CA Issue 29, 08.11.2011

sportstars descends on mccovey’s Pg. 5

vol. 2. issue 29

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august 11, 2011

california

endure | excel | achieve

show n’ tellez

big swinger dials into area code games pg. 28

scout’s honor club softball’s place to be seen Pg. 18

storm brewing

soccer’s gonna take the world by storm pg. 22

not all dreams end at d-1. pg. 12 being great? of course it ain’t easy. pg. 25

NorCal’s best young hockey talent will play anywhere. Pg. 14

heel pain can be managed. pg. 32

all access

travel softball clubs like the sorcerers softball academy are the focus of college scouts. page 18

“Taking the world by storm” event breakdown, rosters.

PAge 22 First Pitch..........................................6 Behind the Clipboard.....................7 Locker Room...................................8 AAA SportStar of the Week.......11 Wally’s World.................................12 Training Time..................................25 Tee2Green......................................31 Health Watch.................................32 Impulse............................................33 Camps + Clinics............................34 Photo Finish....................................38

Come see 4

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ON THE COVER Kyle Kruenegel leads crop of NorCal hockey talent. Pg. 14. Photo by: Shawn Pappageorgas

Aug. 24 See Pg. 5 Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

When sporting dreams need room to grow, no cornfield is safe

A

t Issue 29, we now feature our 16th Rugby might not be the best idea, either. different sport on the cover. Hockey.

The field designer would certainly want to You probably didn’t see that one take into account the corn’s proximity to coming did you? Not in August, anyway. the sideline. For the player sprawling out And If you WERE expecting to see a hockey of bounds, that might not be comfortable. cover from us, you certainly could not have Rugby folk are bruised and battered enough expected the photo to be shot in a cornfield. by the sport itself, they don’t need fullyWell, we like to keep you on your toes. mature corn stalks adding insult to injury.

Certainly the athletes throughout NorthWere I to have my own cornfield, and ern California are keeping us on our toes. money was no object, I’d probably go the We didn’t expect to find a hockey player baseball route. And based on the competiwho plays amongst his grandfather’s corn tive nature of pick-up Wiffle ball played crop, either. Really, who would? In Manteca? amongst the staff here, I’d say baseball C’mon. would be the popular choice throughout The discovery, however, led to a quality SportStars Headquarters. It’s cliche, of exchange here at SportStars Headquarters. course, but it would be hard to beat. No Mike Wolcott, who has endeared himself symmetrical dimensions for my field, to many of you as Wally, was in Antioch though. when he came across the story of Kyle KruWhat would you do with your cornfield? enegel (the cover athlete seen high-sticking We’d love to know. Send your answers to an ear of corn).

Editor@SportStarsOnline.com.

Wally entered my office with a grin and Did I mention we have hockey on the said, “You’re gonna like this one.” cover? We’re kind of fired up about it.

History has shown that when Wally opens a conversation with that line, he tends to be right.

Sometimes, as we near our final day of He then proceeds to share the story of production for an issue, we’ll get a late arKyle and of how a full-size hockey rink riving advertisement that we need to find ended up in a cornfield in Manteca. I will a home for. And on occasion, that means leave out the details, allowing you to get the cutting out one of our usual departments. full effect from Wally’s feature beginning on Photo Finish has played the victim in the page 14. past, but this week it was Club Scene.

“It’s the Rink of Dreams!,” I shouted However, we don’t want to let this issue emphatically, as he wrapped up what he’d go without mentioning some of the club learned. accomplishments we had planned for this “It is, the Rink of Dreams,” he concurred. week’s Scene. Therefore, here is a lightning Thanks to a 1989 baseball movie that did round version of Club Scene. fairly well for itself, any sporting venue that’s The Mustang Soccer Club completed its constructed amongst a cornfield must have own Mustang Girls Stampede on Aug. 8 “Dreams” in its title. That is a deal-breaker which we will not budge on. and walked away with three titles among Chace@ The story of Kruenegel’s epic rink got us the 14 divisions ranging from U9-U17.

SportStarsOnline.com thinking. First of all, what is it about corn?

The Mustang Impact (U10 Gold), Mustang What did it do to become the vegetableBlaze (U12 Gold) and Mustang Xpolosion (925) 566-8503 bearing plant of choice when it comes to (U14 Premier) were all champions. Marin families building their own personal sportFC 95 Blue outlasted the grueling U17 ing venues? I mean, is it any less cool if a Premier bracket, winning its quarterfinal, soccer field takes shape at the expense of semifinal and championship match all by a potato field? Probably not, but it doesn’t 1-0 margins. conjure up the same mystique.

The Lamorinda Water Polo Club 16U One would have to think that corn stalks (10th Grade-Under) squad — which was everywhere hate Kevin Costner. Alas, we featured on our July 14 East Bay cover — closed out an digress. undefeated summer by winning the Platinum Division of the While building a baseball field or hockey rink amongst the SwimOutlet.com Junior Olympics in Irvine on Aug. 2. They corn seemed to turn out well, we can think of some others came from behind to win the final 12-10 over Los Angeles which might be a tad more ill-advised. Namely, golf.

WPC. The idea of stepping off one’s back porch and facing a And finally, the Danville Hoots baseball club reached the reachable par 4 — a tee box which is always uncrowded and Connie Mack World Series in Farmington, NM. The team a fairway that’s always open — is appealing. But if it’s a fairlasted only two games in the double-elimination bracket, but way lined with corn, anything that’s offline will undoubtedly they still came home with one title — the Home Run Derby trigger a long look amongst four- and five-foot vegetation. crown. Chris Keck of Amador Valley-Pleasanton (SportStars And even if you find it, you won’t be able to play it. I already cover boy from March 10) hit three homers in each of the do enough of that on a real golf course. I’ll skip the home first two rounds, and then had enough left to beat Myles edition.

Debol of the Ann Arbor (MI) Travelers 1-0 in the final. ✪

Worth Mentioning

FIRST PITCH Chace Bryson Editor

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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, Mike Wolcott, Mitch Stephens, Doug Gardner, Matt Smith, Clay Kallam, Jim McCue, Eric Gilmore, Dave Kiefer, Liz Elliott, Tim Rudd Photography Butch Noble, Bob Larson, Jonathan Hawthorne, Darryl Henick, Norbert von der Groeben Interns Jenna Calamusa, Julius Rea, Gerardo Recinos, Jonathan Hawthorne, Emily Van Buskirk Creative Department Art@SportStarsOnline.com Production Manager Mike DeCicco. Ext. 103 • MikeD@SportStarsOnline.com Publisher/President Mike Calamusa. Ext. 106 • Mike@SportStarsOnline.com Advertising & Calendar/Classified Sales Sales@SportStarsOnline.com Account Executives Mike Wolcott Ext. 109 • MikeW@SportStarsOnline.com; Erik Stordahl • ErikS@Sport StarsOnline.com (Special Sections, Calendar, Marketplace sales) 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 Directors Dennis Erokan, CEO, Placemaking Group Roland Roos, CPA, Roland Roos & Co Susan Bonilla, State Assembly Drew Lawler, Managing Director, AJ Lawler Partners Brad Briegleb, Attorney At Law community SportStars™ Magazine A division of Caliente! Communications, LLC 5356 Clayton Rd., Ste. 222 • Concord, CA • 94521 info@SportStarsOnline.com www.SportStarsOnline.com

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your ticket to bay area sports admit one; rain or shine This Vol. #2, August 2011 Whole No. 29 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).

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Losses can sometimes help a team, but wins always help a program Our volleyball coach schedules a lot of very good teams in preseason. We wind up losing a lot of games but he says it makes us better. Shouldn’t we play some teams we can beat?

S.A., Santa Rosa

S

cheduling is always tricky, but I have to disagree with the theory that playing good teams and losing badly makes a team better — and it definitely doesn’t make a program better.

But before we go any further, let’s explore the difference between “team” and “program.”

It’s easy to confuse the varsity team with a school’s program, especially from the outside. If the varsity team is below .500, most people will assume the program — that is, all those involved, from young players to parents to coaches — is struggling as well. But if the freshman team is winning, and the JVs are full of freshmen and have a great record, and middle school girls are excited about coming to play at the high school, then the program as a whole is in very good shape even if the varsity team isn’t winning as much as people would like.

It’s important for coaches to realize, though, that the wins and losses at the varsity level affect all aspects of the program, and that sometimes the primary goal isn’t necessarily to have the best var-

sity result but rather to build an overall program.

So let’s take the case above, where the varsity team is below .500 and everything else is great — there’s still a perception that the program is struggling. But what if the varsity coach instead scheduled a couple more wins (which can be done very easily by just looking at MaxPreps) and the team’s record was two or three games better? Now the whole program looks better, even if maybe the varsity team didn’t get a lot better by playing those weak teams.

And here’s another aspect: When players come to school the day after a game, their friends will always ask how things went. Compare the two answers in terms of their impact on the perception of the program: 1) We lost to a really good team. No, it wasn’t very close, but the other team had this one girl who’s going to UCLA. 2) We won — that’s our third win in a row. I got to play a lot and so did Shelly, and after the game we all went out to pizza and had a great time.

