Eight athletes are headed to the state track and field championships Friday.
We haven't had a male champion since 1993 when future Olympic gold medalist Calvin Harrison won the 200 and 400 meter sprints.
Yes, it's rare in Monterey County.
Just getting to the finals is an achievement.
A five-second improvement by Monterey's 1,600 relay team in 2006 propeled them into the finals, where they ended up third.
Could we see a similar scenario occur this year with the Toreadores 1,600 relay unit? The unit has yet to run together with fresh legs.
Time will have to drop for this unit to move up five spots just to crack the finals. I like their chances.
5/27/2008
nady watch
Could this be the year that the 'X' man is a Major League Baseball all-star.
One-time Salinas High shortstop Xavier Nady is putting up all-star type numbers for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The right-handed slugger is hitting over .300 50 plus games into the season and is among the National League leaders in runs batted in. He's also belted seven homers and is playing better than average defense in right field.
One-time Salinas High shortstop Xavier Nady is putting up all-star type numbers for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The right-handed slugger is hitting over .300 50 plus games into the season and is among the National League leaders in runs batted in. He's also belted seven homers and is playing better than average defense in right field.
5/24/2008
Monterey track
What made Monterey's Central Coast Section boys track and field team title special Friday goes back to the start of the season when it knew it wouldn't have a track on campus to train on.
Practices were held in parks, along the streets and sometimes in the school hallways. Getting on a track was a treat.
Yet, four months later, five guys were holding a plaque, becoming the first team in Monterey County in 15 years to win a CCS track title.
Remember, there are no divisions in track.
And while it truly is a rare achievement, three of those five runners are coming back. Monterey isn't going away. And it will have a track next spring to entice more to come out.
Practices were held in parks, along the streets and sometimes in the school hallways. Getting on a track was a treat.
Yet, four months later, five guys were holding a plaque, becoming the first team in Monterey County in 15 years to win a CCS track title.
Remember, there are no divisions in track.
And while it truly is a rare achievement, three of those five runners are coming back. Monterey isn't going away. And it will have a track next spring to entice more to come out.
softball run
Could we be seeing another run of CCS titles from Notre Dame?
Well, if you look at their roster, my answer would be YES.
Seven sophomores made up this years title team, four of which started and had a big impact. Both pitchers are juniors.
The bigger question is stablity. Head coach Joe Given has been there for 28 years. He's coming back for at least one more year.
But that may be it.
Coaching is critical.
But here's saying the Spirits will be in the CCS finals next year. And while duplicating their run of nine straight titles will be a tall order, two in a row is realistic.
Well, if you look at their roster, my answer would be YES.
Seven sophomores made up this years title team, four of which started and had a big impact. Both pitchers are juniors.
The bigger question is stablity. Head coach Joe Given has been there for 28 years. He's coming back for at least one more year.
But that may be it.
Coaching is critical.
But here's saying the Spirits will be in the CCS finals next year. And while duplicating their run of nine straight titles will be a tall order, two in a row is realistic.
5/22/2008
wish granted
Be careful what you wish for.
Stevenson wanted Notre Dame in the Central Coast Section Divisional softball finals Saturday at PAL Stadium in San Jose.
And they got them.
In one respect, you have to like the fact that the Pirates wanted another crack at Notre Dame, who has beaten twice this year.
But Notre Dame is a program that has won nine CCS Division III titles in the last 10 years. The Spirits are 30-1 in their last 31 playoff games.
Simply put, they don't lose championship games.
Don't buy the theory that it's tough to beat a team three times in a season. Notre Dame has plenty of incentive. They've been called out.
Stevenson is a confident club. It got a taste of playing for a title last year. And the intent is the finish it this time.
Hey, what's wrong with wanting to play the best to prove your point?
Stevenson wanted Notre Dame in the Central Coast Section Divisional softball finals Saturday at PAL Stadium in San Jose.
And they got them.
