January 27, 2006

Evergreen Sports

Girls’ soccer goliaths slug it out in B-League match

Westmont hands Evergreen first loss in league

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Westmont knocked the strut out of first-place Evergreen Valley’s girls soccer outfit, despite a late flurry launched by the formerly undefeated Cougars at Evergreen on January 24.

Cougar junior Divya Sundar looks for the open pass versus Westmont.

While the 3-2 game changed nothing in the race for B-League Santa Teresa Division’s single CCS playoff slot that is awarded to the division champion, the second place Warriors (9-3-3, 7-1-2) packed a positive self image, as they embark on a quest for an elusive bid at-large.

Evergreen (11-3-2, 8-1-1), however, still will determine its own destination and is expected to capture a second division championship in the school’s juvenile fourth year.

“That was the biggest game I have ever coached,” said Westmont coach Scott Murch, who splits head coaching duties with wife Heather. “Evergreen had been on a terror scoring four, five, six goals a game and hadn’t been giving up any either. I told the girls, ‘look at them over there, they don’t need to win this game to go to CCS. If we lose, we might as well forget about CCS.’”

The Warriors responded.

Freshman forward Rachael Publicover set the tone early, when she fooled Evergreen goalkeeper Laura Baker, lofting a looping chip shot over Baker’s head for a score. Westmont sophomore Doreen Stern assisted on the play.

“Doreen gave me the perfect through ball and I knew I wouldn’t have time to go around the goalie or the defenders, so I just popped it over her head” said Publicover. “We knew we could beat Evergreen. Last time we played them, they didn’t play better than us, they just had more goals than we did. I think they were on their heels because they had been winning so much and we just brought it to them.”

Publicover returned the favor later in the first half, assisting Stern for the Warrior’s second score. The goal framed the first scenario in which the Cougars had allowed more than one in a single game, all season long.

Westmont led 2-0 at halftime.

“We had been doing well, connecting passes, playing hard,” said Evergreen coach Michelle Sunseri. “We usually do play as a team and connect a lot of passes. At half-time, I think the girls just realized they were running out of time, and they decided they wanted the win.”

In spite of Cougar desires, Publicover struck again, nailing a second goal on the day, and her 13th on the season, this time assisted by fellow freshman Isa Tapia, on what proved to be the game-winner.

“They came out strong for the first five minutes or so in the second half,” said Warrior defender Laura Smith. “But we settled down and held on after we scored the goal. This was probably our best game ever.”

Trailing 3-0, Evergreen sophomore Caitlyn Brennan and senior Leah Larot willed a comeback.

With 20 minutes remaining, speedy Larot broke free at last, scooting out in front of Westmont’s fatigued defensive
corps, who had previously succeeded in marking the potent Cougar stars, responsible for an astounding 23 goals between them in league play alone.

Larot first lured Westmont’s freshman goalkeeper Jessica Rozhin out from the cage, dipped right and rolled in a goal to the low left corner.

“We knew we had to be in their shorts,” said Murch. “And we were until that point. But by then the girls didn’t have a whole lot left.”

“Westmont’s a really good team,” said Larot. “They knew what they were up against. After I scored, I was just thinking we had to get the ball back and do it again. There was still time.”

The comeback continued when Brennan, who stands nearly 6-feet, received a corner kick from senior Jennifer Herrera at the 10-minute mark. Leaping over Warrior Trinity Rojas, Brennan punched in a header, to bring her team within one goal.

Yet, with the clock winding down, Evergreen was unable to muster any additional offense.

“I guess it hurts mostly because it’s a pride thing,” said Larot. “We realized we’re beatable, but it doesn’t change anything. We’re going to come out and work hard and try to control the next game.”

Leland, rain flood Mount Pleasant goal

Two late-game goals sink Cardinal boys soccer

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Skies fell on Mount Pleasant ploys to ambush favored Leland when the Chargers poked two goals past Cardinal goalkeeper Adam Ramirez in the final five minutes of a Jan. 18 showdown at Mount Pleasant.

The 3-1 game strained nerves on both sides despite little bounty at stake.

