John Hull's Elk Grove Sports Corner

EGHS Baseball To Play in N.C. in 2013

2012-02-14T05:28:00.000-08:00

The high school baseball season hasn't even begun - several teams have scrimmages this weekend - but word out of Elk Grove High School is that the Thundering Herd has accepted an invitation to play at the USA Baseball National High School Invitational Tournament in 2013. The event is held annually in Cary, N.C., and pits some of the top programs in the country.

A look at this year's field includes Mater Dei from Orange County and Orange Lutheran High School.

The carrot for the Herd to play in North Carolina next March has to be that both Rowdy Tellez and Dom Nunez will be seniors and, though both have made their college commitments, they will likely rank high on prospect lists amongst all high schoolers next spring. Tellez may be a high pro draft choice in June of 2013, Nunez, too.

Elk Grove scrimmages Clovis West this Saturday in Clovis. Watch for a couple young guys to grab some looks - freshman infielder Nick Madrigal, who was a part of the 14U USA Team last summer, and Trey Hicks, a very versatile fielder who can play just about everywhere. How well pitching develops this spring will determine how good the Herd will be this season.

League Wrestling Results

2012-02-13T09:40:00.000-08:00

Here are the results from Saturday's Delta River League and Sierra Valley Conference wrestling championships. The top four listed in each result page will advance to this weekend's Sac-Joaquin Section divisional championships.

Delta River League Championship

Team results: 1. Folsom 263 1/2; 2. Ponderosa 225; 3. Oak Ridge 215; 4. Sheldon 127; 5. Jesuit 122; 6. Pleasant Grove 92 1/2.

Individual results (Placement only)

106–1. Martinez, Jesuit; 2. Lor, Sheldon; 3. Alaverez, Folsom; 4. Ploke, Oak Ridge.

113–1. Gonzales, Ponderosa; 2. Wesley, Jesuit; 3. Hoffman, Folsom; 4. Nguyen, Sheldon.

120–1. Delariva, Folsom; 2. Winn, Jesuit; 3. Gularte, Oak Ridge; 4. Garcia, Ponderosa.

126–1. Pollack, Folsom; 2. Melton, Ponderosa; 3. Reese, Oak Ridge; 4. Enrique, Jesuit.

132–1. Hernandez, Folsom; 2. Miller, Oak Ridge; 3. Canepa, Ponderosa; 4. Von Schoech, Pleasant Grove.

138–1. Koshiyana, Folsom; 2. Ellerman, Oak Ridge; 3. Spangler, Ponderosa; 4. Ramirez, Sheldon.

145–1. Fiegener, Folsom; 2. Atebar, Oak Ridge; 3. Providence, Ponderosa; 4. Gaulman, Sheldon.

152–1. Diaz, Folsom; 2. Zielke, Jesuit; 3. Keane, Ponderosa; 4. Bernatchy, Pleasant Grove.

160–1. Subject, Oak Ridge; 2. Nooner, Folsom; 3. Reese, Sheldon; 4. Ferry, Ponderosa.

170–1. Trotuato, Ponderosa; 2. Ellerman, Oak Ridge; 3. Paxton, Pleasant Grove; 4. Pires, Jesuit.

182–1. Richards, Ponderosa; 2. Claiborne, Oak Ridge; 3. Hurlimann, Folsom; 4. Nguyen, Sheldon.

195–1. Wood, Folsom; 2. Marinelli, Ponderosa; 3. Dean, Oak Ridge; 4. Baker, Sheldon.

220–1. Lopez, Oak Ridge; 2. Lewis, Folsom; 3. Carda, Pleasant Grove; 4. Sharoyan, Ponderosa.

285–1. Camilli, Ponderosa; 2. Alleva, Folsom; 3. Alnassiri, Sheldon; 4. Proul, Oak Ridge.

Sierra Valley Conference results

Place Winners

Weight: 106 1st: Jared Blecman, Cosumnes Oaks 12 2- 0
2nd: Austin Rompel, Vista del Lago 11 1- 1
3rd: Michael Sexton, River City 9 1- 1
4th: Christopher Lee, Union Mine 10 0- 2

Weight: 113 1st: Chase Agrella, Liberty Ranch 11 1- 0
2nd: Josh Garcia, Cosumnes Oaks 11 1- 1
3rd: Kari Salinas, Galt 0- 1

Weight: 120 1st: Ryan Nantuna, Cosumnes Oaks 11 2- 0
2nd: Jordan Nixon, Galt 11 1- 1
3rd: Mason Wright, Vista del Lago 9 1- 1
4th: Angel Moreno, Liberty Ranch 12 0- 2

Weight: 126 1st: Phoenyx Iniguez, Cosumnes Oaks 12 2- 0
2nd: Colin Hustrulid, Union Mine 9 1- 1
3rd: Aaron Tyson, River City 10 1- 1
4th: Austin Burke, Vista del Lago 10 0- 2

Weight: 132 1st: Michael Gary, Vista del Lago 11 2- 0
2nd: David Ross, Cosumnes Oaks 9 1- 1
3rd: Kolby McDonald, Liberty Ranch 10 2- 1
4th: Cesar Gonsalez, Union Mine 12 1- 2
5th: Christopher Giuliani, River City 10 0- 2

Weight: 138 1st: Troy Grossi, Vista del Lago 11 3- 0
2nd: Matt Cathey, Union Mine 10 1- 1
3rd: Nick Pruitt, Cosumnes Oaks 10 3- 1
4th: Kyle Ferguson, El Dorado 11 2- 2
5th: Ruben Rocha, Liberty Ranch 11 2- 2
6th: Austin Huynh, River City 12 0- 3

Weight: 145 1st: Sean Tow, Union Mine 11 2- 0
2nd: Ben Johnson, Vista del Lago 9 2- 1
3rd: John Kunkle, El Dorado 11 3- 1
4th: Jason Medlock, Liberty Ranch 10 2- 2
5th: Najee Benafoul, River City 11 1- 2
6th: Michayl Chantry, Galt 9 1- 3

Weight: 152 1st: Adam Tyson, River City 12 2- 0
2nd: Jacob Sahagun, Vista del Lago 11 1- 1
3rd: Justin O'Neil, Galt 12 3- 1
4th: Rick Reed, El Dorado 10 2- 2
5th: Ryan Louie, Cosumnes Oaks 11 1- 2
6th: Darian Graham, Liberty Ranch 11 0- 3

Weight: 160 1st: James Warden, Union Mine 10 2- 0
2nd: Robert Perez, River City 12 1- 1
3rd: Ian Berklacich, Vista del Lago 11 1- 1
4th: Luis Patino, Cosumnes Oaks 10 0- 2

Weight: 170 1st: Mitchell Woods, Union Mine 12 2- 0
2nd: Michael Pesole, Cosumnes Oaks 12 1- 1
3rd: Uriah Clark, River City 12 1- 1
4th: Conner Moore, Vista del Lago 12 0- 2

Weight: 182 1st: Oscar Flores, Cosumnes Oaks 12 1- 0
2nd: Brandon Johnson, Vista del Lago 11 1- 1
3rd: Davies Pannyasee, River City 11 0- 1

Weight: 195 1st: Tyler Martin, Cosumnes Oaks 10 2- 0

2nd: Julian Jones, River City 12 1- 1
3rd: Clayton Wagner, Vista del Lago 11 1- 1
4th: Jarod Guidotti, Liberty Ranch 0- 2

Weight: 220 1st: Chris Vasquez, Union Mine 12 2- 0
2nd: Josh Davis, Cosumnes Oaks 10 1- 1
3rd: William Leggat, River City 1- 1
4th: Alex King, Vista del Lago 9 0- 2

Weight: 285 1st: Francisco Ruiz, Cosumnes Oaks 12 2- 0
2nd: Robert Gonzales, Union Mine 11 1- 1
3rd: Aaron Ringor, River City 12 1- 1
4th: Francisco Avalos, Galt 12 0- 2

Elk Grove, Cosumnes Oaks Grapplers Advance In League Meets

2012-02-12T17:52:00.001-08:00

In high school wrestling, last weekend was full of league tournaments. The top four finishers in each weight group advances to this weekend’s Sac-Joaquin Section Divisional tournaments.

Elk Grove easily won the Delta Valley Conference meet held at Monterey Trail High School. Twelve of the 14 Herd wrestlers won their weight, the other two placed second. The Division I meet will be this Friday at Ponderosa High School.

Cosumnes Oaks, the Sierra Valley Conference’s dual champion, also won the individual championship last weekend scoring 216.5 points. Vista del Lago placed second and Galt was sixth.

Six Wolfpack grapplers – Jared Blecman (106), Ryan Nantuna (120), Phoenyx Iniguez (126), Oscar Flores (182), Tyler Martin (195) and Francisco Ruiz (285) – won their weight classification.

The conference meet was at Cosumnes Oaks High School. …

Buck Martinez Speaks At Elk Grove Baseball Fundraiser

2012-02-11T23:30:00.000-08:00

He's probably the most successful baseball player ever to come out of the city of Elk Grove. Former major league catcher and current Toronto Blue Jays' play-by-play announcer Buck Martinez spoke Saturday night at a fundraiser for the baseball program at Elk Grove High School.

Buck Martinez

It was a packed house at the S.E.S. Hall that listened to Martinez reminisce about his playing days in Elk Grove and in professional baseball. His high school teammate, Kenny Hottman who also played in the majors, was there Saturday. Martinez was the catcher for the Royals when Hottman took his first MLB at-bat for the White Sox.

Martinez also talked about playing with or for 12 men who are now in baseball's Hall of Fame. Martinez was one of the very first Kansas City Royals when that club was organized in 1968, just two years after he graduated from Elk Grove. He also recalled being the catcher, who with a broken leg, made both putouts in the Majors' only 9-2-7-2 double play.

If you're a baseball fan, you'll enjoy listening to this speech. He is introduced by Elk Grove's pitching coach, Jason Jimenez, who also spent time in the majors and is Hottman's son-in-law.

Photos from the dinner :

About 350 jammed into the S.E.S. dining hall Saturday

Martinez sitting with two of his brothers and families

Long-time ex-Elk Grove football coach Dave Hoskins who never misses a good meal

Music was provided by Makka Letuligasenoa

Franklin Squeaks By Elk Grove, 4th Straight DVC Championship

2012-02-11T07:36:00.000-08:00

Jesse Formaker has really established one of the top basketball programs in the Sac-Joaquin Section. For the fourth year in a row he has combed some of the top Elk Grove-area players into a quality team that has grabbed the 2012 Delta Valley Conference championship.

Except for a momentary slip-up a couple weeks back at Laguna Creek, the Wildcats have shown they are the class of the conference once again. On Friday night, some tough defense on top of quality free throw shooting gave Franklin a 54-48 win over Elk Grove. The Wildcats made 19 of their 20 charity tosses to overcome a scrappy Thundering Herd team that is on the bubble of qualifying for the Section playoffs.

