April 20, 2006

SPORTS

Mustangs’ season-long goal denied

Pioneer boys’ volleyball drops 3-1 loss to Oak Grove;
goal of reaching .500 mark lost with team’s ninth league loss

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

The Pioneer boys’ volleyball team dropped a 3-1 loss at home to Oak Grove on April 11, dropping the team’s league record to 3-9.

Pioneer’s Taylor Luebkeman (15) tries to hit through a double-team block at the net during a 3-1 loss to Oak Grove on April 11. Luebkeman led the team with 17 kills. Photo by Jeff Frazee

The loss also mathematically eliminated a longstanding goal for Pioneer head coach Howard Gibson – finishing league play with a .500 mark. The team’s ninth loss in league did just that, with a 7-9 mark now the best possibility for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs entered the game with a familiar face back in the lineup, but at the same time were nearly forced to play without one of their most consistent players.

Junior Ryan Williams returned just days earlier from a hamstring injury that sidelined the team captain for more than two weeks. Taylor Luebkeman, meanwhile, played for the majority of the game despite flu-like symptoms.

“As the season goes on, the other teams get better. So if you don’t catch them in the first round, and you’re losing players, the likelihood of us catching them in the second round is a lot tougher,” Gibson said of the loss.

Pioneer’s lone win in the 3-1 loss to the Eagles came in game one, as the Mustangs jumped out to a 18-10 advantage only to see their lead slip to 20-18 as the result of an 8-2 run by Oak Grove. Pioneer managed to hang on however, finishing up game one with a 5-2 scoring run for a 25-20 win.

Despite dropping the next three games, the Mustangs gave the Eagles a run for their money in game two.

Trailing the Eagles throughout much of the game, the Mustangs found themselves with a 21-15 deficit before turning things around, albeit only temporarily.

Down six, the Mustangs put together a robust 8-1 scoring run, getting points on a pair of blocks from Luebkeman, who also recorded a kill during that stretch, for the team’s first lead in game two at 23-22. Luebkeman led the Mustangs with 17 kills.

“He’s improving and he’s got a great team attitude,” Gibson said of Luebkeman. “It’s not just me, me, me.”

Still, the run proved to be too little, too late as the Eagles finished off game two with a 3-0 advantage to force a 1-1 tie in the match.

“The first game here was indicative of what we can do, and the second game was a very close loss, but you have to play good defense,” Gibson said. “We started to fail on our defense. We weren’t covering the tips and we weren’t crashing … if you don’t play good defense, you don’t win.”

Things got progressively worse for the Mustangs from that point on however, as Oak Grove opened up game three with a 10-6 lead before going on an 8-2 scoring run. The Eagles then kept up their torrid scoring pace, working their way to a 23-10 lead before the Mustangs managed a modest 5-1 stretch that included a block for a point from Luebkeman and a kill from Williams.

“It is helpful to have a player back who can hit,” Gibson said of Williams. “He’s a team leader and a captain also.”

The Eagles then finished off game three with a kill from Michael Johns to take game three by a 25-15 score.

Game four proved to be just as problematic for the Mustangs, as the Eagles jumped out to a 17-5 lead on three solid scoring runs. Again, the Mustangs mustered small offensive spurts toward the end of the game, most notably a 6-3 advantage that cut Oak Grove’s lead from 20-7 to 23-13 before the Eagles took the match, and game four with two points to close things out.

“It’s a shame, especially when you see game one, they played so well,” Gibson said. “…But as soon as mistakes started to happen, it seemed like they were starting to point fingers at each other. They’ve been playing together for three years, and I’m trying to break them of it, but it is the downfall of any team, in any sport. Right now, that’s the downfall of ours.”

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 Jr. Spirit Camp signups
The Leland Spirit Squad is hosting its annual Junior Spirit Camp June 19 through June 23 from 9 a.m.- 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 grades K-8 this fall. All campers will be invited to perform at a Leland High School Football game. Please contact lelandjsc@gmail.com or Angelica Niklowitz at (408) 268-5549.

Almaden United U15 Boys Class 3 soccer team looking for players
Almaden United, a Class 3 U14/U15 boys’ soccer team, needs players for the spring and fall. Date of birth should be from 8/1/91 - 7/31/92. Please call Coach Joe Escobedo at (408) 972-8906 or Manager Patty O'Malley (408) 927-5978 for more information.

