Prep talk: The rise of Crespi High pitcher Jackson Eisenhauer
"I spent a lot of time in the weight room," he said. "Putting on strength has been a big part of it."
Eisenhauer showed up as a 5-foot-5, 135-pound freshman. Now he's a 6-foot, 175-pound senior. He spent time getting stronger under the guidance of former El Camino Real standout Woody Cliffords, who has a private training service.
🏆🏀The 2025 CIF State Basketball Championship program is out now!📖https://t.co/Hiunlon89T pic.twitter.com/2PnTi3ApaI
— CIF State (@CIFState) March 12, 2025
"He made massive improvements over the fall and winter — strength, stability, power," Cliffords said. "He still has room to grow."
He has helped Crespi to a 6-0 record. Now he and Tyler Walton give the Celts an imposing one-two pitching duo. …
Former L.A. Jordan football coach Derek Benton is the new football coach at Fremont. …
🏀🏆We're headed to the @Golden1Center to crown some State Champions on Friday and Saturday!Read more here 👉https://t.co/Dts0myzjyDℹ️ https://t.co/GAHTFNFSB7 pic.twitter.com/bbx9RF0pEc
— CIF State (@CIFState) March 12, 2025
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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New York Times
13-07-2025
- New York Times
Chicago White Sox first-rounder Billy Carlson is used to playing in the spotlight
Over the last two years, few high school baseball programs have garnered more attention than the Corona (Calif.) Panthers. California state champions in 2024, the Panthers came into this season with a chance to make history as the first high school program to have more than two players selected in the first round. Advertisement At the center of all of that success was shortstop Billy Carlson, a local kid who not only led the Panthers on the field but also recruited several of his teammates into the program. Now, he'll be working to bring similar success to the Chicago White Sox as their first-round pick. Coming off that state title in 2024, the Panthers finished the 2025 regular season ranked first in the state but lost in a CIF Southern California semi-final upset to St. John Bosco. It was a disappointing ending to Carlson's Corona career, but overall it was a dream four years for him and the program, which he helped bring to prominence. A Corona native who spent all four of his high school years at the school, Carlson became a recruiter for the program, helping to convince Seth Hernandez — the consensus top high school pitcher in this year's draft and the No. 6 selection — to transfer to Corona for his final two years at the school. Two other 2025 draft prospects, Brady Ebel and Ethin Bingaman, also transferred into the program. With several more high-profile prospects in the pipeline, the Corona program should continue to be in the national conversation even after this season. 'It was a lot of attention but it was good for the city of Corona and for the high school,' Carlson said at the MLB Draft Combine in June. 'Hopefully Corona has a lot of good years coming ahead.' Carlson came into the season as one of the top high school shortstop prospects in the class. Scouts kept a close eye on him all season, but he had the benefit of not being the only player on his team that scouts were coming out to see. 'It's been cool to lean on them if it gets sometimes overwhelming, because it can be,' he said. 'Every single practice, there's at least one scout there with eyes on you. So there's never not eyes on you. I think it's helpful to have four other guys going through it with you. I could see how it can get really overwhelming if it's just you by yourself, kind of going through that.' Advertisement That said, Carlson and his Corona teammates used the attention as way to keep themselves sharp throughout the season. He lived up to the all of the preseason expectations, hitting .365 with six homers and 34 RBIs in 31 games as a senior. 'We kind of enjoyed the attention. We kind of thrived off of it,' he said. 'If anything, it helped us because you're always playing with something on the line.' Like many star high school shortstops, Carlson was a two-way player, using his plus arm strength on the mound as well as from the six-hole. He showed major-league potential as a pitcher, hitting 97 mph with his fastball, but is adamant that his future is on the dirt. Offensively, Carlson hit for average and got on base at an above-average clip his last two seasons at Corona, and he showed enough in-game power that he projects 'to get to 20-plus homers if he can shorten up his swing enough to make consistent contact,' according to The Athletic's MLB Draft expert Keith Law. On Law's final top 100 draft prospect Big Board, Carlson ranked 11th. Among high school position players, he ranked fourth. Carlson has a college commitment to Tennessee, but he's not likely to get to Rocky Top. 'I think (professional baseball) is the next big step in my career,' he said. Whether it's in professional baseball or at Tennessee, Carlson is excited to take advantage of the training and coaching resources at those advanced levels. Though the 6-foot-1 Carlson spends a lot of time off the field working on his conditioning, he isn't looking to break any lifting records at the weight rack. 'If having big legs was the key to hitting bombs, I'd probably be last in line for that,' Carlson joked. His work in the weight room is more intentional, focused on core strength and flexibility. 'I like to tell teams this, that I'm like a greyhound dog. I'm not really like a pit bull so training like a pit bull isn't too smart for me. I think that could ruin what makes me good,' he said. Advertisement That core strength and flexibility has helped him become a plus defender at shortstop, so advanced that he had a stranglehold on the position at Corona even with Ebel — another top shortstop prospect — on the Panthers' roster. Law called Carlson 'a wizard on defense, with great instincts, range in both directions, and excellent hands, along with at least a 70 arm (on the 20-80 scouting scale).' 'I feel like if you are doing good training, it's going to show up on the field,' Carlson said. (Phot: Tracy Proffitt / Four Seam Images via Associated Press)


