NorCal Issue 183, July 2020 by Sport Stars Magazine

JULY 2020 NORCAL EDITION VOL. 11 ISSUE 182

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06.26.2015 Alexis Mata of Woodland’s Pioneer High is captured during a feature photo shoot. Mata had already graduated and was playing for the San Juan Spirits Soccer Club at the time. She would go on to star collegiately for the University of Hawaii, closing out her career as the 2019 Big West Conference Goalkeeper of the Year. She left Hawaii ranked among the program’s top five in seven different categories, including second in career shutouts (13) and saves (290). Photo By James K. Leash

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Resorting To Imagination

ust when we thought we were out, it pulled us back in. As coronavirus cases rise throughout the state, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom scales back that “dimmer switch,” the July 20 target date for the CIF to make an announcement regarding fall sports seems a lot closer than some of us might want. Just like the spring athletes waited for word with a nervous feeling in the pits in their stomachs, there are certainly some fall athletes who have begun to fear the worst. We’re right in that boat with you. And it’s what led me to write the first piece of fiction in SportStars’ 10-year history. As much as we look forward to covering football, the reality that it may not happen during its usual season seems more likely by the day. Which left me wondering: How is a fall without football likely to look? What might the effect be on other fall sports? Which in turn led to me to ponder: What are scenarios that could ensure THOSE sports to take place? In the end, partly for fun and partly to calm that nervous anxiety, I came up with the idea to imagine a narrative for a fall sports recap. Thus, you can turn to Page 16 and skip ahead five months in the calendar for a vision of a very different fall season than we’re all used to. If it doesn’t include your sport, it’s not personal. But at this point, we’d all be shocked to see a regular slate of fall sports played as if nothing had changed. Hopefully, those sports are able to still be fit somewhere in the academic calendar. Our story is just one version of how things could play out, and it’s probably a more optimistic vision than what transpires. Hopefully there’s some eventual truth in it somewhere. All is not grim, though. This issue does include a feature on Anson Aroz, a touted Placer High-Auburn baseball recruit who has actually been able to compete this summer. And we also write about some East Bay Little League chapters who are trying to find ways to get kids back on the field, even if it’s just to practice. Maybe the most comforting part of imagining our version of the 2020 fall sports season is this: High school sports WILL be back eventually. They may not be exactly what we remember, there may be a longer wait than we hope, and perhaps a lot of adapting will be necessary. But at some point we’ll see them again. And it’ll feel good. ✪

YOUR TICKET TO CALIFORNIA SPORTS ADMIT ONE; RAIN OR SHINE This Vol. #11, July 2020 Whole No. 183 is published by Caliente! Communications, LLC, PO Box 741, Clayton, CA 94517. SportStars™© 2010-2014 by Caliente! Communications, LLC. All rights reserved. Receive FREE Digital Subscription in your inbox. Subscribe at SportStarsMag. com. To receive sample issues, please send $3 per copy, or $8 total for bulk. 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, selfaddressed envelope. SportStars™© and STARS!™© Clinics are registered trademarks of Caliente! Communications, LLC.

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Behind the Clipboard by Clay Kallam

Timely Questions

Approaching Playing Time I just don’t get it. I do better in practice than the starter, and the coach always talks about how important practice is. But then I only get a couple minutes at a time in the game, and just when I start to feel comfortable, the starter comes back in. He’s a good player, sure, but doesn’t practice count? If I play better in practice, but can’t get more minutes, what else am I supposed to do? —D.Y., El Cerrito

here’s a lot to talk about here, but let’s start with this fact of life: We all tend to think we’re better than we actually are. I always thought I was as good a reporter as the writers for the New York Times, but I’m pretty sure my self-assessment back in the day might not have been as spot-on as I hoped. So it’s possible that you think you’re clearly doing better in practice than the starter, but really, you might only be even with him, or conceivably not as good. And of course that all depends on what you mean by “good” — and the coach may be using criteria that you haven’t considered. Maybe he’s more concerned with being in the right place than making shots; or more focused on precise execution than pure skill. So, as is almost always the best course of action in these situations, you need to talk to the coach. And don’t start the conversation with “I deserve to play more,” or “I beat him in practice every day so why don’t I get more minutes?” The first question always should be “What do I need to do to get more playing time?,” and the tone should not be aggressive or demanding. It should come across as a legitimate question, with you looking for answers from the coach’s perspective (which after all, is the only one that matters). If the conversation goes reasonably well, you can consider asking the coach why he feels the starter is the starter. A question framed something like this might work: “Jason is obviously a good player, which is why he starts. What things that he does should I be doing more of?” The combination of these two questions gives the coach an avenue to answer as honestly as he feels he can — and of course, some coaches don’t want to talk about these kinds of things at all, so you may not get any really satisfying answers. But you have to try this first, as that’s how any worker in any situation needs to proceed. Most of the time, though, you’re going to get some answers that will help you figure things out. Maybe you’ll find out that the coach doesn’t feel you know the plays, which means you can work on demonstrating that you do; or maybe he’ll say he likes the way Jason gets to the basket, which again points out what direction you should go in. And as for playing better when you get more time, that’s basically true for everyone, and that’s a big advantage for starters. Coming off the bench is difficult because your margin for error is less, and it is harder to get in the flow of the game. Yes, it’s unfair, but as some annoying adults are fond of mentioning, life isn’t fair — so all you can do is the best you can do, and hope that gets you more time on the court. ✪

