to about 5,000 feet, although it does grow higher; chaparral is a “continuous cover of low-growing shrubs creating a mosaic in shades of green,” according to research by the U.S. Forest Service; common flowering plants found in chaparral include woolly bluecurls, chamise (white flowers), ceanothus (shrubs with fragrant purple, white and sometimes pink blooms) and manzanitas.
  • Oak woodlands: A plant habitat often found in low- to mid-elevations (generally below 5,000 feet) in foothills and valleys, this ecosystem is “officially defined as an oak stand in which at least 10% of the land is covered by oaks and other species, mostly hardwoods,” writes author Kate Marianchild in “Secrets of the Oak Woodlands”; wildflowers that often grow here include California buttercup (yellow blooms), Collinsia heterophylla (purple and white blooms), hummingbird sage (super cool plant with magenta flowers) and more.
A coast live oak with a swing, a flowering golden yarrow and a Bush monkeyflower, sometimes called sticky monkey flower.

Several coast live oaks, including this one with a swing, live along the Gabrielino Trail, left. Top right, there are several native plants and wildflowers along the Gabrielino Trail, including golden yarrow. Bottom right, Bush monkey flower, sometimes called sticky monkey flower, is a native shrub found along the Gabrielino Trail.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

  • Riparian habitats: This is the term used to describe the lush landscape found around rivers, creeks and in moisture-rich canyons and includes riparian woodlands; it is less defined by elevation and more so is used to describe the life found around water. Wildflowers and plants that bloom include western columbine, scarlet monkey flower and miner’s lettuce (white and pale pink blooms). You can often also find California bay laurels, which have a zesty pungent smell (that not everyone loves).
    • Where to see it: Essentially anywhere along the 28.8-mile Gabrielino Trail, which runs parallel in several sections to the San Gabriel River and Arroyo Seco.
A funky short red plant pokes out of pine needles.

The snow plant (sarcodes sanguinea Torr.) is starting to come up around pine trees at the Chilao Picnic Area in the Angeles National Forest. It grows in the spring, after snow has melted, has no chlorophyll and gets its nutrition from fungi growing on conifer roots in the soil.

(Raul Roa / Los Angeles Times)

2. Go higher for late-season blooms

Thanks to our proximity to the San Gabriel Mountains, the wildflower season often extends into late spring and early summer.

In Angeles National Forest, you can easily hike above 5,000 feet and even farther into the sub-alpine regions where you’ll find mixed conifer forests and a range of wildflowers and other interesting plants. One of my favorites to spot is the snow plant, a funky red parasitic plant that “derives sustenance and nutrients from mycorrhizal fungi that attach to roots of trees,” according to the California Native Plant Society. Other blooms you might spot include various types of lupine, pumice alpine gold and some types of paintbrushes.

Grape soda lupine grows in Angeles National Forest, including here along the Cooper Canyon trail.

Grape soda lupine grows in Angeles National Forest, including here along the Cooper Canyon trail.

(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)

3. Determine whether an area has burned in recent years

Many of the most beloved areas of the Santa Monica and San Gabriel mountains have burned in recent years. The immediate aftermath is devastating to witness: blackened hillsides with shrubs and trees burned down to nubs and stumps.

But, as the ecosystem starts to heal, several wildflowers known as “fire followers” will start popping up.

“Often boasting beautiful blooms, some germinate only when their seeds are exposed to heat, while others take advantage of the charred, mineral-rich soil left behind, helping to secure the land and reduce erosion,” according to TreePeople.

I’ve found this to be true in areas that burned in the 2020 Bobcat fire, where trails burst with blooms from several types of lupine (including grape-soda lupine, my personal favorite), phacelias, including large flowered phacelia and caterpillar phacelia, and withered snapdragon.

A field of thick orange flowers.

California poppies bloom next to the California State Route 138 near the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Natural Reserve on March 12. The state’s wildflowers typically bloom from mid-March through April.

(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)

4. Check the data and help others do the same

Before heading out, I often head to iNaturalist, a citizen science app where users submit photos of animals, plants and other living organisms they observe. I will usually look at what other users have submitted in recent weeks. And on every hike, I typically submit at least 20 observations of wildflowers, lizards and trees I noticed. (As of today, I’ve submitted 675 observations of 341 species, including eight California poppy observations and seven black bear observations, which are really just photos of scat.)

To use iNaturalist, you can either visit its desktop site or use the app, which is available for iPhone and Android. You can easily search specific plants — although rare and endangered specimens will have their locations hidden — to discern whether any have been spotted along the trail you’re headed to. This is one of the ways I discovered an abundant showing of wildflowers in Towsley Canyon and in the Santa Monica Mountains, which hopefully is still there thanks to the recent rainfall.

As you can tell, there is much to learn about the diverse landscapes covering Southern California. I hope this newsletter prompts you to learn even more as you venture out there.

May your adventures lead you to a day full of springtime color and a deep sense of gratitude for whatever you find!

A wiggly line break

3 things to do

A person carries a bag of weeds.

Violet Tiul, 12, removes invasive mustard weed at Friends of the Los Angeles River’s Habitat Restoration & Earth Month Celebration at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Preserve in Los Angeles on May 24, 2025.

(Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)

1. Celebrate Earth Month at the L.A. River
Friends of the L.A. River needs volunteers from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Sepulveda Basin for its Earth Month habitat restoration day. Other local groups at the event will include the California Native Plant Society and the L.A. and San Fernando Valley chapters of the Audubon Society. Volunteers will yank weeds and install native plants and be rewarded with guided nature walks around the native reserve. Binoculars will be provided. Learn more at support.folar.org.

2. Explore the night sky in Joshua Tree
The Mojave Desert Land Trust will host an interactive evening exploring the night skies from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday at its headquarters in Joshua Tree. Interns from the trust’s Women In Science Discovering Our Mojave (or WISDOM) will share their research findings, and afterward, guests will be treated to s’mores and a night sky viewing with a National Park Service ranger. Learn more and register at mdlt.org.

3. Hike with bats and more in Calabasas
Malibu Creek State Park will host a guided night hike from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in Calabasas. Guests will learn about nocturnal animals as they hike about three miles round trip. Register at eventbrite.com.

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The must-read

A visitor stands before wildflowers in a beautiful landscape.

Carrizo Plain National Monument in San Luis Obispo County.

(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)

If you’re feeling up for a road trip, may I suggest heading to the Carrizo Plain National Monument? Times staff writer Christopher Reynolds outlined how, even though we are past its peak wildflower season, the monument is still a gorgeous display of springtime blooms. “By the time my wife and I arrived in the first days of April, the flowers were past their peak, but the hills were still green and many meadows popped with yellow, purple and blue,” Reynolds wrote. “If I’m reading my wildflowers handbook right, these were tidy tips, Goldfields, Owl’s Clover, thistle sage, Valley Larkspur, coreopsis, phacelia and hillside daisies.”

We are so lucky to live among such rich biodiversity!

Happy adventuring,

Jaclyn Cosgrove's signature

P.S.

Would you like to meet me IRL? I am hosting “L.A. Hiking 101” at 1:45 p.m. Sunday at Mudd Hall 203 during the L.A. Times’ Festival of Books at USC. The festival is free to attend, as are several of the panels, mine included. I will share how to find some of the best hikes around L.A., what I’ve learned writing about our local wildlands and, as a fun show-and-tell, what I carry in my pack when I’m out on a day hike. Space is limited, so grab your ticket now for my talk. I am eager to hear what questions you have. See you there!

For more insider tips on Southern California’s beaches, trails and parks, check out past editions of The Wild. And to view this newsletter in your browser, click here.



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How Coachella grew from a small desert festival into a global cultural behemoth

Commenters who never have been — and never will go — complain about the cost, the influencers, the hype. Purists wax poetic about the days when they disappeared into three days of music and the field wasn’t overtaken by brands like Barbie and e.l.f. cosmetics. Defenders claim they can camp their way to an affordable weekend, and others spend the whole time posting. A select few even talk about great performances they saw — it’s still a music festival.

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But one thing everybody can agree on: Coachella has changed. I should know. I’ve been covering it as a journalist since 2007.

Rapid advancements in technology and mass adoption of social media have brought out the best and worst of the festival — not just on screens thousands of miles away, but to those of us trying not to trip over the makeshift photoshoot you might have seen on Instagram.

Coachella pre-2010 was a purist’s paradise

Some of Coachella’s most iconic moments happened before smartphones: The Flaming Lips in a human hamster ball in 2004; Daft Punk’s 2006 pyramid set; Rage Against the Machine reuniting and calling for the George W. Bush administration to be tried for war crimes in 2007. If you even had a cellphone when Coachella started in 1999 it was probably a Nokia brick or a flip phone with an antenna that had limited talk and text options.

In the early years, there were no brand activations on the field; nobody knew what an influencer was and the only corporate sign you saw was for Heineken in the beer gardens. (There was no Heineken House with its own stage, just signs advertising the beer.)

The grounds were also considerably smaller, making it easier to explore the different stages and discover new music. You didn’t have fancy food options, but a slice of Spicy Pie was less than $10. (Coachella upgraded its food options from festival staples to weekend outposts of L.A. restaurants in 2014.)

The music was the draw. The festival’s track record includes artists like the Killers, the Black Keys, Childish Gambino and Kendrick Lamar climbing up from small type to headliner on the lineup poster.

Livestreams and influencers made Coachella’s reach global

The vibes started to shift in 2010 as smartphones grew in popularity, although the service on the field was spotty. It was the first year Coachella offered a livestream — available via Facebook and MySpace. The next year, the stream moved to YouTube, where it remains and draws millions of viewers.

As Coachella expanded to twin weekends due to popular demand on the ground in 2012, it also had the first viral moment fans could enjoy from thousands of miles away: Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg brought 2Pac back to life via a hologram.

Celebrities were always at Coachella (I spotted Ryan Seacrest, Corbin Bernsen, David Hasselhoff and Danny DeVito in my early years), but the rise of social media made celebrity culture a key part of the event. By 2011, TMZ was posting about stars like Lindsay Lohan. Clips from Coachella went viral and ended up on shows like “Tosh.0” and referenced in “Community.”

The art, which was always part of the festival, became bigger and more iconic. On the growing photo app Instagram, larger-than-life sculptures of astronauts started appearing in selfies.

Brands saw an opportunity. American Express, H&M and Samsung launched activations on-site in 2015. The party scene outside the festival, with non-affiliated events that were timed because everyone was in town for Coachella, became marketing vehicles. Brands are still cashing in more than a decade later.

The next watershed moment was Beyoncé in 2018. Today, most headlining sets at the fest feel as if they are designed for the viewing experience on the livestream rather than the fans on the field (ahem, Justin Bieber and his laptop). But Beyoncé’s spectacle was just as mind-blowing on-site as it was at home. A year later, the “Homecoming” special debuted on Netflix, widening the reach.

Coachella became a key part of the pop culture landscape, and then it became a cornerstone of the influencer economy.

Behind all the hype, there’s still a music festival hiding

I inadvertently photobombed approximately 500 people just trying to go to and from the press tent last weekend and my inbox is overflowing with requests for coverage of off-site events with brands, celebs and TikTok influencers, including social media clips.

But at the end of the day, Coachella is still a music festival, and a really good one at that. The Strokes, David Byrne, Jack White, Iggy Pop, Turnstile, Wet Leg, Fujii Kaze and even Less Than Jake in the Heineken House were some of the best performances I had seen in years.

Coachella is what you make of it. And besides, everyone knows there are fewer influencers on Weekend 2.

Today’s top stories

A health worker administers a measles test.

A health worker administers a measles test on Fernando Tarin, of Seagraves, Texas, at a mobile testing site outside Seminole Hospital District on Feb. 21, 2025.

(Julio Cortez / Associated Press)

Increasing measles cases in California

  • California in 2026 has already seen its highest number of annual measles cases in seven years amid an ongoing resurgence of a disease once considered effectively eradicated in the U.S.
  • The re-emergence comes as vaccination rates have tumbled nationwide in recent years.

Testing LAX’s long-awaited train

  • LAX’s 2.25-mile electric train system will begin running without passengers next week as testing advances following a series of delays.
  • The Automated People Mover system began construction in 2019 and was initially slated to open to the public in 2023.
  • Specific bottles of Xanax, one of the most widely prescribed medications to treat anxiety and panic disorders, has been recalled due to its failure to dissolve at a standard rate.
  • FDA officials are not warning against consuming the product at this time.

What else is going on

Commentary and opinions

This morning’s must-read

Another must-read

For your downtime

A reporter lies on an AI massage table.

Reporter Deborah Vankin gets a massage by an “Aescape” robot at Pause Wellness Studio.

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Going out

Staying in

A question for you: Are you planning on leaving California for another state? If so, tell us why.

Laura says, “I left California during the pandemic. Part of the push factor for me was politics, but not blue politics. I had been living in OC since 2018 and was surprised it was so Conservative (and conservative). That became a bigger source of discomfort for me as the vaccine question demonstrated how our neighbors’ decisions can impact us directly. Rather than moving elsewhere in California, which would have sorted out the political discomfort nicely, I moved to a much more affordable state where I had family.”

Email us at essentialcalifornia@latimes.com, and your response might appear in the newsletter this week.

And finally … from our archives

Kendrick Lamar rapping into a microphone on a dark smoky stage with a dark red backdrop

Kendrick Lamar performs at Coachella Music & Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on April 16, 2017.

(Amy Harris / Invision / AP)

On April 16, 2018, Compton’s own Kendrick Lamar became the first hip-hop artist to win the Pulitzer Prize for music.

He won for his album “Damn.,” which the Times’ Mikael Wood heralded as Lamar’s graduation to pop superstardom.

Have a great day, from the Essential California team

Jim Rainey, staff reporter
Hugo Martín, assistant editor, fast break desk
Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editor
Andrew Campa, weekend writer
Karim Doumar, head of newsletters

How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@latimes.com. Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on latimes.com.

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Hitter Shohei Ohtani gets night off, pitcher Shohei Ohtani leads Dodgers to win

Shohei Ohtani pitches well in Dodgers’ victory

From Maddie Lee: Dodgers right-hander Shohei Ohtani had navigated the Mets lineup without much trouble until the fifth inning. But he’d also been holding back a little something.

“I can’t go full throttle the whole time,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton after the Dodgers’ 8-2 victory Wednesday. “But considering where the game was at that point, I felt like I just really had to go full throttle and make sure I’m considering the game situation.”

