SPORTS

Mustangs win sloppy league-opener 8-3 over Silver Creek

Pioneer scored five times in second inning on one hit and several defensive mistakes

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Writer

TAKING HIS CUTS. Pioneer right fielder Michael Rudolph takes a swing at a Chris Watkins pitch during an 8-3 win for the Mustangs over Silver Creek on March 7. Rudolph went 1-for-3 with a run scored for the Mustangs. Photo by Diego Abeloos.

The Pioneer baseball team took advantage of several Silver Creek miscues on defense and wild pitching to take an 8-3 league-opening win over the Raiders on March 8.

Pioneer left-hander Andy Wright got the call to start on the hill and pitched 4-and-2/3 innings for the win, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits while walking four and striking out five.

“We came out, put the ball in play, and the guys were aggressive,” said Pioneer Head Coach Jake Hernandez of the win.

The Mustangs (4-3, 1-0 Santa Teresa Division) got things going in the bottom of the first inning with a 2-0 deficit at hand, taking advantage of an error by Raiders’ shortstop Brandon Gossman and pitcher Chris Watkins’ lack of control on the mound to plate their first run of the game.

Danny Ventura led off the inning by reaching base on a botched ground ball by Gossman and just a few moments, later reached second on Andrew Schulz’s single to left field. After first baseman Steve Matos was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Watkins uncorked a wild pitch to the backstop, scoring Ventura from third for a 2-1 score.

In the bottom of the second inning, the Mustangs took advantage of botched plays by Raiders again, scoring five runs on only one hit and chasing Watkins from the game.

A single by Michael Rudolph and two walks loaded the bases to open the inning before Watkins threw another wild pitch with Ventura at the plate, scoring Michael Rudolph from third and tying the game 2-2. Ventura followed by lofting a pop fly near the edge of the outfield grass that was dropped by Raiders second baseman Aaron Vitalis, scoring Michael Schulz from third for a 3-2 edge.

“I always stress to be aggressive at the plate, look for balls in the dirt, take the extra base at all times,” Hernandez said. “They had a tough time throwing strikes and their catcher had a tough time catching the ball.”

Andrew Schulz then stepped up and hit a routine grounder to third, but Schulz inadvertently blocked Travis Rose’s throw from reaching first, scoring Rudolph for a 4-2 lead. The Mustangs then plated their fourth run of the inning when Matos’ grounder to third base was bobbled by Rose, scoring Ventura. After a double-steal and a walk to leftfielder Shaun Souza loaded the bases once more, Watkins was pulled from the game in favor of left-hander Devin Ryans, all without recording an out in the second inning.

Ryans fared much better than Watkins, allowing only one more run to cross the plate on a groundout by centerfielder Zane Bailey, but the damage was already done in the form of a 6-2 Pioneer lead.

The Mustangs scored twice more in the fourth inning to put some distance in the score, getting a two-out single from Bailey to left field, scoring Matos and Souza, who both reached base on walks, for an 8-2 lead.

“They battled in this one,” said Hernandez of his team. “It wasn’t our best game. We can definitely improve on it, but it’s a big win.”

Things didn’t start out rosy for Wright, who gave up both of his runs in the top of the first before the tall southpaw settled down and held the Raiders scoreless for the remainder of his time on the mound.

After Wright walked second baseman Aaron Vitalis to open up the game, Gossman dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move the runner along. But Ventura, covering first base on the play, dropped catcher Eddie Hsieh’s throw, putting runners on first and second with no out.

After a groundout moved the runners to second and third, Watkins took a Wright pitch to right-center field for a double, scoring both runners for a 2-0 lead.

Wright sailed through the rest of his 3-and-2/3 innings of work, surrendering three hits the rest of the way while picking off two runners from first base in the process. Right-hander Johnny Carreras picked up the save in relief, throwing the remaining 2-and-1/3 innings, allowing only a solo home run to catcher Andre Flores in the top of the seventh.

“I think I struggled a little bit in the first inning, but they (Mustang offense) got a lot of runs in the second inning, which really picked me up and got me going,” said Wright. “I was able to hold them down a little bit enough just for them to be able to do their job.”

High School Sports Schedule March 11 - March 17

Leland High School
Friday – Baseball at Leigh, 3:30 p.m.
Friday – Boys’ lacrosse vs. Menlo, 3:30 p.m.
Friday – Softball at Independence, 3:30 p.m.

Saturday – Boys and girls swimming and diving at Falcon Relays, Fairfield High, 7:30 a.m.
Saturday – Track at Watsonville Relays, Soquel High, 9 a.m.

