BA Issue 45, May 3, 2012

new mentality in charge of cif.

vol. 3. issue 45

FREE

May 3, 2012

Bay area

on the hunt

Pg. 6

endure | excel | achieve

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fearless predictions for ncs baseball Pg. 30

Campolindo reloads for another title chase.

Pg. 18

BLIMEY! We improve london olympics. Pg. 8

deep. talented. ready.

San Ramon valley is all in.

Pg. 24

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, James K. Leash, 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

young guns: Campolindo and Ryan First have hit the ground running. Pg. 12

living the dream: There’s a new hub for Bay Area hoops, volleyball, everything. Pg. 12

london calling: Olympics are coming, but let’s be honest ... they can do better. Pg. 8

Advertising & Calendar/Classified Sales Sales@SportStarsOnline.com, (925) 566-8500 Account Executives Erik Stordahl • Erik@SportStars Online.com, Phillip Walton • PWalton@SportStarsOnline.com Sac Joaqin edition: Ron Davis • RonD@SportStarsOnline.com • (916) 564-0111, Dave Rosales • DaveRosales64@gmail.com, Finn Jensen • finnjensen1@mac.com.

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

it’s their turn now. san ramon valley Lacrosse and mike tagliaferri are primed to perform.

Pg. 24

specialized: Picking one sport may be up to your genes. Pg. 16 on the cover Jordan Weiss, San Ramon Valley Photo by Jonathan Hawthorne

First Pitch................................................... 6

Impulse.....................................................29

Locker Room............................................ 8

Extra Bases..............................................30

AAA SportStars of the Week..............11 Behind the Clipboard............................16

Training Time...........................................34

Health Watch..........................................22

Camps + Clinics.....................................36

TriSteps.....................................................28

Photo Finish.............................................46

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your ticket to bay area sports admit one; rain or shine This Vol. #3, May 2012 Whole No. 45 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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CIF’s new executive director will carry a coach’s mentality

A

s a boys basketball coach for 16 years, Roger Blake was no stranger to preparing for the big game.

Which is a good thing.

Because he’s got about three months to prepare for the biggest game he’s faced to date — his new job: Executive Director of the California Interscholastic Federation.

The CIF announced during the final week of April it has chosen Blake — its Associate Executive Director from 2007 to the present — to serve as the organization’s highest-ranking official effective Aug. 1. Blake will be filling the shoes of Marie Ishida, who is retiring after 11 years as the Executive Director and nearly 40 years of service to education and administration.

Ishida’s tenure at the helm will undoubtedly be looked upon as a success. Especially considering the fact that her time in the big chair coincided with a decade of transition and change in the world of high school sports nationwide.

Blake, 58, was around to see all of it. So while he doesn’t exactly know what the next era of California high school sports might look like, he can certainly draw an analogy to what being appointed to oversee it feels like.

“After being a varsity boys hoops coach for 16 years, I sort of feel like it’s the day of the big game,” Blake said in a phone interview on April 26. “I’m jazzed up and excited, and I have the feeling in my stomach — those nervous butterflies where you can’t wait to get to the game. ... There’s excitement looking ahead, but also anxiety because you have a great game plan going into the game but the other team might have something to say about that.”

Blake explained that he’d shared the same analogy with his his wife of 23 years, Karen, recently when she asked him if getting the new job had sunk in yet.

“It’s funny because even she said it was like I’d returned to my coaching days,” he said with a chuckle. “She mentioned that leading up to the interview, I had become more quiet and very focused. Like I was watching film all over again.”

Blake knows he has a few things going in his favor, first and foremost was working besides Ishida for so many years.

In that time, he learned how much patience the job required.

“I always looked at her in awe over the absolute patience that she showed with everyone,” Blake said. “It can be a very trying and challenging position. You deal with schools who are mad, parents who are upset, coaches who are frustrated, and she’s always had patience. She was also

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May 3, 2012

First Pitch Chace Bryson Editor

Chace@ SportStarsOnline.com (925) 566-8503

compassionate. Even though there were several times she would have to make a ruling against some of these people, she would always take the time to listen and talk to them.

“I hope I can live up to half of what she brought to the table in terms of those things. And if I do, I’ll be successful.”

Blake isn’t foolish enough to think there won’t be plenty of challenges ahead in the world of high school sports.

There’s one area in particular he expects to deal with, and it’s one that’s been a passion of his throughout his time at the CIF: Athlete health and safety.

Blake has helped the CIF be ahead of the curve in setting bylaws on steroid testing and concussion awareness. And he expects athlete safety to continue to be a major priority during his tenure as Executive Director.

“We’ve started down a great path in regards to protecting athletes, but we can do more,” Blake said.

One area in particular that Blake thinks may need to be addressed is protecting players from heat-related dangers in the fall.

“We’ve been lucky to have no fatalities in California,” he said. “But we have had some heat-related issues. ... We have to continue to be a leader in educating our coaches and parents on matters like that.”

Whether it’s a health-related item, a lawsuit, or a different challenge sitting on the new director’s desk, you can bet he’s going to continue to draw on his coaching experience to confront it.

“Any coach will tell you that one of the biggest keys to coaching is being able to adjust,” Blake said. “Coaches put so much time into preparation, but after awhile, if the plan isn’t working then you have to adjust. Early on in my coaching career, one of my mentors gave me a simple phrase that I’ve used a lot: Just solve the problem.

“I hope to carry that idea on in the new position — solve the problems.”

At the very least, Blake anticipates that he’ll enjoy the journey.

“There will be negatives that go on when adults and kids do dumb things,” he said. “But 99 percent of the time, the passion and love for the game in high school sports is always so evident. I get to be involved with that and hopefully help make it better for the next generation. I have 800,000 kids in California expecting me to help make their experience better.”

On Aug. 1, the whistle blows. ✪

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new Summer Olympic sport offerings

July 27 is just around the corner. And London is just across a large body of water. Never too soon to start thinking about the Olympics, right? Plus, you’re gonna wanna plan your meal schedule very carefully in London, because three weeks of fish-n-chips will kill you, man. Anyway, this Summer’s Games feature a pretty standard schedule of events: Track, boxing, swimming, equestrian, trampoline (really?) – you know, the usual. It’s a bit drab, frankly. Needs some pep. Here are our top 5 suggested additional sports to spice things up on the small island.

1. Caber toss*. Honestly, we don’t know how the organizers missed on this one. Great opportunity to ingratiate themselves with their Scottish neighbors to the north. Plus, who doesn’t love gigantic red-haired men flipping telephone poles? Other possible options: Railroad tie hurling; tree-ripping-out-of-thegrounding.

2. Couch-Potato Channel-Surfing. A possible medal sweep for the American side…

3. Baseball/Softball. Not to be Amerocentric (okay, screw it, we’re Americans. We’re entitled to be Amerocentric. Take that, world! U-S-A! U-S-A!), but it’s our national pastime. Greatest sport in the world. How can it NOT be in the Games? That’s just dumb. We’re talking to you, IOC. 4. How ’bout we combine some junk. You know, like the biathlon in the Winter Games where James Bond skis frantically through the woods and shoots stuff. Great sport. It needs a summer analog. Equestrian platform diving? Canoe target shooting? Underwater table tennis?

5. Full-contact haughtiness. The host team is a clear favorite in this one, but we think the French and the Germans could give the Brits a real run for their Euros. And one should never underestimate the Swiss. Scrappy lot, the Swiss. *Long-time readers of this publication will realize that this is the second time we’ve endorsed the Caber Toss in the Top 5. To which we embrace our Scottish heritage and say, “Big whoop! Wanna fight about it?”

— Bill Kolb

Photo by Mike DeCicco

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rapidFIRE Predicted NBA champ

Okla.

City

If you could compete in a Summer Olympic sport other than your own, which one would it be

Most anticipated Hunger Games: summer movie Book or movie

Besides your own, what school has best uniforms

Final you’re already dreading

Beach volleyball

‘Magic Mike’

Book

Monte Government Vista

Swimming

Dark Knight Rising

Book

Nevada UnionGrass Valley

Devin Madsen, Las Lomas-WC, swim

Chicago Bulls JT Janowski, Rocklin volleyball

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AP Environmental Science

count’EM

The number of consecutive North Coast Section boys team swimming titles won

by Campolindo-Moraga. The Cougars and defending 200 IM champion Stecen Stumph (pictured) will go for title No. 8 at the NCS Swimming and Diving Championships on May 18-19 at Concord Community Pool. The last boys team not named Campolindo to win an NCS crown was De La Salle-Concord in 2004.

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Jonathan Hawthorne

May 3, 2012

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Coach Rick Ortega didn’t mince his words when talking about his star player. He called him one of the best tennis players he’s ever coached, and it’s hard to disagree considering Kim has made a mockery of the Diablo Valley Athletic League. The senior has won the DVAL singles title three years running. He’ll look to place a bow on his sparkling career with an NCS singles title on May 5.