Clay Kallam has been an assistant athletic director and has coached numerous sports at a handful of high schools throughout the Bay Area. To submit a question for Behind the Clipboard, email him at claykallam@gmail.com. Follow Us On Twitter & Instagram, Like Us On Facebook!

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With Coronavirus Still Impeding The Return Of Competitive Volleyball, NCVA Is Using Webinars To Help Athletes Answer Recruiting Questions

ven during normal times, navigating through the recruiting process is hard enough. So what happens when you add a nationwide pandemic? Since mid-March, the coronavirus has wiped out the remainder of the girls club season, caused the cancellation of the USA Volleyball Boys and Girls Junior National Championships, and is threatening to impact the boys club and girls high school seasons. Without the ability for players to showcase their games, and with collegiate programs avoiding nearly all scouting travel, these are definitely not normal times. While players wait at home wondering, the NCVA and Next College Student Athlete (formerly the National College Scouting Association) have teamed up for a series of webinars on different topics related to recruiting. The webinars are being co-hosted by NCSA Events Partnership Director Sue Webber and NCVA’s Chief Administrative Officer Kyle Woodruff. Webber, a former collegiate player at Illinois who coached at multiple Division I schools, is in her fifth year of working with volleyball athletes at NCSA. The organizations have teamed up to produce two webinars thus far. The first one on June 9 focused on the ever-changing landscape of recruiting rules, both for players and colleges. On June 30, Webber led a course on communication with colleges and coaches. It touched on everything from emails, phone calls, video conferences and being aware of one’s social media presence. “It’s about a 30-40 minute presentation and we try to keep to specific topics,” Webber said over the phone from her home in Tennessee. “After that, we open it up to a Q&A session that Kylie helps moderate through email and the chat window.” Each session is free to register for, and those who miss it can still get a recording of the event emailed to them. The next webinar is planned to take place at 5 p.m. on July 28. Webber will be discussing the NCAA division structure and the many scholarship opportunities at various levels. Among the topics there-in: Athletic scholarship or academic scholarship? Walk-on or scholarship player? Two-year or four-year school? She will also be sharing tips on how to start building a target list of schools. Future webinars may include guest speakers as well, Webber said. Keep an eye on the NCVA Facebook page for a registration link. ✪

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3.5 seconds

1.5 seconds

80 feet

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here’s baseball IQ and then there’s whatever-in-the-Isaac-Newton Anson Aroz is. The Oregon-committed, switch-hitting catcher from Placer High-Auburn seems to see the diamond in code — or at least in distances and times. “Say a base runner takes 3.5 seconds to run to second base on a steal, traveling 80 feet because of his lead,” Aroz explained. “A good pitcher can get the ball to the plate in 1.5 seconds or less, giving the catcher less than 2.0 seconds of ‘pop time’ to hit the mitt at second base. “It’s the smallest fraction of a second that can make a difference, and it becomes a pretty complex equation the more you play and understand the game.” It sounds like an explanation that should be etched onto a hallway chalkboard at MIT, a la “Good Will Hunting,” but Aroz is more of a country boy than he is a Bay Stater. Aroz broke down the importance of a catcher’s pop time (his recent best is 1.8 seconds) just a few feet from 16 head of cattle on his grandparents’ 24-acre Auburn ranch. The interview interrupted his assault on a largemouth bass pond. “They seem to be hitting every 15 minutes or so,” he said. “I’m using little natural brown/green plastic worms on a hook, bouncing them on the reeds.” Everything Aroz does seems to be executed in a calculated balance. The soon-to-be Placer senior hits from both sides of the tee inside his backyard batting cage each day, and disperses the routine with hits off a pitching machine and front tosses from his dad Pete Aroz. Then he works on his blocking, receiving, and presenting, changing the machine’s elevation and location to work in coverage around as much of the plate as possible. He overloads his left swing a little, since he was told another statistic four years ago — that switch-hitting catchers have the best chances of being drafted. It’s all part of his analytical approach to the game. “He took this game and was able to understand it better than I ever did,” Pete said. “He sees the game as constant mathematics, where every time the ball is put into play — be it a bunt or a line-drive into the gap — it’s an equation to be solved immediately. “And as the catcher, he is often the guy to solve it and tell people where they need to be.” “He’s like the quarterback out there,” Placer baseball coach Dave Thompson said. “He is always aware of the situation and will catch stuff that even the coaches miss.” Anson is poised to be a four-year starter at Placer, though he has seen more innings in travel ball than he has in prep. The former Auburn Little League all-star developed his skills with the NorCal Rebels, and went on to play for Brett Hemphill and the Golden Spikes before landing with his current squad, the Chico Aces. Always More To Read at SportStarsMag.com

