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North Forest sophomore caps off big year

North Forest sophomore caps off big year
The North Forest sophomore received 48 offers Vype

Demond Demas just capped off a banner year.

The North Forest sophomore saw his football stock explode, reaching a massive 48 offers and then showed off his skills on the track.

Demas leapt his way to the Class 4A Long Jump State Championship, hitting a new personal record of 23-feet-8.50 inches on his final jump of the day to win it all in May.

“It makes me want to train harder,” Demas said. “I finally have a state title. That makes me want to push harder and get another one. This is a huge accomplishment in my life.”

Winning a state title in football or basketball is something Demas imagined, the sophomore admitted, but winning one in track didn’t cross his mind. The feeling of confidence that he could do this overcame him the moment he walked into Mike A. Myers Stadium.

“When I first walked in I had that feeling without a doubt,” Demas said. “I just knew I was going to win. I just jumped hard, played smart and did what I had to do. I’m a state champion.”

Demas’ name was already known before this meet – having an offer from Alabama and a visit from Nick Saban himself will do that. Heading into his junior year at North Forest, Demas holds offers from Alabama, Texas, Texas A&M, Clemson, Florida, LSU, Michigan and Oklahoma, just to name a few.

On top of that notoriety, Demas now has a gold medal around his neck that he admitted he may not even take off when he goes to bed or goes to school.

But Demas guaranteed this is only the beginning for him.

“I can promise you this,” Demas said. “It’s been amazing but there’s more to come.”

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The Angels beat the Astros, 4-1. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.

Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.

The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.

Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.

Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.

Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.

Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.

Key moment

Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.

Key Stat

Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.

Up next

Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.

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