Today’s edition is sponsored by Park46 Real Estate.
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Welcome to the Playbook!
It is time for another week of the 2025-26 prep sports year! The Playbook takes you inside the East Bay Athletic League, writing about outlooks, updates and insights into all the sports, along with profiles of athletes, and opinions regarding controversial issues in high school sport!
The Big Picture visits with Granada swimmer Brooke Bennett. Bennett is the defending CIF State champion in the 500 freestyle. High level swimmers have an insane training schedule!
EBAL Power Rankings sit pretty much the same with one big mover in the baseball rankings!
What to Watch has key games in baseball and softball, with NCS kicking into gear in volleyball and swimming/diving.
Fast Five is all about Granada cheerleader Addy Alcalde. Her favorite quote is a good rule to live life by.
If you know of a great story or have any questions, please reach out either by email at acesgolf@aol.com or by phone at 925-200-0719.
From the sidelines,
Dennis Miller, Playbook Editor
Granada senior Bennett looks to defend CIF State swimming title
Then it’s off to college career at Georgia for Pleasanton Seahawks standout who has eyes set on making Olympic trials
Power Rankings as of May 4.
EBAL BASEBALL
1. De La Salle (13-4, 7-1): The Spartans recovered from their loss to Foothill to beat Granada twice, 3-0 and 10-3.
2. Monte Vista (13-6, 6-2): The Mustangs beat Dublin twice and have put together five wins in a row.
3. Dublin (15-6, 5-5): The Gaels lose twice to Monte Vista, falling 3-1 and 6-4.
4. Granada (14-7,7-3): The Mats fall twice to De La Salle and drop a spot this week.
5. San Ramon Valley (12-6-2, 4-4): The Wolves split games with Foothill, winning 5-0, then losing 4-3 to end the week.
Others: Foothill (11-8, 5-4), Amador Valley (8-11, 3-6), California (11-7-2, 4-5), Livermore (5-15, 0-9), Dougherty Valley (4-15, 2-7).
EBAL SOFTBALL
1. Livermore (21-1, 11-0): The Cowboys run the win streak to 18 games with a 5-1 win over Foothill and a 9-2 win over Monte Vista.
2. San Ramon Valley (15-6, 8-2): The Wolves get by Dougherty Valley 9-1, then take a close one, 3-2, over California.
3. Granada (11-10, 7-3): The Mats suffer a perplexing 5-3 loss to Dublin but bounce back with a 2-1 win over Foothill.
4. Carondelet (13-7, 6-3): The Cougars beat Amador 13-3 in their lone EBAL game then fall 12-0 to Liberty.
5. California (11-10, 6-5): The Grizzlies open the week with a 8-1 win over Monte Vista, then fall 3-2 in eight innings to San Ramon Valley.
Others: Amador Valley (6-10-1, 3-7), Foothill (10-10, 4-7), Dublin (8-13, 4-6), Monte Vista (3-14, 2-9), Dougherty Valley (0-15, 0-10).
EBAL BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL
1. Livermore (31-4, 11-2): The Cowboys close the regular season with a 3-1 win over Granada, then take out De La Salle 3-1 in the EBAL semifinals.
2. Dublin (23-4, 11-2): The Gaels end the regular season with a 3-0 over Dougherty Valley, then beat San Ramon Valley 3-1 in the EBAL semifinals.
3. San Ramon Valley (21-10, 11-2): The Wolves end the regular season with a 3-1 win over Monte Vista, then fall 3-1 to Dublin in the EBAL semifinals.
4. De La Salle (17-17, 8-5): The Spartans beat Cal 3-1 to end the regular season, then fall 3-1 to Livermore in the EBAL playoff semifinals.
5. Foothill (15-15, 6-7): The Falcons have lost four of their last five matches, including a 3-2 loss to Amador Valley in the season finale.
Others: California (18-14, 6-7), Granada (16-11, 4-9), Amador Valley (16-15, 4-9), Dougherty Valley (12-17, 3-10), Monte Vista (11-14, 1-12).
Today (May 5)
NCS boys’ volleyball D-I first round (seed in parenthesis): Bishop O’Dowd (16) at Northgate (1), College Park (9) at Berkeley (8), Granada (13) at Las Lomas (4), Castro Valley (12) at Campolindo (5), Foothill (15) at Livermore (2), San Ramon Valley (10) at Irvington (7), Washington (14) at Dublin (3), De La Salle (11) at Liberty (6), all matches at 7 p.m.
Tomorrow (May 6)
EBAL baseball: Amador Valley at De La Salle, Monte Vista at California, San Ramon Valley at Granada, 4 p.m.
Thursday (May 7)
NCS boys’ volleyball D-I second round: Northgate-O’Dowd winner vs. Berkeley-College Park winner; Las Lomas-Granada winner vs. Campolindo-Castro Valley winner; Livermore-Foothill winner vs. Irvington-San Ramon Valley winner; Dublin-Washington winner vs. Liberty-De La Salle winner.
NCS diving: At College of Marin, Indian Valley Campus, all day
EBAL softball: Foothill at Amador Valley, California at Carondelet, Granada at Livermore, 4 p.m.
Friday (May 8)
EBAL baseball: De La Salle at Granada, Monte Vista at Dublin, San Ramon Valley at Foothill, 4 p.m.
NCS Swimming Championship: College of Marin, Indian Valley Campus, all day
Saturday (May 9)
NCS Swimming Championship: At College of Marin, Indian Valley Campus, all day
A refreshingly honest approach to Tri-Valley Real Estate
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Pleasanton Preps: How Foothill handed De La Salle its first loss of EBAL baseball season
But just when it looked darkest for the Falcons, they found their inner resolve, jumping up to hand De La Salle its first EBAL loss with a 6-5 final.
Hike for Hope supports Tri-Valley hospice nonprofit
Supporters of nonprofit hospice care in the Tri-Valley are coming together outdoors this weekend for the annual Hike for Hope at Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore.
We interview high school athletes and coaches all the time. Occasionally we ask them questions that have nothing to do with sports. Here’s one:
Name: Addy Alcalde
School and grade: Granada (senior)
Sport: Cheer / stunt
Favorite streaming channel and favorite show: Netflix / “Gossip Girl”
Favorite genre music and favorite performer: Country / Megan Moroney
Who is a must follow on social media: Alix Earle (alixearle – social media personality)
Favorite fast-food restaurant and meal: Chipotle / burrito bowl
Favorite quote: “Everything happens for a reason.” (Attributed to many, including Steve Jobs, Shaq and Marilyn Monroe)
Do you have someone you want us to interview? Email us.
Dennis Miller is a veteran sports writer and editor, covering sports in the Tri-Valley for over 35 years. In addition to being the editor of Tri-Valley Preps Playbook, he has written a weekly column for Pleasanton Weekly and PleasantonWeekly.com, “Pleasanton Preps,” since 2011. Email him at sports@pleasantonweekly.com.
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