A week after Valley High School announced the resignation of girls' basketball coach Raymond Rucker, the school's athletic director Rod Edmiston has confirmed that boys' basketball coach Mat Bradley has also left the school.
Bradley, like Rucker, also had good success in his four seasons with the Vikings, qualifying for the post-season three times. Bradley told me Friday he'll be taking a job on the college level and that won't be official for another couple weeks. He is a P.E. teacher at Albiani Middle School, a job he'll keep for the coming school year.
Edmiston says he has had some inquiries about the girls' job, but the posting for the boys' vacancy won't happen until July 9. Elk Grove Unified's policy is that the job will be open only for inner-district applications for two weeks. If there is no interest, the school district will open the job to someone outside of the district (remember how EGHS football coach Chris Nixon got his job?).
Covering the sports in and around Elk Grove, CA.
Sunday, July 08, 2012
Saturday, July 07, 2012
Golfing At Emerald Lakes
It has become the landmark northbound travelers on Highway
99 first see when entering the City of Elk Grove. Emerald Lakes Golf Course is
the city’s only public golf course and has become a fixture to the area since
its construction in 1990. Purchased in 2006 by the Cosumnes Community Services
District, Emerald Lakes has become a popular spot for golfers from beginners to
professionals.
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| Skyler Quam, teeing off on #1 |
Matt Holm, a PGA professional and the course manager since
July of 2007, says the course has become self-sufficient financially and
believes that is because they’ve kept green fees affordable.
“For the person that doesn’t have the five to eight hours to
commute and then play an entire round of golf, we’ve become their course,” Holm
said.
Under CSD’s management, Emerald Lakes has improved the
overall condition of the 2,307-yard, par-33 nine-hole layout.
“I’d put our greens up against anyone’s in the region,” Holm
boasted.
Tuesday, July 03, 2012
Rucker Resigns At Valley
One of the most elegant-dressed high school basketball coaches, Ray Rucker at Valley High School has resigned, according to the school's athletic director, Rod Edmiston.
Rucker, known for his emotional coaching style and fine clothing, was effective at Valley leading the team to a Section final three years ago. There's no word on why Rucker submitted his resignation.
Edmiston has shared that he has no applicants for the job and the school is looking for a solid candidate.
Last season the Vikings were 16-12 overall, 6-8 in the Metro Conference.
Rucker, known for his emotional coaching style and fine clothing, was effective at Valley leading the team to a Section final three years ago. There's no word on why Rucker submitted his resignation.
Edmiston has shared that he has no applicants for the job and the school is looking for a solid candidate.
Last season the Vikings were 16-12 overall, 6-8 in the Metro Conference.
Sunday, July 01, 2012
Ortega Returns To EGHS Bench
Rudy Ortega took a year off from coaching Elk Grove High School's basketball team. Interim coach Dustin Monday led the Herd to an 11-win improvement and was named the Delta Valley Conference's coach of the year. In Jon Gudel's story in Friday's Citizen , Ortega said he's renewed and invigorated for the coming year.
Some Herd insiders have told me they wish Ortega would have stayed away. Under Monday, the team was more disciplined on the court and played better together, according to one source.
What do you think? With Franklin losing Derin Johnson who had defected to Sheldon High School, Elk Grove and Laguna Creek both have a chance at the DVC title this winter. Will Ortega's return be a positive or a negative?
By the way, an insider has told me that Johnson's desired transfer (between his junior and senior year) to Sheldon may not pass the necessary documentation. Inter-district transfers are a simple thing contrary to popular belief. Though the talented Johnson is playing this summer with the Huskies, he may not be able to enroll at Sheldon, according to one source.
Next week summer baseball returns with the Elk Grove Summer Tournament, July 10-12, at EGHS. The Herd's top four players, Rowdy Tellez, Dom Nunez, Derek Hill and Nick Madrigal, all may not be back for the tourney. Tellez is at a baseball showcase in Georgia, Nunez and Madrigal are both with the USA teams and likely will earn a spot on the 15U and 18U rosters, respectively. Not sure where Hill is.
Some Herd insiders have told me they wish Ortega would have stayed away. Under Monday, the team was more disciplined on the court and played better together, according to one source.
What do you think? With Franklin losing Derin Johnson who had defected to Sheldon High School, Elk Grove and Laguna Creek both have a chance at the DVC title this winter. Will Ortega's return be a positive or a negative?
