NorCal Issue 112, February 2016

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FEBRUARY 2016 NORCAL VOL. 7. ISSUE 112

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February 2016

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Last Look

O

h, look! The rain stopped. Wait. Nevermind.

Well, before we dive whole-heartedly into spring with the Baseball/Softball Preview later this month (out Feb. 25, by the way), we’re wrapping up the 2015 football season in a bow this issue with the announcement of our NorCal Defensive Player of the Year and All-NorCal Defensive Team. For those who missed it, we covered our Player of the Year (Najee Harris, RB, Antioch), Offensive Player of the Year (Ryan Robards, RB/DB/UTIL/PK, Elk Grove) and the rest of the All-NorCal Offense in our previous issue. Didn’t see a copy? You can check it out at SportStarsOnline.com.

Now that we’ve released our entire 48-player dream team, I thought I’d do a quick debrief.

First off, 2015 was a REALLY good year for NorCal football. Seriously, pairing down the field this year felt more difficult than the previous two seasons. Positions that tended to give us the most challenges were running back, offensive line, defensive back and utility.

Also giving us a challenge? De La Salle defensive lineman. That was one impressive unit this fall, and deciding amongst them was no easy task. (HINT: We considered all three for Defensive Player of the Year.)

There were also a slew of tough “cuts” who deserve some due. So here were our Top 5 guys (all of whom are seniors) we had to leave off (in alphabetical order): Alex Glover, DL, St. Mary’s-Berkeley — He was the last defensive lineman out, and was a very difficult cut after 134 tackles and 10 sacks. He did get his due from various other Bay Area publications, though. And he was certainly deserving.

Matthew Gutwald, OL, Dublin — The talented, 6-foot-4, 275-pound guard is fielding offers from several programs after a dominant season for the Gaels. Our offensive line cuts were brutal, and Gutwald may eventually make us regret leaving him off.

Harold Tidwell, RB, Concord — When the Minutemen took off mid-year and won seven of eight to reach the NCS Div. II final, it was fueled by Tidwell. He finished with 2,416 yards and 30 TDs. Caden Voges, right, QB, Sacramento — Voges passed for 2,865 yards and 38 TDs in his third and final season as the Dragons’ QB. In his career, he compiled 142 passing TDs, and was the sixth California QB to throw for 10,000 yards. He finished his career with 11,510 yards to place him third all-time.

Phillip White Jr., DE/TE, Bradshaw Christian-Sacramento — White recorded 103 tackles and 21 sacks in leading the Pride to the SJS Division VI championship. Over two varsity seasons, he had 212 tackles and 40 sacks, and even added 735 receiving yards and 10 TDs at the TE position.

So yeah, I hope those guys are enough evidence to prove how difficult it is getting down to 48 guys.

I’m already dreading the process of choosing our 15-person All-NorCal Basketball Teams in April.

Oh, the rain stopped again. No. No it didn’t. Well, stay dry, fans. We’ll celebrate the dream of spring together in three weeks. ✪

JOIN OUR TEAM PHONE 925.566.8500 FAX 925.566.8507 EDITORIAL Editor@SportStarsOnline.com Editor Chace Bryson • Chace@SportStarsOnline.com Staff Writer Jim McCue • JimMcCue16@gmail.com Contributors Bill Kolb, Matt Smith, Clay Kallam, Dave Kiefer, Tim Rudd, Trevor Horn Copy Editor Bill Kruissink Photography Bob Larson, Jonathan Hawthorne, James K. Leash, Norbert von der Groeben, Phillip Walton, Doug Guler, Berry Evans, III Marketing/Events Ryan Arter CREATIVE DEPARTMENT Art@SportStarsOnline.com Production Manager Mike DeCicco • MikeD@SportStarsOnline.com PUBLISHER/PRESIDENT Mike Calamusa • Mike@SportStarsOnline.com ADVERTISING Sales@SportStarsOnline.com, 925.566.8500 Account Executives Camps & Clinics: Ryan Arter • Camps@SportStarsOnline.com Alameda County: Berry Evans • Berry@foto-pros.com Central Valley, World Events: Anthony Grigsby • Area Director anthony.grigsby@worldeventssports.com Darin Wissner • JustAGameEvents@gmail.com READER RESOURCES/ADMINISTRATION Subscription, Calendar, Credit Services Info@SportStarsOnline.com DISTRIBUTION/DELIVERY Phillip Walton • Mags@SportStarsOnline.com INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY John Bonilla CFO Sharon Calamusa • Sharon@SportStarsOnline.com COMMUNITY SPORTSTARS™ MAGAZINE A division of Caliente! Communications, LLC 5356 Clayton Rd., Ste. 222 • Concord, CA 94521 • info@SportStarsOnline.com www.SportStarsOnline.com

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Got Send your nominations to: Next? Editor@SportStarsOnline.com or tweet us using #SSOTW DEL ORO-LOOMIS -WRESTLING - FRESHMAN The Golden Eagles’ freshman came up big on the largest stage of his young high school wrestling career, pinning Folsom’s Nathan Cobleigh in the final match of a tense dual meet. Del Oro led Folsom 29-28 entering the 170-pound match to cap the dual meet on the Golden Eagles’ home mat to determine the Sierra Foothill League dual meet champions. With the pin, Blake got an extra six points for his team to earn a 35-28 team victory that automatically places Del Oro into the Sac-Joaquin Section Team Duals on Feb. 6 at Lincoln High School in Stockton. The youngster is now ranked No. 14 in the state by TheCaliforniaWrestler.com at 152 pounds, and he should be a contender for a SJS Masters title as the section’s top-ranked grappler in the weight class. Earlier this season, Blake claimed the 160-pound title at the Joe Rios Memorial in Chico and was third in the Clovis West Shootout.

IN HIS OWN WORDS: “I was not thinking that everything was on the line in my match,” Blake said of wrestling of the final match of the dual meet. “I knew what I had to do and was just focused on wrestling my match.”

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honorable mention ALICEAH HERNANDEZ: The Sacramento senior guard scored a game-high 15 points in the Dragons’ 60-55 victory over McClatchy-Sacramento to overtake their rival for the Metro League lead.

TIMMY FALLS: Dublin’s senior swingman scored 20 points with seven rebounds and three blocks as the Gaels avenged an earlier season loss to Dougherty Valley-San Ramon 55-51 on Jan. 30.

DECAUREY BROWN: Newark Memorial’s junior guard scored 14 of his team-high 22 points in the fourth quarter as the Cougars upset SportStars’ No. 2 NorCal team Moreau Catholic 73-69 on Jan. 18.

James K. Leash photo

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Phillip Walton

top 5 media bLunders about the bay area during super week

Here it comes, folks. The Big Game. The Big Five-Oh. A Golden Game for the Golden State. The eyes of the entire world will be upon San Francisco (ish) for Super Bowl 50 on Sunday. And with that will come the requisite stream of misconceptions, misrepresentations, half-truths and flat-out lies about the Bay Area. Here’s our list of the Top 5 Media Screw-Ups you’ll see or hear surrounding the Super Bowl.

1. Bridges — Anyone wanna take a stab on how many times someone screws up which bridge they’re showing on the screen? We love it when someone shows the Bay, and says, here’s the majestic Golden Gate… Or when they don’t realize which bridge connects which county. Any chance they’ll show the Dumbarton? That is the bridge closest to the actual game…

2. Frisco — Just… don’t.

3. Geography — In terms of actual distance, Blue Jeans Stadium is almost as close to Turlock (and closer to Gilroy!) as it is to San Francisco. But here’s guessing we’ll hear a lot of talking heads yammering about The City being ‘just up the road.’ You could drive from Santa Clara to Soledad faster than you could to SoMa during rush hour traffic. It’s billed as the “San Francisco Bay Area Super Bowl.” Heck. The game isn’t even going to be played in the same area code as the city in the name.

Nice work, Jed. 4. San Fran — Seriously. Knock it off.

5. Everyone here is a wine swilling-hippie liberal. Well. Okay. You got us there. One out of five.

— Wine-swilling hippie liberal, Bill Kolb

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2 truths smaLL worLd & a Lie

trending What’s hot in the world of stuff that’s hot

Typically this space is for some of our favorite tweets and social media posts from recent weeks, but this week we had a favorite email. And it came from our very own Level Up nutrition expert, Jill Daniels.

Upon sending in her column for this week, she enlightened us to the fact that her nephew was coming to Northern California — to play in Super Bowl 50. That’s right, SportStars is now a huge fan of Denver Broncos tight end Owen Daniels. Yep, the same tight end who caught a pair of touchdown passes in the AFC Championship win over New England.

“I’m one proud Auntie,” she wrote.

We were unable, however, to learn whether Aunt Jill ever had to preach to Owen about three square meals a day.

To read more from Jill (and to get that protein you so sorely need!) flip over to page 37.

