March (2) 2023 Candygrams
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Sunday, March 12, 2023---Women of Troy Basketball NCAA Selection Watch Party
Trojan Candy was lucky to be invited to the Women of Troy Basketball NCAA Tournament Selection Watch Party at Rock & Reilly’s Restaurant at the USC Village. As soon as I arrived, I started taking pictures.
Smiling together were Destiny Littleton, Coach Beth Burns, and Clarice Akunwafo.
Head Coach Lindsay Gottlieb held her new daughter.
[Video] Then, Coach Gottlieb addressed her team.
Three more players were Koi Love, Aaliyah Gayles and Alyson Miura.
Rayah Marshall, Dominique Onu, and Bella Perkins showed me their “Fight On's”.
Two more players smiled for Trojan Candy. They were Okako Adika and Rokia Doumbia.
Four players posed tightly together. Left to right were guards Alyson Miura, Madison Campbell, Taylor Bigby, and India Otto.
Gathering together were the guys against whom the basketball team practices.
Then, Assistant Coach Wendale Farrow gave Aaliyah Gayles a big hug.
Then Aaliyah posed with Madison Campbell.
Next, Trojan Candy was finally able to interview Destiny Littleton. She was sitting at the end of my table.
Destiny, who is from San Diego, is earning her Graduate degree in Communication Management at USC. She started playing basketball in the 6th grade. Before that, she played football until the 7th grade. She wanted to play basketball at USC, but changed schools when there was a coaching change at USC. She played two years at Texas and two years at South Carolina. In her senior year, her team won a NCAA Championship at South Carolina. Coming back to USC to play her graduate year, Destiny told me that “USC was home.” Trojan Candy is so glad that Destiny is a Trojan now! More personally, Destiny’s favorite food is chicken wings. Her hobby is playing video games. Her favorite game is “Call of Duty.” Destiny likes R&B music the most. FIGHT ON, Destiny!
[Video] The Spirit of Troy and USC Yell Leaders marched into the party.
[Video] Then they played “FIGHT ON!”
The entire team waited anxiously to find out in what NCAA region they were going to compete.
Trojan Candy was also anxiously waiting, but I decided to take more pictures. Here are two very dear friends Darcy Couch and Ben Chua.
The Spirit of Troy and the Yell Leaders were also anxious to hear our team’s name announced.
My brother-in-law Dudley Poon, friend Mel Hughes, and sister Patti were also anxious, but they smiled for my picture.
[Video] Then, our team was picked to play South Dakota State in Blacksburg, Virginia. Enjoy all of the excitement!
Here is the first of four pictures showing the excitement our team felt.
Second picture.
Third picture.
Fourth picture.
Doris Hughes joined Dudley, Mel, and Patti in the excitement.
FIGHT ON, Women of Troy Basketball!
Saturday, March 11, 2023---USC Baseball vs #2 Stanford
Today was Day of SCervice when Trojan Candy volunteered with the Joint Educational Project writing notes of encouragement and packaging items for school children. In the afternoon, I walked to Dedeaux Field to see USC alumnus Randy Johnson throw out the first pitch for the opening home game of a baseball doubleheader versus #2 Stanford.
Our scoreboard was ready.
[Video] Here is Randy Johnson's pitch. Click the date to read previous times I covered Randy on
2/1/2014 and
2/16/2014.
USC took the field as Stanford batted first.
The rest of the USC team were in the dugout.
Trojan Candy took pictures of each USC player as he came up to bat.
I started with #10 Austin Overn's picture on the scoreboard and while batting. He flied out to center field.
#13 Ryan Jackson batted second. He grounded out to the shortstop.
Cole Gabrielson scored on Johnny Olmstead's single.
Adrian Colon-Rosado batted next. Adrian singled and Johnny Olmstead took third base.
Unfortunately, our team lost this game to Stanford 4-6. [NOTE: In the second game, USC beat Stanford 10-7. Then on Sunday, the Trojans beat #2 Stanford 4-1 to win the series!]
KEEP FIGHTING ON, USC Baseball!
As Trojan Candy left Dedeaux Field, I took two pictures of USC Baseball’s amazing history. Here are the number of appearances by USC teams in the College World Series and the number of NCAA titles that Coach Rod Dedeaux's teams have won!