vol. 3. issue 42
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40 TOP TEAMs
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march 8, 2012
endure | excel | achieve
Title Time
Newark Memorial boys, Bishop O’Dowd girls dominate the hardcourt. Pgs. 14, 16
king pins College Park’s Brian Sergi brings home state title. Pg. 46
ALWAYS It’s all about the team in high school sports. Pg. 11
PHONE 925.566.8500 FAX 925.566.8507 Editorial Editor@SportStarsOnline.com Editor Chace Bryson. Ext. 104 • Chace@SportStarsOnline.com Contributors Bill Kolb, Erik Stordahl, Mitch Stephens, Doug Gardner, Matt Smith, Clay Kallam, Jim McCue, Eric Gilmore, Dave Kiefer, Liz Elliott, Tim Rudd, Jonathan Okanes Photography Butch Noble, Bob Larson, Jonathan Hawthorne, Darryl Henick, Norbert von der Groeben, Phillip Walton Creative Department Art@SportStarsOnline.com Production Manager Mike DeCicco. Ext. 103 • MikeD@SportStarsOnline.com Publisher/President Mike Calamusa. Ext. 106 • Mike@SportStarsOnline.com Advertising & Calendar/Classified Sales Sales@SportStarsOnline.com, (925) 566-8500 Account Executives Erik Stordahl • Erik@SportStars Online.com, Phillip Walton • PWalton@SportStarsOnline.com, Stacey Harris • SHarris@SportStarsOnline.com. Sac Joaqin edition: Breck Phillip • BreckPhillip@gmail.com, Dave Rosales • DaveRosales64@gmail.com, Finn Jensen • finnjensen1@mac.com.
team first: You know how they say ‘There’s no I in team?’ They say that for a reason. Pg. 11 big difference: Does using balms such as IcyHot really make that much of a difference? Pg. 52
get better: Want your young athlete to show improvement? We have three key steps. Pg. 53
Spring Fever Time to hit the diamond with baseball and softball seasons. Alhambra softball with Kylee Perez will be a force, as will James Logan baseball. It all starts on Pg. 40
First Pitch............................................. 8 Locker Room....................................10 Behind the Clipboard......................11 AAA SportStars of the Week........13 Camps + Clinics...............................20 Bob Larson
Oderah Chidom and the bishop o’dowd girls survive to claim section crown, as did the newark memorial boys. pgs 14, 16
Impulse...............................................50 Health Watch....................................52 Training Time.....................................53 ON THE COVER: Alhambra softball co-captains Shannon DeVries, left, and Kylee Perez. Photo by Dean Coppola
Reader Resources/Administration Ad Traffic, Subscription, Calendar & Classified Listings info@SportStarsOnline.com • Deb Hollinger. Ext. 101 • Distribution/Delivery Mags@SportStarsOnline.com Distribution Manager Butch Noble. Ext. 107 • Butch@SportStarsOnline.com Information technology John Bonilla CFO Sharon Calamusa • Sharon@SportStarsOnline.com Office Manager/Credit Services Deb Hollinger. Ext. 101 • Deb@SportStarsOnline.com Board of advisors Dennis Erokan, CEO, Placemaking Group Roland Roos, CPA, Roland Roos & Co Susan Bonilla, State Assembly Drew Lawler, Managing Director, AJ Lawler Partners Brad Briegleb, Attorney At Law community SportStars™ Magazine A division of Caliente! Communications, LLC 5356 Clayton Rd., Ste. 222 • Concord, CA • 94521 info@SportStarsOnline.com www.SportStarsOnline.com
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your ticket to bay area sports admit one; rain or shine This Vol. #3, March 2012 Whole No. 42 is published by Caliente! Communications, LLC, 5356 Clayton Rd, Ste. 222, Concord, CA 94521. SportStars™© 2010 by Caliente! Communications, LLC. All rights reserved. Subscription rates: 24 issues, U.S. 3rd class $42 (allow 3 weeks for delivery). 1st class $55. To receive sample issues, please send $3 to cover postage. Back issues are $4 each. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission of Publisher is strictly prohibited. The staff and management, including Board of Directors, of SportStars™© does not advocate or encourage the use of any product or service advertised herein for illegal purposes. Editorial contributions, photos and letters to the editor are welcome and should be addressed to the Editor. All material should be typed, double-spaced on disk or email and will be handled with reasonable care. For materials return, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. SportStars™© and STARS!™© Clinics are registered trademarks of Caliente! Communications, LLC.
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Eleven favorites from 11 years of NorCal postseason hoops
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future Saint Mary’s College icon Omar first began work as a high school Samhan. Samhan finished his SRV career sportswriter in the Bay Area in February 2001. Like any eager new employee, with yet another double-double of 28 points I was happy to cover any sporting event. and 10 rebounds. Anderson and the Trojans But it became clear to my bosses early would win a state title two weeks later. on that I had a passion for writing about ■ 2006 — Northern Regional Div. I hoops. By the following season I was the semifinal: De La Salle 52, Serra-San Mateo high school boys basketball writer and 48. remained in that position for six seasons. Even though I’d watch the Spartans This will be my 12th year of covering win a state title two weeks later, this game Northern California’s side of the state stood out more. Serra led by 11 at the half, playoffs so I figured I’d have some fun on which was the most DLS had trailed by at Memory Lane. I’ve singled out a favorite any point all year. Two more future UCSB game from each of the 11 postseasons I’ve players, Paul Roemer and Justin Joyner, led covered. Only picking games I was in the a stirring second-half comeback. Serra’s building for. Decensae White gave a virtuoso effort with Enjoy. 24 points, nine rebounds and four assists. ■ 2001 — North Coast Section Div. III ■ 2007 — Northern Regional Div. I quarterfinals: Northgate 71, Arcata 57. quarterfinal: Acalanes-Lafayette 50, Weston This was the very first postseason I Ranch-Stockton 47 ever covered in the Bay Area and my first Joe McGlynn went 3-for-4 from behind viewing of the Dylan Edrington Show. The the arc in the fourth quarter to lift the Dons shifty Northgate guard made about every over the upstart Cougars at Saint Mary’s shot he took. He averaged 22.8 points College. James Nunnally scored 12 for that postseason as Northgate won the first Weston Ranch that night. Nunnally is now of back-to-back section titles. Fun fact: in his fourth year with UCSB and starts for Edrington passed on college basketball to the Gauchos. focus on acting. He’s actually got his own ■ 2008 — NCS Div. III quarterfinal: page at iMBD.com. He’s currently working Acalanes 58, El Cerrito 54. in Los Angeles as a junior agent. I was no longer the boys basketball writer ■ 2002 —Northern Regional Div. I final: in 2008, so I was back to spot coverage, but Oakland Tech 65, De La Salle-Concord 61, this game stood out as Joe Anderson, also OT a standout baseball player for the Dons, Oakland Tech’s Leon Powe and De posted a double-double of 22 points, 12 reLa Salle’s Rekalin Sims banged away like bounds to lead Acalanes in a see-saw battle. heavyweights. It was one of those games Chace@ ■ 2009 — Div. IV state championship: where literally everything was earned. Had SportStarsOnline.com Salesian-Richmond 65, Bishop MontgomSims not fouled out late, an emotional blow ery-Torrance 64. (925) 566-8503 to the Spartans, the teams may have played The best game, and best finish, to any two or three more overtimes. state championship basketball game I’ve ■ 2003 — Northern Regional Div. II covered. Salesian’s Desmond Simmons (now at Washington) semifinal: Woodcreek-Roseville 65, Amador Valley-Pleasangrabbed the rebound from Justin Cobbs’ (Cal) missed free ton 62. throw with approximately six seconds remaining. He sprints Woodcreek was in the midst of an incredible run and up the floor, nearly stumbles at midcourt before passing to its gym was packed. The Timberwolves fed off their home Jabari Brown on the wing. Brown thinks about shooting crowd’s energy as Amador Valley, led by Thomas Juillerat, before finding Kendall Andrews open underneath. Andrew built multiple double-digit leads and Woodcreek answered lays it in just as the horn sounds. Epic. every time. In fact, the Timberwolves closed the game on ■ 2010 — Tie: Both the NCS and Northern Regional a 13-2 run. Woodcreek would finish that season as state semifinals between De La Salle and San Ramon Valley. runners-up. De La Salle won both games by grand total of five points. ■ 2004 — Div. V state championship: St. Joseph Notre It would be hard to find two teams more evenly matched Dame-Alameda 49, Vebum Dei-L.A. 47. than the Spartans and Wolves were that season. SRV’s Chris St. Joseph’s Alex Harris gave me my first chance to write McNealy (UC Irvine) and DLS’ John McArthur (Santa Clara) about a state champion as he scored 11 of his 19 points in each took their game to new levels in both contests. the fourth quarter, including the last five of the game. His ■ 2011 — NCS Div. III final: San Marin-Novato 47, 3-pointer with 1:43 left gave the Pilots their first lead of the Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland 44 game and neither team scored after that. Harris went on to San Marin’s Stewart Wesonga was a man possessed. His become a four-year starter at UC Santa Barbara (watch for game of 28 points, 24 rebounds and five blocks was somemore Gauchos) and still plays professionally in Germany. thing to behold. But even better was the entire atmosphere, ■ 2005 — Northern Regional Div. II semifinal: Oak as an incredible mass of students traveled to support the Ridge-El Dorado Hills 63, San Ramon Valley-Danville 62. Cinderella-story Mustangs. I’ve seen few courts were Current Orlando Magic player Ryan Anderson scored 20 stormed with more passion. ✪ points to help the visiting Trojans defeats the Wolves and
First Pitch Chace Bryson Editor
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rapidFIRE Pick one Dream job athlete to as a 5-year old save the world Basketball player
Griffin Piatt
Prefer being the favorite or the underdog?
Who’s gonna win March Madness
Most orginal way you’ve seen someone asked to prom
Picking up Favorite dog waste
Texas
Haven’t seen someone asked yet
Worst job you’ve ever had
Tyler Garrison, Campolindo-Moraga, BB
FBI Michael agent Jordan
Babysitting
Underdog
Stanford (women)
With a box full of balloon pigs he said, “I’ll ask you to prom when pigs fly.” Then he opened the box
Working for my dad
Doesn’t matter
Syracuse
Somebody asked over the public announcement system
Melissa Russi, Carondelet-Concord, BB
Cop
Dwight Howard (he’s Superman)
Damien Banford, Newark Memorial, BB
Jonathan Hawthorne
sayWHAT “We didn’t even give ’em a chance as a coaching staff. We told the parents at the parent meeting we’d be happy to make NCS this year because we have a really young team ... (But) when we saw our playoff draw, we thought it was pretty favorable for us in general. We felt we had the deepest team of any team (in the draw) … and teams win championships, players win MVP medals.”
— Bishop O’Dowd boys soccer coach Greg Rubendall, whose dragons won the NCS Div. II championship as the No. 9 seed. For the complete story on the team’s 3-2 championship win over Albany, go to SportStarsOnline.com.
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In any high school sport, always think team first
M
Sports camps we’d like to attend Ahh, summer camp and clinic season. That halcyon time of year when young men and women dedicate themselves to nobly improving at their respective sports through hard work and sacrifice. Also known as the ‘how the heck do I get away from my parents/ younger siblings this summer’ phenomenon. We here at SportStars have been giving some thought to clinics that we, if money and time were of no consideration, wouldn’t dare miss. Without further ado, here are our Top Five Fictional* Summer Sports Clinics. 1. The Hoosier Underdog Hoops Clinic (HUHC — as a shoutout to Dennis Hopper’s character, pronounced ‘hooch’). Gene Hackman, reprising his role as Coach Norman Dale, hosts. Rule No. 1: Don’t get caught watching the paint dry. Rule No. 2: And you will make your second shot… Rule No. 3: Black Chuck Taylors for everyone. 2. The Pedro Cerrano Bat Like A Champion Clinic. Participants are encouraged to bring hats for bats. Keep bats warm. 3. The Happy Gilmore Long Drive Competition/Golf Clinic. Hockey stick-style putter, patience optional. Helmets, chest protectors, cups, and hecklers mandatory. 4. The Nuke LaLoosh School of finesse pitching. Learn the fine art of announcing your presence with authority. Other handy tips: Relax and concentrate, never argue with your catcher, strikeouts are fascist, never punch with your pitching hand, and respect the streak. 5. Wrench-dodging with Patches O’Houlihan. If you can dodge a wrench… why are your friends throwing wrenches at you? You must be a really miserable human being. Maybe if you got on a dodgeball team people would like you more. Touché! *These camps are fictional. And by that we mean they are fake. Not real. You can’t actually attend them. Please don’t email us for sign-up information. Note: 1. Hoosiers; 2. Major League; 3. Happy Gilmore; 4. Bull Durham; 5. Dodgeball. Really? We have to explain this?
I hate the breaststroke but I’m OK at it — and my coach wants me to swim it in meets. I don’t see why I should because swimming is a lot more about individual events than it is about a team effort. Do I have to swim the breaststroke in meets? — A.R., Alameda ost of the time, there are grey areas in every question, but not in this case: Swim the breaststroke, and do so with enthusiasm and a smile on your face when the race is called. Yes, swimming at the highest levels is an individual sport, and as athletes start to separate themselves from the pack, it makes complete sense to swim the events that a) you enjoy the most (because in the long run you’ll most likely do better at them), and b) suit your skills — but in case you haven’t noticed, you’re in high school. In case you haven’t noticed, you’re not paying for pool time. You’re not paying for your coaching. You’re not participating as an individual. You are representing the school you attend, and when you are swimming for your school, it’s not about you. Now if you don’t want to represent the school, if you don’t want to be part of the swimming community that practices together every day, then go find a pool and practice there by yourself and get ready for the summer. Don’t pretend you’re a member of a team, because you’re not, even if your friends are swimming. When you’re on a team, you do what the team needs, even if it isn’t what you want. Let me repeat that, because a lot of young athletes and even worse, parents, don’t get it: When you’re on a team, you do what the team needs, even if it isn’t what you want. In individual sports like swimming and track, it’s easy to put aside the team aspect, especially when dual meet results don’t have much impact outside the team itself. But the reality is that you are on a team, supported by the school, the booster club and the community, and that support carries with it obligations. And first among those obligations is to put the team first. If swimming the breaststroke is what the team needs, you swim the breaststroke. If running the hurdles is what the team needs, you run the hurdles. If you’re hurt and the team needs someone to make some Gatorade, you make the Gatorade. And you don’t whine, or act noble, or make it clear you’re doing this grudgingly. You smile, you are enthusiastic and you give your very best no matter what the task, on or off the track, in or out of the pool, or downstairs looking for the lap counters. As a high school athlete, you always, always, represent your school and community, and you not only need to accept that responsibility, you need to embrace it. Starting with the breaststroke. ✪
Behind the Clipboard Clay Kallam
Orion Pictures/Zumapress.com
ine used “A good friend of m simple to say, ‘This is a very e ball, you game. You throw th it the ball. catch the ball, you h someSometimes you win, etimes it times you lose, som at for a rains.’ Think about th while.” aLoosh Ebby Calvin ‘Nuke’ L
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Top Five by Bill Kolb
Clay Kallam is an assistant athletic director and girls varsity basketball coach at Bentley High in Lafayette. To submit a question for Behind the Clipboard, email Coach Kallam at clayk@fullcourt. com
March 8, 2012
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For Mariya Moore and the Salesian girls basketball team, the third time was the charm. They ousted St. Mary’s-Berkeley 49-42 in the NCS Div. IV championship on March 3 after losing to them twice during the regular season. The sophomore wing posted 15 points, 12 rebounds, five steals and four assists giving Salesian girls program its first NCS crown. SportStars Magazine: Your team was down 16-3 against St. Mary’s. What sparked the turnaround? Mariya Moore: We really had nothing to lose. We just left it all on the court. … Everyone picked it up. Even people who don’t normally play a lot made plays. SSM: This is the first NCS title for Salesian girls basketball. What does that mean to you? MM: That means so much to me. When I play basketball, usually I want to make a difference. … I guess this is the best thing that’s ever happened. SSM: You’re the No. 1 seed in NorCals and St. Mary’s is seeded second. Would you want to play them again? MM: Yeah, we like playing St. Mary’s because we like to challenge ourselves. And the more we play them, the more we challenge ourselves. I’ve been playing Gabby (Green) and Mikayla (Cowling) since the fifth grade. We’ve had a friendly rivalry ever since.
