Courtesy, Missouri State media relations
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (5-08-08) -- Missouri State senior first baseman JOSH MAZZOLA has been named the Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball newspaper and the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week for his performances against Arkansas and Indiana State last week.

Mazzola, a product of Santana High and Grossmont College, had one of the most prolific offensive weeks in Missouri State history, slugging six home runs over four games and driving in 14. He scored eight times, hit .533 (8-15), collected 26 total bases for a 1.733 slugging percentage and drew an additional four walks for a .632 on-base percentage.

Mazzola's monster week began with a 3-for-4 showing at Arkansas, including a three-run homer that gave the Bears an early lead. Friday (May 2) at Indiana State, the senior first baseman homered twice, the first a grand slam in Missouri State's 11-run fourth inning, and he added a solo home run on Saturday to get to four for the week.

On Sunday, the Santee native blasted a three-run shot in the first inning and a two-run homer in the seventh, in addition to drawing three walks, in MSU's 21-10 win over the Sycamores. Eight of his 14 RBIs for the week came with two outs.

Courtesy, SDSU media relations
SAN DIEGO (4-28-08) -- San Diego State sophomore Stephen Strasburg has been named a Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball magazine and is the Mountain West Conference Pitcher of the Week for his performance in the Aztecs' 4-1 win over TCU on Friday, April 25.

Stephen Strasburg (SDSU courtesy photo)

It marks the third straight week and fifth time in 2008 that he has won the conference award. It is also his second national pitching honor in the past three weeks.

Strasburg threw a one-hit complete-game in the Aztecs' win over the Horned Frogs this past weekend. It was his second complete-game one-hitter in his last three starts. He retired the first 18 batters he faced before a leadoff double in the seventh. A wild pitch and ground out to second scored the run. He later surrendered his only walk of the game in the same inning.

Strasburg went on to retire the side in order in both the eighth and ninth with the seventh being the only frame in which a runner reached base against him. He finished the night with 13 strikeouts including three of the game's final four outs as TCU (which came in having won 13 of its last 15) hit .034 for the contest. The run he allowed in the seventh was the first run he had given up in 34 consecutive innings going back to the Aztecs' contest at Utah on March 20.

Over his last four starts, Strasburg has recorded 61 strikeouts over 33 innings, an average of almost two K's per inning. His season total of 99 strikeouts is tied for the national lead in Division I entering this week.

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DENVER (4-21-08) -- For the fourth time this season and second consecutive week, San Diego State pitcher STEPHEN STRASBURG has been named Mountain West Conference Pitcher of the Week. He earned the award for his 13-strikoeut performance in SDSU’s series-opening victory at UNLV last weekend.

With one out and a runner on third in the third inning, Strasburg struck out two hitters to get out of the jam. Only one other Rebel runner reached as far as second base against him for the rest of the contest.

With the seven shutout innings, Strasburg lowered his overall earned run average to 1.73 to led all MWCC pitchers. He has recorded an amazing 86 strikeouts and only eight walks in 57.1 innings this season.

San Diego State will visit USC on Tuesday (Apr. 22) for a 7 p.m. contest before hosting first-place TCU in the three-game series at Tony Gwynn Stadium this weekend. Strasburg is expected to be on the mound in the opener against the Horned Frogs, who lead SDSU by one game in the MWC standings, on Friday (Apr. 25) at 7 p.m.

Courtesy, SDSU Media Relations
LAS VEGAS (4-18-08) -- In support of another standout pitching effort by sophomore STEPHEN STRASBURG, San Diego State's bats came alive as they struck for season highs in runs (17) and hits (20) in the Aztecs' 17-1 win over UNLV at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.

SDSU's run total exceeded the previous season best of 15 against the University of San Diego during the opening weekend. The team's season high of 18 hits came in that same weekend as well as in the 12-3 win over Oklahoma State.

Strasburg, who struck out 23 in a one-hit shutout of Utah in his last outing, began the contest by striking out the first six Rebel batters he faced. He ended up pitching seven innings, holding UNLV (16-20, 5-8 MWC) scoreless while scattering four hits and striking out 13 with no walks. The win improved his season record to 5-1 as he lowered his earned run average to 1.73 overall and 0.90 in Mountain West Conference games.

The Aztecs (23-15, 10-3 MWC) took the lead in the second inning as Nick Romero led off with a single and was balked to second base by UNLV starter Matt Hutchison. Garett Green then laced a double to right center field to bring home Romero. It was the first of eight runs allowed by the Rebel sophomore right-hander on the evening as he would eventually be tagged with the loss to drop to 1-3.

Courtesy, SDSU Media Relations
SAN DIEGO (4-14-08) -- San Diego State sophomore STEPHEN STRASBURG has been named a Louisville Slugger National Player of the week by Collegiate Baseball magazine and is the Mountain West Conference Pitcher of the Week after his record-setting performance against Utah last Friday (Apr. 11). It marks the third time in 2008 that he has won the conference award and he is the first Aztec national pitcher of the week since the 2001 season.

Strasburg threw a one-hit complete-game shutout in SDSU's 1-0 win over Utah last Friday, setting a new San Diego State and Mountain West Conference record with 23 strikeouts. He struck out the side in the first inning as well as the fifth through eighth. A total of 16 of the final 17 outs he recorded came via the strikeout.