Because we want to mix things up from time to time this year, we’re putting Rapid Fire on the bench for a week and having fun with Folsom High quarterback Jake Jeffrey, our first participant in 2 Truths & A Lie. Here’s one truth for you: Jake was our first team QB on the SportStars All-NorCal football team. The defense is featured on page 16.

To read about Jake and the offense, check out SportStarsOnline.com. Many of you probably know the drill, but just in case: Two of these facts are true and one isn’t. Tweet your answer to @SportStarsMag and let us know which one young Jake has cleverly fabricated, and a random Tweeter will win something from the SportStars vault. Be sure to use hashtag #2Truths. Contest closes on Feb. 29!

Here we go. Take it away, Jake:

1. I have never left the U.S. 2. I have over 40 cousins.

The Iowa primary is over.

So it’s OK to not think of Iowa for another four years.

Announced this week: ‘Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens’. But since it’s kind of a toy, will they let Rey be in it?

It’s snowing here at SportStars Auxiliary HQ. White everywhere. Which reminds us, the Oscars are coming up.

There’s a big football game coming up. And remember, don’t be the person that brings somebody to a Super Bowl party because ‘OMG, I like the commericials!’

Nobody likes that person.

Hector Acevedo via ZUMA Wire

3. My AAU basketball team won nationals in 4th grade.

Beyoncé is playing the Super Bowl halftime show.

Here’s hoping she doesn’t forget to put a ring on Peyton.

we pick no

rcal’s to

VOL. 2. ISSU E 30

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p 20 team

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AUGUST 25, 2011

ENDURE | EXCEL | ACHIEVE

where they now?

top pla top teayers, ms we know

they ar who e let you & in on the secret

It seemed like it wasn’t that long ago when former Grant-Sacramento star Shaq Thompson graced the Sac-Joaquin Edition cover of our 2011 Football Preview. On Feb. 7, he’ll be playing linebacker for the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 — in his rookie season. So, that’s not too shabby. Thompson has 50 tackles and one sack on the season. His season-high for tackles is 7, which he’s accomplished twice.

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February 2016

prev predictiews, ions & more!

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league champs named sections broken down allsection teams

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dream ending It would have been nearly impossible for someone to have written a script that ended the 2015 California high school basketball season quite like it did.

To refresh, Bishop O’Dowd High’s Ivan Rabb needed to make a free throw in double-overtime with less than one second on the clock — and after he had missed the first one in a two-shot situation — in order for his team to win the CIF Open Division State Championship. He made it and the Dragons had edged Mater DeiSanta Ana. If we could write a script to end the 2016 season, however, there’s one historical storyline we have in mind.

That would be having both CIF Open Division champions (boys and girls) celebrating undefeated seasons and No. 1 national rankings following backto-back contests held at Sacramento’s Sleep Train Arena on Saturday, March 29.

As many know, California doesn’t often pack the stadiums or arenas for state finals. We’re just not the same as Texas or even much smaller states. Still, you have to think that interest in that possible CIF Open Division doubleheader might do the trick.

First, on the boys side, Chino Hills of Southern California has assumed the No. 1 national ranking based mostly on its win over Montverde Academy of Florida, and then winning the title at the City of Palms Tournament in Florida. The Huskies remained unbeaten heading into February after they beat state No. 2 Bishop Montgomery-Torrance 71-66 in a matchup on Jan. 30 between undefeated squads.

For the girls, St. Mary’s-Stockton has been No. 1 in every national ranking since the preseason and proved it in December by winning the prestigious Nike Tournament of Champions in Arizona. Like the Chino Hills boys, the Rams also headed into February with a perfect record.

It was fun recently, explaining this scenario to St. Mary’s parents as well as Rams’ head coach Tom Gonsalves, who like most girls coaches doesn’t have the time to follow any boys teams. But Gonsalves and the parents now know that if their girls do return to the CIF Open Division final, and if the Chino Hills boys also get there with an unbeaten mark, there could be one of the biggest crowds the CIF has ever had in what likely will be the final night of CIF State Basketball inside that arena. (Remember, the new arena in

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St. Mary’s-Stockton’s Sierra Smith downtown Sacramento will be opening later this year).

Just having the two boys-girls teams going for perfect records and No. 1 national-ranking finishes, however, isn’t what’s going to bring in that much of a crowd. No, it usually takes a transcendent player (think: Jason Kidd when his team played for a CIF state title in Sacramento before more than 11,000) — and the Chino Hills boys have one in point guard Lonzo Ball.

Yes, that’s the same Lonzo Ball who got into foul trouble when his team at Chino Hills lost in a close game in last year’s CIF Division I state final to San Ramon ValleyDanville. But Lonzo is even better this year, and he is also playing in a starting lineup with not one but two brothers – junior guard Li’Angelo Ball and freshman guard Li’Melo Ball. They shoot threes like the Splash Brothers, except they really are brothers, and Chino Hills has been averaging more than 100 points per game.

It’s a show that many of your more casual prep basketball fans should want to see at least once. Most NorCal fans will not have seen it. And if Chino Hills get that far, it will probSubscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

ably be the Ball Brothers’ final game together.

By saying we’d like to see such a scene to end the 2016 season, we have to mention that neither the Chino Hills boys or St. Mary’s girls is a lock to even get to the March 29 state final.

Chino Hills may have to beat Bishop Montgomery two more times. (And the Knights were up by eight points in the fourth quarter of the Jan. 30 contest). and St. Mary’s will be in a NorCal Open Division field that could feature another unbeaten team (Miramonte-Orinda) with the best girls’ player in the state (Sabrina Ionescu). There’s also an Archbishop Mitty-San Jose squad that may be one of the best ever in head coach Sue Phillips’ illustrious career.

Such a celebratory scene still would be a great way for the CIF to say goodbye to Sleep Train/ARCO Arena. Would getting a group photo of the two undefeated national and state champions be too much to ask? ✪ Mark Tennis is the co-founder of Cal-Hi Sports, and publisher of CalHiSports.com. Contact him at markjtennis@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter, @CalHiSports.

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boys hoops california top 10

girls hoops california top 10

Jordan Ratinho, De La Salle

Madeline Holland, Archbishop Mitty

After Games of Saturday, Jan. 30

After Games of Saturday, Jan. 30

1. (1) — Chino Hills 22-0 Huskies won a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown last Saturday night vs. Bishop Montgomery even though All-American Lonzo Ball only scored five points.

1. (1) — St. Mary’s-Stockton 19-0 The Rams had some close games right after holiday break, but seem to have regained intensity and a more healthy lineup.

2. (2) — Bishop Montgomery-Torrance 21-1 This team just lost its first game to the No. 1 team in a game it led by eight points early in the fourth quarter.

2. (2) — Miramonte-Orinda 20-0 It was a three-win week for the Matadors, who obviously have a path to the mythical national title if they were to beat St. Mary’s in the NorCal Open Division and end up undefeated.

3. (3) — Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth 19-3 Eligibility case involving super sophomore transfer Marvin Bagley could get ugly. He’s currently ineligible.

3. (3) — Archbishop Mitty-San Jose 15-3 The Monarchs kept on winning as longtime head coach Sue Phillips won the 600th game of her career.

4. (4) — Foothills Christian-El Cajon 16-3 T.J. Leaf had 31 points in a win after he was honored for being selected to play in this year’s McDonald’s All-America Game.

4. (4) — Long Beach Poly-Long Beach 18-3 Danae Miller shined with 28 points as the Jackrabbits concluded a 3-0 week with a 68-54 win over state-ranked Alemany.

5. (5) — Mater Dei-Santa Ana 20-3 Monarchs are looking to make some noise when they host Foothills Christian on Feb. 6 at annual Nike Extravaganza.

5. (5) — Mater Dei-Santa Ana 21-2 Have not lost to a team from the SoCal region this season, though they did suffer a recent loss to Bay Area’s Miramonte.

6. (6) — Modesto Christian 20-1 The Crusaders definitely should be in cruise control until they reach the postseason. Schedule not too difficult until then.

6. (6) — Brea Olinda-Brea 19-2 It was a big win for the Ladycats over state-ranked WindwardL.A. at the Tony Matson Classic, but there was no room for them to move up in the rankings.

7. (8) ▲ De La Salle-Concord 18-1 Look who DLS is playing in the Nike Extravaganza on Feb. 6.

None other than the school’s CIF state football buddies from Centennial-Corona.

7. (7) — Chaminade-West Hills 20-3 If Eagles can get consistency from point guard position to go with dynamic duo of Neah Odom & Valerie Higgins, watch out.

8. (10) ▲ Folsom 18-2 The Bulldogs have gotten past Granite Bay, Woodcreek and everyone else in first run through Sierra Foothill League.

8. (8) — Mission Hills-San Marcos 18-3 The Grizzlies have been sitting at the top of the rankings in the San Diego area for several weeks.

9. (9) — Redondo Union-Redondo Beach 17-4 The Seahawks couldn’t move up due to previous No. 7 CrespiEncino taking a loss since they themselves dropped a game to Inglewood.

