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THE ALUMNI PAGE FORMER EAST COUNTY STANDOUTS
These are capsules; click link (next line) for full stories on each sport |
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MLB Draft 2015
Final day of the MLB Draft sees four more drafted
By Bill Dickens
© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (6-11-15) — Four more East County athletes were selected in the third and final day of the Major League Baseball free agent draft on Wednesday (June 10).
Longtime East County baseball standout FRANK CALIFANO, a product of Steele Canyon, has been a record breaker at Youngstown State University (Ohio). The junior southpaw was drafted as a centerfielder by the Chicago White Sox with the 562nd pick in the 19th round.
Other East County athletes selected in the final round include Granite Hills third baseman JORDAN VERDON, who was the 719th pick in the 21st round by the New York Mets.
The list continues with El Capitan-Southwestern College graduate KEVIN GINKEL, who was taken as the 771st pick in the 26th round by the Boston Red Sox.
Not to be overlooked was ROBBY NESOVIC, a 6-foot-4, 210 pound corner infielder off the UC Santa Barbara campus in the 27th round by the Atlanta Braves. In his last season with the Gauchos he batted .342 with 40 RBI.
Nesovic played 3 years of varsity baseball and basketball for the Grossmont High Foothillers. As a pitcher in his junior year he posted a 1.02 ERA with an 11-0 record and hit .418 with 6 HRs. He helped Grossmont to 3 league championships and a CIF Section championship his sophomore year.
Under the leadership of MICKEY DEUTSCHMAN, Nesovic was a standout pitcher-infielder for the San Diego Stars semi-pro baseball team.
“We just try to make ballplayers. That’s all we care about,” said Deutschman. “Nesovic could make it as a pitcher or an infielder.”
During the 40-round draft, seven East County baseball players heard their name called. KYLE HOLDER went to the Yankees in the first round; pitcher CODY POTEET was selected in the fourth round by the Miami Marlins; catcher JESSE JENNER was the seventh round choice of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Poteet and Jenner both go on day two of the MLB Draft
© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (6-10-15) — When CODY POTEET was a freshman at Christian High in 2009, he was one of the hardest throwing pitchers in San Diego County. Strikeouts was the name of his game as he registered 78 punchouts in 71 innings en route to a 9-1 record as a freshman. That was the spark of a bright future.
Poteet eventually received a scholarship to UCLA for the last three seasons.
The junior right-handed pitcher was selected on day two of the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft on Tuesday (June 9). The 6-foot-1, 188-pound Poteet was selected by the Miami Marlins as the 116th overall pick in the fourth round.
Poteet set career-bests in wins and ERA this season at UCLA, posting a 7-1 record with a 2.45 ERA in 27 appearances (13 starts). His 68 strikeouts ranked second on the team and he held opposing batters to a .230 average over 73.1 innings. A two-time Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention selection, Poteet has racked up 14 wins in his career at UCLA and currently ranks second on the team in career starts (39).
A Bonita native, Poteet was previously selected out of high school in the 27th round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals.
JESSE JENNER CLIMBS LADDER
Former Steele Canyon High and Grossmont College standout JESSE JENNER, a senior catcher at the University of San Diego, was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals with the 221st pick in seventh round of Tuesday’s (June 9) second day of the 2015 MLB Draft.
Jenner, an All-WCC selection the past two seasons, posted a .314 batting average in 2015 with two home runs and 27 RBI, while playing exceptional defense (.995 fielding percentage).
Jenner, who resides in Jamul, batted .348 in his junior season, his first with the Toreros. He began his career at Cal State Fullerton, then transferred to Grossmont College, before winding up at USD for his final two years.
The final day featuring rounds 11-40 will be tomorrow, June 10, beginning at 9:00 a.m. PT. The final day can be watched live on MLB.com.
Holder Drafted in First Round by Yankees
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Photo courtesy of USD Athletic Communications. |
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (6-9-15) — University of San Diego junior shortstop KYLE HOLDER, a product of Grossmont College, was selected in the first round, No. 30 pick overall, in the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft by the New York Yankees.
Holder is the seventh San Diego student-athlete to capture West Coast Conference Player of the Year honors since 2007 and the third consecutive.
Named to the 30-player Golden Spikes Award Watch List, Holder hit .387 with 13 doubles, two triples, one home run and 19 RBI during league play. The junior shortstop turned in a .976 fielding percentage, committing just three errors in 127 chances and contributed to 10 double plays during WCC games. Overall, Holder hit .348 with 78 hits, 14 doubles, two triples, four home runs, and had 31 RBI.
Holder is also currently a semi-finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, which honors the nation's best collegiate shortstop.
If he elects to sign, Holder could make up to $1-million dollars signing bonus.
NCAA DIVISION I ROWING
Gross stroking her way to National award
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Photo courtesy of Bob Solorio/Sacramento State Athletic Communications |
© East County Sports.com
SACRAMENTO (6-4-15) — Sacramento State senior KIM GROSS, a product of Santana High, was the recipient of the National Scholar-Athlete Award announced by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA).
The award recognizes rowing student-athletes with a 3.5 or higher cumulative grade point average, are at least a sophomore athletically and have competed in an NCAA eligible boat in 75 per cent of the team’s races.
In addition, Gross has received the honor three consecutive seasons, or every year she’s been eligible for the award. She became the sixth Hornet rower to earn the award three times.
Gross sat at stroke with the varsity eight with the first six races of the season, despite battling injuries. After missing two regattas due to injuries she returned during the final weekend of the season to stroke the second varsity eight to a Bronze Medal at the American Athletic Conference Championship.
A second team All-WIRA (Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association) pick last year, Gross has competed with the varsity eight or second varsity eight each of the last three years. She has won a number of academic accolades over that time, including being names to Conference USA’s Honor Roll last year.
Gross was a Grossmont Conference Player of the Year in girls basketball while at Santana.
Former Granite Hills star receives Tony Gwynn Award
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Photo courtesy of John Bryne, Nevada athletic communications. |
Special to East County Sports.com
RENO, Nev. (6-3-15) — Former Granite Hills High star now at Nevada has been named Mountain West Player of the Year, receiving the inaugural award named for former San Diego State head baseball coach.
Nevada sophomore outfielder/pitcher TRENTON BROOKS was selected for the Mountain West's Tony Gwynn Player of the Year trophy.
Brooks helped Nevada to the Mountain West regular season championship this season. The 6-foot, 170-pound Brooks batted .364 with three home runs and 51 RBIs. In addition, the left-hander went 4-1 on the mound with a 3.23 ERA.
"It's an absolute honor to receive this award," Brooks said. "Growing up in San Diego and looking up to Tony Gwynn makes it extremely special to me. I'm at a loss for words right now. I am just extremely thankful."
Utah baseball: Freshman pitcher Jayson Rose earns Pac-12 honorable mention
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Photo courtesy of Univeristy of Utah. Jayson Rose (Granite Hills) lead Utah in ERA (3.54) and strikeouts (68) during the 2015 season. |
By Matt Piper and Kyle Goon
Special to East County Sports.com
SALT LAKE CITY (6-3-15) — Utes starter and former Granite Hills standout JAYSON ROSE was the only Ute to earn Pac-12 honors on the heels of a 16-36-1 season (7-22-1 for last place in the Pac-12). Rose led the team with 68 strikeouts, No. 8 in the conference, and had a team-best 3.54 ERA. He earned Pac-12 pitcher of the week earlier in the season.
In another down season for Utah baseball, there's a ray of hope: The Utes have young talent, and one of their most promising hurlers earned all-conference honors this year.
The youthful Rose (3-5) as Utah's Sunday starter this season, earned all-Pac-12 honorable mention as the league announced its top players and coaches.
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Reliever Andrew Bellatti impresses again for Rays
By Marc Topkin, Staff Writer
Courtesy Tampa Bay Times
MINNEAPOLIS (5-22-15) — Rookie RHP ANDREW BELLATTI, former Steele Canyon standout, impressed again Saturday in his second solid outing since his unexpected call-up to the Tampa Bay Rays.
And though the end result was being sent back to Triple-A Durham, as the Rays are activating infielder Nick Franklin off the disabled list, Bellatti certainly showed worthy of further opportunity.
"He came up here and did everything he could possibly do to showcase himself really well," manager Kevin Cash said. "I would definitely envision (that) he put himself in that mix when we need arms."
Bellatti, 23, who got the win in his May 9 debut, came on in the fourth Saturday with the Rays down 3-1 and kept it there, working 2 2/3 scoreless innings, most impressive in the sixth when he allowed a walk and a double then struck out the next three.
"I've just tried to kind of come in and go for it," Bellatti said. "Not really hold anything back, not really shy away from anyone. I feel like I've held my own pretty well."
NCAA DIVISION I BASEBALL
Holder named WCC Player of the Year
By Chris Davis
© East County Sports.com
SAN BRUNO (5-21-15) — Former Grossmont College shortstop KYLE HOLDER (University City/Grossmont College) was awarded the West Coast Conference Player of the Year award on Wednesday (May 20). Holder and JESSE JENNER are both former Griffins to be playing for the WCC Coach of the Year Rich Hill for the 2015 WCC regular season champions.
Holder led the Toreros with a .357 average over his 213 at bats while playing in all 52 games this season. Kyle was second on the team with 13 doubles to go along with a pair of triples and a trio of home runs. Holder was involved in 25 of the 34 double plays that USD turned this season.
Jenner (Steele Canyon/Grossmont College) was third this regular season on the Toreros in batting average in slightly limited play this season. The senior catcher hit .327 (48-147) in a limited 41 games (39 starts) for the Blue and White. Jenner was slow to start this season due to injuries he sustained at the end of summer ball last year. The two time All-East County Sports.com member had 10 extra base hits with 35 RBI. Defensively, Jenner threw out over a quarter of runners attempting to steal against him.
USD (32-20, 19-8 WCC) is the top seed in this weekend’s WCC tournament being held at Banner Island Ballpark on the Stockton riverfront. Banner Island Ballpark is celebrating its 10th anniversary season this year and is the home of the Stockton Ports (Oakland A’s affiliate) of the California League.
NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Cole in NCAA Big Dance
© East County Sports.com
NORTHRIDGE (3-30-15) — Former West Hills High girls basketball standout EMILY COLE, now a sophomore at Cal State Northridge, is the 6th man on a team with five senior starters.
She played for the second year in a row in the NCAA tournament. CSUN was a 13 seed and played 4th seed Stanford. The CSUN Matadors lost 73-60 but led by one point at the half.
NCAA DIVISION I SOFTBALL
Bauer goes record deep
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Photo courtesy of SDSU Athletics/ goaztecs.com |
© East County Sports.com
BOISE (3-30-15) — LORENA (KLOPP) BAUER set a San Diego State single game record with three home runs and seven RBI to lift the Aztecs softball team to a 16-2 five inning rout of Boise State Saturday (Mar. 28) in Idaho.
A graduate of Steele Canyon High School, Bauer, a pitcher-first baseman, went 4 for 4 at the plate with three runs. She is batting at a .400 clip and has 10 homers and 38 RBI this season. She has 51 career home runs in 185 games.
Her second inning home run was her second grand slam of the season.
NCAA DIVISION II BASKETBALL
Ogden goes back-to-back
By Chris Davis
© East County Sports.com
SAINT GEORGE, UT (3-5-15) — Former Grossmont College Griffin forward MARK OGDEN, JR. captured his second consecutive conference championship on Saturday (Feb. 28).
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Image courtesy of Dixie State University |
Last year (2013-14) Ogden help lead the Griffins to the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference Northern division title. And in his first season at the NCAA Division II level, he captures another title, this time the Pacific West Conference's title (Co-title with Azusa Pacific) and the top seed in the upcoming PacWest Tournament.
Ogden started all 26 games that he appeared in this season. He averaged 27 minutes per contest while hitting on 51.6 percent of his 190 shots. He averaged 10.7 points and seven rebounds per contest for the Red Storm.
Dixie State will face BYU-Hawai’i in the semi-finals tonight (March 6). If Dixie passes that test, they will probably face Azusa Pacific who is led by TROY LEAF from Foothills Christian.
Tournament finals are Saturday (Mar. 7) at 4:15 p.m. at Concordia University in Irvine.
| NCAA DIVISION II FOOTBALL
© Special to East County Sports.com
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (12-21-14) — Former Grossmont College Griffin quarterback CHRIS BONNER has helped CSU-Pueblo win its first NCAA Div. II football championship.
Colorado State-Pueblo’s seven-year climb to the national championship podium is complete.
And the ThunderWolves didn't wait until the final gun to begin the celebration of their NCAA Division II title with a 13-0 victory over Minnesota State on Saturday.
With about 35 seconds remaining, when it became apparent the ThunderWolves would not be required to take another snap, the players and coaches on their sideline spilled onto the field, arms raised in triumph.
Later, head coach John Wristen fought back tears explaining the program’s remarkable journey from restoration to national title.
"I wanted to be part of something special to Pueblo, Colorado," Wristen said. "We just put our head down and went to work." |
PRO FOOTBALL: Mills signs with CFL's Blue Bombers
© East County Sports.com
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (7-14-14) Former University of San Diego quarterback MASON MILLS, the 2013 Pioneer League player of the year, has been signed to the practice roster of the undefeated Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTPITCH: Gators' Gourley fires no-hitter in NCAA opener
© East County Sports.com
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (5-18-14) In her first appearance for the University of Florida back in February, El Capitan High product DELANIE GOURLEY established a school milestone with the program's 800th all-time victory.
On Friday, the left-hander achieved a personal milestone.
In the opening game of the NCAA Regional, Gourley tossed a no-hitter in her first collegiate postseason outing, leading the Gators past Florida A&M, 8-0. With the victory she raised her record to 14-1.
COLLEGE BASEBALL: Gold Glove for Foothills Christian
alum Lewis
© East County Sports.com
KANSAS CITY, Mo, (5-17-14) Foothills Christian
High graduate CODY LEWIS, a former catcher, finished
his junior season at Avila University of the Heart of
America Athletic Conference with a 1.000 fielding percentage
in 20 chances, helping him earn the Rawlings Gold Glove
Award as a pitcher.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTPITCH: Beintema to be enshrined
in Rider Hall of Fame
© East County Sports.com
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. (5-14-14) Former Grossmont
High spftball player HEATHER "Cali" BEINTEMA,
who also played for a variety of club and travel ballclubs
in the East County at the turn of the century, is the
classic case of a late bloomer.
Despite limited playing time as a non-descript ballplayer
as a teenager, one minor opportunity to pitch transformed
Beintema's life into a career in softball, leading to
next month's induction into the Athletics Hall of Fame
at Rider University (NCAA Division I).
COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTPITCH: Johnson 'ramms' to Utah
State strikeout record
© East County Sports.com
LAS VEGAS (5-13-14) Former West Hills High standout
NOELLE
JOHNSON has established a new
single-season strikeout record for Utah State.
Johnson, a sophomore, needed to go down to the final
weekend of the regular season, yet reached the Aggies
milestone in a season-finale loss at UNLV at Eller Media
Softball Field. The record-breaking strikeout came in
the 2nd inning, when Emily Haslinger struck out swinging
for the second out. The strikeout was Johnson's 218th
of the season, passing Mary Lou Ramm who had 217 in
1980.
COLLEGE BASEBALL: Cederoth Earns Second MWC Pitcher
of the Week Award
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (5-13-14) San Diego State junior right-hander
MICHAEL CEDEROTH has been named the Mountain West Conference
Pitcher of the Week for games played from May 5-11.
It marks the second such honor of the season for Cederoth,
a Steele Canyon High alum, who made three appearances
out of the bullpen last week recording a win and a pair
of saves.
PRO FOOTBALL: Vaqueros seeking berths with NFL Cardinals
© East County Sports . com
GLENDALE, Ariz. (5-8-14) A pair of El Capitan
High graduates are making an impact for the Arizona
Cardinals of the National Football League.
Quarterback RYAN
LINDLEY is taking snaps for the Cardinals in spring
drills, while 6-foot-4, 309-pound TOMMIE
DRAHEIM is toiling as an offensive lineman in his
second season.
COLLEGE BASEBALL: Jenner receives National player of
the week laurels
© East County Sports.com
INDIANAPOLIS (4-7-14) JESSE JENNER, a recent
member of the San Diego Stars semipro baseball team,
has been named the NCAA National Player of the Week,
as selected by Collegiate Baseball.
Jenner, a catcher for the University of San Diego,
was also named West Coast Conference player of the week.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTPITCH: Vanguard duo star in homecoming
By Nick Pellegrino
© East County Sports.com
SANTEE (3-30-14) A pair of East County products
Grossmont High's RACHEL
STALFORD and West Hills' TAYLOR
HALLAHAN who both captured CIF softball championships,
are finding success at Vanguard University.
On Saturday (Mar. 29), the pair held a homecoming in
front of family and friends, as the Lions played a Golden
State Athletic Conference doubleheader against San Diego
Christian College at Sportsplex USA.
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Troy Conyers
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Delanie Gourley
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Kalob Hatcher
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Kat Canciller-Petty
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Madison Labshere
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Lance Hurdle
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COLLEGE BASEBALL: Conyers stays on roll, clouts
walkoff homer in Top 25 battle
© East County Sports.com
ALCALA PARK (3-13-14) Former El Capitan High
standout TROY CONYERS, the 2012 CIF San Diego Section
player of the year, came through in the clutch in Tuesday's
(Mar. 12) Top 25 showdown. VIDEO/INTERVIEW
Conyers, a sophomore, clouted a walk-off 2-run homer
in the bottom of the 10th inning, lifting the No. 24
USD Toreros past No. 8 Cal State Fullerton, 5-3, in
a non-conference game at Fowler Park.
COLLEGE BASEBALL: Conyers garners WCC pitcher of the
week laurels
© East County Sports.com
SAN BRUNO (3-6-14) University of San Diego pitcher
TROY
CONYERS, a product of El Capitan High, has been
named the West
Coast Conference pitcher of the week for the period
ending Sunday (Mar. 2).
Conyers, a sophomore left-hander, posted a strong start
against Baylor, helping the Toreros gain a berth in
the Baseball America national rankings. Conyers carried
a no-hitter into the sixth inning against the Bears.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTPITCH: Gourley moves to 9-0 for
top-ranked Gators
© East County Sports.com
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (3-10-14) Former El Capitan
High standout DELANIE
GOURLEY captured the series-clinching victory to
open Southeast Conference play, keeping her University
of Florida Gators on top of the national women's fastpitch
rankings.
On Sunday (Mar. 9), Gourley, a freshman, ran her national-leading
record to 9-0 after blanking OIe Miss, 2-0, at KSP Stadium.
The lefty allowed three hits over seven innings with
two walks and four strikeouts, tossing her second shutout
of the year.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTPITCH: Yanitor propels McNeese
State past No. 7 Alabama
© East County Sports.com
TUSCALOOSA , Ala. (2-25-14) Former Steele Canyon
High standout TORI
YANITOR is heavily contributing to a renaissance
in McNeese State women's softball, helping the Cowgirls
race past 7th-ranked Alabama, 5-3, Sunday (Feb. 23).
Yanitor collected two hits, then laid down a perfect
suicide bunt which produced the ho-ahead run against
one of the nation's top pitchers, Jaclyn Traina, in
the final ballgame of the Easton Bama Bash.
The victory was McNeese State's first-ever over Alabama.
COLLEGE MEN'S BASKETBALL: Hatcher warming to home cookin'
Special to East County Sports.com
PORTLAND, Ore. (2-19-14) Its no secret
that the Montana State-Billings mens basketball
team has fared well on the road this season, but until
last weekend it was difficulty on their home court of
Alterowitz Gym that had bogged down the Yellowjackets.
MSUBs hopes of earning a berth in the Great Northwest
Athletic Conference championships were restored on Thursday
(Feb. 13), when senior point guard KALOB HATCHER (Foothills
Christian) led the Jackets past visiting Western
Washington in a 102-101 overtime thriller that snapped
a 5-game losing skid and kept MSUB in the postseason
conversation.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S SOFTBALL: Canciller-Petty makes Hawks
history
Scores game-winning run in debut contest
© East County Sports.com
SANTEE (2-18-14) The debut of the new San Diego
Christian College women's softball program proved to
be a success... with an East County flavor.
The Hawks scored the game-tying run in the bottom of
the 7th inning, then Santana High product KAT CANCILLER-PETTY
rambled to score the game-winning run during International
Tiebreaker play in the 8th en route to a 6-5 decision
over Embry-Riddle University.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S SOFTBALL: Labshere is UVa's ray of
sunshine
© East County Sports.com
CONWAY, S.C. (2-17-14) The University of Virginia
women's softball team continues to re-build thanks to
Valhalla High product MADSION
LABSHERE.
Participating at the Coastal Carolina's Kickin' Chicken
Tournament, Labshere batted 4-for-4 with an RBI, although
the Cavaliers (1-7) dropped a 7-2 decision to Towson.
For her effort, Labshere was the lone UVa player selected
to the all-tournament team.
COLLEGE BASEBALL: Aztecs pitcher Cederoth named preseaon
All-America
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (2-17-14) San Diego State and former
Steele Canyon High pitcher MICHAEL
CEDEROTH has been named to preseason All American
team by Baseball America.
LOCAL PROS: Another Hurdle to the NBA
© East County Sports.com
SANTA CRUZ (2-16-14) Following a successful season
playing professional basketball in Australia, Helix
High alum LANCE
HURDLE has climbed another step on the ladder to
the NBA, coming to California next week as a member
of the Springfield (Mass.) Armor of the NBA Development
League (the 'D' League).
The Armor will appear in Santa Cruz for a two-game
series with the West Division co-leading Warriors (18-12)
on Thurs.-Fri., Feb. 20-21, then come to the Southland
to meet the Los Angeles D-Fenders (also 18-12), the
farm team to the L.A. Lakers, on Mon., Feb. 24.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Williamson pouring home
the points
Special to East County Sports.com
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (2-10-14) Two of her best scoring
efforts by former Mount Miguel High guard DANESIA WILLIAMSON
included a career high 36 points, marking her fourth
game this season to score 30 or more points for New
Mexico State as the Aggies edged Seattle, 86-81. on
Saturday (Feb. 8).
COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTPITCH: It
only takes one game for Gourley to reach Florida record
book
Freshman from El Capitan registers save in Gators'
800th all-time victory
© East County Sports.com
TAMPA , Fla. (2-8-14) The collegiate debut of
University of Florida pitcher DELANIE GOURLEY ( El Capitan
) came 24 hours sooner than expected.
Slated to start Saturday (Feb. 8) against Michigan
in the USF Wilson-DeMarini Tournament, instead Gourley
was called upon to make a piece of Gators history.
With Florida clinging to a 3-2 lead, Illinois State
loaded the bases with no outs in the 7th inning, so
Gurley was summoned from the bullpen. The freshman registered
three straight outs a pair on strikeouts
to garner the save in a triumph over the Redbirds.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTPITCH:
Day to remember in Hutchison's
debut
East County Sports.com
TEMPE, Ariz. (2-7-14) Following an explosive
opening debut to her collegiate career, perhaps former
Steele Canyon High standout MOLLY HUTCHISON should immediately
quit NCAA play and immediately take another step up
to National Pro Fastpitch.
On Thursday (Feb. 6), Hutchison smashed a pair of home
runs for North Carolina State, which is participating
in the Kajikawa Classic.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Miller
calls out her attack as UNLV leader
By Todd Dewey
Las Vegas Review-Journal
LAS VEGAS (2-7-14) UNLV junior guard DANIELLE
MILLER (43) is being counted on as stopper, scorer and
leader this season for the Lady Rebels (9-12, 6-3 Mountain
West).
As a freshman reserve, UNLV shooting guard Millers
role was to be a defensive stopper. As a sophomore starter,
she was expected to help carry the scoring load for
the Lady Rebels.
One of four team captains for UNLV (9-12, 6-3 Mountain
West), the fiery junior mostly leads with her voice.
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Frank Foster
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL:Norsemen alum Foster heading to NC
A&T
By David Dickens
© East County Sports.com
GREENSBORO, N.C. (1-23-14) When you think about
all around success in an athlete, former Valhalla High
and Southwestern College quarterback FRANK FOSTER comes
to mind. Foster finished a brilliant season with the
Jaguars and has accepted a football scholarship to North
Carolina A&T, an NCAA-1 FCS of the Mid Eastern Conference.
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Emily Cole
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COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Cole ignites Northridge
into title chase
© East County Sports.com
NORTHRIDGE (1-17-14) The season had been a sluggish
one for the Cal State Northridge women's basketball
team until West Hills High product EMILY
COLE was given the basketball.
Cole, a three-time first-team All-East County performer,
drained a pair of key 3-point shots to not only gain
an important victory, her shooting may have turned around
the Matadors' season.
In a showdown with first-place Cal Poly, Cole turned
an early 12-11 nail-biter into a big lead with her treys,
as CUSN down the visiting Mustangs, 81-76, Sunday (Jan.
16) at the Matadome.
Since that victory, Northridge (10-12 overall, 6-2
conference) has captured five of six contests, now trailing
Cal Poly by just one game in the Big west Conference.
The rematch is Feb. 13 in San Luis Obispo.
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GDeMartino
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL: DeMartino, Utah State surprises
No. 24 Northern Illinois in Poinsettia Bowl, 21-14
By Nick Pellegrino
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (12-27-13) Utah State running back
JOEY DeMARTINO, a product of Mt. Carmel High and Grossmont
College , found his homecoming to be an excellent way
to cap his collegiate career.
The senior rushed 23 times for 143 yards Thursday (Dec.
26), including a bowl record 58-yard romp, powering the
Aggies to a 21-14 upset of No.24 Northern Illinois in
the 9th annual Poinsettia Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium.
DeMartino's long gainer helped Utah State mount a 6-0
lead, but Northern Illinois rallied for a 7-6 halftime
lead behind Heisman Trophy finalist Jordan Lynch. However,
DeMartino registered the second of two second-half touchdowns
on a 1-yard run, to fuel the rally.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Former Griffins standout DeMartino
leads Utah State to Poinsettia Bowl
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (12-24-13) Former Grossmont College
running back JOEY DeMARTINO, who led the Griffins in
rushing in 2009, will return to San Diego with his Utah
State teammates to face Northern Illinois in the Poinsettia
Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium on Thursday (Dec. 26).
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Garret Campbell
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Another national All-Academic honors
for Campbell
© East County Sports.com
PERU, Neb. (12-23-13) For the second straight
year, former Foothills Christian High football player
GARRET CAMPBELL, senior marketing major, has been honored
as a 2013 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Harris' Buffaloes advance to NCAA
D-2 quarterfinals
© East County Sports.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio (11-30-13) Former standout East
County running back AARON HARRIS, a product of Granite
Hills High and Southwestern College, is the starting
tailback for the West Texas A&M Buffaloes.
West Texas A&M, the No. 6 seed, has advanced to
the third round of the NCAA Division II national playoffs
by defeating the No. 3 seed Indianapolis University
27-14 and then knocking off No. 2 seed Ohio Dominican
University 34-27 on Saturday (Nov. 30).
Falcons' Toilolo in line for start vs. Bills
© East County Sports.com
TORONTO, Ontario (11-29-13) Atlanta Falcons tight
end LEVINE TOIILOLO, a former Helix High standout, may
be in line for his first NFL start when future Hall
of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez was listed as questionable
for Sunday's (Dec. 1) game against the Buffalo Bills.
Gonzalez, the league's career leader in receptions
by a tight end (1,300), has missed just three starts
since becoming a starter with Kansas City in 1998, but
a nagging toe injury could sideline the star.
