May 17, 2007

SPORTS

THE ROUNDUP

Leland and Pioneer baseball teams headed to CCS;
Leland softball grabs No. 9 seed in Division II Playoffs

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

Needing a solid final week of Mt. Hamilton Division play to increase its chances of a CCS Playoff bid, the Leland softball team came through, winning its final two games of the regular season over Mt. Pleasant and Leigh.

Leland’s Lindsay Truan, shown here in a game earlier this season, struck out 15 in a 4-3 win over Mt. Pleasant on May 8, helping the Chargers go undefeated in their final week of regular season Play. The Chargers garnered the No. 9 seed in the CCS Division II Playoffs. Photo by Diego Abeloos.

The wins, a 4-3 final at home over the Cardinals on May 8 and a 5-1 final at Leigh on May 10, gave the Chargers (15-11 overall) the No. 9 seed in the CCS Division II Playoffs. The Chargers faced No. 8 Aragon on Wednesday, May 16, at Hawes Park in Redwood City. A score was not available at press time.

“It’s a great feeling, especially for the girls, because they’ve worked real hard,” Leland head coach Joe Gron said of his team’s entrance into the playoff picture. “…We had a big week last week, with two big victories that really propelled us into the playoffs. We’re excited. It’s a brand new season now and anything can happen. You never know.”

Supported by a four-run bottom-of-the-fourth inning on May X against the Cardinals, Leland starting pitcher Lindsay Truan kept steady in the pitching circle, allowing just two hits and three runs while striking out 15 for her 14th win of the season. Needing a second win during the week, the Chargers got what they wanted in the form of a 5-1 final on the road at Leigh, which finished second in the Mt. Hamilton Division standings and garnered the No. 3 seed in the CCS Division II Playoffs.

Gron said the clutch wins in the final week of regular season play showed what his team is capable of.

“Not only was it good competition, but they knew that we needed those victories to get into the playoffs,” Gron said of his team. “We had a lot of pressure on us last week and the girls stepped up. That’s what they’ve been doing the past couple of months. We’ve had some tough losses, but we’ve played good softball. …It was huge. It was good to see them step their games up and just come through for themselves. It’s fun to watch them when they’re dialed in and playing good softball.”

Leland baseball No. 12 seed in CCS Division II Playoffs
The Leland baseball team finished the 2007 regular season with a key 11-4 win at Santa Teresa on May 10, leaving the Chargers with a final record of 12-9 and the No. 12 seed in the CCS Division II Playoffs.

The Chargers will face No. 5 Los Gatos on the road on Thursday, May 17 at 4 p.m.

Leland started the week with a tough 5-4 loss at Live Oak—the Mt. Hamilton Division’s co-champion, along with Leigh—that featured a game-deciding two-run home run from the Acorns’ Alika Bantilan in the bottom of the fifth inning on May 8. Still, the Chargers bounced back against Santa Teresa, the division’s second place finisher, getting a 16-hit attack from the offense in the 11-4 final. Ben Stanger went 3 for 3 in the win with three RBIs, while Lance Gemette blasted two home runs in a 3 for 4 effort.

“Our team is peaking at the right time and a lot of people know that,” said Leland head coach Anthony Siri. “Our team is starting to play to its potential while we’re peaking at the right time, and that’s so important. …We talked about the little things, and for the most part, we’re doing all the little things that help us win ballgames.”

All told, the Chargers ended the season winning six of their last seven games, finishing one game behind the Santa Teresa Saints in the Mt. Hamilton Division standings. Siri said the late push by his squad bodes well for Leland’s chances in the CCS Playoffs.

“Our kids are confident right now and they know they have the ability to play with anybody if they choose to,” Siri said. “We’ve always kind of had that swagger at Leland and for a lack of a better term, we didn’t have that swagger early in the season. I think we’re starting to solidify our place in CCS, and it’s showing in the wins and losses.”

Pioneer slides into CCS Playoff picture with No. 15 seed
The Pioneer baseball team found its way into the CCS Division II Playoff picture as the No. 15 seed after finishing the regular season at 10-11.

The Mustangs will hit the road and face No. 2 seed Los Altos on May 17 at 4 p.m. in the opening round of the Division II Playoffs.

