The 5th/6th grade girls volleyball team's loss this morning in straight sets, 25-14 and 25-17, ended the team's brief two game winning streak.
For the most part they hung in there with one of the top team's in the division, but they were unable to take their game to the next level. Their serves have been a lot more consistent and even their serve receives are better than they were even yesterday. But their instinct, reaction time and lack of energy make it difficult to compete with the top tier teams.
This team has the potential to be good, but they do not have a spark. They don't have any big vocal leaders or personalities that can push everybody over the top. They are all too timid and quiet on the court, and nobody takes control.
There was no better example than this when balls would hit the floor and two girls would stare at each other. Or when one girl called for the ball, but didn't go 100% after it. Or when another girl started going for the ball, hesitated, and then went for it again, only to watch it thud a few feet in front of her.
Despite their shortcomings, they have bettered their record from a year ago, and still have one game left to tack on one more win. But if they want to kick their game into the next gear, a lot needs to change.
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Saturday, October 30, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
5th/6th grade makes it two in a row
**Highlights Below**
The 5th/6th grade girls won their second straight volleyball game in a three-set match earlier tonight. This is the first time in their team history that they have won consecutive games.
After winning the first set 25-21, they dropped the second set, 25-23 after leading 23-21. They went back and forth in the third and deciding set and eventually pulled away to win convincingly 15-8. Fiona closed out the final set with some great serving.
The entire team as a whole is serving so much better than they were at the beginning of the season. They are a little shaky at times on the serve receive, especially against difficult overhand servers. But right now they are limiting their mistakes and it is enough for them to pick up some wins.
Each girl served the ball over at a better rate than 50%, a huge improvement from game one when they played the same team.
In that first meeting, the girls had close to ten chances to win the match and failed on each attempt. This was definitely a game they wanted to win to avenge their loss from earlier this season.
It is a quick turnaround for the girls as they will look to make it three straight with a morning game tomorrow.
BRIEFLY: Even on her birthday, assistant coach Sally came to the game. She shares a birthday with The Great Eunice Tom. Happy birthday to them both as their epic birthday video is below.
The 5th/6th grade girls won their second straight volleyball game in a three-set match earlier tonight. This is the first time in their team history that they have won consecutive games.
After winning the first set 25-21, they dropped the second set, 25-23 after leading 23-21. They went back and forth in the third and deciding set and eventually pulled away to win convincingly 15-8. Fiona closed out the final set with some great serving.
The entire team as a whole is serving so much better than they were at the beginning of the season. They are a little shaky at times on the serve receive, especially against difficult overhand servers. But right now they are limiting their mistakes and it is enough for them to pick up some wins.
Each girl served the ball over at a better rate than 50%, a huge improvement from game one when they played the same team.
In that first meeting, the girls had close to ten chances to win the match and failed on each attempt. This was definitely a game they wanted to win to avenge their loss from earlier this season.
It is a quick turnaround for the girls as they will look to make it three straight with a morning game tomorrow.
BRIEFLY: Even on her birthday, assistant coach Sally came to the game. She shares a birthday with The Great Eunice Tom. Happy birthday to them both as their epic birthday video is below.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
More and more Giants
An amazing two nights of baseball it has been by the shores of McCovey Cove as the Giants take a (2-0) series lead in the best of seven match-up against the Texas Rangers.Many of you are watching baseball for the first time -- let's not kid ourselves -- so there's a lot of things out there tonight you could learn from if you are ever to play baseball (or softball).Some of these may sound familiar to those who have played.
Before we get into the inside baseball analysis, how about Edgar Renteria? Here is a true story. I was at a Giants game in late July when Renteria struck out to end the game. I was there the next night, this time with another friend, and I said to him, "Renteria is so (bad)," but the word I used wasn't bad. I told my friend, if Renteria did anything memorable tonight, I'd buy him a Renteria t-shirt.
Up came Renteria in the 8th inning, and he clobbered a pitch into the left field bleachers, almost close to where he hit that ball tonight. And the result...
The bottom line is Renteria is a clutch player who comes up big when you need him to, none more evident than this playoff. If you watched Game 3 vs the Phillies, his base-hit started a rally. Last night, he made an incredible play to his left up the middle to take a base hit away, and then the biggest at-bat of the night when he sent a majestic shot over the Chevron cars on the left field wall.
As a rookie, Renteria had the game-winning hit in the 1997 World Series with the Florida Marlins and he was also on the 2004 National League Champions St. Louis Cardinals squad.
Matt Cain was a beast tonight. The secret -- he threw strikes. The Texas Rangers bullpen, awful -- they didn't throw strikes.
Throw strikes and more often than not, you have the edge.
One player who will get a thumbs up from me is Cody Ross. His walk that led to the second run of the game was huge. He kept on fouling off pitch after pitch and eventually drew a walk. He came around to score to make the game 2-0 at that point. 1-0 and 2-0 is a HUGE difference.
And finally, Justin Bieber. Giants cap, Rangers jacket..talk about multiple personalities. Good one guy...
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...SIGHTS AND SOUNDS FROM GAME ONE
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Tuesday morning quarterback
 Monday morning quarterback (Tuesday edition) One who criticizes or passes judgment from a position of hindsight |
| The Giants bus arriving at AT&T Park Sunday. |
What an insane weekend it was in the world of St. Mary's and professional sports, probably more so in the latter than the former.
How many of you were about to throw up or crap your pants Saturday night as the Giants closed out the Phillies? Or did you not even watch the game cause you were too busy doing homework, or studying, or at a concert with 27 other people?
Nevertheless, the Giants are National League Champions for the first time since 2002 and will start Game one of the World Series tomorrow night against the American League Champions, the Texas Rangers.
The Giants mania around the Bay Area is pure madness. Last night, I waited 20 minutes just to get inside a Giants Dugout to look for some stuff, and when I get in there, absolutely nothing left. Just janky t-shirts and all the good stuff was gone. Everywhere you turn there is someone wearing something Giants. It's a great energy for the entire city and area. And I think this baseball fever should translate to more interest in not only playing baseball come springtime, but watching it for years to come.
Now onto our weekend that was, as the soccer teams went undefeated.
VOLLEYBALL
Good for the 5th/6th grade girls. Not exactly as great of a moment as it was last year when they won their first game, but the younger volleyball team picked up win number one Saturday morning. The secret was the serve. They were able to consistently serve the ball over and therefore won the game -- that's half the battle.
Winning gives players confidence and I hope that this win did just that. They have three more games left in the season and the team will shoot for a better record than last year. They can do it with just one more win.
8TH GRADE VOLLEYBALL
Who saw this coming? After winning their first game of the year, which was also the first game they ever played together as a team, who would've thunk it that they'd go on this five game losing streak?
This division is tough. In over the two plus years I've been watching 8th grade volleyball, this is by far the best competition any of the teams' have played. If this current team played in the 8th grade division last year or even the year before, their record would be a lot better. Unfortunately, the luck of the draw wasn't in the stack of cards for this year's team.
Their two more winnable games came when Marissa was out. Even with Marissa back, these last two opponents have been pretty tough and the girls are just too inexperienced to dethrone girls who have played since third grade.
But, two more games left in the season, let's see what they can make of it.
ALUMNI UPDATE
As we approach basketball season, so do the high schools and here are a few feel good stories, or in some cases, just stories, of graduates who have made it to their respective high school teams. Derek becomes the only graduate of his class to make it to a basketball team, he'll be playing for Lowell's JV squad. And after being on JV last season, Vivian and Shari, graduates in the class of 2009 cracked the Varsity team for Galileo. Congratulations to the three of them for their accomplishments thus far.
I am in the process of setting up a volleyball and soccer alumni game -- more details will follow in the upcoming weeks.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
8th graders put forth their best, fall short in heartbreaking fashion
The 8th graders played their best game of the year, but it was still not enough for them to get over the hump and pick up win number two, which has been eluding them now for five straight games.
The girls went neck to neck with the opposition in the first set until the other team had one girl who served everything on a line. That led the other team to pull away and eventually win the first set 25-18.
