SPORTS

S.J. International Triathlon returns to Almaden Lake next weekend

Professional triathletes compete in world-famous event

By Sheila Sanchez
Staff Writer

Wearing a Quintana Roo black wetsuit and an identifying swim cap for his age division, 64-year-old Ed Grant will brave the cool waters of Almaden Lake to compete in the 15th annual San Jose International Triathlon slated for June 12-13.

The retired Santa Teresa High School teacher expects to finish the 1.25-kilometer Sunday swim in 26 minutes, the 40-kilometer bike ride in 1:13 hours, and the 10-kilometer (6.2 miles) run in 56 minutes. That would earn him a top fifth place in his age category. He’ll be competing with the likes of Robert Plant, who was third in the world triathlon championships held in Belgium last month.

The Almaden native cross trains every day by either running,

swimming or cycling to participate in the event. After completing more than 170 different races in his athletic career, the father of two admits the Almaden event is one of his favorites, attracting him almost every year since it’s inception in the mid 1980s.

“I did it when it first opened. I think I missed it one year when I was on vacation and one year when I was injured. It’s outstanding,” he said, praising the Meadow Vista-based J&A Productions for putting together what he calls one of the best-organized triathlons in the country. “We have a wonderful time after the race with awesome food, entertainment, activities and booths. It’s like a festival. The triathlon is probably the friendliest competitive environment I’ve ever seen. There’s 100 percent support for one another from start to finish. It makes it really enjoyable. You can’t lose.”

Leading the pack of tri-athletes will be 40-year-old Cupertino resident Pete Kain, head coach of Kain Performance Multi-Sport, based out of the Almaden Valley Athletic Club (AVAC). “I’ve been doing this since 1984,” said Kain. “I like (the race) because it’s flat and fast. My best overall performance earned me a second place in my age category and I came in fourth place last year. This year, his colleagues say he should be a favorite to win the event in his division.

For several years now, the event features the San Jose Mountain Bike Sprint Triathlon. This year, about 400 athletes will participate in the Saturday event beginning at 8 a.m., with a 500-yard swim, a 10-mile mountain bike ride and a 3.1-mile run. The bike course goes south along the Almaden Lake trail to Camden Avenue and follows the Los Alamitos Creek to McKean Road and then turns around returning to Almaden Lake.

The Sunday event will attract about 1,500 athletes who will swim, bike and run beginning at 7 a.m. The bike course will go up Santa Teresa Boulevard, proceeding east across Bernal Avenue, then going west on Bailey Avenue where athletes will have to climb Baily hill, then proceeding north to McKean Road, Harry Road, Camden Avenue, Redmond Avenue and then Almaden Expressway. The Sunday event will impact traffic.
The 10-k run for the Sunday event will be along the Los Alamitos Creek Trail.

By adding the off-road triathlon, event coordinator and owner Andy Robles said he’s turned the San Jose International Triathlon weekend into a two-day celebration of sport. The smaller distances, extra mud and off-road terrain, make this event extra appealing to first timers and experienced tri-athletes alike.

“It’s one of the classic triathlons in the world,” Robles said. “People vie for space to get in this event, which comes to our Almaden area.”

Robles, who has participated in three Ironmen competitions and about 100 triathlons, said many professional tri-athletes such as Holly Nybo, Mark Lees and Brian Lavelle will compete in the event. “The triathlon will bring between $1.4 and $2 million in revenues for the city of San Jose. The name of the event, itself, is very prestigious to be associated with the city.”

Kain agrees: “It’s a great local event.” Kain’s team of about 40 athletes will also participate in the event. This weekend, Kain, however, will be busy competing in the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon in San Francisco. “That’s the one I’m thinking about right now. I’ll think about San Jose when Alcatraz is over.”

Kain is married to Shari Kain, a professional cyclist for the past 15 years. She was an alternate on the 2000 Olympic Mountain Bike Team. Together they have a daughter and are expecting their second child.

“I try to promote a healthy lifestyle through cross training, which is triathlon. If you’re limited by an injury, you can still swim and bike. Tri-athletes, in general, are the best conditioned athletes as long as they’re eating a proper diet and resting,” Kain said.