Forbes
04-07-2025
- Forbes
Mike Brown Is Ready To Coach The New York Knicks
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 14: Head coach Mike Brown of the Sacramento Kings looks on duringa ... More action against the Portland Trail Blazers at Golden 1 Center on April 14, 2024 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by) Mike Brown is expected to be named the 32nd coach in New York Knicks history after an exhaustive coaching search that lingered for weeks. The process was criticized throughout the sports world for the approach the franchise took to the process along with the choice of firing Tom Thibodeau. Debates raged on about the worthiness of firing the head coach after leading the team to an Eastern Conference Finals run, and the fans murmured over who would eventually take his place. In comes Brown, a decorated coach that brings a lot of intriguing experiences and characteristics to the position. He currently has a .599 winning percentage, which is the 10th best all-time for those with over 500 games coached. Every coach has strengths and weaknesses. Very few in NBA history are truly infallible as the job is not to be one of perfection. Regardless, it's good to get a deeper read on what some of those positive aspects are before he starts his tenure in New York officially. Preparation Brown is notable for the depths he will go to in order to prepare himself for a job. He is meticulous about how he goes about his work, and he is incredibly dedicated to his craft. The hours he puts in to the job can only be bested by…Tom Thibodeau. Here is an excerpt from a Sports Illustrated piece written about Brown when he first got the Los Angeles Lakers job in 2011: It may now be easier to understand how Brown was able to swoon James Dolan in his second interview, which may ultimately be the reason why he secured the job. It's a great trait to have that will endear him to fans that can get behind a coach that brings his hard hat and lunch pail to work every day. Accountability The Sacramento Kings were in a wasteland in 2022 when they went out looking for a new coach. They hadn't made the playoffs since 2006 and had been one of the laughingstocks of the league throughout this time. On the other hand, Brown had just come off of three championships with the Warriors as the lead assistant. A jump to the wrong team could have been the death knell to Brown's hopes of sustained success as a head coach. He made that jump, and both sides were rewarded immediately. There are tons of reasons for why it worked, but Brown's effort to shift the culture of the franchise was paramount. The stench was apparent in Sacramento and it took a concerted effort from him to get everybody behind winning: Pressure One of the first headlines that popped up after the Knicks hired Mike Brown was regarding his ability to handle pressure. In 2017 he was forced to coach the Golden State Warriors because Steve Kerr was having health issues due to a back injury. So Brown was thrown into the fire and led the helm in 13 of the 17 games they played in the playoffs. They won every single game that he coached. Brown put the experience in its simplest terms during an interview the year after: Coaching the Los Angeles Lakers the year after they won the NBA Finals while replacing one of the best coaches of all-time? Sounds like a bit of pressure. Adaptability The person that led the Cleveland Cavaliers over 10 years ago is not the same man that will be entering New York. His reputation has evolved over time as he was branded a defensive wizard for years, but the perception of Brown changed after his first year with the Kings. Sacramento broke records with an offense that led the entire league with a 118.6 rating. The team won 48 games and were a win away from reaching the Western Conference Semifinals. Even so, Brown made changes in order to reach different heights. Not everything worked, but it was his willingness that shows his evolution as a person: Brown has the same opportunity to push the Knicks into the greatness category. Let's see if he is able to pull it off.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Yahoo
The MIAA crowned state champions for 35 sports this school year. See all the winners here
