Sports

De La Salle’s 30-year undefeated streak ends

JAY BEDECARRÉ

The Pioneer

Another historic and most likely never-to-be-duplicated streak by the De La Salle football program came to an end last Friday night in Mountain View when the Saint Francis Lancers scored the winning touchdown with 16 seconds left for a 31-28 win over the Spartans.

It was the first time since Dec. 7, 1991 that the Concord powerhouse lost a game to a California team north of Fresno. The Spartans were unbeaten in 318 consecutive games against NorCal opponents since coach Herc Pardi’s Pittsburg squad defeated them 3527 in the Oakland Coliseum in the North Coast Section championship game.

Of those 318 games, there were 316 wins and ties in 2004 to Palma and Clayton Valley (also coached by Pardi). In the midst of that run, of course, was the 151-game winning streak of which a movie and multiple books have been written. It started with the first game of the 1992 season through Sept. 4, 2004 when the Spartans lost in Seattle to Bellevue.

St. Francis lost to De La Salle 48-0 in 2019. The year before when the Class of 2022 players were freshmen, the Spartans frosh team lost one game all season and that was to St. Francis!

De La Salle coach Justin Alumbaugh acknowledged that his team was second best last Friday and told the East Bay Times, “I give them all the credit in the world. They showed up prepared and fired up and physical. They were the better team tonight. ... They’re a great team, and they beat us tonight. It’s not like one of those, ‘Well, we should have.’ No, they beat us.”

The fired-up home crowd of students, parents and alumni saw the Lancers go up 24-7 early in the third quarter. De La Salle TV reported that it was the first time the Spartans trailed a NorCal team by three scores since 1979 when Salesian of Richmond blanked DLS in the old Catholic Athletic League during coach Bob Ladouceur’s first season.

The Spartans came back last Friday overcoming fumbles, penalties and a dropped interception in the St. Francis end zone for a sure TD in the fourth quarter to take their first (and only) lead 28-24 with 1:38 left in the game.

Very few of the 318 games in the steak were even close and this time St. Francis had the winning answer as the Lancers drove 80 yards with senior runningback Viliami Teu making a huge run to put the ball in DLS territory and quarterback Matthew Dougherty throwing a 16-yard TD pass to Nicolas Andrighetto for the winning score.

SPORTS UNDERWAY

OVERCOMING BAD AIR,

HEATANDPANDEMIC

The last 18 months have been like no other for local high schools so who should have expected the 2021-22 school year sports schedules to be much different? A combination of late summer heat and poor air quality from the numerous wildfires gave school officials, coaches and their student athletes more challenges since athletics returned last month.

Concord High’s first football game of the season against Dougherty Valley was canceled due to air quality issues. De La Salle and Clayton Valley Charter had their first games delayed by one and three days, respectively. Northgate’s opener at Deer Valley was moved to Oct. 1.

Last Saturday at the Honor Bowl in Brentwood, Clayton Valley Charter edged Liberty of Bakersfield 14-13 with Ugly Eagles quarterback and cocaptain Brenden Bush named Character Player of the Game. His senior classmates running back/linebacker Jordan Barbadillo and running back/safety Rahsaan Woodland II were the game’s co-MVPs.

All fall sports except girls volleyball are contested outdoors so the air quality issues and extreme heat have been challenges for practice and games.

Cross country celebrated the return of the Ed Sias invitational in Martinez last Saturday after the bizarre 2020-21 season when “meets” were held on school campuses. Carondelet finished third in the girls small school varsity race as junior Mary DeMartini took fourth and sophomore Kendall Foxworthy 10th. Clayton Valley Charter girls were ninth in the large schools led by soph Skylar Bennett who was 13th overall.

On the boys side College Park was third and CVCHS seventh in the large schools race. Alex Walker and Daniel Messer were 18th and 19th for the Ugly Eagles.

The 26th De La Salle Nike Invitational returns this Saturday at Newhall Park in Concord. The first DAL center meet is Sept. 29 at Hidden Valley Park with the second center meet Oct. 20 at Newhall.