SJSU cross country fund-raiser at Giorgio’s
San Jose State University, the nation's No. 1 cross country team for schools without a track team, will host a fundraiser Monday, May 1 at Giorgio's Italian Food & Pizzeria, located at 1445 Foxworthy Ave. in Willow Glen.

The event will help fund the Spartans' defense of their title next September at Southern Illinois University.

The Spartans will receive 15 percent of all foods purchased at Giorgio’s from 4 p.m. until closing time if patrons indicate they are there to support SJSU cross-country team. Pro sports fan products also will be on sale. For more information, call SJSU head coach Augie Argabright at (408) 978-3439.

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 – Girls’ lacrosse vs. Menlo-Atherton, JV 5 p.m./Varsity 4 p.m.

Monday – Boys’ lacrosse vs. Menlo, JV 4 p.m./Varsity 3 p.m.
Monday – Boys’ tennis division playoffs, time TBA

Tuesday – Girls’ lacrosse at Menlo, JV 5 p.m./Varsity 4 p.m.
Tuesday – Boys’ volleyball at Oak Grove, JV 6 p.m./Varsity 7 p.m.
Tuesday – Varsity softball vs. Branham, 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday – Badminton vs. Piedmont Hills, 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday – Swimming at Pioneer, 3 p.m.

Wednesday – Varsity golf vs. Pioneer at the Villages Golf and Country Club, 3 p.m.
Wednesday – Varsity baseball at Pioneer, 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday – Boys’ tennis league team finals, time TBA
Wednesday – Boys’ lacrosse at Bellarmine, JV 4 p.m./Varsity 3 p.m.

Thursday – Varsity softball at Santa Teresa, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday – Boys’ tennis league team finals, time TBA
Thursday – Varsity golf vs. Pioneer at Almaden Golf and Country Club, 3 p.m.
Thursday – Badminton at Evergreen, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday – Boys’ volleyball at Leigh, JV 6 p.m./Varsity 7 p.m.

Pioneer High School
Friday – Boys’ tennis singles and doubles division tournament at Mt. Pleasant, 1 p.m.

Monday – Girls’ lacrosse vs. Stevenson, 4 p.m.
Monday – Boys’ tennis division playoffs, time TBA

Tuesday – Badminton at James Lick, 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday – Boys’ volleyball vs. Westmont, JV 6 p.m./Varsity 7 p.m.
Tuesday – Swimming vs. Leland, 3 p.m.
Tuesday – Varsity softball vs. Leigh, 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday – Boys’ volleyball at Branham, JV 6 p.m./Varsity 7 p.m.

Wednesday – Girls’ lacrosse at Gunn, 4 p.m.
Wednesday – Varsity baseball vs. Leland, 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday – Varsity golf vs. Leland at the Villages Golf and Country Club, 3 p.m.
Wednesday – Boys’ tennis league team finals, time TBA

Thursday – Varsity golf vs. Leland at Almaden Golf and Country Club, 3 p.m.
Thursday – Track vs. Leigh, 3:30 p.m.
Thursday – Varsity softball vs. Westmont, 3:30 p.m.

Thursday – Boys’ tennis league team finals, time TBA
Thursday – Badminton vs. Sobrato, 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

Apr. 11
Leland boys’ volleyball 25-8, 25-15, 19-25, 25-11 win at Gunderson
Leland girls’ lacrosse 10-8 win vs. Sacred Heart
Leland badminton 8-7 win at Oak Grove

Pioneer badminton 9-6 win at San Jose High

Apr. 12
Leland boys’ swimming 111-69 win vs. Piedmont Hills
Leland girls’ swimming 138-32 win vs. Piedmont Hills

Pioneer boys’ swimming 125-57 win vs. Evergreen
Pioneer girls’ swimming 126-57 win vs. Evergreen

Apr. 13
Leland golf 235-236 win vs. Oak Grove
Leland softball 2-0 loss at Mt. Pleasant

Pioneer golf 228-230 loss vs. Santa Teresa

Apr. 14
Leland baseball 15-4 win at Willow Glen
Leland tennis 7-0 win vs. Piedmont Hills

Leland baseball bests Willow Glen 7-2

Chargers’ starter Danny Dyer picks up win with six
shutout innings; Alex Todd drives in three with two-hit effort

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

Leland starting pitcher Danny Dyer tossed six shutout innings while getting ample support from his offense in the early innings of a 7-2 win over Willow Glen on April 13.

