Double losses against Hofstra and Florida State mark end of season for UCLA softball

Source: The Daily Bruin by Tyler Drohan

Freshman third baseman Stephany LaRosa stepped back out of the batter’s box.

Cal Comes Back Late, Barely Hangs On To End UCLA's Win Streak

Source: Bruins Nation by Ryan Rosenblatt

UCLA's seven-game win streak is done. Despite leading by two runs going to the eighth, the Bruins could hold on and extend their winning streak, but as disappointing is how close they came to making a ninth inning comeback. Instead of a comeback, though, the tying run was left just 90 feet away as Cal staved off UCLA, 6-5, to avoid the sweep and essentially hand the Pac-12 crown to Oregon.

The Bruins are the conference's defending champion, but they won't get another this season barring a major collapse. Ducks lead the conference by a game over Arizona and by two games over a trio of teams that includes UCLA with Oregon holding the tiebreaker over all four heading into the final week of the season.

Unfortunately for UCLA,

Baseball: USC vs UCLA , 05/27/12 1:00 PM PT

Source: UCLA Official Site

USC @ UCLA. Jackie Robinson Stadium

Women's Rowing: NCAA Championships vs NCAA Championships , 05/27/12 TBA

Source: UCLA Official Site

@ UCLA. West Windsor, N.J.

Women's Tennis: UCLA vs NCAA Championships , 05/27/12 TBA

Source: UCLA Official Site

NCAA Championships. Athens, GA

Men's Tennis: UCLA vs NCAA Individual Championships , 05/27/12 TBA

Source: UCLA Official Site

NCAA Individual Championships. Athens, GA

UCLA vs. Cal Sunday Baseball Open Thread: Trying For Another Road Sweep

Source: Bruins Nation by Ryan Rosenblatt

Seven in a row, 10 of their last 12 and 19 of 22 on the road. UCLA is looking good right now and today they go for their second consecutive Pac-12 road series sweep up in Berkeley. The Golden Bears' Regional chances are hanging by a thread, but the Bruins are looking at a national seed so there is plenty for UCLA to play for, even if Cal is starting to run out of things themselves.

Zack Weiss was fantastic last weekend and will be back on the mound today. As always, the key is command with Weiss so we'll see if he can get ahead in counts. Opposite Weiss will be Michael Theofanopoul, who is 3-5 with a 5.10 ERA on the year.

Both John Ramey and Tim Wilhelm are on the road this weekend so they

Quest for Title #109 - Men's Golf And Women's Tennis Advance; Men's Tennis Open Thread

Source: Bruins Nation by Patroclus

It is another beautiful Spring Sunday morning in California, and a couple of Bruin teams will be in action. Ryan will have a Baseball open thread up for the 1pm game against Cal in Berkeley. Meanwhile, the Men's Tennis team's NCAA Quarterfinal match against Ohio State is already in progress. The Bruins lead the match 1-0 after taking the doubles point. Live scoring and video streams for the match are available.

Wrapping up yesterday's Bruin action, the Women's Tennis team advanced to a national semifinal match against Southern Cal by

Mora Unplugged: UCLA Recruiting, Uniforms & Southern Cal

Source: Bruins Nation by Markpav44

Bumped. GO BRUINS. - BN Eds.

I was at the South Bay Bruins "Meet Jim Mora Jr." evening Tuesday, May 15th at the Automobile Driving Museum (cool place) in El Segundo, near LAX.

There was a pretty good turnout...drinks for sale, small silent auction, display for the Rose Bowl luxury seating, then about a one-hour talk by Mora.

Mora is very energetic and engaging, and clearly knows how to say the right things. He talked about his commitment to make the alumni, fans, and supporters proud to walk around Los Angeles wearing UCLA gear. He pointedly called u$c "Southern Cal."

He talked about each coach in detail, the recruiting process,

RAH, WINNING!

