SPORTS

End game

Mustang football season ends with 38-13 loss to Valley
Christian in semifinals of CCS Open School Division playoffs

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Writer

The Pioneer football team saw its’ season come to an end on Nov. 25 with a 38-13 loss to No. 1-ranked Valley Christian in the semifinal round of the CCS Open School Division playoffs at San Jose City College.

Pioneer’s Ken Dorset gets a hold of Warriors running back Mike Ginther during the Mustangs’ season-ending loss on Nov. 25. The Mustangs finished the season with 10 wins and only two losses. Photo by Kevin Jones and Kevin Hubbard at www.johub.com

The loss ended a season in which the Mustangs earned a share of the Mt. Hamilton Division championship with Oak Grove, posting a 6-1 league record, before placing as a No. 5-seed in the CCS Open School Division playoffs. The Mustangs got to the semifinal match-up against the Warriors by posting a 24-6 win the week before over Wilcox in the opening round.

“When you use a sentence that includes St. Francis, Palma, Valley Christian and Pioneer, there’s nothing to be ashamed of, and I’m just so proud of our kids,” said Pioneer Head Coach Mark Krail of his team making it to the final four in the CCS Playoffs.

“I just hope the players see that when players put their heart and soul together, things can be accomplished that no one would ever expect,” he added. “This group was not the most athletic group I’ve ever had but it was the best team I’ve ever coached in 20 years … This team was one group of guys fighting for each other.”

Valley Christian Chancellor Claude Fletcher agrees. Fletcher’s three children graduated from Pioneer so he says he had “somewhat ambivalent feelings about the game. It was a tough game for Valley Christian. The Pioneer team was just great and the players showed great sportsmanship.” He went on to say that Pioneer’s coaching staff should be commended for running an “excellent program.”

Pioneer running back Shaun Souza, in his final game as a Mustang football player, scored on the final offensive play of the night for Pioneer, snagging a screen pass from quarterback Chris Foley and taking it 35 yards for a touchdown with 2:52 left in the game.

Souza said the 2005 Mustang squad was the best team he’s ever been a part of and that the entire squad had nothing to lose in playing the No. 1-ranked team in CCS.

“We couldn’t ask for anything more,” said Souza. “We go out playing No. 1 and we played our hearts out, the whole team. We had an unbelievable year and we’re all going to remember this forever.”

The Mustangs found themselves down early in the game, as the Warriors put up 17 points in the first quarter.

The Warriors wasted little time in getting on the board, scoring on the game-opening kickoff return on an 82-yard return from Bryan North to go up 7-0.

With 6:03 left in the first quarter, the Warriors were on the board again, getting a 29-yard field goal from Ben Hansen to complete a seven-play, 35-yard drive to go up 10-0.

The Mustangs managed to strike back following the Hansen field goal, getting a 77-yard touchdown run from Souza on the third play of their second offensive series to cut the lead to 10-7 with 5:12 to go in the first quarter.

The Warriors struck back quickly however, getting a 42-yard run from Mike Ginther on their next offensive play before Dominique Hunsucker found the end zone with a 23-yard run, giving Valley Christian a 17-7 lead with 4:49 left.

Valley Christian managed one more scoring drive in the first half, completing a drive that began at the end of the first quarter and finished with 11:40 left in the second quarter when Hunsucker scored on a 25-yard run to increase the lead to 24-7.

The Pioneer Mustangs, led by running back Shaun Souza (5), saw their 2005 season come to an end with a 38-13 loss to Valley Christian in the semifinal round of the CCS Open School Division playoffs on Nov. 25. The loss was the final high school football game for Souza and 18 other seniors on the Pioneer squad. Photo by Kevin Jones and Kevin Hubbard at www.johub.com

The Warriors scored twice more in the second half—touchdowns in both the third and fourth quarters—upping the lead to 38-7 on two more Hunsucker touchdown runs, including a 77-yard scramble with 8:26 left in the fourth quarter.

Krail said his defense held up well against Valley Christian’s potent offense, despite the final outcome.