In one respect, you have to like the fact that the Pirates wanted another crack at Notre Dame, who has beaten twice this year.
But Notre Dame is a program that has won nine CCS Division III titles in the last 10 years. The Spirits are 30-1 in their last 31 playoff games.
Simply put, they don't lose championship games.
Don't buy the theory that it's tough to beat a team three times in a season. Notre Dame has plenty of incentive. They've been called out.
Stevenson is a confident club. It got a taste of playing for a title last year. And the intent is the finish it this time.
Hey, what's wrong with wanting to play the best to prove your point?
track title
Monterey's fab five aren't concerned about winning a Central Coast Section boys team title Friday at Gilroy.
And they shouldn't.
Because making the state meet is the priority.
As it should.
If all five Toreadores meet their expectations by reaching the state meet in their respective events, the team title will take care of itself.
Which is why I like Monterey becoming the first team in Monterey County in 15 years to win a team track title.
Keep in mind, there are no divisions in track. So a team title is rare and rewarding.
Still that doesn't change the mindset for the five that remain. Each individual has to take care of its own business to make this happen.
And they shouldn't.
Because making the state meet is the priority.
As it should.
If all five Toreadores meet their expectations by reaching the state meet in their respective events, the team title will take care of itself.
Which is why I like Monterey becoming the first team in Monterey County in 15 years to win a team track title.
Keep in mind, there are no divisions in track. So a team title is rare and rewarding.
Still that doesn't change the mindset for the five that remain. Each individual has to take care of its own business to make this happen.
osgood demands trade
Kassim Osgood has asked the San Diego Chargers to trade him.
And I understand why.
No doubt, the Chargers and Osgood, a former North Salinas product, have been a good fit for five years.
Osgood has quietly accepted his role as a special teams demon, making two Pro Bowl appearances, the only athlete from Monterey County to achieve that.
But the 6-foot-5 Osgood believes he can be an NFL receiver. Over the last two years, he has grown increasingly frustrated with his lack of playing time as a receiver.
Remember, Osgood caught 112 passes as a senior at San Diego State. He's blessed with good hands and deceptive speed.
Osgood had four touchdown catches during his first two years with the Chargers, zero since.
While being in San Diego has enabled Osgood to peruse and acting career, he believes he's an NFL receiver.
I agree.
But time is running out.
San Diego is a great organization to be a part off. They're a Super Bowl contender. And Osgood is active in the community.
A change of scenery, though, may be the only way he sees the field as a receiver
And I understand why.
No doubt, the Chargers and Osgood, a former North Salinas product, have been a good fit for five years.
Osgood has quietly accepted his role as a special teams demon, making two Pro Bowl appearances, the only athlete from Monterey County to achieve that.
But the 6-foot-5 Osgood believes he can be an NFL receiver. Over the last two years, he has grown increasingly frustrated with his lack of playing time as a receiver.
Remember, Osgood caught 112 passes as a senior at San Diego State. He's blessed with good hands and deceptive speed.
Osgood had four touchdown catches during his first two years with the Chargers, zero since.
While being in San Diego has enabled Osgood to peruse and acting career, he believes he's an NFL receiver.
I agree.
But time is running out.
San Diego is a great organization to be a part off. They're a Super Bowl contender. And Osgood is active in the community.
A change of scenery, though, may be the only way he sees the field as a receiver
5/16/2008
spring dominance
Monterey did the unthinkable this spring.
It won Monterey Bay League titles in baseball, softball, boys and girls track and field, boys and girls swimming, volleyball and tennis.
Eight league banners in one spring.
That just doesn't happen.
It won Monterey Bay League titles in baseball, softball, boys and girls track and field, boys and girls swimming, volleyball and tennis.
Eight league banners in one spring.
That just doesn't happen.
sportsmanship
I watched a baseball coach tear into a reporter the other day, after he won.
No it wasn't me. Not yet, anyway.
Perhaps this reporter had it coming to him for a few remarks made in a story. Maybe this has been brewing for years.
