SJ Issue 49, July 19, 2012

records are meant to be recorded. Pg. 8

vol. 3. issue 49

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july 19, 2012

best in prep sports

sac joaquin

heat wave Sac golfers on a hot streak

U-S-A! O’Dowd’s chidom ready for her world debut

lights, camera ...

Concord? hollywood comes to east bay and ssm plays producer

club Scene

BLOWOUT expanded coverage of summer’s best teams

rio linda jrs. put clamps on district 6 Pg. 26

rio linda junior all-stars have their sights set on the world series PHONE 925.566.8500 FAX 925.566.8507 Editorial Editor@SportStarsOnline.com Editor Chace Bryson. Ext. 104 • Chace@SportStarsOnline.com Contributors Bill Kolb, Erik Stordahl, Mitch Stephens, Doug Gardner, Matt Smith, Clay Kallam, Jim McCue, Eric Gilmore, Dave Kiefer, Liz Elliott, Tim Rudd, Jonathan Okanes Photography Butch Noble, Bob Larson, Jonathan Hawthorne, James K. Leash, Norbert von der Groeben, Phillip Walton, Doug Guler

Book it, Bill-O Our Hollywood sources (you’re darn right we have those) tell us they’re taking De La Salle’s story to the big screen. Our Bill Kolb has some tips to make sure they get it right. Pg. 10

Creative Department Art@SportStarsOnline.com Production Manager Mike DeCicco. Ext. 103 • MikeD@SportStarsOnline.com Publisher/President Mike Calamusa. Ext. 106 • Mike@SportStarsOnline.com Advertising & Calendar/Classified Sales Sales@SportStarsOnline.com, (925) 566-8500 Account Executives Erik Stordahl • Erik@SportStars Online.com, Phillip Walton • PWalton@SportStarsOnline.com Sac Joaqin edition: Ron Davis • RonD@SportStarsOnline.com • (916) 564-0111, Dave Rosales • DaveRosales64@gmail.com Reader Resources/Administration Ad Traffic, Subscription, Calendar & Classified Listings info@SportStarsOnline.com • Deb Hollinger. Ext. 101 • Distribution/Delivery Mags@SportStarsOnline.com Distribution Manager Butch Noble. Ext. 107 • Butch@SportStarsOnline.com Information technology John Bonilla

26 run it down: If you want to improve your conditioning, look at the total program for best results. Pg. 32

CFO Sharon Calamusa • Sharon@SportStarsOnline.com Office Manager/Credit Services Deb Hollinger. Ext. 101 • Deb@SportStarsOnline.com Board of advisors Dennis Erokan, CEO, Placemaking Group Roland Roos, CPA, Roland Roos & Co Susan Bonilla, State Assembly Drew Lawler, Managing Director, AJ Lawler Partners Brad Briegleb, Attorney At Law

Behind the Clipboard....................... 11 Club Scene.......................................... 14 Impulse................................................ 24 Health Watch .................................... 25 Training Time...................................... 32 Camps + Clinics................................ 33

LLC

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Locker Room..................................... 10

TriSteps................................................ 30 on the cover Josh Beebe of Rio Linda Junior All-Stars.

Photo by James K. Leash.

Caliente!

First Pitch.............................................. 8

AAA SportStars of the Week......... 12

get hip to it: Your hamstrings and hip flexors won’t take care of themselves. You gotta work at it. Pg. 25

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James K. Leash

James K. Leash

Putting Sacto On the Map Golfers such as Kit Carson, above, are making the River City known as a place where the new generation of talent is emerging. Pg. 16

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your ticket to bay area sports admit one; rain or shine This Vol. #3, July 2012 Whole No. 49 is published by Caliente! Communications, LLC, 5356 Clayton Rd, Ste. 222, Concord, CA 94521. SportStars™© 2010 by Caliente! Communications, LLC. All rights reserved. Subscription rates: 24 issues, U.S. 3rd class $42 (allow 3 weeks for delivery). 1st class $55. To receive sample issues, please send $3 to cover postage. Back issues are $4 each. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission of Publisher is strictly prohibited. The staff and management, including Board of Directors, of SportStars™© does not advocate or encourage the use of any product or service advertised herein for illegal purposes. Editorial contributions, photos and letters to the editor are welcome and should be addressed to the Editor. All material should be typed, double-spaced on disk or email and will be handled with reasonable care. For materials return, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. SportStars™© and STARS!™© Clinics are registered trademarks of Caliente! Communications, LLC.

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More than 30 years of records, rankings Cal-Hi Sports still kicking

I

t was only a little more than a month Two weeks following the ESPN anago that a quiet afternoon at Sportnouncement, he sounded like the same Stars Headquarters turned into lively old Mark. Eager to talk about all things discussion zone when it was discovered prep sports, and seeming adamant about through an online report that ESPN one thing: Cal-Hi Sports would go on, in would be shutting down nearly all of its some capacity. high school sports operations. “(The announcement) wasn’t totally The report stated that both of the comsurprising,” Tennis said. “I kept telling pany’s high school sports magazines and the family that there was a shoe that was its ESPN HS website would be disappeargoing to drop eventually. I just had that ing by early September. On the surface, feeling. We’ve had deals before that have that appeared great for SportStars — one fallen out, so it’s not uncharted waters less competitor for us to battle. However, for us. ... It’s a very difficult market to get the ESPN HS group had a number of into. You have to really love it, which I peripheries under its umbrella, including still do. a handful of entities which have become “It’s still pretty new. We really don’t synonymous with California high school know yet where we go from here. It’ll still athletics. exist in some form or capacity. We’re not As someone who participated in high going to quit.” school sports in California, and began And, of course, part of the reason writing about them the moment I stopped Tennis hadn’t really given a great deal of playing, it’s hard for me to fathom what thought to the future yet was he and his either would be like without the work of staff were still hard at work shoring up Cal-Hi Sports. Nelson Tennis founded the All-State baseball and softball teams, Cal-Hi Sports in 1979, with hopes of naming the schools of the year, and their creating a definitive list of the state’s highfinal awards, the State Male and Female school sporting records and his nephew Athletes of the Year.

Mark Tennis has followed in his footsteps.

Tennis is also in the process of updatThe organization, which later evolved ing portions of the “CalHiSports.com into Student Sports and most recently State Record Book and Almanac”. The CalHiSports.com under ESPN HS, has last print version was the Seventh Edition not only become the ultimate source for in 2009. There isn’t a new print edition state records but also established itself as planned any time soon, but they hope the definitive voice in state rankings and to get several updated lists online. A All-State team selections of several sports. few football lists have gone up already The work and research done by the and can be viewed at the CalHiSports.

CalHiSports staff is so well respected that com website. Where those updates move the California Interscholastic Federation to when the ESPN servers shut down section commissioners have Mark Tennis sometime in September, is also something Chace@ make a presentation of CalHiSports.com’s Tennis will be looking into.

CIF State Football Bowl rankings prior SportStarsOnline.com “We’re not in panic mode yet (about to closing their doors and selecting the anything), ” Tennis said. “We’re not in any (925) 566-8503 participating teams. real hurry to get it all figured out. I’ve My first thought upon hearing the had a few organizations put feelers out to news of the ESPN announcement was, us, but I could also see myself just doing ‘This can’t mean the end for CalHiSports.’ something very minimal. Maybe a blog It also occurred to me that for more than and a Facebook page and take some time a handful of our readers, especially some off. I’ve never really done something like of the most devout high school sports that.” fans, others could’ve heard the news and That comment was followed by a slight put two and two together as well. pause.

Well, fear not. I went straight to the “It wouldn’t be for the entire school source. year, I don’t think. Maybe just for the fall I’ve known Mark Tennis for close to though, or something.”

10 years now and have always had a great Tennis does have a son who will be deal of respect for his work. As one of a junior on the Lincoln-Stockton cross the state’s true historians of high school country team this fall. And getting to athletics, he undoubtedly receives a high watch his competitions more often may volume of calls and requests. I know that be an enticing thought as well.

I’ve gone to him as a source on several But the diehard fans out there who look forward to seeing occasions and he’s always taken the time — even though he the state football rankings every Wednesday can breathe a does his own reporting and feature-writing and could clearly little easier. Because even we can admit that it just wouldn’t horde such things from writers and publications that he feel right without them. ✪ could easily view as competitors.

First Pitch Chace Bryson Editor

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Ways to turn the De La Salle football movie into a blockbuster.

You might have heard that Hollywood has finally gotten wise to what’s been going on in Contra Costa County. Concord, more specifically (Winton Ave, if you wanna get super-picky). That’s right. The De La Salle High School football team is set to make its big-screen debut when Neil Hayes’ splendid book, “When the Game Stands Tall,” gets the full-on “Coach Carter” treatment from director Thomas Carter and Mandalay Entertainment. Rumor has it, production starts in September. We’re here to nudge these ignorant movie people in the right direction.

