SPORTS

Chargers stay undefeated at 10-0

Leland posts 3-0 wins versus Prospect and Branham to stay atop league standings

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

The Leland boys’ volleyball team kept its unbeaten streak in the Mt. Hamilton Division alive, posting 3-0 wins over Prospect on April 4 and Branham on April 6.

Leland's Andrew Atmeh (6) tips the ball over his opponent in a 3-0 win over on April 4. Photos by Jeff Frazee

The undefeated week of play improved the Chargers’ record to 20-4 overall and 10-0 in league play. In both games, senior Scott Lucas provided ample offensive support, leading his team with 15 kills against Prospect and 16 kills versus Branham.

The April 4 match-up at home against Prospect proved to be trying for the Chargers. In all three games of the match, Leland fell behind early, only to bounce back with long scoring stretches for wins. Hilbert said the challenge now is to keep his team’s intensity and work ethic up throughout the season, despite the team’s stellar run in league play so far.

“The danger is, as we get farther and farther in season play, to be content with where you’re at, rather than trying to get better and keep working,” said Hilbert. “I think that’s where we’re at right now. We’re content and we’re believing our own hype, and that’s not going to be good enough.”

After taking game one by a 25-18 score, the Chargers found themselves in a seesaw battle with the Panthers at the start of game two.

Prospect took the early lead, up 13-11, before the Chargers put their game into high gear with a 7-1 scoring run to take their first lead in game two at 18-14. During the run, sophomore Seth Anderson, starting place of injured middle blocker Daniel Ortiz, recorded a kill and a solo block on a Prospect kill attempt, while also teaming up with Charles Lim on another block for Leland points. Lucas also recorded an ace serve during the run.

“He’s just going to be a beast,” Hilbert said of Anderson, who stepped in for Ortiz, currently out with an ankle injury. “He’s a beast in training right now. He’s going to learn a lot of stuff and learn to see the court a little bit better, but he want to get better and he wants to be a great player, so you know he’s going to get there.”

Still, the Panthers didn’t go quietly, answering the Leland run with a 5-1 scoring stretch of their own to cut the lead to just 1 at 19-18. The Chargers managed to put the game away shortly thereafter however, finishing game two with a 6-2 stretch in part on a trio of hitting errors by the Panthers. In addition, the Chargers also received a pair of kills from Justin LaPlante, as well as a kill from Lucas, to take game two 25-20.

Leland’s Scott Lucas (8) delivers a kill attempt during a 3-0 win over Prospect High School on April 4. Lucas led the Chargers with 15 kills.

Game three turned out to feature the same seesaw qualities of game two, with Prospect holding an early 11-7 lead before a 5-1 Leland run in which the Chargers received a pair of kills from Andrew Atmeh and a kill from Lucas tied the game up 12-12.

“Andrew’s got a great arm swing and he’s really fast,” Hilbert said of Atmeh, who finished the night with 13 kills against the Panthers. “That’s the thing. He’s quick and he can see the court, so he can turn on the ball real well. He’s just a smart middle (blocker) and I think he’s one of the best middles in the league.”

Moments later, with Prospect back on top 13-12, the Chargers put together back-to-back scoring runs, beginning with a modest 4-1 stretch to take a 16-14 lead.

Still holding a 1-point lead at 16-15, the Chargers embarked on one final scoring stretch, a 9-3 edge featuring three kills from Lim to go along with a pair of kills from Ben Tang to take game three by a 25-18 score.

Despite the win, Hilbert reiterated the need for his team to stay focused and not be satisfied with its current position in league. To that end, Hilbert said he will make the necessary adjustments.

“There will be harder practices now,” Hilbert said with a chuckle. “Unfortunately, when you think you have nothing left to learn, that’s when the coach has the step up and start teaching some young dogs new tricks.”

Below: Leland’s Scott Lucas (8) delivers a kill attempt during a 3-0 win over Prospect High School on April 4. Lucas led the Chargers with 15 kills.

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 tryouts 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.