Sara Aroz Photo

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the const the constant 14

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Travel ball put his name out there, but prep baseball matters in Auburn. Games at James Field are a pastime all their own. “I’m really hoping we can get on the field this year and get back into the swing of things, especially for my senior year,” Anson said. “We might have one of the deepest teams we have had in years, and I am hoping we can make it to the section championships.” Thanks to a 2019 realignment that shifted a dramatic imbalance in Placer’s lordship over the Pioneer Valley League in most sports, Placer baseball has the daunting task of standing out in one of the toughest medium-school leagues in Northern California, the Valley Foothill League. Oakmont-Roseville dropped two games in the VFL in the last full season (2019), and went on to win a stacked Sac-Joaquin Section Division II bracket with five straight victories. Placer was one of the two teams to take a game from Oakmont, thanks in part to a three-hit game from Aroz, then only a sophomore. The pitcher Aroz faced, Greg Nichols, was one of Oakmont’s aces, appeared in both section finals games. Ponderosa-Shingle Springs tied with Placer at 7-8 in the VFL in 2019, but went on to qualify for and sweep the Div. III SJS bracket. The Bruins went 2-1 against Placer. Lincoln and Nevada Union-Grass Valley also made the playoffs, but failed to reach the second round. No. 15 seed Lincoln fell just 3-2 to No. 2 seed Woodcreek-Roseville in the Div. II postseason. Placer should be bolstered by a lineup that returns all but one senior (Payton Stumbo, a Nevada signee). Six players — Anson, Martin Haswell, Carson Seeman, Myles Meyer, Bryce Baughman and Jake Richardson — played varsity as sophomores. It gives them the luxury of varsity experience, despite the pandemic-shortened 2020 season that limited the Hillmen to just five contests. Placer’s only losses in 2020 were to 2019 Div. IV runner-up Central CatholicModesto, in a doubleheader featuring scores of 11-9 and 10-9. Thompson said Anson is a hard worker who deserves everything he has earned, and said the squad is filled with even more quality players with scholarship potential. Anson announced his commitment to Oregon last fall. “I fell in love with the area and the campus was a big deciding factor,” Anson said. “I also found the coaching staff and of course the baseball program itself very appealing. “They are hungry for Omaha (Nebraska, the home of the College World Series).” Committing to a college baseball program is sometimes just the beginning for a young player. Part of the process is also being noticed by major league scouts. Even if Anson enjoys a long career at Oregon, being a long-time presence in the pro scouting world is hugely important. To get noticed, he attends Prep Baseball Report events, like the professional showcase he attended June 28 at McBean Park in Lincoln. The event was heavily attended by pro scouts, who got a look at guys like Anson and others like Lincoln pitcher Jack Nilsson, who is also headed to Oregon. Sac State-bound Colby Lunsford, a Bear River shortstop and Anson’s Chico Aces teammate, was also at the showcase. The event mostly featured Northern California talent already committed to a four-year school. Anson plays regular games with the Aces, either in Butte County, where COVID-19 has been reported to have minimal impact, or in areas where the team plays without spectators, achieving social distancing whenever possible. Thanks to a supporting baseball family, Anson also has the resources to train at home, and in the home weight room of a Placer teammate. Pete, who helped inspire Anson’s love for baseball, has been a big influence, but Anson has much appreciation for his mom Sara Aroz, who made much of the travel ball lifestyle possible. It’s not much different than her own past in athletics, competing in prep and college rodeo (Hartnell College) circuits. Sara also plays a role in his recruitment/scouting, capturing some of his best moments on camera and blasting out the heavily-viewed content on social media. It’s become a source of family pride to see Anson and his calf-roping sister Lila Aroz succeed. “You start out as parents thinking your job is putting a kind, adventurous, smart person out there to contribute to the population. And then we have kids like Anson and Lila, and see how funny and intellectual they are,” she said. “They are really nice people, good to their friends and we couldn’t be prouder.” Like any good coaching staff, Sara and Pete are always willing to let Anson call pitches. They sat him down recently to check in on his state of mind, because the constant work on velocity, hitting, receiving, presenting and blocking can make his routine almost machine-like. “We wanted to make sure he was still doing it because he loved it, and had a nice candid conversation about this career, now that we are talking to MLB scouts,” Sara said. “He waited for us to stop talking and told us that he thinks he likes baseball even more than we do, and that he was good.” It may have been one of Anson’s easier equations to solve. ✪

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What If Football Is Delayed Indefinitely? What If Other NorCal Sports Adapt To Compete Among Coronavirus Concerns? Fall 2020 Could Be Like No Other Join Us For A Look Inside Our Crystal Ball EDITOR’S NOTE: This is meant to be a purely fictionalized look into the future of NorCal’s 2020 fall sports season in a state and region still heavily affected by COVID-19. It was written without any knowledge of plans or decisions being considered by the CIF, individual sections, leagues or school districts.