Monday – Golf vs. Westmont, 2 p.m.

Tuesday – Softball at Presentation, 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday – Boys’ lacrosse vs. Las Lomas, 4 p.m.
Tuesday – Girls’ lacrosse at Woodside, 4 p.m.
Tuesday – Boys’ tennis vs. Oak Grove, 3:15 p.m.
Tuesday – Badminton at Evergreen, 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday – Boys’ volleyball vs. Oak Grove, 6 p.m.

Wednesday – Baseball vs. Santa Teresa, 3:30 p.m.

Thursday – Softball vs. Live Oak, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday – Boys’ lacrosse vs. Stevenson, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday – Track at Piedmont hills, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday – Badminton vs. Mitty, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday – Boys’ tennis at Piedmont hills, 3:15 p.m.
Thursday – Golf vs. Westmont at Almaden, 3 p.m.
Thursday – Boys’ volleyball at Pioneer, 6 p.m.

Pioneer High School
Friday – Girls’ lacrosse vs. Castilleja, 4 p.m.

Monday – Baseball vs. Piedmont Hills, 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday – Girls’ lacrosse vs. Menlo, 4 p.m.
Tuesday – Boys’ volleyball at Westmont, 6 p.m.
Tuesday – Golf vs. Willow Glen at Cinnabar, 3 p.m.
Tuesday – Boys’ tennis at Evergreen, 3:15 p.m.

Wednesday – Golf vs. Willow Glen at the Villages, 3 p.m.
Wednesday – Baseball at Evergreen, 3:30 p.m.

Thursday – Boys’ volleyball vs. Leland, 6 p.m.
Thursday – Boys’ tennis vs. Branham. 3:15 p.m.
Thursday – Track at Willow Glen, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday – Badminton at Branham, 3 p.m.
Thursday – Girls’ lacrosse vs. Stevenson, 4 p.m.

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

Chargers drop 2-1 loss to Oak Grove in baseball season-opener

Single runs in fifth and sixth by Eagles spoil the day for Chargers

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Writer

Despite 5-and-1/3 solid innings out of starting pitcher John Foley, the Leland baseball team lost its season-opener 2-1 to Oak Grove on March 2.

“We really have a brand new team,” said Leland Head Coach Scot Gillis of his squad, which consists of seven seniors, six juniors, two sophomores and one freshman. “They’re still feeling out how to play baseball and we’re kind of hot and cold.”

Foley came into the game as the No. 1 starter on the young Charger squad and proved his worth, breezing through his first four innings of work in which the 5-foot, 9-inch right-hander allowed four hits, a walk and recorded a strikeout.

Meanwhile, the Charger offense put a run on the board in the bottom of the first, as centerfielder Damon Ronnsvalle drew a walk and promptly stole second base, one of three steals on the day for the speedy senior, giving the Chargers a runner in scoring position with one out. Leftfielder Steve Akerson then stepped up to the plate and laced a long double over the head of Oak Grove centerfielder Kevin Vye for a double, easily scoring Ronnsvalle from second for a 1-0 lead.

Things began to change for the Chargers in the fifth inning however, as the Oak Grove Eagles managed to tie the score at 1-1 on a pair of miscues in the field by Leland defenders.

With one out, Vye reached base on an error by Leland first baseman Gabe Castaneda. The next batter, shortstop Adrian Arevalos, hit a comebacker to Foley, who wheeled around and fired a throw to second base where Leland shortstop Lance Gemette stood. The throw pulled Gemette off the bag, allowing Vye to slide in safely at second, and Gemette’s throw to first arrived late, putting runners on first and second with one out.

After a walk to Oak Grove second baseman Greg Fujii loaded the bases, pitcher Robert Draminski lofted a fly ball to left field, allowing Vye to tag up and score the tying run.

“He was cruising through (four) innings and we make a few crucial errors, and suddenly, the game changes when we only put one run on the board,” Gillis said of Foley. “He’s doing a great job but we didn’t give him any offensive support. We struggled at the plate as much today as I’ve seen in a long time. Our guys know how to hit. We’ve just got to get more disciplined.”

In the top of the sixth, the Eagles took advantage of the momentum swing and took a 2-1 lead, knocking Foley out of the game.

Foley opened the sixth by allowing a single to leftfielder Steven Hop. After a ground ball moved Hop to second, Foley allowed another single to right fielder Mike Washabaugh. Putting runners on the corners with one out.
That prompted Gillis to remove Foley from the game and bring in third baseman Kevin Battipede to pitch in relief. However, Battipede’s day on the hill didn’t fare much better.