Maybe for the varsity team, the first game did more good, but for the program as a whole the second outcome is much better. Not only are the players happy and upbeat, but now the school community — which in reality could care less how

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good the opponent is and where its best player is going to college — has a positive impression of the program.

And what that means is that maybe that pretty good athlete who was thinking of going out for cross country instead decides to play volleyball.

And maybe a couple of kids decide to go to a game since the team is winning. And maybe a seventh grader sees the score in the paper and wants to play on a winning team.

Of course, if your team is very good and is looking to do well in section playoffs and NorCals, then scheduling really good opposition makes a lot of sense. The team will presumably win enough games in league play and against other preseason opponents that the record will be good enough to get into postseason. And if the varsity team is that good, the program is probably in very good shape.

But I think it’s a mistake to assume that playing the best possible opposition is the best road to success at the high school level. Long-term success requires several different ingredients, but one of the most important is developing a positive image for the program outside the locker room — and the best way to do that is, simply, to win.

Behind the Clipboard Clay Kallam

Submit a question for Behind the Clipboard, email Coach Kallam at clayk@fullcourt.com

August 11, 2011

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7

rapid fire Alexandra Tate, Clayton Valley-Concord

Favorite slurpee/ smoothie flavor?

Nosebleed season tickets to your favorite team or one game in the best seats?

One thing you’re hoping to do before school starts?

Coolest arena/ field at which you’ve played?

Last big purchase you made?

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Morgan Matranga, Campolindo-Moraga

Lil Wayne

Train

Cherry slurpee mixed with Coke

Cherry

Blue raspberry

Season tickets

Season tickets

Best seats

Camping

Take a trip to South Africa

Go out for ice cream

Mt. Sac course, every obstacle has a name

Sunken Diamond at Stanford

Hillenbrand Aquatic Center

Shoes

Manicure

Andrew Allen

Last concert you saw?

Alex Martinez, James Logan-Union City

Running shoes

U. of Arizona

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she said what?!?

“Just over 40 percent of our participants are girls. So any event that is supportive and brings girls to the game of soccer, we think is fantastic.”

Sahar Milani, a marketing and public relations specialist for the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), speaking in regards to the ‘Taking the World By Storm” soccer clinic and exhibition game taking place at Tesoro Fields in Concord on Aug. 20. For more information on the event, turn to page 22s

5 1 .

8 5 : 1

The new Pacific Swimming age-group record for 17-18 year-old girls, set by recent Palo Alto High graduate Jasmine Tosky. She also happened to set the record on the world’s largest swimming stage, the FINA World Championships in Shanghai on July 28.

random act of factness Keith Peters/ Palo Alto Weekly

MaxPreps.com released it’s “watch list” for the Top 100 football recruits from the 2013 class on Aug. 4. California players held nine spots on the list, which included Michael Hutchings (LB/TE, De La Salle-Concord). The nine players tied for second with Georgia. The state with the most recruits on the list was Florida with 14. The official Top 100 for the 2013 class will be released in the spring.

Embrace the double-days!

A few years ago, one of us geniuses here at SportStars thought it would be a good idea to relive his high-school football glory days. He thought, ‘You know what would be great? A first-person account of a day in the life at two-aday practices by a slightly-past-his-prime former athlete.’ Seemed like a good idea at the time. You can imagine how that turned out. There was some, um, lingering soreness. That being said, as teams are ramping up for the coming gridiron season, here are our top five favorite things about Hell Week.

■ 1. Vomit. It tends to happen to someone at least once a day. It’s how you know you’re trying hard enough as a group.

■ 2. Hallucinations. Another measure of your effort. If, at some point during this charming week of sun-drenched physical madness, you have NOT seen a pink elephant in a tutu, chances are you need to do some more up-downs.

■ 3. The jelly-leg. You know that moment, right when you’ve finished your last sprint across the field and back (and of COURSE you reached down and touched the line. Of COURSE you did...)? You cruise (or lumber, as the case may be) to a halt, and all of a sudden it’s like you’re standing on the deck of a wildly pitching sailboat? We LOVE that feeling! Just try not to fall down.

Bob Larson You’ll never hear the end of it from your teammates and coaches. Now go get A player for Las Lomas-Walnut Creek goes through drills some water. prior to the 2010 season.

■ 4. Random bruising. The forearms and legs, you expect. But how did you get a bruise on your ear? We didn’t even know you COULD bruise your ear.

■ 5. The end. Easily the best thing about two-a-days: The moment they’re over, you know that games are right around the corner. And we say, “Bring ‘em on!”

— Bill Kolb

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who’s got next?

nominations: Editor@SportStarsonline.com

of the week

clare sorensen

christian brothers-sacramento . golf . senior

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Pebble Beach’s Spyglass Hill isn’t your average golf course. Majestic in appearance and even tougher to play, it’s home to some of the top tournaments in the nation.

One of those tournaments was the NCGA Junior Championships on July 25-26. Clare Sorensen emerged victorious with a 7-over, 151 in the day two-day event.

SportStars: Describe the first day of the tournament.

Clare Sorensen: The first round I shot a 79 (7-over). I had never played that course before and it’s very challenging. ... I was five shots back of the leader.

SportStars: You eagled the 10th hole to start day two. Take us through the shot.

CS: The pin was up front, you needed to have a really good drive. It was one of those weird moments when I shot it, it landed on the green and hit the pin.

SportStars: You’re starting your senior year in the fall. What’s in store for you this season?

CS: I had a really successful summer. ... I haven’t been playing golf that long; this was one of my first summers of having a full schedule. We had a decent team last year and are feeling really good about how we stand right now.

CLARE’S QUICK HITS Longest book you’ve read: Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows (759 pages, hardback).

Favorite golfers: Adam Scott, Steve Stricker Best shot: The eagle on the 10th hole at Spyglass Hill

honorable able ment mention ion honor

michael grenz The Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove golfer captured the boys championship flight at the NCGA Jr. Championship at Spyglass Hill (July 26). He was 1-under 215 over three rounds.

maggie steffens The Stanfordbound water polo star was named CalHiSports.com State Female Athlete of the Year.

She helped Monte Vista capture a 4th straight NCS title in November.

robert martinez The Dublin pitcher was on the winning end for the Connie Mack Western Regional championship game on July 31 as the Danville HOOTs knocked off the SoCal Renegades 2-0.

July 28, 2011

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Not every college dream has to end at Division-1

A

ll too often, the best stories about college sports never get told.

As a result, many of the young people who could most benefit by hearing those stories never get a chance — in more ways than one.

Few people understand this better than Oakland’s AJ Chan.

Like probably 99 percent of the other kids who pick up a ball, strap on shoulder pads or swing a bat, Chan grew up dreaming of playing Division I sports. So, when the aspiring football player received a letter from UCLA while still a sophomore at Piedmont High School, he figured he was on his way.

“Little did I know 20,000 other kids got a letter, too,” Chan said.

He tore up his knee as a junior, and any hopes of being a Bruin were pretty much discarded, right along with most of those 20,000 letters. But Chan did something far too many young people don’t do — he looked for the best available option.

He found it at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. He played football, studied economics and is putting his life’s lessons to good use as an owner at Ant’s Mind and Body, an Oakland business that specializes in training for Olympic, professional, high school and youth athletes.

That’s part of the story — the part that would usually get reported.

The rest of this particular story isn’t about the many Olympic or Division I athletes that pass through Chan’s gym. It’s about his efforts to help keep some of the rest of the area’s young athletes on the right path.

“Only 1 percent of kids who play high school basketball are going to be able to play Division I,” Chan said. “That means the other 99 percent aren’t.”

And that’s where he came up with the idea for the West Coast Exposure Basketball Camp, a one-of-its-kind event that will be held in Walnut Creek on Sept. 17-18.

In a nutshell, the camp is aimed at high school kids who want to go to college, would like to play college basketball and, in all honesty, aren’t going to play at a Division I school.

At the camp, 350 boys and girls will get an opportunity that has never before been available to them, or anyone else in this area: to learn from, and perform in front of, 25 basketball coaches from many of the country’s most prestigious colleges and prep schools.

“It’s a chance to put yourself in the best situation possible and see what the coaches tell you,” Chan said.

And these are coaches who know a thing

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West Coast Exposure Basketball Camp ■ When: Sept. 17-18, 2011 ■ Where: Tice Valley Gymnasium and Foothill Middle School, Walnut Creek ■ Open to: Boys and girls high school basketball players, grades 9-12 ■ Cost: $155 with preregistration by Aug. 27; $185 afterward.

■ E-mail: westcoastexposure@ gmail.com ■ Website: www.westcoast exposure.com ■ Phone: (510) 520-0634

WALLY’S WORLD Mike Wolcott MikeW@ SportStarsOnline.com (925) 566-8500 Ext. 109

or two about life as well as basketball. We’re talking coaches from prestigious schools such as MIT, Wesleyan, the University of Chicago and dozens of others from across the country, including one in our backyard, UC Santa Cruz.

As excited as many of the players are about the camp (it’s filling up quickly, Chan said), the coaches are even more excited.