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mariya moore salesian . basketball . sophomore
honorable mention
anastasia lobsinger The Alhambra sophomore wrestler won NCS then placed third in the 154-pound division in the CIF State Championship on Feb. 25.
devin mahoney The St. Mary’sBerkeley junior tossed a perfect game on Feb. 27. He struck out 11 Skyline batters as St. Mary’s won 9-0.
brian sergi The last wrestling match of his high school career was a winning one, as the College Park senior won the CIF State title in the 138-pound division on March 3. Abbey Ampon Mariya’s quick hits Favorite athlete: Maya Moore Favorite team: Miami Heat Favorite subject: Science Favorite Starbucks: Strawberries & Cream Frappucino
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Consistent Force After a decade of near-misses, Newark Memorial finally picked up its second NCS championship banner
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By Chace Bryson | Editor
t should’ve felt like a bigger deal — a bigger moment. After 32 minutes of making the Windsor High boys basketball team wish it could be anywhere else, Newark Memorial was about to be crowned the North Coast Section Division II champion following a 60-41 win in which the Cougars trailed just once. The players shared high-fives, big smiles, and enjoyed a short moment of exuberance with its student cheering section. But for a victory that clinched just the program’s second section title, and the first in more than a decade, the celebration definitely qualified as subdued. The win, and the championship, were expected. The Cougars were the top seed in the bracket and had been singled out as favorites early in the year after a dip in enrollment dropped them down from Division I. But to truly grasp why the moment should’ve felt bigger than it did, one needs a quick nineyear lesson on the Cougars. Since the 2002-03 season, Newark Memorial has reached the NCS semifinals in every year but one. Five of those years they reached the final — and lost each time. All five losses were by single-digit margins, three were six points or less and included an overtime loss. During that nine year stretch, the Cougars won nine straight Mission Valley Athletic League titles, posted an overall record of 228-53, and even reached the 2010 Division I state championships. But they hung just one postseason banner, the 2010 Northern Regional championship. This 2011-12 team featuring six seniors — including fouryear varsity standout Casey Norris, who was around for three near-miss years — literally shook a giant monkey off the program’s back. And yet, it basically took it all in stride. In his 21st season as the coach of the Cougars, Craig Ashmore stood off to the side as his players mingled with fans and took pictures after the awards ceremony. As he watched, he was asked how this team was different from some of his other extremely successful teams of the past decade. “I think they’re just the same,” he said. “They’re resilient. They play hard. Selfless. Kids off the bench that are great players wait for these moments to shine. ... They’re just very similar to the teams of the last probably 15 years I’ve coached here.” And maybe that’s it.
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Jonathan Hawthorne
Jalen Rogers, left, flashes a huge smile as he celebrates with his Newark Memorial teammates after winning the North Coast Section Division II championship on March 2. Rogers scored 12 points in the win. Perhaps that consistent and prolonged success accomplished in a blue-collar, no-flash, get-the-job-done approach, was the reason for the lack of any fanfare following the victory — from the team or anybody else. In fact, there were probably several in attendance and throughout the Bay Area who would’ve been surprised to learn it was only the Cougars’ sec-
ond NCS title. De La Salle coach Frank Allocco, who has coached against Ashmore’s teams for years — even working the opposing bench in three of the Cougars’ NCS finals losses — admitted surprise Newark’s championship drought had been so long. “I read in the paper it had been more than 10 years and Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com
had no idea,” said Allocco, whose De La Salle team wrapped up the Div. I NCS title the same night as Newark Memorial beat Windsor. “It’s great, though. Craig does a great job. Those kids really compete and have a level of consistency that I’ve always admired. We’re really happy for him. The sign of a really good program is consistency, and they certainly have had that over the years.” Newark Memorial beat Windsor the same way it beat its previous 19 opponents, with relentless pressure defense and strong contributions from a very deep bench. Windsor, in the midst of the program’s most successful season, entered the game with a record of 285. But the Jaguars appeared flustered from the outset against the Cougars. Windsor managed just three points in the first quarter, and was nine minutes into the game before 6-foot-9 standout center Tanner Giddings scored its first field goal. But as much as Newark Memorial had its defense working, the offense didn’t find its mojo until its bench players got involved. Jalen Rogers, Sultan Siddiq and Matthew Thomas all made key plays upon entering the game in the first quarter. Rogers had nine points and four rebounds in the first half. Siddiq offered up four points, three rebounds, and a blocked shot. In all, the bench had 15 of the team’s 28 first-half points. It finished the game by outscoring the Windsor reserves 23-0. “Jalen was the X-factor tonight,” said point guard Joey Frenchwood, who led the Cougars starters with 12 points, five assists and four steals. “Yusef (Farouqi) has been the sixth man all year and been knocking down shots all the time. No matter who comes off the bench, we know they’re going to produce.” It’s a luxury that Ashmore even feels a little guilty about at times. “It’s almost like we get another notch up when those guys come in,” Ashmore said of his reserves. “We’re definitely 9-10 deep, and there are times when I feel bad looking down at the 13th guy and realize he’s pretty good, too.” The Cougars earned the No. 2 seed and a firstround bye in the CIF Northern Regional tournament that began on March 7. The most likely team to be standing in their way of another trip to the state final is top-seed Archbishop Mitty-San Jose — the defending Div. II state champions. Mitty just happens to be a team Newark has already played this season, an ugly 60-40 loss in midDecember that helped put the Cougars on their current path of success. “I thought early on, Mitty sort of smashed us in the mouth,” Ashmore said. “And we learned that you can be excited, but you better come to play.” And even though the Cougars’ celebration was tame by most section-champion standards, Ashmore assured that it meant something. “The one negative I hate about this team, is that they’re never happy,” he said. “I’m glad they’re celebrating. We beat Taft-Woodland Hills (at the Torrey Pines tournament), and then got in the van, drove nine hours and they looked like mummies. I’m glad they’re excited for each other. They do work hard and they deserved this.” ✪
RACE TO THE CAPITAL
Here’s a quick glance at things to watch for as the Northern Regional tournament plays out from March 7-17. BOYS ■ BEST BET: Salesian-Richmond. The Pride reached the Div. IV state final a year ago without breaking much of a sweat. They enter the tournament with a 30-2 record, and neither loss is to a CA opponent. ■ CINDERELLA STORY: Antelope. One day after dominating the Sac-Joaquin Section Div. II final, the Titans were ungraciously handed a No. 4 seed and a possible semifinal with defending state champ Archbishop Mitty-San Jose. We’re not ruling out an upset. ■ DON’T MISS THIS GAME: De La Salle-Concord vs. SheldonSacramento was a dynamite Div. I semifinal a year ago with the Spartans winning 45-43. A NorCal final between the top two Div. I seeds could be just as good. ■ PREDICTED CHAMPS: De La Salle-Concord (Div. I), Archbishop Mitty (Div. II), Foothill-Sacramento (Div. III), Salesian-Richmond (Div. IV), Capital Christian-Sacramento (Div. V)
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Pressure Cookers Experience, talent helped Bishop O’Dowd derail undefeated Miramonte in their NCS title clash
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Bob Larson
A Bishop O’Dowd girls team already rich in talent got richer this season with the addition of freshmen guards Aisia Robertson, left, and Asha Thomas. The duo played a key role in helping the Dragons break Miramonte’s full-court press during the North Coast Section Division III final on March 3. 16
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March 8, 2012
By clay kallam | Contributor
ometimes nothing weighs a lot. Miramonte’s girls’ basketball team went into the North Coast Section Division III championship game March 3 with “28” on one side and “0” on the other — that is, 28 wins and zero losses. Bishop O’Dowd was the top seed, despite having three losses, but it was no secret to anyone that the Matadors’ undefeated season was part of the equation. “‘Pressure’ is an understatement,” said Miramonte senior wing Devon McDonald after the game, “the whole undefeated thing.” And the Mats were playing in their backyard, at St. Mary’s College, out to prove that what outsiders said about their “weak” schedule and “lack of challenging opponents” simply missed the mark. After all, Miramonte had a 20-point win over Division I finalist Deer Valley, two wins over Dougherty Valley, a D-II power, and had rolled through the tough DFAL without a loss. On the other side was Bishop O’Dowd, a team many believed was the most talented in the Bay Area. Posts K.C. Waters, Oderah Chidom and Breanna Brown — all juniors, all 6-1 or taller, and all clearly bound for top college programs — give the Dragons an unmatched inside presence. Last year, though, point guard Ariell Bostick had to do almost all the ballhandling herself, and as a sophomore, she went through the ups and downs that all young point guards must endure. But this year, O’Dowd doubled up with a pair of freshman guards, Asha Thomas and Aisia Robertson, who changed the equation in the Dragons’ backcourt. “Oh man, I love them,” said Bostick of the freshmen, who helped her shred Miramonte’s previously impervious press in an impressive, no-doubt-about-it 73-49 win. In the second half, when the game turned, O’Dowd coach Malik McCord often had all three point guards on the court at the same time, and they put on a ballhandling show. “It changes our game a lot,” said McCord. “They’re very mature for freshmen and they make good decisions. It’s really hard to press us.”
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Because a variety of presses had been Miramonte’s calling card, the Matadors were forced to try to make up for the lack of an effective press in other areas. “Against a team of O’Dowd’s quality,” said Miramonte coach Kelly Sopak, “you have to do the things you do well. They’re going to do things well, so you have to match that.” The Mats did not. With the score 20-17 early in the second quarter, Miramonte had been going to the basket, despite O’Dowd’s size. “We had to keep taking it to the basket and getting fouls,” said Miramonte guard Carly Gill. The Mats did just that. However, Miramonte missed seven straight free throws in the second quarter, and were just eight of 19 in the first half. “We play at such a high energy level that sometimes it’s hard to relax,” said McDonald. “Sometimes you have to take a deep breath and put everything behind and focus on that one shot.” Still, Miramonte was within three with 3:58 left in the second quarter, thanks in great part to the hot start of senior wing Taylor Kizziee, who finished with a game-high 18 points. However, an 8-1 run over the next two minutes — which featured a spectacular tip pass off a loose ball from freshman Thomas to senior post Margaret Huntington — put O’Dowd up ten, and it never got any closer. “We had a game plan from the beginning,” said Bostick. “We watched film, and then we executed on defense. We knew they like to trap a lot, so we wanted to get the ball to the middle — and the gaps were wide open, so we attacked the gaps.” “We work on our mistakes, we watch film, we break down every play,” said Chidom. “We’re all used to the championship mindset.” Well, almost everyone. The freshmen, after all, haven’t been in these situations before. “They’re not like normal freshmen,” pointed out Chidom. “They’re confident — when I was a freshman, I was nervous every single game.” Thomas conceded she was nervous, but then she added coolly, “You’ll always be nervous for games like this.” Miramonte was nervous, too. “We were all excited for this,” said Kizziee, “and we may have gotten a little too excited in the first half. We haven’t had competition at this level, and we were all excited to play. We got out of playing as a team for a second in the second half, they went on a run, and it was hard to get it back.” Despite the O’Dowd domination of the second half, the Miramonte players would like nothing better than another shot at the Dragons. “We didn’t go into that game thinking we would lose,” said Kizziee. Consider the Matadors more than ready for the rematch — which could happen if both teams advance to the NorCal finals at Power Balance Pavilion in Sacramento March 17. “We’re really hoping to get better in the next two weeks and come back at them,” said Gill. McDonald echoed that sentiment. “I’m excited to play them again, and I hope we play them again,” the senior said. “I think the second round, we can give them a go.” Especially with the weight of zero off their backs. ✪
RACE TO THE CAPITAL
Here’s a quick glance at things to watch for as the Northern Regional tournament plays out from March 7-17. GIRLS ■ BEST BET: Berkeley. The Yellowjackets are clearly the class of Div. I. MaxPreps has Deer Valley as the second-best Div. I team in NorCal — and Berkeley just beat the Wolverines 61-29. ■ CINDERELLA STORY: Hamilton City. The Braves were 24-5 a season ago, and went 29-0 through the Northern Section Div. V playoffs this season — and is still seeded fourth. But Hamilton is the only unbeaten team left in the state, boys or girls, and that’s a considerable accomplishment. ■ DON’T MISS THIS GAME: It’s the irresistible force vs. immovable object in Div. II, as Carondelet-Concord and St. Mary’sStockton seem destined to meet in the NorCal final. They played once this season, and the Rams won on a neutral floor 73-58 — but expect something much closer in Round 2. ■ PREDICTED CHAMPS: Berkeley (Div. I), St. Mary’s-Stockton (Div. II), Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland (Div. III), St. Mary’s-Berkeley (Div. IV), Brookside Christian-Stockton (Div. V).
