BA Issue 62, March 7, 2013

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sports are great. But 34 Youth sometimes they can do better.

35 Concussion prevention: Get on it.

pitch: It’s state basketball 6 first time! Whoo! What could possibly go wrong? I mean, unless they bungle the new Open Division, everything will be fine. Wait?

What? They did? Really? C’mon guys.

Sports teaches life 12 Clipboard: lessons like you can’t please all

Dylan Walsh of 14 warrior: Las Lomas, left, showed he belonged at state. times two: Johanna 30 power Grauer and RaeAnn Garza own

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room: As you’ve proba8 locker bly figured out: We’re pretty smart.

Next, we fix the NFL Combine. of the Week: 10 SportStars Nikko Villarreal, Gilroy wrestling As you’ve probably 33 IMPULSE: figured out, we like shiny things.

Those are right here.

the people all the time. on the cover: Campolindo baseball coach Max Luckhurst (back row center) with seniors Robbie Tenerowicz (left), Brett Stephens (right) and Trent Shelton (seated). Photo by Phillip Walton.

Fence: Tryouts, sign-ups, 41 The fundraisers and more!

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CIF’s new state hoops tourney has Open wounds

T

he phrase “competitive equity” gets bandied about a lot by the California Interscholastic Federation and its 10 governing sections.

It seems to be THE most important piece of criteria each time a section re-aligns its leagues.

And yet it doesn’t appear it commanded the same importance on March 3 — when the 10 section commissioners gathered to draw up the state championship basketball tournament.

Why involve competitive equity in THAT? This is the first year of the CIF’s new Open Division of the state basketball tournament. The theory behind its creation was to pull out the eight best NorCal teams, and eight best SoCal teams, regardless of division, and place them in an elite tournament while the other five divisions played out as normal. All eight spots in the bracket did not have to be filled in the invitation-only field. Byes could be awarded to the top two seeds.

The plan was muddled with confusing criteria to determine Open Division eligibility — so much so that some programs weren’t entirely sure if they would be considered for the elite field or not — and the execution of it seemed worse.

Just ask the Brookside Christian-Stockton girls.

The defending Division V state champions are a very respectable 27-4 and won their Sac-Joaquin Section final with extreme ease on March 1. However, they are not ranked among the Top 20 girls teams in the state by CalHiSports.com. But on March 8 the Knights will play their first state tournament game against Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland, the No. 12 team in the nation according to MaxPreps.com.

This is the same Bishop O’Dowd team which defeated Brookside Christian by 31 points (70-39) at a showcase event on Jan. 19. And it could’ve been worse had the Dragons not sat their stars late in the game.

Brookside Christian played two other teams which made the Open Division draw: St. Mary’s-Berkeley, which beat the Knights by 19 (71-52) on Jan. 26, and Sacramento, which topped them by 16 (58-42) in early December. It’s hard for us to look at those scores — along with Brookside’s fourth loss of the season, a 66-38 defeat to a St. Ignatius-San Francisco team which is a top seed in Div. II — and say the Knights belong in this field. They do not.

And maybe they don’t belong in Div. V, either, as several eyesore-like blowouts during the regular season suggest. But we still would’ve liked to hear the rationale for their inclusion in the Open Division.

There was plenty more outcry about how the Open Division altered the state tournament as a whole. It wasn’t just in Northern California. There were boys and girls programs in the bottom half of the state left confused and frustrated as well.

“It is a joke,” St. John Bosco-Bellflower boys coach Derrick Taylor told Eric Sondheimer of the Los Angeles Times after his team was selected for the Open Division. “Criteria means nothing. They originally said we didn’t meet the criteria to be in the Open Division. They had no idea how to do this. They should have scrapped the whole thing.”

The CIF didn’t necessarily help itself by choosing not to have a post-selection press conference, something it’s done in the past after choosing state championship bowl game participants in football.

Here’s what I find funny. We’ve been headed in this direction with the state basketball tournament since 2004. That was the first year the CIF stopped allowing teams to petition-up in divisions for state championship sports.

Why not rescind that rule? Let Brookside Christian play up to Division IV or III where they would be challenged, but not over-matched. Let the Bishop O’Dowd girls — who won their Div. III state championship last year 62-24 — to petition up to Division I. Put a rule in place that necessitates a one-year, one-division bump for any school winning back-to-back regional titles.

This doesn’t seem hard. ✪ 6

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join our team PHONE 925.566.8500 FAX 925.566.8507 Editorial Editor@SportStarsOnline.com Editor Chace Bryson • Chace@SportStarsOnline. com Staff Writers Erik Stordahl, Jim McCue Contributors Bill Kolb, Mitch Stephens, Matt Smith, Clay Kallam, Bryant West, Dave Kiefer, Liz Elliott, Tim Rudd, Jonathan Okanes, Hunter Hewitt, Joe Stiglich Photography Butch Noble, Bob Larson, Jonathan Hawthorne, James K. Leash, Norbert von der Groeben, Phillip Walton, Doug Guler Intern Ryan Arter Creative Department Art@SportStarsOnline.com Production Manager Mike DeCicco • MikeD@ SportStarsOnline.com Publisher/President Mike Calamusa • Mike@SportStarsOnline.com Advertising & Calendar/ Classified Sales Sales@SportStarsOnline.com, 925.566.8500 Account Executives Erik Stordahl • Erik@SportStarsOnline.com, Phillip Walton • PWalton@SportStarsOnline.com Sac Joaqin edition: Dave Rosales • DaveRosales64@gmail.com Reader Resources/Administration Ad Traffic, Subscription, Calendar & Classified Listings info@SportStarsOnline.com Distribution/Delivery 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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SportStars™© 2010 by Caliente! Communications, LLC. All rights reserved. Subscription rates: 24 issues, U.S. 3rd class $42 (allow 3 weeks for delivery). 1st class $55. To receive sample issues, please send $3 to cover postage. Back issues are $4 each. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission of Publisher is strictly prohibited. The staff and management, including Board of Directors, of SportStars™© does not advocate or encourage the use of any product or service advertised herein for illegal purposes. Editorial contributions, photos and letters to the editor are welcome and should be addressed to the Editor. All material should be typed, double-spaced on disk or email and will be handled with reasonable care. For materials return, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. SportStars™© and STARS!™© Clinics are registered trademarks of Caliente! Communications, LLC.

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rapidFIRE Your clumsiest injury Dislocated shoulder falling off a ski lift

Favorite weekend activity

Relax, watch movies

Nikki Bridges, California-San Ramon softball

Sprained ankle while skipping

Who tops your Sport you wish you Favorite sports concert bucket list could play better movie

E40

What TV show would you want to guest on

Pretty Little Liars

Imagine Sleeping Dragons

New Girl

Johanna Grauer, Amador Valley-Pleasanton softball

say what

“We just lost the section final by 29 points. If we’re going in the Open Division, we are going to have to get a lot better in 72 hours.”

Miramonte girls basketball coach Kelly Sopak as quoted in the Bay Area News Group story following the NCS Div. III girls basketball championship won by Bishop O’Dowd. Both teams were indeed placed in the CIF Northern Regional Open Division. O’Dowd is the No. 1 seed and Miramonte is the No. 7.

GIRLS HOOPS: CIF Open Division State final, March 23, Sleep Train Arena, 6 p.m. — It’s likely an SJS team won’t be involved, but the Bishop O’Dowd team expected to represent NorCal is a once-in-a-generation team for this region.

Whichever power emerges from the South should provide a matchup for the ages. Any hoops fan should be there.

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SOFTBALL: Victory PreSeason Tournament, March 7-9, various sites — 42 teams spread out in three round-robin fields, including regional power Woodcreek.

BASEBALL: De La Salle at Campolindo, March 9, 3 p.m. — Matchup of defending NCS Div. I and II champions. Nuff said.

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layarEXTRA THE PRESSURE COOKER

Dr. Doug Gardner, a friend and contributor to SportStars’ health and mental training coverage over the past three years, spent a week at the NFL Combine and shared his thoughts.

Here’s a few tidbits. For the whole article, go to SportStarsOnline.com or scan this page with your Layar App. “If you think school is difficult, the SAT is tough and the recruiting process daunting, imagine having your future employment potential dissected under a microscope, both physically and mentally over a four day period of time. ... After spending a week at the NFL Combine, I came away with a greater appreciation for athletic performance under the most stressful of situations. ... From a mental standpoint, I have not witnessed a more pressurized environment for athletes.”

Top 5 nfl combine suggestions

count‘em

Number of victories by pin for Clovis High state champion wrestler Nick Nevills.

He’s not a NorCal athlete, but he still gets a major tip of the cap from SportStars after his dominant run through the heavyweight bracket in Bakersfield March 22-23. Nevills won each of his matches by pin, with none going longer than 3:42. It was the second state title for the junior, who will have a chance in 2014 to become just the 18th wrestler ever to win three.

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BOYS LACROSSE: Marin Catholic at De La Salle, March 19, 7 p.m.

— These programs have four NCS titles between them since 2009.

TRACK AND FIELD: Stanford Invitational, March 29-30, Stanford University, Stanford — The first of the state’s BIG track and field events of the spring.

BOYS HOOPS: CIF Open Division NorCal final, March 16, Sleep Train Arena, Sacramento, 8 p.m.: Can Salesian, Bishop O’Dowd or Archbishop Mitty run the table for a shot at the state title? It’ll be worth going to find out.

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Terrelle Pryor works out prior to the draft in 2011.

Scott Terna/Cal Sport Media/ ZUMAPRESS.com

Sure the vertical leap, broad jump and 40-yard dash are helpful evaluation tools. We guess. But here are five other things we’d add to the NFL Scouting Combine if we really wanted to test a player’s NFL-readiness.

1. Media Stiff Arm — There’s nothing trickier than holding a slavering pack of reporters at bay after a rough game without inadvertently throwing a teammate or coach under the bus, or dropping an accidental homophobic slur (we’re looking at you, Chris Culliver). Wanna impress us? Show us how quick you are with a quip with fourteen handheld recorders in your face.

Simply saying, “No Comment” will result in an immediate disqualification. “Gobble gobble turkey” is also frowned upon.

2. Checkbook Balancing Act — Something like 70-percent of former NFL athletes end up blowing through their bazillion-dollar bonuses and contracts long before they’re able to tap into the Social Security network. Show us a little financial acumen, gentlemen. That’s right. Now carry the one…

3. Brain Game — Forget the Wonderlic (and, yeah, we’re pretty sure some of you already have).

We’d like to see if you actually know anything about, well, ANYTHING. Here’s last Sunday’s New York Times crossword puzzle. See you next week.

Oh. No. 27 down? You got that wrong.

4. Separation Drill — No no. Not how well you can separate from a defensive back. How well you can separate yourself from your former posse.

And that bottle of Cristal. And that gaggle of lovely ladies over there. And focus on your job.

5. Caber toss — Oh come on. You knew that was coming.

— Bill “I want winners!” Kolb

BOYS GOLF: De La Salle Golf Invitational, March 11, Diablo Country Club, 10 a.m. shotgun: The most loaded of any NorCal tourney, 23 of the state’s top programs attend.

SOFTBALL: Queen of the Mountain Tournament, March 14-16, Willow Pass Park, Concord: Field will feature national No. 1 Amador Valley.

