The 5-foot-11 Aguirre earned her first start for UC Davis as a defender, and has logged 145 minutes this fall.
In three years at Salinas, Aguirre produced 12 goals and eight assists, earning all-league honors twice, including the Gabilan Division's Defensive Player of the Year as a junior.
By John Devine
TEMPE -- The call arrived in mid October while Jack Santora was substitute teaching at Monterey High.
For the third straight off-season, the Los Angeles Angels brass had a promotion waiting for the one-time slick fielding shortstop.
"Obviously I want to move up in this game," Santora said. "If you get promoted, that's a good thing. But being a part of an organization and knowing where you fit is more important."
How about both?
Santora will be managing the Inland Empire 66ers, the Angels Class A team in San Bernardino in the California League this season, meaning at least one road trip to San Jose.
For the 43-year-old Monterey graduate, this will be his third managerial stop, having started with the Angles Rookie League in Arizona, and managing their advanced rookie team in Utah last summer.
"I'm very excited to be taking another step forward," Santora said. "The Angels want me to manage at a higher level. That means they trust me with the guys in the organization."
Santora's first two stints at managing in the Angels farm system was more about teaching the game, developing players that are still maturing.
"I do not want to say we're going to more of a winning mentality at this level," Santora said. "If push came to shove, developing would take precedent. But winning comes into play more at this level."
Drafted in the 19th round in 1999 by the Diamondbacks out of UCLA, Santora spent eight years in the minors, getting as high as Triple A before descending on a decade long career playing in Italy.
Santora played for Italy in three World Baseball Classics, even signing a contract with the Dodgers organization after his performance in the first WBC in 2006, only to finish his career in Italy.
While reaching the majors as a player didn't pan out, coaching has become another avenue towards reaching a dream of wearing a major league uniform.
"I don't have it in my head to be a big league manager," Santora said. "But I want to be part of a big league team. Managing might be the way. The Angels need to see me in that regard."
Three straight jumps in the organization has at least provided an indication that the Angels like the job Santora is doing at his first two stops in developing from the ground up.
"If I keep getting promoted, great," Santora said. "If there's another role down the road, that's great. I like managing. How ever I can help the organization is what's important."
The Angels desire to improve their minor league systems has seen them rise towards the middle of the pack in the last two years.
"Our minor league ranking was really low when I got here," Santora said. "We're building our minor league systems back up. It's about working together and learning."
Santora knew after last season that he was coming back to the Angels organization after his year end evaluation. What he would be doing or where he would be was unclear at the time.
"I was told at the end of last year that I have contract for next year," Santora said. "They just weren't sure what I was going to do. I believe management continues to see what I'm doing is right."
Santora will spend the next six weeks in Tempe, where the Angels spring training complex is. He has made an off-season home in Mesa, enabling him to work with prospect and select players.
The California League has produced some noteable stars, including Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., as well as Salinas Spurs shortstop Omar Vizquel and one-time Salinas High slugger Xavier Nady.
"If you are a success at this level, you have got a shot," Santora said. "Just like any day, I just got to work and do the job the way I want to do it. You go to work to win."
As Santora's role with the Angels organization has evolved, so have his goals. He believes managing is in his blood .
"There is talk about personal goals and personal advancement each year," Santora said. "My goal is to manage in the big league. I like the job. I like leaving the door open and working with they guys on and off the field."
By John Devine
MONTEREY -- To a degree, it's a calculated risk. In less than a year, the position will open up again at Monterey Peninsula College.
Ronnie Palmer is betting on himself, accepting the position Tuesday as the Lobos new head football coach, replacing Mike Rasmussen.
"You could have those thoughts about is this the right decision until you're blue in the face," Palmer said. "I'm going back to where I've had some success. Anytime you get an opportunity, it's worth it."
A panel of coaches at MPC formed a committee to make the selection of Palmer, who had served as a defensive coordinator for the Lobos in 2012.
"We are happy to get a quality coach on short notice," MPC athletic director Lyndon Schutlzer said. "He will have to hit the ground running. He's familiar with the community."
Palmer was hired on a adjunct basis because to replace a full time facility member, it's process that often begins in the fall. The job will re-open next year with a full-time teaching position.
"We were too late to begin the process of filling a full time position," Schutzler said. "It is not ideal. But this allowed us to get someone on campus right away."
An assistant coach at the University of Northern Colorado the last two years, Palmer becomes a head coach for the first time in his eight year college coaching career.
During his one season as the defensive coordinator for the Lobos under Rasmussen, the team shared the Golden South Conference at 4-1, reaching a bowl game.
"When I came back to interview for the job, I felt the same energy that I felt in 2012," Palmer said. "I am ready to hit the ground running. It's time to go to work."
Palmer inherits a program that has been stable for the last 19 years under Rasmussen, capturing the Living Breath Foundation Bowl last fall, finishing the season 10-1.
"I learned so much as a young coach with coach Rass," Palmer said. "How you get the most out of your players, how to bring the same juice everyday."
