Saugus High Marching Centurions make strides at Wildcat Classic Field Tournament

The Saugus High Marching Centurions are making impressive strides, and were recognized glowingly at the 12th Wildcat Classic Field Tournament hosted by West Ranch High School at Valencia High School on Oct. 22.

“They are actually improving in a lot of areas,” Saugus High band director Bob Grigas said. “The one they need to improve in a little bit more is the music and being tighter with our rhythm and our timing.”

The Saugus High band and color guard won the percussion sweepstakes award and was the winner in Division 4-A.

“The goal tonight was to have a better performance than we had last week,” Grigas said. “There were some aspects that were better but not all of it.”

The Saugus High Marching Centurions won high percussion and high auxiliary awards at the Royal Classic Field Tournament at Royal High School in Simi Valley on Oct. 15. They were also the winners in Division 4-A.

Valencia High won the tournament sweepstakes and auxiliary sweepstakes awards at the Wildcat Classic.

Littlerock High was the winner in Division 1-A.

Canyon High took second place in Division 2-A.

Six high schools in three divisions competed in the Wildcat Classic, including host West Ranch High.

“This competition in the past has been up to 20, 25 bands. There was another show that they had on the same day at Pierce College. A majority of the bands went to that competition,” Grigas said. “The lack of the amount of bands makes the energy kind of diminish a little bit. Does that have any effect on us? I’m not really sure. Maybe, maybe not.”

Hart High and Castaic High competed in the All Valley Band Tournament hosted by Cleveland High School at Pierce College on Saturday night. There were 19 schools competing in five divisions at the All Valley Band Tournament.

The Saugus High Marching Centurions are entered in the 53rd Simi Valley Band Spectacular Field Tournament at Simi Valley High School on Saturday. There are 23 schools entered in seven divisions to compete in the Simi Valley field tournament.

Grigas said the Saugus band and color guard has room to improve.

“There are some things they are actually exceeding expectations, and then there are other things – being able to perform under all the pressure. They’re really good musicians, they’re really good performing at school. But when it comes to performing in public they get a little scared and nervous and make mistakes,” Grigas said. “My expectations of them for the performance aspect could grow a little bit.”

The Saugus High Marching Centurions have been invited to participate in the Memorial Day parade in Washington, D.C. in May. Follow the band’s journey to Washington, D.C. on the Road to Washington podcast available at https://open.spotify.com/episode/4sP5pRVINnMC6PPi0nxVhX?si=DCi32A0SR3yaT3UnJlEf6Q

Only A Lad adds another layer

Danny Elfman is for the children.

He used to be the lead singer, the frontman for Oingo Boingo. When I was younger, I remember going to see Oingo Boingo’s Halloween shows. They’re music was filled with inappropriate themes, death, violence, sex, with dashes of pedophilia, crime, and despression.

He played at the Hollywood Bowl, and performed some of his Oingo Boingo songs that I haven’t heard live in years.

He mixed in some of his more recent movie music, from The Nightmare Before Christmas, Spider-Man, and Batman.

His movie music is much tamer than a lot of his Oingo Boingo songs.

After the show, I lamented how he didn’t play some of my favorite Oingo Boingo songs. He hit plenty of good ones, Dead Man’s Party, Just Another Day, Only A Lad. The final set was just a taste of what his Halloween shows used to be like, a little dark, a little uncomfortable, a little sinister.

But as the house lights came on, I wondered out loud why he didn’t play Little Girls or Nasty Habits. Then I noticed a family in front of me. They had a group of real little girls, who were probably there to see Danny Elfman play songs from The Nightmare Before Christmas and perhaps Beetlejuice and The Simpsons. 

It was then I realized Danny Elfman is no longer for me. He is for the children.

He has created a soundtrack for a new generation of fans. He has become a more respected and dignified musician. His themes are still dark, but they are enjoyable, and uplifting and inspirational.

It made me realize that Only A Lad was all grown up now. Little Johnny finally outgrew his reckless, destructive phase and turned into a thoughtful adult. 

I will miss the days of Little Girls and Nasty Habits, but it will not replace seeing the growth of the musician, and it will not replace how he speaks to a new generation of listeners.

His music has matured and it means much more to other people. 

I hope he does more of it.

Saugus High Marching Centurions have strong showing in Royal Classic

The Saugus High Marching Centurions started its band competition season on a high note at the 38th Royal Classic Field Tournament at Royal High School in Simi Valley on Saturday night.