SportStars Magazine: Why are you so dominant in league?

Jonathan Kim: I’ve been playing tennis since I was 6 years old… a lot of the other players just started. I play a lot of USTA tournaments on the side and I also work with a pro coach.

SSM: What have you done to prepare, physically and mentally, for NCS? JK: There are so many up-andcoming kids that it’s never easy. I go to Fairfield almost everyday. I try to go on a run every day after school. You have to go to the gym.

SSM: What part of your game have you been working on?

JK: Probably my serve. I had a six month period where my shoulder was injured. My coach and I have been taking it really lightly on my serve. But in tennis without a good serve it’s really hard to win.

SSM: How have you grown this season?

JK: I’m a captain of the team.

It’s not really a big difference from my game but how I think of it as a team-oriented thing.

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jonathan kim clayton valley . tennis . senior

honorable mention

michael doherty The De La Salle senior setter greatly contributed to the Spartans winning the St. Francis Tournament on April 21.

He also had 32 assists and four digs against San Ramon Valley on April 26.

raeann garza The James Logan junior pitcher tossed a onehitter against American-Fremont on April 23.

erin jeffery The Carondelet junior’s 11 goals on April 21 were more than the entire Amador Valley lacrosse team combined as the Cougars won 20-10.

QUICK HITS Favorite athlete: Novak Djokovic Favorite sport (other than tennis): Baseball Favorite subject: Economics Favorite Jamba Juice: Strawberry Surf Rider

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Nike Elite Youth Basketball League

■ WHAT: Four days of round robin play between the Top 40 17U Elite AAU boys basketball programs in the country. This is the fourth and final session of EYBL regular season play.

■ WHEN: Friday, May 25 through Monday, May 28 ■ WHERE: Dream Courts, 22290 Hathaway Ave., Hayward ■ LOCAL LOOK: The Oakland Soldiers, essentially the host team and among the top-ranked AAU teams in the country, feature Salesian-Richmond standouts Jabari Bird and Mario Dunn, as well as El Cerrito’s Ray Jackson. The state’s other team, California Supreme of Los Angeles, boasts Deer Valley-Antioch center Marcus Lee. ■ SCHEDULE: First games tip at 6 p.m. on Friday with the Soldiers playing at 9 p.m.; Action begins at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday with final tips at 6:30 p.m.; Monday begins at 9:30 a.m. with final tips at 12:30 p.m.; The complete schedule can be found at www.NikeEYB.com

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Hoop DREAMS

Hayward’s Dream Courts facility is already massive in size & visionary scope. Now Nike Basketball is about to boost its street cred

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T

By Chace Bryson | Editor

hough she claims to have never played competitive basketball — or any sports beyond body building — when it comes to business endeavors and grand visions, Teresa Banks certainly subscribes to the theory of, “Go big, or go home.”

That would be the only way to describe what Banks has built — and is still building — at 22290 Hathaway Ave. in Hayward.

Her creation, Dream Courts, opened a year ago last March and featured seven NBA-size basketball courts inside a 400,000 square-foot building that technically gives it more floor space than Mountain View’s famous Hangar One — which was built to house blimps.

So, yeah. Dream Courts is big.

The seven NBA courts along with the extensive fitness and weight room facilities only comprise about 20 percent of the building’s capacity. The other 80 percent is in development, outlined in different phases.

When the entire project is finished, the facility will be the equivalent of a Las Vegas resort for gym rats and sports junkies.

The full plan calls for 17 NBA regulation courts, one 5,000 seat Arena, 34 high school courts, 38 volleyball courts, six indoor turf fields, 15 batting cages, beach volleyball courts, racquet ball courts, a track, a martial arts and boxing center, two fitness centers, a water plyometrics training center, dance studio, banquet hall, sports bar and grill, four restaurants, retail stores, and a full service academic/tutoring center.

“I have four kids who are athletes,” Banks said. “I wanted a place that could give options to all kids, and wanted to offer

as many sports as I could. When we’re all done, the goal is to offer up to 24 sports, 24 hours a day.”

The only thing missing from the Las Vegas resort analogy is rooms to stay in. An area that Banks would undoubtedly consider if she thought it were feasible.

“I love this place,” she said. “I want to build an apartment in here for myself. I could live here for sure.”

elite high school AAU boys basketball programs. It features four sessions in different locations and then concludes by playing its national semifinals and championship at the Nike Peach Jam in South Carolina.

This year, the four EYBL season sessions include stops in Minneapolis (April 20-22), Hampton, VA, (April 27-29), Dallas (May 11-13) and Dream Courts.

“I have four kids who are athletes. I wanted a place that could give options to all kids, and wanted to offer as many sports as I could. When we’re all done, the goal is to offer up to 24 sports, 24 hours a day.”

— Teresa Banks, Dream Courts CEO

The building is big. The vision is bigger. And now it’s exposure is about to get a lot bigger as well.

“We haven’t done any marketing really during the first year,” Banks said. “We’ve actually done quite well just by word of mouth.”

That word of mouth is likely to double after Memorial Day weekend. That’s when Nike Basketball comes to town.

From May 25-28, Dream Courts will play host to the only West Coast event of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League.

In its third year, the EYBL has become the premier circuit for

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This certainly isn’t the first major AAU event Dream Courts has hosted in its first year. Banks was dialed into the basketball scene very early as a mother with kids who play year-round basketball. In fact, her son Brandon, a freshman, played a key role on the St. Joseph Notre Dame team which reached the California Interscholastic Federation Division V state final this past March.

Her time being an AAU parent is originally what led her to formulate her vision for Dream Courts.

“With our kids in AAU we’d travel all over,” Banks said. “But May 3, 2012

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Phillip Walton

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the problem was that we’d go all the way to Vegas and end up playing a team from Sacramento. All the Bay Area teams would go out of state every summer to the same places. I wanted this area to have one of those places.”

And though Dream Courts has hosted several AAU events already, Memorial Day weekend will take things to a new level.

“This is going to be a great thing for the Bay Area and it’s basketball community,” said Mark Olivier, Executive Director of the Oakland Soldiers — which just happened to have the nation’s top 17U ranking on FiveStarBasketball.com heading into EYBL Session II in Virginia the last week of April. “People here are finally going to be able to see what we see when we leave the state. The Soldiers will win those local tournaments, but folks don’t understand the level of basketball that goes on in other places. It’s a different world.”

Now that world is set to descend on the Bay Area, and it’s due in large part to what both Banks and Olivier have created. Olivier and his partners have helped construct one of the most respected and decorated elite AAU programs. The Soldiers been the king of Bay Area AAU hoops for several years now — so much was their reputation that they even suited up a king when Lebron James was on the roster during the summer of 2002.

Now they have a venue fit for a king.

“It’s just a good fit,” Olivier said. “And I think the guys at Nike kind of thought the same thing.”

The EYBL features 40 teams divided into four 10-team divisions. California has one other team besides the Soldiers, the California Supreme based

“People here are finally going to be able to see what we see when we leave the state. ... It’s a different world — Mark Olivier, Executive Director of the Oakland Soldiers

out of L.A. The two teams play in different divisions.

Olivier says that the divisional format leading up to a national champion is something that really elevates the competition at each event.

“When it started the EBYL a few years ago, Nike really understood how to make the summer basketball thing a little bit different,” Olivier said. “How big is a championship to these guys if they play in tournaments every weekend. But if it’s a league and you’re playing for an ultimate goal, that changes things. ...

People who come and watch will just be blown away at the talent and level of competition.”

The Soldiers held a 7-2 record in EYBL after the first two sessions. The team suffered each of its losses in Session II, a 76-70 loss to the NJ Playaz of New Jersey and a 73-65 loss to The Family of Michigan.

However, Oakland was playing without All-State junior Aaron Gordon of Archbishop Mitty-San Jose.

Gordon had been playing on a fractured foot, according to Olivier. And even though it didn’t keep

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one of the nation’s top recruits from averaging 12 points and seven rebounds during Session I, there was concern that it might not heal properly if he continued to play on it.

“We all agreed he should shut it down,” Olivier said in reference to discussions with Gordon and Soldiers coach Derrick Artis. “He still has the National 18U team he needs to worry about this summer, too. Hopefully he’ll be healthy enough that he can play at Peach Jam (July 1821).”

Oakland won’t panic, though. There’s still plenty of talent on the Soldiers to pick up the slack — including fellow All-State talent and national recruit, Jabari Bird of Salesian. But more importantly, they have a reputation of playing harder than most.

“Some teams may be more talented than us, but our guys play together,” Olivier said. “We strive to find team guys, and our motto is all about playing hard.”

They should have little trouble playing hard on Memorial Day weekend, when Dream Courts becomes the epicenter of elite AAU basketball.

Just how Banks planned it. ✪

LEFT: Teresa Banks, affectionately known as Mama Banks, is the mastermind behind Dream Courts. RIGHT: Salesian guard Mario Dunn, left, and El Cerrito’s Ray Jackson are two of three East Bay representatives on the AAU powerhouse Oakland Soldiers.

