November 9, 2006

SPORTS

Mustangs drop 41-18 loss to Oak Grove in home finale

Pioneer faces must-win scenario at Piedmont Hills on Nov.9 for a shot at CCS Playoff berth

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

The Pioneer football team dropped to 3-3 in league play following a 41-18 loss at home to the Oak Grove Eagles on Nov. 4.

Pioneer quarterback Chris Foley completed 14 of 20 pass attempts for 153 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions in a 41-18 loss to Oak Grove on Nov. 4. Photo by Dena Noble

Despite the loss, the Mustangs still have a chance to gain one of four CCS Playoff bids in the Mt. Hamilton Division. The Mustangs are now tied for third place with Lincoln, while Oak Grove sits atop the division at 6-0 as league champions and with one of those four CCS spots securely in hand. In addition, Piedmont Hills and Leigh are currently tied for second place at 4-2, leaving just one CCS Playoff spot remaining for Pioneer or Lincoln.

Still, Pioneer head coach Mark Krail said his lone concern is winning at Piedmont Hills on Nov. 9 to finish off the season.

“Our M.O. right now is we’re going in to win,” Krail said of the Nov. 9 game at Piedmont Hills. “…I would assume that four teams in our league get in (to CCS), so depending on how other teams do and how we do, it’ll come down to that.”

Pioneer’s offense sputtered in the first half against the Eagles, managing just three points on a 41-yard field goal from Kyle Burchfiel with 4:19 to go in the first quarter, while turning the ball over twice on interceptions that led to a pair of scoring drive by the Eagles.

In addition, the Eagles’ special teams played a pivotal role in the first half, as Larry Lacotti returned the game-opening kickoff 80 yards to the Pioneer 18, which eventually set up a 16-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kevin Vye to Lacotti with 10:56 to go for an early 7-0 lead. Oak Grove’s special teams unit hurt the Mustangs even more in the second quarter, as Stacy Long returned a Pioneer punt 65 yards for a touchdown with 5:22 to go in the first half, increasing the Eagles’ lead to 21-3.

Following an interception with just 42 seconds left in the first half, the Eagles marched downfield again, going 41 yards on six plays, with running back Nevin Gardiner leaping into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown run as time expired, giving the Eagles a 28-3 lead at the half.

“In the second quarter, we really struggled,” said Krail. “We had some three-and-outs, and a short punt return for a touchdown, gave them several short fields, and they are too good to do that. If you make them go 85 or 80 yards, then you have a chance, but if you make them go 35 or 40 yards, you don’t.”

Despite the lopsided halftime score, the Pioneer defense played well, according to Krail.

“The defense played great,” said Krail. “You look at the scoreboard, they had two screen passes for touchdowns where they got us, and then they had a return punt for a touchdown, so you take those plays away and we played them pretty doggone tough.”

“Give credit to Pioneer,” Oak Grove head coach Ed Buller added. “They play really good run defense, it’s probably our lowest totals in running the ball. … We were able to get some big plays on special teams and we had a nice passing game, and that got us rolling a little bit.”

Still, the Mustangs looked to bounce back in the second half, and they did, stopping Oak Grove’s offense on fourth-and-goal at the Pioneer 1, giving the ball back to the Mustang offense, which responded with a 12-play, 99-yard scoring drive to cut the Eagles’ lead to 28-10 with 17 seconds left in the third quarter.

Pioneer running back Shane Murray led the Mustangs in rushing with 87 yards on 16 carries in a 41-18 loss to Oak Grove on Nov. 4. Photos by Dena Noble

On the drive, quarterback Chris Foley found wide receiver Matt Montelongo twice for 34 yards, while running backs Steven Lopes, Shane Murray and Marquee Heffner kept the chains moving, combining for 55 yards rushing on eight carries. Foley then finished off the drive with a five-yard touchdown pass to Nico Pagan.

Krail said the 99-yard drive was perhaps the best scoring drive of the year for the Mustangs.

“We ran the ball, we threw the ball, we trapped, and we had some conversions on third down to keep the drive going,” said Krail. “It was a good drive.”

Pioneer scored once more on its following offensive series, marching the ball 75 yards on just three plays. Murray started the drive off with a 39-yard run to the Eagles 36, followed by a 30-yard pass from Foley to tight end Travis Lorius. Lorius led the Mustangs with five catches for 77 yards.

Heffner finished the drive on the next play with a 6-yard run, followed by a successful two-point conversion, cutting Oak Grove’s lead to 28-18 with 9:45 to go in the fourth quarter.