Kain has been actively involved in the sport of triathlon for 20 years, as an athlete and coach. He is a three-time World Age Group Triathlon Champion and a six-time National Age Group Champion. In 2002, he was named the USA Triathlon Overall Open Male, “Triathlete of the Year.” He was Overall Masters National Triathlon Champion in 2003. He has participated in more than 160 multi-sport races and has won more than 30 of them.

The event is sold out, but for more information about the race, contact J&A Productions, P.O. Box 1269, Meadow Vista, Calif., 95722, call (530) 878-0412, or visit www.japroductions.com. You can also call the race hotline at 866-300-RACE.

Officials break ground for new athletic fields at Leland

By Miranda Schultz
Sports Editor

Everyone at Leland High School is excited about the planned field and track renovations, which are now underway. Kitchell Construction, Beals Landscape Architecture, Interstate Paving and Grading and Leland staff gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking ceremony May 28. This construction is phase 1 of the Measure F bond, approved by San Jose voters in 2002.

"I am very excited. This school is over 30 years old and we've made upgrades throughout the years and Leland has remained a premier site as far as facilities go," says Athletic Director Chris Hanson. "This helps our athletes and our facilities, when people drive on Via Valiente, they're going to be proud to have this in their community."

Measure F is a $429 million dollar bond to provide SJUSD with funds to provide additional improvements, not affordable under the Measure C bond passed in 1997. Measure C was a $165 million dollar bond, mainly for building improvements.

The Measure F Modernization program includes some building reconstruction and a complete renovation of sports fields at all high school sites in the district. The schools will receive all-weather synthetic football/soccer fields and tracks, and new stadiums.

The construction will last throughout the summer and is scheduled to be completed by Oct. 15.
"Pioneer High School is two weeks ahead of schedule right now, so we're hoping for something like that. We would love to have our homecoming game here, as of right now, it is scheduled elsewhere, but it would be nice to have it here," says Hanson.

The new fields will not only benefit the student athletes at Leland, but will also benefit the community. "Other athletic teams within the community will be able to use our fields now, without any worry about tearing up the field, or injuring themselves because of the condition of the field. Having this synthetic surface is going to be a night and day difference. I can't wait for them to be finished," says Hanson.

CCS medalists head for Sacramento
Pioneer’s Lopes, Gomez join Valley Christian’s Wing in State showdown

By Karl Laucher
Staff Writer

To partake in a test of athleticism and mettle is a great adventure. Having earned high grades at the Central Coast Section Championships, Sean Lopes and Rolando Gomez of Pioneer High School and Evelyn Wing of Valley Christian High will take their place among a select group of decorated high school track and field athletes in California Interscholastic Federation State Championships Friday (June 4) and Saturday.

Although they earned berths near the peak of the podium in the CCS Finals at San Jose City College on Friday, the trio will be hard pressed to produce a capitol effort at Sacramento City College where ambition is sure to run amuck.

Lopes, a senior not subjected to running in a crowd during the Blossom Valley Athletic League season, valiantly battled the peer factor in gaining a second-place tie in the CCS Final at 800 meters. It was a disappointment for him, having been overtaken in the stretch, but he still was within just a long meter or so from where he wanted to be.

Gomez and Wing, of Almaden Valley, both juniors, finished well behind the CCS winner with bronze-medal efforts in the discus and the 1600-meter run, respectively, but both appear to be well-situated for 2005, if not the 2004 state championships.

The intrepid threesome will join about 1,000 other inspired representatives from the CIF’s 10 sections for two days of intense action. The heats will be held on Friday with the state finals set for Saturday.

Wing is an experienced state-level competitor having qualified twice as a cross-country runner and last year on the track as a 1600-meter entry. Add her adventures as a member of the Heritage Track Club which include participation in national junior indoor competitions in New York and Idaho, and you have a moxie runner with still another year of high school remaining.