The Saugus band and color guard, performing “All the Queen’s Roses,” was the runner-up in the Division 4-A portion of the competition. The band also won the high percussion award and the color guard won the high auxiliary award in Division 4-A.

“They all performed very well,” said Saugus High band director Bob Grigas. “There was a level of confidence that I haven't seen in a long time.”

There were 19 schools competing in six divisions at the Royal Classic. Castaic High, Canyon High and Golden Valley High were included in the competition.

Thousand Oaks High won tournament sweepstakes award, and the high music performance, high music effects, and high visual performance.

Castaic took second place in Division 1-A. El Camino Real won the Division 1-A award.

Canyon took third place and Cabrillo High won the 2-A Green Division award.

Golden Valley was fourth place in the 2-A Gold Division. Moorpark won the 2-A Gold Division award.

Camarillo High won the Division 4-A award by 0.4 points over Saugus High.

“I thought the performance went really well,” Grigas said. “Still a few things to work on but overall nicely done.”

Next up for the Saugus High Marching Centurions is the Sounds of the Stadium concert at Saugus High on Thursday at 7 p.m.and the Wildcat Classic Field Tournament hosted by West Ranch High on Saturday at Valencia High School.

The Saugus High Marching Centurions have been invited to participate in the Memorial Day parade in Washington, D.C. in May. Follow the band’s journey to Washington, D.C. on the Road to Washington podcast available at https://open.spotify.com/episode/4sP5pRVINnMC6PPi0nxVhX?si=DCi32A0SR3yaT3UnJlEf6Q

Promising Dodger season ends unceremoniously soon

Middle Earth has the Rings of Power.

Baseball has the rings of promise.

The Dodgers started the season full of promise. Manager Dave Roberts was so confident in his team, he guaranteed a World Series championship.

Alas, it fell way short of his promise.

After a record-setting season of 111 wins, a 10th trip in a row to the playoffs, and a lineup that was one the best in baseball history, the Dodgers were truly a fellowship of baseball powers full of confidence heading into the playoffs.

The promise of a championship season was all but certain.

But promises often are broken, empty, and go unfulfilled. 

In pursuit of a championship ring, the Dodgers faced some of the most unexpected obstacles. It was as if the baseball gods were unhappy with all the promise the Dodgers embodied, and threw a series of challenges at them never seen before in the baseball playoffs.

It included a goose, a drone and a storm that all but washed away the Dodgers playoff hopes. And there was a seventh inning that might have been the most perilous and disastrous in baseball history.

The playoffs started just fine for the Dodgers. They won Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the harmless San Diego Padres in decisive fashion. They took a 5-0 lead and coasted to a 5-3 win to take the early advantage. It looked like the Dodgers were going to continue their winning ways against the Padres, who were no match for the Dodgers all season. For the past 10 seasons really. The Dodgers were 14-5 against the Padres in the regular season in 2022 and won nine series in a row against them. Surely the Dodgers would add a 10th.

In Game 2, it looked like the Dodgers were going to make quick work of the Padres, until a goose landed in shallow centerfield in the middle of the game. The moment that goose touched down in the outfield, the Dodgers playoffs hopes ran afoul.

The Padres broke a 3-3 tie in the sixth inning. Jake Cornenworth hit a solo home run to give the Padres a 5-3 lead in the eighth inning. The curse of the goose was underway, and it looked like it would be the Dodgers downfall.

The Dodgers might as well have been on a wild goose chase looking for hits and runs in Game 3. Their intimidating lineup was held to one run on six hits and went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position. The Padres weren’t much better, but won the game 2-1, and more importantly, took a 2-1 lead in the series.

Game 4 brought more challenges. The start of the game was delayed 31 minutes by an unexpected rain storm. A rogue drone added another delay midway through the game. It was just another distraction to knock the Dodgers off their playoff course. Their postseason odyssey was headed for disaster. 

The drone sighting led to a series of unfortunate events for the Dodgers in the seventh inning. Up 3-0, the Dodgers saw their lead and their playoff run disappear in a matter of minutes.

The Padres scored five runs in the seventh inning to take the lead. The Dodgers looked lost and confused. Even Roberts made the unusual move of taking a pitcher out of the game in the middle of a count. It was one mistake after another, and the Dodgers lost control of the game, the series, and the promise of a World Series championship.

Then the storm really came.

In the top of the eighth inning, it started pouring. All the offense that was unleashed in the seventh inning was washed away in the eighth inning. The field was cleansed, and left in a muddy, sloppy mess, giving the Dodgers little chance of making a comeback.

