Our new Girl’s Volleyball Issue is released!!

Download the digital issue for free or purchase the print issue.

CLICK HERE or the Picture Above

Chino Hills High Class of 2019 softball standout Marley Basurto looks to be the perfect high school student-athlete. Since she has been a 5-year-old, she has always wanted to be a softball player. Starting her career at Chino Hills Community Park, Basurto has been around the game her entire life, first being coached by her father. As an outfielder, Marley has used her speed and talent to outrun any challenge that she faced on the softball field.

During Marley’s 9th grade school year, Marley made the tough decision to tell her mother about the challenges that she was facing off of the field. Marley confided to her mother that she had not felt like her normal self for quite some time. For the past few years, she had felt pressure and anxiety. The desire to be like her brother, be a perfect student at school, and not make mistakes was quietly taking a toll on Marley. The feelings of moving in slow motion and having bad thoughts were too much for her to take on alone.

With help and copy strategies Marley began to make her way back to who she felt she truly was. Using the support of her family, fidget toys, talking to friends, music, and meditation Marley Basurto looked her opponent in the eye and won. Marley, like millions of people around the world quietly suffered through a mental health issue. Unlike many people, Marley made the courageous move to ask for help.

IE Preps Magazine applauds Marley Basurto for being a winner on the field and off. We are proud to say this Fall Marley will be headed to Valley City State University to continue her career in softball. She credits her family, team, and Crossfit of Chino Hills training for her on the field success.

With the month of May being Mental Health Awareness Month, we hope that Marley’s story can give young people and adults the hope and inspiration to know that reaching out for help in life the best move that you can ever make.

     My name is Bobbiann Pratt. I am a junior at Aquinas High School in San Bernardino, CA. and I will be playing Division 1 softball at Boise State University in the fall of 2020.

     When I am not playing softball for my high school, I am playing for an elite Firecracker travel team coached by Sean Brashear. For me, it is pretty much a year-round lifestyle. I have a personal trainer that I weight train with 2-3 days a week as well as doing workouts at home. My softball workouts consist of a scheduled hitting lesson once a week along with going to the softball field and hitting off the tee. For fielding, I go to the park and play with my little brother and Dad. With my travel ball team if we aren’t having practice on the weekend we are playing competitive games. I look forward to school starting because in the fall we start our softball workouts. As a captain, I always look forward to seeing what kind of talent we have.

     I always have high goals for myself and try to always give 100% on the field no matter what. Before a season starts I look at my stats from the previous season and make it a goal for myself to beat those stats. Our softball team has won our league for the last 10 years and as a captain, I feel it is another expectation that I have to win that again. I have a great co-captain, Maya Gonzalez, and a great team and I feel we can achieve this.

     Attending a private Catholic high school has been a great experience for me. Most importantly I am able to strengthen my relationship with God. We attend mass as a school every other month. For me having uniforms makes it way easier to decide what I am going to wear that day. Being at a small school you are able to have a relationship with your peers instead of being just another student. I have successfully maintained a 3.5 GPA. Sometimes I feel the stress of being a student-athlete when I have to balance my after-school workouts with heavy homework assignments, but as a student-athlete, you have to make sacrifices in order to get it done.

     If someone were to ask me what my hobbies are I would say softball. I live and breath softball. If I find any extra time I like to hang out with my friends at the mall or just be at home with my family. I have three brothers and two sisters so we stay pretty busy. I also help my little brothers baseball team with practices. That can be quite a challenge to keep twelve 11year olds attention.

I have been playing travel softball since I was 13 years old and have always had a dream to play softball at the next level. This past November of 2018 I was invited to fly out to Boise State to meet Coach Maggs and the rest of the staff. I knew when I got there it was the right place for me. My mom and I got to watch the team practice and meet some of the girls that I would be playing with when I get there. The coaches made me feel so welcomed. Coach Maggs offered me an amazing scholarship which I was more than honored to accept. I am proud to say I will be playing at Boise State University.

No matter what your dreams are don’t give up. Keep working hard and you will achieve your goals.

