May 21, 2010
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Clayton Sports Clayton Valley baseball wins close ones to fuel DVAL, NCS aspirations JAY BEDECARRÉ Clayton Pioneer
Clayton Valley High School exorcised a spat of near misses by winning the North Coast Section baseball championship a year ago, and it was the offense of coach Bob Ralston’s team which proved the key as the Eagles had an incredible team batting average over .400. This year’s squad is preparing to find out who it will play in NCS playoffs as the pairings will be determined Sunday, with playoffs next Tuesday and Wednesday. Rather than slugging their way into this year’s NCS party, the Eagles have had to rely on pitching and defense to earn themselves a repeat Diablo Valley Athletic League championship and a high seed in NCS, where they will be part of a 16-team field looking for the year-end glory in Division II that the Eagles enjoyed in 2009.
Track, from page 12
Photo by Mike Dunn
CLAYTON RESIDENT JEREMY MCKILLIP has been a mainstay on the Eagles track team this year running in both hurdle events for coach Les Garaventa’s squad.
Del Bene were key performers on the CVHS cross country squad last fall, with Tate winning the DVAL championship. New to the girls squad this year and contributing to the team’s success were middle distance runner Jasmine Bandayrel, Nicole Simms in the shot put and discus and Gina Del Bene in the 400M and 800M. Hurdlers Jeremy McKillip and Ryan Fazzi (110M high hurdles and 300M intermediate) and sprinter Tino Abon led the way for returning boys to the Eagles squad. They’ve been joined by newcomers Floyd Williams in the long jump, shot putter Rudy Ellison and Brenden Eddy, who has an unusual double of high jump and discus. Garaventa calls his coaching staff the “best in the area” and credits them for their dedication to the team’s success. Monty Consani, Howard Janssen, Deborah Osteen, Jeremiah Niel, Darren Newell, Michelle Howisey, Randy Bone and Dan Sullivan work with athletes in their individual specialties, overseen by Garaventa. He has been the head coach the past four years, after spending the previous four years as an assistant on the staff at his alma mater.
“Winning close games shows the players believe in themselves,” says Ralston, after noting that half their wins have been by one or two runs and only one loss in a one-run game. “Pitching and defense have definitely been our signatures this year.” The team won 17 of its first 21 games with only one league defeat and were near or at the top of Bay Area High School baseball pools throughout the season. The first three batters in the Clayton Valley batting order have played big roles all season as the only returning starters for the league and section titlists. Junior right-handed pitcher Chaz Meadows has followed up on his storybook sophomore season, when he won every game on the mound for the Eagles in the NCS playoffs, with excellent pitching and timely hitting at the plate. The diminutive Meadows won his first nine decisions as a pitcher this season and was hitting .420 going into the final week of the season. “He pitches likes he’s 6-3,” his admiring coach says. Third baseman Johnny Bekakis is the team’s leadoff hitter and is batting in the high .300s. His senior classmate on the left side of the infield, shortstop Cody Stephens, has had equal success at the plate while batting third with Meadows between them in the order. When Meadows isn’t pitching, he’s at second base. This top of the order “has been very successful,” Ralston says with understatement. “They’ve shown ability in the field, good defense and, most importantly, lead-
The MDSA Mud Dogs were champions of the under 14 boys division of the Pacifica Fog Classic soccer tournament May 1-2. The team, coached by Clayton residents Andy Rosen and Robert Helena, capped a strong weekend of play by defeating the MV-LA Strikers 3-
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Sports Shorts DANA HILLS HOSTS PIRATE EVENT The swim team is having its Pirate Event at 6 p.m. Friday, May 21, at the Dana Hills pool. Swimmers will meet their buddy and have great adventures. Pirate ships will be departing the dock promptly at 6 o’clock. There are treasures to be had and a stolen princess to save! Costumes are encouraged. The best dressed Pirate family will win a prize of Vintage Gold. This is an all-team event. For more information, call Stacie at 381-2028 or Marlene 363-9300.
MDUSD STUDENTS JOIN MILLENNIUM MILE Athletes from Mt. Diablo and Ayers elementary schools will be taking part in the 10th annual Millennium Mile for Mt. Diablo Unified School District students Saturday, May 22, at Ygnacio Valley High School. The first mile race begins at 8 a.m. Representing Mt. Diablo are fifth graders Brad Morucci and Molly Fitzsimmons and fourth graders Niklas Weigelt and Kelly Osterkamp. Ayers runners are Michael Cox and Natalie Ruzicka from fifth grade and Doug Olson and Amanda Zodikoff from fourth.
