January 15, 2009

SPORTS

Sporting Green Girls win Winter Turf Tournament

The Sporting Girls are pictured. In the front row, from the left, are Maddie Cavanna*, Reese Gonzalez, Erin McCoy*, Stephanie Magellan, Megan Wheelock, Erica Nakano*, Fiona Sequeira, Lauren Craft* and Ashley Lawrence*; in the second row are Head Coach Jim Lawrence*, Danielle Hadfield*, Sierra Painter*, Shaelan Murison, Regan Heslop*, Michelle Stack, Lauren Plesse, Hanna Gratny* and assistant coach Chris Stack. Cecelia Hinz* is not pictured, (* Denotes Almaden Resident).

The Sporting U11 Girls’ Select soccer team won the 2009 Mustang Winter Turf tournament in Danville Jan. 3-4, which attracted many of the top teams in northern California.

A total of eight teams participated in the U11 age bracket. The Sporting Girls won two games and tied one to advance to the finals. The championship game was against the Mustang Xplosion, currently the number-one ranked team in northern California. Although it was a tough game, the Sporting girls emerged victorious with a 1-0 win.

“Winning this tournament is a major accomplishment for our team,” said Jim Lawrence, head coach of the Sporting. “The Mustang Xplosion played a great game and our girls came out on top. This is a terrific reward for all of their hard work.”

The team is currently participating in the second round of the NorCal State cup championship. The top 16 teams in northern California are currently competing for the claim as the top-ranked team in northern California. The Sporting are currently undefeated in the event.

San Jose Giants host winter baseball clinics

The San Jose Giants will hold their third annual Winter Baseball Clinics the weekends of Jan. 24-25 and Feb. 7-8 at Municipal Stadium. The clinics will focus on preparing boys and girls ages 9 through 16 for the 2009 spring baseball or softball season and Little League tryouts.

The San Jose Giants recognize the importance of individual instruction and are committed to having numerous instructors on hand for the most personal interaction and focused attention possible. Coaches will include San Jose Giants players Nick Pereira, Clayton Tanner, Dave McKae, Mike Mooney and Tyler LaTorre, and the 2009 San Jose Giants hitting coach Gary Davenport*.

“The San Jose Giants clinics will significantly help prepare young players for their upcoming season,” said Lance Motch, San Jose Giants Youth Camp director. “They focus a great deal on individual skills and development.”

Participants are welcome to attend an entire weekend at a discounted price of $135, or a one-day session at $75. During the one- or two-day session, camp participants will work on all fundamentals of the game with a focus on spring baseball tryout skills, including base running, hitting, throwing, catching and fielding. Both clinic sessions will take place at Municipal Stadium from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants will receive a San Jose Giants T-shirt, included in the registration price.

To learn more about the San Jose Giants Winter Clinics, visit www.sjgiants.com, call (408) 297-1435 ext. 29, or e-mail camiyuasa@sjgiants.com.

The San Jose Giants open their 2009 season on Thursday, April 9 at Municipal Stadium versus the Stockton Ports. The opening night extravaganza will include a post-game fireworks display, 2009 magnet schedule giveaway, the return of Gigante and much more. For more information on tickets for the 2009 season, call (408) 297-1435 or visit www.sjgiants.com.

About the San Jose Giants
The San Jose Giants are a minor league professional baseball team in the Class A Advanced California League. The team has been affiliated with the San Francisco Giants since 1988, which is the longest current working agreement in the league. The San Jose Giants were the 2007 California League champions and have called San Jose home for over 60 years. The San Jose Giants play in historic Municipal Stadium. The team is owned and operated by a group of local investors living in the Bay area. The Giants afford thousands of San Jose residents the opportunity to bring their families to watch a national pastime at a fraction of the cost of a major league game. For tickets, contact the San Jose Giants box office at (408) 297-1435 or www.sjgiants.com.

High School Sports Schedule Jan. 16 – 22

Leland

Friday—Boys’ basketball vs. Westmont at Leland; JV at 6; Varsity at 7 p.m.
Friday—Girls’ soccer vs. Branham at Branham at 3:15 p.m.

Tuesday—Boys’ basketball vs. Santa Teresa at Santa Teresa; JV at 5:30 and Varsity at 7
Tuesday—Girls’ basketball vs. San Jose at San Jose; JV at 5:30 and Varsity at 7 p.m.
Tuesday—Boys’ soccer vs. Pioneer at Pioneer; JV at 3:15

Wednesday—Girls’ soccer vs. Leigh at Leigh at 3:15
Wednesday—Wrestling vs. Lincoln at Lincoln at 6:30 p.m.

Thursday—Girls’ basketball vs. Oak Grove at Leland; JV at 5:30 and Varsity at 7 p.m.
Thursday—Boys’ soccer vs. Willow Glen at Willow Glen at 3:15

Pioneer

Friday—Boys’ basketball vs. Santa Teresa at Pioneer; JV at 5:30 and Varsity at 7 p.m.
Friday—Girls’ soccer vs. Evergreen at Evergreen at 3:15

Tuesday—Girls’ basketball vs. Independence at Pioneer at 3:15
Tuesday—Boys’ soccer vs. Leland at Pioneer at 3:15

Wednesday—Boys’ basketball vs. Leigh at Leigh; JV at 5:30, Varsity at 7 p.m.
Wednesday—Girls’ soccer vs. Santa Teresa at Santa Teresa at 3:15

Thursday—Girls’ basketball vs. Overfelt at Overfelt; JV at 5:30, Varsity at 7 p.m.
Thursday—Boys’ soccer vs. Yerba Buena at Pioneer at 3:15
Thursday—Wrestling vs. San Jose at San Jose at 6:30 p.m.

