SJ Issue 83, April 2014

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doesn’t love to ride bikes?

31 Who It’s something you never forget after all. But too much can lead to injuries. We can help.

BREAKDOWN: California 10 STATE has a rich basketball history, for

20

Pleasant Grove & Nicole Nickerson went on an unexpected run to the state tournament

Joesph Notre Dame ignores 24St. past, makes big run in state hoops 4

SportStars™

April 2014

both boys and girls. But who are the best of the best? There are no easy answers, but Mark Tennis takes a stab at his Mt. Rushmores.

Also, final boys & girls rankings.

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pitch: Excuse us, we have 6 First something in our eye. It’s just that we’re going to miss basketball season. We love hoops. We just do. And so before we bid our final farewell, let’s take a stroll down memory lane and revisit some of our favorite stories from the past season.

Soccer. Also awe12 Clipboard: some. Is it a fall, winter or spring sport? Why is it so confusing?

camps & Clinics

Find your sport. Turn to page 38.

of the week 7 Sportstar Lexi Tubbs, Modesto Christian

8 locker room: Everybody loves

the bad guy. Who is Batman without the Joker? Luke Skywalker without Darth Vader? A Derek Jeter without a Bud Selig? Baseball’s back and they brought the villains with them.

Fence: Tryouts, sign-ups, 42 The fund-raisers and more!

46 Advertiser’s index

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One Last Hardwood Stroll

A

nother state championship basketball season is in the books, and there was a lot to enjoy about the tournament.

And still some to grumble about.

We still feel there has to be some way to re-tool the Open Division in order to avoid completely watering down the other divisions — especially in the North. This year’s state finals had very few closely contested games. In fact, of the 12 state finals, only two were decided by single digits. And both of those games were just nine-point margins. Some games — as many as six — were significantly lopsided.

Five SoCal teams and one NorCal team won their final by 20 or more points.

But these are all arguments that we and others have made before.

Hopefully, the CIF will look at some of the arguments and consider making some changes to the system.

This issue is about celebrating the state tournament and not begrudging it. We urge you to check out the cover features on Monte Vista-Danville boys — one of NorCal’s four winning teams — and the Folsom boys, which were not winners but certainly cemented themselves as a team to watch over the next two seasons.

We have additional features on the Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland and St. Joseph Notre Dame-Alameda boys, as well as the Pleasant GroveElk Grove girls. If you don’t see stories on those teams in the edition you’re holding, chances are you can find it at SportStarsOnline along with videos and more photos from the last two days of the season.

SportStars‘ postseason hoops and winter sports awards will be coming out in the coming weeks, but we thought it still might be fun to offer up some unofficial NorCal basketball honors to start this issue off.

Here you go: ›› Best Team That Didn’t Play for a State Title: For us, it’d be the Carondelet-Concord girls. They were victims of the Open Division, getting knocked out by Miramonte-Orinda 92-87 in the NorCal semifinals. Had the Cougars had an opportunity to play in their

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, Mitch Stephens, Matt Smith, Clay Kallam, Ben Enos, Dave Kiefer, Liz Elliott, Tim Rudd, Trevor Horn Copy Editor Bill Kruissink Photography Bob Larson, Jonathan Hawthorne, James K. Leash, Norbert von der Groeben, Phillip Walton, Doug Guler, Dean Coppola, Berry Ivans, III Marketing/Events Intern Ryan Arter Creative Department Art@SportStarsOnline.com Production Manager Mike DeCicco • MikeD@SportStarsOnline.com Publisher/President Mike Calamusa • Mike@SportStarsOnline.com

natural division, Div. II, we think they may have had a real shot at beating Chaminade-West Hills (which defeated Archbishop MittySan Jose 80-51). ›› Team We’re Already Excited To See Next Season: The Folsom boys should have no shortage of expectations next season when they return almost 99 percent of their scoring output from this year’s 32-3 team. The team featured just one senior. Unfortunately, if there are no changes to the system, the Bulldogs’ lone shot at the state title may have been this season. They could easily be pulled to the Open Div. next year where it’d be hard for them to match up against a team like Bishop O’Dowd and 6-foot-10 Ivan Rabb, who will undoubtedly be a McDonald’s All-American. ›› Favorite Random Stat From A State Final: Lailoni Gaines, a 6-0 wing for Modesto Christian, helped the Eagles win their first state title with 10 points and 12 rebounds in a 64-55 win over Santa Barbara in the Div. III final. But our favorite part about that double-double?

10 of her 12 rebounds were offensive boards! That’s doing some real work. Way to box out, Ms. Gaines! She’s also just sophomore.

Enjoy our last big issue of basketball coverage until next December. ✪

Advertising Sales@SportStarsOnline.com, 925.566.8500 Account Executives Leslie Ellis • Leslie@SportStarsOnline.com Camps & Clinics: Ryan Arter • Camps@SportStarsOnline.com Alameda County: Berry Evans • Berry@foto-pros.com Central Valley, World Events: Anthony Grigsby • Area Director anthony.grigsby@worldeventssports.com Darin Wissner • dwissner@wordeventssports.com Reader Resources/Administration Subscription, Calendar, Credit Services Angela Paradise • Info@SportStarsOnline.com Distribution/Delivery Phillip Walton • Mags@SportStarsOnline.com Information technology John Bonilla CFO Sharon Calamusa • Sharon@SportStarsOnline.com community SportStars™ Magazine A division of Caliente! Communications, LLC 5356 Clayton Rd., Ste. 222 • Concord, CA 94521 • info@SportStarsOnline.com www.SportStarsOnline.com

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lexi

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

tubbs Modesto Christian - Basketball - Senior ›› She capped her high school hoops career by leading the Crusaders to a 64-55 victory over Santa Barbara that earned her team the Division III state championship. Tubbs had a team-high 11 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to put an exclamation point to an outstanding season and career. In leading the program to its first state championship, she averaged 16.6 points per game to pace a balanced offense that won 24 of its final 25 games. True to her consistent self, Tubbs averaged an identical 16.6 points per game in the postseason, but upped her rebounding totals in the playoffs. She will head to Northwest Nazarene University next fall ›› IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “All year long, we did it as a team and we just wanted to continue to do it together in our final game. We knew that if we all take care of business and do our jobs, then we are unstoppable.” ›› WHAT YOU DIDN’T KNOW: Tubbs won the Sac Joaquin Section Division IV-V championship in the 100-meter low hurdles as a freshman, and is aiming to qualify for her second state competition this year. She will also run track at Northwest Nazarene.

honorable mention Colin Russell: The Folsom junior had 11 points, a team-high 9 rebounds and 2 steals as the Falcons beat St. John Bosco in the Div. II state final.

Amber Wright: The Elk Grove junior went 3-for-4 with a triple, scored two runs, and had an RBI in the Thundering Herd’s 6-1 win over Del Campo.

Ray Henry: The Colfax junior tossed a 6-inning no-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts in a 10-0 win over FoothillSacramento.

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Rapid Fire

trevor john Monte Vista basketball/baseball

Kyra Ortiz Clayton Valley Charter lacrosse

Favorite Superhero Superman

The Flash

best concert you've attended Eminem Never attended one favorite rainy-day activity

Trending What’s hot this week in the world of stuff that’s hot Michael Jackson, who died in 2009, will release a new album in May titled Xscape. You can pre-order it now or buy it on May 13. The unreleased tracks have been ‘contemporized’ by several producers including Timbaland and Bubbles the chimp.

The deadline to sign up for the Affordable Care Act was March 31. Now, depending on where you come down on this issue, let us just say …. oh, never mind. Nothing good will come of this.

Hanging with teammates

Running

favorite ballpark food Chicken Strips

Soft Pretzel

celebrity you'd most want a selfie with Lebron James

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

A Virginia couple has won the lottery for the third time in one month, but were unable to win anything in the latest drawing on Monday. This is what happens when you don’t apply yourself, kids.

Baseball’s Opening Day has come and gone. By using advanced statistics, it’s been determined that by April 19 your fantasy team will be mathematically eliminated. Nice drafting.

The season finale of Walking Dead was this week. If you’re like me, you’re dying to know if they finally get off the island or if Ross and Rachel get together. Full disclosure: We have not seen Walking Dead and are just assuming here.

Microsoft has finally released Office for the iPad. And with that your $500 Candy Crush player has another use. Like, homework or business. Or just one more game of Candy Crush.

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count 'em

Top 5 baseball villains of 2014 Major League Baseball opened its season this week. Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier opens in theaters this week. Coincidence? We think not. Throw in some hot dogs, apple pie, and a Camaro, and you’re talking about some high-quality Americana right there, my friends. Sure, sure. It’s a little bit 80s to go back to picking on the Russians, but heck, everybody needs a nemesis, right?

Which leads us to the obvious subject, our Top 5 villains to watch this baseball season.

1. The Yankees — Duh. As if this one ever changes. The Evil Empire is re-stocked and re-loaded with talent pilfered from other organizations, spending as much of its hard-earned TV contract loot as is imaginable in hopes of a last-ditch effort to be relevant in Derek Jeter’s swan-song season. We hope they finish last in the AL East and everybody gets a bad case of season-long hiccups.

2. The Dodgers — Pretty on-the-nose here, too, we know. But heck. Yasiel Puig’s media-saturation is positively LeBron-esque. And he ain’t done nuthin’ yet. Plus, any time a franchise out-spends the Yanksters, well, that organization gets automatic villain status. Unless. You know. It’s our team Then, good on ‘em for trying to field a winner... Hey. It doesn’t have to be logical or consistent: It’s sports.

3. Bud Selig — Jehoshaphat. Retire already.

4. CJ Wilson — He’s on our fantasy team, so we have to root for him. Which stinks, because there might not be a bigger jerk in baseball. Yes, CJ. The Coliseum in which the A’s play is a dump.

But it’s OUR dump, dangit. Shaddap.

5. Bryce Harper — Because it’s fun to pick on him and his protuberant chin. Low hanging fruit?

That’s another clown question, bro.

— Comic Book Guy Kolb

Number of points scored by the Albany High girls wrestling team en route to a state championship on March1. The Cougars’ accomplishment — which is significant, as they became the first NorCal team to win the now 4-years-old state tournament — got a bit lost in the shuffle. Albany had four wrestlers reach the podium, and two individual state champions as well. Chanel Chawalit won the 128-pound title, and Erica Sotelo won the 131-pound title.

Say What?

“The campus has been electric. The kids get the feeling that our 6th Man is part of the team. Our players, all their best friends are in the 6th Man and vice versa.

You see them everyday at school and they’re fired up.”

Monte Vista-Danville athletic director Craig Bergman talking about the effect the boys basketball team’s run to its first state title has had on the student body.

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of NorCal hoops

At this year’s CIF state basketball finals, we were asked at Cal-Hi Sports by Time Warner Cable to provide a series of Mt. Rushmore type selections for California’s best-ever boys players, girls players and coaches.

If you don’t know, Mt. Rushmore picks in sports have become popular in recent years, but the problem is that there is only room for four in any category one tries to break down.

For the state Mt. Rushmores in basketball, most came from Southern California so I thought for this last basketball column of the season for SportStars I’d do some just for Northern California.