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East Bay gets a brand new sport courts facility in Martinez It was an idea that came to Dan Middleton more than a decade ago. Perhaps it was akin to the voice Ray Kinsella heard in “Field of Dreams?” If you build it, they will come. Well, it’s built. And they’re coming. On March 3, Middleton and his investors were pleased to fully commence the soft-opening of NorCal Courts — a 30,000 square-foot indoor sports facility near the Martinez waterfront. The venue will feature 3 full-length basketball courts and four regulation volleyball courts. “The vision was conceived in 1999,” said Middleton, who has his own business and is the girls varsity basketball coach for Northgate-Walnut Creek. “I was coaching youth basketball and noticed a shortage of gyms and sports facilities in the East Bay. This East Bay community needs a better set of sports facilities for our youth to have a place for team sports.” According to Middleton, the original plan was for a facility to be finished by 2014 that would include indoor and outdoor space to accommodate soccer and swimming, too. However, that got scaled down a bit after a plan to move into a different Martinez warehouse turned out to be more than the city counsel and constituents wanted. The second time was the charm, though. After finding a new warehouse on 360 Ferry St., Middleton made a new pitch for an indoor-only facility for basketball and volleyball. There was much nego-
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tiation, but everything fell into place with vendors and supply companies and NorCal Courts was conceived on November 16, 2011. “We immediately started working on it the next day,” Middleton said. Middleton is hopeful that partnerships with several of the East Bay’s basketball and volleyball clubs will jump to use the facility for practices, games and tournaments. He’s already picked up a few buy-ins, already. “CalStars girls basketball club is already renting it for their practices during the week,” Middleton said. “We also have agreements with other basketball clubs as well as the Northern California Volleyball Association.” The soft-opening on March 3 actually did feature a volleyball tournament. The facility will be available for use every day until 10 p.m., and will also be running some of its own programs such as boys and girls high school summer leagues starting June 18. “What will make this a successful business will be all the clubs, teams and people who will use the facility and have a great time doing so,” Middleton said. “It will be a welcoming place for kids and teams to come and have fun and be able to compete at the highest level they can imagine.” And if you go, be sure to check out the most handsome scoreboard in the building. The one that reads SportStars underneath it. ✪ — SportStars staff
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Visit our Virtual CampSite at SportStarsOnline.com
SportStars 2nd Annual Camps & Clinics Special I
By Chace Bryson | Editor
n early 2011, when the staff at SportStars had a brainstorm that it should put together a special edition each spring as a resource on the various summer camps that are offered, it seemed like a good idea. However, very quickly it realized two things: 1. It wasn’t just a good idea, it was a great idea — a realization based on the feedback our staff received from advertisers and readers alike. And... 2. There were WAY more camps than anybody here could’ve possibly fathomed. And we were just focused on the East Bay at the time. So when the time rolled around for us to do it again, only this time with an even wider geographic focus, we were a little more prepared. But only slightly. Camps and clinics are a major industry now. Think up any sport or activity, and there is undoubtedly a camp or clinic offered for it within a 30-minute drive. There’s a good chance anyway. From football to horse riding, lacrosse to tennis, gymnastics to surfing and baseball to fencing — and that’s just for starters. Just how big of a deal are sports camps and clinics these days? “The overall camp business in the United States is a $1.2 billion business,” Steve Pence, president of Nike-operated US Sports Camps, told SportStars a year ago. And he should know. His clinics feature 400 locations and 50,000 campers annually. So we’ve established there are camps everywhere, and they come in every shape and size imaginable. They can be extremely competitive or everybody-plays-and-everybody-has-fun. They can be for individuals, or full teams. They can focus on a single skill such as goalkeeping or putting. They can run a day, a week, or more. They can cost a small fee or a small fortune. While sifting through the gobs and gobs of camps listings over the next 19 pages, readers will undoubtedly see the immense variety the World of Camps has to offer. The obvious question that rises is, “Which is best of me?” Or, “Which is best for my son or daughter?” In talking with numerous camp experts during the process of putting the last two annuals together, the same five areas of criteria are offered up as the key elements for choosing the right camp: Location, skill specificity, player/ coach ratio, duration and price. Starting with location, the closer the camp is to one’s home, the more convenient and cost-friendly it will be to commute back-and-forth— especially if the camp lasts for more than a week. Facilities also factor into location and can effect a multitude of other critieria.
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Jason Sekany, the co-founder of The Pitching Center in Pleasanton, told SportStars to ask the following question. “Is the camp at a local park or a college/professional sports facility?,” he said. “Camps held at the latter of the two typically will be better organized and often involve staff better trained to provide higher quality instruction.” Player to coach ratio is also a big factor that gets brought up by just about everybody we talk to. It’s certainly one to consider heavily, especially for athletes who are going to improve
and refine skills as opposed to going for a have-fun approach. “Ratios are important depending on the sport,” said Pence, who recommended a 5-to-1 ratio for individual sports such as tennis and golf, “and never more than 8-to-1 for team sports.” Pence followed up with his thoughts on the prices, subscribing to the “you get what you pay for” theory. “Higher priced camps are typically better due to facilities, coaching staff, ratios, etc.,” he said. “Lower-priced camps such as day camps can serve a purpose, but check the ratios and see who is actually doing the teaching. Are the drills set up for improvement or are they just playing games?” If the athlete is really focused on refining his game for a certain sport, skill specificity is an essential consideration in choosing a camp. “Most camps generally will be designed to cover the basic skills within your respective sport,” Sekany said. “If you are looking for specificity, be sure that the camp lists the specific skill you are looking for, or contact the camp director to find out if your desired skill will be covered. Keep in mind, progressive and advanced skill development almost always requires ongoing training beyond the time frame of a camp.” As was mentioned earlier, the duration of camps can range from one day to a weekend to a week, or a series of weeks. Sekany cautions that longer camps do not always equal better. “You have to keep your player’s age, interest level and attention span in mind,” he said. “There is only so much information that your player is going to be capable of absorbing over the duration of the camp.” Finally, it most often always boils down to the financials. And while it may Butch Noble be the biggest factor, it should be considered right along with the other criteria. Because in the end, it’s about finding the right price for the type of camp that you want. In essence, it’s value that you want to find. Because in the end, Pence tells us, most summer camps boil down to one specific goal. “You work hard, improve, have fun and make lifetime friends,” he said. “You leave camp with a renewed confidence that you can move up the team ladder or from JV to varsity.” So get to it. Turn the pages, the camps are waiting. ✪ Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com
BASEBALL/SOFTBALL All American Softball 2012 Softball Summer Day Camp. 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. daily, July 9-12, at Alyce Norman Bryte Playfields. Girls of all ages welcome. Camp features a college Softball Q&A with our AllAmerican staff. $250/athlete; $150/ athlete when registering 6 or more at one time. Info: 916-374-1907, www. softballschool.com. All American Sports Academy The overall objective of the All American Sports Academy is to support, train, educate, and guide each student athlete toward a successful season, both on and off the playing field. Info: 209-833-2255, dnelson@allamericansportsacademy. net. Blankenship Baseball We are a year-round competitive baseball program based in Danville. The Camp focuses on teamwork, hustle and sportsmanship. We also offer small group training as well as one-on-one training. Info: lancerblankenship@ sbcglobal.net or 925-708-3173. Cabernet Baseball Club The Livermorebased club hosts The Pitching Center’s Spring Break Baseball Skills Camp 2012, for players ages
8-14. Lil’ Baseball also offered for ages 3-7. 925-416-1600, www. thepitchingcenter.com. EJ Sports EJ Sports provides individual, group, team, coaching and manager clinics in many levels of baseball. Among the numerous different services offered, the Spring Clinic, Summer Clinic and the Fall League for children of Little League age has proven to be successful, instructional and most of all fun for the kids. Contact EJ Sports for a list of upcoming clinics, or contact your local little league to see if they participate in our coaches and managers training program. Info: 925-866-7199, www. ejsports.com. The Pitching Center In an effort to develop baseball players to their full potential, The Pitching Center has become the Total Player Center (TPC), a fullservice baseball/ softball training academy. We provide comprehensive, fully-integrated training programs that evolve based on the best research and information available in areas from health/safety, peak performance, education techniques and more. Age- and skill-specific programs
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available for students age 8-High School. Info: 925-416-1600, www. thepitchingcenter.com. NorCal Grizzlies Baseball Camps and classes offered at various locations. NorCal Grizzlies Baseball has programs to help accelerate baseball development for players of all ages. 925-606-1605, www. norcalgrizzlies.org. Walnut Creek Sports League Baseball is Fun Beginner Camp. July 25-Aug. 4, 9 a.m.-noon, Mon.Thur. at Tice Valley Park; Extended day/week available with Deluxe Sport Option. Ages 5-9. $35/$75. Registration: 925-952-4450, www. walnutcreeksportsleague.com. BASKETBALL Bald Eagle Basketball Camp Bald Eagle Camps is approved by the nationally recognized Positive Coaching Alliance, teaching their principles to every camper through our certified coaches. Our Basketball Camp is renowned for providing the player great skill development and building a deeper passion toward becoming the best they can be. Info: 888-505-2253. Basketball Jones The Basketball Jones Hoop Camps program meets the needs of all skill levels for any boy or girl ages 7-15. With over 200 camps under our belt and more than 15,000 former campers, there is NO trial and error. This is the camp for your child to refine their skills, improve on team concepts, have fun and meet
new friends. Locations/info: www. basketballjonescamps.com. CalStars The Stars Basketball Academy (SBA) is pleased to announce our youth and high school summer camps. The SBA is a fundamental based skills development camp for kids in 3rd grade-High School. We offer three youth (3rd-8th) sessions and two high school (9th-12th) sessions. Our camps are conducted under the watchful eye of Clay Kallam (Bentley High School), Kelly Sopak (Miramonte High School), Dan Middleton (Northgate High School), Raul Reyes (Miramonte High School) and Elgin Leslie (Campolindo High School). In addition, the camps are also assisted by former high school and college players from the area. Please sign up for one, two or all three of our summer camps. Go to www.calstars.org for more info. Gil Basketball Academy GBA is designed to teach athletes the proper fundamentals of basketball along with teaching them sportsmanship, team play and positive work ethics. The Gil Basketball Academy was formed to promote the sport of basketball in East Salinas, as well as the overall development of local student-athletes desiring to compete at the highest athletic levels of competition. GBA offers, camps, clinics, and individual
sessions teaching athletes the skills and techniques of shooting, passing, dribbling, rebounding and defense. The athletes will be coached by Jose Gil and other qualified and experienced coaches. Info: Coach@ GilBasketballAcademy.com; 831-7101499. Golden State Warriors You don’t have to be a pro to participate in a basketball camp run by the highest-level team in town. The Golden State Warriors welcome players of all skill levels to participate in a variety of spring camps that will be held in March, April and May. The camps are typically for boys and girls ages 7-15, and there’s a “parent/ child camp” for adults and their kids as young as 5. In addition to receiving instruction from a high-level coaching camp, participants receive two tickets to a Warriors game, a Warriors jersey and other prizes. Plus, there’s always a good chance of an appearance by a current or former Warriors player. Info: camps@gs-warriors.com; 510986-5310. Legarza Basketball San Carlos-based camp offers sessions in Larkspur, San Francisco, Burlingame, San Mateo, San Carlos and San Jose for boys/girls, incoming K-8th grades. 415-334-3333 or www.
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legarzabasketball.org. Matt Lottich Life Skills Camp Offering beginner and elite sessions for boys and girls grades 6-16 at Woodside Elementary School in Woodside. Registration/info: 888-537-3223, info@ mllscamp.com; www.mllscamp.com. Mike Allen Sports Learn the basics of basketball, sharpen your skills and improve daily at the Ballin’ Ambassadors basketball clinics! Hosted by MIke Allen Sports in the South Bay, registration is easy. Go to www.mikeallensports.com to reserve your spot. 408-279-4123. Next Level Basketball Next Level Training Academy is the premier athletic training academy in Placer County and surrounding areas. We are a complete basketball training academy that provides instruction and coaching focused on basketball and student athletes of all abilities from 3rd grade-high school. Info: 916-276-5367. Saratoga Basketball Sessions available for boys/girls in grades 3-9. Net proceeds from camp tuition go to the Global Ischemia Foundation to help research for brain-injured individuals. 650678-1614, www.saratogabasketball.com. Walnut Creek Sports League Basketball is Fun beginner camp. July 1121, 9 a.m.-noon, Mon.-Thur. at Tice Valley Park; extended day/week available with deluxe sport option. Ages 5-12. $35/$65 per week. Registration and info: 925-9524450, www.walnutcreeksportsleague.com. CHEER Alameda Wolverines Be a part of an exciting organization and have fun! Alameda Wolverines Cheer is available to all youth ages 5-15. The Alameda Wolverines Cheer Program assists in the development of all students in their growth as athletes and young citizens within the community. Info: alamedawolverines@yahoo.com; www. alamedawolverines.com. Encore Gymnastics, Dance and Climbing Summer Camp 2012 in Concord. Sessions for kids offered beginning May 29; last session is Aug. 13-17. These camps are packed full of activities such as gymnastics, rock climbing, dance, cool crafts, games, water balloons, team building activities and more. 925-9321033, office@encoregym.com; http:// dscreationencoregym.homestead.com. Twisters Sports Center Gymnastics mixed with rock climbing, recreation, Tae Kwon Do and more. For boys/girls ages 18 months-14 years @ Twisters Sports Center, Mountain View. Fees/schedule/registration: 650-967-5581, www.twisterssportscenter.com. ENRICHMENT Bald Eagle Jr. High Leadership Camp Bald Eagle Camps is approved by the nationally recognized Positive Coaching Alliance, teaching their principles to every camper through our certified coaches. Our Leadership Camp offers Jr. High students hands-on experience with the pivotal skills that lead to a successful transition to high school and adulthood. Info: 888-505-2253. E.Nopi and Palm Academy Having trouble finding a camp that is constructive, engaging and fun? At Palm
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CheerGyms.com — Coaches Camp, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. June 9 @ Cheergyms.com, Concord. $100/ coach, $50/junior coach (younger than 18 years). — Freedom High School 2-Day Cheer & Dance Camp, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. each day, June 22-23 @ Freedom High School, Oakley. $100/Commuter Student*; $125/Extra Coach (one free per team). *Special pricing for Liberty Union High School District schools; please call for more information. — 2-Day Cheer Camps at ALL Cheergyms.com facilities, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. each day, July 13-14 @ Concord, San Jose and Petaluma facilities. $150/ Commuter Student; $100/Extra Coach (one free per team). — Jr. High/High School Cheer CampCalifornia Session 1, July 19-22 @ California Maritime Academy, Vallejo. $385/Residential Student; $295/ Commuter Student; $125/Extra Coach (one free per team). — Individual/Group Stunt Cheer Camp, July 23-25 @ California Maritime Academy, Vallejo. $250/Residential East Bay Sports Academy East Bay Sports Academy offers the best in gymnastics and cheerleading training in the East Bay. In our first full year of business, our top of the line recreational and competitive programs earned us the exclusive “Best in the East Bay” award for Best Gymnastics Classes 2011. This summer we are offering our biggest and best camps ever! You are invited to join our award-winning coaches for an amazing summer camp experience for all levels, ages 4 & up. Fun themes range from our “Sparkling 4th of July Celebration”, “Cartwheeling Cooks & Fun with Food”, “Phineas & Ferb go to Camp @ East Bay!”, and a “2012 Olympic Sports Celebration.” We will continue to offer all of our regularly scheduled classes all summer long! Our classes are goal-oriented, and teach young athletes to work hard because they love gymnastics, cheerleading and tumbling. Our passion is
Academy we provide academic enrichment for students throughout the summer. Students attend a variety of classes including English, Math, Art, Science, Biology, and Critical Thinking using the E.nopi learning method, one of the most popular learning curriculums worldwide!