“Coaches fight this battle every day, where kids say ‘I’m a Division I player’ and don’t want to talk to a Division III school,” Chan said. “But if you don’t end up as a Division I player, don’t give up on your dreams. At least give yourself a fighting chance.”

As is the case with anything in life, there are no guarantees at this camp. The coaches will coach, counsel and offer their honest opinion. If they’re interested in a player from camp attending their school, they will make contact.

But at least it’s an opportunity — one that far too many kids in Chan’s hometown never had. He can point in just about any direction from his North Oakland gym and rattle off the names of former prep standouts who didn’t take the right turn after their Division I dreams didn’t work out quite the way they’d always imagined.

Chan had a big-time college dream once, too. He ended up going a different direction, and it worked out for him.

He wants others to share in that life’s lesson.

“I was told it’s all about Division I and playing on TV,” he said. “But you know, if you shoot for the stars and don’t get there, you’re still pretty high up.”

Now, that’s a story worth telling. ✪

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Contributed

LEFT: Kyle Kruenegel practices his slapshot on the outdoor rink his family built for him in their Manteca cornfield. ABOVE: Lafayette native Nathan Churchill, 15, was recently drafted by Regina Pats (Saskatchewan, Canada) of the Western Hockey League.

“This is my most special place in all the world, Ray. Once a place touches you like this, the wind never blows so cold again. You feel for it, like it was your child.”

I

Moonlight Graham,“Field of Dreams”

magine if “the most special place” in your world didn’t exist anywhere close to home.

For the relatively small number of Bay Area athletes who call hockey their favorite sport, that’s pretty much a fact of life.

Let’s be honest -- the Bay Area is not known as a hotbed (or, in this case, a cold rink) of hockey success stories or opportunities, especially for young, aspiring players.

Kids growing up in the warm shadows of San Francisco and Oakland, with their combined five World Series and eight Super Bowl banners blowing in the usually warm breeze, just don’t often gravitate toward a sport played on ice — especially when the nearest natural ice is a fairly long plane ride away.

And, while the rosters of many Bay Area pro teams include athletes raised locally, there is a grand total of one Northern Caifornia native with any sort of connection to the entire National Hockey League — Brentwood’s Casey Wellman, who has played with the Minnesota Wild and is currently in their farm system.

So,what in the world would make a North State kid want to play hockey?

Well, obviously, there are exceptions. Standout exceptions. And, as is often the case, the exceptions to the rule sometimes make the best stories.

When SportStars set out to feature hockey for this issue — particularly, to find what’s available for kids, and where — we quickly noticed two themes:

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15

If you don’t have a cornfield to plow ...

Here is a list of public Northern California rinks that offer some form of hockey and the competitive youth clubs they house.

Visit SportStarsOnline.com to see a similar list for Southern California.

RINK, CITY, TEAM, PHONE ■ ANTIOCH INDOOR SPORTS, Antioch, Delta River Rats, (925) 778-6363 ■ Belmont Iceland, Belmont N/A 650-592-0532 ■ Cupertino Ice Center, Cupertino, California Cougars 408-446-2906 ■ Dublin Iceland, Dublin, Tri Valley Blue Devils 925-829-4445 ■ Sharks Ice at Fremont, Fremont, Santa Clara Valley Blackhawks 510-623-7200 ■ Gateway Ice Center, Fresno, Fresno Jr. Falcons 559-277-2233 ■ Oakland Ice Center, Oakland, Oakland Bears Junior Hockey 510-268-9000 ■ Winter Lodge, Palo Alto, N/A N/A ■ Ice Oasis, Redwood City, N/A, 650-3648090 ■ Skate Town, Roseville, Capital Thunder 916-783-8550 ■ Sacramento Iceland, Sacramento, North Stars 916-925-3121 ■ Yerba Buena Ice Skating Center, San Francisco, San Francisco Sabercats 415-820-3532 ■ Sharks Ice at San Jose, San Jose, San Jose Junior Sharks 408-279-6000 ■ San Mateo Ice Center, San Mateo, California Cougars 650-574-1616 Butch Noble

Players for the 16U Delta River Rats face off in a scrimmage in a recent practice at Antioch Indoor Sports.

1. There’s actually a surprising number of places to play (and learn how to play) both inline and ice hockey (a complete list runs with this package), and 2. Once a kid gets hooked on the sport and enjoys some success, they will go to any length to keep playing.

And we mean, any length.

This is a story about two such kids.

One, a Lafayette native, moved away from home as a teenager to chase his dream and, at the ripe old age of 15, lives in Chicago, 2,000 miles away from his parents, after already spending a year in Detroit.

The other can often be found skating at a rink in a cornfield behind his grandfather’s house in Manteca because his hometown rink was torn down several years ago, and his family thought he needed a closeto-home option for honing his skills.

Now, that’s a field of dreams. ◆◆◆ There may be no better place to start the story of hidden hockey stardom than Antioch. That’s the home of the Delta River Rats, who play and train at Steve Fosenburg’s Antioch Indoor Sports.

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The River Rats may not get a lot of notoriety outside of hockey rinks around the state, but inside, they’re as well-known as it gets. They recently brought home a truckload of metal from the Nor Cal Cup tournament in San Jose, taking the gold medal in three divisions and silver in two others. They also won the championship cup in the 8-under, 12-under and 14-under division at the National AAU inline tournament in Huntington Beach in July.

Among the top performers at the tournament was a player who practices not only in Antioch, but at the rink in a Manteca cornfield.

Kyle Kruenegel, 17, won both the hardest shot (he has a 95 mileper-hour slapshot) and fastest skater awards at the Huntington Beach tournament. According to Fosenburg, who has been one of Kruenegel’s coaches since he was 7, he’s the 198th-ranked hockey prospect in the United States.

In addition to his success in inline hockey, he’s tearing it up on the ice as well. As a member of the Tri Valley Blue Devils U18AA team out of Dublin, the defenseman has nine goals and 24 assists this season.

So how did a boy from Manteca get interested in hockey? His story is pretty typical that way — it all comes back to family ties.

■ Redwood Empire Ice Arena, Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Flyers 707-546-7147 ■ South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena, South Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe Grizzlies 530-542-6262 ■ Stockton Oak Park Ice Arena, Stockton, Stockton Colts 209-937-7432 ■ Vacaville Ice Sports, Vacaville, N/A 707-455-0225 ■ BLADIUM SPORTS & FITNESS CLUB, Alameda, (510) 814-4999 ■ DRY ICE ROLLER HOCKEY ARENA, Oakland, (510) 638-9097 ■ SILVER CREEK SPORTSPLEX, San Jose, (408) 225-1843

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“I played soccer up to my freshman year and baseball until I was 11,” Kruenegel said. “One of my brother’s best friends invited me to a game, and after that, I decided to try.”

From there, his brother, Tyler, only became a bigger influence.

“He encourages me to strive to be the best I can be by providing me with constructive criticism after the games,” Kruenegel said.

Now — about that cornfield that graces our cover.

Kruenegel did most of his skating at a rink in Lathrop that closed a few years ago. He continued developing as a hockey player by commuting to rinks in faraway places such as Antioch and Davis.

His family, however, added a closer-to-home option — in a scene right out of “Field of Dreams,” they built an inline hockey rink in the cornfield behind his grandfather’s house.

It’s a popular workout spot not only for Kruenegel, but his friends and teammates as well.

“When people first see it, they’re astonished,” Kruenegel said. “They’ve never seen anything like it.”

Quite possibly because there IS no other place like it. Try googling “cornfield hockey rink.”

For Kruenegel, it’s perhaps the biggest and best example of the kind of support he’s gotten from his family for a sport that, in any other way, doesn’t have much of a connection with the Central Valley.

“If it wasn’t for my parents providing the support, encouragement, and finances I would not have had all the different opportunities to skate in so many different places,” Kruenegel said.

For example, he recently took part in a national scouting

event attended by 150 players in Rochester, N.Y., after qualifying through a series of other tryouts on the West Coast. From here, his goal is to “play as much hockey as I can” before college, play in college and see where it leads from there.” ◆◆◆ Meanwhile, two thousand miles away, another Northern California native is on a big-time hockey journey of his own.

Nathan Churchill is 15 years old. Thanks to hockey — particularly, his talent as a goaltender — he hasn’t lived in his hometown of Lafayette full-time since he was 12.

For a goaltender, he’s ventured pretty far outside the box, and he’s absolutely thriving because of it.

Churchill was recently drafted in the World Hockey League bantam draft by the Regina Pats and will travel to Saskatchewan later this month for the main tryout camp.

To date, that will be the culmination of a remarkable threeyear journey that began when Churchill noticed that, after hundreds of trips to the ice in Dublin and San Jose, there wasn’t anyplace locally left for him to go.

“Only two people in my entire school played hockey and that was me and my brother Ian,” said Churchill, who first got involved because his father, Randy, was a goaltender with a semipro team in Des Moines (and later a coach with the Junior Sharks).

So, at the age of 12, Churchill took his act on the road.

“He started flying to Los Angeles on Fridays when he was in the sixth grade, and would come back Sunday nights,” his mother, Christina Churchill, recalled.