Here's the final three minutes of Friday's game at Franklin:

Other BOYS BASKETBALL results from Friday:

COSUMNES OAKS 77, GALT 32 (The Wolfpack are heading into the D-II post-season)

GRANT 77, LAGUNA CREEK 65 (puts a big dent in the Cardinals' playoff hopes)

PLEASANT GROVE 67, FOLSOM 36 (Cody Demps had 18 to lead the Eagles)

GIRLS' BASKETBALL

PLEASANT GROVE 69, FOLSOM 30

GRANT 46, LAGUNA CREEK 36

FRANKLIN 47, ELK GROVE 37

SHELDON 47, PONDEROSA 37

COSUMNES OAKS 38, GALT 36

WILTON CHRISTIAN 56, SACRAMENTO COUNTRY DAY 29 (Watch out for Wilton in the D-V playoffs, right now they have the #2 seed)

Spencer Levin Reflects On Last Weekend's Debacle

2012-02-09T20:45:00.000-08:00

Last weekend Elk Grove's Spencer Levin blew a six-shot lead entering the final round of the PGA's Waste Management Phoenix Open. Today he talked to the media prior to teeing off in the first round of the A-T&T Pebble Beach National Pro Am on the Monterey Peninsula.

Basically, Levin admitted he rushed things in Sunday's disastrous round and didn't have fun. He said he now knows what to expect if he has the lead on the final day of any tournament.

Levin opened with a one-under-par 69 on the Monterey Peninsula Country Club's Shore Course. He's eight strokes behind the leaders.

Pope Brothers Lead Burbank To Big Season

2012-02-09T05:52:00.000-08:00

Sportswriting is just my hobby, my "other job." I am a journalism/digital media teacher at Luther Burbank High School. This year the Titans' basketball team is 18-6, but three losses have come at the hands of league opponents -Sac High (twice) and Valley (once). Though Burbank won't likely win the Metro Conference, they are a force to reckon with when the Section Division I playoffs start in a couple weeks.

Malik, Remle and Emmanuel Pope (Hector Amezcua)

Bill Patterson of the Sacramento Bee just wrote a great feature about the Pope trio, three brothers who are key parts of the Titans' success this season. Malik, the youngest (and the tallest) may be the "man" the next couple seasons for Burbank.

But, the two guys that I think will decide how deep the Titans will go this season will be Mitchell Love and Jay Stone. Watch these two young men in the next few weeks.

Tonight they play Rosemont, but next week are tough road games against McClatchy and Kennedy. Burbank needs solid performances then to build up momentum to get into the playoffs.

Wednesday's Results

2012-02-09T05:36:00.000-08:00

Boys' Basketball

JESUIT 57, PLEASANT GROVE 54 (U'u and Pressley each have 20 points for the Marauders)
SHELDON 64, OAK RIDGE 48 (Armani Hampton leads Sheldon with 15 points, avenging only DRL loss for the Huskies)
SAN JUAN 63, BRADSHAW CHRISTIAN 53 (Pride in danger of not making the playoffs)

Here's a link to the Boys' Basketball power ratings.

Wiggins Signs With 49ers

2012-02-07T20:18:00.000-08:00

Elk Grove grad Kenny Wiggins gets a second chance with the Niners

One of the nicest young men to ever play football here in Elk Grove, Kenny Wiggins, will get a second chance to make the roster of the San Francisco 49ers next season.

The 49ers announced last week they have signed Wiggins along with offensive guard Garrett Chisolm to Reserve/Future contracts.

Chisolm (6-6, 299) was originally signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent on 7/28/11, and later added to their practice squad on 9/4. Chisolm was later released by the Dolphins on 9/20. He also spent time on the Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens practice squads in 2011.

Wiggins (6-6, 314) was signed by the 49ers as an undrafted free agent on 7/27/11, and was later released following training camp. He was signed to the Baltimore Ravens practice squad on 11/28 and spent the remainder of the season with the unit.

Wiggins, a 23-year old native of Elk Grove, CA, appeared in 42 career games at Fresno State. As a Bulldog, he earned All-Western Athletic Conference first-team honors as a senior in 2010 and All-WAC second-team in 2009.

Levin, Leading By Six, Loses Phoenix Open By Two

2012-02-05T17:16:00.001-08:00

Sunday could have been the best day in the golfing career of Elk Grove’s Spencer Levin. Instead, it was probably the worst.

#16 at TPC-Scottsdale, site of the Phoenix Open

He went into the fourth and final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open with a big six-shot lead. But, Sunday when most of the leaders were scoring in red figures at the TPC-Scottsdale, Levin was going the other way.

He fired a four-over-par 76 and finished at 13-under-par, two strokes behind the winner, Kyle Stanley. Stanley, who won for the first time ever on the PGA Tour, was eight strokes back at the beginning of the round and fired a seven-under-par 65.

“I felt all right early, and I don't know, I just didn't have it, I guess,” Levin said in his post-round news conference. “I just maybe tried a little too hard. I don't think I felt real calm, I just I don't know, I just was looking ahead too much and maybe trying a little too hard, I guess.”

Levin’s real downfall came on the par-5 15^th. He pushed his tee shot right, it hit the cart path and bounced forward considerably, settling under a pair of cactus bushes.

Braving the prickly-situation, Levin bent down and using his putter knocked the ball towards the fairway. After his caddy pulled the small spikes out of his back and 208 yards from the green, Levin’s five iron shot was short and went into the water in front of the putting surface.

“I pushed it a little bit, but I guess I didn't hit enough club,” Levin said. “I thought the four iron would go over the green and the five iron didn't carry. So I don't know what happened, I just came out of it a little bit, I guess. But when that ball went in the water it was a complete shock to me.”

He two-putted for a double-bogey seven. He parred the next three holes while Stanley didn’t make a mistake the rest of the way. Levin ended up in third place, a stroke behind Ben Crane, and earned $414, 800.

He said the next time he’s got the lead in a tournament, he’s going to have a different mind-set, learning from what happened to him Sunday.

“I need to find a way to have a little more fun because it's a game, it's supposed to be fun,” Levin said. “When I'm playing well, it's fun, I'm joking around, laughing, everything is good. I've got to find a way to get in that mindset next time I'm in this situation for sure.”

Levin has a great opportunity to rebound this week at a course he’s familiar. Last season he finished fourth at the A-T&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and figures to be one of the favorites going into this week’s play.

Herd Grapplers Defeated In Section Duals' Semis

2012-02-04T17:24:00.000-08:00

For the first time in eight years, the Elk Grove wrestling squad did not finish either first or second in the Sac-Joaquin Section's Division I team dual championships. Saturday in Stockton the Herd were defeated by Delta River League-champions Folsom, 42-27, in the semi-final match.

Earlier in the day, Elk Grove defeated Merrill West, 59-12.

The Herd has been in the team dual championship match each season since 2004. They have won that title three times.

Vacaville won the team dual championship for the fifth year in a row by beating Folsom later Saturday afternoon, 47-19.

Cosumnes Oaks' wrestlers qualified for the Division IV dual meet, but were defeated in the opening round by Weston Ranch, 41-28. In Division VI Bradshaw Christian was defeated by Waterford, 77-6.

Del Oro won the Division II title, Rodriguez took Division III. Oakdale, perhaps the best wrestling squad in the Section, won D-IV. Ripon took Division V and Waterford won D-VI.

This weekend will be the league wrestling championships in which the four top grapplers in each weight class will advance to the Section's divisional tournament the following weekend.

Levin Leads Phoenix Open By Six Shots

2012-02-04T17:12:00.000-08:00

This is from PGA Tour. Com:

Spencer Levin certainly didn’t show any chinks in the armor on Saturday during the third round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Well, there was that one bogey when he hit his tee shot in the water at the 15th hole. But Levin countered with four birdies to offset that lone gaffe and lengthened his lead to six shots entering Sunday’s finale.

"I felt like I played solid," Levin said in understatement. "I felt like I was in control of my ball most of the day, and I’m pleased. Coming out there, I’ve never had a big lead like that starting the day, and I thought I played well. Overall I’m pleased about it."

Levin, who has never held a 54-hole lead on the PGA TOUR, will be looking for his first victory on Sunday. The 27-year-old Californian came close last year, losing on the first playoff hole to Johnson Wagner at the Mayakoba Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun.

Friday Night's Result

2012-02-04T07:24:00.000-08:00

It was a great night for high school sports. Lots of great games....Today (Saturday) I'll be Tweeting the results of the Section Wrestling Duals from Lincoln High School in Stockton. Follow me @EGCitizenJHull.

BOYS BASKETBALL

ELK GROVE 57, MONTEREY TRAIL 42
COSUMNES OAKS 69, VISTA DEL LAGO 41
FRANKLIN 64, GRANT 58
OAK RIDGE 55, FOLSOM 43
PLEASANT GROVE 67, PONDEROSA 60

DAVIS 104, LAGUNA CREEK 66

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/04/4238513/fridays-high-school-scoreboard.html#storylink=cpy

Thomas' Tip-In Gives Sheldon 71-70 Win

2012-02-03T22:26:00.000-08:00

Kyi Thomas' tip-in of a Armani Hampton shot at the buzzer gave Sheldon an exciting 71-70 home win over Delta River League rival Jesuit Friday night. In the video below, watch the final 2:35 of the game.

Thomas led Sheldon with 17 points, 11 of those in the fourth quarter. The Huskies trailed 65-58 with 3:38 remaining and battled back scoring 11 in a row before Brian Glodowski tipped in a missed shot with :25.2 left. After Sheldon's Dakarai Allen was called for holding the ball five seconds on an inbounds play, Bryce Pressley hit a three-pointer from the left corner to give Jesuit the lead back with :10.2 remaining.

Hampton, with no time outs left for the Huskies, quickly moved the ball up court, drove down the right side of the paint. His shot hit the back of the rim and bounced out where Thomas was underneath for the tip-in.

D'Erryl Williams added 13 points and Ryan Manning had 12 points. Hampton scored 11 for Sheldon.

Jesuit's Pressley led all scorers with 22 points. The Huskies are now 6-1 in the DRL and in first place by itself.

For more details on the game, read my story in next Tuesday's Elk Grove Citizen.

More LOI Interviews

2012-02-03T06:13:00.000-08:00

Kyi Thomas of Sheldon and Deon Ransom of Elk Grove are headed to Sacramento State this fall to play football for the Hornets. Going to Idaho are Sheldon defensive end Antonio Perez and Cosumnes Oaks quarterback Andrew Williams. And, hoping to be the placekicker/punter this fall at UC-Davis is Pleasant Grove's Marcus White.

Here are my interviews with these athletes after they signed their National Letters-of-Intent.

Morton Returns To LC

2012-02-03T05:48:00.001-08:00

The man who was Laguna Creek's first football coach, Dave Morton, has returned to the school to re-assume the post of the Cardinal's head man. Morton, who last coached in 1997, will replace Mark Nill, who resigned last fall but is still an English teacher at Laguna Creek.

Wednesday's Results

2012-02-02T05:54:00.000-08:00

Delta River League

SHELDON 71, FOLSOM 56 (Dakarai Allen scored 42 points)
PLEASANT GROVE 60, OAK RIDGE 52 (Eagles snap a two-game losing streak, four score in double figures)
JESUIT 64, PONDEROSA 26

Delta Valley Conference

ELK GROVE 72, LAGUNA CREEK 51 (Herd outscores the Cardinals 18-1 in the 2nd period)
FRANKLIN 70, MONTEREY TRAIL 31

Others

COSUMNES OAKS 64, EL DORADO 57 (Big win for the Wolfpack to stay in first place)

Girls -
BRADSHAW CHRISTIAN 42, RIO VISTA 16

Elk Grove Linemen Continue Herd Tradition

2012-02-02T05:45:00.000-08:00

Matt Kopa is playing in the Super Bowl with the New England Patriots. Kenny Wiggins' season is now over after spending part of the last NFL year on the practice squad with the Baltimore Ravens. Elk Grove High School has always had big, tough offensive linemen.