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BOYS VOLLEYBALL: Deer Valley Tournament, March 16, Deer Valley HS, all day: First chance to gauge the top NCS contenders for 2013.

BASEBALL: St. Ignatius-S.F. at St. Francis-Mountain View, March 19, various sites: A key early-season WCAL matchup for two highly-ranked programs.

March 7, 2013

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After dramatically winning the state title last year in the 138-pound division, Villareal defended his crown in Bakersfield on March 3 when he beat Elijah Davis of Riordan-San Francisco 3-1 at Rabobank Arena. Even though he doesn’t have a college picked yet, he knows he wants to compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics, perhaps his one and only shot.

SportStars Magazine: Was this season any different since you were defending your title?

Nikko Villareal: No, I had the same mindset. I gotta train hard.

It’s a pretty rough season you gotta get through. But you just keep it one day at a time, and hopefully it works out.

SSM: Did your preparation change at all?

NV: I don’t usually take anytime off. This summer I’m going to the Ukraine to train with the (USA) Olympic team.

SSM: Does that mean you’ll be trying to make the team in 2016?

NV: I was aiming toward 2020, that’s why i’m disappointed. I’m definitely gonna try out for 2016 during college.

NIKKO’S QUICK HITS Favorite athlete: Bruce Lee Favorite Starbucks: White Mocha Favorite baseball team: Giants Sport he wishes he was better at: Football

March 7, 2013

nikko villarreal gilroy . wrestling . junior

honorable mention

asha thomas The sophomore guard led Bishop O’Dowd with 21 points as they beat Miramonte 77-48 on March 2 to capture the NCS Div. 3 girls basketball title.

chanel chawalit The Berkeley junior won the 126-pound division of the CIF State Girls Wrestling Championship on Feb. 23, defeating Lindhurst’s Teasia Lizama 9-3.

sinorti stegman The Albany senior won her CIF wrestling state title in the 189-pound division Feb. 23 when she beat Sacred Heart Cathedral’s Danielle Pubill.

Jonathan Hawthorne

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★★★ Not sure your I coach likes you?

My coach doesn’t like me, and it’s just not fair. I work hard and do what I’m supposed to do, but the coach isn’t fair. What can I do?

G.E., Livermore

CHANGE

THEIR MIND ★★★

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’ve answered this before, but it comes up all the time, so I’ll address it again.

First, coaches are human beings, hard as that may seem to imagine. That means they have likes and dislikes, just like any other human being, and it’s certainly possible that the coach doesn’t like you in particular, for whatever reason.

But good coaches rise above their likes and dislikes, and do what’s best for the team because that’s what they’re hired to do — and that’s what they want to do. What’s best for the team usually is measured in wins and losses, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes what’s best for the team is to teach talented players that their individual skills aren’t as important as they think; sometimes what’s best for the team is to devise a system that allows that talent to shine, even at the expense of the some other players.

Of course, not all coaches are good coaches. Some coaches do give in to their biases, and play players they like instead of players who give the team a better chance to win. Those coaches don’t last long, naturally, or they soon learn that they must put aside their feelings if they want to be successful.

Here’s what’s really important, though: Your coach is your coach, and there’s nothing you can do to change that. If you want to play, you have to do a couple things. ›› Do what the coach asks you to do, and do it with a positive attitude — and don’t do it because you expect to be

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rewarded. Do it because you’re part of a team, and successful teams do what their coaches tell them to do, even if they disagree. ›› Get better. Listen to what the coach says to you, and to what he says to other players. Try to improve every day; try to be a little bit better after every practice than you were when you started. You may think no one will notice, but the coaches will.

It may make a difference; it may not. And you know, you might not be quite as good as you think. It may be that the coach doesn’t play you because another player gives the team a better chance to win, not because he doesn’t like your haircut.

And finally, it’s important to remember that your coach is just the first of many bosses you’ll have in your life, and some of those bosses are going to be very hard to work for. They will treat you unfairly, they will make your life miserable, but in the end, you have to figure out how to deal with them.

So do the best you can to learn from this situation, and to understand that even though life isn’t always fair, you still have to live it. Maybe it’s true that the coach doesn’t like you, and there’s not much you can do about that — but one thing you can’t do is quit trying. In the long run, if you learn that lesson, it’s more important than wins or losses or worrying about whether someone likes you or not. ✪ Clay Kallam is an assistant athletic director and girls varsity basketball coach at Bentley High in Lafayette. To submit a question for Behind the Clipboard, email Coach Kallam at clayk@fullcourt.com

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What p

Las Lomas’ Dylan Walsh’s state appearance was brief.

That he even got there was impressive enough

D

By bill kolb | Contributor

ylan Walsh had no business being on the floor at the California Interscholastic Federation wrestling championships at Bakersfield’s Rabobank Arena.

Not because he was undeserving of the honor, mind you, but because no one in his condition should be able to compete at that level.

Walsh, the Las Lomas heavyweight, wrestled the final month-plus of his senior season with a broken, dislocated rib, and torn cartilage in his chest.

And at 250 pounds, the undersized Walsh was surely taking a pounding on that injury from the 285-pounders he was up against.

“It was not pleasant,” Walsh deadpanned. “I had to put it out of my head for the time being, and deal with it the next day.”

“I didn’t know if he’d make it through league,” Knights coach John Welch said. “And at (the North Coast Section tournament), I knew his ability to compete, but I didn’t know if he could get through getting slammed. What he did blew me away… He really impressed me.”

All Walsh did was obliterate the NCS field, eventually topping Newark Memorial’s Jacob Claussen 3-1 in a final that wasn’t that close.

His only loss against a section opponent this season came in the match where he injured his rib. He tangled with Eureka’s Josh Hanson in the final of the Puma Classic at Maria Carillo-Santa Rosa on January 26. The two came down hard out of bounds, and Walsh felt a pain in his chest.

He wrestled on — because that is what he does — but Hanson pulled out a 6-3 victory.

Welch said that, between the rib and Walsh’s chronic migraine struggles, the big Knight was only able to practice two days a week for most of the season.

For his part, Welch was probably glad that Walsh was limited in his practice time.

“He’s so strong,” Welch said. “He kept hurting

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Las Lomas wrestler Dylan Walsh, top. Photos by Bob Larson

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pain? other kids. Nobody could compete with him. So I ended up being his training partner.

And I am beat up.”

Welch brandished a badly swollen right hand, courtesy of his senior grappler, and laughed.

“I told him, ‘I love having you in the program, but I’m kind of glad you’re leaving,’” Welch said.

Despite the pain in his head, or in his chest, Walsh refused to tap out at any point.

“I had to kick him out of the room,” Welch said. “He wouldn’t leave, even when he had a migraine. He never excused himself. Any other kid, I would have kicked him off the team for missing so much time. But Dylan, I’m just so impressed that he could do what he did. He’s a very, very tough kid.”

“He rises up when the chips are down,” co-coach Dave Yi said. “The best of Dylan comes out when there is an obstacle in front of him. When he is challenged — when something is not going his way — that’s when you see the Great Dylan Walsh.”

That Dylan Walsh appeared to be on display at state. Despite the pain in his chest, Walsh topped Reedley’s Christian Garcia 3-2 in his 2013 state opener. Then, disaster struck.

Again.

Walsh was trailing Ponderosa’s Jeff Camilli in the second round when Camilli shot in and drove Walsh off the mat. Walsh landed awkwardly on his right foot, and went down. “He couldn’t get up,” Yi said. “We had to help him. He tried to finish the second round, but he couldn’t go on. He couldn’t even walk to the trainer. … Having it end on an injury like that, it’s tough. His whole career he’s kind of had the injury bug. It must have been pretty frustrating. But he’s such a tough kid mentally, he’s just pushed through the pain. … Winning the section as a senior after being in the finals the year before, that’s a big accomplishment. A lot of kids his age probably would have quit. He won the section.”

“I try not to make excuses for myself,” Walsh said. “You have to play the cards you’re dealt.”

Walsh was forced to injury default out of the match, and the tournament, and officially finished with a 1-2 mark. Camilli went on to place seventh in the tournament.

Walsh learned on Sunday that the fifth metatarsal was broken in what is known as a Jones fracture. It is the same injury that hampered him for much of the 2011-12 season.

Even so, he wasn’t going to let a little foot pain end his season.

“I tried to keep going,” he said. “I didn’t know it was broken. The coaches had to pull me.”

With the indignity of the abrupt end of his high school career still so fresh and raw, Walsh struggled to accept the impressiveness of his overall body of work in 2012-13.

“I’m pretty happy with myself to a degree,” he said. “I just wish it had gone a little better in the end. Right now, it’s just kind of bitter. I was definitely not expecting it to end that way.”

Walsh was already home on Saturday afternoon before the tournament had concluded, having departed Bakersfield shortly after sustaining the injury on Friday. And after all he has endured in pursuit of his sport, maybe it’s more accurate to say that he had no business not being on the competition floor when all was said and done. ✪

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STUNG

The California Interscholastic Federation championship wrestling tournament has been characterized as a meat-grinder.

And on Saturday at Bakersfield’s Rabobank Arena, most of the representatives from the North Coast Section got a pretty good idea what sausage making looks like. From the inside.

Seven NCS grapplers made it to the quarterfinal round on Friday night. Only one of them, James Logan 126-pounder Artemio Flores, won that crucial match.

But even Flores, the NCS champ, could not escape the rending and tearing that takes place on the competition floor in one of the nation’s top-five high school championship tournaments. He lost 5-3 to eventual champ Johnny Parada (San Fernando) in Saturday morning’s semifinal, then lost two more tough matches to finish sixth overall.

Flores was one of three NCS champs from Logan who advanced to the quarterfinals.

Clayton Hartwell (195) went pin, pin, pin to reach the quarterfinals, where he himself was pinned by Vacaville’s Jeramy Sweany, the eventual champion. Hartwell rallied early on Saturday, winning two overtime matches in consolations before losing 5-2 to eventual third-place medallist Trevor Smith of Ripon 5-2 and then getting pinned in first round of the fifth-place match.

Colts 138-pounder Jacob Macalolooy went 3-1 from his outbracket start on Friday, dropped his quarterfinal match,

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and then lost his first tilt on Saturday to miss medalling by one match. The fourth musketeer, 120-pounder Jacob Donato went 0-2, as the Colts scored 57 team points to place 22nd overall and lead the charge for the NCS. Section champion De La Salle placed 32nd with 34 points, but failed to put a wrestler into medal contention. It is the first time that the Spartans have not medalled since Erik Sandie (285s) placed seventh in 2003 to earn the school’s first state medal.

Liberty’s Austin Solari (132) placed sixth. He dropped two tough matches to Poway’s Ralph Tovar. Tovar topped Solari in the quarterfinal round, forcing him to win a couple of consolation matches to earn his medal. Tovar nipped him again in the fifth place match.

Heritage’s Joey Vigil (113) also managed to make a space for himself on the podium, pinning his first two opponents on Friday before getting pinned by Saint John Bosco’s Zahid Valencia in the quarterfinals. Vigil rallied to win a consolation match and guarantee himself a medal, but dropped a tough 5-4 seventh-place match and finished eighth.