While Rasmussen has retired, Palmer hopes to pick is brain as he makes the adjustment from being an assistant coach to running his own program.
"It would be very ignorate of me not took look him up," Palmer said. "I want get some ideas on the day-to-day operation, and get his thoughts, especially on the offensive end.
Under Rasmussen, the Lobos have run a pro-style offense, which saw them among the state leaders last year in offense.
"I have a lot of ideas right now," Palmer said. "Nothing is set in stone. I need to see what fits with our personnel. You can't force feed someone and make them something that they're not."
Filling a roster may constitute going outside the area for the Lobos, who began last season with 32 players outide the tri-region area, and 28 local players.
Palmer's first priority to talking to the returning players and coaches, and meeting every high school football coach in the tri-region area.
"I want to meet the coaches, players and parents," Palmer said. "I want to let them know what I am about. I'm excited for them to meet me. You're only as good as the people you put around you."
Prior to his two years at Northern Colorado, Palmer spent three years at Division III Texas A&M as the defensive line coach and two seasons at Colorado State as an graduate assistant.
A four-year starting linebacker at the University of Arizona -- and the teams defensive MVP in 2008, Palmer spent a training camp with the Washington Redskins in 2009.
He played in the United Football League with the Las Vegas Locomotives and Sacramento Mountain Lions, where his head coach was the late Denny Green.
"Being a former college and pro athlete, you have a network of people you can rely on, communicate with," Palmer said. "The longer you coach, the more connections you build."
Despite getting a late jump in the recruiting battles, Palmer isn't concerned with landing players that will fit the programs energy level and sustain the success.
"Not at all," Palmer said. "I'm excited for them to meet me and see what's we got going on. The biggest thing is finding kids that fit and do what we want to do. It's a relationship you build."
Palmer plans to meet with the MPC staff, some of which were around when he was the coordinator eight years.
"I think a lot of guys will want to be part of it," Palmer said. "We had a 10 win season. The scheme if minor. The philosophy is play with toughness, play fast and play for each other."
Marina girls sports
No question Tuesday will go down as the most memorable day in Marina girls sports history.
Granted, that history extends out to about 13 years.
Yet, it was a magical day for the Mariners after their soccer team won the programs first ever Arroyo Division title and the basketball team moved into first place.
Marina is one game way from completing an unbeaten season in soccer after its title clinching 4-1 win over Oakwood on senior.
The basketball program gained a measure of redemption on the road, using a steal an 3-pointer at the buzzer from Jordyn Johnson to force overtime in a 53-51 win at Oakwood.
The win snapped Oakwood's 20-game league winning streak.
The Mariners can clinch no worse than a their first league title with a win over York in their season finale on Thursday.
Both teams have put together historical season, setting school record for wins and consecutive wins.
And what memory for Kayleekai Aten, who plays on both teams.
Aten assisted on a goal in the afternoon for the Mariners soccer team, jumped in a car and drove to Morgan Hill, scoring seven points in the basketball teams dramatic win.
CLIPBOARD
Shaw to be inducted in the CCCAA Hall of Fame
Former Hartnell College track and field head coach Gary Shaw will be inducted on March 6th into the California Community College Football Coaches Hall of Fame.
More known for building the Panthers track program into a power for 40 years, Shaw also coached for than a decade the defensive backs at Hartnell.
Shaw, who became an established cross country coach at Hartnell, is already in the CCAAA Hall of Fame as a track and field coach.
Shaw began his coaching career at Santa Rosa Junior College, where he coached the late Robin Williams in the 800.
Among the notable names in the CCAAA Football Hall of Fame include Pete Carroll, Bill Walsh, John Madden, Jackie Robinson, Aaron Rodgers, Joe Perry, Dick Vermeil and Herm Edwards.
Synchronized sensations
The Cypress Swim Club gathered 21 medals at the Seaside Synchronized Swimming Invitational at Pattullo Swim Center.
Three of those medals came from Elena DeCarlo, Katelyn Gera and Annette Reining, who combined their efforts to capture gold in the 9-10 year-old trio. Reining was second in the solo.
DeCarlo and Gera jumped an age class, teaming up with Brielle Capiaux and Sofia Carmona Young to finish second in the 11-12 routine.
Capiaux and Carmona Young were also silver medalist in the 11-12 duet finals. Reagan Dotterer and Scarlett Dotterer won the gold in the 9-10 duet class.
Stephanie DeSousa and Leslie Perez Palma teamed up to win the gold in the Masters duet event. DeSousa was a silver medalist in the solo, with Corinne Harris placing and Liz MacDonald fourth.
Pearl Chenevert placed third in the 13-15 solo, with teammate Thalia Jacobs taking fourth. The pair were also fourth in the duet.
Clutch hitting from Given
Senior Marisa Given has gotten off to a sizzling start at the plate for the UC Davis softball team, producing a pair of clutch run-scoring singles.
In five games for the Aggies, Given has driven in four runs and scored four runs, while hitting .280. Defensively, she's been flawless in the outfield in 11 chances.