Strasburg did not allow a hit until the sixth inning, a chopper up the middle that went for a single. He allowed only three other Ute base runners (walk, hit by pitch and error) with none advancing past second base. Utah, which came into the contest with a .322 team batting average, hit just .038 on the night.

The Aztec right-hander broke the school record of 18 strikeouts by John Hemmerly, who accomplished the feat vs. Colorado State during the 1988 campaign. The previous MWC mark was also set by a former SDSU pitcher when Marcos Mendoza fanned 17 vs. New Mexico in 2001.

Strasburg's 23 K's ties for the third-most ever in a Division I game and are the most in a game since the 1981 season. The NCAA record is 26 by Buddy Schultz of Miami (Ohio) against Wright State in 1973. LSU's Butch Mixon struck out 24 in a contest vs. Louisiana-Lafayette during the 1959 season. Three others recorded 23 K's in a game, the most recent being Neal Heaton of Miami (Fla.) vs. Indiana State in 1981. Each of those games was a nine-inning affair.

Courtesy, SDSU Media Relations
SAN DIEGO (4-11-08) -- San Diego State sophomore right-hander STEPHEN STRASBURG etched his name in the record books as he struck out 23 batters in the Aztecs' 1-0 win over Utah Friday evening (Apr. 11) at Tony Gwynn Stadium. Strasburg set both the SDSU and Mountain West Conference marks for strikeouts in a game as he allowed only four base runners on the night, none of which passed second base.

The win improved the Aztecs to 19-15 overall as they maintained a hold on first place in the league standings at 7-3. The Utes, meanwhile, fell to 13-15 on the season and 3-3 in conference play.

Strasburg's effort shattered the San Diego State record of 18 K's set by John Hemmerly against Colorado State during the 1988 season. He also established a new MWC standard, breaking the record of former Aztec Marcos Mendoza, who struck out 17 hitters against New Mexico in 2001.

Strasburg's performance almost went for naught as the SDSU offense was held in check by Utah starting hurler Stephen Fife (4-3), who pitched into the seventh inning but would eventually be tagged with the loss.

The Aztecs had their chances, getting a runner to third base with two outs in the first, third and fifth innings. They had a golden opportunity in the sixth, putting men on first and third with no outs, but again they came up empty.

The breakthrough came in the bottom of the seventh when SDSU loaded the bases with a one-out on a single by Erik Castro, walk to Brandon Decker and hit by pitch to Pat Colwell. Troy Hanzawa then hit a grounder to third, but when DC Legg's throw to the plate sailed past the catcher, Castro scored the unearned run. It was cruel fate for Fife, who ended his night after 6.2 innings in which he allowed the lone run on five hits while striking out four.

However, the night belonged to Strasburg (4-1), who did not allow a base runner until the fourth inning with a base on balls to Corey Shimada. After Shimada was caught stealing, Strasburg got 16 of the Utes' final 17 outs via the strikeout with the other coming on a sacrifice bunt in the final frame. Utah's lone hit of the contest was a chopper by Michael Beltran that got through the middle of the diamond in the sixth.

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (2-23-08) -- Many experts believe USD pitcher Brian Matusz, a Baseball America preseason All-America selection, may be the first choice in the Major League Baseball free agent draft come May.

If the Toreros' Matusz is so highly prized, then how good is San Diego State sophomore pitcher STEPHEN STRASBURG?

Strasburg, the hard-throwing right-hander out of West Hills High, made his conversion from bullpen ace to starting pitcher a successful one Friday (Feb. 22) at Tony Gwynn Stadium, out-dueling Matusz as the Aztecs stunned the 5th-ranked Toreros, 11-2, in the first of a 4-game, season-opening series.

Strasburg, who is rated as the third-best prospect among the nation's sophomores by Baseball America because of a fastball clocked in the high 90s, walked the first batter he faced, but settled in after that, going eight solid innings with seven strikeouts while giving up two runs on five hits.

Both of those runs came in the top of the 3rd as a safety squeeze by Ryan Davis brought home the opening run and a steal of home by Kevin Muno accounted for the second. Among the five hits, only one ball was hit hard -- a triple by USD centerfielder Josh Romanski in the 6th.

Romanski was a second-team All-America pick by the same publication.

San Diego State rallied from a 2-0 deficit when Eastlake High product Nick Romero slugged a 3-run homer to left in the 3rd. Romero finished with a 3-or-4 outing with four RBI. The Axtecs put the game away with five runs in the 7th.

The teams continue their series on Saturday (Feb. 23) with a split doubleheader. The teams will square off at 1:00 p.m. at USD's Cunningham Stadium, then move back to Tony Gwynn Stadium for a 7:00 p.m. contest.

Notes -- Former Grossmont High standout A.J. GRIFFIN, the closer for USD, highlights the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's Stopper of the Year Award watch list. Griffin is listed among 39 other players in Division I.

The award is given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball. Griffin, a first-team All-West Coast Conference selection last year and preseason All-American, quickly became a big help for the Toreros as a freshman, as he served as USD's primary closer in 2007.

The right-hander from Grossmont High etched his name into the single-season record books at USD having recorded 11 saves on the season to place second in the category, only trailing Tony Perez's 13 saves set during the 2003 season. Griffin posted an overall record of 6-2 with a team-leading 2.70 ERA. Griffin also fanned 65 batters and issued only 23 walks in 34 appearances.