But the way it was handled by this coach was unprofessional and quite frankly classless.
If you've got a beef, take it out to center field, away from the public and discus it as adults.
He may have felt good about himself afterwards, laughing with his coaches and players.
But what message did that send to your players?
The message I got from being an uncomfortable bystander was that --- well it's OK for an adult to act like a A-hole and get into another adults face in front of his players.
Hey, all this did was take away from the teams win. It put all the attention on one man.
Was it worth it?
Come on coach, you're better than that.
No it wasn't me. Not yet, anyway.
Perhaps this reporter had it coming to him for a few remarks made in a story. Maybe this has been brewing for years.
But the way it was handled by this coach was unprofessional and quite frankly classless.
If you've got a beef, take it out to center field, away from the public and discus it as adults.
He may have felt good about himself afterwards, laughing with his coaches and players.
But what message did that send to your players?
The message I got from being an uncomfortable bystander was that --- well it's OK for an adult to act like a A-hole and get into another adults face in front of his players.
Hey, all this did was take away from the teams win. It put all the attention on one man.
Was it worth it?
Come on coach, you're better than that.
beauty of track
You know what's great about the sport of track and field is there's no debate.
No divisions --- period.
There never has and purists in California like it that way.
Is it fair? Well, do you want to be the best?
Lets face it, a divisional champion will always be debated. The competition in track is the clock. In the field, it's the tape measure.
Don't get me wrong, knowing the athlete next to you has run an equal time gets the juices flowing.
Nothing better than being stride-for-stride with an opponent and then pulling away at the tape.
No divisions --- period.
There never has and purists in California like it that way.
Is it fair? Well, do you want to be the best?
Lets face it, a divisional champion will always be debated. The competition in track is the clock. In the field, it's the tape measure.
Don't get me wrong, knowing the athlete next to you has run an equal time gets the juices flowing.
Nothing better than being stride-for-stride with an opponent and then pulling away at the tape.
track and field
For all those who complained about how cold it's been, well Saturday's Central Coast Section Track and Field Trials at Gilroy is expected to reach triple digits.
As a former sprinter/hurdler, warm weather is far better than chilly climate. But 100degrees is unbearable.
Today's all-weather surfaces are great for speed. But the heat that bounces off them increases the temperature as much as 20 degree on the track.
Heat sucks the life out of you. Shade and liquids will be an athletes most important strategy.
As a former sprinter/hurdler, warm weather is far better than chilly climate. But 100degrees is unbearable.
Today's all-weather surfaces are great for speed. But the heat that bounces off them increases the temperature as much as 20 degree on the track.
Heat sucks the life out of you. Shade and liquids will be an athletes most important strategy.
5/15/2008
salinas baseball
Salinas may have tried to tell itself that its playoff losing streak was not a big deal.
But it was.
Eight straight playoff opening losses does weigh on the minds of players and coaches.
No doubt, it's better to be in the playoffs than not at all.
But at some point, you start to wonder.
Trailing by two through five innings Wednesday had some fans bellowing 'here we go again'.
Well guess what? Salinas is still practicing. The playoff hex is over. If there was tension, it has been eased.
But it was.
Eight straight playoff opening losses does weigh on the minds of players and coaches.
No doubt, it's better to be in the playoffs than not at all.
But at some point, you start to wonder.
Trailing by two through five innings Wednesday had some fans bellowing 'here we go again'.
Well guess what? Salinas is still practicing. The playoff hex is over. If there was tension, it has been eased.
5/14/2008
baseball playoffs
We all saw this coming.
Why do you think Pacific Grove played Palma -- not once, but three times this spring?Granted, the Breakers lost all three games. But look at the scores? Each game got a little closer, a little tighter.
In other words, the gap has narrowed, which should make Saturday's CCS Divison III quarterfinals battle at Sollecito Field a treat.
The stakes are a little higher this time.
Pacific Grove saved its ace for the fourth meeting between the two teams. Palma used theirs.
