ORTS
Editor: Peter Gibbs sports.viewpointsonline@gmail.com
Pitching problems persist Early lead blown late by pitching, defensive woes JESUS CORONEL STAFF REPORTER
to score in the process. What looked like a routine single from sophomore pinch hitter Arlyne Ruiz became an RBI double after a missed throw to second base, allowing another run to score. “We were chipping away, but once we trailed it was hard to get out of the deficit,” Franco-Colis said. “I feel like the ball (when) fielding was eating us up.” Riverside head coach Michelle Daddona expressed her concerns with the defense after the struggles
throughout the game. “We were playing pretty well, but we had some miscommunication on defense,” she said. “We weren’t in the right spots, we didn’t execute our plays, and it led to mistakes that ended up being too much for us to overcome.” The bats went cold for the Tigers offense and they lost the game 7-4, extending the team’s losing streak to two games. Even though the team had a collapse, Daddona is confident that
if the team plays like they did up until that point, they can compete in every game for the rest of the season. “We didn’t get the outcome that we wanted, but overall, we are happy with what we did,” she said. “As long as we do that, we will be in contention to win every game.” The Tigers will be on a road trip while playing Saddleback and Fullerton College on April 6-7. Their next home game is April 11 against Palomar College.
An early advantage looked like a promising victory but turned into a blown lead for the Riverside City College softball team on April 1. Four straight singles in the second inning gave RCC the early lead against the Pasadena City College Lancers, with the inning being capped off by a two RBI single from sophomore center fielder Sophia Franco-Colis. That was the last run the Tigers saw for the game. The Lancers started their comeback with an RBI single from sophomore shortstop Danielle Ruiz in the third inning. Pasadena sophomore right fielder Gabi Perez hit an RBI single in the fourth inning, then a wild pitch from freshman reliever Chloe Lockhart allowed another run to score. “We started to lose focus in the middle of the game,” freshman starting pitcher Ereka Gibbs said. After a scoreless fifth inning from both teams, the Tigers committed several fielding errors throughout the top of the sixth inning that allowed the Lancers to score three more runs. First, Perez scored when Riverside made an error on a bunt. Then freshman catcher Cassidy PHOTO BY STEPHEN DAY | VIEWPOINTS Cooper overthrew second on a Riverside right fielder Alexis Pelayo gets caught in a pickle and looks for a way back to first base. steal, which allowed another run The Tigers were unable to steal any bases April 1 while being held scoreless after the second inning.
Ballclub banishes beat reporter PETER GIBBS SPORTS EDITOR
Once again, journalists are not being respected, this time by the Los Angeles Angels. April 3 saw the team’s radio station inform Sam Blum, a beat reporter for The Athletic, that he would not be welcomed back to the “Beat Reporter Roundtable” because he was too negative towards the team. As journalists, we are taught from the beginning to always be unbiased and to report the news the way it is intended to be reported.
Blum does the same by reporting on the good — a Shohei Ohtani home run while pitching — and the bad — Anthony Rendon getting into an altercation with a fan. I’m an Angels fan and every week there seems to be something negative about the team. However, every outlet reports on the subject, not just Blum. The problem with the franchise is the lack of transparency and inability to keep a clean reputation. This situation with Blum will likely be forgotten next week and the Angels will slowly develop more positivity on their radio network. But there won’t be anybody to tell it like it is. Blum himself has said
the organization has a “toxic positivity” to it, meaning the franchise is unwilling to say anything negative about itself or admit there are problems. For a team that hasn’t been to the playoffs in eight years, there has to be some accountability. Unfortunately, the Angels will likely never say there’s a problem. That itself is an issue. When the franchise is unwilling to admit they’re wrong, the media finds a new story to talk about and most of the time it’s negative. The Angels shouldn’t ignore the criticism, they should learn from it. People grow because their mistakes are highlighted and they learn from it. F o r t u n a t e l y, o t h e r b e a t
reporters like Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register and Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com are standing in solidarity with Blum and are choosing to leave the radio segment. Journalists have to stand up for each other and make sure that no team can get away with censoring someone because the organization doesn’t like what is being reported. One day I hope the national and local media can find something positive to report on for the Angels because I want my team to finally see some good come it’s way. However, if journalists covering the team are being blacklisted because the franchise cannot stand being called out for its issues, then the cycle will continue.
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Sports Briefs Golf The Riverside City College’s golf team placed second in the Riverside Host Meet on April 3. Swimming & Diving The men’s swimming & diving team placed third at the OEC Meet #2 on March 24. The women’s swimming & diving team placed second at the OEC Meet #2 on March 24. Tennis Men’s tennis defeated Orange Coast College with a sweep on April 4. Riverside clinched a tie for the OEC championship title with the victory. Women’s tennis won its match 7-2 against Cypress College on March 31. The Tigers are 8-2 overall and 2-1 in the conference. Baseball RCC’s baseball team beat LA Mission College with an 18-3 win on April 4. The team is 23-5 overall and 11-1 in conference play. Softball The softball team defeated Golden West 17-9 on April 4. The Tigers have an overall record of 11-15 and are 7-7 in the conference. Follow our social media!
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