It looked like it was going to be the same in the second set until Kristine stepped up to serve with the 8th grade down 13-8. Kristine then served 10 straight balls over and just like that the 8th grade was in control of the set 18-13. Due to a CYO rule where a girl can't serve more than 10 times, it was an automatic sideout. Yet, the girls still won the next point to extend their lead to 19-13.
Kristine's balls were all on a line and the other team couldn't find an answer for these atom balls. The last girl to serve 10 balls over in a St. Mary's uniform was Emily.
They would trade a few points, and when the score hit 23-18, the pendulum swung the other way. The girls could not return a serve, and they gave up seven straight points and lost the second and deciding set in heartbreaking fashion, 25-23.
The competition in the 8th grade's lowest division aren't playing like they are in the lowest division. Almost every time carries a handful of girls who can overhand serve, and most of the teams have the ability to bump, set and spike. Our girls are still learning how to do that, and were successful on many of those attempts this afternoon.
Alexa, Kristine and Marissa all successfully hit/spiked the ball over the net for points.
Despite losing, this was by far the best match the girls have played up to this point. They play to the level of their competition, which could be a good thing when their playing a formidable opponent, but not so much when the opponent isn't as respectable.
Their serving has also improved as every girl served at least one ball over, and most of the girls served far above .500 on the day.
The girls have two games remaining on their regular season schedule.
The girls went neck to neck with the opposition in the first set until the other team had one girl who served everything on a line. That led the other team to pull away and eventually win the first set 25-18.
It looked like it was going to be the same in the second set until Kristine stepped up to serve with the 8th grade down 13-8. Kristine then served 10 straight balls over and just like that the 8th grade was in control of the set 18-13. Due to a CYO rule where a girl can't serve more than 10 times, it was an automatic sideout. Yet, the girls still won the next point to extend their lead to 19-13.
Kristine's balls were all on a line and the other team couldn't find an answer for these atom balls. The last girl to serve 10 balls over in a St. Mary's uniform was Emily.
They would trade a few points, and when the score hit 23-18, the pendulum swung the other way. The girls could not return a serve, and they gave up seven straight points and lost the second and deciding set in heartbreaking fashion, 25-23.
The competition in the 8th grade's lowest division aren't playing like they are in the lowest division. Almost every time carries a handful of girls who can overhand serve, and most of the teams have the ability to bump, set and spike. Our girls are still learning how to do that, and were successful on many of those attempts this afternoon.
Alexa, Kristine and Marissa all successfully hit/spiked the ball over the net for points.
Despite losing, this was by far the best match the girls have played up to this point. They play to the level of their competition, which could be a good thing when their playing a formidable opponent, but not so much when the opponent isn't as respectable.
Their serving has also improved as every girl served at least one ball over, and most of the girls served far above .500 on the day.
The girls have two games remaining on their regular season schedule.
BREAKING NEWS: 5th/6th grade girls victorious
They were aided by some faulty serving by the other team who either hit the ceiling on some of their serves or found their balls swallowed up by the night. The 5th/6th graders however, had their occasional lapses serving, but they were much more consistent than games in the past, and they were able to rattle off a string of points at the most opportune times in the game.
The girls led 20-15 in the first set and fought off a late charge from the other team to eke out a first set win. To start the second set, Fiona served the girls out to a quick 2-0 cushion and that lead stood the rest of the set. Edwena, Ivy and Michelle all had consecutive points on the serve that enabled the girls to pull away.
Edwena shook off a rough game last week and had several difficult balls at the net that she returned, scoring points for the 5th/6th graders.
This was the girls' second victory in their little over one year history. In both their wins, they have won in straight sets.
Their record sits at (1-4). They previously won a set in the first game of the season.
NO SOCCER GAMES TODAY -- ALL GAMES OFF
Friday, October 22, 2010
BREAKING NEWS: SOCCER GAMES POSTPONED FOR TOMORROW
Straight from the CYO desks:
West Sunset field has been closed for tomorrow, Saturday 10/23. All games at West Sunset are now officially canceled for tomorrow.
The games will be rescheduled.
West Sunset field has been closed for tomorrow, Saturday 10/23. All games at West Sunset are now officially canceled for tomorrow.
The games will be rescheduled.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
St. Mary's Fantasy Basketball
Year 2 of St. Mary's Fantasy Basketball. If you are interested, the draft is Sunday night:
http://basketball.fantasysports.yahoo.com/nba/register/tos?league_id=42117&password=miguel
Click on the link above to sign your team up. If that doesn't work, email me or contact me and I will email you an invite.
http://basketball.fantasysports.yahoo.com/nba/register/tos?league_id=42117&password=miguel
Click on the link above to sign your team up. If that doesn't work, email me or contact me and I will email you an invite.
Going back to Philly
The Giants will have two more shots to punch their ticket to the World Series. They start Saturday night back in Philadelphia. Jonathan Sanchez takes the hill against Roy Oswalt.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Changes
Lot of changes in the schedule for volleyball this weekend -- be sure to take a look at the rundown of events above.
Also, it is short notice, but Friday will be our annual trip to Stanford to watch volleyball. #2 ranked in the country Stanford hosts #5 California. It will be an epic match -- more details at school tomorrow. Everybody who plays volleyball and their families are invited to this festive event. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Also, it is short notice, but Friday will be our annual trip to Stanford to watch volleyball. #2 ranked in the country Stanford hosts #5 California. It will be an epic match -- more details at school tomorrow. Everybody who plays volleyball and their families are invited to this festive event. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Monday morning quarterback (Tuesday edition)
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| The view from my seats this afternoon following the Giants win. |
One who criticizes or passes judgment from a position of hindsight
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Giants take a 2-1 series lead against the Phillies this afternoon with a 3-0 shutout win behind Matt Cain, who went seven innings. Javier Lopez was masterful in the eighth and Brian Wilson slammed the door in the ninth inning with a game-ending double play.
Two games remain here at AT&T Park, so they have a good shot to win the next two, especially tomorrow with Madison Bumgarner taking on Joe Blanton, the former Athletic. You can probably watch the game, as it starts approximately at 5 p.m. on FOX.
SOCCER AND VOLLEYBALL
Not too much to rehash from the weekend. Both volleyball teams had their chances to pull of a surprise victory but ultimately fell short.
One thing that is noticeable from the younger girls in volleyball is that when they mess up once, it sticks with them the entire game. They need to be stronger mentally, shaking off the mistakes, and not letting it bother them the rest of the day. Isabella and Ivy were fantastic with their serves and hopefully that translates to everyone else being the same as well.
The older girls got Marissa back, but it was another loss. The team they played was pretty solid. Against a tough team, they need to be more aggressive on the attack, implementing the bump, set and spike, or perhaps some hitting. They didn't do it consistent enough to mount any furious comeback.
To soccer, where we start with the younger kids. It was a gritty performance as they were matched up against some really big strong kids who did not live up to the billing. But that's the thing about soccer, one mistake can cost you the game, and a defensive breakdown led to an easy goal to start the fourth.
Offensively, the spacing is as poor as it can be. All the forwards are chasing down a ball on one side of the field, and nobody is on the other side. The defense held for three quarters and it was the offenses job to put a ball into the net -- they did not.
As for the 8th graders, it was a good effort, but again, they only had 9 players. The other team had 11. Not much you can do. Miles did however, do a great job in goal the second half, not allowing a single ball to get by him.
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| The free nachos and guacamole plate at the 49ers vs Raiders game Sunday. |
Monday, October 18, 2010
Giants vs Phillies Preview
Not really a preview, but pictures I snapped from my NEW and IMPROVED phone from today's afternoon workout at AT&T Park. Game time is 1:19 p.m. so probably nobody will be able to watch the game,
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| The NLCS logo on the field. |
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| The Phillies doing some warm-ups/ |
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| Ryan Howard stretching |
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| Brian Wilson doing an interview with Chris Rose from FOX |
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| The Giants doing stretching during their workout |
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| Cody Ross doing an interview with Eric Karros |
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Final quarter dooms 5th/6th grade
It was as simple as whoever scored first would win the game. Unfortunately, it wasn't the 5th/6th graders who scored.
