14 locals playing in all-star soccer games Boys’ game is Friday, girls’ is Saturday

The 9th Annual Central Section Soccer Allstar Games will be held on Friday and Saturday, June 23-24, at Lindsay High School.

Seven boys and seven girls from local schools will play for the East in the East vs. West games starting at 6 p.m. The boys’ game is on Friday, while the girls play on Saturday. Cost of admission is $9 for adults and $7 for students.

Playing on Friday will be: Lindsay senior Estevan Moreno, junior Marcos Ceballos and junior Augustin Valdovinos; Monache senior Reynaldo Andrade; Porterville’s Edgar Aldaco and Alejandro Morillon; and Strathmore junior Alejandro Bermudez.

Both Lindsay (23-3-1) and Strathmore (12-6) made it to their respective CIF Central Section Division Championship tournaments, but only the Cardinals came out as Valley champions. Fourth-seeded Lindsay upset second-seeded Arvin (19-4) 3-1 in the Div. IV championship.

The East boys team is coached by Cesar www.recorderonline.com Chavez’s Tony Mendez who led the Titans (13-42) to a Div. V championship. Golden West (19-4) won the Div. II championship and its head coach, John Mccaw, is coaching the West.

Local girls playing on the East squad are: Strathmore seniors Ally Holloway, Taylor Alkire and Caitlyn Albison; Monache seniors Alexia Baca and Lupe Torres; Porterville senior Valeria Rios; and Lindsay junior Samantha Gutierrez.

The girls East team is coached by Kingsburg’s Scott Hodges. Topseeded Kingsburg (226-2) beat third-seeded Strathmore (18-6-1) 3-2 in overtime to win the Div. IV championship. Jason Vieira led Redwood (19-6-1) to a Div. II championship and is coaching the West.

All-star game director Ben Orozco said players are nominated by their varsity head coaches regardless of their grade level.

Championship trophies will be awarded to the winners of each game, as well as runner-up awards for the losing team. Sportsmanship and Most Valuable Player awards will also be given out to players PAGE 1B from both teams.

On Friday the temperature is expected to reach 107 degrees with a low of 71, while Saturday has a high of 104 degrees and a low of 70. The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning until 11 p.m. on Friday night.

In preparation for the heat, Orozco has advised people to bring umbrellas, lawn chairs and canopies, saying that “we will gladly give you field access” on Twitter.

A concession stand will also be available and souvenir shirts can be purchased for $15.