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Jonathan Hawthorne (left); Nike EYBL (right)

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Picking a sport to specialize in usually starts with genetics I’m in seventh grade, and I like to play a bunch of sports — but I want to be really good, so I know I have to pick one or two pretty soon.

How can I figure out which sport I’ll be best at?

K.W., Piedmont

Behind the Clipboard Clay Kallam

S

adly, you’re right that, come eighth grade, it’s time to think about specializing. In a world not driven by college scholarships, or just playing in college, kids could wait until 16 or 17 to determine which sport they really liked best. But in the real world, decisions must be made.

So how do you decide? In a phrase, size matters. Your best future sport is most likely going to be determined by how tall you are, and how much you weigh when you’re in good physical condition. Of course, how coordinated you are, how explosive you are, how fast you are, how strong you are, and all these other athletic attributes will play a key role, but two athletes with equal coordination, equal speed and equal strength are not necessarily both going to be best suited for the same sport.

For the sake of this column, then, let’s assume everything else is equal, aside from height and weight. A boy who’s going to be 6-3 by his senior year is probably going to be better at basketball than a boy who’s going to be 5-8. A girl who’s going to be 5-11 will probably be a better swimmer than a gymnast. A boy who has broad shoulders and will weigh more than 200 pounds is better suited for football than a boy of the same height who weighs 50 pounds less. A lighter girl will be better in cross country; a more muscular girl has a better chance to excel in softball.

In the end, the combination of size and athletic attributes have to match for a player to achieve at the highest level. A boy may have everything going for him to be a great linebacker — speed, aggressiveness, instinct, love of contact — but if he’s 5-5 and weighs 140 pounds, he’s not going to start at De La Salle. A girl may be the perfect outside hitter — jumps well, heavy hands, great timing — but if she’s 5-2, it’s not going to work out.

So back to the question: Which sport do you choose? The first thing to do is make your best guess what your height and weight will be as a senior in high school. (That’s easier for girls, who are usually close to their mature size as eighth graders than boys are.) Look at your parents, your grandparents and your close relatives, and you’ll get an idea of the possibilities. If no one in that group is taller than 6-0, it’s a pretty good guess you won’t be either; and if everyone is slender, then you probably will be too.

Of course, height and weight are just part of the equation. In most sports, explosion (the percentage of inherited fast-twitch muscles) will be a crucial factor, as it correlates to speed and jumping ability, as will coordination, which determines what skills can be acquired.

And finally, there’s desire, which in the long run might be the most important attribute of all. It doesn’t matter what your genetic gifts are if you’re not willing to work hard — any kind of achievement in any aspect of life will ultimately depend on your commitment to being the best you can be, regardless of your height and weight. ✪

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

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WINNING redefined After graduating seven players off an NCS championship roster, Campolindo boys volleyball welcomed a flood of young talent and found a new way to win

Story by Matt Smith, photos by Butch Noble 18

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n 2009 and 2010, the Campolindo High boys volleyball team was just on the cusp.

The Cougars were so close to winning a North Coast Section Division II title, that it was heartbreaking for them when it didn’t happen.

In 2009, they lost in the semifinals, doing so against eventual champion Northgate, a team that had just one loss all year. In 2010, the top-seeded Cougars reached the finals only to be upset in four games

by Sir Frances Drake-San Anselmo.

Those involved with the program, and with boys volleyball in the East Bay, knew that 2011 needed to be the year for the Cougars, considering the seven seniors on the roster. Campolindo avenged the previous years loss to Drake, winning the schools third boys volleyball title, but first in six years.

“It was huge to get over the hump,” Campolindo’s fifth-year coach David Chen said. “It was finally a way to validate our program.

Most of all, we finally had something to give back to all of the athletes who worked hard for us and bought into our system over the previous five years to bring us to this point.”

In 2012, the Cougars championship window was supposed to be closed.

“New blood means new intensity and new passion,” Chen said of the young team. “In the beginning we called it our honeymoon phase when everything was going well and everyone was fresh and playing well.”

The Cougars started the season with seven straight wins, and wins in 16 of their first 18 games. Since then, they lost three times at the Bellarmine Tournament, and then were given a serious run for their money in a Diablo Foothill Athletic League match with Acalanes. This was a surprise because of the way the Cougars have owned Acalanes, and the DFAL for that matter, in recent years.

Looking more closely, however, it was less of a surprise after realizing it was Campolindo’s ninth game in seven days.

Quite simply, the young players might have hit a wall.

“After the honeymoon phase is where we faced our losses, and struggled a bit mentally and emotionally,” Chen said. “The guys either had to figure out how to work together or get a divorce, which would break up the team.

“New blood also means that they have to learn the system, they have to learn our coaching style, and we have to learn how much we can push them. Furthermore the relationship between the returners and the freshman is always in question because you never know how everyone will get along.”

The day after the Acalanes match, the Cougars played their tenth match in eight days, facing perennial Bay Counties League-East and Division III contender College Prep. After a tidy 3-0 road win, the Acalanes match and Bellarmine Tournament struggles may Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

“It was huge to get over the hump. It was finally a way to validate our program. Most of all, we finally had something to give back to all of the athletes who worked hard for us and bought into our system over the previous five years to bring us to this point.”

— Campolindo volleyball coach David Chen

FAR LEFT: Campolindo’s Ryan First (7) is one of four freshmen that have helped the Cougars reload after graduation took a toll on the roster of their NCS championship team from a year ago.

LEFT: Outside hitter Stephen Buhl (31) elevates for a kill attempt during an April 26 match at College Prep.

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have served as the needed wake up call.

“Mental stability and focus can play a huge roll in overcoming the physical beating that the guys have taken over the past few weeks,” Chen said. “Other than the obvious rest, hydration, and stretching, the mental state for our guys has to stay sharp. We want to avoid resting and becoming lethargic because one bad match in NCS is all it takes. (For them) to rest and become more focused would be ideal.”

The extended struggle and close call against Acalanes may have been a blessing as it let the Campolindo players know that nothing will come easy to them, regardless of whether they’re the defending champions.

“We addressed that on day one of the season,” Chen said. “We weren’t as concerned that they’d think it would come easy, but more that they wouldn’t be able to move on from last year’s team. If we couldn’t get past the fact that we lost seven seniors then, we’d be dead in the water right from the get-go.

“We stressed that there’s no possible way to repeat as NCS champions because repeating would mean we’d have to do the exact same thing with the exact same guys from last year.

This year we have to find a way to defend that title while redefining what kind of team and program we are.”

The program that the Cougars want to be is the kind that not only contends for NCS titles year in and year out, but is considered 20

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the favorite every year. To earn that respect, a team must establish that reputation, and winning back-to-back NCS titles would make the Cougars the kings of Division II. But doing so won’t be easy.

“It’s all in the hands of our returners,” Chen said. “They must set the tone coming into playoffs for us to have a chance at winning this year. Yes our freshmen do play a big role for our program this year, but they have never experienced the energy, excitement, and pressure of NCS. A lot of the talk is about the new guys, which has overshadowed the rest of the squad. However it’s really our returners who have to lead us to where we want to go. The freshmen will follow.”

It is easy to focus on the four fabulous freshman at Campolindo. Joe Worsley, Ryan First, Michael Standring and Jack Eisner have very high ceilings, and the thought of how good they are already, and how good they can be, can make people forget that this team has several returning upperclassmen who play key roles.

When the playoffs roll around, this team will go as far as guys like Will Henrickson, Ryan Alva, Ethan Stevenson, Avery Stevenson and Bryan Lee will take them.

It is the leadership and guidance of the upperclassmen that leads to being a consistent contender, and the Campolindo program has followed that example, which is why the program has come a long way and has won more

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than 100 matches over the last four seasons.

“We have been very happy to see the program, and even more so our players, do well over the past few seasons,” Chen said. “However it is very easy for us to stay grounded because we know how hard it was during our first season where we went 5-17. We know how much work and time everyone had to invest to get us here. We have been fortunate to have the athletes we have had, but we also believe that having good athletes doesn’t always make for a good team. That’s why year in and year out we always have to work hard on redefining ourselves and the program.”

This season marks the fourth consecutive season of winning more than 20 matches, and with wins over Division I contenders Mission San Jose and College Park, mix in the leadership and young talent, and it’s safe to consider the Cougars redefined.

It’s also safe to consider them contenders for a second straight NCS crown. ✪

TOP: The Cougars huddle during a timeout in their match against College Prep.

The Cougars entered May with a 22-7 record. ABOVE RIGHT: Campolindo libero Bryan Lee plays a ball near the back line during a recent match.

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Plica Syndrome: A most painful form of knee irritation

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ain around the knee cap is a common problem that many young athletes face today, and is commonly seen by physicians who take care of sports medicine injuries. The majority of the time these injuries get better with rest, anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen, and physical therapy.

