Prep Blog

Former Sheldon standout and Cal graduate Lindsey Ziegenhirt and former Sutter High and Oregon star Jessica Moore are among 18 players selected to the USA Softball Women's National Team.

Moore, a pitcher who graduated from Oregon on Sunday, was the Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year and a first team All-American with a 27-6 record and 1.71 ERA in leading the Ducks to their first conference championship. She finished her Ducks career with 100 wins and 915 strikeouts in 903 innings.

Ziegenhirt, a catcher, had 17 home runs and 54 RBIs for Cal this season and was an All-Pac-12 second team and NFCA All-Pacific Region first team selection. She also was the Pac-12 Softball Scholar Athlete of the Year, having maintained a 3.77 grade-point average during her Cal career.

She finishes fourth in career home runs with 42 and fifth in RBIs with 151 for the Golden Bears.

Both will compete for the USA in the World Cup of Softball July 11-14 in Oklahoma City; the Canadian Open July 16-22 in Surrey, B.C.; and the International Women's World Championship/Pan American Games qualifier Aug. 5-18 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Elk Grove's Jeff Carlson, who led the Thundering Herd to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship this season, was today named Cal-Hi Sports' State Baseball Coach of the Year.

He becomes just the fifth area baseball coach and the first since Cordova's Guy Anderson in 1981 to receive the honor in the award's 80 years.

"Wow, you've caught me completely off-guard," Carlson said when told of the news. "That's a pretty cool honor and certainly has to be shared with my assistants, my players and my wife - she's a big part of this award."

Sac-Joaquin Section Division I champion Elk Grove (29-7) finished No. 3 in Cal-Hi Sports' final state baseball top 40.

Southern Section D-I champion Harvard-Westlake (26-4) of North Hollywood finished No. 1 and Central Coast Section champion St. Francis (29-4) of Mountain View was No. 2.

Pleasant Grove (24-9) finished No. 23 and Davis (22-8) was No. 28. Del Campo (25-7), Franklin (18-15) and Woodcreek (20-7) were honorable mention.

Elk Grove also finished No. 3 in the D-I state rankings. Del Campo was No. 8 in D-II. Yuba City (21-11) was No. 8 and Whitney (28-3) was No. 9 in the final D-III rankings.

Capital Christian (25-5-1) finished No. 2 to 31-0 Pacific Grove in D-IV. Bradshaw Christian (24-6) finished No. 2 to Desert Christian Academy (29-2) of Bermuda Dunes in D-V.

Pleasant Grove, Rocklin and Casa Roble finished among the top 40 teams in Cal-Hi Sports' final state softball rankings.

Pleasant Grove (22-11) finished No. 22, Rocklin (26-5) No. 27 and Casa Roble (29-5) No. 29.

Santiago (28-5) of Corona (28-5) finished No. 1, James Logan (26-1) of Union City No. 2 and Sac-Joaquin Section Division I champion Vintage (34-1) of Napa No. 3. Vintage's only loss was to Pleasant Grove.

Casa Roble, the section's D-II champion, finished No. 6 in Cal-Hi's State D-II rankings.

California State University, San Marcos, senior pitcher Cortney Allen of Elk Grove was named to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) softball All-America First Team for the second consecutive year.

The 26-year-old Allen finished the year 34-7 with a 1.12 ERA in 249.2 innings. She struck out 203.

The No. 9 Cougars lost 3-1 to St. Xavier of Chicago in the NAIA national championship playoffs in Columbus, Ga., to finish 43-12.

Here's a nice read from David Albee about former Ponderosa volleyball standout Samantha Rains using her previous youth tackle football experience as an offensive lineman and linebacker to teach children about the game at the San Rafael college's summer sports camps.

Rains comes from a football family.

Her father Randy played defensive tackle at Sacramento State. Brother Connor is an offensive tackle at Wyoming. Her other brother, Clay, played football at the United States Military Preparatory School and is now on the Army Black Knights' club boxing team.

Rains, a 6-foot junior middle blocker, led the Penguins' volleyball team in blocks last season. She also is a stellar student and heavily involved in campus and community activities.

For more, go HERE

Cal-Hi Sports has selected Pioneer's Linda Merrida as its state Medium Schools Softball Coach of the Year.

Merrida, named The Bee's Coach of the Year earlier this month, led Pioneer to a 24-6 overall record and the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III championship this season.

After upsetting Whitney 1-0 in nine innings in the first round, then losing to Antelope, the Patriots rebounded to win their last four games, including beating Antelope twice, to claim the school's second section softball title. Pioneer also won the D-IV title in 2006 with Linda's daughter, Christina, playing a leading role.

A poker game yielded more than good eats and cash winnings for KJ Monroe.

He scored some Raiders gear.

The father of 2012 Bee Player of the Year Brandon Monroe of Del Oro High School, Monroe took up a conversation with a strength coach with the Raiders. Monroe learned that a lot of Raiders players discard cleats and practice pants after OTA and mini-camp sessions. Monroe was invited to stop the Raiders headquarters on Friday afternoon to pick up a box of gear - 15 pairs of cleats and just as many practice pants.

He delivered the goods to first-year Foothill coach Tim Trokey, whose brother Mike played for Monroe 20 years ago when he coached high school ball in Southern California.

"The Raiders giving back to the community," Monroe said. "Some of these cleats have only been used a few times. The kids can use these. Money's tight at some of these schools."

Monroe plans to make a lot of Bay Area trips this fall. Brandon Monroe will play safety for San Jose State, a rising program that went 11-2 last fall, its best season since 1940, when Pop Warner served as an advisory coach.

Brandon was a 1,500-yard rusher for Del Oro last fall, despite missing four games with a knee strain. In the Team USA versus Team Canada All-Star game this spring, Monroe earned MVP honors with 250 yards rushing and three touchdowns in a 29-14 victory.

His drive to return to action as a senior and to help the team in any way possible drew accolades from across the region, and he was named the Character Combine Student/Athlete of the Year for such leadership.
- Joe Davidson
- On Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD
- On Podcast: ESPN1320.net
- On Cable: SureWestSports.com

Here are insights/highlights from tournament director Mat Bradley on last weekend's fifth annual Cosumnes River College Summer Challenge boys basketball tournament at Cosumnes River College and Monterey Trail High School.

RESULTS
Championship: Natomas d. Sacred Heart Cathedral-San Francisco 63-60
Final Four: Natomas 65 Laguna Creek 59, Sacred Heart Cathedral 43 Rio Americano 40
Third Placer: Laguna Creek defeats Rio Americano
Consolation Championship: Antelope defeats Oakland Tech

TEAMS GOING 4-1
Cosumnes Oaks, Oak Ridge, Encina Prep, Atwater

GOOD SHOWINGS
Pleasant Grove, Capital Christian, River City, Liberty Ranch, Monterey Trail

TOURNAMENT
It's always exciting to have an annually competitive field, especially with successful and respected programs such as Sacred Heart Cathedral, Pleasant Grove, Antelope and Capital participating, but it was refreshing to watch programs like Natomas, Rio Americano and Laguna Creek have solid showings this year. These are programs that have been highly successful in the past and look to make competitive runs this upcoming basketball season. Some other teams that we expect to have playoff promise are Cosumnes Oaks, River City and Liberty Ranch. These teams displayed experienced youth, size and athleticism that is geared for playoff pushes. This weekend was a nice taste of what's to come this upcoming season in the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs and CIF NorCals.

ALL-STAR GAME
Most all star games are full of individual play, but this year was a different story. It was truly enjoyable to watch elite-level players sharing the ball while still being aggressive throughout the game. The game had good flow, and the score was close throughout. Sometimes you'll find all-star games slow paced and without much of a defensive showing. This game felt different. Guys were hustling, moving the ball, and creating some great highlights. Whether it was dunks, no-look passes for easy scores, or contested deep threes that touched nothing but net, I just felt a satisfaction of solid, competitive basketball with a nice balance of elite-level players from D1 to D5. I noticed both teams were a reflection of the coaches that led them...John DePonte of Plesasant Grove (North Team) and Darrell Barbour and Demetrius Jackson of Sacred Heart Cathedral.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES
1) Nilo Yuson - senior point guard from Excel Academy of Stockton played with a motor, pushed tempo and involved his teammates.
2) Connor Sende - senior guard/forward from Oak Ridge played explosive, rebounded well and knows how to score.
3) Others who impressed - senior Jalen Davis of River City, freshman guard Ryan Chappel of Capital Christian, junior forward-center Marquese Chriss of Pleasant Gove, senior swing Phil Morgan of Natomas and senior guard Anthony Lewis of Lodi.

2012 Olympic silver medalist Haley Anderson of Granite Bay has been named to the United States' FINA World Championships open water swim team.

Anderson will compete in the 5K final at July 20-27 event at Barcelona's Moll de la Fusta.

Anderson qualified by winning the 5K title at last month's USA Swimming Open Water Swimming National Championships in Santa Clarita.

Elk Grove's Rowdy Tellez is one of seven Cal-Hi Sports Mr. Baseball State Player of the Year finalists.

Tellez, a first baseman, helped the Thundering Herd win the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I title this season. He hit .500 with nine home runs and 46 RBIs.

His 176 career RBIs is a Sac-Joaquin Section best and second all-time in Northern California to Lowell of San Francisco's Charlie Cutler. He had 203.

Trent Brendel got a head start Sunday on what it will be like to run on Cal's Edwards Stadium track surface.