Courtesy, SDSU Media Relations
LUBBOCK, Texas (12-10-07) -- San Diego State sophomore pitcher STEPHEN STRASBURG and senior second baseman Garett Green have been named to the 2008 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award Watch list. The initial list contains a total of 224 nominees with the Aztec twosome among the five players representing the Mountain West Conference.

Strasburg returns to SDSU for his second season after being named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American in 2007. He finished the season with a record of 1-3, seven saves and a 2.43 earned run average as the Aztecs' closer. He struck out 47 and walked only 15 over 37 innings and was named the MWC co-Freshman of the Year.

This past summer, Strasburg pitched for the Torrington Twisters in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, compiling a mark of 1-0 with eight saves and a 1.29 ERA. He was a first-team all-NECBL selection and was named the league's top reliever. He was invited to join Team USA for its five-game series against Chinese Taipei in late June, making two appearances resulting in one save and a 1.80 earned run average.

The Wallace Award is presented to the nation's top collegiate baseball player in conjunction with the College Baseball Hall of Fame's annual induction festivities. The 2008 award banquet will be held Thursday, July 3, in the United Spirit Arena on the campus of Texas Tech University.

Dedicated to the memory of former Texas Tech shortstop and assistant coach, Wallace was a slick-fielding shortstop at Texas Tech from 1977 to 1980. A four-year starter, he was named All-Southwest Conference and All-District Six his senior year when he led the Red Raiders to their first-ever appearance in the Southwest Conference Tournament. After playing two years in the Texas Rangers organization, he returned to Texas Tech and served as a graduate assistant and later as an assistant coach. In the summer of 1984 he was diagnosed with cancer and fought the disease courageously until his death on March 24, 1985, at age 27.

The selection committee for the Wallace Award is comprised of a national panel of preeminent coaches, sports information directors, former winners and beat media who most closely follow the sport. The list of players will expand and contract during the regular season and additional Wallace Watch candidates may be added as the season progresses.

Tristan Phillips

Phillips posts career outing
Ex-Foothiller slugs two homers in one inning

© East County Sports.com
IRVING, Texas (5-3-08) — Former Grossmont High third baseman TRISTAN PHILLIPS turned in a powerful performance as the Chapman University Panthers pounded the University of Dallas 18-0 on Friday (May 2).

In a career day with the bat, Phillips hit 2 home runs in the same inning – one of which was a grand slam – propelling the Panthers (33-3) to 12 runs in the 6th inning’s manhandling of Dallas.

Phillips, who was 4-for-5 with six RBI and 3 runs scored in the blowout victory, raised his team-best batting average to .415 (51-for-123) for the NCAA’s top-ranked Division III baseball team.

© East County Sports.com
ORANGE (4-21-08) -- Former Grossmont High standout TRISTAN PHILLIPS snapped a 5-5 deadlock by slugging a go-ahead homer run, leading No. 1 ranked Chapman Univeristy its 20th consecutive victory after downing 11th-ranked Pomona Pitzer, 7-5, Saturday (Apr. 20) on Senior Day at Hart Park.

Phillips, who hit his second homer of the season, is batting .360 this season as Chapman's starting third baseman. The junior was voted the team's most improved player last season when he batted .318.

Chapman's Panthers are the 3-time defending NCAA Division III West Region champs, while Pomona's Sage Hens (26-5) captured the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title last season.

The Panthers (28-3) then recorded their first loss since Feb. 29 in the second ballgame when Pomona-Pitzer pitcher Tom Church held them to one run and seven hits for a split of a SCIAC doubleheader.

Marlon Pierce of CS San Bernardino in CCAC Tournament action. (CSSB courtesy photo)

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EL CAJON (4-11-08) — Cal State San Bernardino guard MARLON PIERCE has been invited to participate in the Collegiate Basketball Invitational in Wadsworth, Ohio , April 24-26. This most prestigious event for college basketball seniors in the country draws from the NCAA Div. II, NCAA Div. III and the NAIA levels. Only 64 players have been selected from approximately 1,000 colleges and universities throughout the country.

Pierce, who previously played for Helix High and Cuyamaca College, will compete in front of the pro team reps and agents from around the country and the world.

Players will be divided into 8 teams of 8 players and will play three games in the tournament, complete with a championship game. At the conclusion of the tournament, the top 20 players will be chosen to compete in an All-Star Game that is scheduled for a live national television broadcast on ESPNU (Cox Cable 322) at 5 p.m. PST

Courtesy, CSSB Media Relations
SAN BERNARDINO (3-21-08) -- Cal State San Bernardino guard MARLON PIERCE, who helped the Coyotes advance to the NCAA Division II playoffs, was selected to the West team for the 3rd annual NABC/NCAA Division II All-Star game.

The game is slated for Fri., Mar. 28, at the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in Springfield , Mass. , site of the Division II Elite Eight.

Pierce, who previously played for Helix High and Cuyamaca College , will join 19 other players in playing on center court at the Hall of Fame, where he and his teammates were part of the pre-Elite Eight dinner for the eight finalists at the 2007 tournament.

CSUSB lost in the 2007 semifinals to Barton College, 80-79. This season, the Coyotes were eliminated in the opening round in Anchorage, Alaska, last Friday.

The only other CCAA conference player on the West squad will be Devin Peal of Humboldt State , the CCAA most valuable player. Players from the Great Lakes , North Central, South Central and West regions make up the team.

