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 skips EBAL action to head to the other side of the hill to look back at the incredible season of the California State University East Bay men’s basketball season that saw them advance to the NCAA D-II Elite Eight.
EBAL Power Rankings are all over the place following the opening week of the EBAL baseball season. The team at the top stays – but after that, the rankings were blown up. Shakeup in the volleyball rankings as well.
What to Watch has key games in volleyball, softball and baseball as the teams get ready for Spring Break Tournaments.
The Fast Five is all about Livermore softball player Kaci Norton. Her go-to fast food establishment and meal are keepers!
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
What a season for Cal State East Bay men’s basketball
Lost in the beginning of the spring sports season, and of course the craziness of March Madness of the NCAA Division I tournament, California State University East Bay ended its historic men’s basketball season last week.
Power Rankings as of March 31.
EBAL BASEBALL
1. De La Salle (5-3, 3-0): The Spartans opened league play by beating Livermore and Dougherty Valley by a combined 20-1 score.
2. Foothill (6-4, 2-0): The Falcons rolled into league play knocking off California (8-3) and Livermore (6-0) and took a big leap this week.
3. Dublin (7-3, 1-2): The Gaels opened the week with a big 5-3 win over San Ramon Valley, then fell 6-3 to Amador Valley.
4. San Ramon Valley (6-2, 1-1): The Wolves fell 5-3 to Dublin, then came back with a 4-2 win over California.
5. Granada (5-4, 2-0): The Mats also started the league season off perfectly, beating Dougherty Valley and Monte Vista.
Others: Monte Vista (5-4, 1-1), Amador Valley (5-4, 1-1), Granada (5-4, 2-0), Livermore (3-7, 0-2), Dougherty Valley (1-6, 0-2).
EBAL SOFTBALL
1. San Ramon Valley (7-3, 4-0): The Wolves take the top spot thanks to their 14-4 win over Carondelet, a team that beat the Wolves earlier in the season. They also edged Granada 3-2.
2. Carondelet (7-2, 3-1): The Cougars beat Monte Vista to open the week, then dropped a 14-4 game to San Ramon Valley.
3. Livermore (8-1, 3-0): The Cowboys kept cruising, beating Amador Valley 9-1, then Dublin 3-0.
4. California (6-2, 2-1): The Grizzlies took down Dougherty Valley in their lone EBAL game, then battled to an 11-10 non-league win over College Park.
5. Granada (6-3, 3-1): The Mats dropped a tough 3-2 game to San Ramon Valley, then rallied for an 11-7 win over Amador Valley.
Others: Foothill (6-6, 0-3), Amador Valley (4-5-1, 1-2), Dublin (5-6, 1-3), Monte Vista (2-7 1-2), Dougherty Valley (0-7, 0-4).
EBAL BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL
1. Livermore (16-4, 2-2): The Cowboys took down Dublin and Granada to take the top spot in the Power Ranking for this week.
2. Dublin (10-1, 3-1): The Gaels fell 3-0 to new top-ranked Livermore but came back to sweep De La Salle 3-0.
3. Foothill (12-7, 5-1): The Falcons are doing everything right in league, sweeping De La Salle and Amador Valley.
4. De La Salle (11-9, 4-2): The Spartans had a tough week, losing to both Foothill and Dublin. Drops a couple of spots in this week’s rankings.
5. San Ramon Valley (15-7, 5-0): The Wolves swept Dougherty Valley and Monte Vista to stay unbeaten in league at 5-0.
Others: Granada (14-6, 2-4), Amador Valley (12-10, 1-5), California (12-8, 3-3), Monte Vista (11-7, 1-5), Dougherty Valley (7-12, 0-6).
Today (March 31)
EBAL softball: Amador Valley at Foothill, California at Carondelet, Monte Vista at San Ramon Valley, Livermore at Granada, 4 p.m.
EBAL boys’ volleyball: San Ramon Valley at Foothill, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday (April 2)
EBAL softball: San Ramon Valley at Granada, 4 p.m.
EBAL boys’ volleyball: Foothill at Dublin, 5:30 p.m. Livermore at Amador Valley, 6:30 p.m.
EBAL baseball: Amador Valley at California, 4 p.m.
A refreshingly honest approach to Tri-Valley Real Estate
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Pleasanton Preps: Falcons start to hit stride in boys’ volleyball season
The Foothill boys’ volleyball team appears to be hitting its stride at the right time as they won a pair of matches…
Livermore park district launching new youth soccer league
A new youth soccer league is debuting in Livermore during this fall season, with the Livermore Area Recreation and Park District founding the program for families looking for a “community-centered option focused on fun, development and connection” on the field.
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: Kaci Norton
School and grade: Livermore High (senior)
Sport: Softball
Favorite streaming channel and favorite show: Hulu / “The Rookie”
Favorite genre music and favorite performer: Country / Treaty Oak Revival
Who is a must follow on social media: U.S Navy
Favorite fast-food restaurant and meal: In-N-Out / Cheeseburger protein-style with fries
Favorite quote: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” (Kevin Durant)
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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