The Mets had just scored their first run of the game — ending Ohtani’s streak of innings without an earned run at 32 ⅔, the longest of his career — and cut the Dodgers’ lead to one.

So he unleashed a 100.2 mph fastball past Tommy Pham, and then 100.3 mph. Pham foul-tipped both and had some choice words with himself on the way back to the dugout.

That strikeout was one of 10 Ohtani had in a performance that was dominant, regardless of the first mark on his previously spotless ERA.

The two-way phenom only had one job to worry about Wednesday.

For the first time since 2021, he was not also in the lineup as a hitter while pitching.

“If it weren’t for the hit by pitch [Monday], he would’ve been DHing and pitching tonight,” Roberts said before the game.

Continue reading here

L.A.’s Blue Era: How popular are the Dodgers? Even the Lakers look up at them. Way up

Dodgers box score

MLB standings

Go beyond the scoreboard

Get the latest on L.A.’s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.

Bad play costs Angels

José Caballero laced a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning that gave the New York Yankees a 5-4 victory over the Angels, moments after the Angels botched an infield popup in a costly misplay Wednesday night.

Aaron Judge hit his third homer of the series and Trent Grisham had a two-run single for the Yankees, who won for only the second time in eight games after an 8-2 start.

Mike Trout hit his fourth homer in three games, putting the Angels ahead 4-3 with a two-run drive in the fifth.

That was still the score when Jazz Chisholm Jr. popped up to the left side with one out and nobody on in the ninth. But shortstop Zach Neto and ex-Yankees third baseman Oswald Peraza miscommunicated, and the ball dropped between them on the infield dirt for a gift single.

Continue reading here

Angels box score

MLB standings

Clippers season comes to an end

From Steve Galluzzo: It was do or die Wednesday night at Intuit Dome, and the Clippers did not do enough to keep their season alive, blowing a 13-point lead early in the fourth quarter and losing to the Golden State Warriors, 126-121.

Having rebounded from a franchise-worst 6-21 start to earn the next-to-last berth in the NBA play-in tournament, coach Tyronn Lue’s resilient bunch could not extend its historic comeback on its home floor.

Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 35 points, Kristaps Porzingis and and Gui Santos each had 20, and Brandin Podziemski added 17. The Warriors were 19 for 41 from three-point range, with Al Horford hitting four in the fourth quarter.

Bennedict Mathurin scored 23 points off the bench while Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland each added 21 points for the Clippers, who won three of the teams’ four regular-season meetings, including a 115-110 victory in the same arena four days earlier. Wednesday night, however, Leonard was held scoreless in the fourth quarter until the final seconds as the Warriors rallied.

Continue reading here

Clippers box score

Deandre Ayton can take the spotlight

From Broderick Turner: The last time Deandre Ayton appeared in the playoffs was in 2023, when he was a member of the Phoenix Suns and viewed in NBA circles as having the potential to be a force as a center in the league.

A lot has changed since then.

He’s on his second team since those days in Phoenix, playing two years for the Portland Trail Blazers and now the Lakers. He has been viewed by many as an inconsistent player who hasn’t reached his full potential.

Ayton has a chance to prove his worth, to show his critics he has the ability to be elite in the postseason when the Lakers open the first-round of the Western Conference playoffs Saturday against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena.

Continue reading here

Lakers playoff schedule

First round
All times Pacific

Saturday: Houston at Lakers, 5:30 p.m, ABC
Tuesday: Houston at Lakers, 7:30 p.m., NBC
Friday, April 24: Lakers at Houston, 5:30 p.m., Amazon Prime Video
Sunday, April 26: Lakers at Houston, 6:30 p.m., NBC
*Wed., April 29: Houston at Lakers, TBD
*Friday, May 1: Lakers at Houston, TBD
*Sunday, May 3: Houston at Lakers, TBD

*-if necessary

L.A. Olympics questions

From Thuc Nhi Nguyen: You ask. We answer. Or at least we’re going to try.

The Times asked readers for their burning questions regarding the Olympics, and it’s the ticketing process that’s bringing the most heat. Locals in Southern California and Oklahoma City endured the presale headaches and sticker shock before the global audience got their shot at securing tickets this week. But with more than two years remaining until the Games open, expect that there will be more questions.

Here is what Times readers wanted to know:

Continue reading here

USOPC ‘quite confident’ of LA28 direction amid ticket sales uproar

Same old Sparks

From Bill Plaschke: One of the WNBA’s founding franchises, the failure-ridden Sparks enter the league’s 30th season attempting to break a five-year playoff drought with an understandable yet unremarkable game plan.

They’re going old. They don’t have a choice. Five years of lottery missteps have produced exactly one current Sparks player, Cameron Brink, a social media star who’s been an injured basketball bust.

While the national champion Bruins spent Monday dancing across the league from Toronto to Chicago, the Sparks didn’t get a chance to acquire any of them, and wound up with three late picks who will raise no eyebrows and play few minutes.

So, yeah, old.

When the Sparks open the season by hosting defending champion Las Vegas May 10, their fans are going to say, “Oh yeah!” followed by a resounding chorus of, “Oh no!”

Continue reading here

This day in sports history

1939 — Stanley Cup Final, Boston Garden, Boston, MA: Boston Bruins beat Toronto Maple Leafs, 3-1 for a 4-1 series win; first best-of-7 SC Final series.

1949 — The Toronto Maple Leafs win 3-1 to sweep the Detroit Red Wings for the second straight year in the Stanley Cup Finals.

1953 — Stanley Cup Final, Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec: Montreal Canadiens beat Boston Bruins, 1-0 for a 4-1 series win.

1954 — The Detroit Red Wings edge the Montreal Canadiens 2-1 in the seventh game to win the Stanley Cup.

1957 — The Montreal Canadiens beat the Boston Bruins 5-1 to take the Stanley Cup in five games.

1958 — Arnold Palmer edges Doug Ford by one stroke to capture the Masters.

1961 — The Chicago Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup in six games with a 5-1 triumph over the Detroit Red Wings.

1980 — Arthur Ashe retires from pro tennis.

1987 — Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls scores 61 points in a 117-114 loss to the Atlanta Hawks and becomes the second player to surpass the 3,000-point mark in a season.

1990 — Gelindo Bordin becomes the first Olympic men’s champion to win the Boston Marathon. The Italian finishes in 2:08:19. Rosa Mota of Portugal wins the woman’s division in 2:25:24.

1991 — The St. Louis Blues become the eighth team in NHL playoff history to come back from a 3-1 deficit, beating the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 in the seventh game.

1995 — PGA Seniors’ Championship Men’s Golf, PGA National GC: Raymond Floyd wins by 5 strokes.

2000 — PGA Seniors’ Championship Men’s Golf, PGA National GC: Doug Tewell wins first of 2 Champions Tour major titles.

2001 — Lee Bong-ju of South Korea wins the Boston Marathon, ending a 10-year victory streak for Kenyan men. Kenya’s Catherine Ndereba wins the women’s race.

2003 — The Mighty Ducks beat the Detroit Red Wings in a 3-2 overtime victory, making the Red Wings the first defending Stanley Cup winner in 51 years to be swept the following season in a four-game opening series.

2003 — Washington Wizards’ Michael Jordan plays his final NBA game.

2008 — Jason Kidd gets the 100th triple-double of his career with 27 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds in Dallas’ 111-98 victory over New Orleans.

2013 — Two bombs explode in the crowded streets near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing three people and injuring more than 270 in a bloody scene of shattered glass and severed limbs. Earlier in the day, Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia wins the 117th edition of the marathon and Rita Jeptoo of Kenya takes the women’s race.

2018 — Desiree Linden runs through icy rain and a near-gale headwind to win the Boston Marathon, the first victory for an American woman since 1985.

2019 — Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson becomes the highest-paid player in NFL history with a 4-year, $140-million extension.

Compiled by the Associated Press

This day in baseball history

1929 — Cleveland’s Earl Averill became the first American League player to hit a home run in his first major league plate appearance. The Indians won the game 5-4 in 11 innings on Carl Lind’s double.

1935 — Babe Ruth, 40, made a sensational National League debut in Boston. His single and homer off Carl Hubbell led the Braves over the Giants 4-2.

1940 — Bob Feller of Cleveland defeated the Chicago White Sox 1-0 in the only opening day no-hitter in major league history.

1948 — WGN-TV televised a baseball game for the first time. It was an exhibition game at Wrigley Field with Jack Brickhouse doing the play-by-play. The White Sox defeated the Cubs 4-1.

1961 — Beginning his historic chase of Babe Ruth’s 60 home run season-record, Roger Maris connects for his first homer in the twelfth game of the season for the Yankees.

1972 — Burt Hooton of the Cubs no-hit the Philadelphia Phillies 4-0 at Wrigley Field.

1978 — Bob Forsch of the St. Louis Cardinals no-hit the Philadelphia Phillies 5-0. Less than a year later, Bob’s brother Ken of the Houston Astros pitched a no-hitter against Atlanta. They are the only brothers to throw no-hitters.

1983 — Padres first baseman Steve Garvey appears in his 1,118th straight National League game, breaking the mark held by Billy Williams.

1984 — Dave Kingman of the Oakland A’s hit three home runs, including a grand slam, in his first three at-bats. In total, he drove in eight runs in a 9-6 victory over the Seattle Mariners.

1989 — Kelly Gruber becomes the first player in Toronto Blue Jays history to hit for the cycle in a 15-8 victory against the Kansas City Royals.

1997 — The Chicago Cubs set the mark for worst start in National League history, making three more errors as they extended their losing streak to 12 with a 4-0 loss to the Colorado Rockies. Chicago broke the modern NL record of 0-10 set by Atlanta in 1988 and the overall NL record of 0-11 by the 1884 Detroit Wolverines.

2005 — Toronto’s Reed Johnson was hit by a major league record-tying three pitches — two with the bases loaded — in the Blue Jays’ 8-0 victory over Texas.

2006 — Albert Pujols hit three home runs, including a two-run shot in the bottom of the ninth, to give St. Louis an 8-7 win over Cincinnati.

2007 — The Cleveland Indians became the first team in nearly 55 years to win a game with their only hit coming in their first at-bat. Grady Sizemore led off Cleveland’s 2-1 win over the Chicago White Sox with a double.

2009 — Ichiro Suzuki makes history as he collects the 3,086th hit of his pro career, breaking the Japanese record held for decades by Isao Harimoto.

2009 — Grady Sizemore hit a grand slam and Cleveland ruined the first game at the new Yankee Stadium by beating New York 10-2.

2014 — Masahiro Tanaka and Michael Pineda pitched the New York Yankees to a 3-0, 2-0 sweep of the Chicago Cubs in a chilly day-night-doubleheader. The Yankees had not won by shutout twice in one day since April 9, 1987, against Kansas City. No team in the major leagues had done it since Minnesota swept Oakland on June 26, 1988.

2015 — Giancarlo Stanton becomes the Marlins all-time leading home run hitter when he slugs #155 for his career.

Compiled by the Associated Press

Until next time…

That concludes today’s newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

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High school baseball and softball: Wednesday’s scores

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL, SOFTBALL SCORES

Wednesday’s Results

BASEBALL

CITY SECTION
Crenshaw 16, Dymally 5
Diego Rivera 25, Manual Arts 2
East Valley 13, Panorama 2
El Camino Real 7, Taft 3
Fulton 18, Canoga Park 6
Garfield 6, Alhambra 5
LA University 11, Westchester 0
North Hollywood 4, Sun Valley Poly 2
Roybal 16, Hollywood 6
San Pedro 10, Rancho Dominguez 0
SOCES 14, Northridge Academy 2
South East 12, Huntington Park 1
South Gate 3, Legacy 1
Stella 17, Animo Venice 0
Sun Valley Magnet 15, Bert Corona 2
Vaughn 11, Arleta 0
Wilson 4, Eagle Rock 1

SOUTHERN SECTION
Aliso Niguel 4, Capistrano Valley 3
Anaheim 8, Godinez 0
Arlington 1, Paloma Valley 0
Arroyo 11, Rosemead 1
Ayala 3, Walnut 1
Big Bear 23, Hesperia Christian 12
Bishop Amat 13, Gardena Serra 0
Bonita 10, Claremont 3
California 9, La Serna 3
Canyon Springs 10, Vista del Lago 1
Charter Oak 4, Northview 3
Chino Hills 5, Los Osos 2
Corona 16, Corona Centennial 2
Corona Santiago 17, Riverside King 1
Covina 11, West Covina 4
Crossroads 7, Windward 6
Cypress 4, El Dorado 1
Dana Hills 7, Trabuco Hills 1
Desert Christian 20, Valley Torah 5
Downey 6, Bellflower 5
Duarte 11, Azusa 10
Edgewood 11, Pomona 0
El Rancho 10, Whittier 4
El Segundo 7, North Torrance 6
Esperanza 15, Bosco Tech 11
Etiwanda 5, Damien 3
Flintridge Prep 12, Shalhevet 2
Ganesha 15, Bassett 0
Garden Grove Pacifica 3, Anaheim Canyon 2
Golden Valley 10, Canyon Country Canyon 1
Glendora 5, Diamond Bar 1
Hesperia 4, Sultana 1
Highland 13, Eastside 1
Hillcrest 9, Citrus Hill 3
Huntington Beach 3, Fountain Valley 1
Indian Springs 10, Pacific 6
Laguna Beach 6, Portola 0
La Mirada 1, Warren 0
Lancaster 14, Littlerock 4
La Sierra 9, Patriot 0
Liberty 4, Moreno Valley 3
Loma Linda Academy 23, Desert Chapel 7
Long Beach Wilson 3, Long Beach Cabrillo 0
Malibu 8, Channel Islands 7
Marina 2, Edison 0
Miller 12, San Bernardino 2
Millikan 22, Compton 3
Mission Viejo 3, Beckman 2
New Roads 15, Lennox Academy 1
Nordhoff 16, Fillmore 0
Northwood 10, Irvine University 9
Oak Hills 21, Serrano 10
Ojai Valley 20, Hillcrest Christian 2
Orange 3, Westminster La Quinta 0
Palmdale 10, Antelope Valley 7
Pasadena Marshall 4, Gabrielino 3
Ramona 8, Jurupa Valley 1
Rancho Christian 10, Orange Vista 0
Rancho Cucamonga 3, Upland 2
Rancho Verde 16, Perris 4
Ridgecrest Burroughs 9, Apple Valley 4
Riverside Poly 11, Heritage 3
Royal 7, Camarillo 6
Rowland 3, Hacienda Heights Wilson 0
Rubidoux 4, Norte Vista 2
Sage Hill 1, Irvine 0
San Juan Hills 4, El Toro 3
Santa Rosa Academy 9, Temecula Prep 2
Saugus 9, Hart 1
Servite 9, Mater Dei 6
Simi Valley 10, Moorpark 0
St. Anthony 6, Cathedral 2
St. Francis 3, Sierra Canyon 2
St. John Bosco 8, Santa Margarita 1
Sunny Hills 3, Sonora 2
University Prep 14, Excelsior Charter 7
West Ranch 4, Valencia 2
Wiseburn-Da Vinci 5, Peninsula 2
Woodbridge 10, St. Margaret’s 1
Yorba Linda 18, Troy 2