Eight NCS wrestlers reached the podium, including Windsor’s Perez Perez (106, sixth) and Oscar Rios (195, eighth), El Molino’s Taryn Christiansen (182, eighth), and Terra Linda’s Nate Keeve (220, fourth).

— Bill Kolb

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NCS wrestlers come up short at state finals

Jacob Macalolooy was one of three James Logan-Union City wrestlers to reach the quarterfinals, but missed medaling by one match at 138 pounds. Teammates Artemio Flores and Clayton Hartwell could do no better than sixth place.

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ZONED

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Monte Vista made some big shots, stymied a Heritage team which fell just shy in its first finals appearance

IN ONED By clay kallam | Contributor Most coaches are more than willing to take full credit for strategic adjustments during a game — but Monte Vista High’s Ron Hirschman has been around too long to need to embellish his achievements.

After a 50-42 win over Heritage that gave the Mustangs their second North Coast Section Division I championship, Hirschman just told the truth.

“We weren’t ready for a zone at all,” he said. “Heritage had played man-to-man all year.”

But the Patriots, wary of foul trouble for senior post Sabrina Engelstad, settled back into a 2-3 zone and dared Monte Vista to make outside shots. Then again, the Mustangs played a 2-3 zone themselves, so they’ve been attacking one in practice — and after trailing through the first two-and-a-half quarters, they took over the game.

One key, even when Monte Vista trailed, was a string of quarter-ending baskets. The Mustangs wound up with the ball late in each of the first three quarters, and in each case scored just before the buzzer sounded.

“Of course they were set plays,” said Hirschman – and then laughed. “Basically it was just spread the floor, and we made the shots.”

Two were by junior Lily Wissinger, who finished with 12 points — and the last, a 3-pointer by senior point guard Angela Rigo with three seconds left in the third quarter, was a dagger. That put Monte Vista up by seven, 33-26, and ended an 18-3 Mustang run that pretty much decided the game.

That said, Heritage didn’t go quietly, but Rigo continued to make big shots and good decisions to keep the Patriots at bay.

“My confidence has been built up since I was a sophomore,” she said. “We’ve been in so many pressure situations.”

Rigo finished with 15 points, tied for team high with sophomore Amanda Daily— and one of Monte Vista’s strengths is its depth and versatility. “We have a lot of good players,” said Wissinger, who didn’t start, and doesn’t mind coming off the bench. “It really doesn’t matter at all.”

Hirschman’s coaching does matter, despite his deflecting credit after the game. Many coaches will rotate offensive-minded players with defensive-minded players whenever possible in the fourth quarter, but Hirschman did it the whole game. Almost every time a whistle blew, Monte Vista subs would stream in and out as Hirschman tried to maximize his team’s talents.

It worked very well, as the Mustangs held Heritage’s top two players (Engelstad and Erin Asher) to just nine points between them, and put up 50 on their end thanks to contributions from Wissinger and Daily, who were often replaced by Rachel Tagle and Jenn Casper.

ncs div. 1 girls championship

Photos by Ali Thanawalla

Monte Vista celebrates its NCS title. ABOVE: Heritage guard Erin Asher drives to the hoop.

“Our No. 1 goal this season was to put up a banner in the gym,” said Rigo, “and we did that.”

Next up is the NorCal championship, and maybe even a rematch with Heritage — but regardless of what happens there, the 2013 NCS Div. I championship, and its banner, belongs to Monte Vista.

■●■ Most good high school basketball teams make around twothirds of their free throws — and the Heritage girls are a good high school basketball team.

In the NCS Div. I championship, though, the Patriots made only 33 percent of their free throws, and were just three of 13 midway through the third quarter. (Math majors will already have determined that’s a 23.1 percent success rate, which can usually be exceeded by a decent sixth grade CYO team.)

At the time Heritage had missed 10 free throws, the

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Patriots were actually ahead by two points — but karma was just about to be unleashed. From that point on, even though Heritage started to knock down some free throws, Monte Vista outscored the Patriots 28-18 and wound up winning by eight.

If Heritage had made eight of 13 instead of three of 13 with 3:40 left in the third quarter, the Patriots would have been ahead by seven; if they made 14 of 21 for the game instead of seven of 21, they wouldn’t have been fouling at game’s end and giving Monte Vista extra points.

Of course, there’s more to the Heritage loss than just missed free throws. Engelstad, their star senior center, was held to just five points by a sticky Monte Vista zone; and star junior guard, Asher, scored just four; and the Patriots gave up a big basket in the waning seconds of each of the first three quarters.

Still, the season is not over, and there’s plenty of time for redemption. In fact, Heritage may even get another shot at Monte Vista in the NorCal Div. I playoffs, which would mark the fourth time the two teams have played this season. So far, the Mustangs have a 2-1 edge, with a 44-43 win back on Nov. 30 and the more important one March 1.

And don’t expect Heritage coach Dan Swan to panic.

Even though it’s only his second year in Brentwood, he’s been around. He spent seven years coaching freshmen and junior varsity boys at Las Lomas and Northgate, and another 10 years as the head boys’ coach for Northgate, taking the Broncos to four straight NCS finals (winning two).

He stepped away in 2007, though. “It was getting to be a bit much with the traveling,” he said, as he teaches in Antioch and it was a 45-minute drive to the Northgate campus in Walnut Creek. He also wanted to spend more time with his own children, and he coached them in Antioch youth leagues.

“I had just finished coaching my daughter in eighth grade,” he said, “and I thought I was done.” But then he got a phone call from Heritage athletic director Pat Cruickshank.

“Cruickshank said ‘I have a job for you’,” said Swan, who had noticed the talent assembled at Heritage. “I said to people ‘This is a gold mine of a job for somebody’ – never thinking it would be me.”

As it turned out, it was Swan, and in his two years, he was 49-11 through the NCS championship game.

Obviously he made the transition from boys to girls smoothly, but he did make some adjustments.

“It’s a little more delicate,” he said, “in how to communicate, how to come across, but I am still very much a motivator who will push a player to get the most out of her.”

And even though he watched a lot of free throws bounce off the rim against Monte Vista, he’s still relishing the ride.

“It’s been better than I ever expected,” he said. “This is a special group.” ✪

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ncs div. 1 boys championship

The Sum is >>>>>

greater Two high-profile recruits led the way, but Deer Valley won its first NCS title with depth and chemistry By hunter hewitt | Contributor Was it going to happen all over again?

Deer Valley had seen its quest for a first North Coast Section boys basketball title fall apart in the 2012 Div. I final on this very McKeon Pavilion floor at Saint Mary’s College.

One year later, the Wolverines trailed 10-2 to San Leandro after little more than three minutes of play.

Deer Valley coach LeChet Phillips reacted with a timeout. His team responded. Because too many players remembered the year before.

When the Wolverines were defeated by De La Salle in the 2012 final, many of these same players left the gym with a sour taste in their mouths. And with Kentucky-bound big man Marcus Lee and future UNLV guard Kendall Smith returning for the Wolverines for their senior seasons, a return to the NCS finals seemed more than possible. And 23 wins later, they had already vanquished De La Salle in the semifinals and were 32 minutes from reaching their goal.

Only 32 minutes had become 28 and change, and the Wolverines already trailed — Deer Valley coach San Leandro — a team that had defeated them earlier in the season — by eight.

LeChet Phillips And, so. Timeout.

The timeout proved critical as the Wolverines followed it with a 20-7 run, giving them a 22-17 lead at the end of the quarter.

Led by the stellar play of Lee, who stuffed the stat sheet with 22 points, 17 rebounds

“We have been pushing for this all season, and it feels great to finally make it to the top of the mountain.”

Photos by Ali Thanawalla

Deer Valley senior center Marcus Lee delivers a second-half dunk for two of his 22 points in the Div. I final. He also added 17 rebounds and nine blocks.

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and 9 blocks, and Smith, who had a game-high 27 points, Deer Valley would lead the rest of the way.

Although San Leandro seniors Ishmail Ali (18 points) and Dejon Budreaux (17 points) orchestrated several scoring spurts for their team, the Wolverines (24-5) quickly responded to each outburst with a run of their own, and eventually prevailed with a 73-65 victory.

After the game, Phillips said he would never forget the road that led his team to the top. He was also especially proud of the performances of his two leaders.

“We have been pushing for this all season, and it feels great to finally make it to the top of the mountain,” the coach

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said. “Marcus and Kendall really came to play tonight. They played great together and we literally rode their backs.”

According to Phillips, playing together has been a key factor for his team’s success this season, and Smith and Lee have done so tremendously. Smith credits his close relationship with Lee off the court for their easily noticeable chemistry on it.

“I love that man,” Smith said. “We have been playing together since second grade, and he’s like a brother to me. We definitely feed off each other’s energy on the court.”

Added Lee: “We both know how the other plays. Kendall had a great first half, and he came up to me in the second

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“I love that (Marcus Lee).

We have been playing together since second grade, and he’s like a brother to me.”

— Kendall Smith half and told me it was my turn to do work. It all clicked from there.”

The brotherly bond that Smith and Lee share is a clear indication of the family atmosphere the Deer Valley team has established on and off the court. Ironically, the Wolverines team also includes a pair of actual brothers.

Twins Nzuzi and Nsimba Webster, junior guards who combined for 10 points in the championship game, add to the already close-knit group.

“Our whole team always hangs out with each other at school and outside of school,” Nzuzi Webster said. “We work hard together and play as a team, and our chemistry has built up a lot this year.”

On paper, it would be easy to point to Lee and Smith and give them the credit for their team’s success, but Phillips and his players know otherwise.

Following the game, Phillips used one word to describe the performance of his role players, specifically the Webster brothers and senior Jeff Brown, who added eight points in the victory.

“Gutsy,” Phillips said. “They are the heart of this team. All season, they have done whatever we need them to do to help us win games.

“A lot of people don’t realize their importance to this team because they see Marcus and Kendall, but they are a huge part of our success. Without them, we probably would not have won this game.”

Without question, the turning point of the championship game came when Phillips called a timeout early in the first quarter with his team down by eight points.

While the timeout may have simply given the players a chance to catch their breath and recall the game plan, it also gave them the opportunity to come together as a group, settle down and break the huddle with their usual “family” chant.

“We have team dinners and film studies all the time, and we’re always around each other,” Brown said. “That’s why we always chant ‘family’ because we’re always together. It’s a good reminder.”

It was the timeout that brought the team back together, and it was the ensuing momentum shift that changed the game and eventually led to a Wolverines victory.

Additionally, Deer Valley may not have even made it to the finals had it not been for the solid play of another group of role players earlier in the playoffs.

In the semifinals, Kenny Robinson, Mario Goins and Wahied Emran contributed off the bench when they were needed the most. The trio combined for 11 fourth-quarter points when Lee was in foul trouble and Smith was struggling to find his stroke.

“Everybody helps this team win, and two players can’t win

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Kendall Smith glides to the rim for an easy basket during the final. The UNLVbound guard finished with a game-high 27 points. a game by themselves,” Brown said. “The role players just try to do everything we can to help Marcus and Kendall.”

After commenting on Lee’s incredible performance in the championship game, Smith was just as quick to acknowledge the play of his other teammates throughout the playoffs.