Toilolo has played in all 11 games for the Falcons
this season. He has 10 catches, two good for touchdowns.
Miller leads CSUSM to Classic crown
© East County Sports.com
REDDING, Calif. (11-25-13) Former West Hills
High standout SHERIKA
MILLER, a three-time All-East County honoree, is
enjoying her new home at Cal State San Marcos.
Miller, a transfer from San Francisco State, started
her second season with the Cougars by tossing in a game-high
15 points, powering the Cougars to the championship
of Simpson College's TCSA/DAP Hoops Classic by stopping
Corban ( Ore. ) College, 63-59, Saturday (Nov. 23).
Santana
Athletics Hall of Fame inductees |
|
Santana High celebrated the
induction of its inaugural class to the school's
new Athletics
Hall of Fame during a dinner held prior to
Friday's (Nov. 1)
homecoming football game against Mount Miguel.
A total of 20 of the Sultans
greatest athletes and coaches from the school's
first 44 years were named.
The list of inductees were: Rebecca Aase, Mike
Bass, Leon Bender,
Brien Bickerton, D.J. Busch, Mary Daniels, Terry
Forster, Nelson Gerhart,
Todd Harper, Jerry Henson, Kyle Hypes, Eileen
Maul, Laura Moir,
Shirley Moir, Jackie Turpin, Chris Sherman, Wade
Vickery,
Desiree Weimann and Joe Whipple.
In addition, GUHSD board member Vic Hoy, a former
Santana instructor,
announced the construction of a new events center,
to be placed in front
of the campus in front of the 100 Building along
Magnolia Avenue.
(Photo by Rhoads Brian)
ADDITIONAL
PHOTOS HERE
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Mills named
finalist for Walter Payton Award
© East County Sports.com
PHILADELPHIA (11-13-13) University of San Diego
quarterback MASON MILLS (Christian/Coronado high schools)
has been named among the finalist for the 27th annual
Walter Payton Award, given to the nation's top player
in the FCS (NCAA Division 1-A).
Mills made the list among with Bryan Bennett of Southeastern
Louisiana and Princeton's Quinn Epperly. All three have
guided their respective schools into first place.
Mills, a 6-foot, 195-pound redshirt senior, hopes to
lead the Toreros to the Pioneer Football League's first
automatic bid to the FCS playoffs - something that would
happen with a Toreros win on Saturday. USD's careerpassing
leader, Mills ranks seventh nationally with 317.6 passing
yards per game, having thrown for 3,176 yards and 32
touchdowns and only five interceptions with 66.6 percent
accuracy (227-of-341). A four-year starter, Mills has
passed for 10,817 yards and 92 touchdowns in his career.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Aztecs' Alesi
nominated for Ray Guy punting award
© East County Sports.com
AUGUSTA, Ga. (10-27-13) San Diego State's JOEL
ALESI, a former standout at Christian High, has been
announced as a nominees for the 2013 Ray Guy Award,
which identifies the nations top collegiate punter.
Among the 85 candidates are 2012 finalist, Kyle Christy
of Florida, and 2011 finalist Steven Clark of Auburn.
The award is coordinated by the Augusta Sports Council
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Larceval returns to SJSU following
illness
By Bill Dickens
© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (10-23-13) San Jose State defensive
tackle ANTHONY LARCEVAL is the weekly nominee for the
2013
Discover Orange Bowl-FWAA national Courage Award
that will be announced at the end of the season.
As a junior in 2012, the 6-foot-2, 284-pound Helix
High graduate, Larceval was named second team All-Western
Athletic Conference, but he never made it to the team's
bowl practices. On Dec. 14, 2012, he was admitted to
the hospital and diagnosed with viral meningoencephalitis,
a virus that infects and causes swelling in the brain.
After slipping into unconsciousness, he didn't awake
until Jan. 5, 2013 and completely missed San Jose State
's 29-20 Military Bowl victory over Bowling Green on
Dec. 27, 2012. Larceval lost 40 pounds and needed outpatient
speech, physical, occupational and recreational therapy
to recover. Although the San Jose State medical staff
said he would miss the 2013 season, Anthony defied the
prognosis and was back with the team at the start of
preseason camp in August.
NASCAR
Chase standings thru Sept. 29
|
1. Matt Kenseth
(2,149 points) +/-0 positions
2. Jimmie Johnson (2,141 points, -8) +1
3. Kyle Busch (2,137 points, -12) -1
4. Kevin Harvick (2,110 points -39) +2
5. Jeff Gordon (2,110 points, -39) +3
6. Greg Biffle (2,108 points, -41) -1
7. Ryan Newman (2,101 points, -48) +2
8. Clint Bowyer (2,098 points, -51) +2
9. Kurt Busch (2,094 points, -55) -2
10. Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2,092 points, -57) +1
11. Carl Edwards (2,084 points, -65) -7
12. Joey Logano (2,083 points, -66) +/-0
13. Kasey Kahne (2,071 points, -78) +/-0 |
AUTO RACING: Johnson goes max for record 8th win at
Dover
Special to East County Sports.com
DOVER, Del. (9-30-13) El Cajon native JIMMIE JOHNSON
earned maximum points in his No. 48 Kobalt Tools Chevrolet
SS on Sunday (Sept. 29) at Dover International Speedway,
leading the most laps en route to his record eighth career
victory at the 1-mile concrete oval. The win moved him
to second in the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship,
just eight points behind leader Matt Kenseth.
I still think its too early to say somebody
can make a move, said Johnson, who has three top-five
finishes in the first three Chase races. You just
dont want to give points up. Today we got max
points, so we didnt leave any on the table, and
we will go to Kansas next week and see what we can do.
Johnson started the 400-lap event from the eighth position
and never fell out of the top-10. He had minimal complaints
about his car and led five times for a race-high 243
laps. As he cruised around the track with fewer than
50 laps remaining, only a final, green-flag pit stop
stood between him and Victory Lane.
PRO FOOTBALL: NFL rookie Toilolo finds the end zone
© East County Sports.com
MIAMI (9-23-13) Former Helix High and Stanford
standout LEVINE TOILOLO, who caught his first NFL pass
last week, did one better this week for the Atlanta
Falcons.
Toilolo, a rookie tight end, caught his first touchdown
pass as a professional Sunday (Sept. 22), although his
Falcons surrendered a 10-point lead in falling to the
Miami Dolphins, 27-23.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Former Griffins All-American impacts
Nevada in D-1 debut
© East County Sports.com
RENO, Nev. (9-8-13) After missing the season
opener against UCLA due to injury, former Grossmont
College All-America linebacker IAN SEAU made the most
of his major college debut Saturday (Sept. 7) for the
Nevada Wolf Pack.
Seau ranked third on the team in tackles, including
a game-high 2.5 stops for losses, leading the Nevada
defense in a 36-7 decision over UC Davis at Mackay Stadium.
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COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Elias begins television
broadcasting career
© East County Sports
FARGO, N.D. (8-12-13) Former Santana High
basketball standout JAIME ELIAS is a long way
from the bright lights of Hollywood, but everyone
needs to start somewhere.
On Monday, Aug. 12), Elias will debut reporting
the news on KVRR-TV
Chl. 15, the Fox network affiliate serving
Fargo, N.D., and Moorhead, Minn.
|
Jaime Elias (left) on signing
day with Biola.
(East County Sports file photo)
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PRO BASEBALL
Padres' O'Sullivan
returns as a Friar father
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (8-1-13) The San Diego Padres today
announced that they have reinstated right-handed pitcher
SEAN OSULLIVAN from paternity leave and have optioned
right-hander Miles Mikolas to Triple-A Tucson. Executive
Vice President/General Manager Josh Byrnes made the
announcement.
OSullivan, 25, was placed on paternity leave
on July 30. He and his wife, Sabrina, welcomed their
first child a baby girl, Hailey Marie -- on Wednesday
(July 31).
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Valhalla's Havird honored
among state's top athletes
© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (7-18-13) Valhalla High graduate
SPENCER HAVIRD has been named a State D2 Senior
Athlete of the Year by Cal-HiSports.com for his
outstanding performance in football and basketball
last season.
The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Havird was a record-breaking
tackler for the Norsemen. The 2012 East County
Defensive Player of the Year will attend Gardner-Webb
University, an NCAA I-FCS institution in Boiling
Springs, N.C.
A three-sport letterman for Valhalla, Havird
led the Norsemen to a 9-4 record in 2012 and a
number 45 ranking in the state. He earned All-State
second team honors from Cal-HiSports.com as one
of the states top 24 defensive players.
He paced the Norsemen with 163 tackles (112 solo),
11 interceptions, 8 tackles for loss, 2 forced
fumbles and 4 fumble recoveries as a safety. The
highlight of his career is he has 23 tackles against
Morse.
Havird was also a standout in basketball and
volleyball. He was the hub of the Valhalla basketball
team, averaging 16.8 points per game, 10.0 rebounds,
3.4 assists and 3.7 steals.
He also anchored the Norsemens volleyball
team.
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Santana alum Kim Gross
switched from basketball
to rowing for the Sacamento State Hornets
(Sacramento State courtesy photo)
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COLLEGE ROWING
Sac State's Gross, former Santana
basketball standout, embarks on
New Orleans volunteer service effort
Courtesy, Sacramento State media relations
NEW ORLEANS (7-19-13) Sacramento State sophomore
rower KIM
GROSS recently embarked upon a one-week volunteer
service trip to New Orleans with SALSC (Student-Athletes
Leading Social Change). The group, which consisted of
18 student-athletes from eight different Universities
around the country, lent a helping hand to an area of
New Orleans still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane
Katrina. The group stayed in a Bunkhouse from July 8-14,
and fulfilled numerous service duties throughout the week
such as painting a school, building benches, weeding gardens,
and sorting through and recycling Mardi Gras beads. Gross
documented each day of her stay in New Orleans and was
kind of enough to share with hornetsports.com.
Monday, July 8
Today was a great first day. After our first meeting
and orientation with HandsOn (organization that provides
volunteer service opportunities in New Orleans), we
got to see a little bit of New Orleans and learn more
about how it was affected by Hurricane Katrina. It's
amazing, from one block to another, you can go from
million dollar homes to houses that haven't been touched
since the day families were forced to evacuate in 2005.
We drove through the Lower Ninth Ward where Brad Pitt
and Angelina Jolie have donated to rebuilding. It was
nice to see that these people were getting help. I liked
that, in order to get a new home, they needed to apply
and do community service as a type of payment. It's
sad to think how much has changed for that neighborhood.
Those families grew up in the same houses for generations
and to see how much it has changed must be hard. We
also got to walk around the French Quarter and see Bourbon
Street. Life is different here, and you can tell that
people have a more laid back approach.
Tuesday, July 9
Today was our first day of work at Sylvanie Williams
College Prep Elementary. Before we started, the dean
gave us background information on the school. He mentioned
that last year was the first time they had a student
get accepted to college. That amazed me. For work, we
were split into two groups: one worked on demolishing
benches and a gazebo in their playground area while
the other painted the third story hallway of the only
building. I thought that demolishing benches wouldn't
be that hard. I was definitely wrong. After working,
we left the school and went to Mardi Gras World, a warehouse/museum
where they make the floats for the largest crews in
New Orleans. It's so different than what people make
it out to be. Hearing the history opened my eyes to
the true culture of New Orleans. Seeing how much time,
effort, and money goes in to this celebration is truly
spectacular.
Wednesday, July 10
Today we went back to the school and finished the projects
that we were working on yesterday. My group worked on
the first floor hallway, while the other group finished
demolishing the gazebo. Once we switched groups after
lunch, our group began sanding all the lumbar and started
the process of building new benches. I was really nervous
about messing up the benches. They just handed me a
piece of paper and power drill, and told me to go for
it. I had never done anything like this and either had
the other two girls that were with me. It turned out
great! Its an amazing feeling to know we're really helping
this school. I can tell that all the athletes here are
doing this because they genuinely care and want to help
people. Its inspiring to be around a group of such humble
young adults that care more about other people than
themselves.
Thursday, July 11
Entering the day, I was nervous that we wouldn't finish
our work at the school. We still had to paint two coats
on the second floor hallway, finish building four benches,
and stain all of them as well. I don't know why I was
even nervous
we got done early! I spent most of
the day staining benches and then also helped in the
hallways. Before we left, all the teachers thanked us
and showed us a cheer that they do at their school with
their students. All of them were so thankful, it was
great to see how enthusiastic they were about starting
their school year with better facilities.
Friday, July 12
Today, we worked at the Vintage Farms at the Arc of
Greater New Orleans. The facility was one of the enterprises
that Arc has built to create jobs for adults with disabilities.
Today, I was put in a group with five other girls and
we were in charge of weeding the gardens that surrounded
the main building. It was overwhelming, but I had a
blast. We got to work with Carry, one of the adults
with a mental disability who works there. He was so
happy to garden, doing a job that many people probably
wouldn't enjoy. Yet, there he was sweating four days
a week and loving every second of it. It was fun talking
to him and seeing how much he knew about all the plants
there. After we finished at the Arc, we went to another
part of Louisiana and went on an airboat tour of one
of the swamps. It was awesome! Now, I know way more
than I need to know about alligators. The swamp was
a different kind of beauty than I'm used to seeing in
Sacramento and San Diego (her hometown). The houses
on the swamp were amazing and it was great to see that
part of Louisiana.
Saturday, July 13
Today was a great way to end the trip. We worked with
the Arc organization again at one of their other enterprises,
sorting and recycling Mardi Gras beads. Everyone had
a really good time doing this, and naturally, we were
all competing to sort the most beads. As a whole, we
sorted through 2,000 pounds of beads! I think we all
wanted to stay longer and see how much we could get
done, but you could tell everyone was really happy with
how much we did. To end the day, we went to the French
Quarter and got to see the last of the French Market
before it closed down for the day. While we were there,
a few of us tried alligator on a stick. I feel weird
saying this, but it was actually very good. We also
got to have a nice dinner at Manning's, Peyton Manning's
restaurant. Sitting down at dinner, it was neat to see
how close everyone had become. It was like I was having
dinner with old friends, not people that I had just
met six days ago. Overall, I am very thankful for this
experience. I think being student-athletes, we have
a great platform to help throughout our communities
where our schools are located. I know this has opened
my eyes, and I can't wait to explore some ways to help
in Sacramento.
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PRO BASEBALL: O'Sullivan
named Padres starting pitcher vs. Giants
© East County Sports . com
EL CAJON (7-11-13) The San Diego Padres announced
SEAN O'SULLIVAN (Valhalla High/Grossmont College/San
Diego Stars) will have his contract purchased from Tucson
(AAA) and he will be the starting pitcher for Friday's
(July 12) game against the World Champion San Francisco
Giants at Petco Park at 7:10 p.m.
The 6-foot-1, 240-pound right-hander posted a 7-4 record
with a 3.88 ERA for the Tucson Padres in the Pacific
Coast League. He posted 90 strikeouts and walked only
29 in 102 innings for the Padres AAA club.
OSullivan, who previously pitched for the Angels
(2009-10), Kansas City Royals (2010-12) and Toronto
Blue Jays (2012), signed a Minor League contract with
the San Diego Padres. This will be his first time to
shine in front of his home fans.
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Sarah (Dawson) Kerr
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COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTPITCH: Dawson Kerr honored as greatest
Southland pitcher
© East County Sports.com
FRISCO, Texas (6-10-13) SARAH
(DAWSON) KERR, arguably the greatest softball pitcher
from the East County in the 20th Century, gained another
honor nearly two decades after gaining Player of the
Year laurels in National Pro Fastpitch.
Kerr, the former Christian High standout, was named
the Southland Conference's all-time pitcher as part
of its 50th anniversary team. Pitching for Northeast
Louisiana University (now Louisiana-Monroe), she established
records which still stand today while powering the Redhawks
to their lone NCAA Tournament appearance in 1997.
"The Southland Conference has a storied softball
history, and our collective success is a big part of
the Conference's 50th anniversary celebration,"
said conference commissioner Tom Burnett. "All
members, past and present, have played a big role in
our competitive and academic achievements."
In her ULM career, Kerr was a four-time all-Southland
choice from 1994-97, and was the 1994 and 1997 Player
of the Year, and earned 1996 and 1997 all-Tournament
honors. She is the Southland and ULM's all-time wins
leader in a season (45) and career (120), and also holds
the circuit's strikeout marks in a season (445) and
career (1,280) among many other marks.
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Nicole Randle
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COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTPITCH: Randle gains Missouri Valley
honors
© East County Sports.com
DES MOINES, Iowa (5-25-13) Former Steele Canyon
High standout NICOLE RANDLE, who now stars for Drake University,
has been named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference first
team, as voted by conference coaches.
Randle, a junior left fielder, led the Bulldogs with
a .373 batting average (.467 in MVC action) and 41 RBI,
the third-highest total in school history.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Bonner gains starting QB berth in Colorado
By Joe E. Cervi, The Pueblo Chieftain
PUEBLO, Colo. (4-25-13) Grossmont College alum
CHRIS BONNER was congratulated by Colorado State-Pueblo
head coach John Wristen after being named outstanding
quarterback during the ThunderWolves spring practice sessions
Saturday (Apr. 20) during halftime of the team's spring
game at the ThunderBowl.
Bonner had such a good spring at quarterback for CSUP
that he won the Mick McCall Award honoring the position.
LOCAL PROS:
Lakeside's Draheim signs with KC Chiefs
By Bill Dickens
© East County Sports.com
LAKESIDE (4-5-13) Former El Capitan High
offensive line standout TOMMIE DRAHEIM has signed
with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The 6-foot-4, 309-pound Draheim played left tackle
and center at San Diego State, earning All-Mountain
West Conference honors in 2011.
Draheim was originally signed as a free agent
by the Green Bay Packers but was one of the final
cuts two years ago. He also spent a season on
the practice squad for the Seattle Seahawks but
is looking for a new beginning with the Chiefs.
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LOCAL PROS: Bogotay signs with NFL Browns
By Bill Dickens
© East County Sports.com
CLEVELAND (4-3-13) Former Grossmont College kicker
BRANDON BOGOTAY has signed a contract with the National
Football Leagues Cleveland Browns.
The 6-foot-3, 207-pound Bogotay, a product of Patrick
Henry High who kicked for the Griffins in 2008, concluded
his collegiate career on a football scholarship to the
University of Georgia.
Bogotay is much like the infamous Grossmont College
Griffins graduate BRAD DALUISO. Neither one of them
made a big splash in high school, let alone the collegiate
ranks. In fact both were soccer superstars.
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COLLEGE WOMEN'S SOFTBALL:
Another Grabowski homer lifts Lahitte, USD to win
© East County Sports.com
MORAGA (3-31-13) Former Christian High standout
MARY GRABOWSKI, the 2011 East County player of the year,
smashed a 2-run homer in the 9th inning Saturday (Mar.
30), lifting the University of San Diego to a 4-2 triumph
over Saint Mary's in a Pacific Coast Softball Conference
game at Cottrell Field.
The blast gave USD (17-18, 2-6) a split of the doubleheader,
and made a winner of pitcher JENNY LAHITTE, the former
Granite Hills standout, who allowed two early runs in
the first, then tossed 8.1 innings of shutout ball.
She allowed just five hits.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: CSUSM's Miller named all-conference
© East County Sports.com
SAN MARCOS (3-13-13) Former West Hills High standout
SHERIKA
MILLER became one of four first-time selections
from the Cal State San Marcos women's basketball team
named to the all-conference team.
Miller was named first team in the A.I.I. The junior
from Santee, led the Cougars in scoring at 10.9 points
per game. She scored a career-high 23 points against
Menlo on Dec. 1 and logged her first double-double against
The Masters on Jan. 2 with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
COLLEGE MEN'S BASKETBALL: Azusa Pacific's Leaf named
all-conference
© East County Sports.com
AZUSA (3-14-13) Azusa Pacifics starting
backcourt tandem of sophomore guard TROY LEAF, a former
Foothills Christian standout, and senior guard B.J.
Porter earned All-Pacific West Conference honors, with
Leaf named first team while Porter earned third team
recognition.
'Wrighteous'
Sockers capture 14th indoor soccer championship |
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COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTPITCH: No. 1 CSUSM Extends Win
Streak to 11
© East County Sports.com
LA MIRADA (3-10-13) Former West Hills High standout
ALEX MILLER drove in runs in both games, while All-American
Cortney Allen extended her pitching streak to just one
earned run over her last 73.2 innings, leading Cal State
San Marcos to Saturday's (Mar. 9) doubleheader sweep.
The NAIA top-ranked Cougars (20-3) ran their winning
streak to 11 after blanking both William Jessup, 2-0,
and host Biola, 8-0, at Freedom Field.
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Casey Healy
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Dan Eberhardt
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COLLEGE BASKETBALL:
Former Griffins help Cal Maritime to first national tournament
win
© East County Sports.com
POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. (3-8-13) A pair of former Grossmont
College basketball players are making a splash at the
NAIA Division II national basketball championships.
Cal Maritime, which includes former Griffins standout
DAN EBERHARDT as an assistant coach, saw CASEY
HEALY pour home a team-high 15 points, upsetting No.
4 seed Northwestern (Iowa), 76-54, in a first-round
victory.
For Cal Maritime's Keelhaulers (25-6), it was the school's
first-ever win at the national championships, being
held this year at Keeter Gymnasium at the College of
the Ozarks.
COMMUNITY COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTITCH: Smith, Koria fuels
Howard to 16-1 start
© East County Sports.com
BIG SPRING, Texas (2-24-13) Howard College is
expected to be named the top-ranked women's softball
team in the nation in the initial NJCAA poll of the
regular season following an astounding 16-1 start by
the Hawks.
And former Helix High all-state player CLAUDETTE SMITH
is one of Howard's key performers, along with West Hills
product MICHERIE KORIA.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Mount Miguel alum Williamson
tabbed WAC player of the week
© East County Sports.com
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (2-22-13) New
Mexico State guard DANESIA WILLIAMSON, a product
of Mount Miguel High, has been named Western Athletic
Conference Womens Basketball Player of the Week
for the period ending Sunday Feb. 17). This is her first-ever
WAC Player of the Week honor.
COLLEGE BASEBALL: Frank gains UCR's first victory
© East County Sports.com
PALM SPRINGS (2-19-13) Former Valhalla High pitcher
TREVOR
FRANK was in line for his first save of the season
when an error allowed the tying run to score. However,
the senior right-hander was vindicated.
UC Riverside answered back with two runs in the bottom
of the 8th, allowing Frank to claim the victory in an
8-7 decision over Utah Valley in Saturday's (Feb. 16)
game at the Palm Springs Baseball Tournament.
COLLEGE BASEBALL: Aztecs' Cederoth gains pitching win
in debut of USD's Fowler Park
© East County Sports.com
ALCALA PARK (2-16-13) Former Steele Canyon High
standout MICHAEL
CEDEROTH will be remembered as the winning pitcher
in the debut of USD's
Fowler Park.
The sophomore right-hander struck out six batters and
yielded just one earned run over five innings, leading
visiting San
Diego State past the 12th-ranked Toreros, 8-1, to
kick off the 2013 season before a sellout crowd of more
than 1,700 fans Friday (Feb. 15) night.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTPITCH: USD's Lahitte spins 4-hitter
at Fresno State
© East County Sports.com
SANTA BARBARA (2-15-13) Former Granite Hills
High standout JENNY LAHITTE tossed a complete-game 4-hitter,
pacing the USD women''s softball team to a 2-1 triumph
over Fresno State in the Gaucho Classic at UC Santa
Barbara's Campus Diamond.
Fresno State was the 1998
NCAA national champions.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTPITCH: Brown finds success at Dominguez Hills
© East County Sports.com
CARSON (2-14-13) Posting a solid 8-2 mark to
open the season, Cal State Dominguez Hills will meet
Chico State in its home opener Thursday (Feb. 15) in
a doubleheader.
Helping lead the Toros charge is starting center fielder
CATHERINE
BROWN, who has started in all 10 ballgames after
transferring from Concordia. The El Capitan High grad
is batting .289 for Dominguez Hills, including a 2-for-3
outing against Dixie State.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Watkins making splash at
Saddleback
© East County Sports.com
MISSION VIEJO (2-14-13) Former Mount Miguel High
point guard MYISHIA
WATKINS is making waves as a freshman at Saddleback
College, one of the premier women's basketball programs
in the state under head coach Fentriss Winn.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTPITCH: Miller, Allen, both perfect
for CSU San Marcos
© East County Sports.com
SAN MARCOS (2-11-13) West Hills High alum ALEX
MILLER equaled a Cal State San Marcos record by going
6-for-6 at the plate in a doubleheader, yet her effort
was overshadowed by a perfect game by pitcher Cortney
Allen, as the No. 1 ranked Cougars swept an A.I.I. twinbill
from La Sierra, both games finishing 8-0 on walkoff, run-rule
hits.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTPITCH: East County alums aid USD
in openers
© East County Sports.com
ALCALA PARK (2-9-13) A pair of East County products
contributed to a season-opening doubleheader split by
the University of San Diego women's fastpitch team.
Hosting McNesse State, Christian High alum MARY GRABOWSKI,
the 2011 East County player of the year, starting the
campaign with a bang, driving in USD's first run of
the season with an RBI double to left-center field.
In game two, Santee resident CASSIDY COLEMAN (Horizon
HS) tossed a 5-hit shutout in a 2-0 triumph. She overcame
six walks with five strikeouts, including one after
McNeese State loaded the bases in the 5th inning.
COLLEGE MEN'S BASKETBALL:
ECVHS product Ussery nails game-winner for Point Loma
Nazarene's first PWC victory
© East County Sports.com
POINT LOMA (2-5-13) Life has been rough in its
debut season at the NCAA Division II level for Point
Loma Nazarene University , winless over its initial
10 Pacific West Conference contests.
But all that changed thanks to A.J.
USSERY, an El Cajon Valley High product.
Ussery finished with 17 points, including a driving
layin with 13 seconds remaining, giving the Sea Lions
a dramatic 57-56 triumph over Notre Dame de Namur on
Monday (Feb. 4) at historic Golden Gymnasium.
COLLEGE BASEBALL:
CSU San Marcos takes opener
with East County help
© East County Sports.com
IRVINE (2-2-13) Former Grossmont College
all-conference third baseman KENNY
BELZER (Granite Hills) and Grossmont High product
KYLE
SECCIANI each registered an RBI single, backing
the 4-hit pitching of James Dykstra, lifting Cal
State San Marcos to a 4-1 upset of 11th-ranked Concordia
in Friday's (Feb. 1) NAIA baseball opener. MORE |
|
COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTPITCH:
CSU San Marcos opens campaign ranked No. 1 in NAIA
© East County Sports.com
TURLOCK (2-3-12) The top ranked Cal State
San Marcos softball team impressed in their season
debut Saturday (Feb. 2), taking 2 out of 3 games
at the Best of the West Invitational hosted by
Cal State Stanislaus.
Included was an impressive 4-hit shutout of Chico
State, an NCAA Division II school, in a 4-0 win.
The Cougars (2-1) also defeated Holly Names, then
fell to San Francisco State.
Among East County players, centerfielder ALEX
MILLER (West Hills) walked to load the bases for
NAIA second-team All-America outfielder KAITLIN
McGINLEY, who snapped the scoreless tie with a
2-run single. Miller later added a 2-run double
in an 8-1 win over Holy Names. MORE
|
MORE
DIVISION II NEWS
East County products collide at PLNU
© East County Sports.com
POINT LOMA (2-1-13) Two former East County
high school standouts will face off Monday (Feb.
