April 20, 2007

Evergreen Sports

Cougars drop 2-1 pitching duel to Cardinals

Evergreen baseball squad falls to 6-7 in Santa Teresa
Division despite strong effort by pitcher Joe Fischer

By Diego Abeloos
Editor

The Mt. Pleasant baseball team thwarted an otherwise stellar pitching performance by Evergreen left-hander Joe Fischer with a game deciding two-out single by Cardinals’ shortstop Gabriel Robles in the seventh inning for a 2-1 win on April 18.

Evergreen's Alex Kasinski slides into second base as Mount Pleasant shortstop Gabriel Robles catches the ball during a 2-1 win for the Cardinals on April 18. Photos by Dan Miranda

The tough 2-1 loss dropped the Cougars to 6-7 in Santa Teresa Division play, while the Cardinals gained solid footing on third place in the division at 7-5-1. Hence, the fact that the Cougars had a chance to inch closer to third place with a win against the Cardinals didn’t go unnoticed by Evergreen head coach Ron Abundiz.

“To say the least, we needed this one,” Abundiz said. “…MP (Mt. Pleasant) came in and did exactly a hair better than us. What can you say? That’s how tough baseball is.”

The game featured a pitching duel between Fischer and Mt. Pleasant right-hander Alex Newton, who earned his fifth win of the year. Both pitchers went the distance, with Fischer allowing nine hits and two runs over seven innings of work, while Newton tossed seven innings of one-run ball, allowing six hits.

“He deserved a win,” Abundiz said bluntly of Fischer’s effort.

The Cardinals struck early for a 1-0 lead, as first baseman Erik Rivera and Robles started the first inning with a single and a ground rule double, respectively, placing runners on second and third. Center fielder Daniel Serrano then stepped up and swung wildly at a third strike in the dirt, with the ball skipping away from Cougars catcher A.J. Lang, allowing Rivera to score the game’s first run.

The Cougars tied the game up with their only run of the contest in the bottom of the second inning, as Ryan O’Carroll singled and stole second base before second baseman Sam Mahr doubled to right field, bringing in O’Carroll for a 1-1 tie.

Abundiz lamented the Cougars’ inability to capitalize on scoring chances later in the game and said the missing link to the heart of his lineup – cleanup hitter Kyle Aganad – could’ve been a difference maker in the game. Aganad, who is currently leading the Santa Teresa Division with a .568 batting average, was unavailable to play after spraining his ankle earlier in the week during practice.

“If we can get Kyle back and in the groove, I don’t think anybody’s going to go through our first six (batters) like this again,” Abundiz said. “Kyle is the most integral part of it. He’s a hitting machine.”

Despite the meager offense, Fischer cruised through the middle innings before working his way out of a small jam in the top of the fifth, leaving Cardinals catcher Jose Gutierrez stranded at third after getting Aaron Torres to strike out looking to end the inning.

Fischer ran into trouble in the top of the seventh however, as second baseman Albert Garcia singled and stole second base with one out, before being moved to third on a groundout to the right side by Rivera. Robles then stepped up and hit a hard chopper to the left side, with the ball bouncing just over the outstretched glove of third baseman Andrew Dennis for a single, allowing Garcia to score easily from third for a 2-1 lead.

Evergreen starting pitcher Joe Fischer throws the ball to first base during a 2-1 loss to Mount Pleasant on April 18.

Abundiz, who called a timeout to speak to Fischer before the game-winning single, said Robles was the one player he didn’t want up at the plate in that situation, noting that the Cardinals shortstop had hit the ball hard all game long.

“This is the guy who I didn’t want beating me,” Abundiz said of Robles. “We talked about it on the mound and I said, ‘throw the backdoor curve, throw it low and away. If it’s not in the strike zone, walk the son-of-a-gun. I don’t want him hitting it.’ What happens? One mistake that maybe got over, a fastball that got over the middle of the plate and he pulled it. That’s the one thing I didn’t want, and he (Robles) did it.”

Mt. Pleasant head coach Tony Gonzales credited Robles for his play not only in the win over Evergreen, but all season. Since the start of the season, according to Gonzales, Robles has been playing with a thumb injury all season long but has never asked out of the lineup.