Wednesday three of those big guys - Steve Moore, Watson Tautuiaki and Josh Letuligasenoa - signed National Letters of Intent to play college football. Moore with Cal, Tautuiaki with Western Oregon and Letuligasenoa with Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo.

Listen to my interview with the trio above.

EG's Largest Letter-of-Intent Signing Ceremony, Ever

2012-02-01T21:30:00.000-08:00

There were 16 football players from four of the Elk Grove Unified High Schools who inked their National Letters of Intent to play collegiately Wednesday afternoon. Players from Elk Grove, Sheldon, Pleasant Grove and Cosumnes Oaks High Schools all signed their letters in one big ceremony at the Performing Arts Center at Cosumnes Oaks.

Here is the video of the signing complete with the introduction of each student/athlete:

We were told that Mark Jenkins, running back at PG, might ink with So. Oregon. Also, expected to sign soon are Franklin H.S. linebackers Jordan Owensby and Nathan DiDonato.

Henderson(s), Ziegenhirt Ready For 2012 Season

2012-02-01T05:31:00.000-08:00

(Editor's Note: In browsing the web this morning, I ran across the Cal Bears' softball site and the following feature was posted. It's about NCAA All-American pitcher Jolene Henderson and long-time friend Lindsey Ziegenhirt. Both were great players at Sheldon. The women's softball season is about to begin and this season they'll be joined by Jolene's sister Danielle. Watch out for the Bears this season. Another trip to the College World Series is waiting)

Junior pitcher Jolene Henderson and catcher Lindsey Ziegenhirt have many things in common with fellow pitchers and catchers across the country. Nonverbal communication cues, pitch signals and a familiarity that comes with throwing to the same person game after game. Henderson and Ziegenhirt have a leg - or an arm or two - up on the competition for they have been battery mates since they were seven-years-old.

Growing up in Elk Grove, the pair transitioned together from rec ball to the more prestigious American Softball Association teams, traveling all over the country, to prep teammates at Sheldon High School before coming to Cal. Once the two began the recruiting process, they knew they wanted to go to the same college. When Henderson verbally committed to joining the Golden Bears as a freshman, Ziegenhirt followed suit the next year.

Danielle Henderson,
a Cal Bear freshman

Two different national rankings made the choice an easy one for both Henderson and Ziegenhirt. Cal's ranking as the No. 1 public institution would guarantee both top-notch academics and a degree that would ensure success after their college days came to a close. The Golden Bears' perennial top-10 ranking on the softball field meant they would be joining an established powerhouse that makes a run in the postseason each year and plays in the Pac-10, which is easily the preeminent conference for collegiate softball. Both felt at home in serene Strawberry Canyon when they attended youth camps at Levine-Fricke Field as well as on their official recruiting trips.

"What I liked most was the family atmosphere of the team, and the coaches genuinely care about us in all aspects of our lives and not just about winning softball," Ziegenhirt said of head coach Diane Ninemire and her assistants. "The girls had a really great family connection besides just being teammates on the field."

With all of the things that make the Cal program attractive to recruits across the board, there was also one important factor involved. Ninemire welcomed Henderson and Ziegenhirt with open arms.

"I wanted her catching me through college because we have a really good trust relationship on the field," Henderson noted. "Throwing to Lindsey is second nature now; we just know what we need to do. We don't have to say things, we'll use looks. She'll do something to encourage me or tell me to pick it up, or she'll walk out and tell a joke to bring it all together and help me relax, take some of the pressure off."

That great pitcher-catcher relationship almost never was. When Henderson tells of the days when she was still learning the rudimentary skills of the game, she is quick to point out that as a novice player she was nowhere near as skilled as she is today.

"I was terrible," Henderson said. "I wanted to quit, but my parents made me keep going with it. I would sit down in the outfield and play with the flowers, so they moved me to infield. I threw really hard. I would hit the max people and over the backstop sometimes so because of me, they made up a rule if you hit five people, you were taken out of the game."

As Henderson grew, so did her skill set. She warmed the bench during her first years of ASA ball but gradually started earning her way into the line-up until it all came together. Things work the same way now for the righty as they did then.

"I do everything and one day it clicks; I have to feel it," Henderson said.

Once she started feeling it, the pieces came together and she began working with a pitching coach. From there, Henderson was an 11-year-old playing with a 14 and under team and then a 14 year-old-old playing with the 18 and unders.

Together, Henderson and Ziegenhirt took their 16U team - the Lady Magic - to a national title. At Sheldon High School, they won sections their sophomore and junior year and were runners-up in their freshman and senior seasons. The pair took SHS to national prominence for the Huskies garnered No. 1 rankings not just in the Sacramento region but in the nation.

Family played a role for both Henderson and Ziegenhirt staying with softball as their sport. Henderson's father, Joe, coached her for years and her younger sister, Danielle, was Jolene's teammate on multiple teams, as well, and has joined Jolene and Lindsey in Berkeley this year.

For Ziegenhirt, there has always been one constant - her mother, Laura, who served as a coach for the majority of Lindsey's pre-Cal days. Once Ziegenhirt moved onto the Pac-10 and Berkeley - 90 miles west of Elk Grove, Calif. - Laura was no longer in the dugout, but to Lindsey, things did not change too much.

"I always had my mom - rec league, ASA and high school," Ziegenhirt said. "But she comes to all the games. We debrief about the games sometimes a couple days later. I don't miss it too much because she's there anyway."

Between Lindsey's mother and Jolene's family attending the multiple tournaments and making road trips, the familial entourage helped smooth the transition to college life for the two. If you did not know they were freshmen last year, you would not expect it.

During their freshman campaign, Ziegenhirt caught every single game - all 63 - and Henderson landed on the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I All-Region first team, the All-Pac-10 second team and the Pac-10 All-Freshman team. Ziegenhirt was an All-Pac-10 honorable mention and named to the All-Freshman Team after she was second on the squad with 15 homers, 58 RBI, .562 slugging percentage, 13 doubles and 109 bases.

"We're fortunate to have a catcher of Lindsey's caliber," Ninemire said. "She provides great leadership with her catching skills and brings a big bat with her."

Henderson and Ziegenhirt matched their first-year outing with an exceptional sophomore season in 2011. Henderson pitched more than 85 percent of Cal's innings, posting a 0.99 ERA and leading the nation with 40 wins.

"I think that Jolene had a tremendous performance last year," Ninemire said. "She gave everything she had. I'm just so proud of her effort, tenacity and grit."

Ziegenhirt slugged .400 with 33 RBI and eight homers all the while producing a .997 fielding percentage.

"Lindsey did a great job last year with most of the catching duties falling on her shoulders," Ninemire said. "She did a great job running the infield and managing our pitchers last year."

Without Henderson and Ziegenhirt's prowess, there is no way the Bears would have advanced to Oklahoma City in 2011, which was the first time since 2005 that the Cal squad played in the Women's College World Series.

For their junior campaign, there is no question what the pair wants: a return ticket to the Women's College World Series. Ziegenhirt's powerful bat and confident direction behind the plate combined with Henderson's leadership and experience in the circle pack a one-two punch that will help the Bears on the base paths to Oklahoma City this season.

Eighteen To Ink Letters Wednesday

2012-01-31T16:08:00.000-08:00

This may be the largest number of football players from the City of Elk Grove to ink national letters-of-intent. On Wednesday, 18 will be on the large stage of the Performing Arts Center on the campus of Cosumnes Oaks High School to make official which college they'll attend, and hopefully, continue their football careers.

On Tuesday, EGUSD athletic director Jim Smrekar said Mark Jenkins, the three-year-starting tailback at Pleasant Grove will sign his letter to attend Southern Oregon University.
This past season he weathered through a bad ankle to gain 1,785 yards and score 34 touchdowns. In his junior season, Jenkins had 2,739 yards and scored 41 TD's.

He'll join teammates Desmond Lewis and D.J. Dunn at the ceremony. Both of those young men will attend the Air Force Academy. It's unknown whether five-star recruit Arik Armstead will also be there. He attracted the big media show Sunday in announcing he'll ink with Oregon.

Eagle placekicker/punter Marcus White decided last week he'll commit to UC-Davis.

Franklin players Nathan DiDonato and Jordan Owensby have decided to both sign with Western Oregon University on Wednesday. Both were outstanding linebackers for the Wildcats last season. It's unknown where Jordan's twin brother Blake will attend college. We may find out Wednesday.

Elk Grove has three players signing - Steven Moore with Cal, Deon Ransom with Sacramento State and Josh Letuligasenoa with Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. There's four Wolfpack teammates inking, too. They are Marcus Rios with UCLA, Andrew Williams with Idaho, Michael Thomas with UNLV and Ledontre Gooden with Southern Oregon.

Sheldon will be well represented by Nate Iese, an UCLA commit, Kyi Thomas, heading to Sacramento State and Antonio Perez to Idaho.

The flashbulbs will be going off in big numbers Wednesday afternoon.

EG Rugby Team Wins Championship

2012-01-30T17:45:00.000-08:00

The Elk Grove United Youth Rugby Club won the Varsity Silver Division Championship on Sunday in The Kick Off Tournament (http://svrf.org/kot.html) at Cordova High School in Rancho Cordova. The tournament is the largest youth rugby tournament in the country. This year over 125 teams competed. Teams were represented from across Northern California and even Oregon and Calgary, Alberta.

Elk Grove United defeated Diablo Youth Rugby Club from Walnut Creek, 18-7, in the first game. They tied Lancer Youth Rugby Club from Rancho Cordova, 5-5, but moved on because of tie-breaker criteria. In the finals EG defeated the Sacramento Eagles Youth Rugby club 14-0.

Elk Grove (in yellow) playing last weekend in Rancho Cordova

Elk Grove United Youth Rugby Club is made up of players from Elk Grove area high schools. We are looking for more players. Practices are Monday and Friday evenings. League games are on Friday evenings. The first league game is this Friday, Feb. 3rd. More information can be found at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elk-Grove-United-Rugby-Club/136716993047006

Big Signing Party Weds. In Elk Grove

2012-01-30T05:25:00.000-08:00

Arik Armstead doesn’t attend Pleasant Grove High School any longer. The big defensive lineman had enough credits to graduate in December. That offered him more time to take a few more college visits, talk to prospective coaches and think about where he’d like to play football the next four or five years.

Sunday, after much anticipation, he officially announced he is going to sign a National Letter of Intent to play football and basketball at Oregon. Though he spent a few weeks in December to play hoops for Pleasant Grove, the 6-8, 285-pounder expressed his desire to play both sports in college.

The Ducks, apparently, is open to the idea.

Armstead officially announced his intentions Sunday at the House Christian Church in Sacramento before a crowd of family, friends and teammates.