4) when Point Loma Nazarene University hosts Notre
Dame de Namur of San Francisco at 7:30 p.m. on the
peninsula at Golden Gym.
GEOFF HARTMAN, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound junior out
of Monte Vista High, will lead the Northern California
based Argonauts against the Sea Lions. Hartman,
who played in the paint during his high school
career and at Ohlone Community College, is making
the adjustment as a shooting guard. Presently
hes averaging 5.2 points per game during
the transition.
On the flip side, PLNU forward A.J. USSERY, a
6-foot-9 junior out of El Cajon Valley High,
is averaging 4.7 ppg, 6.2 rebounds and has 22
blocked shots. As a sophomore, Ussery led the
team with 24 blocks.
|
COLLEGE MEN'S BASKETBALL:
Leaf lifts Azusa Pacific into first place
© East County Sports.com
AZUSA (1-9-13) -- The red-hot Azusa Pacific offense
from three days ago screeched to a halt against Point
Loma Nazarenes conference-leading scoring defense.
However, thanks to former Foothills Christian High standout
TROY LEAF, the Cougars remained unbeaten in the Pacific
West Conference.
Leaf, a sophomore guard, scored 21 points and grabbed
10 rebounds, both game-highs, to register his first
career double-double and power Azusa Pacific to a 52-43
win Tuesday (Jan. 8) at Felix Event Center. The win
allowed the Cougars (6-4 overall, 3-0 PWC) to sweep
the season series from the Sea Lions.
|
COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL:
Franey creating success at Cal Lutheran
© East County Sports.com
THOUSAND OAKS (1-16-13) Following two seasons
as a graduate assistant coach at Whittier College,
JORDAN
FRANEY now serves as an assistant for rising
Cal Lutheran University . The Regals roster includes
East County products SABRINA
JIMENEZ (Granite Hills), a junior transfer
from San Diego Christian College , and senior
TAYLOR
AUTRY (El Capitan).
Cal Lutheran recently assumed first place in
the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference following a breakout game with second-place
La Verne . On Saturday (Jan. 12), the Regals (13-2
overall, 6-1 SCIAC) scored their most points in
17 years in a 110-95 triumph in Gilbert Arena.
|
BASKETBALL ALUMNI:
Passentino: Finding Love in South America
By Nick Pellegrino
© East County Sports.com
CARTAGENA, Colombia (1-16-13) Former Santana
High standout GABBY PASSENTINO, an All-East County selection
who helped the Sultans to the 2004-05 CIF San Diego
Section Division III basketball championship, continues
her connection in the sport in the northern-most country
in South America.
According to her family in Santee, Passentino is now
engaged to ANDRES ARCILA, a former guard on the Colombia
National Team who recently retired following a 9-year
career in the country's pro league playing for Arrieros
de Medellin. He helped the national team to a 5th-place
finish in the 2008 continental championships, the country's
best finish since hosting the FIBA World Championship
in 1982.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: USD quarterback Mills tabbed team's
MVP
© East County Sports.com
ALCALA PARK (12-15-12) USD quarterback MASON MILLS,
a former standout for Christian and Coronado high schools,
was named the Toreros' most valuable player at the team's
annual awards banquet held Friday (Dec. 15).
Mills, who now resides in Coronado, was given the award
by the USD coaching staff after leading the Toreros
to a share of the Pioneer League championship.
PRO BASEBALL: O'Sullivan signs with Padres
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (12-13-12) Pitcher SEAN OSULLIVAN
is hoping for a homecoming as he signed a minor league
contract with the San Diego Padres on Wednesday (Dec.
12).
The 25-year old right-hander who was a multi-award
winner at Valhalla High and Grossmont College could
be a key signing for the Padres.
PRO INDOOR SOCCER: Medina, Wright score in Sockers'
43rd straight win
© East County Sports.com
QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. (12-9-12) Former Valhalla
High standout ANTHONY MEDINA registered a pair of goals,
while PASL scoring leader KRAIG CHILES added a hat trick
and a pair of assists, powering the unbeaten San Diego
Sockers to a 9-3 triumph over Real Phoenix in Saturday's
easy 9-3 victory at the Barney Sports Complex.
Chiles has a league-leading 28 goals and 33 points
in six games.
Meanwhile, 43-year-old midfielder PAUL WRIGHT (Grossmont
HS) also netted a power play goal, San Diego's 12th
man advantage tally in 20 tries this season. Chris Toth
(3-0) won in goal and is 11-0 lifetime.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Helix alum Taylor receives double honor
© East County Sports.com
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (12-7-12) Chadron State
(Neb.) junior safety TRELAN TAYLOR, a product of Helix
High, was twice granted postseason football awards for
the 2012 season.
After receiving a first-team berth on the all-Rocky
Mountain Athletic Conference team, Taylor joined teammate
Kevin Lindholm on the Daktronics All-Super Region 4
Football First Team, which was announced Thursday (Dec.
7).
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: More awards for Campbell
© East County Sports.com
PERU, Neb. (12-1-12) The awards continue to pile
up for former Foothills Christian High standout GARRET
CAMPBELL.
For October, Campbell was named the
male athlete of the month at Peru State College.
Then in November, the Heart of America Athletic Conference
named him as both Special Teams player of the week for
his performance vs. Central Methodist on Nov. 10, then
a week later placed him among the honorable mention
to the
HAAC all-conference team for his play at defensive
back.
|
|
Helix High alum Lance Hurdle
of the Wollongong (AUS) Hawks
(Courtesy photos)
|
PRO BASKETBALL
Hawks climbing to NBL crown
Helix alum Lance Hurdle loving
life on the beaches of Australia
© East County Sports.com
WOLLONGONG, New South Wales, Australia (11-26-12)
Life on the beachfront has been good for former Helix
High standout LANCE HURDLE, the 2004-05 East County
co-player of the year.
From San Diego County, Hurdle registered collegiate
stops at UC Santa Barbara and Miami. Now the shooting
guard is marking his first year as a professional in
first place -- in Australia.
Hurdle is the fourth-leading 3-point shooter in the National
Basketball League, Australia's pro circuit, helping his
Wollongong Hawks (7-1) earn first place nearly the midway
point of the summer season. Hurdle is scoring at a 10.3
clip in the league, which features seven teams in Australia,
plus the New Zealand Breakers, which are a game back in
second.
PRO INDOOR SOCCER
San
Diego whips Toros de Mexico for USA record 41st consecutive
win
Chiles scores Sockers record 8 goals SOCKERS
BOX |
COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL:
Local products produce record effort for CSU San Marcos
© East County Sports.com
OCEANSIDE (11-14-12) Heather Thompson registered
a double-double with 20 points and 17 rebounds, while
a pair of East County products SHERIKA
MILLER and JESSICA
HARRIS heavily contributed in a record-setting
night for the Cal State San Marcos women's basketball
team, sliding
past previously unbeaten Arizona Christian, 113-49,
Tuesday (Nov. 13) at MiraCosta College.
Miller, a transfer from San Francisco State out of
West Hills High, scored 13 points. Meanwhile, Harris,
a Granite Hills product, hit 4-of-7 shots from the outside
for a season-high 10 points.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL:
Leaf leads Azusa Pacific in overtime,
claim school's first-ever NCAA game
© East County Sports.com
SEATTLE (11-11-12) The season-opener will go
down in the books as Azusa Pacific Universitys
first mens basketball game in its NCAA era, as
the Cougars rallied from 16 down against Central Washington
in a 102-99 overtime win Friday (Nov. 10) afternoon
at the Sodexo Tip-Off Classic hosted by Seattle Pacific
University.
Former Foothills Christian High standout TROY LEAF
scored a team-high 27 points, senior guard B.J. Porter
hit five-of-eight 3-pointers after halftime in a 24-point
performance, and true freshman forward Will Ward scored
seven of his 19 points in overtime to help lead Azusa
Pacific to the victory.
Leaf scored 17 of his 27 points in the first half, and
he also posted seven rebounds, nine assists, and a pair
of steals to lead the Cougars, which played at the NAIA
level for decades before its recent switch.
|
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Chicken
& Stars for Campbell
© East County Sports.com
PERU, Neb. (11-4-12) Foothills Christian High alum
GARRET CAMPBELL was a big part of the Peru State win over
Central Methodist last Saturday (Nov. 3), where he had
an impact on defense and specials teams. His efforts earned
him both the Heart of America Conferences Special
Team Player of the Week citation and the Bobcats' Male
Athlete of the Month award for October.
PRO INDOOR SOCCER: Grossmont alum Wright returns to
Sockers
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (10-27-12) PAUL WRIGHT, a standout
at Grossmont High School more than a quarter-century
ago, will enter his 24th season of professional soccer
after signing to return to the San Diego Sockers. Wright,
43, the only player to win both MISL and PASL championships
with the Sockers, signed a 1-year deal after playing
last season for the Anaheim Bolts.
Rare volleyball ride
© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (10-25-12) Grossmont High graduate
JAKE HAAR was an outstanding basketball player
for the Foothillers as well as at Cuyamaca College
. Haar found a new course to finish his college
career on scholarship as a volleyball player at
Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo. He will
be the starting middle-blocker.
Haar considered offers from Concordia-Irvine,
which will field a volleyball team for the first
time this spring, plus basketball offers from
Cal Maritime and Holy Cross (Ind.). He will study
accounting.
|
Helix alum Toilolo helps Stanford to Big Game victory
over Cal
By Bill Dickens
© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (10-25-12) Six-foot-8 Helix High graduate,
tight end LEVINE TOILOLO helped No. 22-ranked Stanford
win the Big Game with a 21-3 victory over
Cal last week. Toilolo contributed to the scoring with
a 9-yard TD catch from backup Kevin Hogan normally
a read-option QB to put the Cardinal ahead 14-3
on the first throw of his career.
Toilolo, a junior, has tallied 15 catches for 288 yards
and 3 touchdowns, starting in all seven of Stanfords
football games this season.
|
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Campbell
enjoys the other side of football
© East County Sports.com
PERU, Neb. (10-9-12) Former Foothills Christian
High standout GARRET
CAMPBELL, who set a national record with 11 career
kickoff return touchdowns with the Knights, is now enjoying
life on the other side of the ball at Peru State (Neb.)
University.
On Saturday (Oct. 6), Campbell, now a college junior,
posted his best defensive outing since signing with
the Bobcats by blocking a pair of punts and registering
an interceptions, leading to a
47-21 conquest of Trinity Bible College at Oak Bowl.
|
Anthony Larceval
|
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Sixty years later, San Jose State
wins in San Diego
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (9-23-12) In a wild, frantic fourth
quarter which saw four lead changes, San Jose State
quarterback David Fales fired his third touchdown pass
of the quarter with 50 seconds remaining, lifting the
Spartans past San Diego State, 38-34, in Saturday's
(Sept. 22) non-conference shootout at Qualcomm Stadium.
Fales connected with wide receiver Chandler Jones on
a 14-yard reception, giving SJSU (3-1) its first victory
in San Diego in 10 tries since 1952.
The Aztecs had one last gasp, but Spartans defensive
end Travis Johnson recorded the team's fifth sack of
the game on fourth down on SDSU's final offensive play.
Also registering a sack for San Jose State was Helix
High product ANTHONY LARCEVAL, a third-year starter
at defensive end.
Sept.
18 Update
|
Six days later, Draheim was cut by Seattle, which
had five O-line players on its practice squad. He
is now in New England, being looked at by the Patriots. |
PRO FOOTBALL: Draheim cut by Packers, yet signs with
Seahawks
© East County Sports.com
RENTON, Wash. (9-12-12) Former El Capitan High
and San Diego State standout TOMMIE DRAHEIM has been
picked up by the Seattle Seahawks and signed to the
NFL team's practice squad.
Draheim, an offensive lineman, was one of the final
cuts by the Green Bay Packers, who originally signed
him as a free agent following the NFL Draft until being
let go on Aug. 31.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Mills beats the clock, USD tops Western
NM
© East County Sports.com
ALCALA PARK (9-9-12) USD quarterback MASON MILLS,
who prepped at both Christian and Coronado high schools,
passed for 303 yards and four touchdowns, including
the game-winning score with exactly one minute remaining,
lifting the Toreros to a dramatic 34-27 decision over
Western New Mexico in Saturday's (Sept. 8) non-conference
game at Torero Stadium.
Mills, who completed 27-of-37 passes, connected with
Reggis Bell on a 28-yard TD strike, completing a rally
from a 27-20 fourth-quarter deficit.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Invasion of the locals
Saturday: Western NM at USD
© East County Sports.com
ALCALA PARK (9-6-12) Former East County football
standout ADAM CLARK brings his Western New Mexico University
football team to town on Saturday (Sept. 8), as the
Mustangs meet the University of San Diego in a 6 p.m.
contest at Toreros Stadium.
PRO BASEBALL: O'Sullivan joins Phillies
© East County Sports.com
LOS ANGELES (8-21-12) Former Valhalla High standout
RYAN OSULLIVAN has been traded to the Philadelphia
Phillies to complete a deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers
for the Joe Blanton deal executed earlier this month.
OSullivan is rated the 18th best prospect in
the Dodgers minor league system.
PRO BASEBALL: Needy climbing Padres ladder
By Bill Dickens
© East County Sports.com
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (8-1-12) In these summer days
of musical chairs conducted by the San Diego Padres,
former Santana High standout JAMES NEEDY has pitched
for all of San Diegos top three minor league ballclubs.
In his latest outing, Needy, a 6-foot-6, 205-pound
right-hander, gave up one run and struck out two in
2 1/3 innings for the Fort Wayne TinCaps during Tuesday's
(July 31) 5-4 Class A Midwest League victory over the
Great Lake Loons.
PRO BASEBALL: The man with the Golden Eye
© East County Sports.com
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (7-23-12) Former Santana High
and Grossmont College slugger JOSH MAZZOLA, a 26-year-old
corner infielder, is swinging a hot bat for the Winnipeg
Goldeyes of the independent Can-Am Baseball Association.
Mazzola extended his personal hitting streak to 18
games on Sunday (July 22) as Winnipeg edged the Sioux
Falls (S.D.) Pheasants, 5-2. A one-time draft choice
of the San Francisco Giants, Mazzola raised his season
average to .301.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Campbell gains early honors
© East County Sports.com
PERU, Neb. (7-23-12) Former Foothills Christian
High football player GARRET CAMPBELL has been named
a preseason All-American for Peru State College of the
Heart of America Conference.
PRO BASEBALL: Musgrove inserted in massive 10-player
trade
By Bill Dickens
© East County Sports.com
HOUSTON (7-21-12) Former Grossmont High pitcher
JOE MUSGROVE is changing directions in his professional
baseball career. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound right-hander
was part of a 10-player trade between the Toronto Blue
Jays and Houston Astros on Friday (July 20).
Musgrove, 19, was among seven players picked up by
the Astros in the deal. He was Toronto's first pick
in the first compensation round of the 2011 draft,
PRO INDOOR FOOTBALL: Ex-Foothiller helps Express advance
to title game
By Brent Wasenius, Fremont Tribune
Special to East County Sports.com
FREMONT, Neb. (7-16-12) Midland University will
be well represented in Saturday night's (July 21) American
Professional Indoor Football League championship game.
Five former Warriors will be competing for the Council
Bluffs Express, including former Grossmont High School
standout KHALID WATERS, as they look to derail defending
champion Sioux City at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux
City, Iowa.
COLLEGE BASEBALL: Reed returns from Cuba
© East County Sports.com
LA MESA (7-12-12) University of Oregon pitcher
JAKE REED, a former standout at Helix High, is playing
with the National Collegiate USA baseball team on a
summer tour.
The team recently played five games in Cuba
the first US sports team to go to the island nation
in 16 years. The Americans came away with a 2-3 record
in Cuba.
Having returned to the United States on Tuesday (July
10), the group is on its way to the Netherlands, where
they will be a part of an international tournament.
LOCAL PROS BASEBALL
Rookies
power A's past Giants, 4-2, in Griffin's debut;
first MLB homer by Norris is a walk-off, game-winner
Courtesy, San Francisco Chronicle
OAKLAND (6-25-12) Derek Norris came to the
big leagues for the first time Thursday. A.J.
GRIFFIN (Grossmont High/ USD) made his major-league
debut Sunday (July 24). Together, the 23-year-old catcher
and the 24-year-old right-hander combined to prevent
the Giants from sweeping the A's in a three-game series
at the Coliseum.
MORE PHOTO TV INTERVIEW
COLLEGE BASKETBALL:
Leaf, former Mr. Basketball in CIFSDS, transferring from
UCSB to Azusa Pacific
By Nick Pellegrino
© East County Sports.com
AZUSA (6-18-12) TROY LEAF, the CIF San Diego
Section's all-time scoring leader and the 2009-10 all-division
Player of the Year, will transfer from UC Santa Barbara
and play for Azusa Pacific, one of three West Coast
schools which recently obtained NCAA Division II status.
Leaf, a 6-foot-3 combo guard who powered Foothills
Christian High to four consecutive Division V section
championships, was a first-team All-State selection
by Cal-Hi Sports after finishing third in California
with a 28.1 scoring average.
|
Sacramento River Cats pitcher
A.J. GRIFFIN (Courtery, River Cats' PR)
|
LOCAL PROS BASEBALL
Griffin making his move to the top
© Special to East County Sports.com
FRESNO (6-15-12) When former Grossmont High standout
and now Oakland As minor league pitcher A.J. GRIFFIN
jogged toward the visiting dugout after an inning-ending
strikeout in the 8th inning of Wednesdays (June
13) Pacific Coast League game against the Fresno Grizzlies,
he tried as hard as he could to avoid Sacramento manager
Darren Bush. After all, the River Cats skipper
had never sent a starter back out for the 9th inning
during his managerial career that spans six teams and
stretches back almost a decade.
But when Sacramento pitching coach Scott Emerson told
Griffin Oakland s No. 12 prospect
to stay loose, the 6-foot-5, 215-pound right-hander
did not ask any questions.
The 24-year-old Griffin surrendered one run on six
hits while striking out six batters over nine innings
to lead the Triple-A River Cats to a 6-1 victory at
Fresno.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Molzen on D-2 watch list
© East County Sports.com
LIBERTY, Mo. (6-15-12) Although the summer heat
has yet to reach furnace-like levels, talk of football
is already in the breeze.
Former El Capitan High and Grossmont College standout
JON
MOLZEN, a 6-foot-4, 220 pound senior wide receiver
at William Jewell College, is among the NCAA Division
II football players to watch for the 2012 season. He is
rated the No. 2 Great Lakes Valley Conference player to
watch by the BSN College Network (Beyond Sports Network),
which also made the Division II preseason pick.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTPITCH: Elliot finishes as top frosh
at OCU
© East County Sports.com
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (6-13-12) Former Christian
High standout MONIQUE ELLIOTT recently closed out her
freshman season at Oklahoma Christian University with
an 11-game hitting streak, powering the Eagles deep
into the playoffs.
COLLEGE
BASEBALL
Helix alum Reed advances Oregon to within one game of
College World Series berth
COLLEGE BASEBALL: Balough blows away the Windy City
© East County Sports.com
ELGIN, Ill. (6-8-12) Former Santana High
standout CAMERON BALOUGH has been named to the All-Chicagoland
Collegiate Athletic Conference second team for Judson
University. Balough was one of six teammates named (three
on the first team) after the Eagles set a school record
with 46 victories, capturing their first-ever conference
title and an automatic bid to the NAIA national championship
after closing the regular season winning 12 of 13 contests.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Hatcher accepts bid to MSUB
© East County Sports.com
BILLINGS, Mont. (6-8-12) Former Foothills Christian
High standout and CIF state record-holder KALOB HATCHER
has signed to play for Montana State-Billings, an NCAA
Division II school. The Yellowjackets' media relations
department stated an official announcement will come
on Monday after just receiving his National Letter of
Intent.
Over the past two seasons, Hatcher was one of the scoring
leaders for Irvine Valley College, advancing to the
state tournament this past spring. The guard was second
among the Lasers (20-6) with a 10.7 scoring average
and 37 steals, while also topping IVC with 110 assists.
COLLEGE BASEBALL: Reed named Frosh All-America by Collegiate
Baseball
© East County Sports.com
EUGENE, Ore. (6-7-12) University of Oregon right-hander
JAKE
REED (Helix High) was named to the Louisville Slugger
Freshman All-America team, as announced Wednesday (June
6) by Collegiate Baseball newspaper.
Reed, who was named to the NCAA Eugene All-Regional
team last Sunday, enters this weekend with a 2.93 ERA
and 7-4 record. He is expected to start on Sunday as
the Ducks will host Kent State in an NCAA Super Regional
at PK Park, qth the winner advaning to the College World
Series.
Scotties alum Reed, Oregon Ducks, host NCAA regional
© East County Sports.com
EUGENE, Ore. (5-31-12) Former Helix High standout
JAKE REED gained honors Thursday (May 31) as an honorable
mention selection to the All-Pac-12 baseball team.
Reed, a freshman right-handed pitcher, also will be
working this weekend, when the Ducks host an NCAA Division
I baseball regional. Joining the Ducks are Cal State
Fullerton, Austin Peay (Tenn.) and Indiana State for
the double-elimination event running June 1-4.
Reed owns a 6-4 record in 15 starts as a frosh, sporting
the team's second-best ERA at 3.14 over 100 1/3 innings.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: Autry tabbed Cal Lutheran
co-captain
© East County Sports.com
THOUSAND OAKS (5-31-12) Former El Capitan High
girls basketball player TAYLOR
AUTRY has been named the co-captain of the Cal Lutheran
women's basketball team for the 2012-13 season.
Autry, a senior next season, is a shooting guard for
the Regals (18-10 overall), which captured the Southern
California Intercollegiate Athletics Conference Tournament
for the first time ever after defeating Redlands, 61-58.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTP{ITCH: Balough blossoms in Tennessee,
named NAIA All-America
© East County Sports.com
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (5-30-12) Former Santana High
standout BRITTANY BALOUGH received NAIA All-America
second team honors as a pitcher for Lee University.
Balough, a senior, won 25 games against just three
losses, with an earned run average of 1.26. She also
received the same honor from CoSIDA, a national group
of college athletics public relations representatives.
Balough helped the Lady Flames gain a berth in the
NAIA Tournament, then was solid in her lone appearance
at the event, working a five-inning complete game, allowing
no runs on just two hits, while striking out four and
walking none.
COLLEGE BASEBALL: Granite Hills alum Coleman named
conference MVP
© East County Sports.com
SAN MARCOS (5-28-12) The Cal State San Marcos
Baseball team walked away with a handful of A.I.I. First-Team
selections, led by Conference Player of the Year Austin
Coleman and Pitcher of the Year James Dykstra.
Coleman, an alum of Granite Hills High, is a sure-gloved
third baseman led the Cougars with 13 homeruns and 53
RBIs, in addition to hitting .351 on the season. A senior
in 2012, Austin was 15th in the NAIA in total home runs
and 17th in doubles.
Another junior, first baseman Kenny Belzer also received
first team recognition after hitting .306 with 23 extra
base hits on the year, in addition to some solid innings
on the mound. Belzer plays for the San Diego Stars semipro
baseball team, too.
PRO FOOTBALL: Hobbs, former Matadors standout, signs
with Chargers
By Bill Dickens
© East County Sports.com
LEMON GROVE (5-17-12) Former East County standout
ARTHUR HOBBS has signed a 3-year deal with the San Diego
Chargers.
Arthur is a true warrior, Hobbs high
school coach at Mount Miguel TOM KARLO said. He
has fought every step of the way and now is in 'The
League.' What an amazing story.
A 2007 All-East County first team pick for the Matadors,
Hobbs advanced to Grossmont College and then rode a
scholarship to Neb.-Kearney. As a Loper, Hobbs recorded
50 tackles, logged 8 pass breakups, intercepted three
passes and blocked two kicks.
COLLEGE BASEBALL: Former Foothiller Griffin helps stop
No. 18 USD
© East County Sports.com
ALCALA PARK (5-16-12) Grossmont High product
AARON GRIFFIN was one of five relief pitchers to help
Loyola Marymount take down 18th-ranked University of
San Diego, 8-6, in Saturday's (May 12) West Coast Conference
baseball game at Cunningham Stadium.
The victory clinched the series for the visiting Lions
(23-22 overall, 11-6 WCC). For the Toreros (37-13, 13-7),
it was just their second 2-game losing streak of the
season.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTPITCH: Ball State's Carpenter named
All-Mid-American Conference
© East County Sports.com
CLEVELAND (5-15-12) Ball State University saw
six members of its women's fastpitch team gain All-Mid-American
Conference laurels Monday (May 14), including former
Santana High standout AMANDA
CARPENTER. The junior center fielder received a
second team berth.
COLLEGE BASEBALL: It took a century for Regis to win
RMAC crown
Former Foothillers Brault, Hemphill, contribute to
rare victory
© East County Sports.com
PUEBLO, Colo. (5-14-12) Founded in 1877, Regis
University of Denver, Colo., was a charter member when
the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference was created in
1909.
On Saturday (May 12) more than a century later
the Rangers finally captured their first RMAC
baseball championship.
A pair of former Grossmont High standouts in STEVEN
BRAULT and MATT HEMPHILL contributed, as Regis defeated
tournament host Colorado State-Pueblo (formerly Southern
Colorado), 9-2, at Rawlings Field.
PRO FOOTBALL: Lindley, Draheim (El Capitan/SDSU) headed
to the NFL
© East County Sports.com
LAKESIDE (4-29-12) A pair of former East County
high school stars who continued on to be standouts at
San Diego State earned opportunities to play in the
National Football League.
Quarterback RYAN LINDLEY, who guided El Capitan High
to an 11-1 record in 2006, was selected in the sixth
round by the Arizona Cardinals. Meanwhile, 6--foot-4,
305-pound offensive lineman TOMMIE DRAHEIM, also of
the Vaqueros and Aztecs, reached a free agent deal with
the Green Bay Packers.
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Colorado Christian's Hannah
Rapoport
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COLLEGE WOMEN'S SOFTBALL: Rapoport, CCU, place second
at RMAC
Waiting begins for NCAA Division II bid
© East County Sports.com
GOLDEN, Colo. (4-29-12) After falling in the
opening game of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
tournament, former Grossmont High and Grossmont College
standout HANNAH RAPOPORT and her Colorado Christian
University Cougars ran off five consecutive victories
to force a play-back final. However, Fort Lewis College
(Durango, Colo.) hung on to take the tournament championships
after the third-seeded Skyhawks beat the fourth-seeded
Cougars, 7-4, at the Colorado School of Mines Softball
Complex.
Rapoport named RMAC player of the year
© East County Sports.com
LAKEWOOD, Colo. (4-24-12) The last piece to the
building of the new women's fastpitch program at Colorado
Christian University proved to be the most important
one.
On Tuesday (Apr. 24), the first-year Cougars announced
that former Grossmont College and Grossmont High School
standout HANNAH
RAPOPORT was named the player of the year in the Rocky
Mountain Athletic Conference.
Rapoport, the leadoff batter, led all RMAC hitters
with a .482 batting average also the fourth-best
nationally among NCAA Division II schools. The sophomore
pitcher/outfielder also ranked among the national leaders
in hits and runs scored.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S SOFTBALL: Adame bunts to success in
North Dakota
© East County Sports.com
DICKINSON, N.D. (4-10-12) For former Steele Canyon
High standout VANESSA ADAME it was a simple enough play.
Put down a bunt and sacrifice her Dickinson State teammate
to second base.