■ 1. Coach Lad — Probably the single most important decision regarding this picture is the casting of Bob Ladouceur. If we’re going small-market indie pic, we take Henry Czerny because, well, duh. Sure sure, he’s “that guy,” but he’s also that guy who’s a deadringer for the best high school football coach in the history of ever. Big market? Jeremy Irons. We’re pretty sure he can pull off the American accent. Plus he has the eye-ball and brow intensity we need in this role. And the ladies love him. Can’t hurt you at the box office. Sidenote: It wouldn’t kill ‘em to get Tom Sizemore to play defensive coordinator Terry Eidson. The beard needs to be just so. We’re just sayin’.

■ 2. Facts — They matter, people. The press release on this thing had the Spartans’ winning streak at 138 games. Whosaywhathehecknow? One. Five. One. 151 straight W’s. Don’t short Lad and the gang anything.

■ 3. Football — Very simple. Get. It. Right. The Spartans aren’t the biggest or the fastest or the most athletic. They don’t run a fancy, high-flying offense. They run, like, three plays. They just run them very, very well. Everyone is exactly where he’s supposed to be. Make sure we stay away from any Statue of Liberty/flea-flicker nonsense. This ain’t Boise State.

■ 4. Special effects — All that being said about the football? Sure, sure. But the big climactic scene where the invading alien forces drop the hammer on the zombie hordes? Let’s make sure that pops.

■ 5. The Romantic Twist — You know, that thing Hollywood does where it inserts a love angle to appeal more broadly? Where the scrappy defensive back who nobody ever thought would make varsity finds his soul-mate in a cheerleader from neighboring Ygnacio Valley? Where he makes the streak-saving play in extra slomo and then they ride off into the sunset on a white horse? There isn’t one. Just. No. — Bill Kolb

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props

Welcome to Props, where we shell out dap to athletes who delivered jumbo accomplishments throughout the past weeks. And what better way to dish it out than to have it come from their arch rivals? This issue has an Olympics feel to it.

Kristian Ipsen

The former De La Salle-Concord diver punched his ticket to the London Games when he qualified for the Men’s Synchronized Diving event. The 19-year old nearly qualified for the Men’s Individual Springboard event; he placed third, just 1.25 points behind teammate Troy Dumais for the second of two spots.

“Whenever he was at a meet, everyone dove better. He inspired you to dive better. … No one wanted to beat him. We just wanted the experience to dive near someone who was that good.”

— 2012 NCS diving champion Asher Lichtig (Acalanes) on competing against Ipsen in past NCS events.

Chelsea Chenault

In an event where only the Top 6 advance, the Carondelet-Concord senior placed eighth in the Women’s 200M freestyle – 0.21 seconds away from making history! Heck, a sneeze takes longer than that. But the fact that she’s only 17 means we can probably count her in for the 2016 Games.

“She doesn’t like to lose. … I think it’s going to really inspire her to take everything up a notch so she doesn’t miss the next one. …

Instead of getting sixth, she’ll be fighting for a Top 2 spot.”

— Catherine Breed, former Amador Valley standout swimmer and current Cal Bear.

Maggie Steffens

You might remember her as our cover athlete for the Oct. 28, 2010 issue. The former Monte Vista-Danville star owned her water polo opponents in high school and nothing’s really changed at Stanford. She’ll accompany her sister, Jessica, on the US Women’s team as they look to capture gold in a few weeks.

“I feared her. We would put two, three players on her and she’d still score. … She just has an incredible feel for the game. She sees the game and understands the game, and anticipates the game better than any player I’ve ever seen.”

— Former San Ramon Valley water polo coach Jon Leach, who coached against Steffens when she was a freshman and followed her career.

count’EM 5,185

Number of passing yards in the 2011 season by Folsom’s Tanner Trosin, which now officially tops the updated state records list released by CalHiSports.com on July 16. CalHiSports will be releasing more updated lists throughout the summer.

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If you make plays, coaches will get you on the field I play linebacker and I came off the bench last year, but there’s an open spot.

Right now, though, the coaches love this other guy who’s a great weightlifter.

I’m a better football player, though, but I’m afraid I won’t get a chance because the other guy has better muscles. Isn’t football about making plays, not pumping iron?

— O.T., Pleasanton

T

here’s a lot to unpack here, but let’s start with this: Coaches want to win. If they don’t win, especially in football, they don’t get to coach very long. So if you give the team a better chance to win than the workout warrior, you’re going to wind up playing.

I know what you’re thinking. “My coaches aren’t smart enough to see the difference. They like him better and they’ll play him instead of me even though I’ll make more plays.”

It could be true that your coaches are idiots, but you know, I’m guessing they’re smarter than you think. It’s not like they just walked into the AD’s office and got handed the job — high school football coaches pay their dues, and they’re not dumb. (That’s not to say they don’t make mistakes, but you have to remember that they do know more than you do. In fact, they know a lot more …)

Assuming, though, that the coaching staff can see that you’re better, they will play you. Which leads to the question of why they seem to favor the guy who can bench 325 (or whatever).

I’m guessing that the weightlifting king puts in a lot of time, and you have to realize that counts for a lot with coaches. Offseason is the time that individuals improve, and the more players who are all-in during the offseason, the better the team will be. If someone comes to conditioning and busts their butt every second, the coaches are going to make sure everyone sees that they really, really appreciate that kind of effort.

They will also give those extra-hard workers every chance to succeed once the games begin. But again, the bottom line is winning, and putting the players on the field who give the team the best chance to win is the best strategy. So when the pads go on, if you can show the coaches you’ll make more plays, then it’s very likely you’ll get more playing time.

One other thing, though: Don’t go marching into the coaches’ office and claim you’re better than the other guy. It doesn’t hurt to talk to the coaches, but the conversation should almost always go like this: “Coach, I really want to help the team win this fall, and I want to know what I can do to get on the field and help us win a league title.”

The coach will usually respond with some generalities and a couple of specifics. Your reply should be something like: “Thanks, coach, I really appreciate the feedback. I’m going to work on those things and try to get better. Please let me know how I’m doing.”

And then you walk away.

You never mention the other player. You never talk about playing time.

You never disagree. And you listen intently to whatever the coach has to say.

That doesn’t mean you think the coach is right, necessarily, but since he has the power, he makes the rules — and I’m pretty sure that whatever he tells you to work on, you need to work on. And I’m also pretty sure that if you get better at those things, you’ll find the coaches like you as much as the guy who has the biggest biceps on the team. ✪

Behind the Clipboard Clay Kallam

Clay Kallam is an assistant athletic director and girls varsity basketball coach at Bentley High in Lafayette. To submit a question for Behind the Clipboard, email Coach Kallam at clayk@fullcourt.com.

July 19, 2012

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The former Hillgals’ setter earned All-Tournament honors in the National Division at the USA Junior National Championships in Columbus, Ohio.

She and teammate Lianna Sybeldon (Ponderosa-Shingle Springs) received all-tourney honors as they helped lead the Northern California Volleyball Club (NCVC) 18-1 Moxie team to a 10-1 record and take the bronze medal. Michaela, who is already training with her new teammates at San Jose State University, finished her final high school season with 260 assists, 120 kills, 90 digs, and 41 aces as Placer (22-9 overall) advanced to the semifinals of the Sac Joaquin Section Division III semifinals.

SportStars Magazine: Was medaling at the Junior Nationals a satisfying finish to your club career?

Michaela Leonard: We aspired to play in the Open Division, but made sure that we really went after it in the National. We left it all on the floor and I’m glad that’s the way the season ended. Knowing that high school and club play is over, I think we went out with a bang.

SSM: What was the highlight of the trip to Columbus?

ML: Other than medaling, we enjoyed the Midwest weather.

On our second night, there was

July 19, 2012

honorable mention

michaela leonard

trevor bryant

placer-auburn . volleyball . 2012 grad

The soon-tobe senior at Nevada UnionGrass Valley led the NCVC 17-1 boys team to a 9-2 mark in the Open Division at the USA Junior Nationals in Dallas, Texas.

alexis cooper The SheldonSacramento grad and Arizona Statebound pitcher was named to the Cal-Hi Sports’ All-State Softball first team. As a senior, Cooper led the Huskies to a 2nd straight SJS Div. I title with a 19-7 record and 34 RBI at the plate.

Courtesy of NCVC

a tornado warning and the trees were blowing all around and lots of thunder and lightning. We all went outside to take pictures of the weather because it was so different than what we have seen.

SSM: What factors influenced your decision to go to San Jose State for your education and volleyball?

ML: The location was a huge draw for me. It’s far from home, but close enough to go home to see my family and friends if I want to. When I visited schools, I got the best feel (at San Jose State) and I love my new teammates already.

nick madrigal The Elk Grove freshman was named to MaxPreps.com’s Freshman All-American team.

Madrigal hit .379 with 34 runs and 18 RBI while stealing 18 bases during the team’s run to the SJS Div. I North semifinals.

