June 21, 2007

SPORTS

Almaden vs. Almaden for District 12 TOC Final

Almaden Little League’s Braves and Marlins reach TOC Finals with close wins

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

Almaden Little League is assured of getting the District 12 Tournament of Champions crown one way or another after both the Braves, winners of the Majors North Division, and the Marlins, winners of the Majors South Division, reach the TOC Finals with close wins on June 20.

Braves starting pitcher Kyle Marquez fires a pitch during play at the District 12 Tournament of Champions. Photos by Diego Abeloos

A final score of the TOC Final, which took place on June 20, was not available at press time.

Marlins manager Dave Painter, whose team reached the finals with a close 6-4 win over Lincoln Glen on June 19, said he’s looking forward to facing a familiar league rival in the finals.

“I was hoping we’d be able to meet them,” Painter said of the Braves, who defeated the Marlins twice during the regular season. “I think they had a little easier division than us, but the Braves have been great all year. They’re undefeated so they have a very good team.”

Braves manager Brad Rocca on the other hand, said he’s concerned the match-up against the Marlins in the finals will create some bad feelings among neighbors and friends in Almaden.

“Personally, I don’t like it. I think we should just be co-champions and be done with it,” said Rocca, whose team remained undefeated at 24-0 with a 3-2 win over the Willow Glen Red Sox. “I don’t think the Los Gatos teams should play each other and I don’t think the Almaden teams should play each other. I don’t relish it; I really don’t like it, to be perfectly honest, because it’s turning the entire Almaden Valley into a civil war, blue against gray. I see the animosity and bitterness amongst a whole bunch of people.”

Three-run fifth helps Braves reach TOC Final
After getting through the first two rounds of the tournament with a pair of blowout wins—a 9-1 final over Union on June 16 and a 10-0 decision over Los Gatos on June 18 —the Braves suddenly found themselves in unfamiliar territory, down 2-0 to the Red Sox after four innings on June 19.

The Braves finally broke through in the top of the fifth however, as Anthony Santamoor led off the inning with an infield single, followed by consecutive walks to Conner Sexton and starting pitcher Kyle Marquez to load the bases. Shortstop Michael Rocca then stepped up and promptly laced a single to right field, scoring both Santamoor and Sexton to tie the game 2-2, and sending Marquez to third. Shortly thereafter, a wild pitch skipped to the backstop, allowing Marquez to score the go-ahead run and give the Braves a 3-2 lead.

The Braves’ Michael Bellinger takes a swing during play at the tournament.

Rocca said he was proud, but not surprised by his son’s clutch single.

“It feels better being the manager, rather than the dad, but it’s pretty close,” Rocca said of his son’s key two-run single to tie the game. “Michael has been one of our key players all year and he’s a really good, disciplined hitter. He doesn’t try to swing to overpower the ball, he hits line drives.”

Rocca also credited Marquez for his solid pitching effort, going four-plus innings, despite the fact that the Braves trailed the Red Sox for the first four innings of play. Rocca added that the effort was especially commendable, considering it was Marquez’s final appearance on the hill for the Braves this season because of league-imposed pitch limits.

“He came into the semifinal game of this tournament, knowing he’s not going to pitch anymore for this team,” Rocca said. “…Even though things weren’t going his way, he threw strikes and had his curveball working.”

Rocca noted that he knew his team would break through on offense eventually, even when the ball wasn’t bouncing the team’s way.

“This particular game was just one of those things that most teams lose,” Rocca said. “It didn’t matter what we did, things weren’t going our way. Everything the other team did was working and everything we did wasn’t. …But we hung in there, we didn’t stop. We never give up.”

All told, a bit of good luck, as well as timely hitting and solid defense, Rocca said, were the keys to victory for the Braves.