However, when the catcher's throw to first base sailed
toward what seemed like Canada, Adame was almost caught
by surprise.
I was in shock, Adame recalled after reaching
second base. As soon as Id seen (head coach
Kristen Fleury) waving me around, I was like, OK,
this is what you want? Alright.
Adame not only scored the game-tying run, her Blue
Hawks went on to an
8-3 victory over Black Hills State in Monday's (Apr.
9) game at Gress Softball Complex. It was the team's
sixth consecutive victory.
WOMEN'S SEMIPRO FOOTBALL: Surge semipro women's
football coming to Santee
National runners-up kickoffs season on April 21
By Nick Pellegrino
© East County Sports.com
SANTEE (4-5-12) The San Diego Surge, the national
runners-up in the 62-team Women's Football Association,
is making a move and will play its 2012 spring schedule
at Santee Community Stadium on the campus of Santana
High School.
The Surge, which has played under others nicknames (Sunfire,
Scorpions) over the past decade, posted 11 consecutive
victories to capture the American Conference crown last
season before falling in Dallas to the Boston Militia
for the national title.
The season opener will be at home against the Silver State
Legacy of Las Vegas on Sat.,Apr. 21. Kickoff is at 5:30
p.m.
WOMEN'S COLLEGE SOFTBALL: Rapoport gets a Rocky Mountain
high
© East County Sports.com
LAKEWOOD, Colo. (4-4-12) Former West Hills High
and Grossmont College standout HANNAH RAPOPORT received
her second player of the week citation in the Rocky
Mountain Athletic Conference for the period ending Apr.
1.
Rapoport, a pitcher/outfielder, had a monster week
at the plate, going 15-for-22 (.681) with fire runs
and five RBI, lifting Colorado Christian University
to within one full game of first place Fort Lewis (Colo.)
in the RMAC standings after a 4-game sweep of Colorado
State-Pueblo as she posted multiple hits in each contest.
COLLEGE BASEBALL: Homecoming at Montezuma Mesa
Gwynn returns to Aztecs dugout; Frank, Young start
for UC Riverside
By Nick Pellegrino
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (3-28-12) In a welcome homecoming on
multiple levels, San Diego State was pleased by the
return of head baseball coach TONY GWYNN to the stadium
which bears his name to Tuesday's (Mar. 27) ballgame.
Meanwhile visiting UC Riverside saw two of its ballplayers
starting pitcher TREVOR FRANK (Valhalla) and
shortstop EDDIE YOUNG (Christian) get the start
before family and friends against the hometown Aztecs.
COLLEGE BASEBALL: Haar, No. 24 USD sweep WCC opening
series
© East County Sports.com
ALCALA PARK (3-27-12) Former Grossmont High standout
BRYAN HAAR was part of an important rally by the University
of San Diego, allowing the 24th-ranked Toreros to complete
a rain-delayed sweep of Santa Clara, 12-4, in Monday's
(Mar. 26) series finale at Cunningham Stadium to open
West Coast Conference play.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTPITCH: Carpenter named MAC player
of the week
© East County Sports.com
MUNCIE, Ind. (3-27-12) For the second time this
season, the Ball State University softball team swept
the Mid-American Conference West Division's weekly awards
with junior outfielder AMANDA CARPENTER (Santana High)
earning player of the week and senior Audrey Workman
(Wickenburg, Ariz.) garnering pitcher of the week.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTPITCH: Hallahan, Stalford capture
East County alumni battle
© East County Sports.com
COSTA MESA (3-25-12) In a battle of East County
alumni, former West Hills High standout TAYLOR HALLAHAN
blasted a tie-breaking, 2-run triple in the 5th inning,
powering Vanguard University past visiting Ottawa (Kan.),
3-1, in a non-conference, intersectional contest at
The Pitt.
Hallahan, the leading hitter for the Lions this season,
recorded her hit off the Braves' ASHLEY RENALDI, the
former Grossmont High pitcher who is the career strikeout
leader for Ottawa.
In the second game of the teams' doubleheader, another
former Grossmont standout, RACHEL STALFORD, pitched
a complete game in a 2-1 verdict to complete the sweep.
Stalford, the 2011 East County pitcher of the year
for the CIF Division I champion Foothillers, also drove
in the winning run with a triple when Vanguard (22-15)
scored twice in the bottom of the 5th to offset a 1st-inning
run by Ottawa (11-14).
Braves softball visits The OC
Former Foothillers collide in Saturday doubleheader
© East County Sports.com
COSTA MESA (3-22-12) Already ranking among the
school's leaders in every important offensive category,
Grossmont High product ASHLEY
RENALDI will be visiting the Southland this weekend
playing for Ottawa University (Kan.).
Included will be a Saturday (Mar. 24) doubleheader
against Vanguard University, which features another
former Foothiller in RACHEL
STALFORD, plus West Hills grad TAYLOR
HALLAHAN.
COLLEGE MEN'S BASKETBALL: Brooks named Stark Award
winner as Dartmouth player of the year
© East County Sports.com
HANOVER, N.H. (3-20-12) Dartmouth freshman J'VONTE
BROOKS, a product of Foothills Christian High, has been
named the recipient of the A.D. Dolly Stark
Award as the Big Green men's basketball most valuable
player, head coach Paul Cormier announced during the
team awards gathering for the 2011-12 season.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTPITCH: CSU San Marcos tops national
softball rankings
© East County Sports.com
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (3-20-12) Buoyed by a trio of
East County products plus a school-record 19-game
winning streak the Cal State San Marcos
women's fastpitch team moved to the top of the NAIA
Softball Coaches Top 25 Poll in results released Tuesday
(Mar. 20).
The Cougars (28-2) garnered 11 of 20 first-place votes,
gaining its first-ever appearance as the nation's top-ranked
program, placing among the national leaders in both
pitching (1.04 ERA) and offense (201 runs scored).
COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTPITCH: Rapoport, Colorado Christian,
grab RMAC lead
© East County Sports.com
SILVER CITY, N.M. (3-18-12) In a battle among East
County alumni, HANNAH RAPOPORT (Grossmont High/Grossmont
College) and her Colorado Christian University Cougars
took over first place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
following Saturday's (Mar. 17) doubleheader sweep of RICKI
GENTRY (Christian High) and her Western New Mexico University
Mustangs, 6-5 and 15-12, at WNMU Softball Complex.
COLLEGE MEN'S BASKETBALL: Hatcher earns honors in The
OC
© East County Sports.com
IRVINE (3-18-12) Former Foothills Christian High
standout KALOB HATCHER, a sophomore guard at Irvine
Valley College, earned first team honors in the Orange
Empire Conference mens basketball team.
PRO INDOOR SOCCER (3-11-12): San
Diego Sockers claim record 13th title
Down 2-0, Valhalla High grad Anthony Medina scores
twice for 5-2 halftime lead
en route to another PASL Ron Newman Cup crown WATCH
& LISTEN
COLLEGE MEN'S BASKETBALL: Brooks earns fourth Ivy League
citation
© East County Sports.com
HANOVER, N.H. (3-7-12) Former Foothills Christian
High standout JVONTE BROOKS completed his freshman season
at Dartmouth in style, earning a fourth citation as
Ivy League rookie of the week. In fact, the youthful
Big Green saw their players win the award 10 times,
the third-highest total since the award was instituted
in 1984-85.
PRO INDOOR FOOTBALL
Terrell Owens upstages Staback debut
© East County Sports.com
ALLEN, Texas (2-27-12) Former West Hills
High standout PHILIP STABACK threw for two touchdowns
and ran for another, but was upstaged in his Indoor
Football League opener Saturday (Feb. 25).
While Staback propelled the Wichita Wild to early
10-3 lead, former NFL star Terrell Owens caught
three TD passes, allowing the Allen (Texas) Wranglers
to rally for a 50-30 triumph before a record crowd
of 5,711 at Allen Events Center.
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COLLEGE BASEBALL
Jenner gains game-winner for CS Fullerton
© East County Sports.com
FULLERTON (2-27-12) Former Steele Canyon
High standout JESSE JENNER delivered the game-winning
hit Saturday (Feb. 25), lifting Cal State Fullerton
to a 3-2 triumph over TCU at Goodwin Field.
Jenner, called up as a pinch hitter, blooped
a basehit to left field in the bottom of the 8th
inning.
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COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTPITCH
Failla, Wright, aid Chico State explosion
© East County Sports.com
ARCATA (2-29-12) Former Santana High standout
RACHEL
FAILLA was part of a record-breaking weekend
by the Chico State women's softball team, which
scored 57 runs on 69 hits in a 4-game sweep of
host Humboldt State.
Failla, an All-East County performer when leading
the Sultans to the San Diego CIF Division III
crown in 2008, started her senior with the Wildcats
in style, smashing a pair of home runs against
the Lady Jacks, moving within a bomb for third
place on the school's career list.
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COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTPITCH
CSUSM to meet NPF champion Pride
© East County Sports.com
CATHEDRAL CITY (2-22-12) The No. 2
ranked Cal State San Marcos women's fastpitch
team, which features East County standouts in
senior ALYSSA DRONENBERG and sophomores ALEX MILLER
and KAITLIN McGINLEY, will get a treat while being
tested on the field at the same time.
On Thursday (Feb. 23), the Cougars will meet the
best team in the nation in an exhibition ballgame,
facing the USSSA Pride, defending champions of
Women's Pro Fastpitch.
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COMMUNITY COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Former Hillers guard Putras = 'Mesanity'
© East County Sports.com
KEARNY MESA (2-23-12) Former Grossmont
High sharp-shooter CHANEL PUTRAS ranked among
East County's 3-point shooting leaders as a senior
back in 2008-09. But now playing for San Diego
Mesa College, she is shooting the trey at a near-record
rate.
On Wednesday (Feb. 22), Putras equaled a school
postseason record with seven 3-point goals, while
also equaling her own personal best with a game-high
24 points, fueling the Olympians offense in an
80-61 pasting over visiting Barstow in the opening
round of the CCCAA women's basketball championship.
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COLLEGE BASEBALL: Oregon frosh Reed opens strong in
Hawai'i
© East County Sports.com
HONOLULU (2-19-12) Former Helix High pitcher
JAKE REED, a true freshman at the University of Oregon,
made his collegiate debut Saturday (Feb. 18) at the
University of Hawaii. Although the right-hander
did not figure in the decision in a game the Ducks won
3-2 in 12 innings, he was none the less impressive.
In a six-inning outing, Reed scattered 5 hits and allowed
only one earned run. He walked 3 and struck out 4.
Reed is rated the 23rd-best freshman in college baseball
by Baseball America.
Strasburg won't be AWOL from Nats camp
San Diego State to retire his No. 37 this Friday
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (2-13-12) At least two internet blogs
were in panic mode over the weekend, learning that Washington
Nationals pitcher STEPHEN STRASBURG may miss the opening
of spring training, with pitchers and catchers scheduled
to report this Monday (Feb. 20) to Space Coast Stadium
in Melbourne, Fla.
Don't worry, Strasburg will be okay there's
something else on his agenda.
This Friday (Feb. 17), when San Diego State opens its
baseball season against Washington (The University of,
not the Nats), the former Aztecs All-America pitcher
will have his number retired (37) in pregame ceremonies
at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
Klopp gains SDSU home run record
© East County Sports.com
TEMPE, Ariz. (2-12-12) The San Diego State women's
fastpitch team gained a split of games at the Kajikawa
Classic on Saturday's (Feb. 11), with former East County
pitcher of the year LORENA
KLOPP responsible for the victory in record-setting
fashion.
Following a close 6-5 loss to No. 9 Tennessee, the
Aztecs bounced back to take down No. 23 Georgia Tech,
3-2, as Klopp drove in all three runs for SDSU (3-2).
Klopp's first at-bat against the Yellow Jackets was
a deep, 2 -run homer to also bring home Hayley Miles
(double), giving the Steele Canyon High product her
school-record 18th of her career. She eclipsed the career
record formerly held by four-year players Megan McDonald
(2005-08) and Erryn Gutjahr (1996-99).
By the way, Klopp is just five games into her second
season with the Aztecs.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Freshman Miller solid in homecoming
Former East County player of the year scores
career high vs. SDSU
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (2-12-12) The homecoming for
former East County player of the year DANIELLE
MILLER of Mount Miguel High was an individual
success, but not one for her team.
Despite coming off the bench to produce a career-high
nine points, Miller's UNLV Rebels fell to host
San Diego State, 77-64, in a Mountain West Conference
contest Saturday (Feb. 11) afternoon at Viejas
Arena.
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COLLEGE MEN'S BASKETBALL
Another triple-double for Dartmouth's Brooks
© East County Sports.com
PRINCETON, N.J. (2-12-12) Life in the Ivy
League has been grand for Dartmouth freshman JVONTE
BROOKS. The forward isn't just the leading
candidate for Rookie of the year honors, the former
Foothills Christian High standout is making a
bid for an all-conference berth.
On Friday (Feb. 10), Brooks registered his third
triple-double of the season, although the Big
Green fell at Princeton, 59-47, at Jadwin Gym.
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COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Mount Miguel alum Miller returns home for SDSU 'Pink'
game
Annual fundraiser to fight cancer renamed for
late NC State coach Yow
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (2-9-12) Former Mount Miguel High standout
DANIELLE MILLER, a member of the UNLV Rebels womens
basketball team, will be coming to San Diego on Saturday
(Feb. 11) for a Mountain West Conference game against
the SDSU Aztecs (17-5, 7-1) at 2 p.m. in the Viejas
Arena. Tickets are $6.
SDSU is joining over 1,000 schools in the Play 4 Kay
initiative, which was renamed this year to keep the
story and legacy of former North Carolina State head
coach Kay Yow, who lost her fight with breast cancer
in January 2009, at the forefront. Aztec head coach
Beth Burns served as an assistant coach under Yow at
NC State from 1988-89.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTPITCH
Another season, another Dronenburg bomb
Helix alum's 40th career HR is game-winner
in Cal State San Marcos' season opener
© East County Sports.com
TURLOCK (2-5-12) The senior year for Cal State San
Marcos slugger ALYSSA
DRONENBURG started with a bang in her very first game
of the season.
Dronenburg, the former Helix High standout, belted a game-winning,
2-run homer Saturday (Feb. 4), leading the Coyotes to
a 3-2 verdict over Cal State Dominquez Hills at the Bank
of the West Tournament.
Her 3rd-inning blast snapped a 1-1 deadlock for the first
baseman's 40th career homer.
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Arthur Hobbs
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL: All-America honors for Hobbs
© East County Sports.com
KEARNEY, Neb. (2-3-12) Former Mount Miguel High
and Grossmont College defensive back ARTHUR HOBBS of Nebraska-Kearney
has been named to the 2011 Associated Press' Little All-America
Team.
The A.P. Little All-America team dates back to the
early 1930's and includes players from NCAA Division
II and III schools, as well as NAIA institutions.
Hobbs, a resident of Lemon Grove, recently named to
the Daktronics/Sports Information Directors All-America
team, is just the ninth Loper selected to the A.P. squad.
Of the nine chosen, seven have come since UNK joined
Division II in 1990.
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COLLEGE BASEBALL
Preseason WCC honors for Griffin at LMU
© East County Sports.com
LOS ANGELES (1-27-12) Former Grossmont
High pitching standout AARON GRIFFIN has been
tabbed as a Preseason All-West Coast Conference
selection according to College
Sports Madness. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound
Loyola-Marymount junior right-hander took home
WCC honorable mention honors a year ago.
Griffin emerged as a dominant Sunday starter
over the course of the year, finishing the season
with a 7-3 record and a 2.99 ERA over nine starts
and 19 appearances.
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Report: Valhalla alum Thomas moving to NC State
© East County Sports.com
RALEIGH, N.C. (1-26-12) According to published
reports by CBS.com on Wednesday (Jan. 25), former
Valhalla High passing phenom PETE THOMAS is transferring
from Colorado State to North Carolina State. The move
was also confirmed by Thomas personal quarterback
coach George Whitfield.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Pros eye Lindley at Senior Bowl
© East County Sports.com
MOBILE, Ala. (1-26-12) Former El Capitan High and
San Diego State standout RYAN LINDLEY will be one of three
quarterbacks playing for the South All-Stars in Saturdays
(Jan. 28) Senior Bowl. The game will be televised by the
NFL Network (Cox Chl. 332) at 1 p.m.
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Former Foothills Christian forward J'Vonte
Brooks vs. Notre Dame.
(Dartmouth courtesy photo)
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COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Brooks gains Ivy laurels
© East County Sports.com
HANOVER, N.H. (12-29-11) Former Foothills
Christian High standout J'VONTE
BROOKS, one of only 10 players named first-team
All-San Diego County covering all divisions in 2009-10,
was been named Ivy
League rookie of the week for the period ending
Dec. 25 playing for Dartmouth.
It was the second league citation for the Big Green
freshman forward.
Brooks, a native of Santee, averaged 12.0 points and
9.3 rebounds over the three games during the week before
Christmas for Dartmouth (3-10), all coming on the road.
He first registered his second double-double of the
season with a dozen points and a personal-best 12 rebounds
in a 61-55 overtime loss at Colgate. Two nights later,
he contributed 13 points, equaling a season high, while
snagging eight boards in another close game, this time
a three-point loss at Army. Finally, he scored 11 points
and hauled in eight rebounds in an 82-74 defeat at Albany
on Friday (Dec. 23).
COLLEGE FOOTBALL:
Draheim, Parker win major honor
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (12-9-11) Two former East County
football standouts, now at San Diego State, have
been named to the All-Mountain West Conference
first team.
Senior tackle TOMMIE DRAHEIM, a product of El
Capitan High, was selected to the first team offense,
while senior corner LARRY PARKER, who played his
freshman season at Grossmont College, was chosen
to the first team defense.
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Mills claims
All-Pioneer League berths
Quarterback led USD to conference championship;
Toreros' Oliaro named Defensive Player of the Year
© East County Sports.com
ALCALA PARK (12-4-11) University of San
Diego sophomore quarterback MASON MILLS, a transfer
from New Mexico State, has been named to the All-Pioneer
Football League team after leading the Toreros
to a share of the conference crown.
Mills, who played locally at both Christian and
Coronado high schools, earned a second team berth.
He was also tabbed the Toreros' Offensive Player
of the Year after leading the team to a 9-2 mark
(5-0 at home).
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PRO INDOOR SOCCER
Sockers lose Wright, claim Velez
© East County Sports.com
DEL MAR (11-17-11) The San Diego Sockers
saw 42-year old forward PAUL WRIGHT, a standout
at Grossmont High in the 1980s, bolt as a free
agent for the expansion Anaheim Bolts of the Professional
Arena Soccer League during the offseason. But
they quickly found a replacement.
This Saturday (Nov. 19), in their home opener,
the Sockers will feature the return of midfielder
Eduardo Velez, who agreed on a 1-year contract
last month.
Velez was the leading scorer in PASL-Pro play
as a member of Revolucion Tijuana last season.
He registered a league-best 52 points on 30 goals
and 22 assists in just 14 contests.
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PRO INDOOR FOOTBALL
Wolf Pack drive The Chisholm Trail
© East County Sports.com
WICHITA, Kan. (11-17-11) A pair of East
County football products will be joined by two
additional players with Grossmont Conference roots
as part of the Wichita Wild of the Indoor Football
League.
The Wild, already well situated with a pair of
West Hills High standouts, recently signed receivers
JEREMY YOUNG and ELIJAH "E.J." BROWN.
Young and Brown were two of East County 's top
receivers in 2005.
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SEMIPRO BASKETBALL: Reed
gains Surf spot
© East County Sports.com
MIRA MESA (11-10-11) Former El Cajon Valley
High School and Cuyamaca College basketball standout
NATE REED is now playing for the San Diego Surf
semipro basketball team. Games are played on Saturdays
(7 p.m.) and Sundays (5 p.m.) at Miramar Colleges
Hourglass Arena.
The season opens on Sunday (Nov. 13) against
the Las Vegas Aces. For schedule information check
www.SDSurfHoops.com.
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Sultans alums boost Redlands into
D-3 playoffs
© East County Sports.com
REDLANDS (11-17-11) A trio of former standouts
at Santana High lifted 13th-ranked University of Redlands
into the NCAA Division III playoffs after posting an
8-1 regular-season record.
The former Sultans include senior middle linebacker
BRETT
ROMERO, and senior receivers KYLE
ROMERO, and TYLER
AUBREY.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Bruder gains academic laurels
© East County Sports.com
SPOKANE, Wash. (11-14-11) Humboldt State kicker
MATT
BRUDER has received recognition for his success
in the classroom. The sophomore out of Steele Canyon
High was named to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference
Academic all-conference team. Bruder, an Environmental
Resources Engineering, posted a 3.50 grade-point-average.
Last season, Bruder established school records by going
a perfect 44-for-44 on PATs, including 9 in a single
conest. This season, Humboldt State posted a 9-1 record,
claiming the GNAC championship.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
East County showdown of quarterbacks in the MWC
El Cap's Lindley (SDSU) vs. Valhalla's Thomas (Colorado
State)
By Andrew Smith
© East County Sports.com
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (11-9-11) Any typical November
afternoon in this Rocky Mountain town would go unnoticeable
to most people in East County. This particular Saturday
(Nov. 12), however, has several ties closer to home
than usual.
Only five quarterbacks from East County have eclipsed
the 2,000 yard mark passing at least twice in their
careers in the 21st century and two of them will meet
head-to-head when El Capitan High alum RYAN LINDLEY
(SDSU) will face off against Valhalla product PETE THOMAS
(Colorado State) as the Aztecs travel a mile high for
a Mountain West showdown. The game can be seen live
at 3 p.m. PDT on The Mountain (channel 320 on Cox) and
also on Channel 4 San Diego.
COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Harris eclipses Jaguars
rushing marks
© East County Sports.com
CHULA VISTA (11-02-11) Former Granite Hills High
standout AARON HARRIS has established four rushing and
scoring records during his stint at Southwestern College.
Latest of his milestones is becoming the all-time career
rushing leader, a mark he cleared Saturday (Oct. 29) with
138 yards in a setback to Golden West.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Locals shine at other Nebraska football
power
© East County Sports.com
KEARNEY, Neb. (10-25-11) Four East County products
are making an impact in the Nebraska-Kearney football
program.
Senior corner ARTHUR HOBBS, who played at Mount Miguel
and Grossmont College, is the top defensive back in
the secondary for the Lopers, who sport a 7-1 record
and No. 2 ranking in Region III of the NCAA Division
II poll.
PRO BASEBALL: Griffin tabbed A's Minor Leaguer of the
Year
© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (10-12-11) Former Grossmont High pitcher
A.J. GRIFFIN has been selected the Oakland As
minor league organizational pitcher of the year by MLB.com.
The 13th-round draft pick out of the University of
San Diego in 2010, Griffin made stops at all four full-season
A's minor league affiliates in his first full season,
finishing second in the system with his 3.47 ERA and
tied for the lead with 156 strikeouts. The 6-foot-5
right-hander also won a pair of games for Stockton in
the California League playoffs.
College Football Notebook (Week 5):
Former Sultan Aubrey is something special
© East County Sports.com
REDLANDS (10-4-11) Santana High alum senior wide
receiver/kick return specialist TYLER AUBREY of the
University of Redlands football team has been named
as a semifinalist for the 2011 National Football Foundation
William V. Campbell Trophy, which honors the sport's
best scholar-athlete in the nation. In addition, Aubrey
remains in the running as one of possible 16 recipients
of the NFF Scholar-Athlete Postgraduate Award of $18,000.
The Campbell Trophy, endowed by Health South®, increases
the amount of the recipient's grant by $7,000 for a
total postgraduate scholarship of $25,000.
College Football Notebook (Week 4): Hardrocker sets
rushing record
© East County Sports.com
RAPID CITY, S.D. (9-27-11) Steele Canyon High
alum JAMIE DALE has seen better days during his four-year
career at the NAIA South Dakota School of Mines.
While Saturdays (Sept. 24) loss to the Valley
City State (N.D.) Vikings 29-17 was frustrating, it
was also a record-breaking afternoon for Dale and quarterback
Nick Russell (Catholic Catholic).
Dale, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound senior running back, rushed
for 68 yards on 15 carries, raising his career rushing
count to a South Dakota School of Mines record 2,997
yards. He also owns the Hardrockers career record
for all-purpose yardage with 4,747.
PRO BASEBALL: Musgrove promoted for 'zero'
© East County Sports.com
BLUEFIELD , West Va. (9-21-11) Grossmont High
alum JOE MUSGROVE did not log a single pitching win
in his rookie season of professional baseball as a No.
1 draft pick of the Toronto Blue Jays this season.
That does not mean the 6-foot-5, 230-pound right-hander
failed to make an impact, however, since turning pro
in June.
PRO BASEBALL: Sean OSullivan rocked in Triple-A
final
© East County Sports.com
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (9-20-11) After a quick, seven-pitch
first inning, Omaha starter SEAN OSULLIVAN allowed
six runs on six hits over the next two innings as the
Storm Chasers fell to the Columbus Clippers 8-3 in Tuesdays
(Sept. 20) nationally televised Triple-A National Championship
game before a paid crowd of 9,569 at Albuquerque's Isotopes
Park.
College Football Notebook: Cory in Lock-down mode
© East County Sports.com
YUMA, Ariz. (9-20-11) Former Granite Hills High
quarterback CORY LOCKMAN is making the most of limited
playing time as a freshman at Arizona Western College
these days.
One of three freshman quarterbacks on the Matadors
roster, Lockman delivered scoring strikes of 16 and
22 yards during a 22-point second quarter in Saturdays
(Sept. 17) Western States Football League 55-8 rout
of Phoenix College. Lockman clicked on 4 of 7 passes
for 46 yards.
College Football Notebook: Mallory gains USAFA appointment
© East County Sports.com
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (9-13-11) NOLAN NINO
MALLORY has received an appointment to the Air Force
Academy, where he is playing football as a wide receiver
for the Falcons.
A 3-year starter at Valhalla High School, Mallory suffered
a season ending knee injury his junior year when the
Norsemen captured the Grossmont South League and played
in the San Diego CIF Division III title at Qualcomm
Stadium.
Mallory underwent surgery and was able to complete
his senior season at Valhalla in 2009.
Focused on serving his country and continuing his education,
Mallory attended Northwestern Prep School (Colo.) where
he was awarded a coveted USAF Falcon Foundation scholarship.
In the fall of 2010 he received a nomination to the
USAFA for the second time, and his long awaited Appointment
in March.
Invasion of San Diegans return home, meet USD
Western NM boosted by several county standouts
© East County Sports.com
ALCALA PARK (9-8-11) More than a dozen players
from San Diego County, including three from East County,
will return home when Western New Mexico comes to town
to meet the University of San Diego in a college football
intersectional game Saturday (Sept. 10) at Walter E.
Zable Field at Torero Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6
p.m.
Among the Grossmont Conference players to participate
for the Mustangs are senior long-snapper DYLAN FITZGERALD
(Steele Canyon), freshman linebacker JONATHAN BUTLER
(Santana) and freshman running back DAKOTA FURR (El
Capitan).
Fitzgerald, a Grossmont Hills League champion in the
pole vault with the Cougars, helped Grossmont College
to an 8-3 record and a Beach Bowl victory in 2009. Meanwhile,
Butler, who broke LEON BENDERs record for Santana
career sacks last year, gained a first team berth on
the All-East County team as a senior. Furr was the East
County Sports Co-Offensive Player of the Year last
season.