But that was all the Mustangs could muster, as the Pioneer offense was stopped 1 yard short on fourth-and-three at the Pioneer 28, leading to a six-play scoring drive by the Eagles, highlighted by a 4-yard run from Gardiner with 3:20 to go, bumping the Eagles lead to 35-18.

Less than a minute later, the Eagles offense had the ball again, following an interception of Pioneer backup quarterback Joe Alise’s pass, which led to a 58-yard touchdown run from Gardiner with 1:53 to go for a 41-18 final.
Despite the loss, Krail said he was proud of the fact that his team didn’t quit at any time during the game.

“I was proud of the guys,” Krail said. “We made a game out of it. We didn’t quit at 28-3 and I was proud of that.”

Sports Briefs

Xtreme girls’ U11 soccer team seeks players
The Xtreme represents the SSJYSL in the Delgado Comp League U11 Girls C3 bracket. We have a good core group of players, but we are in need of several new players. The team fosters a positive environment with the focus on player development, sportsmanship and winning the right way.

We have immediate openings for our Winter 2006 indoor team and our Fall 2007 team. Anyone interested is encouraged to contact Robert Beaulieu at rob.beaulieu@honeywell.com or (408) 972-5918. Interested players may also contact Nigel Cooper, nigel.cooper@bankofamerica.com or (408) 202-2058.

Almaden National Junior Basketball signups
Almaden National Junior Basketball (NJB) signups started Aug. 15. Boys and girls grades one through eight are eligible. The 11-game season starts Dec. 3. For details and signups, e-mail go to www.almadennjb.homestead.com or call Ken Keiser (408) 592-4190 with questions.

San Jose Vipers Lacrosse holding fall clinics beginning Oct. 21
The Vipers are growing up and down! Spring 2007 will include, Varsity, JV, Juniors, Pups and Pee-Wees. Come on out and play America's oldest team sport and the fastest growing game in California. No experience necessary. The San Jose Vipers Lacrosse club will be holding fall clinics for kids in the 3rd grade through 12th grade, beginning Oct 21 at Harker Middle School, 3800 Blackford Ave., 95117.   

Please visit www.viperslacrosse.net for more information or call Craig Bowers at (408) 674-8708.

Almaden Little League 2007 signups
Almaden Little League signups are 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday Nov. 6 and Tuesday Nov. 7 at Castillero Middle School’s indoor commons area. Signups are for all players eligible for T-ball through Big League (Ages 5 thru 18, as of April 30, 2007). Players must live in 95120 or 95042 zip codes to play baseball in Almaden.

The following is a list of items to bring for new players:

A. Original or certified copy of birth certificate (abstract of birth certificate or photo copies will not be accepted (No exceptions)

B. Three proofs of residency. Residency shall be established and supported by documents from three (3) or more of the following categories to determine residency of such parent(s) or guardians:

1. Driver’s license
2. Voter’s registration
3. School records
4. Welfare/child care records
5. Federal records
6. State records
7. Local (municipal) records
8. Support payment records
9. Homeowner or tenant records
10. Utility bills (ie: gas, electric, water/sewer, phone(s), heating, garbage)**
11. Financial (loans, credit, investments, etc.) records
12. Insurance documents
13. Medical records
14. Military records
15. Internet, cable, or satellite records
16. Vehicle records

**Note: Three utility bills (three from #10 above) constitute only one document

Returning players are required to bring:   

A. Proof of residency—one current utility bill with address
Fees are $225 per player (Check payable to ALL). There is also a $25 discount for an additional family member signed up.
 
In addition, signups will be held to manage, coach, umpire and volunteer. Everyone is welcome and needed!
Please visit the ALL website for detailed division descriptions and a sample application at www.almadenll.org or reach Almaden Little League by phone at (408) 997-6669.

REACH Youth Scholarship nomination forms available online from San Jose Sports Authority
Nomination forms for the San Jose Sports Authority’s 2006 REACH Youth Scholarship Program, sponsored by Bridge Bank, which has provided college funds to 50 high school students over the past 10 years, are now available for downloading from the Sports Authority’s Web site at www.sjsa.org.

Last year, 31 Santa Clara County high school seniors were nominated, and six who overcame adversity through participation in sports were awarded scholarships through the REACH program, an acronym for Recognizing Excellence, Adversity, Courage and Hard Work. Scholarships are awarded based on an essay competition in which nominees explain how sports helped them overcome adversity.