The Golden Bears' signee and recent Granite Bay graduate won the boys 800 meters and placed fifth in the mile at the 54th Annual Golden West Invitational on Sunday in Berkeley.

It was the first time since the mid-1960s that the event was run anywhere other than Sacramento.

Brendel won the 800 in a personal best time of one minute, 53.09 seconds. His mile time was 4:21.27.

Two other area athletes also were winners at the meet.

Davis' Nick Denton won the boys shot put with a toss of 58 feet, 8.75 inches and was third in the discus (151-07).

Center's Xavier Howell placed first in boys high jump (6-5.50). Howell had the state's best jump this year of 7 feet.

St. Francis' Kayla O'Brine placed second in the girls hammer (140-10) and sixth in the discus (119-9) and Whitney's Ryan Hodgens was third in the boys 3,200 (9:41.90).

Del Campo's Joy Weems placed fifth in the girls 400 (58.27), and Trent Brendel's younger brother, Tyler, a Granite Bay sophomore, placed sixth in the boys 100 (11.30) and 200 (22.48).

MVP Gabe Meza of Granite Bay's walk-off base hit in the bottom of the ninth gave the North a 10-9 win over the South in the large school Optimist All-Star baseball game Saturday night at McAuliffe Field near Sacramento State.

Del Campo's Derek Rodigo also homered for the North.

Franklin's Tyler Blake, who had a double, was selected the South MVP in the 42nd annual game featuring some of the area's top graduated seniors.

Behind MVP Ethan Liddle of Lincoln's triple, double, single and five RBIs, the North defeated the South 11-7 in the small school game.

River City's Byron Farrell, with a double and two singles, was selected the South MVP. Vista del Lago's Nick Rametta also had a double and two RBIs for the South.

The games were dedicated to U.S. Army Specialist Ray Ramirez, who was killed in Afghanistan June 1. Ramirez played in the 2010 Optimist Game for Florin.

Thirteen area players, including Elk Grove standout Rowdy Tellez, were selected on the third and final day of the Major League Baseball player draft.

Players were selected in Rounds 11 through 40.

Tellez, The Bee Player of the Years and considered the third best first baseman by Baseball America entering the draft, was taken by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 30th round, the 895th pick overall.

Former Sheldon pitcher Tyler Linehan, now at Fresno State, was taken in the ninth round of today's Major League Baseball amateur draft by the Milwaukee Brewers.

A 6-foot, 240-pound junior left-hander, Linehan was the No. 272 player selected in the second day of the three-day draft.

Blessed with a fastball in the low 90s with good cutting action, Linehan compiled a 17-16 record and struck out 171 in 179 2/3 innings during his career at Fresno State.

Linehan's best season was as a sophomore. He went 9-7 with a 3.83 ERA. He struck out 82 in 83 innings.

Linehan struggled with consistency this season moving between the rotation and the bullpen. He finished 3-7 with a 5.90 ERA.

Linehan wasn't the only imposing Fresno State player to be drafted.

Junior Aaron Judge, a 6-7, 255-pound outfielder who was born in Sacramento and graduated from Linden High near Stockton, was taken in the first round Thursday by the New York Yankees.

The Colorado Rockies have selected Elk Grove High's Dom Nunez in the sixth round of today's Major League Baseball draft.

Nunez is the first area high school player and second overall to be selected.

Former Granite Bay catcher Andrew Knapp, now at Cal, was taken in the second round (53rd overall) by the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.

The Rockies selected the multi-talented Nunez, the 169th pick in the draft, as a third baseman. The position is slotted for a signing bonus of $265,000.

He was the seventh player selected by Colorado and the second third baseman chosen. The Rockies took Mater Dei of Santa Ana's Ryan McMahon with the 42nd pick.

Nunez, who played shortstop for the USA junior national team in 2011 and 2012, was a catcher for Elk Grove this season, making him one one of the draft's most intriguing prospects.

The 6-foot Nunez, who has signed a letter of intent with UCLA, was projected as the No. 89 pick and a catcher in MLB.com's pre-draft top 100.

The Bee All-Metro first team catcher this season batted .390 and drove in 37 runs for the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I champions.

The Cosumnes River College Summer Challenge gets underway this afternoon at CRC and Monterey Trail High School.

CIF State Division I boys basketball champion Pleasant Grove, two-time D-II Sac-Joaquin Section champion Antelope and two-time D-V section champion Capital Christian are among 32 teams that will compete today through Sunday.

Also entered is CIF Northern California Regional D-III champion Sacred Heart Cathedral of San Francisco, which lost to Sheldon in last year's summer tournament title game after winning it in 2011.

An sll-star game is set for CRC Gym 1 at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. The consolation title will be played 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Monterey Trail Gym 1 with the title game at the same time at CRC Gym 1. The third place game will be played at 3:15 p.m. at CRC.

Here are today's first-round games:

Cosumnes River College
4 p.m. - Ripon vs. Pleasant Grove, Gym 1; Liberty Ranch vs. Bradshaw Christian, Gym 2; 5 p.m. - Antelope vs. Natomas, Gym 1; Elk Grove vs. Dixon, CRC 2; 8 p.m. - Rio Americano vs. Capital Christian, Gym 1; Lodi vs. Cosumnes Oaks, Gym 2.

Monterey Trail High School
4 p.m. - River City vs. Colfax, Gym 1; Vanden vs. Edison-Stockton, Gym 2; 5 p.m. - Vista del Lago vs. Laguna Creek, Gym 1; Atwater vs. Excel Academy, Gym 2. 8 p.m. - Encina vs. Oak Ridge, Gym 1; Escalon vs. San Juan, Gym 2.

Here are Saturday's first-round games:
Cosumnes River College
10 a.m. - Oakland Tech vs. Vacaville, Gym 2; Bear River vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral, Gym 1.
Monterey Trail
10 a.m. - Johansen vs. Monterey Trail, Gym 1; Sequoia vs. Merced, Gym 2.

Andrew Knapp credits his father for helping him find the way in baseball.

Mike Knapp was a pretty good catcher in his day.

He played at Mira Loma, Sacramento City College and Cal before becoming a 15th round draft pick of the California Angels. He played 11 seasons in the minor leagues, seven at the AAA level, but never made it to the Major Leagues.

But now his son may have the chance - and at the same position as Dad.

The former Granite Bay star, a junior at Cal, was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies with the 53rd pick in the second round of Thursday's Major League Baseball amateur draft.

The 21-year-old Knapp was the only area player selected in the first two rounds, 73 selections in all, on the first day. The draft continues today with rounds three through 10.

The 6-foot-1, 192-pound Knapp is a switch hitter who batted .350, third in the Pac-12, with a team-high 16 doubles, eight home runs and 41 RBIs this season. He was selected a first-team Preseason All-American by Baseball America and was named All-Pacific-12.

Upon graduation from Granite Bay High School, Knapp was selected in the 42nd round by the Oakland A's but chose to attend Cal instead.

As a junior at Granite Bay, Knapp batted .500 with six home runs and 37 RBIs and was named Maxpreps.com's 2009 Junior Player of the Year. He hit .315 as a senior in helping the Grizzlies win the Sierra Foothill League championship.

Knapp also was a standout defensive back for the Granite Bay football team and had five interceptions his senior year.

His younger brother, Aaron, also a football-baseball standout at Granite Bay, will play baseball at Cal, too.

The Folsom Cordova Board of Trustees tonight will confer high school diplomas to two stellar athletes who had to skip their graduation ceremonies because they competed in last weekend's CIF Strate Track and Field Championships in Clovis.

Cordova's Nia Dorner, who won the girls 400 title, and Vista del Lago's Madeleine Ankhelyi, who finished sixth in the girls 3,200 run, will be honored during the special ceremony.

"They were representing the best of our district (at the championship) and while they missed their initial graduation ceremony, we are pleased to honor them in this way," said Debbie Bettencourt, district superintendent, in a press release.

Both also stellar students, Dorner will attend Texas and Ankhelyi Harvard.

Here are the spring All-Tri County Conference teams that were submitted to The Bee. For corrections or omissions, please e-mail bpaterson@sacbee.com

SOFTBALL
Defensive MVP: Angelica Dark, Pioneer.
Offensive MVP: Kelsey Goodner, Woodland.
All-League: Cailin Garmon, Inderkum; Tori Bellin, Rylie Carlier, Gabriela Davis, Angelica Navarro, Pioneer; Mikayla Brown, Kaitlyn Combo, Ahlee Paterno, River Valley; Kiley Bair, Kaylee Davis, Bailey Lerch, Rachel Tadlock, Woodland; Chelsea Braun, Anjelica Cisneros, Yuba City.

GIRLS SOCCER
Offensive MVP: Hailey Maxwell, Inderkum.
Defensive MVP: Stacy Larson, Natomas.
All-League: Ivarie Bourrage, Danielle McCarthy, Cierra Quintana, Makayla Ruvalcaba, Maia Torres, Inderkum; Evelyn Cordero, Victoria Gutierrez, Natomas; Ally Martin, Tanya Rodriguez, Pioneer; Princessa Ceja, Jazzmyne Garcia, Jackie Koch, Lizzie Milner, Karinna Recendez, River Valley; Stephanie Doss, Brianna Hernandez, Cheyenne Romero, Alli Ward, Woodland; Cassidy Fix, Yuba City.