Bobbiann Pratt

Aquinas High School Softball

What does Black Culture mean to me? Black Culture is our way of expressing ourselves through unique traditions. Whether it is clothing, dancing, art, or even the way we talk. I believe black culture is what most people strive to hop on or recreate. Black culture is essentially a part of us. We aren’t trying to be someone else or trying to be like others. We allow our creativity to run wild and that creativity turns into what is known as “Black Culture”.

Black culture in America is being different and thinking outside the box, which makes our way of thinking so valuable. We have a different way of portraying how we think and feel so we create art and music. Black Culture inserts a message into what we do to drive a deeper level of thinking, to help people see things a way they usually wouldn’t.

Black Culture isn’t just what we wear, say, or do, to me it’s a mentality. Having that “Black Culture” mentality means to strive for bigger and better. Knowing the people before me didn’t have much to work with and they still succeeded through all the hardship they were faced with, I don’t believe in settling for what’s comfortable for me. Taking the responsibility of the legacy of my culture I keep a mentality of wanting to be better than I was yesterday. I try to live who I am daily, my culture pushes me and helps me strive for my goals I want to achieve.

Black Culture is not just a stereotypical wave we want to push upon people. The culture grows a different kind of belief and thinking, there’s nothing we can’t do. Black Culture is a part of who we are and what we bring to the table, now what do you bring?

The New Softball 2019 Magazine Issue On Sale Now

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE

1. Etiwanda
2. Lakeside
3. Centennial
4. King
5. Roosevelt
6. J.W. North
7. Santiago
8. Chino Hills
9. Rancho Verde
10. Canyon Springs
11. Linfield Christian
12. Upland
13. Bonita
14. Great Oak
15. Yucaipa
16. Cajon
17. Colony
18. Patriot
19. Arroyo Valley
20. Summit

Teams To Watch: Diamond Ranch, Los Osos, & Valley View

1. Corona Centennial (3-0) Beat Pittsburgh 35 -7 in their last game. Ranked in the top 10 in most national rankings, this program is built like none other. They without a doubt have the best running back tandem in the state. No game is promised and Coach Logan and his staff prepare the Huskies to play like their hair is on fire every game. Up next is Narbonne

2. Cajon (3-0) The Cowboys beat a really good Murrieta Valley team this Friday in a televised game. Their win was VERY impressive. QB Jayden “The Jedi” Daniels looked like he was playing a video game at times. Linebacker Perkins led a nasty defense and dominated at certain points of the game. Offensively Darren Jones and Daniel Fortune were brilliant. Inland Empire, Head Coach Nick Rogers as something special going on in San Bernardino, enjoy it while it lasts. Next up Oak Hills

3. Upland (2-0)  Upland looks like they have solved their QB issue with 11th grade Evan Rowe, soundly beating Redlands East Valley 35-7. The offense and defense is really starting to look like they are in midseason form.  The Scots face La Mirada next.

4. Norco (2-1)  Coach Chuck Chastain has his Norco Cougars looking good in early season play, crushing Rancho Cucamonga 49-14. Always ready to play anyone, Norco year in year out has one of the most aggressive schedules in southern California. Running back DJ Ford looks to be a man on a mission this season, using his speed, agility, and hard nosed running style. Up next for Norco is Vista Murrieta.

5. Heritage (2-0)  Heritage gave Great Oak “the smoke” in a 33-0 win. Hats on to Coach Broach for being willing to play the top teams wherever they are. Next up for Heritage is Redlands East Valley.

6. Rancho Verde (3-0) The Mustangs took Bonita Vista “behind the shed” in a  63-6 route. In the first 3 games of the season Rancho Verde has scored 168 total points, YIKES! Coach Duffy’s return is looking epic. Next up for Rancho Verde is Ribet Academy.

7. Vista Murrieta (1-1) The Broncos took a lopsided loss to Orange Lutheran 42-17. Up next for Vista Murrieta is Norco.

8. Alta Loma (3-0) Don’t look now, but Alta Loma is undefeated and beat a good Los Osos team 31-28 this week. A new vibe and locked in players are creating change for the Braves. Up next for Alta Loma is Hesperia.

9. Colony (3-0)  Coach Randall is quietly getting the Titans ready for a run, this week defeating Citrus Valley 36-26. Up next for Colony is La Serna.