We also separated the California Mt. Rushmores into one group of all-time players and a second just for players from the era of the CIF state playoffs.

For this column, we’ll not only do that but add a few other groupings just for fun.

All-Time Best Boys Players (based on accomplishments in high school only) Bill Cartwright (Elk Grove); Fred LaCour (St. Ignatius-S.F.); Jason Kidd (St. Joseph-Alameda); Paul Silas (McClymonds-Oakland).

All-Time Best Girls Players (based on accomplishments in high school only) Denise Curry (Davis); Jacki Gemelos (St. Mary’s-Stockton); Courtney Paris (Piedmont); Danielle Viglione (Del Campo-Fair Oaks).

All-Time Best Boys Players (based on post-high school accomplishments) Jason Kidd (St. Joseph-Alameda); Gary Payton (Skyline-Oakland); Bill Russell (McClymondsOakland); Paul Silas (McClymonds-Oakland).

All-Time Best Girls Players (based on post-high school accomplishments) Jayne Appel (Carondelet-Concord); Erin Buescher (Rincon Valley Christian-Santa Rosa); Denise Curry (Davis); Danielle Robinson (Archbishop Mitty-San Jose).

All-Time Best Boys Players (since 1980, CIF State Championhip Era) Kevin Johnson (Sacramento); Jason Kidd (St. Joseph-Alameda); Jeremy Lin (Palo Alto); Gary Payton (Skyline-Oakland).

All-Time Best Girls Players (since 1980, CIF State Championship Era) Jayne Appel (Carondelet-Concord); Jacki Gemelos (St. Mary’s-Stockton); Courtney Paris (Piedmont); Danielle Robinson (Archbishop Mitty-San Jose).

All-Time Best Sac-Joaquin Section Boys Players Ryan Anderson (Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills); Bill Cartwright (Elk Grove); DeMarcus Nelson (Sheldon-Sacramento); Kevin Johnson (Sacramento).

All-Time Best Sac-Joaquin Section Girls Players Denise Curry (Davis); Jacki Gemelos (St. Mary’s-Stockton); Karen Smith (Rio Americano-Sacramento); Danielle Viglione (Del Campo-Fair Oaks).

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Jeremy Lin

Dai Sugand/San Jose Mercury News/MCT/ZumaPress.com

Mt. Rushmores All-Time Best North Coast Section Boys Players Phil Chenier (Berkeley); Drew Gooden (El Cerrito); Tony Jackson (Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland); Jason Kidd (St. Joseph-Alameda).

All-Time Best North Coast Section Girls Players Jayne Appel (Carondelet-Concord); Erin Buescher (Rincon Valley Christian-Santa Rosa); Colleen Galloway (Moreau Catholic,-Hayward); Courtney Paris (Piedmont); All-Time Best Central Coast Section Boys Players Aaron Gordon (Archbishop Mitty-San Jose); Charlie Johnson (Sequoia-Redwood City); Fred LaCour (St. Ignatius-San Francisco); Jeremy Lin (Palo Alto).

All-Time Best Central Coast Section Girls Players Jazmine Jackson (Sacred Heart Cathedral-San Francisco); Danielle Robinson (Archbishop Mitty-San Jose); Renee Robinson (Sacred Heart Prep-Atherton); Kerri Walsh (Archbishop MittySan Jose).

All-Time Best Oakland Section Boys Players Joe Ellis (McClymonds); Gary Payton (Skyline); Jim Pollard (Oakland Tech); Paul Silas (McClymonds). Note: Bill Russell (McClymonds) always considered first if post-high school accomplishments part of criteria.

All-Time Best San Francisco Section Boys Players Howie Dallmar (Lowell); Hank Liusetti (Galileo); Tom Meschery (Lowell); Phil Smith (Washington).

All-Time Best San Francisco/Oakland Section Girls Players Alexis Gray-Lawson (Oakland Tech); Devanei Hampton (Oakland Tech); Amanda Lassiter (Washington); Brandy Reed (Balboa). ✪ Mark Tennis is the co-founder of Cal-Hi Sports, and publisher of CalHiSports.com. Cal-Hi Sports is the authority in state rankings for football, basketball, baseball and softball, as well as the recognized state record keeper for all high school sports. Contact him at markjtennis@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter, @CalHiSports.

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girls basketball Rankings boys basketball Rankings Previous ranking in parentheses; all record are final 1. (1)

—

Long Beach Poly

27-3

Jackrabbits won 35th overall CIF state title in all sports. No other school in state is close.

2. (2)

—

Windward-L.A.

25-3

Despite loss to Poly in region final, Jordin Canada still top Ms. Basketball candidate.

3. (3)

—

Mater Dei-Santa Ana

27-3

This team is likely going to start out No. 1 in the state next season.

4. (4)

—

Salesian-Richmond

30-7

Hard to see Mariya Moore end great career on bench with fouls in CIF state final.

5. (5)

—

Etiwanda

22-7

Almost made move for Etiwanda ahead of Salesian in final order.

6. (6)

—

St. Mary’s-Berkeley

27-8

Gabby Green and Mikayla Cowling were pleasure to watch last four seasons.

7. (7)

—

Miramonte-Orinda

30-2

Sabrina Ionescu will be pleasure to watch the next two seasons.

8. (8)

—

Carondelet-Concord

28-4

Cougars had a great season that ended in open division loss to Miramonte.

9. (9)

—

St. Mary’s-Stockton

25-5

Rams, along with Miramonte and O’Dowd, should be top NorCal teams next season.

10. (10)

—

Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland

23-4

With apologies to CIF D3 state champ Chaminade, O’Dowd has —

Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth

25-4

CIF D4 state champs considered for move into top 10, but —

Serra-Gardena

25-6

The Cavs had a win over Windward during the regular season.

13. (13)

—

Chaminade-West Hills

26-4

Devin Stanback kept getting better and better in the playoffs for the Eagles.

14. (14)

—

Canyon Springs-Moreno Valley

25-6

Cheyenne Greenhouse was special all year for the CIF D1 state champs.

15. (15)

—

Bishop Alemany-Mission Hills

24-8

Two losses were in league to Chaminade; regional playoff loss was to Canyon Springs.

16. (16)

—

Bishop’s School-La Jolla

27-6

Destiny Littleton could be state freshman player of year.

17 .(17)

—

Clovis West-Fresno

27-4

Golden Eagles beat Hanford to win section title, then lost to Etiwanda.

18. (18)

—

Troy-Fullerton

24-8

Top two players were a freshman and a sophomore.

19. (19)

—

Hanford

26-4

Brooke Johnson off to UNLV and will be missed next season.

20. (NR)

▲

in state history.

Ventura

29-3

Beating Camarillo twice is ticket for the Cougars to snag last spot.

Dropped Out: No. 20 Camarillo

Mater Dei-Santa Ana

35-0

2. (3)

▲

Etiwanda

27-5

Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland

28-5

With Jordan McLaughlin healthy, only loss was to Mater Dei in two OTs. 3. (2)

▼

With Ivan Rabb back next year, Dragons will take another stab at elusive CIF state title.

4. (6)

▲

Monte Vista-Danville

32-1

CIF D1 title is huge but doesn’t rank above O’Dowd’s runner-up finish in Open Div.

Centennial-Corona

29-4

Chino Hills

29-6

—

Capital Christian-Sacramento

28-4

—

Westchester-Los Angeles

30-7

J.W. North-Riverside

26-2

Redondo Union-Redondo Beach

25-6

Bishop Montgomery-Torrance

28-6

5. (4)

▼

6. (5)

▼

7. (7)

8. (8)

Huskies were shut down by Monte Vista defense in CIF D1 final.

Like Monte Vista, chose to stay D1 instead of going to Open.

Win over Westchester made it easy to put Cougars in this spot.

Best wins by Comets were over J.W. North and Ohio No. 1 team St. Edward.

9. (10)

▲

Beat Centennial in CIFSS playoffs, then lost to Westchester in SoCal bracket.

10. (9)

▼

Seahawks were a young bunch; might be one of SoCal’s top five next season.

Stephen Thompson Jr. will return, but PG Justin Bibbins will be at Long Beach State.

12. (12) —

O’Dowd had better wins.

12. (12)

—

Monarchs’ final record beats Drake’s 34-0 in 1982 for best-ever

11. (11) —

to be ranked higher.

11. (11)

Previous ranking in parentheses; all records are final

1. (1)

Loyola-Los Angeles

27-4

Tough not to ask what might’ve been had Parker Jackson-Cartwright not left the school.

13. (14) ▲

St. John Bosco-Bellflower

23-11

Monster duo of Daniel Hamilton/Tyler Dorsey took over late during win over Folsom.

14. (15) ▲

Chaminade-West Hills

27-6

Folsom

32-3

CIF D3 state champs will return emerging junior Michael Oguine next season.

15. (13) ▼

Everybody will be back for the Bulldogs next season. Open Division berth seems likely.

16. (16) —

Cantwell Sacred Heart-Montebello

23-9

17. (17) —

Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth

29-3

18. (19) ▲

El Camino Real-Woodland Hills

25-7

19. (NR) ▲

Cathedral-Los Angeles

24-6

20. (18) ▼

Archbishop Mitty-San Jose

27-5

Cardinals had a win over Chino Hills and went OT with Mater Dei. Cody Riley and Ira Lee two of state’s top freshmen.

Beat Westchester in L.A. City final also handed Utah’s Bountiful its only loss.

Phantoms beat Cantwell-Sacred Heart twice in league games

All of the NorCal losses in state finals caused Monarchs to slip in final rankings.

Dropped Out: No. 20 Modesto Christian.

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Sport for all seasons So when is soccer season? In our league, it’s in the winter, but then a girl told me she was playing soccer for her high school this spring. And then I found out some teams play in the fall. That makes no sense.

J.R., San Leandro “Making sense” and “high school sports” are not used in the same sentence often enough, sadly. The soccer situation is one of the more perplexing, especially looking at it from the outside.

Soccer, of course, was not a big sport back in the day, and in fact barely existed at the high school level until the 1970s. But, as youth soccer leagues proliferated, and spawned hordes of soccer players, the high schools responded.

Initially, common sense ruled. Soccer is best played when the weather is good, and before the advent of artificial turf, playing soccer in the rain would simply rip up grass fields.

So soccer leagues began in the fall and spring, when it didn’t rain and there was plenty of light. But soccer also requires a lot of field space, which is at a premium in the fall and spring. And during standard time, when it gets dark early, it was difficult to cram all those teams into a limited area.

So the first idea was to move girls soccer to the winter, the

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logic being that one less soccer team in the fall or spring would free things up for other sports.

This was a neat move, until the lawyer father of a female soccer player was freezing to death at a late January game and wondered why the boys got to play when the weather was warm while the girls (and not incidentally their parents) were shivering in the rain.

After much discussion — and a lawsuit in the Acalanes Unified School District — the solution was to move the boys to the winter as well, so now everyone could suffer equally. At some schools, though, the decision was to play the girls in the spring and the boys in the fall (or in some cases, vice versa).