Leland (7-7-1, 6-3-0) was guaranteed a berth in the CCS playoffs next month prior to the meeting, while the youthful Cardinals (6-10, 2-7) knew they would miss a postseason berth for the first time since Coach Nick Arellano took over the program in 2000-2001.

“There are only about three things which teams can control themselves and we‘ve done that,” said Arellano. “Nobody else has affected our attitude, our play, our conduct on the field. We’ve just had bad luck on the things that we cannot control. You need to have luck to be successful. I’m proud of them. The kids have done a great job controlling the things they can control,”

Mount Pleasant senior Daniel Ortiz tees off on a corner kick in the cardinal’s 3-1 loss versus Leland on January 18.

After approximately 80 minutes spent exchanging ornery body checks and sloshing through a saturated quagmire, the teams were deadlocked at one goal apiece. Leland senior Ben Meade tapped in a low shot back off an errant pass in the box to open scoring. Mount Pleasant answered and scoring stalled until the 85th minute.

“We wanted to control the game and we wanted to take the game to them,” said Arellano. “Late in the game, I decided to attack because we needed the win.”

Arellano unleashed a risky offensive assault, hoping to catch the Chargers resting. He moved senior defender and team captain Daniel Ortiz to a forward position, leaving the Cardinals undermanned in the defensive backfield.

“You could certainly trace us losing to the fact that we were going for the win instead of going for a tie,” said Arellano. “I felt like maybe the extra push would get it for us. Had it been a game for the top spot, we could have sat back and taken our chances.”

While the Cardinals appeared to gain momentum, firing two shots on goal in the game’s waning minutes, it was Leland who ultimately capitalized.

Charger senior Peter Rodriguez led two assaults, initially taking the ball from a Mount Pleasant forward and punching it to junior Adel Arabi at midfield. Arabi eluded one defender and attempted to pass the ball right; however, Mount Pleasant sophomore Christian Salcedo deflected it—directly into the foot of Leland sophomore Adone Levine.

Alone, near the right side of the goal, Levine rolled in a score.

“We just went in and we were prepared for them,” said Arabi. “It was nothing in particular, I was just thinking we were going to win the game at that point. Our momentum was good.”

The goal thrust the chargers ahead 2-1.

“At that point you have to move the kitchen sink forward,” said Arallano.

Less than one minute later, Rodriguez got loose on another run, again snapping a quick pass to the right side, where the intended receiver was fouled inside the box. Rodriguez, who has reportedly signed a letter of intent to play at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas next season, nailed the ensuing penalty kick with a hot grounder, placed in the low left corner, while goalkeeper Ramirez dove to the right.

“Every game we’ve lost, it’s been by one goal or fewer,” said Arellano, who predicts brighter days in the near future—his starting lineup features two sophomores and two freshman. In addition, the Mount Pleasant junior varsity team is undefeated and in first place.

“We’ve dominated most of those as far as ball possession and number of shots,” he added. “We don’t have that one guy that you need to be successful this year. But I wouldn’t want to play us next year.”

“From my perspective, I thought it was a physical match, but I don’t think it got too cynical out there,” said first-year Leland Head Coach Rich Kubec. “I thought the challenges were just hard soccer challenges. It was a fairly well played game by both teams considering the field conditions.”

Cougars take 57-30 win over neighborhood rival Silver Creek

Four Cougars score 10 points or more; Silver Creek struggles offensively

By Diego Abeloos
Editor

Home proved to be where the heart is for the Evergreen boy’s basketball team, even if the Cougars were technically on the road.

Evergreen’s Gurchet Sanghera (10) and Rishi Shah (20) scramble for a loose ball against Silver Creek’s Chigozie Ndekwe (23).

The Cougars, who played as the road team against Silver Creek on Jan. 24 at Evergreen High, came away with a 57-30 win that saw four Cougar players reach double-figures in points scored. Silver Creek has been forced to play home games on the road as a result of storm damage to the Raiders’ gym, deeming the facility unusable for the remainder of the season.

“What we’ve been doing in practice finally made the transition into a game situation, and that’s what happened tonight,” said Evergreen head coach Dennis Fernandez, explaining his team’s effort in the win. “We’re still on all cylinders.”