Scoreless going into the fourth, a defensive breakdown led to the first goal of the game from the other team. They added another late in the fourth on just a blatant giveaway off of a goal kick where the ball was kicked to the other team, and set up perfectly for them to score.
Sloppy was one of many adjectives to describe the action for the first three quarters as both teams bended but didn't break. There were huge scrums of players around balls and absolutely no spacing from either team. It was a scary flashback to two years ago when everyone was playing on a smaller field.
After a rough outing last week, Daniel was clearly ready to come out with a better effort, and he did exactly that. Daniel was aggressive in chasing down balls in the box and was able to punt the ball on several occasions that could've led to some offense.
The forwards didn't do much offensively and didn't register one shot the entire game. There just isn't spacing among the attacks as they all chase the ball instead of staying in their zones. Sometimes a ball is crossed to the other side, but there is no St. Mary's player there to get a foot on it.
There were points in the game where four of five red jerseys would surround one ball when there only needed to be one or two people there -- at most.
But that's how the game of soccer works. One mistake could cost you the game. There isn't much room for error.
Scoreless going into the fourth, a defensive breakdown led to the first goal of the game from the other team. They added another late in the fourth on just a blatant giveaway off of a goal kick where the ball was kicked to the other team, and set up perfectly for them to score.
Sloppy was one of many adjectives to describe the action for the first three quarters as both teams bended but didn't break. There were huge scrums of players around balls and absolutely no spacing from either team. It was a scary flashback to two years ago when everyone was playing on a smaller field.
After a rough outing last week, Daniel was clearly ready to come out with a better effort, and he did exactly that. Daniel was aggressive in chasing down balls in the box and was able to punt the ball on several occasions that could've led to some offense.
The forwards didn't do much offensively and didn't register one shot the entire game. There just isn't spacing among the attacks as they all chase the ball instead of staying in their zones. Sometimes a ball is crossed to the other side, but there is no St. Mary's player there to get a foot on it.
There were points in the game where four of five red jerseys would surround one ball when there only needed to be one or two people there -- at most.
But that's how the game of soccer works. One mistake could cost you the game. There isn't much room for error.
Volleyball teams find themselves both on losing ends
**HIGHLIGHTS AND REACTION BELOW**
The 5th/6th grade and 8th grade volleyball teams both lost their games this afternoon in straight sets.
Ivy and Isabella were great with their serves and both gave the 5th/6th grade a good chance to win, but the serve receive was mediocre to say the least. Ivy served the girls right back into the first set and brought them within a point 12-11, but once the ball went back to the other team, the girls never recovered.
Isabella staked the girls out to a quick 7-2 lead, but the same story that was written in the first set, repeated itself in set two. 25-12 and 25-15 were the final scores.
It wasn't much better for the 8th grade girls. Even with Marissa back, they lost their fourth straight game 25-14 and 25-21.
Interestingly enough, the girls played better today than they had since game one. Problem is their competition was a lot stiffer than normal. The girls seemed to play at the level of their competition which could be good when facing a good team like today, and bad, when facing teams like they played the previous two games.
The energy level for both teams and most notably the 8th grade wasn't there today. Both teams are struggling right now and it all boils down to executing during the games. The 5th/6th graders need a spark, and are way too quiet on the court. One bad mistake seems to bring their morale down. Some players make an error and it stays with them the entire game.
On the season, the 5th/6th grade sits at (0-4) while the 8th grade now is (1-4).
The 5th/6th grade and 8th grade volleyball teams both lost their games this afternoon in straight sets.
Ivy and Isabella were great with their serves and both gave the 5th/6th grade a good chance to win, but the serve receive was mediocre to say the least. Ivy served the girls right back into the first set and brought them within a point 12-11, but once the ball went back to the other team, the girls never recovered.
Isabella staked the girls out to a quick 7-2 lead, but the same story that was written in the first set, repeated itself in set two. 25-12 and 25-15 were the final scores.
It wasn't much better for the 8th grade girls. Even with Marissa back, they lost their fourth straight game 25-14 and 25-21.
Interestingly enough, the girls played better today than they had since game one. Problem is their competition was a lot stiffer than normal. The girls seemed to play at the level of their competition which could be good when facing a good team like today, and bad, when facing teams like they played the previous two games.
The energy level for both teams and most notably the 8th grade wasn't there today. Both teams are struggling right now and it all boils down to executing during the games. The 5th/6th graders need a spark, and are way too quiet on the court. One bad mistake seems to bring their morale down. Some players make an error and it stays with them the entire game.
On the season, the 5th/6th grade sits at (0-4) while the 8th grade now is (1-4).
8th grade with only 9 players lose again, Miles shines in goal
With only 9 players for the third straight game, the 8th graders just didn't have enough gas in the tank to compete with a team of 11 players.
They gave up one goal in the first and two in the second and trailed 3-0 going into the half.
Miles took over in net for the first time in his career and did not give up a goal the entire second half. They had a golden opportunity to score in the second half, but the forwards seemed to just look at the ball without getting off a shot.
They have two more games remaining on the season.
They gave up one goal in the first and two in the second and trailed 3-0 going into the half.
Miles took over in net for the first time in his career and did not give up a goal the entire second half. They had a golden opportunity to score in the second half, but the forwards seemed to just look at the ball without getting off a shot.
They have two more games remaining on the season.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Pictures are worth 1,000 words, or in some cases just 5
It has been a hectic week in the Bay Area sports landscape, so I thought I'd share with everyone a little sneak peak of the week that was...
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| Sunday, 1:15 p.m. Raiders vs Chargers in the press box |
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| 5:00 p.m. (approximately) Setting up interviews outside the Raiders locker room |
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| 8:30 p.m. Rush over to Candlestick Park, make it there at half-time for 49ers vs Eagles |
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| 8:35 p.m. - On the sidelines in the 4th quarter for the final few drives |
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| 10:00 p.m. The field after the stadium emptied |
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| 10:30 p.m. During our taped segments, I got bored and shot the score. |
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| Monday, 11:30 a.m. - The 49ers defensive players meeting room where Coach Singletary speaks Mondays following another loss. |
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| Wednesday, 11 a.m. - Outside the Raiders practice facility and offices. |
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| Wednesday, 3 p.m. - Getting ready for the Giants vs Phillies NLCS |
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| 4 p.m. - Giants players huddling before their last workout in San Francisco before flying to Philadelphia. |
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| Bruce Bochy being interviewed by MLB Network. |
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| The door to the Giants clubhouse. |
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Monday morning quarterback (on a Tuesday)
Monday morning quarterback (Tuesday edition)
One who criticizes or passes judgment from a position of hindsight.
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With the long weekend, Monday morning quarterback shifts to Tuesday as we begin yet another week. Lot of stuff happened this weekend, so we are here to take a look back at the weekend that was.
We have to start with the Giants and the emotionally roller coaster they take you on game after game. Their slogan this year in case you haven't heard it, "Torture," and that was exactly what this series was.
Friday night might have been one of the worst nights in years as the Giants were on the verge of another classic and epic playoff collapse. But what a job they did this weekend in Atlanta to make Friday night a distant memory.
The NLCS starts Saturday night in Philadelphia with Tim Lincecum going up against Roy Halladay.
JUSTIN'S PICTURE PERFECT GOAL
What a great day Saturday was for the 8th grade soccer team, almost incredible if it weren't for ending the game in a tie.
Justin's free kick goal is (in my opinion) the best goal in the history of St. Mary's up until this date. Hopefully we'll have more goals like this to celebrate.
Take a look at the RAW video which will be below. You hear this clown in the background say, "Pass it to Jeremy," because it was a near impossible kick to make.
This shot was one from the pros, where you place it where absolutely nobody could touch it. The ball had to get past or above a wall of players and then the goalie. It was a World Cup type goal and I couldn't be more happy for Justin, who has come close on several occasions to scoring. If he hadn't banged one in by the end of the year, it might have haunted him the rest of his life.