OK, so now many soccer players and parents are cold while others bask in the spring sunshine. The sections hold three postseason playoffs to make sure everyone got to play, and over time, more and more people started watching. This got the attention of the California Interscholastic Federation, and the powers that be had the same question you do: Why are we playing this sport in all these different seasons?

And after mulling it over, the decision was to try to put soccer in the winter. After all, it doesn’t rain that much in Southern California, so it’s not as bad as trying to slog through a season in Eureka, and a campaign started to con-

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solidate all soccer seasons into the winter.

As you’ve noticed, however, that hasn’t happened, and there are a couple of reasons. One is that not every school has artificial turf — and playing winter soccer on a grass field that needs to be used year-round is simply not going to work.

Another issue is lights. To play a soccer game in early January, it needs to start around 3 p.m. if a team is going to rely on sunlight.

An overcast day can turn into pretty much a night game by 4:30 p.m. In addition, the early start means kids have to sometimes get out of school at 1 p.m., and a lot of administrators don’t care for that idea at all — nor should any student who’s at all serious about academics.

All that, plus inertia, has stalled the movement — but the it is far from dead. I wouldn’t be surprised if the CIF manages to force all soccer teams to play in the winter down the road, though I’m not convinced that playing in the cold and rain, with early starts and ruined grass fields, is significantly more rational than having high school soccer being played from September to June. ✪ 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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In winning 32 games and falling nine points short of a state crown, Folsom arrived as a NorCal hoops power

T

he expectations were not sky high.

Shoot, after three consecutive 12-15 seasons, Folsom High basketball coach Mike Wall said just making the playoffs was the big goal for the Bulldogs.

What a little heart, determination and togetherness can do for a young team.

Folsom went from an afterthought on the basketball scene to a near Cinderella-like story after the Bulldogs came up just short of a CIF Division II title, losing to St. John Bosco-Bellflower 63-54 on March 29 at Sleep Train Arena.

The loss ended a 22-game win streak that began at the beginning of the calendar year. Folsom (32-3) broke the school record for wins in a season (31-2 in 2008-09) and did it with a team that had just one senior.

In fact, every point scored in the state tournament was scored by an underclassmen.

“It was an amazing run, it really was,” Wall said. “It was something that just snuck up on us. We were just worried about being able to hopefully qualify for the playoffs when this season started, seriously.

We hadn’t been in the playoffs in two years and so playoffs were our first goal.”

HOW IT STARTED

Sophomore Jordan Ford showed glimpses of greatness as a freshman starting last season for Folsom. Averaging 14 points a game, there was promise that with his scoring ability and eight other players returning from the varsity squad, there could be something special.

A 10-game win streak to start the season for Folsom opened a lot of eyes. That was even with without the services of a handful of players who were still on the football field playing for the Sac-Joaquin Section Div. I champions that played until Dec. 14 in a loss to De La Salle in the CIF Northern Regional Open Division championship. Starting guard Josiah Deguara, who hit three 3-pointers against Bosco, was busy in the preseason, catching 104 passes for 1,354 yards and 16 touchdowns for the football team.

Folsom’s football and basketball teams went a combined 46-4 this academic year.

“Us football guys never thought we’d go to state in basketball,” Deguara said. “It was a great season this year to be able to do that with these guys.”

While the gridiron guys were away, Ford was busy racking up three 30-plus point performances in the first six games of the season.

The only regular season losses came in consecutive games at the MaxPreps Holiday Classic in late December to teams that were also in the state tournament in March. Folsom lost to JW North-Riverside which advanced to the Open Division after losing to Open champions Mater Dei-Santa Ana in the Southern Section Open Division semifinals. The other loss came to Div. IV state runner-ups Moreau Catholic-Hayward.

Neither was anything to fret about.

Once the calendar flipped to 2014, the streak began. Folsom ran through the Delta River League with a 10-0 record, including two wins by a combined margin of seven points to SJS Div. I champions Jesuit-Carmichael. Folsom beat the rest of the league, including 2013 Div. II

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Colin Russell

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state champions Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove and four-time defending SJS Div. I section champions Sheldon-Elk Grove by an average of 23.5 points a game.

A new boss was in town.

Wall is no stranger to winning. The long-time coach and economics teacher at Folsom coached consecutive SJS section champions in 2007-08 and 2008-09. But both of those teams had seniors leading the way.

The 2007-08 team was led by senior Ben Palmer along with thenjunior Tony Johnson, who led the Bulldogs to another section banner season the following year.

But this season was different.

“When you start off with making the playoffs as your first goal and then you end up with trying to win a state championship at the end, it is a pretty weird change in expectations.”

THE YOUTH Jared Wall is one of the many young players that has Folsom looking at a promising future.

Folsom High basketball coach Mike Wall

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Ford’s leadership was quickly evident. During the playoffs, Wall said of his sophomore guard that he has not seen a better late-game closer since Johnson. Along with Wall’s son Jared, also a sophomore, the Bulldogs realized in December that a lack of seniors in the starting lineup would not be a drawback.

Poised and well coached by Wall and assistant Matt Mills with his father Wayne, the pieces began to fall into place.

Those outside of the program told the coaching staff that this team could be good next year, but Wall said he “Doesn’t coach for next season.”

Deguara left the shoulder pads and became the second-leading scorer for Folsom in the playoffs. Six-foot-eight junior center Collin Russell showed he had muscle and quickness to go along with his tall frame. Lukas Hendricks, another football player at 6-5, became an inside force for the Bulldogs with Russell and Alec Andrews rounding out the starting lineup at guard.

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PLAYOFF PUSH Folsom beat Cosumnes Oaks-Elk Grove for the Div. II section championship and beat St. Ignatius-San Francisco and Serra-San Mateo before topping Cosumnes Oaks once again for the NorCal title. That win advanced the program to its first state championship game since winning the Div. III title in 1985.

Go back to that un-lofty preseason expectation of just trying to make the playoffs.

“When you start off with making the playoffs as your first goal and then you end up with trying to win a state championship at the end,” Wall said, “it is a pretty weird change in expectations.”

Folsom led Bosco after the first sixteen minutes of hte state final, but the athleticism of the Braves took over. Bosco featured a big three of Connecticut-bound senior Daniel Hamilton (22 points in finals), Arizona-commit junior Tyler Dorsey (24 points) and sophomore sensation Vance Johnson (13 points, 17 rebounds). That trio did the young Bulldogs in at the end after Folsom shot just 7 of 15 from the charity stripe and just 30.3 percent (20 of 66) from the field.

“Give (Bosco) credit,” Mike Wall said. “Their length and quickness and ability to close on the shooter and make us uncomfortable in shooting is going to lead to some of that.

But we didn’t close on the free throw line.”

NEW EXPECTATIONS The best will learn more from a loss than a win. Adversity is key to building greatness.

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Bishop O’Dowd’s Jackson Kalmbach All records are final, according to MaxPreps 1. (1) — Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland 28-5 2. (4) ▲ Monte Vista-Danville 32-1 3. (2) ▼ Capital Christian-Sacramento 28-4 4. (4) — Folsom 32-3 5. (7) ▲ Archbishop Mitty-San Jose 27-5 6. (8) ▲ Modesto Christian 24-9 7. (5) ▼ Newark Memorial 26-5 8. (6) ▼ El Cerrito 28-5 9. (9) — Cosumnes Oaks-Elk Grove 16-18* 10. (10) — St. Mary’s-Stockton 27-2 11. (14) ▲ St. Joseph Notre Dame-Alameda 31-5 12. (18) ▲ Freedom-Oakley 26-7 13. (11) ▼ Jesuit-Carmichael 29-4 14. (17) ▲ Moreau Catholic-Hayward 27-7 15. (16) ▲ Serra-San Mateo 22-9 16. (NR) ▲ Drake-San Anselmo 26-8 17. (NR) ▲ Archbishop Riordan-S.F. 19-12 18. (13) ▼ Campolindo-Moraga 23-8 19. (15) ▼ Grant-Sacramento 27-7 20. (12) ▼ San Ramon Valley-Danville 24-6 *—Forfeited 15 wins due to ineligible player DROPPED OUT: No. 19 St. Ignatius-S.F. and No. 20 De La Salle-Concord BIGGEST MOVERS: Technically, the biggest mover was Freedom, which jumped six spots in the final rankings after Monte Vista completed its run to a CIF Div. I state title. Three of the Falcons’ seven losses this season came against the Mustangs, including their season-ending loss — a 59-51 OT defeat in the Div. I NorCal final. The final rankings also include two new teams, both of which came out of the CIF Div. III field. Drake entered at No. 16 after reaching the state final, beating Riordan (ranked for the second time this season) 54-49 in the NorCal final. San Ramon Valley dropped eight spots after it’s NorCal quarterfinal loss to McClymonds.

However, the Wolves did not drop all the way because they can still lay claim to Monte Vista’s only defeat of the season.

TEAMS STILL RANKED FROM THE PRESEASON TOP 20: 13

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“I can’t fault their effort and their heart,” Wall said of his young, talented team after the loss. “The way we battled to the end (is what) I love about these guys as a team. As a whole and as individuals.”

Returning 99 percent of the team’s offensive output could well vault the Bulldogs into rarefied air next year.

“It’s going to be completely flipped on its head,” Wall said.

“People looking at us next year are going to be expecting us to be making another run deep into the playoffs.”

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Ford, with offers from mid-majors like UC Davis and Cal State Northridge, will surely see those offers increase in the coming months and welcomes the added incentive to get better and compete for another title run.

“This year was great,” Ford said.

“We didn’t get a lot of wins last year and we didn’t know what it felt like. But to make it this far after a season like we had last year is just amazing. We’re going to have the X on us. We are ready for it.” ✪ Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

Samantha Huddleston, left, and Aayliah Pena greet each other during introductions before the state championship game.

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The Eagles of Pleasant Grove defied the odds in a remarkable run to the state final

P

leasant Grove High’s girls basketball team didn’t win a league title. The Eagles didn’t advance to the Sac-Joaquin Section championship game, either.

Which made everything that happened afterward all the more strange and amazing.

The team’s improbable run through the CIF Northern Regional Division I playoffs was something special despite coming to a heart-wrenching 56-30 loss to Canyon Springs-Moreno Valley in the state final March 28 at Sleep Train Arena.

Pleasant Grove traveled 606 miles round trip to beat McClymonds-Oakland, Wilcox-Santa Clara and Monte Vista-Danville by a combined six points to advance to the NorCal DI finals.

Playing against three-time defending NorCal-champion Berkeley, Pleasant Grove beat the Yellowjackets 51-42 to advance to the state final for the first time in the nineyear history of the school. And it came on the heels of the Pleasant Grove boys’ state title just one year earlier.

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James McKeever, who has been the head coach at Pleasant Grove since the Elk Grove school started in 2005, sat on the bench after the NorCal finals, took a deep breath, looked around and muttered, “Don’t wake me up. Don’t wake me up.”

The moment was surreal to the coach. The team spent the week in a sort-of dream sequence after the way the Eagles battled on the road in the Bay Area in three clutch road wins. McKeever took to Facebook daily in the six days between the NorCal and state finals to show pictures of the numerous media interviews the coach and players did throughout the week.