BRENDEN BUSH CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER

Mt. Diablo, De La Salle honor latest Hall of Fame inductees

JAY BEDECARRÉ

The Pioneer

De La Salle and Mt. Diablo high schools will be honoring their latest Hall of Fame classes this fall with in-person ceremonies after neither Concord school was able to hold a similar ceremony last year.

The class of 2021 with one coach, one team and six athletes will be inducted into the De La Salle Athletic Hall of Fame on Sunday, Oct. 24, at 3 p.m. on the school campus. The event is open to the public and registration is available online through the school’s Hall of Fame webpage.

The Mt. Diablo Sports Hall of Fame will hold its delayed 2020 induction dinner honoring five athletes on Saturday, Nov. 6, at Zio Fraedo’s in Pleasant Hill. Tickets are available from Lou Adamo by calling 212-9332 or mailing a check to MDHS Hall of Fame, 1401 Stonecreek Ct., Martinez 94553. Checks are payable to MDHSSHOF. Tickets are $55 per person with proceeds going to help fund girls and boys athletic and academic programs at the school. DH

DE LA SALLE ATHLETIC HALL OF FAMEINDUCTEES

Coach Mark Halvorson is posthumously inducted into the De La Salle Athletics Hall of Fame. He was named the head varsity wrestling coach in 1999 and led the school’s program until 2021 when he died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 57. In his 21 years as the head wrestling coach, he led the school to 11 each North Coast Section dual meet and team championships in the past 12 years while sending nearly 100 Spartans to state meets, where they claimed 23 medals and two individual state champions (Peyton Omania in 2018 and Kyle Parco in 2019). Halvorson also coached for Team USA Wrestling in Singapore, Mexico and Brazil. In 2016 he was selected as a Greco-Roman volunteer coach on Team USA for the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Noah Merl (Class of 2001) was a standout soccer player for De La Salle for three seasons, earning two first team all-BVAL selections. A captain of the 2001 NCS championship team along with classmate Chris Wondolowski, he was named all-Contra Costa Times following his junior and senior seasons. Noah played college soccer at UC Berkeley where he was a threetime all-Pac-10 and Pac-10 allAcademic honoree and a three-year team captain. Merl was selected in the third round of the 2005 Major League Soccer Draft by the San Jose Earthquakes and later played three seasons with the Seattle Sounders, winning a United Soccer League championship in 2007.

Travis Pfeifer (Class of 1997) excelled as a two-way lineman at De La Salle. He was named a Prep all-American by PrepStar. Following his senior season, he earned first team all-State, allCity, all-League, all-East Bay and all-Bay Area honors as an offensive lineman. Additionally, he was selected the City Player of the Year, East Bay co-Offensive Player of the Year and NCS Defensive Player of the Year. Pfeifer helped De La Salle win three straight mythical Division I state championships (1994-96) as the Spartans were 38-0 during that stretch. As a sophomore, he was part of the 1994 football team that won the program’s first national championship and as a junior helped the Spartans to a No. 4 national ranking. His senior season team ranked second nationally. He earned a full scholarship to Stanford, where he was a three-year letter winner at nose guard and a member of the Cardinal’s 2000 Rose Bowl team.