The win kept the Cougars in a first-place tie at 6-1 with Willow Glen.

Evergreen point guard Tinh Nguyen provided plenty of offensive spark for the Cougars, leading all scorers with 16 points, including a 14-point first half effort in which the Cougars jumped out to an early 16-7 lead after the first quarter, before extending their lead to 27-16 at the half.

“Tinh’s become a leader out here,” said Fernandez. “He’s done a great job at the point guard position, and he’s able to see things. When the ball’s kicked back to him, he’s squared up [to shoot]. That’s the difference in his shot now.”

Evergreen maintained the momentum in the second half, holding onto its 11-point lead for much of the third quarter before embarking on an 11-0 run in the final 3:42 of the quarter to bump the lead to 46-24.

The Cougars then finished up the game by outscoring the Raiders 11-6 in the fourth quarter. The Raiders offense, limited throughout the game, was held scoreless for the first six minutes of the fourth quarter.

Aiding Evergreen’s offense was early foul trouble for the Raiders, which saw the Cougars shooting bonus free throws as early as the end of the first quarter, as well as the third quarter.

“The disparity in free throws is killing us,” said Raiders head coach Cliff Warren. “I mean, they’re in the bonus before the first quarter is over. The last few games, we’ve been out-shot in free throws by about 15 to 1.”

Four Cougar starters managed to reach double digits in points scored, led by Nguyen. Seniors Morgan Blakely and Gurchet Sanghera contributed 11 points each, while center Derek Pauli scored 12, much to the delight of his head coach.

“He’s matured not just physically, but also with what is going on, on the court, being more aware of what’s around him,” Fernandez said of Pauli. “…He made a couple of spin moves out there in the post tonight, which was nice to see.”

Meanwhile, the Raiders struggled to get their offense going, while dropping the team’s Santa Teresa Division record to 3-4 on the season.

None of the Raiders players reached double figures in points scored. Senior David Carranza led his squad with six points overall.

“We’re in a shooting slump right now,” said Warren. “The last few games, we’ve been shooting almost 25 percent from the floor. As you can see, we missed about a thousand layups here. The guys are playing hard, but for some reason, the ball’s not dropping in for us.”

Warren attributed some of the Raiders struggles to the situation with their home gym, which has forced the team to practice at nearby Evergreen Valley College and play all of their home games at opponents’ sites instead. Warren said those changes has thrown the team out of its routine.

“It’s totally different, altogether,” said Warren. “We’re out of sync. …Weight training is out the window because I’m an off-campus coach. We normally weight train and then go practice. Well, we haven’t weight trained since back in December, when the rains hit.”

“I feel for them, because we’ve been there,” added Fernandez. “For two years we were on the road, and that’s tough. I can’t remember us wearing white uniforms for about 15 or 16 games. So yeah, that’s tough.”

Sign-up for the 2006 baseball season today

Evergreen Little League celebrates it 45th season in 2006, and the league is now accepting registrations for both co-ed baseball and girls softball programs.

Online registration
For the first time ever, ELL offers online registration. Parents may register their children online from the comfort of their home or office and pay by credit card. E-mail confirmations will be sent immediately to ensure your reserved spot for our 2006 season. Visit http://ell-baseball.com to register.

Age determination date changes
ELL has also changed the age determination date to 4/30/2006 for baseball and 12/31/2005 for softball. That means your child’s Little League age for the 2006 season is his or her age on 4/30/2006 for baseball and 12/31/2005 for softball.

Room for new players
ELL has room for players in all divisions: T-Ball ages 5-6, Pee-Wee ages 7-8, Farm ages 7-9, Minors ages 9-12, Majors ages 10-12, Juniors ages 13-14, Seniors ages 15-16, and Challenger all ages.

Plans to expand softball program
ELL also has girl’s fast pitch softball ages 7-18. The league would like to expand its softball program this year and is looking for coaches and players. Contact softball@ell-baseball.com with questions or president@ell-baseball.com to volunteer to help out.

Fees
Fees for players registered before Jan. 15, 2006 are $100 for ages 5-6, $110 for ages 7-12 and $120 for age 13-16. All fees go up $20 after Jan. 15, 2006.