That experience in Los Angeles, playing for the Los Angeles Select team, is where his career “really started to take off,” Churchill recalled. He was recruited by teams from St. Louis,

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Detroit and Cleveland, and chose Detroit.

He was 13.

His eighth-grade year, Churchill lived with his coach in Detroit and goaltended for the state championship team. While there, he was noticed by another team, the Chicago Mission, and played there the following season.

After being drafted, Churchill said the Pats recommended he move over to yet another team, the Chicago Fury — coached by Darren McClusky, generally recognized as one of the top goaltending coaches in the country. It’s been a great match. Opponents are barely averaging a scant goal and a half per game off Churchill.

Remarkably, Churchill said the adjustment to life away from home as a teenager hasn’t been as difficult as most people might expect.

“Everyone always asks about being homesick, but when you move away from home for hockey, you’re always busy,” said Churchill, who said at least one of his parents usually visits him every three weeks or so. “You’re on the ice three hours every single day and working out. There’s not really any time to feel sad or alone or anything like that. Your team becomes your family.”

Churchill admitted he isn’t sure where the hockey road will take him next. He does have a visit coming up with Ohio State after his visit to the Pats’ camp.

“I’m just kind of riding it out and seeing where it goes,” he said.

If the beginning is any indication, it’ll be another special place — the type only an aspiring hockey player from Lafayette, or Antioch, or the cornfields of Manteca could truly appreciate. ✪

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College softball recruiting centers on what players do for their travel club — not for their high school By clay kallam | Contributor

W

hen the Northwestern University softball program scouting team came to Antioch in 2009 to recruit Deer Valley High pitcher Emily Allard, it didn’t go to the softball field.

It went to the gym.

“Northwestern came to see me in high school,” Allard said. “But they came to see one of my basketball games. And I didn’t even play.”

Now Allard is an all-Big 10 shortstop for the Wildcats after a sophomore season in which she hit .491 and stole 45 of 46 bases, but at Deer Valley, all she ever did was pitch.

“I don’t think I played anywhere else,” she said. “I think I got to take fly balls twice a month.”

And that, in a nutshell, is how important high school softball is to the college recruiting process. Allard, an elite player, was scouted and signed due to her travel softball games with the Concord-based Sorcerer Softball Academy — a team she never pitched for.

For Mike White, the coach at Oregon, high school softball is mostly an afterthought.

“At the high school level, you just have one or two players,” he said.

In addition, the high school and college seasons overlap, so it’s difficult for coaches to find the time to sit in the stands at high school games (which is one reason the Northwestern coaches chose to watch Allard’s basketball game).

That, however, is not to say high school play doesn’t add something to the data pool.

“You see how the kids handle adversity when the players around them aren’t that strong,” said White. “A hitter may get pitched around every time, and we see how they handle it.”

“High school ball still has a piece of the recruiting pie,” said Phil Mumma, the coach of the Sorcerers — and he should know. Mum-

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Northwestern Athletics

Emily Allard, a former standout at Deer Valley-Antioch, was an All-Big 10 shortstop for Northwestern in 2011. She didn’t play shortstop for Deer Valley, but got recruited at the position through her club team, the Sorcerers Softball Academy.

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ma had 74 girls from his program playing Division I softball this past spring, and he’s also coached high school teams at MiramonteOrinda, Campolindo-Moraga, Acalanes-Lafayette and San Ramon Valley-Danville.

But even a high school veteran like Mumma has to acknowledge that the piece isn’t that big.

“I can only remember two occasions when the principal viewing was in the high school environment – and those were long ago.

“The club scene is so much better than high school,” he said. “There’s good high school softball but it’s just not at the same level as travel softball.”

And from a recruiting standpoint, the level of competition is crucial.

“It’s hard to judge elite players against non-elite competition,” said Mumma. “You need to see how good girls are against quality pitching and defense. Some kids need to know they’re the best player to maximize their performance, but when the kid isn’t the top dog, how does she perform?” ◆◆◆ And when there are three elite tournaments going on in Colorado at the same time — as they are every summer — it makes it that much easier for the college coaches.

“Within a 30-minute drive,” said Mumma, “you can see everybody who’s going to be in the College World Series for the next three to five years.”

Sorcerers Softball Academy

Casey Stangel, a former Danville resident who has given an oral commitment to Missouri, still commutes and pitches for the Sorcerers despite moving to attend high school in Idaho.

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There are also big-time tournaments in Arizona and Southern California, but many aren’t what most people associate with the word “tournament.” These are exposure events, and the fall tournaments almost exclusively fall into this category. Teams play specific opponents at specific times, often in a time-limit format, so coaches can plan in advance what games, and what players, to see.

This creates some issues because the format doesn’t reward winning — it’s all about looking good for the scouts.

“It’s a concern,” said White, who obviously wants to recruit players who will win softball games in the Pac-12, not those who look really good in infield practice. “We want to see kids play more tournaments that are for something.”

Mumma agrees. “Softball is a team game, but in exposure tournaments, players have two goals,” he said.

He wants the Sorcerers to remain one of the top three or four teams in the country, so he has to battle against the tendency to individual play in the exposure events. “To be nationally competitive, you have to override the system,” he said.

“It’s easy for the kids not to take the game or the team seriously — we don’t let that happen.”

Allard noticed the emphasis on individuality, as well.

“I think the team concept disappears a bit,” she said. “But college coaches watch to see how you react to things like being taken out of a game. It’s more individual, but it also brings out the true team player in you.”

A college scholarship can be worth as much as $200,000, and that’s not chump change — something parents and players realize fairly early in the process.

Alan Kemp, a coach with the NorCal Shockers of Oakley, saw the difference between travel and recreational softball early on. “(My daughter) Aimee recognized it at the 12-and-under

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(My daughter) Aimee recognized it at the 12-andunder level.

In terms of recruiting, it wasn’t until she got to 16-and-under that subsidizing a college education became more of a reality.”

Alan Kemp

Sorcerers Softball Academy

Ty Wells, a recent Carondelet-Concord graduate, stretches a single into a double during a recent Sorcerers game. Wells will attend Stanford in the fall.

level,” Kemp said. “In terms of recruiting, it wasn’t until she got to 16-and-under that subsidizing a college education became more of a reality.”

Aimee Kemp wound up pitching for Columbia in the Ivy League, but her story reiterates the relative importance of high school and travel softball. Aimee went to Freedom High School, and never pitched — because Amanda Williams, one of the top young pitchers in the country, was there at the same time.

“She never threw an inning at Freedom,” said Alan Kemp.

“She played right field.”

But Columbia saw her pitch at a summer tournament in Southern California and that’s where she wound up.

Ivy League schools, of course, don’t offer athletic scholarships, but athletes do seem to get access to funds that other students might not. At other Division I schools, full scholarships are also rare, as the 12 full rides are usually divided among several players.

“Some schools split them up across the board,” said Mum-

ma, “Other schools give more fulls. I rarely have a kid below a 50-percent scholarship; most are 80 and above.”

And just as in other sports, there are players who are so focused on getting some kind of a scholarship that they lose their passion for the game.

And Allard knows that it doesn’t get easier in college. It gets harder.

“I was in the championship game at AAU Gold Nationals,” she said, which is pretty much the pinnacle of youth softball.

“And it doesn’t compare to a Big 10 home opener. I can’t imagine playing five games a day at the (top collegiate) level – I have to invest myself totally in every game.

“It amazes me that some players think they can play at the highest level without having to learn anything more. The level of play is astronomically different.”

In a sense, the jump from high school to travel softball echoes the jump from travel softball to the top collegiate level — and there’s value every step of the way.

Maybe the college coaches don’t come to high school games to recruit, but there’s more to softball, and all sports, than just getting money.

“The vast majority of kids playing travel ball play in high school,” said Kemp, just as the vast majority of college players also played in high school. “There’s value to the community and the school, and there’s a lot of value in learning how to be a leader.”

And in the long run, that’s worth more than being able to drag a bunt past the pitcher. ✪

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Storm Chasers: mp at the Sponsors ju ote event m chance to pro san Bonilla and mblywoman Su As soon as Asse ing the World By ak the plans for “T d ce un no sponan ff her sta cache of eager ke long before a ta n’t mes to did na it st ,” m ge Stor g the big to help out. Amon up Enterprises ed ta lin d en av ha ar rs G so Wells Fargo, y, wa fe Sa owns the re we ich finery — wh lend support Golden Eagle Re ro so Te , se ur and, of co game. st the clinic and d the fields that will ho soccer players an ut host 100 yo h olden Eagle G ,” lds fie “We’re excited to ro on the Teso am te er cc so id. “When m California Stor Steve Hansen sa t and manager en the sid re on -P us ce ed Vi Refinery st approach san A. Bonilla fir d get Su an an up m es wo ev bly sle m Asse wait to role their n’t uld to co ck es ba ye t way to give idea, our emplo ership as a grea rtn pa is th e

se y.” nit to work. We l for the opportu and we’re thankfu the Diablo Futing lud our community inc ts, en , e same sentim r exhibition team Many echoed th to field an All-Sta g ein re ag by bol Club — which e event plans. nt Jay Behelped solidify th e,” club preside hted to participat lig de other youth is d FC an lo “Diab d our members ide ov pr s s. ha o esor arly two decade decarre said. “T ce to play for ne pla l fu e er tiv nd ac wo en a ily have be soccer players nilla and her fam Bo n els sa od Su m an le m ro Assemblywo e Storm provide e club. ... (And) th n California. We’r members of our ou ar nd Norther ls gir d an on d ies playe for our young lad d coaches have lo FC alumni an pleased that Diab the team.” e support, includ lped round out th sta Co Other leagues he t Contra ccer Club, Wes ing Heritage So e Liga Latina th d an ue ag Youth Soccer Le de Concord.