Jason Price (2006) was a three-year standout for De La Salle track and field. During his senior season, he posted the third-fastest 400-meter time in school history (48.28) and finished second at the NCS Meet of Champions. He also ran the first leg for the Spartans’ 4x400m relay team, which set a school record of 3:17.27, before finishing first at the 2006 NCS MOC. After De La Salle, Price attended the University of Southern California and was on the track and field team four seasons. A team captain as a junior and senior, he was Academic all-American in 2010 and a two-time all-American as part of USC’s 4x400m relay team, placing fifth in 2010 and seventh in 2009 at NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Price graduated from USC as a Presidential Scholar and also graduated from Harvard Business School in 2018. he will be inducted this year. He excelled at De La Salle as a star linebacker and running back for the Spartans. He played on two De La Salle USA Today national championship teams (1998 and 2000) and contributed to the school’s national-record 151game winning streak. As a senior, Simon scored 16 touchdowns as the team’s leading runningback. He was named 2000 Rivals National Defensive Player of the Year, Cal-Hi Sports’ State Defensive Player of the Year, USA Today, Parade, PrepStar and Super Prep all-American and was rated the No. 1 linebacker in the nation by ESPN and Rivals.com. He played in the inaugural U.S. Army All-American Bowl in 2000, before playing football at the University of Tennessee from 2001-05, before a brief NFL career. Simon was selected by the Washington Redskins in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft. After his playing days ended, he has coached and scouted at both the collegiate and NFL levels. He on now on the Vols football staff.

Dan Vinson (2004) was a four-year starter for the De La Salle lacrosse team beginning with the school’s inaugural 2001 season. A team captain for the Spartans in 2003 and 2004, Vinson earned all-America honors

Photo courtesy Tennessee Athletics Kevin Simon was a star linebacker and running back for the Spartans and never lost a varsity game in three years, including two De La Salle USA Today national championship teams. As a senior, Simon was named 2000 Rivals National Defensive Player of the Year, Cal-Hi Sports’ State Defensive Player of the Year, and rated the No. 1 linebacker in the nation by ESPN and Rivals.com. He played football at the University of Tennessee from 2001-05, before a brief NFL career.

See more high school sports results all month at pioneerpublishers.com.

FOOTBALL SCHEDULE & RESULTS

Clayton Valley Charter 21 (Div. 1)- 8/30 W 35-23 at Turlock, 9/3 L 20-26 at Del Oro-Loomis, 9/11 W 14-13 Liberty-Bakersfield (Honor Bowl) at Liberty (Brentwood), 9/17 Stellar Prep-Hayward,

See Football, page 13

Athlete Spotlight

D’Antonio Jerome

School: Mt. Diablo High School Grade: Senior Sport: Football & Basketball

Coach Donald James is in his fourth year coaching Mt. Diablo football. One of the first players he met when he started in the fall of 2018 was freshman D’Antonio Jerome, one of five seniors on this year’s team who started on the junior varsity that first year and have been with the varsity the past three seasons. “D’A is a leader on and off the field. He’s one of those kids who works hard. He’s at practice every day, even when he’s injured,” his coach says. The team’s quarterback and free safety has been a captain for three years. Jerome was all-Diablo Athletic League Valley Division his sophomore year when the team was 2-8 after James’ first team went winless the previous fall. Last year’s squad won the school’s first league football championship in decades. There were no playoffs or all-league teams last year for the abbreviated spring season when Jerome led his team to an unbeaten record. In the DAL title game against crosstown rival Concord Jerome threw five touchdown passes to freshman Willie Ward and ran for another TD in the 60-13 victory. More than his success on the football field or basketball court, James looks forward to Jerome graduating next June and hopefully finding him a spot to continue playing in college. To demonstrate his player’s dedication, Coach DJ says Jerome is in the weight room with football teammates after his basketball practice. The Red Devils defeated American 16-6 last Friday in their first home game, but the QB was disappointed by his performance and told his coach, “I need to get back in the lab and watch film.”

The Pioneer congratulates D’Antonio and thanks Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for 25 years at Family Vision Care Optometry. www.laceyandruzicka.com

Do you know a young athlete who should be recognized? Perhaps he or she has shown exceptional sportsmanship, remarkable improvement or great heart for the sport. Send your nomination for the Pioneer Athlete Spotlight today to sports@pioneerpublishers.com.