Western New Mexico, led by second-year head coach ADAM
CLARK who played locally at West Hills and Grossmont
College opened its season with a 35-28 triumph
over Sul Ross State (Texas), scoring in the final 35
seconds to claim its home opener in Silver City, N.M.
College Football Notebook
© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (9-6-11) East County high school gridiron
standouts are beginning to surface at some new places.
Running backs TRAVON VAN (Helix) is now a starter at
Marshall University, while ELLIOT TAYLOR (Mount Miguel)
made the Arizona travel squad as a walk-on from the
Wildcats track team.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Highlanders highlight
Stanford-San Jose State clash
© East County Sports.com
PALO ALTO (8-30-11) Former Helix football
standouts ANTHONY LARCEVAL (Class of 2009) and
SEAN LINTON ('10) of San Jose State will lead
the Spartans against the high-powered Stanford
Cardinal and LEVINE TOILOLO (Helix '09) at 2 p.m.
Saturday (Sept. 3).
A year ago, the Cardinal soared to new heights,
closing an historic 12-1 season as a Top 5 team
and returning home as the Discover Orange Bowl
champion.
Toilolo saw his season come crashing down to
a premature conclusion on the second offensive
play of the season in Stanfords Sept. 4
game against Sacramento State in 2010. The 6-foot-8,
263-pound Toilolo suffered a tear of the anterior
cruciate ligament in his right knee on the second
play of the Cardinals 52-17 win over Sacramento
State.
|
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Waters running big for Midland
© East County Sports.com
FREMONT, Neb. (8-30-11) Former Grossmont High
standout KHALID WATERS opened the college football
season with a bang Saturday (Aug. 27), rushing for
200 of Midland University's 293 yards on the ground
to power the NAIA 17th-ranked Warriors past visiting
Dakota State (S.D.), 47-20, at Memorial Field.
Waters' 200 yards, which included a touchdown romp,
are the most by a MLU back since the 2005 season.
His score came on a 15-yard handoff up the middle
to mount a 21-0 second-quarter lead. |
PRO BASEBALL: Thomas needs 72 hours to breakthrough
in pro debut
© East County Sports.com
FORT WORTH, Texas (8-24-11) For CLIFTON THOMAS,
the record-setting base stealer out of El Cajon Valley
High, only 72 hours were needed before he blossomed
in his professional debut for the Fort Worth Cats.
After batting just 1-for-14 in his first three games
as a midseason signee, Thomas erupted with a 3-for-5,
three RBI performance to fuel the Cats' offense against
the South Division rival El Paso Diablos in Wednesday's
(Aug. 24) American Association ballgame.
On three occasions with a runner in scoring position,
Thomas, a centerfielder, delivered a run-scoring basehit
in a 12-3 triumph. The contest opened a season-ending,
8-game homestand for the Cats at LaGrave Field.
COLLEGE BASEBALL: Brault is a Lunker... and an All-Star
© East County Sports.com
BRAINERD, Minn. (8-16-11) Grossmont High alum STEVEN
BRAULT of the Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers has been selected
to the postseason Northwoods League All-Star Team.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Isaacson remains on comeback trail
© East County Sports.com
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (7-29-11) For players who suffer
the type of injury GARY ISAACSON absorbed in the first
game of his senior football season at West Hills, it
usually spells the end of a career.
That could well have happened to Isaacson had he not
had a football scholarship to New Mexico State University
dangling in his face. More than that, though, was Isaacson
refused to give up. MORE
PRO BASEBALL
East County hurlers Karstens, Correia pitch Pittsburgh
into NL Central Division lead
© East County Sports.com
HOUSTON (7-16-11) Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers
JEFF KARSTENS and KEVIN CORREIA no doubt crossed paths
while growing up in East County. Both played baseball
in the Grossmont Conference Karstens at Mount
Miguel and Correia at Grossmont High. They each took
a turn at Grossmont College but were not teammates.
Funny, now, how they are now teammates at baseballs
highest level. Fact is, the duo has combined for 19
wins thus far this season which has helped the Pittsburgh
Pirates move into a tie for the National League Central
Division lead with the St. Louis Cardinals heading into
Saturdays (July 16) action.
Karstens, a 28-year-old right-hander, needed only 83
pitches to propel the Pirates into first place for the
first time this late in the season since July 17, 1997.
The veteran of parts of six major league seasons, Karstens
masterfully and efficiently wove through the Houston
Astros lineup on the way to his second career shutout
in a 4-0 Pirates win at Minute Maid Park.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL:
Schlein gains Cornell post
© East County Sports.com
ITHACA, N.Y. (7-8-11) KATIE SCHLEIN, the
daughter of former Valhalla High basketball coach
LENNY SCHLEIN, has accepted a post as an assistant
womens basketball coach at the Ivy Leagues
Cornell University.
Schlein spent the past season working as assistant
director of women's basketball operations at the
University of Denver.
|
PRO BASEBALL: Former Foothillers sparkle
in Northwoods League
© East County Sports.com
BRAINERD , Minn. (7-9-11) Led by former Grossmont
High pitchers AARON GRIFFIN and STEVEN BRAULT, the Brainerd
Lakes Area Lunkers of Minnesota finished the first half
of the Northwoods League season in second place in the
Southern Division. The Lunkers defeated the Thunder
Bay Border Cats 8-5 for their 4th straight win on Wednesday
(July 6) before beginning the second round of the summer
collegiate baseball season later this week.
PRO FOOTBALL
Indoor season over for Moss
© East County Sports.com
SAN JOSE (6-18-11) The Arena Football League
season is officially over West Hills High alum
MATT MOSS of the San Jose Sabrecats, the former
Grossmont College All-America defensive lineman
who earned a scholarship to Texas A&M.
|
QB
Staback lifts Wichita Wild
Former West Hills High standout goes 5-2 in IFL
Courtesy, Missouri Sports Magazine |
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SDSUs Lindley, Hillman
on Maxwell Award Watch List
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (7-7-11) Former El Capitan High passing
phenom RYAN LINDLEY, who is preparing for his senior season
at San Diego State, is one of two Aztecs among the 66
candidates nominated 2011 Maxwell Award Watch List for
the annual honor that is presented to the nations
most outstanding collegiate football player.
Lindley and sophomore running back Ronnie Hillman are
the first San Diego State student-athletes tabbed to
the watch list since former running back Lynell Hamilton
in 2006.
Whitmore named all-tourny at NAIA nationals
© East County Sports.com
LEWISTON, Idaho (6-4-11) Although his team,
Lubbock Christian (50-13), lost to Concordia-Irvine,
9-3, in the 55th annual Avista-NAIA World Series
at Harris Field on Friday (June 3), former El
Capitan High-Grossmont College pitcher LUCAS WHITMORE
was chosen to the all-tournament team.
A junior southpaw, Whitmore finished his junior
season with a 10-3 record, 3.48 ERA and 104 strikeouts
in 98 1/3 innings.
|
COLLEGE BASEBALL: All-America honors for Santana
alum Smith
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (6-9-11) Forget about what kind of
bat it is. CODY SMITH has never had difficulty swinging
the bat. He ranked among the East County leaders throughout
his Santana High career.
He carried that prowess over to the NCAA Division I
level as a freshman outfielder at San Diego State University
this season.
Smith was named to the 2011 Louisville Slugger Freshman
All-America squad by Collegiate Baseball newspaper.
Santana alum Smith tabbed all-Mountain West
© East County Sports.com
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (5-24-11) Santana High
product CODY SMITH, a freshman outfielder for San Diego
State, is among four Aztecs to earn second team All-Mountain
West Conference baseball honors in balloting conducted
by the league's seven head coaches. Juniors Brandon
Meredith and Chris Wilson (son of Valhalla baseball
coach MIKE WILSON) along with freshmen Cole Swanson
were also honored.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S SOFTBALL
Scott gains All-NFCA regional berth
© East County Sports.com
STARKVILLE, Miss. (5-23-11) Former Christian
High standout ALLIE SCOTT, a member of the All-East
County team last season, has been named to the All-Northeast
Regional team by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
Scott, a freshman catcher for Harvard, initially earned
a second-team, All-Ivy League berth, then out-voted
the senior catcher from Penn to gain the regional award.
The honor also included an automatic berth for consideration
to the All-America team.
Harvard catcher Scott leads way for NCAA berth
© East County Sports.com
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (5-10-11) A key factor in a
historic season for the Harvard women's fastpitch team
has been the play of former Christian High standout
ALLIE
SCOTT.
Along with capturing the
school's fifth Ivy League championship, and with
it an automatic berth to the NCAA Division I Championship,
the Crimson set a record with their 36th victory of
the season. All of this occurred after Scott stepped
on campus and took over as starting catcher as a freshman.
Scott led all Ivy catchers on both offense and defense.
Along with a near-perfect .993 fielding percentage,
she finished seventh among all Ivy batters with a .421
average, tying for second place in home runs (8), doubles
(8) and slugging percentage (.877).
Balough sisters shine at Lee
© East County Sports.com
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (5-23-11) The Southern States
Athletic Conference (SSAC) announced its annual awards
Thursday (May 19), naming former Santana High standout
DANIELLE
BALOUGH to the all-conference team for the third
consecutive season.
Balough, a senior for Lee University , hit an even
.400 entering the SSAC conference tournament, leading
the team with 10 home runs and 44 runs batted in.
The Lady Flames had three players named to the All-Division
Team, including junior BRITTANY
BALOUGH.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S FASTPITCH: East
County players dominate CSUSM picks
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Rare double for LMU's Griffin
© East County Sports.com
SAN BRUNO (5-17-11) Loyola Marymount University
sophomore AARON
GRIFFIN earned a double honor, named Louisville
Slugger National Player of the Week and West Coast
Conference Pitcher of the Week.
Griffin made two starts last week, tossing 6
1/3 innings and leaving with a 2-1 lead on Monday
versus Cal State Bakersfield. A Grossmont High
graduate, Griffin allowed an unearned run on three
hits and two walks while striking out a career-high
eight batters.
On Sunday (May 15) at Saint Mary's, Griffin tossed
his second career complete game, and his first
career complete-game shutout, to improve to 6-3.
The right-hander threw 116 pitches, allowing six
hits and one walk while striking out six hitters.
He retired 12 straight hitters from the third
out in the second through the second out in the
sixth.
Gay tabbed to MCC team
© East County Sports.com
OSKALOOSA, Iowa (5-18-11) William Penn
University junior pitcher DARREN GAY, a former
standout at Granite Hills High, Grossmont College
and San Diego Mesa College, has been recognized
as an honorable mention pick for the All-Midwest
Collegiate Conference baseball team.
|
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Whitmore bound for NAIA World Series
© East County Sports.com
LUBBOCK, Texas (5-17-11) Former El Capitan
High and Grossmont College hurler LUCAS
WHITMORE pitched a complete game and had a
span of 16 consecutive batters retired to help
lead No.9 Lubbock Christian University to a 10-3
win over Kansas Wesleyan University on Saturday
(May 14), clinching the Lubbock Bracket championship
and punching their ticket to the NAIA World Series
in Lewiston, Idaho.
Brault earns RMAC postseason honors
© East County Sports.com
DENVER (5-17-11) Former Grossmont High
standout STEVEN
BRAULT earned third team All-Rocky Mountain
Conference Athletic Conference at two positions
(pitcher and first base) at Regis University in
his freshman season.
In addition, the 6-foot-1, 170-pound Brault was
selected the 2011 RMAC Baseball Freshman of the
Year.
|
Taijeron voted CCAA Player of the Year
First Cal Poly Pomona recipient in 20 seasons
© East County Sports.com
POMONA (5-13-11) Former Granite Hills High and
Grossmont College standout TRAVIS
TAIJERON, now a senior at Cal Poly Pomona, has been
named the California Collegiate Athletic Association
(CCAA) Most Valuable Player.
A candidate for the 2011 NCAA Division II Player of
the Year, Taijeron is the fifth CPP player to be named
the MVP of the conference and the first since 1991.
A 6-foot-2 center fielder, Taijeron is at the top of
the league for most major offensive statistics, including
slugging percentage (.731 - 1st), on-base percentage
(.516 - 1st), homeruns (14 - 1st) and total bases (122
- 1st). His 14 home runs also ranks 18th nationally.
A former catcher and first baseman, Taijeron helped
the Broncos (30-19) secure a spot in the CCAA Tournament
by batting .459 in the final month of the regular season.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Roth winner Darby named best at SW Oklahoma State
© East County Sports.com
WEATHERFORD, Okla. (5-6-11) Junior safety JONATHAN
DARBY, a product of West Hills High and Grossmont
College, has been recognized as the top male athlete
of the year at Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
The award is based on the students athletic achievement,
academic standing, community involvement and citizenship.
Darby made an instant impact on the Bulldogs football
team this season, leading the Bulldogs with 91 tackles
despite missing the last two games with an ankle injury.
He was Southwestern's lone representative on the Lone
Star Conferences first-team North Division squad.
Darby is majoring in education where he carries a 3.97
grade point average.
|
Mike McCoy
|
PRO BASEBALL: Hillers alum McCoy hits first MLB homer
© Special to East County Sports.com
From the Toronto Sun
NEW YORK (5-1-11) Grossmont High alum MIKE McCOY
worked a long time to get to the major leagues so he
is entitled to savour his first home run, an impressive
swat of more than 400 feet to right field at Yankee
Stadium on Saturday (Apr. 30).
"It was pretty cool and to do it here was a special
moment," said McCoy who, at 30 years old, is in
just his third year in the majors.
Yankee Stadium fans always throw back opposition home
runs so McCoy got the ball. Derek Jeter tossed it to
Brian Butterfield, who relayed to Jose Bautista. Bautista
then pretended to throw McCoy's memento into the stands
before handing it over.
|
Matt Powell
|
PRO BASEBALL: Powell belongs to the Windy City
© East County Sports.com
CRESTWOOD, Ill. (4-29-11) Former Grossmont College
standout MATT POWELL, who went on to an All-America
catching career at Southern Nazarene (Okla.) University,
has been signed off the roster of the San Diego Stars
semipro baseball team to a professional contract.
On Thursday (Apr. 28) night, the paperwork was faxed
verifying Powell is now a member of the Windy City ThunderBolts,
one of 12 ballclubs in the independent Frontier League.
The T-Bolts are the defending Eastern Division champions.
PRO BASEBALL: Griffin scores with bunny
© East County Sports.com
BURLINGTON, Iowa (4-17-11) A.J.
GRIFFIN, the 2006 East County pitcher of the year
for Grossmont High, sat alone in his corner of the Burlington
Bees dugout, except for a new friend.
Accompanying Griffin was a large chocolate Easter bunny,
complete with a big gold chain around its neck, found
during a late-night shopping binge to Wal-Mart. Oddly,
Griffin purchased the confection because he thought it
looked like Bees teammate Tyreace House.
"It looks just like Tyreace," Griffin told
TheHawkEye.com.
"It's a bunny dude!"
The rabbit turned into Griffins' good luck charm for
Thursday's (Apr. 14) Class A Midwest League ballgame
at Community Field.
The right-hander carried a no-hit bid into the 8th
inning against the Peoria Chiefs, finally surrendering
a base hit to Sergio Burruel with one out. An out later,
Grififn yielded to the bullpen as he collected his first
victory of the season following a 5-1 decision.
Brault named RMAC Pitcher of the Week
© East County Sports.com
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (4-15-11) In his finest
performance on the mound in his young collegiate career,
Regis College southpaw STEVEN BRAULT (Grossmont High)
was awarded the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Pitcher
of the Week after allowing just one unearned run in
the Rangers 2-1 victory over Colorado School of the
Mines on Saturday (Apr. 9).
COLLEGE BASEBALL: Gay makes case with shutout in starting
debut
© East County Sports.com
OSKALOOSA, Iowa (3-24-11) Former Granite Hills
High and Grossmont College standout DARREN GAY pitched
a shutout in a Midwest Collegiate Conference opening
doubleheader for William Penn University last Saturday
(Mar. 19).
After the Statesmen dropped the first game to snap
a 5-game winning streak, Gay, a junior right-hander,
responded with the team's best pitching effort of the
season. Following just six appearances in relief, Gay
tossed a complete-game 2-hitter, walking just one in
allowing just three baserunners all contest.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S SOFTBALL: Taynton gains NJCAA honor
© East County Sports.com
YUMA, Ariz. (3-24-11) Former El Capitan High
standout AMBER TAYNTON has been named the NJCAA Region I
(Arizona) pitcher of the week after a trio of strong
outings for Arizona Western College during the week
of Mar. 14-20.
Over 25 innings of work, Taynton struck out 23 batters
in leading the Matadors to three victories. Taynton
allowed just two earned runs in a 10-5 triumph over
Scottsdale, and a pair of unearned runs in a 4-2 decision
over Paradise Valley among her victories.
PRO BASEBALL: Penn pitching professionally in Japan
© East County Sports.com
SANTEE (3-19-11) Santana High graduate HAYDEN
PENN has been pitching professionally since 2002. Originally
a 5th round draft pick of the Baltimore Orioles, the
6-foot-3, 195-pound right-hander has toiled for the
Orioles, Florida Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates in parts
of four major league seasons.
The past two years, Penn has been hurling for the Chiba
Lotte Marines of the Japanese Baseball League. A year
ago, Penns lone pitching victory in The Orient
came in the Nippon Championships when he worked 5 1/3
innings allowing, 2 runs and 5 hits while striking out
three in the Marines 10-4 victory over the Chunichi
Dragons. Chiba Lotte went on to win the Japanese version
of the World Series.
COLLEGE WOMEN'S SOFTBALL
Klopp
homers twice, equals SDSU single-season home run record
Dronenburg
hits key Cougar Clash HR, then Miller scores GW run for
CSUSM
West
Hills alum Sandberg tosses no-hitter, perfect game on
same day
PRO FOOTBALL
Notebook: Former Matadors lineman re-signs with Chargers
© East County Sports.com
MUPRHY CANYON (3-3-11) Former Mount Miguel High
defensive lineman OGEMDI NWAGBUO, who played collegiately
for Michigan State, accepted a tender offer and signed
a 1-year contract extension with the San Diego Chargers.
Nwagbuo, who will enter his third season with the Chargers,
played in 15 games this past season, adding depth to
the defensive line as a reserve nose tackle. He recorded
a season-high five tackles Week 12 against the Oakland
Raiders, then posted a fumble recovery in Week 16 at
Cincinnati.
Hot time in the River city
© East County Sports.com
SACRAMENTO (3-1-11) Former Christian High standout
EDDIE
YOUNG is off to a fast start as the starting second
baseman for UC Riverside.
Over the weekend, Young was instrumental in leading
the Highlanders to a 3-game sweep of Sacramento State
. Included in Youngs efforts was a leadoff single
in the 6th, eventually scoring the tie-breaking run
in Sunday's (Feb. 27) series-ending, 4-2 triumph.
Chico's chicas
© East County Sports.com
TURLOCK (2-28-11) Chico State, a turnaround program
which moved to within one victory of a NCAA Division II
Women's College World Series berth last season, is off
to a flying start thanks to a pair of East County products
BRITT WRIGHT and RACHEL FAILLA.
College Softball Notebook: 'Pearls' for February
© East County Sports.com
SAN MARCOS (2-25-11) They do things differently
in the North County.
Although February has yet to turn into March, Cal State
San Marcos already announced its athletes
of the month for the year's shortest month, with
West Hills High product ALEX
MILLER among the honorees.
Collegiate debuts special for Klopp, Gentry
© East County Sports.com
LOS ANGELES (2-13-11/Revised 2-16-11) Former
Steele Canyon High standout LORENA
KLOPP, who burst onto the scene with a CIF San Diego
Section record for RBI with 60 as a freshman, is doing
the same thing in her first season with San Diego State.
Klopp, a two-time All-CIF state selection with the
Cougars, slugged a home run and drove in five runs,
plus gained a pitching triumph, helping the Aztecs to
a pair of victories Saturday (Feb. 12) in the season-opening
Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament at UCLA.
Meanwhile, former Christian High standout RICKI GENTRY
opened her collegiate career by being named Western
New Mexico University's student-athlete of the week
for the period ending Feb. 13.
Gentry registered an on-base percentage of .500 during
the Mustangs' appearance at the Desert Stinger Classic
in Las Vegas. Included was a 3-for-3 outing against
Lewis University, then Gentry belted home runs against
Western Oregon and St. Edward's.
For the season, Gentry, the designated player, leads
Western New Mexico (2-9) with a .450 batting average.
Best in the West, but the nation, too?
© East County Sports.com
TURLOCK (2-8-11) A trio of former East County
standouts led by NAIA All-America pitcher BRENNA
SANDBERG were named to the all-tournament
team after leading 8th-ranked Cal State San Marcos to
the championship of the Best of the West Invitational
held at Cal State Stanislaus.
Sandberg, a West Hills High product, was joined by
Cougars infielders ALYSSA
DRONENBURG (Helix) and ALEX
MILLER (West Hills) on the all-tournament team.
Sherika shines at SFSU
© East County Sports.com
LA JOLLA (2-6-11) Former West Hills High standout
SHERIKA MILLER marked her return to her hometown by
producing a career-high 15 points, but her San Francisco
State Gators fell to UC San Diego, 59-52, at RIMAC Arena
on Thursday (Feb. 3).
|
La'Kenya
Simon West
|
Simon-West moves Pomona into first-place showdown
© East County Sports.com
LA JOLLA (1-23-11) Former East County player
of the year LA'KENYA
SIMON-WEST of Grossmont High School moved into position
for a conference championship as a starting forward
for Cal Poly Pomona.
Behind 13 points by Simon-West, plus the first career
double-double by teammate Charlene Popoff, the Broncos
downed host UC San Diego, 82-75, Saturday (Jan. 22)
at RIMAC Arena.
Trailing by seven points with just 10 minutes remaining
in regulation, the Broncos fired off a 17-0 run for
their seventh straight triumph.
|
|
Christina Rios
|
Precious
Robinson
|
Redlands' Rios tops on court, in classroom
© East County Sports.com
REDLANDS (1-14-11) The University of Redlands
took the first step to claim consecutive regular-season
titles in women's basketball for the first time ever
after capturing its Southern California Intercollegiate
Athletic Conference opener in a 52-46 home decision
over Cal Lutheran at Currier Gym on Jan. 8.
And starting point guard CHRISTINA RIOS, a Grossmont
High alum, is leading the way for the Bulldogs (7-4,
1-0).
The Robinson gift
© East County Sports.com
STILLWATER, Okla. (1-8-11) Former Mount Miguel
High standout PRECIOUS ROBINSON is relishing her role
as the 6th player for nationally-ranked Oklahoma State.
For the second consecutive season, Robinson is one of
the top percentage shooters in the Big 12 Conference,
helping the Cowgirls (13-1) to a ranking of No. 25 in
the nation entering this weekend's conference opener
at Kansas State.
|
Celebrating their 2009-10 PASL-Pro
North America championship are (l-r)
the Sockers' Paul Wright, Scott Martin, Aaron
Susi and Dan Antoniuk.
(San Diego Sockers courtesy photo)
|
Wright still gunning at 41
In third stint with San Diego Sockers
© East County Sports.com
DEL MAR (12-17-10) During the tail end of the San
Diego Sockers dynasty of the 1980s, when the franchise
captured 10 arena soccer (then simply called "indoor
soccer") championships over a 12-year span, one of
the team's leading scorers was former Grossmont High standout
PAUL
WRIGHT.
"It seems every one in San Diego still has great
memories of the Sockers from their glory days," said
Wright. "Those were great teams."
|
Paul Wright
|
More than a decade later, Wright, who turns 42 this season,
is still plying his trade with the latest incarnation
of the Sockers, which is coming off an 11th North American
indoor title last winter.
"I feel like I can still contribute and keep the
team winning," added Wright. "Playing for the
Sockers still ranks among my favorite moments in soccer."
Still contribute? Wright is known among the top free kick
specialists the David Beckham of indoors
finishing seventh in the PASL-Pro league in scoring. Placing
the ball into the net is something Wright has been doing
for a long time.
In fact, thanks to a 4-point night against the Louisville
Lightning recently, Wright shared player of the week honors
with defender Diego Rovira, as announced by Sockers general
manager John "The Coach" Kentera.
"When I came to the States, I was 10 and began playing
for Derek Armstrong of the La Jolla Nomads," said
the native of England. "At Grossmont (High), we were
known for scoring a lot of goals."
However, the Foothillers never climbed the mountain to
capture CIF crowns, while Helix (1983), Granite Hills
(1985) and Valhalla (1986-88) took titles, while Monte
Vista was a section runner-up (1989) after falling in
a memorable double-overtime thriller to Bonita Vista.
Wright eventually turned professional with the Cleveland
Crunch in 1989, then was traded to the Sockers in 1990,
taking the MISL (Major Indoor Soccer League) trophy that
season.
Wright, now in his third tour of duty in San Diego, credits
his training regiment which he continues as founder/operator
of Speed To Burn, which provides speed training for enhanced
athletic performance.
"We train people to increase their speed," noted
Wright. "We handle youngsters, high school and college
players, and adults.
Wright's next opportunity to showcase his skills comes
Wednesday (Dec. 29), when San Diego (6-1) hosts the Southwest
final of the U.S. Open Cup series. Kickoff is at 6:15
p.m. from Del Mar Arena (located next door to the racetrack
on the Del Mar Fairgrounds). The winner advances to the
Open Cup national Final Four.
The contest will feature a ceremony honoring the Sockers
MISL championship team from 1985-96, plus honor former
head coach Ron Newman.
No hard feelings for Leaf
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (12-19-10) After originally committing
to play for San Diego State basketball coach Steve Fisher,
former Foothills Christian High standout TROY LEAF notes
there are no hard feelings after he later signed with
UC Santa Barbara.
"I still respect Coach Fisher as a man, and he
respects me as a player," said Leaf after his Gauchos
made a visit to Viejas Arena on Saturday (Dec. 18).
If events followed a different path, Leaf may well
have been wearing the hometown whites for the 10th-ranked
and undefeated Aztecs. Instead, Leaf, along with more
than two dozens family and friends, were wearing the
UCSB blue in support of last season's CIF San Diego
Section all-division player of the year.
"I don't even think about it anymore," Leaf
noted on almost becoming an Aztecs guard. "Right
now, everything in Santa Barbara is great as I try to
learn playing a college system."
The true freshman has already been making contributions
for UCSB, averaging 10 minutes per contest. Leaf scored
a career-high five points in a 90-64 loss to SDSU, which
followed Santa Barbara 's 68-62 road upset triumph over
22nd-rated UNLV on Wednesday (Dec. 15).
Leaf returns home with UCSB Gauchos
Meet No. 10 SDSU, Saturday at Viejas Arena
© East County Sports.com
SANTA BARBARA (12-15-10) Former Foothills Christian
High standout TROY
LEAF, the reigning CIF San Diego Section all-division
player of the year, will make his San Diego debut as
a collegian on Saturday (Dec. 18) when his UC Santa
Barbara Gauchos complete a 3-game roadtrip against 10th-ranked
San Diego State at Viejas Arena. Tipoff is slated for
7 p.m. LISTEN
Ekeweozor, Villanova, in FCS national semifinals
© East County Sports.com
CHENEY, Wash. (12-16-10) For the second year
in a row, former Mount Miguel High standout CHIDOZIE
EKEWEOZOR will a be a starting offensive tackle for
defending national champion Villanova (9-4).
Villanova will play in the FCS semifinals of the Division
I-AA Football Championship series against No. 5 seed
and host Eastern Washington (11-2) in a game that will
take place Friday (Dec. 17) at 5 p.m. at Roos Field.
