December 29, 2006

Evergreen Sports

Silver Creek JV boys’ soccer earns third place finish at the Graces Holiday Festival Soccer Tournament

On Dec. 15, the Silver Creek High School boys’ JV soccer team played in the largest high school soccer tournament in America, the Graces Holiday Festival Soccer Tournament in Bakersfield, and took home a third place finish.

Silver Creek JV Boys’ Soccer

A total of 146 high schools participated in the tournament.

Silver Creek was grouped with nine other high school teams in the boys JV White Division.

Silver Creek arrived in Bakersfield for their first match against Bakersfield East High School, the eventual champion of the Division, and walked away with a 2-2 tie. Silver Creek had a last scoring opportunity a minute before the end of game, but the shot hit the cross bar. Unbeknownst to the team at the time, the unfortunate miss would later prevent Silver Creek from taking first place in their pool, and cost them the chance to play for the Division Championship.

Still, Silver Creek went undefeated in the pool matches, finishing in second place with two wins and two ties, while Bakersfield East finished with three wins and one tie. Here are the results of the pool matches:

Silver Creek 2 - Bakersfield East 2 Tie
Silver Creek 0 - Foothill 0 Tie
Silver Creek 8 - Farmersville 0 Win
Silver Creek 2 – Bakersfield West 1 Win

Silver Creek earned the berth to play for third place against Eastside High School, the second place finisher from the other pool in the tournament. Eastside proved to be a worthy opponent and put a lot of pressure on Silver Creek’s defense in the first half, while the Raiders’ defense and goalkeeping kept the score at 0-0 by halftime. The Raiders regrouped and came out dominating the second half, however, scoring two goals to earn the tournament’s third place trophy with a 2-0 win.

All told, Silver Creek went undefeated in five matches, scoring 14 goals while giving up only three goals. In addition, the Raiders were the only team that tournament champion Bakersfield East was unable to defeat.

Starting from scratch

Young Silver Creek boys’ basketball team learning on the fly in 2006-07; Raiders
drop three straight at Fremont-Sunnyvale Holiday Basketball Tournament

By Diego Abeloos
Editor

The Silver Creek boys’ basketball team ended play at the 49th Annual Fremont-Sunnyvale Holiday Basketball Tournament in disappointing fashion, dropping a 51-41 loss to Los Altos on Dec. 20.

The loss to the Eagles was Silver Creek’s third straight in tournament play, and fourth straight loss overall, dropping the Raiders’ record to 2-4 on the season. The Raiders dropped games to both Monta Vista and Wilcox, respectively, in the tournament’s first two rounds, before exiting the tournament with the loss to Los Altos.

Silver Creek guard Juan Holtz led the Raiders in scoring with 11 points in the 51-41 loss.

With only one returning starter on the roster this year in junior Billy Dick, Raiders head coach Cliff Warren said the 2006-07 season will be one focused on rebuilding the program, featuring players who will have to learn the hard way how to win close games, as was the case in the tournament.

“It’s just an education for them,” Warren said of the team’s play in the tournament. “It’s a good thing they didn’t play against a team that blew them out. They were in every game and they saw that they could come back on teams, so they know they can play with them. It’s just now about learning to finish.”

Warren said that he’s seen strides in his young team – which features a roster of six underclassmen – throughout the preseason, especially in the Fremont-Sunnyvale Tournament, which saw two close losses to both Wilcox and Los Altos. The Raiders dropped a 63-56 loss to Wilcox in the tournament’s opening round, before coming within five points of tying the game against Los Altos in the second half on Dec. 20. In addition, the team came within six points of tying Monta Vista in the tournament’s opening round before losing 59-43.

Warren said that while his team has been in nearly every game so far in the preseason, the next progressive step in his team’s maturation is learning how to win those close games in the fourth quarter.

“The first game here, we had a chance to win and come back, but being a young team, when we got within six points, we didn’t know what to do,” Warren said of his team’s tournament-opening loss to Monta Vista. “(The players) started pressing a lot and putting a lot of pressure on themselves and what ended up happening was they started making a lot of turnovers. …They don’t have the patience right now.”

And while the team will take its lumps at times this season, Warren said he’s taking a patient approach with his young team. To that end, Warren said he’s taking on more of a role as a teacher and mentor this season, while keeping in mind that young teams do make a fair amount of mistakes throughout the course of any given game.