Whether he’ll officially sign his Letter-of-Intent on Feb. 1 with all the other Elk Grove Unified School District student/athletes is unknown. The District is planning on gathering all EGUSD football signees Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Cosumnes Oaks High School. Here’s a list of the expected signings that will happen at that time (by school):

Pleasant Grove -

Marcus White - UC-Davis

Desmond Lewis - Air Force Academy

D.J. Dunn - Air Force Academy
Sheldon -

Nate Iese - UCLA

Antonio Perez - Idaho

Kyi Thomas - Sacramento State

Elk Grove -

Steven Moore - Cal

Deon Ransom - Sacramento State

Josh Letuligasenoa - Cal Poly/San Luis Obispo

Cosumnes Oaks -

Marcus Rios - UCLA

Michael Thomas - UNLV

Andrew Williams – Idaho

Friday's Results/DVC, DRL Standings

2012-01-29T07:22:00.000-08:00

Lots of great action Friday night around EG:

Boys' Basketball -

COSUMNES OAKS 52, RIVER CITY 49
LAGUNA CREEK 75, FRANKLIN 66 (Ogalue comes up big with 34 points for the Cardinals in what may be considered an upset win for LC. Theo Johnson scored a career-high 37 for the Wildcats)
MONTEREY TRAIL 67, GRANT 51 (Watch out for the Mustangs ... they are making a run to a playoff spot)

Girls' Basketball -
FRANKLIN 50, LAGUNA CREEK 28
BRADSHAW CHRISTIAN 41, HIGHLANDS 37 (Ashlee Jones had 22 points)
DAVIS 49, ELK GROVE 45 (Carlee Gray had 17 points)
GRANT 52, MONTEREY TRAIL 44 (this is a bit of an upset)
PLEASANT GROVE 64, SHELDON 44 (James scored 22)
STANDINGS:

Delta River League Boys (compliments of MaxPreps)

Team Name	*W-L-T	*Pct.	W-L-T	Pct.	PF	PA	Strk
Jesuit	4-1-0	0.800	18-4-0	0.818	1509	1174	4 W
Sheldon	4-1-0	0.800	16-4-0	0.800	1271	1083	1 W
Pleasant Grove	3-2-0	0.600	18-3-0	0.857	1344	1161	2 L
Oak Ridge	3-2-0	0.600	13-8-0	0.619	1233	1097	2 W
Folsom	1-4-0	0.200	11-11-0	0.500	1240	1181	1 L
Ponderosa	0-5-0	0.000	8-13-0	0.381	1173	1230	6 L

Delta River League (girls)

Delta Valley Conference (boys)

Team Name	*W-L-T	*Pct.	W-L-T	Pct.	PF	PA	Strk
Pleasant Grove	5-0-0	1.000	14-7-0	0.667	1210	1038	1 L
Oak Ridge	4-1-0	0.800	17-5-0	0.773	1158	971	6 W
St. Francis	3-2-0	0.600	12-9-0	0.571	1127	1001	2 W
Sheldon	2-3-0	0.400	14-7-0	0.667	1110	906	2 L
Ponderosa	1-4-0	0.200	6-16-0	0.273	976	1184	1 L
Folsom	0-5-0	0.000	7-15-0	0.318	994	1027	9 L

Delta Valley Conference (girls)

Team Name	*W-L-T	*Pct.	W-L-T	Pct.	PF	PA	Strk
Monterey Trail	4-1-0	0.800	17-5-0	0.773	1193	950	1 L
Grant	4-1-0	0.800	14-8-0	0.636	1208	1024	1 W
Franklin	3-2-0	0.600	10-11-0	0.476	945	936	3 W
Laguna Creek	2-3-0	0.400	7-12-0	0.368	889	899	3 L
Elk Grove	1-4-0	0.200	10-12-0	0.455	1009	971	1 L
Davis	1-4-0	0.200	8-12-0	0.400	927	952	1 W

Team Name	*W-L-T	*Pct.	W-L-T	Pct.	PF	PA	Strk
Franklin	4-1-0	0.800	16-5-0	0.762	1372	1235	1 L
Laguna Creek	3-2-0	0.600	10-11-0	0.476	1318	1339	2 W
Davis	2-3-0	0.400	11-10-0	0.524	1727	1627	1 W
Grant	2-3-0	0.400	10-12-0	0.455	1321	1336	2 L
Elk Grove	2-3-0	0.400	8-11-0	0.421	1012	1035	1 L
Monterey Trail	2-3-0	0.400	6-16-0	0.273	1062	1229	1 W

Levin Shoots One-Over-Par, Now 13 Back

2012-01-29T07:06:00.000-08:00

Kyle Stanley is threatening to run away with the PGA Tour's Farmers' Insurance Open at LaJolla. He's got a big lead at 18-under-par after three rounds. Elk Grove golfer Spencer Levin was tied with him after both pro golfers fired a 10-under-par 62 on Torrey Pines' North Course Thursday. But, now playing the past two rounds on the South Course, Stanley has kept up the fiery pace - Levin hasn't.

He shot a four-over-par 76 Friday and a one-over-par 73 Saturday to drop into a tie for 44th. Sunday's final round will be televised on CBS.

http://www.pgatour.com/video/r/highlights/round_recap/2012/01/28/highs12farmersrnd3pgatourmpg-1981128/index.html

Sheldon's 4th Quarter Splurge Buries Eagles

2012-01-27T23:02:00.000-08:00

Sheldon went on a 19-0 run in the fourth quarter of its Delta River League game against Pleasant Grove and defeated the Eagles, 74-57. D'Erryl Williams scored 20 points while Dakarai Allen added 18 as the Huskies' athleticism and speed was the difference. The win put the Huskies back atop the DRL with a 4-1 record. They dropped a disappointing 37-35 decision at Oak Ridge on Wednesday.

The referees called a tight game throughout and the Eagles (3-2 DRL, 16-3 overall) got in foul trouble early. Starter Colfax Nordquist fouled out in the third quarter and Cody Demps picked up his fifth foul in the fourth. Pleasant Grove coach John DePonte said that was the difference for them, plus let the referees have it not only in the final period, but also after the game. He talked about that with me in the locker room on the podcast below.

DePonte also comments how Arik Armstead's indecision on his future as a college football/basketball player has affected the team.

Here is the podcast with my interviews of Kyi Thomas, who had a strong second half and ended up 11 points, Ryan Manning, who scored 12 points, all in the first half and Sheldon coach Joey Rollings.

Levin Stumbles In PGA Tour's Farmers' Open Second Round

2012-01-27T17:29:00.000-08:00

Spencer Levin

After a blazing opening-day 10-under, 62, Elk Grove's Spencer Levin plundered around the Torrey Pines Golf Club Friday, shooting a four-over-par 76 and is now in 20th place after two rounds of the Farmers' Insurance Open in LaJolla. He's now eight strokes behind co-first round leader Kyle Stanley.

Here's the PGA Tour's Doug Milne and his interview with Levin right after Thursday's 62, including a 29 on the front nine:

Q. Can you just take us through the 29? How many times have you shot a 29 in your career?

SPENCER LEVIN: I don't know if I ever have on TOUR. Maybe a couple times messing around at home or something. But it's weird, because I didn't really think about it when I was out there. Just people talk about getting in the zone. I never even know what that means, and I guess when guys do it, they don't even know they're doing it.

Maybe that's why I shot that because I just kept trying to hit every shot as good as I could, and I just had a good rhythm going. My mind was pretty clear, and it just worked out good. I played really well on that back nine.

Q. Could you describe a couple of your best shots or best holes?

SPENCER LEVIN: Yeah. On 10 I made a nice putt from probably about 15 feet. Then on 11, I almost made a 5-iron, and made about a 4-footer for birdie. 12, I made a good up-and-down. That hole was playing a long par-3, made a good up-and-down there.

But 13 through 18 I made it close on every hole. I hit it three feet on 13, two putted from about ten feet on 14, hit it 8 feet on 15, 8 feet on 16, 8 feet on 17, then I two putted for birdie from about 12 feet on 18. So I had good looks and was putting well, so it kind of added up.

Q. So it was easy?

SPENCER LEVIN: I don't know about that. Easier than most days, there you go.

Q. Would you say that earlier in your career you were pretty hard on yourself? You seem like a person who kind of carries yourself as being upset a lot of the time. Has your demeanor changed? Has your attitude changed? Do you think things are different for you now?

SPENCER LEVIN: A little bit, I would say. I don't think I get -- I still get frustrated. Don't get me wrong. I think everybody does to an extent, but I'm not showing it quite as much.

I mean, I still do. I still get upset, and might show a little emotion. But all in all, I think it's changed a little bit but not totally drastic to where I'm just robotic and don't show any emotion. I still show emotion. It was just easy today not to because I was playing so well.

So I think that's probably why I looked like I was-- any time you shoot 62 I don't think you're getting too mad.

Q. Last week a couple guys from Palm Springs actually talked about thinking they were going to shoot in the 50s. Three weeks into the season there have been so many 61s, 62s everywhere. Aside from the fact that you guys are as good as you are, is something happening that we're not aware of? Is there some kind of a mental obstacle being broken here and you guys are thinking you can shoot 61, 62 every week?

SPENCER LEVIN: I don't know. That's a good question. But out of the 100-I don't know how many tee up every week 144. Every single guy if they're playing well can shoot any kind of score. The level of talent out here is so good.

I've noticed in tournaments last year I'm up by the leader, kind of contending for a tournament. No matter how well you're playing, I guarantee you there is going to be another guy shooting just as low or being right there with you.

I just think it has to do with the talent on this TOUR. You can look up-and-down on any TOUR in the world right now, and there's a bunch of guy that's can shoot really low. Guys you might not have ever heard of that are hell of players. So I think it's just the fact that the talent level is getting better, and better, and better. I think you'll continue to see golfers get better in the next 10, 20 years as well.

Levin Fires 62 At Farmers' Insurance Open

2012-01-27T06:49:00.000-08:00

Watch out for Elk Grove's Spencer Levin!

He fired a 10-under-par 62 in the first round of the Farmers' Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Golf Club in LaJolla Thursday.

Spence has never won a PGA Tour event, but has finished second once. He's now in his fourth season on the Tour.

"I had some putts for birdies instead of pars, and kind of added up to a good score," Levin said in his post-round news conference.

Rounds three and four will be televised this weekend on CBS.

Thursday's Results

2012-01-27T06:10:00.000-08:00

Girls' Basketball

WILTON CHRISTIAN 57, SACRAMENTO ADVENTIST 26

**Tonight (Friday) I am covering the big DRL game between the Sheldon boys and Pleasant Grove. I'll have the results later tonight right here ....

Wrestling

Franklin sophomore Joey Banks won the 170 pound championship at a tournament at Morro Bay last weekend.

His overall record is 18-2.

Sheldon, Pleasant Grove BOTH Upset

2012-01-26T05:57:00.000-08:00

In the tough Delta River League, it was a night of upsets for the two Elk Grove clubs were defeated.

Oak Ridge played a slow-down, defensive game to beat Sheldon, 39-35. Jesuit was unbeatable in defeating Pleasant Grove, 75-57.

The Eagles and Huskies play each other Friday in a game that means one club will have two league losses by the weekend. Wednesday's losses were the first in the DRL for both PG and Sheldon.

Other scores:

FRANKLIN 98, DAVIS 79 (Davis likes to run-and-gun. Franklin showed they, too, can score at will)
LAGUNA CREEK 69, MONTEREY TRAIL 55
ELK GROVE 54, GRANT 42 (another nice win for the Herd. Jason Williams scored 20)

Girls' Basketball
BRADSHAW CHRISTIAN 50, GOLDEN SIERRA 45
COSUMNES OAKS 46, UNION MINE 35

Elk Grove Grapplers Shut Out Grant

2012-01-25T21:36:00.000-08:00

Hard to believe a school with such a great football tradition can't field an entire wrestling team. But, that's Grant Union High School.