The nominees and scholarship winners for 2006 will be honored at the REACH Awards Breakfast, chaired by former San Francisco 49er Ronnie Lott, on Thursday, May 3, 2007.

Only Santa Clara County high schools may nominate students for the award, with a maximum of five nominees per school. Nominees must then complete an essay and student information form.

Nominees must: Be high school seniors, Maintain a 2.5 GPA, Participate in at least one sanctioned high school athletic activity, Demonstrate community involvement, Show the ability to overcome adversity or obstacles to reach his or her goals.

Each nominee is required to write an essay of one to three pages based on his or her experiences. The essay should focus on the obstacles they have overcome and how sports have helped them achieve their goals. Essays will be judged on content.

Nominations must be postmarked by Friday, March 31.

Visit the San Jose Sports Authority Web site at www.sjsa.org for more information.

Frosh/soph boys’ soccer coach needed at Pioneer
The Pioneer boys’ soccer program is in need of a frosh/soph boys’ soccer coach for the upcoming 2006-07 season.

Hours for coaching are, but not limited to, Mondays-Fridays from 3-5 p.m. Games are typically held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15-4:45 p.m.

Anyone interested is encouraged to please call and ask for Pioneer boys’ soccer varsity head coach Pedro Fuentez at (408) 535-6310.

Los Gatos Christian Church holds Youth Basketball League signups
Los Gatos Christian Church is now accepting registration for its Youth Basketball League through Nov. 15. Games are played at the Branham High School gym, beginning Jan. 15, 2007, through March 10, 2007. The league is not co-ed but there are both boys’ and girls’ teams for grades one through eight. Anyone is welcome to join the league. For registration information, call the Los Gatos Christian Church Sports Office at (408) 997-4642 or go to www.losgatoschristian.org.

South San Jose Hotshots seek soccer players
The South San Jose Hotshots, a girls' U11 comp. soccer team, is looking for experienced players for its 2007 indoor and outdoor seasons. The Hotshots play in the Delgado competitive league and finished as one of the top U10 girls' teams in the 2006 fall season. The team has a positive coaching environment, with a focus on teamwork and player development. Interested players should contact head coach Mike Bunge at awalt80@yahoo.com.

High School Sports Schedule

Leland High School
Friday – Girls’ tennis CCS Quarterfinals Team Play, time and site TBA

Saturday – Cross Country CCS Playoffs at Toro Park, time TBA
Saturday – Girls’ volleyball CCS Quarterfinals at Leland, 11 a.m.
Saturday – Boys’ water polo CCS Quarterfinals, time and site TBA
Saturday – Girls’ water polo CCS Quarterfinals, time and site TBA

Monday - Girls’ tennis CCS Semifinals Team Play at Courtside Club, time TBA

Tuesday – Boys’ water polo CCS Semifinals, time and site TBA
Tuesday – Girls’ water polo CCS Semifinals, time and site TBA
Tuesday - Field hockey CCS Semifinals at St. Francis, opponent and time TBA

Wednesday – Girls’ water polo CCS Semifinals, time and site TBA
Wednesday – Boys’ water polo CCS Semifinals, time and site TBA
Wednesday – Girls’ volleyball CCS Semifinals at Santa Clara, time TBA
Wednesday - Girls’ tennis CCS Finals Team Play at Courtside Club, 2 p.m.

Saturday - Field hockey CCS Quarterfinals at St. Francis - opponent TBA, 3:15 p.m.


Pioneer High School
Saturday – Cross Country CCS Playoffs at Toro Park, time TBA
Saturday – Girls’ water polo CCS Quarterfinals, time and site TBA

Tuesday – Girls’ water polo CCS Semifinals, time and site TBA

Wednesday – Girls’ water polo CCS Semifinals, time and site TBA

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

Oct. 31
Leland field hockey 2-0 win vs. Monta Vista

Pioneer girls’ volleyball 25-18, 25-22, 25-7 win at San Jose High

Nov. 1
Leland girls’ volleyball 25-27, 26-24, 25-19, 25-16 win at Mt. Pleasant

Nov. 2
Leland field hockey 1-0 win vs. Los Gatos

Pioneer girls’ volleyball 25-16, 32-30, 13-25, 25-15 win vs. Gunderson

Leland football keeps first-place standing with 7-3 nail-biter over Evergreen

Win sees solid defense by Chargers, while several mistakes slow offensive progress

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

The Chargers took a 7-3 nail-biting homecoming win over Evergreen Valley on Nov. 3, as the Leland defense held the Cougars’ pass-heavy offense in check with just 135 total yards.