Pioneer’s Derek Clark went 2 for 4 with three RBIs in a 10-6 win over Willow Glen to end the regular season. The Mustangs received the No. 15 seed in the CCS Division II Playoffs and will face No. 2 seed Los Altos on May 17. Photo courtesy Ric Medlinger at www.medlinger.net

The Mustangs ended their final week of regular season play in the Mt. Hamilton Division play with a 10-6 win at home over Willow Glen on May 10, getting a seven-run first inning from the offense. Center fielder Derek Clark went 2 for 4 with three RBIs in the win, while Billy McCarty went 2 for 2 with a pair of doubles and three runs driven in.

The win came on the heels of a tough 10-0 loss at Santa Teresa on May 8, as the Saints scored nine runs in the first two innings of play. The Pioneer offense was limited to six hits in the loss.

Despite a sometimes turbulent regular season including a five-game losing stretch at the start of league play, Pioneer head coach Jake Hernandez said seeing Pioneer’s name in the CCS Playoff bracket is a good feeling.
“We were up and down all year long,” said Hernandez. “We couldn’t really get on a hot streak, but I kept telling the guys that if we just make CCS, anything can happen. We got the last win of the year and snuck in. Last year we were the No. 2 seed and we got beat by a No. 15, so hopefully we can turn the tables here.”

The final week of the regular season also saw the Mustangs get back to full capacity on their roster, with starting catcher Chris Foley returning last week from a broken arm that had him sidelined for a large chunk of Mt. Hamilton Division play. In addition, Hernandez noted, reliever Don Medlinger is back at full strength after a tough bout with mono. Hernandez added that Foley’s presence should help boost Pioneer’s overall game during the playoffs.

“He’s good back there (at catcher). He keeps the opposing base runners on their toes,” Hernandez said of Foley. “He’s pretty aggressive with his arm and he’s a team leader, a vocal leader. It’s good to finally have him back. …We’re finally at full strength after a bout with mono and Foley going down with a broken arm.”

Leland boys’ volleyball season over after CCS first-round loss to Mt. Madonna

Chargers drop 3-0 loss on the road, look toward next year with young nucleus intact

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

The Leland boys’ volleyball team saw its season come to an end in the first round of the 2007 CCS Playoffs as the No. 15 seed Chargers dropped a 3-0 loss at No. 2 Mt. Madonna on May 10.

Leland's Daniel Ortiz goes up for a hit during the team’s opening round Central Coast Section's playoff match against Mount Madonna in Watsonville on May 10. Mount Madonna defeated Leland 3-0. Photo by Dan Miranda

The loss drew to a close a largely successful season for the Chargers, who finished Mt. Hamilton Division play at 5-5, good for fourth place and an at-large bid in the CCS Playoffs. Despite his team’s best efforts, said Leland head coach Jason Hilbert, the match was a case of which team ended up making the least amount of mistakes, as well as being able to capitalize on the mistakes of their respective opponent. After a close 25-23 loss in game one, the Chargers couldn’t quite get over the hump later on in the match, dropping games two and three by scores of 25-19 and 25-18, respectively.

“The match didn’t go the way we wanted,” said Hilbert. “We had a game plan and I think we actually executed our game plan pretty well. They (Mt. Madonna) are a good team and I thought we had the ability to beat them, but our passing didn’t go the way we wanted. We had a few mistakes and they’re a good enough team where they’re going to take advantage of those mistakes. You have to play a perfect game and we were a little bit off.”

The match-up featured plenty of unknowns for the Chargers, who had never faced Mt. Madonna. Hilbert said his lone knowledge of the team was based on one early season game film, and his knowledge of Mt. Madonna’s Jonji Barber, who has played for Hilbert’s Central Coast Volleyball Club in past summers. Not having any distinct knowledge of Mt. Madonna, Hilbert added, had its advantages and disadvantages.

“I saw them early in March, so we had one game film and in two months, a team’s going to change a little bit,” Hilbert said. “…It is tough. But the thing also is that your team doesn’t have the fear of that and doesn’t have any expectations. You go in and it’s fresh; you don’t have any preconceived ideas so you can just play. It’s kind of liberating to play a team you haven’t played. You don’t know what to expect. There’s a fear and a freedom (to it).”

