SPORTS

Leland boys’ volleyball stays perfect with
3-1 win over Rams

Chargers improve to 8-0 in league play;
Lucas leads with 12 kills

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

The Leland boys’ volleyball team remained undefeated and atop the Mt. Hamilton Division standings after taking a close 3-1 win over Willow Glen on March 31.

Leland’s Scott Lucas (8) goes up for a kill attempt from the back row during a 3-1 win over Willow Glen on March 31. Lucas led the team with 12 kills. Photos by Jeff Frazee

The win over the Rams allowed the Chargers to remain perfect in league play at 8-0 and 18-4 overall, while also holding on to first place in the Mt. Hamilton Division. The Rams meanwhile, dropped their record to 6-2 in league play, bumping Willow Glen from a second-place tie with division rival Leigh, to third place.

“Leland is well-coached,” said Rams’ Head Coach Jef Wind. “Our guys made a lot of mistakes because they had a lot of nerves, and it’s a young team … I thought the way Leland played it was pretty smart. They did a good job out there.”

The Rams also proved to be one of Leland’s toughest challenges all season in league play, as the Chargers climbed their way out of early deficits in games two, three and four for close wins.

“No one really earned that win,” said Leland Head Coach Jason Hilbert. “Our guys pulled it out in the end, but Willow Glen’s just a darn good team. We’re lucky to get out with a win. We really are.”

Up 2-1, the Chargers started game four down early 12-7 before a 7-1 scoring run gave them a close 14-13 lead. Still, Willow Glen managed to keep things within a pair of points for much of the game, before Leland put together a 5-2 stretch toward the end of the game to take a 22-18 lead. The distance in the score proved to be enough, as Leland ended game four on a 3-2 advantage, including 2 final points for a 25-20 win on a kill and an ace serve from Charles Lim.

After losing game one by a 25-20 score, the Chargers found themselves down early in game two by a 12-8 score. Leland managed to tie the game at 13-13 following a 5-1 scoring run, which included a kill by Andrew Atmeh, only to see the Rams storm back and tie the game at 18-18, getting a kill from Spencer Dong and an ace serve from Chad Camp.

“I’ve said it once and I’ll say it until I’m done coaching, but passing is everything, and we didn’t pass well,” Hilbert said of his team’s early struggles. “ … If you pass well, you can open up other things. As soon we pass well, we opened up things for our hitters. We become very one-dimensional if we can’t pass.”

Leland prevailed however, finishing off game two on a 7-3 advantage for a 25-21 win, getting a kill each from Scott Lucas, who led the team with 12 kills on 27 attempts, as well as Atmeh, who also teamed up with Kevin Kashanian during the run on a key block for another point.

Game two also saw Daniel Ortiz leave the match in the early going after turning his right ankle following a play at the net. Hilbert said Ortiz’s status is uncertain, but added that losing the junior middle blocker would definitely hurt the team.

Leland’s Alex Moon (10) absorbs the shock of a Willow Glen jump serve during a 3-1 win for the Chargers over the Rams on March 31.

“He’s a huge part of the offense,” Hilbert said of Ortiz, who spent the rest of the match with his right ankle elevated and iced. “The sad thing is he warmed up like a beat today and I thought he was going to have a great match … But he’s a tough guy. He’s a walking bruise-type of guy.”

Game three turned out to be equally challenging for the Chargers, who once again found themselves down in the early going by a 12-6 score. Leland managed to tie the game soon after with a 7-1 scoring run, getting two kills from Lucas, as well as a kill and an ace serve from Boris Sanchez.

Like game two, the Rams fought back once more, taking a 21-18 lead with an 8-5 scoring edge that featured a pair of kills from Tobin Chase, who finished the night with 12 kills overall.

“He’s got the fire of our team. The team believes in him,” Wind said of Chase, who also serves as team captain. “He worked hard in the off-season and he’s a great kid. They way he swings is real smart this year, instead of last year, when it was just random. He’s still developing and still working on all the skills.”

Once more, the Chargers bounced back, finishing off game three on a 7-1 scoring run, including a 5-0 stretch to end it with a 25-22 final score. During the 5-0 stretch, the Chargers received a kill each from Lucas and Lim, while also recording points on three Willow Glen hitting errors.

Sports Briefs

Central Valley Outlaws Class I U13 Premier boys team tryouts
The Central Valley Outlaws Class I U13 Premier boys’ team invites boys born between 8/1/92 through 7/31/93 to try out for the upcoming season. For more information, contact Richard Johnson at 439-9645.