Here are the spring All-Sierra Valley Conference teams that were submitted to The Bee. For corrections or omissions, please e-mail bpaterson@sacbee.com

SOFTBALL
MVP: Sarah Phillis, Union Mine.
Coach of the Year: Javier Martinez, River City.
All-League: Jessica Dager, Laura Dager, Madi Heape, Calista Almer, Shyanne Winjie, Union Mine; Sabryna Scott, Julia Morales, Jennifer Palmeras, Samantha Kile, Melia Roberts, Cosumnes Oaks; Catelyn Parker, Alejandra Medina, Makayla Bryant, Liberty Ranch; Karina Callazo, Ashlend Rodriguez, Jordin Sanchez, River City; Ashley Muzzi, Cherise Silvan, Vista del Lago; Kailey Olcott, Trinity Jackson, El Dorado; Baylee Hirtel, Galt.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL
MVP: Galvin Griffin, Vista del Lago.
Coach of the Year: Glenn Linka, Golden Sierra.
All-League: Daniel Deloney, Connor Tevenan, Hunter Ales, Patrick Reinking, Vista del Lago; Matt Smith, Rocky Sacks, Gracen Christensen, Brian Cann, Golden Sierra; Brandon Koons, Zach Melgoza, Capital Christian; Elijah Magat, Tait Miller, El Dorado; Newton Vong, West Campus.

BASEBALL
MVP: Michael Majewski, Vista del Lago.
Coach of the Year: Rusty McDonald, El Dorado.
All-League: Nick Schumacher, Josh Pfeffer, Nick Rametta, Zach Stolarow, Tyler Kaim, Vista del Lago; Chris Swineford, Zach Culp, Matt Smith, Nick Bonniksen, Tim Hinrichs, El Dorado; Donovan Palma, Alex Smith, Spencer Ubois, Cosumnes Oaks; James Reilly, Jake Oliver, Zach Bartelme, Liberty Ranch; Joseph Oliveria, Jarrod Person, Jared Brunet, Galt; Byron Farrell, River City; Sean Tow, Union Mine.

Here are the spring All-Sacramento Metro Athletic League teams as submitted to The Bee. For corrections or omissions, please e-mail bpaterson@sacbee.com

BASEBALL
MVP: Jimmy Shaw, Valley Christian.
Coach of the Year: Bob Greene, Trinity Prep.
All-League: Jeremiah Moore, Caleb Van Patten, Will Hammond, Zach Sween, Valley Christian; Tony Scaicca, Machael Rowles, Trinity Prep; Sam Ithurburn, Evan Treanor, Faith Christian; Morgan Bennett-Smith, Sacramento Country Day; Anthony Alameda, Buckingham Charter.

GIRLS SOCCER
MVP: Francis Arend, Trinity Prep.r
Coaches of the Year: Michael Rossi, Trinity Prep; Tong Ly, Buckingham; George Champayne, Sacramento Country Day.
All-League: Bitty Bach, Patricia Williams, Ahley Huss, Trinity Prep; Marissa Kindsvater, Kelsi Thomas, Madeline Wright, Sacramento Country Day; Symone Salmon, Sheena Weller, Shelby Liddicoet, Alyssa Davis, Buchingham.

SOFTBALL
Co-MVP: Amanda Diego Buckin, Buckingham Charter; Katie Urban, Valley Christian.
Sabrina Joseph, Juliana Page, Alexis Galvan, Natalie Gomez, Buckingham Charter; Cassidy Bowen, Erin Patterson, Grace Magni, Valley Christian; Sarah Lego, Allie Rollins, Megan Evans, Faith Christian.

Here are the spring All-Sierra Foothill League teams that have been submitted to The Bee. For corrections or omissions, e-mail bpaterson@sacbee.com

SOFTBALL
MVP: Mallory Asaro, Rocklin.
All-League: Jenna Curtan, Frankie Orlando, Amanda Horbasch, Crystal Vierra, Woodcreek; Sam Moffat, Maddie Wuelfing, Cali Lewis, Jaclyn Amader, Kendall Chambers, Rocklin; Kayla Fields, Delany DeMello, Taylor McDowell, Alison Manzo, Roseville; Molly Fowkes, Hanna Miller, Sam Strong, Del Oro; Gia France, Nina Murphy-Cook, Granite Bay.

BOYS GOLF
MVP: Bryce Johnson, Woodcreek.
All-League: Blake Abercrombie, Andrew Penney, Rocklin; Brandon Baumgarten, Mason Troike, Granite Bay; Justin Raskin, Josh Sedeno, Louie Euer, Del Oro; Derek Frank, Logan Lowe, Nevada Union.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Co-MVP: Trevor Bryant, Bobby Curtis, Nevada Union.
All-League: Ryan Cernik, Nico Duvekot, Rocklin; Evan Kittle, Austin Marks, Lucas Vojak, Nevada Union; Christian Habeil, Roseville; Connor Drake, Mason Humes, Adrian Giron, Del Oro; Greg Smith, Zach Wilson, Vaughn Petersen, Granit Bay.

GIRLS SOCCER
MVP: Lauren Stafford, Roseville.
All-League: Sabrina Guzman, Sierra Sanchez, Marissa Vaughan, Lindsey Anderson, Milana Wolsleben, Roseville; Dani DeRosa, Lindsay Erl, Laura Purdy, Lydia SUmmers, Michelle Tran, Rocklin; Julia Beck, Makenzie Brito, Bridgid Lummis, Chloe Dobson, Granite Bay; Kayla Collins, Marisa Grattan, Jessica Hinsken, Elle Gollnick, Del Oro; Madeline McArthur, Emily Kitchen, Erien Matsueda, Woodcreek; Meshon O'Conner, Nevada Union.

BOYS TENNIS
MVP: Matt Thompson, Granite Bay.
All-League: Gabe Ezcurra, Max Hennessey, Gaylin Champlin, Del Oro; Mitchell Iwahiro, Bradley Chee, Chinar Sheth, Granite Bay; Alex Agelokopoulous, Hunter Snider, Brandon Yates, Rocklin; Dallas Guerrero, Alex Bychoviak, Roseville; Jan Arendain, Woodcreek.

Here are the spring All-Sierra Delta League teams submitted to The Bee. For corrections or omissions, e-mail bpaterson@sacbee.com

SOFTBALL
Co-MVP: Hollie Johnson, Golden Sierra; Lindsey Rose, Rio Vista.
Co-Coaches of the Year: Aly Stiles, Rio Vista; Becky Pratte, Golden Sierra.
All-League: Savannah Stephens, Kenna Barth, Samantha Bastein, Alexis Hall, Haley Laird, Carly Kauffman, Golden Sierra; Kylee Hagan, Holly Chandler Carli Schulz, Mariah Hernandez, Rio Vista; Sara Moffet, Cassandra Powell, Hannah Thompson, Vacaville Christian; Brooke-Ashley Castillo, Cindy Van Bogart, San Juan; Nicole Filbert, Highlands.

GIRLS SOCCER
Offensive Player of the Year: Jessica Syracuse, Bradshaw Christian.
Defensive Player of the Year: Natalie Parks, Bradshaw Christian.
Coach of the Year: Dan Sisneros, Highlands.
All-League: Micheala Thorn, Lauren DeCarlo, TaylorShubert, Madison Kelly, Vacaville Christian; Rebecca Hegge, Amanda Dukes, Alix Nordby, Taylor Gleason, Kayleigh Brothers, Golden Sierra; Jennifer Lawson, Savannah Grant, Kennedi Barkley, Olivia Gula, Bradshaw Christian; Karla Cruz, Miriam Brajas, Highlands; Hannah Dumas, Lindsey Hawkins, Gabby Ortega, Rio Vista; Hannah Till, Cassidy Carrera, San Juan; Natalie Ebler, Encina.

Here are the spring All-Pioneer Valley League teams as submitted to The Bee. For corrections or omissions, please e-mail bpaterson@sacbee.com

BASEBALL
MVP: Devon Loomis, Colfax.
Co-Coaches of the Year: Tim Day, Colfax; Troy Peterson, Lincoln.
All-League: Ryan Glazner, Dave Campbell, James Dean, Colfax; Ethan Liddle, Isaiah Garcia, Jake Sola, James Pallas, Kody Kencke, Julio Martinez, Lincoln; Logan Markstein, Chip Mitchell, Placer; Michael Raigoza, Travis Anderson, Andrew Reis, Andrew Harris, Bear River; Devin Eldredge, Brandon Goad, Center; Briar Litz, Foothill.

BOYS TENNIS
MVP: Andrew Carducci, Placer.
All-League: Andrew Leaonard, Bear River; AJ deCastro, Alex Bgaton, Foothill; Drew Detwillier, Colfax; Connor Fergeson, Lincoln; Kyle Fontes, Andrew Dahlin, Placer.

GIRLS TENNIS
All-League: Deja Kitchinar, Victoria Lavor, Center; Justine Hanson, COlfax; Clare McInery, Kristen Schasuble, Placer.

Here are the spring All-Metro Conference teams that were submitted to The Bee. For corrections or omissions, e-mail bpaterson@sacbee.com

GIRLS SWIMMING
All-League: Allie Stewart, Jane Ferguson, Sydney Kushida, Emily Griensebeck, Elena Redman, Eleanor Hunts, Kayla Arakaki, Hannah Ross, Sophie Porter, McClatchy; Valerie Vessels, Valley; Christina Trimingham, Sofia Amezcua, Julia Ng, Hayleigh Lynch, Kennedy.