By the way, an insider has told me that Johnson's desired transfer (between his junior and senior year) to Sheldon may not pass the necessary documentation. Inter-district transfers are a simple thing contrary to popular belief. Though the talented Johnson is playing this summer with the Huskies, he may not be able to enroll at Sheldon, according to one source.
Next week summer baseball returns with the Elk Grove Summer Tournament, July 10-12, at EGHS. The Herd's top four players, Rowdy Tellez, Dom Nunez, Derek Hill and Nick Madrigal, all may not be back for the tourney. Tellez is at a baseball showcase in Georgia, Nunez and Madrigal are both with the USA teams and likely will earn a spot on the 15U and 18U rosters, respectively. Not sure where Hill is.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Locals Do Well For Marysville Gold Sox
Baseball writer Mark McDermott has a great story about the success this summer of the Marysville Gold Sox, a team made up of several college baseball players including former Elk Grove High School standouts Patrick O'Rourke, Brooke Brooks and Justin Charles.
I talked briefly with O'Rourke a couple weeks back. He's attending the University of Hawaii, but seeing limited time on the mound and pretty upset about it. He's beginning to tip the jugs gun around 90 mph now and has a year left in college. Brookie is at Eastern New Mexico playing for former Sheldon coach Chris Terry. Charles is a utility infielder at Fresno State.
I also recently talked to Josh McMahon, also a former Herd player, who is at New Mexico Highlands and loves it. His mother, Chrissie, passed away a couple years ago and was one of those ladies who always wore a big smile. We miss her. Dad Tim is doing real well.
Other baseball notes:
I talked briefly with O'Rourke a couple weeks back. He's attending the University of Hawaii, but seeing limited time on the mound and pretty upset about it. He's beginning to tip the jugs gun around 90 mph now and has a year left in college. Brookie is at Eastern New Mexico playing for former Sheldon coach Chris Terry. Charles is a utility infielder at Fresno State.
I also recently talked to Josh McMahon, also a former Herd player, who is at New Mexico Highlands and loves it. His mother, Chrissie, passed away a couple years ago and was one of those ladies who always wore a big smile. We miss her. Dad Tim is doing real well.
Other baseball notes:
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Winter Sports Recap
Wednesday's Citizen contains my re-cap of last winter's sports season. Take a read of it because I write about the Sheldon Huskies' march to the boys' basketball state championship game, an overview of the local girls' basketball season and the wrestling season.
Coming up in Friday's Citizen will be a story about Elk Grove's wrestling team at a camp at Chadron State (Neb.) College.
Coming up in Friday's Citizen will be a story about Elk Grove's wrestling team at a camp at Chadron State (Neb.) College.
Tellez Wins National HR Hitting Contest
Elk Grove High School slugger Rowdy Tellez won the home run hitting contest Saturday at the Perfect Game National High School baseball event in Minneapolis. He and teammate Dom Nunez attended the showcase event and impressed many people in the process.
The video of the contest is quite long, but if you forward in about an hour and 55 minutes, you'll watch Tellez stroking the long shots in the Metrodome, site of the event.
The Herd teammates will be a part of the USA Baseball Age 18U team selection process that gets underway this week in Cary, N.C.
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| Rowdy Tellez at Perfect Game National Baseball event |
The Herd teammates will be a part of the USA Baseball Age 18U team selection process that gets underway this week in Cary, N.C.
Monday, June 18, 2012
A Eulogy For My Brother Jeff
I was shocked early this morning when my sister Julie, who lives in Kansas City, phoned to inform me that police in Little Rock, Ark., phoned her to report that my younger brother Jeff was found dead in his home.
There was no sign of foul play or anything suspicious. One of his friends phoned police to report that my brother, who was unemployed, hadn't been heard from and asked them to check out his home. He was found deceased, sitting on his couch. His dog, Samson, a huge malemute and his best friend, was in the back yard and was excited to see the police when they came onto the property.
Jeff was 54.
When we were growing up we were great friends. The years and the fact I moved from Colorado in the 1970's where we both grew up as teenagers sort of separated us. We talked way too infrequently.