Tryouts
All players age 8 and older are requested to tryout. Tryouts for Minor and Major divisions (ages 10-12) will be held at Chaboya Middle School on Jan. 21 and 22 (ages 9-12) and on Jan. 28 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Tryouts for Farm Division (ages 8-9) will be held at Chaboya Middle School on Jan. 29 and Feb. 5 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Try-outs for Junior and Senior divisions (ages 13–16) will be held at Quimby Oak Middle School on March 4 and 5.

Tryouts are not necessary for T-Ball (ages 5-6), and Pee Wee (ages 7-8) divisions.

Check the ELL Web site, http://ell-baseball.com, for updates.

ELL is also looking for volunteer umpires. If you are interested, please contact Evergreen Little League at (408) 534-1727 or playeragent@ell-baseball.com. ELL offers hands-on training as well as classroom training if you want to learn how to umpire or just want to brush up on your skills and the knowledge of the rules.

Anyone interested in sponsoring a team this year can contact our sponsorship representative sponsor@ell-baseball.com.

Visit http://ell-baseball.com for updates.

East Valley Softball League Registration
The East Valley Softball League is holding registration days on the following dates:

Tuesday, Jan. 31 and Wednesday, Feb. 1 from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at Round Table Pizza, located at Aborn and White Roads.

Registration will also take place on Saturday, Feb. 4 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Ocala Ave Fields.

Player Evaluations will also take place on Feb. 4 at Ocala Softball Fields.

All players must be fully registered to be evaluated and placed on a team.

The following is required at time of registration for the Spring 2006 Season:
* Completed registration form
* Copy of birth certificate (to keep in our files)
* Payment in-full (no scholarships available) of registration fees
* Completed Release of Liability and Assumption of Risk agreement
* Volunteer sign-ups – a required $20 fee by each family, refundable after 10hrs service time

Forms will be available at the time of registration or can be retrieved at our web site www.eteamz.com/evsltwisters. Contact East Valley Softball League at (408) 291-3248.

Preseason clinics Clinics are intended to prepare players for tryouts and to assist them if they are moving up a level. The focus is on fundamentals, fun and facts about Little League Baseball. Preseason clinics will be held as follows: Saturday, Feb. 11 & 18, 9 a.m. – noon, Ages 13-16 at Quimby

EVERGREEN SPORTS SCHEDULES
Jan. 29 to Feb. 10

Evergreen Valley High sports schedule
1/31 – Girls basketball at Mt. Pleasant, JV 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
1/31 – Boys basketball vs. Overfelt, F/S 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
1/31 – Girls soccer vs. Lincoln, JV and varsity 3:15 p.m.
1/31 – Wrestling at Oak Grove, 6:30 p.m.

2/1 – Boys soccer at Silver Creek, F/S and varsity 3:15 p.m.

2/2 – Girls soccer at Andrew Hill, JV and varsity 3:15 p.m.
2/2 – Girls basketball vs. Branham, JV 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.

2/3 – Boys basketball at Andrew Hill, F/S 6 pm and varsity 7:30 p.m.
2/3 - Boys soccer vs. Branham, F/S and varsity 3:15 p.m.

2/4 – Wrestling JV and Varsity Finals (first of two rounds) at Pioneer, time TBA

2/7 – Boys basketball vs. Gunderson, F/S 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.*
2/7 – Girls basketball at Gunderson, JV 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
2/7 – Girls soccer vs. Prospect, varsity 5:30 p.m.

2/8 – boys soccer vs. Del Mar, JV and varsity 3:15 p.m.
2/8 – Wrestling vs. Silver Creek, 6:30 p.m.

2/9 – Girls basketball vs. Del Mar, JV 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.

2/10 - Boys basketball at Prospect, F/S 6 pm and varsity 7:30 p.m.

Mt. Pleasant High sports schedule
1/31 – Girls basketball vs. Evergreen, JV 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
1/31 – Girls soccer vs. Yerba Buena, JV and varsity 3:15 p.m.

2/1 – Wrestling vs. Lincoln, 6:30 p.m.
2/1 – Boys soccer at Leigh, F/S and varsity 3:15 p.m.