The moments were treasured. Realizing that this was an opportunity few achieve, McKeever said he did some reflection on the morning of the finals just to make himself aware of how special it was.

“I was able to reflect a little (the morning of the final) to think about what happened,” McKeever said.

After going 7-3 in the Delta River League, losing twice to Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills in the regular season, the Eagles section playoffs ended at the hands of those same Trojans 59-45 in the section semifinals.

Led by UC Irvine-commit Aaliyah Pena, the Eagles packed up the bus and filled it with sandwiches and the mindset of just getting through each road game of the NorCal bracket.

“We just took one game at a time and it just fell into place at the end,” McKeever said.

After each two-point win in the opening rounds of NorCals, there wasn’t much time to reflect. Without an assistant coach this year, the bond between coach and the players grew stronger than ever for McKeever. “I’ve had a bunch of mini-coaches on the bench,” he said. “So that’s always been a good thing for me.”

Knowing he would get caught up in the action of games, players — much like an assistant coach would do — would remind the coach of a substitution off the bench that needed to be made.

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“I would forget to put someone in and one of the players would say, ‘Coach, you forgot,’” McKeever said with a smile after the state final.

He admits that he’s had more talented teams in the past. Arizona freshman Dejza James led the Eagles last season. Avonna Lee, now at Northern Arizona, was the leader with James the year before.

But this was a collective group that just wanted to win, no matter who was putting in the work.

Junior Kim Schmelz led Pleasant Grove with 11.9 points this season and sophomore guard Brittany Nguyen chipped in with 10.9. With no proven superstars on the roster, the group clicked at just the right time. As the 11th seed in the NorCal playoffs, a shot at making the NorCal finals did not seem likely.

“I love this team,” Pena said. “I think we got so far because we’re all friends off the court and we play as a team and we’re not selfish. We don’t care who scores, we don’t care who get the rebounds as long as it gets done. Just to get this far was amazing.”

Pena was a solid role player in the paint in the previous seasons for Pleasant Grove. A fantastic rebounder, Pena averaged just under a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds a game before putting in 13 points and 11 rebounds against Berkeley.

“She is just a great leader,” McKeever said. “She doesn’t understand that yet, but I told her she will be a great leader. She stepped up when she was supposed to.”

The players sat at the podium after the loss to Canyon Springs with tears in their eyes, disappointed that the playoff run ended.

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“I know they are upset right now,” McKeever said.

“But not many of us will get back to this level again.

They did everything they could.”

Cheyenne Greenhouse led Canyon Springs with 24 points in the finals and Charnea Johnson-Chapman (10 points) and Kimari Hollis (12) scored in double figures for the Cougars.

Nguyen led Pleasant Grove with eight points and Pena and Schmelz added six in the loss.

The Eagles were trying to become just the second Sacramento-area girls team to win a large-school state title and were just the sixth from the area to advance to the Div. I finals after Grant-Sacramento advanced three times in the 1980s, Kennedy-Sacramento in 2002 and Oak Ridge won the title in 2010.

“These girls helped me out a lot,” McKeever said.

With a vacancy open for the Pleasant Grove boys basketball coach after John DePonte stepped down, McKeever said he will take some time and weigh his options.

“I’m going to take a couple days off and go in and talk to (athletic director, Jeff Caton) and see what’s going on,” McKeever said. “I will just play it by ear. I am not in a thing to move anywhere, but if the opportunity arose, I’d look at the possibility.”

The likelihood is McKeever continues with the job he has had since 2005 — sticking with this team in hopes of having another shot at a playoff run next season behind a strong nucleus that could help the Eagles fly high once again.

“It’s a decent team coming back,” McKeever said. ✪

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“I love this team. I think we got so far because we’re all friends off the court and we play as a team and we’re not selfish.

We don’t care who scores, we don’t care who get the rebounds as long as it gets done. Just to get this far was amazing.”

— Aaliyah Pena RIGHT: The Pleasant Grove Girls gleefully accept their NorCal championship trophy after beating Berkeley on March 21.

LEFT: Kim Schmelz scored six points in the state championship game.

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Flame Job St. Joseph Notre Dame set fire to its haunted past before blazing to a Div. V state-championship win

A Salesian’s Mariya Moore All records are final, according to MaxPreps 1. (1) — Salesian-Richmond 30-7 2. (2) — Miramonte-Orinda 30-2 3. (3) — St. Mary’s-Berkeley 27-8 4. (4) — Carondelet-Concord 28-4 5. (5) — St. Mary’s-Stockton 26-8 6. (7) ▲ Pinewood-Los Altos Hills 30-3 7. (6) ▼ Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland 23-4 8. (8) — St. Ignatius-S.F. 26-5 9. (9) — Sacred Heart Cathedral-S.F. 21-8 10. (10) — Berkeley 24-9 11. (11) — Vanden-Fairfield 25-7 12. (12) — Brookside Christian-Stockton 28-5 13. (13) — Archbishop Mitty 20-12 14. (19) ▲ Modesto Christian 27-8 15. (14) ▼ Deer Valley-Antioch 24-6 16. (15) ▼ Sacramento 23-9 17. (16) ▼ McNair-Stockton 28-5 18. (18) — McClatchy-Sacramento 26-5 19. (19) — Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills 26-6 20. (20) — Enterprise-Redding 28-3 DROPPED OUT: None.

BIGGEST MOVERS: Win a state championship, jump in the rankings. Modesto Christian, the Division III titlist, goes up to No. 14 -- but stays behind Mitty, which beat Modesto Christian earlier in the year. (A reminder: The rankings are based on the entire season, not just the postseason, which is why Pleasant Grove didn’t make the top 20.)Pinewood jumped past Bishop O’Dowd thanks to the Division V championship, as O’Dowd’s disqualification from postseason, whether justified or not, prevented the Dragons from truly proving themselves in the playoff crucible. Next year, though, O’Dowd will most likely start the season at the top of the rankings, and are expected to be one of the state’s best teams.

TEAMS STILL RANKED FROM PRESEASON 20: 12

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35-foot buzzer-beater in the CIF Division V state final ended the season of the St. Joseph Notre DameAlameda boys season a year ago. The 47-46 loss to Horizon Christian Academy-San Diego was not just etched in the memories of Pilots coach Don Lippi and the players.

A photo of the final shot was taped to a window for all to see.

Until the morning before the Div. V championship against Renaissance Academy-La Canada on March 28.

“We took that picture out and went in the back and we burned it in the garbage can,” Lippi said. “I said, ‘That’s history.’”

Led by four-year player Temidayo Yussuf, the Pilots (31-5) beat Renaissance 57-32, capturing the state title for the first time since Yussuf was a freshman. It also ended a streak of two state finals losses for the program.

“It means a lot,” Yussuf said. “When I won it my freshman year, I wasn’t really a big factor and I really didn’t play at all and I took it as I really didn’t win a state championship. I tried my sophomore year and we lost. Then we tried again last year and lost, and I said ‘I’m not about to leave without a state championship.’ So I knew coming into this season I had to just give it that extra (effort) and give my team that extra (effort) to come through and win it.”

The Long Beach State-commit had game-highs with 21 points and 16 rebounds in the finals, including nine offensive rebounds that allowed the Pilots to get second-chance points.

St. Joseph went into the half with a 29-8 lead after blanking the Wildcats in the second quarter.

Lamont Banks added 14 points and seven rebounds and Esteban Lovato had eight for the Pilots.

Yussuf grinned ear-to-ear as the game ended. During the on-court trophy presentation, the senior motioned to the large St. Joseph crowd with raised arms and gave teammates hugs and high-fives.

“I just wanted to end (the season) with a smile,” Yussuf said.

The Pilots now have five state titles in 10 state championship appearances. The program won consecutive Div. I titles under then-coach Frank LaPorte for a team led by future Pro Basketball Hall of Famer and current Brooklyn Nets coach Jason Kidd. The Pilots added a Div. IV title in 2004, the first under Lippi before winning the 2011 title.

“This is one of my top three favorite teams,” Lippi said.

GIRLS GO 2-4 In what may have been among the strongest years ever for NorCal girls basketball, just two of six were able to walk away with state titles — partly due to the Open Division eliminating some of the strongest Div. II, III and IV programs. PinewoodLos Altos Hills cruised to a Div. V championship by topping La Jolla Country Day 60-42, and Modesto Christian claimed the Div. III title — the first for the program — with a 64-55

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Jonathan Hawthorne

Temidayo Yussuf, a four-year varsity player for St. Joseph Notre Dame-Alameda, helped guide the Pilots to a 31-5 record.

win over Santa Barbara.

Salesian-Richmond survived the NorCal Regional tournament only to face the buzzsaw of nationally-ranked Long Beach Poly. The 70-52 win for the Jackrabbits brought an end to Mariya Moore’s illustrious career for the Pride. Moore lead Salesian to three straight state finals, but the Pride could never quite get over the hump. ✪ — Trevor Horn Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

Del Campo coach Sharon Props, left, and daughter Shelby.

The junior catcher’s twin sister Shyanne also plays for the Cougars.

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SEEING double With multiple sets of siblings anchoring a veteran group, it’s hard to top the chemistry of Del Campo softball Story by Trevor Horn • Photos by James K. Leash Support Your Local Business • Say You Found Them In SportStars™

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Senior infielder Kate Larsen, right, has been a staple in the Del Campo lineup for the past few seasons. Her sister Brooke is the newcomer. The freshman has taken over the primary pitching duties for the Cougars and won seven of her first eight decisions. She had a 1.19 ERA through the team’s first 12 games.

A

t Del Campo High in Fair Oaks, mother always knows best.

The softball coach for the Cougars, Sharon Props, says she has the natural “maternal instinct” when it comes to coaching.

More importantly she starts her twin daughters, Shyanne and Shebly Props, along with a sister duo of four-year varsity starter Kate Larsen and freshman starting pitcher Brooke Larsen.

It’s truly a family affair.

“That part comes with being a female,” Props said. “Most female coaches have that maternal instinct and that motherly outlook on things, and I have been in the community with all these kids. I’ve known them since rec ball. I’ve known them since they were six. So there is that twist on it.”

Props has been the head coach at Del Campo for 11 years and doubles as the athletic director. Being a neighborhood resident herself, the relationship as mentor to these players started long before high school.

The Cougars have consecutive 16-win seasons and return all but one player from last season, and Del Campo took a 9-3 record in the Capital Valley Conference.

With the freshman Larsen taking over the duties in the circle, Props was very confident in her team early on.

“I really expected them to be this good because I have five seniors and four juniors,” Props said. “I have some veterans and they have matured from last year when they did a lot of adjustments and growing, so I expected them to be strong. But there is still room for improvement.”

The players in this group of upperclassmen are no strangers to getting to the top.

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The Cougars lost to Woodcreek-Roseville for the Sac-Joaquin Section Div. II title in 2012.

The top-heavy league CVC includes defending Div. II champions, Casa Roble-Orangevale along with Oakmont-Roseville, Bella Vista-Fair Oaks and Christian Brothers-Sacramento (Div. II runners-up in 2013) all vying for the championship. Despite that, Props remains confident with the knowledge of the years this group has had honing its skills as a team, not just as players.