925-381-3757

Athlete Spotlight

Ryan Morimoto

School: Clayton Valley Charter High Grade: Junior Sport: Football & Soccer

Varsity soccer and football player Morimoto has been able to juggle two sports in high school plus club soccer while maintaining a strong academic record. His soccer career started when he was only four years old and his love for the sport has carried all the way to high school. He first played for MDSA, then transferred to the competitive Diablo Valley Wolves. During his freshman year, Morimoto was a captain for the junior varsity soccer team, then has moved up to varsity for his sophomore and junior years. Morimoto has always been a big football fan, but he waited until high school to play on a team. Even before he started classes at Clayton Valley Charter he tried out and made the freshman football team. He moved up to JVs last year and is on varsity this season. Football head coach Tim Murphy commends Morimoto on his success and drive, “Ryan is one of the most mature and good-natured players I’ve ever coached. He has the rare combination of talent, hard work and intelligence’ and is someone you can always rely on. No matter what he does with his future he is going to be extremely successful. His family has done an amazing job raising him.”

Morimoto’s hard work is exemplified in the awards he has received over the first two years at CVCHS, including special teams player of the year on freshman football, student athlete of the month during his freshman soccer season and JV football team’s Ugly Eagle award for exemplifying good character. He notes that his favorite part of being a student athlete is being able to represent all of the students and staff members of his school. Morimoto’s motivation to do well in both sports and school is derived from the support of his friends, peers, family and teachers. In addition to his performances on the football and soccer fields, Morimoto’s drive to succeed carries over to his academics. He achieved a 4.3 weighted GPA for his sophomore year and currently holds a 4.5 GPA this year. Throughout high school, Morimoto has maintained an unweighted 4.0 GPA, participates in the Medical Careers Academy and is a member of CSF. He hopes to continue playing football at the college level and plans to pursue a career in medicine, specifically in the pediatrics or physical therapy area. Morimoto’s positive mindset, well-rounded personality and determination to prosper are guaranteed to contribute to his success in college and beyond.

CVCHS student journalist Katherine Pugh wrote this Spotlight.

The Pioneer congratulates Ryan and thanks Athlete Spotlight sponsors Dr. Laura Lacey & Dr. Christopher Ruzicka who have been serving the Clayton and Concord area for 25 years at Family Vision Care Optometry. laceyandruzicka.com

Do you know a young athlete who should be recognized? Perhaps he or she has shown exceptional sportsmanship, remarkable improvement or great heart for the sport. Send your nomination for the Pioneer Athlete Spotlight today to sports@pioneerpublishers.com.

Clayton Valley Charter’s Tim Murphy says this season is his last as Ugly Eagles coach

JAY BEDECARRÉ

The Pioneer

This is the 10th year that Clayton Valley has been a charter high school and during that time Ugly Eagles football has experienced unprecedented success under head coach Tim Murphy. CVCHS will be looking for a new coach before next season after Murphy announced last month that this will be his final year in charge.

Clayton Valley has started this season with two wins in three games as they look to reach the North Coast Section playoffs for the ninth successive time during Murphy’s tenure (no playoffs were held during the shortened 2020-21 season).

Murphy had told The Pioneer that he stepped away from most summer coaching preparation and duties as he struggled with a decision as to whether he would retire immediately. He says CVCHS interim executive director Dave Fehte convinced him to “give us one more year.”

Athletic Director Eric Bamberger says the school will conduct a formal search for a new head coach following this season.

If Murphy has any say he feels his successor is already on campus in assistant coach Nick Tisa. Murphy considers Tisa his co-head coach this season. “He’s doing more of the stuff on the field and I’m coaching the coaches,” Murphy told the local media in explaining how the duties are being handled this year. “I’m trying to get him to be as close to a head coach as possible.”

Tisa was head coach for six years at Dougherty Valley in San Ramon before joining the staff at Clayton Valley, just 10 minutes from his Concord home, in 2018.

Watching a recent Ugly Eagles practice Murphy is still the man in charge although, as always, his focus is on the offense.

Tisa has been an Ugly Eagles’ defensive coach and is a U.S. History teacher. He explains that he has helped Murphy coordinate all things for the football team in the classroom. Murphy intends to continue as a PE and strength trainer at the charter school following his coaching retirement.

