Rage U18 girls start off regionals with two wins
Championships scheduled for Sunday with winners going on to Boston
The U-18 Pleasanton Rage Girls Soccer Club came out shooting this week to begin the 2009 US Youth Soccer Far West Regionals in Lancaster, Calif.
In game one, the Rage opened their first two games of the tournament with an impressive 8-1 victory over New Mexico’s State Cup Champion Elite FC Adrenaline. The game was settled within the first 20 minutes as the Rage took a commanding 6-0 lead. The scoring barrage began with a picture perfect header goal by Olivia Klei on the Rage’s first of seven corner kicks. Ahsha Smith quickly followed on a breakaway up the middle. Then came Samantha Cloutier, converting another corner kick delivered perfectly by Amanda Luxford. Megan Jurado and Carlee Payne were the next two scorers, launching equally impressive rockets.
In the second game, the Rage continued their winning ways with a 6-1 rout of Montana’s State Cup Champion Bozeman Blitzz. Following her scoring attack from the previous day, Smith made good on a nice cross from Maddie Payne. Nian (Nina) Watkins got in the scoring column with a tough fought header goal. Montana donated two ‘own’ goals in the first half, which gave the Rage a 4-0 lead at the intermission.
In the second half, Montana got on the scoreboard early, which seemed to ignite top ranked forward Carlee Payne, who scored two goals in succession only a couple minutes apart. The first of two was a cross to Jurado, who headed it to Carlee Payne, who in turn headed it in for the score.
The Rage was set to play their final match of this preliminary round on Wednesday afternoon, with the quarterfinals to follow today. The winner of Sunday’s championship game will qualify for a berth in the U.S. Youth National Championships in Boston in late July.
–Scott Mazur
Local golfer going to sectionals in N.C.
Foothill High School sophomore Kortnie Maxoutopoulis shot a 74 at Stockton CC to qualify to advance to the US Woman’s Open sectionals. The 15-year-old finished T10 out of a field of 88. The top 19 players advance to the sectionals and she will be playing the sectional in North Carolina on June 11 with the goal of playing in the US Woman’s Open the week of July 9-12 in Bethlehem, Penn. Other local qualifiers included Ashley Gomes, futures tour pro and former San Jose State women’s golf standout.
AA Cubs top Dbacks in end-of-season game
The PFLL AA Cubs beat the Dbacks June 6 by showing excellent pitching, hitting and defensive skills they sharpened this season during their last week of regular season play. Scott Kienhofer pitched a shut out in the first inning and later, Carter hit a single.
Scott displayed more awesome pitching in the second and Luke delighted Cubs fans with a huge double play at first while Devin drove in an RBI for the team. Luke and Kevin teamed up to tag a runner out at 1st in the top of the third, and Raymond’s SGL drove in an RBI later in the inning. Nick Narciso pitched a solid fourth inning and Raymond caught a fly ball at shortstop and ran down the base runner at third for a dramatic double play. Later, Luke’s huge DBL delivered another RBI for the team. Kevin took the mound top of the fifth and quickly made work of the Dbacks lineup.
Cardinals fall to Cubs in PNLL play
In the Majors division of the PNLL, the Cardinals lost to the Cubs 4-11 June 2. The end of the first inning found the Cubs up 4-1 over the Cardinals.
Ryan Sweeney, Bryce Hahn, RJ Perkins (with an RBI), and Zach Cavros all had base hits. Connor Monson (with a single RBI) and Joey Repac (with a double RBI) followed up with doubles. Zach Cavros was on the mound for most of the game, doing an amazing job of striking out six Cardinals. No runs were added for either team in the second inning; however, Ryan Sweeney made a perfect out at third, fielding the ball and making the tag. The Cubs added three more runs in the third on a walk by Connor Monson and base hits by Joey Repac, JP Johnson, Peter Balas, and a double by Jeffrey Klei. In the top of the fourth, RJ Perkins, Garrett Wrenn, Jacob Felix, Ryan Sweeney, and Bryce Hahn all had base hits.
Connor Monson had a double, and Joey Repac and Mitchell Walsh had walks. All this activity added another four runs to the tally for the Cubs bringing the total to 11. At the bottom of the fourth after two quick strike outs by Zach Cavros, RJ Perkins performed a leaping backhanded grab for a third out. Jeffrey Klei came in to pitch finishing out the game for the Cubs.
10B girls Phantom take second place in tourney
Pleasanton’s 10B Phantom traveling softball team earned second place in San Mateo’s George Feely Classic Tournament June 5-8. The team was challenged by every team as they earned a No. 1 seeding in their bracket by that Saturday evening. On Sunday, the girls won twice to get to the Championship game where Phantom lost to an error free opponent. Taylor Campbell performed brilliantly at second base and made several solid hits. Star catcher Alana Mendez fired missiles to put out several runners attempting to steal second and third bases. Paige Heacox made several outfield catches and threw a bomb from left field to home plate for a put-out.
They also earned second place amongst 12 teams in Danville over the tournament weekend, June 13-14. The girls won all three games on Saturday to earn top seeding. On Sunday, they won twice to get to the championship game where Phantom lost to their emerging arch rival, Belmont Blast. The Belmont based team brilliantly executed a bunt and run strategy against the all-star Phantom team. Leading the Phantom finale with masterful skills and poise was pitcher Jillian Pluschkell who also had a 12-hit weekend. Danielle Williams secured her first win as a 10B Pitcher. Madalyn Warren crushed the ball numerous times, and over the weekend several players hit triples.
The Pleasanton Valley Swim Club hosted Lifestyle Rx of Livermore on June 13 to kick off the first meet of the 2009 summer season. Great efforts were put forth by all swimmers on both teams. Brianna Reynolds, above, swam the 50-yard backstroke in the 11-12 age group from this tournament.
Pleasanton Seahawks dominate open water events
The Seahawks Pre-Senior group performed well at three recent swim meets including the Lake Del Valle Open Water Meet on May 30; Lake Berryessa Open Water Mile on June 6; and the San Jose Junior+ Meet June 6-7.
In spite of the chilly conditions, the group turned out many new team records, new cuts, and new best times. Swimming in shivering 70 degree water at Lake Del Valle, the group dominated this meet with everyone placing in the top 13.
The following weekend, a smaller group of swimmers swam the Lake Berryessa Open Water Mile since many attended the San Jose Junior+ Meet the same weekend. Eight competitors braved the cold waters (68) placing in the top 13. Meanwhile, others competed at the San Jose Junior+ Meet the same day. The group continued their assault on the PLS All Time Top Ten list that included over 15 new top Ten times from this meet. Congratulations to Jon Ong for placing fifth on the PLS All Time Top Ten list.