Hilbert and the Chargers were also one player short for the match because of academic ineligibility, forcing a lineup change that featured freshman standout Jacob Pederson at libero and moving junior outside hitter Terry Koh into the starting lineup. Despite the lineup change, both players held their own in the match, Hilbert noted.

“He did the best job he could,” Hilbert said of Pederson. “…Putting a freshman in a big time situation is tough, but he rose to the occasion.”

Koh meanwhile finished second on the team with seven kills, just two behind team leader Kenny Tran.

“Terry turned around and stepped up,” Hilbert said of Koh. “I thought he had our best all-around match. He was a difference-maker. He played smart, he’s a really good team guy and he executed the game plan. Terry did his job. He worked hard.”

Hilbert noted that the loss was also the final game for the team’s five seniors—Tran, Justin LaPlante, Sean Park, Jared Tygerson and Daniel Ortiz. All told, Hilbert said his five seniors should be proud of what they helped accomplish throughout their careers at Leland.

“I talked to them as a group and thanked them, because they have to put up with me,” Hilbert said jokingly. “They did a great job and gave me everything they had. I can’t ask more. It’s always disappointing to lose, it’s always disappointing to have your season end, but they should be proud of everything they’ve done, because it’s not just (measured on) this game, we measure it throughout all of the time they’ve been here.”

As for next year, Hilbert said he’s anxious to see what the young nucleus of players he’s assembled will do. The team, which had six juniors and one freshman on the roster, will feature returning starters in setter Justin Conmy and middle blocker Seth Anderson, as well as Koh and Pederson, among others.

“This is our starting point for next year,” Hilbert said. “This is where I expect us to be at the beginning of next year. We’ve got some talented juniors and I think we’re going to be real strong at the middle. I’m excited about that. …If this is the group that’s coming next year, with some new JV guys, then I’m really excited about next year.”

High School Sports Schedule

Leland High School
Friday – Swimming CCS preliminaries at Stanford University, 11 a.m.

Saturday – Track CCS semifinals at San Jose City College, 9:30 a.m.
Saturday – Baseball CCS quarterfinals at Washington Park, time and opponent TBA
Saturday – Diving CCS playoffs at Stanford University, 8:30 a.m.
Saturday – Swimming CCS finals at Stanford University, 1 p.m.
Saturday – Softball CCS quarterfinals at Salinas Sports Complex, time and opponent TBA

Tuesday – Boys’ tennis single/doubles opening round and quarterfinals for CCS playoffs at Cabrillo College, 10 a.m.
Tuesday – Softball CCS semifinals at San Jose PAL Stadium, time and opponent TBA

Wednesday – Badminton CCS playoffs begin, times and opponents TBA
Wednesday – Softball CCS semifinals at San Jose PAL Stadium, time and opponent TBA

Thursday – Softball CCS semifinals at San Jose PAL Stadium, time and opponent TBA
Thursday – Boys’ tennis single/doubles semifinals and finals for CCS playoffs at Cabrillo College, 1 p.m.
Thursday – Baseball CCS semifinals at San Jose Municipal Stadium, time and opponent TBA

Pioneer High School
Friday – Swimming CCS preliminaries at Stanford University, 11 a.m.

Saturday – Track CCS semifinals at San Jose City College, 9:30 a.m.
Saturday – Baseball CCS quarterfinals at Washington Park, time and opponent TBA
Saturday – Diving CCS playoffs at Stanford University, 8:30 a.m.
Saturday – Swimming CCS finals at Stanford University, 1 p.m.

Tuesday – Boys’ tennis single/doubles opening round and quarterfinals for CCS playoffs at Cabrillo College, 10 a.m.