Valley Christian Coach Greg Marshall sees Wing as a consistent performer and a solid candidate for a podium finish, with a nod to Saratoga High star Alicia Follmar, the CCS champion, in the State Meet. “If Evelyn runs as fast as she’s capable of, it’s anybody’s race.” he said.

“I’m really excited; I want to bring it up big,” said the 5-foot-9-inch, 129-pound Wing, who competed in the 2003 state meet after placing fourth in the CCS. Only the top finishers in each of the sections are guaranteed state berths with some additional openings for those who can better qualifying times or marks. Her time at CCS last year: 4:59; at CCS this time: 4:56.24; her goal for this weekend: 4:53.

Not to differentiate his athletes from others who earned state meet assignments, but maybe as an example to some those who came up short, Pioneer Coach Mark Krail points out that Lopes and Gomez earned their championship-meet invitations the old fashion way. “If one there is one thing I can say about both of these guys, out of a team of about 70 athletes, nobody worked harder than these guys,” Krail said. “They both have some talent, obviously, but they both strived to improve on what they had.

“This (state meet qualification) is a testament to their hard work. It makes you feel good to have athletes who work so hard realize their goals.”

Lopes obviously was working hard in the CCS 800-meter run, setting the pace most of the race and then coming off the final turn with a cast of characters in close proximity. The battle down long-straightaway appears not to have to his liking as Francis Gadayan of Riordan edged into the lead, and Dylan Fitzpatrick of Carmel High pulled alongside Lopes at the final stripe. Krail noted that Lopes prefers to be the runner in the hole coming off the final turn, but got caught in as the guy with the target on his back. Lopes’ time of 1:55.42 was more than a second off of his personal best.

Gomez, an all-BVAL lineman for the Pioneer football team in the fall, had impressive family support when he ripped off a personal record of 165-0 for his ticket to the state meet. Among those watching, besides his mother and sister, were several uncles including Rudy Montenegro, the co-coach of the Leland High track team, who takes credit, along with his brother, Jesse, for talking the then-awkward Rolando into going out for the Pioneer track team two years ago/.

Leland’s Alex Ramon outstanding senior season closed with an 11th place finish in the 32000-meter run. He was far off the competitive pace in a high-velocity event that placed six runners in the state meet based on time alone. Nevertheless, Ramon, the BVAL 3200 meter champion, posted Leland’s fourth-best ever 3200 meter clocking at 9:30.92 in the CCS Final. “I’ll take it,” Ramon said. He will run both cross country and track for Occidental College beginning in the fall.

Pioneer’s Steven DeLay, the BVAL 1600-meter champion, apparently peaked too soon, placing 11th in the CCS with a time of 4:38.99. Had he run his best time of 4:22.50, run earlier in the season, he would have placed five places higher. DeLay, however, is just a junior with another year to plan an assault on the CCS hierarchy.

Almaden Valley’s three-pronged contribution to the state championships, meanwhile, will be charged with some serious number crunching this weekend. Wing’s best time would place her ninth in the state at 1600 meters before last weekend’s results were in from the nine other CIF sections. Lopes has the ninth-best time among 800-meter entries. And Gomez is not ranked among the top 17 State discus entries.

Still, there are about 5,000 other CCS track and field athletes who can only dream about going to the state meet.

Leland’s Senior Awards Night shines the light on outstanding athletes

By Miranda Schultz
Sports Editor

Many of Leland’s seniors received honors for their athletic endeavors at their Senior Awards Banquet last Friday evening. “This special night is a way to honor all of the seniors,” says Athletic Director Chris Hanson. “We used to give these awards during graduation, but we have so many outstanding students and student-athletes that it began to take too long!”

The awards pertaining to athletes were the Gordon Leland Award, The Raymond Leland Award and the newly founded Pat Tillman Award. “The Booster Club came up with the Pat Tillman Award this year to honor the memory of Pat. He was such an outstanding person, and athlete here at Leland. All of the coaching staff is very proud to have this award given,” says Hanson.

The Pat Tillman Award is given in honor of Pat Tillman, a former Leland standout who was killed in Afghanistan in April. This award is given to a student-athlete who has demonstrated athletic and academic achievement, leadership (on and off the field) and overall contributions to the school and community. Also, to someone who has exemplified integrity, fairness, character, respect and good citizenship during their career at Leland.

