March 13, 2008

SPORTS

Marino powers Chargers to beat Bruins 10-6

After suffering their first loss of the regular season on March 5 at Branham, Leland's varsity baseball squad got its groove back at home on March 7 with a 10-6 win over the Branham Bruins.

In the loss to the Bruins, a 7-6 contest, four players hit home runs. Friday's game had more of the same offensive fireworks with Drew Marino crushing two homeruns over the left field fence. Those homeruns gave the Chargers all the cushion they needed to hold off the Bruins and square up the series 1-1.
Head coach Tim Thompson had a few comments after the game.

“Friday was the type of game we are probably going to win--the 9-6, 10-5, 9-7 variety. We have a pretty solid offense, and I honestly can’t imagine anyone in the league having a much better offense. They showed themselves pretty well today. Our pitching got us into a few jams, but we got some clutch pitching and double plays to get ourselves out. But we have to do a better job of not creating opportunities for our opponents with free 90s.”

When asked to assess his new team at this early point in the season, Thompson said, “After watching nine games thus far, I think things are becoming pretty evident. First, we must throw strikes in order to win games, and that philosophy is as old as the game itself and for this team, which is pretty good both offensively and defensively, it really rings true. As a pitching staff, you always want to have more strikeouts than walks, really good ones will get a 2-1 ratio. Right now we might have that ratio flipped. I don’t have the numbers in front of me, but I know we have more walks than strike outs, and you just can’t live like that forever and expect to be a winning team.”

He added that the team needs a solid 1 through 9 at the plate, “and I think we can have that. Guys just need to start doing it. We seem to have problems getting set at that bottom third of the line up, and quite frankly it might be a situation all year where we have a platoon.”

However, Thompson says he’s pleased with the team’s current status, but believes that the games that were lost or tied could have been in the win column. 

The upcoming week’s action on the diamond has Leland hosting Pioneer on Wednesday at 3:30 and Pioneer returning the favor on Friday on their field.

Almaden Hustlers win Torrienne and Tristine Hunt basketball tourney

Almaden has a new champion. On Sunday, March 3, the Almaden Hustlers won the Torrienne & Tristine Hunt Championship Series Tournament-Silicon Valley NJB South Area Boys 3 Full Court Division.

The winning team includes, back row, from left, Assistant Coach Kevin Adams, Assistant Coach Jim Mackaness, Jake Reeves, Madhukar Muralidhara, Jacob Bergstrom, Dean Farakesh and Head Coach Art Fonda. Back row, from left, Matthew Mackaness, Kyle Geringer, Nathan VanLare, Daniel Farakesh and Lucas Adams

The boys defeated a tough Los Gatos team 25-17. The Hustlers exhibited their newly found defensive strength holding Los Gatos to nine points in the five periods of play, while scoring 22 points on their way to the victory. The additional points are the result of pre-game free throws, a special NJB rule. The victory was especially exciting given the two teams played each other in an earlier round, which went into two overtime periods before the Hustlers squeaked out a two-point victory.

The Hustlers won all six of their tournament games with an average score of 34-20. The boys came together as a team and enjoyed the most out of the tournament play. Everyone found a way to contribute in each win.

Dean Farakesh and Madhukar “Duke” Muralidhara played the boards strong on both offense and defense. Matthew Mackaness, Kyle Geringer, Daniel Farakesh and Nathan VanLare played their respective positions with tremendous tenacity deflecting passes and forcing turnovers. In the low post, Jake Reeves and Jacob Bergstrom added the strength necessary to battle the opponents “big men” on both ends of the court. And Lucas Adams provided the offensive spark worthy of the tournament MVP, averaging 15 points a game.

High School Sports Schedule March 14 – 20

Leland

Friday—Baseball vs. Pioneer, varsity 3:30 at Pioneer (JV on opposite field)
Friday—Swimming vs. Live Oak at 3 p.m. at Live Oak

Week of March 17—Golf vs. Live Oak

Tuesday—Softball vs. Westmont, varsity at 3:30 at Leland (JV on opposite field)
Tuesday—Boys badminton vs. Santa Teresa, 3:30 p.m. at Leland
Tuesday—Baseball vs. Live Oak at 3:30 at Live Oak (JV on opposite field)
Tuesday—Boys tennis vs. Branham at 3:15 at Branham
Tuesday—Swimming vs. Piedmont Hills at 3 at Leland

Wednesday—Track vs. Sobrato at 3:30 at Sobrato

Thursday—Boys badminton vs. Independence, at 3:30 at Independence
Thursday—Boys volleyball vs. Leigh varsity at 7, fresh/soph at 6
Thursday—Baseball vs. Live Oak at 3:30 at Leland (JV on opposite field)
Thursday—Softball vs. Live Oak at 3:30 at Leland (JV on opposite field)
Thursday—Boys tennis vs. Evergreen at 3:15 at Leland

Pioneer

Friday—Boys baseball vs. Leland, Varsity 3:30 at Pioneer (JV on opposite field)

Week of March 17—Golf vs. Leigh

Tuesday—Softball vs. Santa Teresa at 3:30. at Pioneer (JV on opposite field)
Tuesday—Baseball vs. Leigh at 3:15 at Leigh (JV on opposite field)
Tuesday—Boys tennis vs. Del Mar at 3:15 at Del Mar

Wednesday—Track vs. Live Oak at 3:30 at Live Oak
Wednesday—Swimming vs. Westmont at 3 at Westmont

Thursday—Baseball vs. Leigh—varsity at 3:30 at Pioneer (JV at opposite field)
Thursday—Softball vs. Westmont at 3:30. at Pioneer (JV on opposite field)
Thursday—Boys tennis vs. San Jose at 3:15 at Pioneer

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

Walk For Life / Charged Up For Life 5K Run
Community Pregnancy Centers will hold its annual fundraising “Walk For Life & Charged Up For Life” 5K Run at Almaden Lake Park, Arroyo Picnic Site in San Jose on Saturday, April 26.  Take a beautiful walk around Almaden Lake or Run on the Los Alamitos Creek Trail. This year’s event will offer exciting activities for the whole family, including a light continental breakfast, kid’s zone, bingo, and a raffle. The event is being sponsored by C28 and KLOVE.

All proceeds from this event benefit the Community Pregnancy Centers, and will help to make the community aware of the many important services offered at CPC’s throughout Silicon Valley. All services are available to the community without charge and are confidential. You may register, or download a registration brochure on-line at www.mycpc.org or you may register on site at 8:30 a.m. The walk/run begins at 9 a.m. For additional information please contact Paula at 229-9836 or at paula@mycpc.org.


Youth Baseball League registrations now open
YBL, sponsored by Venture Christian Church (formally Los Gatos and South Valley Christian Churches) is accepting registrations until Feb. 23. The season runs from April 12 through June 7, and is for both boys and girls with birthdates falling between 8/1/99 and 7/31/03 and for boys only with birthdates between 8/1/97 and 7/31/99. For additional information, call our Sports Office at 997-4642 or visit www.Venturechristian.org.

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