For more information about Leland and Pioneer sporting events, go to:

Pioneer Athletics: www.phsathletics.com
Leland Athletics: www.lelandathletics.com
Blossom Valley Athletic League: www.bval.org

Sports Briefs

Avon Walk for Breast Cancer “Great Start Party” in San Francisco on Jan. 24
Help save lives!  At the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer “Great Start Party,” individuals and teams will register to walk or volunteer for the 2009 events.  Local residents will meet other participants, find out about training walks, learn about the impact of past funds raised and more.  For returning participants, the “Great Start Party” is an opportunity to register for the upcoming walk, share memories and renew friendships. Locations is Westfirld San Francisco Centre (under the Dome) 845 Market Street from 1 – 3 p.m. The San Francisco Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is scheduled for July 11-12, 2009. For more information on Avon Foundation and Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, please visit www.avonwalk.org or call 888-541-WALK. To RSVP for the “Great Start Party”, email info.sanfrancisco@avonwalk.org or call 415-834-0404

Almaden Valley Strikers
This Boys’ Under-14 Class 3 soccer team in the Almaden Valley Youth Soccer League is holding tryouts for players born between August 1, 1995 and July 31, 1996.  Tryouts will be held at TJ Martin Park on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4-5:30 thru the month of January. Email avyslstrikers95@yahoo.com for more details.

SJ Vipers Lacrosse hosting free clinic 
The SJ Vipers Lacrosse Club still has openings for players at all ages (2nd grade through High School) for our Spring 2009 season. 

On Jan 20 and 22 we will be holding a free clinic to learn the basics of Lacrosse.  No experience necessary!  Both boys and girls are welcome.  Beginners are not only welcome, but encouraged to attend - bring a friend.  Lacrosse sticks are available to loan or bring your own. 

Clinic Dates:  Tuesday, January 20 and Thursday, January 22

Time:  4 to 5:30 p.m. at Harker Middle School (old Blackford High School) 3800 Blackford Ave., San Jose 95117
Girls needed - New this year is a Girls’ U11 team (birthdates 1/1/98 thru 12/31/99 or younger)

If you’re unable to attend, you can still sign up for Spring by going to our web site at http://www.viperslacrosse.net/ or by calling our Registrar at 408-268-9547. The Vipers are a NON-Profit organization geared toward spreading the growth of lacrosse.  For more information, contact Nipper Donovan at 408-605-5090

Almaden Stealth Boys’ U13 Class 3 Comp. Soccer holds tryouts
The Almaden Stealth - Boys U13 Class 3 - are looking for highly competitive soccer players with birthdates between Aug. 1, 1996 and July 31, 1997. We are a year round, competitive team based in Almaden Valley and coached by Ben Graham with MLS Camps.  We are holding tryouts at the following date and time:
Saturday, Jan. 10, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at Leland High School, West turf field
For more information, please contact our team manager, Robert Cerone, at 408-268-9547 or by email at ncerone@sbcglobal.net. 

Girls’ U12 Soccer Tryout
Santa Clara Sporting 97G White, a Class 1, Division 1 competitive girls’ soccer team, will be holding an open tryout session on Sunday, Jan. 18 from 12 – 2 p.m. at Curtis Field, 890 Pomeroy Ave. in Santa Clara, CA. Experienced players born after July 31, 1997 are eligible to participate. If interested, please contact Dave Ballard at daveballard12@sbcglobal.net or 408-799-1213 to register.

Almaden Celtics soccer team tryouts:  Boys U13 Division 3 “Comp”
The Almaden Celtics, a U13 Boys “comp” soccer team in AVYSL (www.almadensoccer.org), is holding tryouts for the 2009 season. Players born on or after 8/1/1996 are eligible to play. The tryouts will be at the Leland High School West Turf Field on Jan. 25 from 1-2:30 p.m. and Jan. 31 from 10:30 a.m. to noon (rain or shine). Please arrive 15 minutes prior to Session Time with water, shin guards, and rubber cleats.  A parent/guardian needs to remain at the tryout. Our team has a paid trainer/head coach (Adam Coulter) and two parent assistant coaches (Lincoln Bejan and Dominic Rancadore) that enjoy working with the boys on soccer and bring a lot of enthusiasm to the game.  We will offer the opportunity to play spring and fall soccer, including tournaments.  Feel free to e-mail Frank Torres (team manager) at frank.home@sbcglobal.net if you have any questions.

AVYSL hosts tryouts for the U9 thru U12 age groups
Participants are encouraged to attend all tryout days to increase their opportunities to make the teams. Tryouts will be held at the Tillman Stadium at Leland High School, and the “West” field next to the softball diamond. Evaluations will be run by an independent team and will give every child the opportunity to succeed.

U9 age group eligibility birth dates: 8/1/00 thru 7/31/01
U10 - 8/1/99 thru 7/1/00
U11 – 8/1/98 thru 7/31/99
U12 – 8/1/97 thru 7/31/98

The tryout schedule is below – please arrive early to sign in. To save time in the registration process, download and bring the 1601 form (CYSA link provided). For more information, visit www.almadensoccer.org or contact Neil Diaz, coach@almadensoccer.org.

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