“He’s provided leadership, he’s provided defense and clutch, game-winning hits,” Gonzales said of Robles. “…We knew it (the game-winning hit) was coming. We know that if we can get Gabriel up there, and if we have Albert Garcia on base, we’re going to score.”

Newton, who worked himself out of a pair of jams in the game’s middle innings, finished off the game in the bottom of the seventh. He allowed just a one-out walk before getting an infield popup and a strikeout to end the game.

“He’s consistent, his head’s up and he throws strikes,” Gonzales said of Newton. “A lot of the time, the defense is on their toes when somebody’s throwing strikes. They (the defense) like playing behind him because they know it will not take a lot of time to get in and out of the infield.”

With the loss, Abundiz said every game left will be vital to the Cougars’ chances of inching up the division standings for a potential CCS playoff spot. With Branham leading the league at 12-1, Abundiz said his team is aiming for second place, currently occupied by Oak Grove, at 10-3.

“We have to win out,” Abundiz said. “We can do it, if everybody gets back. We can win out. …I still think we can do it. I still think we can come in to second place.”

LeyVa boys’ volleyball wins Section Championship

Bulldogs go undefeated during 2007 season

Eric Zimmerling
Staff Writer

The LeyVa Middle School boys’ volleyball team capped off a perfect season with a win over Quimby in the section championship, claiming its second section title in as many years.

The section champion boys’ volleyball team of LeyVa Middle School. Top row: Manager Landy Tran, Francis Tyrell, Jonathan Acosta, Caleb Toilolo, Jesse Saldana, Anthony Mathis, Daniel Caampued, and Head Coach Annie Williams. Bottom row: Manager Mi Nguyen, Raymond Mirabal, Martin Mendiola, Edwin Lucas, Sebastien Lopez, Travis Dang, and Alex Hang.

The Bulldogs defeated central league rival Quimby 2-0 in the title game to finish off its record at 10-0 on the season. Head coach Annie Williams said the team’s good balance of size, speed and smarts led to their success.

“Our team was successful because we had a good balance of brain and brawn,” Williams said. “A lot of times, boys want to just go out there and hit the ball as hard as they can, (but) that wasn’t the case with this team. We had a lot of smart players that made good decisions out on the court, which led to a lot of success for us.”

Team captains Jesse Saldana and Daniel Caampued led the Bulldogs all season, helping the team defeat nine of their opponents 2-0, with only one opponent taking the Bulldogs to three games, a 2-1win over Quimby in an earlier regular season meeting.

“Jesse was an outstanding player and the most valuable player,” Williams said. “He always knew where everybody was supposed to be on the court at all times – he was a great leader.”

Eighth grade setter Sebastien Lopez gave the team consistent serving all season, averaging nearly six aces a game and missing only two serves the entire year. Outside hitter Francis Tyrell, meanwhile, was the only starting seventh grader on the team and provided consistent energy and smart play for the Bulldogs. This season was Tyrell’s first playing volleyball at a competitive level.

“I had a lot of fun playing this year,” Francis said. “We played really good all year and I learned a lot. The game against Quimby was my favorite because they gave us a challenge.”

Eighth grader Caleb Tailolo provided the power for the Bulldogs with his athleticism and blistering hits.

Next season, the Bulldogs will return only three players - Alex Hang, Raymond Mirabal, and Tyrell - but success can still be expected, as Williams has led her team to three straight league championships and two section championships in her three years as head coach.

“I didn’t know what to expect heading into this year and that turned out pretty well,” Williams said. “Next year we only return three players but I’m hoping we continue to do well and have success.”

EVERGREEN SPORTS
SCHEDULES 4-24 to 5-4

Evergreen Valley High sports schedule
4/24 – Softball vs. Leigh, 3:30 p.m.*
4/24 – Badminton vs. Santa Teresa, 3:30 p.m.

4/25 – Boys’ tennis League Team Finals, time and site TBA
4/25 – Baseball vs. Sobrato, 3:30 p.m.*

4/26 – Track vs. Pioneer, 3:30 p.m.
4/26 – Boys’ tennis League Team Finals, time and site TBA
4/26 – Swimming at Willow Glen, 3 p.m.
4/26 – Softball at Leland, 3:30 p.m.*
4/26 – Badminton vs. Silver Creek, 3:30 p.m.