MT. DIABLO SOCCER FINAL FALL REGISTRATION
Photo by Mike Dunn
BOB RALSTON is in his second year of his second stint as coach of the Clayton Valley High School baseball team. Ralston, also a teacher at the school, guided the Eagles to a NCS tile in his return to the CVHS dugout last spring. He watches the swing of senior standout shortstop Cody Stephens at a recent practice session. ership qualities.” He says all three “represent the Clayton Valley High baseball program” in a strong fashion. The suspension of Peter Stoiber late in the season forced Ralston and pitching coach Herc Pardi to adjust their pitching rotation. Newcomer sophomore Domenic Mazza is a lefthander who joined righties Salomon Cazares and Rodrigo Morales behind Meadows in the pitching rotation. Mazza didn’t play baseball last spring as he was an all-DVAL golfer as a
freshman. But he decided to put down his clubs for a bat and glove this year. The outfield is all new from the NCS champs of a season ago. Christian Kaplan in leftfield, Jordan Burger in center and Morales in right have done a good job. Jeff Doran completes the Eagles infield at first base. Dan Hogan takes over the second base duties when Meadows pitches. Juniors Darrian Matthews and Brandyn Vandal handle the pitching staff behind the plate.
MDSA Mud Dogs U14 boys champs at Pacifica tourney SARAH ROSEN Clayton Pioneer
Page 13
2. Ryan Dudley and Jordan Tate staked the Mud Dogs to a 2-0 half-time lead and Dalton Heinz provided what would prove to be the winning goal in a thrilling finish Sunday. On Saturday, Kyle Metz provided all of the offense in a 1-0 victory over Palo Alto and a 2-0 win over local rival Pleasant Hill. On Sunday morning, Metz, Dudley and Heinz combined with Josh Rosen to score in a 6-
0 victory over Foster City before the exciting championship game in the afternoon. The team’s strong showing was the result of unselfish play all around, including midfielders Sergio Avila and Ricky Helena, defenders David Wali, Kenderson Garcia, Cole Hermeston, Brad Antonson and goalkeepers Chandler Wakefield and Shane Mann.
Mt. Diablo Soccer AYSO Region 223 will hold the final registration for its 30th fall season 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 25, at Skipolini’s Pizza in downtown Clayton. MDSA, the area’s largest youth sports organization where everyone plays, is for girls and boys 5-18. Fall season begins with practices in August, followed by games through the season-ending Mt. Diablo World Cup in October for U10, U12 and U14 age groups. For more information, visit mdsoccer.org.
EAGLES SET SUMMER BASEBALL ACADEMY Defending North Coast Section champion Clayton Valley High Eagles coaches and players will present the annual Summer Baseball Camp June 15-July 1 at the Concord school. The program is for boys and girls 7-15, from beginners to advanced players. Current college players and student coaches from Clayton Valley provide positive role models and give hands-on instruction. For more information, call 682-7474 ext. 3115 or visit eaglebaseballacademy.com.
CLAYTON VALLEY YOUTH FOOTBALL CAMP The 10th annual camp runs 9 a.m.-2 p.m. June 21-25 at Gonsalves Stadium on the Clayton Valley High School campus. It is for boys entering fifth-ninth grades. Head football coach Herc Pardi and his staff provide fundamental instruction and competition. There is a trainer on site. Each participant gets a camp shirt and a written evaluation. Cost is $125, plus a refundable $75 equipment fee. For more information, call 682-7474 ext. 3115, press 5, or pick up a brochure at the CVHS front office. Deadline to apply is June 9. DIABLO FUTBOL PRE-SEASON SOCCER CAMP Diablo Futbol Club professional coaches will present the first MDSA Pre-season Camp for AYSO players getting ready for fall soccer league the week of Aug. 9-13. The 9 a.m.-noon sessions will concentrate on a single skill each day. The camp is at the Boatwright Sports Complex in Concord. For more information, visit diablofc.org.
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THE MUD DOGS SHOW OFF THEIR FIRST-PLACE MEDALS. Front row from left, Jordan Tate, Kyle Metz, Ryan Dudley, David Wali and Josh Rosen. Back row from left, coach Robert Helena, Shane Mann, Chandler Wakefield, Brad Antonson, Sergio Avila, Dalton Heinz, Cole Hermeston, Ricky Helena, Kenderson Garcia and coach Andy Rosen.
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