Yet, in a certain sub-set of patients, the pain continues and greatly inhibits athletic performance. In certain severe cases it can even interfere with day-to-day activities. If pain continues even after conservative treatment most physicians will order an MRI, an imaging study that lets the physician look closely at the cartilage and ligaments in the knee to see if another injury is being missed.

But what happens if the MRI is negative and you still have pain?

Many athletes with chronic discomfort around the kneecap will search the Internet looking for answers, and will stumble upon something called Plica Syndrome. What is a plica and why does it cause trouble?

The plica is a band of synovial (joint lining) tissue which can become pinched between the femur (thigh bone) and the patella (knee cap).

Although we have multiple plicas in our knee, the plica on the inside (medial) of the knee most commonly causes discomfort in athletes.

The plica serves no function for us once we are born, and is remnant from when we were embryos. During fetal development, the plica divides the knee into multiple compartments, and then becomes much smaller during the second trimester after it has helped to organize the knee. For the majority of people, this remnant causes no problems. I like to refer to it as the appendix of the knee.

For reasons which are not completely clear, certain people are prone to having this band of tissue become irritated whether it be from an acute injury, overuse, or poor biomechanics. Over time, a chronically irritated plica becomes inflamed and thickened. This leads to pain as this thick, inflamed band of tissue gets pinched between the femur and the patella during repetitive athletic activity. In severe cases, it can become so thickened that it can begin to rub cartilage off the femur or patella.

So how do you know if you have an inflamed plica? Unfortunately, there is not one “special” test that can lead to this diagnosis, and many times it’s not found until you have failed extensive conservative treatment for patellofemoral syndrome (i.e. irritated knee cap syndrome). Generally, patients will complain for several months of pain near the knee cap on the inside (medial) part of the knee. Some patients will even feel a tender, thickened band of tissue in this location which is becoming caught under the knee cap between 30 to 70 degrees of knee flexion. As mentioned above, MRI’s usually can’t help to differentiate a normal plica from an inflamed one.

As with any non-traumatic knee injury, if your physician suspects you have plica syndrome the first line of treatment is rest, activity modification, antiinflammatory medications, and physical therapy to decrease inflammation around the plica. If these treatment methods fail (and a MRI does not show any other injury), then surgical treatment is an option if the pain is prohibiting one from functioning.

Surgery is done arthroscopically (through small incisions with a camera) in which the entire knee joint is examined, and the plica is removed with a small shaver. Patients go home after surgery, and are generally able to start walking without crutches in a couple of days after the procedure. Most people are able to return to nearly full activities in 6-8 weeks based on how much irritation the plica has caused in the knee joint.

If your knee pain is not getting better, it might be your plica. Ask your physician to consider this diagnosis before it (and you) gets too irritated! ✪

Health Watch Nirav K. Pandya

Dr. Nirav K. Pandya is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon specializing in pediatric sports injuries at Children’s Hospital in Oakland. He sees patients and operates in Oakland and at our facility in Walnut Creek. If you have any questions or comments regarding the “Health Watch” column, write to the Sports Medicine for Young Athletes staff at Health@SportsStarsOnline.com.

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With more talent, depth than ever before, San Ramon Valley boys lacrosse is poised to meet familiar faces in NCS title race

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By Chace Bryson | Editor

eter Worstell has been around the sport of lacrosse his entire life. And he’s been the coach for the San Ramon Valley High boys team for as long as the school’s had a program.

This means he’s coached his way through the East Bay Athletic League for more than a decade — and it’s never gotten any easier.

The EBAL is unquestionably the most competitive high school lacrosse league in Northern California, and one could make an argument that it’s the best in the entire state. That goes for both boys and girls. The most recent state rankings released by Laxpower.com on May 1 had three EBAL boys teams in its Top 12 and three EBAL girls teams inside its top Top 10.

“We’re like a bunch lions eating their young,” Worstell said.

And by now, it’s no secret that Worstell may have the biggest lion in the hunt when the North Coast Section Division I playoffs get underway on May 15.

Bolstered by an incredibly talented senior class and a strong mix of underclassmen providing roster depth, the Wolves — who are ranked No. 4 in the state and No. 5 in the West Region — are likely to go into the postseason as favorites to win their first NCS title since 2008.

“We’ve had the talent the last few years, but this year is different,” senior attacker Michael Tagliaferri said. “Our chemistry is as good as its ever been. You need the talent, but what separates the good teams from the championship teams is that next-level stuff of knowing where everybody is on the field and knowing how to make each of you teammates better.”

To talk of the Wolves talent, the conversation must begin with the team’s front line.

Tagliaferri, Jordan Weiss and Patrick Worstell comprise perhaps the most accomplished trio the league has seen in quite some time; maybe ever. All three have Division I scholarships to some of the top lacrosse programs in the country. Tagliaferri chose the University of North Carolina and Weiss will attend Penn State. Worstell, the coach’s son, was committed to Syracuse before recently choosing to play football at Cal instead.

“To have a line of that kind of pedigree is just off the charts,” Peter Worstell said. “It’s incredibly unique. But they are more than just lacrosse players. All three are incredible athletes. Each of them also played football, and their ability to excel at multiple sports is what separates them from others.”

And all three, plus the coach, know each other really well by this point. Coming up through the youth teams of Diablo Scorpions Lacrosse Club, the trio has been together since as early as sixth grade. Couple that with four years of playing football together for the Wolves, and it’s safe to say there are few who are more qualified to talk about the three players than the guys themselves.

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SURVIVAL of the

fittest

Patrick Worstell slings a shot toward goal in an April 27 match.

Jonathan Hawthorne photo

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“Since our freshman year we hadn’t beaten De La Salle. I was part of a freshman football team that had beaten De La Salle, so that made it weird, too. I’d beaten De La Salle in football, but not lacrosse. When we won that game (March 23) at De La Salle, we outplayed them from the beginning.

We just had that game. That was the game where we looked around and said

‘Alright, we can do this.’”

— San Ramon Valley’s Michael Tagliaferri

Morgan Castelein, Carondelet Phillip Walton photo

STICKING IT TO ’EM

The East Bay Athletic League has claim to seven of the eight NCS Division I boys and girls titles. Here’s a breakdown.

BOYS YR. GIRLS YR. Monte Vista

2011

Carondelet

2011

De La Salle

2010

Monte Vista

2010

De La Salle

2009

Monte Vista

2009

San Ramon Valley

2008

Amador Valley

2008

Monte Vista

2006

California

2007

Monte Vista

2005

San Ramon Valley

2006

Monte Vista

2004

Foothill

2004

That, too, comes naturally to them.

“Jordan was the kid in seventh grade who had a beard,” Tagliaferri said. “He’s tough. He’s just a beast.

He does everything at 100 percent and will do anything asked of him for the team.”

Not surprisingly, Tagliaferri focused on lacrosse when asked to describe the coach’s son.

“When I think of lacrosse, I think about Patrick,” he said. “He’s a smooth player, a smooth athlete and he just knows the game so well. He constantly knows where guys are going to be, and where he needs to be.”

And as for Tagliaferri?

“His competitive spirit is awesome,” Patrick Worstell said. “It’s just a great feeling to play on the same team with someone who wants to win as badly as Michael does.”

In this season, especially, that’s the bottom line for this group.

Nobody needs to remind the three of them — or any of the other 14 seniors on the Wolves roster — that

the last NCS championship banner raised for boys lacrosse came the year before the arrived on campus. It’s that, maybe above all else, which makes the Wolves the most dangerous team heading into the playoffs.

And though each player can say this season feels different, there have certainly been signs along the way which back that theory up. The first of which came March 23 when the Wolves traveled to De La Salle and defeated the Spartans 9-6.

That victory was symbolic, as it was the first time the current group of seniors had beaten De La Salle.

“Since our freshman year we hadn’t beaten De La Salle,” Tagliaferri said.

“I was part of a freshman football team that had beaten De La Salle, so that made it weird, too. I’d beaten De La Salle in football, but not lacrosse. When we won that game (March 23) at De La Salle, we outplayed them from the beginning. We just had that game. That was the game where we looked around and said ‘Alright, we can do this.’”

Jonathan Hawthorne

Peter Worstell, a four-year collegiate All-American at Maryland, has coached the SRV boys program since its inception.

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The Wolves went on to beat De La Salle a second time, topping the Spartans 10-7 on April 27. In fact, the only blemish on the team’s EBAL record heading into May was an 8-7 loss to defending NCS champion and crosstown rival Monte Vista on April 17.

They will get one more regular season shot at the Mustangs when they close out their EBAL schedule at Monte Vista on May 11.

Then, as Peter Worstell is quick to point out, the three teams will — “Lions,” if you remember — do it all over again in the playoffs.

“All you have to do is look at the history of NCS champions,” the Wolves coach said. “It’s pretty clear that if a team is going to win the championship it’s going to have to beat one or more of those teams (Monte Vista, SRV and DLS) to do it.”