INTERSECTIONAL
Brentwood 4, Palisades 3
Redlands Adventist Academy 9, Public Safety 1

SOFTBALL

CITY SECTION
Angelou 8, Jefferson 6
Animo Venice 20, Animo Robinson 0
Birmingham 16, Chatsworth 1
Bravo 12, LA Wilson 2
Central City Value 17, Annenberg 4
Dymally 29, Crenshaw 6
Eagle Rock 16, Franklin 0
El Camino Real 20, Cleveland 1
Granada Hills 14, Taft 1
Granada Hills Kennedy 7, Arleta 2
LA Hamilton 15, LACES 4
LA University 20, Westchester 4
Lincoln 7, LA Marshall 6
Marquez d. Elizabeth, forfeit
Maywood Academy 27, Sotomayor 7
Maywood CES 14, Torres 8
North Hollywood 29, Monroe 4
Reseda 28, Fulton 8
Santee 26, Los Angeles 0
Stella 24, Animo Watts 14
Van Nuys 13, Canoga Park 1
Venice 28, Fairfax 1
Verdugo Hills 14, Sun Valley Poly 4
Washington Prep 19, Hawkins 7

SOUTHERN SECTION
Anaheim 15, Santa Ana Valley 0
Apple Valley 16, Oak Hills 13
Arrowhead Christian 15, Savanna 0
Arroyo 17, Rosemead 2
Ayala 15, Claremont 6
Azusa 9, Baldwin Park 3
Bolsa Grande 10, Westminster La Quinta 0
Bonita 12, Glendora 3
Burbank Providence 12, Mountain View 2
Burroughs Burbank 11, Burbank 1
Chadwick 10, Mayfield 1
Charter Oak, 5, Northview 2
Citrus Hill 11, Perris 1
Corona 14, Eastvale Roosevelt 6
Crean Lutheran 10, Corona del Mar 0
Diamond Bar 2, Walnut 0
Dos Pueblos 7, Saugus 2
Edgewood 18, Pomona 6
Fullerton 21, Placentia Valencia 0
Gabrielino 11, Pasadena Marshall 1
Ganesha 19, Bassett 0
Garden Grove Santiago 6, Los Amigos 3
Hemet 16, Moreno Valley 1
Hesperia Christian 7, AAE 6
Hillcrest 12, Rancho Verde 2
Lakeside 9, Heritage 4
Miller 8, San Bernardino 3
Oak Park 13, West Ranch 1
Paloma Valley 5, Canyon Springs 1
Pasadena Poly 15, Ramona Convent 9
Patriot 1, La Sierra 0
Pomona Catholic 15, St, Bernard 1
Ramona 6, Jurupa Valley 3
Rancho Alamitos 7, Orange 6
Rancho Christian 21, Vista del Lago 7
Redondo Union 24, Peninsula 0
Riverside Poly 15, Arlington 4
Riverside Prep 6, Downey 4
Rubidoux 12, Norte Vista 3
Samueli Academy 18, Webb 8
Santa Ana 11, Costa Mesa 10
Segerstrom 16, Garden Grove 6
Serrano 8, Hesperia 7
Sierra Vista 12, Nogales 1
South Torrance 10, El Segundo 0
Sultana 10, Ridgerest Burroughs 6
Tustin 16, Godinez 0
University Prep 18, Excelsior Charter 1
Valley View 15, Orange Vista 12
Ventura 11, Viewpoint 1
West Covina 11, Covina 6
Western Christian 20, Capistrano Valley Christian 1
Windward 17, Oakwood 1

INTERSECTIONAL
Paramount 11, South Gate 1

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Botched play costs Angels in loss to Yankees

José Caballero laced a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning that gave the New York Yankees a 5-4 victory over the Angels, moments after the Angels botched an infield popup in a costly misplay Wednesday night.

Aaron Judge hit his third homer of the series and Trent Grisham had a two-run single for the Yankees, who won for only the second time in eight games after an 8-2 start.

Mike Trout hit his fourth homer in three games, putting the Angels ahead 4-3 with a two-run drive in the fifth.

That was still the score when Jazz Chisholm Jr. popped up to the left side with one out and nobody on in the ninth. But shortstop Zach Neto and ex-Yankees third baseman Oswald Peraza miscommunicated, and the ball dropped between them on the infield dirt for a gift single.

That came back to bite the Angels, who had played outstanding defense all night to that point.

Austin Wells worked a full-count walk against closer Jordan Romano (0-2), and both runners were attempting to steal when Caballero lined a 1-and-2 slider into left-center.

Chisholm easily scored the tying run and third-base coach Luis Rojas aggressively waved Wells home. The catcher barely beat Neto’s relay throw to the plate with a feet-first slide, and the safe call was confirmed after a replay review.

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Spotify and NIVA back LA’s independent music venues

Spotify wants to give historic venues such as the Troubadour and the Paramount — and the independent musicians who play there — a boost.

The steaming giant on Wednesday said it is partnering with the National Independent Venue Assn. (NIVA) to promote local music nationwide, including at dozens of clubs in L.A.

In the yearlong partnership, the company said it aims to boost visibility for independent music venues through its live events feed that will feature links to music from local artists and their performances at clubs in the Los Angeles area.

As part of the initiative, NIVA will choose someone who books the acts for these indie venues to work with Spotify’s editorial team and create a playlist featuring artists.

Spotify is launching the playlist this summer to celebrate and highlight the people shaping independent live music from behind the scenes.

The Regent Theater, Gold Diggers, the Teragram Ballroom and the United Theater on Broadway will be included in the program, Spotify said in its statement.

“Independent venues are the heartbeat of live music,” said Rene Volker, Spotify’s senior director of live music. “They’re where artists take risks, build devoted communities, and where fans discover what they’ll love for the rest of their lives.”

Spotify’s history in the music industry is complex, and it has previously faced some criticism over how it compensates artists whose songs stream on its platform.

Bill Werde, the director of Syracuse’s recording and entertainment industries program, said Spotify’s support for indie musicians could help them during a difficult time.

“It costs money to market, to collect good data and to do most of the things required to break through in today’s attention economy,” Werde said in a statement. “This creates a disadvantage for smaller music companies and smaller artists, who may not have the resources of larger acts and larger venues.”

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Shaky Sparks attempting to rebuild future with the past

Amid a glittering sports celebration, a team from Los Angeles dominated the WNBA draft.

But it wasn’t Los Angeles’ WNBA team.

The Sparks couldn’t hold a candle to UCLA.

At a Monday event during which six Bruins were drafted among the first 18 picks — a WNBA record — the Sparks didn’t have their first pick until No. 20 in the second round.

Two years earlier, they had traded away their first-round pick for the rights to draft the exciting Rickea Jackson.

Whom they recently traded to Chicago for somebody named Ariel Atkins.

You can see where we’re going with this…

One of the WNBA’s founding franchises, the failure-ridden Sparks enter the league’s 30th season attempting to break a five-year playoff drought with an understandable yet unremarkable game plan.

They’re going old. They don’t have a choice. Five years of lottery missteps have produced exactly one current Sparks player, Cameron Brink, a social media star who’s been an injured basketball bust.

While the national champion Bruins spent Monday dancing across the league from Toronto to Chicago, the Sparks didn’t get a chance to acquire any of them, and wound up with three late picks who will raise no eyebrows and play few minutes.

So, yeah, old.

When the Sparks open the season by hosting defending champion Las Vegas May 10, their fans are going to say, “Oh yeah!” followed by a resounding chorus of, “Oh no!”

Oh yeah, they’re bringing back longtime Sparks star Nneka Ogwumike, a bruising inside force for 14 seasons. She played well for Seattle last year, but, oh no, she’ll be 36 during the season, and one wonders when the physicality will take its toll.

Oh yeah, they’re bringing back Erica Wheeler, who played strong minutes here several years ago. But, oh no, she played for three teams in the last four years and will be 35 during the season.

Oh yeah, they’re bringing in Atkins, who once won a WNBA championship with the Washington Mystics. But, oh no, that was seven years ago, and she’s bounced around with six international teams and two WNBA teams since.

Those three veterans will be joining a team with two returning starters — Kelsey Plum and Dearica Hamby — but little else.

The league’s celebrated new CBA made all these players rich, but did little for the Sparks, who were unable to make a dent in the league-wide free agent market and were out of decent draft picks and so must survive for one more season before getting a shot at JuJu Watkins.

So they should tank? No! Not yet! I’ve got season tickets! But you’ve got to wonder. And if this aging band gets off to a slow start, you’ve got to wonder if they’re wondering.

“I’m super excited about the roster we have,” said coach Lynne Roberts on a Zoom call Monday night. “We brought in some tremendous leadership.”

But they also lost some tremendous youth by giving up on Jackson, who averaged nearly 15 points last season and provided much-needed energy to another deadly dull squad. While the Sparks made nice with her publicly, one can read between the lines on the following Zoom quote from general manager Raegan Pebley.

”Loved having her here … she’ll be successful wherever she goes,” said Pebley of Jackson. “But we’re focused on winning a championship and finding that fit and balance and getting all those pieces locked in with each other.”

Here’s guessing Jackson, an independent spirit, was never quite locked in. And now she’s locked out of a new culture that will be solid and steady… but will they be any good?

“You have to have that balance of youth and experience and I think our roster has nailed that,” said Pebley.

Who knows? Will Brink stop trying to be an influencer long enough to be an inside presence? Will Rae Burrell take another step in her fifth season? Can the new veterans stay healthy enough to inspire the kids, who could include draft picks Ta’Niya Latson, Chance Gray and Amelia Hassett? Can Roberts, a relative WNBA newcomer who lost more than half of her games in her debut last season, actually coach?

They’ve already had one win with the ongoing construction of an $150-million El Segundo practice facility, which should open next year and serve to attract the type of stars that a Los Angeles team deserves.

They have another steady win with a Crypto.com Arena fan-friendly game experience that ranks among the best in this city’s sports landscape.

Now they just need wins on the scoreboard, lots of them, enough to restore faith in what was once one of this city’s shining basketball operations.

The odds aren’t good — going old usually means going home early — but what else can they do? No Bruins are walking through that door. For at least one more year, the Sparks have to marinate in their past mistakes and hope that their veterans can somehow lay a foundation for their future..

“This isn’t a slow roll,” said Roberts. “We want to do it.”

The rest of the league, which has greatly benefited from five years of Sparks’ bad basketball decisions, will be waiting.

Their passionate fans, who have loyally kept showing up for the last five years to watch the lousy basketball those decisions have wrought, will be wanting.

And JuJu will be watching.

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Alex Vesia closes out Dodgers’ victory

Emotional night for Alex Vesia

From Maddie Lee: As left-hander Alex Vesia emerged from the Dodgers bullpen, heard the electric guitar riff of Seether’s “Gasoline,” and felt his adrenaline spike with the roar of the crowd, he knew 27 of those cheering fans had helped him and wife Kayla through a devastating loss just months prior.

He and Kayla had chosen the Dodgers’ game against the Mets on Tuesday, Healthcare appreciation night at Dodger Stadium, to celebrate the hands-on staff at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center who had cared for them last October, through the death of their newborn daughter Sterling Sol.

He’d spotted their suite by shirts Kayla had customized for the group, bearing the initials SV with a heart, and signed by Alex.

“Today was the first time I’ve seen pretty much all of them since everything,” Alex Vesia said after earning the save in the Dodgers’ 2-1 win Tuesday. “So it was very special, very emotional. … I couldn’t have written it any better.”

Continue reading here

Dodgers box score

MLB standings

Go beyond the scoreboard

Get the latest on L.A.’s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.

Angels hit five homers to beat Yankees

Mike Trout homered for the third time in two games, combining with Jo Adell and Jorge Soler for three consecutive long balls in a five-pitch span against Ryan Weathers in the first inning, and the Angels beat the New York Yankees 7-1 on Tuesday night.

Trout hit a 2-and-1 fastball to the loading dock adjacent to Monument Park in center field and Adell hit another fastball on the next pitch into the visiting bullpen in left-center field. Three pitches later, Soler drove a 2-and-0 fastball into the left-field seats

Trout homered for the third straight at-bat after connecting in the sixth and eighth innings in Monday’s 11-10 loss.

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Angels box score

MLB standings

Kings lose to Canucks in OT

Jake DeBrusk scored his second goal of the game in overtime and the Vancouver Canucks beat the Kings 4-3 on Tuesday night.

DeBrusk collected a pass from center Elias Pettersson and tapped a shot in to seal the victory 2:58 into the extra period.

Defenseman Elias Pettersson opened the scoring for the Canucks (25-48-8), and DeBrusk and Zeev Buium added goals in the second period. Elias Pettersson had two assists. The Canucks won their third straight game for the first time since Dec. 14-20, when they took four straight road victories.

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Kings summary

NHL standings

Playoff-bound Ducks lose to Wild

Hunter Haight got his first career goal and rookie Jesper Wallstedt auditioned for action in the playoffs with 35 saves as the Minnesota Wild finished their regular season by beating the Ducks 3-2 on Tuesday night.

Danila Yurov and Robby Fabbri also scored for the playoff-bound Wild, who have won 21 of their last 22 games against the Ducks, including eight in a row.

Wallstedt, who is second in the NHL in save percentage, went 18-9-6 in his debut and has given the Wild plenty to consider for a potential postseason goalie rotation with Filip Gustavsson. Wallstedt allowed only 12 goals over his last six starts.