The first recipient of the Pat Tillman Award is Mike Day, a two-year letterman in football and baseball. He has demonstrated his athletic ability by setting the school record for single season rushing yards with 2,034 and doing so was the leading rusher in CCS. He was named First Team All-League as a junior and the League MVP as a senior. Day has maintained a 3.7 GPA and in the true spirit of Pat Tillman, has relied on his determination and work ethic to get him to the next level. He will be playing football at West Valley College in the fall.

The Gordon Leland Award is given to the most outstanding single sport male and female athlete. Criteria for this award are superior athletic achievement, sportsmanship, academic achievement, and leadership.

The female recipient is Briana Scala, who has been a four-year starter for the volleyball team. Throughout her four years, she earned BVAL Freshman of the Year, Sophomore of the Year, Junior of the Year and MVP of the Mt. Hamilton division. Also being selected to First Team All-League her past three years. Scala earned honorable mention in CCS as a junior and as a senior earned Second Team honors in CCS. She has maintained a 3.1 GPA and will attend Sonoma State University in the fall.

The male recipient for the Gordon Leland Award is Alex Ramon. He is a four-year letterman in Cross Country, and has qualified for CCS all four years. As a senior, he finished sixth in CCS and 37th in the state. He was the undefeated champion in the mile and 2-mile events in track, where he qualified for CCS. He has maintained a 3.4 GPA and will run for Occidental College in the fall.

The Raymond Leland Award is given to the best all around male and female athletes. Criteria includes athletic achievement in more than one sport, sportsmanship, leadership and academic achievement.

The female recipient: Liz Perez. She has been a varsity letterman in three sports: Field hockey, soccer and softball. As a sophomore and junior, she earned Second Team All-League honors in soccer and softball, as well as the Best Defensive Player Award on both of those teams. As a senior she helped lead her soccer team to a CCS Division 1 championship, and was a major force in her softball team’s success this season. Perez has maintained a 3.1 GPA and will play softball at West Valley College in the fall.

The male recipient for this award is Zac Monsees, a four-year letterman in swimming and water polo. He has been the BVAL Mt. Hamilton division MVP in water polo the past three years, and has been All CCS for the past four years. Monsees has received the team MVP the past three years, setting the school record for single-season scoring with 174 goals this year. In swimming, he is a six-time CCS champion, holds two school records and has been the team MVP for four years. Zac has been recognized as a high school All American in both sports. He has maintained a 3.5 GPA and will play water polo at UC Berkeley in the fall.

Broncos play second fiddle to Pebble Beach in lacrosse finals, avoid bad taste with gritty performance

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

With the culmination of Bret Harte Middle School’s very first appearance in the boys lacrosse division Final Four, two things have become crystal clear: the 2004 Broncos B-team has heart and talent but the Tribe of Pebble Beach is the best team in the league.

Last weekend, May 29-30, Danville’s Osage Park hosted the middle school lacrosse Final Four with two games on Saturday to determine the participants for the championship and third place games to take place on Sunday. After finishing the regular season with a perfect 14-0 record the Broncos faced what became the fourth place team from Berkeley Middle School on Saturday, winning by a score of 12-2. The game set up a Sunday afternoon battle of unbeatens, pitting the Pebble Beach team, which overcame a rugged squad from Dublin, the Diablo Stingers, in the semi’s, versus the undefeated Broncos.

However, throughout the championship game, the tide turned toward Pebble Beach, who ultimately downed Bret Harte 13-3.

Versus Diablo in the semis Bronco, Leo Grill (attacker) was awarded the game ball for his goal scoring and assists. Kellan Barker also played a vital role holding a dominant post on defense, while Andrew Fabian controlled the offensive tempo as the top midfielder.

But Pebble Beach’s Logan Allen proved to be the most dominant player in the tournament with his performance in the championship game. Allen exposed Bret Harte, who had no answer to his slashing moves and, overall, dominant play.

