SJ Issue 85 June 2014

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be faster. Gotta be faster. No 32 Gotta matter what sport you play, you’ve probably heard it. We’ll help you get there.

BREAKDOWN: Southern 10 STATE California sports are better than

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Sac-Joaquin girls lacrosse is coming of age and Granite Bay is at the forefront of the surge.

this group, Vacaville can 18 With overcome any hurdle.

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Northern California sports. We’ve all heard this. Sure, we know it’s not necessarily true and CalHi Sports’ Mark Tennis dives into the issue to see if there’s anything to those claims.

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pitch: Kids. One day 6 First they’re loveable little munchkins sitting on your lap, the next day they’re gracing the pages of SportStars. We’re getting misty over here as we celebrate the first graduating class of the SportStars Generation.

of the week 7 Sportstar Katie Kirby, Vacaville

8 locker room: It’s almost time

for the World Cup. The biggest and bestest sporting event in the whole world. But predictions are, you know, hard. Sometimes, the less you know, the better. Or so we hope.

You know what’s 12 Clipboard: awesome? Sleep is awesome.

Make sure you get some.

camps & Clinics

Find your sport. Turn to page 40.

Fence: Tryouts, sign-ups, 44 The fund-raisers and more!

46 Advertiser’s index

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They Grow Up So Fast O n June 10, SportStars will celebrate the fourth anniversary of its inaugural edition.

Four years. Whoooo! Cue the confetti.

Now when most people think of big anniversaries, they think of those that end in 5’s and 0’s. Typically, a four-year anniversary goes by without much fanfare.

But when your main focus is on high schools, it’s a different story. To all the seniors receiving diplomas over the never three weeks, congratulations.

You’re our first true graduating class. Athletes of the Class of 2014 will be the first that SportStars covered throughout their high school careers.

All of which makes Trevor Horn’s story on Acalanes-Lafayette golfer Will Brueckner (which can be found on page 26) that much cooler. Horn covered the CIF NorCal Golf Tournament at Sierra View Golf Club in Roseville on May 19 when Brueckner shot a 6-under par 66 to take top medalist honors and qualify for his first state championships.

This is SportStars Issue #85. We first wrote about young William in Issue #5 on August 12, 2010. He was just our fifth SportStar of the Week after winning the Northern California Golf Association Junior Amateur Championship at Spyglass Hill in Pebble Beach just a month before his first class at Acalanes.

And sorry, Will. We’re going to embarrass you with a photo from that issue. But we’re just so darn proud. Brueckner won the North Coast Section Tournament of Champions as a freshman, and despite being incredibly consistent over the years, will play in the state tournament for the first time on June 4 at San Gabriel Country Club near Pasadena.

Seeing the full circle of his success, and so many others who are part of this graduating class, has been extremely rewarding. We’re glad we’ve been able to tell part of the story.

Finally, while we’re speaking of milestones, we’re nearing some pretty big ones with our social media accounts. We’re homing in on 3,000 Facebook likes and 1,000 Twitter followers. So that’s pretty awesome.

We’d like to have our own little graduation party by reaching those numbers by mid-June. And, obviously, we need you go help us. We’re putting together a prize package that we’ll be giving away to two random winners. If you like or follow us anytime between May 29-June 15, you’ll be entered to win.

We will give away one prize to a Facebook fan and one to a Twitter follower.

Check out our cool graphic above for more details on the prize package and more. ✪

join our team PHONE 925.566.8500 FAX 925.566.8507 Editorial Editor@SportStarsOnline.com Editor Chace Bryson • Chace@SportStarsOnline.com Staff Writer Jim McCue • JimMcCue16@gmail.com Contributors Bill Kolb, Matt Smith, Clay Kallam, Ben Enos, Dave Kiefer, Liz Elliott, Tim Rudd, Trevor Horn Copy Editor Bill Kruissink Photography Bob Larson, Jonathan Hawthorne, James K. Leash, Norbert von der Groeben, Phillip Walton, Doug Guler, Dean Coppola, Berry Evans, III Marketing/Events Ryan Arter Editorial Intern Mike Young Creative Department Art@SportStarsOnline.com Production Manager Mike DeCicco • MikeD@SportStarsOnline.com Publisher/President Mike Calamusa • Mike@SportStarsOnline.com Advertising Sales@SportStarsOnline.com, 925.566.8500 Account Executives Leslie Ellis • Leslie@SportStarsOnline.com Camps & Clinics: Ryan Arter • Camps@SportStarsOnline.com Alameda County: Berry Evans • Berry@foto-pros.com Central Valley, World Events: Anthony Grigsby • Area Director anthony.grigsby@worldeventssports.com Darin Wissner • dwissner@wordeventssports.com Reader Resources/Administration Subscription, Calendar, Credit Services Angela Paradise • Info@SportStarsOnline.com Distribution/Delivery Phillip Walton • Mags@SportStarsOnline.com Information technology John Bonilla CFO Sharon Calamusa • Sharon@SportStarsOnline.com community SportStars™ Magazine A division of Caliente! Communications, LLC 5356 Clayton Rd., Ste. 222 • Concord, CA 94521 • info@SportStarsOnline.com www.SportStarsOnline.com

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Katie

Got Send your nominations to: Next? Editor@SportStarsOnline.com or tweet us using #SSOTW

Kibby Vacaville - Softball - Sophomore Kibby went the distance in the Bulldogs’ 3-0 victory over Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove that clinched the program’s fourth Sac-Joaquin Section Division I title. She rebounded from her first loss of the season by returning to the circle and scattering five hits to earn a complete-game shutout.

Prior to the final two games, Kibby posted a 27-0 record with a 0.54 ERA and struck out 229 batters while walking just 40. After the Bulldogs finished 12-12 and out of the playoffs in 2013, Kibby helped turn Vacaville’s fortunes around by pitching all but six innings as the team finished 29-1-1 and won its first section title since 2005. ›› IN HER OWN WORDS: “I was really frustrated, but my team really supported me and had my back,” Kibby said of Vacaville’s loss to Pleasant Grove. “In the second game, I think I hit my locations better and we had some luck on our side with the defense making great plays.” ›› WHAT YOU DIDN’T KNOW: Looking at the skinny girl in the pitcher’s circle, one would never know that Katie has an admitted addiction to cookies, ice cream and numerous other foods not found in any diet books. “I might be the most unhealthy eater I know.”

honorable mention Nevada Schultz: The McClatchySacramento sophomore won the SJS diving championship with a High School All-America qualifying score of 471.75.

Alex Rieger: The Georgia Tech-bound Davis senior capped her swimming career with three race victories at the section meet. She won the 50 freestyle,100 backstroke and swam on the winning 400 free relay team.

Jeffrey Inouye-Wong: The Granite Bay junior qualified for the CIF State Golf Championships as an individual by firing an even-par 72 in the NorCal tournament.

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Rapid Fire

Stephen wolff Northgate lacrosse

kyle jackson Las Lomas baseball

favorite movie Lord of the Rings series

Trending What’s hot this week in the world of stuff that’s hot Led Zeppelin was sued by members of their former opening band Spirit for ripping off ‘Stairway to Heaven’ from their song ‘Taurus’. Sorry Wayne … still ‘No Stairway.’ Denied.

Pope Francis declared a ‘Zero-Tolerance’ sex-abuse policy, because evidently that wasn’t a thing that already existed.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West got married. Their divorce is tentatively scheduled for the May 2017 sweeps week.

Landon Donovan was controversially left off the United States World Cup roster. Skeptics abounded but when you have a chance to cut your all-time leading scorer and most clutch player right before a major tournament, you just HAVE to do it.

Production has started on the new Star Wars movie with a picture released of much of the principal cast gathered around on couches. In the center of the room is what we can only hope is a rug made out of Jar-Jar Binks.

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About Last Night

if you could have any animal as a pet, it would be ...

Wolf A Bichon Frise dog What will be the browns' record with johnny Football?

7-9

They'll still be bad

Who will win the world cup I don't know

England

Should schools designate times for naps No. I could be doing other things

Yes, especially for athletes

**This week’s Rapid Fire was contributed by Northgate-Walnut Creek senior ERIC HAYNES. He conceived the questions and did the interviews. If you want to take over Rapid Fire for an issue, email us at: Editor@SportStarsOnline.com

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say what?

“I got so pumped right before, I’m surprised I didn’t over-swim it and go 100 (yards) because I was so excited.”

Top 5 world cup predictions (that you should likely disregard) It’s June. You know what that means. School’s out. The weather is fine. And there’s some big international sporting event taking place. What do you mean the Amgen Tour of California happened last week? Aw, man. I guess that means we have to pay attention to the World Cup, instead. Goodness knows hockey and basketball are dead to us now (thanks for nothing, Sharkies and Warriors…). Without further ado, here are SportStars Magazine’s Top 5 Complete(ly uninformed) World Cup Predictions.

1. We like Brazil, Australia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Argentina, Germany, and Algeria, to go top of the group in A through H, respectively.

Of course we didn’t just pick the first team, alphabetically, in each group. Of course we didn’t do that. How dare you suggest it?

2. We really like Team USA’s chances in Group G. No Iran, no Ghana. Piece of cake. Right? Wait, Ghana IS in our group?!?

3. No way Italy survives Group D. We’re basing this on poor decision-making by management. The Azzuri just called up a guy named “Immobile.” We kid you not. Maybe he’s a defensive lineman? Wrong football, dude.

4. FIFA has run test matches at all 12 sites. With less than a month before play begins, the World Cup will (almost) definitely (probably) be held in Brazil (not England, maybe). And the stadiums will (likely) not collapse or leak or suck football hooligans through transdimensional vortices (we think. But. Well. Maybe a backup plan isn’t such a bad idea).

5. We predict that the repeated, incessant thrumming and humming of vuvuzelas will pose no distraction to France superstar Zinadine Zidane as les Bleus march to a second title. South Africa was four years ago? Zidane’s gigantic cranium retired in 2006? Whatever. It’s not like anyone’s watching…

— Bill “Beautiful Game” Kolb

San Ramon Valley senior swimmer Heidi Poppe talking about her 50-yard lead leg to the Wolves NCS recordsetting 200-meter freestyle relay. Poppe (pictured in the 100 breaststroke, which she also won) swam her 50 in 23.39 seconds. Her teammates Marina Smith, Alexa Fusari and Cailey Steffens followed and combined for the record time of 1:33.51. It was nearly a second faster than the previous record set by Carondelet in 2013.

US World Cup striker (De La Salle graduate and former member of Concord’s Diablo Futbol Club) Chris Wondolowski

Michael Mangum/ZUMAPRESS.com)

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Blasts from the past

On the 10-year anniversary of the death of Cal-Hi Sports founder Nelson Tennis (when this item was written), here’s a look back at three Blasts from the Past in NorCal prep history. It’s what Nelson was known for when he wrote the same column for many years for Student Sports magazine.

does socal really rule?

It may seem like Southern California schools and teams in many sports always get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to rankings and honors on the statewide level compared to Northern California.

Here’s a shock. Yes, they do. But it has nothing to do with Southern California teams being “better” or Southern California student-athletes being more special.

It’s just how the state in general is carved up into CIF sections and how the biggest section of them all, the Southern Section, is organized and run.

The Southern Section is not just bigger than any other CIF section in the state, it’s much bigger. If you take the number of schools, for example, from the Sac-Joaquin Section, the North Coast Section and the Central Coast Section and put them all together, guess what? The Southern Section is still almost 100 schools bigger in size.