“The defense played great,” said Krail. “You look at the scoreboard and you give up 38 points, you don’t think so, but you take a kickoff out of there and a couple of turnovers … other than that, they defended pretty well. They were on the field a lot tonight. We didn’t run too many offensive plays, so they were out there quite a bit.”

On their final offensive series of the season, the Mustangs engineered an 83-yard, 12-play drive, ending with Souza scoring on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Foley.

“It’s great to end it like that,” Souza said of the last touchdown. “We fought hard all game and it’s just nice to end it on a good note like that.”

In his post game comments, Krail said he felt it was appropriate that Souza scored the final touchdown of the season, given the impact the senior running back had on the program during his tenure at Pioneer.

“He’s just such a warrior,” Krail said of Souza. “He was getting just killed out there tonight but he kept on chugging and kept chugging. I asked him if he needed a rest and he absolutely refused to come off the field, and that kind of speaks to his heart.”

Souza added that he felt a twinge of sadness, knowing that the loss to Valley Christian was his last football game as a high school player.

“I’ve been dreading that this day would come for four years,” said Souza. “It seems like it went by so fast. It’s going to hurt for a while, but you know what, it’s something I’ll remember my whole life. I’m proud of it.”

Councilmember Nancy Pyle presents Pioneer soccer
teams with $1,000 grant to replace stolen goods

By Lorraine Gabbert
Staff Writer

Councilmember Nancy Pyle became Pioneer High School boys’ soccer MVP Monday when she surprised the team with a donation of $1,000 toward the replacement of uniforms and equipment stolen this past summer.

Councilmember Nancy Pyle and Pioneer High School varsity soccer Coach Pedro Fuentez share their enthusiasm for Pioneer’s soccer teams. Pyle presented the varsity and junior varsity soccer teams with an HP grant of $1,000 to replace stolen merchandise.

Pioneer boys’ varsity and junior varsity soccer players and coaches enthusiastically applauded Pyle’s support and her office’s generous contribution, which originated from a Hewlett-Packard grant. “You really captured our hearts when we heard about your equipment being stolen,” said Pyle, “I know how starved schools are for money, especially for sports. We hope this HP grant will help you to get out there and win.”

Due to renovations, the soccer teams’ equipment and uniforms were relocated to storage bins outside the school. Unfortunately, someone stole not only about $2,500 in merchandise, but also threatened the teams’ hopes for a successful season.

However, rather than letting this obstacle block them from their goal, the team rallied, raising $1,100 for replacement items and admittance to the Christmas Cup Tournament, which begins Dec. 9 at 12:15 p.m. at Homestead High School in Cupertino.

“It’s been tough starting the season without uniforms and soccer balls and things we needed,” said varsity soccer Coach Pedro Fuentez to his players. “What happened wasn’t right for anybody to do to our school, and to us, but we went out and we fund-raised. You were professional and you moved on, and I’m proud of you guys.”

Fuentez isn’t sure exactly where the team currently stands financially—but he has no doubts as to the community’s support. In addition to the sizable donation from Nancy Pyle’s office, they have received contributions from previous Pioneer coaches, Pioneer’s Athletic Booster Club, Bay Area Appraisals, Joma Sport and Time Deli. The San Jose Earthquakes have also pledged to provide soccer balls and related equipment.

“I think working with the schools is so important,” said Pyle. “I hope more local businesses will agree and join in our support.”

“It’s just overwhelming,” said Fuentez. “People understand and want to help.”

To Fuentez and the players, most meaningful of all, was the thoughtfulness of Valley Christian High School’s soccer team, which raised $850 for Pioneer’s teams as well as providing them with soccer balls and scrimmage vests. Following Pioneer’s first preseason home game on Nov. 19, the teams met midfield for a poignant presentation [see last week’s Almaden Times]. Pioneer’s soccer players showed their appreciation by reciprocating with small gifts of their own, as well as attending Valley Christian’s tournament game.

“Excellent people have stepped forward in the community to help us,” Fuentez said, “They didn’t have to, but they did, and it touched our hearts.”