Student; $195/Commuter Student; $100/ Coach-Parent-Spectator. — Jr. High/High School Cheer Camp (Elite)-California Session 2, July 1922 @ California Maritime Academy, Vallejo. $385/Residential Student; $295/ Commuter Student; $125/Extra Coach. Must have strong liberties to attend. For more info: 925-685-8176, 866-6857615, info@cheergyms.com; www. cheergyms.com. to teach kids to challenge themselves, and live healthy and active lifestyles. Our mission is to provide a safe, fun and motivating community for students to enjoy learning and build confidence while accomplishing athletic goals. Our championship All-Star Cheerleading program is just starting to take flight! You can bring your team to be a part of the excitement, as our talented and motivated coaching team becomes your team’s best support system. All of our team camps are custom-built to complement your coaching needs and team goals. Come for the fun, the skill, and the passion! We are here to build your program and your athletes first! Info: 925-680-9999, www. EastBaySportsAcademy.com.
Palm Academy’s “Summer Camp Spectacular” offers day camps with a oneweek or one-day program to provide the flexibility for your busy schedule. This is a fun, simple option for children who are not in school because it helps to keep their brains active throughout the summer. Continue your child’s learning over the summer in a constructive, educational way. We offer exposure to a variety of education programs demonstrating our interactive
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Dianne Adair Programs Come join any of our eight Dianne Adair summer sites for our fun and exciting summer program. Each week campers will be able to choose from several camps, including sports, fashion, drama, CSI, science and so many more. In addition to our weekly camps, we have weekly field trips to places like an A’s or Giant’s game, museums, the Jelly Belly Factory, Six Flags, the pool, the movies, parks and the Zoo. We also offer many “inhouse” field trips like Games2U Mobile Entertainment, the Bubble Lady, Furs, Skins and Tails, magicians, clowns, singers and many more. Field trips and camps vary by site. Please consult your site of choice for more details. Bring in this article and receive half off our $40 summer registration fee. Once registered, your child may attend at any time with no minimum. You can choose from weekly, daily and hourly rates to best suit your
technology with the FasTrack Learning Station®. Make learning fun and stress free. Palm Academy also offers art and music camps for kids to help their creative spirit soar. Our Abrakadoodle Art Camps inspire kids to reach and create art that is unique to them. By doing so, kids feel empowered to be creative and expressive. It’s amazing to see just what kids design when given the freedom to explore and express themselves creatively! Let imaginations soar! Palm Academy’s music classes allow students to play new instruments,
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needs. Offers and rates may vary at any of our nine locations. Visit our Web site for more information. www. dianneadair.org.
learn patience, sheet music and harmony, all while having fun! Sign up by April and get 10-percent-off early bird discount. Come see why so many parents choose Palm Academy for their kid’s summer camp! Palm Academy, 2856 Washington Blvd., Fremont, CA, 510979-9794 or E.Nopi, 5789 Jarvis Ave., Newark, CA 94560; 510-79E-NOPI (3-6674). FENCING Golden Gate Fencing Summer Fun Fencing Camps begin June 6. Cost per session: $195 (10% discount if you sign up for two
or more sessions). All equipment is provided. Emphasis is on learning the FUNdamentals of Fencing. Developmental Training Camps begin June 20, aimed at experienced fencers. Info: 415-626-7910, www. gofencing.com. FITNESS Aspire Pilates Dramatically increase core strength, power, flexibility, balance, focus and joint stability, while preventing injury. Aspire prides
itself on helping propel athletes to the next level by addressing muscular imbalances, helping athletes increase body awareness, correcting faulty body mechanics and accessing untapped strength. Info: 925-6804400, www.AspirePilatesCenter.com. Fit 2 The Core As a Youth Conditioning, Speed/ Agility and Nutrition Specialist with the International Youth Conditioning Association, Fit-2-TheCore Training Systems offers an innovative approach to getting your young athletes back on the field of play post-rehabilitation (which gets your athletes to normal function), continuing the process by progressing their bodies to handle what they must endure on the field or court. We work on a solid athletic foundation while staying focused on each individual athlete’s progress. Our unique program includes instruction in movement training, injury reduction, linear/lateral speed development, foot speed and agility, power development, proper weight training techniques and functional strength training. Athletes are closely supervised while being coached through the workout, with attention on proper technique and safety. The workout consists of functionally sound movement, strength and conditioning skills with a strong focus on basic and proper technique.
It becomes progressively more challenging once basic techniques have been mastered. Program Highlights: SPEED — Acceleration/deceleration, linear/ lateral movement techniques, running mechanics and footwork. EXPLOSIVE POWER — Olympic lifting, plyometrics, medicine ball and jumping/landing techniques. STRENGTH — Functional approach, thorough coaching, focus on upper/ lower body & core. CONDITIONING — Prepares athletes to be “game ready.” FLEXIBILITY — Myofascial release (foam rolling), various forms of stretching and muscle activation. INJURY REDUCTION — Identify and correct muscular imbalances, balance and stabilization. NUTRITIONAL EDUCATION — Lessons, tips and advice. For F2C’s Back to Sports programs we offer training weekdays, with 2 days/week or 3 days/week program options. Bottom line: Our program gets your athletes back on the field. Sign up today for your two-week free pass at www.fasteryoungathletes. com, or call 925-639-0907 for more information. Kenion Training Coach Nathan Kenion leads multiple training programs, all geared to help athletes achieve their dreams. He works with everyone to make sure you have the right motivation, skills and knowledge to take your game to the next level today. He’s all about changing the little things that will
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get you to your ultimate goal. 707-7048003, nathan@keniontraining.com; www. keniontraining.com. TransForm FX At TransForm FX Fitness Boot Camp, we believe that parents can take better care of their kids when they take care of their own health and fitness. We have designed adult fitness boot camp workouts to fit your busy lifestyle. Each boot camp workout is designed to help you burn fat and increase your cardiovascular endurance in less time. Info: 925-2898042; www.transformfxfitness.com. Walnut Creek Sports & Fitness We started out as the Walnut Creek Racquet Club in 1979, and have been part of the community ever since. We are on a mission to create remarkable experiences that make a difference in the lives of our members, employees and the community. Today, we offer more than 70 group classes per week. Our members cannot stop raving about our bamboo group fitness floor! The extra shock absorption makes Zumba, Yoga and BodyPump (just to name a few) even better. We have something for everyone. The Pilates reformer studio provides a calming atmosphere while our cycle studio revs and energizes cycle enthusiasts. Members also enjoy access to our heated pool, sauna, spa and steamroom. Massage, skincare and chiropractic
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Children’s Hospital “Learn What It’s Like To Be An Athletic Trainer.” This two-day workshop exclusively for high school students will be April 13-14. The workshop includes: Overview of careers in sports medicine; ankle injuries and taping techniques; wrist, hand, and thumb injuries and taping; knee injuries and RICE Therapy; stretching techniques; low back injuries and CORE Training; sports concussions; shoulder injuries and rehabilitation. Who should attend? High school students interested in a career in sports medicine. Some of the perks you get include: class credit, certificate of completion, reference materials and box lunch provided on April 14. It will be facilitated by Children’s Hospital Sports Medicine staff and it will take place at the Children’s Hospital Outpatient Center Auditorium. 744 52nd St., Oakland, CA 94609. The fee is $99/
services are also available on site. We want the entire Walnut Creek community to experience what a remarkable wellness program can do for you, so we invite you to enjoy the club for a week as our guest! We always want to be sure our members have a total fitness plan designed for success. We offer two complimentary one-hour
student. RESERVE your spot today by calling the Sports Medicine Center at 510-428-3558.
sessions with a personal trainer. In the first appointment, members receive a fitness assessment using the state-ofthe-art Visual Fitness Planner computer program. In the second appointment, a trainer creates a Personalized Exercise Program designed specifically to meet an individual’s goals. Then, to help members stay motivated and on track, we offer
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quarterly updates! Walnut Creek Sports & Fitness also loves to be a part of the community. This past Thanksgiving we had the opportunity to raise money for Walnut Creek Schools through our annual Turkey Trot 5K, 10K & Kids’ Fun Runs. We thank the community for participating and helping to raise over $25,000 for education. We hope you will join us again next year in creating a remarkable Thanksgiving! Call us today for your free one week pass! Info: 925-9326400, www.wcsf.net FOOTBALL Acalanes Football Dons Camp The Acalanes coaching staff invites you to be the best football player you can be. At our camp you will learn skills, techniques, rules and how to perform to the best of your ability. There are daily camp awards. All athletes receive a T-shirt. This is a non-contact camp focused on having fun while learning the game of football in a positive and safe environment. Staff members are coaches, teachers and parents. We believe teaching the value of hard work, honesty, loyalty, responsibility; and the ethics of the game are just as important as the techniques we teach. Info: Mike Ivankovich, Varsity head coach; mivankovich@ acalanes.k12.ca.us. Diablo Football Camps Contact and non-contact camps for players ages 6-14 begin in March, and more options are offered in June and July. The camps take place at Laural Ball Field in Oakley. Info/registration: www. diablofootball.com/camps. php; 925-625-2222, www. DiabloFootball.com.
Football University From the creators of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl comes a one-of-a-kind football training experience exclusively for the nation’s most elite youth and high school players. Born out of the appreciation that the
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most successful and skilled football players have mastered great technique, and that for many younger players this level of coaching is simply not available, the Football University (FBU) experience focuses on intense positionspecific technique training taught by our expert faculty of former and current NFL coaches who have a passion for sharing this experience with young athletes. NorCal Football Camps Space is available in all of this year’s camps & Flag Football leagues. Led by Ken Peralta, Norcal Football Camps are focused on serving youth ages 7-14. Norcal Flag Football Leagues serve kids entering grades 2-6. Info/registration: Ken, 650-245-3608, norcalyouthfootballcamp@ yahoo.com; www. norcalfootballcamps.com. Offense-Defense Sports FullContact Camp Former 49ers standouts and Hall of Famers host a fourday camp in the Bay Area on June 10-13, and at UC Davis, June 17-20. Ages 7-18. Other sessions will take place in Los Angeles and San Diego on later dates. Info: 843-9031888, www.o-d.com/camps. GOLF BAY Golf Spring Break junior camps are now open to ages 5-17. The program will allow juniors to learn, play and practice on a regularly scheduled basis at Shadow Lakes & Deer Ridge Golf Clubs. Sign up at Shadow Lakes or call 925-516-2837. Grayson Woods Saturday Jr. Clinics Instruction will cover all the basics from putting, chipping and full swing, to etiquette and course management. The camp will feature daily play on either of the par 3 courses or the 18 hole putting course. Camp includes video swing analysis, a 9-hole tournament and camp T-shirt. Max 8 golfers per camp. MondayThursday. Info: 925-787-0085; www.golfgraysonwoods.com. The First Tee-Contra Costa The First Tee Summer Camp is a youth development Golf program for boys and girls ages 7-18. Participants will learn about golf and the life skills and values inherent to the game. In addition to golf skills, rules and etiquette, participants are introduced to The First Tee Nine Core Values - honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance,
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courtesy and judgment. Through the Life Skills Experience, young people discover how skills essential to success on a golf course can also help them flourish in life. These skills include, self-management, interpersonal communication, goal setting, mentoring and effective conflict resolution. Participants are introduced to all this plus have a great time learning the game of golf. Our Summer camps are four days a week, 4 hours/day @ Diablo Creek Golf Course, Concord. We have several weeks and facilities from which to choose. Fee assistance available. Info: Angela Paradise, 925-686-6262, Ext. 0, angela@thefirstteecontracosta.org; www. thefirstteecontracosta.org. See you on The First Tee! The First Tee-Oakland The First Tee of Oakland participants receive a minimum of 12 hours of instruction over an eight-week period. Instruction is conducted at three City of Oakland affiliate golf courses. Each of the golf courses donates their range, golf course and classroom use. We introduce the game of golf in a way that allows participants to progress with the mechanics required, and that teaches the values of the game, celebrates the fitness aspect of playing, and is offered at little or no cost. The nine core values of Program are: responsibility, courtesy, judgment, honesty, sportsmanship, confidence, perseverance, integrity and respect. These values are taught on the golf course, in the classroom, on field trips and in the home.
The First Tee recruits and enrolls youth regardless of physical and learning disabilities or previous experience in golf programs. Emphasis is on the needs of low-income families, ethnic minority youth, and the educationally disadvantaged. We try to make The First Tee programs accessible and affordable to all children, and to those with physical disabilities. Info: 510-352-2002, info@ thefirstteeoakland.org; www. thefirstteeoakland.org. The First Tee-Silicon Valley The First Tee of Silicon Valley develops youth through the game of golf throughout Silicon Valley. We impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices though the game of golf. Participants learn to appreciate diversity, resolve conflicts, build confidence and set goals for their future. Spring classes begin March 13 and continue through May 12. Seasonal classes are offered at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course (San Jose) and Palo Alto Golf Course. We welcome participants ranging from second to twelfth grade. Scholarships are available upon request. www.thefirstteesanjose.org. The First Tee-Tri-Valley We’re a youth development organization using golf and its etiquette to teach important life skills and core values. We offer seasonal The First Tee Life
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Skills Experience Classes and Summer Camps for youth ages 7-17, held at the Pleasanton Golf Center on the Alameda County Fairgrounds. Life Skills Experience Classes - The Spring Classes begin the week of March 19. Once a week Summer Classes will be held Monday-Saturday, beginning the week of June 11. Junior Golf Summer Camps - Summer Camps will be held 8-10 a.m., Tuesday-Friday for seven weeks this summer. Camps begin on the following Tuesdays: June 11, June 18, June 25, July 9, July 16, July 23 & July 30. Info: Call our office, 925-462-7201; www. TheFirstTeeTriValley.org. The Personal Golf Coach New Rules is about Coaching your Skills & Keeping Your Unique Style. Learn from the coach who has gone through all the stages you’re going through now. Coach Rick, 510-917-6442, RickPGAPro@gmail.com; www.thepersonalgolfcoach.com. HORSEBACK RIDING Earthquake Arabians Spring and summer camps are around the corner for Earthquake Arabians! Registration is OPEN. Log on to www. earthquakearabians.com for more info. 925-360-7454. Franklin Canyon Stables A well structured riding program housed at Franklin Canyon Stables in Martinez which provides two covered arenas and easy access to trails. Kim
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Bredehoft teaches riders of all levels with an instruction program that builds confidence and enables clients to reach personal goals that benefit them in all parts of life. Info: 925-2281801; www.kimshorsetraining.com/franklin_ canyon.html. Kelly Maddox Riding Academy Summer Camp, July 16-20, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. daily; ages 5-16. Enjoy a week of fun-filled learning as you develop new friendships with other horse-crazy kids like yourself. Learn basic handling and grooming techniques, as well as how to saddle and bridle your horse. Activities include learning horse colors, markings and breeds; art and crafts; a farrier demonstration and human horse show; bareback riding and more! Info: 925-575-4818, www.KellyMaddoxTraining. com. Sacred Cross Horse Services Summer Camp is back with a BANG! Four sessions are scheduled; more may be added. Sessions offer campers more than just feeding horses and getting to ride for a few minutes. After leaving our camp, children should be able to groom, tack and mount on their own. We also play games and have a daily art project. Offered in Livermore and Piedmont from June 18 through Aug. 24, in five-day sessions. Info/registration: 925-784-5776, SacredCrossRanch@yahoo.com; www. sacredcrossranch.com. LACROSSE Atherton/Vitality Lacrosse Join Atherton Lacrosse and learn the basics of the game in their spring, summer and fall camps. Each Spring Break camp session runs weekdays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Session rates are $235/week (sibling discounts available). Every camper receives access to the best high school, college and professional lacrosse coaches in the Bay Area in a setting with an extremely low coach to camper ratio. Every camper receives a free Atherton Lacrosse T-shirt. Every camper needs a lacrosse stick - we have partnered with Sling It! Lacrosse to bring the best value possible. Go to www.athertonlacrosse.com for more info. Sign up with Vitality Lacrosse to join one of their summer leagues in the Peninsula, Marin, East Bay, Petaluma and San Francisco. We serve the entire Bay Area! Go to www.vitalitylacrosse.com for more info. MARTIAL ARTS USKS Adult and children’s programs, kick box fitness, mixed martial arts. Providing excellence in martial arts instruction and services for the entire family. 925682-9517; www. usksmartialarts.com.