The promising 2022 Dodgers failed in their quest for a World Series championship. It was an epically painful end to a promising season. It is one Dodger fans will ponder for years to come. 

And one that will leave wounds that will take eons to heal.

What’s good for the goose is not so good for the Dodgers

Mother Goose.

Ever since that silly goose landed on the field at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers have been putting up a lot of goose eggs on the scoreboard.

As far as superstitions go, this one is for the birds.

Whoever heard of a cursed goose? A cooked goose, yes. That usually means one’s fate is sealed, doomed really. Was the goose that landed at Dodger Stadium an omen of doom? A fowl of foreboding fortunes? An ill-fated feather of a different color?

The Dodgers started the National League Division Series against those pesky San Diego Padres on the right foot. On the right wing? It was definitely going in the right direction. The Dodgers won Game 1, 5-3. They took a 5-0 lead. They looked like they were in complete control of the game, from making the right choice to start Julio Urias to seeing Trea Turner banish his demons of playoffs past.

But in Game 2, things changed. The goose brought some bad juju when it landed in shallow centerfield. It has brought nothing but sorrow and slumps for the Dodgers. 

Clayton Kershaw turned in an ugly performance in Game 2. It was really a classic Kershaw playoff start, with fat and hittable pitches that led to rallies run amok, yet the Dodgers were never really out of the game, until the goose made an appearance. The last goose to strike this much fear in the Dodgers was named Gossage. Perhaps this latest goose was channeling Dodger repelling powers of the original Goose Gossage.

The Dodgers lost Game 2, 5-3. The Padres were all of a sudden flying high on optimism. There was no telling what heights they might reach, heading home to Petco Park with home-field advantage and their heads in the clouds with thoughts of knocking the Dodgers out of the playoffs.

The Dodgers slump spilled over into Game 3. The Dodgers bats were cold. The Dodgers decided to start Tony Gonsolin, who barely lasted two innings. They loaded the bases in the third inning, and it was almost as if the Padres had the Dodgers right where they wanted them. The Dodgers failed to score, and the Padres had thoughts of feasting on the Dodgers bullpen.

Light-hitting Trent Grisham continued his sudden playoff success for the Padres, hitting a solo home run to give the Padres a 2-1 lead.

It was all the space the Padres needed.

They won Game 3 and are on the verge of eliminating the Dodgers from the playoffs.

The thought of the Padres knocking the Dodgers out of the playoffs gives all the Dodger fans goose bumps. 

What is the best way to break the curse of the goose? It wasn’t the Catman. It wasn’t Kershaw. It looks like the Dodgers are going to turn to Tyler Anderson to see if they can find their way back on the correct playoff path.

If not, the Dodgers goose is cooked.

Dodger face those pesky Padres in the NLDS

The Los Angeles Dodgers ended the regular season on a few high notes. They won a franchise record 111 games.

Freddie Freeman and Trea Turner reached the 100 RBI mark for the season.

And the Dodgers snapped a three-game losing streak on the final game of the regular season against the lowly Colorado Rockies.

That was on Wednesday. The Dodgers beat the Rockies 6-1 for their 111th win of the season. Clayton Kershaw started the game and struck out nine batters in five innings to win his 12th game of the year.

It was definitely a playoff prep start for Kershaw.

It was also a playoff tune-up for Freeman and Turner. They both homered in Game 162. Turner’s three-run home run gave him an even 100 RBIs and 21 homers for the season.

Freeman hit a solo home run and had an RBI single to reach 100 RBIs. He also has 21 home runs.

Freeman almost won the batting title too. He was trailing Jeff McNeil of the New York Mets entering the last game of the season and needed to go 4-for-4 to pass McNeil’s .326 batting average to win the batting title.

Freeman went 3-for-4, with a double and home run, and finished with a .325 batting average.

But McNeil and his Mets faced the San Diego Padres in the National League Wild Card Series, and lost in three games.

Enjoy that batting title, McNeil.

Now those pesky Padres play the Dodgers in the National League Division Series that starts Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.

The Padres have not been much of a challenge for the Dodgers. The Dodgers are 14-5 against the Padres this year. They played the Padres nine times in September and went 6-3. They swept the Padres in a three-game series in August. The Dodgers have to like their chances against the Padres to advance in the playoffs.

Still, the Padres are trying to make the games at Petco Park as home-field friendly as possible.

The team sent out a message over the weekend saying they won’t be selling playoff tickets to people who don’t live in or around the San Diego County area. Fans from San Diego, Imperial County, parts of southern Orange County, Baja California, south Riverside County, and La Paz County, Mohave County, Yuma County and Clark County, wherever that is, will have first dibs on playoff tickets. Los Angeles County residents need not apply. 