On her hoodie, Props wears the slogan “Believe — in the power of the team.”

“I always come up with corny little sayings on the back of my shirts, but I want them to know that it is more than softball,” Props said. “It is a family. It is synergy. It’s getting more out of each other than it is sums of your parts.”

Led by Kate Larsen and fellow seniors Emily Murphy, Halee Howell, Autumn Prince, juUpload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

niors Haley Dosher and the Props twins along with sophomore leadoff hitter Maggie West, the Cougars were hitting a collective .363 heading into league play.

West led the team with a .556 average through the first 12 games and was the team’s second leading hitter behind Howell last season.

Brooke Larsen’s arrival in the circle — replacing the lone senior from last year in Megan Wantz — has been the addition the team needed. Having older sister Kate on varsity the previous three seasons, Props knew that the younger Brooke was a talented pitcher. That being said, she wasn’t ready to appoint her the new ace. But once Props saw Larsen throw earlier in the offseason, it was an easy decision.

“Kate has been playing with me all four years, so her parents have been telling me ‘She’s coming, she’s coming,’” Props said. “And it’s been a nice surprise because I don’t count my chickens. She’s been a great, great addition.

She has the possibility to live up to greatness.”

Hanging in the dugout during each game is a blue mitt and a mini-bat with names written on each. After every game, Props writes down on the bat who was the top hitter for the game and the best defensive star gets her name on the mitt. At the end of the season, the player with her name on each the most takes them home as an end-of-the-year prize.

“It’s better than a trophy or a plaque because they can go back and see each game,” Props said. “They appreciate that because they can go back and say they remember what happened and who we played and all that fun stuff.”

The fun stuff will come with that all-elusive blue section banner that continues to elude the program.

“Every day, you have to bring it,” Props said. ✪

Twin sisters, Shelby Props (top) and Shyanne, combined for 19 hits, 14 runs and 11 RBI over the Cougars first 12 games this season. Shelby plays catcher and Shyanne is an outfielder.

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Heavy

Pedal cycling injuries: hunter greene

Keep the various pains from excessive bike riding to a minimum Mountain biking is surging in popularity among high school students in Northern California, as evidenced by the growing number of high school mountain biking teams. It’s an inclusive, fun and challenging sport that appeals to recreational riders and experienced competitors alike.

No matter what your skill level, everyone has a chance to develop and improve his or her mountain biking skills and endurance during the season.

As with any sport, cycling is not without risk of injury. By following some simple safety principles, you can avoid many common cycling injuries.

KNEE PAIN — The knee is the most common spot for overuse injuries in cycling. Patellofemoral syndrome, patella and quadriceps tendinitis, and iliotibial band friction syndrome are some of the common overuse injuries of the knee. Shoe inserts, wedges beneath the shoes and proper cleat position may help prevent these injuries of the knee.

HEAD INJURIES — One of the most common injuries suffered by cyclists is a head injury.

Wearing a helmet significantly reduces the risk for head injury.

NECK/BACK PAIN — Cyclists may experience pain in the neck from staying in one riding position for too long. An easy way to avoid this is by doing shoulder shrugs and neck stretches periodically. Improper form also leads to injuries. If the handlebars are too low, cyclists may have to round their backs, putting strain on the neck and back. Changing the grip on the handlebars takes the stress off of overused muscles and redistributes pressure.

WRIST/FOREARM PAIN OR STIFFNESS — Cyclists should ride with their elbows slightly bent (never with their arms locked or straight). When they hit bumps in the road or trail, bent elbows act as shock absorbers. Again, changing hand positions will help reduce pain or numbness. Two types of common wrist overuse injuries, cyclist’s palsy and carpel tunnel syndrome, can be prevented by alternating the pressure from the inside to the outside of the palms and making sure wrists do not drop below the handlebars. In addition, padded gloves and stretching the hands and wrists before riding will help.

FOOT NUMBNESS/TINGLING — Foot numbness and tingling are common complaints, and shoes that are too tight or narrow are often the cause. In addition, foot numbness can be caused by exertional compartment syndrome, an exercise-induced muscle and nerve condition that causes pain and swelling in the lower leg. The condition is usually treated with surgical release.

Many of the problems described above are discomforts associated with an improper bike fit. With the very repetitive action of pedaling, the first line of defense against overuse injuries is a proper bike fit. If you didn’t get one at the beginning of the season, get one now to ensure you’re in the proper position to help prevent overuse injuries.

Any injury that is accompanied by bleeding, severe pain, loss of sensation or increased weakness should be seen by a physician. Overuse injuries or mild injuries can be treated by rest and taking pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Swelling and pain can also be treated with alternating ice and heat therapy. ✪ Hunter Greene, M.D., is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with Summit Orthopedic Specialists in Carmichael.

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training time: tim rudd for iyca

A look at the first two steps in the Leaning Tower Series, building toward strong deceleration Why is it important for your athletes to get stiffer early in the process of deceleration? I discussed why it’s an indicator of athletic success and vital for the health of your athletes in my last column.

Today I’m going to give you the first two of six progressions of the Leaning Tower Series developed by Bill Knowles, Director of HP Sports Reconditioning and Athletic Development in Pennsylvania, that we use here at F2C with all are athletes.

These will improve the ability of your athletes to get stiff (have control) early in the process of

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deceleration (landing, cutting, changing direction etc.) right at the point of foot contact, allowing them to make a play and stay healthy.

Leaning Tower Series: 1.Golf ball between butt cheeks/Credit cards under heel Athletes are cued to squeeze golf ball between butt cheeks with purpose of not letting it fall. This gets feet, ankles, calves, quads, hamstrings and butt stiff. This action will naturally cause a pushing of mid-foot or ball of foot into ground with emphasis that heel is grazing ground (credit card under heel).

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2. Penguin Taps Improves stiffness in ankle dorsiflexion (foot pulled up toward shin) and plantar flexion (foot pushed down into ground away from shin).

The athlete pushes one-foot into the ground while the other should naturally lift off the ground, don’t let go of golf ball and credit card under heel. There should be no weight shift!

Athletes should stay centered in an up-down action, no side-to-side movement.

Progress to arm action with in-place penguin walks to coordinate arm and foot action, maintaining golf ball and credit card under heel.

These first 2 progressions will develop a very strong and stiff ankle system. This is important for preparing your athletes for the next progressions of the Leaning Tower Series, coming up in my next column. Watch a video representation of these first two steps at SportStarsOnline.com. ✪ Tim Rudd is an IYCA specialist in youth conditioning and owner of Fit2TheCore.

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health watch: suzanne becker

The Power of Pilates Developing an athlete’s core, which consists of the deep abdominal muscles along with the muscles closest to the spine, makes an athlete more agile, helps prevent injury by stabilizing the torso, and increases sports performance. Pilates is the most effective method of exercise to build a uniformly developed core, while addressing muscle imbalances, and increasing strength and flexibility.

Think of your deep abdominal muscles as the foundation of any body movement; hence it is extremely important to build this often forgotten muscle group in young, developing athletes.

If you play a predominantly one-sided sport such as tennis, golf, or baseball you probably have developed muscle imbalances due to the nature of your sport. Since such a key part of Pilates is focused on postural alignment and symmetry, these imbalances will become more obvious to you as you begin to exercise. Specifically releasing the overworked, tight muscles and strengthening the weaker ones, will balance the body and help prevent injuries that might otherwise occur when stress is placed on a weak structure.

Other sports are more linear in nature such as running and cycling. It is easy for runners and cyclists to develop imbalances in their musculature due to the nature of their sport, which is always moving forward with little to no side-to-side motion. Adding Pilates to their repertoire can help runners and cyclists restore flexibility of the lower and upper body and strengthen the sides of the hips and core to help the knees be more stable.

Multi-directional sports require the athlete be stable in multiple planes of motion, as well as be prepared for physical contact with other athletes. The traditional strength training regimen for these sports develops the outside large muscle groups, which produce large movements, but not powerful movements. When all layers of muscles around a joint are strong, these large movements are more powerful and accurate.

Quick changes of direction become faster and more agile with a strong core.

Lastly, athletes requiring excessive flexibility for their sport, such as dancers, gymnasts, and figure skaters, tend to over-develop the outer layer of abdominal musculature and under-develop the deep stabilizing abdominals. Spine injury is particularly prevalent in these sports due to these imbalances.

Athletes competing in all sports can benefit from the attention to detail and concentration that Pilates demands. ✪ Suzanne Becker is a physical therapist for Sports Medicine for Young Athletes, a division of Children’s Hospital Oakland with a second facility in Walnut Creek.

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get mental: erika Carlson

Battling BURNOUT In a recent article in the Walnut Street Journal, it was reported that from 2008-2012 for ages 6-14 years, football participation decreased by 4.9 percent, youth basketball participation decreased by 6.3 percent and youth soccer had no growth.

Michael Bergeron, Executive Director of the National Youth Sports Health & Safety Institute stated that “The main reason kids fall away from sport is that the sport isn’t fun to the child,” and “We have to be aware that single-sport specialization, overuse, overworking kids searching for elite athletes; All of these things are causing kids to leave youth sport and not return.”

In other words, kids are burning out.

So why, when our culture seems to value the youth and collegiate sport experience more than ever, are kids burning out? First, what is burnout? Academically, burnout is defined as, a syndrome categorized by: 1. Emotional and physical exhaustion often caused by overtraining 2. Sport devaluation (a.k.a. staleness) 3. Reduced sense of accomplishment (often leads to dropping out of sport).

Burnout means the athlete no longer enjoys the process, challenge and accomplishment they once did. They don’t want to work at it and have lost joy in improving and competing.

Sadly, once kids burn out and eventually dropout, the opportunity to gain the valuable experience and life skills youth sport provides is gone.

The GOOD NEWS! Burnout is complicated in regards to how it develops. There are potentially many factors involved. However, it can be relatively simple to “cure.” ›› REFLECT — Take some time to reflect on the following: What motivates ME? What are MY goals? Why are MY goals important to ME? Who are the people I work hard for? Getting some clarity can refuel motivation and work ethic. ›› REST — One of the first stages of developing burnout is not getting enough rest and recovery. As the body breaks down, so does the mental and emotional stability. Competitive athletes often try to overcome this exhaustion by pushing through and working harder, which makes the problem worse. ›› TAKE A BEAK — A vacation, spend more time with friends, engage in another hobby, do whatever you normally don’t have time to do. Missing your sport and your team can be a great way to come back fresh and ready to recommit yourself to training and competition. ✪ Erika Carlson is a certified mental trainer and owner of Excellence in Sports Performance in Pleasanton.

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Walking

STRONG

powered by trucks: Anthony trucks

You’d be surprised how the carry lift can help your core

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When it comes to core training I am inundated with questions about what are the best core exercises to do, and the question has an answer that catches many off-guard. Everyone’s desired result for the core is the pretty six-pack abs that look so amazing to the opposite gender. In fact, just because the abs look good, doesn’t mean they work well.

For me, functionality is king. No one wants their abs to look good while their body hurts.