BOYS SWIMMING
All-League: Jesse Walker, Andrew Paiva, Owen Martin, Jesse Glick, Matt Gevercer, Nevada Schultz, McClatchy; Brandon Bulfer, Jonathon Hutton, Brendon Collins, Andrew Johnson, Bradley Collins, Kennedy.

BASEBALL
MVP: Jalen Brown, Rosemont.
All-League: Adam Takeuchi, Alex Okamoto, T.J. Hicks, Kennedy; Michael Valli, Eddie Sievers, Jorge Perez, Raul Ortiz, McClatchy; Kevin Beatty, Greg Hartley, Rosemont; Kirk Crump, Caden Voges, Sacramento; Andre Ruiz, Jake Hanson, Florin; Dwight Alston, Valley; Shawn Franklin, Burbank.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL
MVP: Peter Vang, Valley.
All-League: Joe Healow, Kennedy; Eric Tau, Florin; Grant Fong, Justin Hu, Kramer Wong, McClatchy; Van Yang, Johnson; Alan Yang, Chia Vang, Valley; Warren Davis, Nate Hernandez, Sacramento; Wan Lee, AJ Isaako, Burbank.

SOFTBALL
All-League: Jayda Jordan, Janiece Jackson, Sacramento; Leia Gaspar, Leslie Pilgrim, Cynthia Garcia, Josie Fong, McClatchy; Aaliyah Oliver, Alexandra Pudlo, Hannah Trabucco, Janessa Rocha, Rosemont; Cheyenne Crump, Hortencia Lugo, Kiana Bailey, Burbank; Breon Hall, Keari Hutt, Kennedy; Gail Oliver, Florin.

Additional lists:

Spring All-Tri County Conference teams

Spring All-Sierra Valley Conference teams

Spring All-Sacramento Metro Athletic League teams

Spring All-Sierra Foothill League teams

Spring All-Sierra Delta League teams

Spring All-Pioneer Valley League teams

Spring All-Golden Empire League teams

Spring All-Delta Valley Conference teams

Spring All-Delta River League teams

Spring All-Capital Valley Conference teams

Spring All-Capital Athletic League teams

Here are the spring All-Golden Empire League teams as submitted to The Bee. For corrections or omissions, please e-mail bpaterson@sacbee.com

SOFTBALL
Co-MVP's: Jenna Bassler, Kristina Brown, Dixon.
Coach of the Year: Maurice Clavelle, Marysville.
All-League: Tressa Arostegui, Morgan Welch, Brina Buttacavoli, Ajza Matta, Mikayla Anderson, Cassidy Clavelle, Marysville; Shawna Hulsey, Kaylie Wofford, Asailah Brown, Hailee Gilbert, Lindhurst; Naomi Kubo, West Campus; Megan Karber, Kaeli Tully, Dixon; Hannah Lipka, Capital Christian; Kelsey Stigal, Samantha Marmolejos, Mesa Verde.

BASEBALL
MVP: Chad Perry, Marysville.
Coach of the Year: Scott Winslow.
All-League: Terrance Bremby, Mauricio Dubon, Ben Ritchey, Tyler Schimpf, Capital Christian; Aric Cortes, Keanu Cortes, Chris Sisco, Andrew Sutton, Lindhurst; Korey Hall, Jo Jo Quintanilla, Sam Stiltner, Dixon; Alex Johnson, Ryan Whalen, Mesa Verde; Trevor Lopez, West Campus; Hayden Paige, Austin Winona, Marysville.

BOYS GOLF
MVP: Garrett Brown, Marysville.
All-League: Logan Brown, Marysville; Mike Cordova, Mesa Verde; Tyler Fulton, Dixon; Drake Hankins, West Campus; Jeremiah Thiel, Matt Bailey, Capital Christian.

Here are the spring All-Delta Valley Conference teams, as submitted to The Bee. For corrections or omissions, please e-mail bpaterson@sacbee.com

BOYS VOLLEYBALL
MVP: Torrey Smith, Elk Grove.
Coach of the Year: Rick Faraimo, Grant.
All-League: Dan Bonetti, Sam Manderfield, Davis; Kenneth Huynh, Daniel Teranishi, Franklin; Aleksey Kiselev, Cameron Nunn, Cheng Thao, John Vang, Grant; Gabe Tavora, Tim Thompson, Uzo Okemiri, Monterey Trail.

BOYS GOLF
MVP: Preston Walchli, Davis.
All-League: Patrick Cajandig, Michael Chen, Chase Dossa, Cyrus Espino, Spencer Salk, Davis; Eric Tam, Franklin.

BOYS TENNIS
All-League: Chris Chinn, Andrew Dumit, Manraj Gill, Chase Kellison, Dan Segedin, Davis; Dylan King, Diego Reitano, Elk Grove; Alan Hu, Alex Hu, Franklin; Tommy Luu, Tuyen Ngu, Monterey Trail.

Here are the spring All-Delta River League teams as submitted to The Bee. For corrections or omissions, please e-mail bpaterson@sacbee.com

SOFTBALL
Co MVP's: Amber Murray, Pleasant Grove; Bailey O'Mara, St. Francis.
All-League: Taylor Gisler, Folsom; Lauren Bertoy, Jackie Schmaeling, Oak Ridge; Vanessa Washington, Marissa Maligad, Celina Matthias, Pleasant Grove; Rachel Timberman, Taylor Eilders, Ponderosa; Danika Bailey, Amy Marks, Alejandra Garcia, St. Francis; Anessa Kaylor, Zamari Hinton, Erika Lane, Sheldon.

BASEBALL
MVP: Alec DeWatteville, Oak Ridge.
All-League: Craig Stafford, Folsom; Chris Loeb, Julian Barron, Andy Snow, Jesuit; Logan Marsten, Ross Dwelley, Mickey Meinhofer, Tommy Hummer, FP Santangelo, Oak Ridge; Bronson Grubbs, Dalton Gomez, Nico Toni, Matt Stafford, Josh Adams, Pleasant Grove; Hunter White, Sheldon.

BOYS GOLF
MVP: Corey Pereira, Ponderosa.
All-League: Connor Bell, Chad Kubes, Austen Sandoval, Steve Griggs, Jesuit; Charlie Cameron, Quinn Carlsen, Oak Ridge; Chad Vander Dussen, Pleasant Grove.

Here are the spring All-Capital Valley Conference teams that were submitted to The Bee. For corrections or omissions, please e-mail bpaterson@sacbee.com

BASEBALL
All-League: Jared Briggs, Brayden Gomez, Matt Gunter, Austin Hennen, Keith Judd, Bella Vista; Matt David, AJ Hall, AJ Masters, Jake Rodrigues, Oakmont; Zach Ewertsen, Austin Johnson, Steven Talbert, Christian Brothers; Tim Hall, Mike Hatfield, Sam Long, Mike Phelan, Derek Rodigo, Tyler Swank, Del Campo; Kendall Menard, Charles Osborne, Casa Roble; Leo Skateboo, Rio Linda.

BOYS TENNIS
MVP: Sean Alves, Casa Roble.
All-League: Gojko Gojkovich, Jacob Lampl, Scott Putty, Bella Vista; Arthur Guitarte, Adrian Karp, Taylor Phan, Oakmont; Matt Haynie, Winston Limhengco, Christian Brothers; Aram Hosseini, Julian Matteoni, Del Campo; Glen Lai, Rio Linda.

Here are the spring All-Capital Athletic League teams. For corrections or omissions, e-mail bpaterson@sacbee.com

BASEBALL
MVP: Trevor Abrams, Whitney.
All-League: Robert Contreras, Steven Mercado, Joaquin Sequeria, Tyler Winston, Antelope; Jerome Brown, Jamari Campbell, Nathan Jacobson, Cordova; Josh Crawford, Logan Korn, El Camino; Pierce Edminton, Mira Loma; Kody Gardner, Alec Kazanjian, Mark Lyon, Payton Morena, Guillermo Salazar, Josh Savea, Rio Americano; FJ Floyd, JR Robinson, Drew Romo, Aaron Winter, Whitney.

GIRLS SOCCER
MVP: Elizabeth Hutchison, Rio Americano.
Offensive Player of the Year: Aliyah Utush, Antelope.
Defensive Player of the Year: Emily Hansen, Rio Americano.
Coach of the Year: Jennifer Smiley, Rio Americano.
All-League: Lillie Ahpo, Kendra Boargingham, Shannon Boyce, Angela Gonzalez, Alyssa Walker, Natalie Wison, Antelope; Brittany Brungs, Cordova; Mia Evans, Paige Greer, McKenna Jackson, Hannah Klinger, Jaqui Ortega, El Camino; Julia Butterfield, Katelyn Chandler, Mel Hoskins, Lizzie Moulton, Rio Americano; Tara Armstrong, Mallory Erl, Nich Schnable, Molly McConnell, Whitney.

Less than six months after leading Granite Bay High School to its first State Bowl football championship, a teary-eyed Ernie Cooper stunned his players at the start of Wednesday's practice by telling them he no longer had "the fire in his belly" and was immediately stepping down as the school's football coach.

Cooper, 51, is just the latest high-profile coach to step away from the year-round grind that is the evolution of high-level prep coaching. He joins Nevada Union's Dave Humphers and Vista del Lago's Chris Jones as high-profile coaches who have retired since last season.

