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Thursday, January 24, 2013

Following the Te'o trail to Palmdale



It wasn’t until I received a Facebook message from a friend of a friend asking if I could help cover a story for USA Today that I started giving Lennay Kekua any more than a passing thought.
Of course Lennay doesn’t exist. She is the fake girlfriend of Notre Dame star linebacker Manti Te’o. She made for a great story though, becoming the tragic love interest of one of the most popular college football players in the country.
But instead of living happily ever after, like in all good fairy tales, she wound up in a car accident, then contracted leukemia and died. Te’o told Sports Illustrated and ESPN, among other reputable media outlets, about his girlfriend’s tragic demise. They all bought it, never once stopping to ask if she had any family members, friends or classmates who were grieving as passionately as Te’o.
Te’o claimed he was duped. Writers and editors at Sports Illustrated claimed they were duped. Reporters and producers at ESPN claimed they were duped. As the hoax unraveled, a trail led to Palmdale, where the suspected creator of the fake girlfriend lived.

Saturday, January 12, 2013

The West Ranch Beacon – News & Commentary for the Santa Clarita Valley » Tim Haddock’s SCV Sports Roundup

The West Ranch Beacon – News & Commentary for the Santa Clarita Valley » Tim Haddock’s SCV Sports Roundup

The West Ranch boys basketball team won its Foothill League opener against Hart, 70-63. Hart entered the game with an undefeated 16-0 record and ranked No. 1 in the CIF Southern Section Division 3AAA poll.
The Saugus girls soccer team ran its unbeaten streak to 16 games with a scoreless draw against Valencia.
The Master's College women's basketball team moved into the top 10 in the NAIA national rankings and stayed undefeated at 14-0.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Hart boys basketball team extends undefeated streak to 13

The Hart boys basketball team blew out its second team in as many nights in the Holiday Classic tournament.
The Indians beat Reseda, 92-70, and won their 13th game in a row to start the season. Hart is undefeated and has won its first two games in the Hart Holiday Classic tournament.
Lewis Stallworth led the Indians in scoring with 19 points. He had four 3-pointers. Four Hart players scored in double figures and the team made 13 3-pointers in the game.
Hart plays South Bakersfield in the third round of pool play in the tournament on Friday.

Photo: The Hart boys basketball team improved to 13-0 with a 92-70 win over Reseda in the Holiday Classic tournament. (Credit: Tim Haddock)

Runners rise to the top of Santa Clarita sports in 2012



Runners took center stage in the Santa Clarita sports world in 2012. From the Summer Olympics in London to Central Park in Saugus, cross country and track runners were celebrated. Allyson Felix won three gold medals in London. The Saugus girls cross country team won their seventh CIF state championship in a row. Chris Low from College of the Canyons won a state title in track. John Gilbertson from The Master’s College won a national championship in cross country.
But cross country and track and field were not the only sports that athletes from the Santa Clarita Valley excelled. A receiver from Canyon High broke two state football records. A golfer from Valencia High qualified for her third US Women’s Open. The fire captain at Station 76 in Valencia won an IHRA drag racing event.
Here is a look at the top sports stories of the year:

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Hart boys basketball team wins big in Holiday Classic

The Hart boys basketball team beat Burbank, 81-50, in the opening round of pool play in the Hart Holiday Classic.
Lewis Stallworth led four Indians in double figures. He scored 15 points. Myles Franklin scored 13.
Hart outscored Burbank, 25-8, in the third quarter to take a 22-point lead. The Indians led, 37-32, at halftime.
Hart is 12-0 to start the season. The Indians play Reseda in the second round pool play next.

Photo: The Hart boys basketball team won its first game in pool play against Burbank in the Hart Holiday Classic. (Credit: Tim Haddock)

Monday, December 24, 2012

Opening night for Irwindale Event Center set for April 6

Buried in the release of LoanMart's new partnership with the Irwindale Event Center is the tentative opening night for racing to return to the oval tracks.
LoanMart will have new billboards posted around the track and for the drag strip. The company also reserved on of the suites at the track.

"We couldn't be happier to be associated with the great new Irwindale Event Center," said Colby Estes, LoanMart's Director of Marketing. "Our company loves all forms of motorsports competition and the people who love it. We really can't wait for the stock car season to begin."

... And right now that's set for Saturday April 6, 2013.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Samantha Kenny joins dad, brother in NHRA Super Comps

Samantha Kenny's dad, Alan, won the NHRA Super Comp national championship.
Her brother, Jason, won a Super Comp race at Las Vegas.
On the final event of the year at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, she was the only one of the three Kenny racers to reach the final day of elimination.
Samantha Kenny says she had one of her best seasons even though she didn't win a national event. She was eliminated in the fifth round at Pomona, but she had her family and supporters rooting her on.
The 30-year-old from Ohio is keeping the family tradition of drag racing alive and will be joining her dad and her brother when the NHRA drag racing season begins in 2013.
Go to the K&N website for more on Samantha Kenny and her drag racing career.

Photo: Samantha Kenny reached the final day of eliminations in the NHRA Super Comp division at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona in November. (Credit: Jegs)