Leland running back Adam Ondi (21) gets stopped at the line of scrimmage during a 7-3 win over Evergreen on Nov. 3. Ondi ran for 49 yards on 15 carries. Photo by Ben DeKoven

Leland’s Lance Gemette sealed the win, tipping a pass from Evergreen quarterback Derek Pauli in the air before grabbing the ball in mid air for an interception at the Leland 29 with just 27 seconds left on the game clock.

“Lance is the quarterback of the defense,” Leland head coach Jason Tenner said of Gemette. “He flies around and does a great job for us. Actually, I told him, ‘next time, don’t bat the ball up in the air, you’re giving me a heart attack. Just come down with it on the first try.’”

The win assured Leland of a spot in the CCS Playoffs and no worse than a tie for the Santa Teresa Division crown, as the Chargers improved to 6-0 in league play, having won seven straight games overall. Santa Teresa, currently in second place at 5-1, remains as the Chargers’ lone threat to the league title, with one game for each team remaining on the regular season schedule.

Despite the win, Tenner said he was not pleased with his offense, namely the offensive line. The Leland offense was held to 266 total yards, including 183 yards rushing, one week after posting a season-high 444 yards rushing at Mt. Pleasant in a 54-18 win. The offense was hampered by seven false-start penalties and one holding call, for 45 yards.

“We’re lucky to get a win here,” Tenner said. “We committed a lot of mental mistakes and penalties that slowed our execution offensively.”

Leland’s best offensive series ended up being the first one of the game, as the Chargers took their opening drive and marched 62 yards downfield, highlighted by a 5-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ricky Battipede to Gemette with 7:37 left in the first quarter, giving the Chargers a 7-0 lead.

From that point on however, the offense stalled, getting one more scoring opportunity early in the fourth quarter when Battipede’s 22-yard field goal attempt was blocked with 9:10 left in the game.

Tenner said the offensive struggles stemmed from a sub par showing by the Leland offensive line.

“This was by far the worst game our offensive line played all year long,” said Tenner of the line’s struggles, which included three false start penalties during Leland’s lone scoring drive of the game. “…There’s some serious questions that we’ve got to ask next week. I think the guys up front know this wasn’t their best game, but the best part about it was that we got a W.”

But the Leland defense proved to play a pivotal role in the game, holding Pauli to just 6-of-25 passing for 81 yards, while getting intercepted twice, including once by Leland’s Kevin Krail at the Leland 13 with just 19 seconds left in the first half. Krail also led all running backs with 67 yards rushing on eight carries.

Evergreen’s lone score came in the second quarter, after the Cougars’ offense stalled at the Leland 25, settling for a 43-yard field goal from Alex Kasinski with 9:46 to go, cutting Leland’s lead to 7-3.

The Cougars had a second chance to get on the scoreboard in the third quarter on a 35-yard field goal attempt by Kasinski, but the kick sailed wide left with 9:04 to go.

“It’s big time frustrating,” Evergreen head coach Leo Olmscheid said of his offense’s performance against Leland. “We missed blocking assignments, we dropped some balls, the quarterback had some wrong reads, but that’s football.”

Meanwhile, Tenner said he was pleased to see his defense help pull out a close win.

“Defensively, that’s what I’ve been waiting to see from our group,” Tenner said. “They’re a good group of athletes and we came out and matched their intensity level from a defensive standpoint. Except for one missed tackle that got them into field goal position, we pitched a shutout.”

Leland celebrates Homecoming with a look at the past forty years

Assistant Principal of Activities, Paul Yllana, with Homecoming Queen Joyce Chang during halftime. Photo by Pat Killen

Leland High school celebrated this year’s Homecoming with a 7-3 win over the Evergreen Valley Cougars by the varsity football team and a Homecoming Court ceremony during halftime on Nov. 3.

This year’s theme was “Charging Through the Decades,” a celebration looking back through 40 years in the Almaden Valley community. Each school class represented a decade during halftime class skits, with the seniors coming out on top as winners with a 1990s-inspired skit.

Leland senior Lance Gemette, a running back for the Chargers’ football team, was named homecoming king. With Gemette busy playing football – he would go on to make a game-saving play with a fourth-quarter interception – duties for presenting Homecoming Queen Joyce Chang during halftime went to Assistant Principal of Activities, Paul Yllana, a former Leland football player himself. In addition, each class presented multiple pairings of Homecoming princes and princesses.