Continue reading here

Ducks summary

NHL standings

Bob Chesney pleased with UCLA’s progress

From Steve Galluzzo: Spring practice continued for the UCLA football program Tuesday morning at Spaulding Field and for the most part head coach Bob Chesney was pleased with his team’s progress.

It marked the sixth of 14 practices leading up to the annual spring game on May 2 at the Rose Bowl.

“The defense took strides today,” said Chesney, who was hired as the Bruins’ 20th head football coach on Dec. 26, replacing DeShaun Foster (fired after an 0-3 start in 2025) and interim coach Tim Skipper. “There were a couple turnovers in there. This was our second day with the officials, it was a different group and they were throwing some flags today. We just have to understand the game we’re in. As you get further along the referees step aside, but early in the season they’re excited to do their jobs and we gave them enough to throw laundry at so we’ll go back and check it all out.”

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Do World Cup tickets cost too much?

From Kevin Baxter: Aaron Levinson wanted to go to a World Cup game this summer, but he didn’t want to take out a second mortgage to pay for that. So after winning a chance to spend $560 for individual tickets in a FIFA lottery last fall, Levinson backed out.

Then he backed in again this spring.

“Maybe the sticker shock kind of started wearing off,” he said Sunday. “I got caught up in the excitement.”

So Levinson decided to pluck down $850 for two Category 3 tickets — among the cheapest available — for he and his wife to go the final U.S. group-play game at SoFi Stadium in June. When his wife reminded him that his two sons would be visiting then, he bought two more tickets, bringing his investment to $1,700, more than double the price of a seven-day cruise.

And that doesn’t include the nearly $250 it will cost to park near the stadium.

“That’s really steep,” said Levinson, a Galaxy season-ticket holder for more than a decade.

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Lakers focus on rebounding

From Broderick Turner: Rebounding was not a strength of the Lakers over the course of the regular season. Rebounding was a strength of the Houston Rockets during the 2025-26 campaign.

So, on their first day of practice Tuesday for Game 1 of the first round Saturday at Crypto.com Arena, the Lakers worked diligently on rebounding drills, knowing full well that will be one of the keys against the Rockets.

The Lakers were the fourth-worst rebounding team in the NBA, averaging 41.0 per game. The Rockets were the top rebounding team in the league, getting 48.1 overall and 15.0 on the offensive end.

And one of the Lakers’ better rebounders, Luka Doncic, won’t be available because he’s dealing with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain that he went to Spain for treatment. Doncic is second on the Lakers in rebounding at 7.7 per game. His starting backcourt mate, Austin Reaves, also is a good rebounder but he also won’t play because of a Grade 2 left oblique strain. Reaves is averaging 4.7 rebounds per game.

“They’re out indefinitely,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said about Doncic and Reaves.

Continue reading here

Lakers playoff schedule

First round
All times Pacific

Saturday: Houston at Lakers, 5:30 p.m, ABC
Tuesday: Houston at Lakers, 7:30 p.m., NBC
Friday, April 24: Lakers at Houston, 5:30 p.m., Amazon Prime Video
Sunday, April 26: Lakers at Houston, 6:30 p.m., NBC
*Wed., April 29: Houston at Lakers, TBD
*Friday, May 1: Lakers at Houston, TBD
*Sunday, May 3: Houston at Lakers, TBD

*-if necessary

Clippers playoff schedule

Wednesday vs. Golden State, 7:30 p.m., Amazon Prime Video

Loser is eliminated, winner advances to second play-in game on Friday, where they will play the loser of the other play-in game. Winner of that game becomes the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

This day in sports history

1901 — Boston Marathon won for second straight year by Canadian Jim Caffrey.

1907 — Boston Marathon won by Canadian Tom Longboat.

1937 — The Detroit Red Wings beat the New York Rangers 3-0 to take the Stanley Cup in the fifth and final game.

1952 — The Detroit Red Wings beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-0 to capture the Stanley Cup. The Red Wings holds the Canadiens to two goals in the four-game sweep.

1979 — 43rd US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Fuzzy Zoeller wins his only Masters with a birdie on the 2nd hole of a playoff with Ed Sneed and Tom Watson.

1984 — Ben Crenshaw wins the Masters by two strokes over Tom Watson.

1985 — Marvin Hagler retains his world middleweight title by stopping Thomas Hearns in the third round at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Both slug it out with reckless abandon for eight minutes, which many consider the most electrifying three rounds in boxing history.

1990 — PGA Seniors’ Championship Men’s Golf, PGA National GC: South African Gary Player wins his third event title by two strokes.

1991 — Magic Johnson sets an NBA record for career assists in a 112-106 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Johnson, who needed nine assists to break Oscar Robertson’s record of 9,887, gets 19.

2000 — NFL Draft: Penn State defensive end Courtney Brown first pick by Cleveland Browns.

2005 — Top-ranked Roger Federer’s 25-match winning streak ends when French teenager Richard Gasquet saves three match points before capturing a third-set tiebreaker at the Monte Carlo Masters. Federer’s 35-1 record this year is the best start on the men’s tour since John McEnroe was 39-0 in 1984.

2005 — Two-time Olympic champion Steven Lopez of the United States wins his third world taekwondo title, capturing the welterweight gold medal with a 3-2 victory over Ali Tajik of Iran.

2018 — Victor Oladipo scores 32 points and the Indiana Pacers hold off Cleveland’s second-half rally for a stunning 98-80 victory in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference series, handing LeBron James and the Cavaliers’ their first loss in the opening round in eight years.

2019 — The Clippers overcome an NBA record 31-point deficit to score an improbable 135-131 Game 2 playoff victory over the Golden State Warriors.

Compiled by the Associated Press

This day in baseball history

1909 — Leon Ames of the New York Giants pitched a no-hitter for 9 1-3 innings on opening day, but lost 3-0 to Brooklyn in 13 innings.

1915 — Rube Marquard of the New York Giants no-hit the Brooklyn Dodgers, winning 2-0.

1947 — Jackie Robinson played his first major league game for the Dodgers. He went 0-for-3, but scored the deciding run in a 5-3 victory over the Boston Braves in Brooklyn. He was the first Black man to appear in the majors since 1884.

1957 — President Eisenhower officially opened the 1956 season by tossing out the first ball at Griffith Stadium in Washington D.C. The ball was the 10 millionth Spalding baseball to be used in major league play.

1958 — Major league baseball came to California as the transplanted Giants and Dodgers played the first game on the Pacific Coast. Playing in Seals Stadium in San Francisco, Ruben Gomez blanked Los Angeles 8-0.

1968 — Houston and the New York Mets played 24 innings in a night game in the Astrodome before the Astros won 1-0. The game lasted more than six hours.

1976 — New York opened the refurbished Yankee Stadium with an 11-4 rout of the Minnesota Twins.

1977 — Hank Aaron becomes the first player to have his uniform number retired by two teams. The Atlanta Braves retire his No. 44 during a pre-game ceremony. The Milwaukee Brewers had previously retired Aaron’s number.

1987 — Juan Nieves threw the first no-hitter in Brewers history as Milwaukee beat Baltimore 7-0.

1993 — Sparky Anderson earned his 2,000th victory as a manager as the Detroit Tigers rallied to beat the Oakland Athletics 3-2.

1993 — Andre Dawson became the 25th player to hit 400 home runs as the Boston Red Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 4-3.

1997 — The 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s breaking the color barrier in major league baseball is celebrated before 54,047 at Shea Stadium during a game between the Mets and the Dodgers. MLB retires Robinson’s No. 42 for all of major league baseball.

1998 — The first-ever AL-NL doubleheader is held in New York’s Shea Stadium as the New York Yankees beat the Angels 6-3 and the New York Mets edge the Chicago Cubs 2-1. The Yankees draw a crowd of 40,743, a dramatic contrast to the gathering of 16,012 who show up for the Mets game at night.

2000 — Cal Ripken became the 24th player to reach 3,000 hits when he lined a clean single to center off Twins reliever Hector Carrasco. He reached the milestone with his third hit in a 6-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins and became the seventh player in major league history to get 3,000 hits and 400 home runs.

2004 — Fifty-seven years after the historic event, major league baseball begins the tradition of Jackie Robinson Day, an annual celebration marking the day the color line was broken.

2006 — Eric Chavez, Frank Thomas, and Milton Bradley all homered on consecutive pitches in Oakland’s 5-4 victory over Texas.

2008 — Jose Lopez became the 12th player in major league history to hit three sacrifice flies in a game, and the Seattle Mariners tied the team record for five sac flies in an 11-6 victory over Kansas City.

2009 — Every player in Major League Baseball wears number 42 today on Jackie Robinson Day, in honor of the anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color line.

2009 — Ian Kinsler of Texas became the fourth player in team history to hit for the cycle, and was 6-for-6 in Texas’ 19-6 win over Baltimore.

2010 — Florida’s Jorge Cantu extended his major league season-opening record to 10 games with a hit in a 10-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

2011 — Texas tied an AL record by turning six double plays and the Rangers picked up where they left off last October, beating the New York Yankees 5-3. This was the 15th time an AL team made six DPs in a game. The major league mark for double plays in a game is seven by San Francisco in 1969.

2011 — Brennan Boesch hit a go-ahead two-run double with the bases loaded in the 10th inning and Detroit rallied to beat Oakland 8-4 for manager Jim Leyland’s 1,500th win. Leyland became the 19th major league manager to reach 1,500 wins.

2012 — Vin Scully is back in the broadcast booth for a record 63rd season after missing a week with a bad cold.

2022 — Jackie Robinson Day is celebrated across North America on the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color line in Major League Baseball.

Compiled by the Associated Press

Until next time…

That concludes today’s newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

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How popular are the Dodgers? Even the Lakers look up at them. Way up.

The Dodgers are too good, and too rich. If the owners of other major league teams ultimately deem that combination so objectionable that they shut down the sport this winter because of it, they will risk a rupture in one of the greatest fan bases in American sports history.

The four million tickets the Dodgers sold last season tells one part of the story. Here is an arguably better one: For decades, the Dodgers and Lakers have dominated Los Angeles sports and left every other team far behind in popularity.

For now, after back-to-back World Series championships, the Dodgers have left even the Lakers far behind in popularity, and every other team in town even further behind.

In a Loyola Marymount survey asking Los Angeles County residents to identify their favorite among the 12 pro sports teams within the local media market, nearly half picked the Dodgers.

The Dodgers’ lead over the Lakers — 43% to 28% — represented the largest gap between the teams in the nine editions of the survey, first conducted in 2014 by the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles.

The Rams ranked third, at 7%, followed by the Kings at 5% and the Angels at 4%.

The two women’s teams — Angel City FC and the Sparks — tied for last, each with less than 1% of the vote. Even when the study separated votes by gender, the two women’s teams got less than 1% of the vote from women.

As recently as 2018, five teams beyond the Dodgers and Lakers — the Angels, Clippers, Galaxy, Kings and Rams — attracted at least 4% of the vote. In this year’s survey, only the Rams did.

“I’m a big Rams fan,” said Fernando Guerra, the center’s director, “and I still put the Dodgers first.

“I love all these teams. But, when you have to choose one, it’s the Dodgers.”

Dodgers president Stan Kasten pointed to the popularity and excellence of the players, the cherished ballpark and the generational fan support as factors contributing to the top ranking.

“If you have a lot of good elements but you don’t win, you’re not going to be as high,” Kasten said. “And, if you win but you don’t have the other elements, you’re not going to be as high.

“I think, right now, we’re as close as you can be to clicking on all cylinders.”

Beyond the winning, Guerra cited Shohei Ohtani as a driving force behind the Dodgers’ popularity, and not just as a tourist attraction, merchandise driver, and the foremost product endorser in sports.

In 2018, Ohtani’s debut season with the Angels, 8% of fans that identified themselves as Asian picked the Angels as their favorite team and 34% picked the Dodgers — a terrific showing for the Angels, since the study polls residents in L.A. County, not Orange County.

That demographic this year: 4% picked the Angels, 47% picked the Dodgers.

In their 10 years since returning to Los Angeles, the Rams have made seven playoff appearances and two Super Bowl appearances, winning one. All that, and a half-century in their previous run in L.A., and their membership in the most popular sports league in America, and the best they could do was 7%.

“It’s just tough to break the Lakers’ and Dodgers’ hold,” Guerra said. “It’s not like we don’t love the Rams or the others. It’s just not your top priority.”

The Lakers and Dodgers have combined to win 20 championships in Los Angeles. The other 10 teams that call this market home have combined to win 16.

In the 13 seasons since Mark Walter and Co. bought the Dodgers, the team has won 12 division titles, made five World Series appearances, and won three championships. In the same time, the Lakers have won three division titles, advanced past the first round of the playoffs twice, and won one championship.

Walter bought a controlling interest in the Lakers last year. He has installed Lon Rosen, formerly the Dodgers’ executive vice president and chief marketing officer, as the Lakers’ president of business operations.

“When the Lakers are winning a lot of championships, they’re No. 1,” Rosen said. “When the Dodgers are, they’re No. 1.

“It’s a good position to be in, since we control both teams, and both teams are highly successful.”

In this moment, the Dodgers are highly successful.

“The Lakers and Dodgers are going to be neck and neck very soon,” Rosen said. “The Lakers will 100% be champions again soon.”

The Dodgers do not concede the days of neck and neck will return. Kasten, remember, said the Dodgers were as close as they could be to clicking on all cylinders.

“We don’t take that for granted,” he said. “We know we can do even better.”