“Tribe is the best team and showed us on Sunday,” said Bret Harte Coach Larry Adams. “But we finished second in a league of 24 and proved it all year long and in the playoffs. We dominated almost every game we played and fell just one victory short of a perfect season.”

Despite the Pebble Beach onslaught, several Bronco reserves shone. Fifth attacker Ryan Rickard scored a goal along with Dong Yoon, who recorded his first of the season. Two C-teamers were also called upon, with sixth grader Reuben Maciel filling in on defense after starter Sean Kagen hurt his knee. Fellow sixth grader Chris Hirano also scored.

“[I am] very proud of these boys as they accomplished more than any team in Bret Harte’s young history,” said Coach Adams. “They posted a 15-1 record, second place in a 24-team league, and led the league in total scoring. If those statistics don’t make a coach happy then that coach has lost his mind.”

With eighth grade promotion right around the corner, the 2004 Bronco B-team will be dismantled in hurry. However, the seventh graders will attend a summer lacrosse camp held at Stanford University, where they’ll develop new skills and camaraderie, while the sixth graders will remain, in the words of Coach Adams, “hungry for more lacrosse.”

For more information regarding Bret Harte Lacrosse call (408) 535-6270.

SPORTS BRIEFS

Leland High School’s Stanford-bound first baseman Darren Gemoll has been selected as a 2004 High School All-American. He is one of 35 players selected to the team and will play in the All-American Baseball game on June 7 in Albuquerque, N.M. Perfect Game USA, a scouting service for Baseball America, served as the official selection partner and recommended Gemoll and 34 other players out of hundreds of possible candidates. Regarded as the National High School All-Star Game, the 2004 All-American Game will be televised nationally on Fox Sports Net on June 7 at 7 p.m. Last year’s game included six players selected in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft.

The Leland volleyball team had four players named to BVAL Mt. Hamilton division First and Second teams. First team went to senior Noah Hall and junior Sam Lee while senior Jeff Kwok and junior Tommy Phan received second team honors.

Monsees siblings hold their own among world record holders at Santa Clara International Meet

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

The city of San Jose acted as humble host to hundreds of world-class athletes last week, when the Santa Clara Swim Club held its annual Santa Clara XXXVII International Meet. And in what has become known as the year of the Monsees to first Leland High School faithful and now the international swimming community, the sibling troupe of Zac and Courtney Monsees, as they say, came to play.

The Santa Clara XXXVII meet is one of four Grand Prix events in 2004 hosting international competition, closely coordinated with the Olympic trials.

Amidst the stiff competition of at least five past world record holders, several Olympic hopefuls, and numerous college champions and CCS contenders, the Monsees displayed performances demanding attention on the international swimming circuit.

“I’ve had two of the most exciting weekends in my swimming career,” said proud dad Mike Monsees, of his kids’ performances at first the CCS meet May 13 and then the international meet. And Mike has seen his share of exciting days by the pool, coaching the Leland boys and himself playing water polo at San Jose State University. “It’s where they train everyday, swimming seven miles everyday. It was absolutely incredible.”

Freshman Courtney, who has already qualified for the 2004 Olympic trials, scheduled to take place in Long Beach throughout July, finished 14th in a field of 101, bettering her qualifying time in the 200-yard Individual Medley with a 2:22.04 mark. Big brother Zac, a senior at Leland, also bettered his personal best in the 200-yard Individual Medley, finishing 13th in a field of 68 with a 2:08.17 mark. The time qualified Zac for Olympic trials, a big first for the six-time CCS Champion, who will play water polo and swim at U.C. Berkeley in the fall.

“It was surprising,” said Courtney, who stated her next goal, declaring the 2008 Olympics her most probable time to shine. “I didn’t expect to improve my trial’s time, but it felt good.”

“[Qualifying for Olympic trials] was a nice achievement, but it’s really just another brick in the road,” stated a practical Zac.

Just high schoolers, the Monsees are long shots for qualifying for the 2004 Olympic squad. However, already making strides in international meets such as the Santa Clara XXXVII, poses real promise for their chances in 2008.