9. (9) — La Jolla Country Day-La Jolla 17-4 Best guess is that both of the San Diego Section Open Division finalists (especially if it’s the Torreys and Mission Hills) will end up in the SoCal Open Division.

10. (11) ▲ Westchester-Los Angeles 18-5 The Comets have won 10 consecutive games since a loss to Calabasas on December 28.

10. (10) — Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland 16-4 Last year’s CIF Div. III state champions trounced a Brookside Christian team that was fresh off an upset of Pinewood.

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Woodcreek High to host its 16th annual Swim Invitational in mid-March The high school swim season is just getting underway and the Woodcreek Aquatics Club and Placer Valley Tourism know how to kick it off right — by hosting the first big swim invitational of the year, of course.

The 16th Annual Woodcreek High School Swim Invitational will take place at the Roseville Aquatics Complex on March 19-20. There are nearly 25 high school swim teams coming from all over Northern California, including the Bay Area and as far south as Fresno.

Last year the event had close to 1,000 swimmers competing in individual and relay events. This year they are expecting at least that many, if not more. Each swimmer can enter up to two individual events and two relay events per day, whereas teams are allowed to enter a maximum of two relays per event.

On Friday, March 19 the swimmers will hit the pool at 11 a.m. for warmups and the meet will start at 1 p.m. The swimmers will return for more races on Saturday where they will warm-up at 8:30 a.m. and the first races will begin at 10 a.m.

“We have tons of quality swimmers that are on the year-round swim teams and really fast rec league swimmers, so we should place very well,” said TJ Kay, the Woodcreek Aquatics President in regards to Woodcreek High swimmers, Admission is $3 and a two-day program will be sold for $4 at the pool entrance each day. The Roseville Aquatics Complex is located adjacent to Woodcreek High at 3051 Woodcreek Blvd. We hope to see you there! ✪

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Mud will be flying and the trails around Folsom Lake in Granite Bay will be packed with high school mountain bikers on March 19-20, as more than a thousand student athletes will be competing in their second official race of the season — the Granite Bay Grinder.

Placer Valley Tourism is thrilled to be teaming with NorCal High School Cycling League again to bring this incredible race back to Placer Valley.

Vanessa Hauswald, Executive Director for the league, explained they have been racing out at Granite Bay for about 12 years now and love it because the terrain is perfect for all skill levels, while also providing a great venue for spectators.

“The Granite Bay course has a few technical sections that make it really fun, but not too challenging or dangerous,” Hauswald said. “And the flowing, rolling profile of the trail is really perfect as there is enough space for riders to safely pass one another, and yet there is some tight singletrack that keeps it fun. An added bonus is the course is gorgeous ... if you have enough energy to lift your head up and take in the scenery when you are racing.”

There will be 11 categories of competition which include freshman girls, sophomore girls, JV girls, varsity girls, freshmen boys (Division I and II), sophomore boys (Div. I and II), JV boys (Div. I and II) and varsity boys. Medals are awarded five-deep in each category and team trophies are given to the top three Div. I and Div. II teams.

Teams from as far south as Fresno and as far north as Arcata will be attending. The race days start around 6:30 a.m. when the teams arrive to set up their tents and staging area, then the course opens at 7 a.m. for a morning pre-ride and the girls teams kick off the racing at 9 a.m.

Mark your calendars, come on down to Folsom Lake at Granite Bay and see what these student athletes are capable of — you are sure to be impressed! Admission is free for spectators and refreshments are available on-site at the race. ✪ — Copy and photos provided by Placer Valley Tourism

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STATE OF CONFUSION

Our basketball team is pretty good, and we want to get into the NorCal playoffs so we can show everyone just how good we are. But when our coach tried to explain to us how the system worked, he started talking about the Open Division, and teams getting pulled up, or dropped back, and it just didn’t make any sense. What’s going on?

L.G., Berkeley

ou and your coach aren’t the only ones who are confused – the whole basketball playoff system is, and has been, in a state of upheaval for several years, and it’s going to get worse before it gets better.

First, remember there are 10 sections in the state of California, and each of them can pretty much do whatever they want. In basketball, they can have up to six divisions (Division I is the largest), and the teams are divided, for the most part, by enrollment. You’re in the North Coast Section, which does use enrollment to decide whether a team is Division I or Division III, but that doesn’t mean a Division III NCS team automatically has the same number of students as a Division III Central Coast Section team.

And some schools seem always to magically wind up with an enrollment figure that puts them just below the threshold for moving up a division – which gives them a better chance to win a Section and NorCal title. (You can see how it works in NCS by going to http://cifncs. org/sports/basketball/files/16BSK.pdf, and it’s pretty obvious there’s an advantage to having 418 students in Division V, one below the cutoff number, more than twice as many potential players as having 204, which is five above being in Division VI.) But over and above the weird enrollment classifications, there’s this whole Open thing going on. At the NorCal and state level, there are Open brackets. The section commissioners

Y

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choose the teams that fill the eight-team NorCal Open bracket, and then the Open winner plays the Southern California Open winner in the state championships – and presumably that team is the best in the state.

The non-Open teams still compete for state championships in Divisions I through V, and oddly, the banner those winners hang in their gym is just the same as the one the Open winner gets. And note that since the top eight teams are pulled up to the Open, the seven that don’t win probably would have had a really good chance to win their division. (Pinewood, for example, is a very strong Division V girls team that could easily wind up in the Open – and would most likely lose to a much bigger school. But if Pinewood stayed in Division V, it would be the favorite to win a state championship.)

So except for the few teams that have a legitimate chance to win an Open Division NorCal and state championship, staying in your division enhances your chances of winning a section, NorCal or state title. The worst thing that can happen is to be the eighth seed in the Open, which means a likely first-round loss, instead of being one of the top seeds in, say, Division II. All right, this is really confusing, but get ready for more: The Southern Section, which has more schools than all of Northern California combined, has just announced it will no longer use enrollment to determine divisions, and will use competitive level instead. Precisely how, and who, will make these decisions is as yet unclear, but look for more confusion, and more controversy, as the other nine sections try to figure out how to respond. ✪

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 him at clayk@fullcourt.com.

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Boss Tagaloa has the talent, the physical attributes and all the intangibles owned by the most successful of his defensive predecessors in the storied De La Salle High program.

Yet there’s one thing he can claim that none of the former greats can. In the rich history of Spartans football, Tagaloa remains the program’s first and only four-year varsity player.

“When you talk about a program like ours that’s so steeped in tradition, that says volumes of his abilities,” long time De La Salle defensive coordinator Terry Eidson said.

Tagaloa’s first three years featured peaks and valleys as he progressed on the learning curve and battled through a broken leg during his junior year. The fourth year, however, was a season of promise fulfilled.

Starting on both lines for De La Salle, Tagaloa helped propel an offense that averaged nearly 350 rushing yards a game, and anchored a defense that featured a ninegame stretch in which the first team unit did not surrender a touchdown. And in the perfect career arc, the 6-foot-3, 295-pound defensive tackle saved his best quarter of football for his last quarter as a Spartan.

In the CIF Open Division State Championship Bowl game, with De La Salle clinging to a 28-21 lead over a Centennial-Corona team which averaged 56.5 points through its first 14 games, Tagaloa led a dominant defensive quarter as the Spartans shutout the Huskies on three possessions to secure the win. Tagaloa logged six of his 10 tackles in the quarter and created constant havoc on nearly every offensive snap for Centennial.

“That fourth quarter was one of the most dominating quarters that I’ve ever seen a De La Salle player have,” Eidson said.

It was that fourth quarter that proved to be the deciding factor in SportStars choosing Tagaloa as our All-NorCal Defensive Player of the Year, edging out fellow Spartan teammates Devin Asiasi and Damon Wiley (both of whom are represented on the All-NorCal Defense).

Tagaloa finished the year with 48 tackles (15 for loss), 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery over just 12 games.

“When you’re playing two ways, it’s tough on conditioning at the beginning of the year,” Eidson said. “But once he got up to game conditioning, he was set. And after awhile, he just couldn’t be stopped.

“When Boss did not want to get blocked, he did not get blocked. Toward the end of the year, that was happening all the time.”

Tagaloa finished the season as the top-ranked senior defensive tackle on the West Coast and 13th nationally by ESPN.com. Rivals.com had him ranked 15th nationally for the 2016 class of defensive tackles. After weighing various offers from all but one of the Power 5 conferences, Tagaloa narrowed his top five college choices to Cal, Michigan, USC, UCLA and Washington. He and Asiasi were expected to name their college choice live on ESPNU during National Signing Day on Feb. 3. ✪ — Chace Bryson

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February 2016

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starters DL – DEVIN ASIASI | De La Salle-Concord | Sr. | 6-5, 270 A two-way, four-star talent, Asiasi was a dominant force on both sides of the ball for the CIF Open Division State Bowl champs.

