The Tri-Valley Blue Devils U16 ice hockey team recently won the CAHA State Championship held at Logitech Ice in San Jose on April 13, 14 and 15. The Blue Devils roster is made up of players from cities throughout the East Bay and includes five Pleasanton residents: head coach Randy Stewart, defensemen Brad Bates, Austin Theobald, Kevin Wilcox and center Chris Wolfinger.
In their first game, the Blue Devils met the No. 1 seed from the south, the Anaheim Jr. Ducks. Strong play both offensively and defensively gave Tri-Valley a 4-0 lead and only a goal by the Jr. Ducks late in the third period spoiled the shutout.
Later in the day, the team faced the No. 2 seed from the south, the Yorba Linda Blackhawks.
Having had only a few hours off between games, the Blue Devils had to reach deep down to defeat a very determined Blackhawk team but in the end, Tri-Valley held off Yorba Linda for a 3-1 victory.
The next day, the Blue Devils faced the No. 1 seed in the north, the Vacaville Jets. Vacaville jumped out to an early 3-1 lead and looked like they would be headed to the championship. Vacaville’s late third period foul trouble, combined with Tri-Valley’s balanced attack allowed the Blue Devils to eventually score the go-ahead goal and hold on for a 4-3 victory.
The victories meant that Tri-Valley would be playing the SCAHA champion Jr. Ducks to determine the State Champion. The first period was all Tri-Valley as a relentless attack led to four unanswered goals. Tri-Valley added a fifth goal in the second period but Anaheim answered back with four goals of their own, as the period ended with Tri-Valley ahead 5-4. The third period was a defensive battle as Tri-Valley clamped down on the Jr. Ducks, preserving the 5-4 victory. The Blue Devils completed the sweep, ending their 7 1/2-month season by claiming the title they had long coveted.
Titans bounce back against Breakers
The Tri Valley Titans (3-1) basketball team avenged their loss in the previous outing against the Santa Barbara Breakers (2-3) by toppling the Breakers 124-120 April 21.The Titans overcame a 10-point halftime deficit by outscoring the Breakers 30-16 in the third quarter. The game went back and forth in the final period, before Anthony Lackey hit a three pointer as the shot clock expired, giving the Titans a 122-118 lead with 13 seconds remaining.
Devoughn Lamont and Darrell Tucker each scored 23 points to lead the Titans. Allan Purnell was the game’s top scorer with 30 points for the visiting Breakers.
Foothill frosh rally in bottom of 7th for a win over Cal
A Foothill freshmen baseball win was powered by a 13-hit offense, keyed by Michael Hisaka’s 2-run, 3-RBI day. The Falcons got on the board early when lead-off hitter Reece Yamada singled, followed by a Garrett Moore single and a double by Hisaka. With one out Mike Theofanopoulos put the ball in play forcing Cal to go to first for the out, scoring Moore for the second run of the inning. In the third, Yamada singled again and Hisaka got to first taking one for the team. That set up an RBI opportunity for Austin Mann who singled in Yamada. With two outs clutch hitting Ryan Mende delivered an RBI single to left center giving the Falcons a 4-1 lead after three innings. Cal tied it up in the top of the fourth, but the boys in blue came back to score twice. Troy Sales started by getting hit with a pitch bringing in the speedy Jake Bussani to take over the running duties at first. After a walk to Yamada, Moore’s sacrifice bunt advanced the runners to second and third, setting the stage for Hisaka. With a fly ball to right, Bussani turned on the jets, tagged and scored from third. Later in the inning Mann delivered another RBI single, scoring Yamada for a 6-4 lead.In the fifth, after a single by Sean Mannion, Sales stroked a double to deep left center sending Mannion to third. This set up a Moore fielder’s choice scoring Mannion. The Falcons took a 7-6 lead into the seventh, but the Grizzlies added two in the top of the inning taking an 8-7 lead and putting pressure on the Falcon offense to do the job.
Down to their last out, Moore delivered a crushing double to left center, followed by Hisaka’s second hit of the day to tie the game. Cal then decided to intentionally walk Mann, but followed that with another walk to Andrew Brazil to load the bases. Cal pitching then came too close inside, hitting Elias Khoury and sending the winning run home.
Blizzard leaves opponents in a flurry
The Pleasanton girls lacrosse Blizzard team continued to crush their opponents with victories over the Diablo Scorpions and Burlingame Coyotes April 21 at Hart Middle School. The Blizzard beat the Scorpions with a score of 13-1. Top scorers for the Blizzard were Cambi Cukar and Kira Ewanich. Outstanding assists by Andrea Arden, Cierra Kocik, and Tory Larsen. Excellent ground balls by McKalee Mooney and aggressive saves by Sarah Monday. For the second game, the Blizzard beat the Burlingame Coyotes with a score of 9-3. Top scorers for the Blizzard were Cambi Cukar and Kirsten Jensen. Outstanding assists by Kira Ewanich and Rebecca Dumanski. Excellent ground balls by Evan Murphy. Tough defense by Haley Brodnick and Lindsey Kail.Pleasanton PONY teams battle on the diamond
The Pleasanton Bronco Giants met the Fremont Bronco A’s and came out on top with a 24-3 win. Leading the way offensively was Matt Klei, with four hits and seven RBIs, including a lead-off triple at the top of the first that turned into a run on an overthrow to third base. Griff Gates homered in the fourth with a solo blast that comfortably cleared the right-center fence. Gates also had three singles and a double with four RBIs. In addition to getting two hits, two RBIs and scoring two runs, pitcher Ben Slack threw a no-hitter, allowing three unearned runs.The Livermore Mustang Indians chalked up a win (13-3) against the Pleasanton Mustang White Sox. The Mustang defense was stretched by the relentless hitting of the Indians, but they hung in there and made some great plays. With two runners on in the third, Kameron Johnson of the Indians went deep into center, well over centerfielder Justin Taylor’s head. As the runners scored and Johnson motored around the bases, Taylor showed he had wheels too. Taylor ran down the ball, rocketed it to cutoff man shortstop Andrew Crabill who relayed it home to catcher Cody Teague in time to tag Johnson at the plate. When the dust settled both benches cheered loudly: the Indians for Johnson–who was waved home–for the two RBI blast and valiant try for home, and the White Sox for the great defensive teamwork.
A strong defensive game by the Pleasanton Mustang Giants gave them the 8-3 win over the Pleasanton Mustang Royals 3. Giants pitchers Christian Cisneros, Jake Jackson and James Moore held the Royals to three runs. Strong defensive players included Joey Ferrara and Cisneros. Cisneros also laid down a beautiful bunt for a single and an RBI. Moore hit a single and a double for three RBIs. Brennon Morris hit a single and a triple to drive in an RBI. The Royals also had strong pitching with Andrew Ochoa and Jerry Cheng. Zachary Promes and Lukas Shelton both hit doubles for the Royals.
–Angel Moore