Cooper steps down after 17 seasons as Granite Bay's only football coach having compiled a 155-43-1 win-loss record. The Grizzlies won 10 league and five Sac-Joaquin Section titles.

Two former area softball standouts helped lead Concordia University of Irvine to the NAIA National Championship on Thursday in Columbus, Ga.

Concordia (52-3) went 7-0 in the tournament and beat Spring Hill College of Mobile, Ala., 8-3 in the championship game.

Freshman third baseball Hannah Howell from Del Campo and junior catcher-first baseman Annette Merjano of Del Oro (by way of Sierra College) helped the Eagles win their first national championship.

Howell, an all-tournament selection, batted .359 and drove in 42 runs for the season. Merjano batted .320 and had 41 RBIs. The duo combined for 17 home runs.

Four area players are among 49 named High School All-Americans by US Lacrosse.

They are Jesuit senior Elijah Gaea, Davis senior Mikie Schlosser, Oak Ridge junior Josh Wellman and Franklin junior Harley Whitham.

Pleasant Grove senior Chase Crimmins was named to the 24-man All-Academic Team.

The Evening Optimist Club of Sacramento is dedicating this Saturday's 42nd Annual High School Baseball All-Star Games at McAuliffe Field to United States Army Specialist Ray Ramirez.

Ramirez, 20, was killed by an improvised explosive device on Saturday in Wardak province, Afghanistan.

Ramirez attended Florin High School, where he pitched and caught for the Panthers' baseball team.

Ending weeks of speculation, Eddie Vanderdoes made it official this morning through a text first released to The Bee late Monday: he will not attend Notre Dame on a football scholarship and will instead head to UCLA.

The 6-foot-4, 305-pound All-American defensive end from Placer High School expressed gratitude to Notre Dame for being "gracious" of his deciosn. He nearly signed with UCLA in February after a whirlwind recruiting process that had him listed as a top 10 national recruit.

Vanderdoes did not shed any light on what went wrong with Notre Dame. He suggested that the switch to UCLA is primarily because of a desire to remain close to family. It's a one-hour flight from Sacramento to Los Angeles as compared to flights to South Bend, Ind.

Though still not formally released from his letter of intent, Vanderdoes is hopeful of a smooth transition, his father Eddie Vanderdoes III said. Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said today the school will not release Vanderdoes but wishes him well otherwise.

Wrote Vanderdoes in a text, "I would like to thank the University of Notre Dame for lifting the recruiting ban and allowing me to sign an athletic scholarship with UCLA. Over the past four months, circumstances have changed for me and my family. For very personal reasons, I feel a strong need to remain close to home and be near those who are most
important in my life.

"I am honored and humbled that Note Dame thought enough of me as a person and a football player to offer me a scholarship. They have been very gracious to recognize not only how difficult a decision this was, but also how important it was for me to be near my family at this time. I take my commitments seriously, but as circumstances changed, the most important commitment is the one made to family."

To be more specific, Vanderdoes signed a grant-in aid with UCLA. Gaining a letter of intent release includes appeals, making for a delicate, time-consuming process, said Vanderdoes III. A binding letter cannot prevent Vanderdoes from attending UCLA, but it can road-block any easy path to the football field.

Said Kelly in a statement released by Notre Dame, "Eddie Vanderdoes will not be attending the University of Notre Dame. We did not release him from his national letter of intent in order to protect the integrity of that very important program, but we have worked with the Vanderdoes family so that Eddie can continue his education this fall at a school closer to his home.

"We understand Eddie's interest in remaining closer to his family and wish him well."

If Vanderdoes does at some point gain a release, he can play this fall for UCLA. If he doesn't gain that release, Vanderdoes will have to sit a year, per NCAA rules, and then have four remaining years to play three.

Vanderdoes has already appealed the National Letter of Intent board, and was denied. He can still appeal the Notre Dame decision.

Vanderdoes has not spoken publicly on the matter besides two statements. Vanderdoes III said in a lengthy phone conversation that a lot of this is a private family matter, well beyond a simple "change of heart."

With the recruiting ban lifted, UCLA was able to sign Vanderdoes. UCLA coaches will visit Vanderdoes today in his home town of Auburn.

"We're very excited to welcome Eddie to the Bruin family," said excited UCLA assistant coach Angus McClure by cell. "We know what kind of quality person Eddie is."

McClure denied that UCLA coaches tampered by reaching out to Vanderdoes in recent weeks.

"When the recruiting ban was lifted, we were able to make contact, and he showed interest in UCLA," McClure said.

Vanderdoes will be assigned classes today and start summer sessions on June 24. That will trigger the transfer rule. The family is hopeful that once it's official that Vanderdoes is a UCLA student, he'll be released from his letter of intent from UCLA.

Vanderdoes III said the last few months have been a strain on his son and the family. They have found out just how passionate college football fans are, and how rumors and speculation run rampant.

"During the whole time, the biggest issue was not talking about some of this, because it is a process," Vanderdoes III said. "He asked out of his letter in March. It's been weeks, then months. This statement at least cools things off and answers the main question of where he's going, and it let's him hopefully finish his senior year in peace with graduation on Saturday."

- Joe Davidson
- On Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD
- On Podcast: ESPN1320.net

The Sacramento Professional Developmental League tips off a new season at Capital Christian with double-header games Mondays and Wednesdays, starting at 6:30 p.m.

Bee All-Metro players young and older will take the floor, as they have since 1990 under the direction of noted area strength and conditioning coach Guss Armstead as this has been an ideal venue to hone skills, compete at a higher level and prepare for the college game. The SPDL also features athletes in college and who are competing professionally in the NBA D-League or overseas.

Tonight, Bee Player of the Year Dakarai Allen of Sheldon High School takes on Darin Johnson, his Huskies teammate headed to Washington.

CLOVIS - Cordova's Nia Dorner learned well from last year's girls 400 meter race at the CIF State Track and Field Championships in Clovis.

Dorner finished second in that race, losing when Serra of Gardena's Renetia James ran her down in the final 20 meters, and missing out on a chance at history.

On Saturday, on the very same Buchanan High School track in which she competed the year before, Dorner turned on the jets in the final 100 meters to easily overtake Serra's Chimere Ezumah, winning the 400 in a national No. 2 and lifetime best 53 seconds, and becoming the first girls sprint champion in area and Sac-Joaquin Section history.

"It's an amazing feeling," said Dorner, who also finished fourth in the girls 200 (23.74). "...I felt a lot faster this time than I did last year. That was do to hard work and determination."

Cordova's Nia Dorner made area sprint history tonight by winning the girls 400 meters in a lifetime best 53 seconds at the 95th CIF State Track and Field championships at Veteran's Memorial Stadium in Clovis.

Dorner becomes the first Sac-Joaquin Section girls athlete to win a state sprint title.

Dorner's 53.00 is the second best time in the United States this season and breaks her day-old personal best of 53.12 set in Friday's preliminaries.

Serra of Gardena's Chimere Ezumah, the girls 400 state champion as a freshman in 2010, led for most of the race. But Dorner overtook her on the fnal turn and pulled away on the straightaway with a strong kick. Eumah finished second in 54.15

CLOVIS - State 400-meter girls leader Nia Dorner of Cordova made it look easy and state boys high jump leader Xavier Howell of Center made it look hard at Friday's 95th annual CIF State Track and Field Championships in Clovis.

Despite a false start that disqualified two runners in her heat, Dorner ran the second fastest time in the United States this year and a lifetime best of 53.12 seconds to coast into tonight's finals.

Howell, the only California high jumper to soar 7 feet this year, needed to clear 6-7 on his final jump to land the 12th and final spot for today's finals.

The normally shy and poker-faced Dorner had a big smile when she greeted a friend shortly after she wowed the crowd with her sizzling run on the first of three 400 heats.
Only Ana Holland of Regis of Aurora, Colo., (52.49) has run faster this year.

"I didn't expect that," said Dorner, trying to become the Sac-Joaquin Section's first girls state sprint champion. "My goal was to run 53.23, so to run lower than that was shocking."

Behind team MVP Ryan Cernk of Rocklin, the North defeated the South 25-15, 15-25, 25-22, 25-21 in the 16th annual Optimist All-Star Boys Volleyball Game Thursday night at Capital Christian High School.

El Camino's Tanner Syftestad was named the South MVP.

In the 29th annual girls all-star game for graduating seniors, the South won a thriller over the North 10-25, 25-22, 25-22, 23-25, 15-13.

St. Francis' Allie Wegener was named the South MVP. Maddie Cannon from Rio Americano was the North MVP.

During the intermission between the boys and girls game, Mike Finnerty from SureWest Sports presented the "Team of the Year" trophy to the St. Francis volleyball team, which went 38-3 and won Sac-Joaquin Section and CIF Northern Regional Division I titles this season.

Present to accept the award were coach Alynn Wright and her four Optimist Game representatives - Wegener, Allison Child, Hannah Liserra and Gabriella Palmeri.

Rocklin girls coach Dave Muscarella also was inducted into the Optimist Hall of Fame.

Oregon State and Cal State Fullerton will enter the NCAA College Baseball Division I Regionals this weekend with a number of area players contributing to those teams' respective success.

Leading the way for Pac-12 champion Oregon State (45-10, 24-6) is junior catcher Jake Rodriguez from Elk Grove.

A Pac-12 first team selection, Rodriguez is hitting .272 with 32 RBIs and had thrown out 13 consecutive batters.