Leland Junior Spirit Camp signups
The Leland Spirit Squad is hosting its annual Junior Spirit Camp June 19-23 from 9 a.m. to noon each day. The early-bird camp fee is $100 with an increase to $125 on June 1. The camp will offer cheers, dances and games for children entering K-8 in the fall of 2006. All campers will be invited to perform at a Leland High School football game. Please contact lelandjsc@gmail.com or Meg Maclise (408) 535-6290 ext. 339 to register.

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
Tuesday – Varsity girls’ lacrosse vs. Woodside, 4 p.m.
Tuesday – JV girls’ lacrosse vs. Mercy, 5 p.m.

Wednesday – JV golf vs. Lincoln at Rancho, 3 p.m.
Wednesday – Varsity boys’ lacrosse vs. Sacred Heart, 4 p.m.

Thursday – Varsity golf vs. Lincoln at Almaden Golf and Country Club, 3 p.m.

Pioneer High School
No games scheduled 4/14 through 4/20

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

April 4
Leland boys’ swimming 110-57 win vs. Santa Teresa

Leland girls’ swimming 109-61 win vs. Santa Teresa

Leland badminton 10-5 win vs. Independence

Pioneer badminton 9-6 win at Prospect

April 5
Leland boys’ lacrosse 8-7 loss vs. Bellarmine

Leland boys’ tennis 7-0 win vs. Independence

Leland golf 239-239 tie vs. Santa Teresa

Pioneer girls’ lacrosse 10-3 win vs. Woodside

Pioneer golf 201-222 win vs. Oak Grove

April 6
Leland baseball 5-2 win at Branham

Leland softball 1-0 loss vs. Leigh

Leland badminton 12-3 win vs. Silver Creek

Pioneer softball 1-0 loss vs. Santa Teresa

Pioneer golf 215-229 win vs. Oak Grove

Pioneer boys’ volleyball 25-5, 25-11, 25-18 win at Gunderson

April 7
Leland boys’ volleyball 25-19, 25-18, 25-15 win vs. Pioneer

Leland boys’ track 89-37 win vs. Yerba Buena
Leland boys’ track 90-37 win vs. Del Mar

Leland girls’ track 121-6 win vs. Yerba Buena
Leland girls’ track 110-17 win vs. Del Mar

Leland boys’ swimming 120-49 win vs. Independence

Leland girls’ swimming 122-48 win vs. Independence

Pioneer boys’ swimming 95-85 loss vs. Leigh

Pioneer girls’ swimming 132-51 win vs. Leigh

Pioneer girls’ lacrosse 8-5 win at Menlo-Atherton

Let’s play two

Pioneer baseball splits doubleheader at Oak Grove;
Wright throws complete game for 5-1 win in game one

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

The Pioneer baseball teamed remained at the .500 mark in league play after splitting a doubleheader at Oak Grove on April 6.

Pioneer’s Matt Montelongo slides home safely for the Mustangs’ first run of the game in a 5-2 loss in the second game of a doubleheader at Oak Grove on April 6. Photos by Jeff Frazee

The doubleheader, a rarity for Blossom Valley Athletic League teams, was a necessity, given the unusual amount of rain in the month of March and the early part of April. The Mustangs (9-5 overall, 5-5 in league) won game one behind a stellar pitching performance from staff ace, left-hander Andy Wright, who went the distance and struck out 11 batters in a 5-1 win.

Game two proved to be the polar opposite, as the Mustangs fell behind early on a pair of 2-run innings in the second and fourth by Oak Grove, en route to a 5-2 loss. Pioneer starting pitcher Garrett Lewis picked up the tough-luck loss in game two.

Pioneer Head Coach Jake Hernandez said the continual rainfall has made things rather tough for his team, noting some mental lapses by players during the 5-2 loss in game two.

“The rain has kept us off the practice field for well over a month,” he said. “The last time we had a real practice for about two-and-a-half hours was Feb. 21, so I think it showed a little bit today, as far as baserunning goes, just doing the little things. Mentally, we were off.”

