Kouyoumtjian takes second at nationals
Representing the state of California, Charlotte Kouyoumtjian of Monache High School, captured a second-place finish Sunday afternoon at the U.S. Marine Corps Cadet Freestyle Nationals Championships in Fargo, North Dakota.
Kouyoumtjian, a sophomore, lost 6-2 to New York’s Ally Fitzgerald in the 112-pound title match. Wrestling out of Lynbrook High School, Fitzgerald became not only the school’s first female wrestler but also “the first female to win a sanctioned high school wrestling tournament on Long Island (New York),” according to Liherald.com.
Kouyoumtjian continues wrestling today in the 112-pound weight class of the Junior Division. The final rounds begin Wednesday and all rounds can be followed online at arena. flowrestling.org.
In the Cadet Division, Kouyoumtjian began the first of five rounds with a 10-0 technical fall of Georgia’s Catherine Bertrand — an All-american and 2018 U.S. Marine Corps Folkstyle National qualifier.
In the round of 16, Kouyoumtjian defeated Missouri’s Emalie Olson — the No. 9 ranked 106-pound wrestler in the nation and a 2017 Cadet Freestyle All-american. Another 10-0 win moved Kouyoumtjian past Texas’ Carmen Allred — a high school state qualifier.
In the semifinals, Kouyoumtjian defeated Washingtion’s Kenzie Cormier — last year’s finalist — 10-7 to reach the championship match.
Last year as a freshman wrestling for the Marauders, Kouyoumtjian went 32-2 and finished third at the CIF Central Section Championships. Her only losses were at the Masters championship where she lost to Selma’s Alledia Martinez and Mission Oak’s Ashley Venegas. Martinez went on to win the CIF State title in the 111-pound class while Venegas was the runner-up.
LITTLE LEAGUE Porterville 11u moving on
The Porterville 11u Little League All-stars claimed their spot in the Northern California State Championships with an 8-3 win over Reedley to win the 9-11 Year Old Northern California Section 7 Championships on Sunday at Sunnyside Lonestar Park in Fresno. The state championships begin July 21 in West Sacramento.
Down 3-1 in the bottom of the second, Porterville went to work and scored four runs to regain the lead. An Rbi-single by Cade Correa and an error by Reedley on a ball hit by Thomas Presley tied the game at three. On the next at-bat, Francisco Aguilera’s Rbi-double to center field brought in what would be the game-winning run. Two atbats later and Jose Perez drew a bases-loaded walk, putting Porterville ahead 5-3.
Both Reedley and Porterville went scoreless over the next two innings but in the bottom of the third Porterville scored three more runs to secure the win. Runs came in off a two-run Rbi-double from Correa and a sacrifice fly from Aguilera.
Both Correa, Aguilera and Evan Flowers went 2-for-3 for Porterville with all three scoring a run and Flowers scoring two. Aguilera, Wyatt Mauldin and Dominic Perez all had doubles as well. Correa led the team with three RBIS, Aguilera finished with two. Presley, Jose Perez and Giovanni Perez had an RBI each. Giovanni Perez recorded his in the first inning.
Horacio Nunez got the win on the mound for Porterville after pitching a complete game. He gave up three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three.
Porterville 12u comeback falls short A late comeback fell short of becoming a victory for Porterville 12u Little League All-stars as the team fell 7-6 to Madera American in the Northern California Section 7 Championship game on Sunday in Arvin.
Trailing 7-4 in the bottom of the sixth Porterville loaded the bases and Ivan Arias drove in a run on an Rbi-single. Aiden Celedon followed up Arias with another Rbisingle and put Porterville within one of Madera. With the bases still loaded, Porterville’s next two batters got out on a fly ball and a fielder’s choice to end the game.
Porterville was down 5-0 through four innings before scoring their first runs in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run home run from Jonathan Delgado. They scored another two runs on an Rbidouble from Gio Chavez and an Rbi-single from Louie Torres in the bottom of the fifth.
Delgado was Porterville’s top hitter, going 3-for-3 with two RBIS, two runs scored and a home run. Another top hitter was Chavez who went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI and a double.
Torres got the start on the hill for Porterville and went 3 1/3 innings. He allowed five runs — two earned — on four hits and three walks. He also had four strikeouts. David Zamora relieved Torres and went 2 2/3 innings where he struck out five. Zamora allowed two runs on four hits and one walk.