Last year the left-handed Given hit .329 for Davis, driving in 30 runs in 53 games. In three seasons, she hitting .308 with 86 hits, four homers, 41 runs batted in and 40 runs scored.
Given began her career at Oregon, after leading Notre Dame to a pair of Central Coast Section titles, earning The Herald's Player of the Year in softball and Athlete of the Year in 2015.
Blistering start in the circle for Main
Jensen Main has gotten off to the best start in the collegiate career, having hurled the Sacramento State softball team to a pair of early season.
The Stevenson product has allowed just one run in 11 innings of work, sporting a 0.64 earned run average, striking out four.
Main, who spent the first two year of her college career at New Mexico, has 2.95 ERA during her career at Sacramento State with 29 strikeouts in 73 innings of work.
A former four-sport standout at Stevenson, Main was The Herald's Athlete of the Year in 2016, and earned all-league honors in softball, soccer and water polo.
Sendell closing in on milestone at Lawrence
Sharpshooter Brad Sendell is inching closer to becoming the first player for the Lawrence University men's basketball team to score 1,000 points in his first two seasons.
The Pacific Grove product went into the weekend with 943 points, averaging a conference best 22.6 points a night.
Sendell leads the Vikings in scoring, 3-point percentage (38.8 percent) minutes played (35.1) and steals (0.9). He is also second in assists at 2.9 and third in rebounds at 3.2.
A two-time Midwest Conference Player of the Week at Lawrence, Sendell was a three-time Mission Trail Athletic League Player of the Year at Pacific Grove, leading them to three league titles.
Allen living in the G-League
Former Palma standout Noah Allen has played in 32 games for the Capital City Go-Go in the NBA's G-League this winter, averaging 4.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists.
The 6-foot-7 Allen, who began the season averaging seven points and five rebounds game in Europe playing for sOliver Wurzburg, is in his second season with the Go-Go.
An affiliate of the Washington Wizards, Allen has played in 75 career games for the Go-Go. He has previously played in the NBA's Summer League with the Wizards and Warriors.
A four year starter and three-time member of The Herald's All-County basketball team, Allen earned all conference honors as a senior at the University of Hawaii.
Christopher-North County basketball
The Condors understood coming into the week that they would need to win two games against two teams chasing a league title to put their names in the hat as well.
The first game couldn't have been scripted any better with North County avenging an earlier season loss to Stevenson to create a three-way tie at the top.
Yet, to gather at least share of that title, the final scene comes tonight when the Condors host co-leading Christoper in both teams league finale.
The Cougars posted 70-45 beat down in the first meeting last month -- the last time North County has suffered a loss.
Nothing has come easy for North County, as it has won its last four games by five, three, one and four points.
Champions of the Cypress Division last year, the Condors are trying to become just the second team in the county to jump a division and repeat as champions.
Once upon a time sitting at 1-8 in non-league play, the record was somewhat misleading, with five of those losses coming either a CCS or league champion.
The strength of North County has been its balance, with Cyrus Coffelt, Sergio Anaya, Jason Mellin and Brandon Ducusin taking turns leading the team in scoring.
In fact, all four were in double digits in the scoring column in the Condors win over Stevenson.
Christopher will present problems with his height, as 6-foot-8 Ethan Feener creates matchup issues. Look for Marcus Calderon to body up with him.
North County has rattled off six straight wins on their rubberized gym floor, the last of its kind in the tri-region.
Stevenson-Pacific Grove girls basketball
The only thing standing in the way of an undefeated league season for the Cypress Division champions Pirates is a rival -- on the road.
It's been a struggle of late for Pacific Grove, having dropped four of its last five games. An upset in the season finale could be a confidence builder if a playoff spot opens up.
Having suffered a heartbreaking two-point loss to St. Francis Tuesday, the Breakers have lost three games at home this year by two, four and five points.
Stevenson, who beat the Breakers by 21 points in their first meeting, are one way away from posting 20 wins for the first time since 2016.
The Pirates have not lost to a team in the tri-region this year, as Kailey Clymo and Rhea Cosand are both averaging over 11 points a game.
Lyndsey Llantero has been a double-double machine all season for Pacific Grove. Tianna Battistini is coming off a 14 point effort.
Seaside boys basketball
It's been a challenging year for the Spartans, who once again go into their season finale winless in the Mission Division.
No one anticipates being winless. There was internal hope when the year began with an infusion of youth providing a little more energy.
Instead, it's been a rebuild that has resulted in nine straight league losses.
Oh, the Spartans have clearly shown signs of improvement. Their last two losses have been by one point to co-leading North County and five points to co-leading Christopher.
And there are plenty of reasons for optimism. Freshman Jeter Olivares has proven the moment isn't to big, having led the team in scoring a handful of times, dropping in 27 against North County.
Christian Jakubowsky and Dylan Olivares are parts to build off of for next season. Both are athletic and give Seaside a panel of shooters going forward.
It's also possible that two consecutive last place finishes will drop Seaside to the Cypress Division. It is not the direction it wants to go. But it could point the program in the right direction.
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