As a quick-twitch defensive end, Asiasi had 49 tackles (11 for loss) and four sacks despite drawing constant double teams. He also led the Spartans in all three major receiving categories with 17 catches for 311 yards and five TDs. DL – CHASE HATADA | Rocklin | Sr. | 6-3, 255 Boise State commit was a huge difference maker on the interior when 100 percent healthy. Anchored Thunder defense and helped the team to 10 wins and a Sac-Joaquin Section Division II final.

DL — LAU TA’AMU | Elk Grove | Sr. | 6-0, 265 Stout defensive tackle was the heart of Thundering Herd defense that held opponents to less than 10 points per game in Elk Grove’s 13 victories. Also ran over opponents as a part-time fullback and added a rushing score.

DL – BOSS TAGALOA | De La Salle-Concord | Sr. | 6-3, 295 The SportStars NorCal Defensive Player of the Year, Tagaloa closed out his four-year varsity career ranked among Rivals. com’s Top 15 defensive tackles in the nation and fielding offers from SEC, Big 10, Big 12 and Pac 12 schools. He had 48 tackles (15 for loss) and 6.5 sacks in 2015, but was at his absolute best in the Open Div. State Bowl where he had 10 tackles (three for loss).

LB – JACOB BERGSTROM | Bellarmine-San Jose | Sr. | 6-3, 225 The linchpin of the Bells defense, Bergstrom posted 103 tackles, three sacks and an interception on his way to being the West Catholic Athletic League’s Most Valuable Linebacker. The University of San Diego-bound talent was a major reason Bellarmine reached the CIF Division I State Bowl.

LB – KEKUPAA FREEHAUF | Central Catholic-Modesto | Sr. | 6-2, 250 Three-time CIF State Bowl champion led the Raiders with 155 tackles and added one interception and a fumble recovery.

Averaged nearly 10 tackles per game in the postseason in which Central Catholic allowed just 14 second-half points in six games.

LB – ROGER NEAL | Folsom | Sr. | 5-9, 193 Blew up opponents while recording a team-high 171 tackles for the SJS Division I champion Bulldogs. Also utilized his speed and power on offense to score 8 touchdowns (3 rushing, 5 receiving).

Peralta

Freehauf

DB – LAMAR JACKSON | Franklin-Elk Grove | Sr. | 6-3, 210 The top-ranked safety recruit from the West saw little action on defense as opponents rarely threw the ball in his direction. Had an interception in the Under Armour All-American Game after his final high school season in which he accumulated 1,200 total yards as the Wildcats’ QB. DB – JORDAN PARKER | Pittsburg | Sr. | 5-11, 185 Parker joins Tagaloa as the only two returners from the 2014 SportStars’ All-NorCal Defensive Team. The Oklahoma-bound cornerback battled through an early-season ankle injury to still produce 28 tackles and three interceptions. He also added 455 receiving yards and five TDs on offense.

DB – JAKE PERALTA | Clayton Valley Charter-Concord | Sr. | 5-9, 180 We challenge anybody to watch tape of the Ugly Eagles’ season and not immediately notice Peralta. The wiry safety had 116 tackles, five interceptions and a whopping 19 pass break-ups. In the CIF Div. II-AA State Bowl, he also served as the emergency starting QB for Clayton Valley’s run-heavy offense and rushed for 123 yards and a TD. DB – BENNETT WILLIAMS | St. Francis-Mtn View | Jr. | 6-0, 185 A true ballhawk, Williams was in on 25 pass defenses and had nine interceptions. He also racked up 81 tackles and three forced fumbles. It was no surprise he was named the WCAL Most Valuable Defensive Back.

UTIL – ANTOINE CUSTER | De La Salle | Sr. | 5-9, 185 The 2014 NorCal Player of the Year and starting running back, Custer returns to the 2015 All-NorCal roster leading a mega crop of all-purpose standouts. Defensively he had 37 tackles and three interceptions (two returned for TDs). He had more than 2,000 all-purpose yards and had 21 total TDs, including three return TDs on special teams.

reserves DL – AKIL JONES | Valley Christian-San Jose | Sr. | 6-1, 220 | 57 tackles and WCAL-best 13 sacks DL — DAMON WILEY | De La Salle | Sr. | 6-0, 230 | Led Spartans in sacks (11), tackles for loss (21) LB — KEVIN GLAJCHEN | St. Franics-Mntn View | Sr. | 6-2, 225 | 187 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 forced fumbles LB — DERRICK HENDERSON | Inderkum-Sac. | Sr. | 5-10, 200 | 105 tackles, Tigers’ all-time tackles leader LB — CHARLIE RAMIREZ | Pittsburg | Jr. | 5-10, 180 |Repeat honoree, 132 tackles, 3 INTs, 2 sacks DB — RYAN PAYNE | Antioch | Sr. | 6-1, 185 | 2 defensive TDs in league title clinching win over Pittsburg DB — TREY UDOFFIA | Del Oro-Loomis | Sr. | 6-1, 180 | Colorado commit, 54 tackles, 4 INT DB — ANU TUIONO | Oak Grove-San Jose | Sr. | 5-10, 195 | 174 tackles, 8 INTs, 6 sacks, 2 def. TDs UTIL — ISAIAH FLOYD | Foothill-Pleasanton | Sr. | 5-9, 175 | Falcons top cornerback who rushed for 1,850 yards, scored 38 TDs UTIL — MASON HURST | Del Oro-Loomis | Jr. | 6-1, 190 | 91 tackles, 9 INT, 865 receiving yards, 7 TD UTIL — JULLEN ISON | Moreau Catholic-Hayward | Jr. | 5-8, 185 | Video game numbers of 70 tackles, two sacks, INT, 3,044 rush yds. & 45 TDs UTIL — JAMARRI JACKSON | Christian Brothers-Sacramento | Jr. | 5-10, 175 | 1,606 all-purpose yards, 24 TD, 4 INT

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February 2016

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February 2016

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19

J After Games of Monday, Jan. 30 1. (1)

—

De La Salle-Concord

18-1

2. (3)

▲

Modesto Christian

20-1

3. (4)

▲

Sacramento

20-1

4. (5)

▲

Folsom

21-2

5. (6)

▲

St. Francis-Mountain View

16-2

6. (2)

▼

Moreau Catholic-Hayward

16-4

7. (7)

—

Sheldon-Sacramento

14-4

8. (8)

—

Weston Ranch-Stockton

17-4

9. (9)

—

Salesian-Richmond

18-4

10. (10) —

Jesuit-Carmichael

18-3

11. (13) ▲

Monte Vista-Danville

16-4

12. (11) ▼

Manteca

17-4

13. (12) ▼

Serra-San Mateo

14-4

14. (14) —

Capital Christian-Sacramento

13-8

15. (16) ▲

Oakland Tech

20-1

16. (15) ▼

Granite Bay

16-5

17. (NR) ▲

Palma-Salinas

17-2

18. (20) ▲

Half Moon Bay

20-1

19. (17) ▼

Dougherty Valley-San Ramon

19-2

20. (19) ▼

Newark Memorial

13-7

DROPPED OUT: No. 18 Bellarmine-San Jose BIGGEST MOVER: As the calendar hits February it feels like a clear Top 5 has been established with De La Salle and St. Francis-Mountain View the top dogs in the Bay Area and Modesto Christian, Sacramento and Folsom running things in the Sac-Joaquin Section. Moreau Catholic is on the outside looking in after a 73-69 loss to now-No. 20 Newark Memorial on Jan. 26. This week’s biggest mover is Palma-Salinas, which debuts in the rankings at No. 17. The Chieftains are on an 11-game win streak since a 47-42 loss to No. 18 Half Moon Bay on Dec. 23. They would avenge that loss one week later, 42-40.

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February 2016

esse Grabow doesn’t want your glass slipper.

Neither does the rest of the Dougherty Valley High boys basketball team.

When referring to the Wildcats of the 9-year-old school in San Ramon, they’d prefer a restraint from phrases such as, “out of nowhere” or “shocking the world.”

That’s not who they are. Nobody inside the program is shocked at the team’s 19-2 start as of Feb. 1.

“It’s not a shock to me,” said Mike Hansen, the program’s one and only coach to date. “I almost get insulted when people say we’re shocking the world. No we’re not. We may be, but the world at Dougherty Valley and our program — our 14 kids on varsity, 15 kids on JV, 15 kids on freshman and the 7th- and 8th-graders at Windemere and our feeder schools — they’re not shocked.

“They know what we’re about. They know what we’re doing. We don’t need big kids; we don’t need great athletes.

We need guys who play hard and defend, and that’s what we’ve got.”

And as of Feb. 1, they’ve also got more wins than any other North Coast Section Division I team this season.

The Wildcats also had a one-game lead in the Diablo Foothill Athletic League with five games to play as they chased their program’s first league title.

And just because the team hasn’t won a league title, there is evidence to back its claim that it hasn’t come “out of nowhere” this season. The Wildcats have finished a solo second place in the DFAL in each of the past two seasons. They’ve reached the NCS playoffs in four of the past five seasons. Finally, they haven’t had a losing season since an 11-15 finish in 2009-10.