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, g n i K a r Lau Storm California

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“The leadership and soccer clinic will be a special event thanks to all of our wonderful community partners such as the Tesoro Golden Eagle Refinery, Wells Fargo, SportStars Magazine, Garaventa Enterprises, and Safeway. It is an honor to work with the California Storm which has provided a great player and leader in Katie McCoy, who is a Legislative Aide in my office. The Diablo FC has been very supportive with their outreach as they, along with our community partners, understand the importance of the soccer clinic and how it will positively impact a young girl’s life.”

California Storm *Note: The Storm does not play with a fixed roster. Its gameby-game roster is subject to player availability. Therefore, they do not have fixed roster numbers. Below is a list of players who have played at least one match for the Storm this season.

Player

Pos. Current, former school/club(s)

Kortney Agdeppa

D University of the Pacific

Marisa Boge

M UC Davis

Danielle Brunache

D UC Berkeley

Megan Burg

M Sac State

Brandi Chastain

F FC Gold Pride, USWNT, Santa Clara

Jessica Rachel Clark

D UC Berkeley

Cassidy Costa

D Northeastern

Sisleide Do Amor

M FC Gold Pride

Rogan Dolan

M-F UC Davis

Alyssa Doniak

F St. Mary’s

Angelica Figueroa

M-F University of the Pacific

Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick

M UC Berkeley

Ro Hernandez

D-F Puerto Rican National Team

Kimberlie Hernandez

M

Katelin Hopping

D Sacramento State

Krysta Jenkins

GK Hawaii

Laura King

M Storm, University of the Pacific

Ana Krause

D Santa Clara

Emily Kruger

GK UC Berkeley

Leah Larot

F Sacramento State

No. Pos Player School 2011-12

Aisha Lott

D UC Davis

GK Jordan Vaelei College Park-Pleasant Hill Senior

Missy Matzen

D Sacramento State

02 GK Kaitlin Hoyle Heritage-Brentwood Senior

Brooke Mayo

D St. Mary’s

02 GK Brianna Rosselli Ygnacio Valley-Concord Junior

Ashlyn Mazur

D Storm

07 GK Jocelyn Amable College Park Junior

Katie McCoy

M Sacramento State

2

M University of the Pacific

3

F Quianna Ashley-White Liberty-Brentwood Soph.

Renae McFadden

D Michelle La Faille Mt. Diablo-Concord Senior

Joanna Miller

D Storm

MF Julianna Lopez Freedom-Oakley Senior

Meghan Miwald

GK San Jose State

MF Anne Whipple Alhambra-Martinez Senior

Felicia Novoa

D Sacramento State

MF Sophia Jorgensen Las Lomas-Walnut Creek Sr.

Teresa Noyola

M Stanford, Mexican Nat’l Team

F Mackie Delorefice Rodriguez-Fairfield Junior

Shelby Payne

F Stanford

MF Daisy Bonilla Ygnacio Valley Junior

Sydney Payne

F Stanford

MF Kylee Smith Heritage Sophomore

Sarah Peters

GK St. Mary’s

F Mabelle Gozun College Park Senior

Caitlin Pulver

- Assembly woman Susan A. Bonilla

Diablo FC All-Stars 01

4 5 6 7 8 8 9

10 F Alison Marines Clayton Valley-Concord Senior

Cristina Quintero

13 D Laura Wolfe Acalanes-Lafayette Senior 18 F Kailey Moser Heritage Senior

M-F Storm

12 MF Kayla Hinojosa Heritage Senior

Shea Roberts Alyssa Stearns

F St. Mary’s

14 F Monica Lazorik Carondelet-Concord Junior

Katie Sturges

D Northern Illnois

Lindsay Taylor

F Stanford

21 F Angelique Gosse Freedom Senior

Aly Wagner

M USWNT, Santa Clara

24 D Areana Apodaca Pinole Valley-Pinole Senior

Kristina Wavomba

M-F University of the Pacific

27 MF Kylie Carera Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland Senior

Miranda White

M UC Berkeley

28 D Lindsay DeCosta Carondelet Senior

Maureen Whitney

M Storm, Sacramento State

44 D Natalie Smith Alhambra Senior

Mariko Yoshihara

M Storm, San Jose State

55 D Roni Owyang Bishop O’Dowd Senior

Rebecca Young

F University of the Pacific

Patti Giobetti photo

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Training for success at next level will always require long road I t never ceases to amaze me when a parent brings their young athlete in for training and tells me about all the things they’re hoping to achieve.

They want to see their kid reach the highest level in high school sports, get a college scholarship, succeed at all levels and be a champion. Then in the next sentence they say their kid can only train for six weeks and come once per week.

I’m sure you understand that being great at anything takes time, and being a champion is no exception. See, coaches and trainers understand all the developmental processes that occur in a young athlete’s body, and can see how silly it is for a parent to expect their kid to become better at sports in only six weeks.

In a short-term program, the key components of athleticism as described below don’t have a chance to evolve. As a matter of fact, any strength or performance gains in the short term will be short lived.

You must understand that there is no way for a young athlete to achieve long-term greatness without putting in the time to master the layers of development.

Here is a list of some of the positive aspects of long term development: ■ 1. Athletes develop efficient movement skills ■ 2. Coordination is developed ■ 3. Confidence is developed due to proficiency in movement ■ 4. An understanding of movement and strategies of movement (tactical) ■ 5. Strength is given a chance to evolve.

■ 6. Stability and mobility can be trained and consistently monitored.

Let’s use an example of an acceleration program, similar to how I segmented and progressed with my athletes this summer with respect to a long term development model. You will see below I outlined the different phases, with some examples of exercises in each phase.

I always start by teaching and developing a pattern. This is important for developing sound motor skills, that’s why it’s best to eliminate as many external factors as possible in the initial stages, allowing both me and the athlete to get comfortable.

Next, I increase force production of that pattern to see how the athletes handles the additional load, while maintaining the proper technique.

If they can do this well and they begin to increase their force production then they move on to reactive work.

Finally, I add the reactive component making it more specific to a sporting situation.

Linear acceleration progressions: Phase 1 — Groove the Pattern: Staggered stance, rolling start, lateral starting stance, half-kneeling start, parallel start

with plyo-step, prone get-up starts, supine get-up starts and seated get-up starts.

Phase 2 — Increase Force Production: Resisted staggered stance, resisted rolling starts, resisted lateral start, Resisted half-kneeling starts, resisted parallel starts.

Phase 3 — Random Reactions: Partner chases on all stances, partner races on all stances, ball-drop start in all stances, etc…

So the next time you approach a trainer or coach with the

desire to have your young athlete be a champion, you must be willing to put in the time with respect to training. Skill development, skill mastery and your young athletes’ body takes time to develop. ✪

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.

Training Time Tim Rudd for IYCA

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Elk Grove baseball talent Ryan Tellez hits his way onto NorCal’s Area Code Games roster

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Ali Thanawalla/SportStars file

Tellez may have made the region’s Area Code roster with his hitting prowess, but he’s not too shabby from the mound, either. He had a 3-1 record with two saves in 39.2 innings of work for Elk Grove this past spring. He struck out 32 and walked 13.

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By jim mccue | Contributor

s a member of the Elk Grove High School baseball program, Ryan Tellez knows about exposure.

The Thundering Herd has earned a reputation as a perennial area power and sent players to college baseball powerhouses as well as the big leagues. But Tellez recently got double exposure as a member of the Oakland Athletics’ Area Code team.

“The Area Code Games is the most elite thing you can do as a high school baseball player,” said Jeff Carlson, Elk Grove High School’s head baseball coach. “The experience is great exposure for Ryan in that he will be seen by so many scouts and college coaches and that he will be facing great competition.”

In the 25th year of existence, the Area Code Games have grown from a regional event in Lodi to one of the most prestigious high school showcases in the country. ESPN took over the Area Code Games in 2008 to further increase the exposure of the nation’s best young baseball talents with greater internet and television coverage of the event.

This year’s Area Code Games just concluded at Blair Field in Long Beach (the event covered six days of games from August 5-10) and featured eight teams from around the nation. The A’s team covered all of Northern California, selecting players from Bakersfield north to the Oregon border.

The 30-player roster included other Sac-Joaquin Section players Zach Green and Logan James (Jesuit-Carmichael), Sutter McLoughlin (Rio Americano-Sacramento), Giovanni Brusa (St. Mary’s-Stockton), and Ben Eckels (Davis). However, Tellez was the lone participant that will be entering his junior season when school begins.