Source: The Trojan-Haters Club by t-h

The All-Access Reception is a WIN-WIN-WIN situation — The Spirit Squad WINS, as lots of funds are raised, the crowd WINS, as they are served up a performance by the gorgeous Bruin Cheerleaders (as well as delicious hors d’oeuvres and wine), and yours truly WINS, by collecting two prize drawings and a Silent Auction fantasy treat

That seals it:  This is the year that the Bruins will WIN BIG.  If the UCLA Spirit Squad All-Access Reception is any indication, this year will be all about winning.  With the Basketball team’s Top-Rated incoming class, and with Football’s highly-regarded incoming new Staff, the optimism is high all around Westwood.  And on a day when Clipper and Laker fans gave up hope on this season, it was all smiles on UCLA’s campus, as the annual Cheerleader fundraiser was held.  In fact even Laker fans who are BRUINS FIRST had to crack a conflicted smile, knowing that Bruin Russell Westbrook and his 37 Points are the reason the Lakers are looking like they are doomed.

The unconflicted smiles at the Cheerleader event included the one worn by the Squad’s illustrious Executive Director, in her 14th year, Mollie Vehling.  The incomparable Vehling continues to excel in an impossible job, and on Saturday, some of the fans who truly appreciate what she and her students do year in, year out, $howed their appreciation.  The turnout at the event was the biggest ever, and so was the TAKE, probably.  In terms of fundraising, UCLA this year has given Mollie some unexpected but greatly appreciated help:  Bruin Footballer and Super Bowl Veteran James Washington.  Washington is now spearheading the effort to fund the Spirit Squad, who does NOT get paid for by the Athletic Department.  Washington’s energetic and charismatic style is CERTAIN to bring the squad more donors and more support than ever before.

Washington gave an impassioned speech, urging the supporters to dig deep.  Jim Mora was also supposed to appear, but had to cancel for a last-minute family obligation that unfortunately could not be forseen.  So Defensive Coordinator Lou Spanos filled in, making a very short speech thanking the Squad and its supporters for their efforts.  Basketball Assistant Coach Scott Garson also made an appearance, helping the squad conduct the prize drawings… and he did a phenomenal job, by picking MY tickets TWICE.  The vairous prizes up for grabs included Vegas Trips, Golf and Bowling outings, Ski Trips, Workouts, Cheerleader Babysitting, a Candy collection, a Board Game bonanza, Movie passes, and much, much more.  The two packages I won were:  1) A Gift Certificate for World Famous Pink’s Hot Dogs (which happens to be my Dad’s favorite “restaurant”), and an autographed photo of acclaimed Actor Dustin Hoffman, and 2) a Gift Certificate for dinner at Trattoria Farfalla, along with a very nice ceramic Pasta Bowl, a package of spaghetti, 2 giant wine glasses, a package of Italian Cookies, a wine aerator, and Italian-themed cocktail napkins.  How AWESOME is all of that???

Speaking of wine, the event had free Wine flowing from the bar, and gourmet appetizers pouring out of the kitchen, including mini-Chicken Wellington in a Chardonnay Cream Sauce, Zucchini Fritters with an Olive Tapenade and a dollop of Creme Fraiche, and a Beef with crispy onions in a brown gravy on mashed potatoes served in a martini glass.  All three were exquisitely yummy.  There were also two fancy salad-type dishes, which I didn’t get around to sampling.  For dessert, there were brownies, fresh, chip-filled cookies, chocolate-dipped cookies, and fresh strawberries.  Mmmmmmm.

But the tastiest treat of the day was the performance by the Cheerleaders, who did two routines, showing off some outgoing members, and featuring the newcomers.  You’re in for a pleasant surprise when you see the newbies.  Of course, if you’ve been following Mollie’s group for the last decade, you should NOT be surprised at all by the high caliber of student that keeps on filling out the beautiful ranks.