So the coach and players aren’t just spouting bravado.

But as long as the narrative exists, Dougherty Valley will use it as fuel.

“There’s always been that,” said Grabow, the team’s four-year starting point guard. “That perception that we aren’t as good as the big (East Bay Athletic League) teams and other Division I schools. We know we can play with those schools.”

They’ve proved that too. The Wildcats’ nonleague victims this season include Pittsburg, Castro Valley, James LoganUnion City and California-San Ramon. Each of those teams project to be part of the 16-team NCS Div. I playoff bracket when the postseason begins in late February.

Dublin, Dougherty Valley’s DFAL rival, is the only Division I team from California to defeat the Wildcats this season. The Gaels defeated Dougherty Valley 55-51 in Dublin on Jan. 30 to snap the Wildcats’ 12-game win streak and saddle them with just their second loss of the season. Dougherty Valley’s other loss was a 62-50 defeat to Carson-Carson City (Nev.) at the Rail City Classic in Sparks, Nev., on Dec. 11.

“I love watching Dougherty Valley play,” Dublin coach Tom Costello said after the win, which avenged a 71-63 loss at Dougherty Valley in early January. “I like watching them play because they play basketball the way it’s supposed to be played.

And I’m not saying we don’t. When you watch another team (like Dougherty), you can see they share it. They buy into a Subscribe to S360 at SportStarsOnline.com

Jushan Samra

Gabe Manansala

system. There’s no superstar. You don’t know who’s going to beat you on any given night. They defend, and they just buy in, and they’re really wellcoached.”

The backbone to the Wildcats’ roster is its seniors. Hansen has four of them, three of whom start. Grabow, is a 5-foot-4 spark plug with a strong outside shot who — as would be expected from a four-year varsity starter — acts as a coach on the floor. Then there’s 6-foot-4 swingman Trey Hoskins, a a strong, lanky rebounding presence and a long, athletic defender. Finally, 6-foot-3 power forward Jushan Samra is the team’s biggest scoring threat inside the paint, but who also has a great touch from mid-range as well.

This senior class has always been successful. As freshmen, they went 27-1 with Samra leading the way. “(Jushan) talked about that forever,” Hansen said with a grin. “And I used to tell him that freshmen records don’t matter. But he’d tell me, ‘Coach, you learn how to win that way.’ And it’s true. And I took Grabow from that team a week into their freshmen year because (the varsity) needed a point guard. And they still went 27-1. So Jushan has kind of been their leader, their guy who’s kept them going.”

As for Grabow, Hansen’s affection for him is no surprise after having coached him for the better part of four

seasons.

“He’s a stud,” Hansen said of his point guard. “You talk about a coach on the court. ... I tell the guys all the time, ‘If you get confused, look to him don’t look to me. He knows what we’re doing. He knows what I want.’”

Grabow shares the backcourt with 6-foot-1 junior shooting guard Gabe Manansala and 5-11 junior combo guard Gokul Srini. Senior forward Nick White and sophomore guard Elijah Laird both make contributions off the bench as well.

After four years of Dougherty Valley basketball, Grabow can recognize this season as feeling different too.

“This year, I feel like everything has just clicked,” the point guard said. “The biggest key for us is just staying together. We know we have the potential for big things. We just need to trust in Coach Hansen and trust in each other.”

The Wildcats cohesiveness hasn’t come without a little adversity. Monte Vista-Danville, the two-time NCS Division I champions, features combo guard Austin Fadal. Fadal just happened to be Dougherty Valley’s leading scorer while averaging 18 points as a sophomore before transferring.

There’s been a few other bumps too, but Hansen is convinced it’s better prepared his team for this run.

“Externally there has been a lot of stuff that’s happened to this team and program over the last year,” Hansen said. “Guys who weren’t fully committed have left. And the guys who have stayed will be champions. ... That’s what this group is.

“Hopefully we hang a banner. But life, and just sticking out and persevering through adult stupid stuff — these kids are tough. They’re champions. And I believe they’re going to hang a banner, but we’ve got a long way to go before we make that happen.” ✪ Follow us on Twitter & Instagram, and like us on Facebook!

Next Step

A year after program’s deepest playoff run, Antelope girls undefeated & thinking big

L After Games of Monday, Jan. 30 1. (1)

—

St. Mary’s-Stockton

19-0

2. (2)

—

Miramonte-Orinda

20-0

3. (3)

—

Archbishop Mitty-San Jose

15-3

4. (4)

—

Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills

21-1

5. (5)

—

Salesian-Richmond

17-5

6. (6)

—

Pinewood-Los Altos Hills

15-3

7. (7)

—

Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland

16-4

8. (8)

—

Antelope

21-0

9. (9)

—

Carondelet-Concord

13-6

10. (10) —

Vanden-Fairfield

13-8

11. (11) —

Sacramento

15-7

12. (14) ▲

McClatchy-Sacramento

17-5

13. (12) ▼

Sacred Heart Cathedral-S.F.

11-7

14. (15) ▲

Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa

17-4

15. (17) ▲

Castro Valley

20-2

16. (18) ▲

St. Francis-Sacramento

17-4

17. (13) ▼

Brookside Christian-Stockton

15-8

18. (NR) ▲

Menlo-Atherton-Atherton

18-2

19. (19) —

Lincoln-Stockton

16-5

20. (16) ▼

Valley Christian-San Jose

14-5

DROPPED OUT: No. 20 Pittsburg BIGGEST MOVER: Shuffling only at the bottom of the deck this week as the top 11 teams took care of business.

No team improved more than two spots in the rankings, so we’ll highlight the one newcomer, No. 18 Castro Valley. The Trojans have reeled off seven straight wins after a 72-61 loss to now-No. 7 Bishop O’Dowd on Jan. 13. An 11-point loss to the Dragons actually helped Castro Valley get in, considering O’Dowd defeated former-No. 13 Brookside Christian by 28 in a nonleague tilt on Jan. 30.

22

SportStars™

February 2016

ence to build upon. Leading the way for ike a family, the Antelope girls the Titans this season is a pair of outbasketball team has grown tostanding sisters and a senior leader with gether, overcoming growing unmatched heart and leadership. Nadia pains to strengthen their bond and (a junior) and Nia Johnson (a sophodevelop into a cohesive unit. more) have played together for nearly The Titans’ family has matured in 10 years in organized basketball and the school’s eight years, including six currently comprise one of the section’s years of girls varsity basketball, and the best young backcourts. Senior guard 2015-16 squad may be all grown up Angelica Baylon is the big sister to all of and ready to go out on its own — to a Sac-Joaquin Section title and beyond.

Nadia Johnson, left, and her sister Nia. the Titans and is “the heart and soul of the team,” according to Chambers.

“We have learned as a team what to The trio is supported by freshman Arianna Spann, who has do and what not to do,” said junior guard Nadia Johnson of Antelope’s progression, which reached its furthest point—the quickly grown into a formidable post presence, and senior SJS semifinals and a NorCal berth—last season. “It was our first co-captain Briyanna Bolar, whose contributions extend far betime getting that far, and we have a different mindset now. Our yond the stat sheet.

“We can play 11-12 deep, and everyone on the team undergoal is state, and I have full confidence in the team that we can stands and accepts their roles and can step up when needed,” compete for that.”

Playing for a state title is a long way from earning the pro- Chambers said.

Through January, the Titans have stepped up as a team to gram’s first playoff bid in 2011 and winning the first league championship in 2014. But head coach Sean Chambers — the compile a 21-0 overall record with a perfect 8-0 mark in CapiTitans’ leader since the school’s opening — appreciates each step tal Valley League play. Antelope has won numerous tournataken since first taking the court as a JV team in 2009. Cham- ments, including the Gold Division at the West Coast Jambobers, who was a star player at Highlands-North Highlands in the ree, and has the opportunity to enter the section playoffs with 1980s before later coaching the Scots’ girls basketball program a No. 1 seed and a perfect 27-0 record. The Titans recently deat his alma mater, understands that a progression is necessary to feated St. Francis-Sacramento in a key nonleague showdown by 14 points, showing they may have fully arrived. reach the heights that the 2016 Titans aspire to.

“This team came in very focused this year and understood “You cannot skip steps,” Chambers said. “You have to go through the process. We take it game-by-game, but we know that every game matters,” Chambers said. “Our first goal is to win Section, and anything after that is extra.” it’s out there.”

Focused on the present, but with an understanding of what It, for Chambers, is long-term success where his team competes with the best teams in the section and the region on a could come in the future, the Titans’ family continues to grow regular basis. He wants to “be like Oak Ridge” with a long run and dream together.

“We all have the same goals and want the same things,” Bayof success in a program where “tradition doesn’t graduate.”