GOALIES
The role of a goalie is like a quarterback in the NFL. You hear it a lot if you read or listen to sound bites, but goalies either get too much credit for a victory or too much blame for a loss.
For me, a goalie is someone who makes the stops when a team needs a stop the most. Unfortunately our goalies this weekend for both teams were unable to do so.
Up 1-0 with a chance to win for the first time this year, the ball that went by Mark needs to be stopped. Granted, I wasn't on the field and didn't have a clear look at the shot, but from what everyone has said, the ball shouldn't have gone in the net.
The 5th/6th graders surrendered five goals Saturday, but the first few goals of the game seemed to catch Daniel by surprise.
Both goalies I am sure would tell you they should've stopped those shots.
And it's unfair to direct blame at both goalies, because Mark has been forced into duty almost by default. Daniel has been goalie since day one and whether he embraces it or not is up for debate. But what they need to do more is try harder in practice. In practice, I have never seen them dive and go balls out for balls. They don't give it 100% in practice trying to keep balls out and if they don't do that in a setting with no pressure, how do they do it come game time?
VOLLEYBALL
The only volleyball that was played this weekend was the 8th grade game on Friday night. And we've beaten this into the ground as well with the lack of consistency in serving.
So without typing another screenplay, we'll say this. Until the girls can serve the ball over consistently, it will be the same result. Balls just need to get over the net.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Justin scores first goal ever in 1-1 tie, team plays 9 v 11 again
With only 9 players for the second straight week, the 8th grade soccer team nearly won their first game of the season, but instead, settled for a 1-1 tie.
Midway through the third quarter, Justin lined up for a free-kick inside the box and lifted it over the wall built by the other team and into the top of the net for his first career soccer goal.
But as luck would have it, the other team just happened to have their best player show up right before the start of the fourth quarter, and of course, he scored the game-tying goal, a ball that barely left the ground that Mark should've saved.
St. Mary's still had numerous opportunities to win the game, but the other team's goalie was aggressive, coming out to challenge forwards Justin, Jeremy and Calson. They were unable to get good shots off and the teams played to a draw.
Still, an amazing story considering they were short-handed once again with the injury to Marissa and the absence of Miguel and Sebastian. The defense, led by Miles, who was everywhere on the field today played their best game to date. They were able to push the ball forward to the forwards who were able to put in the first goal of the season by a St. Mary's player.
It was especially gratifying for Justin who has come close on more on one occasion to score his first goal -- this time, he finished the job.
5th/6th grade shutout: The 5th/6th grade soccer team was shutout 5-0. Some of the goals were definitely preventable as Daniel let in a few soft ones, and on two occasions, the defense was completely out of position. Their best scoring chance came when Justin had a breakaway in the fourth, but the other team's goalkeeper made the tough save.
Midway through the third quarter, Justin lined up for a free-kick inside the box and lifted it over the wall built by the other team and into the top of the net for his first career soccer goal.
But as luck would have it, the other team just happened to have their best player show up right before the start of the fourth quarter, and of course, he scored the game-tying goal, a ball that barely left the ground that Mark should've saved.
St. Mary's still had numerous opportunities to win the game, but the other team's goalie was aggressive, coming out to challenge forwards Justin, Jeremy and Calson. They were unable to get good shots off and the teams played to a draw.
Still, an amazing story considering they were short-handed once again with the injury to Marissa and the absence of Miguel and Sebastian. The defense, led by Miles, who was everywhere on the field today played their best game to date. They were able to push the ball forward to the forwards who were able to put in the first goal of the season by a St. Mary's player.
It was especially gratifying for Justin who has come close on more on one occasion to score his first goal -- this time, he finished the job.
5th/6th grade shutout: The 5th/6th grade soccer team was shutout 5-0. Some of the goals were definitely preventable as Daniel let in a few soft ones, and on two occasions, the defense was completely out of position. Their best scoring chance came when Justin had a breakaway in the fourth, but the other team's goalkeeper made the tough save.
5th/6th grade volleyball game postponed
The 5th/6th grade volleyball game this morning was not played due to unsafe playing conditions. Take a look at why it was just a bit dangerous to be hitting a volleyball.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Faults too much to overcome for 8th grade
It was a bit ironic that the game began with a fault and ended with a fault. The 8th grade girls just cannot consistently serve the ball.
The girls dug themselves huge holes early in both sets, and held late rallies to make it interesting. Unfortunately the hole sometimes is too deep to come out of, and this was one of those occasions.
Kristine served the girls back into the first set with a furious rally of serves, closing the gap in the first set to 24-23. But a fault put ended the set with the girls losing 25-23.
Second set was more of the same story as the girls just could not generate any rhythm. Catharine, this time, led the late comeback, with a string of points off of her serve, but the second set ended 25-18. This was the girls' third straight loss since opening the year with a three-set victory.
Playing again without Marissa, the team's most consistent server, the girls were never in sync. When someone can't serve the ball over, it brings the entire team's morale down a notch and it's hard to recover when balls keep getting swallowed up by the net or sailing out of bounds.
Their serve receives were decent, but when you lose sets by a handful of points, those serves loom large.
Marissa hopes to play in the team's next game, as their record now sits at (1-3) on the year.
The girls dug themselves huge holes early in both sets, and held late rallies to make it interesting. Unfortunately the hole sometimes is too deep to come out of, and this was one of those occasions.
Kristine served the girls back into the first set with a furious rally of serves, closing the gap in the first set to 24-23. But a fault put ended the set with the girls losing 25-23.
Second set was more of the same story as the girls just could not generate any rhythm. Catharine, this time, led the late comeback, with a string of points off of her serve, but the second set ended 25-18. This was the girls' third straight loss since opening the year with a three-set victory.
Playing again without Marissa, the team's most consistent server, the girls were never in sync. When someone can't serve the ball over, it brings the entire team's morale down a notch and it's hard to recover when balls keep getting swallowed up by the net or sailing out of bounds.
Their serve receives were decent, but when you lose sets by a handful of points, those serves loom large.
Marissa hopes to play in the team's next game, as their record now sits at (1-3) on the year.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Giants, Sharks, Volleyball, Soccer, Raiders, 49ers
What a few days this is going to be. Just non-stop sports action on the TV and in person.
TONIGHT
Tonight, the Giants will host the Atlanta Braves in Round 1 of the MLB playoffs. This is their first appearance since 2003. Tim Lincecum takes the ball and will get the start and thankfully Barry Zito will not be pitching at all in this round -- and hopefully never will in a Giants uniform again. Zito was left off the post-season roster. Thank goodness there are no CYO participation rules in the majors.
FRIDAY
No school tomorrow, so what should you do (other than finish your homework and study)? Flip on Versus at 12 p.m. as the Sharks, yes, the Sharks start their regular season in Sweden against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Tomorrow night, the 8th graders will reach the midway point of their season with a 6:30 p.m. game at Mission Dolores. Seven minutes later, the Giants will play the Braves in Game 2 with Matt Cain on the mound.
SATURDAY
Come Saturday, the 5th/6th grade hit their halfway point of the season with a 9:45 a.m. game at CYO Serramonte. Then you can rush home to catch the Sharks play their second game of the year, still in Sweden, against the Blue Jackets.
By 2 p.m., the Sharks should have a good sizable lead, so you can then head on over to West Sunset for a St. Mary's soccer double-dip, with the 5th/6th graders playing at 2 p.m. and then 8th graders following at 3 p.m.
SUNDAY
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, you can listen to the Raiders at 1:15 p.m. on the radio, since they once again did not sell-out, OR catch Game 3 of the Giants in Atlanta -- Jonathan Sanchez gets the start. Come 5:15 p.m. it will be the 49ers vs Eagles on national television.
Enjoy it fellow couch potatoes...
