Birmingham's players come together after a 5-0 City Section Division I semifinal win over Fremont. (Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)
It's happening again. One of the best sports rivalries in the City Section – Birmingham vs. El Camino Real in boys soccer – will be on display for the second straight year in the City Section Division I championship game at Valley College on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Birmingham took care of things Wednesday, defeating Fremont 5-0 in the semifinals. Damian Lopez contributed two goals. El Camino Real players were present at the game. Many of the players know each other. Birmingham standout young player Steven Ramos plays on the same club team as several El Camino Real players.
“It will be an exciting game,” said Ramos. “No friends on the field. Off the field we are close.”
Ramos is one of the best players in the City section. He may only be a junior, but his versatility in defense and scoring makes him a standout. He scored seven goals and contributed a crucial corner early against Fremont that was headed in by Lopez for a 1-0 lead.
Birmingham reached the final under first-year coach Gus Villalobos, who was part of the El Camino Real rivalry as a player.
“It couldn’t be better,” he said of his third game against El Camino Real this season. The two schools split their league meets.
Girls soccer
El Camino Real 2, Granada Hills 0: Reigning City Section Player of the Year Sharon Alcocer scored two goals to help El Camino Real advance to the Division I girls final Friday at Valley College at 7 p.m.
Cleveland 2, Palisades 2: The Cavaliers advance to the city final via penalty kicks, with Natalie Grant scoring the game-winner.
baseball
Westlake 3, El Camino Real 1: The Warriors (5-0) won the Easton Tournament championship game behind left-hander Dylan Volantis, who struck out 11 in six innings with no walks. He had 10 strikeouts last week against Birmingham. Kaden Youmans came on for the save in the seventh game. Nolan Johnson had three hits.
Arlington 7, Long Beach Millikan 5: The Lions are 3-0. Andrew Magallanez had two hits and two RBIs.
Harvard-Westlake 5, JSerra 0: Duncan Marsten threw five scoreless innings with five strikeouts and Bryce Rainer followed with two scoreless innings with five strikeouts to lead the Wolverines. Rainer also had two goals.
Hart 5, St. Francis 2: Michael Hogen had two goals for the Indians (3-2).
Corona Centennial 5, Barstow 0: Michael Nonis hit a three-run home run for the Huskies.
Corona Santiago 5, Charter Oak 4: Andres Zamaro broke a 4-4 tie with an RBI single in the sixth inning. He finished the game with two goals for Santiago.
Orange Lutheran 3, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 0: The Lancers (4-0) pulled ahead in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single by Josiah Hartshorn and a two-run single by Nate Savoie for three runs and scoring Levi Sterling A defeat . Three Orange Lutheran pitchers combined for the shutout.
Soft ball
Norco 8, Yucaipa 1: Tamryn Shorter hit a home run in the first at-bat of the first game of the season for the Cougars. She finished the game with two hits and two RBIs.
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
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