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High school baseball and softball: Tuesday’s scores

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL, SOFTBALL SCORES

Tuesday’s Results

BASEBALL

CITY SECTION
Collins Family 14, Animo Venice 6
Granada Hills 4, Cleveland 0

SOUTHERN SECTION
AAE 10, Lucerne Valley 1
Adelanto 9, Silverado 6
Alemany 10, Chaminade 6
Alhambra 11, San Gabriel 1
Aliso Niguel 4, Capistrano Valley 3
Anaheim 14, Saddleback 1
Animo Leadership 5, Ambassador 3
Anza Hamilton 8, United Christian Academy 7
Artesia 21, Whitney 0
Banning 11, Desert Mirage 5
Beckman 5, Mission Viejo 2
Bethel Christian 18, Grove School 1
Bishop Montgomery 7, St. Monica 0
Bloomington 18, Eisenhower 4
Burbank Burroughs 6, Arcadia 3
Cajon 1, Redlands East Valley 0
Calvary Baptist 11, Cornerstone Christian 1
Cantwell-Sacred Heart 10, Rosemead 9
Cerritos Valley Christian 6, Whittier Christian 4
Chaffey 3, Montclair 2
Chaparral 8, Murrieta Valley 4
Chino 12, Diamond Ranch 0
CIMSA 15, Victor Valley Christian 0
Citrus Valley 8, Redlands 0
Colton 6, Arroyo Valley 1
Corona del Mar 3, Los Alamitos 2
Costa Mesa 4, Ocean View 3
Crossroads 5, Windward 3
Culver City 14, Compton Centennial 2
Cypress 5, El Dorado 0
Don Lugo 15, Ontario 0
Edison 8, Marina 6
Elsinore 15, San Jacinto 2
El Toro 6, San Juan Hills 4
Esperanza 7, Anaheim Canyon 2
Flintridge Prep 14, Rio Hondo Prep 2
Fontana 13, Rim of the World 3
Foothill Tech 2, Grace 1
Garden Grove 1, Placentia Valencia 0
Garden Grove Santiago 10, Western 9
Granite Hills 7, Victor Valley 1
Harvard-Westlake 8, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 0
Hemet 8, Riverside North 2
Heritage Christian 9, Vasquez 6
Huntington Beach 16, Fountain Valley 4
Jurupa Hills 3, Carter 2
La Canada 7, Temple City 0
Laguna Hills 3, Katella 0
La Habra 3, El Modena 2
La Mirada 3, Warren 2
Lawndale 12, Inglewood 2
Leuzinger 9, Hawthorne 0
Loara 6, Century 2
Los Altos 4, San Dimas 0
Los Amigos 19, Rancho Alamitos 2
Los Osos 8, Chino Hills 7
Magnolia 15, Santa Ana Valley 0
Maranatha 8, Village Christian 0
Mary Star of the Sea 16, St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy 1
Mayfair 12, Lynwood 0
Milken 10, de Toledo 0
Montebello 15, Bell Gardens 1
Muir 12, Hoover 1
Newbury Park 7, Agoura 3
Norwalk 22, Dominguez 3
Orange 16, Bolsa Grande 1
Orange Lutheran 8, JSerra 3
Oxford Academy 11, Glenn 5
Paraclete 11, Bosco Tech 0
Paramount 15, Firebaugh 0
Pasadena 11, Glendale 0
Pasadena Poly 3, Chadwick 2
Rialto 2, Kaiser 1
Rio Mesa 4, Buena 2
Riverside Prep 11, Trinity Classical Academy 4
Salesian 16, Verbum Dei 1
San Marcos 3, Oxnard 2
San Marino 13, South Pasadena 4
Santa Fe 8, Buena Park 2
Santa Monica 6, Beverly Hills 2
Savanna 6, Estancia 1
Schurr 7, Mark Keppel 3
Sierra Canyon 4, St. Francis 1
Silver Valley 9, ACE 8
South Hills 17, Colony 0
Southlands Christian 11, Pomona 5
St. John Bosco 5, Santa Margarita 1
Summit 10, Grand Terrace 0
Tahquitz 8, Moreno Valley 5
Temecula Prep 19, California Military 2
Temecula Valley 5, Great Oak 3
Thacher 11, Cate 7
Thousand Oaks 15, Oaks Christian 10
Torrance 10, Long Beach Wilson 3
Trabuco Hills 3, Dana Hills 2
Tustin 5, Segerstrom 0
Ventura 4, Oxnard Pacifica 3
Villanova Prep 8, Santa Clara 1
Villa Park 2, Santa Ana Foothill 1
Vista Murrieta 14, Murrieta Mesa 6
Westlake 2, Calabasas 0
West Valley 4, Temescal Canyon 2
Westview 4, Fallbrook 2
Yucaipa 3, Beaumont 1
YULA 7, Buckley 0

INTERSECTIONAL
Bishop Union 13, California City 12
Boron 17, Frazier Mountain 7
California Lutheran 18, Sherman Indian 17
Immanuel Christian 22, Trona 7
Kern Valley 6, Rosamond 2
Lone Pine 18, Mojave 1

SOFTBALL

CITY SECTION
Animo Robinson 14, LAAAE 2
CNDLC 20, Smidt Tech 18
Triumph Charter 17, Discovery 4

SOUTHERN SECTION
Agoura 5, Newbury Park 4
Aliso Niguel 5, Capistrano Valley 1
Alta Loma 17, Colony 6
Aquinas 4, Ontario Christian 0
Archer 11, Brentwood 1
Artesia 3, Pioneer 2
Big Bear 23, Lucerne Valley 0
Burbank 21, Pasadena 3
Burbank Burroughs 21, Hoover 0
Cajon 15, Redlands 4
California 5, El Rancho 0
Cathedral City 23, Desert Hot Springs 0
Cerritos 21, Glenn 1
Chaffey 24, Montclair 2
Chaminade 12, Harvard-Westlake 2
Chino 14, Diamond Ranch 6
Citrus Hill 17, Bethel Christian 14
Citrus Valley 7, Beaumont 6
Colton 16, Kaiser 6
Corona del Mar 26, Estancia 1
Crean Lutheran 9, Troy 2
Crescenta Valley 18, Glendale 0
CSDR 23, La Sierra Academy 14
Culver City 21, Compton Centennial 0
Don Lugo 12, Ontario 2
Eisenhower 20, San Gorgonio 7
El Dorado 4, Sonora 1
Elsinore 14, Tahquitz 1
Etiwanda 11, Chino Hills 9
Faith Baptist 14, Desert Christian 0
Fillmore 14, Carpinteria 0
Fontana 18, Rim of the World 2
Gahr 6, Mayfair 3
Garden Grove Pacifica 4, Cypress 3
Grand Terrace 5, Jurupa Hills 4
Granite Hills 13, Victor Valley 3
Great Oak 16, Chaparral 5
Hart 14, Canyon Country Canyon 1
Heritage Christian 23, Immaculate Heart 4
Highland 10, Knight 0
HMSA 14, Compton Early College 3
Huntington Beach 5, Edison 0
Indio 21, Yucca Valley 0
Irvine 15, Portola 0
Irvine University 8, Woodbridge 2
JSerra 10, Mater Dei 1
Katella 13, Westminster 2
La Habra 5, Anaheim Canyon 2
Lakewood St. Joseph 13, Bishop Montgomery 1
Lancaster 6, Eastside 5
La Salle 17, St. Anthony 0
Leuzinger 10, Hawthorne 9
Linfield Christian 18, Woodcrest Christian 6
Littlerock 23, Antelope Valley 4
Long Beach Poly 10, Lakewood 6
Long Beach Wilson 18, Long Beach Jordan 0
Los Alamitos 11, Fountain Valley 2
Marina 15, Newport Harbor 0
Mayfield 12, Westridge 1
Monrovia 8, South Pasadena 0
Moorpark 9, Oak Park 3
Muir 5, Arcadia 4
Norwalk 12, Firebaugh 2
Oaks Christian 6, Thousand Oaks 4
Orange Lutheran 13, Santa Margarita 0
Palos Verdes 9, Millikan 2
Paraclete 17, Bishop Amat 2
Paramount 19, Dominguez 0
Quartz Hill 10, Palmdale 0
Ramona Convent 5, Cantwell-Sacred Heart 3
Rancho Cucamonga 2, Los Osos 1
Rialto 15, Arroyo Valley 5
Riverside North 14, Liberty 5
Riverside Notre Dame 21, Bloomington 14
Rosary Academy 11, Northwood 3
San Clemente 6, Mission Viejo 1
San Jacinto Valley Academy 29, Nuview Bridge 6
San Juan Hills 4, Beckman 0
San Marcos 7, Oxnard 6
Santa Ana Foothill 7, Sunny Hills 2
Sante Fe 2, La Serna 1
Santa Paula 16, Hueneme 1
Saugus 10, Castaic 2
Schurr 13, Mark Keppel 0
Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 14, Louisville 2
Silverado 9, Adelanto 8
South Hills 18, San Dimas 5
St. Bonaventure 23, Foothill Tech 4
St. Monica 11, Bishop Conaty-Loretto 4
St. Paul 13, Villa Park 2
St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy 15, St. Bernard 3
Temecula Prep 22, California Military 1
Temescal Canyon 12, West Valley 0
Temple City 18, Blair 0
Trabuco Hills 7, Dana Hills 5
Twentynine Palms 19, Coachella Valley 9
United Christian Academy 12, California Lutheran 0
Ventura 16, Oxnard Pacifica 2
Viewpoint 13, Oakwood 0
Village Christian 2, Maranatha 0
Vista Murrieta 14, Murrieta Valley 13
Warren 5, La Mirada 1
Western Christian 14, Southlands Christian 4
Westlake 16, Calabasas 0
West Ranch 28, Golden Valley 1
West Torrance 10, Torrance 7
Whittier Christian 6, Cerritos Valley Christin 3
Yorba Linda 11, Brea Olinda 9
Yucaipa 7, Redlands East Valley 1

INTERSECTIONAL
Alemany 3, Granada Hills Kennedy 1
Anza Hamilton 10, Sherman Indian 1
Camarillo 11, Birmingham 1
El Segundo 4, San Pedro 3

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High school softball top 20 rankings for the Southland

A look at the top 20 high school softball teams in the Southland as ranked by CalHiSports.com for The Times.

Rk.; Last ranking; School; Record

1. (1) Murrieta Mesa 18-0

2. (2) Norco 17-2

3. (3) Fullerton 18-2

4. (4) Etiwanda 17-1

5. (5) La Mirada 18-2

6. (6) Ganesha 11-2

7. (7) Orange Lutheran 15-5

8. (8) JSerra 15-6

9. (9) Oaks Christian 17-3

10. (11) Sherman Oaks Notre Dame14-3

11. (10) M.L. King 15-5

12. (12) Downey 16-4

13. (13) Chino Hills 15-6

14. (NR) Ayala 11-3

15. (16) Chaminade 13-3-1

16. (18) La Habra 16-5

17. (15) California 16-4

18. (19) Anaheim Canyon 13-9

19. (20) Westlake 12-3-1

20. (NR) Glendora 16-1-2

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Felipe Staiti, Enanitos Verdes guitarist and vocalist, dies at 64

Felipe Staiti, guitarist and founding member of Enanitos Verdes, has died. He was 64.

The seminal Argentine rock band’s official X account confirmed his death on Tuesday.

“His music, his dedication, and his story remain forever with us and with all those who accompanied him throughout these years,” read a statement posted on X.

Staiti died Monday due to health complications following his hospitalization in the Argentine city of Mendoza, per the national news outlet Los Andes.

Born in the province of Mendoza in 1961, Staiti was an original member of Enanitos Verdes, which formed in 1979 with lead vocalist and bassist Marciano Cantero and drummer Daniel Piccolo. The band later added guitarist and vocalist Sergio Embrioni and keyboardist Tito Dávila.

With beloved hits such as “Lamento Boliviano” and “La Muralla Verde,” the band was part of the Latin America rock scene that rose to global popularity in the 1990s. As of March 31, its classic soft rock ballad “Lamento Boliviano” about emotional anguish entered the Spotify Billions club, surpassing the 1 billion streams threshold on the platform.

In 1997, following the release of its eighth studio album, “Guerra Gaucha” — which marked the band’s shift into more social and political themes — former Los Angeles Times reporter Enrique Lavin called Enanitos Verdes a “perennial presence on the Southern California rock en español scene.”

Following the 2022 death of longtime band member Cantero, who died in September 2022 due to kidney complications, Staiti picked up Cantero’s responsibilities as lead vocalist, performing live for the first time that December at the Bésame Mucho Festival at Dodger Stadium.

According to Los Andes, Staiti had long suffered from health issues in the years preceding his death. He contracted a bacterial infection in Mexico in late 2024, which combined with his celiac disease triggered severe dehydration that resulted in a monthlong stay at the hospital. This led to severe weight loss, which affected his vocal muscles and resulted in the cancellation of several performances across South America.

In 2025, Enanitos Verdes joined forces with Hombres G for their “Huevos Revuletos Tour,” stopping in various cities across California, including the Yaamava’ Theater in Highland, the SAP Center in San Jose and the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Enanitos Verdes are currently still scheduled to perform at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on May 26.

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Erewhon to open at LACMA’s new David Geffen Galleries

Want to sip on Hailey Bieber’s Strawberry Glaze Skin Smoothie after staring at Vincent van Gogh’s “Tarascon Stagecoach”? Los Angeles County Museum of Art has got you covered.

The museum announced Tuesday that it has partnered with Erewhon, the high-end L.A. health food chain and retailer, on a cafe located on the ground level of its new David Geffen galleries. The cafe, which has outdoor seating beside Alexander Calder’s fountain sculpture, “Three Quintains (Hello Girls),” will open Sunday for LACMA members visiting the David Geffen Galleries. The general public can get in on the coveted buffalo cauliflower when the new building opens to the public on May 4 — with the partnership continuing through the summer. No definite closure has been announced, so it’s possible the collaboration continues.

“We’re so proud to partner with LACMA, a meaningful milestone as our first museum collaboration,” said Tony Antoci, CEO and owner of Erewhon, and Josephine Antoci, president and owner of Erewhon in a statement. “It really feels like a celebration of Los Angeles, bringing Erewhon and LACMA together to nourish and inspire the community we love.”

The collaboration between the store, which enjoys a cult-like following, with one of the city’s most anticipated new cultural offerings is expected to draw an eager crowd. Guests can grab a ticket to the museum, or simply enjoy a drink while strolling around the museum’s 3.5 acres of new park space, and taking in a variety of newly installed public artwork including Jeff Koons’ towering topiary sculpture, “Split Rocker.”

Two additional drinking and dining options — a wine bar and a restaurant — will open later this year, but no establishments have been named yet for those spots.

Erewhon at LACMA will be open during museum hours.

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Will 2026 be the long-awaited rebound for movie theaters?

It has been just one day at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, and there’s already a palpable sense of relief in the air.

Attendance at this year’s show is up about 5% from last year, according to Cinema United, the trade group that organizes the four-day convocation of thousands of movie theater owners, studio executives and industry folks at Caesars Palace.