But personally, the coup de grace was the Silent Auction.  There was more swag than ever this year, including a Hotel in Paris, France, a trip to Antigua, a trip to Phoenix, dinner and tour of a Fire Station, a signed John Wooden Basketball, a John Wooden-signed and framed Pyramid of Success, Yoga Sessions, Gymnastics classes, Joe and Josie Bruin appearances at your Tailgate Party, A Day in the Life of the Spirit Squad, (which allows you to tag along with them before and after a game), and many, many other items, too numerous to list (or remember).  So WHAT DID I WIN, you ask?  I now get to be a GUEST JUDGE at next year’s Dance Team Auditions!!!!!!  Is that perfect, or what???  I’ve been to about a half-dozen of their auditions in the past, and always wished that I could be sitting behind the judges’ table, getting a better view, hearing the interviews, and possibly having a tiny say in who is chosen.  I don’t know if all of that is REALLY included in this opportunity, but I will excitedly find out next Spring.  And by the way, I don’t have any issue or complaint with the selections that the judges have made in any previous audition — They always seem to know what’s best for UCLA.  Below is some proof of that.

 

BSR TV: Punter Jeff Locke (Rivals)

Source: Yahoo! NCAAF

UCLA's star punter Jeff Locke chats with BSR's Kate Rooney about his skills and the upcoming year.

Hargreaves III planning Stanford visit - UCLA [$$] (Rivals)

Source: Yahoo! NCAAF

Men's Tennis: UCLA vs NCAA Individual Championships , 05/26/12 TBA

Source: UCLA Official Site

NCAA Individual Championships. Athens, GA

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Source: Yahoo! NCAAB

UCLA's Road Dominance Continues In Berkeley With 8-5 Win

Source: Bruins Nation by Ryan Rosenblatt

Maybe UCLA can withdraw their bid to host the Regionals and Super Regionals. At this point it might be smarter for them to head out on the road for the postseason. The Bruins are nearly unbeatable away from Jackie Robinson Stadium and proved it again on Saturday, beating Cal 8-5 to improve to 38-13 on the season and 16-9 in the Pac-12, a game and a half behind first place Oregon. Most impressively, the Bruins are now 19-3 away from home on the season.

Tyler Heineman and Pat Valaika missed their second straight game with injuries so the bottom of the UCLA lineup decided that they would go out and lead the way. The bottom three hitters in the Bruins' lineup had seven of the team's 12 hits with Kevin Kramer going 2-for-4 with a hit

Here's a peek at the Pac-12's top newcomers for next season (Yahoo! Sports)

Source: Yahoo! NCAAB

UCLA and Arizona will be counting heavily on new guys, but those players look to be talented enough to live up to the task.

UCLA vs. Cal Saturday Baseball Open Thread: Looking for a Series Win

Source: Bruins Nation by Bellerophon

The Bruins got their weekend road trip to Berkeley started right, with a 7-2 win over the Golden Bears in Friday's opener. Today's game will give UCLA an opportunity to boost their regular season resume, with a road series win up for the taking. But more importantly, if the Bruins can pick up a series sweep over Cal, it will help UCLA close to game on conference-leader Oregon heading into the final week of the season and give the Bruins a good shot at repeating as Pac-12 champs.

In any event, turning to today's game, Nick Vander Tuig (7-3) will take the hill for the Bruins, facing off against Cal's Justin Jones (4-7). For

Baseball: USC vs UCLA , 05/26/12 2:00 PM PT

Source: UCLA Official Site

USC @ UCLA. Jackie Robinson Stadium

Women's Tennis: UCLA vs NCAA Championships , 05/26/12 TBA

Source: UCLA Official Site

NCAA Championships. Athens, GA

Men's Track: NCAA Preliminary Round vs NCAA Preliminary Round , 05/26/12 All Day

Source: UCLA Official Site

@ UCLA. Austin, TX

Women's Track: NCAA Preliminary Round vs NCAA Preliminary Round , 05/26/12 All Day

Source: UCLA Official Site

NCAA Preliminary Round. Austin, TX

Women's Rowing: NCAA Championships vs NCAA Championships , 05/26/12 All Day

Source: UCLA Official Site

@ UCLA. West Windsor, N.J.