Story by Chace Bryson Photo Illustration (Pages 16-17) Mike DeCicco 18

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llie Bushnell doesn’t bend to pressure very often. The Granite Bay High golfer made that abundantly clear on her way to winning the 2019 CIF/NCGA NorCal Championship tournament — as a freshman. Having been a rising amateur for some time, Bushnell is no stranger to big tournaments. But this day’s round at Rancho Cucamonga’s Red Hill Country Club was a different animal. She wasn’t just playing for herself. The sophomore was playing for the school embroidered on her shirt along with the Sac-Joaquin Section golfing community — a community that was watching her every stroke in a live streaming event back home. When the CIF postponed full-contact football indefinitely on Aug. 7, a ripple effect began. Sports often played in the shadow of the Friday night lights quickly garnered more attention. Which led to Bushnell teeing off at the 2020 CIF Girls Golf State Championships under the glare of Spectrum SportsNet cameras. It didn’t take particularly long for Bushnell to realize how popular the live stream was back home. “Normally I just leave my phone in a pocket of my golf bag and turn it to vibrate-only,” she said. “But after my birdie on No. 2, I just had to turn it off completely.” With coronavirus concerns still present, the CIF announced in early October that the regional and state golf championships would happen, but with a reduced field. The state tournament featured just 34 golfers: The top two teams and top five individuals from each of the NorCal and SoCal championships. They played in pairs, and Bushnell was given the last tee time of the morning along with defending state champion Caroline Canales. Whether intentional or not, the pairing was genius. The Granite Bay sophomore and Calabasas senior seemingly matched each other shot for shot for four hours. Both separated themselves from the pack rather quickly and each made the turn at 3-under par. The next closest competitor was 1-over. By the time they reached the 15th hole, the larger-than-normal media contingent arrived to follow them over the last four holes. Canales grabbed a one-shot lead and moved to 5-under with a birdie on No. 16. But the unflappable Bushnell pulled into a tie with her own birdie by holing out a 30-yard chip shot on No. 17. Both girls then experienced quite a thrill as they walked up the 18th fairway with the rest of the field spread out, wearing masks, and rooting both competitors on. That modest but loud crowd erupted when Bushnell sank a 12-foot par putt to seal victory. It was a scene that high school golf tournaments don’t usually get, and turned out to be one of the highlights to a fall sports season that was anything but normal. Around the same time football was shelved, water polo received the same news. Administrators agreed that the sport included just too much face-to-face competition. It was definitely a blow to teams like the Sacred Heart Prep-Atherton girls, the 2019 CIF NorCal Div. I runnersup who were returning six all-league players. The Gators may still have a chance to compete in a league-only schedule during the spring, however. In normal, non-pandemic times, girls volleyball serves as the next-highest profile sport to football. But this fall it faced several challenges. For one, it’s the only fall sport played indoors. And as of July 1, California Gov. Gavin Newsom was shutting down several indoor activities Always More To Read at SportStarsMag.com

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BELOW: Menlo SchoolAtherton No. 2 singles player Tricia Zhang returns a shot during a 2019 match (Photo: Menlo Athletics). AT RIGHT: CampolindoMoraga’s Owen Lekki competes during the 2019 North Coast Section Championships. (Photo: Campolindo Cross Country).