Murphy was recruited to Clayton Valley in the months leading up to its charter conversion by former AD Pat Middendorf. He had accepted a coaching job in Utah, resigned almost immediately and then was introduced at a March 2012 Ygnacio Valley High Boosters dinner as coming back to the school he led to the 1999 North Coast Section 3A East Bay championship.

Shortly thereafter he was at CVCHS, and the Ugly Eagles won their first four NCS football championships (2012, 2014, 2015, 2019) plus the CIF State 2-AA championship in December 2019 under his watch, utilizing his renowned double wing offense. Murphy’s Ugly Eagles reached the 2014 and 2015 CIF State Bowl championship game but lost both before breaking through for the 2019 title effort. His record part way into his 10th season stands at 93-22.

Between his time at Ygnacio Valley and CVCHS, Murphy spent a decade at Clovis East in the Central Valley and there earned the new school its first two Central Section championships. Murphy graduated from College Park High and UC Santa Barbara before getting into coaching.

Murphy replaced longtime CVHS coach Herc Pardi, who stepped down in 2012 after 16 years at the helm of the Eagles with a 107-75-2 record. Pardi’s Clayton Valley teams made the NCS playoffs eight of his last nine seasons and a dozen times overall while reaching three Section championship games.

Jay Bedecarré It will be the end of a decade of unparalleled success for Clayton Valley Charter High football when coach Tim Murphy (right) steps away from his head coaching duties at the end of this season. His tenure has seen the Ugly Eagles win four North Coast Section championships and the 2019 State 2-AA title. Defensive coach Nick Tisa (left) is taking on more responsibilities this season with Murphy calling Tisa his co-head coach.

PIONEER WANTS TO PUBLISH YOUR SPORTS NEWS

Please let us know about your sports news, special events, fund raisers, tryouts, signups and accomplishments. Youth leagues, clubs, schools and adult programs are all welcome to send us a rundown on what you’re doing. Include all the necessary details (too much information is better than too little!) and your contact information. It’s as simple as sending an email to sports@pioneerpublishers.com.

Football, from page 11

9/25 at Monterey Trail-Elk Grove, 10/8 at California-San Ramon, 10/15 San Ramon Valley, 10/22 Amador Valley (Homecoming), 10/29 Monte Vista, 11/5 at De La Salle.

Concord 0-2 (Div. 4)- 8/27 Canceled Dougherty ValleySan Ramon, 9/3 L 0-62 Marin Catholic-Kentfield, 9/10 L 025 Tokay, 9/17 at Deer Valley, 10/8 College Park (Homecoming), 10/15 at Ygnacio Valley, 10/22 Northgate, 10/30 at Berean Christian, 11/5 Mt. Diablo.

De La Salle 2-1 (Div. 1)- 8/28 W 52-16 St. Mary’sStockton, 9/3 W 68-6 Monterey Trail-Elk Grove, 9/10 L 28-31 at Saint Francis-Mountain View, 9/17 Cathedral Catholic-San Diego, 10/1 St. Frances Academy-Baltimore, 10/8 at Folsom, 10/15 California-San Ramon, 10/22 at San Ramon Valley, 10/29 Amador Valley, 11/5 Clayton Valley Charter.

Mt. Diablo 2-1 (Div. 4)- 8/27 L 26-49 at Lathrop, 9/3 W 50-0 at Albany, 9/10 W 166 American-Fremont, 9/17 at Dougherty Valley-San Ramon, 9/24 Oakland Tech, 10/8 Ygnacio Valley (Homecoming), 10/15 at Northgate, 10/23 Berean Christian, 10/29 College Park (Senior Night), 11/5 at Concord.

Northgate 1-1 (Div. 3)- 9/3 W 41-21 Ukiah, 9/10 L 22-45 at Las Lomas, 9/17 Bethel-Vallejo, 9/24 at Rodriguez-Fairfield, 10/1 at Deer Valley, 10/8 Berean Christian (Homecoming), 10/15 Mt. Diablo, 10/22 at Concord, 10/29 Ygnacio Valley, 11/5 at College Park.