Wednesday night the always-solid Elk Grove mat men easily won its Delta Valley Conference dual match against the Pacers, 84-0. Here are the match-by-match results, compliments of my friend Lon Pray:

106 Forfeit

113 Forfeit

120 Larrabee win by pin over Bailey

126 Hallberg win by pin over Weatherford

132 Ramirez win by pin over Herbert

138 Bettencourt win by pin over Deamond

145 Forfeit

152 Walters win by pin over Sanchez

160 Porter win by pin over Walker

170 Votino win by pin over Vue

182 Forfeit

197 Forfeit

220 Forfeit

285 Forfeit

Elk Grove hasn't lost a Delta League/Delta Valley Conference dual meet in ten years.

Lewis Wins USA Taekwondo Title

2012-01-25T16:06:00.000-08:00

Cheyenne Lewis

Cheyenne Lewis, a sophomore at Franklin High School, took first place in the female featherweight division at the USA Taekwondo Junior World Championships Open Team Trials held at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Jan. 14-15.

She will now be a part of the 20-member U.S. Junior World Team that will compete at the 9^th World Junior Taekwondo Championships in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, April 4-8.

Lewis, who won a gold medal at the 2012 World Junior Championships, trains at Givans Taekwondo Academy in Antioch, Calif.

FC Elk Grove Wolves Win Boys' Association Cup

2012-01-25T15:59:00.000-08:00

Mason Breipohl #5- (Kerr Middle School), Brent Burkhart #21- (Albiani Middle School), Bro Corosu #15- (Pleasant Grove High School), Andrew DeAnda #14- (Country Day Middle School)

Kyle Ducay #24- (Pleasant Grove High School), Clay Duval #7- (Albiani Middle School), Adam Herrera #8 - (Toby Johnson Middle School), Kyle Hikido #12 - (Toby Johnson Middle School)

Stevie James #9 - (Kerr Middle School), Jamil Koroma #3 - (Albiani Middle School), Justin Lopez #2 - (Heritage Peak Charter) Joseph Restani #17 - (Albiani Middle School)

Christian Scott #22- (Kerr Middle School), Patrick Stahl #11 - (Pinkerton Middle School), Josh Urps #10 - (Albiani Middle School), Bradley Wangsgard #4 - (Kerr Middle School)

Coaches are Jon Restani, Mike Deanda and Brian Wangsgard.

Got this email from Wolves' coach Jon Restani:

The FC Elk Grove Wolves U14 boys soccer team represents the best competitive seasonal team (D3) from the Elk Grove boundaries. They competed in District 6 of the CYSA-Cal Soccer League (CCSL), a new state wide playing league.

The Wolves won the District Cup "cup challenge bracket" in December 2011. This is the highest bracket for seasonal teams and their name will be engraved on the District VI Cup that is passed on every year. They dominated the tournament with Victories over Grass Valley, Eureka, and Loomis in the pool play. They finished with a 4-1 win over Folsom in the championship held at Bartholomew Sports Park in Elk Grove (The Wolves had also won the district cup in 2009 as a U12 team and were the first Elk Grove team ever to be engraved on that perpetual cup dating back to 1982).

During the course of the year the Wolves participated in three tournaments placing 2nd in the Elk Grove Sunstroke and Marysville Pumpkin kick, and finishing 1st in the El Dorado Hills Shoot out. The had a record of 10-2 in those three tournaments.

The Wolves finished the season by winning the CYSA Association Cup. The tournament cup first round was held in Morgan Hill. The Wolves advanced with a wins over the Manteca Rangers and Petaluma Express. The Elite 8 and Final 4 rounds were played back in Elk Grove where the Wolves felt right at home wins against the El Dorado Hills Blue Devils and Loomis Forza. The final was also played at Bartholomew on Saturday, January 21st. The Wolves finished the season in attack style by defeating the Rocklin Rage 3-0 and claiming the coveted Association Cup.

The wolves team is represented by 7th, 8th, and 9th graders from the Elk Grove School District.

FC Elk Grove Edge Wins Association Cup

2012-01-25T15:50:00.000-08:00

The FC Elk Grove Edge
Front Row- Katrina Vina, Taylor Marti, Jessey Santos, Mackenzie Lusich,
Skylar Houze, Nae'Lani O'Neil, Taylor Chaplin, Anne Engilis Back Row-
Kacey McCarley, Sophia Ugarkovich, Sarah Brown, Maddie Gruver, Simone
Walker, Ashlee Kaiser, Sami Skinner, Ashtyn Butler

The FC Elk Grove Edge won their third straight Northern California
Championship by winning the Association Cup last Sunday, beating the
Butte Intensity 1-0 in a thrilling overtime victory. The Edge played six
games over the last three weekends going 5-0-1 on their way to the
title.

The tournament began in the first weekend in January with three games in
pool play. The Edge played a tough Manteca Rangers team to a 0-0 tie on
Saturday morning. Saturday afternoon the Edge took on the Clovis
Crossfire and were staked to a 1-0 halftime lead on a goal from distance
from Ashlee Kaiser. The Edge pulled away in the second half getting
goals from Sarah Brown, Maddie Gruver and Jessey Santos. The Manteca
team matched the Edge's results with a 4-0 win of their own leaving both
teams in a dead tie with one game left in pool play.

The Edge came out Sunday on fire scoring 6 goals in the first half
against San Francisco Athena Black on their way to a 7-0 victory. The
Edge received two goals each from Sarah Brown and Katrina Vina and one
goal from Anne Engilis, Simone Walker, and Nae'Lani O'Neil. Manteca won
their final game 2-1 but the tiebreaker went to the Edge sending them
into a quarterfinal match versus the Kingsburg Extreme.

The Edge battled to a scoreless first half with the Extreme goalie
turning away the Edge with one great save after another. The Edge
finally broke through midway through the second half with a goal from
Gruver and she finished the scoring a few minutes later with her second
goal of the game. The Edge controlled the middle of the field with great
play from Sophie Ugarkovich, Santos and Engilis.

Next up was a second team from the Clovis Crossfire club. The Edge
struck first with a goal late in the half from Walker giving the Edge a
1-0 lead at the break. Gruver scored a goal in the second half giving
the Edge a 2-0 victory and sending them into the finals against the
Butte United Intensity.

The Edge defense was stellar the whole tournament led by Skylar Houze,
Sami Skinner, Taylor Marti, Kacey McCarley, Taylor Chaplin, Kaiser, and
O'Neil.

In the championship game the Edge and the Intensity battled to a
scoreless draw for 70 minutes sending the game into sudden death
overtime. The Edge almost won the game late in regulation when Ashtyn
Butler fired a shot from just outside the box that looked like it was
going in, but was pushed over the top of the bar by the Intensity
goalie.

The first 10 minute overtime period was scoreless and the teams switched
halves for the final 10 minute period. If no goal was scored in the
final period, the championship would be decided by penalty kicks. The
referee announced there was only 30 seconds left when the Edge played a
ball into the penalty area and with the Intensity goalie charging out to
clear the ball, Gruver hustled in from her left wing spot and blocked
the goalies clearance deflecting it into the goal and giving the Edge a
1-0 victory.

Edge goalie, Mackenzie Lusich, posted six straight shutouts on the
team's march to the title.

Tuesday's Results

2012-01-25T06:20:00.000-08:00

Boys' Basketball
UNION MINE 60, COSUMNES OAKS 55 (Wolfpack is outscored 22-12 in the 4th quarter)
CAPTIAL CHRISTIAN 76, MESA VERDE 30 (Former EG player Tre Belton had 13, former Franklin player Ike Iroegbu had five points)

Girls' Basketball
FRANKLIN 51, DAVIS 38 (Wildcats now 2-2 in the DVC)
PLEASANT GROVE 68, ST. FRANCIS 56 (Lady Eagles are on a roll now)
ELK GROVE 43, GRANT 42 (Lady Herd escape with much needed win)
Oak Ridge 63, Sheldon 56
Monterey Trail/Laguna Creek (no report)

White Commits to UC-Davis; Armstead, Who Knows?

2012-01-24T15:42:00.000-08:00

One of the nicest young men you'd ever want to meet has one of the strongest kicking legs to ever come from an Elk Grove-area high school. Pleasant Grove High School placekicker/punter Marcus White emailed the Citizen to announce he will sign a National Letter-of-Intent to play for Coach Bob Biggs at UC-Davis, the same school where his father played.

PG's Marcus White signing with the Aggies

"I am excited to work with Coach Biggs for one year before he retires as he was my dad's position coach when he played for UC Davis back in the early 80's," White wrote.

White averaged more than 41 yards a punt last season for the Sac-Joaquin Section runner-ups and scored 107 points on 95 PAT's and four field goals.

All Elk Grove-area football players will officially sign their letters next Weds., Feb. 1 at 4:30 p.m. at the Trigg Building. The big question right now is where White's big teammate, lineman Arik Armstead will play his college football.

He has told Joe Davidson at the Bee that he is going to host in-home meetings with schools such as Cal, Auburn, Alabama, USC and Notre Dame. Plus, according to Davidson, Armstead will make his decision official on Feb. 1.

That could mean that the 6-8, 285-pounder could be the star of the show at the Trigg Building that afternoon. With White's commitment, I count 12 EGUSD student/athletes that will sign their LOI that afternoon.

Those who have announced their college intentions are (by school):

Pleasant Grove -
White - UC-Davis
Desmond Lewis - Air Force Academy
Armstead - ?
Sheldon -
Nate Iese - UCLA
Antonio Perez - Idaho
Kyi Thomas - Sacramento State
Elk Grove -
Steven Moore - Cal
Deon Ransom - Sacramento State
Josh Letuligasenoa - Cal Poly/San Luis Obispo
Cosumnes Oaks -
Marcus Rios - UCLA
Michael Thomas - UNLV
Andrew Williams - Idaho

And, there could be more by then. PG's running back Mark Jenkins hasn't been heard from. Same thing from teammate D.J. Dunn.

It could be a crowded board room at the Trigg Building next Weds.

Spaulding To Drive In Big Race In Arizona

2012-01-24T15:20:00.000-08:00

Kiel Spaulding

TUCSON, Ariz. —Fifteen-year-old Kiel Spaulding of Elk Grove will drive for Phil Giebler Racing in the opening round of the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas Friday through Sunday (Jan. 27-29) at the Musselman Honda Circuit of Kart Racing.

It will be the initial event for Spaulding with Giebler’s team. Spaulding finished fourth in the Rotax Grand Nationals to qualify for the world championship Grand Finals last November at the Al Anin Circuit in the United Arab Emirates. Spaulding was the youngest driver in the Senior division and finished 29^th in the feature.

“My expectations for this event are like every event I show up, to finish first,” Spaulding said. “The Rotax Worlds last year made me a 100 percent better driver and I feel I can apply all that I learned here in America. I’ve raced against Phil or Phil’s team for a long team and they seem to run a very nice program.”

Spaulding was runner-up in the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas in the Junior division in 2010 with two wins.

The Gatorz Challenge of the Americas is a three-round, six-event competition that is part of the path to qualifying for the Grand Finals in Kart Racing.

Owned by the 2007 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year, Phil Giebler Racing is based in Orange, Calif., and competes nationally at the highest level of karting in the United States.