Leland's Kevin Battipede (8) takes a mighty rip during a 7-2 win over the Willow Glen Rams on April 13. Battipede went 2-for-4 with a run scored in the win. Photos by Jeff Frazee

Dyer, a senior, struck out nine batters and walked just two while allowing four hits to pick up his sixth win of the season.

The Charger offense was sparked by second baseman Alex Todd, who went 2-for-4 with three runs batted in and one run scored, while Garrett Avilla, Steve Henry and Adam Munoz each drove in a run in the win. Leland improved its’ record to a league-best 10-1 in the Mt. Hamilton Division, while the Rams dropped to 5-8.

Defensively, the Chargers had some trouble shaking off the rust, given the relative inactivity and quirky shifts in scheduling games as a result of an unusually rainy season. Leland committed four errors in the win.

“I think today was another example of how strong our pitching staff is,” said Leland head coach Scot Gillis. “Danny Dyer went out there and did a fantastic job again. …When Danny’s pitching like that, then the plays defensively are not all that difficult. We make it hard on ourselves when we don’t make the easy play, which we did a couple of times.”

The Chargers scored twice in both the first and third innings, highlighted by a two-run single from Todd with two outs in the third to bump Leland’s lead to 4-0.

Meanwhile, Dyer escaped a tough top of the fourth inning, wriggling his way out of a one-out situation with runners on the corners by picking off a Willow Glen runner at first base before inducing Greg Garrity into a routine infield popup.

Dyer worked his way of another high-stress inning in the fifth, allowing a one-out walk, followed by a single to right field by Dewey Rogge, who advanced to second on a throw to third. With runners now on second and third, Dyer quickly put an end to the Rams’ uprising by striking out the next two batters to end the inning.

Leland's Danny Dyer (9) tags out a Willow Glen player at second base during the seventh inning of a 7-2 win for the Chargers. Dyer started the game on the hill and threw six shutout innings before taking the field at second base in the top of seventh.

“I think that’s a real sign of Danny’s experience on the varsity level,” Gillis said of Dyer’s ability to quiet the Rams’ offense. “He’s a three-year varsity guy and he’s pitched in big tournaments in the summer for one of his traveling teams. He never seems to get shaken up on the mound in those types of situations. I have complete confidence in him, in that environment.”

Leland then padded its’ 4-0 lead with a three-run bottom of the fifth, loading the bases on a walk and two singles before Munoz came on as a pinch hitter and delivered a blooping single to centerfield, scoring pinch runner Jimmy Kogura. Henry then followed with a grounder to shortstop with the infield drawn in, but the throw sailed wide of home plate, allowing both Kevin Battipede and Todd to score for a 7-0 lead.

“We did enough at the plate to have success,” said Gillis of the Charger offense. “We’re still working at getting better at the plate. One of our big problems – everyone’s problem – is that the weather’s been killing us. We haven’t thrown a live batting practice on the field since tryouts. So there’s aspects of the game you can work on in a cage, but then there’s live hitting and pressure of the environment. Most of the time, you just need to get games under your belt.”

For Willow Glen, a win against the Chargers would’ve placed the Rams’ league record just one game under .500. Despite some miscues in the loss, Rams’ head coach Brett Gladden said the process of turning the young Rams’ squad into eventual contenders is on the right path.

“We’re still a little bit of a young team, but we like this team,” Gladden said. “We saw a good pitcher tonight. That’s basically what it was. Danny Dyer threw well.”

Bret Harte girls’ soccer team clinches 2006 Santa
Clara Eastside Soccer Championship

By Coach John Enriquez Sr
Special to the Times

On a rainy Friday afternoon, April 7, the Bret Harte Bronco girls’ soccer team beat defending champion Chaboya Middle School 5-3 in a very intense and stressful game.

Both teams played their hearts out and gave their all, but the Broncos came out on top after a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation before taking the edge in penalty kicks 4-2.

