TORRANCE TRIBUNE September 13, 2012 Page 11 Student Perspective Dominguez from front page proposed Bill Would Require Three difficult to win when you are always on the summer team, they felt there were a lot ofthe baseball team because when they had aopposing team’s turf,” Ahrens said. “It is very Feet before Overtaking Cyclists road. If we were the home team, we definitely The school was happy that we completed anew guys that could make the team better.did not have a home diamond or practice facility.” Much has changed since that first 5-31 season and were able to compete to some By Glen Abalayan, extremely dangerous to cyclists if they have season back in 1972. The program has grown level with the major schools.” Torrance High School Student to move away from road hazards. Instead, and enjoys state-of-the art practice and playing Ahrens recalls how the second season began As a daily bicycle commuter, only a few what beginner cyclists need to do is to assert facilities--and there has been an abundance of looking different and more optimistic. “They had things irk me more than having cars come themselves to drivers and take up the entire winning seasons, including five NCAA West a home field, so things were looking up. I dangerously close to my bicycle as they lane if it is a wide street. Asserting their Regionals appearances (1986, 1987, 1004, played the summer league, through December attempt to overtake me. As stated in an earlier presence to drivers prevents the intimidating 2009 and 2010), two CCAA Conference with the team, and you could tell it was a better article, these actions put cyclists’ lives at “squeezing out” that happens when a cyclist Tournament appearances (2009 and 2010) team and a better atmosphere,” Ahrens said. risk and intimidate would-be cyclists from is riding timidly. But even if the rider is and two conference championships (1987 and “A lot of the players that had their issues weren’t riding on the streets. These acts also harm effectively asserting himself on the road, he 2005). Just like the team’s first two coaches, really back the next year. I fully intended the already low relations between cyclists is still at the mercy of an aggressive driver. Roy Easley and Bob Bafia, the current coaching to play the second year and I saw the team was and drivers on the road. The increase in the To counteract this, the State Legislature’s staff continues to bring together a wide range much bigger and there was much more depth.” amount of cyclists on the road should not website stated that the proposed bill would of players from diverse backgrounds. The hard work and commitment required of translate to an increase in the number of require a fine of $220 if the driver collides “What we are trying to do as a coaching student athletes today have not changed much preventable bicycle-related accidents. But a with the cyclist, causes bodily harm, and is staff is create an atmosphere and a culture from those who played on the 1972 team. new bill moving up the Senate and gaining found in violation with the act. If SB1464 that allows these players to excel to their In addition, some of the personal issues that popularity would require drivers to give at is signed into law by the Governor, it would maximum potential academically, athletically existed for some of the players in 1972 are least three feet of space between cyclists give cyclists the legal protection they need to and socially,” Cal State Dominguez Hills no different from what some of the current before overtaking them. If this bill is signed defend them in court in the case of an accident. Baseball Coach Murphy Su’a said. “In the student athletes face on a day-to-day basis. “I into law, it would give cyclists the assurance Currently, today’s bike laws require only South Bay, we have players that are coming have a special place in my heart for student of their presence on the road and the legal drivers to pass cyclists at a safe distance. from very affluent families and we have others athletes because of the dedication, the time protection they deserve in case of an accident. The problem with this is that the actual safe that are coming from single-parent, low- commitment that is necessary for them to excel A brief article in the San Francisco distance required for overtaking fluctuates income families and this team gets them all because our first goal is for them to excel Chronicle reveals a short summary about between drivers and their current schedules. together. They come from so many different in the classroom,” Su’a said. “They have to the bill. The story summarized the bill’s The definition of a safe distance can be subcultures and to be able to mix and match spend as much time as possible as any other journey from it gaining the State Assembly’s an entire lane to some, or a few inches to them with