Page 6 July 5, 2012 TORRANCE TRIBUNE Dodgers Fall From Grace Up and Adam By Adam Serrao take their spots and step into roles that they Tiffany Liu Who?are not used to filling, thus having to workIt wasn’t long ago that the Los Angeles Dodgers had the best record in the National harder and thereby producing less. By Adam Serrao you realize your potential,” a cerebral Liu League West and even beyond that, the best Even so, help is on its way very soon. If you haven’t heard her talked about be- related. “Positive thinking in yourself, your record in all of Major League Baseball. Anyone While Ethier was only sidelined for a few fore, start getting used to it now. Tiffany Liu teammates and your coaches is a huge part of who watches the game of baseball, however, games, both Kemp and Ellis should be back is one of the best swimmers in the city of it. You need to have faith in yourself.” That knows that the same boys in blue that previ- directly after the All-Star game that takes Torrance. As a freshman, Liu isn’t only new faith has enabled Liu to master her sport at ously had climbed to the top of the league place on July 10. Once those three get back to West High, but is also new to Torrance. an early age. The experience of swimming are now looking like bums in blue, sliding all into the lineup, the Dodgers will once again After being born in England, Liu grew up in competitively since the age of seven hasn’t the way to the bottom even faster than they have their core back and the offense should Florida where she spent seven years of her hurt her cause either. With three years of ascended. Certainly, the baseball season is a finally do its part to end its worst slide in life and later moved to Kansas where she high school left for the young swimming long campaign. With 162 games to be played years and eventually start scoring runs again. spent three years before coming to California. star, we can certainly get used to hearing to complete the sports year, it is regular to see Even through their horrific play of late, how- Liu has moved around a lot due in large part Tiffany Liu’s name repeated in the headlines good teams at times fall into slumps along the ever, one thing separates this team from last to her father’s profession, but through all of for years to come. way. The Dodgers, however, aren’t only in a year’s. Stan Kasten and the ownership group the change of scenery along the way, she has North Torrance slump They are on a meteoric descent that that includes Magic Johnson, unlike Frank definitely made herself right at home here as North Torrance is making a splash in when over with may be the worst in team McCourt, are willing to do whatever it takes a West High Warrior in Torrance. news this summer and the headlines are history, begging the question are these in fact to win. Already looking overseas to enhance Liu got her start in the city competing being written because of the school’s golf the same Dodgers of last year that finished in the team, Kasten and the Dodgers’ front of- for Swim Torrance for the last two years star Alice Jeong. Jeong recently captured the third place in their division just slightly above fice recently signed 21-year-old Yasiel Puig before she finally entered high school and U.S. Girls Junior Amateur Qualifier at the the .500 mark? to a seven-year deal in order to hopefully be chose West as her destination. Though high Los Angeles Country Club after returning The Los Angeles Dodgers led the NL West the Dodgers left fielder of the future. Beyond school competition can be much different home from New Jersey where she made it to by as many as 7 1/2 games on May 27. At the that, the hot stove is burning white hot with than competing on the club level, Liu was the semifinals in the U.S. Women’s Amateur time that this is presently being written, the trade rumors that have the Dodgers looking in prepared in a way that most swimmers are Public Links Championship. At the Qualifier, Dodgers are now a game back in the standings various areas to improve their team and their not. For her, it is not how athletic she is that Jeong had a one-over-par 73 to tie Beverly of the San Francisco Giants and have been shut brand. “I promise you we’ll explore everything,” makes her such a fierce competitor. Rather, it Hills’ Lydia Choi for top tournament honors out five times in six games and six times in Kasten said of his team’s position on the trade is the mental capacity that she encompasses while also becoming one of only nine girls 12 games--including all three at San Francisco market this year. “Look, as candid as we can that makes her an almost unbeatable swimmer. to make it to the U.S. Girls Junior Amateur and at least two out of the four games against be, we’te the Dodgers. We’re supposed to be “To get yourself in the right state of mind and Championship that will be played in Merced the New York Mets. Presently, those same big. We intend to be big. Will we look at big be confident in what you are doing and push on Friday, July 13. Dodgers have produced only two runs in their things? You bet.” yourself in a positive way is a huge part of While in New Jersey at the Links, Jeong last 57 innings played, seeing them lose seven While there is nothing big about the way the it,” Liu said. “Having confidence and being took a quarterfinal victory over Annie Park games in a row and 11 out of their last 12. Dodgers have been playing on the field recently, positive is very important.” of Levittown, New York who committed to The slide has dropped the Dodgers from five fans can rest assure that although it feels like That confidence and positivity, combined USC before being defeated in the semifinals games ahead in the NL West and in first place it, it may not be the end of the world just yet. with her pure athleticism in the water, is with a 3 and 2 loss against Kyung Kim of to where they are now--one game behind the With names like Carlos Lee being rumored to what has led Liu to success most recently Chandler, Arizona. Even though her ride ended Giants and in second place. These Dodgers join the Dodgers’ clubhouse soon, it is clear at the Bay League finals at Mira Costa and somewhat prematurely, Jeong was happy to don’t seem to be the same team they were that management is doing everything it can the CIF Southern Section Division II finals at be able to have the experience of playing on last year. Now, they seem to be even worse. to better the team for a run at the playoffs Riverside City College. Liu wound up taking such a competitive level. “My goal entering To give the team credit, the Dodgers are this year. Once the lineup gets healthy and home a win in the 100-meter freestyle at the the Public Links was to just make the match depleted by injuries that may explain some the trade deadline passes, the runs being put Bay League finals, but didn’t just beat the play and I did that,” expressed