Plus, the Southern Section has had the philosophy for many years of organizing its playoff divisions in all sports in which the highest divisions – Pac-5 for football, Open Division for boys and girls hoops, Division I for baseball, etc. – contain the best competitive teams regardless of school enrollment.

A good Northern California comparison would be if the West Catholic League of the CCS, the East Bay Athletic League of the NCS and the Sierra Foothill League of the Sac-Joaquin all had its top teams playing each other in the section playoffs.

In short, other than the few teams (relatively speaking) from the L.A. City Section and the San Diego Section, the best of the best in SoCal are playing each other all the time in almost every sport.

This tends not to happen in Northern California in many sports. Take softball this spring, for example, with top teams like Amador Valley-Pleasanton (NCS), Archbishop Mitty-San Jose (CCS) and Vacaville (Sac-Joaquin) not playing each other once.

So when it comes time to start comparing teams for rankings and Team of the Year honors, the ones who’ve played and beaten each other will logically have the edge over those that haven’t.

There are exceptions to that generality, of course. In sports in which there are CIF state championships, the top teams playing at their best at the end tend to win.

Then there are programs like De La Salle-Concord in football that transcend section or state boundaries. When the Spartans were at the height of their 151game national record win streak from 1998 to 2003, they beat the top teams from Southern California just like they beat the top teams from Northern California. ✪ Mark Tennis is the co-founder of Cal-Hi Sports, and publisher of CalHiSports. com. Cal-Hi Sports is the authority in state rankings for football, basketball, baseball and softball, as well as the recognized state record keeper for all high school sports. Contact him at markjtennis@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter, @CalHiSports.

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15 YEARS AGO (1999)

In its long athletic history that has included the likes of Dick Bass and C.C. Sabathia, Vallejo High had never won a CIF state title before the Apaches did at the CIF state track finals. They scored 35 points to barely beat famed Long Beach Poly and benefitted when the Jackrabbits were disqualified in the 4x100 relay. In that race, Vallejo was moved up from second to first but still clocked 40.94 seconds. The Apaches also got a first-place finish from Rico Hatter (36.53) in the 300 hurdles.

20 YEARS AGO (1994)

Jesuit-Carmichael capped a banner year by winning Sac-Joaquin Section titles in baseball, track & field and swimming. The Marauders earlier won four other section titles, including Div. I football and Div. I basketball. A total of seven of the school’s 11 varsity teams won section crowns. Jesuit’s basketball team also was ranked No. 4 in the state with cross country finishing No. 13 in the nation. The swimming team also won its sixth straight section crown.

30 YEARS AGO (1984)

Woodside won the CIF state team championship in girls track at the Los Angeles Coliseum (where the Olympics would be held later in the summer) behind the sensational Wendy Brown.

She scored all of her team’s 38 points. She won the long jump (20-9 ¾), triple jump (42-10 ½) and high jump (6-1 ¼) and also placed second in the 100-meter hurdles. Brown’s triple jump and long jump marks were state records at the time. She set the high jump state record earlier in the season with a clearance of 6-2 ¼.

Mater Dei star forward Stanley Johnson dunks during the CIF Open Division State Final, which the Monarchs won 71-61 over Bishop O’Dowd. Phillip Walton photo Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

softball Rankings 1. (1)

Records are through May 24.

baseball Rankings

— Mission Viejo

24-1

— Amador Valley-Pleasanton

24-0

Only loss to No. 4 Pacifica, which Diablos also beat twice earlier in season.

2. (2)

Dons cruised through NCS Div. I quarterfinals, hoping for a Mission Viejo playoff loss.

3. (3)

— Archbishop Mitty-San Jose

28-1

4. (4)

— Pacifica-Garden Grove

27-4-1

Monarchs were favored entering CCS Division II semifinals.

Lineup laden with Div. I college players won first CIFSS playoff games 6-0, 8-0, 8-0.

5. (5)

— Vacaville

29-1-1

Standout Julia DePonte of CIF Sac-Joaquin Section D1 champs will play next at Washington.

6. (6)

— Alhambra-Martinez

7. (13)

▲

23-2

Bulldogs won first two NCS Div. II playoffs games 16-1 and 14-2.

M. L. King-Riverside

26-5

Chino

27-4-1

A couple of the losses came when Alabama-bound Alexis Osorio did not pitch.

8. (11)

▲

Cowgirls were still going in the CIFSS Div. II playoffs; still had shot to win third straight title 9. (10)

▲

Chino Hills

29-5

Tannon Snow, Alyssa Mendez hit HRs to give the Huskies a 5-4 playoff win in 10 innings over Lakewood.

10. (12) ▲

James Logan-Union City

23-2

Colts entering final week hoping to spoil it for Amador Valley for second time in three years.

11. (NR) ▲

Cypress

23-8

This team is from the same league as No. 4 Pacifica and had advanced to CIFSS Div. II semifinals..

12. (7)

▼

Esperanza-Anaheim

23-5

For the second straight year, Aztecs were bounced early in CIFSS D1 playoffs.

Los Osos-Rancho Cucamonga

25-4

14. (15) ▲

El Camino Real-Woodland Hills

23-1

15. (NR) ▲

Moorpark

26-3

Pioneer-San Jose

23-4

13. (8)

▼

Won first two CIFSS playoff games then lost to M.L. King.

Only loss by the Conquistadors is to Nevada champ Palo Verde.

Musketeers led by junior slugger Amanda Lorenz, one of nation’s top prospects.

16. (17) ▲

Two wins over CCS D1 top seed Carlmont pushed Mustangs higher in the rankings.

17. (NR) ▲

Canyon-Anaheim

20-6

18. (NR) ▲

Centennial-Bakersfield

28-4

Coach Dan Hay’s girls made it to the CIFSS Div. I semifinals.

Golden Hawks won CIF Central Section Div. I title with 10-0 triumph over Buchanan.

19. (NR) ▲

Westview-San Diego

24-4-1

Two avenging wins over Rancho Bernardo and Poway helped this team move up.

20. (NR) ▲

Valley Christian-San Jose

21-7

Brynne Fitzpatrick has been averaging more than two strikeouts per inning.

Dropped Out: No. 9 Cathedral Catholic-San Diego, No. 14

Yucaipa, No. 16 Clovis, No. 18 Huntington Beach, No. 19 Norco and No. 20 Murrieta Valley-Murrieta.

Records are through May 24.

1, (1) — Rancho Bernardo-San Diego 28-3 Team was on 14-game win streak entering CIF San Diego Section Open Div. playoffs.

2, (2) — Clovis 33-5 Alan Crowley’s game-winning hit in bottom of 7th enabled Cougars to win CIF Central Section Div. I title 3, (4) ▲ Huntington Beach 24-4 A 10-1 win over Santiago-Corona moved Oilers into the thirdround of the CIF Southern Section Div. I playoffs 4, (7) ▲ Norco 25-2 If Cougars were to win the CIFSS Div. I title, they’d be a threat to hop up to No. 1 5, (8) ▲ Loyola-Los Angeles 23-5-1 Nathan Hadley and Quinn Brodey give the Cubs a great 1-2 pitching combo.

6, (6) — Cathedral Catholic-San Diego 23-5 Unusual twist to MLB Draft is that possible No. 1 pick, CC’s Brady Aiken, may have games left after he’s chosen 7, (9) ▲ College Park-Pleasant Hill 25-3 Can the NCS D2 champ be No. 1 overall for the Bay Area? If it’s the Falcons, then the answer is yes.

8, (11) ▲ Wilson-Long Beach 26-5 Sean Williams has been coming up with big hits for the Bruins, who are in the CIFSS Div. I playoffs.

9, (12) ▲ Archbishop Mitty-San Jose 24-6 Luke Rasmussen had game-winning HR when Monarchs edged San Benito in CCS Open Div. quarters 10, (17) ▲ JSerra-San Juan Capistrano 20-7 The Lions are the top seeded team in the CIFSS Div. I playoffs.

11, (15) ▲ Harvard Westlake-N. Hollywood 22-6-1 Jack Flaherty pitched a no-hitter in first CIFSS playoff game, improving to 23-0 over last two seasons.

12. (NR) ▲ Bellarmine-San Jose 25-6 Corby Punian’s no-hitter knocked out St. Francis-Mountain View in the CCS Open Div. 13. (3) ▼ St. Francis-Mountain View 26-5 Lancers were No. 1 in the state for a time, but end up losers in the CCS playoffs.

14. (14) — Buchanan-Clovis 26-8 Win over defending champ Clovis North advanced Bears to Central Section final where they lost to No. 2 Clovis.

15. (16) ▲ Great Oak-Temecula 22-6 This is the top seeded team in the CIFSS Div. II playoffs.

16. (18) ▲ Fountain Valley 21-7 Pitcher Scott Schultz improved to 14-0 after playoff win over Lakewood.

17. (19) ▲ Agoura-Agoura Hills 24-5 Going unbeaten in the Marmonte League showed real strength for the Chargers.

18. (NR) ▲ Valley Christian-San Jose 22-9 Warriors have had May 28 semifinal with Leland-San Jose in CCS Open Div. 19. (NR) ▲ Vista Murietta-Murrieta 20-7 Broncos were runner-up to Great Oak in league and seeded high in CIFSS Div. II playoffs 20. (13) ▼ Clovis North-Fresno 22-9 Central Section playoff loss was 2-1final against BuchananClovis.

Dropped Out: No. 5 Elk Grove, No. 10 Hart-Newhall and No. 20 Maria Carrillo-Santa Rosa

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Hit Snooze I play two sports in high school, and I’m going to try to do both during the summer — and I definitely should do some general physical training as well. What should be the highest priority?

—A.S., Modesto

D

ifferent people will give you different answers, but I’m pretty sure no one else will tell you this.

Your highest priority for your busy summer should be something that’s easy to do: Sleep.

Yes, sleep. At least 10 hours a night. And if your body says you need 11 hours because you can’t drag yourself up after 10, roll over and sleep some more. Yes, your parents will go nuts, but we’ll get to them later. First, though, some science.

In 2011, a group of Stanford sleep researchers did a study and discovered that varsity athletes significantly increased their performance by sleeping 10 hours a day. Those who slept six to nine hours were measurably less effective.

More science: Adolescents need lots of sleep because their bodies and brains are growing. The latter is the most important to remember, because even though some young people don’t get any taller after age 16 (many girls stop growing at 14), human brains keep maturing until the mid-20s — and that maturity is not only hastened, but improved, by more sleep.

Back to the parents. When kids sleep in until 11 a.m. or

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noon, most parents go crazy. After all, they’re up early.

The sleeping teenager is not only unproductive, he or she also makes the adult feel put-upon.

An aspect of this problem is that adolescents are programmed to stay up later than adults. Studies have clearly shown that teenagers naturally want to stay up until midnight or later, and then naturally want to sleep 10 or 11 hours. If teenagers went to bed at 9 p.m. and woke up at 9 a.m., parents would be a lot more forgiving — but that’s not the way human beings function.

So for you, and any teenager, to get the most out of a busy summer, the best thing to do is let nature take its course. Go to bed when you’re sleepy and wake up when you’re ready. To make this happen, though, you have to schedule your time well.

If you’re playing two sports and doing other training, you’re going to run out of time if you’re sleeping 11 hours a night.

As for your parents, try to have a calm and rational discussion about how much, and how late, you sleep. Maybe even show your parents this column, and see if you can all agree about the best way for you to get all the sleep you need.