Groups of people wearing orange-colored lanyards are everywhere throughout the hotel and casino, with many filling the Colosseum on Monday afternoon for a presentation from specialty film companies Angel Studios, Sony Pictures Classics and StudioCanal.

“The energy in every room reflected a sector that believes deeply in its own future,” said Stephanie Silverman, owner of the Belcourt Theatre in Nashville who serves on Cinema United’s strategic planning committee. “For independents, that sense of collective purpose is powerful — we’re not just holding on, we’re building toward something real and lasting.”

Amid such upbeat sentiment, CinemaCon allows theater owners and their business partners to see what’s coming from each studio and get a snapshot of the year ahead.

You’re reading the Wide Shot

Samantha Masunaga delivers the latest news, analysis and insights on everything from streaming wars to production — and what it all means for the future.

On Monday, Provo, Utah-based Angel Studios showed footage from their upcoming film “Young Washington,” about the early life of the first U.S. president, as well as a trailer from an animated retelling of George Orwell’s “Animal Farm.”

“Theatrical isn’t fragile,” Shelley Schulz, vice president of domestic theatrical sales and exhibitor strategy at Angel Studios, said during the presentation. “It’s not fading. It’s evolving.”

European indie film studio StudioCanal also unveiled some of its upcoming films, including scenes from a new animated “Shaun the Sheep” movie that got laughs from the audience, before bringing out director Danny Boyle to applause and cheers to speak about his new film “Ink,” about the beginnings of the British tabloid “The Sun.”

Later this week, Warner Bros., Universal, Amazon MGM, Paramount and Disney will unveil footage from their upcoming releases and likely bring their major stars on-stage to build excitement about this year’s slate.

As I reported Monday, a string of recent hits like Amazon MGM Studios’ “Project Hail Mary” and Universal Pictures, Nintendo and Illumination’s “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” have pushed year-to-date domestic box office revenue about 23% higher than the same time last year.

The upswing signals that the exhibition business is embarking on its long-awaited recovery from the devastating downturn that occurred in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Studio executives and theater operators chalk up the improved prospects in part to a better and more plentiful crop of bankable movies that are bringing people back to the multiplex.

Exhibitors feel better about the lineup this year — it’s full of major franchises like “Star Wars” and Marvel superheroes as well as well-known animated titles such as “Toy Story 5” and “Minions & Monsters.” Also coming are anticipated films from acclaimed directors Christopher Nolan and Steven Spielberg.

“We’re getting into that cadence we needed in terms of having good movies, different types of movies being released every weekend,” Cinépolis USA Chief Executive Luis Olloqui told me ahead of CinemaCon. “This year in general, we’re feeling more confident, more optimistic.”

It’s quite the turnaround from the anxiety I heard last year leading into CinemaCon, when theater owners grappled with the box office downturn and the general shakiness of the industry.

Not to say that this year is all roses.

As I wrote, there are still major question marks facing the industry, including how Paramount Skydance’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery will affect the business. Paramount Chief Executive David Ellison has said the combined company will release 30 films a year, but exhibitors fear that cost cuts from the deal could impede that goal, which many believe is unrealistic.

And Hollywood is still going through a painful retrenchment.

Just last week, Sony Pictures Entertainment said it would cut hundreds of jobs across its film, TV and corporate divisions. Then came the news about upcoming layoffs at Disney, which could number as many as 1,000.

It hasn’t been much better in the exhibition space, either. In February, Dallas-based Look Dine-In Cinemas abruptly closed three Southern California locations; then, in March, the iPic chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and said it planned to pursue a sale of its assets.

A better box office this year wouldn’t solve all of these problems, but it would inject more hope into an industry that has been in turmoil since the pandemic.

Stuff we wrote

Film shoots

Number of the week

eight hundred eighty-seven million dollars

Warner Bros. Discovery Chief Executive David Zaslav could get as much as $887 million to leave the company after the Paramount Skydance acquisition.

That amount “represents one of the highest golden parachute estimates ever observed,” investor advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services wrote in a recent report. The firm said support for the proposal “is not warranted.”

Warner shareholders will vote April 23 on the proposed takeover.

What I’m watching

For years, one of the shows on my weekly must-watch list is “Ghosts,” the delightful comedy about a couple who moves into a historic mansion haunted by its previous inhabitants. After a long week, the antics of Viking ghost Thorfinn always make me laugh.

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LeBron James takes the reins for Lakers entering playoffs

Welcome back to The Times’ Lakers newsletter, where it’s finally the postseason.

The Lakers begin the playoffs Saturday against the Houston Rockets, a team that a month ago looked like one of the most vulnerable playoff targets in the West. Now the tables have turned. The Lakers, without Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic, are the team everyone wanted to see in the first round. They’re shorthanded. They’re vulnerable. But they’re not giving up.

“All season people have counted us out and all we season we have continued to show why we belong here and that we really don’t care what people say,” guard Marcus Smart said. “And that’s us. That’s who we are and I think it shows with our two guys down and the way we finished the season and the miles we had going into the playoffs.”

One player on this team has significantly more miles on his tread, but you wouldn’t be able to tell from watching him race down the court for another crowd-pleasing dunk.

All things Lakers, all the time.

Get all the Lakers news you need in Thuc Nhi Nguyen’s weekly newsletter.

The crown still fits

LeBron James chuckled at the suggestion. He smiled before the question was done.

How does he feel like he’s handled the shift back to the being the Lakers’ primary option?

“What’s wrong with you, man?” James said with a smile.

He’s not new to this. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer is taking back the reins as the Lakers’ No. 1 playmaker and steering the team straight into the postseason.

Since Doncic and Reaves were injured, James has averaged 25.5 points, 11 assists, 6.8 rebounds and 2.5 steals, finishing the season with an exclamation point against the Utah Jazz: 18 points, six assists and three steals in less than 17 minutes Sunday. A month after acknowledging and adjusting to life as the world’s most accomplished third fiddle, James was named Western Conference player of the week Monday, the 70th such honor of his career.

“He had not a good season, not a great [season],” Lakers coach JJ Redick said, “he had a remarkable season, all things considered.”

Like the wine he’s cut out of his diet, James is aging just fine. After sitting out of the first 14 games, James played in 60 of the final 68. Even though he often joked that at his age he was questionable for every game, he averaged 23.3 points in his six appearances playing with zero days of rest, shooting 58% from the field with 8.3 assists and 6.7 rebounds per game. It was more points than he averaged on one or two days’ rest.

With Doncic orchestrating most of the Lakers’ offense, James found a different way to thrive. The 41-year-old led the league with 5.7 fast-break points per game.

Of James’ 919 total made field goals, 97 were dunks. The 11.2% was tied for the largest percentage of dunks in a season in his career. It was nearly a decade ago — 2016-17 — that he dunked this often. More than 20% of his made field goals are dunks, the most of any season in his career.

“I think there’s an enjoyment level that I think he gets from making highlight plays and it feeds into it with the crowd,” Redick said. “I think that’s just part of it. The other part of it is, for him, I think he recognizes that’s one of the ways that he can really impact winning on our team. And so he’s taken [the] responsibility of, like, ‘I’m going to be the best transition player in the NBA,’ and he has been.”

James’ ruthlessness in transition set the tone for teammates, who couldn’t be seen moving slower than someone who is closer to their father’s age than theirs.

“If we see him run down, he beats us down the court, that’s not a good thing,” center Jaxson Hayes said. “So I feel like I got to get down there when I see him start going.”

The 22-time All-Star is now leading more than just a fast break for the Lakers. The team experienced an emotional hangover after the regular season-ending injuries to Reaves and Doncic. The Lakers needed more than just points from James to cure their woes.

He delivered by locking in against Golden State, being vocal during the team’s pregame meeting and showing the trademark determination that teammates can’t help but follow. It sparked a three-game winning streak to finish the regular season that James punctuated with several soaring dunks against the Jazz.

“You have no idea how much I have a respect for him,” forward Rui Hachimura said. “It’s his Year 26 or 27, or whatever the hell it is. He’s still playing the last game of the season against the team that, they’re not trying to win. We really appreciate that.”

Smart moves

Marcus Smart

Marcus Smart

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

He’s not Doncic. He’s not Reaves. But Smart’s return to the Lakers’ lineup is still significant in time for the playoffs.

The guard played the final two games of the regular season after missing what felt like the longest, three-week, nine-game stretch in basketball history. Scrambling on the floor next to Maxi Kleber to find Jarred Vanderbilt for a cutting dunk against the Suns on Friday, Smart made the expected immediate defensive difference. But with 17 assists in two appearances, Smart flashed his ability to deliver in different ways on offense.

His timely return can ease the playmaking pressure on Luke Kennard, who filled in admirably in an emergency stretch with 31 assists in four games, and help handle the load next to James.

Smart is especially aware of the energy of his teammates. He is eager to reward centers for running the floor. He shovels the ball to teammates who are going through shooting slumps to prioritize scoring over his own. It’s not a coincidence that he fired two early passes to Deandre Ayton for dunks against the Jazz and Ayton finished with his first 20-point double-double in a month.

“Even post-Boston the last couple seasons he’s graded out well as a secondary playmaker,” Redick said of Smart. “So he’s been in that position before. He knows how to get other guys involved.”

Smart knows the pressure of the playoffs. He helped the Boston Celtics reach the NBA Finals in 2022, but hasn’t played in the postseason since he was traded in 2023. He missed it. So even if he’ll begin this postseason journey without two of his main teammates, Smart will relish this chance.

“It ain’t gonna be easy,” Smart said. “We all know it, but it’s gonna be fun, and we’re gonna enjoy this ride.”

On tap

Saturday vs. Rockets, 5:30 p.m.

Here we go, friends. Game 1 of the playoffs. In March, these teams played a two-game series in Houston that felt like a playoff preview, but circumstances have changed completely since Doncic’s clutch time brilliance led the Lakers to two key wins. The Lakers went 22-8 in games within five points in the last five minutes this season, but the Rockets had a 22-23 clutch time record, which ranked 16th in the NBA, the worst clutch-time winning percentage for any Western Conference playoff team.

Status report

Jaxson Hayes: left foot soreness

Hayes missed the past four games of the regular season. He was a late scratch before the game against Oklahoma City on April 7 and has remained day to day since.

Luka Doncic: left hamstring strain

After getting injections on his injured hamstring in Spain, Doncic will be back stateside by Friday but there is no timetable for his return to the lineup.

Austin Reaves: left oblique strain

Reaves is working hard to return this season but similar to Doncic, there’s no timeline for his comeback yet.

Favorite thing I ate this week

Lotus root kofta curry (left), paratha and duck confit biryani from Rasa in Burlingame, Calif.

Lotus root kofta curry (left), paratha and duck confit biryani from Rasa in Burlingame, Calif.

(Thuc Nhi Nguyen / Los Angeles Times)

On my way to San Francisco last week, my colleague Broderick Turner texted me to “find a good restaurant.” You don’t have to tell me twice.

I went straight from the airport to Rasa in Burlingame, which specializes in Southern Indian dishes. We explored the tasting menu, which offered two appetizers, a dosa and two entrees. We started with the rasa sliders, which were spiced potato fritters with a tamarind chutney and cilantro chutney, General Tso’s cauliflower, an Indian-Chinese crossover with a familiar spicy sauce. The dosa was filled with a tamarind-spiced potato masala with basil chutney, ginger, garlic and cilantro. It was my favorite dish of the night, but I was so consumed by eating it, I forgot to take a picture. The mains (pictured) were a vegan lotus root kofta curry and duck confit biryani. I could barely touch my entree because I was so full from the first two courses, but it made great leftovers for the morning after the game.

In case you missed it

Luka Doncic rejoining Lakers after getting injury treatment in Europe

How do the Lakers match up against the Houston Rockets entering their playoff series?

‘Mr. 82.’ How Jake LaRavia became the injury-plagued Lakers’ iron man

Lakers defeat Jazz, will open playoffs at home against Houston

‘He does so many more things.’ How Luke Kennard became the Lakers’ emergency point guard

Plaschke: Broken Lakers need to shut down the season

Lakers great Michael Cooper is introduced as Cal State L.A. men’s basketball coach

Until next time…

As always, pass along your thoughts to me at thucnhi.nguyen@latimes.com, and please consider subscribing if you like our work!

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Joyful UCLA dominates WNBA draft on record-setting night

UCLA women’s basketball just keeps winning.

The latest edition of UCLA Unlocked was delayed one day so that we could include what turned out to be a magical, recording setting WNBA draft night for the Bruins.

UCLA set a WNBA draft record with five players selected in the first round and another draft record with six selected overall during the three-round draft Monday night in New York.

The Bruins rocked the orange carpet and then waited with UCLA coach Cori Close and their families to learn their draft fate.

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UCLA Bruins Angela Dugalic, Kiki Rice, Gianna Kneepkens, Lauren Betts and Gabriela Jaquez pose at the WNBA draft.

UCLA Bruins Angela Dugalic, Kiki Rice, Gianna Kneepkens, Lauren Betts and Gabriela Jaquez pose on the orange carpet at the WNBA draft in New York.

(Angelina Katsanis / Getty Images)

They didn’t wait long. Lauren Betts was first off the board, selected by the Washington Mystics with the No. 4 pick.

“These are like my sisters, and getting to watch your family do something like that is amazing,” Betts told the Associated Press. “But I mean, this team is just so special. We knew the type of players that we had on the team, and to really just have this night really showcase all of the things that we’ve worked on all season is just amazing.”

Gabriela Jaquez was next in line, getting drafted higher than expected when the Chicago Sky used the No. 5 pick to select her.

“Jaquez is a battle-tested three-level scorer who improved every year in college,” Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca said. “Combine her on-skill talent with the fact that she’s a proven winner, and you have a player that perfectly fits the Sky’s vision.”

Next, Kiki Rice was selected No. 6 by the Toronto Tempo.

After a few gaps, Angela Dugalic was drafted at the No. 9 spot by the Mystics and Gianna Kneepkens was drafted at the No. 15 spot by the Connecticut Sun.

“We’re excited to welcome Gianna to our team,” Sun general manager Morgan Tuck said. “She’s experienced success UCLA within a winning culture and brings a mindset defined by toughness and consistency every time she steps on the floor on both ends. Her shooting ability is elite and truly sets her apart, but we’re equally impressed by the complete game she’s shown throughout her college career.”