Since lacrosse became an NCS championship sport in 2004, Monte Vista has four titles, De La Salle has three and San Ramon Valley has one. EBAL teams have represented both finalists in each of the last four years. There was at least one EBAL team in the four finals before that. Berkeley and University-S.F. each lost to Monte Vista in the 2004 and 2005 finals, respectively. De La Salle was not yet a member of the EBAL when it won the 2007 title and finished runner-up to Monte Vista in 2006.

The Wolves clearly know the path they will need to take to get that championship, so

how are they better prepared for it than other years?

Hint: It’s not just chemistry.

Peter Worstell has depth this season. Perhaps more than in any previous season.

Freshman Austin French has come in and played a vital role in the Wolves attack, as has sophomore Peter Tagliaferri, Michael’s younger brother. With several role players who can play multiple positions, the Wolves aren’t forced to lean so heavily on their big three up front.

“Our depth at midfield and at attacker is adding a lot more value than ever before,” Peter Worstell said.

“We can preserve the horses. Over a 20 game schedule, those guys burn up a lot of fuel. In years past we’ve gone into the playoffs with those guys being pretty close to maxed out.”

And rest assured, if that extra bit of freshness helps San Ramon Valley get to the championship match on May 23, the Wolves seniors will do everything in their power to take care of the rest.

“We have the talent, and now it’s just time to really want it,” Tagliaferri said.

“And I know we do. We’ve got all the individual stuff. Now the only thing that’s missing is that ring. Everybody realizes that it’s not about the name on the back of the jersey, it’s about the name on the front.” ✪

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Open Water, Part II: Finding places to get comfortable outside the lane

I

n our second examination of adjusting to swimming in open water, we start with where you can literally get your feet wet.

PLACES TO SWIM

We triathletes in the SF bay area are lucky when it comes to open water venues. There are many places to practice your open water swimming, from lakes to enclosed areas of the Bay. As with any skill, the more time you can spend in open water, even if just playing to become more comfortable, the better your training and racing experience will be.

Especially if you are new to swimming in general, I recommend starting at Shadow Cliffs in Pleasanton, Quarry Lakes in Fremont, Cull Canyon in Liz Elliott Castro Valley, Lake Anza in Berkley, or any of the East Bay Parks District public swimming lakes. All of these open water venues have a shallow swim area, where you can acclimate to the water, and stand if you need. Spend as much time in the shallow area as you need to feel comfortable, each swim, and each season.

Most of the East Bay Regional Park District swimming areas also have a measured swim lane, where you can do laps when you are ready, and that works great to measure your progress.

The swim lanes are usually in deeper water. Only move into

Tri Steps

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the swim lane when you are ready physically and mentally, and always swim with a buddy in a supervised area.

At each of the EBRPD water areas, there is a $5-$6 per car parking fee each time you use the facilities. I recommend purchasing the annual parking pass for $50. It includes all access parking to all East Bay Regional Parks for the entire year. Purchase your annual parking pass online, the pass will be mailed to you, and go as much as you like for the entire year. Another great part about most of the parks is that they have excellent running trails and road biking near by. They are one stop shops for a triathlon practice!

OUTSIDE THE LANE Another valuable open water resource for more advanced swimmers is Orca. When you are physically and mentally ready, the Orca open water swimming organization, affiliated with Shadowcliffs in Pleasanton, will test you and certify you to swim outside the lane, across the lake, or really anywhere you’d like to swim when the lifeguard is not on duty.

There are rules you must follow for your safety and the safety of others. Mostly what we have already covered: always swim with a buddy, only swim where you are mentally comfortable swimming, wear a brightly colored cap so you can be easily seen, and some other basic safety guidelines. Swimming the entire lake, or at least outside the lanes, is valuable experience you can apply to your race swim. Many races are in lakes, and the more experience you have in open water in general, and specifically in a lake, the better prepared you’ll be both physically and mentally at race time.

For safety, I recommend attempting the test when you are fully comfortable with open water swimming. Remember, the test is about a 300-yard open water swim in less than 10 minutes with NO WETSUIT. The Orca organization will not pass people who rely on the wetsuit. A wetsuit in essence is a floatation device. If a person does not feel comfortable swimming without the floatation device, it is unsafe for them to swim the lake without a lifeguard.

Even if your swimming is really coming along, don’t rush it. I suggest continued practice in the shallow end or the swim lane. Enjoy swimming! Don’t worry, you can contact Orca any time to arrange a personal test. It’s better to be very comfortable and safe in the lane before moving to the lake. Orca certification is $25 annually.

JOIN A TEAM Of course the best way to become comfortable, become a faster open water swimmer, or learn more tips and tricks to race in open water better, is to join a triathlon team with professional swim coaches. These coaches know the proper form for swimming, how to teach it, and how to train specifically for the swim section of a triathlon, not just swimming races. ✪ Liz Elliott is the Head Coach of the Tri-Valley Triathlon Club based in Dublin. Liz specializes in preparing beginner triathletes for their first race(s). She was an All-American swimmer in college, and has more than 20 years experience in teaching and coaching swimming. TVTC is an all inclusive endurance club for adults and has a summer high school team that begins in June 2012. Contact her at Liz@TriValleyTriClub.com

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Welcome to Impulse, your one-stop shop for gadgets, gizmos and gear. Compiled by staff writer Erik Stordahl, Impulse provides you with what’s currently hot on the market. This week we hit up some bomb hotel deals, check in with the Hoop Review, and visit some local businesses. Buckle up!

Renaissance clubsport

They’ve got killer deals for everyone attending the De La Salle Coaching Clinic. If you’re a coach and you want to learn from the godfather of high school pigskin, then you have to attend this clinic and you’ve gotta stay with these guys. Why? They’re charging only $89 (!) per room/night. As a former bellhop of this four-star establishment, I have to say: take the deal!

No, they didn’t pay me to say that (though they should’ve…it’s OK). It’s also super close to DLS, just 1.3784 miles away. Trust us, we Googled it (we didn’t but it really is close).

Delta Sign-A-Rama

If you’re a team, club or league then you HAVE to run an ad in our new section, “The Fence.” It’s easily the snazziest thing since sliced bread. Once you’ve done that, pick up your new banner at Delta Sign-A-Rama and put it up on fences (see what we did there?…) all over. They’ve got great deals all the time. Visit them online at www.deltasar.com

free hotel stay for coaches

Speaking of teams, clubs and leagues, our friends at the Hyatt Place in Roseville have a sick deal: Have your team stay with them and coaches stay FREE. It doesn’t get any cheaper than that. This is ideal for traveling teams with weekend tourneys in sight. They’ve got a breakfast that’s so bomb dot com you’ll have to eat it to believe it. For more info, give us a ring!

Hoop Review

Bob Larson

Raise your hand if you’re a baller with mad game (if you actually just raised your hand in the air while reading this in class, awesome). We don’t need to tell you that you should already be on an AAU team. And if you are, then you need to sign up for the Bay Area Memorial Day Classic, May 26-28 at NorCal Courts in Martinez. It’s being run by our friends at Hoop Review, a scouting service used by more than 200 college coaches. This is ideal for exposure and for finally getting a mailbox full of scholarship offers (something yours truly never got). If you’re not a baller and just a pure hoops junkie (like yours truly) then you should hit up this event to see some of the premier bball talent the area has to offer. They’re expecting 96 teams for one action-packed weekend. Go to www.hoopreview.net for more info.

HME DX300 headsets

These headsets are so legit, when you put one on you’ll think you’re Harbaugh dialing up a naked bootleg on a fourth-and-one with a ticket to the Super Bowl on the line. Seriously though, these headsets are super quality, very durable and comfortable. Get one at www.entouchsolutions.com or email pat@entouchsolutions.com.

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Fit 2 The Core

They just gave their gym a makeover and it looks pretty spiffy. Don’t believe us, have a look at these pics. Hit up our friends at Fit 2 the Core if you’re serious about whipping your bod into shape. Go to www.fit2thecore.com for more info on all their classes.