Boys’ water polo action sees Leland advance, Pioneer head home

Mt. Hamilton Division champion Chargers advance to CCS quarterfinals with win
over Los Gatos; Mustangs finish season at 3-4 with loss to Willow Glen

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Editor

The Leland boys’ water polo team advanced to the quarterfinal round of the CCS Division I Playoffs following a close 7-6 win over Los Gatos to start postseason play.

The Chargers, the No. 8 seed in the playoffs, will move on to face first-seeded Bellarmine on Saturday, Nov. 11 at Lynbrook High School. A game time had not been announced at press time.

The Leland Chargers talk things over with head coach Mike Monsees during the BVAL Varsity League Tournament. The Chargers finished the regular season at 6-1. Photos by Diego Abeloos

Leland, the 2006-07 Mt. Hamilton Division Champions, received just enough offense in the win, getting a pair of goals from both Max Dobrushin and Matthew Eisenberg to lead the way. Sean Kagan, Raymond LaRochelle and Scott Stuart each added goals in the win as well.

“Los Gatos has some great athletes on their team,” Leland head coach Mike Monsees said after the win. “It’s nice that we matched up pretty well with them. We expected a close battle, and indeed, it was.”

Leading 6-5 at the start of the fourth quarter, the Chargers got a much-needed goal from LaRochelle, who fought off a triple-team, with 6:03 left to play, bumping Leland’s lead to 7-5.

But a Los Gatos goal with 2:26 left in the game cut Leland’s lead back down to one, forcing the Leland defense to take control of the game. The defense responded well in the game’s final minutes, including the final moments of play, forcing a Los Gatos turnover near the Leland cage with just 21 seconds left, before denying the Wildcats one final shot with just three seconds remaining on the game clock.

“They were getting real physical, to try to get that ball inside as quickly as they could, and we were able to put up a strong enough wall to hold them back,” Monsees said of his team’s defensive effort.

Monsees also credited the effort of goalkeeper Eric Hsu, who recorded nine saves in the win to help lead the defense over the Wildcats.

“Eric just brought his speed up,” Monsees said of Hsu. “He’s quick. He’s so quick, it’s remarkable.”

Trailing the Wildcats 3-2 early in the second quarter, the Chargers managed to take the lead at the half, as Eisenberg quickly scored to tie the game 3-3 with 4:53 left, before Stuart gave Leland the lead on a goal with just 28 seconds remaining.

The Chargers jumped out with goals from Eisenberg and Kagan in the first three minutes of play in the third quarter to bump Leland’s lead to 6-3, before the Wildcats stormed back less than a minute later with a goal, before adding a second goal in the quarter with 26 seconds left, cutting Leland’s lead to a slim 6-5.

The CCS opening round win came on the heels of a 1-1 showing at the BVAL Varsity League Tournament, which saw the Chargers take a robust 20-4 win over Mt. Pleasant on Friday, before dropping an 8-6 loss to Live Oak the following day. Eisenberg led the scoring throughout the tournament with a team-high six goals.

Pioneer finished season at 3-4
The Pioneer boys’ water polo team saw its season come to an end with a 7-5 loss to Willow Glen during the second round of the BVAL Varsity League Tournament on Friday.

The loss, which ended the Mustangs’ season, came on the heels of a 13-5 win over Independence in the Tournament’s opening round the day before. Senior Kirk Kaubish led the Mustangs in scoring during the tournament with six goals, while Sean Urenda and Brian Lopiccolo each scored four goals in the two games.

“It was disappointing,” said Pioneer head coach Scott Kaubish of the loss to the Willow Glen Rams. “Everybody worked hard throughout the season and it was tough to lose to a lower division school. …We had plenty of opportunities to score and execute and we failed to do that.”

Still, Kaubish said he was pleased with the overall play of his team throughout the season, noting the offensive efforts of Lopiccolo, Urenda and Evan Lineberry, as well as the efforts of his own son, Kirk, who led the Mustangs in goals this year.

“Lopiccolo picked up his game and did a nice job of picking up the offense for us,” Kaubish said. “Lineberry and Urenda did a great job too this season.”

But the end of the 2006-07 season also had emotional ties for Kaubish, whose son, Kirk, finished his four-year varsity career with the loss to Willow Glen. Kirk Kaubish, who will move on to West Valley College to continue his water polo career next year, spent his entire four-year career under the direction of his father. The elder Kaubish, who has coached his son for a total of 12 years in other sports, including soccer, said he’s sad to see the days of father coaching son come to an end.