BVAL Golf Tournament set for May 8
The Blossom Valley Athletic League will host the BVAL Golf Tournament on May 8 at the Almaden Golf and Country Club. All proceeds from the event will go to BVAL member schools’ athletic programs. Players’ fees are $200 per person, and sponsorship packages are also available for interested parties.

Check-in time and lunch for the event begins at 11 a.m., with players set to tee off at 12:30 p.m. Dinner and a silent auction follows the tournament.

For more information about the BVAL Golf Tournament, please call (408) 265-5409.

Correction
In the March 31–April 6 issue of the Almaden Times, the bottom photo of the article, “Chargers down Eagles” incorrectly identified the Leland player depicted as Kevin Battipede. The player’s correct name is Matt Slaton.

High School Sports Schedule

*Note: for baseball and softball, only varsity games are listed because of space constraints. All JV games are played at the opposite site of varsity at the same time, unless otherwise noted

Leland High School
Friday – Varsity baseball vs. Branham, 3:30 p.m.
Friday – Swimming vs. Independence, 3 p.m.
Friday – Boys’ volleyball vs. Pioneer, JV 6 p.m./varsity 7 p.m.
Friday – Girls’ lacrosse at Sacred Heart, 4 p.m.

Tuesday – Boys’ volleyball at Gunderson, JV 6 p.m./varsity 7 p.m.
Tuesday – Varsity softball at Pioneer, 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday – Badminton at Oak Grove, 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday – Varsity golf vs. Oak Grove at Almaden Golf and Country Club, 3 p.m.
Tuesday – Boys’ tennis vs. Yerba Buena, 3:15 p.m.
Tuesday – Varsity baseball at Willow Glen, 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday – Swimming vs. Piedmont Hills, 3 p.m.
Wednesday – Track vs. Pioneer, 3:30 p.m.

Thursday – Varsity softball at Mt. Pleasant, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday – Boys’ tennis at Santa Teresa, 3:15 p.m.
Thursday – Varsity golf vs. Oak Grove at Silver Creek Country Club, 3 p.m.
Thursday – Badminton vs. Santa Teresa, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday – Varsity baseball vs. Willow Glen, 3:30 p.m.

Pioneer High School
Friday – Varsity baseball vs. Oak Grove, 3:30 p.m.
Friday – Swimming vs. Leigh, 3 p.m.
Friday – Boys’ volleyball at Leland, JV 6 p.m./varsity 7 p.m.
Friday – Girls’ lacrosse at Menlo-Atherton, 4 p.m.

Monday – Varsity golf vs. Lincoln at San Jose Municipal, 2:30 p.m.
Monday – JV golf vs. Piedmont Hills at Rancho, 3 p.m.
Monday – Boys’ tennis at Oak Grove, 3:15 p.m.

Tuesday – Girls’ lacrosse vs. Stevenson, 4 p.m.
Tuesday – Badminton at San Jose, 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday – Boys’ volleyball vs. Oak Grove, JV 6 p.m./varsity 7 p.m.
Tuesday – Varsity softball vs. Leland, 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday – Varsity baseball vs. Branham, 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday – Track at Leland, 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday – Varsity golf vs. Lincoln at the Villages Golf and Country Club, 3 p.m.
Wednesday – JV golf vs. Lincoln at Rancho, 3 p.m.
Wednesday – Swimming vs. Evergreen, 3 p.m.
Wednesday – Boys’ tennis vs. Mt. Pleasant, 3:15 p.m.

Thursday – Varsity softball at Oak Grove, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday – Varsity baseball at Branham, 3:30 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

For more complete and up to date schedules on CCS playoffs, go to:
www.cifccs.org

High School Scoreboard

March 28
Leland badminton 10-5 win vs. Evergreen

Pioneer boys’ volleyball 20-25, 11-25, 25-15, 25-11, 15-7 loss vs. Branham
Pioneer badminton 8-7 loss at Lincoln

March 29
Leland baseball 8-7 win vs. Westmont
Leland golf 195-197 win vs. Branham

Pioneer golf 205-233 win vs. Santa Teresa

March 30
Leland baseball 3-1 win at Westmont
Leland softball 6-0 win at Westmont
Leland golf 214-214 tie vs. Branham
Leland tennis 7-0 win vs. Leigh
Leland boys’ volleyball 25-17, 25-22, 25-17 win at Westmont
Leland badminton 13-2 win at Andrew Hill