Will it make a difference? Well, if you're going to win a CCS title, you've got to have two solid pitchers.
Why do you think Pacific Grove played Palma -- not once, but three times this spring?Granted, the Breakers lost all three games. But look at the scores? Each game got a little closer, a little tighter.
In other words, the gap has narrowed, which should make Saturday's CCS Divison III quarterfinals battle at Sollecito Field a treat.
The stakes are a little higher this time.
Pacific Grove saved its ace for the fourth meeting between the two teams. Palma used theirs.
Will it make a difference? Well, if you're going to win a CCS title, you've got to have two solid pitchers.
5/10/2008
Track droughts
If you thought ending a 10-year track championship drought in the MTAL was big for King City, about Monterey claiming its first MBL boys title in 17 years.
Better yet, how about the Toreadores girls program capturing their first --- ever team title in track.
What made Monterey's titles so special is the program hasn't had a track on campus to train on for four years.
Instead of complaining about running in forests, parks and hallways, Monterey became a program united as one.
Better yet, how about the Toreadores girls program capturing their first --- ever team title in track.
What made Monterey's titles so special is the program hasn't had a track on campus to train on for four years.
Instead of complaining about running in forests, parks and hallways, Monterey became a program united as one.
pairing paradise
First we get Carmel and Salinas in the first round of the CCS Division I baseball playoffs.
If the seedings are accurate, we'll see Palma and Pacific Grove in the second round of the Division III baseball playoffs for the fourth time this year.
While the MTAL champion Breakers have lost all three games, the scores have gotten closer in each battle.
But what everyone hopes to see is top seed Notre Dame and No. 3 seed Stevenson in the Division III softball finals.
The two local powers are in opposite brackets, meaning a title game is possible.
Notre Dame has beaten Stevenson twice this year, with the Spirits coming from behind to beat them 2-1 their last meeting.
Since that loss in March, the Pirates have hoped for a shot at redemption against their respected rivals.
Stevenson went to the CCS finals for the first time last year. Notre Dame had a run of nine straight CCS titles snapped last spring.
If the seedings are accurate, we'll see Palma and Pacific Grove in the second round of the Division III baseball playoffs for the fourth time this year.
While the MTAL champion Breakers have lost all three games, the scores have gotten closer in each battle.
But what everyone hopes to see is top seed Notre Dame and No. 3 seed Stevenson in the Division III softball finals.
The two local powers are in opposite brackets, meaning a title game is possible.
Notre Dame has beaten Stevenson twice this year, with the Spirits coming from behind to beat them 2-1 their last meeting.
Since that loss in March, the Pirates have hoped for a shot at redemption against their respected rivals.
Stevenson went to the CCS finals for the first time last year. Notre Dame had a run of nine straight CCS titles snapped last spring.
5/08/2008
food for thought
Apparently I've got a little juice.
Pacific Grove's basesball team decided to hang a quote from a Carmel player from a story I wrote for incentive.
That's funny.
Two days earlier, Carmel made a copy of this blog when it was suggested that its youthful pitching staff would have trouble containing Pacific Grove's heavy hitters in Carmel bandbox stadium.
OK, so it was Pacific Grove's field where the bats exploded on the Padres pitching.
Come on now.
You're taking this too seriously. You shouldn't need something in print in your dugout to motivate you.
But hey, if I can help. I'm here for you.
Lost in all this is Pacific Grove ended Carmel's run of 12 straight league titles. And it joins the schools football and basketball teams as league champions.
That's worth talking about.
Pacific Grove's basesball team decided to hang a quote from a Carmel player from a story I wrote for incentive.
That's funny.
Two days earlier, Carmel made a copy of this blog when it was suggested that its youthful pitching staff would have trouble containing Pacific Grove's heavy hitters in Carmel bandbox stadium.
OK, so it was Pacific Grove's field where the bats exploded on the Padres pitching.
Come on now.
