TORRANCE TRIBUNE March 23, 2017 Page 3 Up and Adam Kyle Hatai Takes the Lead for North By Adam Serrao In order to have a successful season in Pioneer League baseball, teams must receive stellar performances from their standout players. One of those standout players is Kyle Hatai of the North High Saxons. Hatai is leading the Saxons on the mound this year and already has the team off to a 6-2 record in the early stages of the young season. Last Thursday afternoon against the Hawthorne Cougars, Hatai put together his latest great performance and led North High to a 3-0 victory for the team’s second win in a row. In the beginning stages of last week’s game against Hawthorne, it looked as if the crowd on hand would be in store for a pitchers’ duel of sorts. Hatai took the mound against the Cougars’ Johnny Pacheco and both teams were held scoreless throughout the first two innings. It’s certainly never easy to pitch a shutout in the game of baseball. In the top of the third inning, the Saxons ruined Pacheco’s chances of accomplishing such a feat. Hatai didn’t only one-up Pacheco and Hawthorne on the mound, but he got things done at the plate as well. It was Hatai who drove in North’s first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning and gave himself some breathing room on defense. The sophomore pitcher didn’t need much breathing room, though, as he looked calm, cool and collected from the outset. Hatai’s control was on point and on full display as he fooled batter after batter with an entire array of pitches. In all, Hatai struck out 12 batters while walking zero in a complete-game shutout over the Cougars. In addition to Hatai, infielder and pinch-hitter Thomas Bainton provided the rest of the offense. In the bottom of the fifth inning, it was Bainton who came through with two RBIs to pad the Saxon lead and ensure a victory on the day. Despite the play of opposing centerfielder Carlos Jacobo, who was a pest on the base pads all day, the all-around team effort from North was simply too much. Jacobo managed two stolen bases on the day, but ultimately Hatai was too much for the Hawthorne offense to handle in the 3-0 shutout for the Saxons. North’s season will continue this week with a matchup against Palos Verdes before league play begins with a doubleheader against the Leuzinger Olympians. Behind the offensive production and excellent pitching of Hatai, the Saxons are contenders in a stacked Pioneer League this season. South High The South High Spartans boys’ baseball team is enjoying an extremely successful start to the season under head coach Grady Sain. South High baseball has been in the news recently because of the tragedy that occurred when sophomore shortstop Jesse Esphorst, Jr. was killed in a traffic accident. The Spartans canceled two games following the disaster and finally took the field again, dedicating a game versus Bishop Montgomery to Esphorst, Jr. in which South eventually won by a final score of 14-0. The Spartans’ win over Bishop Montgomery has certainly not been the team’s only victory of the young season. A 13-3 triumph over Hawthorne earlier in the month and a 7-0 win last Thursday afternoon over Temple City have highlighted other great performances by South this year. Junior pitcher Kevin Ishimaru has come up big as the team’s ace this season. Ishimaru pitched five innings of two-hit ball while striking out six batters to secure the victory. Sophomore Carey Arbolida provided the offensive pop, smacking a two-run home run to end the game with three RBIs. Junior Josh Sheck also recorded an RBI double. A young and talented South High team will continue a season dedicated to Esphorst, Jr. with play in this year’s Chatsworth Tournament before beginning league games with a doubleheader against the Leuzinger Olympians. In a loaded Pioneer League this season, nothing would be sweeter than bringing home a division championship for Esphorst, Jr. Torrance High The Torrance Tartars boys’ baseball team and head coach Terry DeWan believe that they have what it takes to take down their competition in the Pioneer League this season. One of the reasons that the Tartars are so confident lies in the arms of three key pitchers on the staff. Seniors Alex Gallegos, Dante Mendoza and Travis Martizia form a three-headed pitching attack that has the ability to shut down any offense in the division. So far, the Tartars have been able to shut down Leuzinger, Narbonne and El Segundo, among other teams, on their way to a very successful early part of the season. Torrance has already recorded three shutouts this season, including a 5-0 victory over El Segundo last Thursday afternoon. Junior Brad Kong had two RBIs and Gallegos pitched six innings of one-hit ball while striking out five. The Tartars will continue to shake off the rust of a long offseason as they take part in the Anaheim Lions Tournament before beginning Pioneer League play against the South High Spartans. West High The West High Warriors are among the South Bay’s highest-ranked teams this season, thanks in large part to the return of Sean Whorley, Taylor Proo and Grant Decatrel. As ace of the Calendar of Events Deadline for Calendar items is the prior Thursday by noon. Calendar items are $1 per word. Email listings to marketing@ heraldpublications.com. We take Visa and MasterCard. THURSDAY, MAR. 23 • Propagation Society – Planting Seeds for the Future, 10:30 AM., Madrona Marsh Nature Center & Preserve, 3201 Plaza Del Amo, free to public, Call: 310-782-3989. • Palos Verdes High School Choreo, 7:00PM., James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Call: 310-781-7171 for ticket prices. FRIDAY, MAR. 24 • Friday Fun, 10:00 AM. – 12:00 PM., free –donations accepted, Madrona Marsh Nature Center & Preserve, 3201 Plaza Del Amo, Call: 310-782-3989. • 18th Annual Glen Kamida & Friends Fundraising Concert, Tickets: $10/$5, 7:00 PM., James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Call: 310-781-7171. • Co-Rec Club- School Spirit Dance, 7:30 PM. – 9:30 PM., for 6th, 7th, 8th graders in Torrance Middle School, wear your school spirit wear, Tickets: $6 Members/$8 Guests (Must have a current Middle School ID) Ken Miller Recreation Center, 3341 Torrance Blvd., Call: 310-618-2729. • 18th Annual Glen Kamida & Friends Fundraising Concert, 7:00 PM., Tickets: $10/$5, James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Call: 310-781-7171. SATURDAY, MAR. 25 • Habitat Restoration –Service Learning for Students, 8:45 AM. – 12:00 PM., free, Madrona Marsh Nature Center & Preserve, 3201 Plaza Del Amo, Call: 310-782-3989. • Torrance Certified Farmers’ Market at Wilson Park, 8:00 AM. – 1:00 PM., 2200 Crenshaw Blvd., Between Carson St. & Sepulveda, Call: 310-781-7520. • 20th Annual What’s Up for Kids Family Expo 2017, 10:00 AM. – 3:00 PM., free, Torrance Cultural Arts Center, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Call: 888-544-1042. • What’s Going On: The Marvin Gaye Experience, 8:00 PM., Tickets: $30/$25/$20, James Armstrong Theatre, 3330 Civic Center Drive, Call: 310-781-7171. SUNDAY, MAR. 26 • Katy Geissert Civic Center Library Open, 1:00 PM. – 5:00 PM., 3301 Torrance Blvd. • 6th Annual Cherry Blossom Cultural Festival, 11:00 Am. – 4:00 PM., free, Columbia Park, 4045 190th Street, Call: 310-618-2376. MONDAY, MAR. 27 • Madrona Marsh Nature Center & Preserve – CLOSED. TUESDAY, MAR. 28 • City Council Meeting, 7:00 PM., City Hall, 3031 Torrance Blvd., Call: 310-618-2780. • Torrance Certified Farmers’ Market at Wilson Park, 8:00 AM. – 1:00 PM., 2200 Crenshaw Blvd., Between Carson St. & Sepulveda, Call: 310-781-7520. WEDNESDAY, MAR. 29 • Planning Commission Meeting, City Hall Council Chambers, 7:00 PM. – 9:00 PM., 3031 Torrance Blvd., Call: 310-618-2870. • Youth Council Meeting, 7:00 PM. – 9:00 PM., City Hall West Annex Commission Room, 3031 Torrance Blvd., Call: 310- 618-2870. THURSDAY, MAR. 30 • Propagation Society – Planting Seeds for the Future, 10:30 AM., Madrona Marsh Nature Center & Preserve, 3201 Plaza Del Amo, free to public, Call: 310-782-3989. • IRS from front page Community Briefs from page 2 To date, more than 100 people have participated in the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program in Torrance, losing an average of seven percent body weight after completing the weekly sessions, and 15-20 percent after completing the yearlong program. The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program uses a CDC-approved curriculum and is part of the CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program. The program is available at more than 1,700 sites in 47 states. • DEADLINES OBITUARIES: Monday at noon. CALENDAR ITEMS: Monday at noon. PEOPLE ITEMS: Monday at noon. CLASSIFIEDS: Tuesday at noon. LEGAL NOTICES: Wednesday at 11:00 am. REAL ESTATE ADS: Monday at noon. AD CANCELLATIONS: Prior Thursday. LATE CANCELLATIONS WILL BE CHARGED 50% OF AD the IRS, or to the California Franchise Tax Board. And, a federal refund can be held up to pay back child support or past-due student loans. That might explain why some taxpayers procrastinated. The reality is the IRS will be keeping a big chunk of this money because people have either changed jobs, left the state, or weren’t legally able to work in the United States and so they don’t qualify for a federal refund. Whatever the reason, the federal government is the beneficiary of whatever is left over from 2013’s collections after the April deadline, according to the IRS. “The IRS estimates the midpoint for potential refunds for 2013 to be $763; half of the refunds are more than $763 and half are less,” it said earlier in March. “In cases where a tax return was not filed, the law provides most taxpayers with a three-year window of opportunity for claiming a refund. For 2013 tax returns, the window closes April 18, 2017.” The revenue department stressed that a 2013 tax return must be properly addressed, mailed and postmarked by April 18 or the window for claiming a refund is slammed shut for good. Many Americans prefer to overpay their federal taxes during the year and collect a refund the following year. This way, there are no surprises but the federal government doesn’t pay interest for holding onto individuals’ refunds for an entire calendar year. Financial advisers refer to this practice as “the IRS savings plan. For these people, the refund is a safe bet and worth the wait. People stand to lose more than just the money deducted from their checks in 2013 if they don’t file these back taxes, the IRS added. Individuals and households that made $46,227 or less may qualify for a tax credit. The credit--up to $6,000--reduces any amount owed to the federal government and potentially increases the size of any refund. The tax credit helps individuals and families with low- to moderate incomes. To qualify, they had to show earnings for that year that don’t exceed: - $46,227 ($51,567 if married filing jointly) with three or more children; - $43,038 ($48,378 if married filing jointly) with two children; - $37,870 ($43,210 if married filing jointly) with one child; - $14,340 ($19,680 if married filing jointly) with no children. The 2013 tax forms and instructions are available on the IRS website at www.irs. gov/forms-pubs, or by calling 800-829-3676. Taxpayers missing their W-2, 1098, 1099 or 5498 earnings documents should request copies from their current or past employer, a bank or other source of taxable income, the department says. Taxpayers who are unable to get missing forms from their employer or other payer should go to IRS.gov and use the “Get Transcript Online” tool to obtain a Wage and Income transcript. Taxpayers can file Form 4506-T to request a transcript of their 2013 income. They can use information on the transcript to file their tax return, according to the IRS. Why is the tax-filing deadline pushed back to April 18 instead of the 15th, you might ask. The IRS says that because the 15th falls on a Saturday next month and the following Monday is a legal holiday in the District of Columbia, everybody in the nation gets an extra day to file. The IRS is in a generous mood, but that’s a limited-time offer. • See Up and Adam, page 6
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