Wednesday – Badminton CCS playoffs begin, times and opponents TBA

Thursday – Boys’ tennis single/doubles semifinals and finals for CCS playoffs at Cabrillo College, 1 p.m.
Thursday – Baseball CCS semifinals at San Jose Municipal Stadium, time and opponent TBA


*JV or frosh/soph team plays at opposite site of varsity at the same time

For more information about Leland and Pioneer sporting events, go to:

Pioneer Athletics: http://www.phsathletics.com/
Leland Athletics: http://www.lelandathletics.com/
Blossom Valley Athletic League: http://www.bval.org/

High School Scoreboard

May 8
Leland softball 4-3 win vs. Mt. Pleasant
Leland baseball 5-4 loss at Live Oak

Pioneer softball 3-2 loss vs. Live Oak
Pioneer baseball 10-0 loss at Santa Teresa

May 10
Leland baseball 11-4 win at Santa Teresa
Leland softball 5-1 win at Leigh

Pioneer baseball 10-6 win vs. Willow Glen
Pioneer softball 5-4 win at Evergreen

Decision on permanent stadium lights looms for Leland, Pioneer

San Jose Unified School District’s Board of Education set to vote May 24

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

A May 8 meeting by the San Jose Unified School District’s Board of Education set the stage for a vote by the board on the installation of permanent stadium lights for several of the district’s high schools, including Leland and Pioneer.

Each school had the opportunity to present its case for the installation of the lights before the board, which also used the meeting as a chance to hear positive and negative feedback from the local communities on the proposal. A vote by the board is expected at a second meeting regarding the lights proposal on May 24. A vote by the board on permanent lights will be decided on a school-by-school basis.

In general, the meeting rehashed several details already discussed at length during previous community meetings held at each school.

Leland principal Bob Setterlund cited to the board the “positive aspects of putting stadium lights at Pat Tillman Stadium,” including community and school spirit, increased parent involvement, and increased community and school participation. Setterlund also said he supports changes made to the stadium’s sound system suggested by Steve Lorente, an audio consultant from Lorente Productions hired by the district. Lorente told the board that the changes to the sound system, which includes directional narrow dispersion speakers and the use of a digital control device to limit the volume, should limit stadium’s system to within three decibels of ambient sound levels that currently exist.

Setterlund also rehashed, among other things, the school’s parking and traffic management plan, telling the board that the school has a total of 1,900 spaces available for games and that overflow parking is also available next door at Bret Harte Middle School. Setterlund added that the school will hire four to six police officers to help handle traffic and parking before and after each game, provide pedestrian safety, as well as provide security inside the stadium.

As for limits, SJUSD Director of School Construction Ty Williams said each school will be limited to a maximum of 10 events per school year, as well as 10 practices per year, another item rehashed at previous community meetings. Williams added that any school violating the limits will be docked one night event as punishment.

All told, Setterlund said he welcomed the opportunity to present his school’s case for permanent lights before the board.

“I thought it was an excellent meeting,” said Setterlund. “Everyone had the chance to express their feelings. I hope that the board will vote yes to installing the lights at Leland High School. We look forward to working with the community to make this a positive experience for everyone.”

Pioneer had its chance to present a case as well, and like her counterpart at Leland, Pioneer Principal Sandra Engel cited school pride and school spirit, as well as a positive image for the community and school, as positive aspects for having permanent stadium lights. Engel also cited an increase in attendance as a positive aspect, noting that previous night games in which the school used temporary lighting were “well attended and without incident.”

Engel also rehashed parking procedures for night events, noting that the school will have additional on-site parking completed in the near future by the school’s new baseball field, and that the school is renewing agreements with nearby businesses for the use of overflow parking lots. Engel added that the school is committed to adding additional lighting at on-site parking lots to increase pedestrian safety and that parking procedures will be sent to visiting schools prior to the start of a night event, in order to help avoid parking and traffic headaches.

“With respect to Pioneer I thought (the meeting) was very positive,” Pioneer Athletic Director and head football coach Mark Krail told the Times. “There was very little, if any, resistance to the idea. The board did a phenomenal job hiring the right people to lend their expertise to sound, light and traffic. I think they’ve covered all of the real concerns the public might have. We’re eagerly awaiting the vote on the 24th (of May) and hope that next fall we’ll be playing under the lights.”

Following each school’s presentation, the board took the opportunity to hear from the public. A handful of Pioneer parents, students and coaches—including Krail—reiterated the positive aspects of having permanent stadium lights at the school. Likewise, a handful of Leland parents and students also spoke of positive aspects, with Leland parent Brad Mortensen telling the board that it is “an absolute requirement of the community to support our children.”

A bit of skepticism was also heard from one local resident in Bill Bernard, who lives near Leland. Bernard told the board he’s concerned that the “mitigation language is soft” and said Leland has “a history of vacuous assurances.”

