April 17, 2008

SPORTS

Leigh tennis team hits the heights

Leigh High School boy's tennis team has come of age this year after several years bouncing around at the bottom of the Blossom Valley Athletic League’s (BVAL) Mount Hamilton Division.

With a record of 11-1 overall and a 9-1 in the BVAL Santa Teresa division, going into the final weeks of the regular season Leigh is arguably one of the top teams in the BVAL along with Evergreen, Silver Creek, Yerba Buena, and stalwart Leland. New coach, Almaden resident, and former Leland boy's tennis coach Brent Hermsmeier is high on the success that Leigh has achieved and thinks that the remainder of the year will be equally good.

"We are a solid team that has built our winning record from the leadership of our seniors and the talent of our underclassmen," he said.

Indeed, Leigh's captain and heart of the team comes from four-year-starter Tyler Nii, who has played in the number-two spot for much of season. He has a perfect record at 12-0. Other seniors can be found leading doubles teams with Almaden resident Daniel Zohar in the number one position having an 11-1 record, Avi Kafman in the number two spot having a 9-2 record, and Aljosha Novakovic recently moving into the number three doubles spot having a 5-0 record.

"We are a unified team this year using each others’ strengths to buoy team as a whole, which is great to see in an individual sport like tennis. The leadership of the seniors is key to our success and it is evident by the how well the team plays in close individuals matches," said Hermsmeier.

The number-one singles position is held by freshman Hanson Hermsmeier who has a bright future as a player and as a future team leader in that he is learning the latter from current captain Tyler Nii on how to motivate a team of high achieving individuals.

When considering the future Hermsmeier says he can see further success with eight freshmen joining the team this year, two of which are making significant contributions to the varsity team, and the other six poised to make an impact to varsity as early as next year.

"The junior varsity team has been doing well and I can see several players including Cyrus Sadeghi and Matt Takihiro becoming solid doubles varsity players by next year and a few others not far behind assuming they develop their skills during the off-season," Hermsmeier said.

Congratulations to Sandra Soe

Sandra Soe, representing the Almaden Swim and Racquet Club, recently competed at the prestigious Far Western Swimming Championships held earlier this month in Pleasanton. Soe competed in seven events, achieving personal best times in every one. In addition, she placed first in the 50 free. She also placed in five other events (100, 200, 500 free, 50 and 100 back) and was in contention for the high point award in the 10-and-under age group. Her swims broke six longstanding ASRC team records. Way to go, Sandra, who is pictured here with her coach, Carrie Miller.

Chargers win this year’s softball rivalry

By Chanel Nijmeh
Times Intern

It might have been a windy afternoon, but that didn’t stop the lady Leland Chargers and Pioneer Mustangs from meeting on the softball field Wednesday, April 9 to battle in a long-standing rivalry between two schools.

The atmosphere was tense as everyone expected an excellent game. Although the game had a slow start, Leland dominated at the bottom of the sixth leading the Chargers to a 6-0 victory.

The Chargers and the Mustangs have been bitter rivals for almost 20 years. These two teams were playing for more than the honor and recognition of defeating the other team; they were playing for the silver cup, a special trophy exchanged between the teams for the past several years. Every year at this game, the victor returns home with the trophy. Pioneer had the honor of holding the trophy after its team won last year.

After Leland Senior Brenna Wahl sung the national anthem it was time to play ball. The game started off sluggishly. Pioneer’s Vanessa Silva was first to get on base. Soon after, Leland made three outs, leaving two Mustangs players on base.

Although Pioneer’s Ahjali Davis hit a double at the top of the fourth and sixth innings, she didn’t score nor did she drive in any runs. At the top of the sixth, the score was still tied at 0 until Leland sophomore Jessie Frediani started a rally with a triple, hit to left field.

Using this momentum, Leland went through their entire batting line up and the girls continued on to score six runs.

Now it was up to the Mustangs to catch up to the Leland’s lead. Charger sophomore Lindsay Truan walked Pioneer’s Vanessa Silva, the second batter at the top of the seventh. Then Pioneer’s Colleen Bush, hit a single and JJ Anderson’s single loaded the bases.

Truan went on to strike out Ahjali Davis to end the game. Pioneer’s valiant effort was not enough to provide the recovery from Leland’s lopsided sixth inning. Leland walked off the field as the victors.

“Today’s game was a great, tough game,” said Leland Coach Joe Gron after the game. “Both teams came ready to play. We planned to keep playing the way we have been and hopefully would win. As the game went on I thought the first to score would be the team to win, and we did.”

Both teams lost a large amount of their veteran players from last season, causing them to bring up talented underclassmen. Leland’s league standing after the game was 4-1, putting Pioneer’s standing at 2-3.

The two teams look forward to the rest of their season and will work hard to be successful. Both teams were playing again on Wednesday, April 16--Pioneer against Leigh and Leland against Piedmont Hills.

