May 4, 2005

Willow Glen volleyball team pulls together for 3-0 win over Prospect

Despite game one frustrations, Rams hold on for win

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Writer

Senior middle blocker Alex Pelayo registered a team-leading 10 kills as the Willow Glen boys’ volleyball team took a 3-0 road win against Prospect on April 19.

The Rams’ Andrew Veggian prepares for a pass prior to Willow Glen’s 3-0 win over Prospect on April 19. Veggian returned to the court after missing a short time of the season with the flu.

The Rams played a tight contest for two out of the three games they won, putting up scores of 25-21, 25-13 and 25-22.

“Our biggest thing was when our boys played with energy, they actually played hard,” said Rams Head Coach Jef Wind. “When they played flat, they let balls drop.”

Game one saw both teams match point for point for much of the contest before the Rams pulled out a win helped by a 7-0 scoring run midway through. After two quick points gave the Panthers a 17-15 lead, the Rams put together their best stretch of the first game, beginning with a tip from senior Jared Petite to start the 7-0 scoring span. During the stretch, the Rams got a kill from Pelayo, who also helped out on a key block up front with Petite.

Up 24-18 and looking to end the game, the Rams saw Prospect reel off three straight points to make it a 3-point contest, as Danny Okazaki knocked in two kills for the Panthers. The rams then won the first game when Okazaki knocked a kill attempt out of bounds.

Despite winning the first game, Wind was unhappy with his team’s play. Between games one and two, Wind took his players aside and delivered a clear message—play better.

“I just told them, ‘it’s your season, you guys are seniors, fire it up,’” Wind said. “Then they fired it up.”

Wind’s words appeared to have an effect on the Rams, who came out quickly in game two and jumped ahead 7-2 in the early going. After Prospect scored four of the next five points to make it an 8-6 game, the Rams answered back with their best stretch of the night, going on an 11-0 run to take a commanding 19-6 lead.

During the run, Petite delivered three kills and helped out on another point, teaming up with Pelayo on a block. Johnny Vlkovic also played a pivotal role, tipping over three passes for points, while Tobin Chase registered an ace on one of his serves.

“The guys stayed low on defense and started passing the ball,” Wind said. “In the first game, we didn’t pass the ball well at all. We were terrible. Then we picked it up and played good volleyball.”

After Prospect went on a short 5-2 stretch, the Rams finished game two by taking three of the next four points, ending game two on a kill from Chase.

“Coach (Wind) said in practice yesterday to improve everything. To get rid of service errors and get more kills,” Chase said. “So that’s what I tried to do. I didn’t have any service errors today.”

In game three, the Rams appeared to be on their way to another convincing win, taking an early 19-6 lead. But the Panthers struck back, taking nine of the next 11 points, getting kills from Okazaki and Patrick Avila during that stretch to tie the game 16-16.

Later in the contest, with the score tied 20-20, the Rams put together a short 4-0 stretch to give them a 24-20 edge.
“Willow Glen had some energy out there and that makes a difference,” said Panthers Head Coach Rod Carlson.

Chase was a key player once again during that span, knocking over a kill while Petite continued to block well up front, giving his team another point on a blocked kill attempt. After two points for Prospect made it a two-point contest, the Rams took the third game when Okazaki served into his own net.

Bruins drop 6-3 loss at home to Leland in baseball

Sakoda picks up first loss of year in four innings on the hill

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Writer

Branham’s baseball team’s losing streak reached four as the Bruins dropped a 6-3 decision at home to Leland on April 15.

Bruins starting pitcher Louie Sakoda lasted just four innings in the loss, allowing four earned runs on five hits despite four strikeouts. It was Sakoda’s first loss on the hill for the 2005 season.

“I kind of came in today, knowing that my arm is not 100 percent,” said Sakoda. “I just wanted to let them hit it and basically I let them hit it; but the fielding wasn’t all there. That’s kind of tough to pitch through but it’s all mental and you have to play through that.”

Things started out rough for Sakoda and the Bruins (9-9, 5-8 after 7-3 loss ton April 20 to Leigh). The Charger offense scored once in the top of the second on a Steve Akerson sacrifice fly before adding two more runs in the top of the third on a Matt Slaton home run.