Battipede struck out the first batter he faced in relief, catcher Paul Nuno, but during the at-bat, Washabaugh stole second base, putting two Eagle runners in scoring position.

Vye then stepped to the plate with two outs for the Eagles and dropped a bunt down the third-baseline for a single, scoring Hop for a 2-1 edge.

Meanwhile, Draminski settled down on the hill for the Eagles after a rough first inning, allowing only two hits and a walk while striking out five throughout the remaining six innings of the game, picking up the win in the process.
“It was really frustrating,” said Ronnsvalle. “We didn’t make plays in the field and we didn’t put the ball in play. We didn’t do anything that we usually do.”

Ronnsvalle, however, was the one player Draminski could not stop. In addition to his three stolen bases, Ronnsvalle also went 2-for-2 with a pair of singles batting second in the lineup.

“Damon’s the kind of guy who’s going to slap the ball and put it in play, and with his foot-speed, he’s going to beat out an awful lot of balls,” Gillis said. “When Damon gets on first base, he’s got the green light every single time to (steal) second base. I’m assuming he’s going to get 20 to 25 stolen bases this year with that exact technique.”

Sports Briefs

Almaden Valley Girls Softball League Hit-a-Thon April 10
The Almaden Valley Girls Softball League (AVGSL) will hold its second annual Hit-a-Thon on April 10 at Bret Harte Middle School. Individual and team prizes for fundraising will be awarded by the AVGSL. The AVGSL also seeks sponsors that would like to make a cash donation in exchange for having their name and company logo on Hit-a-Thon t-shirts. The AVGSL requests that all prizes and sponsorship offers are made by March 11. Prizes can be picked up by the AVGSL, but those fitting in a standard business size envelope can be sent to P.O. box 20642, San Jose, CA 95160.

For more information visit www.avgsl.org or call (408) 808-1405.

Almaden Ladybugs Class 1, U17 tryouts
Almaden Ladybugs Class 1, U17 Girls, will hold tryouts for state cup and the spring/fall season every Tuesday and Thursday for girls born after July 31, 1988. Contact Roger Haupt (408) 779-7697 or Linda Urzi (408) 723-0928 for information.    

USYVL youth volleyball sign-ups for spring 2005 going on now
The United States Youth Volleyball League is accepting registrations for the spring 2005 season, slated to begin in early April, for programs in Los Gatos, San Jose and Morgan Hill. Boys and girls ages 8 to 14 are welcome to sign up and learn the basic techniques of volleyball. The program meets two days a week with one day for practices and one day for games.

For more information on registering, visit www.usyvl.org or call 1-888-988-7985.

2005 Pop Warner Football sign-up dates
There will be several opportunities for youngsters to sign up for Pop Warner Football in the coming weeks at the Country School baseball fields (otherwise known as the Little League field on Trinidad Drive). Signups are Sunday March 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday April 2 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday April 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Mustangs one game short of championship spot, lose 61-47 to Burlingame

Berticevich will remember season defined by young men on the court

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Writer

Pioneer boys’ basketball season ended one game shy of a shot at a championship with a 61-47 loss to Burlingame in the semifinals of CCS playoffs on March 2.

Trailing by 11 at halftime, the Mustangs could not overcome the Panther offense, led by standout senior guard Drew Shiller, who finished the game with 17 points. Despite the loss, Pioneer Head Coach Joe Berticevich said the game wasn’t a tough loss for the Mustangs.

“I consider it as a team that played hard and competed,” Berticevich said. “We just matched up to a team that was better than us and I give them credit. But I’m proud of these guys. They worked their butts off. They didn’t have a great game, but we would’ve had to have almost a perfect game to beat those guys.”

Down 30-19 at the half, the Mustangs opened up the third quarter with a layup from Joe Montelongo, cutting the lead back down to single digits.

The score didn’t stay the same for long however, as Shiller followed with a jumper and then a 3-pointer from the left wing with 6:20 left, boosting the Panthers’ lead up to 14 and prompting Berticevich to call a timeout.

The timeout seemed to calm the Mustangs’ collective nerves, if only for a short while, as Mike Kaufmann and Robbie Nelson hit back-to-back layups within 30 seconds to cut the lead to 10.

But the Panthers answered back, going on a modest 7-0 run, getting 5 points from center Nick Polidoroff, to take a 42-25 lead.