So having a strong core is the most desirable trait in regard to choosing core exercises. What I’ve found is that the most bang-for-your-buck exercises are in fact carries. These are farmer carries with dumbbells in both hands or one hand, as well as yoke carries with a bar on their back.

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This is because most people choose exercises that isolate muscle groups so they work alone instead of simultaneously and in unison. Instead, load the hands with heavy weight and go for a walk.

What this does is place the weight in the hands or on the back and, in relation to the core, places the load above the core. This essentially makes the core do more work as the body works to counteract the balance by firing muscles all around the core when walking.

So next time you decide get a good workout in, just “go for a walk”. ✪ Anthony Trucks is the owner of Trucks Training facility in Brentwood and covers weight training for SportStars.

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golf fitness: dean javier

the

Swing Science Golf therapy is a real thing, and it won’t just lower your score In all sports or physical activities that require the body to be able to reliably and efficiently reproduce the desired movement repeatedly, there is a basic principle in the exercise physiology world that trainers/educators impart to their clients: specificity of training.

Basically, if one’s goal is to be able to play football competitively, then this person should train like a football player and not like a tennis player.

The philosophy of the Titleist Performance Institute is to educate golf industry professionals and the public on how the body/swing connection are related to each other and how one’s physical fitness/limitations can affect the golf swing.

In essence, what can your body physically do and build your swing around that.

Obviously, the better conditioned one’s body is in to withstand the torsional forces created in the golf swing, the end result (given proper professional instruction) will be: a better overall game (longer drives, crisper irons, etc.) and longevity in being able to continue playing the game.

Therefore, the basis of golf therapy is to recognize what physical limitations are present that can hinder the golf swing and how to make it better. For example, if a person has an excessive anterior pelvic tilt (imagine a pretty big beer belly; you’ll see a person’s belt tipped forward and downwardly), they can’t effectively rotate their torso over the pelvis. Hence their ability to load on the stabilizing leg (for a right-handed golfer you’re going to be rotating your torso and shoulders over the right leg/ foot) will be limited and your power greatly diminished.

Try sitting at the very edge of your chair and arch your back excessively (ie, beer belly posture). Cross you arms against your chest and simulate your backswing, then forward swing ( or, downswing) at a slow pace (don’t hurt yourself; stop when you have to). You should feel restricted in how far you can rotate, and most likely will feel some pain in your low back. Now take some of the excessive arch out (place your low back in a more comfortable position) and repeat as above. I’m hoping you’ll have an “a-ha!” moment. This is just a small example of what golf fitness/therapy addresses. ✪ Dean Javier is a golf therapy specialist for Sutter Delta Medical Center. He admits to having merely and average golf game.

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even more camps + clinics at sportstarsonline.com BASEBALL/SOFTBALL

All Star Academy of Baseball All-Star Academy in Santa Clara features a 17,000 square foot indoor and outdoor training facility that is home to a variety of instructional programs. ASA offers All Skills Camps for ages 7-12, and Summer Boot Camps for 12 & Under, middle school, and high school athletes. Info: 650-961-2255; www. asabaseball.com Cabernet Baseball Club The Livermore-based club not only hosts The Pitching Center’s Spring Break Baseball Skills Camp, its also hosts its own baseball summer camps. Each camp is designed for specific skill development.

We feature camps for the youngest and newest players ages 5 - 7 all the way to the most elite high school and college players. We keep our student to instructor ratios low. This ensures the best possible instruction experience for each participant. Lil’ Baseball is also offered for ages 3-7. Info: 925-4161600, www.cabernetindoorsports.com Cal Club Baseball CCB is one of the premier college development baseball programs in California. We have hitting sessions on Saturdays and Sundays. Times for these hitting sessions will be sent out at the beginning of each week and will be listed on our website. In these hitting sessions we set up stations for players to work on hitting for power, gap-to-gap, two strikes, balance and opposite field. Pitching sessions are set up with stations to get specific work on certain mechanics for pitching. Info: erick@calclubbaseball.com; (408) 204-8771 Fieldhouse Baseball Camps/Clinics The Fieldhouse is an indoor baseball facility providing baseball-related developmental and training services for teams and organizations. These services include baseball classes for hitting, pitching, catching, base running, infield and outfield defense, speed/agility/

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strength training, and teaching the mental aspect of baseball. Along with the class instruction, our services also include developing a long term training and development program for baseball organizations interested in developing a sustainable and successful program. Info: Don Gieseke; don@thefieldhouse.net Got ‘Em Baseball College Development The College Development Camp is a camp geared toward those elite high school student athletes that have aspirations of playing at the next level. We have teamed up with numerous colleges, professional instructors, current MLB scouts, motivational speakers and life skills coaches to bring to you an unforgettable 4-day/3-night baseball and life skills experience. The College Development Camp for grades: 9-11 takes place at University of the Pacific & Delta College in Stockton. Max Number of Campers: 60. Info: baseball@gotembaseball.com Gregg Jefferies Sports Academy Former first-round draft pick for the New York Mets, Gregg Jefferies put together an amazing 14-year career at the Major League level. Now he can train you! Enlist in camps and specialty clinics like hitting and pitching classes; onsight rehab and arm care, speed and agility, srength/core classes, team programs or join our monthly Baseball Membership.

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

Most importantly (and this is the most overlooked concept by young players) Headfirst is proven in having the relationships with colleges that will

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even more camps + clinics at sportstarsonline.com result in players being connected with their desired school. Info: MJi0209@aol.com; Mario74iglesias@aol.com National Academy of Athletics Hit & Run Our baseball/softball Camps are great for boys and girls ages 6-8 and 9-12. These week long sessions are offered at different locations throughout Northern California. Info: info@ naofa.us; Bay Area: 415-296-6686; North Bay: 707-541-2365; Toll Free: 866-90-SPORT 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 training programs that evolve based on the best research and information available in areas from health/safety, peak performance, education techniques and more. Age- and skill-specific programs are available for students aged 8-18. Info: 925-416-1600, www. thepitchingcenter.com.

Redwood Christian Baseball Camps Our annual baseball camps are directed by varsity coach Jim Cleveland in July. Camps feature outstanding instructors and two great weeks with seven sessions including Skills Camp – Ages 8-12, Hitting Camp – Ages 9-15, Advanced All Skills Camp (2 wks) – Ages 1316, Pitching Camp – Ages 9-15 and Catching Camp – Ages 10-15. Info: rcsathletics.org; 510-317-8988 San Ramon Slammers East Bay Club Baseball League is organized for the benefit of high school baseball players who wish to play competitive baseball during this high school baseball season, but either did not make their school team or their school does not have a freshmen program.

East Bay Club Baseball League provides the coaches, uniforms, a practice and game schedule, and professional instruction. Info: eastbayclubbaseball@gmail.com Skyhawks Baseball Camp A fun, skill-intensive program designed for beginning to intermediate levels. Available for ages 6-8. All participants receive t-shirt and player evaluation. Info: walnut-creek.org

BASKETBALL

Advantage Basketball Camps Advantage Basketball Camps are for kids 7-18. Players grow and learn about more than basketball in our sessions. Advantage camps’ main focus is ball handling skills and moves off the dribble. Trying to learn the rest of the game is a waste of time if you can’t handle the ball. We also cover shooting, defense and court awareness. We run a professional camp that is hard work but produces great results. Our newest camp is on Rocklin. For all dates/locations: 425-6708877; info@advantagebasketball.com, www. advantagebasketball.com All Out Sports League Our camps are geared toward teaching the fundamentals. Every aspect of the game is covered: dribbling, shooting, layups, passing, cross-overs, defense, help defense, boxing out and much more. Camps are open to boys and girls ages 6-16. Info: 925-203-5636 or www. alloutsportsleague.com East Bay Bulldogs The Bulldogs are pleased to bring back our hugely popular Week Night Skills Workouts.

The program focuses on fundamental skills that are tough to spend much time on in practice.

We do three 2-hour long skills workouts, that are open to boys and girls from 2nd-12th grade. This is a complete workout touching on

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all skills needed to play the game. You don’t have to be a Bulldogs player to attend. We are based in Martinez. Info: PGLeClaire@comcast. net; 925-570-1334 Jackson Sports Academy At JSA, we strongly believe in the value and importance of sports and physical activities in the development of youth. With cutbacks in school athletics programs, we created the Jackson School For Athletes — a nonprofit arm of the organization aimed at making sports experiences available to ALL children.

We offer several sports, including basketball and indoor soccer. Info: 916-239-5933; jacksonsportsacademy.net Moreau Catholic Basketball Camp Co–ed basketball camps for incoming grades 3-9, Cost: $150/session, $400 for all sessions: Week 1 6/16 – 6/20; Week 2 6/23 – 6/27; Week 3 6/30 – 7/3. All camps 9am – 2pm; Info: Varsity coach Frank Knight, knight@ moreaucatholic.org; moreaucatholic.org/ Athletics National Academy of Athletics Hoop It Up These camps are great for boys and girls ages 6-8 and 9-13. We offer 3- or 5-day Camps, Game Days, 1-Day Clinics, 3-on-3 Tournaments and Parent & Child Clinics. These sessions are offered at different locations throughout Northern California. Info: info@ naofa.us; Bay Area: 415-296-6686; North Bay: 707-541-2365; Toll Free: 866-90-SPORT Ray Wear 5 Basketball Ray Wear is a former Michigan State University Grad and All-Big 10 star who hosts basketball skills camps nationwide. The camp visits Northern California on April 27 at NorCal Courts in Martinez. Camp package includes Game Gear reversible jersey and solid short, Reebok drawstring bag, cotton tee and Rebok

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even more camps + clinics at sportstarsonline.com Zig Kick Hoops. Info/Registration: raywear5. com Redwood Christian Basketball Camp Our camps are directed by varsity basketball coach Drew Sanchez each June. They are designed for players who want to learn and improve skills. SHOOTING CAMP: This camp is focused on teaching technique of shot and footwork. SKILLS CAMP: This camp will incorporate all the fundamental skills of the game with a fun, competitive approach. Info: rcsathletics.org; 510-317-8988 Skykhawks Basketball Camp A fun, skill-intensive program designed for beginning to intermediate levels. Available for ages 6-8. All participants receive t-shirt, basketball and player evaluation. Info: walnutcreek.org

CHEER/DANCE

CheerGyms.com Customize your clinic to fit your needs! Let us teach the clinic you need to take your team to the next level! We offer residential overnight camps that include many awards, team bonding ideas and an experience of a lifetime.

We also offer Two-Day Camps for a less-pricey overnight experience. Finally, there are Private Camps in which your cheerleaders get all the attention. You pick the hours and decide what they will learn. Cheergyms.com facilities in Concord, San Jose and Petaluma! Info: morton@cheergyms.com, 925-685-8176 National Academy of Athletics High Spirit Camp These Cheer Camps are great for boys and girls ages 6-8 and 9-13. Skills covered during this camp will include motions, jumps, tumbling and stunts. Also up-to-date dances and general cheers & chant for rhythm and timing. Info: info@naofa.us; Bay Area: 415-296-6686; North

Bay: 707-541-2365; Toll Free: 866-90-SPORT

ENRICHMENT

Bald Eagle Jr. High Leadership Camp Giving your child a road map to create success as a young adult is extremely powerful. Our Jr. High Leadership Camp includes tangible experiences working cooperatively with peers, leading groups, public speaking, making friends, understanding community service, and living an active lifestyle through FUN camp activities. The quality of our encouraging curriculum helps build confidence and perspective. All camps run in 1 week sessions, June and July, with SIX total sessions to choose from. Full Day, Half Day & Extended Care options are available. Info: 888-505-2253.

