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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 looks at the North Coast Section cross country meet where EBAL teams dominated. Find out the latest from NCS football, NorCal water polo, and CIF State girls’ golf.
EBAL Power Rankings take a week off before returning with the final EBAL Football rankings of the season. What to Watch has the schedule for the NCS football finals, as well as when and where the CIF State cross country championships are taking place. The Fast Five is all about Amador Valley flag football and soccer player Avery Butler. (Her favorite quote brings back memories for all!)
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
EBAL dominates cross country section championships
The East Bay Athletic League strutted its stuff Saturday in the North Coast Section cross country championships at Hayward High.
Friday (Nov. 28)
NCS Football – D-I Championship: Cardinal Newman vs. Pittsburg, at Diablo Valley College, 7 p.m. D-II Championship: Monte Vista vs. Clayton Valley at Dublin High, 7 p.m. D-III Championship: El Cerrito vs. Ukiah, at American Canyon High, 7 p.m.
Saturday (Nov. 29)
CIF State Cross Country: Woodward Park, all day.
NCS Football D-IV Championship: Hayward vs. Miramonte, at Moreau Catholic High, 7 p.m.
Pleasanton Preps: Amador Valley girls’ water polo wins NCS Division II title
In the North Coast Section Division II girls’ water polo final between Amador Valley and Alhambra, there was one indisputable fact, and it led to the Amador Valley 9-7 win: The Dons have Susan Swyers and the Bulldogs didn’t.
Livermore High, Granada to establish first-ever badminton teams this spring
Livermore’s two comprehensive high schools are set to form badminton teams for the first time this spring, following requests from students and their families.
National Youth Cricket Tournament returns here for long Thanksgiving weekend
The attention of American youth cricket turns toward the Tri-Valley, with 28 teams from across the country set to compete in the annual Thanksgiving weekend tournament.
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: Avery Butler
School and grade: Amador Valley (sophomore)
Sport: Flag football/soccer
Favorite streaming channel/favorite show: Netflix/”Outer Banks”
Favorite genre music/Favorite performer: Country/Zach Bryan
Must follow on social media: Morgan Wallen (morganwallen)
Favorite fast-food restaurant/meal: Raising Cane’s (Three-Finger Combo).
Favorite quote: “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” (Dr. Seuss)
If you are interested in doing a Fast Five, contact Dennis Miller at acesmag@aol.com. Thank you!
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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