“We had to stop Shiller, and I think we did a decent job on him,” Kaufmann said. “Our whole goal was to make the other guys beat us tonight and they just hit their shots, so, I guess we just have to give them credit.”

Pioneer responded to the Burlingame run by going on a 10-3 scoring stretch, getting a 3-pointer from Brent Osborn to open up the run as well as 3 points from Kaufmann to once again cut the lead back down to 10 with 1:14 remaining.

In the fourth quarter, with a 47-36 score, the Panthers went to work again on offense, going on a 6-0 run to build a 17-point lead. But the Mustangs answered back once more by going on a 7-2 run in which Nelson scored 4 points on a layup and a hook shot, cutting the lead to 12.

With just over three minutes left in the game, the Panthers put the finishing touches on the win, piecing together a 6-2 run to go up 61-45 with 1:52 left. Shiller proved clutch for the Panthers during the stretch, hitting all four of his free-throw shots.

“It’s tough,” said Kaufmann, who finished the game with 17 points. “I know we should be grateful to be here, and we really are, because we upset Monterey (in quarterfinal play). Nobody really gave us a chance, I think, but after last year I don’t think anyone expected us to come back to the semifinals.”

Nelson, who finished the night with 8 points, hit one last shot for the Mustangs, a layup with 1:21 left. But the Mustangs were held scoreless the rest of the way and saw their season end without a chance at a championship.

“It’s been a long ride when you go out and have a tough schedule,” Berticevich said. “What I told my guys, and I think they learned it, is that losing builds character. I think you saw that out there. We had character and we competed.”

Berticevich said that he will remember the season not only by wins and losses, but also by the relationships established and the growth shown by the young men on his squad.

“It’ll stick out in my memory as guys that, coming up as freshmen, learned how to compete and from their freshmen year, how they’ve grown into young men,” Berticevich said. “… That’s a special thing. Watching them grow as basketball players and young men off the court. It’s been a great journey with these guys.”

Keep your eye on the birdie

Pioneer’s badminton team gears up for the ‘05 season

By Carl Ponzio
Times Intern

Singles, doubles, mixed doubles, rackets and birdies.

These elements make badminton unlike any other high school sport; moreover, these are the elements that the Pioneer Mustangs must embrace to propel past the .500 record they held last season.

There are fewer birdies returning home to Pioneer this season. A large number of senior girls left the badminton program at the conclusion of last season, leaving a very young team behind. However, whatever is lacking in numbers Pioneer makes up for in heart. Returning players such as Tuan Nguyen and Misa Tanaka are setting an example for the rest of their team.

“Our returning players have been real leaders,” said Head Coach Blaine Hashimoto. “Our leaders have been here for three or four years and they know our system and are familiar with what we expect.”
H
ashimoto values his returning players dearly. He explained how much they mean to the team, especially in the tough situation the Mustangs are currently in. His returning players are stepping up and taking pride in passing on the skills they have acquired with the team onto the future of the Mustangs. Tanaka and Nguyen have huge roles in the development of the team, which is no surprise after their performances last season.

Making her presence felt with a racket in her hand, Tanaka is returning to Pioneer this year after a huge season in both badminton and tennis. For the past three years, Tanaka has competed in singles championship play for the badminton team and has become the No. 1 player in singles tennis for Pioneer as well.

“I want to make it back to CCS this year,” said Tanaka. “I didn’t do too well last year, so hopefully I will do better this year.”

Returning as a junior to the badminton team, Nguyen has brought more than just the heart he has accumulated from smashing birdies across the court. Nguyen also brings discipline gained from Pioneer’s wrestling team as well as a taste for competition.

“Misa and Tuan are both competitors,” said Hashimoto. “Those two really make our team. They have great leadership qualities.”

Distancing the Mustangs from the other teams in the West Valley division is the team’s diversity. Hashimoto feels that the numerous different backgrounds and ethnicities gives the Mustangs an edge over the competition.

With very little time between the end of basketball season and the start of the badminton season, the team was in a rush to bring their season into full swing. However, the rush did not appear to come into play in Pioneer’s win over San Jose High on Mar. 10.

“We won our game today, and hopefully we will win many more,” said Nguyen.

Starting the season out well with continual improvement in each game, Hashimoto believes that his team can return, if not improve on last season’s record.

Almaden native making a splash at Purdue

Carlene Takaki makes waves on Purdue swim team, eyes 2008 Olympic trials

By Ken Lotich
Times Correspondent

For Almaden native Carlene Takaki, swimming has always been a part of her life.

