March 25, 2005

Evergreen Sports

Move up from West Valley Division to Santa Teresa Division a
tough transition for Evergreen Valley baseball team

10-4 loss to Pioneer leaves Evergreen at 0-4 for the season

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Writer

After winning a co-championship in the West Valley Division in 2004, the Evergreen Valley baseball team sees new challenges ahead in 2005.

TALL RIGHTY – Evergreen Valley starting pitcher Jeff Brass worked four innings in a 10-4 loss to Pioneer on March 16, allowing seven runs (four earned). Brass had a better day at the plate, going 1-for-2 with two RBIs in the loss. Photo by Dan Miranda

Faced with stiffer competition after moving up to the Santa Teresa Division this season, the Cougars are still trying to find out what kind of team they’ll be. To that end, things have started out roughly. A 10-4 loss to Pioneer on March 16 left the Cougars winless at 0-4 overall and 0-3 in Santa Teresa Division play.

“It’s a big change,” said third year Cougars Head Coach Al Lopez. “It’s a big step; C (division) to B. These guys up here are a lot more competitive, they made the plays and put the ball in play a lot better. The pitching is a lot better too. So, overall it’s a big step and its real good competition. I know we can be up here and play with these guys.”

After a quiet first inning by both teams, the Mustangs put together a five-run inning in the second off Cougar starting pitcher Jeff Brass. A double by Mike Kaufmann, followed by a single from Zane Bailey, plated Pioneer’s first run of the contest with one out. Later in the inning, Brass was victimized by his own defense when Cougar shortstop Marcus Juarez let a Michael Schulz groundball skip underneath his glove, allowing two more runs to cross the plate.

With Michael Schulz on third after a wild pitch, an Andrew Schulz grounder brought in the fourth run if the inning. Defense, or lack thereof, got the best of the Cougars once more as the Mustangs plated their fifth run of the inning.
Pioneer batters reached base twice in consecutive at-bats after striking out on passed balls by Cougar catcher A.J. Lang. That allowed Pioneer catcher Eddie Hsieh to drive in the fifth run of the game with a sharp single to left field, scoring Danny Ventura.

“We’re having a little trouble fielding the ball right now,” said Lopez. “We’re kicking the ball, throwing the ball away, just little minor errors. We shouldn’t be 0-4 right now. We should have at least two wins.”

The Cougars however, were able to get one of those runs back in the bottom of the second. Juarez singled to center field to open up the bottom of the second, and advanced to third when Bailey let the ball get past him in center field.

With one out, Brass helped his own cause by singling home Juarez for a 5-1 score.

The Mustangs added single runs in the third and fourth inning for a 7-1 lead, ending Brass’ day in which the right-hander allowed seven runs (four earned) on seven hits while striking out four and walking one.

“Today, with pitching, I did alright,” Brass said. “I missed a couple of spots and left a couple of curves up that got hit, but overall, I did alright. I hit some spots, but we just need the defense to pick it up.”

Right-hander Rey Gallegos came on to relieve Brass and promptly gave up two runs in the fifth for a 9-1 Pioneer lead. Like Brass, Gallegos was a victim of the defense behind him in surrendering one of those runs.

After a single by Bailey and an RBI double from Brent Osborn produced an 8-1 lead, Evergreen centerfielder Tinh Nguyen couldn’t handle a routine fly ball from Michael Schulz, putting runners on the corners. Andrew Schulz followed with a grounder to shortstop, scoring Osborn from third for a 9-1 Pioneer edge.

In the sixth, Gallegos gave up another run, allowing back-to-back singles to Hsieh and Ryan Gall before Bailey brought in Hsieh on a one-out grounder for a 10-1 score.

The Cougars did show life on offense once more in the bottom of the sixth, putting together a three-run inning of Pioneer reliever Johnny Carreras. With Jeremy Ormonde on second with one out, Juarez brought home Evergreen’s second run of the game with a single to center field. That was followed by a double from Javier Martinez, putting runners on second and third with one out.

Brass, still in the game as a first baseman, then played some small ball and hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Juarez from third. Hsieh, who received a wild throw from the outfield during the play, then attempted to catch Martinez going to third on the play, but his throw was wild and ended up in the outfield, scoring Martinez easily from third base.

“Thankfully we didn’t give up and get beat by 10 runs or nine runs, whatever it was,” Brass said. “We came awake and didn’t give up. Hopefully, this will be a sparkplug for the future.”

Sporting tastes may affect mayoral race in ‘06

Reed and Cortese talk sports

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

District 4 Councilmember Chuck Reed recently asked the city rules committee to add the status of San Jose’s soccer-specific stadium to council agenda.

District 8 Councilmember Dave Cortese is an executive director at Baseball San Jose, a group that aims to lure a major league baseball team to the area.

America’s pastime has taken center stage to soccer with recent media attention, while Reed and Cortese, who will compete for the mayoral seat in 2006, have declared opposing allegiances.