Needless to say, this is a big accomplishment for the Bronco girls, considering that the league consist of 28 middle schools covering areas from Morgan Hill to Milpitas. 

The Bronco girls played with their hearts and with tons of courage all season. Our team had several games where other teams were physically larger than ours, but the Broncos had no fear and outplayed them on several fronts, including offensively, tactically and defensively.

I want to thank the parents and our fans that stopped by to support our team during this very rainy season. I would also like to thank Coach Jorge Herrera for being there for me, and the girls, during the season.

Barnett peaks at invitational

Leland track poised for league title clash with Pioneer

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Leland freshman Stephanie Barnett cruised to a first place finish Saturday in the 3,200-meter event at Hampton-Phillips’ annual invitational track and field meet hosted by Silver Creek High and San Jose City College.

Though the meet transpired without league implications, Barnett’s impressive 11:21.72 jaunt left Coach Jerry Rose applauding her and the collective efforts around Leland’s track this season, where, in the Chargers’ 14th season under Rose, both boys’ and girls’ squads are 4-0 and tops in the Santa Teresa Division.

Leland is in prime position to win the Santa Teresa Division track and field title, pending a matchup at Pioneer on April 27.

Long-distance specialist Rudy Montenegro has doubled with Rose as co-head coach since 1996.

Rival and second place Pioneer will host Leland April 27 in the final meet on the schedule, with the winner seizing the inside lane heading into final leg league finals. A Leland league crown would mean the school’s first since 1995, according to Rose.

As for Barnett, her time was good for the fourth fastest mark in CCS this season.

“Stephanie’s a winner,” said Rose. “She wants to do her best every time she runs.”

Rose said the slightly built, approximately 100-pound, middle distance standout assembled her finest race Saturday, but that’s not the peak of her potential.

“Stephanie is still learning how to run proper mile and two mile races,” said Rose. “A lot of racing is mental. She is still learning when she can break and when the overall pace is too slow for her.”

Barnett outfoxed second place San Benito senior Amanda Boyd for the victory Saturday. In the girls’ second head-to-head bout this season, Barnett broke in the final quarter mile, blowing by veteran Boyd and finishing four seconds ahead of her.

“In a race earlier this season, Stephanie could have taken it out faster and ended up finishing third behind Amanda,” said Rose. “She was able to recall the first race and bring it back at Hampton-Phillips. She had the confidence to do it.”

While Barnett has shined, it is depth and teamwork that has lofted Leland into league elite status.

“We should have lost to Willow Glen—they had the better team,” said Rose, of a March 23 clash. “We were able to overcome them in areas we didn’t have last year. Our field events have balanced the team this year. It’s not lopsided like we were in the past. When we won league in the 90s, we did it without scoring a single point in the field.”

Senior shot put/discus thrower Joey Boose has been the Chargers’ most consistent performer in the field. Standing 6-feet, 6-inches, Boose heaved a shot of 47-feet, 7-inches at Hampton-Phillips.

“Joey is a big, strong kid,” said Rose. “He is so strong, he just plays with it. I would say he has the physical ability to go on and throw at the next level. He is kind of in a class by himself, in terms of Leland throwers.”

Sophomore Nathaniel Palussa and senior Phillip Petro have traded notes and exchanged first place points.

Palussa’s highlight was a 20-foot, 7-inch long jump, while Petro’s feat cleared 42-feet, 4-inches in the triple jump.

“They feed off of each other and they encourage each other,” said Rose of his leapers and the team. “I’ve been at other places coaching and it hasn’t been that way. This team genuinely likes each other and cares. Track is an individual sport that we make into a team. But they know that they only win and do well in all of the events when they pull for each other.”

The Leland girls are good this year, but may be great in the upcoming three years, according to Rose. The team returned just three seniors, one of whom—Caitlin Tyson—is a first-year track athlete; however, the lady Chargers are deep in talent.

Freshman Lauren Chin wins points jumping 32 feet and 16 feet in the triple and long jumps, respectively. She also runs a low 60 leg on the mile relay team.

Sophomore hurdler Chiquita Skiaris finished second at the BVAL finals and entered CCS with the top qualifying time—0:46.73—in the 300-meter low’s last season; however, an off-season knee injury rendered her inactive until three weeks ago.