Ygnacio Valley 0-2 (Div. 6)- 9/3 L 14-20 St. Patrick-St. Vincent-Vallejo, 9/10 L 0-39 at Rosemont-Sacramento, 9/24 at Bradshaw Christian-Sacramento, 10/1 at Stone Ridge Christian-Merced, 10/8 at Mt. Diablo, 10/15 Concord, 10/22 College Park, 10/29 at Northgate, 11/5 Berean Christian.

STEPHANIE LOPEZ

925.305.9099

New 1647 Mendocino Dr., Concord Listing Expansive single level home with lovely amenities throughout. 4 bed + large bonus can be 5th bedroom. Gorgeous chef's kitchen w/Dacor high end stainless appliances will delight your inner Chef! Beautiful granite countertops atop lovely cherry cabinetry with so much storage, pullouts, and more! Freshly painted, master bath newly updated. Crown moulding, curved fireplace, lots of bright light gorgeous flooring, w/entertainer’s floor plan Large yard & side yards plus chicken coop AND “She Shed”! Terrific location central to amenities, entertainment, schools, transportation routes. Offered at $899,000

COMING SOON — 4 Helmuth Lane, Antioch

Fantastic first time home or investment property! Adorable 1+ Bedroom/ 1 Bath with updated kitchen and bath! Lovely classic original period touches like hardwood floors, combine with clean modern efficiencies! Great yard too. Bring in the rental income. Offered at $335,000

by US Lacrosse both seasons. He was also a member of the school’s National Honor Society, was a peer helper and a youth educator. After graduating from De La Salle, he attended Georgetown University, where Vinson walked on to the men’s lacrosse team, playing four seasons for the Hoyas.

Brandon Zoetewey (2005) was a four-year letter winner in wrestling, three-time Bay Valley Athletic League champion (including an undefeated season in 2005) and two-time North Coast Section individual champion. As a junior, He placed sixth at state in the 112-pound weight class and as a senior he was sixth in the 119-pound division. After graduating from De La Salle, Zoetewey attended California State University Bakersfield, where he was a three-time letter winner on the wrestling team and qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 125-pound weight class in 2008 and 2009. He compiled a 74-40 record during his four years at CSUB, which included three top-five Pac-10 Championship finishes.

The 1994 De La Salle Football Team posted a perfect 13-0 record, enroute to the school’s third straight and 10thNorth Coast Section championship in 13 years. The team outscored their opponents 115-14 in the three playoff games as “the streak” was extended to 39 consecutive wins. Following the 35-0 victory over James Logan in the NCS championship game, De La Salle was named national champion by National Sports News Services and the World Features Syndicate National Prep Poll, marking the first of 12 national titles for the Spartan football program. Some of the key players on the team were quarterback Mike Bastinelli, Matt Padilla, Tony, Mike, and Aaron Ponce, Saleem Muhammad, Mawuko Tugbenyoh and Pfeifer.

MT. DIABLO SPORTS HALL

OF FAME HONOREES

Jim Wharton (Class of 1967) made his biggest mark as a standout runner for coach Howard Breivik but also was on Red Devils cross country and football teams. He capped his high school career with an eighth-place finish at the 1967 CIF State Track and Field Meet in the 440. He was DVAL champion and second at NCS Division and third at NCS in the 440 that year. He also set a league record in the 180 high hurdles and was third at Section and was voted team MVP. Wharton received a full-ride scholarship to Idaho State University where he won 14 individual Big Sky Conference track titles and set records in the 500- and 600-yard indoor runs. He placed third in the 440 IH and fourth with his Idaho State teammates in the mile relay at the 1969 NCAA meet. He won several team awards, was all-Big Sky Conference four years and three-time NCAA Division I allAmerican. He was inducted to the Idaho State Hall of Fame in 1990. He coached D-1 men’s and women’s track and field for 20 years at the University of Montana, Eastern Washington and Idaho while coaching numerous conference champions, four NCAA all-Americans and five Olympic qualifiers. Wharton earned his PhD in Education/Sports Ethics at the University of Idaho in 2005.