“I have faith in everybody on this team,” Smith said. “Jeff, Nzuzi and Nsimba were great tonight, and other guys stepped up last game when we needed them.”

The Wolverines have now advanced to the CIF Northern Regional Tournament, where they have a chance to eventually make it to the state championship. With the NCS crown under their belt, Phillips believes his team has a good chance to win it all.

“The state title is the goal now,” Phillips said. “With a little luck, and a few prayers from the hometown folks, we think we have a good shot at it.”

Smith echoed the sentiments of his coach.

“We have been working hard for this all year, and all of this has been a blessing,” the senior guard said, pointing to the NCS championship banner in his hand. “All the hard practices and 6 a.m. workouts have paid off, and now our main goal is to win the state championship.

“I definitely feel like we can win it.” ✪

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Baseball Preseason Top 20 Records are from 2012 1. Campolindo-Moraga (23-4-1) Three-time defending NCS Div. II champion is STILL loaded with talent across the diamond.

2. St. Francis-Mountain View (26-5-1) Senior OFs Kort Peterson and Hunter Simmons lead one of the deepest rosters in the state.

3. Elk Grove (20-9) This isn’t just the Ryan Tellez Show, but his presence sure won’t hurt.

4 .Serra-San Mateo (19-13) Orlando Razo and Blake Peters both return to the mound for the defending WCAL champs.

5. De La Salle-Concord (20-7) Spartans will be favorites to repeat as NCS Div. I champs behind pitchers Andrew Buckley, A.J. Puckett.

6. St. Mary’s-Stockton (27-6) All the Rams do is win championships it seems. Can senior Joey Caffese help deliver a fourth straight SJS Div. I title?

7. Franklin-Elk Grove (22-12) The Wildcats proved to be legit contenders last postseason, and their returning talent should put them in the mix once more.

8. Valley Christian-San Jose (25-8) The Warriors are still young, and still very talented. Junior shortstop Bryson Brigman leads the charge.

9. Davis (25-8) If new faces on the mound can keep the Blue Devils in games, their offense should take care of the rest.

10. St. Ignatius-S.F. (23-8-1) Jack Klien and Matthew Krook will be a 1-2 pitching/hitting punch for the defending CCS Div. II champs.

11. Granada-Livermore (17-10) 12. Casa Grande-Petaluma (20-7) 13. Jesuit-Sacramento (20-8) 14. James Logan-Union City (15-10) 15. Foothill-Pleasanton (16-9) 16. Pioneer-Woodland (16-13) 17. Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove (23-6) 18. Granite Bay (23-9) 19. St. Mary’s-Berkeley (23-6-1) 20. Amador Valley-Pleasanton (11-12)

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softball Preseason Top 20 Records are from 2012 1. Amador Valley-Pleasanton (26-1) Began the season as MaxPreps.com’s No. 1 team in the nation; have won 38 of last 39 games since April 2011.

2. James Logan-Union City (24-1) Open the season as No. 5 in the nation after closing 2012 with 21 straight wins — beating Amador Valley in NCS Div. I final.

3. Woodcreek-Roseville (26-4) Timberwolves return several key starters, including pitcher Amanda Horbasch and slugging 1B Lexi Wilkerson.

4. Archbishop Mitty-San Jose (28-2) Last year’s CCS Div. II champs need to replace key starters, but have plenty of talent to do so.

5. Elk Grove (20-7-1) Thundering Herd graduated just three seniors from its 20-win team, opened at No. 15 in CalHiSports.com’s state rankings.

6. Alhambra-Martinez (22-5) All-State Shortstop Kylee Perez leads talented returning class bent on returning to the NCS final after a Div. II semifinal exit a year ago.

7. San Benito-Hollister (23-3) CCS Div. I champions graduated just two seniors from last year’s squad.

Program has 52 wins last two seasons.

8. Heritage-Brentwood (22-3) All the pieces are in place for a deep postseason run from the Patriots, who feature power, speed and pitching.

9. Ponderosa (22-9) Bruins return 11 of 14 from its 2012 SJS Div. I runner-up, including all four pitchers who combined for a 1.97 team ERA.

RaeAnn Garza, James Logan

James K. Leash

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10. Sheldon-Sacramento (21-9) Several seniors have moved on, but sophomore Zamari Hinton will lead a punishing offense if the Huskies pitching can keep up.

11. California-San Ramon (16-10) 12. Carlmont-Belmont (24-4) 13. Casa Roble-Orangevale (18-6) 14. Sierra-Manteca (18-6-1) 15. Freedom-Oakley (13-8-1) 16. Petaluma (24-4)å 17. Concord (24-4) 18. Leigh-San Jose (19-10) 19. Johansen-Modesto (10-13-1) 20. Livermore (14-12)

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rare

No program has been hotte over the past three seasons — C

ampolindo High’s three-yea r run of baseball domina nce could be looked upon as one continuous wave of succes s.

In truth, each championship season has offered its ow unique story. n The 2010 squad broke thr ough with the program’s first North Coast Section title in a dec ade.

In 2011, the Cougars pulled a surprise by claiming ano ther crown despite graduating half of its starting lineup from the yea r before.

Last season brought the trif ecta, as Campolindo becam e the first East Bay baseball team in the NCS’s modern era to win thr ee straight section championships.

You can guess what tops this year’s to-do list.

“The opportunity to four-p eat, it’s pretty clear to all of us that it’s never been done before,” said senior second basem an Robbie Tenerowicz, a four-year starter.

“It’s kind of like setting an unbreakable mark, which is pretty cool to think about.”

The Cougars have the tale nt to capture another NCS Division II title, not to mention a truck load of hype to go with it.

Baseball America ranked Cam polindo No. 2 in the entire nation in its preseason poll. CalHiS ports put them No. 4 in the state, and MaxPreps ranked the Couga rs No. 1 in Northern Califor nia.

Four starters graduated fro m last year’s team, including three now playing Division I college ball. But the Cougars retu rn three preseason Collegiate Baseball All-Americans — pitcher/fir st baseman Trent Shelton and center fiel der Brett Stephens (first-team ers), and Tenerowicz (honorable me ntion).

They continue Campolind o’s impressive baseball line age, which includes current A’s bench coach Chip Hale, former Cal star Jon Zuber, infielder Paul Faries, and more recently, left-hander Aaron Poreda and right-hander Jeff Ste vens, all of whom played in the majors.

“I’m amazed there’s been tha t many (star players) that have gone through that little town of Moraga,” Amador Valley coa ch Lou Cesario said.

Campolindo second baseman Robbie Tenerowicz is part of a senior class which has already secured three NCS baseball titles for the Cougars.

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e air

ter than Campolindo — can they keep it going?

But the Cougars’ current cha mpionship run was born from years of frustration and underachievement.

Coach Max Luckhurst took over the program in 2001, hav ing been an assistant for the team that won NCS the year before under Brian Mc Gladrey.

Campolindo fell to 12-12 in Luckhurst’s first season , and what followed was a string of teams that teased with their talent only to stu mble in the postseason. The Cougars never advanced pas t the NCS semifinals in Luc khurst’s first nine years as head coach.

“It was kind of eating at him ,” said San Ramon Valley coach Chris de Clercq, a good friend of Luckhurst’s . “Ten years or so without winning one. … They had many good teams.” so The Cougars’ fortunes change d with a shift in philosophy in 2009. Luckhurst began targeting the best young pla yers in his program and fast -tracked their development “We said let’s just go with . the best kids in the progra m, and not necessarily go by matriculation,” Luckhu rst said. “We took some of the better freshmen, the mo physical freshmen, and bro re ught them up to varsity.”

In 2009, that group included pitcher James Marvel, who developed into one of the Bay Area’s best all-around players by the time he was a sen ior last season.

Luckhurst promoted three more freshmen in 2010 – Shelton, Stephens and Ten erowicz -- and all gained valu able experience on a team that finally won a section title. Those three now form the senior core of a squad that expects to play for the NCS title on a yearly basis.

In all, 10 freshmen played on Campolindo’s varsity squ ad from 2009-12.

“He kept a lot of freshmen on varsity, and there were a lot of people who were like ‘What are you doing?’” deC , lercq said. “But it paid off.”

Campolindo, a Division III school by enrollment that petitions up to Division II for baseball, has compiled an 83-24-2 record over the past four years. But a berth this year’s NCS final is no giv in en.

For one thing, who knows what to make of preseason polls? The fact that Campolindo is ranked second in the nation by Baseball Am erica but just fourth in Cal fornia by CalHiSports shows itheir inconsistency.

Campolindo actually lost its season opener, 6-3, to St. Francis-Mountain View, ranked second behind the Cougars in Northern Califor nia.

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The Cougars’ schedule also includes games against regional powers De La Salle and Serra-San Mateo, not to mention a spot in the always-competitive Lions Tournament in Anaheim. Those nonleague challenges should toughen Campolindo, which has won three consecutive Diablo Foothill Athletic League titles, but the Cougars can’t get caught looking ahead to the postseason.

That’s where the trio of seasoned veteran leaders comes into play.

Shelton, a left-hander committed to Oregon State, pitched in the Area Code Games showcase in August and is Campolindo’s ace.

Tenerowicz, committed to Cal, hit .457 last season with five homers and 37 RBIs in 28 games.

“He had one of the best offensive seasons I’ve ever seen in high school,” Luckhurst said.

Stephens, the UCLA-bound center fielder, was one of the Bay Area’s top quarterbacks before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in October. He says the shoulder is fully healed and is looking to build on a junior season in which he hit .418.

Campolindo has two juniors already committed to Cal in infielder/pitcher Denis Karas and No. 2 starter Matt Ladrech. Junior outfielder Cody Kiriaze is another key returner.

Luckhurst’s challenge will be keeping his team grounded and focused despite all the preseason accolades. But the coach has the ear of his team, according to Stephens.

“I think when you watch us play, you can see a lot of Max in us,” Stephens said. “We’re definitely a competitive group and we never give up. We like to get after it, and I think it’s a reflection of Max’s work with us.”

Luckhurst, who grew up in Brooklyn before moving with his family to Oakland, said he had no aspirations of coaching as a youngster. He graduated from St. Mary’s-Berkeley, and his nondescript college baseball career was cut short by an ankle injury.

He was managing Club Sport in Oakland and playing semipro ball in San Jose when he moved his family to Lafayette in 1998.

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“I looked in the Contra Costa Times and I saw Campolindo was hiring assistant coaches,” said Luckhurst, now 43.

Still holding down a job in Oakland while serving as an assistant, he wanted to find an on-campus job at Campolindo. One listing caught his eye — the chance to work with special-education kids.

He’s been a part of the school’s special-education department for the past 13 years and finds it as rewarding as any victory on the diamond. “It’s kids that either need guidance, or help, or an ear to lf isten. It’s a variety of things,” Luckhurst said. “My day is different every day I’m there.”

He invites players in to serve as teacher’s assistants. Shelton is one of them.

“It’s a good experience,” Shelton said. “Whenever you think you have it easy with school, there are always other people that need help. It feels good inside to go help someone else.”

If there’s a tight-knit feeling among students, Luckhurst said it also exists on his team, since most players grew up playing in youth leagues together.