The item was subsequently included in the agenda for City Council’s March 15 meeting.

The match-up
In recent months, local news reports have been saturated with speculation as to whether San Jose will pursue a major league baseball team. According to Reed, this supersedes the needs of the two-time MLS champion Earthquakes, whose owners, Anschutz Entertainment Group, demanded a soccer-specific stadium last year.

AEG officials said that without a stadium, San Jose would lose the Earthquakes to Texas.

As the tenth largest market in the country, third in the state, baseball advocates argue that lesser cities reap economic and social benefits gained as host to major sporting franchises.

That rhetoric was formerly reserved for the Earthquakes, when local forces united forming Soccer Silicon Valley, a group dedicated to public awareness and raising money to build the soccer-specific stadium.

In April 2004, however, Cortese and company spearheaded Baseball San Jose, a group dedicated to bring a major league baseball franchise to San Jose.

Considering the proposed opportunities, San Jose has developed a Sports Facilities Task Force and consulted analysts who assessed the current markets for major professional sports. According to Cortese, baseball was first on the list.

“We already talked about soccer,” he said. “We have the go ahead. We know the size and site and shape of the stadium. All that remains is coming up with the money.

“The reason baseball is getting so much attention is because we already know what’s going on with soccer and nothing is being done immediately to move forward,” added Cortese.

However, it was Cortese who recently introduced Soccer Silicon Valley visionary Colin McCarthy to a possible investor in real estate developer Stewart Fahmy.

Protocol
According to a city ordinance, San Jose may not spend money on a sports facility without majority voter approval.

“Somebody has to step forward and take responsibility in getting it moved to the ballot,” said Cortese, suggesting that the issue will fall into the hands of city council officials. “We can’t campaign from city hall.”

Call to arms
Reed’s memo called for action as well.

“With the season starting soon, we ought to get a little interest going for our Earthquakes,” said Reed. “Hopefully we get lucky and find an investor, so the Earthquakes can stay here.”

Reed said he believes soccer is the sport of future generations, noting its international appeal, and referencing the Sharks’ success in a market formerly unfamiliar with hockey.

Soccer already has a large fan base in place considering the sport’s popularity among San Jose’s Latino residents, which represent about 30 percent of the city’s population.

“Playing hockey in California certainly seemed a bit odd at first,” said Reed. “But essentially we created and built a market for a sport that nobody knew much about. Considering how many people do know something about soccer, we ought to be able to develop it further.”

“Mr. Reed graciously introduced a request to recognize the value of the Earthquakes to the city of San Jose and have the council issue a proclamation that the Earthquakes belong in San Jose,” said McCarthy. “This is the first official effort by the city of San Jose, so it will only have a positive effect on retaining the Earthquakes.”

“I think in shear numbers, San Jose would benefit greater from baseball,” said Cortese. “But in terms of quality of life, just as many people would appreciate soccer. Plus, there’s as much of an upside in soccer as in any sport right now.”

Evergreen Valley relishes underdog success

Cougar wrestlers Rodriguez, Gonzalez and Hoang grace state meet

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Fledgling Evergreen Valley High School wrestlers stunned CCS opponents, finishing 14th in the section and sending three Cougars to the CIF State tournament March 4 and 5.

In the program’s third year, Evergreen weighed in just two fewer wrestlers, at the state meet, than CCS Champion Gilroy High School.

Freshman Michael Rodriguez joined sophomores Andre Gonzalez and Peter Hoang as the school’s first state qualifiers, blazing early trails for future Cougar matheads—even themselves.

Each underclassman—Rodriguez, Gonzalez and Hoang—will likely grace state tournaments again, contending for titles next time.

“We’ve talked about getting guys there every year,” said Head Coach and 1990 CCS 189-pound champion Ricardo Garcia. “These kids are the first in school history to accomplish that.”

“We are all still learning,” said Gonzalez, a 114-pounder, who beat an opponent he had lost to three times in the regular season, on his way to second place at CCS. The finish assured Gonzalez a berth in the state meet, and he made the most of it winning his first match. Two straight losses subdued bliss, but he had made a point to onlookers and himself.

“I’m looking to take league and CCS; then hopefully place at states,” he said.

Rodriguez and Hoang also flourished under the tutelage of Head Coach Garcia and assistant Jake Helveston. A notable wrestler in his own right, Helveston placed second in CCS as a Mount Pleasant senior in 1999. He and Garcia apply a hands-on approach to coaching, often grappling with the team during practice.

“Coach has us wrestle with him and all of the kids, whether they outweigh us or not,” said 105-pound Rodriguez, a league champion and fourth place CCS finisher, who took a single match at the state meet, as did his qualified teammates.

“The best thing about wrestling is the one-on-one action,” he said. “You’re in control of the outcome. Whatever happens, you always know it’s based on your own moves.”

“Rodriguez is a student of the sport,” said Garcia. “He works hard, does everything I tell him and shows up to practice every day.”