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throughout the state as infections were spiking. In addition to being indoors, playing volleyball requires constant shouted communication among teammates. Yelling and shouting lead to an increased amount of respiratory droplets which could potentially carry virus particles. And while most of the action between opposing teams is kept relatively distant, plays at the net are not. After the start of the season was postponed for close to a month, teams were given the option to compete while wearing masks. Archbishop Mitty-San Jose coach Bret Almazan-Cezar had already been trying out the method with his team as early as July. “We found it very difficult,” he said then. “But if that’s what’s going to be expected of us, and will get us in the gym competing, we’re all for it.” Led by returning All-West Catholic Athletic League juniors Kendra MacDonald and Reagan Dryden, Mitty would go on to win the WCAL title. The mandate for competing with masks was lifted by late October and the Monarchs cruised to a Central Coast Section title as well. CIF considered holding a state tournament in volleyball, but ultimately decided against it. That schools were able to compete for a section title was victory enough. Girls tennis, one of the first sports to get approval for regular play along with golf, enjoyed a much more spotlighted season than usual. That proved well for the Menlo School-Atherton team. The Knights garnered feature stories from several publications, including us, as they extended their league dual-match unbeaten streak to 266 — an accomplishment that now spans 24 seasons. But returning seniors Addie Ahlstrom (No. 1 singles) and Lindsay Ball (No. 1 doubles) led an experienced Menlo team that didn’t stop at a league title. With several reporters in attendance, the Knights won their second consecutive CIF NorCal title and eighth regional crown overall. The last state championship event of the fall played out over five days at Woodward Park in Fresno. The state cross country championships, a traditional one-day event that includes 10 races and approximately 2,000 competitors each year, needed some socialdistance restructuring. After leagues throughout the state were successfully able to hold sparsely-attended dual meet seasons from late-September through October, a relaxation in health restrictions for November opened the door to a carefully planned postseason. Like it did with golf, the qualifying field was trimmed to a maximum of 120 competitors per race. And to allow for the safe allowance of spectators, Woodward Park hosted two races per day — a morning session and an afternoon session. “It was a little eerie with how big a difference the atmosphere was,” said Del Oro-Loomis junior Riley Chamberlain who arrived for her Division III race on Day 3, a Thursday. “I’m glad they figured out a way for it to happen, though” So was the Campolindo-Moraga boys team. With Dylan Gunn, Alex Lodewick and Owen Lekki leading the way, the Cougars defended their Division III title. Meanwhile, Chamberlain’s bid for a third straight state title fell just short, as she finished second. As we transition to winter, soccer was able to begin competition on Dec. 7. Basketball, which saw many of its holiday tournaments cancelled due to travel concerns and the need to limit large crowds, has a target start date of Dec. 28. Crowds for basketball games in the Bay Area counties must be kept to 200 with masks worn at all times. Most schools said they will give priority to immediate family members for both teams, and then the host school’s student body (determined by a drawing) — all tickets must be purchased in advance so there are no lines at the door. It hasn’t been perfect, but high school sports are finding a way. Even if that way looks a lot different than we’re used to. ✪ Follow Us On Twitter & Instagram, Like Us On Facebook!

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This is an installation of the SportStars Big 10 Project: A 10-months-long anniversary project to celebrate what was 10 years of SportStars this June. We’ll be releasing lists of the Top 10 players and teams of the SportStars Era from across several sports all the way through October. Northern California has been fertile ground for softball talent for several decades, and our first ten years covering it was no different. This list alone includes five players with national team experience, two former Ms. Softball State Players of the Year, and one recently voted to ESPN’s All-Time Collegiate Softball Team. Like our previous Big 10 lists, we tried our best to balance both high school and post-graduate playing successes. We have fun building these lists, and we hope readers can have fun arguing about them. Let us know your thoughts on this one. Here’s The Softball Big 10, listed alphabetically. 22

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Holly Azevedo

Nicole “Sis” Bates

Pioneer-San Jose ‘17

Ceres ‘16

Let’s just start with her sophomore year. That was the season she pitched 170 innings without allowing a single earned run. She followed that with a junior season in which she went 25-3 with a 0.18 ERA and 334 strikeouts. In her four-year Pioneer career, Azevedo carried an 82-10 record and a 0.31 ERA with 982 strikeouts against just 88 walks. She hit for the Mustangs too, batting a career .387 in just shy of 300 at bats. She competed for the U.S. Junior Women’s National Team, picking up two wins and a save as the team won gold at the 2017 WBSC Junior Women’s World Championships. She went 15-0 to earn Pac-12 All-Freshman honors. It was the second best undefeated season in UCLA history. In two and a half seasons with the Bruins, Azevedo carries a 44-1 record and a 2.08 ERA with 204 strikeouts.

Despite playing just three full seasons at the University of Washington, Bates was voted onto ESPN’s All-Time Collegiate Softball Team. Let’s first start with a Ceres High career that ended with her being named Cal-Hi Sports’ Ms. State Softball after a senior season in which she hit .571 for the Sac-Joaquin Section Div. III champs, and put her name in the state record book for career runs scored (171) and career hits (205). In three-plus seasons at Washington, Bates has a career batting average of .384 with 172 runs and 113 RBI in 202 games. She’s a two-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association FirstTeam All-American, and a two-time Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year (Google for a treasure trove of infield wizardry). She was named to the US Women’s National Team following her sophomore year. Bates was also named to our Overall Girls Athlete Big 10.

Mia Camuso

Rachel Cid

Shasta-Redding ‘16

Tracy ‘18

Arguably the best player to come out of the Northern Section, and undoubtedly the best from the past decade. Camuso owns the section career record for hits (239), RBI (162), runs (190), doubles (56) and home runs (42). She was the 2015 Cal-Hi Sports State Junior of the Year after batting .604 with 16 homers and 61 RBI. She was a first team NFCA High School All-American that season, too. Her senior year of batting .576 with 14 home runs and 50 RBI was equally impressive. In two seasons at Oregon, Camuso started 117 games and helped lead the Ducks to two Women’s College World Series appearances. Her freshman year she hit .341 with 47 RBI (second on the team) and was a WCWS AllTournament selection after hitting .400 with five RBI. Camuso transferred after her 2019 season and will be a junior at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette in 2021.