Pierce was an all-CCAA first team and NABC all-West Region first team selection this season. He averaged 12.2 points and 3.5 rebounds a game with 118 assists and 57 steals.

Georgia Tech's Savannah Brown

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RALEIGH, N.C. (4-6-08) -- Georgia Tech senior SAVANNAH BROWN, a former Valhalla High standout, stroked a go-ahead, 2-run single in the second game of an Atlantic Coast Conference doubleheader Sunday (Apr. 5), establishing a new ACC record for RBI with 182, eclipsing the mark by Virginia's Sara Larquier.

Savannah Brown

However, after Brown broke the mark in the 6th inning against North Carolina State, the hard-luck Yellow Jackets allowed six runs in the bottom of the inning to get swept by the Wolf Pack, 6-1 and 9-6.

Despite setting the new record, the team's luck was so bad, Brown also lined a shot off the kneecap of the NC State third baseman, only to see the ball ricochet back to the catcher, who threw Brown out at first base.

Georgia Tech, which was nationally ranked last season, is now struggling at 17-26 overall, despite Brown ranking among the Ramblin' Wreck leaders in almost every offensive category. She set the school's career RBI mark (172) on Mar. 22, when she drove home four runs against Coastal Carolina.

Brown, a senior, set the single-season ACC mark with 76 RBI last season. She is also fourth all-time in the ACC with 40 homers and is among the best defensive players in school history (.986), even though she plays two of the tougher positions: catcher and third base.

With Valhalla, Brown was the 2004 East County Player of the Year, first-team All-CIF (by coaches) and first-team All-County (by media) while establishing the East County home run record.

David Dennis

Dennis, a senior, smacked seven home runs and drove in 20 runs in six games for the Stars last week. He batted .652 for the week and also had four doubles to add to his amazing 1.435 slugging percentage.

For the season, Dennis is hitting .403 with 12 homers and 41 RBIs. Dennis ranks third national in the NAIA in home runs and RBIs, and sixth in total bases.

© East County Sports.com
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (2-21-08) -- You can count the number of East County basketball products to play in the prestigious Atlantic Coast Conference on, well, no hands. That is, until Helix High product LANCE HURDLE landed at the University of Miami.

Lance Hurdle

The last time the Canes downed Duke was on Dec. 21, 1962, in the first game of the schools' series. And despite the Blue Devils coming off their first ACC setback of the season, Miami stood tough by scoring 11 straight points in the first half, then sinking its foul shots down the stretch.

It was Miami 's first victory over a Top 5 school since downing No. 2 Connecticut exactly nine years ago on Feb. 20, 1999, as senior forward Dwayne Collins scored a career-high 26 points to help the Hurricanes win their third ACC game in a row.

Meanwhile, Hurdle added 3 assists and 3 boards.

© East County Sports.com
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (1-25-08) — Just the fact that Helix High graduate LANCE HURDLE earned the right to play against the NCAA’s best basketball players speaks for itself.

Lance Hurdle vs. North Carolina (Univ. of Miami photo)

Hurdle is doing more than just playing part time. He is, in fact, nw a starter for the Hurricanes (14-4, 1-3 ACC). The 6-foot-2, 180-pound guard enjoyed his finest outing in south Florida when he poured in 20 points during the ‘Canes 98-82 loss to No. 5-ranked and tradition rich North Carolina on Wednesday (Jan. 23).

Hurdle drained 7-of-10 shots against the Heels (3-for-4 from beyond the arc), finishing as Miami's leading scorer. That was 7 points more than Hurdle’s previous high for Miami, despite losing for the first time in 10 home games.

"We can't get down,'' Hurdle toldreporters after the contest. "It's a long season. This is nothing. We've just got to keep going.''

Carolina (19-1, 4-1 ACC) was playing its first game since falling for the first time this season -- an 82-80 home loss to Maryland to lose its No. 1 national ranking,

© East County Sports.com
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. (1-17-08) -- Former Helix High standout LANCE HURDLE came off the bench to score 13 points, but it wasn't enough as 21st-ranked Miami fell to host Boston College, 76-66, in Monday's (Jan. 15) Atlantic Coast Conference basketball game at BC's Conte Forum.

The only other setback for Miami came Dec. 29 against Withrop to snap a season-opening 12-game winning streak -- one short of the school record.

After a standout career with Helix, including a CIF-San Diego Section Division I championship and a third-team All-state berth during the 2004-05 season, Hurdle played one season each at UC Santa Barbara and San Bernardino Valley College before landing on his feet with the nationally-ranked Canes.

Hurdle is now the first guard off the bench for Miami , averaging 6.7 points and 1.8 assists per contest, getting 19.1 minutes of playing time. His 13 points against equaled a season high, matching his game-high total in a victory over St. John's.

Top: Breanna McMillan; Bottom: Melanie Massey. (Courtesy, So. Wesleyan Univ.)

The Warriors have split a pair of doubleheaders in the early going as they prepare for Southern States Athletic Conference play. Although picked for last place in a coaches' preseason poll, SWU currently owns the third-best record of the eight schools, continuing to back strides with their Spring Valley imports.

And McMillan has been a benefactor. Now serving as one of the Warriors' starting pitchers, she earned the school's Female Athlete of the Week award for the period ending Feb. 10. She posted a 1-1 record last week, including an upset victory over Lees-McRae.