“Chiquita could be an outside shot to win hurdles,” said Rose. “She’s coming into full swing now that her knee is gaining strength and we know she has the speed. She’s just getting into harder workouts. They told her she wasn’t going to run the hurdles this year. She’s already sub-60.”

Newcomer Tyson is likely the most productive upperclassman, having posted a 2:30 mark in the 800-meter, a 5:38 mile and commonly placing in the triple jump. She also runs a leg in the mile relay.

“Caitlin’s come out and been a real bonus to us with very little training,” said Rose. “She’s a true athlete and does everything you ask of her.”

But Rose said it’s senior middle distance runners Stephen Matsuoka and Taka Hiro Shiraiwa who are the heart and soul of Leland’s teams.

“They take over,” he said. “Everybody looks up to them. They aren’t even officially team captains, but they just go out and take care of business. The real strength to our team is not so much our first places. It is our depth. If we can’t win an event, we score second and third. The kids are really disciplined on trying to do what they are supposed to do to win a meet.”

In pursuit of perfection

Leland badminton improves to 10-0 in league play with 12-3 win

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

The Leland badminton team improved to a league-best 10-0 after taking a lopsided 12-3 win over Santa Teresa on April 13.

Although no one is complaining about the team’s first-place standing in the Mt. Hamilton Division, the leap to A-league superiority has been a pleasant surprise, said team co-captain Aya Matsumoto. The Chargers moved up to the Mt. Hamilton Division this season after a solid season in the Santa Teresa Division in 2005.

ABOVE, LEFT: Leland's Alan Lui, the boys’ No.1 singles player, dropped his match - a 15-7, 15-11 loss – the Chargers’ 12-3 win over the Saints on April 13. The Chargers improved their record to a league-best 10-0. ABOVE, RIGHT: Eric Shin, the No. 2 Leland boys’ singles player, lunges to save a play during a 12-3 win over Santa Teresa. Photos by Jeff Frazee

“We weren’t expecting to do this well, so we’re really excited about how we're number one and undefeated in league,” she said.

Leland co-captain Will Son, who teams up with Terry Chow as the boys’ No. 2 doubles duo, said the season highlight to date, was a March 28 match-up against Evergreen. That team also moved up from the Santa Teresa Division this season and was undefeated going into the match against the Chargers.

The end result; a solid 10-5 win for the Chargers.

“That was a really close game that we felt really good about afterward,” said Son. “We’ve just been rolling since and we’ve been working hard. I think we’re deserving of what we’re getting right now.”

Leland’s Aya Matsumoto, who pairs up with teammate Satomi Tsuneta as the Leland No. 1 girls’ doubles duo, goes skyward during a 12-3 win on April 13.

Among the team strengths listed by Matsumoto is veteran leadership. The entire team is comprised of mostly juniors and seniors, with only two sophomores – the girls’ No. 3 doubles tandem of Jennet Liaw and Jessica Kim – rounding out the roster. Still, youth has served the girls well, as Liaw and Kim came into the April 13 match undefeated in league play. In fact, the entire girls’ doubles lineup, numbers one through three, were undefeated going into the match against the Saints.

Son said the veteran leadership has also trickled down to the lower ranks, with varsity badminton players teaching the JV squad some of the finer nuances of the game.

“Because the majority of the team is juniors and seniors, we actually took some time to coach JV also,” Son said. “We have one official coach (Linh Banh), but everybody on the varsity squad is kind of like a coach for everybody else. We kind of help each other out.”

Among the standout performers on the boys’ side are number one singles player Alan Liu, a junior, and the number one doubles tandem of John Pham and Daniel Sun, according to Matsumoto. Matsumoto cited Pham and Sun’s strategies and formations, which she called “perfect” as big improvements, while Liu moved up to play number one singles after spending the 2005 season as the number two singles player.

“I think the most improvement has been in his footwork,” Matsumoto said of Liu. “He’s gotten so much quicker.”

Liu dropped his match, a close 15-7, 15-11 loss, in the 12-3 win over the Saints, while girls’ number one singles player Aggi Bialy, a junior, roundly defeated her opponent 15-3, 15-0.

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