Local equestrian Hannah Finch riding high
Photos courtesy of Jessica Militello Photography
Hannah Finch clears barriers in a recent competition in Santa Barbara.
Ted Cotti, Ojai Valley News correspondent
Twenty-four-year-old Hannah Finch spends 30-hours each week building fences and spends another 30-plus-hours each week jumping over fences.
Deason finding success in the pros
Photo by Josh Franzen
Cody Deason pitches in a recent game for the Quad Cities River Bandits, a minor league team of the Houston Astros.
Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor
Former Nordhoff High School baseball star Cody Deason is in his second year of professional baseball and he is seeing a great deal of success this season. Deason was a fifth-round draft pick of the Houston Astros in 2018 and is currently playing for the Class-A Quad Cities River Bandits. The big right-hander has pitched in 14 games this season, starting 11 of them.
Sundowners return after a week off
The Sundowner Golf League took a hiatus from play last week to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday and spend time with family and friends. Players returned to the course July 7 eager to make a push for the playoffs.
The team of Captain Camo and the SniPARS must have practiced over the holiday weekend, as they shot a league high 61 points to rocket up the standings and into a tie for first place on the second half of the season.
Local youth pitcher competing for junior Olympic spot
Photo submitted.
Roman Mahler pitches in a game earlier this season.
Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor
Ojai resident Roman Mahler is spending his summer vacation trying to earn a spot on the USA junior Olympic team. Mahler, who will be a freshman at Nordhoff High School this fall, is a left-handed pitcher who is catching the attention of coaches and scouts all over the country.
Nordhoff freshman making noise
Ted Cotti, Ojai Valley News correspondent
The 2019-20 high school basketball season is still six months away, but second-year Nordhoff varsity boys’ head coach Scott Hannah is already excited. That’s because he has a solid crop of freshman playing with the team this summer.
“We have a talented and really committed group of freshmen out, and I’m really excited,” Hannah said. “Most of them grew up playing club basketball, so they are used to playing year-round. Now they’re getting used to playing together for Nordhoff.”
Fall youth volleyball registration underway
Registration for the United States Youth Volleyball League’s fall season is currently in open. Interested players are encouraged to register before the September registration deadline.
Once again, the USYVL is bringing another fun-filled season of volleyball to the Ojai community. All kids and parents are invited to come out and enjoy recreational volleyball practices and games while building self-esteem and confidence. This is a great opportunity for parents to spend quality time with their kids, while helping to teach them the value of teamwork mixed with fun.
VPS basketball camp coming in July
Photo submitted
The Villanova Preparatory School boys’ basketball team is hosting a summer camp in conjunction with the 101 Basketball Academy. The campus is for boys and girls ages 6 to 13, and will run July 8-11 and 22-25. Activities will start at 8:45 a.m. and run until 3 p.m. The cost per athlete is $175 or $300 for both sessions.
Soule Park to host junior golf camp
Soule Park Golf Course will host a junior golf camp for boys and girls ages eight to 14 July 10, 11 and 12. Soule golf professionals Bob Garza and Jenny Davis will be offering instruction on the full swing, the short game and putting. Instruction will take place on both the driving range and on the course itself. Lunch (a hot dog or grilled cheese, chips and a beverage) is included each day. Lessons are 9-12 a.m. July 10 and 11, 8-11 a.m. on July 12. Cost is $119 per student, and the class will be capped at 16 students. To register or for more information, contact Garza at (541) 480-4564.
Richman grinds through half Ironman in Hawaii
Photo submitted
Ojai resident Julie Richman hammers the bike during her last half Ironman competition in Hawaii.
Local tri-athlete, Julie Richman, has returned from the Big Island of Hawaii where she competed in the Honu Half Ironman June 1. Richman, who trains all over the Ojai Valley and does her swim workouts at the Ojai Valley Athletic Club, has completed three full Ironman competitions in Brazil, Canada New Zealand in her career. A half normally wouldn’t faze her.
Stratton hired to lead Nordhoff boys' volleyball
Photo submitted
Robert Stratton recently took over the helm of the boys’ volleyball program at Nordhoff High School.
Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News sports editor
Nordhoff High School has a new boys’ volleyball coach. Robert Stratton was recently named head volleyball coach according to athletic director Rene Nakao-Mauch. Stratton has been very involved in the Ojai community and started Hoops for Hope, which raised money for homeless students in the area last month.
Rice wins second Ojai Valley Inn event of the year
Photo submitted
Lois Rice recently won the Ladies President’s Cup Championship at the Ojai Valley Inn, narrowly defeating Peggy Melton for the title. This was Rice’s second title of the season, and just one of many she has claimed in recent years.
Williams continues to dominate Sundowner League
Local Realtor Robin Williams has recently been tearing apart the competition in the Sundowner Golf League and his week 10 effort was no different.
Boyd passes on one dream to chase another
Photo courtesy of Baylor Athletics
Former Nordhoff Ranger Luke Boyd pitches in a game earlier this season. Boyd will return to Texas for his senior season despite being drafted by the Los Angeles Angels earlier this month.
Mike Miller, Ojai Valley News reporter
Imagine getting your dream job offer from the company you have always wanted to work for only to turn it down and return to college for one more year. That is what former Nordhoff High School standout Luke Boyd faced earlier this month.
Camp for special needs athletes coming in August
Photo submitted
The Eighth Annual Special Needs Basketball Camp will be held at the Villanova Preparatory School Aug. 1-2.
The Eighth Annual Special Needs Basketball Camp will be hosted at Villanova Prep Aug. 1-2. According to camp founder and head boys’ basketball coach at Villanova Eugene Ayala, more than 350 athletes took part in last year’s event.