Shelton, for example, has been friends since childhood with Luckhurst’s son, Tyler, the Cougars’ senior closer. Shelton recalls leaving elementary school every day with Tyler and rushing over to Campolindo to be around the high school players and soak up baseball knowledge.

There’s also a sense of history among players, and Stephens believes that serves as a driving force for this year’s squad.

“We’re definitely motivated,” he said. “We know if we do what we wanna do and win a fourth straight title, that’ll never be beat.

People can tie it, but never beat it.” ✪

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baseball

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Andrew Buckley, P, De La SalleConcord, Sr. › COMMENT: Posted a 1.71 ERA with a 5-2 record and one save over 49 innings.

Alexis Carney, C/INF, Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland, Sr. › COMMENT: Hit .553 with 42 hits, 42 runs and 37 RBI for 19-7 Dragons

Francis Christy, C, Casa GrandePetaluma, Sr. › COMMENT: Powered Gauchos offense by batting .421 with 25 runs, 27 RBI, 5 HR

Lindsey Chalmers, P, CaliforniaSan Ramon, Jr. › COMMENT: Up and coming pitching talent powered Grizzlies into NCS semis in 2012

Joe DeMers, P/3B, College Park-Pleasant Hill, So. › COMMENT: Freshman phenom last year went 9-2 with a 1.01 ERA and 72 Ks in 69 IP.

RaeAnn Garza, P, James LoganUnion City, Sr. › COMMENT: All she does is win. She was 21-1 with a 0.94 ERA for 2012 NCS Div. I champs

Brett Stephens, OF, Campolindo, Sr. › COMMENT: UCLA-commit hit .418 and posted team-bests in runs (41) and triples (4)

Contributed Photo

Kevin Flemer, P/DH, St. Mary’s-Berkeley, Sr. › COMMENT: Two-way force hit .495, 6 HR, 39 RBI, and went 9-0 with a 1.37 ERA and 101 Ks.

Jazmyn Jackson, OF, Archbishop Mitty-San Jose, Jr. › COMMENT: Speedster takes on the leading role for perennial powerhouse.

Jordan Paroubeck, OF, Serra-San Mateo, Sr. › COMMENT: Led Padres in 2012 by hitting .355 with 22 RBI, including 14 in WCAL play

Mia Monopoli, C, AcalanesLafayette, Sr. › COMMENT: Absolute force at the plate in 2012, hitting .606 with 37 RBI, 30 runs and 13 HR

Kort Peterson, OF, St. FrancisMountain View, Sr. › COMMENT: UCLA-commit will anchor loaded Lancers lineup; lead team with 23 RBI a year ago.

Kylee Perez, SS, AlhambraMartinez, Sr. › COMMENT: Hit .568 with 15 HR, 47 runs and 33 RBI, and is already a twotime DFAL MVP

John Riley, C/3B, Willow GlenSan Jose, Sr. › COMMENT: Hit .489 with 19 of his 45 hits going for extra bases, including 8 HR Trent Shelton, P/1B, CampolindoMoraga, Sr. › COMMENT: Oregon State-bound LHP went 9-1 with 1.04 ERA and 64 K in 67.1 IP Robbie Tenerowicz, 2B, Campolindo, Sr. › COMMENT: Dominant 2012 season included hitting .457 with 37 RBI, 14 doubles, 5 HR

Johanna Grauer, P, Amador Valley-Pleasanton, Jr. › COMMENT: Bay Area’s most-feared pitcher went 24-1 with 0.33 ERA and 328 Ks in 171 innings.

Malia Rivers, C, HeritageBrentwood, Sr. › COMMENT: Speedster hit .667 and created own 40/40 club with 43 runs and 40 SB Jonathan Hawthorne

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Lauryn Saunders, C, LeighSan Jose, Sr. › COMMENT: All-State Underclass honoree hit .398 with 9 HR and 28 RBI. Kierra Willis, OF, College ParkPleasant Hill, Sr. › COMMENT: Literally powered the Falcons by hitting .636 with 31 runs, 26 RBI

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Photo by Jonathan Hawthorne

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rauerGarza and

Sitting down with the two pitchers of nationally-ranked Amador Valley and James Logan

T

By Chace Bryson | Editor

his is only a scrimmage. But what’s happening between the James Logan and Amador Valley High softball teams at Oak Grove Middle School on March 2 doesn’t quite have the same look or feel as the scrimmage happening on the neighboring field.

It would’ve been foolish for anyone to have expected it to.

This is the first time the full rosters of both teams have competed against one another since last June, when James Logan won an epic North Coast Section Division I final 1-0 over Amador Valley — a win that denied the Dons a perfect season and a mythical national championship.

Softball in the East Bay has seen its share of dynasties over the years, but the concurrent dominance of the Colts and Dons has a once-in-a-generation feel to it. Amador Valley opened the season ranked No. 1 in MaxPreps.com’s Xcellent 25 National Rankings; James Logan sat at No. 5.

At the hearts of these two clubs are two pitchers who have yet to play a high school season without starting in an NCS final. James Logan senior RaeAnn Garza has pitched in three, winning twice. In 2011, her sophomore year, she lost to an Amador Valley freshman named Johanna Grauer.

As pitchers, they could not be more different if they tried. Garza is a finesse pitcher who forces ground balls and relies on a fundamentally strong defense behind her. Grauer trusts her defense too, but doesn’t need it nearly as often — as evidenced by her 17-strikeout performance in last year’s championship loss.

Below is an interwoven transcript of separate conversations with both pitchers during their respective breaks between games during the March 2 scrimmage jamboree.

■●■ Is this the first time you two have seen each other since last year’s final?

Garza: I believe we actually saw each other the weekend after the championship game. We both had a (club) tournament in Huntington Beach, so we saw each other then. But it’s always friendly. It’s always ‘hello.’ We’re friends.

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grauer: We played on the same 14U team a few years ago. It’s not like there’s a personal rivalry where we dislike each other. Well there’s a competitiveness there, but it’s not like there’s tension. It’s relaxed.

What are the first thoughts that come to mind when you think of last year’s final?

Garza: It was a fight till the end. They almost came back in that last inning. They never gave up. We never gave up. And it was just a great game. Two good teams. grauer: It was heartbreaking. ... In terms of as a pitcher. The first thing I think of is throwing a rise instead of a drop ball (to Garza, who hit an RBI double in the top of the seventh for the game’s only run), because I had her on the drop ball and I decided to switch it up and that’s what she hit. Personally, that’s something I always think of.

Garza: I hit a deep fly ball. Jazmine Reed was on first base. She took it upon herself to steal on that pitch. She was already going. If we didn’t have her speed at first base, she probably would’ve ended up third. So most of that, I would say, was Jazmine Reed.

How much do you remember about the pregame? I was taken aback at how stark the contrast was between the two teams. One team (Amador Valley) appeared extremely loose and the other seemed to be quiet and exceedingly focused.

Garza: We knew we wanted to win. We knew Johanna was a great pitcher. We knew they’re a good team.

We just wanted it so bad. There was no goofing around before the game. Everybody was serious. Not tight, but SO focused.

Did you look over and think Amador Valley might be too loose?

Garza: Uhh, I’m not sure. ... No comment. grauer: I felt like the looseness was good. I don’t think it’s good to go into a game all tense. To me, when the team is really quiet it’s like they’re nervous. Versus a team who is really relaxed and loose. It can come off as cocky, but it was more like we were confident and trying to stay relaxed.

Is this definitely a rivalry now?

grauer: It does feel like it, definitely. When I was a freshman we beat them twice that year and last year we beat them the first time. ... A lot of people at our school know about it now, and if they find out we’re playing them they are like, ‘Oh, you gotta beat ‘em.’

This scrimmage was really the first chance to officially turn the page from how last year ended. How easy will that be for your team?

Garza: We know that we have to. (Amador Valley) is a very good team and the final could’ve gone either way. We’ve been keeping up our hard work and we hope to be in the championship game with them again this season. grauer: We’re off to a good start with that. We had a coaching change which sort of accelerated (turning the page). But our chemistry is still really good and we are ready to move forward.

You both have been pitching in pressure-packed games since your freshmen season. What have you learned in the time since that has made you a better pitcher? grauer: I’m a lot more confident in what I’m doing. I know what to expect. I know what the feeling going into the championship game is like now. I kind of know how to control the emotions and stay really focused.

Garza: I feel like I’ve learned a lot from playing teams (like Amador Valley). You realize how good of hitters they are and what you need to do. Facing those teams have helped me grow. My coach has helped me grow. My teammates, they have my back. I’m not a high strikeout pitcher. If I produce a ground ball my defense is going to get that out. Knowing they’re there for me is a really big deal.

What will it take for your teams to do it all over again this June? grauer: Almost all of us are returners. We know what we’re doing. We’ve done it before, so it’s really relaxed. ... We just need to work on staying into the game all seven innings. And hitting consistently.

Garza: We need to trust each other and work hard. ... We’ve been there so many times, why can’t we do it again? If we put in the hard work, we can do it. ✪

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

Should you like any of the products showcased here, you can easily use the Layar App on your smart phone to pull-up a direct link to the company’s website.

Scan. Click. Buy. Simple.

XX2i Optics Sunglasses

These babies just won the Gear Institute Best Value Award for sports sunglasses under $150. The package comes with two sunglasses, five lenses, pouches for frames and lenses, and a hard case.

The five lenses are all different colors and shades, so you can customize for any conditions you’re facing on the trail. We dare you to find a bigger bang for your buck. Visit www.xx2i.com for more info.

under armour

Pro Hammer Bat

We know you’re smart and know this is the Baseball/Softball Preview issue, so there’s no need for us to hit you over the head with one of these.

The Pro Hammer bat helps you locate the sweet spot every time. You’ll be turning weak groundouts and popouts into dingers in no time. Go to www.prohammerbat.com to get yours now.

If you’re anything like us then you’ve been glued to your TV watching hour upon hour of the NFL Combine. We geek out watching how fast 300-pound linemen can run the 40, how nimble quarterbacks are running the shuttle drill and how much tiny running backs can bench 225 pounds.

You probably noticed the colorful spandex these dudes were wearing.

And, yup, it’s another sports apparel signature of Under Armour. UA is ideal for working out, so we suggest you royally hook yourself up and ace that tryout. Hit up www.underarmour.com

KIND Healthy Snacks

Don’t be fooled by other health bars.

With KIND, you can actually pronounce all of the ingredients of what you’re eating, which makes for a shocking twist these days.

They have a library of flavors to choose from, which makes it tough for us to choose our favorite. You should definitely try Madagascar Vanilla Almond, Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate + Protein, and Fruit & Nut Delight. The best part is it tastes good AND it’s healthy. Like, for reals healthy.

We can get behind that. Go to www.kindsnacks.com to learn more.

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3

Ways youth sports culture is killing self motivation

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Get Mental Erika Carlson

Today’s “professional model” of competitive youth sports has tremendous advantages over the former recreational sport model that most of us parents grew up with.

In regards to development, young athletes are learning more, faster and sooner than ever before.

My 10-year old daughter already knows more about soccer than I did when I was 25! This model is excellent for identifying the best talent and helping to build the competitiveness of our clubs, colleges, national and professional teams. It also helps drive coaching education with licensing by national governing bodies, giving our kids better coaching and better sport experiences. All great news for our elite youth athletes.