Mother Nature aside, the season has been up and down for the Mustangs, who moved up to the Mt. Hamilton Division for the 2006 season after dominating league play in the Santa Teresa Division in 2005 and winning the league title. The Mustangs started league play with an 0-3 mark before winning four out of their past five games, going into the doubleheader at Oak Grove.

The Mustangs faced the start of the 2006 and a move up into a more competitive division without the bulk of the previous year’s starters. All told, Hernandez had to replace most of his starting infield, except catcher and third base, as well as find key replacements in the outfield and on the pitching staff.

“It’s a new challenge,” Hernandez said of the new-look 2006 Mustangs. “Last year’s team was something special,

I think, since we got to compete for a title. This year’s team has good all-around talent, no superstars, but they compete every game.”

The Mustangs played solid baseball in game one, supporting Wright’s complete game effort with ample offense. Junior Scott Lowry went 1-for-3 with a 2-run single in game one, while junior Derek Clark also knocked in 2 runs with a 1-for-4 effort. Leftfielder Shaun Souza and Steven Muirhead each collected two hits, with Souza also driving in a run with the win.

While Hernandez was pleased with the offense in game one, he reserved plenty of praise for Wright, who took over as the staff ace this year.

“He’s a senior we can depend on to shut the other team down and he’s been consistent all year long,” Hernandez said of Wright. “ … When he’s on the mound, we always have a chance.”

Pioneer pitcher Garrett Lewis picked up the loss in the second game of a doubleheader, a 5-2 loss, against Oak Grove on April 6.

Game two saw the Mustangs fall behind 4-0 after four innings of play before Pioneer put 1 run on the board in the top of the fifth. Second baseman Matt Montelongo led the inning off with a double down the right field line, which was immediately followed by a line-drive double to center field off the bat of junior Chris Foley, scoring Montelongo to cut the lead to 4-1.

Still, the Mustangs couldn’t catch up fast enough, as the Eagles answered back by plating a run in the bottom of the sixth to go back up by 4 runs at 5-1.

The Mustangs managed to put one final run across the board in the top of the seventh, as senior catcher Eddie Hsieh led off the inning with a rocket drive over the left field wall for a solo home run. Later in the inning, the Mustangs threatened to score again, with Souza and Foley occupying the corners with one out before Michael Randolph ended the game by hitting into a 3-4 double play.

Despite the tough loss in game two, Hernandez said his offense has so far decent, particularly at the top of the batting order.

“One through five, we’re pretty solid right now,” Hernandez said of his lineup. “Shaun Souza, Steven Muirhead, Matt Montelongo, and of course Eddie Hsieh, have done an outstanding job. I’m hoping that the bottom of the lineup can start coming through for us to pick those guys up.”

Mustang ladies trounce Longhorns

Pioneer swimming splits with Leigh:
girls triumph, while boys’ luck dwindles

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

The Pioneer swim teams split with Leigh under falling skies Friday, sinking the Longhorn girls with dominant depth, while the Pioneer boys were edged out by a mere 10 points.

Whitney Feezor enjoys the rainy day diving competition at Pioneer High School from the safety of an unusually large umbrella. Photos by Jeff Frazee

The Mustang men fell 95-85, despite winning four individual races. Relay results coupled with the absence of sophomore diver Chris Barcelona, who injured his collarbone two weeks ago, sank the 3-1 Mustangs, but did not obliterate their chances at the Mount Hamilton Division crown.

“We outscored them on all of the individual events, outside of breaststroke,” said Pioneer Coach Gordy Smith.

“But on the boys’ side there are quite a few teams that are pretty competitive. We’ll have an opportunity to get back in there at league finals.”

Smith said Pioneer swam well against Leigh, despite the outcome.

Freshman Zach Zlotoff starred, taking twin firsts in the 200-meter individual medley and 500-meter freestyle events, with marks of 2:02.25 and 5:26.75.