Dianne Adair Programs Come join any of our eight Dianne Adair summer sites for our fun and exciting summer program. Each week campers will be able to choose from several camps, including sports, fashion, drama, CSI, science and so many more. We take weekly field trips to places like an A’s or Giants game, museums, the Jelly Belly Factory, Six Flags, the pool, the movies, parks and the zoo. Field trips and camps vary by site. Offers and rates may vary at any of our nine locations. Info: www.dianneadair.org.

FENCING

Stanford Fencing Camp For the beginning fencer, this camp at Stanford University teaches the elegant sport of Fencing from experienced staff. You will learn how to thrust, parry, and lunge like the musketeers!

This camp is open to anyone who wants to learn how to fence and is 8-18 years old.

The average age of the camper ranges from 8 -13. Fencing camp runs half day from 9am -noon We provide all equipment. Info:

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Cdarcey@stanford.edu; 650.725.3001; www. stanfordfencingcamp.com

FITNESS

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

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even more camps + clinics at sportstarsonline.com Athletes are closely supervised while being coached through the workout, with attention on proper technique and safety. For our Back to Sports programs we offer training weekdays, with 2 or 3 days/week options. Info: www. fasteryoungathletes.com, 925-639-0907.

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

Trucks Training We know exactly what it takes to achieve the next level of sports & fitness safely and effectively. A true hometown feel from true hometown people. We offer 1-on-1, group and small group training for fitness and sportspecific needs. Info: truckstraining.com; 925756-7321

FOOTBALL

AG Evaluations Artie Gigantino, former NFL coach with the Rams & Raiders, and college coach at USC & Cal, offers players evaluations and consultations. Guidance for your football future.

Info: artiesports@yahoo.com, 925-209-9465 All Out Sports League Our football camps are held in Antioch and Clayton. The four-day non-contact camp teaches every position on the football field and are geared toward the fundamentals. Every aspect of the game is covered. Camps are open to boys and girls ages 6-16. Info: 925203-5636 or www.alloutsportsleague.com ASC Contact Football Campers move from non-contact drills to full

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contact in a gradual progression, culminating with our final day “Live” scrimmage. Each camper practices with and learns from NFL pros and coaches, as well as college coaches the country. Info: 415-479-6060; football@ ussportscamps.com Cascade Football Team Camp The purpose of the Cascade Team Camp is to provide a fundamental camp for high school athletes to learn the game of football from their own coaching staffs and to allow teams to meld together and spend quality team time for activities. The 5-day, full-contact camp is held at the beautiful campus of McCloud High at the base of Mt. Shasta. It’s attended by 7 teams and features facilities for both 11-and 8-man teams. Info: Matt Hunsaker 530-2330333; m61hunsaker@gmail.com Coach Cotter Football Camp This Moreau Catholic High camp is designed for everyone to have fun while learning essential football skills in a non-contact environment. Each camper will have the opportunity to learn the skills for all offensive and defensive positions. Campers will also tour the campus, weight room and team room areas. Each day of camp will conclude with “Mariner Ball,” a fun touch football game giving everyone an equal opportunity to participate. Info: (510)-881-4333 or acotter@ moreaucatholic.org Cougar Football Camp This is a full-gear youth football camp for grades 4-8 which is now in its 18th year.

Long-respected Camplindo High coach Kevin Macy is the lead instructor for the camp which runs from July 7-18 and takes place from 1:30-5 pm each day. Info: CampoFootball. com, kmacy@acalanes.k12.ca.us, 925-2803950 ext. 5163

East Bay Youth Football Academy EBAYFA provides instruction to young boys and girls about the game of football. In addition to developing skills and running drills to teach fundamentals, EBAYFA also teaches you how the game is played. Our summer schedule is open for registration. We have two sessions in June and July at Bladium in Alameda and a session July 15-19 at Bishop O’Dowd High in Oakland. All summer camps are for ages 6-10 and run from 9am-1pm Monday through Friday.

Info: 510 599-4292; mike@ebay-fa.com National Academy of Athletics Contact Camp This is an evening camp from 5:30-7:30pm for youth football players to improve their fundamental skills and techniques. Coaches are local youth coaches who specialize in teaching kids between the ages of 7-9, 10-12 and 13- 5. Campers are grouped by age and ability. These week- long sessions are offered at different locations throughout Northern California. We also offer our Run-Pass-Catch flag football camp. Info: info@naofa.us; Bay Area: 415-296-6686; North Bay: 707-5412365; Toll Free: 866-90-SPORT National Wing T Team Camp We have been presenting exceptional WING-T football camps for 27 years with a superior staff, comprised solely of highly successful college and high school coaches from around the country. We highlight the importance of teamwork, self-discipline and consideration of others, while helping players to develop the confidence and work ethic needed to attain their full potential. This year’s NorCal camp is at Escalon High. The High School Wing-T Camp (helmet/shoulder pads) and Youth Wing-T camp (no equipment) both occur in June. Info: 209-247-4700, ecoachlou@ hotmail.com

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even more camps + clinics at sportstarsonline.com Walnut Creek Marauders The Walnut Creek Marauders are part of the Diablo Valley Youth Football Conference. This division represents 18 cities across Contra Costa, Solano, Napa and Alameda counties. The Marauder tackle football program is led by trained volunteer coaches who strive for the personal and athletic growth of each athlete.

Info: (925) 941-4745; ldavenport41@gmail.com

GOLF

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

Participants learn about golf and the life skills and values inherent to the game. Check with local chapters, Oakland, Contra Costa, Tri-Valley, Silicon Valley or find another at thefirsttee.org

GYMNASTICS

East Bay Sports Academy Summer Day Camps at East Bay Sports Academy offer the best gymnastics, cheerleading, and tumbling SUMMER CAMP FUN anywhere! We offer four AMAZING WEEKS of half-day and full-day camps for girls and boys ages 5 and up. Recreational and competitive athletes will benefit from training with most-committed coaches in the Bay Area. Our 13,000 square foot facility is clean, bright, and has the newest equipment around. We host private mini-camps and clinics. We gladly welcome all high school, middle school and youth football teams. Info: www.eastbaysportsacademy.com, 925-680-9999.

All camps offer goalie training and there are a limited number of goalie discounts available. Camp locations include Walnut Creek, Belmont, Marin, Sacramento and San Francisco. Info: info@EncoreLacrosse.com

MARTIAL ARTS

Hanabi Judo & Japanese Culture Camp Hanabi’s Judo and Japanese Culture Summer Camp is a fun, active introduction to the traditions of Japan.

Every themed session will have children learning judo (a requirement in Japanese schools), Japanese songs, Japanese stories as well as the main artistic, linguistic or culinary activity. Info: (510) 530-8312; dan@hanabijudo.com

OUTDOOR/ADVENTURE SPORTS

Bear Grylls Survival Academy Man vs. Wild’s Bear Grylls has designed his Survival Academy to offer outdoor enthusiasts the

chance to learn his extreme survival technique in the mountains near Yosemite National Park. Learn ultimate self-rescue skills from the world’s mostrecognized survivalist. Info: (209) 588-9131; alan@ beargryllssurvivalacademy.com Diablo Rock Gym We offer kids camps every week starting in June and ending in August. Sign up for a week at a time or multiple weeks. Ages 6-17; multiple kid and/or week discounts. Call for pricing, 925-602-1000.

SOCCER

Cabernet Summer Soccer Camps Hone your skills at Cabernet Indoor Sports. You will focus on passing, dribbling and shooting, improving your defensive/offensive skills. Skills will be refined in scrimmages. Camps are open to boys and girls ages 8-14 and include 3- or 4-day options. Costs

are $99 for Cabernet members $114/Non-Cabernet members. Come on out to Livermore and enjoy indoor sports this summer: Info: 925-455-8300 Dublin United Soccer Camps Dublin United Soccer is pleased to offer their excellent program in a day camp format. Each camp session is one week long, and runs from 9-noon. Spring Break Camp runs from Marcy 31-April 4 for girls and boys ages 5 - 17. Our camps feature a fun & friendly atmosphere with challenging curriculum. We take an educational approach to coaching that focuses on being inclusive & welcoming of all players. Participants are not required to play for DUSL. Interested community members are invited and encouraged to attend. Info: td@dublinsoccer.org Heritage Soccer Club HSC Soccer camp will be held at Tesoro Fields in Concord from July 14-18 from 9am - 2pm. This

LACROSSE

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

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even more camps + clinics at sportstarsonline.com camp is open to all U8 - U15 boys and girls (HSC and non-HSC players are welcome). Come and have a great time and learn soccer techniques. Players will be instructed by coaches with 25+ years of experience at almost every level. Also, goalkeeping trainer Bojan Merik will be present as well. Fees are $200 for HSC players and $300 non-HSC players. Info: conctat Julio Borge at Julio@heritagesc. com, www.HeritageSC.com Impact Soccer Club We are a community-based organization dedicated to the development of the soccer culture in Brentwood, Oakley, Antioch, Knightsen, Byron and Discovery Bay. Our summer camps are run by Impact Coaching Director Rick Morin. Rick has 30 years of coaching experience and coaches at Carondelet High and the Univ. of California. Impact’s Junior Academy Program, for under-6 is designed to provide age-appropriate soccer training and the proper foundation for young players in our club. Info: richardmorin1@ comcast.net, (925) 323-1410 National Academy of Athletics In The Net Our Soccer Camps are great for boys and girls ages 6-8 and 9-13. These week-long sessions are offered at different locations throughout Northern California. Info: info@naofa.us; Bay Area: 415-296-6686; North Bay: 707-541-2365; Toll Free: 866-90-SPORT West Coast Soccer Lead by nationally-recognized coach and former SJ Earthquake, Troy Dayak, the WCSC’s programs are designed to bring professional experience and guidance

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to youth soccer players across Northern California. West Coast Soccer camps create an environment that encourages experimentation and a passion for the game. Info: www.westcoastsoccerclub.com

SWIMMING/DIVING

Santa Clara Aquamaids Jump in with the Santa Clara Aquamaids and learn the basics of synchronized swimming! The Santa Clara Aquamaids are looking for swimmers ages 7-12 who are eager to learn, attentive, able to follow directions and work cooperatively. Basic synchro skills are taught such as sculling, ballet legs, simple figures, arm strokes, land drilling, and more. The Santa Clara Aquamaids has been producing worldclass synchronized swimmers and Olympic athletes since 1964. We have programs designed for beginning through elite levels. Info: 877 722-4630; 408 9889936; info@aquamaids.org Sherman Swim School Located in Lafayette, our year-round schedule allows children and adults to learn, retain and improve their swim skills with little interruption. Lessons are offered on M-W-F’s and T-Th’s over 3-4 weeks.