Pioneer baseball 10-0 loss vs. Leigh
Pioneer boys’ swimming 101-79 win vs. Piedmont Hills
Pioneer girls’ swimming 144-36 win vs. Piedmont Hills
Pioneer boys’ volleyball 25-18, 25-13, 25-18 loss at Willow Glen
Pioneer girls’ lacrosse 11-9 loss at Sacred Heart

March 31
Pioneer boys’ volleyball 25-14, 22-25, 25-20, 25-18 loss at Prospect

Three-run sixth gives Pioneer softball 5-3 win over Cardinals

Caitlynn Steinberg knocks in game-winning runs with two-out single

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

Caitlynn Steinberg’s 2-run single with the bases loaded completed a 3-run comeback in the bottom of the sixth inning as Pioneer downed Mt. Pleasant 5-3 in softball action on March 30.

Pioneer starting pitcher Alyssa Walker picked up the win in a 5-3 decision over Mt. Pleasant on March 30. The Mustangs stormed back with 3 runs in the bottom of the sixth to come back for the win. Photos by Jeff Frazee

The come-from-behind win bumped Pioneer’s record above the .500 mark at 4-3 overall and 1-1 in Mt. Hamilton Division play. Mt. Pleasant, meanwhile, dropped to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in league play.

“I feel really good,” Pioneer Head Coach Ernie Garcia said of the win, “especially given the fact that we didn’t practice for four days or even pick up a bat.”

For Pioneer, the game proved to be a continual back-and-forth effort, coming back twice in the game from 1-run deficits.

“I knew they were going to give us a battle,” Mt. Pleasant Head Coach Manuel Resendez said. “We did a lot of good, positive things. Those girls (Pioneer) put the bat on the ball and got the hits when they needed them. That’s a very good sign of a very good ball club over there.”

For Resendez, the loss was evidence of a young team learning to play together and growing as players. The Cardinals are fielding a team with only two seniors on the squad, while the rest of the team is made up of mostly juniors, as well as a pair of sophomores and freshmen.

“We have a lot of freshmen who are starting and they need experience, especially at this level,” Resendez said. “ … The inexperience has cost us, but it’s a learning process.”

Down 1-0 after Mt. Pleasant plated a run on a single from Athena Salinas, Pioneer stormed back in the bottom of the inning with 2 runs. With runners on second and third with two outs, Brittany Pentacoff laced a single off the foot of Cardinals’ pitcher Sarah Dagnino, with the ball redirected toward the middle infield, allowing both Amber Medlock and Vanessa Silva to score for a 2-1 lead.

The lead held up until the top of the sixth, when the Cardinals put together a 2-run effort off Pioneer starting pitcher Alyssa Walker to take a 3-2 lead.

The Cardinals got the inning started with a booming triple to right field by Christina Botkins, before Marissa Trujillo singled to center field, scoring Botkins and tying the game at 2-2.

Pioneer’s Amber Medlock drew a two-out walk to load the bases in the sixth, extending the inning for Caitlynn Steinberg, who hit a 2-run game-winning single during a 5-3 win for the Mustangs on March 30.

After a single from Dagnino put runners at the corners, Alisha Trujillo hit a 4-3 double play grounder, allowing pinch runner Erika Freqoso—in for Marissa Trujillo—to score and allowing the Cardinals to take a 3-2 lead.
The lead didn’t hold for long however, as the Mustangs stormed back with a 3-run, game-winning bottom of the sixth.

Katie Town led off the inning with a triple to right field, before a one-out squeeze bunt single from Danielle Clough brought Town home for a 3-3 tie. After a two-out double from Nicki Rebhan put runners on second and third, Medlock drew a walk to load the bases. Steinberg then stepped up and lined a single to center field, scoring both Clough and Rebhan for the game-winning runs.

“That was huge too, to get that rally going,” Garcia said, referring to Medlock’s walk to load the bases. “I’m proud of all the girls and how they did. They did a very good job.”

Walker, a sophomore, picked up the win for the Mustangs, pitching a complete game. Garcia said Walker is just beginning to scratch the surface of her potential, not just athletically, but mentally as well.

“She made the adjustments in the beginning,” Garcia said of Walker. “She was getting behind on some pitches, but she adjusted everything and she came back and finished strong. All of her pitches started working toward the end.”

Making waves in the Midwest

One-time Crossgates star Carlene Takaki
wins Big-10 swimming title at Purdue

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Former Crossgates Gator and Almaden resident Carlene Takaki shattered Purdue record books approximately 2,000 miles from home at the Big Ten Finals Feb. 18 in Columbus, Ohio.

