Paramount 5, Lynwood 1: Center fielder Juan Aguilar drove in three runs to lead Paramount to this San Gabriel Valley League victory Tuesday.
Gahr 15, Dominguez 0: Center fielder Eric Elenes went 3 for 4 including two RBI as the Gladiators cruised to this easy win Tuesday at Dominguez.
Gahr 4, Downey 3: Second baseman Kevin Price led Gahr by going 2 for 3 at the plate including two RBI to win this San Gabriel Valley League game last Friday.
Warren 4, Lynwood 2: Vince Rodriguez went 2 for 3 with two RBI to lead the Bears to this San Gabriel Valley League win last Friday.
Paramount 7, Dominguez 3: Fernando Viscaino led Paramount with a double and two RBI in this SGVL win last Friday.
Lakewood 8, Simi Valley 7: Bo Banach drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth for this second round win last Saturday in the Redondo Tourney.
Dominguez 8, Fremont 3: Bobby Brickett struck out 6 for this victory last Saturday in a first round win in the RBI Tourney.
Downey Calvary Chapel 9, Sage Hill 1: Jon Butler went 3 for 4 at the plate including a home run and two RBI to lead this Calvary attack on Sage Hill pitching Tuesday in Academy League play.
South Gate 13, University 3 (6-innings): First baseman Jason Garcia went 3 for 4 at bat with two RBI in this non-league RBI Tourney pool play game victory Tuesday.
La Mirada 14, Norwalk 0: Third baseman Sean Dovel was 2 for 3 at bat with four RBI to lead a 14-run assault on Norwalk pitching in this Suburban League game Tuesday.
Mayfair 9, Cerritos 1: Right-hander Matt Dahlenburg struck out 10 on his way to this easy Suburban League win Tuesday.
Artesia 19, Glenn 4 (6-innings): Left fielder Cole Garner hit a two-run homer to lead this Artesia assault on Glenn's pitching staff in this Suburban League game Tuesday.
Mayfair 6, La Mirada 5: Outfielder Eddie Ruiz was 2 for 3 with a homer to pace Mayfair's win last Friday in Suburban League play.
Artesia 3, Bellflower 0: Pitcher Marcos Malvaez scattered seven hits for this victory in Suburban League play last Friday.
St. John Bosco 12, St. Paul 4: Evan Longoria and Jason Spaulding both homered to lead Bosco to this non-league win last Friday.
L.A. Baptist 3, Downey Calvary Chapel 1: Candice Banks drove in the only run for Downey Calvary in this non-league loss last Friday.
La Mirada 1, Mayfair 0: Kelly Trent pitched a one-hitter for this victory in Suburban League play last Friday.
Bellflower 15, Artesia 5: Christina Chavez went 3 for 3 at bat including a grand slam homer in this Suburban League win last Friday.
Downey 3, 5, St. Joseph 0, 1: Downey right-hander Nicole Bethurum yielded just one run in 12 innings Tuesday.
California 1, Warren 0: Lori Moreno drove a run home with a single to win this non-league game Tuesday at Warren.
Martin Luther King 53, St. Francis (Mountain View) 52: Marvin Lea led Martin Luther King with 23 points in this victory last Friday for the CIF Boys Division II State Championship played at Sacramento's Arco Arena.
Riordan San Francisco 47, Centennial 43: Marques Kately scored 24 points to lead Riordan to the CIF boys Division III State Championship last Saturday at the Arco Arena.
San Diego Horizon 78, San Jose Valley Christian 45: Nate Carter scored 23 points and pulled down 14 rebounds to lead San Diego to the CIF Boys Division IV State Championship last Friday at the Arco Arena in Sacramento.
Marin Catholic 66, St. Bernard 48: Adrienne Payne led Marin Catholic with 15 points in this game for the Division IV State Championship last Friday.
Lynwood 74, Sacramento Kennedy 55: Andrea Adams scored 20 points to lead Lynwood to the CIF girls Division I State Championship last Saturday at the Arco Arena.
Football is in his blood. Born in Downey, at the old Rio Hondo Hospital on Telegraph Road, he later spent four formative years in Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, before returning to Downey. He recalls the happy times in Pennsylvania when, at around age seven or eight, the family would hang black-and-gold banners in their home in celebration of each Pittsburgh Steelers triumph in the Super Bowl. Thus he grew up idolizing the likes of Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Jack Lambert and Mean Joe Greene. His dad, who now lives with his mom in Downey after finishing his working career at McDonnell-Douglas, had won All-State honors in Pennsylvania in high schools.
Biagioni says his coaching style/philosophy will emphasize a "college-style offense and an aggressive attacking defense." "In football, one has to be tough and aggressive. It's all about blocking and tackling. A player should be able to endure those bumps and bruises and sprains, especially in the knees and the shoulder area."
In this respect, he's been fortunate in his coaching stints, as "None of my kids I've coached thus far have suffered any serious injury. That's why off-season conditioning is so important. A good physical regimen can prevent the likelihood of injury in the fall."
Biagioni says he has lots of ties here in Downey. A sister, for instance, has been with the cardiology department at Downey Regional Medical Center for the past 15 years. "And I myself have worked for the District for nine years." He has two daughters, Jessica, 13, and Adriana, 3; and a son, Christopher, 11. His wife, Eva, is an auditor for an accounting firm.
"I've always wanted to coach," says Biagioni, who's living proof that if one works hard at something one really wants, and perseveres at it, there's no telling how far he/she can go. His educational attainments testify to that (bachelor's degree in kinesiology at Texas A&M 1994, and a master's degree in education, with emphasis in physical education, from Azusa Pacific University in 1996). And his unwavering career path reflects an intense determination to work towards his goals.
On the afternoon of this interview, he in fact came from his very last assignment as a softball coach at Griffiths, where he coached boys varsity basketball, and boys and girls track as well, from 1996 to this year.
He says that for the youngsters he will coach, high school football is a rite of passage, and he welcomes the chance to help them along. His exact words were: "I'm just very excited and happy about this opportunity. I can be a very demanding coach but at the same time, I care very much for my kids who are in the program. They are the bottom line as far as I'm concerned. I want to help them become successful, not only on the football field, but in life."
"There's lots of work involved in coaching. We spend lots of time practicing," he says. But when the curtain rises on the 2002 football season, opposite Long Beach Mulliken, the Bears will be ready: "Our goal, as always, is to play in 14 games," he says. "We intend to be competitive."