You're taking this too seriously. You shouldn't need something in print in your dugout to motivate you.
But hey, if I can help. I'm here for you.
Lost in all this is Pacific Grove ended Carmel's run of 12 straight league titles. And it joins the schools football and basketball teams as league champions.
That's worth talking about.
5/06/2008
Seaside volley
Is there a better name in volleyball than Ace?
But it's not just the name that has made Ace Fa'atuai one of the top players in the Tri-County Athletic League.
The 6-foot junior is a sniper at the net, averaging 18 plus kills a game for TCAL co-champion Seaside, who hosts Saratoga Thursday in its first ever playoff game.
His size and athleticism has enabled the Spartans to run different variations with their offense. At the net, he's a demon on defense with his ability to disrupt.
But it's not just the name that has made Ace Fa'atuai one of the top players in the Tri-County Athletic League.
The 6-foot junior is a sniper at the net, averaging 18 plus kills a game for TCAL co-champion Seaside, who hosts Saratoga Thursday in its first ever playoff game.
His size and athleticism has enabled the Spartans to run different variations with their offense. At the net, he's a demon on defense with his ability to disrupt.
Carmel baseball
Carmel's youth, namely its pitching staff, came of age in its biggest game Tuesday.
The six runs the pitching staff gave up in a 7-6 extra inning win over Pacific Grove are misleading.
Two of the runs are unearned and two more came on a misplayed fly ball. This coming in a hitters park.
As a result Thursday's rematch at Pacific Grove is for the MTAL title. The pressure of chasing a title has shifted towards the Breakers.
Particularly since they blew a 6-1 lead
If Carmel can cut down on its errors, a 13th straight league title is not as far fetch as it might have seemed 24 hours ago.
The six runs the pitching staff gave up in a 7-6 extra inning win over Pacific Grove are misleading.
Two of the runs are unearned and two more came on a misplayed fly ball. This coming in a hitters park.
As a result Thursday's rematch at Pacific Grove is for the MTAL title. The pressure of chasing a title has shifted towards the Breakers.
Particularly since they blew a 6-1 lead
If Carmel can cut down on its errors, a 13th straight league title is not as far fetch as it might have seemed 24 hours ago.
5/01/2008
Palma track
Palma track coach Jason Smith's decison to forgo today's Salinas Lions City Meet to save his athletes for the league finals in five days may have stirred the pot.
But the bottom line is he did what most track coaches in Salinas only talked about.
This will get the annual meet changed next year to an earlier date to avoid running up so close to the league finals.
Injuries are a part of any sport. But why risk it so close to the finals? Remember in track, if you don't compete in the league finals, you're done... Period.
But the bottom line is he did what most track coaches in Salinas only talked about.
This will get the annual meet changed next year to an earlier date to avoid running up so close to the league finals.
Injuries are a part of any sport. But why risk it so close to the finals? Remember in track, if you don't compete in the league finals, you're done... Period.
PG baseball
Can anyone recall a school having its football, basketball and baseball teams all win league titles and go undefeated in league play in the same season???
Pacific Grove is two wins away from achieving this. Of course, those final two baseball games are against 11-time defending champion Carmel.
That being said, the Breakers made a statement this past week, outscoring Stevenson 29-5 in two games. The Pirates handed Carmel their only Mission Trail Athletic League loss.
And in Pacific Grove's last 13 games, it has scored 138 runs. I can't see Carmel's pitching containing the potent Breakers bats, especially in the bandbox that Carmel plays its home games in.
Pacific Grove is two wins away from achieving this. Of course, those final two baseball games are against 11-time defending champion Carmel.
That being said, the Breakers made a statement this past week, outscoring Stevenson 29-5 in two games. The Pirates handed Carmel their only Mission Trail Athletic League loss.
And in Pacific Grove's last 13 games, it has scored 138 runs. I can't see Carmel's pitching containing the potent Breakers bats, especially in the bandbox that Carmel plays its home games in.
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