According to Smith, Zlotoff and fellow freshman Evan Lineberry added crucial depth to a Mustang squad that graduated several key seniors a year ago.

“We are actually a little deeper team than we were last year,” said Smith. “We have two or three guys in each event that have the ability to score some points. We graduated some seniors, but those two freshmen have filled in really nice. We’re hoping they both qualify for CCS by the end of the season.”

Smith also expects sophomore transfer Justin Paige, a sprint freestyle specialist, to qualify for section finals, while senior Kevin Zondervan and sophomore Ian McAllister have already done so.

Zondervan won the 50-meter freestyle event versus Leigh, posting a resounding 0:23.35 mark.

Despite losing Friday, the Mustangs’ 200 and 400-meter freestyle relay teams are also early CCS qualifiers.

Members include Zondervan, Paige, Wineberry and senior David Atala, in the 200. The 400 foursome swaps Atala for McAllister.

Individually, Zondervan has earned lanes in the 100-meter freestyle and 400 and 200-meter relays. McAllister will swim the 100-meter backstroke.

“Overall we swam well versus Leigh,” said Smith. “They got first and second in diving. If we can take some of those points away from them, it’s a lot tighter.”

Smith said the loss has not shaken his confidence in his Mustangs’ abilities, or the standards they strive toward.

“We like to work on the little things,” said Smith. “We try to improve starts and turns all the time and spend a lot of time practicing actual races. It’s worked for us in the past, so we just try to stick to it.”

Pioneer dominated in girls’ action, winning six of nine individual events and all three relays, good for 132 points to Leigh’s 51.

Sophomore Kara Simpson and senior April Hamm were the most active Mustang assailants, logging four first-place finishes during the afternoon.

A Leigh High School swimmer returns to the surface while competing in the diving competition at Pioneer High School.

Simpson started with the 200-meter individual medley relay, followed by 100-meter freestyle, 200-meter freestyle relay, and 100-meter breaststroke victories.

“Kara was a CCS finalist in the 100-meter backstroke last year as a freshman,” said Smith. “She’s been swimming for a long time and that is certainly paying off for her right now, but she is also capable of swimming at the next level, after high school in college.”

Simpson has qualified for CCS early this season.

Hamm shared firsts on the 200-meter IM relay and 200-meter freestyle relay; however, she added first place points in 50-meter freestyle and 100-meter breaststroke events with marks of 0:27.22 and 1:14.25.

Senior Taylor Feezor also impressed, gaining three first place finishes, teaming with Hamm and Simpson on the 200-meter relay, anchoring the 400-meter freestyle relay, and posting a 2:12.47 mark in the 200-meter freestyle event.

“We are pretty deep on the girls’ side,” said Smith. “April and Taylor are very close to qualifying for CCS in their events, and should do so within the next week or so. Versus Leigh, we just jumped out in front and I think we were a lot deeper than they were.”

Smith said the Pioneer swimming program continues to grow in strength.

“I don’t know what it is, but we are just drawing more kids into the school who are interested in swimming,” he said. “We seem to be getting in more athletes. It’s good for all the programs. We started with 40 kids involved in swimming and diving a few years back. We have 85 this season, and we’re headed into the upper echelon of the MHAL.”

On the right track

Pioneer track team boasts promise, solid records in league play

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

The Pioneer track teams have gotten off on the right foot in Santa Teresa Division play, with both the girls’ and boys’ squads holding steady among the top three in league standings following the Mustangs’ latest conquest, a win at home over Del Mar on March 30.

Pioneer's JJ Goulden sails through the air while competing in the long jump against Del Mar on March 30. Goulden won the event with a jump of 19 feet, 11 inches. Photo by Jeff Frazee

The good vibes for the fast start have come with some changes. Pioneer Athletic Director Mark Krail, who coached the team for the past three seasons, has turned over the reigns in 2006 to first-year Head Coach Aaron Hanson. Hanson is a Southern California transplant who previously competed in the discus, shot put, and hammer throws for Azusa Pacific University from 2001 to 2003.