“It’s a little bit stressful, but not really,” said Warren of coaching his young squad. “I have to keep in mind sometimes during the course of a game that they’re all new. It’s like coaching bunch of freshmen. …I’ve got to keep all of that in mind, that there’s a bunch of young guys here just learning the game.”

One player who will play a prominent role this season is Dick, a six-foot, five-inch center who started last season. In the loss to Los Altos, Dick was limited to nine points, but Warren said he’s counting on the junior to be a scoring option inside for the Raiders throughout the season.

Silver Creek’s Gabriel Sanchez drives past a Los Altos defender during a 51-41 loss on Dec. 20 at the 49th Annual Fremont-Sunnyvale Holiday Basketball Tournament. Photos by Dan Miranda

“We’re going to count on him a lot,” Warren said of Dick. “He’s a wide body, he’s a big body, but we’ve got to get him more into the game. He came up (last season) as a sophomore and learned a lot from the older guys who were here, but now he’s alone. There’s nobody to look to and there’s no leader on the floor. He has to understand that he has to pick up his game and he’s got to be the one to carry us.”

As for some of the newer faces on the Raiders, Warren said he’s looking forward to seeing the continued progression of freshman forward Chijoke Nwuzi. Warren said Nwuzi is full of potential, but that patience will serve the freshman well as he gains playing experience this year.

“Once we get him to settle down, he’ll be alright, because he is a true athlete,” Warren said of Nwuzi. “Around the basket he takes great shots. He takes his time and he’s pretty smart. We’ve just got to work on defense, how to defend the post.”

One returning player who will finally get a chance to start this season is forward/guard Matt Everly, a senior, according to Warren. Like Nwuzi, Warren said Everly has the potential to make an impact on the floor this season for the Raiders.

“He’s got the hops and he’s got a good game,” Warren said of Everly. “…He’s one of those guys who can take on anybody on the floor. He’s a smart basketball player.”

The Raiders begin Santa Teresa Division play at home on Jan. 2 against Andrew Hill at 7 p.m.

EVERGREEN SPORTS
SCHEDULES 12-19 to 12-29

Evergreen Valley High sports schedule
1/2 – Boys’ soccer vs. Sobrato, 3:15 p.m.

1/3 – Boys’ basketball vs. Leigh, F/S 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
1/3 – Girls’ soccer vs. Pioneer, 3:15 p.m.

1/4 – Boys’ soccer at Del Mar, 3:15 p.m.
1/4 – Wrestling vs. Lincoln, 6:30 p.m.

1/5 – Girls’ soccer at Piedmont Hills, 3:15 p.m.
1/5 – Boys’ basketball vs. Pioneer, F/S 6 p.m. and varsity 7:30 p.m.
1/5 – Girls’ basketball at Pioneer, JV 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.

1/9 – Girls’ basketball at Leigh, JV 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
1/9 – Boys’ soccer vs. Prospect, 3:15 p.m.

1/10 – Girls’ soccer vs. Branham, 3:15 p.m.
1/10 – Girls’ basketball vs. Leland, JV 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
1/10 – Boys’ basketball at Oak Grove, F/S 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.

1/11 – Wrestling at Mt. Pleasant, 6:30 p.m.
1/11 – Boys’ soccer vs. Gunderson, 3:15 p.m.

1/12 – Girls’ soccer at Leigh, 3:15 p.m.
1/12 – Girls’ basketball vs. Westmont, JV 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
1/12 – Boys’ basketball at Westmont, F/S 6 p.m. and varsity 7:30 p.m.

Mt. Pleasant High sports schedule
1/2 – Boys’ basketball at San Jose, F/S 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
1/2 – Girls’ basketball at Live Oak, JV 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
1/2 – Boys’ soccer vs. Santa Teresa, 3:15 p.m.

1/3 – Girls’ soccer at James Lick, 3:15 p.m.
1/3 – Wrestling vs. Prospect, 6:30 p.m.

1/4 – Girls’ basketball vs. Silver Creek, JV 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
1/4 – Boys’ soccer vs. Andrew Hill, 3:15 p.m.

1/5 – Girls’ soccer vs. Sobrato, 3:15 p.m.
1/5 – Boys’ basketball vs. James Lick, F/S 6 p.m. and varsity 7:30 p.m.