Cid was SportStars’ 2018 NorCal Player of the Year after blasting Sac-Joaquin Section pitching to the tune of a .564 average with nine home runs and 41 RBI in 29 games. To top things off, after back-to-back years of finishing runner-up to Sheldon-Sacramento, the Bulldogs defeated the Huskies 8-5 in an eight-inning Division I final. Cid went 2-for-4 with two homers and four RBI in the game. Her 119-game Tracy career included a .534 average on 188 hits, 134 runs, 166 RBI, 49 doubles, 11 triples and 25 home runs. In her first season at Oregon she was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman team after hitting nine home runs and ranking second on the Ducks with 31 RBI. Cid was hitting .387 with seven home runs and 27 RBI before the coronavirus halted the season after 24 games.

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Johanna Grauer

Jazmyn Jackson

Amador Valley-Pleasanton ‘14

Archbishop Mitty-San Jose ‘14

Grauer was the Bay Area’s most dominant pitcher from 2011-2014. She posted a career record of 89-6 with 1,050 strikeouts and led the Dons to North Coast Section Div. I titles in her freshman and senior years (an ankle sprain robbed her of her junior postseason). As a senior she posted a 27-0 record, 0.51 ERA, 290 strikeouts and just 60 hits allowed over 191.1 innings pitched. She also led the team in batting average (.429 average) and hits (39) to go with 20 RBI. She was Cal-Hi Sports’ Ms. Softball State Player of the Year and the NHSCA National Player of the Year. She won a gold medal with the 2015 U.S. Junior Women’s National Team striking out 17 over nine innings at the WBSC Junior Women’s World Championships. In 112 career appearances for UCLA, Grauer went 4013 with seven saves and a 3.40 ERA.

Jackson was truly one of the Bay Area’s most consistent and versatile offensive weapons for eight years. Four at Mitty and four at Cal. Her four-year Monarch career included 120 games in which she amassed 202 hits (for a .528 average), 160 runs, 119 RBI, 42 doubles, 23 triples, 24 home runs and three CCS championships. Jackson already has five years of Team USA experience, most recently winning gold at the 2019 USA Softball International Cup. Jackson also won gold at the 2017 Pan American Championships, where she went 8-for-15 with nine runs scored, two home runs and five RBI. She was a .369 career hitter at Cal, good for third-best all time in the program. She ranks second on the single-season average list with her .446 from 2015. Jackson also ranks in the Golden Bears’ top five for career hits (279) and doubles (43).

Briana Perez

Kylee Perez

Alhambra-Martinez ‘17

Alhambra-Martinez ‘14

Briana was just a sophomore when she was our 2015 Bay Area Female Athlete of the Spring as she hit .608 with six doubles, six triples, 14 home runs, 42 RBI and 26 stolen bases for the NCS Div. II champs. Perez closed her 102-game Alhambra career with a .569 average, 169 hits, 185 runs, 145 RBI, 25 doubles, 19 triples, 31 homers and 94 stolen bases (in 96 attempts). She’s been prolific in two-plus seasons at UCLA. She was a first team All-Pac-12 and a Pac-12 All-Defensive selection both seasons. In 2019, she led Pac-12 in runs (70), ranked second in hits (80) and third in stolen bases (21). UCLA reached the Women’s College World Series Championship Series where Perez homered in both games. In the shortened 2020 season, Perez hit .420 with 28 RBI in 26 games. She’s a first-year member of the U.S. Women’s National Team.

Briana’s big sister was the spark that ignited a Bulldogs dynasty that led to four North Coast Section titles in six seasons. As a freshman, she hit .628 and swatted nine home runs to help Alhambra to its first title. Perez would lead another title run as a senior and graduated with a career .572 average, 169 runs, 139 RBI, 26 doubles, 11 triples, 42 home runs and 71 stolen bases. In four years at UCLA, Perez became just the 12th Bruin to ever be named NFCA All-Region four consecutive years, and the 29th Bruin to earn All-Pac12 honors in all four seasons (a first-team selection each of her last three years). Perez compiled 301 career hits, which was good for third on the Bruins’ all-time list. She also ranked fourth all-time in runs (191) and seventh in batting average (.387). UCLA reached the Women’s College World Series in each of her four seasons.