The contest will be nationally televised on ESPN2.
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Cavin McCall displays 'the hardware'
|
McCall captures major SCGA title
Claims Tournament of Club Champions
© East County Sports.com
LA HABRA (12-14-10) CAVIN
McCALL, the reigning club champion at Cottonwood
Golf Club in Rancho San Diego, captured the 36th annual
Southern California Golf Association (SCGA) Tournament
of Club Champions, held Monday (Dec. 13) at Hacienda
Country Club.
|
Cavin McCall
|
|
McCall defeated Daniel Ragsdale from North Ranch Country
Club with a par on the fifth playoff hole after each
posted even-par rounds of 71 during regulation play.
McCall, a 23-year-old senior at Cal State Dominguez
Hills, is a former player and current Assistant Coach
of the Toros' men's golf team. He will graduate in May
with a communications degree.
McCall is relatively new to the game, having only played
for seven years, yet now owns consecutive club championships
at Cottonwood. He becomes the first club champion from
Cottonwood to win the prestigious SCGA tournament.
Ive been playing well and my hope coming
in was to finish in the top 10, said McCall, who
outlasted 107 club champions from throughout the Southland.
The triumph earns him an exemption into the 112th SCGA
Amateur Championship, slated for July 8-10, 2011 at
San Gabriel Country Club, and the SCGA Public Links
Championship (formerly the PLGA Amateur Championship),
March 25-27 at Brookside Golf Club in Pasadena.
McCall played golf and baseball at Christian High,
then played golf for Cuyamaca College before moving
on to CSUDH, emerging as the top performer for the Toros
during the 2009 season.
All-America citation for Lindenwood's Staback
© East County Sports.com
LIBERTY, Mo. (12-15-10) Former West Hills
High quarterback PHILIP STABACK, who recently
signed an indoor football professional contract,
was named Tuesday (Dec. 14) to the 2010 NAIA All-America
football team by the American Football Coaches
Association.
Staback becomes the first Lindenwood University
quarterback to receive such a citation after being
named the Heart of America Athletic Conference
player of the year.
|
|
Staback turns pro
© East County Sports.com
GREEN BAY, Wis. (11-30-10/Revised 12-3-10)
Fresh from receiving NAIA All-American honors for
Lindenwood University, former West Hills High quarterback
PHILIP STABACK recently signed a professional contract
to join the Green Bay Blizzard of the American Indoor
Football Association. |
Molzen helping William Jewel make strides
© East County Sports.com
LIBERTY, Mo. (12-8-10) It may be a few baby steps,
but for former El Capitan High and Grossmont College
standout JON MOLZEN, the 2010 football season must be
called a success.
Playing for William Jewel College, an NAIA program,
which posted just a single victory in 2009, Molzen and
a cast of fresh recruits arrived at the western Missouri
campus just outside of Kansas City and posted with three
additional triumphs in a 4-7 campaign.
Miller makes the step up
© East County Sports.com
SAN FRANCISCO (12-7-10) It's not often a true
freshman can step into a college starting line-up, yet
former West Hills High standout SHERIKA MILLER is doing
well in such a role for San Francisco State.
Darby earns All-Lone Star Conference
© East County Sports.com
WEATHERFORD, Okla. (11-30-10) West Hills alum JONATHAN
DARBY, the 2009 Joe Roth Award winner out of Grossmont
College, continues to gain honors at Southwestern Oklahoma
State.
Bradley, Dale like dis & like DAC
© East County Sports.com
DICKINSON, N.D. (11-30-10) A pair of former East
County players have gained postseason honors in the Dakota
Athletic Conference.
Earning first team honors are Mayville State defensive
back DOMINIQUE BRADLEY (Grossmont HS) and South Dakota
Mines running back JAMIE DALE (Steele Canyon).
Neal makes strides for Fullerton
© East County Sports.com
ALCALA PARK (11-25-10) Cal State Fullerton freshman
YVONTE
NEAL, the reigning East County player of the year
out of Mount Miguel High, came off the bench to score
five points and grab three rebounds, but the Titans
fell to host University of San Diego, 71-60, Wednesday
(Nov. 24) at Jenny Craig Pavilion.
Neal, a pure freshman, hit 2-for-4 from the field,
while two of her boards were on the offensive glass
in her 12 minutes of the court.
Naderhoff enjoying next step at CSUB
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (11-18-10) MARILYN
NADERHOFF hasn't been on a court for several weeks,
yet that hasn't taken anything from her experience with
Cal State Bakersfield women's basketball team, which visited
Viejas Arena on Wednesday (Nov. 17) night and took out
San Diego State, 73-62.
CIF-SDS announces 50th Anniversary Team
East County gains 11 berths among media selections
Special to East County Sports.com
BALBOA PARK (11-10-10) In recognition of the
50th anniversary of the CIF-San Diego Section, the local
section celebrated the milestone by recognizing the
top 50 athletes from 1960 to date. The 50 players from
a variety of sports were selected by a panel under the
auspices of the CIF-SDS. Members of the panel were Steve
Brand, Bill Dickens, Kirk Kenney, Joe Naiman and Rick
Smith. All have covered high school sports for various
media across the region for decades.
Section Commissioner Dennis Ackerman said many of the
50 will attend the high school football championships
on Monday (Dec. 6) at Qualcomm Stadium, to be honored
between the Division II and Division I title games.
The 11 East County honors include: Sharon Barrett,
Monte Vista (golf); Reggie Bush, Helix (football); Tony
Clark, Valhalla-Christian (basketball-baseball); Terry
Forster, Santana (baseball); Mark Gerardi, Valhalla
(wrestling); Greg Louganis, Valhalla (swim-diving);
Mark Malone, El Cajon Valley (football-track); Eileen
Maul, Santana (gymnastics-diving); Jim Plum, Helix (football-baseball);
Tommy Vardell, Granite Hills (football-wrestling); and
Bill Walton, Helix (basketball).
50th
Anniversary All-CIFSDS Team
|
ATHLETES
SCHOOL SPORT ERA
Marcus Allen Lincoln Football
1970s
Sharon Barrett Monte Vista
Golf 1970s
Brody Barrios Poway Wrestling
1990s, 2000s
Dillon Baxter Mission Bay Football
2000s
Bob Boone Crawford Football,
basketball, baseball 1960s
Chase Budinger La Costa Canyon
Basketball, volleyball 2000s
Reggie Bush Helix Football,
track 2000s
Eric Chavez Mt. Carmel Baseball
1990s
Tony Clark Valhalla-Christian
Basketball, baseball 1980s, 1990s
Tim Danielson Chula Vista Track,
cross country 1960s
Gail Devers Sweetwater Track
1980s
Lisa Dodd Mira Mesa-University City
Softball 2000s
Kris Fillat Serra Field hockey
1980s
Terry Forster Santana Baseball
1960s, 1970s
Oscar Foster San Diego Basketball
1960s
Tyler Gaffney Cathedral Catholic
Football, baseball 2000s |
|
Mark Gerardi Valhalla
Wrestling 1980s
Milena Glusac Fallbrook Track,
cross country 1990s
Adrian Gonzalez Eastlake Baseball
1990s, 2000s
Monique Henderson Morse Track
1990s, 2000s
Charde Houston San Diego Basketball
2000s
Chad Hutchinson Torrey Pines
Football, baseball 1990s
Elijah Jefferson Crawford
Track 1970s
Kira Jorgensen Vista-Rancho Buena
Vista Track, cross country
1980s
Meb Keflezighi San Diego Track,
cross country 1990s
Teddy Lawrence Morse Football,
track 1980s, 1990s
Ericka Lorenz Patrick Henry
Water polo 1990s
Greg Louganis Valhalla
Swimming, diving 1970s
Shannon MacMillan San Pasqual
Soccer 1990s
Mark Malone El Cajon Valley
Football, track 1970s
Terri Mann Point Loma Basketball,
track 1980s
Eileen Maul Santana Gymnastics,
diving 1980s
Phil Mickelson USDHS Golf
1980s
Brent Noon Fallbrook Track
1980s, 1990s
|
|
Jerome Price
University City Football, basketball,
track 1980s
Jim Plum Helix Football,
baseball 1980s
Carlos Quentin USDHS Football,
baseball, basketball 1990s, 2000s
Harry Rudolph, Jr. La Jolla
Golf 1980s
Jennifer Saleaumua Bonita Vista
Volleyball, basketball 1990s, 2000s
Junior Seau Oceanside Football,
basketball 1980s
Jesse Smith Coronado Water polo,
swimming 1990s, 2000s
Mike Stamm Crawford Swimming
1960s, 1970s
Allison Terry USDHS Swimming
1980s, 1990s
Alan Trammell Kearny Baseball,
basketball 1970s
Tommy Vardell Granite Hills
Football, wrestling 1980s
Bill Walton Helix Basketball
1960s, 1970s
David Wells Point Loma Baseball
1980s
Candice Wiggins La Jolla Country Day
Basketball, volleyball 2000s
Dokie Williams El Camino Football,
track 1970s
Ricky Williams Patrick Henry
Football, baseball 1990s |
|
|
Oakland Raiders tackle Khalif
Barnes / Raiders.com courtesy photo
|
Former Matadors O-lineman Barnes makes
key TD catch for Raiders
© East County Sports.com
OAKLAND (11-7-10) Former Mount Miguel High
and University of Washington offensive lineman KHALIF
BARNES scored a rare touchdown Sunday (Nov. 7), keying
the Oakland Raiders in a 23-20 overtime victory over
the Kansas City Chiefs.
Midway through the third quarter, Barnes hauled in
a 2-yard TD pass from Jason Campbell on a tackle-eligible
pass, giving the Raiders a 14-13 lead in a ballgame
that saw the Raiders get shutout in the first half.
In his second season with Oakland, Barnes garnered
just two previous starts in 14 appearances after moving
to the Bay Area following four seasons as a full-time
starter with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The catch was
his first career NFL reception.
Lindley vs. Thomas: East County QBs
clash in Saturday shootout at Qualcomm
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (11-4-10) In the history of East County
football not many shootouts get bigger than Saturdays
(Nov. 6) Mountain West Conference Colorado State versus
San Diego State shootout at Qualcomm Stadium.
Kickoff is 7 p.m. when the visiting Rams quarterback
and Valhalla High graduate PETE THOMAS takes aim at
the Aztecs, who are led by El Capitan High grad and
SDSU junior RYAN LINDLEY.
SDSU Red-Black series
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (11-4-10) Five freshman out of East
County EVAN POTTER (Grossmont), DYLAN GARCIA
(Granite Hills), JARED HUNT (Granite Hills), CODY SMITH
(Santana) and KYLE HAYES (Santana) will participate
in the 2nd Annual Aztec Red-Black World Series this
weekend at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
One-of-a-kind Triple
Crown by Grossmont High grad
© East County Sports.com
MAYVILLE, N.D.(11-3-10) Mayville State
(N.D.) University freshman DOMINIQUE BRADLEY
a graduate of Grossmont High has pulled
off a hat trick of sorts. That is, Bradley carried
the ball 26 times for 181 yards and two touchdowns
in the Comets' 21-14 win over Dakota State to
earn Dakota Athletic Conference Offensive Player
of the Week.
|
|
Midland Lutherans Waters makes like
a Comet
© East County Sports.com
FREMONT, Neb. (11-3-10) Former Grossmont
running back KHALID WATERS rushed for a team high
119 yards on 23 carries and scored three touchdowns
as Midland Lutheran (Neb.) won its fifth straight
by bouncing Briar Cliff (Sioux City, Iowa) University
31-10 on Saturday (Oct. 30). Waters also caught
three passes for 27 yards.
|
Sultans have Redlands rolling
© East County Sports.com
REDLANDS (11-3-10) Four East County graduates
are helping the Redlands University Bulldogs make a
run for the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference football championship this season.
The quartet includes Santana High products TYLER AUBREY,
the ROMERO brothers BRETT and KYLE and
Valhalla freshman MATTHEW SWANGER.
Bradley establishes NAIA national record
© East County Sports.com
MAYVILLE, N.D. (10-25-10) Former Grossmont High
safety DOMINIQUE BRADLEY of Mayville State University
was recently named the Dakota Athletic Conference Special
Teams Player of the Week for his performance against
Jamestown College (N.D.). He was also listed among the
honorable mention for the NAIA national award.
The Comets freshman broke a 29-year-old NAIA record
with his 99-yard punt return for a touchdown.
Stabach takes "the 5th"
for Lindenwood PHOTOS
Lions offense posts school-record 90 points
© East County Sports.com
ST, CHARLES, Mo. (10-19-20) Former West
Hills passing phenom PHILIP STABACH earned his
fifth Heart of America Athletic Conference Offensive
Player of the Week honor after leading Lindenwood
past Culver-Stockton, 90-19, on Saturday (Oct.
16).
|
CSU's Thomas blasts UNLV
3 TD passes by true freshman
© East County Sports.com
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.
(10-20-10) Former Valhalla High standout PETE
THOMAS, the first true-freshman starting quarterback
at Colorado State since at least World War II, completed
10 of 14 passes for 233 yards and 3 touchdowns as the
Rams buried visiting UNLV 43-10 in Saturdays (Oct.
16) Mountain West Conference action.
|
Colorado State University
quarterback Pete Thomas
celebrates with fans
after leading the Rams
past visiting Idaho
(Photo by Dan Byers,
CSU media relations)
|
Thomas receives MWC honors
© East County Sports.com
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (9-27-10) Former Valhalla
High standout PETE THOMAS, the first true-freshman starting
quarterback at Colorado State since at least World War
II, earned Mountain West Conference honors in just his
fourth collegiate outing.
On Saturday (Sept. 25), Thomas led the Rams to a last-minute,
game-winning drive to defeat Idaho, earning conference
player of the week honors. Thomas orchestrated a 12-play,
66-yard drive over the final 2:38 of regulation, setting
up Ben DeLines 35-yard game-winning field goal
at the gun in a 36-34 triumph over the Vandals.
Roadtrip continues for former Patriots center Joaquim
Accepts scholarship to University of Hawai'i
© East County Sports.com
HONOLULU (9-27-10) The worldwide tour by former
Christian High standout VANDER JOAQUIM just gained a new
destination.
The native of Luanda, Angola, will play for his fourth
school in five seasons after coming to America , accepting
an NCAA Division I scholarship at the University of Hawai'i.
After the 6-foot-10, 240-pound center participated
in the Lusophony Games as a member of the Angolan National
Team in 2006, the then 16-year old was selected to the
Basketball Without Borders Africa camp in 2006 and 07,
in which the top 100 players from 28 countries on the
continent were selected to participate by FIBA and the
NBA.
Mills tabbed
starting QB for USD
© East County Sports.com
ALCALA PARK (9-22-10) MASON MILLS, a former
football and baseball standout for Christian and
Coronado high schools, has been named starting
quarterback for University of San Diego for the
balance of the season. The freshman had been playing
baseball on scholarship for New Mexico State last
season before deciding to switch back to football.
|
West Hills grad No. 1 passer in NAIA
© East County Sports.com
ST. CHARLES, Mo. (9-21-10) Former West Hills
High quarterback PHILIP STABACK, a senior signal-caller
at Lindenwood University, has earned NAIA National Offensive
Player of the Week.
Staback completed 27-of-40 passes for 404 yards, the
fourth-highest total in Lindenwood history for a game.
He threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first quarter
and rushed for another touchdown in the third quarter
to keep the No. 2 Lions undefeated following a 45-27
victory over No. 8-ranked Missouri Valley.
Matadors making their mark
Ekweozor visits The White House
© East County Sports.com
SPRING VALLEY (9-15-10) Three graduates
of the Mount Miguel High football program continue
to excel across the country.
CHIDOZIE EKWEOZOR, a 6-foot-5, 320-pound sophomore,
has recovered from a torn ACL suffered during
Villanova's 2009 run to the Div. IA National Championship.
The big fella has regained his starting spot this
season, anchoring the right tackle spot in games
against Temple and Lehigh.
No doubt equally as exciting for Ekweozor was
being part of Villanovas visit to the White
House on Monday (Sept. 13).
|
|
Gruber getting his kicks
at Nebraska-Kearney
© East County Sports.com
KEARNEY, Neb. (9-15-10) When MICHAEL GRUBER
was competing in a three-sport career at Christian
High, he probably thought baseball would be his
ticket to the next level.
The jury is still out on that option.
At the moment, though, the 6-foot, 180-pound
true freshman is handling the place-kicking duties
for the Antelopes of Nebraska-Kearney.
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Former Grossmont star wins conference honor
© East County Sports.com
MAYVILLE, N.D. (9-14-10) Mayville State University
defensive back DOMINIQUE
BRADLEY was named the Dakota
Athletic Conference Player of the Week for his performance
during the Comets' win over Trinity Bible College on
Saturday (Sept. 11) in Ellendale, N.D.
Steele Canyon products doing well at Humboldt State
© East County Sports.com
ARCATA (9-14-10) Head coach Rob Smith and
his Humboldt State Lumberjacks, lost their season-opener
against Cal Poly, 23-17, on Sept. 4, but rebounded to
win the following week against Dixie State in St. George,
Utah, 49-14.
Placekicker MATT BRUDER, a 5-foot-7, 152-pound true
freshman out of Steele Canyon High School in Jamul,
has emerged as the Jacks' starter at that position.
Bruder kicked a 40 yard field goal against SLO, 2 PATs
and 4 kickoffs for 221 yards (55.2 average).
Defensive players who flashed signs of readiness include
another Steele Canyon alum, JUSTIN HORNSBY, who was
knocked out of action by an injury last year, but appears
completely recovered in time for his second chance at
a senior year on the defensive line.
Stanford's
Toilolo out for season
© East County Sports.com
STANFORD (9-9-10) Helix High graduate
and Stanford's promising tight end LEVINE TOILOLO
saw his season come crashing down to a premature
conclusion on the second offensive play of the
season in Saturdays (Sept. 4) game against
Sacramento State.
|
Q&A:
Stanford TE Levine Toilolo
By Rick Jones
© Special to East County Sports.com
PALO ALTO (9-3-10) With Andrew Luck at
quarterback, the Stanford offense looks to be
dangerous and two weapons in the Cardinal arsenal
will be Helix alum LEVINE TOILOLO, named the starter
by (former San Diego Charger quarterback) JIM
HARBAUGH, and new wide receiver Corey Gatewood.
We caught up with both for a camp Q & A.
|
Larceval to start vs. No. 1 Alabama
© East County Sports.com
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (9-1-10) Former Helix High
standout ANTHONY LARCEVAL will face the biggest assignment
of his life as a starting defensive tackle for San Jose
State University when the Spartans open the season Saturday
(Sept. 4) against top-ranked Alabama.
It will be the second time in San Jose State's 93-year
football history opening against the preseason No. 1
(Nebraska , 2000) as they make the journey to the Deep
South and Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Larceval, a 6-1, 265-pound red-shirt freshman, will
participate in his first ballgame since falling in the
2008 CIF Division II title game to Oceanside, 23-19,
after sweeping to the Grossmont South League title en
route to being tabbed the East County Defensive Player
of the Year.
Waters brothers capsize Dakota State
© East County Sports.com
MADISON, S.D. (8-29-10) Junior KHALID WATERS
rushed for 197 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries,
while sophomore brother JEFF WATERS scored on a 6-yard
run, leading Midland Lutheran (Neb.) to a 38-7 Great
Plains Athletic Conference rout of host Dakota State
University Saturday (Aug. 28) at Trojan Field.
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Homer Mauga
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Sticking together
Vandals linebackers connect on field and at home
By Josh Wright
Special to East County Sports.com
From The Spokane Spokesman-Review
MOSCOW, Idaho (8-29-10) Come Thursday night, Idaho
football fans will have a better sense of how the Vandals
starting linebacker crew has coalesced. Already, though,
this much is certain: They fit together splendidly at
their off-campus home.
JoJo Dickson and Robert Siavii are from Hawaii, HOMER
MAUGAs family used to live in Honolulu, and all
three have carried the laid-back islands vibe to
their house.
Football, movies, food theres little disagreement
among them on these and other topics.
Thomas is the man at Colorado State
© East County Sports.com
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (8-21-10) Quarterback PETE
THOMAS knew what he was doing when he worked feverishly
to secure his high school diploma in January. Early
graduation from high school is already paying dividends.
The 6-foot-5, 218-pound freshman out of Valhalla High
has battled his way in to a starting role as the quarterback
at Colorado State University.
Mauga makes impact in Moscow
© East County Sports.com
MOSCOW, Idaho (8-16-10) HOMER MAUGA, a junior
transfer from Grossmont College, is making a swift impact
at the University of Idaho.
A 6-foot, 225-pound linebacker, Mauga a Helix
High graduate recorded a team-best 8 tackles
in the Vandals first intra-squad scrimmage last
weekend.
Defense figures to be Idahos strength this season
as 10 lettermen return from last years fourth-place
finish in the Western Conference. The Vandals posted
an 8-5 record and edged Bowling Green, 43-42, in the
Humanitarian Bowl last season.
NAIA All-America honors for trio
© East County Sports.com
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (7-31-10) A trio of East
County products earned berths on the NAIA All-America
women's softball team, the association announced.
Gaining second-team berths are Lee (Tenn.) infielder
DANIELLE BALOUGH (Santana) and Cal State San Marcos
pitcher BRENNA SANDBERG (West Hills), while Dordt (Iowa)
first baseman SARAH SEYMOUR (Christian) received an
honorable mention citation.
O'Sullivan showcased
Traded to Kansas City
© East County Sports.com
NEW YORK (7-23-10) It quickly became
apparent that SEAN O'SULLIVAN's start Tuesday
(July 20) against the New York Yankees was to
fully demonstrate he was ready to fit into the
rotation for almost any MLB ballclub
Less than 48 hours following his first MLB victory
in a year, O'Sullivan, 22, was one of two pitchers
traded to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for
third baseman Alberto Callaspo, who was sent packing
to the Los Angeles Angels.
O'Sullivan currently owns a career record of
5-2, the same mark as former West Hills High and
San Diego State product STEPHEN STRASBURG.
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OSullivan befuddles Yankees
© East County Sports.com
NEW YORK (7-21-10) Los Angeles Angels pitcher
SEAN OSULLIVAN made his first major league start
in nearly a year Tuesday (July 20) against the world
champion New York Yankees in a game televised over the
Armed Forces Network from Yankee Stadium.
Of course, the majority of the audience, including
the 47,775 fans at Yankee Stadium, was focused on seeking
a New York knockout.
After surrendering two runs and two hits in the first
inning, OSullivan a product of Valhalla
High and Grossmont College settled in to hold
the Yankees hitless over five innings to gain his first
pitching decision of the season as the Angels prevailed
10-2.
|
Nick Longmire
trots the bases
following his first
professional HR.
(Howard Owens
The Batavian)
|
Longmire's fast pro start
Special to East County Sports.com
BATAVIA, N.Y. (6-28-10) Although the Batavia
Muckdogs (4-6) are off to a so-so start in the Class
A New York Penn League, former Grossmont High slugger
NICK LONGMIRE is on a hitting rampage.
The Muckdogs center fielder and No. 5 pick of
the St. Louis Cardinals, Longmire leads the league in
six offensive batting categories through 10 games. That
includes hits (15), triples (3), home runs (3) and RBI
(16). His .405 batting average is No. 2 in the circuit.
Longmire takes first step in pros
Special to East County Sports.com
BATAVIA, N.Y. (6-21-10) Fresh off signing a professional
baseball contract as a 5th round draft choice of the
St. Louis Cardinals, former Grossmont High standout
NICK LONGMIRE has made an immediate impact for the Class
A Batavia Muckdogs of the New York Penn League.
Batavias fans fell in love with the East County
center fielder instantly.
In the Muckdogs home opener on Saturday (June
19), Longmire clubbed a home run, two doubles, and had
a sacrifice fly to drive in six runs as Batavia edged
the Auburn Doubledays, 7-5.
Phillips picks-up Padres paycheck
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (6-26-10) El Capitan High alum KYLE
PHILLIPS, 26, is coming home sort of.
A 10th round draft pick of the Minnesota Twins in 2002,
Phillips will now pick up his paychecks from the San
Diego Padres organization. The left-hand-hitting third
baseman was traded by the Toronto Blue Jays from their
Pacific Coast League Triple-A farmclub in Las Vegas
to the Padres PCL Triple-A ballclub in Portland on Friday
(June 25).
Ex-Griffin signs with Blue Jays
© East County Sports.com
NORTHRIDGE (6-23-10) Former Grossmont College
pitcher BRIAN LONGPRE, who concluded his amateur career
with two seasons at Cal State Northridge, has signed
a free agent contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Longpre, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound right-hander, toiled
for the Griffins as a redshirt sophomore during the
2008 season after bouncing back from San Diego State
as a freshman. He struck out 37 batters in 31 1/3 innings
while compiling a 4.31 ERA.
Van takes detour from Florida to Marshall
© East County Sports.com
HUNTINGTON, W.V. (6-14-10) Former Helix High
running back TRAVON VAN, who was ticketed to attend
the University of Florida, has changed course after
spending last season at Milford Prep Academy.
The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Van will be eligible to play
for the Thundering Herd this season if he clears academic
tests. If he fails that test, Marshall first-year head
coach John Doc Holiday said he will apply
for a hardship scholarship to the NCAA for Van
Van rushed for 315 yards and three touchdowns on 86
carries. Serving much of his time as a slotback at Milford,
Van also caught 24 passes for 289 yards for the Falcons.
2010 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL DRAFT
The next Strasburg?
Five local players tabbed on Day Two of MLB
draft
© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (6-9-10) Five college athletes with
East County ties were selected in Tuesdays (June
8) second day of the Major League Baseball First-Year
Player Draft.
At the top of the list is University of Pacific junior
outfielder and Grossmont High alum NICK
LONGMIRE (VIDEO)
who was selected in the 5th round by the St. Louis Cardinals
with the 169th overall pick. He is the highest player
drafted out of the Stockton-based university since 2007.
|
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A.J. Griffin
USD Toreros
|
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Longmire is no stranger to the stage of the MLB Draft.
As a high school senior, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound then-first-baseman
was drafted by Oakland in the 37th round of the 2007 MLB
Amateur Draft. His choice to attend college first will
definitely pay off should he decide to turn pro this summer.
This season at Pacific, Longmire finished as the top
hitter in the Big West Conference games with a .354
average. He hit .327 overall.
In his senior year at Grossmont, Longmire led the Foothillers
with a .514 batting average, 15 home runs, 19 stolen
bases, 36 RBI and a 1.010 slugging percentage. He was
also named the San Diego CIF Division II Player of the
Year.
Other Inlanders selected were: Valhalla (University
of Hawai'i) product and middle infielder GREG GARCIA
(7th round, St. Louis); Grossmont alum and USD senior
right-handed pitcher AJ GRIFFIN (13th round, Oakland
As); Grossmont College s (now a Kansas University
junior) CAMERON SELIK (22nd round, Washington Nationals);
and 6-foot-8 Grossmont College freshman KEVIN KLEIS
(27th round, Pittsburgh Pirates).
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Laurie Lindow
(UTM photo)
|
Lindow completes career in style
© East County Sports.com
MARTIN, Tenn. (5-22-10) Former Santana High catcher
LAURIE LINDOW, a member of the 2004 and 2006 All-East
County teams, called it a career after 17 seasons of
softball following the elimination of her Tenn.-Martin
Skyhawks from the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.
Lindow, a 3-year starter, helped UTM post a solid 47-11
record this season before falling in the OVC championship
game to Jacksonville State .