UCLA guard Charlisse Leger-Walker poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected No. 18 by the Sun.

UCLA guard Charlisse Leger-Walker poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected No. 18 by the Connecticut Sun on Monday in New York.

(Pamela Smith / Associated Press)

The WNBA made a ridiculous decision, opting not to officially invite the sixth member of UCLA’s super senior and graduate student class to the draft. Charlisse Leger-Walker went anyway as a guest and was the record sixth Bruin selected, getting drafted in the second round by the Sun with the No. 18 overall pick. She became the first player from New Zealand to ever be drafted.

Leger-Walker told reporters in New York that Dugalic gave up two of her seats at the draft so Leger-Walker and her mother could attend. For the record, Leger-Walker was picked ahead of one player the WNBA officially invited to New York.

“Given how critical the point guard position is, we’re thrilled to welcome Charlisse to our team,” Tuck said. “Her ability to push the pace while also running the offense and leading her teammates is something we truly value. She comes from a winning program, and her skill set, poise and basketball IQ position her game to translate seamlessly to the professional level.”

Close kept popping up to hug her stars and after a season of insisting the journey mattered more than the result, she conceded Monday night mattered.

“Well, I mean, I sort of do care about this one actually, because No. 1, it helps us in recruiting. I think we’ve really taken a developmental approach to this and to see it come to fruition the way it has is obviously really gratifying,” Close told the Associated Press.

“Just to be a part of an historic night and for them to be so excited for each other, that’s sort of representative of how they’ve been all year long. But it’s a pretty cool record to be a part of.”

Bob Chesney leads the UCLA football team in its first spring practice on April 2.

Bob Chesney leads the UCLA football team in its first spring practice on April 2.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The UCLA-feel good energy hasn’t skipped the football program, with new coach Bob Chesney and his staff leading the Bruins through spring football workouts.

Here are three takeaways from the first five spring football practices:

1. No one is naming names.

It’s hard to get coaches or the two football players UCLA has made available for interviews so far this spring to volunteer the names of any players who have performed exceptionally well during spring practice.

“Yeah, um, I don’t want to name drop because I know I’m going to miss a couple, but I think the whole O-line and the whole receiver room collectively have been bringing it every practice and I’ve loved competing with them,” UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava told reporters when asked for his thoughts about the receivers and offensive linemen.

When he was asked who on the defense was making his life difficult, Iamaleava responded: “From the defense? You know, I’m not going to give them too much credit, but I think they do a good job of disguising their coverages.”

Safety Cole Martin was equally measured in his response when asked who were the toughest offensive players to cover.

“I feel like everybody just has their own skill set. You know, learning what they do good, what they don’t do well and trying to figure out how to beat them — ’cause, I mean, it’s spring ball,” Martin said.

The team held its first workout in full pads Saturday and it’s unlikely this embargo on identifying top performers will last forever, but an emphasis on wide open competition has been adopted by coaches and players.

2. Iamaleava is trying to stay on the field.

The quarterback said Saturday he weighs 218 pounds and hopes to reach 220 to 225 pounds by the season opener.

“I took a couple of hits last year and it took a toll on the body, but I think just me recovering over the offseason and coming in ready to work and getting bigger was the main thing for me this offseason,” he said. “So yeah, hopefully when I get to the season I’ll be able to take those hits a little easier.”

3. Martin and Iamaleava have fully embraced Chesney’s emphasis on winning on and off the field.

“How you live your life is going to correlate with how you are on the field,” Martin told reporters Saturday. “When you have great habits outside, you’re going to have great play on the field. Coach Chesney is big on making sure that we realize that you can’t live an average life and then go be amazing at football. Everything has to match up, so if it means that you gotta go to class super, super early or if you gotta wake up really, really early — or whatever that may mean for you and how that individual is — do that and your play on the field will correlate.”

Reddemann recognized

Logan Reddemann of UCLA tied a record with 18 strikeouts on Friday against Rutgers.

Logan Reddemann of UCLA tied a record with 18 strikeouts on Friday against Rutgers.

(Craig Weston)

UCLA junior right-handed pitcher Logan Reddemann swept weekly awards for his performance during the Bruins’ 4-1 win over Rutgers in 14 innings Friday night.

Reddemann earned Golden Spikes player of the week, College Baseball Foundation pitcher of the week, Perfect Game pitcher of the week and Big Ten pitcher of the week and was named to Baseball America’s team of the week. He delivered an NCAA single game record-tying 18 strikeouts over eight innings, leading a Bruins staff that totaled 30 strikeouts, one shy of the NCAA single-game record.

No. 1 UCLA will put its program record 27-game winning streak on the line when it hosts UC Santa Barbara on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. The game air on the Big Ten Network.

UCLA’s next national title?

UCLA senior Jordan Chiles shouts while competing on the floor exercise during the Bruins' regular-season finale meet.

UCLA senior Jordan Chiles shouts while competing on the floor exercise during the the meet against Utah.

(Jesus Ramirez / UCLA Athletics)

Is the Bruins’ gymnastics team is next in line to win a national title?

Jordan Chiles, an Olympic gold medalist and the NCAA West Region gymnast of the year, will lead UCLA during the NCAA gymnastics championships starting Thursday in Fort Worth, Texas.

UCLA will compete in a semifinal against Oklahoma, Arkansas and Minnesota. The Bruins will start on the bars, then proceed to the beam, floor exercise and vault.

The top two teams advance to the finals Saturday against the top two teams from another semifinal featuring LSU, Stanford, Florida and Georgia.

UCLA’s semifinal begins at 6 p.m. Thursday and will air on ESPN2. The finals will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday and air on ABC.

Transfers help basketball teams reload

The men’s and women’s basketball teams have picked up transfers since the portal opened last week.

The women’s basketball team added North Carolina junior guard Elina Aarinsalo, senior TCU guard Donovyn Hunter and Arkansas sophomore guard Bonnie Deas.

Along with returner Timea Gardiner, the Bruins are starting to form a core to defend their national championship. Gardiner was a starter during UCLA’s 2024-25 Final Four run, but she missed all of this last season with an injury and has one season of eligibility left.

The men’s team has picked up commitments from Auburn forward Filip Jovic, Mississippi State forward Sergej Macura and Texas Tech transfer guard Jaylen Petty.

UCLA coach Mick Cronin also retained key pieces of his roster, including Trent Perry and Eric Dailey Jr.

In case you missed it

UCLA breaks WNBA draft records with five first-round picks and six overall

‘Coach Chesney is a winner.’ Nico Iamaleava and Cole Martin sold on Bruins’ new leader

Letters to Sports: Celebrating UCLA’s inspiring national title win

Logan Reddemann strikes out 18; No. 1 UCLA wins in 14 innings over Rutgers

UCLA women’s basketball lands first transfer since winning NCAA championship

‘L.A. cares about women’s basketball now’: UCLA celebrates its national championship

Sondheimer: Mira Costa High volleyball star Mateo Fuerbringer thrives when under pressure

Water spray, chaos and stress tests: Inside Bob Chesney’s UCLA practice philosophy

Here is who decimated national champion UCLA could target in the transfer portal

Plaschke: Aday Mara’s Michigan national title exposes UCLA coach Mick Cronin’s failure

UCLA women’s basketball players crown Cori Close as their champion

Have something Bruin?

Do you have a comment or something you’d like to see in a future UCLA newsletter? Email newsletters editor Houston Mitchell at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

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UCLA has historic day at WNBA draft

UCLA dominates WNBA draft

From Marisa Ingemi: The NCAA national champion UCLA women’s basketball team made history Monday night, with five players selected in the first round of the WNBA draft and six picked overall.

The first Bruin off the board was Lauren Betts, who went No. 4 overall to the Washington Mystics.

Betts’ selection touched off a lengthy Bruins celebration in New York, with UCLA forward Gabriela Jaquez selected No. 5 by the Chicago Sky and teammate Kiki Rice selected No. 6 by the expansion Toronto Tempo.

After a brief break, UCLA forward Angela Dugalic was selected with the No. 9 pick by the Washington Mystics, where she will join Betts.

UCLA guard Gianna Kneepkens completed the Bruins’ record-setting first round when she was selected by the Connecticut Sun at No. 15.

The Bruins’ party continued, with Charlisse Leger-Walker selected with the No. 3 pick of the second round by the Sun.

Continue reading here

Sparks surprised, excited to land versatile South Carolina guard late in WNBA draft

Go beyond the scoreboard

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Dodgers beat the Mets

From Maddie Lee: Dodgers left-hander Justin Wrobleski threw a gem in the Dodgers’ 4-0 win over the Mets on Monday.

He held the Mets to two hits in eight scoreless innings, the longest start of his pro career. He carried a perfect game into the fifth inning, with his defense backing up his efficient effort.

Shortstop Miguel Rojas fully laid out to his left in the second inning to field a sharp grounder off Bo Bichette’s bat, and then casually threw to first to complete the diving play. Third baseman Max Muncy made a leaping grab on Tyrone Taylor’s third-inning line drive.

Wrobleski made quick work of the rest.

Continue reading here

Whatever happened to Julio Urías? ‘Teams ask me about him all the time,’ agent says

Dodgers box score

MLB standings

Angels fall to Yankees

Aaron Judge and Trent Grisham both homered twice and the New York Yankees scored on a game-ending wild pitch in a three-run ninth inning to overcome Mike Trout’s two homers and five RBIs in an 11-10 win over the Angels on Monday night that stopped a five-game losing streak.

Judge and José Caballero each hit a two-run homer off Yusei Kikuchi for a 4-0 second-inning lead on an unseasonably warm 77-degree night, but Caballero’s error on Trout’s fourth-inning leadoff grounder to shortstop led to four unearned runs.

Grisham’s pinch-hit, three-run homer off Shaun Anderson lifted New York into a 7-4 lead in the fifth. Trout, like Judge a three-time AL MVP, tied the score again with a three-run drive in the sixth against Jake Bird.

Continue reading here

Angels box score

MLB standings

Kings clinch playoff spot

Quinton Byfield scored twice, Anton Forsberg made 28 saves and the Kings secured a playoff spot with Monday night’s 5-3 win over the Seattle Kraken.

Trevor Moore, Adrian Kempe and Alex Laferriere also scored for the Kings, who won their fifth straight and are playoff-bound for the fifth consecutive season.

With two games left, the Kings are in position for the second Western Conference wild card and fourth in the Pacific Division, just two points behind second-place Edmonton. The Kings’ victory, combined with Nashville’s loss to San José earlier Monday night, wrapped up their playoff spot and eliminated both the Predators and the Sharks.

Continue reading here

Kings summary

NHL standings

Jonathan Quick retires

From Chuck Schilken: New York Rangers goalkeeper Jonathan Quick is calling it a career after 19 NHL seasons and three Stanley Cup championships — with 16 of those seasons and two championships as a member of the Kings.

The 40-year-old goalie told reporters Monday that he would be playing in his final game that night, where the Rangers lost to the Florida Panthers, 3-2. It marked Quick’s 921st game appearance, counting playoffs.

“Tonight will be my last game in the league, and I am looking forward to it,” Quick said after the morning skate ahead at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla. “My wife flew down with the kids, my parents will be here. I am looking forward to this last one, try to get one more win here.”

Selected by the Kings in the third round of the 2005 draft, Quick became a fixture in front of the net for L.A. during the 2008-09 season. He was a key member of the Kings’ Stanley Cup champion teams in 2012 and 2014, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs with a 16-4 record, a .946 save percentage and 1.41 goals-against average.

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Luka Doncic returns to L.A.

From Thuc Nhi Nguyen: Luka Doncic will be back for the beginning of the Lakers’ playoff run. Just not on the court.

The Lakers’ superstar will rejoin the team by Friday after traveling to Spain to receive specialized treatment on his Grade 2 hamstring strain, a source familiar with the situation confirmed to The Times, but there is no timetable for Doncic’s return to the lineup.

Doncic suffered the injury in a game against Oklahoma City on April 2. A Grade 2 strain typically requires four to six weeks of recovery, but Doncic traveled to Europe to receive injections on his left hamstring with the hope of speeding up the recovery process.

The Lakers (53-29) face the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of the first round on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at Crypto.com Arena. The fourth-seeded Lakers are looking for their first playoff series win since 2023.

They are underdogs without Doncic and guard Austin Reaves, who suffered a Grade 2 left oblique strain in the same game. Doncic led the league in scoring with 33.5 points per game. Reaves, the team’s second-leading scorer at 23.3 points per game, was initially expected to miss four to six weeks with his injury, and is working hard to come back, a source told The Times. There is still no official timetable for his retur

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How do the Lakers match up against the Houston Rockets entering their playoff series?

Lakers playoff schedule

First round
All times Pacific

Saturday: Houston at Lakers, 5:30 p.m, ABC
Game 2: Houston at Lakers, TBD
Game 3: Lakers at Houston, TBD
Game 4: Lakers at Houston, TBD
*Game 5: Houston at Lakers, TBD
*Game 6: Lakers at Houston, TBD
*Game 7: Houston at Lakers, TBD

*-if necessary

Clippers playoff schedule

Wednesday vs. Golden State, 7:30 p.m., Amazon Prime Video

Loser is eliminated, winner advances to second play-in game on Friday, where they will play the loser of the other play-in game. Winner of that game becomes the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

This day in sports history

1928 — The New York Rangers beat the Montreal Maroons for the Stanley Cup, 3-games-to-2.

1931 — The Montreal Canadiens beat the Chicago Blackhawks to win the Stanley Cup after trailing 2-games-to-1.

1941 — 45th Boston Marathon won by Leslie Pawson in 2:30:38; his third victory in the event.

1948 — The Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup in four games as they beat the Detroit Red Wings 7-2.

1955 — Stanley Cup Final, Olympia Stadium, Detroit, MI: Detroit Red Wings win back-to-back titles; beat Montreal Canadiens, 3-1 for a 4-3 series victory.

1960 — The Montreal Canadiens win their fifth straight Stanley Cup with a four-game sweep of the Toronto Maple Leafs, including tonight’s 4-0 victory.

1962 — Elgin Baylor scores a record 61 points to lead the Lakers to a 126-121 triumph over the Boston Celtics in the NBA finals.

1968 — Bob Goalby wins the Masters when Roberto de Vincenzo of Argentina is penalized for signing an incorrect scorecard.

1974 — 38th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Gary Player wins the 2nd of his 3 Masters titles.