Quest for Title #109 - Softball Faces Elimination, Tennis Teams Advance, Men's Golf Leads Regional

Source: Bruins Nation by Bellerophon

It's a sunny Saturday in California and for most of UCLA's remaining non-revenue sports still in action, the weekend is going well. As it stands now, UCLA is looking like it has a very good chance to pick up NCAA championship #109 by the end of this academic year, with the outside possibility of adding #110 as well: both the tennis teams and both golf teams are looking very strong as we come down to crunch time, while the softball team will need to turn it around fast to keep their season alive.

Let's start with the #12-seeded softball team. The ladies are hosting the Los Angeles NCAA Regional, but despite the home-field advantage and having previously

Early Offense And Another Adam Plutko Gem Lead UCLA Past Cal

Source: Bruins Nation by Ryan Rosenblatt

Of late, it has only required one, maybe two runs in supports of Adam Plutko. He's been sensational, shutting down whoever steps in the box against him in leading UCLA to a string of victories. Just because he only requires a run or two doesn't mean he won't take more, though. On Friday, the Bruins gave him more, scoring seven in the first three innings before sitting back and watching Plutko throw another gem en route to a 7-2 win over Cal in a Pac-12 series opener.

Plutko was hardly perfect against the Bears, walking four, so it wasn't like two weeks ago when he carried a perfect game into the sixth or last week when he threw seven dominant shutout innings, but he was plenty good in Berkeley. The sophomore allowed just six hits

Early Offense And Another Adam Pluto Gem Lead UCLA Past Cal

Source: Bruins Nation by Ryan Rosenblatt

Of late, it has only required one, maybe two runs in supports of Adam Plutko. He's been sensational, shutting down whoever steps in the box against him in leading UCLA to a string of victories. Just because he only requires a run or two doesn't mean he won't take more, though. On Friday, the Bruins gave him more, scoring seven in the first three innings before sitting back and watching Plutko throw another gem en route to a 7-2 win over Cal in a Pac-12 series opener.

Plutko was hardly perfect against the Bears, walking four, so it wasn't like two weeks ago when he carried a perfect game into the sixth or last week when he threw seven dominant shutout innings, but he was plenty good in Berkeley. The sophomore allowed just six hits

Mailbag: Best Big Ten-Pac-12 matchups

Source: Pac-12 Football Blog

Happy Friday. This is where you follow me on Twitter. To the notes. Dave from Birmingham writes: Not sure I get you. Why would you not want the four best teams to play in a playoff? That's what a playoff is about. I know there's a subjective part to this but that's inevitable. Is everyone that afraid of a consensus favoring the SEC because the SEC is the best conference? Ted Miller: In a word, yes. And no matter how you frame it, that so-called consensus remains subjective.

Quest for #109: Baseball, Golf, Tennis, Softball Thread

Source: Bruins Nation by gbruin

UPDATE (R): Go ahead and use this as the open thread for this mid-day baseball game too. Crazy (the good kind of crazy) day in UCLA athletics so let's hope everyone can keep it rolling. Go Bruins!

There is a lot more post-season action from our Bruin squads today, so let's get on it!

The Men's Golf Team will play round two of the NCAA Central Regional yesterday at The Club at Olde Stone in Bowling Green, KY. The top seeded Bruins had a great day yesterday during round one, finishing at four under par as a team, and leading second place Colorado State and Chattanooga by a whopping 10 strokes. The top 5 teams will advance to the NCAA Champioships, so the Bruins have put themselves in a great position to start.

Quest for Title #109: Men’s Golf, Men's Tennis, Softball NCAA Thread

Source: Bruins Nation by gbruin

There is a lot more post-season action from our Bruin squads today, so let's get on it!

The Men's Golf Team will play round two of the NCAA Central Regional yesterday at The Club at Olde Stone in Bowling Green, KY. The top seeded Bruins had a great day yesterday during round one, finishing at four under par as a team, and leading second place Colorado State and Chattanooga by a whopping 10 strokes. The top 5 teams will advance to the NCAA Champioships, so the Bruins have put themselves in a great position to start. Pedro Figueiredo is tied with one other player for the overall lead at -4 and teammate

Video: Entering the offseason -- Arizona St.