The challenge of facing the nation’s high school baseball cream of the crop as the youngest player on the roster might increase the pressure for some players, but Tellez showed no ill effects from being the lone Class of 2013 participant on Oakland’s entry. Tellez impressed the scouts at the tryouts for the A’s Northern California team, which took place in June at Banner Island Ballpark, the home of Oakland’s single-A affiliate Stockton Ports. The junior-to-be hustled through the 60-yard dash, took part in fielding drills, and then swung away in batting practice.

Tellez’s swing was powerful in Elk Grove’s 2011 campaign (.505 batting average; 9 home runs; 50 RBI; .926 slugging percentage; and only 7 strikeouts in 30 games) and was just as sweet for Major League Baseball scouts and college baseball coaches looking on.

The 6-foot-4 first baseman hit for power to all fields during the tryout and even sent three blasts out of the yard, according to Carlson.

Three days after the conclusion of the tryouts, which August 11, 2011

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included games in which all invitees played in the field and batted, Tellez was contacted by telephone and notified that he would be one of 30 players on the roster for the event.

“I never expected to make the team, really,” a humble Tellez said. “I didn’t get any hits in the game, but I hit the ball hard both times and luckily I had what they liked. I am thankful that they liked me and what I could bring to the team because this is one of the biggest showcases seen by college coaches and pro scouts.”

Not everyone was surprised by Tellez’s selection, despite his younger age. Former Elk Grove teammate J.D. Davis points to Tellez’s maturity and work ethic as factors that likely made the selection of his former teammate an easy one.

“I’m not surprised at all that he is on the (Area Code Games) team,” Davis said. “He has really grown up in the last year and knows what it means to play hard and lead a team.

He has a great work ethic and I have no doubt that he will be one of the great Elk Grove players in history when he is done.”

That’s high praise considering the Thundering Herd alumni, which includes current Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher David Hernandez, former major league catcher and current commentator Buck Martinez, and a host of college scholarship participants, which include Davis and 2010 graduate Jake Rodriguez.

Rodriguez completed his freshman season at Oregon State and started 26 games for the Beavers while batting .320 in his first year.

Oregon State advanced to the NCAA Super Regional where the team lost to Vanderbilt.

Davis was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the fifth round of the 2011 draft and is currently weighing a contract offer from the Rays or a scholarship to Cal State Fullerton.

Tellez is well aware of the Elk Grove baseball history and has looked to players like Davis and Rodriguez for lessons in practice, leadership, and humility.

“Jake Rodriguez was a huge influence on me,” Tellez said. “He was the most humble guy I have been around. He was an amazing player, but he always said that there was somebody out there that might be working harder than him. I want to be like him because he played hard and played well.”

That kind of humility and a hunger to improve his all-around game drive Tellez. Much the way the junior drives the ball to all fields.

Before the A’s Area Code Games team played a single game in Long Beach, Tellez was turning heads with his sweet swing. On the first day of batting practice at Blair Field, Tellez’s performance at the plate earned him recognition as a top 10 star of the morning BP session, according to ESPN-RISE. The online assessment of the No. 2 performer in the morning session included the following praise: “angry bat; power to all fields; natural swing hitter; born to hit.”

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Ali Thanawalla/SportStars file

Tellez makes a throw to first following a bunt attempt during a May 7 game against Amador Valley-Pleasanton at the O.co Coliseum in Oakland.

At the conclusion of the Area Code Games, Tellez will return home and immediately refocus on preparation for Elk Grove’s 2012 season. With the graduation of three senior captains from the 2011 squad, Tellez and fellow junior Dom Nunez will assume a larger leadership role with the Thundering Herd.

“I think that I was a leader as a sophomore (Tellez and Nunez were also captains as sophomores), leading by example on the field and in the classroom,” Tellez said. “When guys need a lift or a pat on the back, I feel like I’ve got to be the guy to pick my teammates up.”

“He will certainly help fill the void for leadership on the team next year,” Carlson concurred. “We have been fortunate to have guys that take younger players like Ryan under their wing and help them along. He will now be the one taking guys under his wing and showing them the way.”

While the individual showcase of talent may be what drops the jaws and turns the heads of scouts and college coaches, Tellez believes that his team focus is a valuable baseball tool that earns the long-term interest of those same scouts and coaches.

“I don’t want to be ‘me, me, me’ out there,” Tellez said of the Area Code Games before heading south for the event, “I want to stay within myself and try to help the team. My goal is to show them that I’m a player and to show them that I’m the athlete that I know that I can be out there.”

In the end, Tellez knows that performing and producing for his team—whether it is in a national showcase like the Area Code Games or a Delta Valley League game—is the kind of exposure that will get him where he wants to be in baseball and in life. ✪

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tee2green

The First Tee offers opportunities to more than just youth The First Tee began in 1997 as an initiative to provide affordable access and facilities for young people to play golf.

Founded to promote golf inclusion, within just two years The First Tee established 100 program sites across the United States.

With the assistance of professional educators these golf instruction programs were complemented by a characterenriching curriculum instilling core values and life skills into the lives of the participants.

Since, The First Tee has grown to include over 200 chapters worldwide, in-school programs at over 4,000 elementary schools and nearly 5 million total youth.

Golf inclusion remains an integral part of The First Tee parent organization and something our local chapter in Pleasanton is embracing in unique ways. To The First Tee Tri-Valley, inclusion goes beyond partnerships with the local school districts and other youth-serving organizations; we excel to provide impactful programs to individuals with disabilities. The First Tee Tri-Valley and the Pleasanton Golf Center host weekly golf meetings for the Pleasanton Special Olympics Golf Club and the Dublin Easter Seals Kaleidoscope program.

Through our programs, individuals with disabilities, young and old, experience this great game and all its enjoyment. These golf meetings fill our facility with excitement and laughter, not only from the athletes but equally from the coaches and volunteers.

The First Tee chapters and golf facilities in general have a unique opportunity to change

perspectives. Many believe golf is an exclusive sport, which they may never get an opportunity to play. The First Tee, its local leaders and coaches are dedicated to change that. All The First Tee chapters strive to provide affordable access to young people and change this perception, promoting golf as a traditional sport.

The Special Olympics golf club practices each week in preparation for the San Jose Special Olympics Golf Skills and Tournament, which will be held on Aug. 29 at The Villages Golf and Country Club. This regional competition brings together Special Olympics athletes from all corners of the Bay Area and is the highlight of the year for many of our golfers.

If you are interested in volunteering with our local programs or the upcoming Special Olympics Golf Skills and Tournament please let us know. To assist with our weekly meetings, contact The First Tee Tri-Valley below.

To assist with the upcoming event, contact Renee Ontiveros at 408-392-0170 x 204 or reneeo@sonc.org. ✪

First Tee Files

Daniel McKegney

First Tee Files is a rotating column featuring the executive directors of four Bay Area chapters of The First Tee — Contra Costa, Oakland, San Jose and Tri-Valley. Daniel McKegney is the executive director for the The First Tee of the Tri-Valley. Check out your local chapter by visiting one of the following websites: www.TheFirstTeeContraCosta. org, www.TheFirstTeeOakland.org, www.

TheFirstTeeSanJose.org and www.TheFirstTeeTriValley.org.

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Ways to manage the young athlete’s ‘Achilles’ heel’

W

e experience it frequently here in the Sports Medicine Center for Young Athletes. A young athlete comes in complaining of heel pain. Mom or dad asks about the diagnosis given by the referring physician as Calcaneal Apophysitis, also referred to as “Sever’s Disease” The condition itself is defined as heel pain due to overuse and repetitive microtrauma to the growth plates of the calcaneus or heel bone. Activities and sports that involve running are often the culprit of heel pain in these young athletes. It is caused by traction of the achilles tendon on the calcaneus and subsequent increased shearing forces on the growth plate.

Calcaneal Apophysitis usually occurs in young athletes ages 7-15 with the majority of cases involving athletes ages 10-12. Although males seem to be affected more, it can also occur in females. Calcaneal Apophysitis is a self-limiting condition, which can wax and wane over the course of some time, until the young athlete is skeletally mature. However, there are rehabilitation strategies that can assist in minimizing symptoms and disability while maximizing participation in the young athlete’s sport.

Below are the general highlights of our phases of treatment as they relate to Calcaneal Apophysitis: ■ Phase I — Manual therapies to restore normal softtissue integrity of the calf/outer lower leg muscles and to attain neutral position of the foot, use of a heel lift in the shoe to decrease pull from the achilles tendon on the calcaneus, modification of sports activity as needed, use of ice massage to the heel after exercise and/or activity ■ Phase II — Calf and ankle mobility exercises in neutral position of the foot, lower body stretches as needed, hip and core stability strengthening exercises, continue heel lift and ice massage use if needed, continue sport activity modification as indicated ■ Phase III — Calf strengthening with a focus on eccentric loading and control, analysis of the athlete’s running gait and integrating appropriate corrections as necessary, sport-specific exercises ■ Phase IV (return to sport) — Functional tests including: mini squats on toes, dynamic balance test, hop test, and agility test with increasing speeds To summarize, Calcaneal Apophysitis is a common yet treatable condition in the young athlete. Hopefully, the previous information will empower young athletes, coaches and parents to band together with health care professionals to conquer “the Achilles’ heel”. ✪

Health Watch David A. Arakawa

David Arakawa is a senior physical therapist for the staff of Sports Medicine For Young Athletes, a division of Children’s Hospital Oakland with a facility in also in Walnut Creek. If you have questions or comments regarding the “Health Watch” column, write the Sports Medicine For Young Athletes staff at Health@SportStarsMag.com.