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All records through April 30 BASEBALL Rank (Last wk) School..............................Record 1. (7) Jesuit-Carmichael....................... 16-5 2. (5) De La Salle-Concord................... 14-3 3. (4) St. Mary’s-Stockton..................... 18-5 4. (2) Campolindo-Moraga................... 14-2-1 5. (6) Palo Alto....................................... 22-3 6. (1) St. Francis-Mountain View.......... 21-3-1 7. (3) Valley Christian-San Jose........... 20-5 8. (10) Deer Valley-Antioch..................... 16-1 9. (16) Davis............................................ 17-4 10. (9) Elk Grove..................................... 15-6 11. (14) Newark Memorial-Newark.......... 15-4 12. (18) Los Altos...................................... 17-6 13. (NR) Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove.......... 17-3 14. (NR) Dougherty Valley-San Ramon.... 15-3 15. (8) St. Ignatius-S.F............................ 15-7-1 16. (13) Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills.......... 14-7 17. (12) San Ramon Valley-Danville........ 12-5 18. (17) Granite Bay.................................. 15-4 19. (19) St. Mary’s-Berkeley..................... 13-4 20. (NR) Foothill-Palo Cedro..................... 23-2 SOFTBALL Rank (Last wk) School..............................Record 1. (1) Amador Valley-Pleasanton......... 18-0 2. (2) Archbishop Mitty-San Jose......... 21-2 3. (3) James Logan-Union City............ 15-1 4. (5) Woodcreek-Roseville.................. 18-3 5. (4) Heritage-Brentwood.................... 16-2 6. (6) Del Oro-Loomis........................... 16-3-2 7. (8) Newark Memorial-Newark.......... 15-3 8. (7) Alhambra-Martinez...................... 15-4 9. (9) San Benito-Hollister.................... 12-1 10. (12) California-San Ramon................ 14-4 11. (10) Sierra-Manteca............................ 12-4-1 12. (11) Casa Roble-Orangevale............. 14-3 13. (13) St. Francis-Sacramento.............. 14-7-1 14. (14) Concord....................................... 14-4 15. (15) Pleasant Gove-Elk Grove........... 15-9 16. (17) Monte Vista-Danville................... 11-7 17. (16) Del Campo-Fair Oaks................. 12-5-1 18. (18) Tamalpais-Mill Valley................... 17-3 19. (NR) Rancho Cotate-Rohnert Park..... 14-1 20. (20) Westmont-Campbell................... 16-3

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Jonathan Hawthorne

Crystal Ball Time Our look ahead at what’s in store for the NCS baseball postseason

With North Coast Section baseball charging down the homestretch, SportStars takes a moment to examine the top three divisions and how we expect each to look like when playoff baseball gets underway on May 22.

DIVISION I

■ TOP CONTENDERS: De La Salle, Deer Valley, San Ramon Valley and Castro Valley — Most would probably be shocked if De La Salle and Deer Valley didn’t end up on opposite ends of the brackets and set on a collision course. The Wolverines carried a 16-1 record into May and were a perfect 9-0 in the month of April. Meanwhile, De La Salle opened May with a 14-3 record behind first-year Spartans coach David Jeans. Deer Valley may have a slight edge in pitching behind the arms of Ricky Delgado, Tyler Vistalli and Jacob Peters.

However, De La Salle was hitting .324 as a team on May 1.

■ BEST TEAM NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT: California — With the exception of a 4-0 loss to De La Salle on April 25, few Division I teams have been hotter recently than the Grizzlies. Thomas Peter and Nick Allman lead an offense that

has looked quite impressive during a late-April string of East Bay Athletic League victories.

■ TEAM MOST LIKELY TO PULL AN UPSET: Heritage — The Patriots could probably be considered underachievers after some early-season hype resulted in a 10-8 record through the first two months of the season. However, senior ace Paul Blackburn gives Heritage a chance to win every time he takes the mound.

■ GOOD KNOWLEDGE: This division, which was known as 3A East Bay prior to 2009, hasn’t had a repeat champion since De La Salle went back-to-back in 1996 and 1997.

■ FINALS PREDICTION: Deer Valley 5, De La Salle 3.

DIVISION II

■ TOP CONTENDERS: Campolindo, Dougherty Valley, Newark Memorial and Casa Grande-Petaluma — Really we feel that we could probably just list one team here, and that’s twotime defending champion Campolindo. The Cougars’ senior class includes James Marvel, John Cushing and Austin Rei, all of which helped launch this program into current title

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Bob Sansoe/De La Salle

LEFT: Tanner Pinkston and Dougherty Valley established themselves as a serious contender in the Division II playoffs. ABOVE: Last year’s runner-up in Division I, De La Salle, ought to be in the thick of the championship race once again. They are likely to have company, however. run as impact sophomores in 2010. Campolindo can’t expect a cake walk, however, as this may be the strongest Division II field in quite some time.

■ BEST TEAM NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT: Dougherty Valley — That’s right, they were already listed as a top contender, but the Wildcats flew largely under the radar for 14 games until Game No. 15 when they blanked Campolindo 3-0. And while that may have ended the team’s obscurity, it still isn’t likely to go into the tournament with a ton of buzz behind it.

■ TEAM MOST LIKELY TO PULL AN UPSET: College Park — The Falcons typically find themselves as massive underdogs in Division I this time of year. But their return to Division II makes them quite dangerous, as does freshman phenom Joe DeMers.

■ GOOD KNOWLEDGE: This Campolindo features seven different players with commitments to four-year college programs.

They are seniors Marvel (Duke), Cushing and Rei (Washington), Cole Rider (Johns Hopkins), and juniors Trent Shelton (Oregon State), Robbie Tenerowicz (Cal) and Brett Stephens (UCLA).

■ FINALS PREDICTION: Campolindo 2, Newark Memorial 1

DIVISION III

■ TOP CONTENDERS: Acalanes, Miramonte, El Cerrito and Sonoma Valley — Through April 30, Acalanes boasted a 13-5 record with all but one of its five losses coming to Division I or II programs. The Dons’ only Division III loss prior to May was a 4-3 defeat at Miramonte on April 19. Coincidentally, the Matadors didn’t have a single loss to a Division III team. El Cerrito may not have an

offense that will scare many teams, but their pitching and defense are rock solid. Finally, Sonoma Valley finished April with an 18-3 record and 158 runs scored on the season.

■ BEST TEAM NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT: Encinal — The Jets can easily be forgotten in the Bay Shore Athletic League, but a 15-5 record through April is worth mentioning. So are the stats that pitcher and first baseman Byron Buckley are posting. In 19 games, Buckley is hitting .458 with 12 extra base hits and 25 RBI. He’s also posted a 6-1 record on the mound.

■ TEAM MOST LIKELY TO PULL AN UPSET: Tamalpais-Mill Valley — Something tells us that a team like Red-Tail Hawks just might get overlooked in a first-round matchup with a higher seed. Tamalpais went 14-5 through the first two months of the season, and did so on some seriously competent pitching. Entering May, nine different pitchers had combined for a team E.R.A. of 1.69 with 134 strikeouts over 124 innings of work.

■ GOOD KNOWLEDGE: In each of the past two seasons, the Division III final went extra innings and was unable to be completed on the same day the first pitch was thrown. In 2010, a time-limit enforcement forced Miramonte and El Cerrito to show up two days later to complete their 15-inning game with the Matadors winning 3-0. A year ago, darkness suspended a 10-inning game between Acalanes and San Marin-Novato, and after scheduling issues prevented from resuming, both teams were declared co-champions.

■ FINALS PREDICTION: Acalanes 4, El Cerrito 2. ✪ — Chace Bryson

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Centerfield: A good place to look for high school players with most tools In the last edition of this column, I talked about shortstops and how many of the best high school shortstops end up at other positions later in their careers. They often get moved to the mound, outfield, catcher or end up on a corner in the infield. However, I think you can find a true center fielder at an early age.

On a whole, high school outfielders who project to be significant contributors at the professional level are generally found in centerfield.

From a scouting perspective, if a scout likes a high school outfielder, he generally will REALLY like him and will likely have to take him in the upper rounds. If you are going to see a “5-tool” prospect (a rare breed) you are most likely to find him in centerfield. The 5-tool high school center fielder just appears to be a much more polished player than the toolsy shortstop who makes a bunch of errors, and therefore more of them are drafted in the upper rounds.

For evidence, let’s look back at the 2005 MLB Draft when 10 high school players were drafted in the first round. Of those 10 players, four were center fielders (Cameron Maybin, Andrew McCutchen, Jay Bruce, Colby Rasmus), two were shortstops (Justin Upton, C.J. Henry), one catcher (Brandon Snyder) and three were pitchers (Chris Volstad, Mark Pawelek, Aaron Thompson). We know now that Upton was moved to right field, and after two minor league seasons Henry was also moved to the outfield.

It is simply easier for an elite high school athlete to play centerfield in a polished manner than it is for them to play shortstop. Fly balls don’t have bad hops and they are not affected by below average playing surfaces Grant Diede, Acalanes or by pitchers throwing 77-mph meatballs that are hammered at them by a generation of young players who spend countless hours working on their hitting as opposed to their defense.

So who are the best outfielders in the Bay Area? The top senior prospects are Braden Bishop (University of Washington) of St. Francis-Mountain View and B.J. Boyd of Palo Alto.

Both have plus speed, hitting tools and defensive tools. Boyd isn’t as polished as Bishop but his speed and raw power are explosive tools while Bishop is a plus thrower and a more polished ball-tracker.

Boyd gets an added plus as a left-handed hitter, though both have some big tools and have performed well this spring. Believe me, that counts. Both were participants at Bay Area World Series.