Fortunately for Chambers, graduation was barely a concern at lon said. “We are all hoping to do more to make history for the all following the 2014-15 season. Only one player departed from school.” ✪ — Chace Bryson & Jim McCue a year ago, leaving a large group of talented players with experi-

GAEL GAINS

SOLDIERING TOWARD STATE

Led by the stellar all-around play of 6-foot-2 senior swingman, Timmy Falls, Dublin has emerged as one of the top Division I teams in the North Coast Section.

Falls had 20 points, seven rebounds and three blocks on Jan. 30 as the Gaels knocked off Diablo Foothill Athletic League-rival Dougherty Valley 55-51 in Dublin. It was just the second loss all season for Dougherty Valley and it pushed the Gaels’ overall record to 18-3. It also moved Dublin just one game behind the first-place Wildcats in the DFAL. “We weren’t on any one’s radar coming in,” Dublin coach Tom Costello said following the team’s big DFAL win. “I just think you have a group of guys who’ve been playing together for a long time. I think they’ve bought into the defensive side of it, and know that’s going to be our ticket ... but they just enjoy playing together.”

The Sac-Joaquin Section’s top boys teams have separated themselves from the rest of the pack heading into the home stretch of the regular season. Folsom (21-2), Sacramento (201), and Modesto Christian (20-1) have all played challenging schedules to prepare for the postseason grind, which could extend deep into March for many of them. Elite competition and high stakes would be par for the course for a quartet of players as they highlight a group of the section’s top individuals who have played for the Oakland Soldiers, one of Northern California’s best AAU programs.

Folsom’s Jordan Ford, Modesto Christian’s Robinson Idehen, and Sacramento High’s Solomon Young and Christian Terrell are all listed on the Soldiers’ roster and have played together at times when they are not battling for their high school teams.

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Popular adult soccer tourney heads to Redding’s top-notch facility Redding Soccer Park, a one-of-a-kind, “State-of-the-Sport” soccer facility, will be playing host to the Soccerkraze Invitational this March 12-13.

If you are part of an adult league team looking for a quick getaway tournament, well this is the one.

The Soccerkraze Invitational provides adult league teams the opportunity to compete against top-quality teams from various states — and it all plays out on Redding Soccer Park’s four, all-weather, synthetic-turf, NCAA regulation-size lighted fields. Saturday night games under the lights will bring an added element of excitement to the event.

This is a 32-team maximum event and entry will be based on a first-come, first-serve basis. The available divisions include: Open, Coed Over 30 and Coed Over 40. Entry fee for all teams is $400.

Each team in the tournament shall play a minimum of three preliminary games (forfeited games will count in the game minimum), two on Saturday and one on Sunday. The number of teams per division will be determined by the tournament committee, depending upon the number of qualified teams accepted per division. Also, the number of teams per flight will depend on the number of teams per division.

Redding Soccer Park is also home to various spring and summer camps and clinics. For 2016 dates, check REDDINGSOCCERPARK.COM as spring nears.

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February 2016

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Once the rains of El Niño finally pass, it’ll be time for baseball and softball to overtake diamonds across Northern California.

That will surely be the case for the three replica ballparks located at Big League Dreams Park in Redding. Big League Dreams Park features replica versions of Wrigley Field, Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park and plays host to countless tournaments year-round.

The tournament season kicks off in earnest in March when Anderson High will host junior varsity and varsity tournaments on consecutive weekends. The JV Cubs Classic takes place from March 10-12 with Paradise and Del Norte-Crescent City returning as defending champs.

Then as many as 20 varsity programs take the field on March 18-19 for the 13th Annual Cubs Classic.

Lassen-Susanville was the 2015 champion.

The boys take the diamonds March 24-26 for the American Christian Academy’s Spring Break Tournament. That three-day event will feature up to 25 teams with a championship taking place on Saturday.

Hardball North (baseball), USSSA Fastpitch (softball), All World Sports (baseball) and NSA Fastpitch (softball) will all host tournaments at Redding’s Big League Dreams Park across the summer and fall. To check out the schedule and see images of the replica fields, visit REDDING.BIGLEAGUEDREAMS.COM.

Big League Dreams

Redding Soccer Park

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WWW.REDDINGSOCCERPARK.COM Lacrosse: www.ReddingLacrosse.com February: Lacrosse Opening weekend Redding Boys Jamboree U13-High School.

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April 2016: Shasta Magic 15th Annual Battle For The North State 530-945-0182 OR GRAYREALTY@CHARTER.NET

Redding winterfest When you visit Redding, be sure to enjoy all we offer at WinterFest Redding! Arts, culture and the beautiful outdoors! Great food, great music, great scenery and great activities. Join us!

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25

›› “I loved being the underdog and proving people wrong.

(After Brooke’s injury) I said, ‘This is our chance to do it again.

This is going to be our story.

We’ll find motivation from this.’”

— Cougars senior keeper Kaylie Collins.

At right, Carondelet’s Madeline Duncan lines up a penalty kick. The Cougars wrote ‘B10’ on their legs in honor of Brooke Cilley, who wore No. 10 and was lost due to injury.

26

SportStars™

February 2016

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When its top player was lost for the season, Carondelet soccer didn’t panic — It found new ways to keep winning

C

hristmas was only three days removed when the Carondelet High girls soccer team suffered a serious blow to its holiday cheer.

Just five minutes into the Cougars’ Dec. 28 nonleague match at Dublin, star forward Brooke Cilley crumbled to the turf. Through the team’s first seven matches, the Michiganbound senior had already produced 12 goals and six assists to lead Carondelet to a 7-0 start.

Cilley was diagnosed with the dreaded ACL tear and declared out for the season. Which meant Carondelet had to regroup and assess if their East Bay Athletic League and North Coast Section title hopes were headed to the shelf as well.

“Brooke would’ve been the EBAL MVP this season,” Carondelet coach Amy Apodaca said prior to the Cougars Jan. 14 match against visiting Monte Vista-Danville. “It was a tough hit. There was lots of banter when that happened and what would happen to us.”

It was the perfect storm to send a perfect season off the rails. “When (Brooke) went down, it seemed like everyone freaked out about it,” Cougars senior goalkeeper Kaylie Collins said. “There was a crisis for a few days.”

And then it was over.

Not the season, though. The crisis. “We reminded everyone that we had to snap out of it,” Collins said.

Collins, a terrific USC-bound net minder, urged her teammates to embrace the challenge.

“I hated that we were ranked so high in various polls early in the season,” Collins said. “It just made me feel like there was nowhere to go. I loved being the underdog and prov-

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ing people wrong. (After Brooke’s injury) I said, ‘This is our chance to do it again. This is going to be our story. We’ll find motivation from this.’”

Fast forward more than a month since the injury, and Carondelet entered February still without a loss on the season. The Cougars entered their Feb. 2 EBAL match at FoothillPleasanton with an overall mark of 14-0-3. Their league record of 7-0-3 kept them two points ahead of Monte Vista-Danville.

How did the Cougars keep the ship from capsizing? There’s more than one answer. Leadership is one. In addition to Collins, fellow senior captain Jade Rafallo has also led the resurgence in her own quiet way.

“You don’t know her unless you’re trying to get by her,” Apodaca said of her center back. “She’s just solid.”

Versatility also played a role.

Senior midfielder Chelsea Bailey has been asked to take on multiple positions, and excelled throughout. Senior Madeline Duncan and junior Erin Ospeck have helped fill the scoring void left by Cilley.

“Game to game we’ve changed lineups and changed starters,” Apodaca said. “I think that’s the most amazing thing about this team. It doesn’t have one player to rely on. ... It’s just really enjoying playing, and they play with their hearts on their sleeves and just work hard.”

For all of its past success, Carondelet has just two NCS titles in the past 16 seasons. The Cougars were Division I champions in 2011 and Division II champs in 2001. In 2014, they were sent home following a 2-1 quarterfinal loss to Berkeley.

In her fourth year of varsity, Collins is perhaps the most

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qualified to speak about how this group is better prepared to reach the final.

“There’s been a ton of change over the past few years,” Collins said. “This year, especially, the whole atmosphere is different. Everyone goes out to the field and wants to win 100 percent. Last year was a growing period, and this year we were ready.”

Collins literally fell into goaltending.

“When I first started playing actual soccer, I was always falling down,” Collins said with a giggle. “So my dad (who also played goalie) said, ‘We might as well put you in the goal because you’re falling all the time.’”

Collins has five shutouts over the 16 matches she’s played in. She has 70 saves so far. Her last line of defense has played a huge role in the Cougars unbeaten start.

Back in mid-January, Apodaca was still slightly incredulous with how much the team had come together — despite the injury to Cilley.

“I knew we were going to come back (from 2014) pretty talented.” the coach said. “But a 12-0 start? Who ever thinks that?”

Apparently, each member of the Cougars thought it. And committed — then re-committed — to making their championship aspirations come to fruition.