Jeong. “Be- of their insufficiencies lately. Obviously, Matt up on the scoreboard for the Dodgers should competition--she did so in record time. Posting ing that it was my first time in match play, Kemp has been out of the lineup for the majority make this, the time of a completely anemic a time of 52.08 seconds, Liu set the league I didn’t know what to expect. I was playing of the year with his hamstring injury. Andre offense, almost completely forgettable. record before moving on to CIF. While at my first round and then second round and I Ethier has been sidelined a few games with an Though many fans would love see that 7 the CIF Division II finals, Liu took second felt like I was pretty experienced.” oblique injury. The team’s number two hitter 1/2 game lead reappear in the standings, when place in the 100-meter freestyle and almost The experience she has gained in both and one of the best defensive second basemen put into perspective, the Dodgers aren’t really matched her time at the Bay League finals Links play and the U.S. Girls Junior Amateur in the game, Mark Ellis, almost lost his leg putting themselves out of misery just yet. by posting a mark of 52.10. She also finished matches has Jeong confident she can compete due to complications resulting from the injury Only one game back of the National League tied for fifth in the 200-meter freestyle with on a professional level, but even still she that he suffered on May 19 that has seen him West-leading Giants, the Dodgers still have the a time of 1:52.74. intends to go to college in order to hone sidelined for almost a month and a half now. opportunity to retake the lead in the division Though she didn’t beat all of the compe- her skills and take in the college experience When you take the number two, three and four standings even before the entire team gets tition down at the CIF finals, Liu certainly at Cal. “I’m sure everyone wants to play hitters out of any lineup in the league all at healthy. Even so, if the Dodgers can make it made a statement. As only a freshman in pro, but college is definitely the first step,” the same time and for an extended amount of to the All-Star break without slipping much high school, Liu’s positive thinking certainly said Jeong. She has certainly done more than time, you can expect the team’s run produc- more, then they certainly won’t have to worry has her poised to do big things in her three just take the first step and it won’t be long tion to drop off drastically. Not only are the about the ghosts of last year with the visage years remaining at West High. “Our bodies before the professional levels see an even big hitters for the Dodgers sidelined, but the of Frank McCourt revisiting their clubhouse are capable of doing things we don’t realize more ready and experienced Alice Jeong from other hitters on the team are being asked to anytime soon. • they can do and having confidence helps North High bringing home championships. • I wondered why Valedictorian from front page the baseball kept gettIng bIgger. give them the tools to know exactly what on core courses such as English, History settings and we are of school choice, sobeing in different types of educationaling curriculum with a great deal of focusstarts that includes some basic training to -thenIt hIt me. to do, how to access the teacher and how and Math. The individualized work is then if you are in search of something different to submit their work. It’s something we discussed with teachers in several formats, from a traditional school, we can fill that carry out throughout the entire year just more often through teacher-led live lessons. need,” Dombeck said. “As a teacher it is to make sure that everyone is comfortable “To be honest, sometimes it was difficult definitely something that because we are DUAL & QUAD CORE and the best way to do that is to ensure for me because being at home takes away able to work with our whole class, we are COMPUTERS that everybody understands the process.” makes you think you have work that needs individual students need.”also able to break it down to what thosefrom that feeling that students have whichBeing away from the traditional school FROM $485 setting did pose some challenges for to be done,” Pronto said. “At home, we have Pronto, who is now planning on attending with3 YEAR WARRANTY! was something missing in the traditional the time, I can watch shows, I can browse of college life and believes that she willUCSB, is excited to take on the challengeso many distractions. I am on the Internet allPronto. However, she believed that there Fast, Dependable PC Repairs school setting that she was able to find the Internet or since I’m home I can sleep be ready to excel academically at a four- and Upgrades from our through the curriculum offered at Capist- in. I can choose to do other things besides year university because of the preparation Certified Technicians been an independent learner--even as a kid does take an extra willingness to learn with Connections Academy. “It was definitelyshe received during her time at Capistranohomework, so it is difficult. So it reallyrano Connections Academy. “I have always Celebrating our 29th year In Business! I never really asked my parents for that a lot of self-discipline to continue with your challenging,” she said. “If there was one BIPRO ing with me and that’s kind of how this option for students who for various reasons Although the teachers have lectures andthing I can say it’s that the ConnectionsAcademy curriculum definitely lives up toits reputation--it is challenging and rigorous.Capistrano Connections Academy is anwork to get good grades. It’s definitely easyto slack off.”-much help,” Pronto said. “My mom quither job because she wanted to take careof us, so she decided to try homeschool Computers an independent learner and rarely asked for involved in the pursuit of acting careers, or do, so it just makes the class 10 timesweekly lessons to explain the material, wedon’t get that daily lecture like most peoplecan’t attend a traditional school setting.Some of the student body’s members arewould all develop. We knew that I wouldbe able to thrive there because I am such 225 Main St. 310-640-0000 help. This place would give me attention dedicated to athletic development, which al- harder. The fact that we are homeschooled only if I would really need it.” lows them to continue pursuing their passion also means that we receive more work and Open Monday - Saturday Despite the convenience and flexibility while meeting the academic requirements that just makes it more time-consuming. www.bipro.com that is attached to studying at Capistrano set by the State. It’s a lot harder than most people would Connections Academy, there is a demand- “There is always a different reason for probably think.”
Torrrance 7.5.12
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