Other local seniors headed off to play college ball are Grant Diede (Acalanes-Lafayette), Preston Caldera (Archbishop Mitty-San Jose) and Jordan Winawer (Menlo-Atherton). Diede is headed to Cal, Caldera signed with San Diego, and Winawer is headed to Cornell. Sean Peters (De La Salle) is a good-looking athlete who recently committed to Cal. Some juniors I have seen and like are Hunter Mercado-Hood (De La Salle), Brett Stephens (Campolindo-Moraga), Jack Klein and Jack Stinn (St. Ignatius-S.F.), Draco Roberts (Dougherty Valley-San Ramon), Marcus Wise (Deer Valley-Antioch), Jordan Paroubeck (Serra-San Mateo) and Blake Guardino (California-San Ramon). All except Mercado-Hood and Paroubeck will be BAWS participants. ✪

Scout It Out Loud

Blaine Clemmens

Blaine Clemmens is the founder and director for the Bay Area World Series showcase event that will celebrate its ninth year this June. He has been a Bay Area scout for several years, spending time as the recruiting coordinator for USF and the Northern Californa scouting supervisor for the Atlanta Braves. For more information on the Bay Area World Series, visit www. bayareaworldseries.com.

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For young athletes, CrossFit may not be the best fit

C

rossFit is the latest trend in fitness. Millions tune in to watch CrossFit athletes display Herculean strength, endurance, and physical adaptability on

ESPN. The CrossFit “program” is based on combining a variety of movement- and strength-based disciplines including power lifting, gymnastics, martial arts, Olympic lifting, kettlebells, and other forms of physical overload into a short, intense workout.

The emphasis is intentionally non-specific randomness with the argument that they want their participants to “be ready for any challenge” life or sports may throw their way. Each day, the goal is complete physical exhaustion either through maximal reps, maximal weight, maximal speed, or some combination of all three components during the involved exercises.

The inherent problem with this approach is simple: I watch young athletes get knocked around at high intensity day after day on the field, diamond, court or other playing arena for an entire season or year. These same athletes come to me in various states of disarray: injured, immobile, overused, in pain, etc.

They also have an array of skills they need to improve for performance gains and have certain pre-dispositions for injury in their respective sports It’s my job as a coach to carefully assess the specific needs, and implement protocols that will aid in the prevention of these injuries as well as result in performance gains.

Logic dictates that it doesn’t make any sense to “do hard stuff until you’re exhausted.” In other words a great way to increase your athletes’ injury potential and decrease their skill potential is through a CrossFit style program.

In it’s true sense, CrossFit is not really a program. It’s a group exercise class. There is no central program design theory other than to use exercises involving large muscle groups for maximal reps, weight, and speed. There is no consideration for individual need, skill development, or circumstance.

It has gotten the attention of parents, coaches and athletes because it’s really hard. They figure if it’s really hard, it must be good. However, after millions of dollars in research and hundreds of thousands of hours of application, our knowledge and understanding of athletic performance and injury prevention goes well beyond “doing a lot of hard stuff. “ The inherent dangers of an unpredictable environ-

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ment and unrelenting maximal physical output in sports are what make athletic careers short and over time has negative consequences on performance if not managed correctly.

Random “hard” programs create a considerably high biomechanical and structural cost. This means repeated, unbalanced, excessive loads on joints, tendons — the same stresses that shorten careers in sports.

When these biomechanical costs are controlled through proper program design with varying intensities, progressions, volumes and balanced exercise selection, long term negative consequences are minimized. When they aren’t controlled, it’s a formula for injury and skill deterioration.

So before involving young athletes in a CrossFit class, or any other exercise program for that matter, parents and coaches should educate themselves as to what they are getting into from a programming, knowledge and instructor experience standpoint.

Everyone must consider the athlete’s specific needs and assess if the program and instructor are going to accommodate those specific needs.

Training Time Tim Rudd for IYCA

In other words a great way to increase your athletes injury potential and decrease their skill potential is through a CrossFit style program.

Don’t get me wrong, athletes need to train hard. But training hard and training smart don’t have to be mutually exclusive. They need to do hard stuff at the right time.

This is what improves performance and decreases injury, giving way to a long, healthy, successful athletic career. ✪ 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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BASEBALL/SOFTBALL 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 925-7083173.

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Cabernet Baseball Club The Livermore-based 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. 925-4161600, www.thepitchingcenter. com.

EJ Sports EJ Sports provides individual, group, team, coaching and manager clinics in many

May 3, 2012

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 full-service baseball/softball training academy. We provide comprehensive, fullyintegrated 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 available for students age 8-High School.

Info: 925-416-1600, www. thepitchingcenter.com.

City of Walnut Creek 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 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. Go to www.calstars.org for more info.

FastBreak Basketball Your daughter will learn the fundamentals of basketball, gain valuable game experience, and work with some of the area’s most knowledgeable female basketball players.

Carondelet coach Margaret Gartner will expose your daughter to the same drills she has used throughout her 24 years of coaching at the high school level. Gartner’s basketball experience includes playing at the

high school & college level.

She’s instructed numerous prestigious AAU clinics, and assisted at many local and regional basketball camps.

She has spent the past 24 years coaching basketball at Carondelet with 20 of those years as head varsity coach.

Her varsity teams have won the league and section titles 12 times in the last 13 years.

The program has reached the Div. II State Championship game four times, winning in 2004. Gartner has had 18 players move on to compete at the college level during my coaching tenure. This also includes a current player at Stanford, future player at Notre Dame and Carondelet’s first WNBA player.

There are five week-long sessions available. Session I runs June 18-22 and is for grades 6-10; Session II, June 25-29, Grades 1-6; Session III, July 9-13, Grades 1-6; Session IV, July 16-20, Grades 6-10; Session V, July 23-27, Grades 4-10.

If your daughter wants to learn and/or improve her basketball fundamentals and skills while having fun; then

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FastBreak Basketball camp is the answer. Info: www.

FastBreakBball.com; or email Fastbreak_club@yahoo.com Golden State Warriors The Golden State Warriors welcome players of all skill levels to participate in a variety of spring camps that will be held in 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. Info: camps@gs-warriors. com; 510-986-5310.

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. 408-2794123.

City of Walnut Creek Basketball is Fun beginner camp. July 11-21, 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: 925-952-4450, www. walnutcreeksportsleague. com.

CHEER CheerGyms.com Six camps are offered from June through July: Coaches Camp, Freedom High School 2-day Cheer and Dance Camp, 2-Day Cheer Camps at ALL Cheergyms.com facilities, Jr. High/High School Cheer Camp-California Session 1, Individual/Group Stunt Cheer Camp, Jr. High/High School Cheer Camp (Elite)-California Session 2. For more info: 925- 685-8176, 866-6857615, info@cheergyms.com; www.cheergyms.com.

East Bay Sports Academy East Bay Sports Academy

offers the best in gymnastics and cheerleading training. Our top of the line recreational and competitive programs earned us the exclusive “Best in the East Bay” award for Best Gymnastics Classes 2011.

You can bring your team to be a part of the excitement, as our talented & motivated staff becomes your team’s best support system. All of our team camps are custom-built to complement your coaching needs and team goals.

Info: 925-680-9999, www.

EastBaySportsAcademy.com.

ENRICHMENT 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,

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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 “in-house” 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. Info: www. dianneadair.org.

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: 925-680-4400, www.

AspirePilatesCenter.com.

Fit 2 The Core As a Youth Conditioning, Speed/Agility and Nutrition Specialist with the International Youth Conditioning Association, Fit2-The-Core 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. 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 twoweek free pass at www. fasteryoungathletes.com, or call 925-639-0907 for more information.

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: 925-289-8042; www. transformfxfitness.com.

Walnut Creek Sports & Fitness Walnut Creek Sports & Fitness is offering a wide range of different sports fitness camps and classes in 2012. Here are three we’re featuring. Pilates for Sports — An ideal form of fitness for athletes to improve performance & prevent injuries. Hardcore Golf Fitness — A four-week golfspecific fitness camp is the ultimate physical conditioning program for golfers of any age who want to take their

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game to the next level. TRX Team Fitness —A cutting-edge sixweek small group personal training program is a team-sports inspired program for athletes of all levels who want results in a challenging, motivating environment. For all info: Contact Bob Boos, Personal Training Director. Phone: (925)932-6400 or email: bob@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. Staff members are coaches, teachers and parents. Info: contact Mike Ivankovich at mivankovich@ acalanes.k12.ca.us.

Black Diamond Football Camp Black Diamond Football Camp is a four-day contact team camp from June 18-21 running from 4 p.m.-7:15 p.m. each day.

Cost is $1000 per team. This camp is designed to strengthen team concepts within YOUR program. Hosted by Pittsburg and Concord High Schools, it will take place at Pittsburg High.

There will be Individual drills and team periods to install your offensive/defensive schemes. There will be a 7-on-7 passing competition, a pass protection/blitz pickup session, team goalline challenges, and controlled, full-contact scrimmages. Info: Contact Coach Victor Galli at (925) 473-2390 ext. 7736.