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NorCal volleyball teams shine at Nationals

The girls of the Xceleration 18 Blue club volleyball team are no strangers to the U.S. Junior Nationals. Led by a core group that has been together for more than a few years, Xceleration punched its ticket to the American Division of the Junior Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, and went there determined to make their final trip memorable.

They succeeded.

Led by stellar performances from a variety of recent East Bay graduates, the 18 Blues reached the quarterfinals and just missed making the medal round after a heart-wrenching three-set loss. They would settle for 5th place out of 32 teams and flew home with their heads held high.

“They were unbelievable,” coach Andy Schroeder said. “It was a group that just took care of business when they walked between the lines. ... They (left) feeling good about themselves. Everybody on the team put every ounce they had into that team.”

Erin Sherwood, who just closed out her career at San Ramon Valley-Danville, was the team’s All-Tournament selection at the outside hitter position. However, Schroeder said the other 10 players played equally integral roles throughout the nine-game tournament. The rest of the roster included outgoing seniors Sarah Vaccaro (Miramonte-Orinda), Jade Santos (Moreau Catholic-Hayward), Emiko Moran (Berkeley), Audrey Breitwieser (Miramonte), Arianna Cruz (Moreau Catholic), Lacey Maas (Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland),

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Julia Moradian (College Prep-Oakland), Jessica Vestal (Berean Christian-Walnut Creek) and the team’s lone seniorto-be, Annie Shurtz (Campolindo-Moraga).

City Beach: It just so happens that the team to win the 18U American Division was City Beach Black 18s from City Beach Volleyball Club of Santa Clara. Lead by standouts from two-time defending champion Palo Alto High, Maddie Kuppe and Melanie Wade, among others, the Black 18’s went 11-0 to top the medal stand.

Other City Beach teams to perform well included the 13 Black (5th place, American Division), 14 Black (15th, Open Division) and 16 Black (19th, Open Division).

Northern California Volleyball Club: The Sac Joaquin Section was well represented at the Junior Nationals with the Northern California Volleyball Club (NCVC) sending six girls teams to Columbus, Ohio, and three boys teams to Dallas, Texas. NCVC’s 17-1 Boys posted the club and Northern California’s top finish with a 13th-place effort in the Open Division. Led by Nevada Union’s Bobby Curtis and Trevor Bryant and Vista del Lago’s Griff Galvin, the team won nine of its 11 matches, falling only to the third- and fourthplace finishers in the division.

The Girls’ 17-1 and Boys’ 16-1 teams also competed in the Open Division, finishing 18th and 23rd against the nation’s best club teams. The NCVC Girls’ 18-1 Moxie team was the lone NCVC team to medal, earning a bronze medal after

Jonathan Hawthorne

Recent San Ramon Valley graduate Erin Sherwood earned All-Tournament honors with Xceleration 18 Blue at the USA Volleyball Junior Nationals.

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Western Regional tournament in Missoula, Mont.

7-ON-7 FOOTBALL Twelve members of the Freedom High varsity football team earned a paid trip to Indianapolis over the weekend of July 12-14 after earning the opportunity to represent the Oakland Raiders in the NFL High School Player Development Program’s National 7-on-7 Tournament.

One team from each region of the 32 NFL programs participated in the event, which began in pool play based on the teams’ respective divisions. Freedom advanced the finals of the AFC West bracket before losing to the Broncos’ represen-

tative. The Seahawks defeated the New York Jets 37-10 to claim the overall championship.

The roster Freedom traveled with featured Dante Mays, Darrell Daniels, Nenwon Gbilia, Bryan Wargo, Aaron Mullins, Tyler Saude, Devontae Young, Nathan Mallet, Johnell Greene, Christian Montion, Andrew Werkheiser and Joe Mixon.

“The hardest part of the whole thing was choosing 12 players,” Freedom coach Kevin Hartwig said. “A lot of guys contributed to us qualifying, but we could only take 12 so we had to pick guys who could go two-ways. It was tough.” ✪ — SportStars staff

Phillip Walton

MacKenzie Dube swings for a key base hit during one of the many scoring rallies the Antioch Little League Senior All-Stars put together during their District 4 final against East County. Antioch won 14-4 and advanced to the Division 2 Tournament, which Antioch Little League plays host to through July 22.

aposting a 10-1 mark in the National Division. Washingtonbound outside hitter Lianna Sybeldon (Ponderosa-Shingle Springs) powered the Moxie offense to third place.

NCVC’s other Junior Nationals finishes were as follows: Girls 17-2 Blue (30th, National), Girls16-1 Black (5th, American), Girls 15-1 Black (5th, American), Girls 14-1 Black (23rd, National) and the Boys 15-1 Black (8th Place, Club Division)

SOFTBALL

Once the Antioch Little League Senior All-Stars softball team realized they had a chance to play host in the Division 2 Division Tournament, it made sure it was going to District 4 champions.

In the first game of the District 4 final, Antioch needed just five innings to dispatch of East County 14-4. Kiera Drawhorn went 3-for-3 with three runs, Erica Johnson went 2-2 with three RBI and two runs scored, Rachel Martin was 2-for-4, with two RBI and two stolen bases and Juliann Lawrence pitched the team to victory.

The second game of the championship never happened, as East County was unable to get a full squad to the field the following night. Antioch hosts the Division Tournament which concludes with the championship on July 21, with an “if necessary” game slated for July 22. The winner advances to the

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Sacramento region has always had noteworthy golfers, but its recent wave of amateurs may be its best yet

V

iewers tuning in to a PGA or LPGA event on television will hear the rare reference to Sacramento on occasions when Spencer Levin, Nick Watney, and Natalie Gulbis are contending. For the most part, Sacramento is not considered a fertile breeding ground for professional golfers.

But the next generation of golfers from the Sacramento region are hoping to change that perception.

“It would be nice to see multiple locals on the pro tours soon,” said Christian Brothers golfer and Elk Grove resident Hunter Rappleye. “That’s the ultimate goal for a lot of the young golfers from Sacramento, and the talent is here to make that happen.”

Local golfers have been busy — and successful — in the last few months. Recent high school graduates and other junior golfers have won high-profile tournaments and qualified to play in national and international fields, so that the state capital of California might be more synonymous with the golf capital of California.

“Sacramento has always been a hotbed for golf,” said Angie Dixon, Executive Director of The First Tee of Greater Sacramento. “We have had some great players come through before, but we definitely have some kids with a lot of talent. It has definitely been a banner year.”

Recent Christian Brothers-Sacramento graduate Kit Carson will continue his golf career at University of Nevada in the fall.

The region’s “banner year” started back in early June when the Sac-Joaquin Section sent one team and five individuals to the California Interscholastic Federation State Golf Championships at San Gabriel Country Club in Southern California.

Granite Bay won the team title, Austin Smotherman of Del Oro-Loomis captured the individual championship, and two other individuals finished in the top 10.

Local boys’ golfers have carried that momentum into the summer and built on it to make an impact in numerous events. Ponderosa High School’s Corey Pereira, who will be a senior in the fall, tied for first at the 83rd Annual Northern California Golf Association (NCGA) Junior Championship at Spyglass Hill Golf Club in Pebble Beach earlier this month before falling to Dublin’s Taylor Bromley on the first playoff hole.

Several local players also participated at the California State Amateur in Santa Barbara in June. Taylor Knoll, a 2011

graduate of Folsom High School, advanced to match play and advanced to the final 16 for the highest area finish.

Rappleye and Christian Brothers teammate Andrej Bevins qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur in New England (July 16-21) with top-four finishes at the Yolo Fliers qualifier in June. Cameron Champ, a 16-year-old amateur from Rocklin, also qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur with a victory in a qualifier in Long Beach. The quick trip entailed a flight to Southern California, a round of golf, and a flight home in the span of 36 hours, but the payoff was a week-long trip to the East Coast to join other locals in competition with the nation’s best young golfers.

Champ, who is home-schooled and has committed to play collegiately at Texas A&M in two years, believes that the local golf scene is in a definite high cycle.

“It comes in waves sometimes, but we have some great talents from around Sacramento,” he said. “I think that once this

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STANDOUT SUMMER

Sacramento-Area prep golfers are really putting themselves and the region on the map this summer. Following are some of the key names and the high-profile tournaments in which they’ve played in or qualified for over the past couple months.