The next SJUSD Board of Education meeting is scheduled for May 24 at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room at the District Office, located at 855 Lenzen Avenue, San Jose.

Leland lands eight girls in CCS meet; Pioneer relays shine in finals

Chargers capture Santa Teresa crown while the Mustangs send nine to CCS meet

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Leland burned up the field at the Santa Teresa Division finals on May 1 and held fast at the Blossom Valley Athletic League meet on May 10 that decided which track athletes would advance to the Central Coast Section semifinal meet on May 18 at San Jose City College.

The lady Chargers, in fact, capped an undefeated jaunt through the Santa Teresa Division, taking first place at Lincoln.

Leland's Dana Mckenzie clears 5' 4" in the girls’ high jump event during the Blossom Valley Athletic League track finals at Mount Pleasant High School on May 10. Photos by Dan Miranda

“We went into the finals and did exactly what we wanted to do,” said Leland head coach Jerry Rose. “We have quite a few kids that will run at CCS. We didn’t lose too many at the league finals.”

Of the qualifiers, sophomore Stephanie Barnett—the reigning Central Coast Section Division II Cross Country Champion—and freshman sibling Claudia Barnett are perhaps the most lauded. The Barnetts each made the cut in both the 1- and 2-mile events.

The elder Barnett became Leland’s only individual champion at the comprehensive Blossom Valley finals at Mount Pleasant on May 10 by winning the 2-mile event.

Meanwhile, Leland’s 4x100-meter relay will appear at CCS as well. Katie Nelms, Lauren Chin, Kikita Fkiaras and Lauren Drygas make up the team.

The Chargers’ mile relay team also qualified. Members of the group include Drygas, Nelms, Fkiaras, and Elizabeth Yee.

Fkiaras will also appear at CCS in the 100- and 300-meter high and intermediate hurdle events.

Nelms made it in the quarter-mile and will face her teammate in the 300 hurdles.

“Katie was second place in the 300 hurdles at the BVAL finals, so we’ll see,’” said Rose.

Chin and Dana McKenzie will represent the Chargers in the field this weekend, jumping in the long and high jump events, respectively.

McKenzie carries extra incentive into the event. In the past two years, the senior has missed attending the state meet by a mere inch, sailing in at just under 5-feet-4-inches at the section finals.

“She has a really good shot at making it this year,” said Rose. “She is jumping her best jumps right now. She is hitting her heights.”

At the league meet, McKenzie actually cleared the 5-feet-4-inches, which eluded her last year.

In Leland boys’ action, the story is next season, said Rose.

“No boys qualified this year,” said Rose. “We lost all of our guys from last year, but the kids got a lot of valuable experience racing on varsity all season. They will be good in years to come.”

Pioneer sends nine to CCS
A revitalized Pioneer boys’ relay lineup ambushed the field of top sprinters at the Blossom Valley Athletic League track finals on May 10 at Mount Pleasant High, capturing wins in both the 4x100 and mile relay events.

While the groups competed without fanfare throughout the year, the final meet was Pioneer’s crowning moment.

“We jut rolled through the Mount Hamilton meet and at the BVAL finals,” said Pioneer head track Coach Aaron Hansen. “We had a lot of injuries early on and this is just the first time that we have had everybody healthy.”

Hansen said opposing coaches were highly complimentary of the team’s efforts and the members, including seniors Drew McReynolds and Stephen Lopes, along with juniors Marquee Heffner and Dan Perez, covering the 4x100.

Meanwhile, sophomore Samuel Villegas joins the group for the mile relay.

“As of right now, the 4x100 team holds the third best time in the section,” said Hansen. “But that is with weak handoffs. There is room for improvement.”

Hansen said the relay teams came together after he tested different combinations of runners but also had to exercise some patience, as injuries ravaged the team. McReynolds overcame an injured back, Lopes returned from a month-long cold, and Heffner returned from an injured knee.

As a result, both Mustang relays qualified for the CCS semifinals and are optimistic with regards to their chances.

“It was great to have the other coaches congratulate us, but we all knew that we were just healthy for the first time,” said Hansen.

McReynolds, who Hansen described as “driven,” will also compete in the 300-meter hurdle event at CCS.