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 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 position-specific 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.

GOLF 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, courtesy and judgment. 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

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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. 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 Skills Experience Classes and Summer Camps for

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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 MondaySaturday, 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.

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 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: 925-228-1801; 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 funfilled learning as you develop new friendships with other horsecrazy 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.

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. 925-6829517; www.usksmartialarts.com.

OUTDOOR/ADVENTURE SPORTS Bear Valley Mountain Bring the entire family to mountain summer camps. This summer, Bear Valley has residential & day camps for soccer, archery, climbing & a variety of outdoor adventures including kayaking, tennis, cycling, hiking, camp fires & so much more.

Bear Valley’s summer camps offer outdoor recreation programs for the whole family & is a great place to visit. 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

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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: www. concordreg.org ,925-671-3404.

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.

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: Info: www.keigwin.com; 650-949-5609.

RUGBY Diablo Rugby Youth rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States. Both noncontact 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 a positive rugby experience for boys at High School, Jr. High School and Youth levels. 925-381-5143, diabloyouthrugby@gmail.com; http://

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diabloyouthrugby.clubspaces.com.

SOCCER Diablo FC With a history that goes back two decades, the Diablo Futbol Club has proved to be the premier training ground for youth soccer players in the area.

Headquartered in Concord, Diablo FC offers training to boys and girls from levels U6 to U23, and has premier, gold, silver and bronze level teams with players from throughout Contra Costa, Solano and Alameda counties. For complete info, call (925) 798-GOAL or visit www.diablofc.org.

Gino’s Soccer Academy Gino’s Soccer Academy is in its 14th season of running summer soccer camps. We are offering eight oneweek programs this summer and have programs to challenge and enrich the game of every soccer player. 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 full-day sessions available. Ages 4-17.

Info: www.ginossocceracademy.com.

Heritage Soccer Club In 2012, HSC will not only offer a members-only summer soccer camp, but will offer two separate soccer camps — one for boys, June 25-28, and one for

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girls, July 9-12 – that will be open to the community.

In addition to the summer camps, HSC will conduct their annual 6v6 BlowOut tournament in June and their second annual Harvest Cup Tournament in October. HSC is based in the Pleasant Hill/ Martinez area and serves the surrounding community. Info: www.heritagesc.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. Info: 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 also offer specialized training for strikers and goalkeepers. We desire to promote personal

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responsibility, fitness, sportsmanship and teamwork. 510-758-5288, http://wccysl.com.

SWIMMING-DIVING 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. 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. Info: 925-2832100, www.ShermanSwim.com.

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 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 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! Players will be grouped according to level of play and age. ClubSport is located at 3737 Valley Vista Road in Walnut Creek. ClubSport Valley Vista members receive discounted rates. Info: 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.

Pacific Rim Volleyball 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. 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.

U.S. Youth Volleyball League The USYVL is the leader in developing and maintaining youth volleyball leagues for boys and girls ages 7-15. 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. Info: 888-9887985, www.USYVL.org.

WRESTLING Community Youth Center The CYC wrestling program offers young athletes the opportunity to

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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: 925671-7070, 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@yahoo.com.

MULTI-SPORT De La Salle Camps De La Salle High School will host athletic summer camps to provide a fun, skill-building week for kids.

They offer the following sessions: Football, Track & Field, Lacrosse, Wrestling, Quarterback & Wide Receiver, Lineman, Volleyball, Baseball, Soccer, Water Polo and Strength & Conditioning. Week-long sessions will run June 9-June 28. Online registration. For more info: summercamps@dlshs.org; 925-2888100, Ext. 7090.

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. Our Team Training programs are designed to deliver a challenging workout that is organized, educational, progressive

and customized for entire sport teams. Info: 925-833-0100, velocitydublin.com.

Cal 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 from June through August. 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. Information: CalBears.com/camps. Or email 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: www.concordreg.org, 925-671-3404.

Saint Mary’s College 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, baseball, boys basketball, girls basketball, golf, rugby, girls lacrosse, strength and conditioning, boys soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball. Info: Click “summer camps” at www.smcgaels. com for detailed information and to register online. More info: smccamps@stmarys-ca.edu, 925-631-4FUN (4386).

City of Walnut Creek We offer 9-13 year-olds a fully-staffed, supervised recreational athletic camp. The program is eight weeks of sessions with your

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choice of two different sports for each session, with a ninth week offering bowling. Our camp is designed to teach, develop training skills, basic individual skills, sportsmanship, team strategies and concepts as well as build confidence and self discipline. Sports include: Tennis, Baseball, Multi-sport, Flag Football, Soccer, Lacrosse, Basketball, Golf, Volleyball and Bowling. Camp offerings start the week of June 18th and run through August 17th. Info: www.walnutcreekrec.org or call 925-943-5858. ✪

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Advertiser Index ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒ ❒❒

A A A Northern California, Nevada & Utah........................................................ 10 A Higher Perspective........................................................................................ 20 Acalanes Football Dons Camp.......................................................................... 38 All World Sports................................................................................................. 7 All- Star Academy............................................................................................ 43 Army National Guard Recruiter........................................................................... 5 Atherton Lacrosse............................................................................................ 42 Back Forty B B Q............................................................................................... 20 Big O Tires.......................................................................................................... 2 Black Diamond Football Camp......................................................................... 44 Blankenship Baseball....................................................................................... 41 Cabernet Indoor Sports.................................................................................... 33 Cal Athletic Camps........................................................................................... 45 Championship Athletic Fundraising................................................................. 36 Cheer Gyms...................................................................................................... 22 Children’s Hospital And Research Center........................................................... 27 Club Sport........................................................................................................ 14 Community Youth Center................................................................................. 44 Concord Youth Football & Cheerleading........................................................... 42 Crowne Plaza................................................................................................... 38 De La Salle High School Football Coaches Clinic................................................ 36 De La Salle High School- Summer Camps......................................................... 37 Delta Patriots Youth Football & Cheer............................................................... 40 Diablo Car Wash & Detail Center....................................................................... 44 Diablo Rock Gym.............................................................................................. 34 Diablo Trophies & Awards................................................................................. 34 Dianne Adair Enrichment Programs................................................................. 21 Dream Courts U S A.......................................................................................... 23 E J Sports Elite Baseball Services...................................................................... 43 Earthquake Arabians........................................................................................ 40 Earthquake Arabians........................................................................................ 45 East Bay Sports Academy................................................................................. 47 East Bay Summer Camps 2012......................................................................... 39 Excellence In Sport Performance...................................................................... 38 Fast Break Basketball Camps............................................................................ 32 Fit 2 The Core.................................................................................................... 31 Halo Headband................................................................................................ 38 Head First Baseball........................................................................................... 44 Heavenly Greens.............................................................................................. 48 Home Team Sports Photography...................................................................... 32 Hyatt Place Sacramento / Roseville.................................................................. 27 Image Imprint.................................................................................................. 38 Intelligent Choice Fundraising Solutions.......................................................... 41 Kinders B B Q...................................................................................................... 3 Metropolitan Golf Links.................................................................................... 45 Mission Hills Of Hayward Driving Range........................................................... 44 Mountain Mike’s Pizza...................................................................................... 15 Norcal Baseball................................................................................................ 43 Norcal Courts.................................................................................................... 35 Oakley Raiders................................................................................................. 41 Pacific Rim Volleyball Academy........................................................................ 42 Passthaball....................................................................................................... 44 Pleasant Hill Youth Football Rebels.................................................................. 40 Renegades Volleyball Club............................................................................... 43 Rocco’s Pizza..................................................................................................... 34 Rockin Jump..................................................................................................... 28 Saint Mary’s Athletic Summer Camps............................................................... 45 Scandia Family Center...................................................................................... 44 Sheldon Jr. Huskies Youth Football & Cheer...................................................... 42 Sherman Swim School..................................................................................... 41 Simply Selling Shirts........................................................................................ 34 Sky High Sports................................................................................................ 34 State Farm - Kelly Sopak................................................................................... 31 The First Tee Of Contra Costa............................................................................. 45 The Golf Club At Roddy Ranch.......................................................................... 21 Tri Valley Tri Club.............................................................................................. 16 United States Youth Volleyball.......................................................................... 38 USKS Martial Arts............................................................................................. 45 Velocity Sports Performance.............................................................................. 6 Velocity Sports Performance............................................................................ 34 Walnut Creek Pony Baseball Club..................................................................... 41 Walnut Creek Sports & Fitness.......................................................................... 17 Walnut Creek Swim Club.................................................................................. 44 Xtreme Tumble And Cheer Gym........................................................................ 40

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Livermore senior first baseman McKenzie Hubert fields a throw from across the diamond to retire a hustling Johanna Grauer of Amador Valley during the Livermore Stampede championship on April 7.

Photo by Phil Walton

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