_________________________________________________________
TV GUIDE
Giants Games - TBS Ch. 35, Direct TV Ch. 247
Sharks - VERSUS Ch. 81, Direct TV Ch. 603
49ers - NBC, Ch. 11
TONIGHT
Tonight, the Giants will host the Atlanta Braves in Round 1 of the MLB playoffs. This is their first appearance since 2003. Tim Lincecum takes the ball and will get the start and thankfully Barry Zito will not be pitching at all in this round -- and hopefully never will in a Giants uniform again. Zito was left off the post-season roster. Thank goodness there are no CYO participation rules in the majors.
FRIDAY
No school tomorrow, so what should you do (other than finish your homework and study)? Flip on Versus at 12 p.m. as the Sharks, yes, the Sharks start their regular season in Sweden against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Tomorrow night, the 8th graders will reach the midway point of their season with a 6:30 p.m. game at Mission Dolores. Seven minutes later, the Giants will play the Braves in Game 2 with Matt Cain on the mound.
SATURDAY
Come Saturday, the 5th/6th grade hit their halfway point of the season with a 9:45 a.m. game at CYO Serramonte. Then you can rush home to catch the Sharks play their second game of the year, still in Sweden, against the Blue Jackets.
By 2 p.m., the Sharks should have a good sizable lead, so you can then head on over to West Sunset for a St. Mary's soccer double-dip, with the 5th/6th graders playing at 2 p.m. and then 8th graders following at 3 p.m.
SUNDAY
Sunday, Sunday, Sunday, you can listen to the Raiders at 1:15 p.m. on the radio, since they once again did not sell-out, OR catch Game 3 of the Giants in Atlanta -- Jonathan Sanchez gets the start. Come 5:15 p.m. it will be the 49ers vs Eagles on national television.
Enjoy it fellow couch potatoes...
_________________________________________________________
TV GUIDE
Giants Games - TBS Ch. 35, Direct TV Ch. 247
Sharks - VERSUS Ch. 81, Direct TV Ch. 603
49ers - NBC, Ch. 11
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Happy Birthday to my Faja...
Happy Birthday to my Dad today, he turns 22...
In case you missed it from the summer, I woke my Dad up in the middle of the night to wish him a Happy Father's Day. Check it out...
In case you missed it from the summer, I woke my Dad up in the middle of the night to wish him a Happy Father's Day. Check it out...
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Tierra Rogers struggles to find her new role
Last year on the blog, we brought you the story of Tierra Rogers, the basketball phenom who graduated from Sacred Heart, and then, soon to be Cal basketball player.
Unfortunately her career never got started because of a medical condition which essentially ended her basketball career.
The San Francisco Chronicle did a follow-up feature story and it continues to be a very tragic story of someone who had her passion and love taken away in a heartbeat.
This article is a bit long, but definitely worth you taking the five minutes to read.
____________________________________________________________________________
Courtesy: The San Francisco Chronicle
Written by: Ron Kroichick
Tierra Rogers still sports an expression equal parts sadness and frustration.
She stands on the sideline at Haas Pavilion, pensively watching her Cal teammates practice. She wears a McDonald's All-American T-shirt - she fulfilled her father's dream by playing in the prestigious high school all-star game last year - chats briefly with DeNesha Stallworth, trades a quick high-five with Rachelle Federico and then vanishes.
Basketball used to be the way Rogers coped with the January 2008 murder of her father, San Francisco anti-violence activist Terrell Rogers. He was her friend and confidant, talking about everything from boys to hoops to her love of shoes, until he was gunned down during halftime at one of her high school games.
So when Tierra, one of the nation's top prep players at Sacred Heart Cathedral, collapsed on the court in Berkeley on Sept. 21, 2009, it sent her spinning toward a cruel and painful outcome. Less than two weeks later, she was diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, a rare genetic disease that can cause dangerously abnormal heart rhythms.
Her basketball career was over, even before her first college game.
One year later, Rogers, 19, remains on scholarship at Cal as she searches for her role with the Bears - part coach, part teammate, part cheerleader - and her direction in life.
She's a full-time student and former athlete with a defibrillator implanted in her chest, a frightening reminder of her own brush with death (she stopped breathing for more than a minute).
More good days
Rogers insists she has more good days than bad. She occasionally plays good-natured, pre-practice games of H-O-R-S-E with Stallworth, a friend dating to their youth basketball days, and she smiles widely when talking about social outings.
But it's also impossible to escape the frustration of not pursuing her longtime passion. Basketball was her escape, until her sudden health troubles yanked it away.
"I know how much Tierra was playing for her father," said Lauren Greif, one of Rogers' teammates last season. "After her initial shock (over the diagnosis), she felt like she was letting his memory down."
It makes sense, then, for Rogers to struggle with the detour her life has taken.
She knows she's fortunate to be alive - about 80 percent of the time, ARVD is diagnosed post-mortem - but she also cannot seem to accept the loss of basketball the way she reluctantly came to accept the loss of her dad.
"I still have anger inside me," Rogers said. "How can I explain it? ... I'm trying to figure it out, why I'm not getting over this one year after."
It's also difficult for Rogers to escape because of the predicament potentially facing her brother, 14-year-old Terrell Jr., known as Terray (like his dad). Terray is a promising football player in Houston, where he and his mom, Dalonna Ingram-Rogers, moved last year.
The family recently discovered that Terray also has the genetic marker for ARVD. They learned Wednesday he does not have the disease, though doctors say he could develop it later and they want to check him annually.
Collapse at gym
Cal's players had just completed a conditioning workout when Rogers, who had a history of asthma, fainted on the gym floor.
Her teammates quickly found athletic trainer Ann Caslin. She brought Rogers into the training room, got her breathing regulated, and later began to walk her down the hallway toward the school's nearby health center.
Then Rogers collapsed again. This time, she stopped breathing for more than a minute and lost consciousness for approximately seven minutes. Caslin and other Cal officials feverishly worked to revive her, while struggling to hold off ominous thoughts.
"I know the kid, her family, her story," Caslin said. "I thought, 'Oh my God, how am I going to call her mom and tell her that her child has died?' "
Rogers, who regained consciousness by the time paramedics arrived, spent one week in Alta Bates Hospital and another four days at UCSF, where doctors eventually made the diagnosis. They told her the physical stress of basketball posed too high a risk of damaging her heart and causing the potentially fatal arrhythmias.
Becoming a spectator
Her mom and Cal officials had braced for the news, but Rogers was "hysterical," as her mom put it, upon learning she could no longer play. Her dismay lingered through most of last season, as the Bears went about their business and she became a spectator.
Any player who had devoted herself to the game since age 10 would be devastated, but Cal coach Joanne Boyle knew Rogers would be devastated on many levels. She had been thriving in preseason workouts, finding her groove after initially struggling to embrace basketball in the wake of her father's death.
"I think having joy back in her life helped her put it in perspective: 'My dad would be so proud of me,' " Boyle said. "She was kind of drawing on that strength. And then basketball is taken away, and she starts asking, 'What? Why? How?' That's where the anger comes in."
The anger sometimes surfaces at predictable moments - the anniversary of her dad's death (Jan. 12), Cal's first big home game, the games against USC, UCLA and Baylor (other schools she considered). Any time a moment takes Tierra back to the recruiting process, Boyle suggested, she slips into a funk.
Rogers' mom fielded countless phone calls from her daughter last season. She would call at all hours to vent about having to watch the game she played with such acclaim at Sacred Heart.
"She still doesn't know her role," Ingram-Rogers said. "Now they're trying to bond again, with new players, and she wonders what she can talk about. ... She still thinks she's a player and I tell her she's not a player anymore. It's not an easy conversation."
Rogers occasionally calls herself "Grandma," given her lack of physical exertion. She was a dynamic player, leaning on her explosive quickness, and then suddenly she couldn't run at all. Even now, cleared for light jogging or casual shooting, she often sees no point.
Taking part
She might not feel like part of the team, but she still has found ways to contribute. Most memorable, Boyle said, was Rogers' powerful speech to the players - essentially telling them to stop sulking, appreciate the chance to play and work harder - after a 67-64 loss to USC in January.