BOYS ■ Austin Smotherman (Del Oro-Loomis/Southern Methodist University) — California State Amateur (La Cumbre CC, Santa Barbara), U.S. Amateur Qualifier (Butte GC, Chico) ■ Hunter Rappleye (Christian Brothers-Sacramento) — AJGA Junior (Ruby Hill GC, Pleasanton), U.S. Junior Amateur (The Golf Club of New England, Stratham, NH) ■ Andrej Bevins (Christian Brothers) — U.S. Amateur Public Links Championships (Soldier Hollow GC, Wasatch, UT), U.S. Junior Amateur (The Golf Club of New England, Stratham, NH), U.S. Amateur Qualifier (Spring Creek GC, Ripon) ■ Cameron Champ (Texas A&M commitment) — Nature Valley First Tee Open (Pebble Beach), U.S. Junior Amateur (The Golf Club of New England, Stratham, NH) ■ Kit Carson (Christian Brothers/University of Nevada) — California State Amateur (La Cumbre CC, Santa Barbara), Nature Valley First Tee Open (Pebble Beach) ■ Corey Pereira (PonderosaShingle Springs) — NCGA Junior Championship (Spyglass Hill GC, Pebble Beach) GIRLS ■ Emily Laskin (St. FrancisSacramento) — Nature Valley First Tee Open (Pebble Beach), Callaway Junior World Golf Championship (San Diego), Optimist International Junior Golf Championship (PGA National, Palm Beach Gardens, FL) ■ Kelsey Ulep (Whitney-Rocklin) — Nature Valley First Tee Open (Pebble Beach) ■ Clare Sorensen (Christian Brothers) — U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship (The Country Club, Cleveland, OH)

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group of kids matures further, it can get even better.”

Champ also participated in the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, a Champions Tour event that featured junior players from more than 60 national First Tee chapters. The First Tee of Greater Sacramento (TFTGS) had six golfers in the field where juniors were paired with senior golfers to compete as teams and individuals on the courses at Del Monte and Pebble Beach. Champ finished in a tie for second place as TFTGS placed three golfers in the top five.

Kit Carson, a recent Christian Brothers graduate, finished in fourth place — one shot behind Champ — to cap off his golf season before heading to Reno where he will play collegiately for the University of Nevada. The experience at Pebble Beach, and his senior season at Christian Brothers, were crowning achievements for a young athlete who began his sole focus on golf at an older age than most on the junior golf scene.

“I played all sports as a kid and didn’t really know that golf was going to be my thing,” Carson said. “I started with The First Tee at 11 and played a little, but finally came into my game last summer.”

The success and business of the summer junior amateur circuit is not exclusive to boys.

Local girls golfers, including St. Francis-Sacramento’s Emily Laskin, have been equally active. Laskin was part of the local First Tee contingent at Pebble Beach and was selected to be one of six junior golfers to be paired with a senior teammate for a five-hole alternate-shot skins game. Laskin, along with pro Scott Simpson, birdied the final hole of the competition — The First Tee No. 18 at Pebble Beach — to St. Francis-Sacramento golfer Emily win a pair of skins and $8,000 Laskin teamed up with with PGA Chamfor TFTGS. pions Tour player Scott Simpson to win Laskin has not restricted $8,000 in a skins event at the Nature her summer golf travel to car Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach. trips down the coast, either.

She recently flew to San Diego to play in the Callaway Junior World Golf Championship and will visit North Carolina and Florida for international junior events before her focus reverts to returning the Troubadours to elite status in the Sac-Joaquin Section.

“We are still rebuilding with me being one of five juniors for next year,” she said.

“It’s harder to stay on top in the SJS because everyone locally is so passionate and driven. There is a lot of great talent in the area and we all put pressure on ourselves to do well. We expect a high level of play now from everyone around here.”

The girls’ high school golf season will ramp up immediately when school starts in August, allowing some of the local junior golfers the opportunity to carry the momentum of elite competition from the summer into league and section play.

Local golfers — both boys and girls — will aim for a berth in the U.S. Amateur Championships in early August before heading back to school with a select few competitors possibly missing classes to tee it up against the nation’s best amateurs.

Regardless of how Sacramento golfers fare at the U.S. Amateur events, there is little argument that the region is rising at the amateur level and could be a bigger player on the professional tours in the near future.

“I think that the quality of junior golf in Sacramento is as good as it has been in a long time,” Rappleye said. “There are some premiere players with lots of talent and I think that we can put Sacramento on the map.” ✪ Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

World

CLASS In three years, Oderah Chidom went from a raw freshman to NorCal’s only representative on the U17 National team

“I

By clay kallam | Contributor

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Butch Noble

knew it was going to be intense,” said Oderah Chidom after a USA Basketball tryout in May. “I didn’t know it was going to be this intense.”

Chidom, a 6-3 (at least) forward from Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland, was in Colorado Springs with 32 other girls, battling for a spot on the Under-17 team that would play for the FIBA World Championship Aug. 17-26 in Amsterdam. Chidom was a relative unknown with no previous USA Basketball tryout experience, and she was facing long odds.

All 12 gold medalists from the U16 team that had won the FIBA Americas in Mexico in 2011 were returning, plus Diamond DeShields, who had played for the 2011 World Championship U17 team. In addition, players like Gabby Green (St. Mary’s-Berkeley), who had just missed making that U-16 team, were in camp as well, ready to prove to the selection committee that mistakes had been made.

“Before I got here, I thought about Diamond coming back,” said Green (who many thought should have made the team in 2011) in May. “How am I going to fit in?

“Everybody’s great here.”

Chidom, a relatively slender forward, felt the same way. “I’m average,” she said at the time, sizing up the competition. “I have to use my speed and quickness.”

Also working against her was the USA Basketball decision to have her play in the paint, which she didn’t even do that much at O’Dowd, given the presence of K.C. Waters and Breanna Brown, two other elite posts.

Add in the altitude, the pressure, and the level of play, and Chidom was challenged every second. “AAU is nothing compared to this,” she said. “You can’t take any plays off.”

Chidom didn’t, but even so, she wasn’t confident she would make the team.

“They called us in the last day, and made a 15-minute speech about how we’re all elite players, and we all did great, but no one really heard the speech.

We were all nervous,” she says. “They started reading off some names, and they didn’t call me, so I thought I didn’t make the team — but that was the shuttle list for the airport.

“Then they started announcing who made it, and because my last name starts with a “C,” I was second. I just stopped listening then,” she says. “I was

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shocked, surprised and excited.”

So despite all the hurdles she faced, Chidom had come out of nowhere to qualify for a World Championship team, and will return to Colorado Springs Aug. 1 for nine days of training. She already had a little taste of what to expect in Orlando when the team gathered together for the first time in late May. “I had my shot blocked five times a day,” she says. “I’m used to dominating at O’Dowd, and whenever something’s wrong, you give the ball to Oderah. But everyone on that team averages 20 a game.”

But there was a time, not that long ago, when the only 20 a game Chidom was going to get was fouls.

“Her freshman year, she was scary,” says O’Dowd teammate and point guard Ariell Bostick.

“If you were going to get hurt, you’d get hurt by Oderah. She tried to block everything.”

O’Dowd coach Malik McCord has to agree. “If you could see some old videos … oh my God,” he says. “She was so raw, but by the end of her freshman year, I’d never seen that much growth in that short a time.”

“She finally learned to calm down,” says Bostick. “When I saw her play last summer, I knew who I was going to pass to.”

But that improvement hasn’t affected her outgoing personality.

“She’s goofy,” says McCord.

“She’s a great kid and she doesn’t let it go to her head.”

McCord also knew Chidom was primed to surprise some people in Colorado Springs. “Oderah is taller than me, and I’m 6-3, and people don’t realize how strong she is. She’s solid — she’s muscle.”

And she’s also had to use that muscle.

“She practiced against K.C. (Waters) and Bree (Brown) every day,” McCord added. “And they go to war.”

And here’s a scary thought: “I don’t know if she’s stopped growing.”

Chidom definitely hasn’t stopped growing as a player, as she’s constantly expanding her horizons. This summer, she’s playing for Team Taurasi, which is based in Jonathan Hawthorne Los Angeles, and she has her sights set on the Nike Nationals in South Chidom’s nickname among her teammates is “Slinky,” due to moves like this one from the Carolina July 27-31.

“Our primary goal is to win a 2012 NorCal Final against Miramonte-Orinda.

Nike Nationals’ banner,” says Chidom of Team Taurasi, which includes East Bay players Green, Waters and Mariya Moore (Salesian). Things didn’t get off to a great start, though, when the group went 0-3 at the prestigious Boo Williams event this past spring.

“Boo Williams was our first tournament together, and there were only three returners,” she says. “It was pretty frustrating — we constantly use Boo as a reminder.”

And even though Team Taurasi doesn’t practice that much because of the geographically scattered roster, that doesn’t mean Chidom isn’t working on getting better. “I spend three hours in the gym a day,” she says, often working with Piedmont High coach Bryan Gardere.

“I’m most comfortable at the four, but in college, I’ll be smaller than the other girls. Right now, my body doesn’t match up,” she says, intimating that she would like to move to the three at the next level.

First, though, comes USA Basketball, and for the FIBA Worlds, she’ll be at power forward — but even so, there are adjustments to be made.

“There’s different kinds of basketball all across the country,” Chidom says, and that first training in Orlando was helpful in getting used to how her teammates approached the game. “I’m used to outlet, slow it down, run a play, but the Southern girls want to run the floor every time.”