Remind them, though, that you going to bed at 9 p.m. is just as hard for you as it is for them to stay up until 2 a.m. The human body works differently at different stages of life, so there needs to be some compromise – and it wouldn’t hurt if the teenager tried really hard to cut down on the attitude as part of the bargain. ✪

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With a stellar season and playoff effort, Granite Bay made big strides for Sac-Joaquin Section girls lacrosse

I

t’s about “stepping stones,” or “baby steps,” or whatever cliché is appropriate for starting a high school sports program.

When it comes to girls lacrosse in Northern California, the Sac-Joaquin region has always been a few steps behind the East Bay. Davis High was there at the beginning, but it was primarily East Bay schools that first embraced the sport before the North Coast Section sanctioned it as a championship sport in 2004. And the region has dominated the sport ever since, owning 23 of the combined 26 NCS boys and girls lacrosse titles awarded over the first decade of competition. The North Bay owns the other three titles.

But that window of dominance may soon be closing — a notice served this May by the Granite Bay girls program.

Seeded sixth in the NCS Div. I bracket, the Grizzlies won their playoff opener over St. Francis-Sacramento and then came within one goal of upsetting No. 3 Marin Catholic-Kentfield.

“We are asked by coach to play up to our potential beyond what the other team may think of us,” Granite Bay senior Christina Sabin said. “And we went into the game saying, ‘Yes, we are from the Valley, and this is who we are.’ We have the confidence to compete against these East Bay teams and our play against Marin Catholic showed it.”

The coach Sabin referred to is Stu Brokowsky, and it’s no coincidence he has the Grizzlies nipping at the heels of East Bay programs. After all, Brokowsky helped build some of those programs.

Upon meeting Brokowsky, it’s clear he’s had his hand in the game of lacrosse for some time.

The first clue is his heavy East Coast accent.

The game’s roots start in the America’s Northeast. A New York native, Brokowsky was born in the Bronx not far from Yankee Stadium and only dabbled in lacrosse while growing up in Queens. His true calling to the game came in 2001 when he sent one of his daughters to a prestigious sports camp back east. He was then literally called. “‘Dad, have you ever heard of the game of lacrosse?’,” Brokowsky recalls of a phone conversation he shared with the daughter. “‘I love it, and you need to go get a couple of sticks so we can practice when I get back home.’”

Shortly after his daughter returned home from camp, he saw an advertisement for the Pleasanton Lacrosse Club and a clinic that was being held at Davis High. He and his daughter attended, and while playing a game of catch with his daughter, he struck up a conversation with Scott Corso, the Club founder and then coach of the Foothill-Pleasanton lacrosse program. Stu Brokowsky quickly became Coach Brokowsky.

He took over the Foothill girls program and led it to the playoffs in each of his first two years. In 2004, his second year at the helm, the Falcons won the eight-team tournament and were undefeated section champions with a record of 21-0-1.

After the success at Foothill, Brokowsky assisted at Acalanes-Lafayette and then helped start the program at Granada-Livermore.

Story by Darin Wissner • Photos by James K. Leash Christina Sabin

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Alaigra Usher

“That was a bit of a challenge,” the coach said. “There were no junior programs from the area, and none of the kids had played the sport at all. We were starting from scratch.”

Brokowsky wasn’t exactly starting from scratch when he ended a three-year coaching hiatus to take over at Granite Bay in 2011. The 5-year-old program began when the school opened in 2006, and though still generally a bit raw, had experienced some success under coach Kristen Marshall in 2010.

Brokowsky brought with him an infusion of pride and a passion for playing the game right, and positive results followed. Granite Bay finished 2012 with an 18-2 record and was ranked among the Top 25 teams in the state according to MaxPreps.com. The following year, the Sacramento Valley Lacrosse League became part of the NCS and Granite Bay earned its first playoff berth — and lost their opener to Brokowsy’s first program, Foothill.

This season was different, however.

The Grizzlies built their foundation on defense in 2014, accenting the talents of sophomore goalkeeper Noelle Tamas and lower defenseman Sabin. Sabin was the lone senior on the field for Granite Bay in its 13-12 NCS quarterfinal loss to Marin Catholic. Sophomores Alaigra Usher and Lauryn Hardoy were the team’s leading scorers on the year.

Granite Bay was the highest seed of four SVLL teams to make the playoffs this season, but was the only one to advance to the quarterfinals after beating fellow SVLL team St. Francis 20-8 on May 14. The remaining two SVLL teams, Oak Ridge and Davis, each suffered road losses to East Bay teams.

With a 21-2 record and ranked No. 5 in the state by Laxpower.com, Marin Catholic was a heavy favorite coming into the May 17 quarterfinal in Kentfield. The Wildcats held a lead as large as five goals at one point during the match, but the Grizzlies battled back and held a late lead.

“They had concern in their eyes when we took that late lead,” Sabin said. “Marin Catholic believed they had this game in hand from the start, but that was not really the case.”

Marin Catholic got a go-ahead goal with two minutes remaining and was able to hold on for the win. The Grizzlies finished the season with an 18-4 record and were ranked No. 12 in the state by Laxpower.com as of May 20.

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“Nobody wants to end the season on a loss,” Brokowsky said.

“But we were the underdogs here, and we felt like we did accomplish a great thing for the Grizzlies program and we are headed in the right direction.”

Granite Bay and the rest of the SVLL is knocking on the door now, but what is it going to take to break it down?

Brokowsky has a few ideas.

For one, he’d like to be able to place some of his lesser-used juniors on the junior varsity team to give them seasoning. However, Sac-Joaquin Section bylaws prohibit juniors from competing at the JV level. The NCS and Central Coast Section have no such rule.

“There are times we have juniors and it may be their first year playing (the sport),” Borkowsky explains. “If they could play junior varsity, like in the Bay Area conferences, then at least they are playing and getting better.”

Another issue SJS girls lacrosse teams face specifically is a season that runs concurrent with girls soccer. This creates competition for open-field athletes who could excel in both sports.

The CCS and NCS large schools hold their soccer seasons in the winter.

“At Granite Bay, there have been many occasions where I have had to try to persuade the ‘fringe’ soccer player to come out for lacrosse,” explained Brokowsky. “I hate for the girls to have to make that decision.”

However, kids like to play for championship programs. And with more seasons like the one the Grizzlies just wrapped up, those decisions might get a little easier.

Granite Bay is done taking baby steps. ✪

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Pattriana Perry

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Daria Cook

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Nia Vance

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Hannah Davis

Jurnee Woodward

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Being a hurdler can be somewhat individualist.

Step, step, step, jump. Repeat.

For most hurdlers in high school, the chance to go against elite competition comes but a handful of times in a season.

At Vacaville High School, the best girls hurdlers in the Sac-Joaquin Section and the state are working together everyday.

Led by seniors Pattriana Perry and Daria Cook, along with junior Nia Vance, sophomore Hannah Davis and freshman Jurnee Woodward, the quintet have a chance to leave a mark in the state track and field community.

They already did nationally.

On April 11, during day one at the Arcadia Invitational, Perry, Cook, Vance and Woodward set a national record in the 4x100 shuttle hurdle relays with a time of 57.17.

The event is set up with four relay teams across eight lanes along the straight-away. Each team utilizes two lanes on the track with the first and third leg running north-south and second and fourth legs running the opposite direction.

As unique as the event sounds, it was as unparalleled for the athletes.

“It was rare that we practiced all together,” Perry said. “That was the first time where we all were together, too. It was exciting to know we could go that fast. It’s crazy.”

The relay is not a CIF sanctioned Perry, Cook and Woodward event, so seeing it and running in it have the top three times in the 100 are not the norm. But carving their hurdles this season with Vance at name into the record book as the seventh. fastest ever gave the girls a chance Perry, Woodward and Cook to feel like superstars. finished one, two, three in the 100 “It was a shock,” Nance said. “It hurdles at the SJS Division I finals was a thought that we could break on May 23 at Elk Grove High. it. But the day of the event, we Perry also won the title in the didn’t think about it. We warmed 300 hurdles with Woodward in up and just ran. It just happened. second, Davis in fourth and Cook We are still on cloud nine.” rounding out the foursome that Perry, who is signed with UCLA, advanced to the Masters this week. has been the leader this season Vance did not compete in the for Vacaville. The senior owns the hurdles at Div. I, but did win the state’s fastest time in the 100 hursection title in the triple jump at 37 dles this season at 13.67, which she feet, 2½ inches and also qualified set the day after the relay at Arcafor Masters in the long jump. dia.

Woodward, who was racing Cook, headed to Kansas, has and beating college-level hurdlers medalled at the section Masters in junior high, is the top 300 hurchampionship each of her first dler in the section this season with Daria Cook three years. As a freshman, Cook Perry holding the second best finished second in the 300 hurdles. time, with Cook (fourth) and DaLast season, Cook won the Masters vis (fifth) rounding out one of the title in the 100 hurdles and placed most incredible combinations of second in the state meet a week later. athletes at one school in section history.

“They are both very deserving (of the scholarships),” VacavDuring the first weekend of May, Woodward took home ille coach Mike Papadopoulos said. “They are both very hard the Sacramento Meet of Champions title at American River working kids.”

College. Following behind her, in order, were Perry, Cook and The group is as close as five teenagers can be. Papadopou- Davis. los says the road trips to track meets can seem short because “People look around and go, ‘They are all from Vacaville?’” the girls are always chatting it up — if they aren’t sleeping or Vance said. eating, which Woodward says are two of the best things this And that’s the way the group hopes to be come the final day group does. at Masters on May 30 at Elk Grove High, and the following “But we are so close,” Vance said. “We are always together.” week at the CIF State Championships meet in Memorial Sta20

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“It was rare that we practiced all together. That was the first time where we all were together, too. It was exciting to know we could go that fast. It’s crazy.”

dium at Buchanan High in Clovis.

“I really hope that we all make it,” Woodward said. “Because if we start to drop off one-by-one, it will feel like we’re getting smaller as a group. I feel like it would be a great experience going to state.”

Last season, Perry and Cook finished second and third respectfully in the 100 hurdles. The two seniors are the only two from this group who have advanced to state previously.

Papadopoulos is not taking this season for granted. The athletic director, football and track coach at Vacaville knows how special it is to have this many elite athletes — not only on

one team, but in one specific speciality like hurdles.

He also knows that they would not be here without having the talent, drive and maturity that is beyond their years.

“The blessing is they are all super kids.” Papadopoulos said.

“The opportunity that they have to train collectively together, that’s the neat part.”

Perry and Cook are leaders on and off the track. Perry boasts a 4.0 GPA and plans to study law at UCLA. Cook has maintained a 3.8 GPA and was also a cheerleader throughout high school. The two seniors also are active members on campus and in the Black Student Union.

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Patrianna Perry

Jurnee Woodward

Nia Vance

Daria Cook

Hannah Davis

— Pattriana Perry

“If they weren’t as mature as they are, this would not work out the way it has. They get it,” Papadopoulos said.

Cook agrees that training together daily has made this group even better.

“It keeps us all on our toes all the time,” Cook said. “We push each other to do better.”

And being the best in the state is the obvious end goal for this group.

Without a state title — yet — Perry said this group is anxious for the chance to all go down to state together.

“It’s exciting. I’m glad it is all falling into place.” ✪

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Six weeks before the season, Benicia was in limbo — 22

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— then a new coach & new attitude changed the game

Story by Jim McCue • Photos by James K. Leash

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N

o one on the Benicia softball team was positive that the Panthers would win the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II championship, especially after Del CampoFair Oaks forced a winner-take-all title game with a 6-2 victory on May 21.