Takaki has taken her love of the water to Purdue University, where she’s shining as a member of the women’s swim team.

Takaki, 20, is a sophomore majoring in fine arts. After being in Indiana for nearly two years, Takaki said she misses the food and her friends, but is having a great time at Purdue. Takaki also said the climate is a little bit different in Indiana.

“When it’s 40 or 50 degrees here, we consider it nice weather,” Takaki said.

Takaki added that Indiana has four things California doesn’t have—seasons.

“The first time it snowed here, I was a bit scared,” Takaki said. “I still haven’t been sledding though, and I’ve been here for two winters.”

She graduated from Presentation High School in 2003. She also attended Los Alamitos Elementary School and Castillero Middle School. At 5 foot 1, Takaki doesn’t have a typical swimmer’s physique.

“I’m the smallest one on the team, including the divers,” Takaki said. “It doesn’t bother me though. I like it. If I beat someone it’s that much better to me.”

Head coach Cathy Wright-Eger said although Takaki may not be the biggest athlete, she makes up for it with a big heart.

“She’s very competitive and extremely coachable,” Wright-Eger said. “She’s very talented and team-oriented.”
As a child, Takaki wasn’t big on sports, her mother, Joyce said, adding that she took Takaki to T-ball sign-ups when she was younger. While in line, her daughter asked, “Mom is this a sport?”

Her mom told her it was a sport, and then Takaki told her she wanted no part of it. They left the sign-up line that day and never looked back.

Instead, Takaki began swimming at Crossgates Cabana Club at 6 years old. Almost immediately, Takaki showed enthusiasm for the sport, Joyce said.

“She’s never really been a cutthroat competitor,” Joyce said. “She just really enjoys the water.”

Although only a sophomore at Purdue, Takaki has accomplished many feats. Takaki found out Monday that she’d be competing in the NCAA championships, which take place March 17-19.

“I’m really shocked, but very excited to be in the championships,” Takaki said. “There was a lot of pressure to make the meet, and now there’s no pressure anymore.”

Wright-Eger said the team was ecstatic to hear the news, and hopes the best for her at the meet.

“I’d love her to do a lifetime best at the championships,” Wright-Eger said. “It would end the season on a perfect note.”

In addition to being a scholar athlete, Takaki set a freshmen record at Purdue with a 2:01.82 time in the 200 fly. She shaved off more than 10 seconds off her best 200 fly in high school, which was 2:12.

Takaki participated in the NCAA Big Ten championships at Indiana University on Feb. 16 to Feb. 19, taking fourth place in the 200 fly. Joyce is hoping that Carlene’s success will continue into the 2008 Olympic trials. Joyce said Carlene nearly missed the Olympic cutoff in 2004, but is looking forward to the trials in 2008.

Takaki admits that making the Olympics would be incredible, but she’s going to take things one step at a time.
“Right now, I’m looking toward smaller goals,” Takaki said. “The NCAA meet is the first one.”

Joyce said when Carlene was 8 or 9 years old, she drew a picture of herself atop the first place position of an Olympic podium. Under the drawing, Carlene wrote, “I have a dream that I can become an Olympic swimmer.”

As Takaki wraps up her second year at Purdue, her mother and father said the sky is the limit for their daughter.

“Looking back at her swimming career and all the girls she has swam against and with, and realizing that only a few get this opportunity, it makes us extremely grateful for her dedication and commitment to swimming,” her father Darwin said.

“Swimming has taken Carlene on a wonderful and exciting journey with no end in sight,” Joyce said. “I have no doubt that swimming will be a part of her life forever.”

Sporting tastes may affect mayoral race in ‘06

Reed and Cortese talk sports

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

District 4 councilmember Chuck Reed issued a memo to the city rules committee last week, seeking the status of San Jose’s soccer specific stadium be added to council agenda.

Yet, it’s no coincidence that District 8 Councilmember Dave Cortese has been in headlines as an executive director at Baseball San Jose, a group which 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 likely compete for the mayoral seat in 2006, have declared opposing allegiances.

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

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 conveyed that without a stadium, San Jose would lose the Earthquakes to Texas.

As the 10th 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.”

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 fan base in place considering the sport’s popularity amongst Latin American cultures, which San Jose houses in high proportion.

“Playing hockey in California certainly seemed a bit odd at first,” he said. “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.”

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Do you have a sports story to share? Contact the sports department at 494-7000 x 217 or by e-mail at diego@timesmediainc.com or fax to Almaden Times Sports at 494-7078.