The Under-18 players were also in Florida, and they gave Chidom and the other newcomers some insights into international basketball. “Every single team will play its best against Support Your Local Business • Say You Found Them In SportStars™

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2012 USA Women’s U17 World Championship Roster Player Lindsay Allen Oderah Chidom Kaela Davis Diamond DeSheilds Rebecca Greenwell Linnae Harper Kai James Erica McCall Taya Reimer Mercedes Russell Brianna Turner

Pos. G F G G G G F F F C G/F

Ht. 5-8 6-3 6-2 6-1 6-1 5-7 6-4 6-3 6-3 6-5 6-3

High school St. John’s College (Washington D.C.) Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland Buford (GA) Norcross (GA) Owensboro Catholic (KY) Whitney Young (IL) William T. Dwyer (FL) Ridgeview-Bakersfield Hamilton Southeastern (IN) Springfield (OR) Pearland (TX)

Jessica Washington

G

5-8

Tulsa (OK)

the USA,” Chidom says. “Everyone wants to prove themselves.

“Our coaches keep telling us that no matter how short they are, where they come from or how bad they look warming up, we have to be ready,” she says. “Last year, the team was down at halftime, and we don’t want that to happen.”

But Chidom also knows she needs to be fresh mentally and physically come late August, so she’s going to take it easier on the summer circuit. “Last summer I did the entire circuit and by Aug. 1, I was exhausted,” she says. “I don’t need AAU as much to get a scholarship, so I’ll go to Phoenix (for a tournament with Team Taurasi) but I won’t play.”

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That should get her ready for Nike Nationals, and then, a few weeks later it’s off to Italy for training prior to the trip to Amsterdam – and then it’s back home to get ready for the high school season, in which not only is O’Dowd favored to repeat as the Division III state champion, but is also expected to be ranked in the top 10 in the nation.

Chidom, though, is ready to carry the load, and even though she’s already exceeded expectations, she’s still a developing player.

“She’s not even as close to being as good as she’s going to be,” says McCord, which is a scary thought for players in California, across the country and in fact, around the world. ✪

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Welcome to Impulse, your one-stop shop for gadgets, gizmos and gear. Compiled by Erik Stordahl, Impulse provides you with all the latest and greatest and what’s currently hot on the market.

This week we give you the lowdown on how to win a whole lotta autographs. We’re talking a soccer ball full of ‘em. Keep reading to find out how one of these can be yours

■ Who: California Storm, women’s professional soccer team, featuring the likes of legends Sissi and Brandi Chastain.

■ Where: They’ll be at the California Storm event at Tesoro Fields in Concord on Aug. 11.

The event is being put on by California Assemblywoman Susan A. Bonilla in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Title IX. There will be a clinic from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. followed by the Cal Storm playing an exhibition match from 1-3 p.m. when they take on the Central Valley Soccer Club’s Team Revolution.

■ How: Like us on Facebook and you’re entered to win. Could it get any easier? No! You can also spread the word and have your friends like us too (but why would you do that if you’re trying to win??).

■ Why: Because we love sports. And we love our readers. And really because we’re amazing.

■ Recap: Just like us on Facebook and you’re entered to win one of these autograph-filled soccer balls.

Also, come on out to the Cal Storm event Aug. 11 at Tesoro Fields. RSVP for a spot now!

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Sprinters should pay extra care to hip flexor, hamstrings F

rom my experience working with speed athletes and sprinters on the Berkeley High track and field team, certain injuries occur time and again, and they are preventable if spotted and addressed early.

Two injuries that have a distinct relationship with each other are hip flexor strains and hamstring strains. The hip flexor and the hamstring are both muscle groups that need to be powerful and flexible for an athlete to run efficiently.

These two injuries seem to happen the most with sprinters because of the range of motion of the hip during high-speed running and the explosive demands of the muscles that provide propulsion when sprinting.

The hip flexor and the hamstring are both prime movers when running and require strength, power and flexibility.

If either is tight or lacks sufficient range of motion, then a muscle pull or a “strain” may occur.

A strain is the technical name for a pulled muscle and usually occurs when a tight muscle is over-stretched. Sprinting requires a significant amount of flexibility of the muscles that surround the hip joint and if there are any obstructions then the athlete will not be able to run at their top speed, and these limitations may predispose them to injury.

If you have limitations in hip flexor or hamstring flexibility then you need to do some specific stretches that focus on your specific range of motion deficits. Before you run or work out, a thorough Dynamic Stretching Program is useful to warm up the body and increase your hip flexibility to mimic the needs of your sport.

To increase flexibility of the hip flexor, a half kneeling hip flexor stretch is effective and easy to use. Start kneeling on one knee with the

opposite foot in front. Lean forward, keeping your chest up and your abdominals tight. You should feel a slight stretch in the front of the hip. If you do not, raise both arms straight up to elongate the front of the body and target the hip flexor.

Hold for 10 seconds and repeat five times on each side.

To increase flexibility of the hamstring muscle group, try the Doorway Hamstring Stretch after practice. This stretch is great to include in your cool-down or the day after a hard practice to decrease the ‘sore’ feeling in the muscle. Start lying on your back next to a doorway, and raise both legs up into the air so that they are approximately at a 90 degree angle with the floor. Place one foot on the doorway, and slowly lower the other leg down to the floor. You should feel a gentle stretch in the hamstring of the leg supported in the doorway. Hold the stretch for 30 seconds, and then repeat on the opposite side.

Hip mobility is important for all athletes, but especially for running and sprinting athletes. Keep up your flexibility with these two stretches, and if you have any questions about sports injuries and rehabilitation call the Sports Medicine Center. ✪

The hip flexor and the hamstring are both prime movers when running and require strength, power and flexibility.

If either is tight or lacks sufficient range of motion, then a muscle pull or a ‘strain’ may occur.”

Health Watch James Faison

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James Faison is an Athletic Trainer and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist at the Sports Medicine For Young Athletes, a division of Children’s Hospital Oakland with a facility also located in Walnut Creek. He is also the Head Athletic Trainer at Berkeley High. If you have questions or comments regarding the “Health Watch” column, write the Sports Medicine For Young Athletes staff at Health@SportStarsOnline.com.

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James K. Leash photos

Josh Beebe made an impact with both his bat and his arm during Rio Linda’s run to the District 6 title.

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knuckling

DOWN Josh Beebe & his dancing knuckleball boosted the Rio Linda Junior All-Stars to next step of Little League World Series

L

By jim mccue | Contributor

ong before television cameras brought the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat to South Williamsport, Pa., Little League Baseball took root in the small town.

What began in 1938 as an outlet for young boys to play organized baseball has become the world’s largest organized youth sports program with nearly 200,000 teams in more than 80 countries.

Little League’s crown jewel has become its Major League World Series that showcases the organization’s birthplace with multimedia coverage of the World Series final. But, Little League Baseball has much more to offer kids (both boys and girls play baseball and softball under the Little League brand) worldwide. With multiple divisions providing games for kids from 8-18, there is plenty of opportunity for ballplayers to capture a Word Series title.

Josh Beebe found himself pitching to get his his Rio Linda All-Star team to the next step of the Juniors (ages 13-14) World Championship tournament.

He had already thrown six shutout innings against West Sacramento, but if he was going to finish the game he was going to need to get the last three outs in just 10 pitches. Pitchers at the Junior level are allowed just 95 pitches in a game.

Beebe allowed a single between three harm-

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less groundouts on just seven pitches to end the game without the need of a second pitcher and sending Rio Linda to the Section Tournament in Rocklin.

The Section Tournament is the second step in Little League All-Star tournaments with tickets to South Williamsport; Taylor, Michigan; Bangor, Maine; Easley, South Carolina; Portland, Oregon; Kirkland, Washington; Lower Sussex, Delaware; and Kalamazoo, Michigan as the prize being eyed by boys and girls from across the country and the world.

California has 72 districts, including five in the Greater Sacramento Region, which include 8-12 leagues in each district. The local districts completed their All-Star tournaments which send the winners to sectional tournaments. The road to the World Series then moves through regional play before the top dozen or so teams convene at the traditional World Series sites for each division.

While the Little League World Series in Williamsport remains the organization’s highestprofile championship, kids from Rio Linda and West Sacramento recently squared off in Antelope with the District 6 Junior League Championship on the line. The winner advanced to the Section 4 tournament in Rocklin with aspirations of making it all the way to Taylor, Michigan in August.

“These two leagues are traditionally at the top

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LITTLE LEAGUE ROAD TO THE WORLD SERIES BASEBALL

■ Major League (age 11-12)

Western Regional: Aug. 5-13, San Bernardino World Series: Aug. 16-27, South Williamsport, PA ■ Junior League (age 13-14)

Western Regional: Aug. 2-9, Irvine

World Series: Aug. 12-18, Taylor, MI ■ Senior League (age 13-16)

Western Regional: Aug. 2-9, Ontario World Series: Aug. 12-18, Bangor, ME ■ Big League (age 15-18)

Western Regional: July 15-20, Bremerton, WA World Series: July 25-August 1, Easley, SC SOFTBALL

■ Major League

Western Regional: July 23-29, San Bernardino

World Series: Aug. 11-17, Portland, OR ■ Junior League

Western Regional: Aug. 3-10, Marana, AZ World Series: Aug. 12-18, Kirkland, WA ■ Senior League

Western Regional: July 28-Aug. 3, Missoula, MT World Series: Aug. 7-13, Lower Sussex, DE ■ Big League

Western Regional: July 26-31, Palmdale World Series: Aug. 4-10, Kalamazoo, MI

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TOP: Rio Linda’s Will Robinson safely slides into second during the District 6 final. BOTTOM: Rio left fielder Demetrio Hernandez makes a diving grab.