Former Jesuit standout Danny Hayes, a senior, plays first base for the Beavers and is hitting .270. Another former Marauder, junior pitcher Dan Child, is 4-1 with a 2.82 ERA.

Granite Bay sophomore Nate Esposito backs up Rodriguez and the two have combined to not allow a stolen base in 20 consecutive games.

Oregon State plays plays host to Texas-San Antonio (5 p.m.) and Texas A&M plays UC Santa Barbara (noon) in Friday's opening round of the Corvallis Regional.

Cal State Fullerton (48-8, 23-4), winners of the Big West Conference, are playing host this weekend to Arizona State, New Mexico and Columbia.

Former Elk Grove standout J.D. Davis, a designated hitter-pitcher, made the All-Big West first team. He's hitting .325 with 47 RBIs and also has a 2.14 ERA in 15 appearances for the Titans.

Former Rocklin player Austin Diemer, a sophomore outfielder, made the All-Big West second team. He is hitting .333.

Jared Deacon, a reserve junior catcher from Elk Grove, is hitting .306.

Freshman pitcher Miles Chambers from Rio Linda also is on the Titans' roster.

The Titans will play Columbia at 8 p.m. Friday. Arizona State plays New Mexico at 4 p.m. at Cal State Fullerton's Goodwin Field.

Six Sacramento-area players are members of softball teams competing in the Women's College World Series that started today in Oklahoma City.

Lincoln's Stephanie Tofft is the starting third baseman for No. 2-seeded Florida (57-8). A junior, she is hitting .333 and with seven home runs and 51 RBIs. Florida lost 9-2 to No. 7 Tennessee (50-10) earlier today and will play Nebraska in an elimination game on Saturday.

Bear River's Stephanie Ceo is a freshman starting second baseman for No. 4 Texas (49-8), which is now playing No. 5 Arizona State (50-10). She is hitting .328.

Even after jumping 6-10 early in the season, then going 7 feet at last week's Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Championships, the phone hasn't been ringing off the hook for Center's Xavier Howell.

The 6-foot-4 Howell is a late bloomer. His best jump as a junior was 6-5, though he was injured for much of the season.

A basketball-first athlete most of his career at Center - he hasn't ruled out trying to play the sport at the next level - Howell has only received a couple of nibbles, no solid offers.

"I think there are schools that are missing out," said Center coach John Gallagher. "Maybe it's the size of our school or competing in a smaller division, but Xavier is a quality athlete."

Howell said his best option might be staying close to home and going to a community college to continue to hone his skills.

"It'll give me a chance to work on all my events," said Howell, who has competed in the long and triple jumps and sprints this season.

Howell admits, though, he's had a whirlwind week since his mammoth jump last Thursday. Howell got a standing ovation from his classmates the next day in his econ class.

The 36th Annual Optimist All-Star softball game turned into a slug-fest tonight with the North beating the South 14-9 at Capital Christian High School.

North MVP Ali Aguilar of Casa Roble led the way by going three for three with two home runs.

South MVP Kristina Brown of Dixon hit home runs in the first and third innings and Oak Ridge's Lauren Bertoy had a grand slam in the seventh that briefly tied the game at 9-9.

Before the game, the Evening Optimist Club announced the induction of longtime softball coaches Don Mashburn and Bob Ramirez into the Hall of Fame.

During their tenure at Hiram Johnson and West Campus high schools, they won five Metro Conference and three Pioneer Valley League championships. Their teams made the playoffs 21 times, and they twice coached in the Optimist game.

Both still coach in the California Breeze ASA organization they founded.

The 29th annual girls and 16th annual boys Optimist All-Star Volleyball Games for graduating seniors will be played Thursday at Capital Christian High School.

The boys game will start at 5 p.m. The girls match will follow 30 minutes after the boys match ends.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for students and $3 for those younger than 12.

Eddie Vanderdoes sent via text message Tuesday afternoon that he will soon clear the air about his football future.

Speculation has run rampant of late that the national football recruit All-American defensive end from Placer High School would not head to Notre Dame, the program Vanderdoes signed with in February.

Reports ranged from character to academic concerns to a change of heart for Vanderdoes. Coaches in the last week insisted the 6-foot-4, 305-pound Vanderdoes known for his athletic ability and good nature is fine academically, and they insisted that character has never been a concern.

The 36th annual Optimist All-Star Softball Game for top graduating seniors will be played 6 p.m. Wednesday at Capital Christian High School.

Whitney's April Steele will coach the North Team. St. Francis' Al LoGiudice and Kevin Warren will co-coach the South Team.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for students and $3 for those younger than 12.

Here are the teams, as released by the Evening Optimist Club of Sacramento:

NORTH
Savanah Johnson, Antelope; Ali Aguilar, Kaitlyn Garcia, Mckenzie Kenobbie, Casa Roble; Hanna Miller, Del Oro; Catlyn Cavender, Taylor Martinez, El Camino; Gia France, Granite Bay; Abi Lund, Lincoln; Tori Bellin, Gabriela Davis, Pioneer; Kassidy Kosmata, Placer; Katrice Crawford, Rio Linda; Mallory Asaro, Kendall Chambers, Rocklin; Delany DeMello, Kayla Fields, Stephanie Johnson, Roseville; Taylor Cotton, Kayli Shaw, Whitney; Amanda Horbasch, Frankie Orlando, Christal Vierra, Woodcreek. Head coach - April Steele, Whitney. Assistant coaches - Dough Gridley, Whitney; Donna Tofft, Lincoln.

SOUTH
Lucia Lopez, Taryn Sigl, Christian Brothers; Alyssa Penacho-Chavez, Angehleyna Wheat, Cordova; Stephanie Cello, Davis; Jenna Bassler, Kristina Brown, Dixon; Erikka Burke, Taryn Renowden, Elk Grove; Gail Oliver, Florin; Nicole Madalora, Franklin; Carly Hintz, Jenica Ruiz, Galt; Leia Gaspar, McClatchy; Lauren Bertoy, Jackie Schmaeling, Oak Ridge; Taylor Eilders, Paris Hallums, Ponderosa; Mollie Babich, Bailey O'Mara, St. Francis. Co-head coaches - Al LoGiudice, Kevn Warren, St. Francis; Assistant coaches - Serena Lim, Mike Martis, St. Francis.

A school of champions.

At the small-school level, it's hard to top Bradshaw Christian across the board in athletics, with the gym walls quickly filling up with blue Sac-Joaquin Section banners.

On Monday, the Pride beat Mariposa County 10-2 to win the program's second Division VI title since 2009 in a rematch of last season's finale. Mariposa won a year ago 4-3 to win the program's third crown since 2008.

Ace Austin Ragsdale struck out 11 in tossing a five hitter, and Zach Rogers drove in two as the Pride won the 17th section title in the school's eight-year varsity existence. Also this academic year, the Lady Pride won titles in basketball and soccer, all under athletic director Mike Ruble, also the girls basketball coach.

Also driving in runs for the Pride on Monday were Grant Heisinger, Seth Vandergrift, Josh Criswell, Grant Dragmire and Kyle Betts.

The Pride stole 12 bases in 13 attempts, three by Heisinger, who also scored two runs.
Another Pride highlight this season was beating D-I North champion Elk Grove 5-1 on a Ragsdale gem. Coach Drew Rickert has said that winning never gets old. He should know. He's won titles as the football coach, too.

- Joe Davidson
- On Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD
- On Podcast: ESPN1320.net

Paul Martinez can't move like he used to. There's no more side-to-side movement to save his life.

And even if he could, the Del Campo High School baseball coach was hopelessly outnumbered by a pack of Cougars bent on drenching him.

Martinez took the celebratory water cooler bath in basking in his team's 2-0 victory over Benicia to win the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II championship game on Monday night at Sacramento City College.

It's the third title for the storied Cougars, and the third for Martinez, in his first season at Del Campo. The Cougars won D-I titles under coach Harry Kawahata in 1985 and '95, and Martinez hoisted D-II blue championship banners in 1995 and '97 at San Juan.

"I'll wear it all the way home," Martinez said of his soaked Del Campo garb on a chilly night at Sacramento City College's Union Stadium that felt more like Candlestick Park. "I couldn't be happier for this group. It's a great group of guys. They worked so hard to get here."

Sam Long was terrific in his last high school start, tossing a five-hitter with six strikeouts and walking just one. He transferred to the Fair Oaks school following a nice run at Rosemont under Martinez. Both agonized over leaving Rosemont, an achieving school in the Sacramento City Unified School District, because of uncertainty of the athletic programs. Sports programs in the SCUSD were on the cutting block in each of the past two summers due to budgetary fears, but were retained.

Long is a junior academically, pulling straight-A's, but he plans to graduate in December and head to Sacramento State to start his scholarship tour for coach Reggie Christiansen. Winning the hearts of his teammates during early season drills after sitting out a CIF-mandated 30 days per transfer policy, Long tossed his second playoff gem. He struck out 14 in a 3-1 victory over Bethel of Vallejo in that best-of-three series.

"I can't put it into words how good this feels," Long said. "What a great team."

Long was backed by typical superb Del Campo defense, headed by infielders Jared Biggs, who had two hits, and Derek Rodigo, who scored the first run for a 1-0 lead in the second. Tim Hall drove home Biggs, who doubled, in the sixth to make it 2-0 as the Cougars touched Panthers ace Ryan Bohnet, who came in sporting a 9-0 record in allowing three earned runs all spring.