However, there is a downside to this training model: Deficient self-motivation. Here’s why.

Highly organized sports from a young age — Prior to this hyper-competitive era we live in, athletes could be seasonal and try a number of sports. They could choose to not play one year and play the next. Athletes often played multiple sports, usually one per season. This approach allowed athletes to pause and take time to recover mentally and physically, reducing the chance of injury and burnout. Unlike today’s sport world, they could step away and decide what they really wanted to do. If they were in, they were IN. In other words, they were much more likely to be self-motivated.

Authoritative coaching styles – Authoritative coaches (think “My way or the highway!”) have been around forever. There are some athletes who thrive under the tutelage of a hard-nosed coach. There are many who don’t. So why do authoritative coaches kill self-motivation? Because their motivator is fear. Fear of the being yelled at. Fear of being singled out. Fear of making a mistake. It’s true, fear IS the best motivator (this generally helps us survive as humans). The problem is that once fear is removed, there is often a complete lack of motivation.

In other words, motivation becomes dependent on the presence of fear. This is one explanation for why former athletes who once thrived in a strict, highly disciplined, authoritative program could not transfer what they learned from sport to life in general. This also explains athletes who are highly motivated during practice but not outside of it. The true test of motivation is if an athlete can work hard on their own.

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No free time — Anyone who is a youth athlete or a parent of a youth athlete lacks free time. That was not the case 25 years ago. There was down time. There was time to reflect on last weekend’s game and time to dream about next weekend. So what does that have to do with motivation? My 15 years as a Mental Skills Coach has taught me first hand that when an athlete knows their “why” (“Why do I play?”

“Why am I out here…again?” “Why am I not home hanging out with my friends?”) motivation is stronger and more resilient.

Finding your “why” requires reflective thinking, self-awareness and adversity challenges. Ironically, in today’s culture the best opportunity some athletes get for free time is when they are injured. Free time can be any time away from the court or field with friends, hiking, biking going to the beach — anything that allows for time to ponder possibilities and figure out your “why.”

Why does being self-motivated matter?

› It’s up to you to get it done – At the end of the day, it’s your sport experience. You will put in the sweat and you will reap the benefits and satisfaction. Blaming others for failures will get you nowhere. Being proactive and responsible will. › Your profession (probably not sports) will require it — Sports are a great training ground for life. Working in a system with others, learning to be disciplined and work through conflict, even learning how to win, are skills you will need for the rest of your life. Chances are you will not be a professional athlete (don’t let me stop you) but if there’s any chance of it, being self-motivated will be KEY for making that happen. › If you do the work, you get the credit — I’ve talked to a lot of athletes over the years. Not one person has ever told me that they regretted working really hard towards a goal. I know it’s cliché to say, but many athletes have told me the journey towards a goal matters. It often matters more than the goal itself. ✪

Erika Carlson is a certified mental trainer and owner of Excellence In Sport Performance in Pleasanton.

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health watch: lauren small

Concussion prevention through neck strengthening Concussion prevention has become a hot topic amongst everyone associated with athletics, especially parents, coaches, and medical professionals who treat adolescent and young athletes. While there are many devices on the market that claim to prevent concussions, there is a much less expensive, yet very effective way to reduce the risk of a concussion, and it works for all sports.

According to Dr. Cantu, a leading concussion expert, daily neck strengthening exercises, if done properly, can help prevent concussions more than any product on the market today.

The exercises are easy to do and do not require any special equipment.

They can be done at home by using your hand to resist head flexion, extension, lateral flexion and rotation. You can also use a partner or a resistance band instead if you choose, the important thing is that there is some form of resistance in order to strengthen the muscles. Several sets of 10 repetitions in each direction, every day, will decrease head acceleration that is a leading cause of concussion.

It is important to note that neck strengthening is something that should be done in addition to practicing proper techniques for your sport and utilizing appropriate protective equipment. While there is no way to completely prevent a concussion during physical activity, playing smart will go a long way. ✪ Lauren Small is a certified athletic trainer at the Sports Medicine Center for Young Athletes of Children’s Hospital Oakland

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Watch your back!

powered by Trucks: anthony trucks

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Be sure to pull, not just press Do you ever notice the big buff guys walking around the gym with their huge chests, shoulders, and arms and it looks like their shoulders are squeezing together in the front? Well that’s not a good thing.

What’s happening is their front pressing muscles are so much stronger in comparison to their back pulling muscles that they are in fact tightening their chest and shoulder muscles which actually damages their back and pulling muscles — which can inadvertently lead to a rounded back. This rounded back is also present in individuals who spend lots of time sitting in front of a computer and not working out. So whether you work out or not, you need to strengthen your back so you can keep your back posture and strength.

The simple point is that 90 percent of people who train, and 100 percent of those who don’t, neglect the need to build a strong back. If you are a person who works out, studies show that simply building your pulling muscles will in fact increase the ability for you to press/push more weight.

If you are a person who spends no time in the weight room but a lot of time sitting with your hands in front of your body, then doing some simple exercises to build your back strength will help your posture to ward off pain later in life, and that old person hunch that looks so sexy. ✪ Anthony Trucks is the owner of Trucks Training facility in Brentwood and covers weight training for SportStars.

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Training time: Tim Rudd

Maximizing effectiveness of inverted row The row is a pulling exercise that is great for acceleration, throwing, pushing, pulling, performing other exercises, posture, shoulder health, anti-extension core stabilizers, scapular stability/mobility, grip, lats, rhomboids, and mid and lower traps — all things that are important for increasing athletic performance in any sport. But of course, only if it’s done right.

Here are four ways to increase the effectiveness of the exercise:

Start in the top position. Ensure that the athlete’s body is in a neutral position (head, shoulder, hips, knees and ankles aligned and core stabilized).

The athlete’s shoulder blades should be retracted, shoulders relaxed and wrists remain neutral. This prevents anterior tilt of the shoulder blades, preventing shear forces on the cuff and tendons of the shoulders and elbows.

The elbows barely pass the midline of the body ensuring that we keep scapular stability as well as ball socket integrity of the shoulder joint.

At the bottom, the body line should still be neutral (plank position), shoulders relaxed and shoulder blades protracted.

The athletes should descend out of the top with control and pull back up slowly for beginners and faster as the athlete advances and masters this movement. There are many ways to advance this movement, by decreasing the angle, adding resistance, decreasing stability by using only one arm, changing grips and adding rotation. The possibilities are limitless, but it is important to follow the proper progressions and stress quality over quantity, especially if the goal is to improve performance on the field or court. ✪ Tim Rudd is an IYCA specialist in youth conditioning and owner of Fit2TheCore.

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tri steps: liz elliott

Get

!

Geared

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Spring is almost here, and it’s time to make sure you have all the gear needed for training and your upcoming races. While there are always more and better items you can buy, many items are “nice to haves.” Here is a short list of “must haves.” › Working bike, with at least 2 water bottle cages. Get fit.

Get it tuned. › Working, newer helmet. › Run shoes right for your feet and gait. Go get fit. › Non-cotton, wicking sport clothes. › At least one pair of bike shorts › At least one pair of tri shorts. › Wetsuit if doing open water swimming. › Swim gear - swim suit, goggles right for your face, swim cap. › Sun glasses. › Sun block. › Water bottles.

Again, this is by no means everything you will want, or need, but this will get you started.

Gear also includes nutritional items for before, during and after workouts. You need gels, bars and electrolytes for during your workouts, and recovery for after your workout. While I always recommend real, unprocessed food as your regular diet, packaged “sport” foods specifically designed for optimal nutrition absorption and time-released, (not the granola or other types of bars) are not only designed for your body while working out, but also packaged perfectly for use during a run or ride. Since last season your tastes may have changed. Go to a sports store, and pick up an array of products to sample and begin to try in your early season workouts. ✪ Liz Elliott was an All-American collegiate swimmer and is the head coach at Tri-Valley Triathlon Club.

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10-year NFL veteran brings his multi-level combine to Dublin T

By erik stordahl | SportStars

he Donovin Darius Next Level Football Camp is quickly becoming a staple in the Bay Area.

A 10-year NFL veteran (nine seasons with the Jaguars, one with the Dolphins), Darius has made his home in Jacksonville, FL., but is passing on his knowledge of the game of football to youngsters and high schoolers locally. For those ready to take on the college level, it’s advised they take part in his Spring Combine and Football Camp in Dublin on April 6.

Just like the NFL Scouting Combine, this one tests high school athletes’ speed, agility, footwork, endurance, flexibility and more. Scouting combines have been popping up in recent years and most high schoolers show up to these events unprepared.

Darius has been running his own combine for more than five years and will coach these athletes on events like the 40-yard dash, shuttle run, and others.

He’ll also give them tips on how to improve in each area so they can make stronger impressions in front of college coaches and scouts down the line.

“This is a more hands-on approach,” said Stacey Harris, who helps run the Combine. “Every kid leaves a better football player because of the way (Donovin) runs the camp.”

But it’s not just for elite high school players, it’s

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also for younger kids who simply want to get their feet wet.

“It’s a great intro to the sport,” Harris said. “They’ll learn footwork, technique, endurance, flexibility — the basics. And we measure those things.”

“They learn how to be students of the game,” Darius said.

He’s also big on developing the character of these athletes and shaping them to become role models amongst their peers.

“Athletes have great opportunities to be leaders,” Darius said. “The problem I’m trying to help solve is an identity problem, and help turn these athletes into a generation of leaders.”

In addition to running a series of drills, high school athletes will get the chance to sit down oneon-one with Darius where he can go in-depth on how they can improve positionally, whether they’re a linebacker or wide receiver.

The Spring Combine and Football Camp will be held at Emerald Glenn Park in Dublin on April 6.

It’s $75 for youth athletes and $99 for high schoolers.

Prizes will be given to Fastest Man, Most Improvement, Most Coachable, Offensive MVP and Defensive MVP. Prizes include autograph footballs, trading cards, gift certificates, training gear, and more.

For more info on the Combine, check out www. dariusnextleveltraining.com ✪

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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 designed to develop the total player. ASA offers All Skills Camps for ages 7-12, and Summer Boot Camps for 12 & under, middle school, high school competitive athletes. Info: 650-961-2255; www. asabaseball.com Blankenship Baseball We are a year-round competitive program based in Danville. The camp focuses on teamwork, hustle, sportsmanship. We also offer small group training and one-onone training. Info: lancerblankenship@sbcglobal. net or 925-708-3173.

Cabernet Baseball Club The Livermore-based club not only hosts The Pitching Center’s Spring Break Baseball Skills Camp 2013, it also is home to training and recreational leagues in other sports — including football, soccer, futsal, softball and lacrosse. Lil’ Baseball offered for ages 3-7. Info: 925-416-1600, www.cabernetindoorsports.com EJ Sports EJ Sports provides positive, instructive baseball programs that includes camps, teams,

conditioning clinics for ages 7-18. We provide an exciting, bully-free environment to help players improve athletically and build confidence.

Our instructors possess the capability to teach concepts and relate to youth based on their comprehension level and athletic ability. Our staff consists of qualified coaches dedicated to improving and continually learning newest techniques in baseball.

Info: 925-866-7199, www.ejsports.com.