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of our District,” said District 6 Administrator Wayne Del Nero at the title game, “but teams from our district have not advanced past the sections for some years. There are some very strong teams out from the other districts in our section.”

When the final out was recorded in Rio Linda’s 4-0 victory, the players had no worries about who they would face in the section tournament or how strong the team might be. The most important thing to manager Josh Klein’s ballplayers was winning the race to the outfield fence to claim the District 5 Junior League Champions banner which hung in left field.

“Last year, the Juniors went to Sections, but I was not here,” Klein said of Rio Linda’s repeat District 6 title. “We’ll take a day off and get right back to practice to see what we can do against some real good teams.”

Beebe was strong throughout the District tournament, pitching a pair of shutouts against West Sacramento. In roundrobin play, Rio Linda beat West Sacramento 10-0 before blanking the team again in the championship game, 4-0.

“That was as good as I have seen him working both sides of the plate and keeping batters off balance,” Klein said of his ace’s performance in the title game. “His off-speed pitches were working really well.”

Beebe’s off-speed arsenal includes a “spike,” change-up, and a knuckleball that is sometimes as much of a mystery to Beebe as it is to opposing batters.

“I don’t know where it is going to go exactly, but neither does the batter,” he said of his primary pitch. “I have been throwing it since I was 10 and have gotten better at getting it

over the plate to keep batters off balance.”

After the post-game celebration, the Rio Linda players, who went through the District 6 tournament without a blemish, were optimistic about advancing past the Section tournament to play in the Western Regional in Irvine beginning Aug. 2.

“I think we have a good chance to advance,” Beebe said. “We have very good pitching and defense that has gotten us this far, and we just need to keep playing well.”

Rio Linda will have to face All-Star champions from Districts 5, 7, 11, and 54 in order to punch a ticket to Irvine where the stakes and competition continue to rise.

All of the local districts and sections have teams with dreams of playing in a Little League World Series. In addition to the televised spectacular that is the Major League World Series (ages 11-12), boys’ world titles will be earned in the Junior League (13-14), Senior League (13-16), and Big League Baseball (15-18). On the softball side, world championships are up for grabs in the Junior League, Senior League, and Big League Softball (14-18).

While very few, if any, local kids will be praised by Brent Musburger on live television, the dreams of baseball glory are just as strong.

In the end, each boy or girl dreaming of a World Series will remember their own thrill of victory or agony of defeat and cherish it regardless of whether the memories can be recorded on their home DVR. Because, in the end, it is still the same game that was organized for kids to play in South Williamsport more than 70 years ago. ✪

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Get on your bike: Basic cycling for races

H

ave you ever tried to reach for your water bottle, and not been able to put it back? Drinking from your water bottle and returning it to the holder is actually a very complicated, multi-piece skill, with progressions. Even seasoned riders have trouble with this skill when in adverse conditions such as high wind, lots of traffic, bad road conditions, or even just hitting a bump or being distracted.

To be the most safe for yourself and for others on the road, you should feel comfortable, safe, and able to handle your bike even during times of adversity. The bike portion is the second leg of a triathlon, and the distance is typically half of the race. As a triathlete, you will need to understand the fit, form, safety and handling of cycling, feel comfortable riding in traffic and in emergency situations, as well feel ready to complete the bike leg of the race with good fitness following the swim.

In general, for the cycle portion of training and the race, skills you will need to know: ■ How to eat and drink while holding your line.

■ Parts of the bike.

■ What to carry in your “tool kit”.

■ How to change your tube effectively and efficiently, in case you need to in the race.

■ How to ride consistently, allowing other cyclists and motorists to predict your movements.

■ To learn these valuable skills, join a club or find a bike handling clinic near you.

Learn & Practice Bike Handling Skills Whether you are very new to biking, or have been riding for a while, it’s important to learn and/or review good bike handling techniques, to be better prepared to handle emergency situations, and just perpetuate better riding overall. Many local triathlon clubs offer bike handling classes or clinics for beginners through advanced riders.

The annual Early Bird Criterium Training Series in Fremont offers a wonderful introduction to bike handling clinic series every January for beginners through intermediate cyclists. Each Sunday of January includes a series of clinics for different categories of riders, including a women’s-only clinic. Each weekend builds on what was learned the previous week, and includes a practice training race where professional cycling teachers ride with you and teach you during the “race.” Each clinic is only $25, which is a steal. Other comparable clinics are upwards of $100 each.

Safety On The Road When on a bike on the road, you are a vehicle and must follow the same rules as motorists. Riding on the road will give you a whole new appreciation for cyclists when you are a driver.

■ Be Predictable — Hold your line, use predictable hand signals, and don’t swerve into traffic. You want to ride so that motorists and other cyclists are not wondering what you will do next.

■ Build Cyclist/Motorist Relations — Your best safety features are your eyes and your smile. Keep your eyes open all the time for hazards on the road, but also to make eye contact with motorists when stopped at lights and other times you are changing positions. Make eye contact, give a head nod, and smile. A smile goes a long way. It helps the motorist see you as a person, not just that looney in spandex. ✪

Tri Steps Liz Elliott

Reminders for road riding:

◆ Wear a helmet securely fastened to your head under the chin at all times. ◆ Ride single file. ◆ Stay as far to the right of the road as safely possible. That does not mean riding in the dirt. If there is no shoulder or bike lane, ride to the left of the white line, and stay there. ◆ Do not make unnecessary or sudden swerves into traffic, even when reaching for or putting away a water bottle. ◆ Use hand signals to show direction and stopping. ◆ Use your voice. Call out debris in the path to other riders, and your direction you are heading. For example, when passing, yell “On your left.” ◆ Always pass on the left. ◆ Stop at every stop sign and light. You are held to the same traffic rules as a car.

Liz Elliott is the Head Coach of the Tri-Valley Triathlon Club based in Dublin. Liz specializes in preparing beginner triathletes for their first race(s). She was an All-American swimmer in college, and has over 20 years experience in teaching and coaching swimming. Contact her at Liz@TriValleyTriClub.com.

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I

Conditioning is much more than just going for long runs

(anaerobic) and endurance (aerobic). Notice how t seems nowadays parents and coaches are more confused than ever on how to improve I said ‘combination’. Some train more on one side their athlete’s conditioning. More and more, of the spectrum than the other, but still most fall we are seeing a prescription of shorter, higher somewhere in the middle. intensity conditioning and a complete misuse of With conditioning there are other factors that aerobic conditioning — if it’s done at all. play a role in the energy system development of The rationale has been that what we do in sports young athletes and an assessment of resting heart is move fast and usually in a bunch of short, explorate, heart rate reserve, anaerobic threshold, as sive sprints throughout the game. We are just wastwell as recovery heart rate is just the beginning. ing our time if we have our athletes develop their I believe we’re seeing the lower intensity aerobic system using less intense methods, as this is workouts being bashed and condemned for being non-specific and will just make our athletes slower.

Tim Rudd for IYCA useless for most field and court sport. This is a Unfortunately this couldn’t be further from the huge misunderstanding. The aerobic system plays truth. Yes, your athletes do need to work on the a key role in performance for all sports. I’m not anaerobic component of their conditioning as it fuels their condoning jogging long distances, as developing aerobic explosive movements. On the flip side, they also need to power is more complex than that. develop certain aspects of their aerobic energy system if they In simple terms, the anaerobic system (without oxygen) want to develop a high level of conditioning. produces energy at high rates for very short periods (sprintThis is a complex subject and one that deserves more ing). The result is an increase of metabolic byproducts in the explanation than I will have space for in this article. So hope- muscles that make athletes fatigue faster. By solely relying on fully this leads those of you who train or give advice to young this energy system and ignoring the other energy systems in conditioning programs, athletes are missing a big component athletes on conditioning to spend more time educating of conditioning. yourselves on this subject before prescribing a conditioning The aerobic system (with oxygen) clears out these byprodprotocol. ucts and restocks the mechanisms of an athlete’s anaerobic So what is conditioning? It really is a measure of how well metabolism at a higher rate. This is the real key to developing an athlete is able to meet the energy demands of their sport, the kind of conditioning that brings the competition to their and is much more than just cardio. knees.

Each sport requires a different combination of power

Training Time

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To be effective, an athlete’s biological power must be improved, which includes cardiovascular, neuromuscular, metabolic and hormonal systems, including increasing the specific components of the aerobic system (oxygen supply from the cardiovascular system and oxygen utilization of the working muscles).