Purdue junior Takaki set a school record at the Big Ten final meet in February, when she posted a 1:58.26 mark in the 200-meter butterfly event. Photo courtesy of Purdue swimming

The Boilermaker junior captured her first Big-10 league title when she cruised to a 1:58.26 mark in her staple 200-meter butterfly event, qualifying her for the NCAA Championship meet, where she raced March 16-18 in Athens, Ga.

Takaki said she did not produce her best race at nationals, but still managed to finish in the top 30.

“Next year I hope to land in the Top 8 at NCAA’s in the 200 fly,” she said. “It will probably take 1:58 or 1:57. I think I could have done that this year, so it was a little bit frustrating. But it makes me that much more motivated for next year.”

Takaki initially walked the halls of Castillero Middle School before shining at Presentation High and attracted the interest of longtime Boilermaker Coach Cathy Wright-Eger, who offered Takaki an opportunity she couldn’t ignore.

“I did not stand out greatly in high school,” said Takaki. “I wasn’t exceptionally fast. I felt like I would go to any good school that would take me.”

As a Panther, the fine arts major with an aptitude for bending metals and a desire to operate her own design studio never finished higher than fifth in any CCS event. Yet, Presentation Coach Marisa Watts Cozort, sensed something in Takaki and conveyed that to her alma mater Purdue.

Takaki claims that Watts Cozort’s voice still carries weight around Purdue’s campus, where the spirited alum holds record marks in the 1,000 and 1,650-meter freestyle events.

“Coach Watts helped set up a recruiting trip at Purdue and I really enjoyed it,” said Takaki. “The pool is beautiful and the girls were awesome.”

Wright-Eger offered Takaki an opportunity to walk-on.

“Carlene came to Purdue as a walk-on sophomore,” said Wright-Eger. “She is a wonderful athlete; I really think the world of her and admire her drive and ambition. I wish our whole team was made up of personalities like Carlene in the sense that she is willing to work.”

Wright-Eger also said Takaki’s power makes up for a slight—by collegiate swimming standards—build. The Purdue junior stands at just 5-feet,1-inch.

Big Ten 200-meter Butterfly Champion Carlene Takaki started swimming at the Crossgates cabana club, just off of McAbee. She attended Castillero, before parting waters at Presentation High. Photo courtesy of Purdue swimming

“It is really exciting to me that I hold those records now,” said Takaki. “There was never even one thought in my head that I could go that fast.”

Takaki credits diligent training and sports psychology with her swimming speed and success. She said Purdue provides athletes with one workout per week attended by a sports psychiatrist.

“It’s designed to help boost confidence,” said Takaki. “I would take all my really hard, killer practices, which Coach Wright-Eger prints out for us everyday, and put them into a box. The night before meets, I look at them to remember what I have accomplished.”

It was a coincidence that Takaki ever swam competitively. Her mother Joyce encouraged her to compete in sports early, but Carlene said she was never interested.

“I would just say, ‘no,’ she said. We would be standing in line and I would ask if it was for sports, and if it was, I would beg to leave.”

The tides turned when Takaki turned 6, and inexplicably requested to join the swim team at Almaden’s Crossgates swim club, off of McAbee Road.

“I really liked Crossgates because it wasn’t so competitive,” she said. “At that time, we were probably the worst team in our league, but it just made it more fun.”

Takaki soon graduated to year-round competition with the San Jose Aquatics swim club, where she stayed through high school.

“I had great coaches at SJ Aquatics,” she said. “They were all very important to me.”

Closing time

Longtime Leland basketball Coach Dave Frandsen resigns

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Leland basketball Coach Dave Frandsen will retire his whistle after 32 years served in the local basketball community.

Leland boys’ basketball coach Dave Frandsen resigned from his position after spending 32 years coaching the sport in the south bay, which included two successful stints at Leland. Photo courtesy www.mikejanes.com

According to Leland Athletic Director Chris Hansen, Frandsen—who resigned from his position shortly after the end of the 2005-06 basketball season—molded Leland’s basketball program into a winner twice and will be missed most for injecting athletes with an ardent work ethic.

Frandsen left Leland once in 1996 when he accepted an assistant post at West Valley College, but returned in 2003 and brought with him his work ethic, which lifted the Chargers into the public school elite throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

The Chargers have reached the CCS basketball playoffs in consecutive seasons since his return, recalling memories of days gone by, when Leland battled for championships in league and the section.