The Pitching Center In an effort to develop baseball players to their full potential, The Pitching Center has become the Total Player Center (TPC), a fullservice baseball/softball training academy. We provide comprehensive, fully-integrated programs that evolve based on the best research and information in areas from health/safety, peak performance, education techniques and more. Age- and skill-specific programs available for ages 8-18. Info: 925416-1600, www.thepitchingcenter.com.

NorCal Grizzlies Baseball Camps and classes offered at various locations. NorCal Grizzlies Baseball has programs to help accelerate baseball development for players of all ages.

925-606-1605, www. norcalgrizzlies.org.

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BASKETBALL

All Out Sports League Our camps are geared toward teaching fundamentals. Every aspect is covered: dribbling, shooting, layups, passing, cross-overs, defense, help defense, boxing out and more.

Camps open to boys, girls ages 6-16. We hold a multi-week Spring Academy in Clayton, four-day Summer Academy in Antioch. Info: 925-203-5636 or www.alloutsportsleague.com Bald Eagle Basketball Camp Campers get improved skills, passion for becoming their best. Our unique format gives campers a choice period each day to play more basketball, go swimming, play sports camp games, have fun in our activity arcade — whatever summer fun they choose! This year we’ve ramped up our staff with more coaches who have high level playing and/or coaching experience, not to mention their PCA Certification like every staff member at Bald Eagle Sports Camps. Info: 888-505-2253.

CalStars The Stars Basketball Academy offers youth and high school summer camps.

The SBA is a fundamental based skills development camp for kids in third grade-high school. We offer three youth (3rd8th) sessions and two high school sessions.

Camps are conducted by Clay Kallam (Bentley HS), Kelly Sopak (Miramonte HS), Dan

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Middleton (Northgate HS), Raul Reyes (Miramonte HS) and Elgin Leslie (Campolindo HS).

Camps also assisted by former high school, college players. Info: www.calstars.org.

FastBreak Basketball Margaret Gartner, highly-decorated girls basketball coach for Carondelet, leads this girls camp focused on fundamentals. Three weeklong sessions: Session I, June 24-28, Grades 4-10; Session II, July 15-19, Grades 1-6 and Session III, July 22-26, Grades 4-10. Learn, improve basketball fundamentals, skills while having fun. Info: www.FastBreakBball.com; or email Fastbreak_club@yahoo.com Golden State Warriors The Golden State Warriors will be conducting camps this spring, summer for boys and girls ages 7-15. In addition to high quality instruction, each camper receives a reversible Warriors jersey, headband, certificate, two tickets to a Warriors home game and more. Info: 510986-5310 or go to http:// warriors.com/camps.

Hawk Basketball Academy We focus on skill development, challenging the individual to push themselves to become the very best. Focusing on: footwork, dribbling, proper shooting technique, reaching your highest level of performance, improving your mental game, preparing for CYO, high school and AAU. Info: 510-943-9252, facebook.com/ hawkbasketballacademy.

I’m Possible Training (Mike Allen) Whether you’re beginner or on varsity, this

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program will help you excel. Improve ball-handling, footwork, shooting, overall fitness.

I’m Possible is a world-renowned basketball program authored

by NBA skills coach Micah Lancaster. Mike Allen, head trainer for the Bay Area located in Los Gatos, runs clinics for athletes of all levels from pros to AAU and high school. By registering, you can download the program, which lists a library of drills. Info: 408-224-8503 or email mikeallen@possibletraining.com, www. possibletraining.com/mikeallen NorCal Courts Basketball Camps Norcal Courts in Martinez covers all major fundamentals: dribbling, passing, shooting, defense, rebounding. The Spring Break Camp is April 1-5: 5th graders (9-11 a.m.), 6th-8th graders (noon-2 p.m.), high schoolers (3-5 p.m.). Sessions have fun, exciting drills that will help them become better players. Camps run by qualified high school coaches from Cal Stars and Cagers Basketball. Info: 925-457-5081; www.norcalcourts.com

CHEER

CheerGyms.com Customize our clinics to fit your needs. Cheergyms.com runs the best overnight residential camps. We offer practical, fun material and professional, knowledgeable staff. Camps do not exceed 375 cheerleaders

with one staff member for every 15 cheerleaders. Two-day camps also available. Private camps allow you to pick the hours, decide what they will learn. Camps also available for coaches. Intense Training Camps let you can pick one specific thing to work on for just $10 per student per hour. Info: morton@cheergyms. com, 925-685-8176, www.cheergyms.com

ENRICHMENT

Bald Eagle Jr. High Leadership Camp Giving your child a road map to create success is extremely powerful. Our Jr. High Leadership Camp includes tangible experiences working cooperatively with peers, leading groups, public speaking, making friends, understanding community service, living an active lifestyle through fun camp activities. Info: 888-505-2253.

Dianne Adair Programs Come join any of our eight summer sites for our fun and exciting summer program. Each week campers choose from several camps including sports, fashion, drama, CSI, science and more. In addition to weekly camps, we have 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, rates may vary at any of our nine locations.

Info: www.dianneadair.org.

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FITNESS

Children’s Hospital “Learn What It’s Like To Be An Athletic Trainer.”

Workshop exclusively for high school students, March 1-2. Includes: Overview of careers in sports medicine; ankle injuries and taping techniques; wrist, hand, thumb injuries and taping; knee injuries and RICE therapy; stretching techniques; low back injuries and CORE Training; sports concussions; shoulder injuries, rehabilitation. Class credit, certificate of completion and reference materials. Run by Children’s Hospital Sports Medicine staff, held in Oakland. Also available: yoga, athletic development, speed camps, circuit training. 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 innovative approach to getting athletes back on the field. We work on a solid athletic foundation while focusing on individual progress.

Instruction in movement training, injury reduction, linear/lateral speed development, foot speed and agility, power development, proper weight training techniques and functional strength training. Athletes are closely supervised, with attention on proper technique, safety. We offer 2 days/week or 3 days/ week program options. Free two-week free pass.

Info: www.fasteryoungathletes.com, 925-639-0907.

Renaissance ClubSport We offer sports, speciality camps for kids 5-12 during school breaks. Participants have fun-filled, active breaks as they receive instruction in a variety of sports, activities and projects. Working parents can take advantage of our extended hours for both morning and afternoon sessions. Families with multiple children receive 10 percent discount for each additional sibling registered for the same week. Info: 925-942-6344.

Trucks Training Trucks Training was started by people who grew up in the area, experienced the world and came back to provide a service that we feel our community lacks.

We have proven records and know what it takes to achieve the next level of sports & fitness safely and effectively. Hometown feel from true hometown people. We offer 1-on-1, group and small group training for both fitness and sport-specific needs.

Info: truckstraining.com; 925-756-7321 Walnut Creek Sports & Fitness We offer more than 70 group classes per week.

WCSF raised money for Walnut Creek Schools through our annual Turkey Trot 5K, 10K & Kids’ Fun Runs. We thank the community for helping raise over $25,000. Free one week pass. Info: 925932-6400, www.wcsf.net

ages 6-14, which take place at Laural Ball Field and Shady Oaks Park in Oakley. Info/registration: 925625-2222, www.DiabloFootball.com.

Football University From the creators of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Exclusively for nation’s most elite youth, high school players. For many younger players this level of coaching is simply not available, so the Football University experience focuses on intense positionspecific technique taught by our expert faculty. The 2013 Bay Area camp will be held at Dublin High from April 26-28. Info: footballuniversity. org LinemenInc Camps Utilizing top college coaches and former NFL linemen, LinemenInc has produced a nationally-recognized camp and coach’s clinic. LinemenInc blends a fast paced, technically skill-oriented curriculum with a level of competition not found in other camps. Tuition is reasonably priced and includes camp, room, meals and jersey.

In 2012, LinebackerInc was added. Info: www.linemeninc.com.

Next Level Training Combine This spring combine and football camp is April 6 at Emerald Park in Dublin for football players ages 7-18.

The camp will feature 10-year NFL defensive back Donovin Darius. Youth camp are 9 a.m-noon, high school camp is 1-4 p.m. Focuses of the combine will include speed, agility, strength, quickness and conditioning. Info: DariusNextLevelTraining.com; 904-290-3320 NorCal Football Camps Led by Ken Peralta, Norcal Football Camps are focused on serving youth ages 7-14. Norcal Flag Football Leagues serve kids entering grades 2-6. Info: Ken, 650245-3608, norcalyouthfootballcamp@yahoo.com; www. norcalfootballcamps.com.

GOLF

The First Tee-Contra Costa The First Tee Summer Camp is a youth development program for boys, girls ages 7-18. Participants will learn about golf and life skills and values inherent to the game. We have offerings at courses in Antioch, Concord, Martinez and Walnut Creek.

Fee assistance available. Info:

FOOTBALL

All Out Sports League Camps held in Antioch and Clayton. Our four day non-contact camp teaches every position on the football field and are geared toward the fundamentals. Every aspect is covered: blocking, tackling, running, defense, offense, special teams and more.

Camps are open to boys, girls ages 6-16. Info: 925203-5636, www.alloutsportsleague.com Diablo Football Camps We offer contact and non-contact camps for players

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Advertiser Index ❒❒ All Out Baseball & Softball In Season.........................28 ❒❒ All- Star Academy......................................................41 ❒❒ Army National Guard Recruiter.....................................7 ❒❒ Bear Valley Mountain Camps......................................13 ❒❒ Big O Tires Northern California/ Nevada.......................2 ❒❒ Cabernet Indoor Sports..............................................40 ❒❒ Cal Athletic Camps.....................................................46 ❒❒ Cal Stars Girls Basketball............................................44 ❒❒ Championship Athletic Fundraising...........................12 ❒❒ Cheergyms.Com.........................................................18 ❒❒ Children’s Hospital And Research Center.....................38 ❒❒ Club Sport..................................................................35 ❒❒ Club Sport Renaissance..............................................22 ❒❒ Community Youth Center...........................................45 ❒❒ Core Volleyball Club....................................................41 ❒❒ Diablo Rock Gym........................................................44 ❒❒ Diablo Trophies & Awards...........................................44 ❒❒ Dianne Adair Enrichment Programs.............................3 ❒❒ Donovin Darius Next Level Football Combine....... 39, 45 ❒❒ E J Sports Elite Baseball Services................................42 ❒❒ East Bay Sports Academy...........................................16 ❒❒ Excellence In Sport Performance................................34 ❒❒ Fit 2 The Core..............................................................37 ❒❒ Golden Key Realty & Mortgage Bankers Inc...............46 ❒❒ Hawk Basketball Academy.........................................41 ❒❒ Head First Baseball.....................................................27 ❒❒ Heritage Soccer Club..................................................23 ❒❒ Home Team Sports Photography................................43 ❒❒ Image Imprint............................................................41 ❒❒ Impact Soccer.............................................................23 ❒❒ Jump Highway...........................................................41 ❒❒ Linemeninc................................................................44 ❒❒ Mike Allen Sports L L C...............................................47 ❒❒ Mountain Mike’s Pizza................................................11 ❒❒ Muir Orthopedic Specialists........................................37 ❒❒ National Scouting Report...........................................42 ❒❒ Passthaball.................................................................45 ❒❒ Pro Hammer Bat.........................................................43 ❒❒ Rocco’s Pizza...............................................................44 ❒❒ Rockin Jump...............................................................32 ❒❒ Saint Mary’s Athletic Summer Camps.........................42 ❒❒ Sky High Sports..........................................................44 ❒❒ Sport Clips..................................................................21 ❒❒ State Farm Jimmy Harrington Agent..........................15 ❒❒ Stevens Creek Toyota..................................................17 ❒❒ Sutter Delta..................................................................5 ❒❒ The First Tee Of Contra Costa .................................45,46 ❒❒ Tpc / The Pitching Center............................................27 ❒❒ Trucks Training...........................................................34 ❒❒ U S Cryotherapy..........................................................36 ❒❒ United States Youth Volleyball League.......................48 ❒❒ Velocity Sports Performance......................................43 ❒❒ Velocity Sports Baseball.............................................42 ❒❒ Walnut Creek Soccer Club...........................................21 ❒❒ West Coast Soccer Club...............................................42

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Angela Paradise, 925-686-6262, Ext. 0, www.thefirstteecontracosta. org.