The level of biological power development is dependent upon the strategies implemented in their entire training program.

These components combine for optimal improvement in aerobic power, as well as anaerobic and the athletes performance.

The key to increasing the aerobic power of athletes is to increase the amount of energy their body can produce with the aerobic system, as well as how effectively an athlete’s muscles can utilize this energy to generate power.

Unfortunately, many athletes lack conditioning because their aerobic power has never been developed properly and can’t produce nearly enough power. The result is decreased aerobic power and a lower level of conditioning.

It’s helpful to educate yourself or find a professional who will appropriately assess your athletes before throwing them through a conditioning program that could be getting them nowhere fast. ✪ Tim Rudd is an International Youth Conditioning Association specialist in youth conditioning (level 3), speed and agility (level 2), and nutrition specialist (level 1). For more information on anything you read in Training Time, email him at tim@ fit2thecore.com.

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BASEBALL/SOFTBALL

All American Sports Academy All American Sports Academy aims to train and educate all student athletes on the correct physical skills and mechanics needed to compete at all levels, as well as understand the proper practice habits and time management skills needed to improve their game. The organization is holding camps at various locations through July 26. Info: (209) 833-2255, Email: dnelson@ allamericansportsacademy.net Blankenship Baseball We are a year-round competitive baseball program based in Danville.

The Camp focuses on teamwork, hustle and sportsmanship.

We also offer small group training as well as one-on-one training.

Info: lancerblankenship@sbcglobal. net or 925-708-3173.

Cabernet Baseball Club The Livermore-based club hosts baseball and softball camps for players ages 8-14. Lil’ Baseball also offered for ages 3-7. 925-4161600, http://cabernet. thepitchingcenter.com.

East Bay Youth Sports Baseball is Fun Beginner Camp.

July 25-Aug. 4, 9 a.m.-noon, Mon.-

Thur. at Tice Valley Park; Extended day/week available with Deluxe Sport Option. Ages 5-9. $35/$75.

Registration: 925-952-4450, www. walnutcreeksportsleague.com.

EJ Sports EJ Sports provides individual, group, team, coaching and manager clinics in many levels of baseball. Among the numerous different services offered, the Spring Clinic, Summer Clinic and the Fall League for children of Little League age. Contact EJ Sports for a list of upcoming clinics. Info: 925-8667199, www.ejsports.com.

The Pitching Center In an effort to develop baseball players to their full potential, The Pitching Center has become the Total Player Center (TPC), a full-service baseball/ softball training academy. Age- and skill-specific programs available for students age 8-High School. Info: 925-416-1600, www.thepitchingcenter.com.

BASKETBALL

CalStars The Stars Basketball Academy (SBA) is pleased to announce our youth and high school summer

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camps. The SBA is a fundamental based skills development camp for kids in 3rd grade-High School. We offer three youth (3rd-8th) sessions and two high school (9th-12th) sessions. Go to www.calstars.org for more info.

FastBreak Basketball Margaret Gartner, the highlydecorated girls basketball coach for Carondelet High in Concord, leads this girls basketball camp focused on fundamentals. One week-long session remains: Session V, July 23-27, Grades 4-10. Info: www.

FastBreakBball.com; or email Fastbreak_club@yahoo.com

CHEER

CheerGyms.com Six camps are offered through July: Coaches Camp, Freedom High School 2-day Cheer and Dance Camp, 2-Day Cheer Camps at ALL Cheergyms.com facilities, Jr. High/ High School Cheer Camp-California Session 1, Individual/Group Stunt Cheer Camp, Jr. High/High School Cheer Camp (Elite)-California Session 2. For more info: 925- 685-8176, 866-685-7615, info@cheergyms.com; www.cheergyms.com.

East Bay Sports Academy East Bay Sports Academy offers the best in gymnastics and cheerleading training. Our top of the

line recreational and competitive programs earned us the exclusive “Best in the East Bay” award for Best Gymnastics Classes 2011. All of our team camps are custom-built to complement your coaching needs and team goals. Info: 925-680-9999, www.

EastBaySportsAcademy.com.

Xtreme Cheer Camps Xtreme is a competitive All-Star Cheerleading, Dance and Recreational Tumbling Gym in Antioch. All of our camp classes are fast-paced, fun and geared toward achieving your child’s goals. Info: 925-5655464; xtremetumbleandcheergym@ yahoo.com

ENRICHMENT

Dianne Adair Programs Come join any of our eight Dianne Adair summer sites for our fun and exciting summer program.

Each week campers will be able to choose from several camps, including sports, fashion, drama, CSI, science and so many more. In addition to our weekly camps, we offer weekly field trips and in-house

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entertainment. Field trips and camps vary by site.

Please consult your site of choice for more details.

Bring in this article and receive half off our $40 summer registration fee. Info: www.dianneadair.org.

FITNESS

Fit 2 The Core As a Youth Conditioning, Speed/Agility and Nutrition Specialist with the International Youth Conditioning Association, Fit-2-The-Core Training Systems offers an innovative approach to getting athletes back on the field post-rehabilitation (which gets athletes to normal function). For F2C’s Back to Sports programs we offer training weekdays, with 2 days/week or 3 days/week options. Sign up today for your two-week free pass at www.fasteryoungathletes. com, or call 925-639-0907 for more information.

Walnut Creek Sports & Fitness Walnut Creek Sports & Fitness is offering a wide range of different sports fitness camps and classes in 2012. Here are three we’re featuring. Pilates for Sports — An ideal form of fitness for athletes to improve performance & prevent injuries. Hardcore Golf Fitness — A four-week golf-specific fitness camp is the ultimate physical conditioning program for golfers of any age who want to take their game to the next level. TRX Team Fitness —A cutting-edge six-week small group personal training program is a team-sports inspired program for athletes of all levels who want results in a challenging, motivating environment. For all info: Contact Bob Boos, Personal Training Director. Phone: (925)932-6400 or email: bob@wcsf.net

FOOTBALL

Football University From the creators of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl comes a one-of-a-kind football training experience exclusively for the nation’s most elite youth and high school players. Born out of the appreciation that the most successful and skilled football players have mastered great technique, and that for many younger players this level of coaching is simply not available, the Football University (FBU) experience focuses on intense position-specific technique training taught by our expert faculty of former and current NFL coaches who have a passion for sharing this experience with young athletes.

GOLF

The First Tee-Contra Costa The First Tee Summer Camp is a youth development Golf program for boys and girls ages 7-18. Participants will learn about golf and the life skills and values inherent to the game. In addition to golf skills, rules and etiquette, participants are introduced to The First Tee Nine Core Values.

Our Summer camps are four days a week, 4 hours/day @ Diablo Creek Golf Course, Concord. We have several weeks and facilities from which to choose. Fee assistance available. Info: Angela Paradise, 925-686-6262, Ext. 0, angela@thefirstteecontracosta.org; www. thefirstteecontracosta.org.

The First Tee-Oakland The First Tee of Oakland participants receive a minimum of 12 hours of instruction over an eight-week period. Instruction is conducted at three City of Oakland affiliate golf courses. Each of the golf courses donates their range, golf course and classroom use. We introduce the game of golf in a way that allows participants to progress with the mechanics required, and that teaches the values of the game, celebrates the fitness aspect of playing, and is offered at little or no cost. Info: 510-352-2002, info@thefirstteeoakland.org; www. thefirstteeoakland.org.

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

We impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices though the game of golf. Seasonal classes are offered at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course (San Jose) and Palo Alto Golf Course.

We welcome participants ranging from second to twelfth grade. Scholarships are available upon request. www.thefirstteesanjose.org.

The First Tee-Tri-Valley We’re a youth development organization using golf and its etiquette to teach important life skills and core values. We offer seasonal The First Tee Life Skills Experience Classes and Summer Camps for youth ages 7-17, held at the Pleasanton Golf Center on the Alameda County Fairgrounds.

Once-a-week Summer Classes will be held Monday-Saturday beginning in June. Junior Golf Summer Camps will be held 8-10 a.m., TuesdayFriday. Upcoming camps begin on the following Tuesdays: July 23 & July 30. Info: Call our office, 925-462-7201; www.TheFirstTeeTriValley.org.

HORSEBACK RIDING

Earthquake Arabians Spring and summer camps are around the corner for Earthquake Arabians! Registration is OPEN.

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Log on to www.earthquakearabians.com for more info. 925-360-7454.

LACROSSE

Atherton/Vitality Lacrosse Join Atherton Lacrosse and learn the basics of the game in their spring, summer and fall camps. Every camper receives a t-shirt and access to the best high school, college and professional lacrosse coaches in the Bay Area with an extremely low coach to camper ratio.