OUTDOOR/ADVENTURE SPORTS Bear Valley Mountain Bring the entire family to mountain summer
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camps in Bear Valley. This summer, Bear Valley has plans for RESIDENTIAL and DAY camps for SOCCER, ARCHERY, CLIMBING and a variety of outdoor adventures including Kayaking, Tennis, Cycling, Hiking, camp fires and so much more. Bear Valley’s Summer Camps offer outdoor recreation programs for the whole family. Bear Valley is a great place to visit during the summer. Just a short drive from the TriValley, you can make it on just one tank of gas. Bear Valley Skills Camps are unique in that you will find top coaching staffing Santa Clara University- and U.S. Olympic-trained archers. While our coaches provide serious instruction, our counselors will be sure to provide serious fun in a wonderful mountain environment. Each participant will treasure the friendships they make with counselors, coaches and fellow campers. Soccer (ages 9-16) featuring the University of Santa Clara Coaching Staff; Archery (Ages 9-Adult) including JOAD training; Teen Climbing and Bear Valley’s Day Camps for Kids 3-18 provide mountain fun for ages 3-8 (Cub) and ages 12-18 (Grizzly). There are flexible options for campers to participate in the full eight-week program, visit for a week, or even drop in just for the day! Campers will have the chance to participate in adventure sports within a safe learning environment while exploring the beautiful Bear Valley region. Whether in day camp or resident camp, every camper will have the opportunity to enjoy a selection of mountain activities including: Rock Climbing, Sailing, Canoeing, Hiking, Swimming, Disc Golf, Art and crafts, Kayaking, Biking, Wilderness adventures and more! Info: www. bearvalley.com. Camp Jones Gulch Check out our wide variety of Teen Adventure Camps for both boys and girls. Camp dates range from mid-June to mid-August. Info: 650747-1200, www.CampJonesGulch.org. City of Concord Skate and Swim Concord’s Skateboard Camp provides a way for children to learn from experienced instructors and improve their skills. Participants learn skateboard safety, care of their skateboard, and all the essentials from dropping in, kickflips, the Ollie and more. All skill levels. There is a full-day camp option that combines the half-day skateboard camp with a half-day of swimming and water games at the Concord Community Pool. Info/registration: www.concordreg.org ,925-6713404. CYO Camp We’re located 60 miles north of San Francisco near the historic town of Occidental, and have provided summer camp to youth of the Bay area for over 60 years. Our seven-day traditional camps, for participants entering grades 3-9, focus on cultivating friendships, personal values and outdoor skills. Info: www.cyocamp.org. CYO Sports Camps/Leagues CYO summer recreation leagues begin in May. CYO offers coed volleyball, boys and girls basketball & tennis. Camps are also offered in basketball and volleyball. Info: http://athletics. cyo.org. De La Salle Camps De La Salle High School will host athletic summer camps to provide a fun, skillbuilding week for kids. Camps appeal to local youth with a variety of athletic interests. De La Salle will offer the following sessions: Football, Track & Field, Lacrosse, Wrestling, Quarterback & Wide Receiver, Lineman,
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Volleyball, Baseball, Soccer, Water Polo and Strength & Conditioning. In addition to serving local athletes, the camps also benefit De La Salle students by contributing to The Bishop John S. Cummins Scholarship Program. Weeklong sessions will run June 9-June 28. Online registration. For more info: summercamps@ dlshs.org; 925-288-8100, Ext. 7090. Diablo Rock Gym We will be offering kids summer camps every week starting June 19, ending August 18. Sign up for a week at a time or multiple weeks. Ages 6-12; multiple kid and/or week discounts. Call for pricing, 925-602-1000. Keigwins@theTrack We conduct motorcycle schools and practice events (“track days”) at famous racetracks in the Western U.S. Events are for experienced motorcyclists looking to improve skills and build confidence while having enormous fun riding in an ideal, expertly-managed environment. Riders provide their own motorcycles and protective gear. Keigwins@theTrack takes care of everything else: Instruction, photography, suspension tuning, video, tire sales and parts. For a listing of schools, dates/racetracks, visit www.keigwin.com; 650-949-5609. Lafayette Recreation We host a number of exciting camps this summer. Lafayette Summer Camps utilizes the Lafayette Community Center, the Hockey rink/ Sports complex, and the beautiful fields of the Lafayette Community Park. Camp Awesome day camps offer Games2U, art and crafts, hiking and sports; with flexible drop in options. Info: 925284-2232; www.LafayetteRec.org. Outback Adventures Outback Adventures’ multi-sport adventure camp is a great way to introduce your child to the wonderful world of outdoor recreation. We focus on the fundamentals of kayaking, rock climbing and hiking; while gaining a greater appreciation of the natural environment. For camp dates/ pricing: 415-461-2222, www.outbackadventures. com. Trapeze Arts We’re a full-time, year-round circus school in Oakland. The focus of our summer camp is in the acquisition of circus skills and the performance of Circus Arts. Campers ages 7-14 will learn an array of circus arts including: flying trapeze, trampoline, aerial arts, juggling, hand balancing, circus bike, acrobatics, tightwire and more. A Circus Show presented by the campers concludes the week. Info: 510-419-0700, www. trapezearts.com. University of Surfing Instructor Matt Cole offers lessons/camps in Pacifica. Surf Day Camps in 5-day sessions begin June 25 and continue through Aug. 24. University of Surfing Overnight Surf Camp Weekends also available. 650-556-6515, matt@ universityofsurfing.com; http://universityofsurfing. com/index.html. RUGBY Diablo Rugby Youth rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States. Both non-contact and contact versions of the game are popping up in summer leagues, physical education classes, after school programs, YMCA’s, Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs and backyards all over the country. Based in Clayton, our club is dedicated to providing
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a positive rugby experience for boys at High School, Jr. High School and Youth levels. 925381-5143, diabloyouthrugby@gmail.com; http:// diabloyouthrugby.clubspaces.com. Raptor Rugby At Raptor Rugby our goal is to ensure that all players learn the laws of rugby. We strive to teach our athletes to play with respect, discipline, sportsmanship, dignity and honor. We will practice hard, play hard and will have fun doing it. Most importantly players will learn to play as a team.Info: Belinda van Tonder at 510757-3881, belinda@raptorrugbyfc.com; www. raptorrugbyfc.com.
SOCCER Gino’s Soccer Academy Gino’s Soccer Academy is in its 14th season of running summer soccer camps. We are offering eight one-week programs this summer and we have programs to challenge and enrich the game of every soccer player. This year we are having five weeks of our All-Girls and All-Boys Academies since they were such a tremendous success. Our staff realizes that if you are at our camp, you are here to become a better soccer player by improving your skills while having a positive, fun soccer experience. Whether you are just beginning, or have been playing for ten years, you will leave the Soccer Academy on Friday a more knowledgeable, better player than when you came to us on Monday. Half- and fullday sessions available. Gino’s Soccer Academy is a camp for players ages 4-17. It is for the advanced as well as the beginning soccer player, individuals and teams. The camp drills and games will be run to accommodate and improve your skill level. Every day we will work on individual skills including dribbling, passing, trapping, heading, shooting and moves to help you elude opposing players. We will emphasize improving your touch on the ball and work on team concepts such as wall passing, switching of play, short-shortlong, overlapping, channeling 1v1 and team defending. We will also run position-specific training on Thursday morning. The morning sessions will work primarily on the individual player and we will build throughout the day into small sided games, and end the day with a full sided game. Info/Registration: www.ginossocceracademy. com. Mt. Diablo Soccer Go to www.mdsoccer.org to learn more about joining their Fall, Spring, Select and Elite programs. There’s also info on the Mt. Diablo World Cup coming soon.925-798-GOAL (4625), info@diablofc.org. Pacific Soccer Academy For ages 5 to 12 years. Experience a soccer camp where your child will have a great time while learning to play the game of soccer. With a player to coach ratio of only 15:1, players are given the individual attention and instruction required to learn new techniques, play with teammates and experience success. Info/ Registration: Malia Martin, 408-930-7407,
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Heritage Soccer Club Julio Borge is a very busy person. Julio is director of coaching at Heritage Soccer Club (HSC), one of the fastest growing competitive soccer clubs in the Bay Area. No sooner does Julio and his staff wrap up the 2011 season, than they begin conducting tryouts and planning all club activities for 2012, including camps and tournaments. In 2012, HSC will not only offer a membersonly summer soccer camp, but will offer two separate soccer camps – one for boys, June 25-28, and one for girls, July 9-12 – that will be open to the community. Says Borge, “HSC has offered open clinics to the community during winter for the last several seasons, this will be the first year that we will also offer the community soccer day camps during the summer.” HSC will provide parents of non-club members as well as current members, a local venue to keep their children active during the summer. Says Borge, “All HSC camps are conducted by nationally licensed coaches. The kids tend to have a blast at these camps and hone their soccer skills along the way.” In addition to the summer camps,
psamaliamartin@gmail.com; www. pacificsocceracademy.org. San Francisco Viking Soccer Club Sessions offered in July and August @ West Sunset Fields for ages 5-12; and on July 26 for Beach Soccer! Info: 415-753-3111, www. sfvikings.com. Soccer Insight One of the most convenient ways to get your child to improve their soccer skills is to set up a private group. All you need to do is gather a few teammates with a desire to improve and call/ email Soccer Insight to arrange for a mutually convenient place, day and time to play. Sessions are 60 or 90 minutes. The players in the group don’t have to be the same age, gender or skills. Groups of six to eight are best. Info: 415-5953760, soccerinsight@gmail.com. Walnut Creek Soccer Club The Walnut Creek Soccer Club uses all the resources available to provide the proper coaching and playing environment for all members. Our goal is for every member of our club to learn and grow as a soccer player and person. We will promote a positive learning environment for our players and families as we work to provide the highest level of coaching and coach’s education. For more information, wcsc_info@wcsc.org; www.wcsc.org. West Contra Costa Youth Soccer League Our program caters to competitive youth players ages 8-9 regardless of race, creed, gender or religion. The main focus of our program is not on winning, but on the development of the total soccer player within the framework of a team. We have assembled a highly qualified coaching staff that works within a structured age-appropriate curriculum. We also offer specialized training for strikers and goalkeepers. At the younger ages a focus on footskills will be promoted. We desire to promote personal responsibility, fitness, sportsmanship and teamwork. 510-758-5288, http://wccysl.com. World Cup Soccer Camps With over 20 years of experience, Ruedi Graf
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HSC will conduct their annual 6v6 Blow-Out tournament in June and their second annual Harvest Cup Tournament in October. One of the challenges of a non-profit organization like HSC is to provide soccer scholarships to the under-served children in the community. Says Ellen Lawrence HSC club President, “Some children who want to play competitive soccer can’t due to the costs of playing in a competitive program. At HSC, we do our best not only to keep our club fees down but also to raise funds that can be utilized to provide aid to families in need. The tournaments and camps that we conduct help us raise those needed funds. We therefore appreciate the participation from the surrounding communities in our camps and tournaments.” HSC is based in the Pleasant Hill/Martinez area and serves the surrounding community. More info: www.heritagesc.com.
runs one of the most respected soccer camps in the Bay Area. World Cup camps and skills clinics are offered to various ability levels on a wide variety of dates. Info: 408-354-4949, camps@worldcupsoccercamps.com; www. WorldCupSoccerCamps.com. SWIMMING-DIVING Walnut Creek Aquanuts Week in the Creek! Synchronized Swimming Camp, July 27-31, ages 7-18. Email: weekinthecreek@aquanuts.org. Summer Trainee Program 2012 held June 18-Nov. 12 in 5- and 6-week sessions @ Clarke Memorial Swim Center, Heather Farm Park, Walnut Creek. Info: 925-934-4792, WCA.Trainees@aquanuts. org; www.aquanuts.org. Walnut Creek Swim Club 2012 Spring practice will be held Mon., Wed. and Thur. evenings, April 16-June 7, @ Larkey Pool for 6-unders through 13-up. 2012 Summer practice sessions will be offered 7:30-10 a.m. daily beginning June 11 @ Las Lomas High School. Info: www. walnutcreekswimclub.org. TENNIS ClubSport Valley Vista Break away from the same old summer camp routine and get your kids involved in tennis, one of the fastest growing sports that the whole family can enjoy together for years to come. Enroll your kids in tennis camp at ClubSport Valley Vista. ClubSport Valley Vista has successfully been hosting summer tennis camps in the Walnut Creek area for 33 years, with expert instruction. Tennis pro Dale Miller and his team of seasoned professionals will teach your children the fundamentals of tennis or help them improve
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Sherman Swim School Our year-round schedule allows children and adults to learn, retain and improve their swim skills with little interruption. Lessons are usually offered on M-W-F’s and T-Th’s in sessions of 3-4 weeks. (During the slower months of Fall, Winter and Spring, schedules can be more flexible, such as M-W, W-F, or only one day/ week.) We teach from age 9-months to adults, from non-swimmers to competitive levels. Since our lessons are private, they are tailored to each student’s age, ability and readiness. “Our instructors love children and have received extensive in-water training. Private lessons coupled with patient, encouraging teachers & extremely comfortable water (90°92°) create an ideal learning environment for swimmers of all ages.” Sherman offers five class types: Our most popular, 15-minute private lessons — especially recommend the 15-minute lesson for ages 9 months-5 years, those who are afraid of water, or those who cannot swim 5 feet, face down; 30-minute private lessons especially tailored for students 5 years or older with a good attention span and the ability to swim 5 feet, face down; Infant and toddler private lessons and Adults — it’s never too late to learn how to swim or to improve your strokes. Our private or semi-private lessons allow you to progress at YOUR pace. Adults often sign up with a friend or relative to make a 30-minute semi-private class. You will appreciate our variety of depths and extremely warm water which help to relax
their skills for recreation or competition. Camps are designed to touch on every major aspect of the game — stroke production, conditioning, strategy, footwork, psychology and most importantly, FUN! Our low prices help make summer tennis camp more affordable. Players will be grouped according to level of play and age. Tennis camp has an extended care option in which campers will also enjoy art and crafts, fitness fun, games, sports activities and more. ClubSport is located at 3737 Valley Vista Road in Walnut Creek. ClubSport Valley Vista members receive discounted rates. For additional information and pricing please contact us at 925-934-4050. VOLLEYBALL Diablo Valley Volleyball Club Seven one-week skills clinic sessions are offered from June-August. Camps differ in age groups served. Each camp has a maximum limit of players allowed. Two sessions take place in Brentwood and the other five are in Walnut Creek. Info: 925-451-6581; www.DiabloVBC.org. Saint Mary’s College Camps Summer will be here before you know it! It is not too early to register for Saint Mary’s College Athletic Summer Camps. SMC Camps. We offer boys and girls overnight, day, team and specialty athletic camps. We have camps available for ages 4-18. Dates are posted and registration is open. Our various camp offerings include: Multi-Sport — Campers develop skills in
you and make the learning easier. We also offer beginning and competitive diving classes. Beginning sessions typically have three students and are 30 minutes long. Classes are taught in three-week sessions. Either on M-W-F or T-Th. With enough practice, you could have a chance to compete on our competitive diving team which competes in diving meets year-round. Come spend your summer in our warm waters. Info: 925-283-2100, www.ShermanSwim.com.