1/9 – Girls’ basketball vs. Independence, JV 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
1/9 – Boys’ soccer at Branham, 3:15 p.m.
1/9 – Boys’ basketball at Del Mar, F/S 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.

1/10 – Girls’ soccer at Independence, 3:15 p.m.

1/11 – Wrestling vs. Evergreen, 6:30 p.m.
1/11 – Girls’ basketball at Willow Glen, JV 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
1/11 – Boys’ soccer vs. Independence, 3:15 p.m.

1/12 – Girls’ soccer at Yerba Buena, 5 p.m.
1/12 – Boys’ basketball vs. Yerba Buena, F/S 6 p.m. and varsity 7:30 p.m.

Silver Creek High sports schedule
1/2 – Boys’ basketball vs. Andrew Hill, F/S 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
1/2 – Girls’ basketball at Independence, JV 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
1/2 – Boys’ soccer at Del Mar, 3:15 p.m.

1/3 – Girls’ soccer at Gunderson, 3:15 p.m.
1/3 – Wrestling at Oak Grove, 6:30 p.m.

1/4 – Girls’ basketball at Mt. Pleasant, JV 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
1/4 – Boys’ soccer vs. Prospect, 3:15 p.m.

1/5 – Girls’ soccer vs. Independence, 3:15 p.m.
1/5 – Boys’ basketball vs. Overfelt, F/S 6 p.m. and varsity 7:30 p.m.

1/9 – Girls’ basketball vs. Willow Glen, JV 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
1/9 – Boys’ basketball at Willow Glen, F/S 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
1/9 – Boys’ soccer at Gunderson, 3:15 p.m.

1/10 – Girls’ soccer vs. San Jose, 3:15 p.m.

1/11 – Wrestling at James Lick, 6:30 p.m.
1/11 – Girls’ basketball vs. Branham, JV 5:30 p.m. and varsity 7 p.m.
1/11 – Boys’ soccer vs. San Jose, 3:15 p.m.

1/12 – Girls’ soccer at James Lick, 3:15 p.m.
1/12 – Boys’ basketball at Branham, F/S 6 p.m. and varsity 7:30 p.m.


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

For more information about CCS Playoff schedules, go to the CIF/CCS Web site at http://www.cifccs.org/

SPORTS BRIEFS

Evergreen Little League 2007 season signups
Evergreen Little League is accepting registrations now for both our co-ed baseball and girls’ softball programs. Parents may register their children online from the comfort of their home or office and pay by credit card. Email confirmations are mailed immediately to ensure your reserved spot for our 2007 season. Visit our website http://ell-baseball.com to register.

Players are registered based on their “Little League Age.” For baseball, the Little League age is the age of the player on 4/30/2007. For softball, the Little League age is the age of the player on 12/31/2006.

ELL has room for players in all divisions: T-Ball (age 5-6), Pee-Wee (age 7-8), Farm (age 7-9), Minors (age 9-12), Majors (age 10-12), Juniors (age 13-14), Seniors (age 15-16), and Challenger (all ages). Fees for players registered before Jan. 15 are $100 for age 5-6, $110 for age 7-12 and $120 for age 13-16.

We also have girls’ fast pitch softball for ages 6-16. We offer a coach pitch division for age 6-8, Minors for age 9-12, Majors for age 10-12, and Junior/Senior for age 13-16. We want to grow our softball program this year and are looking for coaches and players. Contact softball@ell-baseball.com with questions or president@ell-baseball.com to volunteer to help out.

All fees go up $20 after Jan. 14. All players, ages 8 and older, are requested to tryout.

We also have in-person registration available on Saturday Jan. 6, 13, 20, and 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chaboya Middle School’s Band Room. We only accept cash or check at in-person registration; three proofs of residency and original proof of age are required as well (see our website for more details).

BASEBALL TRYOUTS:
Tryouts for Minor and Major Divisions (ages 10-12) will be held at Chaboya Middle School on Jan. 20 and 21 (ages 9-12) on Jan. 27 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tryouts for Farm Division (ages 8-9) will be held at Chaboya Middle School on Jan. 28, and Feb. 4 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tryouts for Junior and Senior Divisions (age 13-16) will be held at Quimby Oak Middle School on March 3 and 4. Tryouts are not necessary for T-Ball (ages 5-6), and Pee Wee (ages 7-8) Divisions. Check our website http://ell-baseball.com for updates.