Results From Tim Brown Wrestling Tournament

2012-01-22T21:30:00.000-08:00

Folsom’s wrestling team grabbed the team title last weekend at the Tim Brown Memorial Wrestling Tournament held at Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento. Elk Grove was the only local team to finish in the top ten. They were fifth.

Full Brackets Of Tim Brown Tournament

Folsom’s Connor Pollock won the 126-pound title and six other Bulldog wrestlers placed in the big event. Elk Grove was led by 170-pounder Scott Votino, who won his weight classification. Josh Letuligasenoa was fourth at 220 pounds. Heavyweight Watson Tautuiaki placed seventh.

Oak Ridge wrestler Keaton Subjeck won the title at 160 pounds. Sheldon’s top finisher was heavyweight Sam Alnassiri who was sixth.

Cosumnes Oaks, Laguna Creek, Monterey Trail and Pleasant Grove also entered wrestlers in the Brown Tournament.

Elk Grove's Scott Votino, who placed first at 170 pounds (Dave Clarke, photo)

Elk Grove also sent wrestlers to an event in Albany last weekend and placed eighth in the team standings. Jaharee Taylor won the heavyweight division while Sunny Jackson was second in his weight group and Kaleb Vetterli finished fourth.

The California Wrestler website ranks Elk Grove 18^th in the state. Folsom is ranked 15^th and Vacaville fifth. Individually, the Herd's Martin Ramirez is now the third-ranked 132-pounder. Letuligasenoa is now ranked #6 at 220.

Friday's Results

2012-01-21T07:11:00.000-08:00

Boys' Basketball

Delta Valley Conference

MONTEREY TRAIL 64, DAVIS 61 (big win for the Mustangs. Davis had been averaging more than 80 points a game)

FRANKLIN 65, ELK GROVE 59 (Theo Johnson had 21 for the Wildcats. Good showing by the Herd against a very good Franklin team)

GRANT 61, LAGUNA CREEK 53 (21 points for the Cardinals' Ogalue)

Delta River League

PLEASANT GROVE 58, FOLSOM 56 (Hayes 19 points and Thames 15 in a surprisingly close game in Folsom)

SHELDON 88, PONDEROSA 67 (Dakarai Allen had 24 points)

JESUIT 61, OAK RIDGE 43

Girls' Basketball

Delta Valley Conference

FRANKLIN 53, ELK GROVE 29 (see my earlier post)

MONTEREY TRAIL 55, DAVIS 47

Delta River League

PLEASANT GROVE 71, FOLSOM 44

SHELDON 67, PONDEROSA 43 (Burgos scored 24. See Jon Gudel's feature on her in Friday's Citizen)

OAK RIDGE 47, ST. FRANCIS 41 (OT)

Other scores: BRADSHAW CHRISTIAN 51, VACAVILLE CHRISTIAN 44

Podcast - Carlee Gray

2012-01-21T06:43:00.000-08:00

Elk Grove High School's girls basketball team won only five games all of last year. They are much improved this season thanks to the steady play of senior Carlee Gray.

I talked to her following Friday's loss to Franklin where she was "held" to 13 points, four under her season average, about the team and how the season has gone thus far.

I opened our conversation with a reference to George Washington University where she has already signed a national letter-of-intent to play softball next season. Click on the arrow above to listen to our podcast.

Franklin Defense Stunts Elk Grove Shooting

2012-01-20T21:50:00.000-08:00

It may have been good defense or it may have been bad shooting, but whatever it was Franklin’s girls basketball team won its first Delta Valley Conference game of the year by defeating Elk Grove, 53-29, Friday night at the Wildcats’ gym.

In winning its eighth game overall the Wildcats (8-11, 1-2 DVC) managed to hold the conference’s leading scorer Carlee Gray to 13 points, five under her season average.

“We didn’t do a good job in the first half of keeping the ball out of her hands,” Franklin head coach Kay Parsons said. “But we did in the second half because she scored only one point.”

Gray made only two field goals in the game but made frequent trips to the free throw line where she was nine-of-15. The problem, though, was that the rest of the Elk Grove (9-11, 0-3 DVC) team really had a tough night shooting. They were just two-of-15 from the floor in the first half and ended six-for-28, 21 percent.

“The other players just weren’t looking for their own (shots),” Elk Grove coach Amanda Buck said. “We were so one-minded in trying to get the ball to Carlee, but they need to start looking for their own opportunities.”

Franklin built a 22-12 halftime lead and had its own trouble sinking the basketball in the second half, but behind a pair of key three pointers by Ashley Materelli and the offensive rebounding and put-backs by Lindsey Bedford, they built a 23-point lead, 42-19 by the end of the third quarter.

Franklin was led by Materelli and Ruky Yusufu who had 11 points apiece. Madison Wheeler had eight, Sandy Perez seven and Bedford, six points.

Notes:

Parsons says she’s still frustrated with her team’s shooting.

“We are getting plenty of good looks,” she said. “We had 71 shots at Grant but lost by eight. We just need the shots to start dropping.”

Friday the Wildcats finished strong and made 36 percent of their shots including five-for-11 from outside the arc.

The Wildcats lost a heart-breaker on Monday to Brookside Christian, one of the top small-school teams in the Sac-Joaquin Section. Parsons said they were tied with them with a minute to go, but lost just 64-61. Brookside has only lost twice this season, to Sacramento and to Pleasant Grove.

Buck Martinez To Speak Feb.11

2012-01-20T12:26:00.000-08:00

Probably the most accomplished baseball player ever to come out of Elk Grove, Buck Martinez, will speak at the Elk Grove High School Baseball Booster's Crab Feed on Sat. Feb. 11 at the SES Hall. Tickets are $45 and available at the high school or at www.leaguelineup.com/herdbaseball.

Martinez played professionally for the Milwaukee Brewers and was a catcher on the "Harvey Wallbangers" team that played in the 1983 World Series. He went on to manage the Toronto Blue Jays and the USA Olympic baseball team.

Currently, he's an announcer with TNT Sports.

Elk Grove Womens' Basketball Special Event

2012-01-20T12:23:00.000-08:00

Elk Grove High's Womens' Basketball program is putting on a fundraiser and a great opportunity for boys and girls ages 8-12. The Lady Herd program along with the Above the Rim Basketball Program, and AND-1 Basketball Players, will be holding a FREE basketball camp for boys and girls ages 8-12 at Elk Grove High February 5th at 5:00pm. Each camper will receive a Free T-shirt as well. To Register your child for the camp go to www.abovetherimbasketball.com

After the camp they will be having a basketball game featuring the AND-1 basketball players, White Shadow, King Koopa, and Posterboy along with others against some alumni from Elk Grove High at 7:00pm. The tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children who attend the camp. During the game we will be also selling raffle tickets for a chance to win $10,000 if your make a Half Court Shot.

This is a great experience for young students with a great message behind it.

Iese To UCLA, Armstead Undecided

2012-01-20T05:40:00.000-08:00

My friend Joe Davidson of the Sacramento Bee has been all over the football recruiting trail the past few days and last night he posted that Sheldon's big tight end/defensive end Nate Iese will sign Feb. 1 with UCLA and its new head coach Jim Mora. Read his story at http://blogs.sacbee.com/preps/archives/2012/01/sheldon-tight-e.html

To quote Joe's story:

He took a recent recruiting trip to the campus in Los Angeles, saw the Rose Bowl, soaked up the academic appeal and continued his good rapport with assistant coach Angus McClure, the former Sacramento State standout lineman and assistant coach.

"I'm really excited," Iese said. "I'm glad I was able to make this decision. They've been recruiting me since the beginning. I really like Coach Angus. He's very good at what he does. You can tell some coaches come and recruit and treat it as a job. Angus takes pride in what he does with recruiting and that really impacted me. He really stood out."

When I was covering the Sheldon/Jesuit basketball game last Friday I saw Nate talking to a coach from Nebraska and one from Nevada after the game. Iese has also had talks with Washington.

Davidson has also talked recently with Arik Armstead's parents who have said that the big Pleasant Grove lineman will make up his mind on the Feb. 1 Letter-of-Intent signing date. A source at the school told me that Armstead is finished with high school (he has good grades) and the football/basketball programs at Notre Dame, Auburn and Cal already had him enrolled in classes this spring. But, now that probably isn't a road Arik will travel.

Older brother Armond, who didn't play this past season because of injury at USC, has apparently gone back to school there. He apparently traveled to Auburn with Arik flirting with the thought he could transfer there and play one year with him. That probably won't happen.

The Elk Grove Unified School District always does a big Letter-of-Intent signing session at the Trigg Building on Feb. 1 every year. We could see as many as 15 student/athletes there officially inking their decisions.

We won't know which letter Armstead will ink. I will predict the FedEx guy will be waiting at the door ready to ship those documents back to the colleges in the overnight shipment.

Wednesday's Games

2012-01-19T07:39:00.000-08:00

Girls' Basketball

BROOKSIDE CHRISTIAN 64, FRANKLIN 61

Brookside Christian 20 20 15 9 – 64
Franklin 16 14 18 13 – 61

BC–Houston 9, Grigsby 7, Gabriel 18, Smith 4, Tucker 19, Vaughn 7. F–Chan 3, Signey 2, Yusufu 3, Jordan 6, Bedford 4, Wheeler 13, Materelli 24, Perez 6

BRADSHAW CHRISTIAN 49, ENCINA 9

Bradshaw Christian 28 3 8 10 – 49
Encina 2 0 0 7 – 9

BC–Jones 5, Bean 16, Barnes 8, Ketterling 14, Irons 3, Lopez 3. E–Smith 1, Clark 6, Hunt 2.

Wrestling Duals

FRANKLIN 70, LAGUNA CREEK 6

106–Devisscher by forfeit; 113–Kobliska pinned Ballesteros; 120–Ramos by forfeit; 128–Rios pinned Hippolito; 132–Borges pinned Roxas; 138–Haq pinned Kelly; 145–Dimano major dec. Morrar, 9–0; 152–Sloane pinned Smith; 160–King dec. Hang, 10-3; 170–Harper pinned Galvin; 182–Moreno pinned by Maestretti; 195–Justin pinned Trunnel; 220–Arvealo dec. Marin, 6–2; 285–Hecht by forfeit.

MONTEREY TRAIL 71, GRANT 16

106–Ortiz by forfeit; 113–Clemmens by forfeit; 120–Nguyen pinned Bailey; 128–McAuliffe pinned by Jervonta; 132–Bernhard major dec. by Jay; 138–Ubaldo by forfeit; 145–Ciadrusis by forfeit; 152–Batoon tech. fall Geberado; 160–Gomez pinned Rafael; 170–Gurrerro pinned Thomas; 182–Niazi pinned Nick; 195–Albarron by forfeit; 220–Ward by forfeit; 285–Double forfeit.

Tuesday Night Basketball

2012-01-18T21:11:00.000-08:00

Boys
COSUMNES OAKS 84, GALT 34

Cosumnes Oaks 21 25 25 13 – 84
Galt 12 8 6 8 – 34

CO–R. Reed 4, Ross 7, Trillo 14, Gonzalvo 7, McCovery 11, Estacio 5, Foster 10, L. Reed 13, Hamilton 3, Stallworth 2, Van Dyke 8. G–Barron 7, Rudnick 5, Parra 3, Houghtaling 2, Perez 9, Lubich 4, Whitley 4.

