Middlebrooks feels good

Fountain Valley High senior Kyle Middlebrooks doesn’t really see slow as an option.

Even coming off a hamstring injury, Middlebrooks showed that he’s still plenty fast enough Saturday at the Orange County Track and Field Championships.

The Arizona State-bound senior, who finished second in the 100 meters at the CIF State Meet last spring, also finished second Saturday. He crossed the line in 10.93 seconds, edged out by Orange Lutheran senior Damani Wilson (10.89).

But for Middlebrooks, who hadn’t run at an invitational meet since the California Relays in mid-March, it was a good return. He said he’s been running 400s in practice, but found the right sprint speed when it counted Saturday.

“I just kicked it in,” Middlebrooks said. “It was a good race coming off the injury. Second place was good with me.”

Middlebrooks, the two-time Sunset League Offensive Player of the Year as a football running back, also returned to anchor the Fountain Valley 4x100 relay. The Barons got sixth, in 43.51 seconds.

“We haven’t really ran our real relay team, because I’ve been hurt so long,” Middlebrooks said. “It was a good start.”

The Barons were 4-0 in league headed into a big dual meet against Esperanza on Wednesday and next week are Sunset League finals at Cerritos College. The finals are Thursday.

Among other top 10 finishers at the O.C. Championships, Marina senior Jeremy Kennedy took third in the boys’ pole vault, clearing 15 feet 3. Senior Tyger Morgan tied for ninth (14-3).

Huntington Beach High sophomore Amy Loschiavo tied for fourth in the girls’ pole vault, clearing 11-3, and older brother Mike Loschiavo, a senior, was fourth in the boys’ pole vault (14-9). Huntington senior Megan Good was sixth in both the girls’ shot put (35-11) and discus (123-04). The Oilers’ Ash Reed-Krans finished ninth in the boys’ high jump (6-02).

Edison junior Monica Danielson was seventh in the girls’ pole vault (10-9) and Chargers junior Tanner Greeley was also seventh in the boys’ pole vault (14-9), where senior Kyle Garcia was ninth (14-3).

Edison junior Ayden Stockton placed fifth in the triple jump (43-8). Marina junior Karl Wenberg was seventh in the 800 meters in 1:55.94.

Brethren Christian’s Jessica Hodges was ninth in the girls’ pole vault, clearing 10-09.

SOFTBALL

Marina 6, Los Alamitos 5: Vikings’ pitcher Kristin Struett improved to 8-0 as the Vikings won a key Sunset League game Tuesday in eight innings. Marina is 4-1 in league, a half-game ahead of Esperanza for first place.

The Vikings play at Esperanza today and host Edison on Tuesday in yet another key contest.

Edison 9, Newport Harbor 4: The Chargers improved to 3-2 in league with Tuesday’s win. Karley Wester was three for four, and Katie Shinrock, Jessica Plaza and Jessica Hernandez all had two hits each.

Edison hosts Los Alamitos today, another team that’s at 3-2 in league.

Huntington Beach 6, Woodbridge 4: The Oilers earned their second Sea View League win of the season Tuesday, Notre Dame-bound senior Lauren Stuhr homered for Huntington Beach and Amanda Horowitz got the win, as Huntington improved to 14-9-1, 2-3 in league.