Also playing well this season and Monday for Del Campo: Tyler Swank, Mike Hatfield, Mike Ramirez, Davis Rodigo, Adrian Rocha and Tim Land.

So ends the journey for a host of Del Campo seniors who dreamed of winning a title to cap their careers. Biggs said that this will be bittersweet. Sweet for the title and bitter since so many are moving on. The players said they won this title for their school, their community, their families and their coach, who immediately offered structure within a program he grew up playing against.

Martinez played sports at nearby La Sierra 30 years ago. That school closed in 1983. Martinez lives barely a relay throw from the Del Campo, so he in effect returned to his neighborhood roots. He's a historian of the Del Campo program, able to peel off names and efforts.

Now he's part of that history with plans to hang a championship banner on the Del Campo backstop that displays the 1985 and '95 achievements.

"We won this for our coach," Rodigo said. "He was there every day getting the field ready. He gave us the tools to succeed."

Del Campo overcame a rash of injuries early in the season and came together in the Fresno Easter Tournament. A 12-game winning streak was doused by two losses to Christian Brothers in league play before the playoff run.
- Joe Davidson
- On Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD
- On Podcast: ESPN1320.net
- On Cable: SureWestSports.com

In the long storied history of Yuba City High School baseball, Chandler Eden can stand alone with an effort for the ages.

The senior delivered one of the great pitching efforts in Sac-Joaquin Section postseason history, a 14-strikeout, no-hitter to beat Colfax 2-0 in the Division III championship game on Monday afternoon at Sacramento City College.

Relying on a fastball that hit 92 mph and a curve that kept the Falcons guessing and swinging, Eden powered the Honkers to the program's fifth title since 2007. Poised in play and hardly believing his good fortune afterward in a moment of humility, the 6-foot-2 Eden said he couldn't fathom doing this in his final prep outing. A teammate in the dugout blurted, "We're going to Disneyland!" after it was over. In truth, Eden and his senior classmates won't head to Southern California until after their June 7 graduation.

The Oregon State-bound ace also expects to be drafted next month. All in all, it's some senior swan song.

"I'll take it," Eden said, offering a shy grin of his first lifetime no-hitter, moments after striking out the side to end it. "I felt great, just a lot of fun."

Eden also produced the go-ahead run with with a screeching double down the right-field line in the top of the seventh inning to score Rocky Moreno, who pinch ran for Hayden Mejia. Mejia singled. Damon Bugarin drove in Sam Byers for a 2-0 lead. Byers pinch ran for Eden, who doubled.

"Great game for Chandler," Yuba City coach David Rodriguez said. "He's our horse. He showed that he's the best pitcher in the area."

Eden offset a superb showing by Devon Loomis. The Colfax senior tossed a five hitter with five strikeouts. He and Eden have known each other for years, including four seasons as teammates on travel teams.

"He pitched a great game and he's a great pitcher," Eden said. "I know how good he is."

Yuba City (21-11) thrives on pressure. The Honkers won eight times in walk-off fashion this season, including beating Lincoln twice in extra innings to take Games 2 and 3 of a best-of-three series to get here.

To that end, Rodriguez instructed his team to tip their caps and acknowledge the large crowd that packed into Union Stadium. Fans stood and cheered the post-game scene. Baseball remains a social happening in Yuba City. Rodriguez was a shortstop for the Honkers in 1985, competing for coach Joe Graben.

Rodriguez last decade coached with Jim Stassi, who win four successive titles, the last in 2010. Stassi's sons Brock, Max and Jake Stassi were all-time program greats, with Max a two-time Bee Player of the Year in 2008 and '09. Stassi, a former Honkers star, stepped down to watch his sons compete at the next level.

"Stassi is here, and I talk to him every day," Rodriguez said. "Joe Graben was big for me. Glad to have him here today, too."

Graben is the father of Jimmy Graben, the fine sports writer for the Marysville Appeal Democrat.

And proof that the cross-generation era is still in play for Yuba City, the Honkers feature first baseman Justin Noreen, son of 1978 Bee Player of the Year Bob Noreen from his Yuba City days.

"The community always supports us, always behind us," Rodriguez said. "People sent us 25 e-mails, and we posted some up in the dugout wall."

Colfax (20-8) was in its second section title game and first since 1999, a loss to Vanden. The Falcons got here by sweeping Games 2 and 3 over then one-loss Whitney in that best-of-three series.
- Joe Davidson
- On Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD
- On Podcast: ESPN1320.net
- On Cable: SureWestSports.com

The beard grows. And grows.

Sporting a hearty thatch at the end of his chin that seemingly stretches past his sternum and would surely make him a fill-in favorite for ZZ Top, Brad Gunter Jr. has no intention to shave. Not with this momentum.

Guner Jr. rejoiced in another championship Monday, his Valley Christian High School baseball team winning the Sac-Joaquin Section Division VII championship with a gritty 3-2 effort over Brookside Christian.

The Lions of Roseville three-peated at Sacramento City College under drizzly skies and won the program's fifth title in six seasons with six consecutive title appearances. In short, it's a dynasty with a coach known as "The Beard" at the helm. Gunter Jr. offered his beard as shelter from the rain after the game.

Jeremiah Moore struck out nine in tossing a five-hitter, and the Valley Christian junior ace had just enough production from his offense to defeat the Knights of Stockton (23-10).

Levi Haggerty scored on a wild pitch in the second inning for a 1-0 lead, Teagan Mowry had an RBI double in the third to make it 2-0 and Asher Hammargren walked with the bases loaded in the fourth to make it 3-1 for the Lions, who overcame illness and injury this season to celebrate yet again.

"They're a great group," Gunter Jr. said. "They're character kids more than anything. I worry more about that. The wins are the byproduct. When you don't have to worry about character, you can just coach baseball."

Valley Christian (20-12) was hammered by the flu and strep throat throughout the team's first 18 games, then endured all sorts of injuries while taking on a host of larger schools in nonleague play such as Oakmont, El Camino, Whitney and Pioneer.

The Lions lost to Elliott Christian of Lodi 7-3 in the opener of a best-of-3 playoff series before taking the series with 6-0 and 1-0 efforts, thanks to dominating pitching by Moore and co-ace Jimmy Shaw.

Moore and Shaw have yet to lose a playoff game in their careers. Shaw, a 6-foot-6 lefty, wanted to start Monday but was overruled by his coach. Gunter Jr. said Shaw has a live arm that needs some rest, his future too bright to push him.

"I've been holding him back all year, and why risk it?" Gunter Jr. said. "I know he wasn't too happy with me and probably his dad, too, but I have to worry about his future more than a game."

A year ago, Gunter Jr. was a fit of anxiety at this time of year. His father, Brad Gunter Sr., had been hospitalized with heart troubles. The founder of Valley Christian bounded off his hospital bed before the title game last May and proclaimed that he's not ready to go for good.

Gunter Sr. attended Monday's game, and afterward hugged every Lions player he could find. The old man, all grins and pride, is still mobile enough to corner a player to offer bear hugs and well wishes.

What added to the family feel for the Gunters was the role of Micah Gunter. He is the son of the coach, a sophomore starting shortstop who had a double and a walk against Brookside.

"I didn't think Dad was going to make it last year," Gunter Jr. said. "He's here. He's doing great. No idea how much he means to me. I was not in the same place mentally at this time last year. Very happy now. Talk about special. Dad's in the stands, and my son is on the field."

Valley Christian is a small school in enrollment only. It is big time in achievement - academics and athletically - and players cherish the titles just as much as those from larger schools. The Lions have also sent scores of players to the college ranks, with more headed there next season.

"We've got five or six guys playing in college next year and we had some scouts here today," Gunter Jr. said.

As for the beard, Gunter Jr. confessed to a trick. He applied dye to it in the morning, to keep it a robust red to match his hair.

"Just for Men, and comb it in, baby," Gunter Jr. cracked. "My wife (Megan) doesn't mind, so I'll keep it."

- Joe Davidson
- On Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD
- On Podcast: ESPN1320.net

jdavidson@sacbee.com

A closer peek at the three Sac-Joaquin Section championship baseball games at Sacramento City College today:

• Valley Christian vs. Brookside Christian, D-VII, noon

The Lions of Roseville are used to this stage, and thrive on it under veteran coach Brad Gunter Jr. VCA seeks its fifth D-7 championship in its sixth successive trip to the finals.

The Lions take on a Stockton-based team that is 23-6.

On a day of impressive and improbable performances, Antelope's Robert Ellis delivered one of the biggest wins of all in the Sac-Joaquin Section Track and Field Masters Championships Friday night at Elk Grove High School.

Ellis defeated favored Austin Mitsch of Jesuit by running a personal best 21.32 in the boys 200 meters, moving him to fifth in the state.

Mitsch finished in 21.48, his second fastest of the season as both qualified for next weekend's CIF State track finals in Clovis.

The thrilling 200 came shortly after Mitsch recovered from a poor start to nip Ellis in the boys 100. Mitsch ran 10.76 seconds; Ellis finished second in 10.82.

The Franklin Wildcats wowed nobody down the stretch of the regular season, certainly not themselves.

Third place finishers in the Delta Valley Conference behind Davis and Elk Grove with a 14-13 overall record, the Wildcats have found a new gear in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I-North playoffs.