Rogers also has fought through darker moments. Ask her about the connection between the loss of her dad and basketball and she drifts into prolonged contemplation, wondering what's left after losing both but also hoping she might "become a stronger person and help people."
She was engaging and candid during a recent interview, even acknowledging thoughts of suicide after her diagnosis.
"I've thought about it, but I have my family," Rogers said. "And I know my mom would go crazy if anything happened to me. I don't want to put all that on her. I'm not that selfish."
Rogers grew up in Hunters Point, a rough neighborhood that taught her how easily things can be taken away and made her tougher. In other words, there's another layer lurking beyond those sad eyes.
The defibrillator will permanently remain inside her chest, just in case her heart begins beating abnormally. Rogers feels the device only when she sleeps on her left side; the main day-to-day symptom of her condition is frequent fatigue.
She's exploring her interest in the media, including a trip to ESPN Magazine headquarters in New York, and she's also becoming active in health issues.
Rogers and Cal raised more than $16,000 for ARVD research, and she might participate in a heart-health campaign organized by Julie Dixon, sister of former Army women's coach Maggie Dixon, who died of heart arrhythmia in 2006.
Rogers also agreed to serve as a spokeswoman for Alameda County Health Services, which is starting a program to teach CPR to 15,000 seventh-graders in public schools.
So, after one wrenching tragedy and another life-changing crisis, maybe the signs of a positive path are starting to form.
"I tell her, 'God must have a huge plan for you,' " Boyle said. "Just the fact she had to bear so much so young, I can't imagine her life not being full of some great purpose."
Unfortunately her career never got started because of a medical condition which essentially ended her basketball career.
The San Francisco Chronicle did a follow-up feature story and it continues to be a very tragic story of someone who had her passion and love taken away in a heartbeat.
This article is a bit long, but definitely worth you taking the five minutes to read.
____________________________________________________________________________
Courtesy: The San Francisco Chronicle
Written by: Ron Kroichick
Tierra Rogers still sports an expression equal parts sadness and frustration.
She stands on the sideline at Haas Pavilion, pensively watching her Cal teammates practice. She wears a McDonald's All-American T-shirt - she fulfilled her father's dream by playing in the prestigious high school all-star game last year - chats briefly with DeNesha Stallworth, trades a quick high-five with Rachelle Federico and then vanishes.
Basketball used to be the way Rogers coped with the January 2008 murder of her father, San Francisco anti-violence activist Terrell Rogers. He was her friend and confidant, talking about everything from boys to hoops to her love of shoes, until he was gunned down during halftime at one of her high school games.
So when Tierra, one of the nation's top prep players at Sacred Heart Cathedral, collapsed on the court in Berkeley on Sept. 21, 2009, it sent her spinning toward a cruel and painful outcome. Less than two weeks later, she was diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, a rare genetic disease that can cause dangerously abnormal heart rhythms.
Her basketball career was over, even before her first college game.
One year later, Rogers, 19, remains on scholarship at Cal as she searches for her role with the Bears - part coach, part teammate, part cheerleader - and her direction in life.
She's a full-time student and former athlete with a defibrillator implanted in her chest, a frightening reminder of her own brush with death (she stopped breathing for more than a minute).
More good days
Rogers insists she has more good days than bad. She occasionally plays good-natured, pre-practice games of H-O-R-S-E with Stallworth, a friend dating to their youth basketball days, and she smiles widely when talking about social outings.
But it's also impossible to escape the frustration of not pursuing her longtime passion. Basketball was her escape, until her sudden health troubles yanked it away.
"I know how much Tierra was playing for her father," said Lauren Greif, one of Rogers' teammates last season. "After her initial shock (over the diagnosis), she felt like she was letting his memory down."
It makes sense, then, for Rogers to struggle with the detour her life has taken.
She knows she's fortunate to be alive - about 80 percent of the time, ARVD is diagnosed post-mortem - but she also cannot seem to accept the loss of basketball the way she reluctantly came to accept the loss of her dad.
"I still have anger inside me," Rogers said. "How can I explain it? ... I'm trying to figure it out, why I'm not getting over this one year after."
It's also difficult for Rogers to escape because of the predicament potentially facing her brother, 14-year-old Terrell Jr., known as Terray (like his dad). Terray is a promising football player in Houston, where he and his mom, Dalonna Ingram-Rogers, moved last year.
The family recently discovered that Terray also has the genetic marker for ARVD. They learned Wednesday he does not have the disease, though doctors say he could develop it later and they want to check him annually.
Collapse at gym
Cal's players had just completed a conditioning workout when Rogers, who had a history of asthma, fainted on the gym floor.
Her teammates quickly found athletic trainer Ann Caslin. She brought Rogers into the training room, got her breathing regulated, and later began to walk her down the hallway toward the school's nearby health center.
Then Rogers collapsed again. This time, she stopped breathing for more than a minute and lost consciousness for approximately seven minutes. Caslin and other Cal officials feverishly worked to revive her, while struggling to hold off ominous thoughts.
"I know the kid, her family, her story," Caslin said. "I thought, 'Oh my God, how am I going to call her mom and tell her that her child has died?' "
Rogers, who regained consciousness by the time paramedics arrived, spent one week in Alta Bates Hospital and another four days at UCSF, where doctors eventually made the diagnosis. They told her the physical stress of basketball posed too high a risk of damaging her heart and causing the potentially fatal arrhythmias.
Becoming a spectator
Her mom and Cal officials had braced for the news, but Rogers was "hysterical," as her mom put it, upon learning she could no longer play. Her dismay lingered through most of last season, as the Bears went about their business and she became a spectator.
Any player who had devoted herself to the game since age 10 would be devastated, but Cal coach Joanne Boyle knew Rogers would be devastated on many levels. She had been thriving in preseason workouts, finding her groove after initially struggling to embrace basketball in the wake of her father's death.
"I think having joy back in her life helped her put it in perspective: 'My dad would be so proud of me,' " Boyle said. "She was kind of drawing on that strength. And then basketball is taken away, and she starts asking, 'What? Why? How?' That's where the anger comes in."
The anger sometimes surfaces at predictable moments - the anniversary of her dad's death (Jan. 12), Cal's first big home game, the games against USC, UCLA and Baylor (other schools she considered). Any time a moment takes Tierra back to the recruiting process, Boyle suggested, she slips into a funk.
Rogers' mom fielded countless phone calls from her daughter last season. She would call at all hours to vent about having to watch the game she played with such acclaim at Sacred Heart.
"She still doesn't know her role," Ingram-Rogers said. "Now they're trying to bond again, with new players, and she wonders what she can talk about. ... She still thinks she's a player and I tell her she's not a player anymore. It's not an easy conversation."
Rogers occasionally calls herself "Grandma," given her lack of physical exertion. She was a dynamic player, leaning on her explosive quickness, and then suddenly she couldn't run at all. Even now, cleared for light jogging or casual shooting, she often sees no point.
Taking part
She might not feel like part of the team, but she still has found ways to contribute. Most memorable, Boyle said, was Rogers' powerful speech to the players - essentially telling them to stop sulking, appreciate the chance to play and work harder - after a 67-64 loss to USC in January.
Rogers also has fought through darker moments. Ask her about the connection between the loss of her dad and basketball and she drifts into prolonged contemplation, wondering what's left after losing both but also hoping she might "become a stronger person and help people."
She was engaging and candid during a recent interview, even acknowledging thoughts of suicide after her diagnosis.
"I've thought about it, but I have my family," Rogers said. "And I know my mom would go crazy if anything happened to me. I don't want to put all that on her. I'm not that selfish."
Rogers grew up in Hunters Point, a rough neighborhood that taught her how easily things can be taken away and made her tougher. In other words, there's another layer lurking beyond those sad eyes.
The defibrillator will permanently remain inside her chest, just in case her heart begins beating abnormally. Rogers feels the device only when she sleeps on her left side; the main day-to-day symptom of her condition is frequent fatigue.
She's exploring her interest in the media, including a trip to ESPN Magazine headquarters in New York, and she's also becoming active in health issues.