“It’s hard,” Kaubish said of ending the 12-year coaching run with his son. “It’s very emotional to say goodbye to that. …I think it was hard for me to see the era of me coaching my son come to an end. It’s always been a part of our lives together for the past 12 years.”

Still, despite those feelings, Kaubish said he was happy to have that time together with his son while it lasted.

“I cherish it greatly,” he said. “…It really is hard, but you know someday you’ll get to this point. It’s been a good ride.”

Pioneer, Leland prepped for CCS playoffs in girls’ water polo

Leland lands third consecutive league crown versus Live Oak

By Justin Petersen
Staff Writer

Three Leland water polo seniors extended a streak in the pool Saturday at Independence High that may never be touched again.

Leland’s Christy Stibbe gears up for a shot during BVAL Varsity League Tournament play. The Chargers (21-6, 8-0) secured the No. 2 seed in upcoming Division I CCS playoffs following the tournament. Photo by Diego Abeloos

Standouts Courtney Monsees, Elena Santamaria, and Christy Stibbe, who have starred on the Leland women’s water polo team since their sophomore year, with the exception of Monsees who was there as a freshman as well, won their 26th consecutive league game and third league championship Saturday after demolishing Live Oak 20-4 in the Mount Hamilton Division championship game of the BVAL Varsity League Tournament.

Meanwhile, Pioneer, who fell to the Acorns 10-6 in the semifinal game, rolled to a third place finish, hammering Lincoln 17-4 in a consolation round.

With the win, the senior-laden Chargers (21-6, 8-0) also secured the No. 2 seed in upcoming Division I CCS playoffs, the highest ranking attained by the Chargers. The girls will face Archbishop Mitty, at St. Francis on Saturday. A game time was not yet determined at press time.

Pioneer also qualified for the playoffs as the No. 6 seed in Division II action.

Charger coach Eric Rise said that the success stems from leadership and speed in the water. The team also boasts three of the section’s top players, according to Rise, in seniors Monsees, Stibbe, and Santamaria.

The trio will all play college ball next fall. Monsees, in fact, reportedly will attend the University of Georgia, the nation’s top swimming school, while Stibbe is considering Arizona State. Santamaria is considering San Jose State.

Rise is hopeful that the Chargers will advance past the first round of the playoffs this season, erasing memories of the past two years, where they exited in first round action after taking league titles.

“If we can bring our A-game and intensity on defense and counters, we’ll be tough to beat,” said Rise. “I think our seniors especially want to basically go down as the best team in the section and that Leland has ever had.”

While much anticipation preceded the meeting between Leland and Live Oak, in the water-savvy Acorns’ inaugural Mount Hamilton campaign, the Chargers cruised from the start. Leland hogged the scorekeeper’s attention in the first quarter, outscoring the Acorns 6-0.

It didn’t stop there.

Leland notched five more goals before Live Oak made one shot. Stibbe and Monsees shared honors, leading all scorers with six goals apiece on the afternoon. Santamaria added two more, as did freshman Kelsey Nolan. Courtney Gold, Melinda Mackenzie, Tam Nguyen and Stacy Koolpe also scored one goal each.

“The game showed a lot for our program,” said Rise. “It showed that the younger kids are ready to take over too.”

Rise said that his six seniors were pulled from play early in the game, but that the scoring never stopped. Rise also noted that senior Hannah Duckworth will be a key to success in CCS. Duckworth reportedly has one of the strongest arms on the team and often creates scoring opportunities as the first player off the bench for the Chargers.

Pioneer’s presence
Pioneer nearly met Leland in the final game, but the loss to Live Oak landed them in the third-place game versus Lincoln.

The Mustangs subsequently responded with energy, peppering aggression on the Lions, until the final gun sounded and the scoring stopped at 18-1.

The onslaught ensued after Pioneer opened with four first-quarter goals.

“We had a tough loss to Live Oak in the semis,” said Pioneer Coach Gordy Smith. “We could have been right there. Both games with Live Oak could have gone either way, but we bounced back.”

Smith called seniors Taylor Feezor and Elyssa Samson top contributors throughout the tournament and season. Feezor, in fact, led Pioneer with five goals versus Lincoln.

“Taylor is a good all-around player,” said Smith. “She is good on the offensive end but also plays very well defensively.”