“I don’t know quite where I stand just yet, but I definitely want to go in 2008,” finished Zac.

Added Courtney: “Until then we’ll just continue training hard.”

And graduate from high school.

Chargers turn around softball program in one season, five receive All-League honors

By Miranda Schultz
Sports Editor

The Leland softball team ended its season in a 3-1 loss to Carlmont High School in the semifinals of CCS on May 28. Although there’s always disappointment attached to a loss, Head Coach Joe Gron is proud of the team’s efforts. “We’re all a little disappointed because we lost, but I’m very proud of the way they played all year long. I’m proud of the season we’ve had, they gave me that 100 percent effort that I have asked of them throughout the season.”

The girls ended the season with 22 wins and only seven losses, which is impressive considering that in the past three years, the combined wins for the softball team has equaled 29.

“I didn’t know what to expect when I came in this season,” says Gron of his first year at Leland. “I knew we had talent in the program and it was just a matter of putting it all together.”

Gron also says that he wasn’t surprised with the success of the season. “I saw them working hard months before the season even began. They really did well preparing themselves for the season,” he says.

The Chargers had five players receive All-League honors. Shortstop Christina Saenz received Sophomore of the Year for the BVAL Mt. Hamilton division. “Saenz has been absolutely wonderful, she’s been a major force for us in each and every game. Good things do come in small packages,” says Gron of her small stature. “I’m more proud of her for working hard to become better for us defensively. She moved from the outfield to the infield this year and has really improved due to her hard work.” Saenz hit .392 on the season with 42 hits. Saenz was also named to the First Team All League.

Pitcher Kelly Harrison was named to First Team All League. She pitched 167 innings and racked up 18 wins and 5 losses. “She came up for us in the beginning of the year as a leader and never relinquished that position. She was our workhorse and did outstanding,” says Gron. Harrison will play at St. Mary’s University in the fall.

Centerfielder Liz Perez was also named to First Team. The speedy slap hitter scored 24 runs and had an average of .336. “She was solid defensively also, she made one error all year and just had a great all-around season,” says Gron. Perez will be playing at West Valley College in the fall along with fellow teammate and Second Team All Leaguer Ashley O’Brien.

“O’Brien has been one of those stories of the year in my book. She suffered a torn labrum last summer and opted to go through physical therapy instead of surgery so she could play her final high school season. She played hurt for half of the year and not too many people knew how much pain she was in. She didn’t show a lot of emotion when it came to her injury,” says Gron.

“She worked hard and halfway through the season her shoulder started getting stronger. She caught every inning for us and even suffered a mild concussion during one game. She had a tough season and was the emotional leader on our team; she knew when to get the girls together on and off the field.

Jamie Vranich was also named to the Second Team and led the Chargers with a batting average of .411. According to Gron, she’s been the offensive stud all season, driving in 24 RBI. “There have been so many situations where she’s come through big throughout this season. She was 4-4 in our first playoff game and drove in the only run in our final game against Carlmont.” Vranich will attend the University of Arizona in the fall.

According to Gron, the turning point for the season was their first league game, when they lost 5-0 to Oak Grove High School. “After that game, we talked for 45 minutes before our next practice. We discussed our intensity level and everyone was very open. We were 5-2 at that point and won 10 straight after.”

“I’m looking forward to next season. We will have Saenz returning and our third baseman Ashley Adams and also some new girls that will step in and do well for us. I think the girls really turned things around in the program this year and hopefully we’ll stay strong for a while,” says Gron.

Chargers baseball leaves their season in CCS semifinals, again
Seven receive All League honors

By Miranda Schultz
Sports Editor

The Leland baseball team suffered a season ending loss to Wilcox High School in CCS semifinals, for the third year in a row. Head coach Scott Gillis says that there is a silver lining to the story. One being that each team that knocked them out each year went on to win CCS, and the second being that each team had an Olympic caliber pitcher.

One lefty pitcher, Chuck Lofgren, pitched against them two years ago, is now a member of the USA Junior Olympic team.