ENCINA 55, BRADSHAW CHRISTIAN 46

New Tenant Coming To Former Grand Slam Location

2012-01-18T20:55:00.000-08:00

Grand Slam Batting Cages was for many years the place young baseball and softball players hung out to sharpen their skills, play a little basketball and look at the new gear that owners Darin Boyd and Scot Maynard sold in their pro shop. A few years back they closed the popular sports location because of rising rent prices.

Now, Charlie Zamora, who as a child spent many hours in Grand Slam preparing for baseball season, will move his Warriorz Crossfit exercise business into the 4700 square foot facility on Elk Grove-Florin Road, just south of Elk Grove Blvd. I sat down with Zamora, enthused to be relocating from his current location on Sheldon Road, to a spot that was special to him.

One of his exercise instructors is former Elk Grove and Fresno State linebacker Marcus Riley. We caught up with him and talked about his past three football seasons with Las Vegas of the UFL.

Detrick, Team USA Wins Gold At Waterski Championships

2012-01-17T19:06:00.000-08:00

The U.S. World University Water Ski Team won the gold medal and three U.S. team members combined to win seven medals at the 2012 FISU World University Water Ski Championships, Jan. 12-15, in San Bernardo, Chile. For scores, click here.

Members of the U.S. World University Water Ski Team were: Brian Detrick (Elk Grove, Calif.), Saint Mary's College; Alex Lauretano (Windermere, Fla.), Louisiana-Monroe; Tyler Lorenz (Oconomowoc, Wis.), Wisconsin; Lauren Morgan (Odessa, Fla.), Florida Southern; Adam Pickos (Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.), Louisiana-Monroe; and Dylan Schaffer (Owens Cross Roads, Ala.), Alabama.

The United States tallied 8,043.70 points in winning the gold medal in the 17-team field. The Czech Republic (6,588.19 points) earned the silver medal and Chile (6,549.94 points) earned the bronze medal.

Brian Detrick, right, with father Steve and mother Jan

In men's slalom, Pickos tied for first with Miranda, each scoring 3 buoys at 39-1/2 feet off. Miranda secured the gold medal in the subsequent run-off by scoring 2 buoys at 39-1/2 feet off to Pickos' ½-buoy at 38 feet off. Sedlmajer earned the bronze medal with score of 2 buoys at 39-1/2 feet off. Detrick placed eighth with a score of 2-1/2 buoys at 38 feet off and Schaffer finished 12th with a score of 3-1/2 buoys at 32 feet off.

Levin Opens 2012 At Sony Open

2012-01-17T05:51:00.000-08:00

Elk Grove's Spencer Levin opened the 2012 PGA Tour season last weekend with a 23rd place finish at the Sony Open in Honolulu. He fired a six-under-par 274, seven strokes behind the winner Johnson Wagner.
Levin picked up a paycheck for $47,575. He shot a two-over-par 72 in Sunday's final round.

Last season, Levin's third on the tour, he ended up 31st in the money list.

The tour this week comes to California for the Humana Challenge in La Quinta. Levin will be in the field.

Spencer Levin

MLK Weekend Results

2012-01-16T20:05:00.000-08:00

Franklin High School scored a big 54-51 win over Deer Valley Monday in the Martin Luther King Classic at Cal's Haas Pavilion. Franklin got a huge game from 6-2 junior forward Victor Rustin, who not only scored a team-high 15 points but he helped hold Deer Valley's 6-9 post Marcus Lee to just four points.

"He's a high-energy and team guy so it's nice to see him have such a big game," said Franklin head coach Jesse Formaker told Maxpreps.Com. "This is a big win for us. We got better as the game progressed."

It game showcased evenly matched teams as neither squad led by more than six points and the score was tied after the second and third quarters. Deer Valley took its biggest lead 48-42 early in the fourth quarter.

But Franklin battled back and took its first lead of the fourth quarter 52-51 on two free throws by Kelton Newman with 50.1 seconds left. After Deer Valley missed a layup, Rustin took an inbounds pass from Newman to score a layup with 17 seconds remaining.

Franklin (14-4) got 14 points by Darin Johnson and 12 by Theo Johnson. ...

Laguna Creek was defeated by Hiram Johnson, 59-52, Monday.

Bradshaw Christian's girls defeated Pitman, 49-42, as Ashley Jones scored 24 points for the Pride.

Wrestling - Elk Grove's Martin Ramirez and Josh Letuligasenoa each earned second place medals last Friday at the Temecula Valley Invitational Tournament. At the Lloyd C Engel Tournament the Herd's 103-pounder Tristan Scott was named the most outstanding wrestler.

The Latest Recruiting News

2012-01-16T15:31:00.000-08:00

Despite a national television audience, Pleasant Grove football player Arik Armstead did not use the setting of the U.S. Army’s All-American football game in San Antonio to announce his plans for college. The 6-8, 280-pound lineman did wear #99 and play defensive end for the victorious West squad as they defeated the East All-Stars, 24-12, a week ago Saturday.

The game, televised on NBC, has become a stage for the nation’s top high school recruits to play one final game as a prep star and, for many of the participants, announce their choice of college football programs. Grant’s Shaq Thompson during the game’s fourth quarter said he’s following his brother Syd and former Pacer teammates Vei Moala and Puka Lopa to Cal. Moala and Lopa will be sophomores this fall in Berkeley. The elder Thompson is now a reserve defensive back with the Denver Broncos.

Elk Grove’s Steven Moore, an offensive lineman, has also verbally committed to Cal.

Sources at Pleasant Grove have told me that Armstead has narrowed choices to Cal, Auburn and Oregon. Joe Davidson of the Sacramento Bee has reported in his blog that Armstead spent this weekend at Auburn and is registered for classes this spring.

Our sources say Armstead is trying to attend a college that will allow him and his older brother Armond to play together this fall. Armond, who has been at Southern Cal the past four years, still has a year of eligibility so if he's in the equation for Arik, then the brothers will have to attend a school outside of the Pac 12.

Arik is also wanting to play basketball in college. Davidson has reported that Arik has played his last game for Pleasant Grove. I have heard that Armstead has been offered a spot on the basketball roster at both Notre Dame and Auburn.

If he's going to follow through, we all should hear soon.

Graduating prep stars can make their college choices official beginning Feb. 1 when the NCAA National Letter of Intents can be signed.

Locally, Cosumnes Oaks wide receiver Michael Thomas has said he’ll attend Nevada-Las Vegas while his teammates, quarterback Andrew Williams and cornerback/receiver Marcus Rios, will go to Idaho and UCLA, respectively.

Pleasant Grove defensive back Desmond Lewis is committed to Air Force. Nate Iese, the big tight end/defensive end from Sheldon, has offers from schools such as UCLA and Nebraska, but has not announced his intentions. Last Friday scouts from Nebraska and Nevada talked to Iese after the Sheldon/Jesuit basketball game.

I got a text Friday that Elk Grove's defensive back/running back Deon Ransom is going to sign with Sacramento State. Sheldon coach Josh Crabtree texted Kyi Thomas, a wonderful athlete who could also play basketball, bas an offer from the Hornets, too.

Elk Grove linebacker Josh Letuligasenoa has had contacts from several area colleges, but may end up joining older brother Lefi at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo.

Another Huskie, defensive lineman Antonio Perez, has just returned from a visit to Idaho. He also has an offer from Sac State.

Other locals that may also ink letters of intent include kicker Marcus White, running back Mark Jenkins, linebacker D.J. Dunn and quarterback Cody Demps of Pleasant Grove and Franklin linebacker Nathan DiDonato. …

Is It Really Baseball Season?

2012-01-16T15:20:00.000-08:00

The Elk Grove Youth Baseball League (EGYBL) held its first day of tryouts on Saturday at Rau Park. There will be tryouts for those who did not attend this weekend on Jan. 21.

EGYBL’s counterpart, Laguna Youth Baseball (LYB), will have its tryouts Jan. 21 and 28 at Morse Park. EGYBL draws its participants from east of Highway 99 while LYB takes players who live west of the highway.

New this year for EGYBL is its “Prep” Division, intended for boys ages 13 and 14. They will play on diamonds with 80-foot base paths and the pitching mound 54 feet from home plate. According to EGYBL’s president Dan Woodward, the new division is an attempt to help boys not physically able to play on the regulation 90-foot diamonds.

“We’ve put money into laying down turf and putting in a mound at Amundsen Park, just north of Rau,” Woodward said. The new division will play games there and on the Arvid Pauly Field in Elk Grove Park.

Woodward added that he is working with officials at CSD to develop the field in Elk Grove Park into a youth baseball stadium, in the same spirit of youth stadiums in Williamsport, PA., and Aberdeen, MD.

Whereas both baseball organizations are affiliated nationally with Cal Ripken Youth Baseball for ages five through 12, EGYBL has connected the 13-14 year old division with PONY Baseball.

LYB’s president Jerry Tucker said his organization will not add a division for the 13- and 14-year olds.

Elk Grove Babe Ruth baseball, entering its 51^st season in Elk Grove, will hold tryouts Feb. 4 and 11. League president Joe Matlen says he expects between 14 and 17 teams in its ages 13-15 division. That league also allows high school players to participate following their season at a reduced registration fee.

EGBR will also have a league for players ages 16-18 that will begin play in late May. Both divisions play on regulation-sized diamonds.

Matlen also said there will be some new rules enforced this season on the type of bats that will be allowed. The only composite bats that will be permitted are those that have been BESR (Bat Exit Speed Ration) and ABI (Accelerated Break-In) tested and approved. Further, the Babe Ruth Baseball 13-15 Division will allow all aluminum/alloy 2 5/8-inch barrel bats and all composite-only aluminum/alloy barrel bats in any minus or drop. For example, Matlen said, if it is not a composite barrel bat, then -8, -9, -10, etc. bats are allowed. All BBCOR -3 High School approved bats are allowed. …

Elk Grove waterski pro Brian Detrick is one of six members selected for the U.S. water ski team that will compete next week at the 2012 World University Water Ski Team Championships in San Bernardo, Chile.

Detrick, along with Storm Selsor of Fremont and four others will compete for four days next week.

The U.S. Team has won every University Worlds (1997, 1999, 2002, 2004 and 2009) to date. The National Collegiate Water Ski Association is one of nine sport discipline organizations affiliated with USA Water Ski, which was formed in 1939 as a non-profit organization promoting water skiing in the United States. …

Last season Anessa Kaylor started at shortstop for the Elk Grove High School softball team. She has transferred to Sheldon and will play this season for the defending Section champions.

Kaylor just recently made a verbal commitment to play collegiately at San Jose

The 1947 Okmulgee (Okla.) High School Bulldogs

2012-01-03T17:24:00.000-08:00

I am working on a very special project. I could use some help from anyone, particularly those in Okmulgee, Okla., who may know anyone or they themselves attended Okmulgee High School.

As some background, a couple days prior to the passing of my father, Dick Hull, on April 19, 2011 at the age of 81, Dad asked me to write a book about his most proudest accomplishment, winning the Oklahoma State football championship in 1947. So this project is something I'd like to complete this year to fulfill what I consider as my Dad's final request.

The Bulldogs did lose a couple games that year, yet still qualified for the post-season. Interestingly, in the opening round of the Class A playoffs, Okmulgee tied Wewoka, 7-7, but Okmulgee advanced because the Bulldogs had more penetrations into the "red zone", that is inside the 20-yardline. Starting left end Andy Musgrave, a childhood friend of Dad's, tells me Okmulgee got inside the 20 four times, as opposed to Wewoka's one. Yes, this was in the days before overtime.