4/27 – Baseball at Branham, 3:30 p.m.*
4/27 – Boys’ tennis League Team Finals, time and site TBA

5/1 – Badminton at Piedmont Hills, 3:30 p.m.
5/1 – Softball vs. Live Oak, 3:30 p.m.*
5/1 – Track BVAL Division Finals at Mt. Pleasant, time TBA

5/2 – Baseball vs. Del Mar, 3:30 p.m.*
5/2 – Boys’ tennis CCS team play begins, time and site TBA

5/3 – Track BVAL Division Finals at Mt. Pleasant, time TBA
5/3 – Badminton vs. Oak Grove, 3:30 p.m.
5/3 – Softball at Piedmont Hills, 3:30 p.m.*
5/3 – Swimming Santa Teresa Division League Diving Tournament at Oak Grove, 3 p.m.

5/4 – Baseball at Prospect, 3:30 p.m.*
5/4 – Swimming Santa Teresa Division League Trials at Willow Glen, time TBA

Mt. Pleasant High sports schedule
4/24 – Softball vs. Westmont, 3:30 p.m.*
4/24 – Golf vs. James Lick at San Jose Municipal, 4 p.m.
4/24 – Badminton at Willow Glen, 3:30 p.m.

4/25 – Boys’ tennis League Team Finals, time and site TBA
4/25 – Baseball at Del Mar, 3:30 p.m.*

4/26 – Boys’ tennis League Team Finals, time and site TBA
4/26 – Swimming at Silver Creek, 3 p.m.
4/26 – Softball at Pioneer, 3:30 p.m.*
4/26 – Golf vs. James Lick at Santa Teresa, 3 p.m.
4/26 – Badminton at Del Mar, 3:30 p.m.

4/27 – Baseball vs. Prospect, 3:30 p.m.*
4/27 – Boys’ tennis League Team Finals, time and site TBA

4/30 – Golf BVAL Team Playoffs, time and site TBA

5/1 – Badminton vs. Westmont, 3:30 p.m.
5/1 – Softball vs. Piedmont Hills, 3:30 p.m.*
5/1 – Golf BVAL Individual Championships, time and site TBA
5/1 – Track BVAL Division Finals at Mt. Pleasant, time TBA

5/2 – Baseball at Oak Grove, 3:30 p.m.*
5/2 – Boys’ tennis CCS team play begins, time and site TBA

5/3 – Track BVAL Division Finals at Mt. Pleasant, time TBA
5/3 – Badminton vs. Mitty, 3:30 p.m.
5/3 – Softball vs. Leigh, 3:30 p.m.*
5/3 – Swimming Santa Teresa Division League Diving Tournament at Oak Grove, 3 p.m.

5/4 – Baseball vs. Sobrato, 3:30 p.m.*
5/4 – Swimming Santa Teresa Division League Trials at Willow Glen, time TBA

Silver Creek High sports schedule
4/24 – Badminton vs. Leland, 3:30 p.m.

4/25 – Boys’ tennis League Team Finals, time and site TBA
4/25 – Softball vs. James Lick, 3:30 p.m.*
4/25 – Baseball vs. James Lick, 3:30 p.m.

4/26 – Boys’ tennis League Team Finals, time and site TBA
4/26 – Swimming vs. Mt. Pleasant, 3 p.m.
4/26 – Badminton at Evergreen, 3:30 p.m.

4/27 – Softball at San Jose, 3:30 p.m.*
4/27 – Baseball vs. San Jose, 3:30 p.m.
4/27 – Boys’ tennis League Team Finals, time and site TBA

4/30 – Softball at Andrew Hill, 3:30 p.m.*

5/1 – Badminton vs. Santa Teresa, 3:30 p.m.
5/1 – Track BVAL Division Finals at Mt. Pleasant, time TBA

5/2 – Baseball vs. Lincoln, 3:30 p.m.
5/2 – Softball vs. Lincoln, 3:30 p.m.
5/2 – Boys’ tennis CCS team play begins, time and site TBA

5/3 – Track BVAL Division Finals at Mt. Pleasant, time TBA
5/3 – Badminton vs. Piedmont Hills, 3:30 p.m.
5/3 – Swimming Santa Teresa Division League Diving Tournament at Oak Grove, 3 p.m.