Samson meanwhile, dropped in one goal versus the Lions, but Smith called her a great offensive threat and indicated that her skill helps create plays for others as well.

“She just has a very good sense for the ball and the play, in general, of what’s happening,” he said. “Elyssa is very good on the counter attack. She is quick, and she has a great ability to sense what is going to happen on the play before it happens.”

Smith said that the Mustangs as a whole like to counter attack, get out and swim, and look for turnovers and mistakes by the other team.

“We like to use our speed and swimming ability,” he said.

The girls’ No. 6 seed in the CCS playoffs marks the highest that Pioneer has climbed in 10 years, according to Smith.

“They play very intelligently, and they know how to use their individual skills to help their team,” he said.

Kudos to San Jose Bicycle Club

Bailey Road cleanup will become bicycle club’s annual event

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

Members of the San Jose Bicycle Club who train on Bailey Road often noticed an area littered with debris. It bothered the members so much that club President Jim Lew recently helped organize a group cleanup of the area. Now it is litter-free.

“Consistently the San Jose Bicycle Club [SJBC] rides Bailey Road between Santa Teresa and McKean Road,” said Lew. “We noticed extreme litter conditions and wanted to clean it up. We want to promote bicycling, but also try to give back to the community. Now Bailey Road looks beautiful. We want to make this an annual effort.”

San Jose Bicycle Club members volunteered their time to clean up the heavily littered Bailey Road. Back row: Joe Farinha, Gary Franck and David Knight; middle row: Chris Pelletier, Jim Thurber and Ramon Alarcon; and front row: Jimmy Lew, Gary Broeder, Eddie Broeder, Jonathan Racine and Ramil Abastillas. Not pictured: Earle Baker, Arik Florimonte, John Hostettler, Andrew Lanier, Andrew Lanier, Jr., McKenzie Lanier, Jennifer Lanier, Scott Lewis, Steven Mielich, Alan Morrison, Benson Ng and Raj Singh. Photo courtesy of San Jose Bicycle Club

Lew contacted the city of San Jose’s Anti-Graffiti and Litter Program, which provided SJBC volunteers with gloves, garbage bags, florescent vests, etc. to make their work easier. On Oct. 15 the group worked two and a half hours collecting everything from tires, sheet rock, wood, videotapes, furniture, beer bottles and cans, Starbucks cups, glass shards, cigarette butts, food wrappers, firecracker shells and other debris.

SJBC members Chris Pelletier and Gray Franck supplied the trucks and hauled the discarded items off to the dumps.

“Our club officers are in high gear to help give back in the community,” said Almaden resident Scott Lewis who has been a member of SJBC for five years. “Bailey Road is a mainstay in our training program and we all go up there. It was a great chance to help.”

SJBC has been in existence since 1939. Currently there are over 250 members actively participating in local rides and the United States Cyclist Federation racing in the greater Bay Area and Northern Nevada. The USCF is the U.S. organization from which the U.S. Olympic cycling team is selected. The SJBC has consistently been one of the most successful amateur bicycle racing clubs in Northern California over the course of its 60-year history.

SJBC’s winter series offers 11 events, including time-trials, a hill climb, criteriums and three road rides providing a rewarding environment for cyclists of all levels to learn the sport of racing in a low-key, fun atmosphere. The series also features six categories with handicapping that allows everyone an opportunity to enjoy a spot in the winners circle. SJBC also sponsors the nationally-sanctioned Five Wire Mt. Hamilton Classic every Memorial Day weekend.

And so now with Bailey Road pristine, SJBC cyclists are enjoying the scenery litter-free. The group has also cleaned up the Velodrome, used for bicycle track racing at Hellyer County Park, in the past.

“When Jimmy called and volunteered to have his club clean Bailey Road, I was delighted,” said city of San Jose Anti-Graffiti and Litter Program Volunteer Coordinator Rob Boyles. “This road has been blighted for many years and we had not had any success getting it adopted. My wife Marcy and I often travel Bailey and it was a mess. It looked more like a dumping site than a road. This cleanup was really a tough job because the road is steep and the shoulder is very narrow. Kudos to the San Jose Bike Club members; their efforts prove that volunteerism is alive and well in Santa Clara Valley.”

Boyles leads the Anti-Graffiti and Litter Program team working to beautify San Jose by preventing and removing graffiti and litter through community involvement, eradication and enforcement. The success of the program depends on volunteers and groups like SJBC who volunteer their time to clean up areas and keep them “litter-free.”