John Capas Morales (1968) was a star lefthanded pitcher for MDHS with a three-year varsity record of 17-3. The pitcher and first baseman also batted .369, .340 and .341. He was twice voted team MVP for Hall of Fame coach Steve Bordi. His accomplishments led to him being selected to the Concord Transcript’s 1960’s decade team. The Red Devils won the DVAL title in 1966 with sophomore Morales on the mound at the end of the titleclinching game at Antioch, the school’s sixth straight but the last baseball league championship for MDHS. Morales is being honored posthumously.

Tim O’Connor (1986) won all-DVAL football honors his junior and senior seasons as a linebacker and tackle. He was second team in 1984 and a team captain and first-team all-league and all-Eastbay as a senior. He was also on San Francisco Chronicle and NorCal all-star teams. He was on the Contra Costa All-Star team for the Cerebral Palsy Game in the summer of 1986 and chosen for the Contra Costa Times “Cream of the Crop” listing. He went to Boise State on scholarship coached by former MDHS coach Lyle Setencich and his linebacker coach Chuck Pagano, a future NFL head coach. At Boise State he was all-Big Sky and team co-captain two years. After graduation he was a graduate assistant coach at UNLV and Fort Hays State. He went on to coach in Italy and was defensive coordinator and head coach at Fort Hays.

Sandi Gomes Yoland (1984) is Mt. Diablo’s only female Hall of Fame inductee in this class. She was a three-sport athlete in basketball, softball and volleyball. She was also senior class vice president and assumed the Class of 1984 presidency midyear. Gomes Yoland was a first-team all-DVAL basketball player as a junior and senior. As a shortstop she was honorable mention all-league her junior year and first team as a senior. She batted .457 for the secondplace Red Devils her senior season and was second team all-East Bay. Showing her incredible versatility Gomes Yoland played soccer for UC Davis.

Bob Penny (1970) posted outstanding marks for Hall of Fame gymnastics coach Darrel Lickliter. He was 17-1 on the side horse in dual meets his junior and senior seasons, winning the league and East Bay meets both years. He was fourth in the all-around at the 1970 DVAL meet. At the Northern California meet he was fourth as a junior and champion his senior year on the horse. Penny was team captain his senior year. He continued competing at Diablo Valley College and as a freshman was also a volunteer coach at MDHS. Penny took fourth on the horse at the 1971 Berkeley Invitational for elite gymnasts, including Olympians. He ranked second in Northern California on the apparatus and received honorable mention Junior College all-American honors. He was voted most inspirational gymnast at DVC.MDSA Thunder U12 boys champions in San Ramon

Photo courtesy MDSA MDSA Thunder 2010 Boys Elite defeated Manteca Rangers 3-2 in the championship game of the San Ramon Soccerfest Navy Division last month. Manteca and MDSA each won all their group stage games by lopsided scores before playing a tight game in the finals. The local team includes, front row from left, Will Watkins, Jerry DeLeon, Vinny Carone, Anthony Gonzalez, Ieuan Azarcon, David Dombrowski, Brayden Shen, Ethan Manion, Raymond Lucia, Ian Meyer, Max Habermeyer, Juan Terriquez; back row, coaches Chris Dombrowski, Joe Lucia and Ryan Carone. Not pictured, coach Jason Habermeyer.

SPORTS SHORTS

36TH ANNUAL CONCORD MAYOR’S CUP GOLF CLASSIC OCT. 22

Mayor Tim McGallian will host the 36th annual Concord Mayor’s Cup Golf Classic Tournament on Friday, Oct. 22, atDiablo Creek Golf Course. The event begins at 11 a.m. with lunch and registration and ends at 7 p.m. after dinner and awards. The entry fee of $150 ($125 for golfers age 60+) includes a golf shirt, green fees, cart rental, lunch, prizes and an awards dinner. All proceeds benefit theConcord Historical Society, Concord Junior Giants and The First Tee Contra Costa Youth Golf Program.