This is a welcome relief after playing at Southwestern College as freshmen, winning just six ballgames all season in finishing dead-last in the Pacific Coast Conference in 2007.

Savannah Brown (Georgia Tech photo)

Brown is one of only 24 players selected by "the worldwide leader," with the selection coming on the heels of her placement on the USA Softball player of the year Watch List.

"Savannah has great work ethic and is a natural team leader," said Georgia Tech head coach Sharon Perkins. "She's the type of player that makes it fun to come to practice every day. We are looking forward to her having another successful season."

Brown stands fifth all-time in Atlantic Coast Conference history in home runs (37) and sixth in RBI (157). She holds the school record in putouts (948) and chances (1061) while ranking third all-time in Tech history in fielding percentage (.986).

Last season, Brown started 69 games and set a new single-season ACC record with 76 runs batted in -- the second-highest total in the nation.

Brown was a 2007 First-Team All-ACC and NFCA All-Southeast Region pick while ranking sixth in the NCAA with a career-high 20 home runs. That was also the third-best in ACC history, including a new Tech single-game record by twice slugging three homers in a game.

She joins Virginia Tech pitcher Angela Tincher as the only two representatives from the ACC. Tincher was a first-team pick.

Brown and the 17th-ranked Jackets open up the 2008 season this weekend at the Georgia State First Pitch Classic (Live stats for all games can be found via the Gametracker link at www.ramblinwreck.com).

© East County Sports.com
DAVENPORT, Iowa (1-22-08) -- Former West Hills High standout MATT SUTTON, the No. 1 rated offensive lineman on the 2004 All-East County football team, will follow one of his college assistant coaches -- also a Wolf Pack alum -- and transfer to NAIA power St. Ambrose University.

Adam Clark

Sutton, a 6-foot-4, 340-pound tackle for the top offensive team in the Grossmont Conference in 2004, went on to play his collegiate freshman season for Graceland College (Iowa) in 2005, helping the Yellowjackets to their first conference championship in 30 years.

However, when Graceland assistant coach ADAM CLARK, who recruited Sutton, returned to his alma mater, he encouraged Sutton to join him for an NAIA program coming off a Top 10 NAIA national ranking and a MSFA Midwest Division conference championship to earn a postseason berth.

Clark was recently elevated to defensive coordinator of St. Ambrose's Fighting Bees, a team where he earned All-America recognition in 2001, later earning both his Bachelor’s and Master's degrees.

Clark then went to Graceland, helping the school post its best 3-year span record (23-9) in history. He played linebacker at West Hills High and Grossmont College.

© East County Sports.com
LA JOLLA (1-20-08) — Former Helix High standout MARLON PIERCE scored a game-high 29 points for No. 5 ranked NCAA Division II power Cal State San Bernardino Saturday night (Jan. 19), but it wasn’t enough to deny host UC San Diego a 76-65 California Collegiate Athletic Association upset.

Marlon Pierce

Chris Carlson

It was a record night for Pierce, who came into the game averaging only 10.9 points per game.

UCSD (9-4, 6-2 CCAA), coached by former Highlander CHRIS CARLSON, is now tied for 2nd place with the Coyotes in the 11-team conference. Humboldt State (12-3, 7-1 CCAA) leads the circuit.

© East County Sports.com
LA JOLLA (1-16-08) — When the UC San Diego Tritons host the 5th-ranked Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes in a California Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball showdown at the RIMAC this Saturday (Jan. 19) at 7:30 p.m., it will be a Helix reunion of sorts.

Pierce is averaging 10.9 points, 4.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game for the Coyotes (13-1, 6-0 CCAA), who are rated No. 5 in the NCAA Division II rankings.

Prior to accepting the UCSD job this season, Carlson spent four seasons as the director of basketball operations at UCLA under head coach Ben Howland. Before assuming his duties at UCLA Carlson served in the same capacity at the University of Pittsburgh in 2002-03. Carlson previously served as an assistant coach at Northern Arizona University and was an intern for the St. Louis Rams in the public relations department.

Admission prices are $9 general admission and $5 visiting students, seniors and UCSD Alumni Association members.

© East County Sports.com
COOLIDGE, Ariz. (1-17-08) -- Former Mount Miguel High standout PRECIOUS ROBINSON is helping create a special season for Central Arizona College head coach Lin Laursen.

Precious Robinson

The 6-foot-0 freshman is already being looked at by various NCAA schools, and it doesn't hurt playing for Laursen, who has guided her program to 21 consecutive (28 overall) Arizona state titles.

Central Arizona also reached the NJCAA Final Four a record 10 times, including NJCAA national crowns in 1989, 1996 and 2005, as Laursen was inducted into the association's Hall of Fame last year.

At Mount Miguel, Robinson helped the Matadors to a sixth and seventh consecutive Grossmont South League crown, helping the team reach the CIF Southern California regional semifinals while earning first-team berths on the All-CIF-San Diego Section and All-East County teams.

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (12-27-07) -- "America's Most Exciting Bowl Game" simply added to its list of wild and crazy Holdiay Bowl affairs.

The 86 points made this the fourth-highest scoring game in the 30-year history of the Holiday Bowl.

With Texas leading 21-0 in the second quarter, Arizona State was driving when quarterback Rudy Carpenter was sacked by Longhorns linebacker Roddrick Muckelroy, forcing a fumble in front of the Texas bench.