But positivity carried Benicia (21-5) to a 4-2 win in the second of two games against Del Campo to earn the program its first SJS title.

“Positivity was a big thing for us this year,” said Chanler Powell, one of three seniors on the Panthers’ roster. “We always felt like if we had more positivity last year, we could have taken it further. Our positive attitude gave us that extra push this time.”

In 2013, Benicia rolled to a perfect 15-0 record in Solano County League play to enter the section playoffs as a contender filled with confidence. But, on the eve of the postseason, coach Kristin Grubbs was dismissed, creating a chaotic atmosphere that the Panthers could not overcome. Under the direction of interim coach Bruce Zimmer, Benicia opened with two wins before bowing out with a pair of losses to fall short of a title shot.

As the 2014 season approached, the coaching situation was not resolved until late January when Benicia alum and former softball standout Jeana Gevas finally got her paperwork completed to be hired as the Panthers’ coach. Gevas hit the ground running and immediately started to build her championship roster from the head down.

“Coming in late, I did not have time to break down players, so I was working on the team model and working to just bring this club together,” Gevas said. “It started with introducing them to the model and letting them understand what it is like to have the positive thoughts within themselves to apply to the larger model.”

Gevas’s message of positivity and mental strength resonated with the girls, who felt that they had unfinished business to take care of. In addition to instilling confidence and positivity into the program, the coach asked her players to create a team motto and set a team goal.

The Panthers set their sights on chasing the elusive SJS championship (Benicia won the North Coast Section title in 2000 when Gevas was a freshman on the team) and agreed on the plan to achieve that goal. And the motto? “Bust Ours to Beat Yours.”

“I am somebody who dreams big, so their goal to win section was what we all agreed on,” Gevas said. “That goal set the linear path that we needed to follow.

“If everyone is on that linear path doing the same things within themselves, it creates cohesion and a positive energy.”

While Gevas can sound more like a philosopher or motivational speaker, she knows her way around the diamond and clicked right away with her young roster. Seniors Danielle Kranz, Alexandria Wardlow and Powell all bought into Gevas’ philosophy and helped ease what could have been a difficult transition.

The Panthers’ early schedule featured top programs from the Bay Area and Sacramento with the hopes of preparing for 24

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Benicia coach Jeana Gevas

Benicia’s Shelby Thompson the postseason grind. Benicia then rolled through league play with a perfect 13-0 mark before putting their positivity to the ultimate test at the Sacramento Softball Complex.

The Panthers defeated Bella Vista-Fair Oaks 3-2 in their playoff opener before rallying from a 5-0 deficit to beat defending Div. II champion Casa Roble-Orangevale 7-6 to advance to the winner’s bracket final. A 4-1 win over Del Cam-

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po moved Benicia to the championship where the Panthers would need to win just one of two games to win the title.

In the first game on the final night of the playoffs, Del Campo jumped out to an early lead and ran away from Benicia for a 6-2 win. But, when Del Campo won the coin toss between games and elected to be the home team, the Panthers pounced on the opportunity to strike first. A pair of first-inning runs gave Benicia a lead it would never relinquish.

Kranz was solid inside the circle, allowing just five hits and two unearned runs in the finale, while the entire lineup contributed to the offense that woke up from its first-game slump. Underclassmen Shelby Thompson, McKenna Gregory, Brianna Schlattman, Allie Bullock and Alana Combes backed up the efforts of the senior trio to maintain momentum.

Del Campo mounted rallies late in the game, but Kranz came up with big outs time and again to keep the Cougars at bay. That included a huge strikeout with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth inning. The senior pitcher, who was roughed up for five runs in five innings in the first game, completed an impressive bounce back performance with her seventh and final strikeout to end the game and send the Panthers onto the field for a victory celebration.

“That was the best feeling ever,” Kranz said of the gameending strikeout to capture the section title. “I just feel honored knowing that we got the first (SJS banner) to hang on the wall, and that I was a part of the team to do that.

“It really tops off my senior year.”

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Sac-Joaquin Section Softball roundup

All’s well that ends well

Vacaville’s Morgan Conner

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The Vacaville Bulldogs were denied their undefeated season, but not the SJS championship.

Vacaville claimed the Div. I title with a 3-0 victory over a feisty Pleasant Grove squad a few hours after the Eagles handed the Bulldogs their first and only loss of the season (3-2) with the help of a Celina Matthias solo home run and complete game victory.

That forced Vacaville pitcher Katie Kibby to respond in Game 2.

“I wanted us to go undefeated, but it’s all about winning games. And getting the championship made things much better,” Kibby said.

Vacaville offensive leader Julia DePonte drove in three runs over the two games, including two in the clincher. The Washington-bound senior, who batted .548 during the regular season with five home runs and 32 RBI, fittingly closed out her high school career with a solo blast in her final at-bat.

Kibby was outstanding in the clutch after suffering her first loss of the year. The sophomore scattered five hits in the final game and escaped several jams to earn the shutout win. She also got some help from some outstanding defensive plays in the field and guidance from senior

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catcher Rachel Heizer.

“Rachel called a great game,” Kibby said. “I trusted her calls because she knows what is working for me and knows every batter in the lineup.”

The Bulldogs (29-1-1) last won the section championship in 2005. Their four titles are tied for the third-most Div. I softball titles since the section began divisional playoffs in 1976.

DIVISION III

Pioneer-Woodland 8, Yuba City 1: The Patriots (25-3) won their second consecutive Div. III championship by defeating the Tri-County Conference-rival Honkers to cap off an undefeated postseason run in which they outscored opponents 25-2.

The usual suspects led the way for Pioneer’s offense and defense. Ace Angelica Dark earned the complete game victory while fellow junior Madison Bellin sparked the offense with a 3-for-4 effort that included a double and three runs scored. The pair are among a large contingent of underclassmen that will return under coach Linda Merrida to make a run at a third straight banner.

— Jim McCue

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With his third under-par finish in as many weeks, Will Brueckner claimed a NorCal title and his first trip to the state tourney

W

ill Brueckner is not cut from the same cloth as the prototypical golfer.

The Acalanes-Lafayette senior dons a Masters Tournament golf bucket hat, similar to the camouflage hat sported by Bill Murray’s character Carl Spackler in “Caddyshack.”

A gregarious young man, Bruecker doesn’t look the part, doesn’t act the part, but he can walk around knowing he left Sierra View Country Club in Roseville as the top golfer at the 2014 California Interscholastic Federation NorCal Golf Championship on May 19.

Brueckner finished his round with consecutive birdies to shoot a 6-under-par 66 and was crowned the NorCal champion in his first time back to the NorCal tournament since his freshman year. It was the lowest score at NorCals since Jarrett Link of Christian Brothers-Sacramento shot a 65 in 2010 at Diablo Grande Country Club in Patterson.

The Gonzaga commit said he was a “little sleep deprived” during the tournament, just a day-and-a-half removed from the Acalanes senior ball.

“But it’s one of those things where you get in the groove and you walk off and go, ‘Man, I just played some golf,’” Brueckner said.

His uniqueness isn’t regulated to the course, either.

Brueckner said he and the rest of the team blew out the sound system in Acalanes coach Tim Scott’s van that the team travels in. A fan of deep house music in which Brueckner says he and his friends “mess around with,” they have now turned to comedy to lighten the mood on long road trips.

“He is an insanely good golfer and an insanely good person to be around,” Scott said.

Thinly built with a smile a mile wide, Brueckner is one who will find time to get a laugh in on the course — even during the final stretch of a championship round with a chance to make it to the State Championship is on the line.

With just three holes to go and teeing off from the 346-yard par-four seventh hole at Sierra View, Brueckner, turned to the rest of the group he was with, pumped his fists and laughed. Not to show off bravado, but because he says he just loves the sport and loves to out-drive his opponents.

“I’ve never been one to hit it straight in the fairways,” Brueckner said. “I like to take it as far as possible and try to overpower courses.”

Scott will be the first to say that Brueckner has no ego, just a zest for the game and life.

“It’s so neat to know a person like that,” Scott said. “Over and above the golf thing. He cares about other people.”

Brueckner has also upped his game as the postseason has progressed. Prior to NorCals, Brueckner hit an even-par 72 at the Diablo Foothill Athletic League Tournament and posted 4-under 67s at both the North Coast Section Div. I Qualifier and the NCS Tournament of Champions.

Josh McCarthy of De La Salle-Concord (68) was the only other golfer to shoot under 70 at Sierra View. Jacob Solomon of Dublin and Justin Suh of Evergreen-San Jose were the other two golfers to shoot under-par with a 71 at NorCal. After missing the NorCal cut during his sophomore and junior seasons, Brueckner said that attending his senior ball, coming away as NorCal champion and getting a chance to compete as state in San Gabriel on June 4, has boiled down to

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Will Brueckner

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NorCal Individual State Qualifiers

Place Player

School

1. Will Brueckner

Acalanes-Lafayette

Score to Par Total -6

66

2. Josh McCarthy

De La Salle-Concord

-4

68

T3. Justin Suh

Evergreen-San Jose

-1

71

T5. Jack Burlison

Palma-Salinas

Even

72

“the week of my life.”

“I’ve been doing pretty well,” Brueckner said. “Would be nice to keep the streak alive.”

He isn’t the only golfer riding a wave of success.

Foothill-Pleasanton coach Bill Hayes said this season it was all about the team for the Falcons. And as the only team with five golfers posting rounds in the 70s, Foothill claimed the NorCal team title for the third time since 2007.

“We have the fortune to have a tremendous amount of quality golfers,” Hayes said. “It’s everyone working together, that’s the reason why we are so successful.”

And the proof was in the fact that the sixth golfer on the Foothill team, John Francisco, shot a team-best 73.

“We tell them, ‘Play for the team. You don’t play for yourself. You don’t do anything that would harm your team,’” Hayes said.

Tanner Hughes shot a 75 with Raj Chekuri (76), Ryan Knop (77) and Ryan Maund (79) helped the Falcons to score a tournament-best 380 on the narrow course at Sierra View that had many coaches and players saying the fast greens forced many of the 88 participants to overshoot the hole.

Foothill seeks the team’s first state title after finishing second in 2012 and third in 2011.

Dublin — which finished third at the NCS Tournament of Champions when a 6th-golfer tiebreaker was needed to separate the Gaels from both Foothill and Campolindo-Moraga — finished third at NorCals with a 384.