The same thing happened in the state semi-final game against Ponca City. It was a 7-7 ballgame. Musgrave told me both clubs had three penetrations in the red zone, but Okmulgee got to advance to meet Frederick in the championship game because the Bulldogs had more first downs, 12-8.

In the state title game, Okmulgee defeated the Bombers, 14-6, to win the first-ever championship for Okmulgee High School. By the way, the game, played at Owen Field in Norman, was broadcasted live on KOMA Radio in Oklahoma City. The play-by-play announcer was a very young, talented sportscaster who had just graduated that spring from the University of Wyoming, Curt Gowdy. He, of course, went on to fame as one of the very first TV play-by-play men for NBC. He later was the host of ABC's "American Sportsman," a popular show produced by one of Gowdy's friends, Roone Arledge.

(more of this kind of stuff, I promise, in my book)

(Doesn't Dad look tough?) He's in the lower left. Andy Musgrave is the second one from the right.

Dad said if I got the scrapbook his mother, my grandmother, Geneva Hull, put together about Dad's three years on the varsity football team, there would be lots of notes he and Grandma wrote about the championship team.

This scrapbook is an excellent resource for me, but I could use some help from anyone, especially anyone still alive who was one of Dad's teammates. For example, in the photo above, I've labeled which one is Dad. Mr. Musgrave has helped me identify the rest of the players in this photo.

In the photo below is a scanned image of the photo of dad and Coach Edgar Brady holding the State Championship Trophy taken when they returned to Okmulgee, along with a clipping from the Okmulgee Daily Times that is a photo of dad, who was the team captain and starting center (at 154 pounds!!)in a single-wing offense.

Also in this photo is a 60- day free pass given to all the members of the football team by the town movie theatre for winning the state championship. Mr. Musgrave wrote me: "The local theater manager invited us all to the Orpheum Theater to view the regular movie, then played the Championship game film and called us all to the stage and presented the 60-day free pass to all 3 local theaters, the Orpheum, the Inca and the Yale. (I saw more movies that 2 months than all I have seen since.)"

I am asking anyone with any sort of knowledge about, stories (true ones, please) or any more information they'd like to contribute to my project to please email me, jrhull@surewest.net.

I will personally make contact with them and then arrange for a telephone interview.

I have lots of photos and copies of the old game programs of the Bulldogs from that championship season and will be putting them into my book. Anyone who also has a photo or two to contribute is welcome to do so.

I thank you in advance for your help with this important project.

A Tough Question

2011-12-28T13:46:00.000-08:00

I was asked recently a question that has made me think:

As the nation approaches its 57th Presidential Election, we're asking the future leaders of this country, students, to define the single most important political issue in this election. Tell us not only what that issue is, but also tell us why and how you propose we come to a solution that benefits the majority?"

I don't think any of the candidates running for office have all the answers but one issue I find important to everyone is how involved government should be in our lives. If we get right down to the Constitutional guidelines for the federal government, it's pretty simple: protect and serve the United States.

It doesn't say anywhere to line people's pockets with money. It doesn't say anywhere to provide healthcare. It doesn't say anywhere to provide jobs. It doesn't say anywhere to send troops overseas or give other countries money.

The federal government, and really the state governments, too, is to provide a military to protect us and provide for an infrastructure so that commerce and society can operate. It's a pretty simple objective.

What concerns me and where the big debate exists is how involved the government should be. Too many people want the government to give them a job, provide them with money when they don't have one and to enforce some ridiculous laws.

I think the one thing we all have to agree upon is that government cannot any longer be the source of solutions. Let's allow our free enterprise to do that. Let's allow business to flourish without government intervening or asking for too much money.

The presidential candidate that expresses smaller government frankly is the one we all should support, whoever they are and whatever party from which they belong.

This is an official blog entry for the YourLocalSecurity.com Blogging Scholarship. If selected, I'll receive $1000 towards my college expenses in 2012. This scholarship is sponsored by YourLocalSecurity.com

Zehnder Duals

2011-12-17T13:28:00.000-08:00

Curt Mettler Wrestling Tournament

2011-12-10T17:17:00.000-08:00

Elk Grove High School looked real strong Saturday at its Mettler Tournament. Most of the Herd wrestlers placed in the top eight of their weight class. Cosumnes Oaks also had a good tournament.

Read my story in this Friday's Citizen.

Burbank Suffers Season Ending Loss

2011-11-12T10:41:00.000-08:00

I enjoyed watching and being a part of our eight home games this season at the brand new Titan Stadium. Burbank had a great team this season, going 9-1 and winning the Metro Conference championship for the second year in a row.

But, I knew Oak Ridge was going to be tough. They were. Our season ended with a 30-28 loss in the opening round of the playoffs. This was, by far, the tightest first-round game of the post-season. It came down to the final two minutes.

Coach John Heffernan and staff and players have no need to hang their heads over this one. They played (and coached) their hearts out. Good job. Keep up the great work!

National Letter of Intent Day, 2011

2011-11-12T10:37:00.000-08:00

Each November several of our area athletes, usually in advance of their seasons, sign a National Letter of Intent with the college of their choice.

At Sheldon there were three senior softball players off the defending Section championship team announcing their intent, Alexis Cooper who will attend Arizona State, Meshalon Moore who will go to UC-Santa Barbara and Danielle Wiltz, who signed with Nevada-Reno.

Elk Grove High School's Carlee Gray has inked with George Washington University. (Carlee is on the left)

Congratulations to all these terrific softball players.

Elk Grove Citizen : Sports

2011-09-30T14:16:00.000-07:00

Elk Grove Citizen : Sports

Nunez and Madrigal Return With Gold Medals

2011-09-05T18:30:00.000-07:00

Ten EGUSD Athletes To Watch

2011-08-29T05:51:00.003-07:00

Now that the 2011-2012 school year is underway and we’ve kicked off the football season, it’s time to look ahead and see who might be the athletes who may make a difference for their teams this season locally.

There’s far too many good athletes to list all of them here, but we’ve decided there were a few who, barring injury or other factors, could stand above the crowd in the next nine months.

Cody Demps – Pleasant Grove football and basketball

He’s the quarterback on the Eagles’ highly touted football team, but he’ll be the guy spearheading what should be a very good basketball team at Pleasant Grove this winter. At 6-4, he can play just about anywhere on the court.

If the football squad does indeed play deep into the playoffs, as expected, Demps and the Eagles may start a little slow when basketball season begins in December, but they’ll be competing for the Delta River League title on the hardcourts in February.

Kyi Thomas – Sheldon football and basketball

If last Friday is any indication, Thomas will get lots of touches on the football field this season, but basketball coach Joey Rollings will count on Thomas to lead the Huskies on the court when they prepare to defend their Sac-Joaquin Section title.

Thomas is the guy who really moves the ball up and down the floor for the basketball team and may be the most athletic member of the squad. He, along with Dakari Allen, D’Erryl Williams and Ryan Manning are so good that they’ll have Sheldon fans forget who Darius Nelson and Ramon Eaton were.

Nick Martinez – Elk Grove Track and Field

It’s been almost ten years since any athlete from Elk Grove Unified School District won an event at the state track and field meet. Martinez could do it in two events this spring.

He was third at the state meet last year in the 300 meter hurdles and competed in the 100 meter hurdle event, too. He’s our area’s most gifted trackster and will draw the attention of many collegiate track coaches.

Martin Ramirez – Elk Grove wrestling

There’s been only five boys from Elk Grove win a state championship in wrestling. Ramirez, who was third last year at 125 pounds, could be the sixth. Barring injury he’ll likely win his weight group at the Section Masters’ meet for a third time.

He and Josh Letuligasenoa will lead the Herd wrestlers this winter to another Delta Valley Conference championship and probably a high finish in the Section dual meet, like usual. Letuligasenoa meanwhile is the Herd’s top linebacker on a very good football team at Elk Grove.

Meshalon Moore – Sheldon softball

With older sister Dejanee and third baseman Danielle Henderson off to college, it’s “Meme’s” turn to lead the Lady Huskies. They’ve won three Section championships the past five seasons and Meme is going to be the top bat this spring for head coach Mary Jo Truesdale. She batted .380 a year ago.

With pitcher Alexis Cooper (24-6, 1.64 ERA) and outfielder Danielle Wiltz (.414 avg.) also in the lineup, Sheldon will be the odds-on favorite to repeat as Section winner come May.

Theo Johnson – Franklin basketball

Even though brothers Ike and Uchenna Iroegbu have transferred to other high schools, the Wildcats will once again be one of the top DVC teams. That’s because the long and tall Johnson returns in the post.

Rowdy Tellez – Elk Grove baseball

He’s just a junior, but already has drawn the attention of many pro scouts because of his 6-5, 220-pound frame. He hit nine homers and batted over .500 last season for the Herd, but developed into a good pitcher.

Now that J.D. Davis is graduated and off to Cal State – Fullerton, Tellez will be the ace of the staff. That’s a pretty good accomplishment for a young man who barely pitched at all two seasons ago. He along with Team USA member Dom Nunez will lead a very potent Elk Grove baseball team, hoping to grab the Section title for the first time since 2007.

Tyler Blake – Franklin baseball

Also a tall first baseman/pitcher and a junior, Blake’s presence in the Wildcat lineup keeps Franklin in the picture for the DVC baseball championship this year.

Blake will be a regular starter on the mound where’s he’s excelled the past two seasons. He’s 9-0 over that span. He may be one of the best contact hitters locally. Last season he batted .506 and, at 6-5 he’s a huge target for infielders throwing to first base.

Arik Armstead – Pleasant Grove football and basketball

He’s drawn lots of national attention thanks to the recent game on ESPN and deservedly so. At 6-7, 285 he’s a man amongst boys on the football field, but he’s also going to do the same thing on the basketball court for the Eagles – as long as future college coach Lane Kiffin allows it.

The USC head football coach may not like a prized recruit, like Armstead, playing roundball in the winter. Pleasant Grove will be the main competition for Sheldon for the DRL title this winter, especially if Armstead is in the post.

Ashlee Jones – Bradshaw Christian basketball

The Lady Pride hope to make it five small-school Section championships in a row this winter, but they’ll have to do it on the back of Ashlee Jones. With four-year starters Fernandi Espinosa, Lauren Beyer and Jordie Smith now all in college, Jones and several new faces will have their work cut out for them.

A year ago Jones was a key outside shooter and perhaps the Pride’s top defender.

Open Enrollment and Its Affect On Sports In EG

2011-07-18T13:17:00.000-07:00

I recently wrote a story in the Elk Grove Citizen how open enrollment has affected the sports programs in the Elk Grove Unified School District.

Please understand in the story I in no way am saying the coaches in the district are recruiting kids to their programs, quite the contrary. The parents are recruiting other parents and their student/athletes to schools outside of their attendance area.

What is happening, as the story points out, is that half the EGUSD sports programs are strong and the others weak with almost no one in between.

EGHS Summer Baseball

2011-07-14T08:51:00.000-07:00

The P.G. vs. M.T. on ESPN Debate

2011-07-13T20:03:00.000-07:00

Here's this week Jon (Gudel) vs. John (me) debate.

Elk Grove Citizen : Sports