the common denominator being student would and they also have team practice, approval and working its way up to the others. Some drivers even rudely justify their baseball and academics is a great thing.” which includes all the allowable practice time Senate in which in won by a majority vote risky actions as “safe” because it “didn’t hit Ahrens recalls that during his first season, by the NCAA who monitors how much time of 29-4. Dubbed SB1464, it would require anything.” If the new bill is passed, it would not many of the players on the team were the student athletes can be on the field, which drivers to give at least three feet of space give an actual measurement, three feet, of looking to make a career out of baseball. Yet allows the student to be a student.” between cyclists before overtaking them. A how much space is needed before overtaking. he does remember that despite many players The program has grown and chanced since more thorough summary of the bill can be This may sound excessive to drivers, but three having other priorities, the team was committed the days Ahrens played a full season mostly found in the California State Legislature’s feet is only a third of the entire width of a to winning and left its heart on the diamond on the road. Yet the fondness of that 1972 website, where the full bill, along with its regular urban lane, which according to the during every game despite the many limitations. season has not changed for Ahrens. “That first history, is available for viewing. The proposed Federal Highway Administration, has widths “For me, I like baseball, I love baseball and team was not a good team, but it was filled with bill would also allow drivers to cross the of nine to 12 feet. I would play baseball. It was discouraging to good individual players,” Ahrens said. “Looking double parallel white or yellow lines in order The introduction of SB1464, if signed into some level and I look back thinking that I back, the fact that we start school in September to safely overtake a cyclist and include a law, would give cyclists the legal protection could have done better if things were set up and having our first game in January and not requirement to reduce to a reasonable pace they need from the aggressive and distracted a certain way, but we went into every game knowing anybody, not having any group to if the driver cannot give three feet of space drivers who endanger their lives every day. thinking we could win and that’s just the way really hang out with, it was no surprise the while overtaking a cyclist. The bill would By adding a specific measurement necessary it was,” Ahrens said. “The problem that we continuity was not there. Once we played in the also provide a first offense penalty of $35 to overtake a cyclist, it would prevent the had primarily was that we didn’t have a lot summer, I think you had a feel of who was to any driver caught disobeying. fluctuating definition of what a safe distance of pitching and some of the pitchers were who and more of a relationship being built. There is nothing more intimidating for the is to drivers. The bill also brings forth just the guys that had side issues. On a given I don’t think anybody going in that first year first-time bike commuter to only be a few feet punishments to people caught violating the doubleheader, you just didn’t have enough knew what to expect. Looking back, I didn’t away from a two-ton automobile. An average act or injuring a bicyclist. But this bright hitting and pitching.” know what to expect. When we played Loyola, rookie mistake to react to such a situation is future protecting the safety of thousands of Despite the difficulty of that first season, who was a strong team, my expectation was to ride on the far right side of the road and cyclists will not be realized if California’s Ahrens recalls many games in which the that we would do well. We lost the very first riskily let cars squeeze them out. But next Governor, Jerry Brown, does not sign the team lost by three runs or less. Furthermore, game 11-1 and the second game 6-1.” to riding on the sidewalk, the far right side bill into law. But with the bill’s surge in despite the lack of a strong team chemistry Persons interested in more information of the road is the most dangerous place for popularity and landslide victories in both there was always a sense of commitment to on the Cal State Dominguez Hills Baseball any cyclist to be in because it allows cars the State Assembly and Senate, the day may the team and the sport in general. “We had team can reach Coach Murphy Su’a at (310) to ride dangerously close to cyclists and soon come when more cyclists in California a lot of close games and maybe we could 243-3765 or email at msua@csudh.edu. “The restricts their movement. This can prove to be are properly respected on the road. • have won