He expressed his hopes to the players that they always appreciate how the community reached out to them in their time of need. “This is your history,” he said. “Five to 10 years from now, you may tell this story to other people. In 20 to 40 years, you may tell your own kids about it. Always remember somebody helped you when it’s your turn to help.”

Soccer player Ryan Gall took Fuentez’s words to heart. “This is something I’ll always remember,” he said.

Player Horacio Garcia was also moved. “When we found out we had our equipment stolen, it really put us down,” he said. “But it’s pretty great that people are helping us out. It really says a lot and we’re going to try to win for those people. I just want to say thanks to everybody.”

Pyle hopes that the HP grant, in addition to other donations, will give Pioneer’s boys’ varsity and junior varsity soccer teams a fresh start. “As upsetting as this theft was,” she said, “I’m pleased that our community has come together to help out. I know that these funds will help a winning team get back out on the field where they belong.”

Fuentez agrees. “We’re going to go for that ‘W’ now,” he said, “and win, win, win, baby!”

To contribute to the soccer team, contact Pioneer High School varsity soccer Coach Pedro Fuentez at Pedro_Fuentez@sjusd.org or call (408) 535-6310. Packages may also be sent to Pioneer High School, 1290 Blossom Hill Road, San Jose, CA 95118.

Sports Briefs

Lacrosse coaches needed for local club
South Valley Lacrosse Club is looking for two coaches for their fifth through eighth grade teams. Minimal lacrosse experience is acceptable because the club has a training program. South Valley Lacrosse Club is in its second year and has a lot of positive parent support. Fun activities are planned for the season, including turf time during the San Jose Stealth home game. Have fun with a wonderful sport, work with a great group of kids, and even get paid for it!

Please contact Joy Bender at joy.bender@prodigy.net or 408-679-1297

San Jose Strikkers’ hold softball tryouts
The San Jose Strikkers, a 18U Youth Girls Fast-Pitch Softball team, will hold summer tryouts on Dec. 11, Jan. 8 and 15 at Oak Grove High School. Tryouts for pitchers and catchers begin at 9 a.m., with tryouts for all position players beginning at 10:30 a.m.

For more information, call Frank King (408) 406-8191 or Richard Fangonilo (408) 274-9301, or e-mail fgking25@aol.com or rfangonilo@sjm.com.

High School Sports Schedule

Leland High School
Saturday – Frosh/soph boys’ basketball at Independence, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday – Varsity boys’ basketball at Independence, 7 p.m.

Wednesday – Varsity boys’ basketball at Westmont Tournament, time and opponent TBA
Wednesday – Frosh/soph boys’ basketball vs. Pioneer at Leigh Tournament, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday – Varsity boys’ basketball at Westmont Tournament, time and opponent TBA
Thursday - Frosh/soph boys’ basketball at Leigh tournament, time and opponent TBA

Pioneer High School
Friday – Varsity football vs. Valley Christian in semifinals of CCS Playoffs at San Jose City College, 7 p.m.

Tuesday – Varsity boys’ basketball vs. Lynbrook, 7 p.m.
Tuesday – Frosh/soph boys’ basketball vs. Lynbrook, 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Frosh/soph boys’ basketball vs. Leland at Leigh Tournament, 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday – Varsity girls’ basketball at Pioneer Classic, time and opponent TBA

Thursday – Varsity boys’ basketball at Aptos Tournament, time and opponent TBA
Thursday - Frosh/soph boys’ basketball at Leigh Tournament, time and opponent TBA
Thursday – Varsity girls’ basketball at Pioneer Classic, time and opponent TBA
Thursday – Varsity boys’ soccer at Lincoln, 3:15 p.m.
Thursday – Frosh/soph boys’ soccer at Lincoln, 3:15 p.m.