badminton, basketball, flag football, handball, paddleball, soccer, softball, street hockey, swimming, tennis, volleyball and more. Individual sport camps — We offer baseball, boys basketball, girls basketball, golf, rugby, girls lacrosse, strength and conditioning, boys soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball. Each clinic features the head coach of the respective Gaels’ program along with a hand-picked staff of trained professionals. Some camps also offer a Spring Break and Christmas Break session. Each athlete will have the opportunity to develop their skills through individual instruction, group instruction and game experience. Click “summer camps” at www.smcgaels.com for detailed information and to register on line. More info: smccamps@stmarys-ca.edu, 925-631-4FUN (4386). WRESTLING Community Youth Center The CYC wrestling program offers young athletes the opportunity to participate and excel in one of the world’s oldest sports. The program trains and challenges wrestlers at all age groups from kindergarten through high school, and all experience levels from beginner to champion. The program is nationally recognized under the guidance of Head Coach Mark Halvorson. Info: 925-671-7070, Ext. 229, www.communityyouthcenter.com. The Creighton School of Wrestling CSW was established to provide a successful youth wrestling program in the Palo Alto/Mid-Peninsula area that serves youth of all ages. Info: 650-219-6383; creightonschoolofwrestling@
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Pacific Rim Volleyball Pacific Rim Volleyball strives to provide a comprehensive athletic experience in a positive and fun environment. It is the objective of the Pacific Rim Volleyball Academy (PRVA) to stress preparation, fundamentals and teamwork within the concept of good sportsmanship. The primary emphasis on education, training (Academy), and competition (Club) are the key components utilized to achieve our objectives. PRVA is dedicated to providing athletes of all ages with the technical, tactical and physical training to reach their highest potential. PRVA will assist each and every athlete to achieve maximum performance through proper training and nutrition education. As the player progresses through the program, we will provide the path for athletes to test their abilities, in order to reach their highest potential. Through private lessons, and the opportunity for year-round skills classes, athletes of any age or level can learn and improve the skills needed to gain a competitive edge. For those athletes with limited playing experience, we will help develop solid fundamental skills, as well as a passion for the sport. Our advanced training, for junior levels (12th grade & below), will provide athletes the opportunity to excel at becoming elite players in preparation for high school and/or collegiate volleyball. Info: www.pacificrimvolleyball.com.
yahoo.com. MULTI-SPORT All-Out Sports League Offering camps, sport leagues, tournaments, personal training and more in various sports @ Clayton and Brentwood locations for boys and girls ages 7-17. Info: 925-203-5626, www. alloutsportsleague.com. FUZE Fit For A Kid! Join us for up to 11 weeks of Ultimate Summer Camp for ages 6-14, focusing on our Intelligent Sports Conditioning Curriculum, GamePlay and Strategy across multiple sports including Soccer, Basketball, Football, Lacrosse and Baseball; among others. Plus we have additional fun classes in various sports and disciplines. Register by March 30 for just $269/wk. and save $70/wk! Info: www.fuzefit.com/camps.html; 408-358-7529. Sacramento State Sports Camps You name the sport, Sac State has the camp for it. Visit www. hornetsports.com/about/Youth.asp to learn more about camps in the following sports: baseball, boys and girls basketball, football, boys soccer (general), boys soccer (goalkeepers), softball, tennis and volleyball. Velocity Sports Camps Our Spring Break Sports Specific Summer Camps provide campers with a fun-packed, enjoyable environment where they can increase their athleticism and develop a wider range of skills. Velocity Sports Performance is looking for boys and girls ages 8-14 who are dedicated to making themselves better as athletes.
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U.S. Youth Volleyball League The United States Youth Volleyball League will be hosting volleyball camps again this Summer in several Northern and Southern California locations. The USYVL is the leader in developing and maintaining youth volleyball leagues for boys and girls ages 7-15. Its motto, “Volleyball starts here,” clearly represents its commitment to the development of the sport in the U.S. Since its inception in 1997, it has served more than 70,000 children. USYVL summer camps are typically three days, with each day meeting for three hours. Camps are for beginner, intermediate and advanced players, and players will be grouped accordingly, based on age and playing experience. The camps are coed, but depending on the makeup of the camp, there may be groups that are separated into just boys or girls, still by age and playing experience. USYVL camps boast a player-to-coach ratio of 8:1. Coaches focus on teaching the following skills: spiking, serving, setting, passing, blocking, defense, offense and game strategy. Six-, four- and two-person formats allow kids to play in every position. Each camp is taught by volleyball instructors who have played or coached volleyball at the club, high school, college or higher level. Registration fee includes a T-shirt, completion certificate, snacks and water. The USYVL’s mission is to provide every child the chance to learn and play volleyball in a fun, safe, supervised environment. One of the main tenets of the program is to encourage
Our state-of-the-art facility, experienced staff, and proven Velocity program will enhance confidence and individual sport-related skills. Velocity’s goal is to increase sport-specific athletic ability through the fundamentals of speed, power and agility. Our Team Training programs are designed to deliver a challenging workout that is organized, educational, progressive and customized for entire sport teams. Team Training programs are built to be sport relevant with medicine ball strengthening, bodyweight resisted power development, energy system development and speed ratios that apply directly to specific sports demands. 925-833-0100, velocitydublin.com.
Cal Camps Enrollment for Cal Athletic Camps for the summer of 2012 is now open. Space is limited, so please make sure you reserve a place now by visiting CalBears.com/camps. Camps are offered in a variety of sports for girls and boys ages 5-19, with week-long, half-day, full-day and overnight options. Most camps will take place on campus in Berkeley and are held from June through August. The Cal Rowing/ Crew Camps include land practices at the Cal ERG room on campus as well as rowing
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Choose your favorite categories or advertisers for special offers and killer deals, then mail or fax it to us! Or drop it off at SportStars HQ! ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ children to do their best with their abilities. With an emphasis on positive reinforcement, the program seeks to build confidence and self-esteem in each child. Info: 888-988-7985, www.USYVL.org. Our newest camp is in the Natomas area of Sacramento - where the Arco Arena is located. The new USYVL Natomas will serve kids (Ages 7-15; Divisions: 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 12-15) who had been making the drive to Sacramento, as well as new players. Programs are scheduled to run 6-7 p.m. Tuesdays, March 27-June 2, and 9-10 a.m. Saturdays at North Natomas Park.
practice at the T. Gary Rogers Rowing Center in Oakland. The Cal Golf Camps are located at the Metropolitan Golf Links in Oakland, the site of state-of-the-art short game and practice facilities for Golden Bear Golf. The 2012 Cal Athletics Camps include the following sports: Baseball, Boys and Girls Basketball, Boys and Girls Rowing/Crew, Field Hockey, Football, Boys and Girls Golf, Girls Gymnastics, Rugby, Boys and Girls Soccer, Softball, Boys and Girls Swimming, Boys and Girls Tennis, Boys and Girls Volleyball and Girls Water Polo. Adult camps are also offered in various sports. For all information, including dates, prices, registration forms and other details, visit CalBears.com/camps. Enrollment is based on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, please contact the Cal Summer Camps office at calcamps@berkeley.edu. City of Concord Skyhawks Sports Skyhawks Sports and the City of Concord have teamed up to provide safe, fun and skill-focused sports camps this summer for youth. Camps include Skateboard and Swim Combo, Soccer and Swim Combo, Soccer Camp, Basketball, Flag Football, Lacrosse and more. For ages 4-teen. Info/Registration: www.concordreg.org, 925-671-3404. SportForm Based in Concord, SportForm provides Individual and team instruction in the sports of baseball, softball and lacrosse. Prepare to Perform! Info: 925-459-2880. ✪
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March 8,, 2012
SportStars™
39
BaseballPreseasonTop20
Left: Elk Grove’s Ryan Tellez
Records are from 2011
Ali Thanawalla/ SportStars
1 . Jesuit-Carmichael (25-6)
If your ace is committed to Stanford and your SS to Oregon State, good things are happening.
BELOW: Campolindo’s Austin Rei
2. St. Mary’s-Stockton (22-9)
Switch-hitting star Gio Brusa leads the way for a Rams squad loaded with talent.
Jonathan Hawthorne/ SportStars
3. Campolindo-Moraga (19-8)
Cougars riding a wave of talent that has already yielded two straight NCS titles. We’re betting on more.
4 Elk Grove (23-7)
USC-commit and Area Code Games standout Ryan Tellez is an early State Player of the Year candidate.
5. St. Francis-Mountain View (25-6) Braden Bishop leads a team eager to atone for its upset loss in the CCS quarterfinals last year.
6. De La Salle-Concord (20-8)
New coach David Jeans assumes a bruising offense led by 3B Mitchell Kranson.
7. Palo Alto (28-9)
Plenty of talent returns for the defending Central Coast Div. I champions.
8. Valley Christian-San Jose (16-14)
Predominantly young team a year ago has a chance to grow up real fast this season.
9. Serra-San Mateo (17-12)
Padres need to find consistent production from lineup because few WCAL teams have more pitching depth.
Top15NorCalBaseballPlayersToWatch
10. James Logan-Union City (24-4)
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The defending NCS Div. I champ has some holes to plug in the lineup, but not on the hill.
Player
Pos. School Yr.
Player
Pos. School Yr.
11. Davis (22-5-1) 12 .San Ramon Valley-Danville (18-7) 13. Foothill-Pleasanton (12-12) 14. Franklin-Elk Grove (18-9-1) 15. Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills (21-11) 16. Archbishop Mitty-San Jose (26-6-1) 17. Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove (21-10) 18. Alameda (25-2) 19. Heritage-Brentwood (20-7) 20. Acalanes-Lafayette (17-10-1)
Braden Bishop
OF/P St. Francis-Mountain View
Sr.
B.J. Boyd
OF
Palo Alto
Sr.
Drew Jackson
SS
Miramonte-Orinda
Sr.
Josh Cushing
IF
Campolindo-Moraga
Sr.
Jake Jefferies
IF
Foothill-Pleasanton
Sr.
Gio Brusa
OF/P St. Mary’s-Stockton
Sr.
Theron Kay
P/OF Valley Christian-San Jose
So.
Joe DeMers
P/3B College Park-Pleasant Hill
Fr.
Mitch Kranson
3B
De La Salle-Concord
Sr.
Max Dutto
SS
San Ramon Valley-Danville Sr.
James Marvel
P/SS Campolindo-Moraga
Sr.
Zach Green
SS
Jesuit-Carmichael
Sr.
Dom Nunez
2B/SS Elk Grove
Sr.
Sr.
Ryan Tellez
P/1B Elk Grove
Jr.
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March 8, 2012
Spencer Henderson P/1B Acalanes-Lafayette
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SoftballPreseasonTop20 Records are from 2011
1. Archbishop Mitty-San Jose (28-3)
Power, speed, pitching are all present for a Monarchs team which began the year as the state’s No. 1 team.
2. Sheldon-Sacramento (27-6)
Huskies lose power-bat Danielle Henderson, but retain star hurler Alexis Cooper
3. Amador Valley-Pleasanton (20-5) Won last season’s NCS Div. I final while starting five freshmen.
4. Johansen-Modesto (27-4)
All-State talent Gabrielle Maurice leads a Vikings team that lost just four to graduation.
5. Sierra-Manteca (26-2-1)
Returning pitcher Allison Walljasper went 18-1 with 252 strikeouts and just 15 walks last year.
6. James Logan-Union City (23-4)
RaeAnn Garza returns for her third year in the circle for last season’s NCS Div. I runners-up.
7. San Benito-Hollister (29-1)
Haybalers lost a dynamite senior class, but still have firepower in Samantha Puentes and Megan Sabbatini.
8. Casa Roble-Orangevale (20-7)
Left: Sheldon’s Alexis Cooper Chris Scott/SportStars
ABOVE: Archbishop Mitty’s Jazmyn Jackson Chris Scott/SportStars
9. Alhambra-Martinez (21-6)
Sophomore SS Kylee Perez had video game-like numbers last season (.692, 9 HR, 41 R, 29 RBI).
Top15NorCalSoftballPlayersToWatch
10. Heritage-Brentwood (16-8)
Player
Pos. School Yr.
Player
Pos. School Yr.
Vanessa Alvarez
P
Archbishop Mitty-San Jose
Krystal Aubert
IF
Casa Roble-Orangevale
So.
Johanna Grauer
P/1B Amador Valley-Pleasanton So.
Taylor Brink
SS
St. Mary’s-Stockton
Sr.
Jazmyn Jackson
OF/C Archbishop Mitty
Kayla Bufardeci
SS
Castro Valley
Sr.
Gabrielle Maurice
SS
Johansen-Modesto
Jr.
Alexis Cooper
P
Sheldon-Sacramento
Sr.
Kylee Perez
SS
Alhambra-Martinez
So.
Jordan Courage
P/2B Del Oro-Loomis
San Benito-Hollister
Jr. Jr.
Sr.
Samantha Puentes 2B
Marissa Escalante C/1B Rodriguez-Fairfield
Sr.
Malia Rivers
C/SS Heritage-Brentwood
RaeAnn Garza
Jr.
Allie Walljasper
P
P
James Logan-Union City
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Sierra-Manteca
Rams look to improve upon an SJS Div. II crown fueled by freshmen and sophomores a year ago.
So.
So.
