The Southwest Voice

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Perhaps a potpourri of personal, pleasant pundit ponderings?

  Stockdale’s High School varsity baseball team could not seal the deal as Centennial forced the Mustangs to put the broom back in the closet, averting the SWYL sweep. Hope to see these two teams in the rubber match at the Division I Central Section title tilt!

  Speaking of, the Lady Hawks came out on top, as well, tallying a run in the bottom of the last inning to complete a sweep of the Stockdale varsity softballers.

  Major props to Stockdale High valedictorian Brianna Curtis for earning the CIF Central Section Scholar-Athlete award. Lettering in 12 varsity sports (cross-country, track and soccer) in four years was quite an accomplishment.

 The Stockdale boy’s golf team tore it up in the SWYL Golf Championship and followed that up with a resounding 18- stroke victory over runner-up Centennial at the South Area Golf Championship. Both teams qualified for the South Area Division I Valley Team Championships in Visalia.

  Speaking of, part two: Bakersfield College men’s golf team, led by Western State Conference Player of the Year Bryce Holloway, captured the WSC golf title this season. Good job, ‘Gades.

  Major League Baseball musings: Former Ridgeview High pitcher Phillip Dumatrait picked up his first major league career win against the San Francisco Giants on May 7. The victory was at the expense of Barry Zito, who now sports a perfectly inverted 0-7 record on the season. Promising this to be the last “speaking of” in today’s column, the approximate $126 million expense that the Giants are saddled with regarding Zito’s contract doesn’t quite seem worth it!

  Conversely, Arizona D-backs’ Brandon Webb holds Zito’s record in the mirror to find a glossy 7-0 start to his ’08 campaign as the Diamondbacks sport the best record in baseball. This, after losing their top closer, Jose Valverde in the off-season.

  With the Colorado Rockies rapidly descending in the NL West, perhaps Stockdale’s Sean Barker will get the call up sooner than later!

  The Florida Marlins, with one of the lowest payrolls in the league, are swimming atop the NL East. It is early in the season however, and three avowed “sharks” lurk just below them as the Phillies, Braves and Mets are all legitimate, hungry contenders.

Broken promise: Speaking of the Phillies and Braves, Chase Utley and Chipper Jones, respectively, are vying for early honors for the National League MVP award.