Anyone stored calling.
“Hello,” I’d reply.
No person would reply. There was solely the sound of speaking within the background.
It occurred 5 occasions.
The thriller was solved when Harmony De La Salle soccer coach Justin Alumbaugh reached me and apologized that his 2-year-old daughter, Isabel, had gotten ahold of his telephone.
Isabel Alumbaugh, the 2-year-old daughter of De La Salle soccer coach Justin Alumbaugh.
(Alumbaugh household)
When you suppose De La Salle’s activity of making an attempt at hand Mater Dei its first defeat in Saturday evening’s CIF Open Division state championship bowl recreation is likely to be powerful, think about the balancing act Alumbaugh has been pulling off with assist from his spouse, teaching soccer and having children ages 6, 5 and a pair of.
“There’s no denying how good they are,” Alumbaugh mentioned of the 12-0 Monarchs.
Coming to Saddleback School by bus for the 8 p.m. kickoff, De La Salle (12-0) is such an enormous underdog that the CalPreps.com pc prediction has it Mater Dei 44, De La Salle 3.
This recreation has such a sure final result — a Mater Dei victory — that it jogs my memory of the primary Division I state bowl recreation in 2006. De La Salle was the heavy favourite towards Canyon Nation Canyon. De La Salle was unbeaten and ranked No. 1 within the nation. When the sport ended, Canyon had received 27-13. A De La Salle victory Saturday could be the most important upset since then.
Former Canyon coach Harry Welch has some recommendation for the underdog.
“I was more focused on us than De La Salle,” Welch mentioned. “In fact, I took the team and coaches early off the field before the game and read them the riot act because I didn’t care for our focus. I said nothing during the week before the game to motivate or help focus on De La Salle.”
De La Salle hasn’t performed since a 10-7 victory over Pittsburg in a rainstorm on Nov. 22. That’s three weeks of preparation. The Spartans have a lineman dedicated to Oregon, a quarterback who’s 100-meter sprint quick and a working again who’s the son of former NFL working again Maurice Jones-Drew.
Mater Dei coach Raul Lara is aware of all about De La Salle’s pedigree from having performed the Spartans when he was coach of Lengthy Seaside Poly in 2001. His workforce misplaced to De La Salle 29-15 when Jones-Drew was the star working again.
This recreation be a mismatch as anticipated. Or perhaps there’s a shock coming. In sports activities, something can occur.
De La Salle is holding nothing again, together with bringing legendary former coach Bob Ladouceur to face on the sideline. Maybe De La Salle will play a few of these memorable sports activities films that includes upsets. “Remembering the Titans” is one. “Hoosiers” is one other.
Alumbaugh simply wants to ensure his telephone is in his pocket or someone is likely to be receiving plenty of calls from a 2-year-old throughout the recreation.
Pitcher who tackles effectively 
Junior defensive deal with Giuseppe Virzi, who’s additionally a pitcher for the Palos Verdes baseball workforce, pressures Bakersfield Christian quarterback Lincoln Amade within the Southern California Division 2-A bowl recreation on Saturday.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Occasions)
Within the 11:30 a.m. Division 2-A remaining at Saddleback School on Saturday, be careful for Palos Verdes’ 245-pound defensive deal with, Giuseppe Virzi, towards 14-0 Lincoln Twelve Bridges.
He was going to give attention to baseball solely this yr and joined the soccer workforce mid season. He is a superb hitter and may put up important numbers as two manner participant in his junior yr. pic.twitter.com/STBWxhw3oe
— Terman/ (@DaveTerman) December 9, 2024
He had a 1.87 earned-run common pitching for the baseball workforce final spring and determined to return to soccer on the final minute after a summer season of baseball. He elevated his weight, joined late and has develop into a giant a part of a big-play protection that has been key to serving to Palos Verdes (10-5) attain its first state championship recreation in soccer.
One other defensive lineman who was a late addition was Marlon Osborne, who skipped his junior season, got here out late and has joined with Virzi to offer assist.
Requested how his workforce has gotten this far after shedding 25 gamers to commencement, Palos Verdes coach Man Gardner mentioned, “I’m not sure. We’re still trying to figure it out.”
Highland’s Wyatt connection 
Highland coach Justin Wyatt along with his quarterback son, Justin Jr.
(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Occasions)
Palmdale Highland coach Justin Wyatt will get one remaining recreation along with his son, Justin Jr., the 6-foot-4 quarterback headed to Nevada. Highland performs Petaluma St. Vincent de Paul within the 4-AA remaining at 4 p.m. Friday at Veterans Stadium in Lengthy Seaside.
“It will be a special moment,” Justin Sr. mentioned.
He has three different football-playing sons. Charlie Jackson III is a freshman receiver. Jalen Wyatt is an eighth-grade quarterback. Isaac Jackson is a seventh-grade edge rusher.
“The next three or four years are going to be fun,” Justin Sr. mentioned.