Central Catholic-Modesto, the Division IV champions from the Sac-Joaquin Section and third-place team at the Section Masters championship, shot a 382 to finish in second place and advance to state. Central Catholic was led by an even-par 72 from Matthew Robinson. ✪

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Place Player T5. Noah Norton T5. Jeffery Inouye-Wong T9. Jimmy Castles T9. Jim Coon T12. Derek Ackerman

School Pleasant Valley-Chico Granite Bay Bellarmine-San Jose Campolindo-Moraga Sacred Heart Prep-Atherton

Score to Par Total Even 72 Even 72 +1 73 +1 73 +2 74

Foothill’s Ryan Maund

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INSIDE THE SECTION BASEBALL PLAYOFFS

San Ramon Valley looks to end nine-year title drought NorCal Baseball Top 20

Records are through 5/24. (source: MaxPreps.com)

2. (3) 3. (8) 4. (2)

5. (14)

▲ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲

6. (1)

▼

8. (12)

▲

7. (7)

9. (13)

25-7

College Park-Pleasant Hill

23-3

Archbishop Mitty-San Jose St. Francis-Mountain View Davis

Elk Grove

— Valley Christian-San Jose ▲

10. (4)

▼

12. (5)

▼

11. (NR) ▲ 13. (NR) ▲ 14. (NR) ▲ 15. (9)

Bellarmine-San Jose

▼

16. (10) ▼ 17. (NR) ▲ 18. (15) ▼ 19. (NR) ▲ 20. (16) ▼

San Ramon Valley-Danville De La Salle-Concord Campolindo-Moraga Manteca

Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove San Benito-Hollister

Marin Catholic-Kentfield Serra-San Mateo

Clayton Valley Charter-Concord Benicia

Maria Carrillo-Santa Rosa Berkeley

Franklin-Elk Grove

24-6 22-4

20-10-1 27-6 22-9 19-7 19-7 20-5 25-3 21-5 22-7 22-5

16-12 22-5 27-5 25-3

17-10

DROPPED OUT: No. 11 California-San Ramon, No. 17 Pleasant Valley-Chico, No. 18 Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills, No. 19 Saratoga and No. 20 Amador Valley-Pleasanton.

NorCal Softball Top 20

Records are through 5/24. (source: MaxPreps.com)

1. (1)

— Amador Valley-Pleasanton

25-0

3. (3)

— Alhambra-Martinez

23-2

2. (2) 4. (4) 5. (5) 6. (8) 7. (6) 8. (9)

9. (10)

— Archbishop Mitty-San Jose — Vacaville

— James Logan-Union City ▲ ▼ ▲ ▲

10. (11) ▲ 11. (13) ▲ 12. (16) ▲ 13. (18) ▲ 14. (19) ▲ 15. (7)

▼

16. (NR) ▲ 17. (12) ▼ 18. (NR) ▲ 19. (NR) ▲ 20. (17) ▼

Pioneer-San Jose Leland-San Jose

Carlmont-Belmont

Valley Christian-San Jose Pioneer-Woodland

Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove Rocklin

Notre Dame-Salinas San Benito-Hollister Roseville Merced

Elk Grove Benicia

Oakdale

East Union-Manteca

28-1 29-1-1 23-2 21-4 22-4 25-3 21-7 25-3

26-9-1 22-8-1 24-3

21-3-1 23-6

24-4-1 18-7 18-5

24-5-1 26-4

DROPPED OUT: No. 14 Tracy, No. 15 Woodcreek and No. 20 Gregori-Modesto

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San Ramon Valley’s Nick Kanat makes the force out at home.

20-11

When it comes to the life of a high school baseball coach, days don’t get much better than the one San Ramon Valley High coach Chris deClercq had on May 24.

A mere 20 minutes after his top-seeded Wolves came back from an early deficit to defeat cross-town rival Monte VistaDanville 10-5 in a North Coast Section Division I quarterfinal, deClercq received a text that his pregnant wife’s water had broken and it was time to head to the hospital.

A few hours later, the deClercq family welcomed its first three children — triplets.

“First and only,” the coach quipped a few days later by phone.

“We’re going to be pretty busy for awhile.”

The babies — girls named Tylie and Tenley, and a boy named Cooper — were all healthy despite arriving approximately seven weeks early.

“I think all three were just ready to come out and cheer for us in the next round,” said the proud new dad.

The Wolves have an opportunity to give their three newest fans something to cheer about too. San Ramon Valley, the only No. 1 seed in the section’s top three divisions still standing, faced upstart No. 13 Berkeley on May 28 with a chance to punch its first ticket to an NCS final since winning the 3A East Bay title in 2004.

As of May 24, the Wolves were 19-7 overall and 5-2 in May. In their regular-season finale and first two playoff games, they outscored opponents 29-11.

“The last couple of weeks, I’ve really been feeling good about things,” deClercq said. The kids have a real good understanding of where our strengths are and how to give ourselves an advantage.”

Fellow East Bay Athletic League foes De La Salle-Concord and Foothill-Pleasanton met in the other Div. I semifinal. SRV went 3-1 against them this season, sweeping DLS and splitting with Foothill.

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Phil Walton photo

1. (6)

COMING UP ACES

It’s a nice option to call the Sac-Joaquin Section’s wins leader to the mound in relief to turn your team’s fortunes around. That was Manteca coach Neill MacDannald’s intention when he brought Lucas Vaughn in to pitch with one out in the top of the fifth inning of the Division IV championship game with his Buffaloes trailing Vista del Lago-Folsom 5-0.

The senior right-hander immediately uncorked a wild pitch to increase the deficit to six runs, but he knew that the game was not over. “I knew that all I had to do was shut them down and get my team back in the dugout to give us a chance,” Vaughn said.

“That was my main goal. I had no thoughts of loss.”

Vaughn did just that, getting two outs to allow Manteca to regroup and start its comeback attempt. The Buffaloes offense responded with five runs in the bottom of the inning to get the comeback under way. “I felt that this is our year and I left everything out on the field,” he said of the last three innings.

Vaughn tossed 2.2 no-hit innings and allowed just one runner to reach base. He collected his 12th win of 2014 when fellow senior Alex Jorgensen delivered a two-out walk-off single.

CLUTCH POWER

Benicia’s Fred Williams homered twice in the Panthers’ first six games, but hadn’t enjoyed a trot around the bases since March 20. That power outage finally ended when the senior outfielder touched Christian Brothers-Sacramento pitcher Stephen Talbert for a two-run homer over the left field fence in the SJD Div. II final at Sacramento City College. The first-inning blast gave Benicia (27-5) a 2-1 lead and provided the margin of victory as senior Matt Brown tossed a five-hitter and struck out 10 to give Benicia its fourth SJS baseball title. ✪ — Chace Bryson and Jim McCue

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training time: paul rudd

In the last of a three-part series, our resident trainer explains how speed training starts with getting stiff and can end with making the play This column is the last installment to a three-part Leaning Tower Series. As explained in the last two installments (featured in the April and May issues), this strategy helps young athletes get stiffer during through their feet, ankles, legs and butt. The ability of athletes to get stiff during sporting movement is a key indicator to athletic success.

Here’s a quick recap of the first two installments: Strategy 1: Penguin Walks are used to teach stiffness through the foot, ankles, calves, leg and butt. The coaching cue is clenching a golf ball between the butt cheeks and “credit-card-under-heel” (heel just high enough to slide a card underneath), to get your athletes to get and understand stiffness.

Strategy 2: Wall Drill: the difficulty increases by taking the concept of stiffness to the wall. This is a great coaching tool to put athletes in an ideal acceleration angle while teaching hip separation and stiffness during acceleration.

Next, athletes move off the wall to further progress the intensity and functionality of the drill.

The Leaning Tower Hold is the next logical progression after the wall drill. This puts athletes out in space in an acceleration/deceleration position of the lead leg. Same cues are used; golf ball between butt cheeks, credit card under heel. The goal is for athletes to maximize ankle dorsiflexion while maintaining this stiffness at higher angles that are encountered during play.

To up the intensity the athlete should attempt to lift the back leg off the ground straight up or with a knee drive, creating more eccentric force and requiring more stiffness on the lead leg. This is also a great assessment tool to test the athlete’s ability to decelerate to a static position.

Finally, the athlete can progress to Leaning Tower Walks — both forward and sideways. This starts to link acceleration and deceleration together. As the lead leg will have to use the prerequisite stiffness to push into the ground while simultaneously driving or punching the opposite knee through into deceleration in preparation for the next acceleration.

This is the key to the Leaning Tower series. If athletes can’t get stiff, they wont be able to resist and reproduce force in the opposite direction quickly. In other words deceleration isn’t about stopping as much as it’s about your athletes ability to maximize their ability to re-accelerate quickly in order to make a play. This is the genesis of athletic success, creating space to make a play on offense or the ability to cut off angles and get to a point quicker on defense. The athlete who can do this quicker and more effectively makes the play.

The great thing is that this all can be integrated into an athlete’s warm-up before training or even practice. So it’s not only a great teaching tool, but it can effectively prepare your athlete’s nervous system for power, speed and agility training as well as sporting movement.

Here is a simple template on how to progress through this series during a warm-up: ›› Penguin Walks in place>Walking >Low-knee walking>High-knee walking ›› Wall Drill>Leaning Tower Hold > Leaning Tower Leg Lift > Leaning Tower Knee Drive> Leaning Tower Walks ›› Low-knee skips>High-knee skips>Low-knee runs>High-knee runs These are specific speed movements that help improve an athlete’s ability to accelerate/decelerate more effectively when implementing sport-specific movements of speed, agility and power training. This is why implementing it implementing it into the warm-up is a great opportunity to rehearse movement skills that will positively impact performance and health. ✪ Tim Rudd is an IYCA specialist in youth conditioning and owner of Fit2TheCore.

Video Extra See videos representing all of the Leaning Tower movements by visiting SportStarsOnline.com/video/TrainingTime

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golf fitness: dr. charles f. preston

It’s in the Whole Whole body fitness training improves a golfer’s swing and score, while greatly reducing risk of injury

Like the PGA pros they want to emulate, young golfers are paying more attention to their fitness level to improve their game. Much like baseball players, golfers are rotational athletes. An appropriate fitness prescription for these athletes takes a specialized approach.

The human body is a system of consecutive mobile and stable joints. The golf swing takes advantage of this with its unique rotational movement firing through the kinetic sequence from feet to hips to shoulders to hands to club. If one body segment isn’t functioning properly, an adjacent segment can be injured, which often happens with the lower back.

Junior golfers (roughly age 8-18) should build a foundation in whole body training. This means moving multiple body parts in a single exercise as opposed to more traditional isolating movements to strengthen particular areas. The result of proper efficient training in the gym is a more efficient golf swing.

While junior golfers tend to be extremely mobile athletes, they typically lack the stability to execute an efficient golf swing.

Whole body fitness training will make them more balanced athletes and help them avoid overuse injuries. Junior golf participation in California is increasing exponentially. Many young golfers, often pushed by their parents, are specializing in golf in hopes of becoming the next Jordan Spieth or Rory McIlroy.

That is a mistake.

First off, some parents don’t think their young golfers should be working out at all. In fact, studies of junior golfers show that

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those engaged in fitness training as adolescents perform at a higher level when they reach college age.

Second, if a young golfer trains only by playing golf, he or she may develop muscular imbalances.

This is when opposing muscles on different sides of a joint produce unequal forces of tension, which c an set the golfer up for an inefficient swing leading to injury.

Third, young adults who have only played golf will have to spend many hours learning how to use their bodies for maximum efficiency. That’s because neuromuscular pathways become harder to develop as we age. As they mature, adolescent golfers will have a harder time developing the consistent speed and power that are crucial for their golf swing.

Medical providers certified by the Titleist Performance Institute have the ability to screen a golfer and provide exercise specific to his or her area of weakness. Adolescents can join golfers and tap into a great resource for whole body training exercises at the TPI web site (www.mytpi.com). As a medical professional certified by TPI, I can attest to the quality of their instruction. And it’s all free. ✪ Dr. Preston, is an orthopaedic surgeon with Muir Orthopaedic Specialists focusing on sports medicine. He is the founding medical director of the Sports Performance Institute at San Ramon Regional Medical Center. He also serves as the sideline physician for De La Salle Football and is an orthopedic consultant for the athletes of Saint Mary’s College.

