Today’s edition is sponsored by The Rose Hotel.
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Welcome to the Playbook!
It’s time for another week of the Tri-Valley Preps Playbook, your inside source for all sports when it comes to the East Bay Athletic League. Join me each week for some honest feelings about the good, the bad, and the ugly side of high school athletics!
The Big Picture looks at how the regular season wrapped up for EBAL volleyball, and what teams we have moving on into the North Coast Section playoffs. There is also mention of the El Cerrito football violations causing five forfeits, one of which is to Amador Valley.
EBAL Power Rankings have no movement as some volleyball teams have ended their seasons as others move on to NCS. Football enters the final two weeks of the season.
What to Watch has your NCS Volleyball schedule for the first week of the playoffs. Also, see who is where this week in football action.
Fast Five lets us get to know more about Foothill High football player Gavin Schmitt. Only a freshman, Schmitt, is on the varsity. I applaud his choice of music to listen to!
Got a great story idea for something coming up in the fall? Let me know at acesmag@aol.com!
From the sidelines,
Dennis Miller, Playbook Editor
Foothill girls mount comebacks against Carondelet, SRV to win league volleyball title
The Foothill girls’ volleyball team scored come-from-behind victories in the last two rounds to win the EBAL championship for the second year in a row. In other sports news, Amador Valley football picked up a much-needed victory via retroactive forfeit amid the El Cerrito eligibility scandal.
Power Rankings as of Oct. 29.
EBAL FOOTBALL
Mountain Division
1. San Ramon Valley (8-1, 2-0): The Wolves hosted Amador Valley and needed to get a late touchdown, then hold on for a 29-28 win. This week: bye.
2. California (7-1, 1-1): The Grizzlies had a bye last week. This week: vs. De La Salle, 7:15 p.m.
3. Monte Vista (5-3, 0-1): The Mustangs made the trip to Concord and got beat 42-7 by De La Salle. Huge game this week. This week: vs. Amador Valley, 7:15 p.m.
4. Amador Valley (5-3, 0-1): The Dons turn in a big effort but fall 29-28 at San Ramon Valley. Amador led early, then battled back, going for two at the end. The Dons gained a win this week when El Cerrito was forced to forfeit its win over the Dons due to the use of ineligible players. This week: At Monte Vista, 7 p.m.
***De La Salle (7-0) is not included in the weekly Mountain Power Rankings, as the Spartans get an automatic berth into the NCS football playoffs.
Valley Division
1. Livermore (5-3, 2-0): The Cowboys survive Dublin, winning 28-23, remaining the team to beat in the Valley. This week: vs. Foothill, 7:15 p.m.
2. Granada (4-4, 2-0): The Mats keep their eye on the prize, going into Foothill and getting the 42-7 win. This week: vs. Dougherty Valley, 7:15 p.m.
3. Dublin (2-7, 1-2): The Gaels hosted Livermore, but the Cowboys got the best of things, beating Dublin 28-23. This week: Bye.
4. Foothill (4-5, 1-2): The Falcons fell to Granada 41-7. This week: at Livermore, 7:15 p.m.
5. Dougherty Valley (2-6, 0-2): The Wildcats had a bye last week. This week: at Granada, 7:15 p.m.
EBAL GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
Mountain Division
1. San Ramon Valley (24-8, 11-2): The Wolves beat MV 3-1 to end the regular season. In the EBAL semifinals they beat Amador 3-2, then lost to Foothill in the finals 3-2. Received the No. 1 seed in the D-1 North Coast Section playoffs and has a first-round bye.
2. Carondelet (25-7, 11-2): The Cougars beat Cal to close league, then fell 3-2 to Foothill in the EBAL semifinals. Is the No. 6 seed for the NCS Open playoffs and will play at No. 3 James Logan on Tuesday night.
3. Monte Vista (13-11, 8-5): The Mustangs ended the regular season with a 3-1 loss to San Ramon Valley but did get a spot in the NCS D-I tournament. The Stangs got the No. 7 spot and will host No. 10 Northgate on Tuesday.
4. California (18-15, 5-8): The Grizzlies lost 3-0 to Carondelet to end the league season but they got a spot in the NCS D-I playoffs and will travel to Tamalpais Tuesday night for the first round.
5. Dougherty Valley (12-16, 3-10): The Wildcats ended their season with a 3-2 win over Dublin.
Valley Division
1. Foothill (25-8, 11-2): The Falcons complete the back-to-back title runs, taking the Valley with a 3-1 win over Amador Valley. They then edged Carondelet 3-2 and San Ramon Valley 3-2 to take the EBAL playoffs. Is seeded No. 4 in the NCS Open division and will host Redwood Tuesday night in the first round.
2. Amador Valley (20-10, 9-4): The Dons saw their 10-game winning streak come to an end as they fell 3-1 to Foothill. In the EBAL semifinals they lost 3-0 to SRV. Picked as the No. 5 seed in the D-I playoffs, they will host No. 12 Petaluma on Tuesday.
3. Dublin (12-14, 5-8): The Gaels ended their season with a 3-2 loss to Dougherty Valley.
4. Granada (10-17, 2-11): The Mats ended their season with a 3-1 win over Livermore.
5. Livermore (4-21, 0-13): The Cowboys closed the season by falling 3-1 to Granada.
Tuesday, Oct. 29
NCS Girls’ Volleyball – Division I: No. 1 San Ramon Valley vs. bye; No. 12 Petaluma at No. 5 Amador Valley, 7 p.m.; No. 10 Northgate at No. 7 Monte Vista, 7 p.m.; No. 14 California at No. 3 Tamalpais, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 30
NCS Girls’ Volleyball – Open Division: No. 5 Redwood at No. 4 Foothill, 7 p.m.; No. 6 Carondelet at No. 3 James Logan, 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 1
Football – EBAL Valley: Dougherty Valley at Granada, Foothill at Livermore, 7:17 p.m. EBAL Mountain: Amador Valley at Monte Vista, 7:15 p.m.; Non-league: De La Salle at California, 7:15 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 2
NCS Girls’ Volleyball – Division I (second round): Las Lomas-Castro Valley winner at San Ramon Valley, 7 p.m.; Campolindo-Berkeley winner vs. Amador Valley-Petaluma at TBD, 7 p.m.; Windsor-Acalanes winner vs. Monte Vista-Northgate winner, at TBD, 7 p.m.l Tamalpais-California winner vs. Mission San Jose-Ukiah winner, at TBD, 7 p.m.
Pleasanton Preps: Amador Valley girls’ volleyball hitting its stride
Simply, coming into Tuesday, there is no team playing better in the East Bay Athletic League girls’ volleyball than Amador Valley. Going back to Oct. 1, the Dons had put together 10 consecutive wins, going from 10-8 to 20-8 overall in the season…
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: Gavin Schmitt
School and grade: Foothill, Freshman (2028)
Sport: Football and Baseball
Favorite streaming channel/favorite show: “Suits”
What music are you listening to: Country music
Must follow on social media: Pat McAfee
Favorite fast-food restaurant/meal: In-N-Out
Favorite quote: “Set your goals high, and don’t stop till you get there” (Bo Jackson)
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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