“I think Dave’s big thing was hard work,” said Hansen. “Those basketball guys worked above and beyond everyday and were always willing to do that for him. The hard work and dedication that he instilled in them was phenomenal. Dave really has been a huge part of our school. I can’t say what an impact he has had on all of our young men.”

Frandsen landed at Leland in 1985 and began building a program heavy on discipline and defense, reaching heights of performance in 1988 and 1991.

“The idea was to create depth, playing 10-12 people in a game, giving everybody a chance to play,” said Frandsen. “I wanted to create a team that can get scores from anywhere on the floor. We move the ball up and down, have fun with an up-tempo type of game, and play tough defense. We tried to control the opponent through effort on defense.”

Paced by eventual Texas Tech standout and Portland Trailblazer Reggie Smith, the Chargers cruised to a 24-4 record in ‘88. Leland was lauded in state polls, climbing to a No. 6 ranking, before an unlikely turn of events cursed the Chargers’ CCS Division II semifinal outcome versus Menlo Atherton.

The night prior to the game, junior forward Jim Falvey was swinging from the bars, which support practice hoops in the Leland gym. Frandsen said many players used to stretch that way, in order to loosen their backs.

However, Falvey somehow pinched a nerve in his neck while hanging with his head pointed to the rafters and he fell, unconscious.

“It was loud,” said Frandsen. “Jim ended up breaking his nose and suffering some serious injuries. Our second best scorer didn’t play in that game, and about 12.5 points sat right next me and we endured a triple overtime defeat.”

Menlo steered through the Norcal playoffs and advanced to the state championship game that season.

In 1991, Frandsen again carried the Chargers deep into the playoffs. They reached the CCS Division II final game, but lost narrowly to Fremont High of Sunnyvale, who also advanced to the state final game.

“We’ve had so many good players come through Leland,” said Frandsen. “It’s hard to say if anybody was clearly the best. I can say Reggie Smith was the most dominant big man. And Pat Bush was the fastest guard I have ever coached here.”

Yet, Frandsen said he shared the most personally with his final Chargers’ squad.

The team supported Frandsen when his eldest son D.J. passed away in September of 2004, due to complications stemming from a Wilms’ tumor, a rare form of a recurring kidney cancer.

“I really like this last group,” said Frandsen. “It was a group that really hung with me through family troubles. If I was going to end with a group of kids, I am happy to end with them. They like each other, they understood me, and they worked hard. Wins didn’t come as easy as I’d have hoped, but they never gave up. The growth that they made as individuals was tremendous.”

Frandsen said he resigned to spend more time with his family.

“I am stepping down from coaching, but I will stay teaching to pay bills,” he said. “I am taking some time to get back with the family. For 32 years, we have done basketball at Christmas and Thanksgiving. I think it’s time to do more traveling and vacationing, rather than scouting and practicing.”

Frandsen’s younger son Kevin, a former Bellarmine and San Jose State baseball standout, just wrapped up spring training in the Giants organization, where he hit .360 and appeared in all 26 games with the big league team.
His season begins in Triple-A Fresno.

“We’re going to travel and catch some games this summer and next fall,” said the senior Frandsen. “Kevin may have a chance to play in Venezuela next year, so we’ll follow him a little bit more.”

Castillero Middle School’s Tennis Welcome Center
officially designated by South Bay Tennis Academy

South Bay Tennis Academy in San Jose has been officially designated a Tennis Welcome Center at Castillero Middle School, joining more than 3,000 facilities across the country that offer participants an easy opportunity to learn to play the game through an affordable, introductory program.

The South Bay Tennis Academy will provide tennis instruction to all beginners and those players returning to the game in a fun, social atmosphere. Eight-week spring tennis classes begin April 15 at Castillero Middle School.

Tennis is a heart-healthy sport, as documented by a recent study at Johns Hopkins University that showed that middle-aged men who stayed active in tennis—more than any other activity—had a significantly lower incidence of cardiovascular disease as they aged. Furthermore, The Cleveland Clinic, the nation’s top-ranked heart care facility, has called tennis “an ideal sport for a healthy heart.”

With a commitment to increase tennis participation in communities all across the country, Tennis Welcome Centers encourage everyone to learn the game in organized programs where they can enjoy all the benefits of the sport. The national program is a combined effort by every part of the tennis industry, including tennis facilities, manufacturers, teaching organizations, tennis associations, retailers and media. To find your local Tennis Welcome Center facility log onto www.TennisWelcomeCenter.com and enter your zip code.

For more information, go to www.southbaytennis.com or contact: Todd Dissly at (408) 746-3685 or e-mail tdizz@southbaytennis.com.

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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.