During the tournament awards ceremony, Lindow and two
of her teammates were named to the OVC All-Tournament
Team. It was Lindow's second such citation. She was
also named to the regular-season All-OVC select as a
first-team honoree, leading in conference in number
of runners picked-off or caught attempting to steal.
|
Eric Krause
|
Krause named MCC Pitcher of the year
© East County Sports.com
OSKALOOSA, Iowa (5-22-10) The awards continue
to arrive for former Granite Hills High standout ERIC
KRAUSE, who now performs for William Penn University.
Following a Final Four appearance at the California
state community college championships for Southwestern
College, Krause continued his excellence with the Statesmen,
earning Pitcher of the Year award in the Midwest Collegiate
Conference.
Krause three-peats
Courtesy, William Penn Media Relations
OSKALOOSA, Iowa (5-12-10) ERIC KRAUSE, a graduate
of Granite Hills High and Southwestern College, concluded
his junior campaign with another solid performance,
netting him Midwest Collegiate Conference Pitcher of
the Week laurels, the league office announced Monday
(May 11).
Krause picked up his third league award of the spring
as the Statesmen won the game he started on Friday,
but lost later that day to end their 2010 season at
25-19.
The junior finished the week 1-0, helping Penn to an
11-2 win over Clarke. In seven innings of work, he gave
up two runs (both earned) on four hits, striking out
seven with two walks.
Braves' Conrad: PH walkoff slam
© East County Sports.com
ATLANTA (5-21-10) Nothing has come easy in the
long professional baseball career of former Monte Vista
High product BROOKS CONRAD.
It took eight long years toiling on bus trips through
the minor leagues before Conrad finally advanced to
"The Show," breaking in with the Oakland A's
in July 2008.
Two years later, Conrad gained an opportunity to do
something he had never done in baseball, although the
odds were against him.
Batting just .167 without an RBI as a pinchhitter this
season, all Conrad could do was grab his helmet in disgust
when his long fly ball seemingly landed in the glove
of Cincinnati Reds left fielder Laynce Nix in front
of the 380-foot sign.
Mauga joins SWC
staff
© East County Sports.com
CHULA VISTA (5-18-10) Southwestern College
has added longtime East County star football player
MAGNUM MAUGA to its coaching staff.
A three-year starter at Helix High and an all-conference
pick for two seasons at Grossmont College, Mauga
recently graduated from Utah State.
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All-Region honors for Thomas
© East County Sports.com
KINGSVILLE, Texas (5-16-10/revised 5-22-10)
Former All-East County baseball player CLIFTON
THOMAS (El Cajon Valley HS/Grossmont College)
of Texas A&M-Kingsville was recently named
to three different all-region teams.
Thomas was tabbed to the Daktronics All-South
Central Region, the Rawlings/American Baseball
Coaches Association (ABCA) All-South Central Region
team, then was named to the National Collegiate
Baseball Writers Association All-South Central
Region team. On all three, he gained second-team
berths.
Thomas led the Javelinas to a 28-25 record and
a trip to the Lone Star Conference Tournament
this year. Each player also earned First Team
all-LSC honors this year, while Thomas also gained
an LSC All-Tournament berth.
Thomas posted one of the best seasons in Kingsville
history. He batted .388 with 63 runs, 21 doubles,
nine triples, 10 home runs, 46 runs batted in
and 27 stolen bases.
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Former
Griffins standout Clark
makes 'Contact' in New Mexico
© East County Sports.com
SILVER CITY, N.M. (5-15-10) Former West
Hills High-Grossmont College linebacker ADAM CLARK
has been named head football coach at NCAA Division
II Western New Mexico University.
Originally, Clark was hired to be the Mustangs
defensive coordinator in February of this year
before being elevated to the top post.
|
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The 2009 East County
Sports
co-Players of the Year share
freshman awards in college.
|
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Jazmin Daigle
(CCU photo)
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Amanda Carpenter
(Ball State photo)
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Daigle named Frosh of the Year
© East County Sports.com
CONWAY, S.C. (5-15-10/revised 5-22-10)
Coastal Carolina University softball standout
JAZMIN DAIGLE (Steele Canyon HS) took home one
of the major awards given by the Big South Conference,
named as the Division I circuit's Freshman of
the Year.
Daigle also gained a second-team berth on the
All-Big South team after ranking fourth in the
Big South (tops among first-year players) with
a .371 batting average.
Daigle ranks fourth in the Big South (tops among
first-year players) with a .371 batting average.
Hitting in the third spot for the Chanticleers,
the rookie leads her team in several offensive
categories, including batting average, hits (59),
doubles (9), RBI (28) and total bases (89).
Daigle registered a 14-game hitting streak during
the season, hitting .420 during the span. She
also tallied 16 multiple-hit games and seven multi-RBI
performances during her freshman campaign, including
a grand slam in her first collegiate game against
USC Upstate.
Coastal Carolina will host the 2010 Big South
Championship as the 6th seed against No. 3
Winthrop.
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Carpenter
ain't no apprentice
© East County Sports.com
AKRON, Ohio (5-15-10) Ball State University
left fielder AMANDA CARPENTER, a Santana High
product, has been named to the All-Freshmen team
for the Mid-American Conference, in results announced
after balloting by conference coaches.
Carpenter ranks second on the Cardinals with
six home runs, and owns the team's fifth-highest
batting average with a .305 mark.
She is ranked No. 2 in the conference with 39
runs scored and 40 RBI. In conference play alone,
Carpenter is batting at a .324 clip and is tied
for first on the team with four home runs. Additionally,
she ranks in the top-five in the MAC in three
categories runs scored, RBI and total bases.
At Santana, Carpenter established school and
East County records for doubles in a season.
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Panthers slugger Jayme
Jarvis
(Chapman Univ. photo by David Rubene)
|
Anything but a lemon
Jarvis tabbed NCAA D-3 All-West Region
Courtesy, Chapman Media Relations
ORANGE (5-14-10) Chapman University softball
player JAYME
JARVIS, a product of Steele Canyon High School,
has been named
to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III
All-West Region team.
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A
league of their own
© East County Sports.com
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (5-14-10) "Playing
with Fire," the slogan to market the Lee
University athletic department, couldn't be any
more appropriate for the Lady Flames women's fastpitch
team. And the BALOUGH sisters of Santana High
junior infielder DANIELLE
and sophomore pitcher BRITTY
are leading the way.
Lee enters the week ranked second nationally
in the NAIA with a school record-tying 55 victories
in its stellar 55-4 record. Included is a mark
of 30-2 for the championship in the Southern States
Athletic Conference, then the school swept to
the title in conference
tournament with a 10-2 decision over Shorter
College in the finale.
With the crown, Lee gains the conference automatic
bid to the NAIA National Championship, set for
May 20-26 in Decatur, Ala.
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Another
Thomas award
© East County Sports.com
KINGSVILLE, Texas (5-10-10) CLIFTON THOMAS,
the record-setting centerfielder for the Texas
A&M-Kingsville baseball team, keeps adding
to his trophy case of awards.
After gaining berths to the All-Lone Star Conference
team and the LSC All-Tournament teams, Thomas,
a product of El Cajon Valley HS and Grossmont
College, was named recipient of the Gil E. Steinke
Award as the college's Male Athlete of the Year
for all Javalinas sports teams.
Thomas shared the honor with football player
Billy Garza, and senior softball player Cassie
Anderson, the program's Female Athlete of the
Year.
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Escalante named All-SCIAC for third time
© East County Sports.com
EAGLE ROCK (5-10-10) Former Grossmont High standout
ALYSSA
ESCALANTE capped her career at Occidental College
with her third All-Southern Californian Intercollegiate
Athletic Conference team selection.
Escalante, a senior who split time between catcher
and designated player, was voted by the coaches to the
second team for the third time in her four seasons with
the Tigers. She also landed berths following her freshman
and sophomore seasons.
Sandberg, Dronenburg lead
CSU San Marcos to nationals
© East County Sports.com
HOUSTON (5-10-10) West Hills High alum BRENNA
SANDBERG tossed a 5-hit shutout, while Helix High product
ALYSSA DRONENBURG batted 3-for-4 and scored three times,
leading CSU San Marcos to a 9-0 pasting of Simon Fraser
(B.C.) in the title game of the NAIA regional for independent
ballclubs.
The victory, the first regional championship in school
history, gives the 5th-ranked Cougars (38-14) an automatic
berth to the NAIA National Championships, slated to
open May 20 in Decatur, Ala.
McCoy finally standing tall with Blue Jays
By John Lott, National
Post
TORONTO (5-4-10) Looking at MIKE McCOY, you would
not imagine a kid who once had hoop dreams.
But during his final year at Grossmont High School
(1999), he honestly thought he had a future on the hardwood.
"I had a really good senior year in basketball
- 23 points a game, six or eight assists a game, 86
three-pointers," he said. "But no recruiters."
To everybody but McCoy, the reason was obvious. Even
his father had to call him on it.
"I was short," he said with a chuckle.
He still is. But that was less a barrier in the sport
that gave him a long-term job and finally, at age 29,
a spot on the opening-day roster of the Toronto Blue
Jays.
Thomas gains first-team laurels
© East County Sports.com
ABILENE, Texas (5-1-10) Texas A&M-Kingsville
senior centerfielder CLIFTON THOMAS (El Cajon Valley
HS/Grossmont College) has been selected to the first
team of the All-Lone
Star Conference baseball team. The award was announced
at Friday's (Apr. 30) banquet held prior to the start
of this weekend's LSC baseball championship at Abilene
Christian's Crutcher Scott Field.
Thomas has been the mainstay to the offensive production
after putting together one of the most exceptional seasons
in school history. Thomas batted .381 with 59 runs,
20 doubles, 9 triples, 9 home runs, a .690 slugging
percentage and 26 stolen bases, all while playing outstanding
defense. In fact, all but one Kingsville starter batted
more than .300 this season (the lone exception batted
.296).
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Mats Mattson
(UNO photo)
|
Mattson produces landmark triumph
UNO upsets defending national champ LSU
© East County Sports.com
BATON ROUGE, La. (4-30-10) Following Tuesday's
(Apr. 27) landmark victory, perhaps the University
of New Orleans should re-think its proposal to
the NCAA to drop to a non-scholarship Division III
program in a few years.
Backed by a strong relief pitching stint by Grossmont
High product MATS
MATTSON, the Privateers rallied with four
runs over the final two innings to stun 15th-ranked
and defending national champion LSU, 7-4, before
a Tigers crowd of 10,584 at Alex Box Stadium.
While Mattson shut down the Bayou Bengals, UNO
senior Nick Schwaner belted his club-leading 15th
home run in the 8th inning for the go-ahead runs
to snap the ballclub's 9-game losing streak in
one of biggest Division I upsets in the nation
this season.
Mattson struck out two Tigers in 1 1/3 innings
of relief to garner the victory. Mattson, a junior
left-hander, has been one of the few bright spots
for the Privateers (11-29).
Despite being a middle-reliever, Mattson now
leads the pitching staff in victories (3), now
owning a 7-2 overall record in his past two seasons
with New Orleans . He is averaging nearly one
strikeout per inning (30 Ks in 32.0 IP), while
issuing just five walks.
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Nick Spears
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Shain Stoner
|
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Ryan Brosnan
(SNU photos)
|
The Sooner Lumber Company
© East County Sports.com
PLAINVIEW, Texas (4-30-10) In a career
outing, former Grossmont College standout NICK
SPEARS belted two home runs and knocked in
six runs in a 4-for-5 performance, leading Southern
Nazarene University to a 24-14 pasting of host
Wayland Baptist in a Sooner Athletic Conference
contest Tuesday (Apr. 27).
The ballgame featured 11 homers, including seven
by the Red Storm (30-13).
Spears, who was named the conference top shortstop
as a junior in 2009, continues stroking a hot
bat. The senior is now averaging .425 this year.
Meanwhile, Spears' pair of homers gives him 13
for the year, matching West Hills High alumni
SHAIN
STONER for the club lead. Stoner leads all
Southern Nazarene batters with a .479 batting
average, while is just one behind Spears for the
RBI lead with 56.
Also playing for SNU is RYAN
BROSNAN (Santana), who is batting .285 after
missing half of his freshman season at Grossmont
College with a broken hand after hitting .321
for the Griffins.
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Jessie Owens
(PLNU photo)
|
Owens lone frosh
on All-GSAC team
© East County Sports.com
POINT LOMA (4-30-10) JESSIE
OWENS, a former All-East County player for Christian
and Santana high schools, continues to shine for
6th-ranked Point Loma Nazarene University.
Owens, who plays in the outfield for the Sea Lions
(26-12), was the only freshman named to the All-Golden
State Athletic Conference softball team. The listing
of 18 players was voted on by GSAC coaches.
Owens leads all PNLU batters with a .347 batting
average the 9th-best in GSAC starting
in every contest for the Sea Lions this season.
The left-handed hitter (Owens is a righty when pitching)
also leads the conference in stolen bases with 24,
five more than second-standing AMANDA
OMAHEN (Granite Hills), an Alpine resident who
is the leading hitter (.326 average) for Vanguard
University.
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Brenna Sandberg (left/ctr),
Alyssa Dronenberg
|
CSU San Marcos
makes huge jump
© East County Sports.com
HOUSTON (4-28-10) Earning its highest national
ranking of the season, the No. 7 Cal State San Marcos
women's softball team earned the top-seed in next
week's NAIA regional for independent ballclubs.
The 6-team, double-elimination event will be hosted
by 21st-ranked University of Houston-Victoria.
The Coyotes (35-13) are led by pitcher BRENNA SANDBERG
(West Hills) and power-hitter ALYSSA DRONENBURG
(Helix).
Sandberg owns a 33-10 record and a 1.30 ERA, with
both totals listed among the NAIA national leaders.
Among the junior right-hander's recent victories
was a 7-4 verdict over top-ranked Cal Lutheran last
Wednesday (Apr. 21) in Riverside.
Dronenburg owns a club-best .440 batting average
and an even more impressive .888 slugging percentage,
placing her 10th in the nation. Nearly half of the
sophomores hits go for extra bases, including 16
home runs, plus 48 RBI.
One of her homers came in back-to-back fashion with
teammate Ciera Ashman (Patrick Henry HS) in the
win over Cal Baptist.
The Coyotes earned a first-round bye in the regional,
meeting the winner between Ohio Dominican and Brithish
Columbia. on Thurs., May 6. The other half of the
draw features 2nd-seed Simon Fraser (B.C.), plus
LSU-Alexandria and host UHV.
The event winner will gain an automatic berth to
the NAIA Women's World Series, slated for May 20-26
in Decatur, Ala., although San Marcos seems a lock
for an at-large berth. |
Adame lifts Blue Hawks into DAC
lead
© East County Sports.com
DICKINSON, N.D. (4-26-10) Paced by some
key hits by Steele Canyon High product VANESSA
ADAME, Dickinson State University extended its
winning streak to 10 games Sunday (Apr. 25) after
sweeping its fifth straight Dakota Athletic Conference
doubleheader.
Over the weekend, the Blue Hawks (24-9, 15-3
DAC) took four games from visiting Mayville State
(N.D.). The ballclub now shares first place with
Minot State (15-3) and Jamestown College (12-2)
heading into the final week of the regular season.
Adame, the starting centerfielder who has batted
9th most of the season, took advantage of her
promotion to the top of the batting order. The
sophomore extended her hitting streak to nine
consecutive games by going 6-for-13 with a pair
of doubles and four RBI over the weekend, and
is now batting an impressive .571 (16-for-28)
during her hot streak, raising her season average
to a club-leading .402 following a 1-for-10 slow
start to the season.
Also on the Hawks roster is Grossmont College
product CHARNEL ZETSCH, who is red-shirting this
season.
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Mtn. Empire alum leads NCAA in HRs
© East County Sports.com
RENO, Nev. (4-26-10) The University of
Hawaii is now nationally ranked (23rd and 25th
in the both major women's fastpitch polls) after
Wahine pitcher Stephanie Ricketts fired a perfect
game at Nevada on Saturday (Apr. 24).
Mountain Empire High product KELLY
MAJAM, the starting centerfielder, aided the
effort by batting 2-for-3 with three runs scored
and an RBI as the leadoff batter for first-place
Hawai'i (39-11, 17-0 Western Athletic Conference).
Majam, a red-shirt freshman, is now batting .403
this season, leading all NCAA Division I batters
with 25 home runs. When Majam hit her 24th homer
back on Apr. 17 against Louisiana Tech (coached
by former Women's Pro fastpitch MVP and Christian
High product SARAH
DAWSON), it broke the WAC single-season record.
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Beasley sets Aztecs 'K' record
© East County Sports.com
PROVO, Utah (4-26-10) Former Steele Canyon High
standout SAMANTHA BEASLEY struck out 11 BYU batters
Friday (Apr. 23), lifting San Diego State to a 9-4 Mountain
West Conference victory over the host Cougars.
With the effort, Beasley's career-long 9th consecutive
victory, the junior set an Aztecs record for strikeouts
in a single season with 277, two more than Christina
Ross (2008). Beasley has now won 17 of her last 18 decisions
for SDSU (27-11, 5-1 MWC).
Hill to start for Kearney
© East County Sports.com
KEARNEY, Neb. (4-22-10) Former Grossmont College
student KENNY HILL, a 2009 grey-shirt football player
who never actually played for the Griffins, still possessed
plenty of videotape of his abilities to gain a scholarship
with Neb.-Kearney, an NCAA Division II school.
The school was attractive since the Lopers graduated
all four starters from their secondary. Now, following
spring ball, Hill
has been named the starting right-side cornerback
for this coming season. The left side will be filled
by Ryan Lendrum ( Carlsbad ).
Hill's career including two seasons at St. Augustine
High, where he was one of the county's leading tacklers
(111 stops, 47 solo) while gaining an all-Eastern League
honorable mention berth, He also played two seasons
of basketball with the Saints.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound defender is majoring in broadcast
communications (3.50 grade-point average). Hill's cousins
are former Lincoln High standout and current Philadelphia
Eagles running back Dewayne Wright and retired Dallas
Cowboys wide receiver Tony Hill.
Diaz throws no-hitter in Bulls home opener
© East County Sports.com
BUFFALO, N.Y. (4-22-10) One of the problems playing
outdoor sports in the northeast is always the weather.
So unlike their Southern California brethren, the University
of Buffalo women's softball team didn't hold its home
opener until Apr. 14. But it was memorable.
Former Helix High standout TERESE DIAZ established
a school record with 16 strikeouts, throwing a no-hitter
at St. Bonaventure in a 7-0 victory.
Three times a Lovelady
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Ashley Lovelady
|
© East County Sports.com
CLAREMORE, Okla. (4-21-10) While a pair of younger
sisters were celebrating a championship with Grossmont
College on Tuesday (Apr. 20), former Griffins standout
ASHLEY LOVELADY is continuing to find success at Northwestern
Oklahoma St., an NAIA school located in Alva, Okla.
The 2009 Player of the Year in the Pacific Coast Conference,
Lovelady again paced Northwestern's Rangers to a road
doubleheader split with Rogers State (Okla.).
In game one, Lovelady batted 2-for-6 in an 11-inning
loss, but bounced back in the second contest by going
2-for-4 with two runs and a pair of RBI in a 4-1 triumph.
The big blow was a 2-run homer to left field in the
3rd inning, raising her season batting average to .440
with seven homers.
|
Eric Krause
(WPU photo)
|
Krause named top dog again
© East County Sports.com
OSKALOOSA, Iowa (4-20-10) Former East County standout
ERIC KRAUSE was chosen the Midwest Collegiate Conference
Pitcher of the Week for the second straight week.
The Granite Hills High alum hurled eight scoreless
frames for William Penn (Iowa) University last week,
including a complete game six-hit, 7-inning shutout
with nine strikeouts in beating Iowa Wesleyan.
Krause raised his season record to 7-1 while lowering
his ERA to 2.45. The junior right-hander has 66 strikeouts
in 56 innings for the Statesmen (22-13).
Statesmen's Krause makes statement
© East County Sports.com
OSKALOOSA, Iowa (4-17-10) Former Granite Hills
High-Southwestern College pitcher ERIC
KRAUSE tossed two strong games to earn Midwest Collegiate
Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Week laurels for
the league-leading William Penn University Statesmen.
Krause picked up his first career league award as the
NAIA Statesmen (20-12, 10-4 MCC) went 5-1 last week.
The junior right-hander went 2-0 during his week of
honor. He gave up just one run (earned) on nine hits
in 13 2/3 innings while striking out 16 with only one
walk. Opponents hit only .188 against him.
For the season, the Statesmens ace is 6-1 with
a 2.81 ERA. His six wins and 57 strikeouts in 48 innings
lead all MCC pitchers.
|
Clifton Thomas
(TA&MK photo)
|
Thomas was named LSC Player
of the Week for this effort.
|
Ex-Griff Thomas hits for cycle
© East County Sports.com
ADA, Okla. (4-19-10) Former El Cajon Valley High-Grossmont
College outfielder CLIFTON THOMAS hit for the cycle
Friday (Apr. 16), leading Texas A&M-Kingsville to
a 12-7 Lone Star Conference victory over East Central
(Okla.).
Thomas singled in the 1st inning, led off the 5th with
his seventh homer, began the 6th with his sixth triple
and doubled in the 7th.
In the 7th, it looked like Thomas would not have a
chance to hit for the cycle when the first two Hoggie
batters made outs. Trent Wagner was then hit by a pitch
to give Thomas a chance and the senior center fielder
came through with a double to complete the cycle.
The Javelinas finished the game with 15 hits. Thomas
went 4-for-5 with four runs and two RBI.
Balough sisters on 22-game win streak
© East County Sports.com
CLEVELAND, Tenn. The final season of Point Loma
Nazarene University softball finds the Sea Lions ranked
third nationally in the NAIA. Above them: defending
national champion Cal Baptist as a unanimous No. 1 at
the top rung of the rankings, followed by Lee University
(Tenn.), which features several East County products.
The Lady Flames (36-3) are currently riding a 22-game
winning streak, aided by starters DANIELLE and BRITTY
BALOUGH of Santana High.
The Flames lead the Southern States Athletic Conference
by 4.5 games following Tuesday's (Apr. 6) doubleheader
road sweep at Brenau University (Gainesville, Ga.),
raising their SSAC mark to 19-1.
CSU San Marcos pair leads DH sweep
© East County Sports.com
SAN MARCOS (3-30-10) With an influx of players
from San Diego County, both Cal State San Marcos and
little Simpson College of Redding rank among the winningest
NAIA teams in the west this season. The teams met in
an important doubleheader with playoff implications
on Monday (Mar. 29), heavily influenced by East County
products.
Helix High alum ALYSSA DRONENBURG slugged a grand slam
in the opener, while West Hills High product BRENNA
SANDBERG struck out 14 over both contests, allowing
just one earned run, as CSU San Marcos swept the twinbill,
8-1 and 2-1.
Griffin receives WCC honor
© East County Sports.com
SAN BRUNO (3-30-10) Former Grossmont High standout
AARON GRIFFIN shared this week's West Coast Conference
pitcher of the week honor following one of the best
pitching efforts of the season for Loyola Marymount.
Facing powerful Cal State Fullerton, Griffin , a freshman
right-hander, tossed his first career complete game,
leading the Lions past the Titans, 4-2. Griffin carried
a shutout into the 9th, then hung on to defeat a team
which owns three College World Series titles.
Thomas was named the
the IBC Bank Player of
the Week for this effort.
He's now batting .388 with
3 homers and 18 steals.
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Thomas continues hitting tear
© East County Sports.com
KINGSVILLE, Texas (3-22-10) In perhaps the biggest
weekend of his collegiate career, former El Cajon Valley
High and Grossmont College standout CLIFTON THOMAS batted
a smooth .706 (12-for-17) to lead Texas A&M-Kingsville
to a 3-1 series victory over Northeastern State (Okla.)
at Nolan Ryan Field.
Eagles alum Ward signs pro contract
© East County Sports.com
ESCONDIDO (3-22-10) The Barona-San Diego Stars
semipro baseball team announced that former Granite Hills
High and Grossmont College pitcher GABE WARD, who most
recently played collegiately at Cal Lutheran, has signed
a professional baseball contract with the independent
Oakland County Cruisers (Waterford Township, Mich.). MORE
Carpenter Named MAC Player of the Week
© East County Sports.com
MUNCIE, Ind. (3-20-10) Former Santana High standout
AMANDA
CARPENTER is building a nice career at Ball State
University.
The starting freshman outfielder for the Cardinals
capped a big week by being named the Mid-America Conference
player of the week for the period ending Mar. 14. It
was the left-hander's first career citation for her
playing during a two-week, spring break roadtrip to
Clearwater, Fla.
Helix alum garners school's first-ever victory
© East County Sports.com
PHOENIX (3-17-10) It took a lot longer than expected,
but the new baseball program at Academy of Art University
in San Francisco finally owns its first-ever
baseball victory. And the winning pitcher hails
from East County.
When the history of Urban Knights baseball is penned,
it will be former Helix High standout ALEX
ROSENTHAL who will be denoted as gaining the first
win after AAU
downed host Grand Canyon University, 5-4, in the
second game of a Pacific West Conference (NCAA Division
II) doubleheader held March 12 at Brazell Stadium.
Beasley Named MWC Pitcher of the Week
Wins third conference award of the season
Courtesy, SDSU Media Relations
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (3-12-10) San Diego State
junior SAMANTHA BEASLEY (Steele Canyon HS) has been
named the Mountain West Conference Pitcher of the Week,
the league announced Thursday (Mar. 11). It is the third
weekly award for the righthander and the seventh of
her career.
MORE
The following week, Beasley topped former Helix High
standout pitcher TERESE DIAZ, as the Aztecs (13-8) won
their fifth straight victory after topping
the University of Buffalo, 5-0, Wedesday (Mar. 10)
at the SDSU Softball Stadium.
Selik: Big 12 pitcher of the week
© East County Sports.com
LAWRENCE, Kan. (3-8-10) Former Grossmont
College standout CAMERON
SELIK, who pitched two seasons for the Griffins
in 2006-07, has made a remarkable comeback following
Tommy John surgery, recently being named Big 12
Conference pitcher of the week for the period
ending Feb. 27.
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Thomas enjoys big weekend
© East County Sports.com
PORTALES, N.M. (3-8-10) The college baseball
season is only a month old, yet former El Cajon
Valley High and Grossmont College standout CLIFTON
THOMAS continues to be red-hot while playing for
Texas A&M-Kingsville.
Over the weekend, Thomas batted .474 (9-for-19)
with seven extra-base hits during a trio of top-notch
efforts.
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Rios, Redlands claim SCIAC crown,
land first-ever NCAA Division III bid
Face No. 13 Puget Sound in Friday's Far West opener
© East County Sports.com
NEWBERG, Ore. (3-5-10) The University of Redlands
womens basketball team
takes on No. 13 University of Puget Sound (Wash.) on
Friday (Mar. 5) at George Fox University in the
Bulldogs' first-ever NCAA appearance.
Sharing in that inaugural NCAA Division III playoff
debut is former Grossmont High guard CHRISTINA
RIOS, currently a sophomore backcourt point guard
standout at Redlands.
Failla tabbed Top Cat
© East County Sports.com
CHICO (2-24-10) Sophomore RACHEL FAILLA, Chico
States top slugger from a year ago, is already
providing the Wildcats with plenty of middle-of-the-lineup
production in 2010.
Failla batted .364 over the weekend, collecting a pair
of extra base hits including her first home run
of the year and drove in four runs in Chico State
's four-game series against Cal State Monterey Bay .