They bounced Rodriguez of Fairfield 13-0, eliminated Delta River League champion and Bee No. 4 Oak Ridge 4-1, sent home DVC champion and Bee No. 1 Davis 12-3, and on Thursday ushered home Bee No. 5 Pleasant Grove 6-1 at Sacramento City College.

Center senior Xavier Howell decided he'd qualify for his first CIF State Track and Field Meet with a bang.

Howell cleared 7 feet in the boys high jump final at Thursday's Sac-Joaquin Section Masters meet at Elk Grove High School, becoming California's first 7-footer of the 2013 season.

Howell's mark also bettered the 33-year-old Masters record of 6-11.50 set by Hiram Johnson's Ivan Morris.

It was the second oldest boys Masters Meet record. Atwater's Dave Porath still holds records in the shot and discus set in 1978.

Howell's jump also is second only to the overall section high jump record of 7-1 held by Bear Creek of Stockton's Darryl Feilbach (1997) and Mesa Verde's Aiona Key (2005).

That will make the once unsung Howell one of the favorites for the May 31-June 1 State championships in Clovis.

The SureWest Sports Show is concluding the academic year with honors for coaches, athletes and teams.

Headed by tireless show host Mike Finnerty in polling area programs and media, SureWest is recognizing the following today, tomorrow and next week with in-person presentations:

* Ernie Cooper, Coach of the Year
The varsity football coach for Granite Bay since the school opened in the mid 1990s, Cooper and the Grizzlies had their crowning season last fall. Granite Bay overcame a slow start to the season amid a brutal nonconference schedule, then won the Sierra Foothill League championship and rolled in the postseason, capturing the Sac-Joaquin Section title over Oak Ridge and then beating St. Ignatius of San Francisco in the first CIF NorCal Division I championship. The capper was rallying late to beat nationally renowned Long Beach Poly in the CIF State D-I Bowl game.

Casa Roble's Kaitlyn Garcia is used to being overshadowed.

She's a 5-foot-2 pitcher, which isn't exactly a college recruiter's dream.

But her Casa Roble coaches and teammates think the senior is pretty big stuff.

She showed why in Wednesday's Sac-Joaquin Section Division II softball championship game against familiar rival Christian Brothers at the Sacramento Softball Complex.

Despite giving up two quick runs in the top of the first, Garcia settled down and battled Falcons ace Haley Snyder, pitch for pitch the rest of the way.

Franklin High School's Sean Nicholson found a way to score in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I North playoff game at Sacramento City College on Monday night. Watch him hurdled Davis High catcher Hayden Duer and land by sliding his hand across the plate. Plate umpire Tom Ramirez ruled him safe, and Franklin went on to beat the Blue Devils 12-3. Franklin and Pleasant Grove play Thursday night at Sac City in a loser's bracket finale. Video provided by Gary Abelia.

Pleasant Grove senior catcher Amber Murray says there is no secret why Elk Grove area softball is consistently so strong.

"We have a lot of girls who like to play, good coaching, and we perform well," Murray says.

Eagles coach Chris Murray credits Mary Jo Truesdale, Sheldon's Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of Fame coach for setting a high standard through the years.

Pleasant Grove senior catcher Amber Murray says there is no secret why Elk Grove area softball is consistently so strong.

"We have a lot of girls who like to play, good coaching, and we perform well," Murray says.

Eagles coach Chris Murray credits Mary Jo Truesdale, Sheldon's Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of Fame coach for setting a high standard through the years.

Pleasant Grove senior catcher Amber Murray says there is no secret why Elk Grove area softball is consistently so strong.

"We have a lot of girls who like to play, good coaching, and we perform well," Murray says.

Eagles coach Chris Murray credits Mary Jo Truesdale, Sheldon's Sac-Joaquin Section Hall of Fame coach for setting a high standard through the years.

Elk Grove Unified School District teams have defined Sac-Joaquin Section Division I softball for the past decade.

Elk Grove schools have won seven consecutive D-I championships and nine of the last 11.

In Monday night's winners' bracket games, it looked like more Elk Grove district dominance - for a while.

On one Sacramento Softball Complex diamond, Pleasant Grove shocked unbeaten and nationally ranked Vintage of Napa 3-1. On the adjacent diamond, Elk Grove led Bee top-ranked Rocklin 3-0 entering the bottom of the sixth inning.

Still alive and kicking and eager for more: The Franklin Wildcats

Unranked entering the playoffs after an up-and-down regular season that included an 0-6 record against Delta Valley Conference front-runners Davis and Elk Grove, Franklin is still surging in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I North playoffs because it refuses to bow out or buckle under.

The defending champion Wildcats of Elk Grove beat Bee No. 1 Davis 12-3 on Monday night to bounce the Blue Devils, a strong event favorite entering the tournament.

Eddie Vanderdoes could be on the move before he makes a move out of Placer County.

The 6-foot-4, 305-pound Placer High School senior defensive end signed a national letter of intent in February with Notre Dame, ending a whirlwind recruiting run, but there was rampant speculation on the Internet from media outlets, recruiting services and chat boards professing to be in the know on Monday night that the All-American may not head to South Bend.

Speculation about Vanderdoes ranged from character concerns to an academic fall out. Vanderdoes' coaches continued to rave about his upstanding character on Monday, and his father Eddie Vanderdoes on Monday night texted of his son, "One thing I can tell you is grades or eligibility is not and has never been an issue."

He added in the text, "let people speculate, but you will be the first to know, as always, when it's time to let people know."

Said Placer football coach Joey Montoya of his star player's character, "Absolutely he's gold. He is a selfless teammate and is highly dependable. I love that kid."

As for grades, Montoya said Vanderdoes is fine academically, "for Placer and the NCAA, he is for sure."

Vanderdoes was one of the most heavily recruited athletes in Sac-Joaquin Section history, overwhelming foes with his his burst off the line of scrimmage, his strength and desire. He was thrilled with his selection of Notre Dame after also strongly considering UCLA. He liked his visit to South Bend and spoke glowingly about the campus, the academics and the football tradition.

Still, there was a snag with Notre Dame seemingly from the start with how the school handled his scholarship commitment. The Vanderdoes family made it clear that they wanted Notre Dame to keep his decision mum to the media so he could enjoy a letter-of-intent signing ceremony later in the afternoon with several classmates who also signed scholarship deals. Most announcements are made early in the morning as colleges prefer to have signed letters as soon as they're allowed by the NCAA to receive them.

Notre Dame blew that seemingly simple request when Vanderdoes' name was in fact listed on the morning letter-of-intent announcement released to the media. His name was immediately taken off the sheet, but the secret was already out and hit the national feeds right away.

Vanderdoes said on letter of intent day in the Placer theatre that he was still excited to compete for the Irish. He even gave up baseball this spring, another sport in which he dominated, to focus on strength and conditioning workouts. Summer school for Notre Dame starts next month.

If Vanderdoes does indeed want out of his letter of intent, a binding contract, Notre Dame would have to release him, thus opening up a new flood of recruitment.

We will follow with updates as they come.

- Joe Davidson
- On Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD
- On Podcast: ESPN1320.net

Granite Bay and Whitney will play host to quaterfinal matches Tuesday in the first CIF Northern California Regionals boys volleyball playoffs.

Sac-Joaquin Section champion and No. 4 seed Granite Bay (22-11) will play No. 5 Amador Valley of Pleasanton (27-8), the North Coast Section runners-up, at 7 p.m. in the Division I playoffs.

Section champion and No. 2 seed Whitney (30-3) will play No. 7 Washington of Fremont (17-18), the NCS runners-up, at 7 p.m. in the D-II playoffs.

Sac-Joaquin Section D-I runner-up and No. 7 Nevada Union (19-7) plays at NCS champion and No. 2 Deer Valley of Antioch (40-1). D-II section runner-up and No. 6 Vista del Lago (24-10) plays against Central Coast Section champion and No. 6 Mt. Madonna (30-8) in Watsonville.

Semifinals will be played on Thursday at home sites, with the finals on Saturday at Dublin High School in Dublin.

Granite Bay won its fourth D-I section title in the five years the section has sanctioned the sport in beating Nevada Union 3-1 on Thursday at Monterey Trail High School.

Whitney beat Vista del Lago in D-II for its first boys section volleyball title. Vista del Lago had won the previous two.

Granite Bay and Whitney will play host to quaterfinal matches tonight in the first CIF Northern California Regionals boys volleyball playoffs.

Sac-Joaquin Section champion and No. 4 seed Granite Bay (22-11) will play No. 5 Amador Valley of Pleasanton (27-8), the North Coast Section runners-up, at 7 p.m. in the Division I playoffs.

Section champion and No. 2 seed Whitney (30-3) will play No. 7 Washington of Fremont (17-18), the NCS runners-up, at 7 p.m. in the D-II playoffs.

Sac-Joaquin Section D-I runner-up and No. 7 Nevada Union (19-7) plays at NCS champion and No. 2 Deer Valley of Antioch (40-1). D-II section runner-up and No. 6 Vista del Lago (24-10) plays against Central Coast Section champion and No. 6 Mt. Madonna (30-8) in Watsonville.

Semifinals will be played on Thursday at home sites, with the finals on Saturday at Dublin High School in Dublin.

Granite Bay won its fourth D-I section title in the five years the section has sanctioned the sport in beating Nevada Union 3-1 on Thursday at Monterey Trail High School.

Whitney beat Vista del Lago in D-II for its first boys section volleyball title. Vista del Lago had won the previous two.