In the confusion with both teams swooping to collect the loose ball, Chris Jessie, Mack's stepson and a member of the football opertaions staff, stepped onto the field, motioning the ball's location. It then appeared that Jessie reached down and madecontact with the live ball. Defensive tackle Roy Miller kept the ball from rolling out of bounds, with defensive end Aaron Lewis making the recovery.

After review, officials cancelled the play, ruling that Jessie touched the ball, giving possession back to the Sun Devils (10-3). Although ASU capped the drive on a Carpenter TD pass, Texas (10-3) still won despite the blunder in the first-ever meeting between the schools.

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (12-21-07) -- University of Utah running back DARRELL MACK believed his mission was accomplished after scoring his second touchdown run with 1:27 left in Thursday's (Dec. 20) San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.

"I wanted to do this for my family, who were in the stands watching me," said Mack, who hails from nearby Spring Valley and attended Monte Vista High School. "My family, my friends -- the whole town in general -- so it's a pretty good way to end the year."

However, there's something about bowl games held in Qualcomm Stadium which almost always seem to ring true, with terms like "cliff-hanger" and "fantastic finish." And like its forefather, the Holiday Bowl, the Poinsettia's third edition also came down to the final seconds.

Despite Navy immediately answering Mack with a late touchdown and the recovery of an onside kick, Utah 's Joe Dale -- the game's most valuable defensive player with 12 tackles -- intercepted a pass with 26 seconds remaining to clinch Utah's dramatic 35-32 victory over the Midshipmen.

For Mack, who bookended Utah's scoring with a 5-yard TD run for a 7-0 second-quarter lead before completing a 77-yard night of rushing with a 1-yard burst into the endzone, the bowl culminated a surprising season which was originally slated to be his red-shirt season.

Navy quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada passed down the middle to Zerbin Singleton for 58 yards to cut into the 35-25 lead Mack provided the Utes. But after the onsides kick recovery, Dale stepped in front of a poor, short pass to avoid a last-second decision which so many previous bowls this venue has provided.

Dale admits the start of the Utes' success began with Mack back in September.

"Darrell's always been a good back and we needed a solid running game if we were to be successful on offense -- and he brought it to us when we needed him," said Dale. "He opens it up for everybody, because you can't stop both the run and the pass."

While Navy linebackers spied on Mack, especially in the first half, Utah quarterback Brian Johnson earned offensive player of the game honors by throwing for 226 yards on 20-for-25 passing. Johnson threw for one score and ran for another.

Like a typical Holiday Bowl, this frantic Poinsettia Bowl produced 50 second-half points.

"Just call this the new Holiday Bowl," said Bruce Binkowski, the bowl's executive director. "Give us a couple of years and this will really be something."

Utah RB Darrell Mack (Courtesy photo, www.UtahUtes.com)

READ ABOUT MACK'S LIFE STORY HERE from Daily Utah Chronicle

Darrell Mack (Courtesy, UtahUtes.com)

Darrell Mack

Utah-Louisville Photo Gallery (Photos 5 & 9 of Mack in action)

Utah-SDSU Photo Gallery (Photos 2 & 4of Mack in action)

© East County Sports.com
SALT LAKE CITY (10-11-07) — The University of Utah is rebounding from a 0-2 start thanks in part to redshirt junior running back DARRELL MACK.

The Utes stand at 3-3 at the moment, which includes victories over Louisville 44-35, Utah State 34-18 and UCLA 44-6.

Mack has rushed for a team-best 516 yards and 5 touchdowns despite missing the Air Force game to lead the Utes’ ground attack. The 6-foot, 219-pounder also caught 2 TD passes and rushed for a third in the triumph over UCLA.

In his first two collegiate seasons, Mack left his mark, rushing for 320 yards on 82 carries.

Mack, the 2003 East County Sports.com Rookie of the Year and East County Sports.com 2004 Offensive Player of the Year as a senior, set the Monte Vista rushing record for a season (2,452 yards on 274 carries) and fell just 47 yards shy of breaking IAN MILLER’s career record with 4,078 yards on 511 carries. Mack ranks 4th on the all-time Monte Vista career scoring charts with 252 points.

Utah hosts San Diego State in Saturday's (Oct. 13) Mountain West Conference game. Kickoff is 1 p.m. MT/noon PT.

Idaho State punter Dan Zeidman

Entering the 2007 season as the No. 5 ranked returning punter in the nation by The Sports Network, other scouting services are taking notice of Zeidman. After being voted to the All-Big Sky Conference second team with a solid 42.7 punting average, Zeidman is now considered among the top 21 NFL punting prospects by Pro Football Weekly, placed 9th on the list.

Could a future as a professional be next?

Zeidman will learn more if the NFL is beckoning when as he prepares for "Pro Day," a showcase each college holds for NFL scouts to display its talent. Per NCAA rules, Zeidman is eligible for two such camps -- one at Idaho State, plus the one at San Diego State, since he resides within 50 miles of the campus.

This past season, Zeidman placed 18 punts inside the 20-yard line, with only five touchbacks. His long kick was 71 yards, but as a junior in 2006, he established a Bengals record with an 82 yarder while averaging 43.6 yards.

As a junior, Zeidman also went 6-for-8 on field goals (3-3 from 40 yards and out).

Such consistency draws strong interest from pro scouts. And if not the NFL, his experience in cold weather also makes the Canadian Football League a possibility, too. In the meantime, Zeidman is completing his studies and expects to graduate in June.