Leland's Lauren Chin sails in the girls’ long jump event during the Blossom Valley Athletic League track finals at Mount Pleasant High School on May 10.

“He is ranked No. 3 in CCS,” said Hansen. “Drew won’t back down. If there is a challenge, he is going to run and step up.”

Heffner became the Mount Hamilton Division champion in the 100-meter and will appear at CCS also. He logged a time of 0:11.03, and Hansen said that he should improve on that this weekend at the CCS Semifinals.

Lopes also qualified in the 200-meter event and enters the CCS meet with the eighth best time in the section.

“His biggest strength has been his inspiration,” said Hansen. “He’s a captain everywhere he goes.”

In field events, strongman Jason Wetzel became the Mount Hamilton and Blossom Valley champion in discus last week.

“He has won every competition he has been in this year,” said Hansen.

Promising sophomore Makepa Fojas also qualified for CCS in the discus event.

Just two Pioneer girls competed steadily at the league final meets, but senior Toni Sarge and freshman Kira Rienecker represented the Mustangs honorably.

Sarge, ranked amongst the section’s top 10 runners, finished third in the 800-meter event and fourth in the mile at the BVAL meet, after winning the events outright in the Mount Hamilton Division.

“Toni is the most athletic distance runner in the area,” said Hansen. “If she were to train year round like other runners, she would be superior.”

Sarge also plays soccer for Pioneer and for a club program as well.

Rienecker, meanwhile, will appear at CCS in two events, the quarter-mile and 300-meter intermediate hurdles.

“Between Kira and Toni, the team placed fifth overall,” said Hansen. “It’s the best league in the whole Central Coast Section and the team placed fifth overall with just two girls.”

Sports Briefs

CV Strikers Boys U14  Soccer Tryouts Class III  
Join the Division A Central Santa Clara Valley Strikers! Players of all skill levels are welcome to join the fun, but must be born between Aug 1, 1993 and July 31, 1995. For questions and/or additional information, call Coach Omar Alvarado at 408-242-3835, or go to www.cvstrikers.org. 

Bay Area Starters Softball Program
Competitive "A" Ball Program has a few openings for 15U/16U 2007 Summer Roster.  Season begins May 15th upon the completion of High School Ball. Bay Area Starters' goal is to provided Talented, Committed, Hard Working Student/Athletes further opportunities to better their Softball Skills through training and aggressive work-outs, while introducing Age-Appropriate High School Athletes to the College Environment and Scouting Events. For more information, visit our website www.BayAreaStarters. com or e-mail BayAreaStarters@aol.com.

Youth Compete in San José Track Meet to Qualify for Statewide Competition
Evergreen Valley High School will host the City-Wide Youth Track Meet on Sunday, May 20. Registration is from 8 - 9:30 a.m. followed by the Track Meet from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. This event is open to boys and girls ages 9 - 14 years old, born between the years of 1993 – 1998. There is no entry fee.

Events include: 50 Meter, 100 Meter, 200 Meter 400 Meter, 800 Meter, 4 x10 Relay Race, Standing Long Jump and a Softball Throw. The top two winners will be eligible to compete in the Hershey Nor-Cal State Track Meet on Saturday, June 16, 2007 at San José City College.

This event is sponsored by the City of San José Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department and the San José Police Amateur Athletic Foundation. For more information, please call City-Wide Sports at (408) 871-3826 or Judi Baxter, City-Wide Youth Track Meet Director at (707) 546-3986.

Sports Briefs: Sports Briefs listings are subject to the following fee structure: $25 per month, per publication for the Evergreen and Almaden Times; $10 per month, per publication for the monthly newspapers. Indicate publication placement at the time the listing/payment is submitted. Sports Briefs accepts checks – payable to Times Media, Inc – VISA or MC. To charge your payments call Sonia Pineda at 494-7000 x205. Be sure to reference your team/organization with your payment. Listings appear once payments are received. TMI sponsored events and full-proceed charity fundraisers exempted. Email, fax or mail listing text to: candy@timesmediainc.com 1310 Tully Road, Suite 107, San Jose, CA 95122. 408-494-7078 (fax) Limit 200 words. Questions? Call 494-7000 x225.

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