2/2 – Girls basketball at Gunderson, JV 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.

2/3 – Boys soccer at Independence, F/S and varsity 3:15 p.m.
2/3 – Boys basketball vs. San Jose High, F/S 6 p.m. and varsity 7:30 p.m.

2/4 – Wrestling JV and Varsity Finals (first of two rounds) at Pioneer, time TBA

2/7 – Girls soccer at Willow Glen, varsity 3:15 p.m.
2/7 – Girls basketball vs. Willow Glen, JV 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
2/7 – Boys basketball at James Lick, F/S 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
2/7 – Wrestling vs. Andrew Hill, 6:30 p.m.

2/10 – Girls basketball vs. Independence, JV 3 p.m. and varsity 6 p.m.
2/10 – Boys basketball vs. Yerba Buena, F/S 6 p.m. and varsity 7:30 p.m.

Silver Creek High sports schedule
1/31 – Girls basketball at Gunderson, JV 3 p.m. and varsity 6 p.m.
1/31 – Boys basketball at Gunderson, F/S 4:30 p.m. and varsity 7:30 p.m.

2/1 – Boys soccer vs. Evergreen, F/S and varsity 3:15 p.m.

2/2 – Wrestling at Independence, 6:30 p.m.
2/2 – Girls basketball at Willow Glen, JV 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
2/2 – Girls soccer vs. San Jose High, varsity 3:15 p.m.

2/3 – Boys soccer at San Jose High, F/S and varsity 3:15 p.m.
2/3– Boys basketball at Willow Glen, F/S 6 p.m. and varsity 7:30 p.m.

2/4 – Wrestling JV and Varsity Finals (first of two rounds) at Pioneer, time TBA

2/7 – Girls basketball at Independence, JV 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
2/7 – Boys basketball at Leland, F/S 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
2/7 – Girls soccer at James Lick, varsity 3:15 p.m.

2/8 – Wrestling at Evergreen, 6:30 p.m.

2/9 – Girls basketball at Branham, JV 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.

2/10 – Boys basketball at Andrew Hill, F/S 6 p.m. and varsity 7:30 p.m.

*Editor’s Note: Because of damage sustained to Silver Creek’s basketball gymnasium, scheduled home games will be moved to other sites and may be held at different times. For more current information on Silver Creek home games for boys and girls basketball, as well as wrestling, please contact the Silver Creek High School athletic department at (408) 347-5628 or log on to the BVAL Web site at http://www.bval.org/

Evergreen’s Larry Brandt decrees safety first as leader of the ACTC pack

By Karl Laucher
Special to the Times

Larry Brandt of Evergreen has been around many a block many times as a life-long cyclist, but with his election as president of the Almaden Cycle Touring Club for 2006, well…he’ll just keep on riding.

As president of the ACTC, one of the nation’s largest clubs with more than 900 members strong, Brandt wants to continue the organization’s culture of companionship and conviviality, while also raising the bar when it comes to safety.

Larry Brandt has been a participant and a leader in the Almaden Cycle Touring Club since 1973, but this year he’s on the hot saddle as club president.

On the latter issue, Brandt points out that many cyclists are not paying attention to dynamics of the traffic at hand.

“Many riders are just an accident waiting to happen,” he said. “We need to be aware, be courteous and stay healthy.”

Two ACTC riders were killed in accidents last year, one crashing after hitting a bump going down hill on Highway 17 in Los Gatos, the other hit by a negligent driver (convicted of “careless driving,”—a misdemeanor) in Colorado.

ACTC road and trail warriors total nearly 500,000 miles a year, not counting their personal mileage estimated by the club statistician at another 200,000, chalked up when not on a club-sanctioned ride.

Brandt had one particularly harrowing experience himself a few years back when riding on the Coyote Creek trail toward Morgan Hill. He was “shocked” to see an 18-wheel semi coming at him in the opposite direction. Needless to say, Larry sought emergency refuge on the sidelines. The semi apparently was delivering material for bridge construction.

The ACTC does have an academy for newer riders to learn safe habits, hopefully including some advice for dealing with off-road monster trucks.