Rogers and Cal raised more than $16,000 for ARVD research, and she might participate in a heart-health campaign organized by Julie Dixon, sister of former Army women's coach Maggie Dixon, who died of heart arrhythmia in 2006.
Rogers also agreed to serve as a spokeswoman for Alameda County Health Services, which is starting a program to teach CPR to 15,000 seventh-graders in public schools.
So, after one wrenching tragedy and another life-changing crisis, maybe the signs of a positive path are starting to form.
"I tell her, 'God must have a huge plan for you,' " Boyle said. "Just the fact she had to bear so much so young, I can't imagine her life not being full of some great purpose."
Monday, October 4, 2010
Monday morning quarterback
Monday morning quarterback
It's funny how just ONE win can make or break your spirits. Saturday might have been the lowest of lows with the tough soccer and volleyball games this weekend, topped off with another disastrous outing by Barry Zito to push the Giants closer to a collapse of epic proportion.
But yesterday, even though the 49ers blew yet another game they should've won, and the Raiders getting run all over, the San Francisco Giants punched their ticket to the post-season for the first time since 2003 thanks to some timely hitting from two guys who have never sniffed the playoffs, Aubrey Huff and Freddy Sanchez, and the arm of a real left-handed pitcher, Jonathan Sanchez, the same man who threw a no-hitter against the same Padres a little over a year ago.
Game 1 of the playoffs is Thursday night against the Atlanta Braves. Tim Lincecum will start for San Francisco.
SOCCER
We'll start with soccer this week and the two games Saturday. The 8th grade just didn't have a chance. Being short-handed and with the team in its first year, it just wasn't going to happen. Not having Marissa on defense also hurt as she has one of the best legs on the team. They've played four games and hopefully they are a little more used to the game and can have a better showing in the second half of the season.
With that being said, there could be some changes on the horizon for this team. We'll touch on that later in the week with the first of four mid-season team reports.
5th/6th graders
This was a tough loss. This is a game that they should've, could've won, but in the end, there was no win. They had the scoring chances, outplayed the opponent, dominated the play. But soccer is just a brutal game where one mistake can change the outcome of a game. The defense was out of position and the right decisions weren't made and that was enough to hand the 5th and 6th graders a loss.
In the past, a lot of the soccer losses have been "blamed" or pinned on the defense for not being able to stop the other team. This game however, we should look at the offense, attacks/forwards who couldn't bang in the goal.
The game was on their feet and they just needed to come through. Scoring first would've won the game, and even despite the goal allowed, they could've tied it several times. The fault really lies in their inability to spread out and work together as a team. Too many times there were two people going for the ball, and there was always 4 or 5 jerseys in the same area.
Watch any good soccer game and you will not see that many people bunched together during play (free kicks, corners and set pieces excluded). The offense is spread out so there can be some cohesive passing going on. The forwards pretty much all wanted to do it for themselves and in the end, it was another game without a goal.
VOLLEYBALL
It was one of those days where you were outmatched. The 5th/6th graders had to play a team that could bump, set and spike, while the 8th graders played a team who had some over-hand servers and some girls who could hit. And again, playing without Marissa, the team doesn't have the same confidence. Later in the year, if these teams meet again, it could be a different story. But for now, the other team was the better team.
RAIDERS AND 49ERS
The 49ers lost because Nate Clements is that "Me First" type of player. He wanted to intercept that ball, run it back for a touchdown and be "The Man" to win it for the 49ers. He could've been "The Man" by simply just falling down or going out of bounds. Instead, he wanted to pad his stats and in the end, the only thing he padded was the loss column for a 49ers team on the fast track to nowhere.
San Francisco now sits at (0-4) and likely to sit (0-5) after their game next week against the Eagles.
As for the Raiders, and the few people who care, they couldn't stop the run game and continue to be terrible against teams with good running backs. That won't change.
A poor showing of only 32,000 plus at the Coliseum yesterday...Sadness.
________________________________________________________________________One who criticizes or passes judgment from a position of hindsight.
But yesterday, even though the 49ers blew yet another game they should've won, and the Raiders getting run all over, the San Francisco Giants punched their ticket to the post-season for the first time since 2003 thanks to some timely hitting from two guys who have never sniffed the playoffs, Aubrey Huff and Freddy Sanchez, and the arm of a real left-handed pitcher, Jonathan Sanchez, the same man who threw a no-hitter against the same Padres a little over a year ago.
Game 1 of the playoffs is Thursday night against the Atlanta Braves. Tim Lincecum will start for San Francisco.
SOCCER
We'll start with soccer this week and the two games Saturday. The 8th grade just didn't have a chance. Being short-handed and with the team in its first year, it just wasn't going to happen. Not having Marissa on defense also hurt as she has one of the best legs on the team. They've played four games and hopefully they are a little more used to the game and can have a better showing in the second half of the season.
With that being said, there could be some changes on the horizon for this team. We'll touch on that later in the week with the first of four mid-season team reports.
5th/6th graders
This was a tough loss. This is a game that they should've, could've won, but in the end, there was no win. They had the scoring chances, outplayed the opponent, dominated the play. But soccer is just a brutal game where one mistake can change the outcome of a game. The defense was out of position and the right decisions weren't made and that was enough to hand the 5th and 6th graders a loss.
In the past, a lot of the soccer losses have been "blamed" or pinned on the defense for not being able to stop the other team. This game however, we should look at the offense, attacks/forwards who couldn't bang in the goal.
The game was on their feet and they just needed to come through. Scoring first would've won the game, and even despite the goal allowed, they could've tied it several times. The fault really lies in their inability to spread out and work together as a team. Too many times there were two people going for the ball, and there was always 4 or 5 jerseys in the same area.
Watch any good soccer game and you will not see that many people bunched together during play (free kicks, corners and set pieces excluded). The offense is spread out so there can be some cohesive passing going on. The forwards pretty much all wanted to do it for themselves and in the end, it was another game without a goal.
VOLLEYBALL
It was one of those days where you were outmatched. The 5th/6th graders had to play a team that could bump, set and spike, while the 8th graders played a team who had some over-hand servers and some girls who could hit. And again, playing without Marissa, the team doesn't have the same confidence. Later in the year, if these teams meet again, it could be a different story. But for now, the other team was the better team.
RAIDERS AND 49ERS
The 49ers lost because Nate Clements is that "Me First" type of player. He wanted to intercept that ball, run it back for a touchdown and be "The Man" to win it for the 49ers. He could've been "The Man" by simply just falling down or going out of bounds. Instead, he wanted to pad his stats and in the end, the only thing he padded was the loss column for a 49ers team on the fast track to nowhere.
San Francisco now sits at (0-4) and likely to sit (0-5) after their game next week against the Eagles.
As for the Raiders, and the few people who care, they couldn't stop the run game and continue to be terrible against teams with good running backs. That won't change.
A poor showing of only 32,000 plus at the Coliseum yesterday...Sadness.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Agony for the 5th/6th graders
It was set up perfectly for the 5th and 6th graders. They were the aggressor, they were dictating the pace of the game and they were in control. Yet in the end, they came up a bit short.
One counter attack was all it took for the other team to win this afternoon's game by a final of 1-0. For St. Mary's, it was a bittersweet defeat, because there were so many good things that the team did.
The ball was in the 5th/6th graders control for pretty much the entire game. The action was constantly in the mid-field or right in front of the other team's net. But still, they couldn't come up with a way to score.
There were golden opportunities, most notably in the second half when both Justin and Brandon K. raced in towards the goal, but their shots never got airborne and rolled right into the hands of the goalie.
Aaron played an incredible game, outracing defenders and maneuvering his way through the defense, setting up great scoring chances. Aaron is probably the best soccer player overall we've had at St. Mary's in these three years. He just has that feel for the game and the instinct that cannot be taught.
Defensively, Brendan played pretty well also, getting his strong leg on many balls to start the attack.
In the end, it was still a defeat. The team in its years had never controlled a game like they had today and they were probably not used to being on the attack. There were many times when they could've passed the ball to a teammate, but were unable to. If they made that one extra pass, the goals would've came in a hurry.