Sakoda started the third by walking leadoff batter Andrew Kim. Slaton then stepped up and belted Sakoda’s offering to the deepest part of the ballpark, a two-run homer to center field, Slaton’s second home run in a week, for a 3-0 Charger lead.

In the top of the fourth, the Chargers added another run, getting a leadoff double from Akerson before Damon Ronnsvalle drove him in with one out, chopping a single to center field past the drawn-in Bruins infield.

“Louie had a good firs two innings, and then, he just kept the ball up and they started hitting him,” said Bruins Head Coach Kirk Selfridge. “He’s had a great year so far and he’s going to continue doing well for us. You’re going to have off days, everyone does, but he’ll bounce back and we’ll be alright.”

Meanwhile, the Branham offense was quiet through the first four innings of play. Leland starting pitcher John Foley held the Bruins to just two hits over four frames, both singles off the bat of shortstop Duce Ferrante.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Bruins began to show life on offense, roughing up Foley for two runs in the inning to cut Leland’s lead to 4-2. The inning got started when Bruins first baseman Dan Shehan led off with a single to center field before moving to third base on consecutive ground balls. Catcher Mike Swenson then put the Bruins on the board, lining a sharp single to left field, scoring Shehan easily from third. On the same play, Akerson left Swenson’s single slip past him, allowing Swenson to scoot into second base for the Bruins.

Akerson’s mistake proved costly for Foley. With Swenson on second base, centerfielder Preston Ward stepped up next and delivered a single to center field, scoring Swenson from second and cutting once more in Leland’s lead.

After working two scoreless innings in relief of Sakoda, Bruins left-hander Willie Gemo couldn’t hold off the Leland offense any longer as the Chargers tacked on two more runs to lengthen their lead to 6-2. With runners on the corners and two out, Leland second baseman Danny Dyer singled to left field off Gemo, scoring Slaton from third.

Pinch hitter Gabe Castaneda then stepped up and hit a chopper over the head of Ferrante at shortstop, allowing pinch runner Jimi Kogura to score from second base for Leland’s second run of the inning.

“Leland hit the ball and made plays,” said Selfridge. “We made too many mental mistakes and errors and they capitalized on it.”

The Bruins mounted one last attempt on offense in the bottom of the seventh, beginning with a leadoff single from Brandon Bittle. With two outs and Bittle on third base via a groundout to third base and a wild pitch, Ward delivered his second run-scoring single of the day, this time to right field to cut Leland’s lead to 6-3. But that was all the Bruins could muster as Slaton, who came on in relief in the sixth, got Ferrante to end the game by grounding out to shortstop.

“We hit the ball, but not what we’re typically capable off,” Selfridge said. “We’re usually averaging about 12 or 13 hits per game and we’re not getting that right now.”

Rams’ offense quiet in 1-0 loss to Evergreen Valley

Dauenhauer throws one-hitter; McCollum picks up loss despite strong showing

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Writer

For the Willow Glen softball team, the hits were in short supply on April 11.

The Rams (10-7, 3-5 Santa Teresa Division) managed one hit—a third-inning double off the bat of shortstop Aurora Donnelly—in a 1-0 road loss to the Evergreen Valley Cougars.

“We just couldn’t get more than one or two hits in a row,” Rams’ Head Coach Scott McCollum said. “We didn’t have consistency. We had base runners, but never could get them around.”

Evergreen pitching ace Holly Dauenhauer threw a complete game shutout for the Cougars, striking out two and walking two for the win.

Not to be outdone, Willow Glen starting pitcher Michele McCollum threw six strong innings in a tough-luck loss, striking out three while giving up just one run on six hits.

“I think I did alright,” said McCollum of her pitching performance. “Me and my catcher (Caitlin Edmunds) have been working together for the past few years … I tried to go with matching up with the other team and figuring out what their weaknesses and strengths are and working with that.”

Willow Glen batters reached base in the first three innings of the contest but were left stranded each time. In the first inning, a one-out walk to second baseman Jeanette Sulay was quickly erased when first baseman Lillian Smith hit into a routine double play to end the inning. In the second inning, McCollum reached base on a ground ball that was bobbled and dropped by Evergreen shortstop Angel Espitia. Again, Dauenhauer got out of the inning unscathed, coaxing third baseman Debra Weaver into a groundout to end the threat.