“Coaching at Pioneer has been amazing,” said Hanson. “I can’t take a lot of the credit because the athletes were already here. Being that it is my first year here, it’s been great. The athletes are easy to coach because they’re used to a great program … They’re very coachable and I feel like we’re blessed with a lot of talent.”

The new coach wasn’t sure what to expect of his new team, but wanted to establish some elements right away, namely a positive team atmosphere.

“I didn’t expect a whole lot, other than to have fun out here,” Hanson said. “I wanted to build a cohesive team. Track and field, unfortunately, is seen as an individual sport by too many people. I wanted to build a team element. As long as we had that team element, I was going to be satisfied with the season.”

Boys’ trio coming through
Winning has certainly been satisfying for Hanson and the Mustangs. The boys’ team, at 3-1, is near the top of the league standings in second place.

Among those who stand out, according to Hanson, is senior J.J. Goulden, who competes in the long jump, triple jump, the 100-meter dash and is a part of the 4x100 meter relay team.

Goulden put his talents to use in an 85-38 win over Del Mar, helping the 4x100 team to a first-place finish with a time of 45.35 seconds, while also placing first in the 100-meter race at 11.74 seconds. Goulden finished off his performance against the Dons by taking first place in both the long jump (19 feet, 11 inches) and the triple jump (42 feet, 8 inches).

“I think every coach would love to have someone like J.J. on their team,” Hanson said of Goulden. “ … He is a great athlete with natural gifts and natural talents. But also, he’s a great leader by example. That means a lot to me as a coach, that he’s not only gifted as an athlete, but gifted in leadership.”

Among the other athletes on the boys’ side contributing mightily are Drew McReynolds and Steve Lopes.

McReynolds is a part of the 4x100 team, as well as the 4x400 meter relay team, and also competes in the 110 high hurdles and 300 hurdles, two events in which the junior is still undefeated. Mc-Reynolds posted a 17.5 second time in the 11 hurdles against Del Mar, along with a 42.61-second time in the 300 hurdles.

“He leads through his races,” Hanson said of McReynolds. “He runs and performs. He shows people how to do it, rather than telling people how to do it, which is a great leadership quality.”

Lopes, meanwhile, runs the third leg of the 4x100 meter relay, while he also competes in the 4x400 meter relay, and the 200-meter and 400-meter events. Hanson said Lopes has been particularly effective running the 400-meter event.

“There’s a lot of strategy that you need,” Hanson said of running the 400-meter race. “He (Lopes) has the gifts and the ability to run it. He’s easily our best 400 runner, and one of the best in the league also.”

Girls’ team a mix of youth and experience
The girls’ team has seen its fair share of success too, holding a third place position in league play following an 89-34 over Del Mar.

Hanson said his girls’ team is a mix of youth and experience, pointing specifically to team captains Marissa Silver, a junior, and Keri Herbert, a senior, while also depending heavily on freshman standout Toni Sarge.

Silver and Herbert compete in the same events, teaming up as part of the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams, as well as competing in the 100 high hurdles and 300 hurdles events.

Herbert took the 100 high hurdles with a 17.72-second performance, while Silver won the 300 hurdles with a 51.52-second time.

“Marissa is the kind of athlete you want to have on your team,” Hanson said of Silver. “You can only participate in four events, but she’s the type of athlete that says, ‘why not five or six?’ If it was allowed by the league, I’d let her, because I know she can pick up points in any of the events.”

Perhaps the most pleasant development for Hanson has been Sarge, a freshman standout known best for her distance running. To that end, Hanson has Sarge competing in the 800-meter, 1600-meter, and 3200-meter events. Sarge took the 1600-meter event against Del Mar with a time of 5 minutes and 44 seconds.

“I’d say Toni Sarge is the best freshman runner on the girls’ side in the league,” Hanson said. “She has an extreme amount of potential. She’s a great athlete and she’s a soccer player, so she has the endurance already built up inside her … It’s awesome to watch her run, because she works very hard out there.”

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