For more information on volunteering, call the Anti-Graffiti and Litter Program at (408) 277-3208 or visit www.sanjoseca.gov/prns/antigraffitiprogram/antigraffitiindex.asp .

For more information on the San Jose Bicycle Club, call membership coordinator Steve Dakin at (408) 267-5870 or membership@teamsanjose.org or visit http://www.teamsanjose.org.

Four Chargers head to CCS Individuals in tennis

By Pam Headley, coach
Special to the Times

With another BVAL league championship under their belts, and on the strength of their 14-0 league finish, the Leland Chargers Girls’ tennis team heads into the postseason hoping to improve upon last year’s quarterfinal exit.
In addition to qualifying for CCS team play, the Chargers are sending four players to the individual tournament as well. Roxy Pourmirzaie, Lydia Chow, Youngeun Na, and Nikita Gettu all gained entry into the CCS Individual Tournament by securing top-three finishes in the qualifying tourney held last week at Mt. Pleasant High School.

Leland’s Roxy Pourmirzaie locked in a postseason CCS Individuals spot after defeating teammate Lydia Chow in the semifinals of the BVAL Singles and Doubles Tournament last week at Mt. Pleasant High School. Chow will also head to the CCS Individual Tournament, which is set to begin Nov. 20 at Courtside Tennis Club in Los Gatos. Photo by Jeff Frazee

Chow, the No. 2 seed in the tournament, made quick work of her first-round opponent, Lincoln High School’s Laura Camberos, taking the opening match 6-2, 6-0. Third seed Pourmirzaie also cruised through her first round match, beating Gianna Flores from Pioneer, 6-1, 6-2. These two victories set up an all Charger semi-final match, pitting Pourmirzaie against Chow.

The two singles stars have met twice prior to this latest contest, each match going the full three sets, with Chow victorious both times. It was, however, not to be a third for the younger player, as Pourmirzaie would not give up. Chow, a mentally tough and disciplined player, came out strong, taking the first set 6-1, and going up two games in the second set. Pourmirzaie, relying on experience, patience and skillful shot making, evened the second set at two games apiece, and eventually pushed forward to win it, 7-5.

Fighting cold, wind and darkness, the two Chargers battled through the third set, with Pourmirzaie emerging victorious, 6-2, and locking in a postseason CCS spot.

Chow returned to Mt. Pleasant the next day to fight for the third remaining CCS qualifying spot. With a renewed focus, she dispatched T. Raczynski from Evergreen Valley High School, 6-0, 6-0, and secured her place in postseason play for the second year in a row.

In the doubles tournament, sophomore Na and freshman Gettu took down the Branham high team of Albers and Bergants to move into the semifinals. There they faced division rivals, Simmons and Ramirez from Santa Teresa. The hard-hitting Saints were no match for the crafty Charger team as Na and Gettu took the match 6-4, 6-2 to capture their first CCS tournament berth.

CCS Individual Tournament play begins Nov. 20, at Courtside Tennis Club in Los Gatos. Chow takes on the No. 5 seed, Katie Le from Milpitas High. Pourmirzaie faces an unseeded Keiko Kurita from Santa Cruz High. Na and Gettu are up against Gina Nguyen and Samantha Chen of Notre Dame-San Jose.

Almaden Ice finish second at Lodi Soccer Tournament

The Almaden Ice Girls U12 soccer team had a weekend to remember, as the team finished in second place on Oct. 28 and 29 in the Lodi Soccer Tournament.

Along with team coach George Karabatos and assistant coaches Kenny and Claire, the Ice players are: Nicole Johnston, Kiki Bradford, Ashley Smith, Morgan Geraghty, Ashley Cancilla, Stephanie Rebagliati, Kristen Pitzen, Ashley Kirchick, Natalie Royle, Amelia Rodriquez, Katie Peck, Danielle Koehne, Kelly Richardson, Jessica Jimenez and Karina Mohajerani. Not pictured are Ashley Ahlgren and Faith O'Malley.

Bret Harte wrestler Tony Montini wins 120-pound division at Bret Harte Invitational

In a showdown between Bret Harte wrestling teammates, Tony Montini (left) defeated Nick LeDeit to win the medal in the 120-pound weight division at the Bret Harte Invitational last Saturday. The Broncos captured the Bret Harte Invitational tournament.

Both Montini and LeDeit are varsity wrestlers that the team will depend heavily on this year. So far, coach Jeff Brown has his team undefeated in three matches early in the season. Photo by Kevin Jones at www.johub.com.

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