“It feels fantastic,” Rocca said of reaching the TOC Finals. “I think we’ve been blessed most of the season. Things always seem to go our way, even when they’re not. This entire game, Willow Glen played really well and their pitcher did a really good job of keeping us off-balance, but yet every time we hit the ball hard, somebody caught it. …Everything was going their way, but the good news was, it didn’t go their way for the entire six innings.”

Marlins
After getting a lopsided 14-2 win over the Saratoga Pirates on June 16, the Marlins also faced a new challenge, as Lincoln Glen took early control of the game on June 19 by getting a two-run home run off starting pitcher Travis Painter in the top of the first.

“It was tough,” said Painter. “We always have a hard time against Lincoln Glen because they’re a good team. There were some good strong performances today.”

Still, the home run didn’t seem to bother the Marlins offense, which bounced back with a single run in the second inning, cutting Lincoln Glen’s lead to 2-1, before the Marlins loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the third inning. Travis Painter then stepped up and helped his own cause, blasting a grand slam over the right field fence, turning the tables on Lincoln Glen with a sudden 5-2 lead.

The Almaden Marlins, shown here during the playing of the National Anthem, took a close 6-4 win over Lincoln Glen to advance to the 2007 District 12 Tournament of Champions Final. Starting pitcher Travis Painter blasted a grand slam in the third inning to put the Marlins on top for good.

“It gives you goose bumps when it’s your own son, but yeah, that was a big lift,” Dave Painter said of his son’s grand slam. “The wind was blowing really strong out there today and any ball that was lifted had a good chance to go out.”

The Marlins then added another run in the fifth when Rylan Anderson blasted a solo home run, bumping the lead to 6-2.

Still, the Marlins were not out of trouble yet. Travis Painter gave way to Dylan Bell after pitching five innings, and Lincoln Glen managed to load the bases with two outs.

Wanting to save Bell for the TOC Final, Dave Painter brought in right-hander Matt Triplett to close out the game. Triplett walked the first batter he faced, forcing in a run to cut the lead to 6-4, but then got the next Lincoln Glen hitter to hit a soft dribbler down the third base line. Triplett promptly bolted off the mound and threw home to record the final out.

“It was a lot more exciting than I wanted it to be,” Dave Painter said of the way the game ended. “…It’s hard, because we were looking toward tomorrow (June 20) too. We wanted to save a few people and keep them under 20 pitches.”

Regardless of how the game started, or ended, Dave Painter said he was confident that his players would get the job done.

“When they led off the game with that two-run home run and put us in the hole, we were concerned, but we had confidence in our hitting,” he said. “I thought we could put a couple out too.”

Leland boys’ hoops begins summer league with 38-20 win

New Chargers head coach Steve Seandel eyes improvement, not wins or losses, in summer league play

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

The Leland boys’ basketball team kicked off the 2007 summer league in winning fashion, posting a 38-20 win over Fremont on June 18.

After weeks of practice, the game was also the first chance for new head coach Steve Seandel to see his Chargers in action against another squad.

Leland’s Adam MacKey puts up a shot during a 38-20 summer league win over Fremont on June 18. Photos by Dan Miranda

“It is nice to have all your guys sitting on one bench instead of splitting them up,” said Seandel. “I told our guys that I really don’t care about wins or losses in the summer. I want to see them make improvements.”

Seandel noted that the most important aspect of the summer league season was to see an overall improvement in his team, regardless of wins or losses. To that end, Seandel, who spent time as Pioneer’s head basketball coach in the mid 1980s, said he’s learned to take the summer league season for what he sees it—as a chance to have his players work on various aspects of the game.

“I’ve learned doing this the first time, during my first couple of years, I really put a lot of worry into summer league, and it just doesn’t do any good,” Seandel said. “It’s just good for them to play and develop some competitiveness and develop what you want your system to be in the fall.”

Still, Seandel said he was pleased with the team’s defensive effort in the win over Fremont, a part of the game he has stressed to players since taking over the head coaching position in May.

“I want them to develop a mindset this summer … and that’s a defensive mindset,” Seandel said. “That’s the most important thing. Rebounding the ball is critical, and let the offense go. We have good enough guys to score.”