10. Chaparral (3-0) The Pumas beat Redlands 17-7 this week. This may be the year Chaparral makes a major run at their league title. Up next for the Pumas is Yucaipa.

TEAMS TO WATCH: Ayala, Citrus Hill, Etiwanda, Murrieta Valley, Oak Hills, Paloma Valley, San Gorgonio, Temecula Valley & Yucaipa

The 3rd annual IE Preps Media Day took place on Friday July 13th, 2018. A day full of energy and positivity this Media Day was one to remember. (In the picture are members of the Corona Centennial Football Team & Corona Santiago Cheer Team).

1. Corona Centennial – This season begins with a few questions in the roster, with dynamic players like QB Tanner Mckee graduating. There is no question about Head Coach Matt Logan. Logan once again finds a way to continue his dominance and carry the torch for the Inland Empire.

2. Cajon – The Cowboys were CIF section and state champs last season and did it in grand fashion. All everything defensive end Jeremiah Martin is gone, but the young “JEDI” QB Jayden Daniels is back for his final campaign. The Cowboys are loaded with talent, versatile linebacker Johnathan Perkins and wide receiver Darren Jones lead the way. Head Coach Nick Rogers may have his fair share of job offers after this season.

3. Upland – Upland QB David Baldwin’s departure is huge, but we are talking Upland here! With a team full of mostly juniors, Upland almost got it done last season. With seniors Simon Samarzich, Taj Davis, and Cam Davis the Scots will be ready to bring a ring to Coach Salter this year. There is also this junior on the team named Justin Flowe called “BABY MAN” who may be the best player in the country.

4. Norco – Coach Chuck Chastain keeps the Norco Cougars competitive every season. If it were not for being in the same league as Centennial, Norco may have several league titles this decade. Never a team team that backs down from a battle, Norco’s schedule continues to have one of the most challenging schedules in southern California.

5. Rancho Verde – The Mustangs brought home a CIF title last season under Coach Jeff Steinberg, soon after Coach Steinberg surprised everyone and moved on to coach Beaumont High School.  Then the unthinkable happened former Head Coach Pete Duffy returned to be the new Head Coach. What Coach Duffy can flat out do is coach, and he has a bevy of talented players in the fold such as Jaxen Turner, Jamar Simpson, and transfer Ty McCullouch. The “CHO” Boys are back!

6. Vista Murrieta – The Broncos have their 3rd head coach in recent years in new Head Coach Eric Peterson. Coach Peterson served as an assistant coach on the staff with Candeale and knows the high Vista Murrieta football expectations. The natives are getting restless and want to see the Broncos back at the top in league and in the post season. The good news is, Vista Murrieta always has talent. Look for a big push this season.

7. Murrieta Valley – Top national QB recruit Hank Bachmeier starts his grand finale at Murrieta Valley. The offensive numbers that the Nighthawks have put up with Bachmeier under center have been record breaking! The air assault will continue this season.

8. Rancho Cucamonga – No school was hit harder in the off season more than Rancho Cucamonga. Long time Head Coach Nick Biaz stepped down and potential 5 star juniors Jeremiah Criddell and Sean Dollars both took their talents to Mater Dei High School. New Head Coach Mark Verti takes over this year, there will not be much transition because he served as offensive coordinator the past 3 years. On the field defensive back Mark Perry will carry on the tradition of “DBU”. Look for speedy Silas Bolden to play all over the field, he is a touchdown waiting to happen.

9. Redlands East Valley – The Bruich era is over at REV, it sounds strange just saying it. A new coach will be on the sidelines for the Wildcats this year, it will be Coach Richard Lunsford formerly of Arlington High School. All eyes will be on REV this season to see if the school’s rich football tradition will continue to carry on.

10. Citrus Valley – CIF State champion Head Coach Kurt Bruich brings his magic to Citrus Valley taking over for Coach Smolin. The city of Redlands awaits, to see if Bruich can do it again with the Blackhawks.

TEAMS TO WATCH: Aquinas, Chino Hills, Citrus Hill, Los Osos, & Yucaipa