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impulse Hydrospeed Velo If you’re trying to shave off precious tenths and hundredths of seconds to improve your times, we recommend the following: shave off all your hair, remove all your teeth, pretend you’re light as a feather and wear the Hydrospeed Velo.

Finis’ premier technical swimsuit, the Hydrospeed Velo works wonders in the pool as it maximizes your body’s potential. Everything about this swimsuit screams stateof-the-art, aerodynamic, futuristic, fill-in-ridiculously-crazy adjective. By putting it on you WILL feel light as a feather. You’ve practiced for hours, eaten nothing but healthy food and you’re well-rested. Now get the Hydrospeed Velo and complete the winning package.

Freestyle Snorkel Channel your inner fish/whale/shark with the Freestyle Snorkel. This savvy swimming device will let you practice your freestyle technique with no interruptions until you’ve got it mastered. Take it from Jason Lezak. Honestly, is there a better endorser than the guy who anchored the famous 400 freestyle relay for the U.S. at the 2008 Olympics, sparking one of the biggest upsets in Olympics history? We didn’t think so. Although, some of us at SSM HQ think we could’ve held off a Lezak attack. Just sayin’. The Freestyle Snorkel is a must-have for those with Olympics dreams.

Foil Monofin Become one with the dolphins with the Foil Monofin. This device will help you master the dolphin kick in no time while also increasing your core and leg strength.

With the Monofin you learn how to dolphin kick using the Foil Body Motion. Getting this technique down will go a long way in capturing gold medals. There are sizes for just about everyone except for, basically, Shaq (SportStars is investigating whether a Monofin is currently being built for the Big Aristotle), so whether you’re still learning how to swim or you’re the next Michael Phelps, you’re going to need the Foil Monofin.

Performance Backpack The life of a big time swimmer can be rough.

Traveling all over the world competing against the elite of the elite, being on national television, getting scholarships left and right. ... Yeah, it can be a real bore. When you need to catch your next big meet and you’re in a hurry, grab all your gear and throw it in the Performance Backpack. This bag can hold all your swimsuits, towels, fins, paddles, sunscreen, goggles and maybe even your teddy bear. It’s comfortable and extra-durable so you know it’ll last a long time.

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This week, we dive in headfirst and peruse the uber-savvy swimming products of Finis. From the super-high tech to the totally practical, Finis provides everything you need to make a serious run at capturing Olympic gold. For more info check ‘em out at www.finisinc.com

SwiMP3 Take your tunes to the pool with SwiMP3. This waterproof gadget is pretty snazzy and has Apple scratching their heads saying ‘Hey, why didn’t WE think of that!’ Now you can listen to all the heavy metal, rap and hip hop underwater for hours on end. The SwiMP3 holds up to 16 hours (approx.

240 songs) of albums, podcasts, audio books and more. Makes for an ideal Christmas gift for the swim rat in the family.

Stationary Cords Hip Belt Strap on the Stationary Cords Hip Belt and swim for miles without going anywhere. Literally. The way it works is you hook the belt on a diving block or ladder and wrap the belt around your waist and you’re good to go. Think of it like a treadmill for swimmers. This is perfect for coaches to better study your swim technique and tendencies. Great tool to have if you need to practice in the backyard or a hotel. The Hip Belt gives you the opportunity to improve your endurance and perfect your technique.

TurnMaster Pro Get the most out of your pool by dividing your lanes in two. Introducing the TurnMaster Pro. This portable bulkhead is super easy to install or remove.

Just attach it to two lane ropes and you’re in business. Ideal for swim teams who don’t have much pool space to work with or if you want to work on turns. Its bulky appearance means it remains stationary so you don’t have to worry about it floating away. You can even run a wrecking ball through it and the TurnMaster Pro STILL won’t budge. OK, we’re actually not sure about that last part.

— Erik Stordahl

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camps + clinics BASEBALL/SOFTBALL Golden Era Baseball Based in the East Bay, we offer several instructional-based programs as well as 9U thru 18U Club Teams. We are currently taking sign-ups for our Spring Hitting Classes.

Please see our website for full details: www.

GoldenEraBaseball.com The Pitching Center We develop baseball players to their full potential. The Pitching Center has grown to become the Total Player Center (TPC), a full-service baseball and softball training academy. Age- and skill-specific programs are available for students ages 8 – High School. Info: 925416-1600, thepitchingcenter. com SportForm Based in Concord, SportForm provides individual and team instruction in baseball, softball, lacrosse.

Highly trained professionals provide accelerated and advanced skills clinics. Prepare to Perform!

Info: 925-459-2880.

All American Softball 2011 Softball Summer Day Camp at Alyce Norman Bryte Playfields. Girls of all ages welcome. Camp features a college softball Q&A with our All-American staff. $250/ athlete; $150/ athlete when registering 6 or more at one time. Info: 916-374-1907, www. softballschool.com.

BASKETBALL Bladium Triple Threat Academy Alameda’s Bladium Sports & Fitness Club hosts multiple hoops camps for ages 6-12.

Designed for players of ALL skill levels.

Registration: AlamedaSales@bladium. com, 510-814-4999; www.bladium.com.

CHEER CheerGyms.com We offer the best clinics in California!

Customize your clinic to fit your needs from basic stunting techniques or working on twist cradles out of one leg stunts, we take your team to the next level! Info: 866685-7615, www. CheerGyms.com East Bay Sports Academy Recreational, competitive athletes benefit from training with the best coaches.

Our 10,000 sq. foot facility is clean and bright with the newest equipment. Info: 925 680-9999, www.

EastBaySportsAcademy.com.

COACHING De La Salle sports camps The school with perhaps the most well-

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known football program in the country, is putting on a football coaches clinic on Aug. 18.

For information on the event schedule or to register, contact Derrick Browne at (925) 288-8197 or brownd@dlshs.org.

EQUESTRIAN Kelly Maddox Riding Academy Develop new friendships with other horse-crazy kids.

Weekly activities include learning horse colors, markings and breeds; arts and crafts; a farrier demonstration and human horse show; bareback riding and more! Info: 925-575- 4818, www.

KellyMaddoxTraining.com Franklin Canyon Stables Based in Martinez, we provide two covered arenas and easy access to trails. Beginning riders or experienced equestrians, we have a place for you.

Instruction in horsemanship on the ground and in the saddle while having fun. Info: 925- 228-1801; http://www. kimshorsetraining.com/franklin_canyon. html Castle Rock Arabians Activities for tweens and teenagers, where we build team spirit through various team activities on horseback.

Visit the ranch by appointment. Info: 925-933-3701, www. castlerockarabians. com FITNESS Aspire Pilates Dramatically increase core strength, power, flexibility, balance, focus and joint stability, while preventing injury. Aspire prides itself on helping propel athletes to the next level by addressing muscular imbalances, helping athletes increase body awareness, correct faulty body mechanics, and access untapped strength. Info: 925-680-4400, www. AspirePilatesCenter. com.

Fit 2 The Core As a Youth Conditioning, Speed/Agility and Nutrition Specialist with the IYCA, Fit- 2-The-Core Training Systems offers an innovative approach to getting young athletes back on the field postrehabilitation, and continuing the process by progressing their bodies to handle what they must endure on the field or court. Info: 925- 639-0907.

Transform FX At Transform FX Fitness, we believe that parents can take better care of their kids when they take care of

their own health and fitness. This is the reason we have designed our adult fitness bootcamp workouts to fit your busy lifestyle. Each bootcamp workout is carefully designed to help you burn fat and increase your cardiovascular endurance in less time. Call us at 925-289-8042 or visit us online at www. transformfxfitness.com.

Walnut Creek Sports & Fitness We offer over 70 group classes per week.

Members also enjoy our heated pool, sauna, spa, and steamroom. Massage, skincare and chiropractic services are available. Call us today for your free week pass! Info: 925932-6400, www.wcsf.net ENRICHMENT Dianne Adair Programs We offer a wide variety of enrichment programs for your child, during the school year and throughout summer.

Activities include: Home work help, 4th & Up Club, art and crafts, science, sports, and games. Summer camps include weekly field trips.

Info: www. dianneadair.org.