High School Sports Schedule April 18 – April 24

Leland

Friday—Baseball vs. Piedmont Hills at 3:30 at Leland (JV on opposite field)
Friday—Softball vs. Westmont at 3:30 at Westmont (JV on opposite field)

Monday—Baseball vs. Santa Teresa at 3:30 at Leland (JV on opposite field)
Monday—Division S/D Tennis Tournament playoffs if necessary
Monday—Golf vs. Leigh during the week

Tuesday—Badminton vs. Independence at 3:30 at Leland
Tuesday—Volleyball vs. Westmont, F/S at 6, Varsity at 7 at Westmont

Wednesday—Baseball vs. Branham at 3:30 at Branham (JV at opposite field)
Wednesday—Softball vs. Live Oak at 3:30 at Live Oak (JV on opposite field)
Wednesday-Friday—Tennis League Team finals

Thursday—Badminton vs. Silver Creek at 3:30 at Leland
Thursday—Track vs. Independence at 3:15 at Leland
Thursday—Volleyball vs. Oak Grove at 7 (varsity only) at Oak Grove

Pioneer

Friday—Baseball vs. Branham at 3:30 at Branham (JV on opposite field)
Friday—Softball vs. Santa Teresa at 3:30 at Santa Teresa (JV on opposite field)
Friday—Swimming vs. Live Oak at 3 at Live Oak
Friday—Tennis Div. S/D Tournament at Del Mar at 2:30
Friday—Badminton vs. Lincoln at 3:30 at Pioneer

Monday—Baseball vs. Westmont at 3:30 at Westmont (JV on opposite field)
Monday—Tennis Division playoffs if necessary
Monday—Golf vs. Santa Teresa during the week

Tuesday—Volleyball vs. Leigh with F/S at 6, varsity at 7 at Leigh

Wednesday—Softball vs. Westmont at 3:30 at Westmont (JV on opposite field)
Wednesday—Baseball vs. Live Oak at 3:30 at Pioneer (JV on opposite field)
Wednesday-Friday—Tennis League Team Finals

Thursday—Badminton vs. Willow Glen—at 3:15 at Pioneer
Thursday—Track vs. Westmont at 3:30 at Westmont
Thursday—Volleyball vs. Willow Glen at 3:30 at Willow Glen

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

San Jose Fit training program begins session in April
San Jose Fit, a marathon and half marathon training program will begin its training session this month. Sessions run from April through October, and start with a 2-mile run, working up to a 26.2 mile marathon. SJF meets each Saturday morning at Los Gatos High School, and on Wednesday evenings at the Campbell Community Center track. The SJF program not only focuses on marathon training but also aids the “couch-potato” who is doing little or no exercise at all.  We tend to look at our group as a “social group” with a running or walking problem.

Registration is Apr. 12 and 19 at the Los Gatos High School baseball field, starting at 7:30 a.m.  Sessions begin on Apr. 26.

Throughout the season we bring in guest lecturers to speak on safety, injury prevention and the basics on how to train and successfully complete goals.  Our target marathon is the Silicon Valley Marathon in October. For further questions, contact Head Coach Lew Cramer at 358-2007.

Presentation High School’s 23rd Annual Golf Tournament
This annual fundraising event is scheduled for May 9 at the Cinnabar Hills Golf Club. Lunch is set for 11:30 a.m. followed by a 12:30 p.m. Tee Off. The $225 cost includes golf fee, tee prize, lunch, course refreshments and the awards dinner. All proceeds benefit academic programs at Presentation High School. For additional information, contact Jane Jeziorski at 264-5110 x2428 or jjeziorski@pres-net.com.

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.

San Jose area residents participate in 2008 WALK MS for Multiple Sclerosis
Hundreds of San Jose area residents will make great strides in the fight against multiple sclerosis (MS) at Walk MS San Jose, held Saturday, May 3 Organized by the Northern California Chapter of the National MS Society, San Jose is one of 11 Walk MS locations throughout Northern California.

Walk MS participants can chose between a 5K or 10K walk along the Guadeloupe River Trails starting and finishing at Arena Green Park. Walkers will be greeted at the festive finish line with a free lunch provided by Subway and live entertainment provided by MOViN 99.7 and the Los Gatos High School Steel Drum Band. There will be a special victory martial arts demonstration led by San Jose Walk Ambassador, Laine Meyer. Funds raised will go towards critical research and programs for the 20,000 Northern Californians living with MS.

Registration begins at 8 a.m.; the walk starts at 9 a.m. For more information and to register online, visit nationalMSsociety.org/walkMS or call 1-800-FIGHT-MS.

Free city wide Youth Track Meet
The City of San Jose and San Jose Police Amateur Athletic Foundation are sponsoring the City Wide Youth Track Meet for boys and girls born between 1994-1999 (ages 9-14), on May 18, 2008 at Evergreen Valley High School, 3300 Quimby Road, San Jose. The event is free for all participants. For more information or to pre-register, please call Steve Ryan at 871-3825 or via email steve.ryan@sanjoseca.gov or Meet Director: Judi Baxter via email at judibax@sonic.net.

Evergreen Valley Soccer summer camps
EVS will be offering two soccer camps this summer. Sessions begin June 22 -26, with the All Girls Academy. The Academy is designed to help players develop all aspect of their game and topics will include: Ball mastery / Beginning and intermediate technical skills / Small-sided games / Offensive and defensive team tactics / Training for speed, agility, quickness.

Eligible girls are ages 8 – 17 and the fee is $145 per person (team discounts are available). Academy hours are 4 – 7 p.m.

The “Little Hawks” Academy is designed for players age 5 – 8 and focuses on having fun while learning new soccer skills. Coached by members of the EVC Men’s and Women’s Soccer Team, campers will participate in a variety of soccer games and activities. Session one is Aug. 4, 6 & 7 and Session two is Aug. 11, 13 &14. The fees are $90 fro one session, $140 for both. Hours are 9 – 11 a.m.

For additional information or to register, call Felicia Perez at 274-7900 x6910 or email Felicia.Perez@evc.edu.

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