Source: Pac-12 Football Blog

Arizona State enters the offseason uncertain at quarterback, and that means the competition is ongoing, even without coaches around.

WeAreSC links: Heck of a week

Source: Pac-12 Football Blog

Greg Katz writes : Any sort of May malaise USC fans might have been in was eradicated with two four-star RB commits, a Hall of Fame inductee, a goodwill mission and long-awaited control of their home stadium. WeAreSC Mailbag : In this weekly feature, Erik McKinney answers reader questions on the strength of Kenny Bigelow's recruitment, out-of-state recruits and the presence of negative recruiting in sales pitches.

Pac-12 links: Leach shoots a Bear (really)

Source: Pac-12 Football Blog

Happy Friday. My take-away from this interesting column from George Schroeder about Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez is how good a dude Mike Stoops is. Former Arizona State QB Brock Osweiler knows he's made it now. Checking in with California RB Brendan Bigelow. Some Colorado hand-wringing, but guys did you see this! A 4-0 start is possible. Oregon's athletic department revenue is good, but not as good as some numbers suggest. A look at BYU, a team Oregon State, Utah and Washington State play this fall.

U.C.L.A. Men’s Golf NCAA regionals/Men's Tennis NCAA Round of 16/Softball Regional Open Thread

Source: Bruins Nation by gbruin

There is a lot more post-season action from our Bruin squads today, so let's get on it!

The Men's Golf Team will play round two of the NCAA Central Regional yesterday at The Club at Olde Stone in Bowling Green, KY. The top seeded Bruins had a great day yesterday during round one, finishing at four under par as a team, and leading second place Colorado State and Chattanooga by a whopping 10 strokes. The top 5 teams will advance to the NCAA Champioships, so the Bruins have put themselves in a great position to start. Pedro Figueiredo is tied with one other player for the overall lead at -4 and teammate

Sad, sad story

Source: Inside UCLA by Jon Gold

Former UCLA defensive tackle and 2009 Pac-10 defensive player of the year Brian Price is grieving after the loss of his older sister - the third sibling he's lost since the age of 10, the article points out - and now plans to adopt her children. An incredibly sad story

Thoughts and prayers with Bruin great Brian Price

Source: Bruins Nation by Kerckhoff405

Thoughts and prayers with Bruin great Brian Price

This is just one of those very sad stories that I hate to read. Tampa Bay DT Brian Price - one of the more beloved members of our extended Bruin family - is out with exhaustion and grief after sister's death

I can't imagine how my mind and body would react if I lost my closest sibling at a young age. My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family, especially the two young children now without a mother.

USC, Oregon lead top-25

Source: Pac-12 Football Blog

Mark Schlabach has published another iteration of his way-too-early power rankings, that now no longer seem that way too early. You can see them here. LSU is No. 1, which makes perfect sense to me. USC is No. 2. Ditto on that. Oregon is No. 4. Alabama is No. 3. That means we could end up with the SEC and Pac-12 giving us a pair of national semifinals in the BCS's penultimate season. Schlabach on the Trojans: With 19 starters coming back from a 10-2 team in 2011, including star quarterback Matt Barkley, USC seems armed to return to national prominence.

Imitation is the highest form of flattery

Source: Pac-12 Football Blog

SEC and Big 12 folks been tweaking the Big Ten and Pac-12's love of the Rose Bowl of late. That made me grin because the primary motivation for those tweaks was jealousy. Don't buy that assessment? Well, then what do you make of this? The SEC and Big 12 champions, starting in 2014 after the current BCS contract expires and we presumably adopt a four-team playoff, will meet annually in a prime time New Year's Day "bowl" game. Unless, of course, the SEC and/or Big 12 champions are selected for the four-team playoff, which one is almost certain to be and both are likely to be.