The First Tee-Oakland Participants receive a minimum of 12 hours of instruction over an eight-week period. Instruction is conducted at three City of Oakland affiliate courses. We introduce the game of golf in a way that allows participants to progress with the mechanics required. Offered at little or no cost. Info: 510-352-2002; www.thefirstteeoakland.org The First Tee-Silicon Valley Spring classes begin in early March and seasonal classes are offered at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course (San Jose) and Palo Alto Golf Course. We welcome participants ranging from 2nd to 12th grade. Scholarships available. Info: www.thefirstteesiliconvalley.org The First Tee-Tri-Valley We offer seasonal camps for youth ages 7-17, held at the Pleasanton Golf Center. Life Skills Experience Classes begin in early March. Oncea-week summer slasses also available. Info: 925462-7201; www.TheFirstTeeTriValley.org.

LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Camp All-girls golf camp at Boundary Oak Golf Course taught by highly skilled LPGA and PGA member Teaching Professionals. Improve your short game, irons, woods and trick shots. Practice on the range and short game area where we will play a lot of games while building on the fundamentals.

Etiquette and character built into the curriculum.

Finish by playing nine holes. Info: LPGAKatie@ gmail.com • (925) 482-4547

GYMNASTICS

East Bay Sports Academy Summer day camps offer the best in gymnastics, cheerleading, and tumbling. Half-day and full-day camps for girls, boys ages 5 and up for both recreational and competitive athletes. Our 13,000 square foot facility has the newest equipment, including the brand new super-bouncy, safety-rated Weller Spring Floor, which is the largest in the world. Gymnastics & cheerleading camps: July 15-18, July 22-25, August 5-8, August 12-15. Competitive gymnastics camp (Levels 4 & up): July 8-12. East Bay All-Stars Cheerleading also private minicamps and clinics for all kinds of cheerleading. Info: www. eastbaysportsacademy.com, 925-680-9999 .

HORSEBACK RIDING

Earthquake Arabians Our skilled staff and individual instruction gives each rider an opportunity to advance at his or her own pace while creating individual goals for success. If a competitive riding program is what you’re looking for, Earthquake Arabians has been continuously successful in the Arabian show ring. Spring and summer camps are around the corner. Info: www.earthquakearabians.com, 925-360-7454.

LACROSSE

Atherton Lacrosse Join Atherton Lacrosse and learn the basics of the game in their spring, summer and fall camps.

Every camper receives access to the best high school, college and professional lacrosse coaches in the Bay Area in a setting with an extremely low coach-to-camper ratio. Every camper receives a free t-shirt. Dates and Info: www.athertonlacrosse.com.

MARTIAL ARTS

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

OUTDOOR/ADVENTURE

Bear Valley Mountain Outdoor adventures including kayaking, tennis, cycling, hiking, camp fires and more. Soccer (ages 9-16); archery (9-adult); teen climbing and Bear Valley’s Day Camps for ages 3-18 provide mountain fun. Eight-week, weeklong and day camps. Every camper will have the opportunity to enjoy a selection of mountain activities including: rock climbing, sailing, canoeing, hiking, swimming, disc golf, art and crafts, kayaking, biking, wilderness adventures and more. Info: www.bearvalley.com.

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Diablo Rock Gym Offering kids summer camps every week June-August.

Ages 6-17; multiple kid and/ or week discounts. Info: 925602-1000.

Epic Indoor Skatepark Skateboard and scooter camps available in June, July and November.

Only $250 for a week or $50 per day. Skateboard deck or scooter grips included with a full week of camp. Lunch and snack provided. Info: www. epicindoorskate.com.

fitness, sportsmanship and teamwork. Info: 510-758-5288, http://wccysl.com.

Diablo Rugby Youth rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S. 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, http://diabloyouthrugby. clubspaces.com.

ClubSport Valley Vista Our camps are designed so that we touch on every major aspect of the game: stroke production, conditioning, strategy, footwork and psychology. Our low prices help make summer camp more affordable than ever. Eight sessions offered between June 17 and Aug. 16 geared toward players ages 7–16 from beginner to intermediate levels. ClubSport Valley Vista members receive discounted rates. Info: 925-934-4050.

RUGBY

SOCCER

Gino’s Soccer Academy The official camp of the Walnut Creek Soccer Club, run by WCSC Director of Coaching, Tom Ginocchio, and staffed with WCSC club coaches & players. Five oneweek programs for ages 4-17 in July and August. Along with regular full- and half-day soccer programs, GSA runs the following specialty programs: team camps (recreational, competitive), advanced player academies, high school player academy, goalkeeper academies, all boys/all girls academies. Info: www.ginossocceracademy.com, 925-9374466 Heritage Soccer Club Two fun-filled sessions: June 24-28, July 22-25. Camp runs from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Cost for Heritage members is $150 for one session, $250 for both.

Non Heritage players: $225/$325. Sibling discounts: $50 each. Heritage camp focuses on learning new skills and honing existing ones.

Compete in small-sided games and camp tournaments. Camp also includes keeper and striker training, conditioning, nutrition and developing your mental game. Registration is open to boys and girls ages 7-14. Info: www.

HeritageSC.com West Coast Soccer Programs designed to bring professional experience and guidance to youth players across Northern California. The WCS coaching staff has created a curriculum to build the necessary foundation for your child to continue to grow. WCS camps, clinics and training programs create an environment that encourages experimentation and a passion for the game. Info: www.westcoastsoccerclub.com West Contra Costa Youth Soccer League Our program caters to competitive youth players ages 8-9. The main focus is not winning, but on development of total player within framework of a team. We also offer specialized training for strikers and goalkeepers. Younger ages focus on foot skills.

We desire to promote personal responsibility,

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SWIMMING-DIVING

Sherman Swim School Our year-round schedule allows children and adults to learn, retain and improve their swim skills.

We teach from age 9 months to adults, from non-swimmers to competitive.

Our private or semi-private lessons allow you to progress at your pace. We also offer beginning and competitive diving classes. Info: 925-283-2100, www.ShermanSwim.com.

TENNIS

VOLLEYBALL

Bay Area Blast Summer Clinics Offering summer skills clinics for players of all ages, skill levels at NorCal Courts in Martinez.

Morning clinics for 6th-8th grade girls and boys or players who are beginner/intermediate level. Evening clinics for 9th-12th grade girls and boys or players who are intermediate/advanced level. Info: www. bayareablast.com/summerclinics.html City Beach The City Beach volleyball club is based out of Santa Clara and has achieved a vast amount of national success while sending an array of athletes to the college level. The club offers summer camps and clinics. Info: CityBeach.

ClubSpaces.com Pacific Rim Volleyball Through private lessons and opportunity for year-round skills classes, athletes of any age or level can learn and improve the skills to gain a competitive edge.

For athletes with limited experience, we help develop solid fundamentals. Our advanced training, for junior levels (12th grade & below) will provide athletes opportunity to excel at becoming elite players in preparation for high school and/or collegiate volleyball. Info: www. pacificrimvolleyball.com.

U.S. Youth Volleyball League Camps are for beginner, intermediate, advanced players for boys, girls. We have a player-to-coach ratio of 8:1. Focus on spiking, serving, setting, passing, blocking, defense, offense and game strategy.

Six-, four- and two-person formats allow kids to play in every position. Registration fee includes a T-shirt, completion certificate, snacks and water. Info: 888-988-7985, www.

USYVL.org.

WRESTLING

Community Youth Center Offers young athletes opportunity to participate and excel in one of the world’s oldest sports. The program trains, challenges wrestlers at all age groups

from kindergarten through high school, and all experience levels. The program is nationally recognized under the guidance of coach Mark Halvorson. Info: 925-671-7070, Ext. 229, www.communityyouthcenter.com.

MULTI-SPORT

Bald Eagle Sports Camps A great blend of non-traditional “ultimate” games along with traditional summer activities, especially the soft-sword “Zaber Games” that no other camp in the Bay has. Every activity is inclusive of any level athlete, and our message creates encouragement from coaches and teammates. Even the non-sports child will feel motivated to play and love our camp and the highly competitive athlete will feel challenged. It’s the perfect mix of fun activity, message and culture. Ages K-8th grades. Info: 888-505-2253.

Cal Camps Camps are offered in variety of sports for girls, boys ages 5-19, with week-long, half-day, full-day and overnight options. Most camps on campus in Berkeley and are held from June through August. The 2013 Cal Athletics Camps include the following sports: baseball, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls rowing/crew, field hockey, football, boys and girls golf, girls gymnastics, rugby, boys and girls soccer, softball, boys and girls swimming, boys and girls tennis, boys and girls volleyball and girls water polo. Info: CalBears.com/camps.

City Beach Kids Camp Camps in Fremont for ages 6-15 and are chock-full of activities, including rock climbing, interactive games, free play at the entertainment hub and courts (based upon availability).

Camps are offered in 1-, 3- and 5-day session (w/ full- and half-day options) and run from June 20-Aug.30. Spring camps: March 29, April 1-5. Info: CityBeach.com; 510-651-2500 x105.

De La Salle Camps Our athletic summer camps 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. Week-long sessions run June 8-June 27. Info: summercamps@dlshs.org; 925-288-8100, Ext. 7090.

East Bay Youth Sports Association We are a year-round, full-service youth sports organization dedicated to the growth and development of character, sportsmanship, confidence, teamwork, ability and fun. We offer family friendly schedules and a relaxed, enjoyment of sports in a less-than-competitive atmosphere that offers both the player and their families the best that youth sports can offer. Our camps schedule includes spring break camps for ages 5-12 and summer camps for ages 5-14. Info: www.eastbaysummercamps.com Saint Mary’s College Camps We offer boys and girls overnight, day, team and specialty athletic camps for ages 4-18.

Camps include: multi-sport (badminton, basketball, flag football, handball, paddleball, soccer, softball, street hockey, swimming, tennis, volleyball), individual sport camps (baseball, boys basketball, girls basketball, golf, rugby, lacrosse, boys soccer, girls soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball). Each clinic features the head coach of the respective Gaels’ program. Info: www.smcgaels.com, smccamps@ stmarys-ca.edu, 925-631-4386. ✪

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