Offensively, Seandel said the team is still a work in progress, noting that the team missed making some easy shots in the win over Fremont. To that, Seandel cited jumpy nerves as a likely culprit, adding that cutting down on turnovers is another to work on during the summer.

“They’ve been better in practice than they were tonight,” Seandel said of the team’s ability to handle the ball. “The pressure was different than what they’ve seen in practice.”

As for Seandel himself, the game marked the first time he’s paced the sideline as a high school head coach in approximately 20 years. Seandel, who has spent the past 15 seasons as an assistant coach under former Santa Clara University men’s basketball coach Dick Davey, said the new job as Leland head coach fit like an old shoe.

“It’s like riding a bike,” Seandel said. “As long as the guys play hard, we’ll be fine.”

Almaden AAA Indians season ends at Tournament of Champions

The Almaden Little League Indians saw their season end in the Tournament of Champions after the team took the AAA North Division Championship with an 8-5 win over the Angels on June 9.

It was a roller coaster ride for the tribe this year. The Indians started the season in promising fashion at 4-1 before enduring a five-game losing skid that saw the team go into spring break with a 4-6 record. A little tinkering around with the lineup before spring break ended up paying dividends in the end however, as the Tribe got back on track soon after.

“I like to move the kids around to find where all of the pieces fit in the team puzzle,” said manager Mike Reickerd.

“We had eight games left in the season, I always told the kids, ‘it isn’t how you start, it is how you finish,’” added Indians coach Cliff Del Carlo.

The Tribe went on to win seven of their last eight games to finish 11-7 and in third place in the AAA North Division.
The Tribe then started the AAA Playoffs with a 10-9 victory over the second place White Sox to get rolling in the postseason.

“We had a big lead but the White Sox never quit,” said Indians coach Mark Calomeni. “We lost twice to the Sox this year when they came back to beat us in the sixth inning—we were a little nervous.”

The next game saw the Tribe taking on the first-place A’s, a team that went 13-5 during the regular season. The Tribe came out ahead once more with a 12-1 victory that put them in the winners’ bracket.

“We were all focused on beating them and worked really hard that week,” said Indians coach Jeff Miller.

The Angels then prevailed over the A’s, setting the stage for an Angels-Indians match-up in the finals.

The Indians, who had the luxury of having to be beat twice in order to be eliminated as perennial champions of the AAA North, took a 12-1 lead in the first game, only to see it evaporate into to a 19-18 loss to the Angels. That set the stage for the final game on June 9, which featured a match-up of ace pitchers in the Indians’ Daniel Del Carlo and the Angels’ Sammy Vogel.

The Tribe broke open a scoreless game in the bottom of the third, beginning with Mikey Reickerd’s leadoff hit to get things rolling. Timmy Geraghty followed with a walk to put two Indians on base before a hit by David Greene scored both runners for a 2-0 lead. The Indians’ Kyle Ishizaki–Cooper then came on in relief of Del Carlo and made quick work of the Angels, setting down the lineup in the top of the fourth.

The Angels however, countered back with two runs of their own in the top of the fifth to tie the game at 2-2 before the Tribe struck right back in the bottom of the inning, getting walks from Matthew Faris and Reickerd that led to a two-run hit from Geraghty to regain the lead at 4-2. Curt Calomeni and Del Carlo followed with walks before Ishizaki-Cooper drilled a base hit, scoring both runners and bumping the lead to 6-2. Michael Flickner later drove in Ishizaki-Cooper to increase the lead to 7-2.

The Indians then ended a prosperous inning, but not before adding yet another run when Jeffery Miller ripped a double, scoring Flickner from second for an 8-2 lead.

Still, the Angels would not quit, as Blake Jaicow blasted a home run to left field to lead off the sixth. The Angels went on to score twice more, cutting the lead to 8-5, before a sharp grounder to second baseman Diego Rebollar—who calmly collected the ball and threw to Matt Faris—ended the game.

