Rugby club seeks high school-age players for new team
A new high school team formed by the Pleasanton Cavaliers Rugby Football Club will start its inaugural season next month and the club is looking for a few good players.
All male athletes in Pleasanton, Livermore and Dublin schools are encouraged to apply. The team practices at the Cabernet Indoor Sports Complex in Livermore from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays.
The club is in the process of securing nonprofit status as a charity organization. Coach Paul Bretz, who is a national panel referee for USA Rugby, said while rugby is a rough sport, it is one that helps players develop positive character traits.
“I was fortunate enough to start playing rugby in the Marine Corps and the same traits the Marine Corps stresses–esprit de corps, self-sacrifice and team first–are the same traits that win championships in rugby and develop champions in society,” he said.
The club currently has 30 students from Amador, Foothill, Granada and Livermore high schools who compete in a Northern California Rugby League. Additionally, the club has a group of about 40-50 adults that play touch rugby on Sundays at Harvest Park Middle School. Bretz said the club hopes to create a middle school-aged program by introducing the sport of rugby through a series of one-week camps. Dates are to be determined but will be in the August timeframe.
Visit the club website at www.pleasantonrugbyclub.com or contact Bretz at 640-6779.
CCOP boys come from behind to win
Sign-ups for basketball
Sportstrong Youth Basketball Foundation is kicking off its spring and spring/summer season with evaluations starting Jan. 31. It offers 23 experienced coaches and multiple teams per grade. Some teams play AAU and others MVP league. This offers various levels of play so athletes are placed at the correct level. For more information, visit www.sportstrong.com.
Water polo registration is now open
Registration is now open for Stoneridge Water Polo’s spring season. They are accepting both experienced and beginner girls and boys ages 9-14. This is a fun opportunity for returning players as well as those brand new to the game to learn new skills and compete in this exciting youth sport. The season is from March 2-April 29. Practices will be held at the Dolores Bengston Aquatic Center. For more information, visit www.stoneridgewaterpolo.com or call 484-0172.
Ballistic Black soccer on top
Out of a starting field of 33 teams, the Pleasanton U13 Boys Division 3 Ballistic Black soccer team, coached by Pablo Espinosa, advanced to the final four of the CYSA Northern California Association Cup Tournament Jan. 17-18 at the Morgan Hill Soccer Complex Jan. 17-18. In second round play on Saturday Jan. 17 versus Los Gatos FC, regular time ended in a 1-1 tie but Ballistic Black scored five consecutive goals in the penalty kick tie-breaker to win the game with an official final score of 2-1. In Sunday’s quarter-finals, Ballistic Black defeated the Mission SF Chivas Rayadas 3-0.
During the first two weekends of tournament play, the team has so far out-scored its opponents by 12 goals for to only one against, a tribute to a well-organized offense and tenacious defense. Ballistic Black next meets the Rohnert Park Cougars in the semi-finals at 8:30 a.m., Jan. 24, at the Mustang Soccer Complex in Danville, with the winner playing in the Association Cup finals on January.
Triple Threat winners
Triple Threat Lacrosse Club took first place at the Sandstorm Tournament held in Palm Springs Jan. 10-11, following a second place finish in November at the Mid-Atlantic Tournament in Maryland. Triple Threat demonstrated that lacrosse is a West Coast sport. The club is comprised of players from Acalanes, Miramonte, Campolindo, Monte Vista, San Ramon Valley, Foothill, and Amador Valley high schools.
Pictured: Maddie Saxton, Katie Mitchell, Aimee Dewan, Alex Seclow, Jillian Bush, Casey Bowles, Caroline Federighi, Katherine Herzog, Coach Dearborn David, Jessie Esteban, Erin McGillivary, Devon Frazor, Jenna Alberts, Melissa Trisko, Rachel Ozer, Coach Noemi Hites and Amanda Cross.