5/4 – Softball at Yerba Buena, 3:30 p.m.*
5/4 – Baseball at Andrew Hill, 3:30 p.m.
5/4 – Swimming Santa Teresa Division League Trials at Willow Glen, time TBA

*JV or frosh/soph team plays at opposite site of varsity at the same time

For more information on local games, log on to the BVAL Web site at http://www.bval.org/

SPORTS BRIEFS

Evergreen Valley College soccer to hold summer camps in June and August
Evergreen Valley College will be holding summer soccer camps for boys and girls ages five and six, as well as ages 7-14 in June and August.

The Baby Hawks summer soccer camps, for ages five and six, will take place on the following dates:

- Session I – June 18-21, 5:30-7 p.m. (girls only)
- Session II – Aug. 6-9, 9-10:30 a.m. (boys and girls)
- Session III – Aug. 6-9, 10:30 a.m.-noon (boys and girls)

In addition, the Advanced Hawks summer soccer camps, for ages 7-14, will take place on the following dates:

- Session I – June 18-21, 5:30-8:30 p.m. (girls only)
- Session II - Aug. 6-9, 9 a.m.-noon (boys and girls)

For more information about the camps, call Evergreen Valley Women’s Soccer head coach Felicia Perez at (408) 274-7900 ext. 6910 or email Felicia.Perez@evc.edu.

Skyhawks Sports Program signups
The summer months are an exciting time for children of all ages, especially those students who are enrolled in a Skyhawks Sports Program through San Jose, Recreation & Neighborhoods Department.

Skyhawks is based in the Pacific Northwest (Spokane, WA) and is nationally recognized for their outstanding recreational sports programs. Skyhawks has been around for more than 20 years. Skyhawks has experienced extremely successful growth due to its underlying philosophy for teaching youth sports.

In order to provide top quality instruction, each Skyhawks program is based upon three things: Safety, Fun, and Skill Development. In addition, Skyhawks programs are non-competitive, and promote sports in a positive and enthusiastic manner. Each participant at a Skyhawks program receives a t-shirt as well as a sport specific ball.

This summer, San Jose will be offering half-day (9 a.m. to noon) and/or full day (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) sports programs to accommodate kids 4 to 14 years old, of all abilities. Program sports include basketball, baseball, soccer, and flag football along with many others.

To find out more information about specific times and locations of programs in your area, please call the Evergreen Community Center at (408) 270-2220, or contact Skyhawks at (800) 804-3509.

Registration forms can be picked up at Evergreen Community Center (4860 San Felipe Road, San Jose, CA 95135) or you can register online at: www.skyhawks.com

Second annual Pat’s Run comes to San Jose April 29
Registrations are being accepted for the second annual Pat’s Run, Sunday, April 29, 2007 at 8 a.m. at Leland High School, to celebrate the life of San Jose native Pat Tillman. The 4.2-mile run/walk will finish on the 42-yard line of Pat Tillman Stadium, where Tillman was a fan-favorite as a Leland Charger in the early 1990s.
Participants can register online at www.patsrun.com (until April 25) or at the Running Revolution (511 E. Campbell Ave., in Campbell) April 26 and 27 from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., and at Leland High School on April 28 from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Registration will also be held on-site at the event from 6 - 7:45 a.m., prior to the race start at 8 a.m.
The early registration fee is $25 through April 23. After April 23, the fee is $30.

The event also features a .42 mile kids run that is free for kids age 12 and under, as well as a free kids activity area.
For more information about Pat's Run San Jose or to sign up, visit www.patsrun.com or call (408) 507-6754.

Sports Briefs: Sports Briefs listings are subject to the following fee structure: $25 per month, per publication for the Evergreen and Almaden Times; $10 per month, per publication for the monthly newspapers. Indicate publication placement at the time the listing/payment is submitted. Sports Briefs accepts checks – payable to Times Media, Inc – VISA or MC. To charge your payments call Sonia Pineda at 494-7000 x205. Be sure to reference your team/organization with your payment. Listings appear once payments are received. TMI sponsored events and full-proceed charity fundraisers exempted. Email, fax or mail listing text to: candy@timesmediainc.com 1310 Tully Road, Suite 107, San Jose, CA 95122. 408-494-7078 (fax) Limit 200 words. Questions? Call 494-7000 x225.