Willow Glen’s best scoring opportunity came in the top of the third inning when Donnelly hit a towering double to left field, giving the Rams their first runner in scoring position. Once more, Dauenhauer found a way to get out of it, striking out Sulay to end Willow Glen’s scoring opportunity.

“She’s coming out on fire,” said Evergreen Head Coach Lisa Baker of Dauenhauer. “It’s just hard work. She just works really hard. She’s coming into her own.”

Meanwhile, McCollum held Evergreen at bay in her first three innings of work. The right-hander did endure a laborious first inning escaping a one-out situation with runners on the corners with an infield pop-up and a strikeout.

In the fourth, McCollum ran into trouble from the start, giving up a leadoff double to Evergreen first baseman Melissa Gonzalez. Later in the inning, Gonzalez found herself on third with two outs after two bunts, including one for an infield single, and a groundout to the right side of the infield. Cougar third baseman Amber Bradbury then stepped up and hit a liner to Sulay’s left side.

The second baseman dove and appeared to have caught the ball. But in that same moment, Sulay’s momentum from the dive forced her to roll on the ground, and the ball came out of her glove for an Evergreen hit, scoring Gonzalez from third for a 1-0 Evergreen lead.

“Jeanette was aggressive, and you know, we’ll take that kind of effort over sitting back and waiting for it,” McCollum said of the play. “Nine times out of 10, she makes that play, but I’m not going to worry about those things.”

That was all the run support Dauenhauer would need as the sophomore right-hander retired 12 of the next 13 batters to pick up the win. A two-out walk to Katie Joyce in the fifth went nowhere once again, as Dauenhauer induced centerfielder Corina Lopez into a comeback grounder to the mound to end Willow Glen’s last threat.

Willow Glen went on to drop two of its next three games, but got some measure of revenge. The Rams came back after their April 11 loss and took a 1-0 win from Evergreen on April 14.

San Jose’s girls lacrosse team

Athletes doesn’t just play games

San Jose’s first girls’ lacrosse team took time out Saturday, April 23 to participate in Earth Day activities before their games.

More than two dozen players from Girls Lacrosse of San Jose joined District 9 cleanup activities at Kirk Community Center and Paul Moore Park. The participating girls, from grades five through 12 in various San Jose-area schools, used the event to thank San Jose parks and recreation for sponsoring their program.

Girls Lacrosse of San Jose is a nonprofit club that promotes the game for girls in San Jose. The club has three teams, two for girls in grades five to eight and a new high school club. The teams, known as San Jose Extreme, practice two afternoons a week in the spring at Kirk Community Center and play teams affiliated with the Northern California Junior Lacrosse Association.

Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in America, according to a recent Sports Illustrated article. Girls’ lacrosse is a non-contact field sport that combines the tactics of basketball and the speed of soccer. Girls use a webbed stick to throw a hard rubber ball in a net.

Girls’ Lacrosse of San Jose is open to any girl in San Jose. This summer, the club will hold introductory clinics on Tuesday evenings at Kirk Community Center. For more information, write info@sjextreme.org or view the Web site: www.sjextreme.org.

San Jose hosts multi-disability track, field, basketball and aquatics meet

The city of San Jose along with Far West Wheelchair sports is sponsoring the Far West Games May 19-21 at San Jose City College, 2100 Moorpark Ave. and the Camden Community Center at 3369 Union Ave.

The athletes competing at these games earn points for U.S, national competitions. Events include boccia, track and field, aquatics and three-on-three basketball.

The games are free for spectators. Competitors must pay a $60 registration fee.

Thursday, May 19 activities include a boccia clinic from 4 to 6 p.m.; boccia pentathlon from 6 to 9 p.m. and a 5,000-meter race from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Field events will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with track events scheduled for 2 to 7 p.m. Both days’ events will be held at San Jose City College.

Basketball and swimming will be held at the Camden Community center on Saturday, May 21. Three-on-three basketball is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with swimming 2 to 6 p.m.

San Jose holds youth track meet

San Jose will host a citywide youth track and field meet on Sunday, May 22 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Evergreen Valley High School’s track, 3300 Quimby Road.