E.Nopi and Palm Academy Palm Academy’s “Summer Camp Spectacular” offers day camps with oneweek or one- day programs to provide the flexibility for your busy schedule. Abrakadoodle Art Camps inspire kids to reach beyond and create art that is unique to them. Info: Palm Academy, Fremont, 510-979-9794 or E.Nopi, Newark, 510-79ENOPI (36674) FUZE Fit For A Kid FUZE is a privately-held, DOJ-certified youth-only health club and curricula modeled after the principles of the Positive Coaching Alliance. FUZE enhances athletic development, socialization and self-esteem. Info: 888-FIT 4 A KID; www. fuzefit.com FOOTBALL NorCal Football Camps Led by Marin Catholic High coach, Ken Peralta (San Francisco 49ers High School Coach of the Year,) Camps serve youth ages of 7- 14. We help each child reach his full potential as a football player and young person. Info: 650-245-3608 . www. norcalfootballcamps.com GOLF Dave DeLong Junior Golf Camp This camp is for advanced and beginning junior golfers. Camps are designed for golfers

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camps + clinics 7-15. Camps include a 4 to 1 ratio of students to teachers where safety is the top priority as well as player development and enjoyment. Boundary Oak Course, Walnut Creek. Info: 925-997-3683; www. delonggolf.com Coach Rick Golf Learn to play on the course, where it matters with Coach Rick! Golfers of all ages can sign up for clinics offered by Coach Rick starting now throughout summer. Info: 510 917-6442 • www.

ThePersonalGolfCoach.com The First Tee-Contra Costa The First Tee Summer Camp is a youth development program for boys and girls 7-18. Participants learn about golf and life skills and values inherent to the game, rules and etiquette.

Summer camps at Diablo Creek Golf Course in Concord. Info: www.thefirstteecontracosta.org; angela@ thefirstteecontracosta.org or 925-686-6262 x0.

The First Tee-Oakland The First Tee of Oakland has delivered The First Tee Life Skills Experience to over 262 participants.

Each receive a min.

12 hours of instruction over an 8-week period. Instruction is at three Oakland courses: Metropolitan Golf Links, Lake Chabot GC and Montclair GC. Info: 510-352-2002; www. thefirstteeoakland.org.

The First Tee-San Jose The First Tee of San Jose develops youth through the game of golf throughout Silicon Valley.

Participants learn to appreciate diversity, resolve conflicts, build confidence and set goals. We welcome

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participants ranging from second to twelfth grade. Scholarships available. Info: 408288-2973; www. thefirstteesanjose.org.

The First Tee-Tri-Valley The First Tee of the Tri-Valley offers seasonal The First Tee Life Skills Experience Classes and Summer Camps for ages 7-17, held at the Pleasanton Golf Center on the Alameda County Fairgrounds. Junior Golf Summer Camps are held weekly. Info: 925.462.7201, www.

TheFirstTeeTriValley.org LACROSSE Atherton Lacrosse Our lacrosse camps are designed for boys and girls ages 5-14, who are beginner or intermediate players. Our group of coaches and staff are leaders in the lacrosse community. Info: 888- 526-3330, www.

AthertonLacrosse.com.

SportForm Based in Concord, SportForm provides Individual and team instruction in baseball, softball and lacrosse. Highly trained professionals provide accelerated and advanced skills clinics. Prepare to Preform!

Info: 925-459-2880.

MARTIAL ARTS United States Karate Systems Adult and children’s programs, kick box fitness, mixed martial arts. Providing excellence in martial arts instruction and services for the entire family. 925-682-9517; www.usksmartialarts. com MOTORSPORTS Keigwins@theTrack We conduct motorcycle schools and practice events (“track days”) at famous

racetracks in the West for experienced motorcyclists looking to improve skills and build confidence. Riders provide their own motorcycles and protective gear.

Keigwins@theTrack takes care of everything else. Info: www. keigwin.com or 650-949-5609.

UmiGo With camps going on throughout the summer, you’ll learn passing techniques, cornering techniques, throttle & breaking techniques, advance seat position, kart operation, kart control, real racing and improving your lap times.

Racers need to be at least 10 years old and at least four feet, 10 inches tall. Twoand four-day camps are available. Info: www.umigoracing.com.

OUTDOOR SPORTS Bear Valley Mountain Bear Valley has six camps with multiple sessions including: Soccer, Archery, Tennis, Climbing, Cycling and Day Camp. Summer Camps offer outdoor rec programs for the whole family; overnight resident skill camps and day camps, too.

Age groups and activities vary by camp.

Info: www.bearvalley.com University of Surfing Instructor Matt Cole offers lessons/ camps in Pacifica. 650-359-1425, mattcolesurfs@ hotmail.com; http:// universityofsurfing.com/ index.html.

SOCCER Heritage Soccer Club A Pleasant Hill/Martinez based competitive soccer club welcomes players ages 8-18.

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camps + clinics Learn new skills and hone existing ones from top flight coaching staff with years of experience spanning the high school and college ranks.Info: www. heritagesc.com.

SoccerInsight.net 2011 Summer Camp Available to ages 5-12, the SoccerInsight.net camps are offered over three weeks in August.

The camps are held from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. @ Paul Goode Field, The Presidio in San Francisco.

Info:415-595- 3760, www.soccerinsight.net.

SWIMMING-DIVING Walnut Creek Swim Club WCSC is a recreational team sponsored by the City of Walnut Creek celebrating its 50th anniversary. Led by the experience of coach Brad Hoy, the staff is the finest in the area.

WCSC believes in finding the healthy balance between competition and family fun. Info: 925-766-5664 Sherman Swim School We are a Lafayette swimming and diving school celebrating our 50th year. Our year-round schedule allows children and adults to learn, retain, and improve their swim skills with little interruption.

Info: 925-283-2100, www.ShermanSwim.com California Sports Center Among the many camps offered by San Jose’s Cal Sports Center includes its Swim Summer Camps at Sunnyvale Swim Center on the campus of Fremont High. The camps are held from either 9 a.m.-noon, or 9 a.m.-4 p.m. for ages 6-14. Info: 408-732-2257, www.

CalSportsCenter.com TENNIS Summer Tennis at Valley Vista ClubSport Valley Vista has successfully hosted summer tennis camps in Walnut Creek for more than 30 years, with expert instruction. Info: 925-9344050, www.clubsports. com VOLLEYBALL Pacific Rim Volleyball We offer several skill-based camps and clinics, including setting camp, hitting camp and an all-skills camp. Campers will be evaluated and placed in a group that challenges their level of play. Registration for beach volleyball is going on now as well. Info: www. pacificrimvolleyball.com U.S. Youth Volleyball League USYVL hosts series of Summer camps in several Northern and Southern California locations. We’re the leader in developing, maintaining youth volleyball leagues for boys and girls ages 7-15. With an emphasis on positive reinforcement, we seek to build confidence and

self-esteem in each child. Info: 1-888-988-7985 or www.USYVL.org.

WRESTLING Community Youth Center The CYC in Concord is offering an Advanced Camp for kids of ages 11-18 from Aug. 8-12.

Camps are 9 a.m.3 p.m. daily at the CYC. Info: 925-6717070, Ext. 229, www. communityyouthcenter.com.

MULTI-SPORT Cal Athletic Camps Cal Camps are offered in a variety of sports for girls and boys 5-19, with week-long, half-day, full-day and overnight options, and several choices for adults. Most camps take place on the Berkeley campus through August. Camp sports include: baseball, basketball, rowing/crew, field hockey, football, golf, rugby, soccer, strength & conditioning, swimming, tennis, volleyball and water polo. Info calcamps@berkeley.edu.

City of Concord Skyhawks Sports Skyhawks Sports and the City of Concord have teamed up to provide safe, fun and skillfocused sports camps this summer for ages 4-12. Camps range from soccer to lacrosse to our popular multi-sport camp where kids sample three different sports (Soccer, Basketball, and Baseball) in one camp. Info: www. concordreg. org or 925-671-3404.

Renaissance ClubSport Spring and summer Sports camps are led by seasoned directors. Sports Day Camp is for children 5-12 and focuses on a different sport each day including: football, soccer, swimming, basketball, bocce, kickball, racquetball and karate. Summer camps run thru Aug. 19. Info: 925-942-6344. www.clubsports.com Cabernet Indoor Sports Come Play Soccer, Baseball, Basketball, Football, Lacrosse, Dodgeball, Capture the Flag, Futsal and much more at the world’s greatest summer camp experience in Livermore.

Available to kids ages 5 & up, Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. running through Aug. 19. More info: www. cabernetindoorsports.com Velocity Sports Performance The Dublin-based Velocity’s Sports Specific Summer Camps is looking for boys and girls ages 8-14 who are dedicated to making themselves better as athletes. Camps are typically 4-5 days long and run through mid-August. They include soccer, basketball, football, baseball and softball.

The price is $200 for non-members per week, $150 for Velocity members or $50 per session.

Information: (925) 833-0100.

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Sarah Sargent, 14, was a four-time winner for the Crockett Swim Team during the Twin Counties Swim League Championships in Pleasant Hill on July 30-31. Sargent picked up wins in the 50-yard freestyle, 50 butterfly, 50 breaststroke and 100 IM. All the races were in the 13-14 age group.

PHOTO BY Bob Larson

Want to submit your pic for Photo Finish? Send it to us at editor@SportStarsOnline.com. Photos must be 300 dpi and at least 10 inches wide in the jpeg format.

Please identify every person in the photo and include your contact information.

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