The AAA Indians went on to represent the Almaden North in the Tournament of Champions, prevailing in their first game with a 10-0 win over Quito Little League. The Indians then took on the Branham Hills Giants, battling back from a 9-3 deficit to tie it in the fifth, 9-9. Unfortunately, the Tribe could not hold the Giants off in the top of the sixth, as Branham Hills took a 15-9 lead. In the bottom of the sixth, the Tribe battled back one last time, loading the bases and scoring two runs before ending the game with a 15-11 loss, which in turn, officially ended the season for the Tribe.

San Jose Steamrollers end season with fourth-place finish at USPSA Nationals

Almaden father-son duo sees season finish as build-ing block for next year

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

Almaden’s Chris Faria and his San Jose Steamrollers teammates finished the 2007 power soccer season with a fourth-place finish at the United States Power Soccer Association National Championships earlier this month.

The sport’s national championship tournament, which was held June 7-9 in Indianapolis, saw the Steamrollers finish with a 2-4 record against the nation’s best team, culminating with a tough 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Thunder in the third-place trophy game. Chris Faria’s father and head coach of the Steamrollers, Don, said he was pleased with his team’s season-ending performance.

The San Jose Steamrollers, coached by Almaden’s Don Faria, finished the 2007 season by taking fourth place at the USPSA National Championships in Indianapolis in early June.

“I was really proud of the team because each game we played, we played very hard,” said Don Faria. “We were in every game.”

The steamrollers started the tournament out in rough fashion dropping a pair of close 3-0 losses in the first round of pool play before rebounding with a resounding 6-1 win over the Arizona Heat. The win featured goals from each of the six Steamrollers.

The Steamrollers then rode momentum into a quarterfinal match-up against the Indianapolis Sudden Impact, the same team that eliminated the Steamrollers from competition with a 3-1 final last season during the National Championships in Birmingham, Ala. This time, however, it was the Steamrollers who returned the favor, taking a close 3-2 win that featured a game-winning penalty kick from Keith Armburst, advancing San Jose to the Semifinals.

“They could’ve let down but they didn’t,” Don Faria said of his team, which finished the regular season with a 4-4-4 record. “They came roaring back on the second day.”

“I personally thought that was the best game we played all year,” added Chris Faria. “We lost to them last year, knocking us out (of the USPSA Nationals). They ended our season 3-1 in the quarterfinals last year. …Just beating them was a great accomplishment for us.”

The Steamrollers’ momentum stopped there however, as the team went on to drop a 2-0 loss to the Atlanta Synergy in the Semifinals, the same team the Steamrollers lost to by a 3-0 final during pool play.

“We knew it would be a tough road because we had to play Atlanta again,” Chris Faria said of the Steamrollers’ finish at Nationals. “…We knew we were in for a tough one and we thought we could beat them, being a new day and all. We came in with a completely different game plan that they (Atlanta) hadn’t seen before, but sometimes things just don’t go the way you plan.”

Finally, in the third place trophy game, the Steamrollers saw their season come to an end with a 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay, finishing the tournament as the fourth place team.

Still, both Don and Chris Faria noted that the team made significant strides in national competition, even with a few rule changes in place for the first time this season. In an effort to get power soccer recognized as a Para Olympic sport by 2012, the sport’s international governing bodies put new playing rules in place to fall in line with international playing guidelines. Among the rule changes for the 2007 season included mandatory passing and a maximum wheelchair speed of 6.2 miles per hour. In addition, blocking by teammates was also outlawed.

“The game kind of changed a lot from more of a kicking and blocking game, to more of a passing game,” Chris Faria said of the new regulations. “With that going on, I didn’t know how good we were going to be and how good other teams were going to be. We definitely exceeded expectations.”

In addition, the Steamrollers also received good news when Jerry Book, who recently graduated from Pioneer High School, was selected to represent his country as a member of Team USA during international competition in Japan this October.