SOFTBALL TRYOUTS:
Tryouts for all divisions will be held on Saturday, Jan. 20 at Boggini Park from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Pre-Season Clinics: These 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 or Softball. Pre Season Clinics will be held as follows:

Baseball Pre-Season Clinics:
Saturday, Jan. 6 and 13: 9 a.m. – noon, ages 8-12 at Chaboya

Saturday, Jan. 13: 1 – 4 p.m., ages 13-16 at Quimby

Saturday, Feb. 10: 9 a.m. – noon, ages 13-16 at Quimby

Softball Pre-Season Clinics:
Saturday, Jan. 6 and 13: 9 a.m. – noon, ages 8-12 at Boggini Park

Saturday, Jan. 21: 9 a.m. – noon, ages 13-16 at Boggini Park

We are also looking for volunteer Umpires. If you are interested, please contact Evergreen Little League at (408) 534-1727 or playeragent@ell-baseball.com. We offer 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 our website at http://ell-baseball.com for updates.

Superstar Basketball League signups
Superstar Basketball is a fundamental basketball league for boys and girls grades one through six. Instruction in this league is intended to improve the fundamental skills in shooting, dribbling, passing , rebounding, defense, and teamwork. Instruction begins on Jan. 6, 2007 and ends Feb. 24 at Santa Teresa High School. Cost is $99 if postmarked before Dec. 1; $110 after Dec. 1. If you have any questions, contact camp director Dan Walker at (408) 268-7634 or e-mail at dwalker@apr.com.

REACH Youth Scholarship nomination forms available online from San Jose Sports Authority
Nomination forms for the San Jose Sports Authority’s 2006 REACH Youth Scholarship Program, sponsored by Bridge Bank, which has provided college funds to 50 high school students over the past 10 years, are now available for downloading from the Sports Authority’s Web site at www.sjsa.org.

Last year, 31 Santa Clara County high school seniors were nominated, and six who overcame adversity through participation in sports were awarded scholarships through the REACH program, an acronym for Recognizing Excellence, Adversity, Courage and Hard Work. Scholarships are awarded based on an essay competition in which nominees explain how sports helped them overcome adversity.

The nominees and scholarship winners for 2006 will be honored at the REACH Awards Breakfast, chaired by former San Francisco 49er Ronnie Lott, on Thursday, May 3, 2007.

Only Santa Clara County high schools may nominate students for the award, with a maximum of five nominees per school. Nominees must then complete an essay and student information form.

Nominees must:
- Be high school seniors,
- Maintain a 2.5 GPA,
- Participate in at least one sanctioned high school athletic activity,
- Demonstrate community involvement,
- Show the ability to overcome adversity or obstacles to reach his or her goals.

Each nominee is required to write an essay of one to three pages based on his or her experiences. The essay should focus on the obstacles they have overcome and how sports have helped them achieve their goals. Essays will be judged on content.

Nominations must be postmarked by Friday, March 31.

Visit the San Jose Sports Authority Web site at www.sjsa.org for more information.

South San Jose Hotshots seek experienced girls soccer players
The South San Jose Hotshots, a girls U11 competitive soccer team, is looking for experienced players for its 2007 indoor and outdoor seasons.  The Hotshots play in the Delgado competitive league and finished as one of the top U10 girls’ teams in the 2006 fall season. The team has a positive coaching environment, with a focus on teamwork and player development.  Interested players should contact head coach Mike Bunge at awalt80@yahoo.com.

Girls’ Lacrosse of San Jose now registering players
Girls’ Lacrosse of San Jose is now registering players for its spring 2007 season. The club, which plays under the name San Jose Extreme, has openings remaining for its new developmental team for third and fourth graders (second graders by permission), and for its fifth and sixth grade team. In addition, it has a short wait list for its seventh and eighth grade team and a second high school team.

Girls’ lacrosse is a fast-growing, non-contact field sport played with a webbed stick and ball that combines elements of basketball and field hockey. Girls Lacrosse of San Jose started five years ago with one team. In 2007, it will have five teams for girls of all ages.

The club practices at Kirk Community Center on Foxworthy Avenue and is part of the Northern California Junior Lacrosse Association. The season runs from February through mid-May.

For information, go to www.sjextreme.org or contact club President John Fensterwald by e-mail at john@sjextreme.org or call (408) 265-2224.