a few more games if we had a alumni mean a lot to us,” Su’a said. “We are home field,” Ahrens said. “The school put grateful for the alumni and for what they together a summer team through the coach have done in the past, for what they continue Police from page 3 at the college called South Bay Corrals and to do for us. They uplift us every time we they were very optimistic. I think that the hear about the success of our alum. We get Theft: 2200 BLOCK 180TH PL Suspect(s) takes property/generator, hammer drill, team was going to be much-improved the next excited and we share our successes and we takes victim’s vehicle’s catalytic converter. rotator hammers, spool of copper wire, year. I think they were more optimistic with are very, very grateful for our alum.” • PACIFIC COAST HWY Suspect(s) peels Theft: 20900 BLOCK ANZA AVE City from front pageextension cords.: 2400 BLOCKBurglary Commercial back rear of shed for entry and takes property/ Suspect(s) cuts lock securing property in school supplies. carport and takes same/bicycle. always be welcomed in the city of Torrance.” were hours of training, not just laying around Burglary Commercial: 2700 BLOCK Vandalism: 2800 BLOCK COLUMBIA ST said Scotto. “We’ve given this key to a lot of watching TV. Sometimes people see the one SEPULVEDA BLVD Suspect(s) enters Suspect(s) enters open office and damages other people and they always wonder what door race and think it was that easy, but it took four open business, proceeds to office, pries open laptop screens. the key opens and trust me--come back to the years to get to that one race.” drawer, pries open cash boxes and takes Auto Theft-All : 3500 BLOCK city of Torrance and it’ll open every door in Jeter grew up in Torrance and attended Bishop property/cash. SEPULVEDA BLVD Stolen vehicle: ‘98 the city, as this is really the key to the City Montgomery High School before moving on Battery-Simple: 2900 BLOCK ARTESIA Chevrolet Tahoe. of Torrance’s heart.” to California State University Dominguez Hills BLVD Suspect punches victim in the mouth. Burglary Residential: 23900 BLOCK Winning an Olympic gold medal is a feat where she graduated with a degree in Physical Burglary Commercial: 18300 BLOCK ARLINGTON AVE Suspect(s) cuts hole in that takes years of work. For a runner, people Education. Jeter said that Bishop is where her HAWTHORNE BLVD Suspect(s) pries open security door for access and takes locked around the world only see seconds of the effort running career started and that her coaches doors for entry, forces open locked case and property from carport/bicycle. involved. Jeter shared with the audience how and the principal at Bishop have supported takes property/handguns, long guns. Auto Theft-All: 2800 BLOCK 235TH ST much she had to give up and the strenuous her around the world. auguSt 27 Stolen vehicle: ‘00 Chevrolet van. schedule of training she had to adhere to in “It did not happen overnight--this was not Theft: 20400 BLOCK VICTOR ST auguSt 26 order to become one of the best runners in the an overnight success,” said Jeter. “It started in Suspect(s) takes unsecured property from Burglary Auto: 400 BLOCK CALLE DE world. “It was definitely a sacrifice,” she said. Torrance at Bishop Montgomery High School rear of location/bicycle. CASTELLANA Suspect(s) punches door lock “You can’t go out like you’d like to, you can’t with the great faculty I had at the school. Auto Theft-All: 24400 BLOCK for entry and takes property/third row seat. hang out like you would like to. You definitely Starting with the principal Miss Libbon, who CRENSHAW BLVD Stolen vehicle: ‘99 Burglary Auto: 18200 BLOCK VAN have to put a lot of things on the backburner I love and who I talk to constantly to as I’m Chevrolet Tahoe. NESS AVE Suspect(s) pries door lock for and really give your heart and soul into track overseas running--she texts me constantly and Vandalism: 22300 BLOCK LADEENE entry, ransacks and takes property/sunglasses, and field. I was fortunate enough to make the e-mails me constantly--or Andy Marafino, who AVE Suspect(s) scratches victim’s vehicle’s guitar, backpack, bible, music books, cables, 2012 Olympic team in London and I came texts me or e-mails me constantly. It started paint. microphone. home with three medals. It was hard work. at Bishop Montgomery getting a great faith Burglary Commercial: 500 BLOCK Theft: 3300 BLOCK ARTESIA BLVD Nothing easy was on this path that I took on. and having a great community backing me. CRENSHAW BLVD Suspect(s) cuts off Suspect(s) takes property from unlocked I would wake up at six in the morning to train Before I even went to college, I had great locks on storage containers for entry and vehicle’s engine compartment/battery. • and be done with my day by two, but those people backing me.” •
Torrance 9.13.12
To see the actual publication please follow the link above