While I got married and had children and was raising a family, he was trying to find a place for himself in the world of architecture. He worked in Ruston, LA., where he attended Louisiana Tech, Denver and in Little Rock. I saw some of his work and he was really good as an architect. He designed super markets, department stores, shopping malls and in one of his last jobs in Denver, worked on a new Federal Courthouse building.
There was no sign of foul play or anything suspicious. One of his friends phoned police to report that my brother, who was unemployed, hadn't been heard from and asked them to check out his home. He was found deceased, sitting on his couch. His dog, Samson, a huge malemute and his best friend, was in the back yard and was excited to see the police when they came onto the property.
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| Jeff Hull, left, with our mother |
When we were growing up we were great friends. The years and the fact I moved from Colorado in the 1970's where we both grew up as teenagers sort of separated us. We talked way too infrequently.
While I got married and had children and was raising a family, he was trying to find a place for himself in the world of architecture. He worked in Ruston, LA., where he attended Louisiana Tech, Denver and in Little Rock. I saw some of his work and he was really good as an architect. He designed super markets, department stores, shopping malls and in one of his last jobs in Denver, worked on a new Federal Courthouse building.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Friday's Thoughts/Mitty Tournament, Tony Rodriguez
Most of the regular readers to this post know I am a digital media/journalism teacher. Sportswriting is my hobby, my beloved second occupation.
Now that summer is here for my school, it's three months of re-invigoration to, primarily, mentally prepare myself for the next academic year. Plus, I get to spend lots of time around the house and with my great family.
Today and this weekend I will spend with my youngest son Max, a junior-to-be at Elk Grove High School who is also a budding baseball player with the Herd program. Beginning today EGHS will play in a two-day summer baseball event at Archbishop Mitty High School and Mountain View High School in the South Bay area.
I'll be tweeting from the games the next couple days. Typically the teams that play in this annual event have some of the top high school players and teams competing. I am looking forward to it.
On a side note, Thursday evening's memorial service for Tony Rodriguez, father of a trio of EGHS athletes who passed away last Sunday at age 43, was very touching. The little funeral home in Folsom that hosted the event was jammed packed with people standing outside and in the hallway there to honor one of the great men who was a part of Herd sports the past few years.
It was great to see all this love and support for Nancy and her children, now preparing to move back to the Chicago area where they all moved from in 2006. Lots of kind words were spoken about not just Tony but that whole family, ever-present at Herd baseball, wrestling and track events. Tony always had a kind word for everyone.
He was a rarity in that he unlike many people was more interested in you and your children than talking about himself. I wish more of us were like Tony.
Now that summer is here for my school, it's three months of re-invigoration to, primarily, mentally prepare myself for the next academic year. Plus, I get to spend lots of time around the house and with my great family.
Today and this weekend I will spend with my youngest son Max, a junior-to-be at Elk Grove High School who is also a budding baseball player with the Herd program. Beginning today EGHS will play in a two-day summer baseball event at Archbishop Mitty High School and Mountain View High School in the South Bay area.
I'll be tweeting from the games the next couple days. Typically the teams that play in this annual event have some of the top high school players and teams competing. I am looking forward to it.
On a side note, Thursday evening's memorial service for Tony Rodriguez, father of a trio of EGHS athletes who passed away last Sunday at age 43, was very touching. The little funeral home in Folsom that hosted the event was jammed packed with people standing outside and in the hallway there to honor one of the great men who was a part of Herd sports the past few years.
It was great to see all this love and support for Nancy and her children, now preparing to move back to the Chicago area where they all moved from in 2006. Lots of kind words were spoken about not just Tony but that whole family, ever-present at Herd baseball, wrestling and track events. Tony always had a kind word for everyone.
He was a rarity in that he unlike many people was more interested in you and your children than talking about himself. I wish more of us were like Tony.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
New CIF Transfer Rules Start Several Player Shifts
Darin Johnson, basketball, senior, from Franklin to Sheldon.
Malik Pope, basketball, junior, from Burbank, brief stop at Laguna Creek, likely to end up at Capital Christian.
Sean Nicholson, baseball, junior, from Elk Grove to Franklin.
In the past, these kind of transfers by upperclassmen athletes just weren't allowed. Now, they are with a 30-day "Sit Out Period" at the beginning of the next season.
We'll likely see a few more varsity athletes switch schools.
In today's EG Citizen read a story I wrote about this topic and an interview I did with Section assistant commissioner John Williams.
