Tri-Valley Community Television recognized outstanding high school athletes last Thursday at an event with guest speaker legendary Major League Baseball pitcher Vida Blue.
Each of the 46 teens was a 2013 Athlete of the Week on TV30's Sports Final, featuring George "Dr. B" Baljevich, Dublin Mayor Tim Sbranti, Ian Bartholomew and Anna Kagarakis.
Blue, who was a star pitcher for the Oakland A's as well as the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals from 1969-86, grew up and played ball in Louisiana before he was drafted by the pros.
"I didn't know they were going to pay me," he recalled. "I would have played for free."
Blue, 63, who now lives in Tracy, said he occasionally pitches at Little League practices for fun.
"I can still get those kids out," he commented.
But the evening was about the young athletes, not about him, he noted.
"Don't let anyone tell you you can't accomplish your dream because you can," he said. "I'm from Mansfield, La. -- who knew I would play 17 years of professional baseball and win three World Series (1972, 1973, 1974 with the A's)."
He concluded, "Congratulations to all the recipients -- play hard, play fair and play clean."
Willie Harper, a former linebacker for the 49ers, complimented the event and recognition of the high school athletes.
"Someone has taken notice," he told the athletes, "and it up to you to exploit these gifts and talents."
The awards were presented by Dr. B, Sbranti, Mayor Jerry Thorne of Pleasanton, Mayor John Marchand of Livermore, Supervisor Scott Haggerty and Malcolm Brudigam of state Sen. Mark DeSaulnier's office.
Each awardee stepped onto the stage to be handed a trophy and congratulated by Dr. B while videos showed them playing their sport. Then each athlete proceeded across the stage for further congratulations from Vida Blue and the others.
This was the eighth year for the Tri-Valley Community Television Athlete of the Week awards, and the third year for the Outstanding High School Athletic Awards event.
"Our leagues are doing so well in sports that it's made our job really easy," said Dr. B.
More than 200 people attended the event, which was held at the Robert Livermore Community Center in Livermore. It will be shown on TV30 and TV28 starting in mid-June. For a schedule or to buy a DVD of the event, go to www.trivalleytv.org.
2013 Outstanding High School Athletic Awards
Yura Ahn - golf, Granada High
Jamir Andrews - basketball, Dublin High
Izzy Ayad - basketball, Valley Christian
Nina Bessolo - basketball, Valley Christian
Iris Brand - swimming, Amador Valley High
Kyle Campiotti - football, Granada High
Jojuan Carrington - basketball, Dublin High
Kristina Dunworth - volleyball, Amador Valley High
Griffith Gates - football, Foothill High
Ryan Genn - volleyball, Amador Valley High
Johanna Grauer - softball, Amador Valley High
Tiffany Harris - volleyball, Dublin High
Louis Hernandez - football, Livermore High
Jamirr Holland - football, Foothill High
Ray Hudson - football, Foothill High
Kameron Johnson - basketball, Granada High
Alysse Ketner - basketball, Amador Valley High
Ryan Kirby - baseball, Granada High
Greta Kohlmoos - water polo, Granada High
Nicolas Lang - wrestling, Livermore High
Alyssa Lanza - softball, Livermore High
Celina Li - swimming, Foothill High
Kimberly Liu - golf, Amador Valley High
JoJo McGlaston - basketball, Dublin High
Zach McPherson - football, Livermore High
Grant Miller - football, Amador Valley High
Jason Moran - basketball, Livermore High
Kyle Moreno - football, Amador Valley High
Milan Moses - basketball, Dublin High
Cameron Moses - basketball, Dublin High
Vi Nguyen - tennis, Dublin High
Josh Nobida - football, Dublin High
Steven Patrick - basketball, Foothill High
Jacob Payne - baseball, Granada High
Jena Pianin - cross country, Amador Valley High
Tyler Rardon - wrestling, Livermore High
Ondre Rudolph - football, Dublin High
Alex Sborov - golf, Foothill High
Katie Sborov - golf, Foothill High
Nick Silverthorn - swimming, Granada High
Myiesha Simmons - tennis, Dublin High
Collin Sommerhauser - basketball, Granada High
Marisol Tracy - volleyball, Amador Valley High
Amanda Tuazon - volleyball, Foothill High
Dylan Tupper - basketball, Granada High
Howard Wikle - football, Valley Christian
Comments
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Jun 4, 2013 at 12:34 pm
on Jun 4, 2013 at 12:34 pm
Congratulations to all the athletes! I do not see any teens from boys or girls soccer on the list. Is this sport not covered by TV30's Sports Final?
Bordeaux Estates
on Jun 4, 2013 at 1:05 pm
on Jun 4, 2013 at 1:05 pm
Yeah, where's the soccer athletes?
Castlewood
on Jun 5, 2013 at 8:41 am
on Jun 5, 2013 at 8:41 am
What a terrific presentation by TV 30 to award the local athletes. It was so well done and made every athlete feel so proud of their work, the work of the community and the hard workers at TV30
Registered user
Foothill High School
on Jun 5, 2013 at 12:55 pm
Registered user
on Jun 5, 2013 at 12:55 pm
Congratulations to these fine athletes. In the future, TV30 should include all high school sports (Lacrosse, Track & Field, Soccer, etc) when recognizing athletes.
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Jun 7, 2013 at 10:32 pm
on Jun 7, 2013 at 10:32 pm
I agree with LaxDad3 if you want to recognize these athletes you should make sure you cover all sports.