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HEALTH WATCH: DR. NIRAV K. PANDYA

GROWING

PAINS Young athletes often look forward to their growth spurt, but it’s also a time to be cautious

With summer right around the corner, many young athletes wonder, “Is this the summer that I am going to grow six inches?”

Although growth is an exciting prospect for the athlete, there are several key points that directly relate to sports performance and risk of injury. First, our bones grow from an area called the physis (a.k.a. growth plate). These are areas of cartilage which eventually fuse with the rest of the bone when an individual is done growing.

On average, growth ends around 14 years of age for girls and 16 for boys. The majority of leg growth occurs at the end of the thigh bone (9 millimeters/ year) and top of the shin bone (6 mm/year).

Due to the fact that the physis is made of cartilage, these areas are weaker than the rest of the bone, and can be susceptible to injury. For example, poor throwing mechanics and over-use can cause injuries to the growth plates of the elbow and shoulder (Little Leaguer’s disease) as these are weaker areas in the arm. In addition, if you are unlucky enough to break your bone while you are still growing, the physis can be injured. This can lead to larger growth problems down the road based on a patient’s age and amount of growth remaining.

Of particular concern for the athlete is that during periods of rapid growth, the muscles can’t keep up with the expanding length of the bone. This leads to muscle tightness and inflexibility. These tight muscles can cause chronic pain around the growth plates of the heel (Sever’s disease) and the knee (OsgoodSchlatter).

As a result, although growth may be an exciting time, young athletes should be aware that they need to be particularly vigilant about stretching, practicing good mechanics, and resting when their bodies are sore. The physis has amazing potential to turn us into mature adults, but also can be a source of pain and frustration for many athletes. ✪

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Dr. Nirav K. Pandya is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon specializing in pediatric sports injuries at the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland.

He sees patients and operates in Oakland and Walnut Creek.

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tri steps: liz elliott

Race reports can be one of the biggest tools for young — and veteran — endurance athletes Congratulations on completing your first race. So what now? Start with a race report.

Write down everything that happened from the start of the race to the finish. Do it while the race is still fresh in your head. This doesn’t have to be anything you share with other people. You can write it as an email to yourself, or an email to one of your coaches. This will help you learn what went well and what didn’t, and get the memory down in writing so you can move on to your next endeavor.

Most of all, remember your race fondly. Especially it it was indeed your first race, or your first time on a particular course. You only get to do it the first time once.

Looking back on your race reports the following year or season — or even after your next race — can be a lot of fun and allow you to reflect on how far you’ve come.

Here are some questions to consider while writing your report: 1. How much sleep did you get two nights before your race? How much sleep did you get the night before? Was it enough?

2. What did you eat/drink for breakfast and/or everything before you started swimming? Was it enough?

3. How much time did you leave yourself from the time you got

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down to transition (swim-to-bike, bike-to-run) until your wave started? Was it enough?

4. When you were doing your transitions did you do anything you wish you hadn’t? Did you like the way you set up your transition area? Do you think you could have gone quicker?

5. How much time did you have before the start once your wetsuit was completely on? Was that enough?

6. How do you feel about the warm-up in the water?

Should you have done anything differently?

7. How were the hills on the bike? Did you have any back pain (or other pain)?

8. Did you run the whole distance? If not, was it because of pain, cramps, nutrition or something else?

9. Overall, how was your nutrition? How closely did you follow your nutrition plan? What exactly did you consume (both solid and liquid) and when?

10. Overall, how do you feel about your performance? ✪ Liz Elliott was an All-American collegiate swimmer and is the head coach at Tri-Valley Triathlon Club.

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swimming health: hunter greene, m.d.

Protect Your Water Wings Often swimming thousands of yards in the pool each day, swimmers put a great deal of stress on their shoulders. As a result, shoulder injuries are very common among swimmers.

What causes shoulder injuries?

A swimmer might use the shoulder nearly 2,000 times in a single workout of about five miles. Additionally, the shoulders are the body’s engine in the water, providing nearly 90 percent of a swimmer’s forward motion.

With overuse comes fatigue and poor stroke technique. Often swimmers demonstrate tremendous flexibility or joint laxity, which can be normal. Slight injuries and micro-trauma can cause the shoulders to become unstable and lead to shoulder pain and tendinitis.

Shoulder injuries may include rotator cuff impingement — pressure on the rotator cuff from part of the shoulder blade or scapula as the arm is lifted. Biceps tendinitis (painful inflammation of the biceps tendon) and shoulder instability, in which structures that surround the shoulder joint do not work to maintain the ball within its socket, can all result from fatigue and weakness of the rotator cuff and muscles surrounding the shoulder blade.

How can shoulder injuries be prevented and treated?

No amount of exercise can guarantee staying injury-free, but keeping the important muscles of the shoulder strong can greatly decrease the chances of problems in the future. Too much trauma to these critical areas of the shoulder joint can result in shoulder pain, and in the worst case, structural damage.

Here are a few other tips to keep in mind: ›› Use good stroke technique ›› Lessen repetitive strokes that are causing the injury ›› Perform core strengthening and cross training exercises as part of pre- and early-season routines ›› Consider alternative training techniques rather than training through an injury ›› Talk with a sports medicine professional if you have any concerns about injuries or prevention strategies. ›› Only return to competition when clearance is granted by a health care professional. ✪

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Hunter Greene, M.D., is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with Summit Orthopedic Specialists in Carmichael.

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powered by trucks: anthony trucks

For those who may not be aware of my football and NFL career, I was forced to retire due to shoulder injuries.

For a linebacker, having bad shoulders is a death sentence to be able to play the position. Over the years, I spent a lot of time lifting heavy weights, benchpressing, overhead pressing, etc. It wasn’t until I tore both shoulders over time, and then became a trainer, that I looked back on my career and noticed something I wish I’d known earlier: If you don’t stabilize the shoulder joint by purposely training the four rotator cuff muscles when doing heavy lifts with your big primary muscles (Pectorals, deltoids, Traps, and lats), then you are leaving yourself vulnerable to potential injury as the years progress on.

If I could go back, I would spend a lot of time building up those muscles. When the primary muscles flex, the four rotator cuff muscles make sure the joints stay stable to handle the load. These muscles are the infraspinatus, supraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis. An unstable joint moving heavy weight is a recipe

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for disaster.

So how do you make sure you are doing the right exercises to keep the shoulder joint stable and healthy? By following these steps. >> Warm the muscles up in the shoulder by doing small movements with VERY light weights. My clients and I get 2.5- or 5-pound weights. We do arm lifts front and side, bent-over reverse fly’s, bent-over arm kick backs and standing tall-arm circles forward and back. >> Mimic the movement with minimal weight or body weight (over head press, push ups, band rows, etc.) prior to doing the movement fully weighted. >> Use bands to isolate the individual rotator cuff muscles to make sure they are all firing and one isn’t doing less work than others.

So before you run yourself into the ground and wind up with life-long shoulder pain and regret, take the time to make your shoulders safer and more stable. ✪ Anthony Trucks is the owner of Trucks Training facility in Brentwood and covers weight training for SportStars.

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even more camps + clinics at sportstarsonline.com BASEBALL/SOFTBALL All Star Academy of Baseball All-Star Academy in Santa Clara features a 17,000 square foot indoor and outdoor training facility that is home to a variety of instructional programs.

ASA offers All Skills Camps for ages 7-12, and Summer Boot Camps for 12 & Under, middle school, and high school athletes. Info: 650-961-2255; www. asabaseball.com Cabernet Baseball Club The Livermore-based club not only hosts The Pitching Center’s Spring Break Baseball Skills Camp, its also hosts its own baseball summer camps.

Each camp is designed for specific skill development. We feature camps for the youngest and newest players ages 5 - 7 all the way to the most elite high school and college players. We keep our student to instructor ratios low. This ensures the best possible instruction experience for each participant. Lil’ Baseball is also offered for ages 3-7.

Info: 925-416-1600, www.cabernetindoorsports.com Cal Club Baseball CCB is one of the premier college development baseball programs in California.

We have hitting sessions on Saturdays and Sundays. Times for these hitting sessions will be sent out at the beginning of each week and will be listed on our website. In these hitting sessions

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we set up stations for players to work on hitting for power, gap-to-gap, two strikes, balance and opposite field. Pitching sessions are set up with stations to get specific work on certain mechanics for pitching. Info: erick@calclubbaseball. com; (408) 204-8771 Got ‘Em Baseball College Development The College Development Camp is a camp geared toward those elite high school student athletes that have aspirations of playing at the next level.

We have teamed up with numerous colleges, professional instructors, current MLB scouts, motivational speakers and life skills coaches to bring to you an unforgettable 4-day/3-night baseball and life skills experience. The College Development Camp for grades: 9-11 takes place at University of the Pacific & Delta College in Stockton. Max Number of Campers: 60. Info: baseball@gotembaseball.com Gregg Jefferies Sports Academy Former first-round draft pick for the New York Mets, Gregg Jefferies put together an amazing 14-year career at the Major League level. Now he can train you!

Enlist in camps and specialty clinics like hitting and pitching classes; onsight rehab and arm care, speed and agility, srength/core classes, team programs or join our monthly Baseball Membership. We even offer Family Member-

ship Plans so all your children can be involved and share our 12,000 square foot indoor facility. Info: (510) 209-6194; (925) 484-1036; tarynalexander13@ gmail.com Headfirst Baseball Academy Though many people have heard about Headfirst, few understand the HF network, especially in the Upper Division. The basic principle is that we want to train young players who are willing to work hard to make the next level.

We are proven in the area of recruiting talented players and developing them.

Most importantly (and this is the most overlooked concept by young players) Headfirst is proven in having the relationships with colleges that will result in players being connected with their desired school. Info: MJi0209@aol.com; Mario74iglesias@aol.com The Pitching Center In an effort to develop baseball players to their full potential, The Pitching Center has become the Total Player Center (TPC), a full-service baseball/softball training academy. We provide comprehensive, fully-integrated training programs that evolve based on the best research and information available in areas from health/safety, peak performance, education techniques and more. Age- and skill-specific programs are available for students aged 8-18. Info: 925-416-1600, www.thepitchingcenter.com.

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BASKETBALL Advantage Basketball Camps Advantage Basketball Camps are for kids 7-18. Players grow and learn about more than basketball in our sessions.

Advantage camps’ main focus is ball handling skills and moves off the dribble.

Trying to learn the rest of the game is a waste of time if you can’t handle the ball.

We also cover shooting, defense and court awareness. We run a professional camp that is hard work but produces great results. Our newest camp is on Rocklin. For all dates/locations: 425670-8877; info@advantagebasketball. com, www.advantagebasketball.com East Bay Bulldogs The Bulldogs are pleased to bring back our hugely popular Week Night Skills Workouts. The program focuses on fundamental skills that are tough to spend much time on in practice. We do three 2-hour long skills workouts, that are open to boys and girls from 2nd-12th grade.

This is a complete workout touching on all skills needed to play the game. You don’t have to be a Bulldogs player to attend.

We are based in Martinez. Info: PGLeClaire@comcast.net; 925-570-1334 Moreau Catholic Basketball Camp Co–ed basketball camps for incoming grades 3-9, Cost: $150/session, $400 for all sessions: Week 1 6/16 – 6/20; Week 2 6/23 – 6/27; Week 3 6/30 – 7/3. All camps 9am – 2pm; Info:

Varsity coach Frank Knight, knight@ moreaucatholic.org; moreaucatholic.org/ Athletics NorCal Courts Basketball Camps Norcal Courts in Martinez covers all the major fundamentals: Dribbling, passing, shooting, defense, rebounding.