“Jerry’s our superstar,” Don Faria said. “He’s one of the best players in the country and it shows, with him making Team USA. …He’s the heart and soul of our team.”

With the season finished, Chris Faria said he and his father are already eyeing next season—slated to begin in September—as a chance to challenge for the national title once again at the USPSA National Championships. And while continued improvement is always a key to victory, Chris Faria noted that perhaps the greatest asset the Steamrollers have in their favor is solid team chemistry.

“It was a step in the right direction because this year was the closest our team has ever been,” Chris Faria said. “Our team is like a family now…I felt like I was playing with my brothers.”

Sports Briefs

Summer Field Hockey Camp at Leigh High School
Leigh High School will be holding a Field Hockey Camp July 9th through 12th. Boys and girls entering 1st through 9th grade are welcome. The cost is $125 per participant and includes instruction, t-shirt, field hockey stick and ball. Registration forms are available at http://www.leigh.cuhsd.org/News/LEIGH_FIELD_HOCKEY_CAMP.pdf. For more information, contact Karin Mirassou at kmirassou@hotmail.com.

FitCamp Sign-Ups Going On Now
TotalFit Solutions is registering participants for their Summer FitCamp programs at Evergreen College, Los Gatos and Mt. Pleasant High School.  You can sign up for a 6 week session, or chose 2 or 3 day a week programming.  You can get started today!

FitCamp is a fun filled exercise program that is open to all ages and abilities.  FitCamp meets everyday and is designed to be a total fitness solution for kids and parents alike. Every day has a different workout which not
only keeps our participants excited and challenged, it keeps your body moving in a way that guarantees results.

Whether you are looking to better your sports conditioning, lose weight or just get in shape; FitCamp is a great alternative to commercial fitness centers and gyms.

At FitCamp you can always try a class for FREE!  For more information, contact TotalFit  Solutions at (408) 227 – 2216 or on the web at www.totalfitsolutions.com.

TotalFit Solutions offers wellness coaching, personal training, corporate wellness packages and adventure travel
for individuals and families.  Contact us today!

Girls in Motion Summer Conditioning Camp
Girls in Motion Summer Conditioning Camp is a total fitness training program that offers female athletes ages 13-18 a unique opportunity to elevate their performance and improve their self-confidence.
Experts agree that if female athletes want to achieve elite performance, they must insure that comprehensive strength training is covered in their conditioning regimens - Girls in Motion is designed to do just that!
Session Start/End Dates: June 18-July 16; July 23-Aug.17. Cost: $270-375 - Full scholarships and group discounts available. Girls in Motion Conditioning Camp is located at San Jose Community College. For more information, phone 425-9475 or contact Mary Beth Gonzales at marybeth@bayareabootcamp.com or Nicole Leonard at nicole@bayareabootcamp.com

EMQ Children & Family Services Tennis Marathon Begins 24th Season
Proceeds benefit programs that help children and families with mental health disabilities
Registration has begun for the annual EMQ Children & Family Services September, 2007 to May, 2008 tennis season fundraiser. This event allows participating groups to play one match per month beginning in September with the scheduling of time and location set at the convenience of the players.  A $50 fully tax deductible fee is required by all participants for the entire season.  Individuals can play in more than one group at $50 per group fee.  

Registration Deadlines: July 2 for singles, July 15 for doubles. All player levels are welcome and participants are encouraged to form their own group or participants can be placed in a group. Doubles must provide a partner at the time of registration. A schedule and set of rules is sent to each group with the roster and group leader name prior to September, 2007.

An end-of-the-season celebration will be held on Friday, May 16, 2008 at the Almaden Valley Athletic Club (AVAC) with Round Robin Tennis followed by lunch and awards. For more information and to sign up, contact Lois Machado (408-268-1306; loistennis@aol.com) for singles and Jean Knofler (408-269-1492; jbknofler@comcast.net) for doubles.

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