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

Pioneer Athletics:
www.phsathletics.com

Leland Athletics:
www.lelandathletics.com

Blossom Valley Athletic League:
www.bval.org

For more complete and up to date schedules on CCS playoffs, go to:
www.cifccs.org

High School Scoreboard

Nov. 22
Pioneer boys’ basketball 67-51 win at Prospect

Leland boys’ soccer 3-2 loss vs. Branham

Nov. 25
Pioneer girls’ soccer 1-0 win at Notre Dame-San Jose

Leland boys’ soccer 0-0 tie vs. Evergreen at Lovato Cup Tournament

Nov. 26
Pioneer girls’ soccer 1-1 tie vs. Burlingame in Burlingame Tournament

Pioneer boys’ soccer 2-2 tie vs. Lynbrook at Homestead Christmas Cup Tournament

Annual alumni game sees current Chargers top alumni 57-39

Chargers pick up first season win three days later with 96-64 final over 76ers

By Diego Abeloos
Sports Writer

The Leland boys’ basketball team celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday the same way it has in years past—hosting the Leland alumni basketball game on Nov. 23.

The annual event, which pits the current boys’ basketball squad against a team of players from years past, saw another win from the current basketball squad, a 57-39 final.

Leland’s Scott Lucas goes up for a dunk during a 95-64 win over Independence on Nov. 26. Photo courtesy www.mikejanes.com

The event drew several participants from last year’s squad, including former forwards Danny Hamouie and Isaias Asfaha, giving the 2005-06 Chargers a tough competitor in the exhibition.

“It was a good group of guys,” Leland Head Coach Dave Frandsen said of the challenge posed by the alumni squad. “There weren’t too many, so that the good guys couldn’t play a lot. They played quite a bit of the time, which was good for us. It made us press a little more than we needed to in the first half before we found our rhythm in the second half.”

The alumni appeared to get the better of the current Chargers in the early going, building up a 14-12 lead at the end of the first quarter and going into halftime with a 20-19 edge.

But the current Chargers got the best of their former teammates and classmates in the second half, letting the defense hold the alumns at bay while the offense went to work, scoring 37 points in the second half to pull out the win.

“It was all geared by our defense starting to go a little bit. I think that’s where we really have to buckle down on, how our defense can create more offense for us,” said Frandsen. “Hopefully we can get that going a little more aggressively.”

For Hamouie, coming back to Leland and participating in his first alumni game was a strange experience.

“It was weird but it was bittersweet,” said Hamouie, who redshirted this season as a member of the Foothill College men’s basketball team. “Seeing everyone back here, it was nice. It was pretty fun and something to remember.”

The alumni game also served as a tune-up for Hamouie, who suffered a severely sprained left ankle during his first day of practice with Foothill, keeping the college freshman off the practice court for more than two months. The alumni game was Hamouie’s first action back on the court against an opponent other than his Foothill teammates.

“It was fun, but coming from practice to here, it was more exhausting than I thought it would be,” Hamouie said. “I didn’t have my legs today, but it was fun coming back.”

Several of Hamouie’s teammates from last year’s team also participated in this year’s alumni game, including Asfaha (who currently plays basketball at De Anza), Logan Foos (who currently plays football at Cabrillo College), Kyle Yoshioka and Nate Cheung.

For Hamouie, the alumni game also served as a reunion of sorts.

“We’re going to go hang out tonight,” Hamouie said of seeing his former teammates again. “It was fun seeing everyone come back and finding out how out of shape everyone is.”

Likewise, Frandsen said he enjoyed seeing a bevy of his former players come back and participate in the game.

“All those guys, with most of them I was either the (athletic director) here or whatever, so it was nice to see them,” Frandsen said. “It was hard to coach against them because when you call a play they might know, they jump the passing lanes. So it does make it a little more difficult for us to run our offense.”

The alumni game also served as a tune-up for the current Chargers in anticipation of their Nov. 26 match-up against Independence, marking the start of their 2005-06 season. Following the alumni game, Frandsen said he was eager to get the season going.

“We’re getting a little tired of playing against ourselves in practice,” said Frandsen. “I think that’s one reason why we took a long time to get going today. We just couldn’t find that pattern and that rhythm that we needed to have for game tempo.”

The Chargers won their 2005-06 season debut, a lopsided 95-64 win over the 76ers to start the season at 1-0.

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