8
MONITOR OCTOBER 10, 2013
Got Me Feeling Some Type of Way with LOUIS LAVENTURE
MEN’S SOCCER
Renegades facing uphill climb to top LOUIS LAVENTURE Editor-in-chief
Balling on a budget I hate to sound ungrateful, but it is really hard not to when it comes to the Oakland Athletics. Since Billy Beane took over as general manager in 1997, the A’s have seen much success. In large part due to Sabermetrics, Beane manages to put a competitive team on the field every year despite having one of the lowest payrolls in professional sports. The A’s have made the playoffs numerous times since 1997, but haven’t reached a World Series since 1990. For all the success that “counting cards” compiles it is still missing one key ingredient. Championships. The process made famous by Hollywood in the film “Moneyball” has given the A’s the most possible bang for their buck in the regular season, but it hasn’t translated to the ultimate success of winning a World Series. The A’s defied all odds last season when one of the smallest payrolls in the league still managed to capture the American League West title. Then they ran into a familiar foe in the form of the Detroit Tigers, who dismantled Oakland, sending everybody home with an empty feeling. That foe has returned in 2013 with an eerily similar coincidence. Once again, the A’s are American League West champs and again they run into the dreaded Detroit Tigers. With the series tied 2-2, the fifth game showdown will be this afternoon. This season, the A’s rank 27th out of 30 Major League teams, with a budget of $60.4 million, while the Tigers rank fourth with $148.4 million. Yet Oakland still managed to win 96 regular season games, which is more than five other playoff teams whose payrolls dwarf that of the A’s. Hopefully, this time Beane and the A’s can find a way to continue their success past the first round of the playoffs.
SPORTS
The Ohlone College men’s soccer team suffered a few tough losses over the past weeks. First, it lost 6-0 to the undefeated DeAnza College in Cupertino on Friday. Then the Renegades went on the road again,
this time to take on Cabrillo College on Tuesday. This game was closer but Ohlone still fell 4-1. Ohlone is now 0-42 overall and 0-3-1 in conference play. Next up for Ohlone is a double-header against Mission College beginning at 1:30 p.m. at Central Park in Fremont.
TAM DUONG JR. / MONITOR
Ohlone and Chabot College players battle for a ball in Fremont.
MEN’S WATER POLO
Renegades fall in home opener
LADY RENEGADES SOCCER
TAM DUONG JR. / MONITOR
Eliana Vargas gets a header against rival Chabot College.
Soccer earns success Women victorious in conference game LOUIS LAVENTURE Editor-in-chief
TAM DUONG JR. / MONITOR
Renegade Jerry Wong rises over the defense to take a powerful shot on goal in Fremont last week.
Men’s water polo team loses tough matchup LOUIS LAVENTURE Editor-in-chief It’s been some pretty choppy waters for the Ohlone College men’s water polo team early in the 2013 season. The Renegades came in to Wednesday’s doubleheader against Modesto and American River colleges with a not-sostellar 1-4 overall record and 0-1 in conference. The losing streak continued as the Renegades fell to Modesto 10-5 and
SANTIAGO PEREA / MONITOR
then to American River 16-8. The losses put the Renegades in a hole for postseason consideration with
a 1-6 record overall with just six events remaining before the conference championships. The Coast Conference is known for its tough aquatic competition, not just in swimming and diving but also men’s and women’s water polo, especially in the South. Next up for Ohlone is a trip to Cupertino on Friday and Saturday to participate in the De Anza College Tournament, which is scheduled for all day.
There is nothing better than a win following a tough loss. The Lady Renegades soccer team learned this lesson in full Tuesday when they defeated conference foe Cañada College 4-0, garnering their second shutout of the early season. “We play well together and things really seem to be clicking out there,” Coach Larry Heslin said. “It’s always great to get a conference win.” Ohlone was able to bounce back after losing a tough battle to perennial powerhouse San Francisco City College 3-1. The Lady Renegades are now 5-1-2 overall, but more importantly their conference record is still nearly perfect at a sparkling 4-1-0. Conference records go a long way when it comes time for playoff seeding and selection. Ohlone’s next game will begin at 4 p.m. Friday when they play a double-header against Las Positas College at Central Park in Fremont.