1985 — Bernhard Langer beats Curtis Strange, Ray Floyd and Seve Ballesteros by two strokes to win the Masters.

1991 — Ian Woosnam of Wales made a par putt to turn back Tom Watson on the last hole and capture the Masters.

1993 — The NHL’s longest winning streak ends at 17 games as the Pittsburgh Penguins settled for a 6-6 tie with the New Jersey Devils on a late goal by Joe Mullen.

1996 — The Detroit Red Wings wrap up the winningest season in NHL history by defeating Dallas 5-1. The Red Wings finished with 62 victories, beating the 60 wins of the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens.

1996 — Greg Norman shoots a startling 78 in the greatest collapse in Masters history, giving Nick Faldo his third green jacket and sixth major championship.

2002 — Tiger Woods becomes the third player to win back-to-back Masters titles. He closes with a 1-under 71 to claim a three-stroke victory over Retief Goosen.

2013 — Adam Scott becomes the first Australian to win the Masters, beating Angel Cabrera on the second hole of a playoff on a rainy day at Augusta National.

2016 — Breanna Stewart leads a UConn sweep of the first three picks in the WNBA draft, going first overall to the Seattle Storm. Moriah Jefferson went second to San Antonio and Morgan Tuck third to Connecticut, the first time in draft history that three players from the same school went 1-2-3. It’s a first in any major sport.

2019 — 83rd US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Tiger Woods wins his 5th Masters title by 1 stroke from Xander Schauffele.

2024 — 88th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: World #1 golfer Scottie Scheffler beats Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg by 4 strokes for his second Masters win in 3 years

Compiled by the Associated Press

This day in baseball history

1910 — William Howard Taft became the first U.S. president to throw out the first ball at a baseball opener in Washington.

1910 — Chicago’s Frank Smith pitched a one-hitter in the season opener to give the White Sox a win over the St. Louis Browns.

1915 — In the opening game at Philadelphia, left-hander Herb Pennock of the A’s blanked the Red Sox 5-0. He gave up only one hit — a scratch single by Harry Hooper with two out in the ninth.

1917 — Ed Cicotte of the Chicago White Sox pitched an 11-0 no-hitter over the St. Louis Browns.

1925 — The Cleveland Indians opened the season with a 21-14 victory over the St. Louis Browns, the most runs scored by one club on opening day. The Indians scored 12 runs in the eighth inning when the Browns made five errors. Browns first baseman George Sisler had four errors in the game.

1925 — In the first regular-season Chicago Cubs game to be broadcast on the radio, Quin Ryan announces the contest from the grandstand roof for WGN.

1931 — Jack Quinn of the Brooklyn Robins becomes the oldest pitcher to start an Opening Day game at 47 years old.

1961 — The “new” Washington Senators franchise wins its first game, defeating the Cleveland Indians, 3-2.

1964 — Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax throws his ninth complete game without allowing a walk.

1967 — Boston rookie Bill Rohr lost a no-hit bid in his first major league start when Elston Howard singled in the ninth inning for the New York Yankees’ only hit in a 3-0 loss to the Red Sox.

1969 — The first major league game outside the United States was played in Montreal’s Jarry Park with the Expos defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 8-7.

1976 — In the 6th inning of today’s 6-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs, Mets’ Dave Kingman hits what will become widely regarded as the longest home run ever hit in Wrigley Field, estimated at 600 feet.

1991 — Nolan Ryan becomes the 12th pitcher in major league history to surpass 5,000 innings pitched.

1999 — John Franco struck out the side in the ninth inning of the New York Mets’ 4-1 win over the Florida Marlins, becoming only the second pitcher to reach 400 saves. The only reliever with more saves than Franco is Lee Smith, who retired with 478.

2004 — A day after Yankees teammate Mike Mussina earned his 200th victory, Kevin Brown reaches the same plateau.

2005 — Yankees outfielder Gary Sheffield got into a brief scuffle with a fan along the right-field fence at Fenway Park during New York’s game against the Boston Red Sox.

2010 — Jorge Cantu homered, making him the first player in major league history to have at least one hit and one RBI in each of his team’s first nine games, and the Florida Marlins beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-3.

2014 — Neil Walker and Gaby Sanchez hit back-to-back homers twice, and the Pirates and Reds combined for 10 homers in only six innings before rain forced a suspension. Pittsburgh had three sets of back-to-back homers, only the third time that’s happened in major league history. The NL Central rivals completed the game the next day. Andrew McCutchen doubled and came around on Russell Martin’s single in the seventh inning, giving the Pirates an 8-7 win.

2016 — Bryce Harper makes the 100th home run of his career his first-ever grand slam.

2017 — The Braves open their new ballpark, SunTrust Park, with a 5-2 win over the Padres before a sellout crowd of 41,149.

2021 — Carlos Rodon of the White Sox throws the second no-hitter of the season, blanking the Indians, 8-0.

Compiled by the Associated Press

Until next time…

That concludes today’s newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

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High school baseball and softball: Monday’s scores

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL, SOFTBALL SCORES
Monday’s Results

BASEBALL

CITY SECTION
Fremont 17, Locke 0
LACES 12, LA Hamilton 3
LA Jordan 16, Dymally 1
Maywood CES 3, Torres 2
Northridge Academy 7, Canoga Park 3
Port of Los Angeles 5, Harbor Teacher 3
SOCES 12, Hollywood 0
Stella 10, Animo Robinson 0
Sylmar 3, Verdugo Hills 0
Washington Prep 13, Crenshaw 12
West Adams at Los Angeles, postponed

SOUTHERN SECTION
Bishop Amat 7, Fullerton 6
Castaic 13, Oxnard 1
Cerritos 8, Santa Fe 7
Citrus Valley 8, Redlands 4
Corona Centennial 5, Corona 2
Corona Santiago 7, Riverside King 1
Damien 8, Etiwanda 5
Marina 7, Troy 1
Norco 10, Eastvale Roosevelt 3
Oakwood 2, Culver City 1
Paraclete 26, Santa Paula 1
Patriot 8, La Sierra 6
Ramona 2, Jurupa Valley 1
Rancho Verde 11, Orange Vista 1
Redlands Adventist Academy 16, Desert Chapel 8
Redlands East Valley 8, Cajon 1
San Dimas 5, Los Altos 0
Shalhevet 14, Compton Early College 2
South Hills 5, Colony 4
Upland 2, Rancho Cucamonga 1
Western Christian 5, Westminster La Quinta 0
Yucaipa 11, Beaumont 1

SOFTBALL

CITY SECTION
Animo Venice 15, AHSA 0
Carson 15, Narbonne 0
Harbor Teacher at Locke, postponed
LA Jordan 31, Dymally 4
LA Roosevelt 9, Bell 6
Legacy 11, South Gate 0
Mendez 25, RFK Community 13
Northridge Academy 19, VAAS 1
Port of Los Angeles 11, Dorsey 0
San Pedro 23, Gardena 0
South East 17, Huntington Park 1
Washington Prep 22, Crenshaw 1
Wilmington Banning 15, Rancho Dominguez 0

SOUTHERN SECTION
Alhambra 5, Bell Gardens 4
Anaheim 6, Whittier 1
Anza Hamilton 16, CSDR 3
Apple Valley 10, Sultana 5
Aquinas 16, Coachella Valley 0
Bonita 10, Walnut 0
Canyon Springs 15, Lakeside 5
Central City Value 22, Animo Bunche 2
Charter Oak 19, Covina 2
Corona Santiago 21, Costa Mesa 8
Duarte 13, Azusa 7
Edgewood 14, Mountain View 0
Faith Baptist 21, Trinity Classical Academy 7
Hillcrest 19, Moreno Valley 0
Ocean View 20, Estancia 1
Ramona 10, Jurupa Valley 0
Rubidoux 1, Entrepreneur 0
San Jacinto 18, Rancho Verde 1
Santa Ana 16, Oxford Academy 6
Santa Rosa Academy 26, Nuview Bridge 2
Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 14, Simi Valley 6
South El Monte 16, Garfield 14
St. Bonaventure 10, Grace 6
Sunny Hills 10, Esperanza 4
University Prep 19, Katella 9
Vasquez 17, Desert Christian 4
Villa Park 6, Sonora 0

INTERSECTIONAL
Golden Valley 17, Discovery 6
Sierra Canyon 7, Granada Hills Kennedy 0

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UCLA breaks WNBA draft record with five first-round picks

The first UCLA player off the WNBA draft board Monday night was Lauren Betts, who went No. 4 overall to the Washington Mystics.

Betts’ selection touched off a lengthy Bruins celebration in New York, with UCLA forward Gabriela Jaquez selected No. 5 by the Chicago Sky and UCLA guard Kiki Rice selected No. 6 by expansion team Toronto Tempo.

After a brief break, UCLA forward Angela Dugalic was next in line. She was selected with the No. 9 pick by the Washington Mystics, where she will join Betts.

It is the second time the same college had four players selected in the first round. The last time was in 2002 when UConn had four first-round draft picks.

Betts averaged 17.1 points per game, 8.8 rebounds and shot 58.2% from the field as a senior in the Bruins’ national championship run. She was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player, was an AP All-American First Team and Big Ten Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.

“I play with joy,” Betts said on ESPN after she was drafted. “This season has been so joyful. … You can see all the positivity that I play with.”

UCLA center Lauren Betts poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected No. 4 by the Mystics.

UCLA center Lauren Betts poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected No. 4 by the Washington Mystics Monday.

(Pamela Smith / Associated Press)

She also joined her former Stanford teammate and USC rival Kiki Iriafen, who was a first-round pick last year.

“It’s been amazing, I’ve grown so much, my confidence, I’ve owned who I am as a player and a person,” Betts said.

Jaquez spent all four seasons with UCLA and was one of the most improved players in the nation en route to helping the Bruins win a national title. She averaged 13.5 points per game, 5.5 rebounds and shot 53.9% from the field and 39% from three-point range.

“I’m so excited to be here, I think having these dreams of going to UCLA and going to the WNBA and to achieve them not only by myself, but with my teammates means everything,” she told ESPN.

UCLA guard Gabriela Jaquez poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected No. 5 by the Chicago Sky.

UCLA guard Gabriela Jaquez poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected No. 5 by the Chicago Sky on Monday.

(Pamela Smith / Associated Press)

She was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team and was an All-Big Ten second team selection.

“Going into every game and doing what the team needs,” she said about how she wanted to contribute to Chicago. “I’m going into training camp ready to learn, being a sponge and being myself and working hard.”

Rice played four seasons for the Bruins and scored 14.9 points per game with 5.9 rebounds last season while picking up 4.3 assists and averaging a 49% from the field. She was named an AP third-team All-American, was named to the NCAA All-Tournament team and was on the Big Ten First Team and all-Defensive team.

“I take a ton of pride in being the best teammate and figuring out how to make everyone better around me,” she told ESPN. “Really excited to get to work and meet everyone. It’s going to be really important to have great leadership.”

UCLA guard Kiki Rice poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected No. 6 by the Toronto Tempo.

UCLA guard Kiki Rice poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected No. 6 by the Toronto Tempo on Monday.

(Pamela Smith / Associated Press)

Rice was grateful so many UCLA players got a chance to celebrate getting selected.

“This is so special,” she said. “Every one of us here deserves it so much.”

Dugalic came off the bench last season as the Bruins’ sixth player after starting the previous two seasons. In her role, she was one of the most steady veteran players in the country.

“That’s gonna be great,” Dugalic said to ESPN of playing with Betts. “I’m super excited for that. That will be a smooth transition, playing with her.”

UCLA forward Angela Dugalic poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being drafted No. 9 by the Mystics.

UCLA forward Angela Dugalic poses with WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected No. 9 by the Washington Mystics on Monday.

(Pamela Smith / Associated Press)

The Big Ten Sixth Player of the year averaged 9.0 points per game, 5.6 rebounds and shot 50.2% from the field. She can shoot from range at 32.6% and is a tough perimeter defender and can bang in the post at 6-foot-4.

Earlier in the draft, UConn guard Azzi Fudd was selected by Dallas Wings with the No. 1 overall pick. Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles was selected by the Minnesota Lynx with the No. 2 pick. Awa Fam Thiam, who played in Spain, was selected by the Seattle Storm with the No. 3 pick.

In between UCLA picks, Iyana Martín Carrión, of Spain, was selected No. 7 overall by the Portland Fire. LSU star Flau’jae Johnson was selected No. 8 by the Golden State Valkyries.

South Carolina’s Raven Johnson was selected No. 10 by the Indiana Fever. Ole Miss’ Cotie McMahon was selected No. 11 by the Washington Mystics. Nell Angloma, of France, was selected No. 12 by the Connecticut Sun. South Carolina’s Madina Okot was selected No. 13 by the Atlanta Dream. Duke’s Taina Mair was selected No. 14 by the Seattle Storm.

The Sparks are idle in the first round and will make picks in the second and third rounds.

Check back for more updates throughout the draft.

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Nexstar’s California TV stations will carry gubernatorial debate

Nexstar Media Group will host a California gubernatorial candidate debate next week that will air across the company’s TV stations in the state.

“Debate Night in California: The Race for Governor,” will air April 22 starting at 7 p.m. Pacific, the company announced Monday. The event will originate from TV station KRON in San Francisco and be carried on KTLA in Los Angeles, KSWB in San Diego, KTXL in Sacramento, KGET in Bakersfield and KSEE in Fresno.

The debate will be moderated by Nikki Laurenzo, news anchor at KTXL and host of its public affairs program “Inside California Politics,” and Frank Buckley, veteran morning news anchor at KTLA.

The debate will include candidates who reached a minimum of 5% support in Nexstar’s March statewide poll conducted in March. Those candidates — Sheriff Chad Bianco, former Fox News host Steve Hilton, former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter and philanthropist Tom Steyer — have all agreed to participate in the event.

The debate will also air nationally on Nexstar’s cable news outlet NewsNation and be livestreamed over its political website The Hill. The network will also provide coverage leading up to the event with anchors Chris Cuomo and Leland Vittert, whose show will air live from San Francisco. Katie Pavlich will host post-debate coverage.

CNN previously announced it will bring the gubernatorial candidates together for a debate in Los Angeles that will air May 5 on the network and its subscription streaming platform. The debate will be moderated by Elex Michaelson and Kaitlan Collins.

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