For more info call 686-6266. Registration is being taken online at cityofconcord.org.

LONG-TIME CARONDELETATHLETIC

DIRECTOR DONA SMITH PASSESAT 94

One day short of her 95th birthday, long-time Carondelet High School athletic director Dona Smith died Aug. 28. The Walnut Creek resident defined much of her life around her love of sports. Born Aug. 29, 1926, Smith was a tap dancer and band majorette in her younger years. Basketball was her biggest passion and legend has it that she was the Steph Curry of her day. She held the single-game scoring title for many years at the University of Montana. Smith parlayed her love of sports into the athletic director position at Loretto High School in Sacramento for 10 years prior to holding the same position at Carondelet for 18 years until her retirement in 1990. Friends and family are invited to a graveside service on Friday, Oct. 1, at 10 a.m. with a reception immediately following at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Lafayette. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to Monument Crisis Center, 1990 Market St., Concord 94520.

CARONDELET SHARPSHOOTER

KALEIGH CASTILLOWINS BRONZE

Carondelet High senior Kaleigh Castillo won bronze in the U.S. Junior Olympics Championships open junior women trapshooting this summer in Hillsdale, Michigan. Castillo finished behind shooters from Tennessee and Texas. She picked up a shotgun for the first time less than four years ago when she joined the Cougars trap team in her freshman year.

DE LA SALLEJUNIORTIGHTEND

COOPER FLANAGANCHOOSES NOTRE DAME

Cooper Flanagan, a 6-6, 240-pound junior tight end for De La Salle, made a verbal commitment to Notre Dame earlier this month. He had also received interest from Arizona, Colorado, Cal and Florida State. He posted his decision on Twitter thanking his Spartan coaches and teammates along with the Notre Dame staff. His message concluded, “Thank you coach Kelly and the entire coaching staff for believing me and giving me this chance of a lifetime opportunity, I’m all in! Go Irish!”

JUNIOR OPTIMIST OFFERING FALLLEAGUEBASEBALL

Junior Optimist Baseball League is having co-ed baseball this fall for ages 4-9 years old. Fall Ball will be held on Saturdays through Oct. 30 at the JOBL Complex in Concord. The program is considered both instructional and recreational baseball.JOBL fall ball has been held for the better part of 20 years while the traditional spring JOBL season was first held in 1963. Visit joblconcord.com for more information and to register. 03/04 National Premier League team member Sydney Boele and Clayton resident Natalia Brunal were selected as members of the Western Pool of the US Youth Soccer ODP program. Boele and Moraes are part of the girls 2004 group while Brunal is in the 2009 age group. Their selections came after regional camps in June and July. The girls are now looking to be selected to compete at the upcoming US Youth Soccer ODP Interregional events in November Nov. 20 - 24 in Orlando, Florida.

ST. BONAVENTURE

CYO CROSS COUNTRY, BASKETBALL

St. Bonaventure CYO basketball and cross country programs are both taking registrations. Coach Joe Sullivan says cross country is for boys and girls in third through eighth grades. Basketball begins this month and runs through the playoffs in the new year. Boys and girls in second through eighth grades can take part in CYO basketball. For more details on cross county contact Sullivan by email rleprcn@pacbell.net or phone (925) 9690207. For St. Bonaventure basketball contact Ferd Santos stbonaventurecyo@gmail.com or (925) 270-9390. Registration is taken online at stbonaventurecyo.com.

JOHN CAPAS MORALES MT. DIABLO HIGH SCHOOL

Computer Problems

NO INTERNET? SYSTEM SLOW? MISSING FILES? TOO MANY POP-UPS?

It could be a virus, or it could just need a tune-up.

Prevent problems with regular proactive maintenance.

Low cost, fixed-fee services

Call Mark 925.672.6029 or email info@netsolutions-ca.com