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

Our private or semi-private lessons allow you to progress at YOUR pace. We also offer beginning and competitive diving.

Classes (30 min. long) are taught in three-week sessions. Either on M-W-F or T-Th. Info: 925-283-2100, www.

ShermanSwim.com.

TENNIS

ClubSport Valley Vista

Our club has been hosting summer tennis camps in the Walnut Creek area for 33 years, with expert instruction.

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

VOLLEYBALL

Bay Area Blast Summer Clinics Bay Area Blast Volleyball Club (BABVC) is a volleyball organization in Martinez.

Our primary goal is to build character and develop sportsmanship. BABVC offers personalized 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1 lessons and skills clinics designed for beginner and intermediate players. The clinics focus on player development in the fundamental skills. BABVC holds two summer skills clinics for boys and girls of all levels, each running three nights a week for two consecutive weeks from 7-9 pm at NorCal Courts in Martinez. Sessions cost $125.

Info: tracyfeldmann@gmail.com City Beach Volleyball With facilities in both Fremont and Santa Clara, we offer a wide variety of camps and clinics to serve junior girl players of all experience levels. Academic Camp is for the rising 10-12th graders looking for an opportunity to work with over 15 college coaches.The Sand Program takes place on the sand courts at West Valley College from April-June with 18

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sessions to improve your outdoor skills.

Our traditional summer camp serves players of all levels. We also have Saturday Sessions available. Info: (408) 654-9330; aaron@citybeach.com dan@ citybeach.com Core Volleyball Club We offer a competitive, fun environment where your daughter will enjoy competing at a high level not only in games, but in practices as well.Our goal is to prepare your daughter for the next level; whether that is her middle school, high school, or college program. Clinics are held at Velocity Sports Performance in Dublin. If you are looking for some extra touches prior to tryouts this is an excellent clinic for you. We work on all skill development and fundamentals. Info: info@teamcvc. com; Ph: 925-925-230-9795 Moreau Catholic Volleyball Camp Girls volleyball camp for incoming grades 6-9, Cost: $100; July 7 – 11, 4:30 – 7:30pm; Info: Coach Ami Schelin, aschelin@moreaucatholic.org; moreaucatholic.org/Athletics Pacific Rim Volleyball Pacific Rim Volleyball Academy in Pleasant Hill is dedicated to providing athletes with the technical, tactical and physical training, to reach their highest potential. Pacific Rim will assist each athlete in reaching maximum performance through proper training and nutrition education. Our advanced training for junior levels (12th grade & below), will provide the opportunity to become elite players at the high school and/or collegiate level. Clinics are available for

beginners, girls fall ball and skills-specific, boys skills-specific, open play and private lessons. Info: (585) 313-2215; rworsley@ pacificrimvolleyball.com Roseville High Volleyball Camp This camp takes place in July for girls entering grades 7-9. It provides instruction and practice in individual and team skills. No previous volleyball experience is necessary; campers should wear clothing appropriate for being physically active; kneepads are recommended. Camps run 9am-Noon at Roseville High’s Moeller Gym. Info: Ron Grove, (916)397-0678,rgrove@rjuhsd.us U.S. Youth Volleyball League The United States Youth Volleyball League is hosting a series of camps in several Northern and Southern California locations. The USYVL is the leader in developing and maintaining youth volleyball leagues for boys and girls ages 7-15. Its motto “Volleyball starts here,” clearly represents its commitment to the development of the sport. Each camp is taught by instructors who have played or coached at the club, high school or college level. Registration fee includes a t-shirt, certificate, snacks and water. Info: 1-888-988-7985, www.USYVL.org.

WRESTLING

Community Youth Center The Concord-based CYC wrestling program trains and challenges wrestlers at all age groups from kindergarten through high school, and all experience levels from beginner to champion. The program offers three types of week-long (July & August) wrestling camps. The Elementary Camp for ages 5-10 and

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even more camps + clinics at sportstarsonline.com The All Corners Camp for ages 11-18, and the Advanced Camp serves the same age group and runs in August. Each camp runs from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. daily at the CYC. Camp fees vary slightly. Info: 925-671-7070, Ext. 229, www. communityyouthcenter.com.

MULTI-SPORT

Cabernet All Sports Camp All Sports Summer Camp at Cabernet includes soccer, dodgeball, baseball, obstacle course, crush zone and more! We have a variety of cost options. Early drop-off 8am (+$10) and late pick-up 4pm (+$15); are available also.

Registration limited to 80 kids per day. Drop-in on the day of will be accepted up to 80 kids for an additional charge of $5 per listed camp price.

Come on down! Info: 925-455-8300 Cal Camps Enrollment for Cal Athletic Camps are now open. Space is limited, so please make sure you reserve a place now. Camps are offered for girls and boys ages 5-19, with week-long, half-day, full-day and overnight options. Most camps take place on campus in Berkeley and are held from June through August. Among the sports offered are: Baseball, Basketball, Rowing/Crew, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Rugby, Soccer, Strength & Conditioning, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball and Water Polo.

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

City Beach Kids Camp Our Kids’ Camps at the Fremont location are available to ages 6-15 and are chock-full of activities for your child to enjoy. Activities include rock climbing instruction,interactive games, free play at the entertainment hub and courts (based upon availability) and a healthy snack. Let them spend the day at City Beach.

Camps are offered in 1-, 3- and 5-day session (w/ full- and half-day options). Info: CityBeach. com; 510-651-2500 x105.

De La Salle Camps De La Salle High School will host athletic summer camps to provide a fun, skill-building week for kids. Camps appeal to local youth with a variety of athletic interests. De La Salle will offer the following sessions: Football, Track & Field, Lacrosse, Wrestling, Quarterback & Wide Receiver, Lineman, Volleyball, Baseball, Soccer, Water Polo and Strength & Conditioning. In addition to serving local athletes, the camps also benefit De La Salle students by contributing to The Bishop John S. Cummins Scholarship Program. Info: summercamps@dlshs.org; 925-288-8144.

Livermore Area Rec and Park Sports Camps LARPD offers a variety of sports for all ages.

The popular Sports Camp (ages 5-12), PeeWee Sports Camps (ages 3-5) and Flag Football return to complement year-round traditional Baseball/T-Ball, Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball, Golf and Tennis programs from youth to teens. New sports have taken off with the introduction of Frisbee Golf, Gymnastics and Martial Arts. Most of our sport-specific camps accommodate ages 8-14. Info: (925) 373-5733; zsilva@larpd.dst.ca.us Saint Mary’s College Camps We have camps available for ages 6-18.

Dates are posted and registration is open.

Our various camp offerings include: All-sports, baseball, basketball, rugby, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball. Each clinic features the head coach of the respective Gaels’ program along with a hand-picked staff of trained professionals. Each athlete will have the opportunity to develop their skills through

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individual instruction, group instruction and game experience. Click “camps” at www. smcgaels.com for detailed information and to register on line. Info: smccamps@stmarys-ca. edu, 925-631-4386.

USA Elite Camps We offer camps with superior instruction from professional athletes and top Division I collegiate coaches. Sports served by USA Elite Camps include boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, girls volleyball and baseball.

See our ad in this issue for more info.

Walnut Creek Sports Day Camp The City of Walnut Creek offers a fully-staffed and supervised recreational athletic camp for boys and girls ages 9-13. The 8-week program involves your choice of two spots each week with a ninth week session offering bowling.

Designed to teach and develop basic individual skills, sportsmanship, team strategies and concepts as well as building confidence and self discipline. Sports to choose from include golf, tennis, baseball, flag football, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, volleyball and bowling. Info: www.walnutcreekrec.org, (925) 943-5858 World Events Camps World Events and In-Shape offer action-packed camps and programs that foster athletic skills, teamwork and healthy habits. Through sports, games and activities we create a safe, caring, noncompetitive environment ideal for learning and making friends. We have Traditional Day Camps (ages 5-12), Half-Day Kindercamp (ages 3-5) and Specialty Sports Camps which offer youth the opportunities to learn and fine-tune their skills in the following sports: Basketball, soccer, dance, cheerleading. Info: (209) 888-4904; info@worldeventssports. com. ✪

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April 2014

SportStars™

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A Higher Perspective........................................................................................................35 Advantage Basketball Camps...........................................................................................42 Bay Area Blast Volleyball Club..........................................................................................43 Big O Tires Northern California/ Nevada.............................................................................2 Cabernet Indoor Sports....................................................................................................38 Cal Diving Club.................................................................................................................37 Campolindo High School Cougar Camp............................................................................42 Championship Athletic Fundraising.................................................................................22 Cheergyms.Com...............................................................................................................15 Children’s Hospital And Research Center...........................................................................33 Club Sport........................................................................................................................36 Club Sport Renaissance....................................................................................................29 Community Youth Center.................................................................................................46 Contra Costa Federal Credit Union....................................................................................16 Core Performance.......................................................................................................40, 42 Core Volleyball Club..........................................................................................................43 De La Salle High School Football Coaches Clinic................................................................46 De La Salle High School Summer Camps..........................................................................39 Diablo Rock Gym..............................................................................................................40 Diablo Trophies & Awards.................................................................................................43 Dianne Adair Enrichment Programs.................................................................................47 Dublin United Soccer League............................................................................................40 East Bay Sports Academy.................................................................................................12 Excellence In Sport Performance......................................................................................41 Fit 2 The Core....................................................................................................................35 Franklin Canyon Golf Course.............................................................................................46 G Tech Anti Microbial........................................................................................................21 G Tech Sport Fundraising..................................................................................................20 Got’em Baseball...............................................................................................................23 Gregg Jefferies Sports Academy ......................................................................................45 Heritage Soccer Club........................................................................................................25 Hobo Sports.....................................................................................................................42 Home Team Sports Photography......................................................................................44 Impact Soccer Club...........................................................................................................38 Kangazoom......................................................................................................................26 Moreau Catholic High School............................................................................................43 Mountain Mike’s Pizza......................................................................................................13 Muir Orthopaedic Specialists............................................................................................32 National Scouting Report.................................................................................................44 Passthaball.......................................................................................................................46 Pro Hammer Bat...............................................................................................................27 Rhino Sports Of Northern California.................................................................................27 Robert Livermore Community Center...............................................................................39 Rocco’s Pizza.....................................................................................................................43 Sacramento River Cats......................................................................................................30 Saint Mary’s Athletic Summer Camps...............................................................................45 Santa Clara Aquamaids....................................................................................................41 Sherman Swim School.....................................................................................................42 Sky High Sports................................................................................................................43 Sport Clips........................................................................................................................17 Stanford Fencing..............................................................................................................40 Stevens Creek Toyota........................................................................................................19 Summit Orthopedic Specialists..........................................................................................3 Sutter Health East Bay........................................................................................................5 Tpc / The Pitching Center..................................................................................................27 U C Davis Health System.....................................................................................................5 U S A Elite.........................................................................................................................26 United States Youth Volleyball League.............................................................................48

SportStars™

April 2014

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