With that being said, it's still great strides for a team that was picking and throwing grass less than a week ago at practice. Hopefully this game could be a stepping stone for some good things to come for the rest of the year.
Celebrity Sightings: Former coach Apollo Rojas attended this afternoon's game. He coached the team last year when they were in 4th/5th grade...Jamie and Emily also attended today's game, but that's because they have brothers on the team...Jim Chiu was also there.
One counter attack was all it took for the other team to win this afternoon's game by a final of 1-0. For St. Mary's, it was a bittersweet defeat, because there were so many good things that the team did.
The ball was in the 5th/6th graders control for pretty much the entire game. The action was constantly in the mid-field or right in front of the other team's net. But still, they couldn't come up with a way to score.
There were golden opportunities, most notably in the second half when both Justin and Brandon K. raced in towards the goal, but their shots never got airborne and rolled right into the hands of the goalie.
Aaron played an incredible game, outracing defenders and maneuvering his way through the defense, setting up great scoring chances. Aaron is probably the best soccer player overall we've had at St. Mary's in these three years. He just has that feel for the game and the instinct that cannot be taught.
Defensively, Brendan played pretty well also, getting his strong leg on many balls to start the attack.
In the end, it was still a defeat. The team in its years had never controlled a game like they had today and they were probably not used to being on the attack. There were many times when they could've passed the ball to a teammate, but were unable to. If they made that one extra pass, the goals would've came in a hurry.
With that being said, it's still great strides for a team that was picking and throwing grass less than a week ago at practice. Hopefully this game could be a stepping stone for some good things to come for the rest of the year.
Celebrity Sightings: Former coach Apollo Rojas attended this afternoon's game. He coached the team last year when they were in 4th/5th grade...Jamie and Emily also attended today's game, but that's because they have brothers on the team...Jim Chiu was also there.
Effort there, amount of players not
It was only a matter of time before the numbers game haunted the 8th grade soccer team.
With Marissa out with bum knees and Sebastian and Miguel unable to play due to other commitments with their club soccer team, the 8th graders (plus Hartman) only had 9 players on the field for today's contest.
They played a really good first quarter and trailed only 1-0 on one of the most bizarre calls in the history of soccer officiating. Goalie Mark picked up a ball which was kicked by his teammate, a penalty in soccer, which set up a free kick from basically the front of the net. Why the referee didn't award a penalty kick instead is baffling. That led to a very peculiar first goal.
But as time went on, the flood gates opened. When you are at a two man disadvantage it's only a matter of time before the uphill climb gets steeper.
The players battled and gave it their best but there was nothing much they could do at such a disadvantage.
Unfortunately that's how it is these days when you have players in the 7th and 8th grade who should play, but don't -- or their parents don't let.
Great effort by the ones who are playing and we should be proud of them for weathering the storm.
With Marissa out with bum knees and Sebastian and Miguel unable to play due to other commitments with their club soccer team, the 8th graders (plus Hartman) only had 9 players on the field for today's contest.
They played a really good first quarter and trailed only 1-0 on one of the most bizarre calls in the history of soccer officiating. Goalie Mark picked up a ball which was kicked by his teammate, a penalty in soccer, which set up a free kick from basically the front of the net. Why the referee didn't award a penalty kick instead is baffling. That led to a very peculiar first goal.
But as time went on, the flood gates opened. When you are at a two man disadvantage it's only a matter of time before the uphill climb gets steeper.
The players battled and gave it their best but there was nothing much they could do at such a disadvantage.
Unfortunately that's how it is these days when you have players in the 7th and 8th grade who should play, but don't -- or their parents don't let.
Great effort by the ones who are playing and we should be proud of them for weathering the storm.
Friday, October 1, 2010
8th graders drop second straight, 5th/6th graders serving better
Without Marissa, the 8th grade girls lost their second straight game tonight in straight sets 25-17 and 25-18.
The girls played decent but sometimes decent isn't good enough for a win. The inability to consistently serve the ball over to create momentum was probably their biggest flaw in tonight's loss.
Points accumulated on offense came in bits and pieces. Unlike their first game of the year, there was no wave of points off of their own serves. Trying to get a point here and there to win a set is too difficult.
One of the bright spots in tonight's game was Catharine, who hit an ace, served the best she had in three games, and her improvement on the serve receive.
However, at (1-2), the girls will need to regroup and get back on the winning track. At times they scoreboard watch a little too much and it messes with their psyche. Their communication tonight wasn't as good as the last few games and there was a general lack of urgency on the girls part.
One good thing the team did as a whole was they were able to tip the ball a few times at the net to score some points, something they've worked hard on in practice. It was good to see some of their work during the week pay off.
"This team has a lot to work on," said assistant coach Carly Wong. "All of them are on different levels and I think its up to the individual to improve themselves."
Strong second set for the 5th/6th grade girls
After a forgettable first set, the 5th/6th grade girls came back with a strong start to the second set, even tying the score at 11-11 before eventually losing in straight sets 25-10 and 25-17.
The other team was just too much to handle from their annoying cheers to overhand serves. They were also one of few times at the low 6th grade level that can bump, set and spike -- a little unfair anybody?
But the girls gave a solid effort as they are now able to hit the ball back and forth several times, and the rallies are more than just a serve and one return.
Fiona played her best game of the year and served consistently throughout the second set, including a few aces. Michelle also got her serve over, leading to some points for St. Mary's.
"The girls got most of their serves over and got some really good bumps too," said assistant coach Sally Li. "But they just didn’t communicate enough. When they were losing, I saw that they were not shaking it off, which made them always think about it."
"I think the girls need to get in the habit of communicating better and not letting any balls drop. Maybe in the future they can learn to bump, set, spike. In the end, they lost to a team who could over-hand serve, spike and tip balls over."
The girls played decent but sometimes decent isn't good enough for a win. The inability to consistently serve the ball over to create momentum was probably their biggest flaw in tonight's loss.
Points accumulated on offense came in bits and pieces. Unlike their first game of the year, there was no wave of points off of their own serves. Trying to get a point here and there to win a set is too difficult.
One of the bright spots in tonight's game was Catharine, who hit an ace, served the best she had in three games, and her improvement on the serve receive.
However, at (1-2), the girls will need to regroup and get back on the winning track. At times they scoreboard watch a little too much and it messes with their psyche. Their communication tonight wasn't as good as the last few games and there was a general lack of urgency on the girls part.
One good thing the team did as a whole was they were able to tip the ball a few times at the net to score some points, something they've worked hard on in practice. It was good to see some of their work during the week pay off.
"This team has a lot to work on," said assistant coach Carly Wong. "All of them are on different levels and I think its up to the individual to improve themselves."
Strong second set for the 5th/6th grade girls
After a forgettable first set, the 5th/6th grade girls came back with a strong start to the second set, even tying the score at 11-11 before eventually losing in straight sets 25-10 and 25-17.
The other team was just too much to handle from their annoying cheers to overhand serves. They were also one of few times at the low 6th grade level that can bump, set and spike -- a little unfair anybody?
But the girls gave a solid effort as they are now able to hit the ball back and forth several times, and the rallies are more than just a serve and one return.
Fiona played her best game of the year and served consistently throughout the second set, including a few aces. Michelle also got her serve over, leading to some points for St. Mary's.
"The girls got most of their serves over and got some really good bumps too," said assistant coach Sally Li. "But they just didn’t communicate enough. When they were losing, I saw that they were not shaking it off, which made them always think about it."
"I think the girls need to get in the habit of communicating better and not letting any balls drop. Maybe in the future they can learn to bump, set, spike. In the end, they lost to a team who could over-hand serve, spike and tip balls over."
Incredible...
Yes, this is a blog that should pertain to our sports at St. Mary's, but occasionally we will venture out into something else if I see something that is so amazing that it needs to be shared. This post is one of those occasions.
Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake performed a medley of rap songs on TV late the other night -- simply epic. You need to watch.
Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake performed a medley of rap songs on TV late the other night -- simply epic. You need to watch.
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