Baseball: USC vs UCLA , 05/25/12 6:00 PM PT

Source: UCLA Official Site

USC @ UCLA. Jackie Robinson Stadium

Softball: TBA vs TBA , 05/25/12 TBA

Source: UCLA Official Site

@ UCLA. Easton Stadium or Gainesville, Fla.

Men's Track: NCAA Preliminary Round vs NCAA Preliminary Round , 05/25/12 All Day

Source: UCLA Official Site

NCAA Preliminary Round. Austin, TX

Men's Tennis: UCLA vs NCAA Individual Championships , 05/25/12 TBA

Source: UCLA Official Site

NCAA Individual Championships. Athens, GA

Women's Track: NCAA Preliminary Round vs NCAA Preliminary Round , 05/25/12 All Day

Source: UCLA Official Site

NCAA Preliminary Round. Austin, TX

Take 2: Pac-12 games we can't wait for

Source: Pac-12 Football Blog

In case you haven't noticed, we've got a bit of a theme going on this week -- important games in the Pac-12. Obviously, everyone is circling the Nov. 3 showdown between USC and Oregon in Los Angeles. But there are other games to enjoy along the way. So this week we're looking at games we're most excited about. Ted Miller: I like measuring-stick games, games that perhaps reveal the talent and heart of a team, as well as, of course, where they rank in the Pac-12 pecking order.

Pac-12 post-spring power rankings

Source: Pac-12 Football Blog

So where do things stand after spring practices and heading into the offseason. Let's see. (You can check out our January power rankings here). 1. USC: The Trojans are expected to contend for the national title (typing that strikes up a not unfamiliar feeling). Best starting 24 -- specialists included -- in conference and probably in the nation. Some nagging depth questions. Key is staying healthy, particularly on the lines and at running back. 2.

USC gets another A-list RB commit

Source: Pac-12 Football Blog

If things stay as they are, USC's recruiting class will feature the nation's No. 1 incoming freshman backfield. Just two days after landing a commitment from running back Ty Isaac (Joliet, Ill./Joliet Catholic), the Trojans received one from Justin Davis (Stockton, Calif./Lincoln). Davis is rated the nation's No. 48 prospect by Rivals. He is No. 18 overall with Scout . ESPN Recruiting ranks him the No. 24 running back in the country. Most recruiting services are torn between Isaac or Davis as the nation's No.

Most important game: Colorado

Source: Pac-12 Football Blog

Every game counts. But some games count more. Or tell us more. We're going through the Pac-12 and picking out one game that seems most important -- or potentially most revealing -- for each team from our vantage point today. We're going in alphabetical order. Colorado Most important game: Sept. 22 at Washington State Why it's important: Imagine it, Colorado fans, a 3-0 start. Colorado State, Sacramento State and Fresno State to open the season, and victories in those three games are achievable.

[Updated] UCLA's Steven "White Mamba" Manfro Featured on CBS, ESPN

Source: Bruins Nation by AHMB

UPDATE (N): Manfro is now on ESPN's college football home page:

Bruce Feldman recently wrote a post titled Top 10: The Most Pleasant Surprise Players of the Spring, in which he looked at players who looked poised to have breakout seasons after emerging in the Spring. Any guesses on which unheralded player from UCLA made the list?

You guessed it. We've

"Boom or Bust" for UCLA Basketball: Lofty Rankings Affirming Great Expectations for 2012-13

Source: Bruins Nation by Nestor

We have had multiple fan shots about this already but it's worth to talk about it prominently on our home page. tWWL did a wrap of 2011-12 college basketball recruiting season this week and according to their "pundits" Ben Howland's UCLA basketball program reeled in the number 1 recruiting class thanks to not so surprising signings of Shabazz Muhammad and Tony Parker this spring. You can watch tWWL's Dave Telep and Paul Biancardi discuss here why UCLA got the nod as the No. 1 recruiting class over Kentucky (which I am sure put few Kentucky fans over the edge).

Not surprisingly