MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Peterson

Alta Loma became the Lions, Santa Fe became the Sentinels and it looks like Azusa is becoming the Jaguars. Baldwin Park was on the clock. They were being mandated to change its name from the Braves.

I still haven’t been given an explanation as to why the names “Braves” (Alta Loma and Baldwin Park) or “Chiefs” (Santa Fe) are offensive to Native American Tribes but according to California Assembly Bill 3074 the schools were required to discontinue their names unless a partnership was established with a federally recognized tribe.

Baldwin Park said no. “We like the Braves so we’re going to keep it.” So how do you do that? Hold up your signs and protest? Write a letter to your congressman? Start a petition? No, you read the bill and do what it says. They established a partnership with a federally recognized tribe.

Through the efforts of Baldwin Park Principal Deborah Madrigal, who led the charge, along with students, school leadership and community supporters, the school was able to establish a partnership with the Pala Tribe and is now able to continue to use the name Braves.

Sure, there is a bill in place and schools have abided by its laws but there is always room to keep things the same. You just have to put in the work. Principal Madrigal and company didn’t just keep a mascot and a school name they upheld a long-standing tradition and they kept history intact. And ultimately they did precisely what the bill stated. They kept the name “Braves” by establishing a partnership with a tribe. They put in the work and got it done. This should be a day of celebration for Baldwin Park Braves everywhere.

Baldwin Park legend Tony Zane is looking down from heaven and smiling.

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Arcadia looked good Saturday at its own Tournament. Led by sophomore quarterback Freddy Bysshe, the Apaches (yes, they’re still the Apaches for now) advanced to the semi-finals before falling to St. Paul. Arcadia was young last year but third-year head coach Eric Elias is starting to see the fruits of his labor. Arcadia has a good shot at the post season this year- especially with the realignment.

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Orange High School is little out of our coverage area but if you get the chance to see Orange quarterback Star Thomas III it’s worth your time. In addition to having a cool name he also has a legitimately good arm. He’s a left-hander that throws absolute darts. He looks like a smaller version of Baldwin Park’s Lequand “Jack Jack” Jackson. He led Orange to the championship game at Arcadia Saturday with a win over St. Paul. He has several offers already including UNLV, Purdue, Arkansas and Oregon State. Thomas (Class of ’28) is also being recruited by USC, Michigan and Ohio State.

Former San Gabriel head coach and longtime offensive coordinator Jude Oliva is the OC at Orange and works with Thomas on a daily basis. “His name “Star” is fitting”, Oliva said.

I’ve taken some heat for mentioning the three schools that were recruiting him but I don’t make this stuff up. This is the information I was given. Don’t shoot the messenger. If you see him you’ll know. The dude can play.

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There have been several quarterbacks mentioned as “the guy” at St. Paul since Austin Montoya took over as head coach. Montoya has yet to coach a game for the Swordsmen and already the people from the outside looking in are stirring up a quarterback controversy. It looks like Joshua Villalta is the guy. Villalta, a junior, was in command Saturday, made good reads and solid throws in leading St. Paul to the Final. He also seemed to have a good understanding of the offense and was on the same page as Montoya and the coaching staff.

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Arroyo quarterback Oscar Lopez looks better every time I see him. Build a wall around B.L. Bergstrom Stadium. Require that opposing coaches can only enter on game days and need to need to go through extensive security checks to do so.

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The World Cup has been so good I almost feel compelled to talk about it. I’m not really a soccer guy. I’ve covered the LA Galaxy and LAFC in the past and I read “Soccer for Dummies.” There were some great moments (Zlatan Ibrahimovic) and some not-so-great moments (too many 0-0 ties). But the World Cup is not MLS. These countries feature the best players in the world. And they play an attacking style of soccer rarely seen in MLS. You don’t see many players just kicking it back and forth at mid-field.

Not only have we’ve seen the stars on the pitch but they have all performed. They have lived up to the hype. Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland have all rose to the occasion. And the United States is in the round of 32! It’s been appointment TV.

I’m not ready to pick the Tournament winner just yet. I still have to read the last two chapters of “Soccer for Dummies.”

That’s my principle.

I can be reached at tim.midvalleysports@gmail.com or on Twitter (X) @tspeterson40. Facebook- Tim Peterson.