For her efforts, Failla is the first Chico State softball
player this spring to be honored
as Wildcat of the Week.
Tanida powers Fullerton past Long Beach St.
© East County Sports.com
FULLERTON (2-24-10) Former Helix High catcher ZACH
TANIDA provided the spark for Cal State Fullerton
Sunday (Feb. 21) as the Titans won their first baseball
game of the season by beating Long Beach State 8-1.
Making his debut at CSUF, Tanida scored the go-ahead run
in the 5th inning after leading off with a double. Tanida
scored two runs for the Titans (1-2). He spent the first
two years of his college career at San Diego Mesa College.
Haar's slam lifts
No. 19 Toreros
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (2-23-10) University of San Diego
sophomore infielder BRYAN HAAR, a product of Grossmont
High, batted at a .438 clip (7 for 16) as the
19th-ranked Toreros claimed a 3-1 opening series
edge over visiting Indiana (Feb. 19-22).
After four games, Haar has two home runs and
six RBI, including a grand slam in the Toreros'
16-10 victory in the opener.
An All-WCC pick as a freshman when he batted
.298 and finished second with 38 RBI, the 6-foot-3
Haar normally plays first base but spends some
time as USDs shortstop.
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Ex-Hiller shines for
Palomar
© East County Sports.com
MISSION VIEJO (2-23-10) Grossmont High
alum LEVI STEVENS, a freshman left-hander at Palomar
College, has been just short of perfect for the
Comets this year.
In Mondays (Feb. 22) makeup game at Saddleback,
Stevens pitched the last four innings in relief
as the visiting Comets clipped the Gauchos, 4-1.
Stevens gave up one run (unearned) to record the
save. He has an ERA of 0.00 for seven innings
pitched on the season.
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O'Sullivan injured vs. No. 22 Oklahoma
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (2-20-10) The first start as part of
the weekend rotation on the San Diego State pitching staff
for RYAN O'SULLIVAN (Valhalla High) failed to last very
long. And it had nothing to do with facing 22nd-ranked
Oklahoma.
O'Sullivan, on just his 12th pitch of the evening, walked
off the mound with severe elbow pain and was removed from
a game eventually won by the Sooners, 9-5, to complete
a doubleheader sweep.
According to SDSU media relations to an email statement,
"It's something with (O'Sullivan's) right elbow but
they're not sure of the extent of the injury. He was supposed
to start at shortstop tomorrow, but that won't happen
now."
Dronenburg among national leaders
© East County Sports.com
RIVERSIDE (2-21-10) Former Helix High standout
ALYSSA DRONENBURG will be listed among the leaders when
the first set of NAIA national batting statistics are
released shortly.
Entering Saturday's (Feb. 20) ballgame against top-ranked
Cal Baptist at the Southern California Smash tournament,
Dronenburg, the starting Cal State San Marcos first
baseman, was batting an even .500 following a 2-for-2
outing earlier in the day against Holy Names.
Aztecs drop opener to No. 22 Sooners
O'Sullivan makes '10 debut Saturday
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (2-20-10) Addison Reed, the 2009 National
Stopper of the Year, made his first collegiate start
but took the loss as 22nd-ranked Oklahoma opened the
NCAA baseball season by rallying past San Diego State,
7-4, Friday (Feb. 19) at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
Reed, a junior who was a consensus All-American, carried
a 3-2 lead into the 5th inning, but allowed a pair of
runs before getting lifted following a career-long stint
of 4 1/3 innings.
Fastpitch Notebook: Beasley named MWC's best
Fast starts for Daigle, Failla
© East County Sports.com
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (2-16-10) San Diego
State junior SAMANTHA
BEASLEY (Steele Canyon HS) was named the pitcher
of the week in the Mountain West Conference. It was
her fifth career citation.
Beasley, a 2009 all-MWC performer, registered four of
the Aztecs' five victories to open the season at the
Kajikawa Classic last week, each against ballclubs receiving
votes in both major national polls. Over 22 1/3 innings,
she struck out 32 batters while posting a 0.31 earned-run
average.
Thomas matches school record in A&M opener
© East County Sports.com
KINGSVILLE, Texas (2-7-10) Former El Cajon Valley
High standout CLIFTON THOMAS opened his senior season
at Texas A&M-Kingsville in record-setting fashion.
Thomas, the starting centerfielder, equaled a school
record by stealing four bases in the season opener,
lifting the Javelinas to a doubleheader sweep of University
of Houston-Victoria, 8-2 and 10-0, on Friday (Feb. 5)
at Nolan Ryan Field.
Dronenburg's blasts, Sandberg's arm,
propel CSU San Marcos in '10 openers
© East County Sports.com
SAN MARCOS (2-3-10) Former Helix High standout
ALYSSA DRONENBURG helped christen the new softball diamond
at Cal State San Marcos by blasting a pair of home runs,
powering the Cougars to a doubleheader sweep of Redlands
on Saturday (Jan. 30).
CSUSM, behind Dronenburg's blasts, captured the opener,
6-1. Former West Hills standout BRENNA SANDBERG, a junior,
then captured her second pitching victory of the day
with a 4-3 decision in 8 innings in the debut of new
Cougars coach Dave Williams, the former long-time skipper
at Point Loma Nazarene.
Waters, Brown, tabbed all-Nebraska
© East County Sports.com
OMAHA (12-26-09) In San Diego, football coaches
select all-league and all-CIF divisional teams, while
the media chooses regional (e.g., all-East County, all-North
County) all-star squads, including the official All-San
Diego Section teams.
The same process holds true across the nation, including
Nebraska, where the Omaha World-Herald named
the state's All-NAIA college team.
Two former East County standouts were honored.
Named to the World-Herald's first team were running
back KHALID WATERS (Grossmont HS) and BRANDEN BROWN
(Steele Canyon), a defensive back. The La Mesa residents
are both sophomores for Midland Lutheran University.
Special teams foils title for Staback
© East County Sports.com
ROME, Ga. (12-20-09) When the football game's most
outstanding player is announced and a kicker is named,
two things occurred. There was no one else worthy to select,
yet that team probably won anyway.
If you're former West Hills High quarterback PHILIP STABACK,
perhaps all you can do is shrug your shoulders when the
opposing placekicker Braden Wieking of Sioux Falls won
the award.
On Saturday (Dec. 19), Staback threw for 144 yards and
a pair of touchdowns against the top-rated defense in
NAIA football. Then the defensive unit of his Lindenwood
(Mo.) University Lions limited top-ranked and undefeated
Sioux Falls (S.D.) to just a single trip into the end
zone.
However, special teams proved to be the difference after
Wieking booted three field goals and sophomore Adam Lopez
returned the second-half kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown,
as Sioux Falls (15-0) successfully defended its NAIA national
championship after nipping Lindenwood, 25-22, at Barron
Stadium.
Harvey plays decoy in Nova's NCAA championship
© East County Sports.com
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (12-19-09) With the deep passing
game absent due to rainy conditions, former Monte Vista
High standout BRANDYN
HARVEY was anything but unhappy after going without
a reception Friday (Dec. 18).
Instead, Villanova (14-1) went with short passes and
the ground game to rally past top-seeded and undefeated
Montana, 23-21, for its first NCAA Football Championship
Subdivision title at Finley Stadium. MORE
Harvey, Nova advances to FCS finale
© East County Sports.com
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (12-16-09) After winning
a CIF championship at Monte Vista High in 2003, former
Monarchs standout BRANDYN
HARVEY will attempt to gain a collegiate crown on
Friday (Dec. 17; 5 p.m. PT on ESPN2) at Finley Stadium.
Harvey, the starting wide receiver for Villanova,
will play for the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision
(formerly Division I-AA) crown against No. 1 Montana.
In the semifinals, Nova scored late to nip William &
Mary, 14-13, while the Grizzlies eliminated Appalachian
State, 24-17.
Blondin tabbed NAIA preseason All-America
© East County Sports.com
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (12-15-09) It's never too early
for baseball, as the NAIA released its preseason rankings
and the preseason All-America team both with
a distinctive East County flavor.
Former Grossmont College standout ROSS BLONDIN not
only landed a first-team berth along with his Lubbock
Christian teammate R.L. Eisenbach, the defending national
champion Chapparels gained the No. 1 ranking in the
2010 NAIA Baseball Coaches Preseason Top 25 Poll.
Williams leaves SDSU womens basketball team
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (12-12-09) JERICA WILLIAMS, a three-time
All-East County pick, and San Diego State junior guard,
has decided to leave the SDSU womens basketball
team. A 2006 Mount Miguel graduate, Williams played
in eight games as a reserve this season for the Aztecs,
averaging 3.5 points per contest.
Staback plays for NAIA title
© East County Sports.com
HELENA, Mont. (12-8-09) The last time former
West Hills High quarterback PHILIP STABACK was involved
in postseason play, it was a rather forgettable experience.
Starting for Mesa College, the Olympians were shutout
by Fullerton, 26-0, as Staback threw for just 166 yards
and a pair of interceptions.
Vowing for such a debacle to never occur again, Staback
is now within one game of capturing a national championship.
Now the starting quarterback for Lindenwood University
of St. Charles, Mo., Staback threw for 374 yards and
three touchdowns Saturday (Dec. 5) to lead the 3rd-ranked
Lions past No. 2 Carroll College, 42-35, in the NAIA
national semifinals.
The winning touchdown came with 49 seconds remaining
when Staback capped an 88-yard drive with a 10-yard
scoring pass to senior receiver Matt Bramow. The Lions
offense finished with 568 total yards against the second-rated
defense in the NAIA, as Staback, a criminal justice
major, completed 25-of-35 passes.
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Wes Davis
|
What a Treat!
Davis to Emerald Bowl
© East County Sports.com
SAN FRANCISCO (12-6-09) Former Steele Canyon
standout WES DAVIS and his Boston College Eagles
were rewarded for a solid 8-4 season, gaining a
berth in the Emerald Bowl.
The Eagles will meet the USC Trojans (8-4) at AT&T
Park on Sat., Dec. 26, with kickoff on ESPN set
for 5 p.m. PT. Executive director Gary Cavalli extended
the Emerald Bowl bid to each team today (Sun., Dec.
6). |
Memorial for Hoover, former Monarchs standout
Courtesy, Eastern Illinois University
CHARLESTON, Ill. (12-6-09) A memorial service
to honor the life of Eastern Illinois assistant football
coach Jeff Hoover was held Saturday (Dec. 5) afternoon
in the Grand Ball Room of the Martin Luther King Jr.,
Student Union on the EIU campus.
Hoover, 41, a 1986 graduate of Monte Vista High School,
where he was a standout football player and wrestler,
will also be honored with a a memorial service on Dec.
13 at Portland State University, where Hoover coached
previously to joining the EIU staff.
Hoover lost his life in a tragic car accident when
returning from the Panthers first round FCS playoff
game in Carbondale, Ill. Hoover had just completed his
third season as a member of the EIU coaching staff.
From near-death injury, Toilolo in NCAA playoffs
© East County Sports.com
THOUSAND OAKS (9-18-09/Updated 11-24-09) As the
starting quarterback for Helix High in 2004, senior JERICHO
TOILOLO guided the Scotties deep into the CIF playoffs
before finally falling to Oceanside in the championship
contest.
In 2009, as a senior at Cal Lutheran University, Toilolo
feels fortunate to even having played in Saturday (Nov.
21) NCAA Division III playoffs. Never mind that the
Kingsmen lost the game 38-17 to Linfield (Ore.) in McMinnville,
Ore. Toilolo completed 18 of 34 passes for 155 yards
in the defeat.
Earlier this season, feeling weak following several ballgames,
it was Kingsmen teammate Ebere Winston who convinced Toilolo
to head for the hospital after he had passed out.
Doctors report the decision came just in time.
Hurdle: A 'Jam' away from NBA
© East County Sports.com
BAKERSFIELD (11-7-09) Former Helix High
standout LANCE HURDLE has been drafted by the
Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League.
Hurdle, a product of Miami (Fla.), was the Jams
No. 5 selection in an eight-round draft held this
week.
A 6-foot-1, 183-pound point guard, Hurdle was
among 200 NBA prospects available to the 16 teams
in the NBA D-League. Drafted players will join
a group of returning and allocated players in
NBA the various D-League training camps on Sunday,
Nov. 15.
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Franey named candidate
for CLASS Award
UCSB visits USD on Sunday
Courtesy, UCSB Media Relations
GOLETA (11-12-09) UC Santa Barbara women's
basketball player and former Santana High standout
JORDAN FRANEY has been selected as one of just
30 candidates nationwide for the prestigious Lowe's
Senior CLASS Award.
The winner is selected based on a combination
of four areas of excellence - classroom, character,
community and competition; the CLASS acronym stands
for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying
in School.
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Franey keys Gauchos past USD
Courtesy, UCSB Media Relations
ALCALA PARK (11-30-09) Former Santana High
standout JORDAN FRANEY made keys plays at the
end of each half Sunday (Nov. 29) afternoon, while
UCSB teammate Emilie Johnson poured in a career-high
29 points, powering the visiting Gauchos past
USD, 76-65, at Jenny Craig Pavilion.
Franey, a senior, was the focal point on a rare
5-point play down the stretch to help the Gauchos
win for the first time in five starts. The Toreros
fell to 3-4.
With the game tied at 56-all with 3:14 left in
the game, Johnson nailed a long 3-pointer as Franey
was fouled while setting a screen to free up Johnson.
The basket counted, then Franey sank both free
throws as UCSB then knocked down 10 consecutive
free throws in the final minutes for the victory.
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Locals help Midland to near upset
© East County Sports.com
FREMONT, Neb. (10-29-09) Midland Lutheran College,
a member of the NAIA Great Plains Athletic Conference,
continues to play well with a quartet of East County
products on its squad. However, the Warriors keep coming
up just short against nationally ranked opponents.
For the third time this season, MLC held a lead against
a Top 25 foe. But this latest time, a 21-6 halftime
lead disappeared in a 38-27 setback to 5th-rated Morningside
College.
Young is ace of Arkadelphia
© East County Sports.com
ARKADEPHIA, Ark. (9-29-09) Before a packed home
crowd, No. 21 ranked Ouachita Baptist turned in the
most impressive victory in school history on Saturday
(Sept. 26), with a 38-14 win over No. 9 Delta State.
The triumph raised the Tigers' record to 4-0, with
JEREMY YOUNG, a senior standout out of El Cajon Valley
High, at center stage.
Young put together another stellar night receiving
with 151 yards on 12 catches. Young also added three
rushes for 39 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown run.
He totaled 240 yards of all-purpose yardage on the night.
In his last two games, Young, the NCAA Division II
Player of the Week, has reeled in 24 passes for 412
yards in his last two games.
Stanford's Snyder steps above the crowd
© East County Sports.com
STANFORD (9-25-09) It seems almost yesterday
when Monte Vista High graduate CLINTON SNYDER was involved
in his final athletic event which was a basketball playoff
game at University City.
The University City crowd was raucous to say the least,
holding up placards bearing Snyders face and continually
hollering at him. Although he was angry, Snyder kept
his emotions hidden.
Now the Cardinal defensive leader, Snyder, a 6-foot-4,
240-pounder, has a fumble recovery and made 21 tackles
15 solo in the three games.
Ex-Foothiller joins Rockies
© East County Sports.com
DENVER (9-22-09) Former Grossmont High and USD
infielder MIKE McCOY has been promoted to the Colorado
Rockies for their stretch run for a wild card berth
in the National League playoffs.
Former ECV Braves standout sets record
© East County Sports.com
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. (9-22-09) After setting a school
record 261 yards on 13 pass receptions on Saturday (Sept.
19), Ouachita Baptist University senior wide receiver
JEREMY YOUNG was named the Gulf South Conference Offensive
Player of the Week.
Poinsettia Bowl extends contract with sponsor
Local company to continue support of community enhancement
event
Courtesy, Poinsettia Bowl committee
SAN DIEGO (9-15-09) San Diego County Credit Union
has extended its title sponsorship of the San Diego
County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, 2009 Bowl President
Barbara Warden announced today. The extension is for
sponsorship through the 2010 contest, with options for
2011 and 2012. Financial terms were not disclosed. San
Diego County Credit Union served as title sponsor since
the games inception in 2005.
Locals play in Big 5 showdown
© East County Sports.com
PHILADELPHIA (9-2-09) Two East County graduates
will be in Villanova Universitys starting lineup
Thursday (Sept. 3) when the Wildcats tangle with Temple
University in the inaugural Philadelphia Mayors
Cup Game at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia
Eagles.
CS Fullerton tabs Helix alum Tanida
© East County Sports.com
LA MESA (8-31-09) Cal State Fullerton baseball
coach Dave Serrano caught Helix High alum ZACH TANIDA
by surprise when he called Highlanders baseball
coach COLE HOLLAND and offered the catcher out of San
Diego Mesa College a chance to catch for one of the
nations top college programs.
Aztecs classic
four
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (8-30-09) East County will be
well represented at San Diego State with four
Inlanders wearing pads and helmets for the Aztecs
this fall.
El Capitan High graduate TOMMIE DRAHIEM (6-4,
285) is slated to start at left tackle, while
his highly-touted El Capitan teammate RYAN LINDLEY
handles the quarterbacking chores.
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Fiege transfers to
USD
© East County Sports.com
ALCALA PARK (8-30-09) Former West Hills
High standout ERIC FIEGE has left Louisiana Tech
University after one season and plans to play
football this fall at the University of San Diego
A 5-foot-9, 170-pound sophomore wide receiver,
Fiege saw limited playing time for the Western
Athletic Conference Bulldogs as a freshman.
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Former Griffins making progress
© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (8-9-09) Former East County standouts
JOSH MAZZOLA, SHANE KAUFMAN, LANCE JANKE and JOHNNIE
LOWE, all 2006 graduates of the Grossmont College baseball
team, are currently making a strong showing at the minor
league level.
BACK TO THE MINORS
The Buzz on Sully
© East County Sports.com
SALT LAKE CITY (7-25-09) When you're a
young pitcher trying to earn a steady gig in the
big leagues, throwing well isn't always enough.
For SEAN O'SULLIVAN of the Los Angeles Angels,
a 3-0 record through his first five MLB starts
is fantastic including Monday's (July 20)
win at Kansas City but when you hold options
while others on the 40-man roster do not, you
are the target to be sent back to the minor leagues
when the parent club juggles its roster.
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Braves send Conrad back to AAA
© East County Sports.com
GWINNETT, Ga. (7-24-09) Its a tough
business, this baseball. Just ask Monte Vista
High graduate BROOKS CONRAD.
Despite batting .344 (11-for-32) with two home
runs and eight RBI in 14 games, Conrad found himself
without a position when Atlantas veteran
second baseman Kelly Johnson was activated from
the 15-day disabled list on Thursday (July 23).
Thus, Conrad was sent to the Braves AAA farm
club in Gwinnett. Serving as Gwinnetts designated
hitter, Conrad went 0-for-3 in a 5-1 win over
Norfolk, Va.
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He's back!.... well, on Monday
OSullivan to pitch vs. Royals
© East County Sports.com
ANAHEIM (7-17-09) SEAN OSULLIVAN, is ticketed
to return to the active roster for the Los Angeles Angels
on Monday, July 20, when he is slated to start on the
road against the Kansas City Royals at Kaufman Stadium.
Strasburg captures 2009 Golden Spikes Award
Aztec hurler honored as years top collegiate
player
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (7-15-09) San Diego State's STEPHEN
STRASBURG has been named recipient of the 2009 USA Baseball
Golden Spikes Award as the top collegiate player in
the nation, USA Baseball announced Tuesday (July 14).
The award caps off a college season that saw the Aztec
right-hander win numerous major awards as the top hurler
in the NCAA Division I ranks. Strasburg, a product
of West Hills High, becomes the second SDSU player to
capture the Golden Spikes trophy after former Aztecs
first baseman Travis Lee received the award in 1996.
Conrad making contact in Atlanta
© East County Sports.com
ATLANTA (7-14-09) Former Monte Vista High graduate
BROOKS CONRAD has spent the majority of his professional
baseball career toiling in the minor leagues.
Oh sure, he had a brief stint 19 at-bats
with the Oakland s As during the 2008 season.
But then, a .158 batting average is obviously not a
high enough caliber to keep one in the big leagues.
The As gave Conrad his release following last
season and the Atlanta Braves signed him as a free agent
on Nov. 18, 2008.
Atlanta manager Bobby Cox sees a positive upside for
the switch-hitting Conrad, whose primary position is
second base.
Fans will love this kid," Cox told MLB.com.
He's all-out all the time. He's one of those gritty
old-timers. He's not old, don't get me wrong, but he
plays like the old-timers."
The 29-year-old Conrad was batting an unspectacular
.259 (67-for-259) with 9 home runs and 38 RBI at Triple-A
Gwinnett, Ga. Yet, Cox had a feeling Conrad was ready
to have a breakout year. The first step of that opportunity
came earlier this month when Conrad was called up to
the major league club.
The veteran skipper wasted little time putting Conrad
in the hot seat, dispatching him as a pinch hitter.
And Conrad
responded with a three-run home run that gave Atlanta
a 9-8 nod over the Nationals in Washington.
Angels keep O'Sullivan in starting rotation
Gains Independence Day assignment vs. Orioles
© East County Sports.com
ANAHEIM (7-3-09) SEAN OSULLIVAN was staring
at three possibilities this weekend. He could remain
one of the Los Angeles Angels five starting pitchers
or be shuttled to the bullpen for the first time in
his brief professional baseball career.
Robinson scores major scholarship from OK State
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (7-1-09) Two more graduates of coach
ROB SANDOVALs highly successful Mount Miguel High
girls basketball program have bounced into the NCAA
Division I level after two sparkling seasons at the
junior college level.
PRECIOUS ROBINSON, a 6-foot National Junior College
Athletic Association All-American out of Central Arizona
JC, has accepted a basketball scholarship to Big 12
power Oklahoma
State University. Robinson will get a quick start
to the 2009-10 season, as the Cowgirls were one of 16
teams to play in the women's preseason NIT.
Bellatti signs
with Rays
© East County Sports.com
RANCHO SAN DIEGO (6-26-09) ANDREW BELLATTI,
a 12th round pick of the American League champion
Tampa Bay Rays, has signed a pro pact.
Bellatti posted a 13-9-1 record with 172 strikeouts
in 140 innings in his final two seasons at Steele
Canyon.
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Former El Cap standout joins Blue Jays
© East County Sports.com
TACOMA, Wash. (6-27-09) It was pregame warm-ups
as usual for KYLE PHILLIPS, the leading hitter for the
Triple-A Las Vegas 51s of the Pacific Coast League Friday
night (June 26) in Tacoma.
That is, until pitching coach Andy LaRoche hollered
to Phillips that Las Vegas manager Mike Basso wanted
to see him.
Since I hadnt played for eight days I thought
it could be one of two things either I was going
home or being dropped to Double-A, said the 25-year-old
El Capitan High graduate.
He was wrong on both accounts. Basso informed Phillips
that hed been called up to the major leagues by
the Toronto Blue Jays. He was ticketed for a red-eye
flight that would allow him to get to the Rogers Centre
in the Canadian city in time for Saturdays (June
27) game against the visiting American League champion
Tampa Bay Rays at 10 a.m. (PT).
Dream MLB debut for O'Sullivan
© East County Sports.com
SAN FRANCISCO (6-16-09, 9:59 p.m.) Rancho San
Diego's SEAN
O'SULLIVAN will be hard-pressed to select what he
liked best about his dream debut in the majors Tuesday
(June 16) at AT&T Park.
The 21-year old right-hander out of Valhalla High and
Grossmont College allowed just five hits over seven
solid innings to collect the victory in his MLB debut.
The former East County high school batting champion
also registered a basehit, leading the Los Angeles Angels
of Anaheim to an 8-1 spanking of the San Francisco Giants.
O'Sullivan to make MLB debut Tuesday
© East County Sports.com
SAN FRANCISCO (UPDATED 6-15-09, 7:50 p.m.) The
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim announced that Ervin Santana
will not make his scheduled start Tuesday (June 16)
against the San Francisco Giants due to elbow problems,
calling up former Valhalla High and Grossmont College
standout SEAN O'SULLIVAN for his Major League debut
at AT&T Park.
O'Sullivan is slated to be added to the 25-man roster
by Angels management prior to the contest. However,
O'Sullivan (5-2 with Class AAA Salt Lake City) knew
something was up as recently as Sunday.
"Once in a while, the pitchers get to take batting
practice if there is time, but Sean was told to take
BP prior to Sunday's day game at Reno," said PAUL
O'SULLIVAN, his father. "That was his first indication
something might be happening."
The Bees flew home to Salt Lake City, but O'Sullivan's
stay was brief.
"When they arrived at the clubhouse to unpack,
the Bees' manager told him not to."
Instead, O'Sullivan was whisked to the airport for
a 90-minute flight to San Francisco to join the Angels
for an interleague series.
Rare National Double for SDSU Pitching Staff
© East County Sports.com
LUBBOCK, Texas (6-13-09) Former San Diego State
and West Hills High pitcher STEPHEN STRASBURG has been
named the inaugural recipient of the College Baseball
Foundation's national Pitcher of the Year Award. MORE-1
Concurrenrly, Aztecs relief pitcher ADDISON REED is
the 2009 recipient of the National Collegiate Baseball
Writers Association's Stopper of the Year Award, which
the NCBWA announced Saturday (June 13) in Omaha on the
opening day of the College World Series. MORE-2
Joining Reed as national finalists also included Kyle
Bellamy of Miami (Fla.), Jake Hale of Ohio State, Matty
Ott of LSU and Eric Pettis of UC Irvine. All five relief
aces helped their respective teams advance to the 64-team
field of the 2009 NCAA Baseball Tournament.
In addition, Strasburg was named along with North Carolina
first baseman Dustin Ackley, Arizona State pitcher Mike
Leake as finalists for the 23rd annual Dick Howser Trophy,
emblematic of the NCBWA player of the year. MORE-3
Balough honored twice
© East County Sports.com
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (6-10-09) Lee University second
baseman DANIELLE BALOUGH (Santana HS) has been selected
to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA)
All-Region team for the 2009 season.
Balough, a sophomore, hit .405 for the NAIA 16th-ranked
Lady Flames this past year, socking three home runs
and 16 doubles. She also scored 31 times and recorded
48 RBI, earning an All-Southern States Athletic Conference
berth to lift Lee (39-14 overall) to a second-place
finish in the SSAC Tournament.
More honors for Phillips
© East County Sports.com
ORANGE (06-09-09) Chapman University senior and
Grossmont High graduate TRISTAN PHILLIPS has been named
to the All-West Region Division III baseball team, as
selected by the American Baseball Coaches Association
(ABCA).
A second team pick, Phillips batted .416 with a team-high
64 RBI and added eight home runs and 17 doubles. Phillips'
RBI total is the most by a Chapman player since 1999.
Powell, Blondin, named NAIA All-America
© East County Sports.com
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (6-5-09) Former Grossmont College
standouts MATT POWELL and ROSS BLONDIN have been selected
among a group of 17 players as first-team members of the
NAIA All-America baseball team. The team was chosen by
the NAIA Baseball Coaches Association selection committee
Powell, a senior catcher who transferred from Cal State
Fullerton to Southern Nazarene (Okla.), batted a career-best
.451 for the Crimson Storm (37-15), including 12 homers
and 65 RBI, starting in all 52 ballgames.
Meanwhile, Blondin helped Lubbock Christian (Texas)
to the
NAIA national championship.
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