Allison Duffy (SDSU photo)

“We knew the game was going to have great intensity, you would hope it always would,” said Aztecs head coach BETH BURNS. “I didn’t know we were going to open the game with as many nerves as we did, but as I told them, if you guard people you can weather those kind of storms.

“These are two teams with mutual respect. I hope (USD) wins their league and goes to the tournament and I hope they feel the same way.”

SDSU redshirt freshman ALLISON DUFF (El Capitan HS) led the Aztecs in both scoring and rebounding with 14 points and six boards. Freshman center Paris Johnson (San Diego HS) and sophomore guard Quenese Davis both reached double-figures with 10 and 11 points, respectively. Davis had a game-high seven assists, while classmate Jené Morris contributed four of the Aztecs’ 13 steals in just 18 minutes of action.

USD’s Sam Child began the game with the hot hand, scoring each of her team’s first nine points as the Toreros led by four early at 9-5. The visitors were up by as many as five at 16-11, before the Aztecs came storming back with an 8-2 run to take their first lead of the night at 19-18. The advantage changed hands two more times, before SDSU headed into the locker room up four at 29-25.

After a bucket by Torero Kiva Herman to open the second half, SDSU scored 11 unanswered points to build its largest lead of the evening at 40-27. USD would get to within three points on two occasions, including as late as 39 seconds remaining and the score 56-53. After securing a critical defensive rebound, Davis made both of her free-throw shots with 10 seconds left, as the Aztecs claimed the 58-53 win.

San Diego State held USD without a three-point field goal, as the Toreros were 0-for-4 from beyond the arc, compared to the Aztecs’ 4-for-9 performance, three of which came in the second half. USD is the second SDSU opponent this season to fail to record a three-pointer, as Southern Utah also went without a triple.

The Toreros had four players score in double-figures, led by center Amber Sprague’s 15 points to go with 8 boards. SDSU held USD point guard Amanda Rego, who led the nation in assists a year ago, to just four assists and two points both from the free-throw line.

© East County Sports.com
OGDEN, Utah (11-25-07) -- Grossmont College alum DALLAS MAUGA, a product of Helix High, is one of three Sacramento State Hornets named to the All-Big Sky Conference football team.

Dallas Mauga (Courtesy, CSUS)

The three first-team selections were the most for Sacramento State since four players earned the honor in 2000. This season also marked the first time that the Hornets had multiple first team selections on defense since joining the league in 1996.

Mauga was key to helping Sacramento State lead the conference by limiting Big Sky foes to 99.1 rushing yards per game. A two-year starter, Mauga was a second team selection last season and a first team preseason pick prior to the 2007 season. He led all defensive linemen on the team with 43 tackles, including 8.0 tackles-for-loss and 1.0 sacks.

As a dominating tackle for Grossmont College in 2004, Mauga was the unanimous choice for the Foothill Conference's Defensive Player of the Year in balloting conducted by the circuit's nine head coaches. The 6-foot-1, 297-pound Mauga earned first-team honors for the second straight season as a Griffin . He also was named to the JCGrid-Wire first team defense as a sophomore.

This bullish lineman routinely drew double- and sometimes triple-coverage from Grossmont opponents. Not many were successful at neutralizing this physical ruffian. Since he drew so much attention from opposing linemen, Mauga did not rack up record-breaking statistics, leaving that to his teammates. Mauga's numbers weren't that bad, however, as he notched 9 sacks and averaged 5 tackles per game.

Jericho Toilolo

Boy, bet those Helix coaches would love to see what Toilolo achieved in Cal Lu’s 45-24 romp over La Verne University in Saturday’s (Sept. 29) Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener.

Toilolo completed 32 of 39 passes (better than 82 percent) for 464 yards and 6 touchdowns for the Kingsmen (1-2). He also rushed for 38 yards in eight carries for a total offensive effort of 502 yards.

As a high school senior, Toilolo’s senior passing totals added up to 566 yards and 5 TDs. So obviously, his latest outing for the Kingsmen was by far his finest in organized football.

After three games, Toilolo has established himself as the Cal Lu starter. His passing totals are 45 completions in 62 attempts (.726) for 596 yards and 6 TDs.

Wes Davis

A defensive back for undefeated Boston College, Davis injured his back in the third game of the season, a 24-10 triumph over nationally ranked Georgia Tech. According to his father, Davis just resumed classes this morning (Oct. 16) following successful surgery and will redshirt.

The Eagles (7-0) are currently ranked third in the initial Bowl Championship Series standings. They lead the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 3-0 mark heading into Saturday's key contest at Coastal Division co-leader Virginia Tech (ESPN, 4:30 p.m. PT). The Hokies are rated 11th in the BCS.

Davis, now a 6-foot-1, 215-pound sophomore safety, saw action in all 13 games as a true freshman in 2006. At Steele Canyon, Davis was a two-time All-County and All-East County selection, including being named East County Sports' Defensive Player of the Year in 2005.

Clinton Snyder (Stanford courtesy photos)

"It's more than a landmark. It's a great step for us that we need as a program to show people that we're not the old Stanford," said Snyder, one of three Cardinal defenders with 10 tackles. "I didn't know how it would feel. We haven't done this in a long time."