Riding with a group, of course, can provide a unique set of challenges. However, riding with good friends is what makes the ACTC so enjoyable, according to Brandt. “Sometimes it is really boring riding by yourself,” he said. “But when you’re riding with interesting people, you get to the top of the hill before you know it.”

Brandt was the lone rider more often that he would care to be as one of the few teachers in the Alum Rock School District who would commute to work on a bike. Now, at age 70, Larry still teaches as a substitute and still commutes on his bike.

A father of five (three sons and two daughters) and a grandfather of seven, Brandt has managed to find time to roll up some panoramic adventures as a cyclist. In 1989, he completed the Ride Across Iowa; he made the 400-mile tide from San Jose to Los Angeles twice; he has conquered the ACTC’s rollicking Sierra to the Sea ride and also has crossed Missouri on the unique Katy Trail built over the tracks of a dearly departed railroad.

Larry, with wife Sally driving the “sag wagon” (the family car) in support, plans to give the Katy Trail another go in the fall.

“Bicycling is just so much fun,” Brandt says. “And you can kill a lot of birds with one activity. You can commute, you get aerobic exercise and you can control your weight.

“It has all kinds of benefits.”

For more information on the ACTC, log on at www.actc.org.

Tour of California coming Feb. 21-22

Bicycle pros to pedal into downtown, around Coyote Valley

By Karl Laucher
Special to the Times

The city of San Jose, for a few hours on Feb. 21 and 22, will be the focus of the bicycle-racing world.

Cyclists Jackson Stewart, left, and Ben Jacques-Maynes joined Amgen Tour of California Director Bob Collarossi at a race-introduction ceremony recently at the San Jose City Hall rotunda.

This may foist upon the local public a few pleasant realizations: 1) World-class bicycle racing is a world apart from bicycle riding; 2) World-class bicycle racers live virtually anonymously in the greater San Jose area, and 3) Spectators can get more free-wheeling sizzle for their money than in any other professional sport because road racing is free for those who can find their place on the sidelines.

It’s called the Amgen Tour of California, a 10-city, seven-stage, 700-mile event, from San Francisco to Redondo Beach, that features 16 of the top racing teams in the world including Tour de France champion Discovery Channel which will compete with the notable exception of seven-time individual champion Lance Armstrong, who has retired to wallow forever in the awe of cycling world.

Among the most well-known Americans in the Tour of California will be Levi Leipheimer, a Santa Rosa resident who finished sixth in the 2005 Tour de France. Leipheimer, who races for Gerolsteiner, a German-based team, obviously is pondering a golden opportunity when the Stage 2 of the Tour of California covers a 60-mile route from Sausalito to Santa Rosa on Feb. 20. The Tour starts with a 3.2-mile Prologue in San Francisco on Feb. 19.

San Jose will be the only city hosting two stages, including Stage 2, an 100-mile grind through the East Bay Hills from Martinez to the finish line at Plaza de Cesar Chavez on Feb. 21, and a 20-mile Individual Time Trial on Feb. 22 through Coyote Valley starting on Bailey Road and ending at Murphy Middle School on Santa Teresa Avenue.

Among the local racers are San Jose resident Ben Jacques-Maynes and Jackson Stewart of Los Gatos, both racing for the KodakGallery.com/Sierra Nevada team.

Jacques-Maynes, a former national collegiate cyclocross champion out of UC-Santa Cruz, called the Tour of California “the biggest race of the year for us.”

Jackson, a 1998 graduate of Los Gatos High, cited his win in the Los Gatos Cats Hill Criterium last year as his favorite moment, but he also was a top-50 finisher in the 2005 Tour of Georgia, another international powerhouse of an event.

San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales said he is “excited” about the Tour of California coming to San Jose. “I can’t figure why it took so long for something like this to happen,” he said.

Amgen’s Race Manager Bob Collarossi said the Tour will be “a signature world event,” and the San Jose finish of Stage 2 will be “a great separator in the race.”

Ernest Hemmingway contends, as a literary commandment, that life is “a moveable feast.”

The Tour of California’s dash through the streets of San Jose should prove just that.

For more information on the race see www.Amgentourofcalifornia.com.