Coach Ron Rivers graduated just two seniors from last year’s Div. I semifinalist. 11. Freedom-Oakley (17-8) 12. Rodriguez-Fairfield (28-3) 13. St. Mary’s-Stockton(19-10) 14. Petaluma (21-4) 15. Del Oro-Loomis (17-9-1) 16. West-Tracy (24-6) 17. Newark Memorial (22-4) 18. San Marin-Novato (17-8) 19. Westmont-Campbell (23-5) 20. Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove (18-10)
March 8, 2012
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Alex Martinez leads a stable of promising pitchers that gives James Logan a shot at defending its NCS championship
armed
By mitch stephens | Contributor
James Logan High School baseball coach John Goulding surveyed the entire field at practice the other day and nodded. The Colts were engaging in daily drills. This wasn’t Union City, he decided. This was Pennsylvania. “This isn’t a baseball field,” he said. “This is our Valley Forge.” The emphasis on Logan baseball for 2012 is competition. Last year’s dream 24-4 North Coast Section Division I championship team featured nine experienced seniors, six whom started every game. “We don’t have a well-defined nine like last year,” Goulding said. “But we have a well-defined 15. And it’s a battlefield out there. I like it.” Goulding loves the process of building from the foundation up, almost as much as the game itself. He started coaching at age 17 and this is his 40th consecutive year dumping gravel, laying sod and teaching fundamentals of the perfectly symmetrical game Abner Doubleday, another military figure, invented in a cow pasture about 170 years earlier. This is his 20th season at Logan, where he has built a perennial NCS playoff program. Last year was his second NCS championship squad after winning one in 2001. The current Colts, off to a 2-1 start, have the makings of being another title contender, but Goulding is far too savvy and Zen to make such a prediction. “Our whole approach is one pitch at a time,” he said. “You do that and you win games and if you win games it leads to bigger things.” With junior pitcher Alex Martinez making the important pitches, Goulding and the Colts are in very good hands. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound right-hander is one of the top junior hurlers in the state after going 5-1 last season with a 1.26 ERA. In 66.2 innings, he struck out 82 and walked 21. He finished it off with a one-hitter in the title game, a 1-0 masterpiece over De La Salle that will be treasured in James Logan baseball history books forever. He struck out five and walked one to out-duel De La Salle’s Logan West, who also fired a one-hitter and allowed only an unearned run. 42
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for battle
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LEFT: Colts’ junior Alex Martinez is one of the East Bay’s top returning pitchers in 2012. He’s coming off a sophomore season in which he no-hit Valley ChristianSan Jose and tossed a one-hit shutout against De La Salle in the NCS Div. I final. James Logan Baseball
“Big crowd, big game, big moment and Alex didn’t even flinch,” Goulding said. He didn’t waver earlier last season when he threw a no-hitter at Bay Area power Valley Christian-San Jose with eight strikeouts and one walk. He needed just 82 pitches to mow down the West Catholic Athletic League juggernaut. Asked which performance was better – De La Salle or Valley Christian? – and the poised pitcher gave the right answer: the title game. “Absolutely,” he told SportsStars after the De La Salle gem in June. “Just the meaning of the game – I really knew it was one last performance of the year. We worked hard all season. … All the preparation was building up to this moment.” Goulding didn’t hesitate to give Martinez the ball in that situation. After all, the hard-throwing power pitcher — he’s been clocked consistently between 8892 mph according to Goulding — made the USA Baseball 14-under national team. “He’s been good for a while and though he was young, he was used to big situations,” Goulding said. True, but even Martinez admitted the moment seemed a little larger than life. “De La Salle had great players and a great team,” he said. “I was definitely a little bit nervous going into the game. … Coach put a lot of faith and trust in me.” But the butterflies were lifted after the very first pitch. “I realized the moment was real,” he said. “I had to take it one pitch at a time. I had to go out there and battle for my team, and that’s what I did.” One pitch at a time? Go out and battle? Obviously Martinez soaks in what his coach is selling. And Goulding loves the goods Martinez delivers. So do Pac-12 schools USC, Cal, UCLA and Stanford, which are actively recruiting him, according to his coach. Though polished for his age, there’s lots of room for growth, literally and figuratively. Goulding said Martinez sports a size 14 shoe so he’s going to get taller. “First off he’s a great kid,” Goulding said. “On the mound, he’s a power guy with a great fastball and change-up and he mixes in his curveball. He’s overpowering and he doesn’t give up free bases – a good combination.” With a team ERA of 1.34, the Colts were all about pitching last season. They scratched out 4.7 runs per game.
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They lost the team’s ace Brandon Yau (10-3, 1.56 ERA), but they have three more capable arms to replace him this season in junior Ulysses Ramos (6-foot-3, 232 pounds), Brandon SanNicolas (6-3, 180) and Amalani Fukofuka (6-1, 170). Right now Ramos is the No. 2 starter and after a superb performance in a 16-0 win over Arroyo to start the season, the spot appears solid. Ramos struck out seven with no walks in five innings. “He’s a big kid with a lot of potential,” Goulding said. “He hasn’t pitched at the varsity level before this year, but we’re really happy with his stuff.” SanNicholas was a strong contributor as a sophomore but then missed all of last season following Tommy John surgery. The right-hander made his return March 6 in a 30-pitch intra-squad game. He’ll be brought back slowly. “Before he got hurt, he topped out at 90 (mph),” Goulding said. “He’s potentially very, very good. But we’ll just have to see how it goes. We’re glad to have him back.” Fukofuka is the team’s everyday outfielder, but can fill in on the mound. He might be the team’s best athlete as he starred as a receiver and defensive back on Logan’s 10-1 football team during the fall. As far as everyday players, the best of the bunch is returning second baseman Michael Johnson, a 5-7, 160-pound senior who was brought up to varsity as a freshman. He hit .273 as a junior and is hitting .400 in the early going. “He’s tearing the cover off the ball,” Goulding said. “As always, he’s making all the plays.” Other returning starters are third baseman Sammy Nieves and outfielder Angel Valverde. Jesse Rivera was a part-time player last year and holds down the first base spot. All three are seniors. Another senior, Ryan Loeffler, has staked claim to the shortstop spot. But like most positions, he’s being pushed by junior Cesar Jimenez. Three players — Ralph Delgadillo, Jason Childs and Alex Maldonado — are all competing for the catcher’s spot. “Competition is always good,” Goulding said. “And I like the way our guys are competing.” ✪ Mitch Stephens is a national columnist and editor for MaxPreps.com
March 8, 2012
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Bulldog Tough After winning an NCS Div. III title with a roster of youngsters, Alhambra is hoping Division II won’t see it coming
P
By Chace Bryson | Editor
aul Buccellato does not want you to read this. The Alhambra High softball coach would prefer you just set the magazine down right now. And if you really wanted to make his day, you could tear off the cover featuring his star pitcher and shortstop. (The humble employees at SportStars would prefer you didn’t go through with the above — but we will warn you about reminding Buccellato of such glowing publicity.) “When I heard it was on the cover, I said ‘Oh, no,’” said Buccellato, who is in his 13th year with the Bulldogs program and third as the varsity head coach. “So far the only downside to this season is that this is going to jinx us. You’re putting a big target on our backs.” The last point can, and should, be refuted. That proverbial target was already there. How could it not be? Alhambra lost just four seniors from a 2011 team which went 21-6 and won the North Coast Section Division III championship while starting four freshmen. It’s hard to lay in
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the weeds after a season like that. Did we mention that one of his freshmen last year was named Diablo Foothill Athletic League MVP after hitting a mind-blowing .628 over 26 games and mashing 18 extra-base hits, including nine home runs? Her name is Kylee Perez. Did we also mention that Buccellato has every pitcher who toed the rubber for him a year ago returning, as well? That includes senior co-captain Shannon DeVries, who started 20 games for the Bulldogs a year ago. One of those games was the NCS final in which she put up four innings of three-hit shutout ball to get the win in a 10-2 blowout. Nicole Curry also returns this season. She’s playing first base after hitting .380 with five home runs and 28 RBI — as a freshman. And finally, Buccellato has successfully petitioned his team up from Division III to Division II. Coaches don’t do things like that when they think they have a so-so roster. “The (long term) goal we have is try to win a Div. II title, and next year we’ll see if we can go after Div. I,” Buccellato
said. “I believe we have the talent and youth to try and do it. Whether it happens or not, I don’t know. There are a lot of things in our way.” Yeah, the target on the backs of the Bulldogs was there long before the ink dried on this page. Buccellato’s belief in this group starts with his two captains, DeVries and Perez. And both players couldn’t be more different from each other. DeVries is the wily veteran, the scrapper. When she got her chance last year to take over the team’s No. 1 pitching duties, she ran with it and never looked back. “She just gets people out,” Buccellato said. “She doesn’t play travel ball. She couldn’t break a window if she threw it as hard as she could. She’s a brainiac who will go to USF. She works hard, does whatever we ask.” DeVries may have spent her entire career at Alhambra without becoming the team’s primary pitcher. During the 2010 season, DeVries struggled with her control and freshman Hayley Anderson seemed to have a beat on the starting job. Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com
“Shannon couldn’t throw a strike,” Buccellato said of DeVries as a sophomore. “I told her you might want to give up pitching because I have a freshman who is a No. 1 and you’re killing me by not throwing strikes.” However, Anderson fell below the program’s academic requirements midway through that season and the door was open for DeVries. DeVries started the last nine games of that season, going 6-3 with seven complete games and three shutouts. It was enough to convince her coach to keep her in the primary pitching role despite Anderson’s return. She rewarded him with 13 wins, the most important of which came in the NCS final. Now she’s ready to give more. “Last year was a good year,” DeVries said. “I worked really hard on execution of my pitches. This year, throughout the offseason, I’ve been working on the movement and location of each pitch. I really just want to get out there and repeat what we did a year ago.” If DeVries is the scrapper, Perez is the natural. “I watched Kylee in Martinez Little League when she was 10, and just one look at her and you could tell there wasn’t a better player in the whole complex,” Buccellato said. “She’s a phenomenal athlete. She has game smarts. And she’s a good kid.” And she hits. Even when she’s not supposed to. “Last season I gave her the “take” sign on a 3-0 count and she hit a double,” her coach said. “I have my rules. You miss a sign and you get pulled out. I’ve done that with my own daughter, so I was sure as heck going to do it with somebody else’s. She was ticked, and fans and parents weren’t too happy, either.”
Situations like that are an anomaly for Perez, though. “She comes from a good family and works her butt off,” Buccellato said. “She’s not one of those kids who acts like ‘I’ve given an oral commitment to UCLA, so I’m better than you.’” Her bat does the talking for her, though. Perez had 101 plate appearances in 2011 and on only 26 occasions did she return to the dugout immediately afterward. She finished the year with 49 hits, and reached base another 22 times by walks or being hit by a pitch. Alhambra scored 224 runs last season and Perez played a role in nearly one-third of them — scoring 41 and driving in 29. Expect those numbers to flip-flop in 2012. “Kylee hit leadoff last year, but I’d like to have people on base when she hits her home runs this year,” Buccellato said. It will take more than just two players to deliver a Div. II crown, which is why Buccellato is also excited about Curry taking another step in development, as well as second baseman Haley Sparacino and outfielders Bella Gonzalez, Taylor Hendrickson, and Jazana McIntosh (an All-DFAL designated hitter a year ago). And as DeVries shrewdly points out, nearly everybody’s had a taste of how good it can be. “I think when we came back for our first workouts, you could tell everybody had that hunger,” the senior said. “The way we practice, the way we act, everything we do is about getting the new faces to understand what it takes to get there. Because we know now.” Even if Buccellato would hope to convince you otherwise. ✪
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Dean Coppola photos
LEFT: Sophomore shortstop Kylee Perez, left, and senior pitcher Shannon DeVries are co-captains for Alhambra in 2012. ABOVE: Sophomore KK Boyd fields a grounder during a practice on March 1.
March 8, 2012
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Dean Coppola
College Park's Brian Sergi, left, takes down San Leandro's Abel Robles in the 138 pound NCS final.
Confidence Man Brian Sergi is College Park’s second individual state wrestling champion because he believed he could be 46
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B
By bill kolb | Contributor
rian Sergi can be described in a multitude of ways. Intense. Focused. Dedicated. Smiling. Happy. Friendly. Tough. On Saturday evening inside Bakersfield’s Rabobank Arena, he added one more modifier to his name. State champion. Sergi, an 18-year-old senior at College Park High, breezed into the 138-pound championship match at the California Interscholastic Federation championship tournament without too much difficulty, in a tough weight class, in one of the 4-5 toughest state wrestling tournaments in the country. Once there, he squared off against top-ranked Shayne Tucker (Bella Vista-Sacramento), who had beaten Sergi fairly soundly earlier in the season at the Doc Buchanan Invitational in Clovis. His revenge was made all the sweeter by the fact that it came on the brightest stage the state has to offer. “It’s definitely an awesome feeling, beating a guy I already lost to, too,” Sergi said just moments after his crowning achievement. “I had
a different mindset, a different strategy coming in. And I knew I was going to win. It went great. I just wrestled a tough, smart match, and it resulted in a win.” Sergi — never ranked higher than No. 3 in the state all season by thecaliforniawrestler.com — was clearly the more aggressive wrestler in the match, forcing the issue to the point of giving up two points on a reversal when he got too high on Tucker, a junior who placed fourth in the state at 130s in 2011. Despite that minor blip, Sergi looked about as dominant as a wrestler can in a 4-3 decision. Tucker did not score an offensive point. “After he got that first reversal, I got away right away and came back and kept wrestling,” Sergi said. “I ended up getting the takedown I needed and held on for the win.” Such is Sergi’s laser-like focus that, despite being up just 4-2 after a third-period takedown, he already knew that there was no way Tucker was going to reverse their respective fates. “It was real to me before the match was even over,” Sergi said. “Once I got that last takedown and I was up two, I knew I was going to win. I knew he wouldn’t score one me.” That’s not cockiness, incidentally. That’s confidence.
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in confident, “I don’t think (Brian Sergi) expected (to win state), exactly. He came went into, not cocky, and he felt he could win every match, I think. Each match he state. He he said, ‘I’m going to win.’ But he wasn’t saying that a month before matches.” was focused on each match. He wrestled smart, intelligent, confident — College Park coach Jim Keck
“I don’t think he expected (to win state), exactly,” College Park coach Jim Keck said. “He came in confident, not cocky, and he felt he could win every match, I think. Each match he went into, he said, ‘I’m going to win.’ But he wasn’t saying that a month before state. He was focused on each match. He wrestled smart, intelligent, confident matches.” College Park assistant coach Leroy Rivers knew after Sergi claimed his third straight North Coast Section championship on Feb. 25 at Newark Memorial that the Falcon was going to take flight at state. “He’s clicking,” Rivers said. “It’s a good time to be clicking. … He’s a hard worker, a good student. He has great technique, good positioning and he moves his body well. … He’s at that point right now where he’s peaking. He looks different from at Doc Buchanan. That (loss to Tucker) was the best thing for him. He lost a match he should have won, and it re-focused him.” Sergi’s health definitely was a factor in this year’s event. In 2011, after dominating the NCS field at 130, Sergi got the flu.
To say that it impacted his state performance understates the case. He went 1-2, dropping a 7-4 decision to Bakersfield’s Natrelle Demison to drop out of the consolation brackets. Demison went on to place third, and entered this year’s tournament ranked No. 2 in the state at 138. Sergi avenged that loss, too, bouncing Demison 7-4 in the semifinals. “Brian, he was ON this weekend,” Keck said. “Tucker beat him earlier this year, and the kid he beat in the semis (Demison) knocked him out of state last year. (Sergi) is a smiling, happy guy, always talking to guys in the back room, so you might not know it to look at him, but he’s tough. “This weekend he was just relaxed and focused. He never looked worried, never looked overly anxious. He just had a good time. And after having a tough state meet last year, this was big for him.” The individual championship is just the second in school history. Sergi’s name will join local legend Casey Strand in the rafters at the College Park gym. Strand won titles at 171 in 1993 and at 189 in 1994 after placing second at 160 in 1992.