Like that’s going to stop Dodger fans from filling Petco Park.

But keeping Dodger fans out of the stadium is the least of the Padres problems.

The Padres used their top three starters to eliminate the Mets from the playoffs. All the games were played in New York at Citi Field. On top of handing the ball to their No. 4 starter, the Padres are traveling cross country for Game 1 of the NLDS on Tuesday.

Neither the Padres nor the Dodgers have announced who will start Game 1. The Dodgers will go with Kershaw or Julio Urias. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said whoever starts in Game 1 will most likely start Game 5, if the series goes that long.

“Just to give you a peek behind the curtain, it's more of who we feel is best to potentially come back on regular rest in Game 5,” Roberts said.

It's not hard to figure out Urias is probably starting Game 1.

As for the Padres, they are down to Mike Clevinger or Sean Manaea. That’s if they don’t go with Yu Darvish who started Game 1 of the wild-card series against the Mets on Friday.

The Padres shut out the Mets, 6-0, on Sunday to win the wild-card series. Joe Musgrove started and pitched seven scoreless innings. But perhaps the biggest surprise of the series was the emergence of Trent Grisham.

The Padres No. 8 hitter has become the hottest hitter for the Friars. He is batting .500 in the playoffs, going 4-for-8 in the three games against the Mets, with two home runs and three RBIs, and scored five runs. He hit .184 in the regular season with 17 home runs.

But a couple slumping Dodgers have caught fire in the final days of the season too.

Cody Bellinger is batting .375, 9- for-24, with two home runs and eight RBIs in the last seven games.

He hit .210 with 19 home runs for the whole season. 

Max Muncy had an eight-game hitting streak, and hit safety in 15 of 16 games, in the middle of September. In that 16-game stretch, he hit .262 with five home runs. He was a .196 hitter in the regular season.

Game 1 of the NLDS starts at 6:37 p.m.

Dodgers breaking records as season comes to a close

Every game the Dodgers win down the stretch is a record-breaker.

They broke the franchise record with their 107th win on Wednesday against those pesky San Diego Padres.

They won their 110th game and matched the Pittsburgh Pirates, who had the National League record for most wins in a season since 1909, against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night.

The Dodgers were 4-2 last week against the Padres and Rockies. They are 6-2 in their past eight games.

The Dodgers have three games left in the regular season to surpass the win total of the 1909 Pirates led by Honus Wagner. The Dodgers next three games are against the lowly Rockies, so 113 regular season wins are not out of the question.

The 2001 Seattle Mariners and 1906 Chicago Cubs have the major league record for most wins in a season with 116.

The Dodgers needed extra innings to beat the Padres on Wednesday. The score was tied 0-0 after nine innings.

Freddie Freeman knocked in Mookie Betts with the winning run in the 10th inning to break the Dodgers franchise record for wins in a season. They set the record last season and 2019 with 106 wins.

The Dodgers won their 110th game in a walk, literally.

Down 4-1, the Dodgers drew six walks in the seventh inning and erased a three-run deficit to tie the score 4-4.

They scored two runs in the eighth inning to take the lead. Cody Bellinger played a big role in both rallies. He drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning. He had an RBI single in the eighth inning to give the Dodgers a 6-4 lead.

Joey Gallo drove in the tie-breaking run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth. The Dodgers drew 10 walks in the game and Bellinger had three hits and drove in two runs.

The Dodgers wrapped up home field advantage through the playoffs last week too. They have the best record in the majors and will be the top seed in the playoffs.

Speaking of playoffs, the Dodgers can set up their starting rotation and have some fresh arms to add to it.

Tony Gonsolin is scheduled to start Monday against the Rockies. He is 16-1 with a 2.10 ERA, but has been on the injured list with a forearm strain.

He faces Jose Urena for the Rockies. He is 3-8 with a 5.24 ERA.

The Dodgers rotation for the playoffs looks like it’s going to be:

1. Julio Urias
2. Clayton Kershaw
3. Tyler Anderson
4. Tony Gonsolin

Andrew Heaney or Michael Grove could join the rotation if anything happens to those four.

Dodger starters power rankings:

1. Julio Urias
2. Clayton Kershaw
3. Tyler Anderson
4. Michael Grove
5. Brusdar Graterol

The Dodgers (110-49) have three games left in the regular season against the Rockies. The playoffs start Friday with the AL and NL wild card rounds. The Dodgers have a bye in the first round of the playoffs.