The 2024-25 high school sports season has come to a close with the last of the spring MIAA state championships wrapping up over the weekend. Massachusetts high school teams fought hard all season long with the goal of being named 'state champions'.From perennial powers continuing their streaks to underdogs breaking through for the title, there was no shortage of excitement in this year's state championships. Advertisement Now that the 24-25 season has concluded, it's time to take a look at every state champion over the fall, winter and spring sports. Billerica and Wellesley each won four championships this year, while Norwell and St. John's Prep grabbed three apiece for their programs. Check out which titles these teams won and the rest of the championship lineup below. Fall sports MIAA 2024 football state champions Division 1- Xaverian Division 2- Catholic Memorial Division 3- North Attleboro Division 4- Scituate Division 5- Shawsheen Valley Tech Division 6- Hudson Division 7- Uxbridge Division 8- West Boylston MIAA 2024 boys soccer state champions Division 1- Newton North Advertisement Division 2- Oliver Ames Division 3- Dover-Sherborn Division 4- Cohasset Division 5- Sutton MIAA 2024 girls soccer state champions Division 1- Wellesley Division 2- Masconomet Regional Division 3- Nipmuc Regional Division 4- Sutton Division 5- Douglas Players from the Douglas girls' soccer team swarm one another as the Tigers celebrate a 3-2 win over Hull in the Division 5 state final on Saturday at Curry College. MIAA 2024 field hockey state champions Division 1- Walpole Division 2- Somerset Berkley Regional Division 3- Watertown Division 4- Uxbridge MIAA 2024 boys cross country state champions Division 1- Brookline Division 2- Longmeadow Division 3- Parker Charter MIAA 2024 girls cross country state champions Division 1- Westford Academy Division 2- Westwood Division 3- Hamilton-Wenham Regional MIAA 2024 boys golf state champions Division 1- St. John's Advertisement Division 2- Pope Francis Division 3- Ayer-Shirley More: Hanover High boys rugby caps dominant season with state title MIAA 2024 girls swimming and diving state champions Division 1- Acton-Boxboro Division 2- Wellesley MIAA 2024 boys swimming and diving state champions Division 1- Methuen Division 2- Milton MIAA 2024 girls volleyball state champions Division 1- Newton North Division 2- Westboro Division 3- Medfield Division 4- Ipswich Division 5- Bourne Winter sports MIAA 2024-25 boys basketball state champions Division 1- Franklin Division 2- Somerset Berkley Regional Division 3- Norwell Division 4- Georgetown Division 5- Pioneer Valley Regional MIAA 2024-25 girls basketball state champions Division 1- Wachusett Regional Advertisement Division 2- Medfield Division 3- St. Mary's Division 4- Cathedral Division 5- Hoosac Valley MIAA 2024-25 boys hockey state champions Division 1- Catholic Memorial Division 2- Billerica Memorial Winthrop goalie Michael Donahue greets Nolan Upton and the rest of his teammates after defeating Dedham 3-0 to win the state final in boys hockey at TD Garden on Sunday, March 16, 2025. Division 3- Nauset Regional Division 4- Winthrop MIAA 2024-25 girls hockey state champions Division 1- Hingham Division 2- Medfield MIAA 2024-25 gymnastics state champion Masconomet MIAA 2024-25 boys indoor track and field state champions Division 1- Lowell Division 2- Algonquin Regional Division 3- Milton Division 4- Pembroke Division 5- Weston MIAA 2024-25 girls indoor track and field state champions Division 1- Lexington Advertisement Division 2- Wellesley Division 3- Billerica Memorial Division 4- Holliston Division 5- North Reading MIAA 2024-25 nordic skiing state champion Boys- Mt. Greylock Girls- Mt. Greylock MIAA 2024-25 boys swimming and diving state champions Division 1- St. John's Prep Division 2- Wayland MIAA 2024-25 girls swimming and diving state champions Division 1- Concord Carlisle Division 2- Weston MIAA 2024-25 mixed gender wrestling state champions Division 1- Shawsheen Division 2- Milford Division 3- Tewksbury MIAA 2024-25 girls wrestling state champions Division 1- Framingham Division 2- Putnam Division 3- South Shore Spring sports MIAA 2025 baseball state champions Division 1- Chelmsford Advertisement Division 2- Walpole Division 3- North Reading Division 4- Millbury Division 5- Pioneer Valley Regional MIAA 2025 softball state champions Division 1- Taunton Division 2- Silver Lake Division 3- Dighton-Rehoboth Regional Dighton-Rehoboth celebrates winning the State Title. Division 4- Joseph Case Division 5- Turners Falls MIAA 2025 boys lacrosse state champions Division 1- St. John's Prep Division 2- Billerica Memorial Division 3- Scituate Division 4- Norwell MIAA 2025 girls lacrosse state champions Division 1- Concord-Carlisle Division 2- Walpole Division 3- Medfield Division 4- Norwell MIAA 2025 boys track and field state champions Division 1- Lowell Division 2- Peabody Veterans Memorial Advertisement Division 3- Walpole Division 4- Wakefield Memorial Division 5- Weston Division 6- Ayer-Shirley MIAA 2025 girls track and field state champions Division 1- Lexington Division 2- North Andover Division 3- Billerica Memorial Division 4- Amherst Pelham Regional Division 5- North Reading Division 6- Mt Greylock MIAA 2025 unified track state champions Division 1- Natick Division 2- Sandwich Natick High School's Donny Brandt and Weymouth's Jason Tsang compete on the track at the MIAA State Unified Track and Field Championships at Natick High School, May 28, 2025. MIAA 2025 boys volleyball state champions Division 1- Brookline Division 2- Agawam MIAA 2025 boys tennis state champions Division 1- St. John's Prep Division 2- Duxbury Division 3- Bedford Division 4- Manchester-Essex Regional MIAA 2025 girls tennis state champions Division 1- Wellesley Advertisement Division 2- Longmeadow Division 3- Dover-Sherborn Division 4- Hamilton-Wenham Regional More: Silver Lake softball wins first ever Division 2 state championship MIAA 2025 girls golf state champion Wellesley MIAA 2025 boys rugby state champions Division 1- BC High Division 2- Hanover MIAA 2025 girls rugby state champion Division 1- Belmont This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: MIAA high school state champions in 2024-2025