Valley Christian Junior High girls’ volleyball squad ends season with perfect record

The Valley Christian Junior High spring girls’ volleyball team finished a highly successful 2007 season undefeated in league play and took first place in the single elimination league playoffs.

The Valley Christian Junior High spring girls’ volleyball team finished the 2007 spring season with a perfect 12-0 record in the Santa Clara County East Side Junior High Coaches Association League. The VCJH team finished the season by defeating Ocala in the league finals.

The VCJH girls, who ended their season at a perfect 12-0, have been playing in the Santa Clara County East Side Junior High Coaches Association League (SCCESJHCA) for three years. The SCCESJHCA league consists of 30 teams. The playoffs consisted of a first-round win against Rancho, a semifinal win over Britton, before defeating Ocala in the finals to finish off the season.

Coach John Haggerty has been coaching (and teaching) at VCJH for four years in various sports, but this is his first year in the spring volleyball coaching position. Haggerty said the team’s perfect 12-0 season was the result of the hard work and dedication put forth by the players on the team.

“The success of an undefeated season that the girls were able to achieve this year happened because of the team chemistry and the hard work that they put in all year,” he said. “I am very humbled to have had the opportunity of working with these young ladies this year.”

Cougars softball posts 7-0 win over Pioneer

Jennifer Ames tosses four shutout innings and blasts three-run HR in win over Mustangs

By Diego Abeloos
Editor

The Evergreen Valley girls’ softball team returned to action from a weeklong spring break in winning fashion, posting a 7-0 win on the road against Pioneer on April 17.

Evergreen starting pitcher Jennifer Ames hurls a pitch toward home plate during a 7-0 road win over Pioneer on April 17. Ames tossed four shutout innings and blasted a three-run home run in the win. Photo by Diego Abeloos

The win improved the Cougars’ record to 3-4 in league play, a welcome development by head coach Lisa Baker, who is aiming to secure a coveted CCS playoff spot in the team’s first season playing in the Mt. Hamilton Division.

“We needed it,” Baker said of the win. “I told the kids, it’s the end of the first half, and now we’ve got to go upwards, which is hopefully where we’re headed. They (Pioneer) are a good team, but the girls just came out and started hitting.”

The Cougars took advantage of three Mustang errors in the top of the third to score six runs, all with two outs, to get the scoring started. Evergreen scored on a wild pitch and back-to-back infield singles to put the first three runs of the game on the board, before Cougars starting pitcher Jennifer Ames blasted a three-run home run over the left field fence to help her own cause for a 6-0 lead.

“They’re really starting to gel,” Baker said, “and our offense is finally kicking in. That inning meant everything.”

The Cougars added one more run in the top of the fourth when Evergreen’s Ashlee Velez stole home during a brief mental lapse by Pioneer starting pitcher Ashley McMahon, who turned her back to the runner in between batters and didn’t notice Velez heading down the third base line until she was nearly crossing home plate.

Baker credited Velez with a heads-up play, adding that the play itself is indicative of the type of team she has this season.

“This young group of kids that we have, they’re so aggressive,” Baker said. “We call the signals, but it’s on them to use their judgment and follow through with it. …If they see the opportunity, they take it, and that’s what I love about them.”

Pioneer assistant coach Angel Carrasco said the third inning scoring outburst was the difference maker for the Mustangs, both in the score and mentally.

“I think the turning point was when we made the three errors in one inning,” said Carrasco. “That kind of brought the girls down. …In that one inning, some mental mistakes were made.”

On the pitching front, Ames cruised through four innings of work unscathed, allowing just three hits and no runs to earn her sixth win of the season. Holly Dauenhauer took the ball the rest of the way, working three scoreless innings, allowing just one walk in the seventh inning, to hold the lead for the Cougars.

Baker said she plans on using both pitchers in the same game more often, in order to give opposing teams match-problems. While Ames is hard thrower, Dauenhauer relies on smarts and pinpoint control to get the job done, Baker said. So far, Baker added, the plan has worked out.

“I want to stick with what seems to be working,” Baker said of the Ames/Dauenhauer pitching combination, “and if that’s what’s working, then you’ve got to stick with it.”