Sessions will have fun and exciting drills for campers that will help them become better players. Camps are rub by qualified coaches from Cal Stars and Cagers Basketball. Info: 925-457-5081; www. norcalcourts.com Ray Wear 5 Basketball Ray Wear is a former Michigan State University Grad and All-Big 10 star who hosts basketball skills camps nationwide. The camp visits Northern California on April 27 at NorCal Courts in Martinez. Camp package includes Game Gear reversible jersey and solid short, Reebok drawstring bag, cotton tee and Rebok Zig Kick Hoops. Info/ Registration: raywear5.com Redwood Christian Basketball Camp Our camps are directed by varsity basketball coach Drew Sanchez each June.

They are designed for players who want to learn and improve skills. SHOOTING CAMP: This camp is focused on teaching technique of shot and footwork.

SKILLS CAMP: This camp will incorporate all the fundamental skills of the game with a fun, competitive approach.

Info: rcsathletics.org; 510-317-8988

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even more camps + clinics at sportstarsonline.com CHEER/DANCE California Spirit Elite Cheer Camp CSE Cheer Camp, based at our facility in Dublin, is four days of fun-filled activities.

Learn cheers, make crafts and make friends! Learn more about our club at csecheer.com. Info: (925) 556-1095 CheerGyms.com Customize your clinic to fit your needs! Let us teach the clinic you need to take your team to the next level! We offer residential overnight camps that include many awards, team bonding ideas and an experience of a lifetime. We also offer Two-Day Camps for a less-pricey overnight experience. Finally, there are Private Camps in which your cheerleaders get all the attention. You pick the hours and decide what they will learn.

Cheergyms.com facilities in Concord, San Jose and Petaluma! Info: morton@cheergyms.com, 925-685-8176 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. We take weekly field trips to places like an A’s or Giants game, museums, the Jelly Belly Factory, Six Flags, the pool, the movies, parks and the zoo.

Field trips and camps vary by site. Offers and rates may vary at any of our nine locations. Info: www.dianneadair.org.

FITNESS Children’s Hospital Athletic Training Conference This workshop is designed especially for high school students interested in sports medicine careers. Learn about ankle injuries and taping techniques; wrist, hand, and thumb injuries and taping; knee injuries and RICE Therapy; stretching techniques, lower back injuries and CORE training, sports concussions; shoulder injuries and rehabilitation. The two-day workshop runs April 4 (5:30-8:30 pm) and April 5 (8 am-5 pm) at Children’s Hospital Oakland, Outpatient Center Auditorium. Info: Call (510) 428-3558; www.chofoundation.org/ sportsconference Children’s Hospital Sports Speed Camps Learn and put into practice the five pillars of SPEED training. Emphasizing flexibility, stability, strength, power, and speed. We’ll give you the training secrets that will make you faster than you’ve ever been before. The 2-week program is best suited for athletes (ages 12-19) who play soccer, football, basketball, lacrosse, and track & field. Space is limited to 15 athletes per session with 3 sessions offered. Camps are held in Walnut Creek and Berkeley. Info: (510) 428-3558 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 your young athletes back on the field of play post-rehabilitation, continuing

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the process by progressing their bodies to handle what they must endure on the field or court. Athletes are closely supervised while being coached through the workout, with attention on proper technique and safety.

For our Back to Sports programs we offer training weekdays, with 2 or 3 days/week options. Info: www.fasteryoungathletes.com, 925-639-0907.

Renaissance ClubSport We offers sports and speciality camps for kids ages 5-12. Participants have fun-filled, active breaks as they receive instruction in a variety of sports, activities, and projects. For families with multiple children, we offer a 10% discount on each additional sibling. Info: Kids World at 925.942.6344.

Trucks Training We know exactly what it takes to achieve the next level of sports & fitness safely and effectively. A true hometown feel from true hometown people. We offer 1-on-1, group and small group training for fitness and sport-specific needs. Info: truckstraining.com; 925-756-7321 FOOTBALL AG Evaluations Artie Gigantino, a former NFL coach with the Rams and Raiders, and college coach at USC and Cal, offers players evaluations and consultations. Its guidance for your football future. Info: artiesports@yahoo.com, 925209-9465 All Out Sports League Our football camps are held in Antioch and

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even more camps + clinics at sportstarsonline.com Clayton. The four-day non-contact camp teaches every position on the football field and are geared toward the fundamentals. Every aspect of the game is covered. Camps are open to boys and girls ages 6-16. Info: 925-203-5636 or www.alloutsportsleague.com Cascade Football Team Camp The purpose of the Cascade Team Camp is to provide a fundamental camp for high school athletes to learn the game of football from their own coaching staffs and to allow teams to meld together and spend quality team time for activities. The 5-day, full-contact camp is held at the beautiful campus of McCloud High at the base of Mt. Shasta. It’s attended by 7 teams and features facilities for both 11-and 8-man teams. Info: Matt Hunsaker 530-2330333; m61hunsaker@gmail.com Coach Cotter Football Camp This Moreau Catholic High camp is designed for everyone to have fun while learning essential football skills in a non-contact environment. Each camper will have the opportunity to learn the skills for all offensive and defensive positions. Campers will also tour the campus, weight room and team room areas. Each day of camp will conclude with “Mariner Ball,” a fun touch football game giving everyone an equal opportunity to participate. Info: (510)-881-4333 or acotter@moreaucatholic.org Cougar Football Camp This is a full-gear youth football camp for grades 4-8 which is now in its 18th year. Long-respected Camplindo High coach Kevin Macy is the lead instructor for the camp which runs from July 7-18 and takes place from 1:30-5 pm each day. Info: CampoFootball.com, kmacy@acalanes.k12.ca.us, 925-280-3950 ext. 5163 Diablo Football Camps We offer contact and non-contact camps for players ages 6-14 which take place at Laural Ball Field and Shady Oaks Park in Oakley. Info/registration: 925-625-2222, www.DiabloFootball.com.

East Bay Youth Football Academy EBAYFA is designed to provide instruction to young boys and girls about the game of football. In addition to developing skills and running drills to teach fundamentals, EBAYFA also teaches you how the game is played. Our summer schedule is open for registration. We have two sessions in June and July at Bladium in Alameda and a session July 1519 at Bishop O’Dowd High in Oakland. All summer camps are for ages 6-10 and run from 9am-1pm Monday through Friday. Info: 510 599-4292; mike@ebay-fa.com National Wing T Team Camp We have been presenting exceptional WING-T football camps for 27 years with a superior staff, comprised solely of highly successful college and high school coaches from around the country. We highlight the importance of teamwork, self-discipline and consideration of others, while helping players to develop the confidence and work ethic needed to attain their full potential. This year’s NorCal camp is at Escalon High. The High School Wing-T Camp (helmet/shoulder pads) and Youth Wing-T camp (no equipment) both occur in June. Info: 209-2474700, ecoachlou@hotmail.com Walnut Creek Marauders The Walnut Creek Marauders are part of the Diablo Valley Youth Football Conference. This division represents 18 cities across Contra Costa, Solano, Napa and Alameda counties. The Marauder tackle football program is led by trained volunteer coaches who strive for the personal and athletic growth of each athlete. Info: (925) 941-4745; ldavenport41@

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gmail.com

GOLF The First Tee The First Tee Summer Camp is a youth development Golf program for boys and girls ages 7-18.

Participants learn about golf and the life skills and values inherent to the game. Check with local chapters, Oakland, Contra Costa, Tri-Valley, Silicon Valley or find another at thefirsttee.org GYMNASTICS East Bay Sports Academy Summer Day Camps at East Bay Sports Academy offer the best gymnastics, cheerleading, and tumbling SUMMER CAMP FUN anywhere! We offer four AMAZING WEEKS of half-day and full-day camps for girls and boys ages 5 and up. Recreational and competitive athletes will benefit from training with most-committed coaches in the Bay Area. Our 13,000 square foot facility is clean, bright, and has the newest equipment around. We host private mini-camps and clinics. We gladly welcome all high school, middle school and youth football teams. Info: www.eastbaysportsacademy. com, 925-680-9999.

LACROSSE ENCORE Lacrosse Our camps are for those players looking to take their game to the next level. Jonathan Christmas is present at every camp where the focus is on developing each and every player according to the S.T.R.I.V.E. model (Sustainable, Training, Reactive coaching, Innovative, Video, Energy). Beginners, check out our introductory and intermediate camps. All camps offer goalie training and there are a limited number of goalie discounts available.

Camp locations include Walnut Creek, Belmont, Marin, Sacramento and San Francisco. Info: info@ EncoreLacrosse.com MARTIAL ARTS Hanabi Judo & Japanese Culture Camp Hanabi’s Judo and Japanese Culture Summer Camp is a fun, active introduction to the traditions of Japan. Every themed session will have children learning judo (a requirement in Japanese schools), Japanese songs, Japanese stories as well as the main artistic, linguistic or culinary activity. Info: (510) 530-8312; dan@hanabijudo.com 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 offer kids summer camps every week starting in June and ending in August. Sign up for a week at a time or multiple weeks. Ages 6-17; multiple kid and/or week discounts. Call for pricing, 925-6021000.

Tri-Valley Triathlon Club We will train you for a sprint, Olympic or half-ironman triathlon. Join us at one of our free practices occurring 3-5 times a week. Located in the East Bay with practices in Fremont, Newark, Union City, Pleasanton, Dublin, Livermore and San Ramon.

Info: liz@trivalleytriclub.com RUGBY Diablo Rugby Based in Clayton, our club is dedicated to providing a positive rugby experience for boys at high school, jr. high and youth levels. Info: 925-381-5143, diablorugby.com SOCCER Dublin United Soccer Camps

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even more camps + clinics at sportstarsonline.com Dublin United Soccer is pleased to offer their excellent program in a day camp format. Each camp session is one week long, and runs from 9-noon. Spring Break Camp runs from Marcy 31-April 4 for girls and boys ages 5 - 17. Our camps feature a fun & friendly atmosphere with challenging curriculum. We take an educational approach to coaching that focuses on being inclusive & welcoming of all players. Participants are not required to play for DUSL. Interested community members are invited and encouraged to attend. Info: td@dublinsoccer.org Heritage Soccer Club HSC Soccer camp will be held at Tesoro Fields in Concord from July 14-18 from 9am - 2pm. This camp is open to all U8 - U15 boys and girls (HSC and non-HSC players are welcome). Come and have a great time and learn about soccer techniques. Players will be instructed by coaches with 25+ years of experience at almost every level. Also, goalkeeping trainer Bojan Merik will be present as well. Fees are $200 for HSC players and $300 non-HSC players.

Info: conctat Julio Borge at Julio@heritagesc.com, www.HeritageSC.com Impact Soccer Club We are a community-based organization dedicated to the development of the soccer culture in Brentwood, Oakley, Antioch, Knightsen, Byron and Discov-

ery Bay. Our summer camps are run by Impact Coaching Director Rick Morin.

Rick has 30 years of coaching experience and coaches at Carondelet High and the Univ. of California. Impact’s Junior Academy Program, for under-6 is designed to provide age-appropriate soccer training and the proper foundation for young players in our club. Info: richardmorin1@comcast.net, (925) 323-1410 SWIMMING/DIVING Santa Clara Aquamaids JUMP IN with the Santa Clara Aquamaids and learn the basics of synchronized swimming! The Santa Clara Aquamaids are looking for swimmers ages 7-12, who are eager to learn, attentive, able to follow directions and work cooperatively in a group setting.