San Jose Strikkers 18U tryouts
The San Jose Strikkers, a youth girls fast-pitch softball team based in San Jose, will hold tryouts for its’ 18U summer ball team. Summer ball tryouts are Dec. 17, Jan. 7 and Jan. 14 at Oak Grove High School. Tryouts for pitchers and catchers are at 9 a.m. and all position player tryouts start at 10:30 a.m. For more information, call Frank King (408) 406-8191 or Richard Fangonilo (408) 274-9301, or e-mail fgking25@aol.com or rfangonilo@sjm.com.

Valley Flag Football now accepting Spring 2007 registration
Valley Flag Football is the premier youth football league for boys and girls ages 5-14. The program provides young players a fun and exciting opportunity to engage in continuous action while learning lessons in teamwork. It’s an excellent way to introduce players before playing tackle and keeping tackle players.

Launched in 1996, the FLAG Football program is designed to educate young people about football while emphasizing participation and sportsmanship. Players learn skills and lessons that help them succeed both on and off the field.

NFL FLAG Football is played across the United States and is a fun and exciting sport that teaches great life lessons, such as sportsmanship, dedication and discipline.

This five-on-five game is recognizable to football fans everywhere. Participants learn about formations, pass patterns and different types of offense and defense. All teams are actual NFL team names. Players keep their team logo jerseys. Sign up today and be part of the Valley Flag Football family. The first 100 players to register online receive a free league T-shirt. Registration deadline is Feb. 28. The season starts March 25, 2007

Visit the Web site for more information and registration: www.valleyflagfootball.com or contact (408) 531-0417 or tmorgan_valleyflag@hotmail.com.

Cross Missouri in six days

Almaden Cycle Touring Club members conquer Katy Trail in style

By Karl Laucher
Special to the Times

It was almost exactly 200 years after Lewis and Clark returned from their two-year Corps of Discovery mission to evaluate the Louisiana Purchase that Larry Brandt and I, grizzled warriors in neon spandex from the Almaden Cycle Touring Club, followed the final miles of the same path to a triumphant finish in St. Charles, Mo.

On the Katy Trail near Rocheport. From left, Kathy and Karl Laucher, Larry and Sally Brandt. Inset below, right: Laucher, right, of Willow Glen and Almaden Cycle Touring Club president Brandt pause in front of the Lewis & Clark statue in St. Charles, Mo.

Larry is the genial ACTC president, who, at age 71, was making but another pilgrimage to his home state. And I, at age 66, am the beneficiary of a great organization—the ACTC—that inspires an elevated level of fitness and companionship, particularly in the golden years.

Lewis and Clark’s return after two years of braving the harsh landscape and tense encounters with the natives was met with a tumultuous celebration in St. Charles. Larry and I got a cheerful greeting and souvenir plaques from our wives, Sally and Kathy, respectively.

But still, by completing some 230 miles in six days last October on the Katy Trail, a former railroad line nicknamed for the former Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad that runs somewhat parallel to the wide Missouri River, we cyclists could at least sample the terrain scrutinized by Lewis and Clark, who traveled some 8,000 uncharted miles under somewhat more challenging circumstances.

So, yes, we stayed with our wives (who traveled in the four-door sedan “sag wagon”) in luxury accommodations, including three bed and breakfast inns, and ate like hungry black bears that, fortunately for your defenseless duo, no longer exist in Missouri. But as dandy bike riders we did at least self-propel ourselves along at about 12 mph on the mostly flat and mostly shaded trail with a grand appreciation for our good fortune to live in such a day and age. We had nothing to fear but our own old bones.

Larry, a retired grade-school teacher, was making his second traversing of the Katy Trail, calling this holiday his “10 Cousins Tour” as he and Sally visited numerous relatives during their travels to and from the nation’s longest Rails-to Trails project.

For me, a retired journalist (and former Almaden Times editor), the journey was a grand tour in a quest, in my ever-more calcified state of flexibility, to replace my 35-year fetish for an all-systems stimuli on the rugby pitch. But, I still have a hankering for the game so my wife and I are headed for France in the fall for the Rugby World Cup and some social rugby with the California Bald Eagles.

With the ACTC this year, I will have completed nearly 5,000 miles in the saddle to rank in the club’s top 10 among 1,000-plus participants in miles completed. It is a ranking not of caliber, but of time and commitment. That’s why, comparatively, riding the mighty Katy Trail was an achievement of—dare I say it—historic proportions.