“After Brooke’s injury, we realized that not one person was going to replace her,” Collins said. “I think we’ve had to work so much harder, and it’s going to be so much more rewarding at the end because of it.” ✪ — Story by Chace Bryson. Photos by Phillip Walton

February 2016

SportStars™

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Jordan fines

sheldon – sacramento - softball While gearing up for our annual Baseball/Softball Preview (coming Feb. 25), we checked in with one of the top returning talents for a Sheldon softball team which is preparing to defend its Sac Joaquin Section title. The Huskies project to begin the season inside the Top 10 of SportStars’ Preseason NorCal Top 20 Rankings. Meet Jordan Fines: YEAR: Senior POSITION: Shortstop 2015 REWIND: Fines had her best season for the Huskies as a junior with team highs in batting average (.477), hits (51) and doubles (14). During Sheldon’s five-game run to the SJS Division I title, she was 10-for-20 at the plate with four runs and 2 RBI in the playoffs. The section championship was the program’s sixth overall, but first during Fines’ tenure.

THOUGHTS ON 2016 HUSKIES: “We’ve got bats. We only lost two seniors and they were pitchers who didn’t bat, so we will have a strong offense. Team camaraderie is always a strength at Sheldon, and we know that we always have each other’s back.”

COLLEGE CHOICE: California (signed Letter of Intent in November) WE ARE FAMILY: Sheldon coach Mary Jo Truesdale always emphasizes family, but Jordan and sister Maci Fines, a junior, take it to the next level. The siblings solidify the middle infield, and they combined for 99 hits, 64 runs, 61 RBI and 37 extra-base hits.

SETTING THE TONE: As a team leader, Jordan is in charge of the Huskies’ warm-up playlist.

She enjoys exposing her teammates to her affinity for Hawaiian Reggae and country music.

SOFTBALL IDOLS: Growing up playing for the Sacramento Lady Magic travel softball teams, Fines had plenty of top local players to admire and aspire to play and be like. Among her favorite Lady Magic alumni is another Sheldon Huskie-turned-California Golden Bear, Jolene Henderson.

FAVORITE MLB PLAYER: Andrelton Simmons, SS, L.A. Angels FAVORITE OPPONENTS: Local rivals Elk Grove and Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove DREAM DIAMOND: University of Arizona GAME DAY RITUAL: She puts her hair in a fish tail braid before every game, and does not let anyone else help with the braid or touch her hair before it is braided.

FAVORITE FOOD: Ice cream (mint chip preferred) PLAY TIME: When she is not playing softball (which leaves little time), Jordan enjoys playing the piano and the ukulele.

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fuLL speed xceleration 18 blue ready to hit vegas A

s the heart of the girls club volleyball season is about to commence, the 18 Blue team of the Xceleration Volleyball Club in Walnut Creek is getting set to pack its bags for Las

Kaitlynn Zdroik of Xceleration 18 Blue

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Vegas.

The 18U squad, featuring several of the top seniors from Contra Costa and Alameda County, will take on its first big competition of the season at the Southern California Volleyball Association’s Las Vegas Classic from Feb. 13-15.

Coach Andy Schroeder has certainly liked what he’s seen from this group so far. The squad was 4-1 in the Northern California Volleyball Association’s California Kick-Off in San Jose on Jan. 1416. They’ve since run their record to 10-5.

“They’ve come to work to improve and they’re very coachable,” Schroeder said. “I’ve been extremely happy. The adjustments need to be made on our end coaching-wise. But truly, the first 65 days have been nothing short of excellent.”

Leading the offense for the 18 Blue this season is 6-foot-1 outside hitter Mickayla Sherman of Freedom High in Oakley.

“She’s probably the most athletic kid who has come through our program,” Shroeder said of the UC Riverside-bound Sherman.

“We’re very happy with her progress as a player and a leader.”

Joining Sherman in 18 Blue’s attack is her counterpart from rival school Liberty-Brentwood. Taylor Dixon is a 6-foot outside hitter headed to CSU San Marcos in the fall. “(San Maros is) getting a great athlete,” Schroeder said. “She’s also one of the most coachable kids we’ve had.”

Dixon’s Liberty teammate Kaitlynn Zdroik, a San Jose Statesignee, will share setting duties along with Katie Orbeta out of

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Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland. The middle hitters for 18 Blue include California-San Ramon’s 6-foot-2 Nicole Tchabanov, and Campolindo-Moraga’s 6-foot Emma Johnson. The latter is signed to Loyola Marymount.

All three of the team’s defensive specialists are signed to collegiate programs. Sam McGrath (Bishop O’Dowd) is headed to San Diego State, Daiana Takashima (College Prep-Oakland) has signed to play at Williams College in Pennsylvania and Emma Doud (St. Joseph Notre Dame-Oakland) just recently signed to Loyola Marymount on a beach volleyball scholarship, which Shroeder says makes her the club’s first true beach signee.

Other talents on the roster include opposite hitters Isabella Fernandez (Granada-Livermore), Ariann Harris-Ealy (Bishop O’Dowd) and middle blocker Halle Webster (St. Patrick/St. Vincent-Vallejo).

“They’re probably in the same mold what we’ve had over the last five years at this level,” Schroeder said. “The group has the potential to compete at the Open level if it all comes together. It will be a matter of taking care of the details and little things and sticking with it.”

NET NOTES: Vision Volleyball of Los Gatos had its 15 Blue team go undefeated in NCVA Power League Qualifiers on Jan. 3031. ... The Nor Cal Volleyball Club of Pleasanton went a combined 58-21 across all age groups during the NCVA California Kickoff. ... Northern California Volleyball Club from the Sacramento region had a strong showing at the Cal Kickoff. That included the 18-1 Asics team powered by Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills standouts Megan Priest, Elizabeth Cameron and Olivia Reid which took second. ✪

February 2016

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where to have your winter fun

T

here’s no shortage of winter recreation opportunities in Northern California, but among the most inexpensive is the state’s SNOPARK program.

Distinctive brown highway signs located along highways identify the SNO-PARKs. The program is coordinated and administered by the Off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division of California State Parks, in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service, the California Department of Transportation, the California Highway Patrol and various community organizations. Through this collaborative effort, winter recreation opportunities are provided at 19 SNO-PARK sites along the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range.

Each SNO-PARK provides visitors access to snow-cleared parking lots and sanitation facilities. The sites can accommodate self-guided activities such as snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and general snow play. The Over-Snow Vehicle (OSV) Program program supports 30 trailheads and 26 groomed trail systems, providing more than 1,700 miles of motorized opportunity on 11 National Forests.

These trails are used each year by an estimated 159,000 OSVs bringing upwards of 200,000 visitors to the trail systems. The OSV Program benefits not only motorized recreation, but also non-motorized recreational pursuits such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and even dog sledding Snow conditions determine accessibility and opportunities available at each site.

SEASON & PERMITS: SNO-PARKs are open seasonally between Nov. 1 and May 30. A SNO-PARK permit is required for each vehicle parked at a SNO-PARK site during that period. Permits are sold as Day Permits or Seasonal Permits by vendors throughout Northern California. Day permits are sold for $5 and are valid for one single day. Season permits are sold for $25 and are valid for the entire six-month span. You can purchase permits online at www.snoparkpermits.com or from various vendors that can be located using the same website.

The SNO-PARK permit must be displayed on the left side of the vehicle dashboard where it can be seen clearly from outside the vehicle. All permits sold are non-refundable.

PARKING & RESTRICTIONS: Parking is on a first-come, first-served basis at all SNO-PARK sites. No refunds are issued if your favorite SNOPARK is full. Park and drive carefully within SNO-PARK sites. Watch for pedestrians. Overnight parking, including in-vehicle camping is allowed except where noted or signed at SNO-PARK sites. Tent camping or sleeping outside a vehicle in the parking area is prohibited at all SNO-PARK sites. Do not build campfires on paved areas. Do not litter SNO-PARK sites. Trash containers may not be provided, pack out your own refuse.

Carry a shovel and tire chains. Vehicles parked overnight need to be staked at all 4 corners with 1x2-inch thick 8-foot poles to prevent accidental damage by snow removal equipment. Lock your vehicle and do not leave items of value in sight. Winter recreation activities may be hazardous. Your common sense, skill level, use of proper clothing, respect for the terrain and weather will combine to affect your safety.

For details, you can call the SNO-PARKs hotline at (916) 324-1222. ✪ — Copy and photos provided by CA State Parks

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pop charts

health watch: dr. nirav k. pandya

Several young athletes describe knee injuries by hearing a ‘pop‘ — but it’s not always what they think With an increasing number of youth athletes engaged in year-round sports, there has been a drastic increase in the number of traumatic knee injuries. The immature knee cannot withstand the force from repetitive, high-level sporting activity. As a result, Monday morning phone calls to our office from patients who have suffered a painful knee injury from weekend sporting events are commonplace.

Many athletes describe hearing or feeling a “pop” in their knee before they fall to the ground. What could possibly be going on inside the knee?