Basic synchro skills are taught such as sculling, ballet legs, simple figures, arm strokes, land drilling, and more.

The Santa Clara Aquamaids has been producing world-class synchronized swimmers and Olympic athletes since 1964. We have programs designed for beginning through elite levels. Info: 877 722-4630; 408 988-9936; info@ aquamaids.org Sherman Swim School Located in Lafayette, our year-round schedule allows children and adults to learn, retain and improve their swim

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skills with little interruption. Lessons are offered on M-W-F’s and T-Th’s over 3-4 weeks. We teach from age 9-months to adults and non-swimmers to competitive levels. Our private or semi-private lessons allow you to progress at YOUR pace. We also offer beginning and competitive diving. Classes (30 min. long) are taught in three-week sessions.

Either on M-W-F or T-Th. Info: 925-2832100, www.ShermanSwim.com.

Terrapins Swim Team Camps and clinics open to all ages and ability levels @ Concord Community Pool. Visit our website for fees/registration info. Info: www.terrapinswim.com TENNIS ClubSport Valley Vista Our club has been hosting summer tennis camps in the Walnut Creek area for 33 years, with expert instruction.

Tennis pro Dale Miller and his team will teach your children the fundamentals of tennis or help them improve their skills for recreation or competition. Camps are designed to touch on every major aspect of the game — stroke production, conditioning, strategy, footwork, psychology and most importantly, FUN! Players will be grouped according to level of play and age. Info: 925-934-4050.

VOLLEYBALL Bay Area Blast Summer Clinics Bay Area Blast Volleyball Club (BABVC)

is a volleyball organization in Martinez.

Our primary goal is to build character and develop sportsmanship. BABVC offers personalized 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1 lessons and skills clinics designed for beginner and intermediate players. The clinics focus on player development in the fundamental skills. BABVC holds two summer skills clinics for boys and girls of all levels, each running three nights a week for two consecutive weeks from 7-9 pm at NorCal Courts in Martinez. Sessions cost $125. Info: tracyfeldmann@gmail.com City Beach Volleyball With facilities in both Fremont and Santa Clara, we offer a wide variety of camps and clinics to serve junior girl players of all experience levels. Academic Camp is for the rising 10-12th graders looking for an opportunity to work with over 15 college coaches.The Sand Program takes place on the sand courts at West Valley College from April-June with 18 sessions to improve your outdoor skills. Our traditional summer camp serves players of all levels. We also have Saturday Sessions available. Info: (408) 654-9330; aaron@citybeach.com dan@citybeach.com Core Volleyball Club We offer a competitive, fun environment where your daughter will enjoy competing at a high level not only in games, but

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in practices as well.Our goal is to prepare your daughter for the next level; whether that is her middle school, high school, or college program. Clinics are held at Velocity Sports Performance in Dublin. If you are looking for some extra touches prior to tryouts this is an excellent clinic for you. We work on all skill development and fundamentals. Info: info@teamcvc. com; Ph: 925-925-230-9795 Moreau Catholic Volleyball Camp Girls volleyball camp for incoming grades 6-9, Cost: $100; July 7 – 11, 4:30 – 7:30pm; Info: Coach Ami Schelin, aschelin@moreaucatholic.org; moreaucatholic.org/Athletics Pacific Rim Volleyball Pacific Rim Volleyball Academy in Pleasant Hill is dedicated to providing athletes with the technical, tactical and physical training, to reach their highest potential. Pacific Rim will assist each athlete in reaching maximum performance through proper training and nutrition education. Our advanced training for junior levels (12th grade & below), will provide the opportunity to become elite players at the high school and/or collegiate level. Clinics are available for beginners, girls fall ball and skills-specific, boys skills-specific, open play and private lessons. Info: (585) 313-2215; rworsley@pacificrim volleyball.com

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even more camps + clinics at sportstarsonline.com U.S. Youth Volleyball League The United States Youth Volleyball League is hosting a series of camps in several Northern and Southern California locations. The USYVL is the leader in developing and maintaining youth volleyball leagues for boys and girls ages 7-15. Its motto “Volleyball starts here,” clearly represents its commitment to the development of the sport. Each camp is taught by instructors who have played or coached at the club, high school or college level.

Registration fee includes a t-shirt, certificate, snacks and water. Info: 1-888-988-7985, www.USYVL.org.

WRESTLING Community Youth Center The Concord-based CYC wrestling program trains and challenges wrestlers from kindergarten through high school, and all experience levels from beginner to champion. The program offers three types of week-long (July & August) wrestling camps. The Elementary Camp for ages 5-10 and The All Corners Camp for ages 11-18, and the Advanced Camp serves the same age group and runs in August.

Each camp runs from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. daily at the CYC. Camp fees vary slightly. Info: 925-671-7070, Ext. 229, www.communityyouthcenter.com.

MULTI-SPORT Cabernet All Sports Camp All Sports Summer Camp at Cabernet includes soccer, dodgeball, baseball, obstacle course, crush zone and more! We have a variety of cost options available. Early drop-off 8am (+$10) and late pickup 4pm (+$15) are available. Registration limited to 80 kids/day. Drop-in on the day of will be accepted up to 80 kids for an additional charge of $5 per listed camp price. Info: 925-455-8300

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Cal Camps Enrollment for Cal Athletic Camps are now open.

Space is limited, so please make sure you reserve a place now. Camps are offered for girls and boys ages 5-19, with week-long, half-day, full-day and overnight options. Most camps take place on campus in Berkeley and are held from June through August. Among the sports offered are: Baseball, Basketball, Rowing/Crew, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Rugby, Soccer, Strength & Conditioning, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball and Water Polo.

Enrollment is based on a first-come, first-served basis. Info: CalBears.com/camps.

City Beach Kids Camp Our Kids’ Camps at the Fremont location are available to ages 6-15 and are chock-full of activities for your child to enjoy. Activities include rock climbing instruction,interactive games, free play at the entertainment hub and courts (based upon availability) and a healthy snack. Let them spend the day at City Beach. Camps are offered in 1-, 3- and 5-day session (w/ full- and half-day options). Info: CityBeach.com; 510-651-2500 x105.

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

Camps appeal to local youth with a variety of athletic interests. De La Salle will offer the following sessions: Football, Track & Field, Lacrosse, Wrestling, Quarterback & Wide Receiver, Lineman, Volleyball, Baseball, Soccer, Water Polo and Strength & Conditioning.

In addition to serving local athletes, the camps also benefit De La Salle students by contributing to The Bishop John S. Cummins Scholarship Program. Info: summercamps@dlshs.org; 925-288-8144.

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even more camps + clinics at sportstarsonline.com Lafayette Moraga Youth Association The Lafayette-Moraga Youth Association is a nonprofit organization providing year-round athletic programs for all school age youth in the Lafayette and Moraga communities, including softball and baseball, girls volleyball, basketball, soccer and swimming. Several of these sports offer year-round camps. Info: (925) 377-LMYA; membership@ lmyaswim.com Livermore Area Rec and Park Sports Camps LARPD offers a variety of sports for all ages. The popular Sports Camp (ages 5-12), Pee-Wee Sports Camps (ages 3-5) and Flag Football return to complement year-round traditional Baseball/T-Ball, Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball, Golf and Tennis programs from youth to teens. New sports have taken off with the introduction of Frisbee Golf, Gymnastics and Martial Arts. Most of our sport-specific camps accommodate ages 8-14. Info: (925) 373-5733; zsilva@larpd.dst.ca.us Saint Mary’s College Camps Camps for ages 6-18. Dates posted, registration open. Camps include: All-sports, baseball, basketball, rugby, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball. Each clinic features head coach of the Gaels’ program along with a hand-picked staff of trained profs. Each athlete has opportunity to develop skills through individual & group instruction and game experience. Click “camps” at www.smcgaels. com for detailed information and to register on line.

Info: smccamps@stmarys-ca.edu, 925-631-4386.

UC Davis Camps offered in basketball (boys, girls), field hockey, lacrosse, soccer (boys, girls), baseball, volleyball, football, softball, water polo. Ages, dates

vary. More info: www.ucdavissportscamps.com USA Elite Camps We offer camps with superior instruction from professional athletes and top Division I collegiate coaches. Sports served by USA Elite Camps include boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, girls volleyball and baseball. See our ad in this issue for more info.

Valley Christian Sport Camps VCS sports camps are a place for boys and girls, grades K-12, to make the most of their athletic potential. From June to August on our San Jose campuses, we offer programs for football, baseball, tennis, soccer, volleyball, basketball, cheer, strength& conditioning, leadership and multi-sport programs. Info: 408-513-2455 ✪

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Alameda County Fair........................................................................................................17 Back Forty Texas B B Q Roadhouse & Saloon.....................................................................15 Big O Tires Northern California/ Nevada.............................................................................2 Cabernet Indoor Sports....................................................................................................41 Cal Athletic Camps...........................................................................................................46 Cal Diving Club.................................................................................................................14 California Flag Football Academy.....................................................................................44 California Spirit Elite.........................................................................................................40 Campolindo High School Cougar Camp............................................................................44 Championship Athletic Fundraising.................................................................................22 Cheergyms.Com...............................................................................................................26 Club Sport........................................................................................................................29 Club Sport Renaissance....................................................................................................36 Community Youth Center.................................................................................................46 Concord Police Association...............................................................................................46 Concord Youth Football & Cheerleading...........................................................................44 Core Performance.......................................................................................................44, 45 Core Volleyball Club..........................................................................................................45 Diablo Futbol Club............................................................................................................31 Diablo Rock Gym..............................................................................................................45 Diablo Trophies & Awards.................................................................................................45 Dick’s Sporting Goods.......................................................................................................12 East Bay Youth Football....................................................................................................45 Eden Medical Center Run To The Lake...............................................................................18 Excellence In Sport Performance......................................................................................34 Fit 2 The Core....................................................................................................................35 Franklin Canyon Golf Course.............................................................................................46 Got’em Baseball...............................................................................................................38 Gregg Jefferies Sports Academy ......................................................................................27 Halo Headband................................................................................................................46 Home Team Sports Photography......................................................................................42 Kangazoom......................................................................................................................15 Little League Intermediate World Series..........................................................................47 M L B Scout Online...........................................................................................................44 Mountain Mike’s Pizza......................................................................................................13 Muir Orthopaedic Specialists............................................................................................37 National Scouting Report.................................................................................................45 Northern California Youth Rugby Association...................................................................44 Passthaball.......................................................................................................................46 Redwood Christian Athletic Camps...................................................................................45 Rhino Sports Of Northern California.................................................................................16 Robert Livermore Community Center...............................................................................41 Rocco’s Pizza.....................................................................................................................45 Santa Clara Aquamaids....................................................................................................16 Sherman Swim School.....................................................................................................34 Sky High Sports................................................................................................................45 Sport Clips........................................................................................................................19 Stevens Creek Toyota........................................................................................................23 Summit Orthopedic Specialists..........................................................................................3 Sutter Health East Bay........................................................................................................5 Taking The World By Storm Soccer....................................................................................39 Tpc / The Pitching Center..................................................................................................35 U C S F Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland......................................................................33 U S A Elite.........................................................................................................................42 U S Cryotherapy................................................................................................................28 United States Youth Volleyball League.............................................................................48 Valley Christian Vikings....................................................................................................43

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