Hoang also impressed. The 127-pounder took league and beat Wilcox’s Brandon Greenwood on a dramatic 2-0 decision to finish third at the CCS finals. Hoang also went on to win a single match at the state meet, before dropping two to elimination.

“Peter is the classic overachiever,” said Garcia. “Not one of these kids was expected to qualify for the state meet, but there they were. And they won. These kids are something else.”

According to Garcia, the Cougar wrestling program is based upon an ideology that embraces hard work and mental toughness. He stresses the value of discipline and a mind set never to quit.

“It’s a funny area,” said Garcia. “Kids that go to Evergreen come in and they have never been in a fight—and that’s good. But when we get them out for wrestling, it’s our job to teach them mental toughness and the value of physical discipline. It’s hard to compete in a combat sport without experience, so I take them and work individually and teach them never to give up. Yes, we intend to develop state champions, but also good people.”

“I like to wrestle because I like discipline and to gain the respect of others,” said Hoang. “It’s a good feeling, making sacrifices and working hard.”

Nothing soothes a wrestler’s pain like early victories in a state meet—and years to practice.

Silver Creek baseball looks to rebound from rough 2004 season

Watkins, Rose key to Raiders’ success in 2005

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Writer

The 2005 baseball season is one filled with hope for the Silver Creek Raiders.

After all, Raiders’ Head Coach Mike Walker saw 2004 as a season mired with injuries, academic ineligibilities and untapped potential. The Raiders started out their 2004 campaign in winning fashion, sporting a 9-3 record, but a rash of injuries and unmet academic requirements left Walker with a team that went 1-10 the rest of the way.

“A year older, a year wiser,” said Walker, who has six returning seniors in 2005.

“… They know what I expect and what to expect from each other. I look to them [the seniors] as leaders, and I think they’re going to carry us throughout the bulk of the season.”

This season looks to be more promising with seven regulars returning to the starting lineup in 2005. Walker will also have another likeable commodity—a deep bench—to squash any of the maladies that plagued the team in 2004.

“We have a lot of the players that we had last year, and we’re looking to build off that and have a good season,” said Walker, whose team is 0-1-2 throughout the first three games this season. “…Since our team is pretty deep, I’m able to make a lot of adjustments. So it’s whoever hits, plays. Whoever makes the plays, will stay out here. I’ll give everybody a chance to make the plays.”

The roster also features six juniors, giving Walker a team full of experience and leadership. Of the returning players, Walkers pointed to two seniors in particular—Chris Watkins and Travis Rose—who can make, or break, the 2005 season.

“They’re just here at the ballpark every day,” Walker said of Watkins and Rose. “They come early and they really set the tone of what we’re trying to do this season.”

Watkins will serve as the number one starter and as shortstop on days he isn’t pitching. A six-foot, one-inch right-hander, Watkins not only serves as the ace on the mound and captain on the infield, but also as the clean-up hitter in Walker’s lineup.

On the hill, Watkins’ short, compact delivery results in a hard fastball, coupled with a composed demeanor. To that end, however, Watkins still struggles on occasion with his control.

The Raiders’ 8-3 Santa Teresa Division opening loss to the Pioneer Mustangs proved that point as Watkins uncorked four wild pitches in just one inning of work, allowing six runs (only one earned) during that stretch.

“I’m just expecting to help my team out as much as I can,” said Watkins. “I just want to do whatever I can to help them out.”

At the plate, Watkins is equally imposing as the No. 4 hitter. In the loss to Pioneer, Watkins provided the only offensive punch for the first six innings of play, lacing a two-run double to right-center. Watkins’ power numbers have improved each year at Silver Creek, starting with one home run his freshman year and bumping up to eight home runs his junior year.

“Each year has been steady progress,” Walker said of Watkins. “I’m expecting his power numbers to be up this year … he’s my soldier.”

As for Rose, the right-handed, slugging third baseman will occupy the number three slot in the lineup for Walker. Although Rose’s numbers in the loss to Pioneer don’t bear any great results (0-for-2 with a walk), there’s more to them than meets the eye.

In Rose’s first two at-bats, the six-foot, two-inch slugger advanced runners into scoring position on ground balls, which eventually put a run on the board for the Raiders.

In Silver Creek’s first two games of the season however, Rose was the key to the Raider offense, going 6-for-6 with two triples, a home run and six RBIs.

“I’m really looking for those guys to step up for me,” Walker said. “I’ve had them for four years, like I said before. They’re obviously great athletes and their play is going to rub off on the younger kids.”

Walker’s prediction of a better year ahead in 2005 appears to be coming to fruition.

After an 0-1-2 start, the Raiders have won three of their last four games, including a 16 – 7 route of Lincoln on March 8. Through March 14, Watkins was hitting a stellar .556 with two home runs and 13 RBIs and held a 2.62 ERA, while Rose continued his torrid pace, hitting .643 with a home run and eight RBIs.