A “pop” in the knee can vary from conditions that are dreaded (knee cap dislocation, torn ligament, meniscus tear, bones impacting one another) to those that are seemingly innocuous (a snapping tendon or sporting equipment hitting the ground). The two most important factors that determine the severity of the injury after a “pop” in the initial time frame are the ability of the athlete to return to play immediately after the injury, as well as the degree of swelling in the knee.

For patients whose knee swells up after the injury, this indicates a more serious injury as blood may be entering the joint from trauma.

Immediately after the injury, medical personnel will examine your knee and determine the severity of the injury. You may be instructed to go to the emergency room or to your doctor within a day or two. In the interim, it is important to elevate your leg, place ice on the affected area, limit walking and take pain medication as needed.

Once you present to the office, a thorough history of what happened will be taken as well as a

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physical examination will be performed. Even though you will be concerned that the “pop” was a ligament tear, an x-ray will likely be taken to make sure you did not break a bone. Since an x-ray cannot visualize the cartilage and ligaments, many athletes will then obtain an MRI for a closer look at these structures.

It is important to note that the vast majority of knee injuries with a “pop” are not emergencies. As you await the results of your MRI, you may be instructed to continue limited activity and perhaps participate in basic physical therapy to regain range of motion and strength.

The most common diagnoses in adolescent athletes who presents with the dreaded “pop” and fall to the ground are knee-cap dislocations, anterior cruciate ligament injuries or meniscus tears. The ability to return to play will be determined based on the degree of injury, the specific sport you play and where in the season one currently is. Regardless, your treatment team will put together a plan that will get you back on the field in the safest, most efficient manner.

Just remember, when you or one of your teammates experiences the dreaded “pop” and falls to the ground, there could be multiple injuries that may have occurred. The ability to return to play and the degree of swelling after the injury aid in determining the severity of the injury. Keep your spirits up and hope for the best if this occurs. ✪ Dr. Nirav K. Pandya is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon and director of pediatric sports injuries at the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. He sees patients and operates in Oakland and our facility at Walnut Creek and San Francisco.

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get mental: erika carlson

bottling beLief I once heard Martina Navratilova (for you youngsters she was a top tennis player from the 70’s all the way up through the 2000’s) say in an interview, “Confidence is like money, it’s really hard to earn and very easy to lose.”

I love this quote simply because it’s a perfect metaphor. My conversations with athletes, parents and coaches often reveal how fragile confidence truly is. There is constant fear that it’s going to suddenly disappear ... or maybe it already has. Once this happens (or even the fear that it will happen) can leave you feeling helpless and without a sense of control over how to get it back.

One of the greatest benefits of mental training is giving athletes a sense of control over building and sustaining their confidence — even when things go wrong. Here are a few tips on how to do that. ›› ACCEPT that mistakes are valuable to your learning process: Fear of mistakes will ironically cause you to make more mistakes and slow down your ability to learn from them. Learning quickly from mistakes is a big confidence builder. ›› TRACK your daily and weekly goals and tasks: Tracking everything from hydration to how many shots you take after practice provides you with an opportunity to see all of your effort and earn your confidence through actual hard work (rather than perceived hard work). It’s powerful. ›› HOLD ON to your best moments: Mistakes naturally leave a bigger imprint on our memories simply because there’s more information, more thinking (“Why did you do that??!!”), more emotion (frustration, anger) and more imagery replays (seeing it over and over again in your head). Ironically, it takes special effort to pay attention when things go right to capitalize on our success. Replaying, understanding and repeating success is key to sustainable confidence.

Confidence is belief in yourself. Believe that no matter where you are in your sports career, whether you are enjoying success or in a slump, confidence is waiting to be earned. One day, one training and one action at time. Work smart out there! ✪ Erika Carlson is a CEO and certified mental trainer at Mental Training, Inc. in Pleasanton.

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February 2016

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35

winter gains Tips for shedding the extra weight brought on during the holidays powered by trucks: anthony trucks It’s the time of the year to eat and be merry. It’s the time of the year when everyone is gaining mass in his or her muscles and, if you eat too much, in your belly fat. It never fails that I get calls from people asking how they can give birth to their food babies and get their weight back down.

To be honest I gained and lost 10 pounds over thanksgiving and the week following. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you how I gained it, but I am going to tell you how you can lose it in the gym. ›› Increase or add cardio: Since it’s winter you’re probably spending more time inside and less time outside being active. ›› Decrease rest: Cut out the rest time between your lifting sets to elevate your heart rate and keep it up for a consistent amount of time. This also make the muscle do more work while tired and burn more calories. ›› Build muscle: Decrease weight and increase reps to build muscle.

The more muscle you have, the higher your resting metabolic rate is.

So you can burn more calories resting or sleeping because you have more muscle. ›› Don’t miss workouts: Consistency is huge when it comes to being able to stave off fat gains. If you get complacent and lazy you’re going to feel it.

I am all for enjoying your family, friends and food during the holidays, so live it up. Just make sure to keep it tight so you don’t wake up in 2016 too far behind. ✪ Anthony Trucks is an IYCA-certified trainer who covers weight training for SportStars.

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protein planning nutrition: jill daniels

Seek strong, less expensive protein sources at grocery store Here’s a question that I’m asked quite often.

“I know protein is important for an athlete, but I can’t afford to buy protein powder all the time. What are some other good sources of high-quality protein?”

When it comes to protein, there are plenty of healthy and affordable choices. On a trip to the local grocery store, I priced out the weekly cost of protein foods for a 160-pound athlete (based on 110 grams of protein/day). In the top chart is what you can get for about $25.

Compare that to these engineered products in the second chart and you’ll see how much more affordable it is to meet your needs through whole foods.

There is a time and place for these products, since they travel well, are convenient, and are good for emergencies. As much as you can, however, keep those supplements on the shelf and strive to eat a balanced diet including foods with protein at most meals and snacks. Remember that a good nutrition plan is just as important as a good training plan. ✪ Jill Daniels, MS, RD, CSSD is a Registered Dietitian in the Bay Area of Northern California who specializes in sports nutrition and weight management. wShe works with people of all ages. Visit her at JillDanielsRD.com

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Product

Grams of protein

Cost

1 pound ground beef

128

$4.99

1 gallon 1% milk

160

$2.99

1 can garbanzo beans

21

$1

2 cans refried beans

50

$2

1 jar natural peanut butter

112

$2.49

1 pkg of string cheese

96

$2.99

2 cans albacore tuna

50

$2.99

16 oz low-fat cottage cheese

56

$1.79

8 oz sunflower seeds

50

$1

12 egg whites

48

$2.79

Totals

771

$25.03

Product 1 can whey protein powder 4 Clif Builder’s bars 4 Power Bar Protein Shakes Totals

Grams of protein 575 80 120 775

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February 2016

Cost $20.99 $5.96 $13.28 $40.23

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❒ All Sports Training Center ......................................................37 ❒ Army National Guard Recruiter ..............................................3 ❒ Big O Tires Northern California/ Nevada .................................2 ❒ Bigfoot Hoops .......................................................................23 ❒ Blankenship Baseball ............................................................36 ❒ California Football Academy .................................................36 ❒ Catchflame.Com ...................................................................38 ❒ Championship Athletic Fundraising.......................................27 ❒ Club Sport.............................................................................40 ❒ Colin Knightly Lacrosse.........................................................36 ❒ Concord American Little League ...........................................36 ❒ De La Salle High School Athletic Summer Camps .................38 ❒ Diablo Trophies & Awards .....................................................38 ❒ Diablo Valley Federal Credit Union .......................................26 ❒ Diablo Valley Volleyball Club ...............................................37 ❒ East Bay Badminton Assn. .....................................................37 ❒ East Bay Bulldogs Basketball .................................................37 ❒ East Bay Parks .......................................................................38 ❒ Halo Headband ....................................................................38 ❒ Heads Up Sports ...................................................................17 ❒ Heritage Soccer Club ............................................................39 ❒ Jumbo Sunflower Seeds .........................................................19 ❒ Kneed-A- Brace .....................................................................19 ❒ Krossover ..............................................................................29 ❒ Mental Training Inc ...............................................................17 ❒ Modesto Magic .....................................................................35 ❒ Muir Orthopaedic Specialists ..................................................5 ❒ National Scouting Report ......................................................35 ❒ Oakland Police Department Recruiting .................................34 ❒ Off- Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division ..................31 ❒ Placer Valley Tourism Board ............................................12, 13 ❒ Renaissance Club Sport.........................................................14 ❒ Rugby Nor Cal ......................................................................28 ❒ San Ramon Slammers Baseball .............................................35 ❒ Special Olympics Northern California...................................35 ❒ Speed 4 Your Sport: The Program. The Game .........................36 ❒ Sportstars Magazine Camps & Clinics Resource Guide .........21 ❒ Stevens Creek Toyota.............................................................15 ❒ Tpc / The Pitching Center ......................................................28 ❒ U C S F Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland ........................33 ❒ Visitredding.Com ............................................................24, 25 ❒ Walnut Creek Soccer Club ....................................................32

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