Under the leadership of former University of San Diego head coach JIM HARBAUGH, the rebuilding process seemed headed for a long, bumpy road following embarrassing Pac-10 Conference losses to UCLA (45-17), Oregon (55-31) and Arizona State (41-3) -- all at home -- earlier in the season.

Perhaps playing on the road is the ticket for the Cardinal, which snapped USC’s 35-game home winning streak. Oh yeah, the last time the Trojans were toppled in the Coliseum was at the hands of Stanford in 2001. That was USC coach Pete Carroll’s first year as the Trojans' head man.

"It's incredible. We came into this game with only a win against a WAC team ( San Jose State ), and we weren't performing like we knew we could," added the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Snyder, Stanford’s top returning tackler from a year ago. "This game, we came out and ground it out, and performed the way the Stanford Cardinal needs to perform in the future."

The youthful Cardinal committed mistake-after-mistake, but switching to Tavita Pritchard at quarterback last week against Arizona State seemed to be the catalyst, as the offense took giants steps forward while Snyder & Co. held the line on defense.

"All the little mistakes we were making in the other games didn't happen," noted Snyder, a redshirt sophomore. "We got some good breaks on defense with all the turnovers. It's a game of turnovers. Whoever wins the turnover battle usually wins the game."

Snyder, the 2004 East County Defensive Player of the Year who set a Grossmont Conference record of 44 sacks, went on to say:

"We got those turnovers on defense and helped the offense out by giving the offense good field position, and they made good adjustments. They moved the ball down the field and scored some points for us, and we came out on top."

Snyder, who made 61 tackles for losses during his Monte Vista career, came through with several of those key plays. He forced a fumble which led to a turnover, then he registered one of three sacks on Trojans quarterback J.D. Booty late in the 4th quarter which led to Stanford getting the ball back for its game-winning drive.

The Cardinal offense rebounded with the game-winning touchdown in the final 2:50. Included was a 4th-down reception by Richard Sherman to the USC-9, then Pritchard found Mark Bradford on the left-side of the endzone with 49 seconds remaining for another 4th-down conversion.

"We said focus and finish, which is what we've been saying all year,” Snyder said. “Focus and finish is a big thing for us. That's what we stress, finishing in the fourth quarter. We went out there and got a good stop on defense."

USC, ranked No. 1 in one major poll and No. 2 in the other, had one last chance, but Booty's bomb was intercepted by Bo McNally.

"Just to see Bo catch that ball and slide down there knowing that the game is over and we had won the game is just great," said Snyder, who now has 117 tackles in five games this season. “It's awesome; it's a dream. This is a great win for the program."

Jared Ballman

Ballman, a two-time All-Foothill Conference performer for the Griffins, kept Syracuse pinned back all contest, punting four times for an average of 46.5 yards. Included was a long boot of 52 yards, plus another kick of 49 yards which was downed at the 14-yard line. Ballman even made a solo tackle on the game's opening kickoff to prevent a Syracuse touchdown.

The contest was the first Friday night college contest in the history of the Carrier Dome, which opened in 1980.

Ballman was part of Grossmont's 2005 state and national championship team, then averaged 40.8 yards per punt for the Griffins last season.

Mount Miguel High alum Jerica Williams (left) (ECS.com file photo)

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (8-16-07) -- JERICA WILLIAMS, the CIF-San Diego Section player of the year as a junior for Mount Miguel High in the 2004-05 season, announced she will transfer from UCLA and become eligible to play at San Diego State for the 2008-09 women's basketball season.

Williams, a 5-8 shooting guard who helped the Matadors to three consecutive Division II championships, will begin classes at Montezuma Mesa later this month. She will have three seasons of eligibility with the Aztecs.

“Jerica is a terrific long-range shooter, and, as both an athlete and a teammate, is an extremely competitive person,” Aztecs coach BETH BURNS said. “She will have a year to work on her game, and will hit the ground running in 2008.”

Williams joins a host of other county talent to join Burns' roster since the coach returned to SDSU. Included is former El Capitan center ALLISON DUFFY, who shares the honor as the Grossmont Conference all-time leading scorer, plus two other San Diego Hall of Champions' players of the year in Paris Johnson (San Diego HS) and Tamika Lipford (The Bishop's).

Williams averaged 18.8 points, 8.9 rebounds and 5.0 steals per outing to earn CIF player of the year laurels as a junior, also gaining a first-team all-state Division II pick and a second-team all-state honoree overall in 2005.

As a senior in 2006, she helped Mount Miguel edge into the final state rankings, averaging 14.8 points for one of the top defensive ballclubs (34.9 points allowed average) in California. Williams also rated second in foul shooting behind Duffy, helping Mount Miguel to the CIF state quarterfinals.

A two-time team captain, she received first-team all-CIF honors her final two years and was a three-time first-team selection in the Grossmont South League. In addition, Williams is a three-time All-East County selection, including a pair of first-team berths.

"I'm excited about being an Aztec and coming back home to play in front of my family and the San Diego community,” Williams said. "I've been familiar with Coach Burns since I was in the ninth grade and I admire how passionate she is about the game and the coaching staff’s ability to develop players.”

Williams intends to major in communications with a minor in sociology.

“I couldn't be more excited to add Jerica Williams at shooting guard to complement our inside tandem of Paris Johnson at 6-4 and Allison Duffy at 6-2,” Burns added. “County-wide, we trust that all basketball fans will be eager to follow the development of these three great San Diego prep stars.”