Every camper needs a lacrosse stick — we have partnered with Sling It! Lacrosse to bring the best value possible. Go to www. athertonlacrosse.com for more info. Sign up with Vitality Lacrosse to join one of their summer leagues in the Peninsula, Marin, East Bay, Petaluma and San Francisco. We serve the entire Bay Area! Info: www.vitalitylacrosse.com.

MARTIAL ARTS

USKS Adult and children’s programs, kick box fitness, mixed martial arts. Providing excellence in martial arts instruction and services for the entire family. 925-682-9517; www.usksmartialarts.com.

OUTDOOR/ADVENTURE SPORTS

Diablo Rock Gym We will be offering kids summer camps every week starting in late June and ending August 18. Sign up for a week at a time or multiple weeks. Ages 6-12; multiple kid and/or week discounts. Call for pricing, 925602-1000.

RUGBY

Diablo Rugby Youth rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States. Based in Clayton, our club is dedicated to providing a positive rugby experience for boys at High School, Jr. High School and Youth levels. 925-381-5143, diabloyouthrugby@gmail. com; http://diabloyouthrugby.clubspaces.com.

SOCCER

Heritage Soccer Club HSC will conduct its 2nd annual Harvest Cup Tournament in October. HSC is based in the Pleasant Hill/Martinez and serves the surrounding community. Info: www.heritagesc.com.

Walnut Creek Soccer Club The Walnut Creek Soccer Club uses all the resources available to provide the proper coaching and playing environment for all members. Our goal is for every member of our club to learn and grow as a soccer player and person. We will promote a positive learning environment for our players and families as we work to provide the highest level of coaching and coach’s education. Info: wcsc_info@ wcsc.org; www.wcsc.org.

West Contra Costa Youth Soccer League Our program caters to competitive youth players ages 8-9 regardless of race, creed, gender or religion. The main focus of our program is not on winning, but on the development of the total soccer player within the framework of a team. We also offer specialized training for strikers and goalkeepers. We desire to promote personal responsibility, fitness, sportsmanship and teamwork.

510-758-5288, http://wccysl.com.

SWIMMING-DIVING

Sherman Swim School Our year-round schedule allows children and adults

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to learn, retain and improve their swim skills with little interruption. Lessons are usually offered in sessions of 3-4 weeks. (During the slower months of Fall, Winter and Spring, schedules can be more flexible, such as M-W, W-F, or only one day/ week.) We teach from age 9-months to adults, from non-swimmers to competitive levels. Since our lessons are private, they are tailored to each student’s age, ability and readiness. We also offer beginning and competitive diving classes. Beginning sessions typically have three students and are 30 minutes long. Classes are taught in three-week sessions. Info: 925-283-2100, www.ShermanSwim.com.

VOLLEYBALL

Pacific Rim Volleyball Through private lessons, and the opportunity for year-round skills classes, athletes of any age or level can learn and improve the skills needed to gain a competitive edge. Our advanced training, for junior levels (12th grade & below), will provide athletes the opportunity to excel at becoming elite players in preparation for high school and/or collegiate volleyball.

Info: www.pacificrimvolleyball.com.

U.S. Youth Volleyball League The USYVL is the leader in developing and maintaining youth volleyball leagues for boys and girls ages 7-15. USYVL summer camps

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Advertiser Index ❒❒ Army National Guard Recruiter.....................................4 ❒❒ Back Forty B B Q.........................................................21 ❒❒ Battle At The Capital...................................................19 ❒❒ Big O Tires....................................................................2 ❒❒ Championship Athletic Fundraising...........................34 ❒❒ Cheergyms.Com.........................................................29 ❒❒ Children’s Hospital And Research Center.....................25 ❒❒ City Beach Sports Club...............................................23 ❒❒ Club Sport Renaissance..............................................15 ❒❒ Community Youth Center...........................................37 ❒❒ Core Volleyball Club....................................................32 ❒❒ Crowne Plaza.............................................................37 ❒❒ Diablo Car Wash & Detail Center.................................37 ❒❒ Diablo Rock Gym........................................................30 ❒❒ Diablo Trophies & Awards...........................................33 ❒❒ E J Sports Elite Baseball Services................................32 ❒❒ East Bay Pit Bulls........................................................38 ❒❒ East Bay Sports Academy..................................... 14, 33 ❒❒ East Bay Summer Camps 2012...................................31 ❒❒ Epic Indoor Skatepark................................................18 ❒❒ Excellence In Sport Performance................................35 ❒❒ Fit 2 The Core..............................................................36 ❒❒ Franklin Canyon Golf Course.......................................32 ❒❒ Halo Headband..........................................................37 ❒❒ Home Team Sports Photography................................30 ❒❒ Hyatt Place Sacramento / Roseville............................21 ❒❒ Image Imprint............................................................35 ❒❒ Kinders B B Q................................................................3 ❒❒ Midway Paintball Park...............................................33 ❒❒ Mountain Mike’s Pizza................................................18 ❒❒ Nor Cal Pro Camp............................................................ ❒❒ Norcal Courts..............................................................28 ❒❒ Norcal Grizzlies Baseball.............................................34 ❒❒ Passthaball.................................................................37 ❒❒ Pleasant Hill Youth Football Rebels............................32 ❒❒ Red Zone Training.......................................................37 ❒❒ Rocco’s Pizza......................................................... 22, 30 ❒❒ Rockin Jump........................................................... 7, 33 ❒❒ San Ramon Sports......................................................36 ❒❒ Sheldon Jr. Huskies Youth Football & Cheer................34 ❒❒ Sherman Swim School...............................................18 ❒❒ Simply Selling Shirts..................................................30 ❒❒ Sky High Sports..........................................................33 ❒❒ Sports Stars Magazine................................................35 ❒❒ State Farm Kelly Sopak Agent....................................22 ❒❒ Stevens Creek Toyota..................................................13 ❒❒ Taking The World By Storm Soccer..............................39 ❒❒ Tesoro Golden Eagle Refinery.......................................9 ❒❒ The First Tee Of Contra Costa.......................................37 ❒❒ The Sports Authority....................................................5 ❒❒ Trucks Training...........................................................22 ❒❒ U S K S Martial Arts....................................................37 ❒❒ Umigo Indoor Kart Racing..........................................40 ❒❒ United States Youth Volleyball League.......................35 ❒❒ Velocity Sports Performance............................ 8, 30, 33 ❒❒ William Jessup University...........................................36

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are typically three days, with each day meeting for three hours. Camps are for beginner, intermediate and advanced players, and players will be grouped accordingly, based on age and playing experience. Info: 888-988-7985, www.USYVL.org.

WRESTLING

Community Youth Center The CYC wrestling program offers young athletes the opportunity to participate and excel in one of the world’s oldest sports. The program trains and challenges wrestlers at all age groups from kindergarten through high school, and all experience levels from beginner to champion. The program is nationally recognized under the guidance of Head Coach Mark Halvorson. Info: 925-671-7070, Ext. 229, www.communityyouthcenter. com.

MULTI-SPORT

Velocity Sports Camps Our Spring Break Sports Specific Summer Camps provide campers with a fun-packed, enjoyable environment where they can increase their athleticism and develop a wider range of skills.

Velocity Sports Performance is looking for boys and girls ages 8-14 who are dedicated to making themselves better as athletes. Our Team Training programs are designed to deliver a challenging workout that is organized, educational, progressive and customized for entire sport teams.

Info: 925-833-0100, velocitydublin.com.

Cal Camps Camps are offered in a variety of sports for girls and boys ages 5-19, with week-long, half-day, full-day and overnight options. Most camps will take place on campus in Berkeley from June through August. Camps include the following sports: Baseball, Boys and Girls Basketball, Boys and Girls Rowing/Crew, Field Hockey, Football, Boys and Girls Golf, Girls Gymnastics, Rugby, Boys and Girls Soccer, Softball, Boys and Girls Swimming, Boys and Girls Tennis, Boys and Girls Volleyball and Girls Water Polo. Information: CalBears.com/camps. Or email calcamps@berkeley.edu.

Saint Mary’s College Camps We offer boys and girls overnight, day, team and specialty athletic camps. We have camps available for ages 4-18.

Dates are posted and registration is open. Our various camp offerings include: Multi-sport, baseball, boys basketball, girls basketball, golf, rugby, girls lacrosse, strength and conditioning, boys soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball. Info: Click “summer camps” at www. smcgaels.com for detailed information and to register online. More info: smccamps@stmarys-ca.edu, 925631-4FUN (4386).

City of Walnut Creek We offer 9-13 year-olds a fully-staffed and supervised recreational athletic camp. The program consists of eight weeks of sessions with your choice of two different sports for each of the sessions, with a ninth week session offering bowling. Our camp is specifically designed to teach and develop training skills, basic individual skills, sportsmanship, team strategies and concepts as well as building confidence and self discipline. Sports to choose from include: Tennis, Baseball, Multi-sport, Flag Football, Soccer, Lacrosse, Basketball, Golf, Volleyball and Bowling.

Camp offerings run through August 17th. Info: www. walnutcreekrec.org or call 925-943-5858.

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