The free track meet will allow young people ages 9-14 to compete at the NorCal Hershey State Meet. Track events include the 50-, 100-, 200-, 400-, 800- and 1600-meter races along with the 4 x 100-meter relay. Field events include the standing long jump and softball throw. Group One is for athletes born between 1995-1996, Group Two for athletes born between 1993-1994 and Group Three is for athletes born between 1991-1992.

The city of San Jose, Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services and the San Jose Police Amateur Athletic Association are sponsoring this free event. The meet is a qualifier meet for the Nor Cal Hershey State Track and Field Meet scheduled for Saturday, June 18 at San Jose City College, and a stop on the road to the National Meet in Hershey, Pa.

Implemented in 1975 as a playground track and field meet, the Hershey Youth Program has become the largest youth sports program of its kind in North America. Over 400,000 children participate in the program annually, representing over 3,000 communities across the country.

Pre-registration is encouraged but not required. Registration will also be accepted on the day of the event between 8 and 9:30 a.m. To obtain more information and registration forms, call the Citywide Sports Office at (408) 369-3900.

Soccer signups ahead

The South Bay Youth Soccer League will enroll boys and girls, under age 14 as of July 3, on Saturday May 7 and May 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m at the Campbell Community Center football stadium snack bar.

A parent or guardian may enroll children over the age of 4 and under 14.

Cost is $85 per child with a discount for siblings. Bring proof of the child’s birth date and small, current picture and cash or a personal check. Teams are available throughout South Bay. All games are played on Saturdays in Campbell.

First game is Aug. 20, 2005. For more information, call Norm at (408) 248-8516 and/or visit the Web site at http://www.southbayyouthsoccer.com.

NCAA doesn’t renew Silicon Valley Football Classic

Despite a well-executed presentation to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) that was favorably complimented by all the post-season Football Licensing Subcommittee members in attendance, the Silicon Valley Football Classic (SVFC) recently announced the annual bowl game at San Jose’s Spartan Stadium was not re-licensed for the 2005 season.

Last year’s game, which saw Northern Illinois defeat Troy State 34-21 in the fifth annual SVFC, has been classified as “The Perfect Storm.” SVFC officials had to battle a number of immense challenges including South Carolina and Clemson’s withdrawals from the eligible bowl contingent leaving the 28 existing bowls with only 57 eligible teams.

Other problems included local conference partners, the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and Pac-10’s inability to provide bowl-eligible teams, while the match up of two at-large teams were unfamiliar to the local market. Finally, the tumultuous rain drove away attendees on game day; as a stream of negative press led up to bowl week.

“We are truly disappointed in the NCAA’s decision to deny the Silicon Valley Football Classic a 2005 season,” said Chris Hutchins, executive director of the SVFC. “Our executive committee worked tirelessly over the last several weeks to present the NCAA with the positive and successful results that are associated with the Bowl. We were 100 percent committed to building upon last year’s successes, but unfortunately, attendance criteria became the deciding factor.”

During the past five years, the SVFC has been a direct economic influence to the city of San Jose, generating more than $32 million in economic impact during one of the slowest tourism weeks of the year.

“Since the first, the Silicon Valley Football Classic has contributed greatly to our community with significant economic, community and downtown benefits,” said San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales. “I appreciate all the hard work from so many people over the years to create what we all expected to become an outstanding San Jose tradition.”

In addition to its economic impact, the SVFC invested and gave back to the community. Last year, the SVFC teamed up with the After-School All-Stars of Greater San Jose (ASAS-GSJ), its official charity partner, hosting its first-ever Team Community Day. The SVFC was recently able to reaffirm its commitment to the community by presenting ASAS-GSJ with a $10,000 donation early this year.

The Silicon Valley Football Classic (SVFC) was conceived in 2000, to form an NCAA Division IA Football Bowl in San Jose. The mission of the SVFC is to use college football as the ultimate social platform to positively impact San Jose and its surrounding communities on both an economic and philanthropic level.

SVFC seeks to invest and give back to our communities by establishing long term partnerships with businesses, civic groups, schools, families and football fans through a series of year round festival of events highlighting the December Bowl. For more information on the SVFC, visit http://www.svfootballclassic.com.