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Nicole May Foothill-Pleasanton ‘20

The lost 2020 season robbed May of capping a stellar four-year career with her name throughout the state record book. When play was halted in March, May was leading a Foothill team in the midst of a 32-game win streak dating to the 2018 postseason. She was SportStars’ NorCal Softball Pitcher of the Year and Cal-Hi Sports’ State Junior of the Year after leading the 2019 Falcons to a 28-0 NCS Div. I title season. The Oklahomabound May was a first team All-State selection in each of her three full seasons as she combined to post a 70-6 record with 748 strikeouts. She lowered her ERA each season, from 0.84 as a freshman to 0.65 as sophomore and 0.32 last season. Her performance in the 2019 NCS Div. I final perfectly encapsulated her dominance. She spun a two-hit shutout and drove in the game’s only runs on a 2-run homer. She hit .469 as a junior.

Danielle Williams Amador Valley-Pleasanton ‘18

In her freshman year, Williams faced the task of replacing four-year megastar Johanna Grauer. Grauer had won 89 games as a Don, including two NCS titles. Williams was more than prepared. She’d post a four-year record of 84-12 and lead Amador Valley to two titles as well. Williams amassed 950 strikeouts over 669.2 innings, and had 12 home runs and 57 RBI. Her senior year included a 23-4 record, 389 strikeouts, a .429 batting average, seven homers and 26 batted in. In the NCS final, she tossed a fourhit shutout with 11 strikeouts and hit a homer and a double. Williams tossed a one-hit shutout in her college debut at Northwestern, and never slowed down. She won 31 games with 317 strikeouts. She was the Big 10 Freshman of the Year and the first Big 10 player to ever be awarded the Schutt/NFCA National Freshman of the Year. Follow Us On Twitter & Instagram, Like Us On Facebook!

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CAUGHT IN A

Pickle As The Nation’s Pandemic Continues To Ebb And Flow, A Select Number Of East Bay Little Leagues Search For Ways To Get Kids Back On The Field

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Story By Mike Wood 28

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or the summer staple of Little League baseball, the COVID-19 pandemic has put one of the nation’s great traditions largely on hold. There are scattered ball games around the U.S. Mostly, it’s a prolonged waiting game. A smattering of leagues and teams are practicing, a few are playing games and many leagues have shut down altogether for the summer. The East Bay, which has produced eventual big leaguers from Dontrelle Willis to Brandon Crawford, has a handful of teams practicing under strict guidelines, giving those kids a rare chance to have fun outdoors after spending much of the past few months inside. Others are waiting until better days. That wait loomed to grow longer as July began. Both East Bay counties — Alameda and Contra Costa — announced June 29 they were pausing their respective next phases of reopening, citing recent increases in positive COVID-19 tests and hospitalizations. While those moves didn’t directly affect the ability to stage modified practices, any remaining hopes for something slightly resembling a Little League season are fading in the hot summer sun. Writing starting lineup cards has given way to writing extensive safety protocols for resuming modified practice and, eventually, games. The starting point are best practices protocols and a season resumption guide from Little Always More To Read at SportStarsMag.com

League International, but everything is tied to particular local guidelines set by county health departments and local officials. Parents decide for their kids whether to opt in for a restart, or opt out. Another path to clear is usage of fields, often run by municipalities or school districts. According to District 4 administrator Ted Boet, getting clearances from school-run sites have been challenging, mainly due to the many things schools and their districts have on their plates right now. District 4 oversees leagues in Alameda, Berkeley, Oakland and a good portion of Contra Costa County. District 57 covers the rest of Alameda County and the Tri-Valley. “I would tell you that for the average league board of directors, this has been more of a mental drain,” Boet said. “Most leagues gave up, due to the uncertainty of it all.” In the East Bay, a few Little Leagues have opted for modified practices. Danville Little League resumed practices on June 15, but under strict protocols set by the league itself, Little League Baseball International, Contra Costa County and local officials. Also among those to return to modified practices or planning to do so were Alameda, Lafayette, Martinez and Tassajara Valley Little Leagues, according to postings on their respective websites. Right now it’s a chance for a little outdoor exercise. A planned outing, for some structure in uncertain times. Follow Us On Twitter & Instagram, Like Us On Facebook!

“I would tell you that for the average league board of directors, this has been more of a mental drain. Most leagues gave up, due to the uncertainty of it all.” — District 4 administrator Ted Boet