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“We’ve finally got somebody to join Casey Strand up on the wall,” Keck said. “It’s a big deal for (Sergi), and it’s exciting for me.” The future remains uncertain for Sergi, who has drawn some mild interest from college coaches this season. Safe to say the interest level just went up a notch or two. “The kid works hard,” Keck said of the first of his students to win a state title. “He’s hoping to get into and play for a college. You would hope this would open some doors for him. … He’s been wrestling a long time, and he does lots of other things to make himself better: Judo, jiu-jitsu, stick-fighting, mixed martial arts. It all helps him. It’s just nice for him to culminate his high school wrestling career like this.” Sergi, ever focused on the task at hand, hasn’t had time to worry about the repercussions of his dominance just yet. “I definitely want to wrestle in college,” Sergi said. “I don’t know where yet. I knew I could win this, and that a lot of doors would open up.” He may have just kicked some down.
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Antioch's Kyle Clark, left, was among several Bay Area medalists at the CIF state championships. Clark entered the tournament ranked No. 3 in the state at 220 pounds, and low and behold, ended up placing third. Dean Coppola/ SportStars
Clovis dominates CIF, but Bay Area shows well By bill kolb | Contributor The Clovis High School wrestling team entered the 2011-12 season with the lofty goal of beating Central Section rival Bakersfield’s team points record at the California Interscholastic Federation tournament. Goal: Attained. And then some. The Cougars obliterated the Drillers’ former mark of 226.5, set in 2002, scoring 256.5 at Bakersfield’s Rabobank Arena to run away with a record 10th team title. Calvary ChapelSanta Ana is second with seven team championships. Ten Cougars won medals (8th place or better), four advanced to finals, and two won individual titles. It was the second straight CIF crown and the fourth in eight years for Clovis, which topped Bakersfield 186-177 in 2011. This year wasn’t quite so close. Second place Bakersfield was nearly doubled up, scoring a respectable but still-distant 129.5. Clovis had already secured a wining total on Day One, scoring 164.5 through four rounds of championship and consolation matches. Poway finished third overall with 113 points. De La Salle notched its second straight top-five finish, placing fourth for the second year in a row with 97 points. The Spartans sent eight wrestlers to Bakersfield, and every one of them scored a point. Four secured individual medals, led by Alex Abono’s second-place finish at 145. In the final, second-ranked Abono dropped a tough 8-1 decision to top seed, and state No. 1, Willie Fox of Gilroy. Abono’s secondplace finish is the highest individual finish in Spartan history. Joe Moita was third at 126. William Walker was fifth at 195, and Jon Jay Chavez was seventh at 132. The Bay Area’s lone individual champion was College Park’s Brian Sergi at 138.
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Déjà Vu
Newark Memorial’s Victor Pereira has to be sick of the name Joey Davis. Davis (Santa Fe) topped Pereira 9-5 for the 152 title in 2011. This year, both grapplers bumped up to 160. Once again, they met in the final. And once again, Davis came out ahead, this time notching a 12-5 decision for his second straight CIF title in his third straight finals appearance. He was second at 135 in 2010.
Rank and File
Say what you will about rankings not meaning much. In the case of the 220 pounders, the rankers got it just about perfect. Antioch’s Kyle Clark entered the tournament ranked No. 3 in the state. He dropped a tough, 8-4 decision to No. 2 ranked Austin Lobsinger of West Valley-Cottonwood in the semifinal, then battled his way into the third-place match. There, he topped Wasco’s Sean Medley to finish in reality right where he was ranked. Lobsinger, incidentally, lost to No. 1 ranked JT Goodwin (Bear CreekStockton) 3-2 in the final.
On the Podium
The California Championship Tournament ranks among the top 4-5 state level wrestling tournaments in the country. That means that if you earned a spot on the podium at the end of the night, you DID something. Here are some other medallists from around the region: 106 — Troy Lakin (Clayton Valley), fifth; 126 — Jake Smith (Newark Memorial) fifth; 145 — Adam Hendrickson (Healdsburg) sixth; 152 — Jorge Barajas (St. FrancisMountain View) fourth; 160 — Matthew Tsarnas (Healdsburg) fifth; 170 — Dylan Morris (Redwood-Larkspur) seventh; 195 — Danny Chaid (Bellarmine-San Jose) third; 220 — Alex Encarnacion (College Park) eighth. ✪
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Welcome to Impulse, your one-stop shop for all the latest and greatest in gadgets, gizmos and gear. Complied by staff writer Erik Stordahl, Impulse provides you with what’s currently hot on the market. If you didn’t already know, high school sports are hot right now. Soccer playoffs just concluded while basketball teams are making a run at state. Boys golf just teed off and baseball, softball and other spring sports are getting underway. If there’s one thing all these sports have in common, it’s apparel, all sizes and styles. Hit up one of these apparel retailers to get the gear you need for your team.
Accurate Impressions
One visit to their website and you’ll end up owning enough apparel to launch a fashion show in a small town. Accurate Impressions has all the apparel you need for your players: warmups, uniforms, fancy-shmancy game day attire, etc. Hit ‘em up online at www.shopaccurate.com.
Image Imprint
When you want your team name on everything, go to Image Imprint. They specialize in embroidering, so don’t just slap your logo on hats, jerseys and shirts. Go crazy and put it on athletic bags, mugs, pens. Even calculators! Go to www.imageimprint.com for more.
Tahi Teamwear
Loudmouth Golf
Speaking of impressions, how ‘bout stamping yours on the golf course with Loudmouth? These pants not only draw second and third glances, but they’re also used to conduct colorblindness tests. So quit walking down the fairways in those boring earth tones and grab a pair of Loudmouth pants. Go to www.loudmouthgolf.com for cool deals.
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These guys are all about identity. Going into battle as one is important for any champion, so it makes sense to look like one. Create a branding frenzy on campus and make your jerseys, shirts and license plate frames available to your fans. Reach ‘em on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ tahiteamwear.
Simply Selling Shirts
S3 is your go-to source for making your team a presence in the community. In addition to quality screenprinting, S3 is here for your branding efforts. Whether you’ve got a big game coming up, a team event, or you want to support a community organization, look no further than Simply Selling Shirts. Go to www.simplysellingshirts.com for more info.
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Balm diggity: Do rubs like IcyHot really make a difference? I asked a group of high school athletes to list their most pressing questions about sports and health. This group consists of student-athletes who are enrolled in a sports medicine course so I expected routine responses. Something along the lines of, “How can I get bigger, faster and stronger?” or “How long will (insert favorite athlete’s name here) injury take to heal?” Surprisingly, one of the more frequently asked questions was, “Does IcyHot work?” The balm, which is marketed in commercials by Shaquille O’Neal and other celebrity athletes, is frequently used throughout the sports community as a quick fix to nagging injuries. But does it work? This is one of those questions that can be guaranteed to launch athletes into heartfelt stories about their miraculous recovery from devastating injuries to win the big game. Over the years, athletic trainers have learned to listen to these tales and congratulate the storyteller without pointing out that if torn knee ligaments responded to an over-the-counter cream our jobs would be much simpler. The main ingredients in topical rubs that cause such a big fuss are menthol and methyl salicylate, which is also known as wintergreen oil. Menthol is made from peppermint oil and it can trigger nerves that are sensitive to coolness which is why it is frequently included in mouthwashes, chewing gum and cough drops for its cooling and soothing sensation. However, no research
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has shown menthol to actually cause a decrease in the temperature of the skin or muscles. While nerve receptor stimulation gives menthol its counter irritation effects, the analgesic or painrelieving properties are due to stimulation of opioid receptors. Methyl salicylate is a chemical that is used to cause vasodilation (opening of the blood vessels) close to the skin surface. The increased blood flow can have some pain-killing effects on nerve receptors in the treated area. There are several kinds of commercial products used to alleviate the minor aches, pain and sore muscles of sports. Here’s some common options with listed ingredients and percentages ■ IcyHot (cream): 10% menthol, 30% methyl salicylate ■ IcyHot (balm): 7.6% menthol, 29% methyl salicylate ■ BENGAY (cream): 4% camphor, 10% menthol and 30% methyl salicylate Tiger Balm brand includes menthol, camphor, mint oil, clove oil, and oil of cinnamon in their product. The lesser known BruiseMD topical analgesic balm which advertises “a cooling sensation with deep penetrating relief of pain and stiffness, along with reducing inflammation and skin discoloration” is 10% methyl salicylate, 1.9% menthol and arnica montana. Even athletic trainers and physical therapists fall in love with new health products based on results of
our use with athletes. I have used the cooling effects of Biofreeze (3.5% menthol and only sold by medical suppliers) to help ease muscle spasms. Thera-Gesic (1% menthol, 15% methyl salicylate) is another effective tool that creates the sensation of warmth and facilitates massage. A highly successful Bay Area basketball team swears by Sombra Cold Therapy gel to treat tired legs and tendonitis. Sombra ‘s active ingredients are just 3% menthol, 3% camphor and other natural ingredients. The simple answer to the question of topical ointment effectiveness is frustratingly simple. Sometimes. There are no quick fixes or short cuts. I bet many of you already knew that. A proper warm-up and stretch is a better pre-game superstition than slathering your body with cream products. A team ice session in the post game locker room can do more help for chronic aches and pains than your favorite cold gel. ✪
Health Watch Mikel Jackson
Mikel Jackson is an athletic trainer for the staff of Sports Medicine For Young Athletes, a division of Children’s Hospital Oakland with a facility also located in Walnut Creek. If you have a health-related question for the “Health Watch” column, write the Sports Medicine For Young Athletes staff at Health@ SportStarsOnline.com
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Three ways to become a better young athlete today
P
arents will often ask me what their young athletes can do to become better athletes. Here are three very simple things that young athletes can implement immediately to instantly become better athletes.
1. Get your young athlete’s butt in gear What do I mean? Simple. Get their glutes (butt) contributing more in all activities. One simple thing they can do is become more “glute (butt)-conscious.” Get up and walk around with their hands on their hips and voluntarily engage their butt muscles. As they walk around throughout the day they should take a few moments to consciously engage their glutes each time their foot contacts the ground. The more they do this, the more they will strengthen the mind to muscle connections and the better their glutes will function. Also have them do glute bridges from the ground by holding each rep for 10 seconds for 3 total sets. This is a great way for them to feel the contraction from the glutes. Make sure to have them visualize each vertebrae of the spine coming off the ground like a train leaving the station and the same thing on the way down, visualize the train coming back one vertebrae at a time. This ensures that the extension of the hips comes from the powerful butt muscles and not the compressive forces in the lower back. It’s also important to teach them to brace their abs by asking them to visualize preparing for a punch in the stomach or simply tying an elastic band around their stomach and cue them to expand the band with their abdominals throughout the Glute Bridge.
Training Time Tim Rudd for IYCA
2. Activate the young athlete’s forefoot Most young athletes are rear foot dominant, which means they carry too much weight on their heels when they walk, run or move in general. Watch good athletes move. They’re always up on the balls of their feet. If you want your young athlete to be a good athlete they need to get off their rear foot and onto their forefoot. How do they do that? One simple thing they can do is train barefoot. Their body won’t let them move rear foot dominant when they’re barefoot because it’ll hurt too much. As an experiment have them take their shoes off and lightly jog a few steps down the street. The ONLY way they can do this is to get up on their forefoot. Don’t train them on concrete, but if you have access to a fairly soft surface (grass is ideal and most carpet works fine), don’t hesitate to scrap the shoes for a while.
3. Apply the above to progressive movement patterns Try this one simple drill. Find a fairly soft surface, have them take off their shoes, and place a pencil or piece of tape on the ground. Now, have them pull their toes back and hop back and forth over it quickly. They should try to get as many reps as they can in 10 seconds. With a little practice 30 is a good number for them to shoot for. Have them repeat this for 2 more sets. They can do this drill three days per week. These are very simple yet effective strategies to improve your young athletes performance on the field, court or mat today. Sometimes it’s the simple things that can make the biggest differences. ✪ Tim Rudd is an International Youth Conditioning Association specialist in youth conditioning (level 3), speed and agility (level 2), and nutrition specialist (level 1). For more information on anything you read in Training Time, email him at tim@fit2thecore.com.
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Always something on-deck with ALL WORLD sports
March Events Calendar BASEBALL 03-04: Spring N Fling, 9U-14U in Fremont 03-04: Elk Grove/Mather A&D, 9U-14U, Mather Field/Elk Grove 03-04: Armed and Dangerous AA only, 9U-12U, Antioch/ Oakley 10-11: Backyard Brawl, 9U-12U, Vacaville 17-18: Santa Cruz Winter Finals, 8U-13U, Santa Cruz 17-18: Baseball Freaks, 10U-14U, Mather Field 17-18: March Madness, 10U, 11U, 12U, 14U, Davis/Dixon
24-25: Games Galore, 9U-14U, Fremont 24-25: Santa Cruz Spring Starter, 9U-13U, Santa Cruz 24-25: 7th Annual Slugfest, 9U-14U, Woodland 31-01: Wild Wild West Jackpot I, 9U-14U, Golden Eagle/Sparks 31-01: March Mayhem, 9U-14U, Antioch/Martinez FASTPITCH 03-04: March Mania, 10/12/14 A/B, Sacramento 03-04: March Mania, 10/12/14, Delhi 10-11: All World Showdown, 10/12/14, Sacramento 10-11: All World Showdown, 10/12/14 A/B, Livingston
17-18: Flame Throwers, 10/12/14 A/B, Sacramento 17-18: Flame throwers, 10/12/14 A/B, Livingston 24-25: Hot Bats, 10/12/14 A/B, Sacramento 31-01: All World Foolz, 10/12/14 A/B, Sacramento 31-01: All World Foolz, 10/12/14 A/B, Livingston SOFTBALL 03-04: Elk Grove Kickoff, Men’s D, E/Coed, Elk Grove 03-04: Winter Challenge, Men’s D, E, Fremont 03-04: St. Patty’s Slugfest, Men’s E/Women’s/Coed, Manteca 10-11: Miken Mayhem, Men’s D, E/Coed, Sacramento
10-11: March Madness, Men’s/Coed, Suisun 10-10: Lucky U, Men’s/Women’s/Coed, Lodi 17-18: Backyard Brawl, Coed/Men’s E, D, Elk Grove 17-18: Back Yard Brawl, Fremont 17-18: Men’s E NIT, Pleasanton 17-18: P Town Swing, Women’s/Coed, Pleasanton 24-25: NIT Men’s E, Suisun 24-25: Men’s D & Elite/Open NIT, Fremont 24-25: Southbay Sizzle, Men’s E/Women’s/Coed, Fremont 31-01: March Mayhem, Men’s/Coed, Sacramento