Malik Pope, basketball, junior, from Burbank, brief stop at Laguna Creek, likely to end up at Capital Christian.
Sean Nicholson, baseball, junior, from Elk Grove to Franklin.
In the past, these kind of transfers by upperclassmen athletes just weren't allowed. Now, they are with a 30-day "Sit Out Period" at the beginning of the next season.
We'll likely see a few more varsity athletes switch schools.
In today's EG Citizen read a story I wrote about this topic and an interview I did with Section assistant commissioner John Williams.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Tony Rodriguez Dies Suddenly at 43
The Elk Grove sports community is in shock with the news of the sudden death of Marco "Tony" Rodriguez, Jr. He's the father of Herd baseball star Jake and wrestler Joe. Tony passed away Sunday at the age of 43.
According to Greg Davis, an Elk Grove baseball parent who was the vice-president of the baseball booster club when Rodriguez was the club president, Tony had developed a clot in his leg a few weeks ago and was hospitalized. Davis said apparently the clot made it to Rodriguez' lung.
"It's all a big shock to all of us," Davis said.
"He's a stand-up guy," Joel Hull, an EGHS teammate of Jake's, said. "He always went out of his way to ask me how it was going for me after I graduated. I'd sit at Elk Grove games with Tony and talk baseball with him the whole game."
Jake graduated from EGHS in 2010 and has played baseball at Oregon State University the past two seasons.
Rodriguez moved his family from Wisconsin in 2006 prior to Jake's freshman year in high school, knowing Jake had special talents in baseball and wanted the best place for him to play. He told me several years ago he spent lots of time researching the best baseball program he could find for Jake in this area and still work for his employer. That's why he and Nancy decided to have Jake and Joe attend EGHS.
Joe was one of the Herd's top wrestlers. Considered to be a state contender in 2011, Joe injured his hand and couldn't compete in the post-season.
The family had made plans to return to Wisconsin later this month. According to family friend, Keri Nunez they are following through with the move. Tony will be laid to rest in Wisconsin.
UPDATE - A Celebration of Life will be held on June 14, 2012 from 6-8 pm at the Miller Funeral Home located @507 Scott Street 8799 Elk Grove Blvd. Elk Grove , CA 95624
Tony is survived by his wife, Nancy, daughters Katie, Paige and Meagan and sons Jake and Joe. In lieu of flowers, the friends of the Rodriguez' are asking everyone to donate towards a trust fund for the children.
According to Greg Davis, an Elk Grove baseball parent who was the vice-president of the baseball booster club when Rodriguez was the club president, Tony had developed a clot in his leg a few weeks ago and was hospitalized. Davis said apparently the clot made it to Rodriguez' lung.
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| Marco "Tony" Rodriguez, Jr. |
"He's a stand-up guy," Joel Hull, an EGHS teammate of Jake's, said. "He always went out of his way to ask me how it was going for me after I graduated. I'd sit at Elk Grove games with Tony and talk baseball with him the whole game."
Jake graduated from EGHS in 2010 and has played baseball at Oregon State University the past two seasons.
Rodriguez moved his family from Wisconsin in 2006 prior to Jake's freshman year in high school, knowing Jake had special talents in baseball and wanted the best place for him to play. He told me several years ago he spent lots of time researching the best baseball program he could find for Jake in this area and still work for his employer. That's why he and Nancy decided to have Jake and Joe attend EGHS.
Joe was one of the Herd's top wrestlers. Considered to be a state contender in 2011, Joe injured his hand and couldn't compete in the post-season.
The family had made plans to return to Wisconsin later this month. According to family friend, Keri Nunez they are following through with the move. Tony will be laid to rest in Wisconsin.
UPDATE - A Celebration of Life will be held on June 14, 2012 from 6-8 pm at the Miller Funeral Home located @
Tony is survived by his wife, Nancy, daughters Katie, Paige and Meagan and sons Jake and Joe. In lieu of flowers, the friends of the Rodriguez' are asking everyone to donate towards a trust fund for the children.
Brenner Accepts Scholarship To Long Beach
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| Colby Brenner |
Last season as the lead-off batter for the Community College state champion Cosumnes River College squad, Brenner batted .272 with 29 stolen bases. He graduated from EGHS in 2010.
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