“We just wanted to get kids out of the house; that was our primary goal,” Danville Little League President Kevin Salmon said. “Give them something to do outdoors.” Based on restrictions by East Bay counties and local authorities, no more than 12 youths of a “stable” group are allowed to practice together, so each team must have 12 or fewer players. That’s led to some reallocating of players who are returning from the postponed start of the season. “On June 15 we had 45 percent of spring registration back on the field, but had to reassemble teams to get to the 12 barrier,” Salmon said. Alameda was planning a target date of July 5 to resume practices and for games to resume Aug. 3. “This statement (on June 29) means this is becoming less likely that we will play games soon,” Alameda Little League President Ron Matthews wrote in a text message response. “We will wait for the next phase.” Matthews noted that a good number of parents are opting to have their kids return. “We had 850-900 registrants (at the start of the season) and some years have had as many as 1000,” he said. “We might have 700 continue to play.” Little League International canceled its 2020 World Series and Regional tournaments on April 30. No World Series will be contested at the fabled locale of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, or six other divisional Series sites, including the Intermediate World Series in Livermore. As the leagues attempt to gather again, no high-fives or handshakes or celebratory contact are allowed. Dugouts must have social distancing. Hand sanitizer is in use while sunflower seeds are out, and there is no shared equipment, such as gloves, bats, helmets and catcher’s mitts. Here are just some of the Little League International best practices guidelines: ›› No food or concession sales are allowed at facilities. ›› Umpires are permitted to be placed behind the pitcher’s mound/circle to call balls and strikes. ›› All spectators should follow best social distancing practices — stay six feet away from individuals outside their household; wear a cloth face covering at all times; avoid direct hand or other contact with players/managers/coaches during play. ›› Leagues may choose to minimize exposure risk to spectators by limiting attendance to only essential volunteers and limited family members. ›› All individuals should measure their body temperature to ensure no fever is present prior to participating or attending each Little League activity. Anyone with symptoms of fever, cough, or worsening respiratory symptoms, or any known exposure to a person with COVID-19 should not attend any Little League activity until cleared by a medical professional. ›› No personal player bat bags/equipment bags should be allowed in the dugout. Player equipment should be spaced accordingly outside the dugout to prevent direct contact. ›› Baseballs and softballs should be rotated through on a regular basis, at least every two innings, to limit individual contact. ›› Players and coaches should take measures to prevent all but the essential contact

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necessary to play the game. This should include refraining from handshakes, high fives, fist/elbow bumps, chest bumps, group celebrations, etc. Little League International suggests lining up outside the dugout and tipping caps to the opposing team as a sign of good sportsmanship after a game. “We’ve come up with imaginary high-fives, and we’re emphasizing the thumbs-up,” Matthews said. To eventually get back to games and even have fans attending, Boet looks at three different scenarios of potential gathering sizes: “There would be those with 30 or less for gathering, which is about what it would take to put on a game,” he said. “Then there would be 50 or under, and then over 50.” Not only are league officials tasked with many measures to implement and understand, so are coaches. “Coaches have to sign a document that they understand the protocols, and have taught them to their parents,” said Matthews, whose league’s resumption of practice guidelines contain 50 points. “They need to keep them on file so I may see them upon my request at any time, or from any other board member.” Many leagues are using platforms like Zoom to conduct meetings and keep parents updated. And even if coaches and players are not working together in person, there are ways to teach and learn. San Ramon Little League is among those using social media, with a series of instructional videos on its Instagram account. League officials are used to developing plans for incidents like injuries, but nothing along the severity of COVID-19. “We have to write safety plans, and in recent years to write up serious stuff such as how to deal with head trauma,” Salmon said. “I don’t think anyone had imagined having to write a safety plan for a highly contagious virus, for which so little is known about.” In 21 years as league president, Matthews has seen most of everything, but like any of us, has never experienced this. He is no stranger to health crises, losing his father to the polio epidemic in the 1950s. 30

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“Not in my wildest imagination; not that the entire nation and entire world would be involved in such a horrific situation,” he said. Amid all this, the effort to put together workable guidelines and plan for eventual comebacks has produced some positive vibes. “Nobody is talking about wins and losses and no one is talking about all-stars, since there are no all-stars,” Salmon said. Salmon has been amazed by the support from the parents in his area, saying he could count the complaints on one hand. “It’s mostly ‘thanks for trying,’ ‘we appreciate what you are doing,’” he said. “We surveyed parents, asking that whenever we can restart, if you would be willing to pitch in and help,” Salmon said. “We had over 100 parents respond yes, and these were not necessarily active board members.” What Little Leagues are attempting might provide a blueprint for high school sports, whenever schools are reopened and sports are able to proceed. Salmon is also a San Ramon Valley High-Danville sports parent, so he is eager to see what decision the California Interscholastic Federation reaches regarding fall sports. A decision is expected by July 20, according to a CIF news release. “The next big milestone is what CIF decides,” Salmon said, adding that he finds it hard to imagine fall high school sports will go as typically scheduled. Though games are mainly stalled, hundreds of volunteers are working behind the scenes to get things ready, under appropriate guidelines, with the big question being when will that be. When players once again experience the good gained from playing sports. “I played Little League in the late 50s and early 60s, and I don’t remember a darn thing about the games, but I remember the coaches and players very well,” Matthews said. “What we teach are life lessons. “In my strong opinion not only do they need a physical outlet, but a mental and an emotional outlet. If this can’t go on, we can say we tried our damnedest.” ✪ Follow Us On Twitter & Instagram, Like Us On Facebook!