“I guess it’s a good thing that Olympic caliber kids have to throw one of their better games in order to beat us,” says Gillis. “If there’s a silver lining somewhere, it’s that we lost to teams of this caliber each year.”

Gillis is not surprised to have seven players receive All League honors, “It’s nice because other coaches are basically telling you that your kids have done well. It doesn’t surprise me that we have a lot, but it certainly is a great honor,” he says.

Adam Lara received MVP of the BVAL Mt. Hamilton division. “Lara’s offense has been incredibly consistent this season. He was an absolute go-to guy that continued to produce throughout the season,” says Gillis. Lara ended the season with a batting average of .443, and is looking to play at one of the local junior colleges.

Darren Gemoll received Senior of the Year and according to Gillis, it is typical of Gemoll to be consistent. “Everyone in the league knew how good he was before the season started and wanted to pitch around him. He had 13 walks, he was very patient all season.” He will be playing baseball at Stanford in the fall. Gemoll ended the season with a batting average of .405.

Steve Akerson was named as Junior of the year and Gillis says, “He was the unanimous decision for this award, he did fantastic all year.”

Kyle Woodruff, Anthony Trovato and Jason Gustavson were all named to the First Team All League. “Woodruff and Trovato are completely opposite pitchers. One is 5’7” and the other is 6’1”. One is a power pitcher and one is a finesse pitcher. They are both equally effective,” says Gillis. Woodruff ended the season with a record of 10-2 while Trovato was 10-1.

Senior shortstop Sean Connors was a Second Team All League pick. The outfielder converted to a shortstop earlier in the season. “He was playing a brand new position, and for him to be playing a new position and to make Second Team, that’s a great accomplishment,” says Gillis. Connors has been invited to play as a walk-on for the University of Arizona in Tucson.

“We ended the season with several starters that are juniors,” says Gillis. “It’s exciting to know that we have a good nucleus coming back next year. I kind of can’t wait.”

“If someone would have told me at the beginning of the season that we would be in the CCS semifinals, I wouldn’t have believed them.” Gillis lost six players to graduation last year and said, “It just didn’t fit the formula. I’d love to be wrong like that every year!”

Pioneer baseball team looks ahead to next season as five receive All-League honors

By Miranda Schultz
Sports Editor

The Pioneer baseball team finished tied for second in the BVAL Santa Teresa division with a league record of 11-7 and an overall record of 16-10. The Mustangs missed CCS playoffs by one hit, according to head coach Jake Hernandez, but are excited to have five players receive All-League honors.

Pitcher Steve Miller received the league’s Senior of the Year award. Hernandez says that he deserves it. “I know that he worked really hard in the off season. His dedication to pitching really paid off.” He will be playing at San Jose City College in the fall.

Making First Team All League were juniors Andrew Schulz and Steve Matos. “Schulz made a position change this year, from infield to catcher and will be going back to middle infield next season. He made a sacrifice for the team and it is a great accomplishment for him to make First Team. He has been our most consistent hitter with many clutch hits,” says Hernandez.

Matos received the team’s Offensive Player of the Year award, and had an average of .365. “The thing about Matos is that he struggled a little bit in the beginning, but made an adjustment in his swing and ended the season as our hottest hitter,” says Hernandez.

Senior Andy Evert and Sophomore Shaun Souza made Second Team All League. “Evert has been our energetic leader and is consistent in all aspects of the game,” says Hernandez. “His energy will be missed.” Evert will be playing at West Valley College next year.

Souza, a sophomore, was one of Pioneer’s top hitters, according to Hernandez. “He made a position change as well, from infield to left field and he did great for us there.”

Despite missing CCS play, Hernandez considers this to be one of the best seasons in years. With six juniors and one sophomore in the starting lineup this year, Hernandez is definitely looking forward to next year.
“I’m looking forward to having these players next year, now they’ll have more experience and know what to expect.”

Senior Kevin Odom received the team Defensive Player of the Year Award and will play at San Jose City College in the fall. Robby Haakma is undecided but has the opportunity to play at the junior college level and Michael Grady will by trying out at West Valley College this fall.