© East County Sports.com
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (5-30-12) — Former Santana High standout BRITTANY BALOUGH received NAIA All-America second team honors as a pitcher for Lee University.

Balough, a senior, won 25 games against just three losses, with an earned run average of 1.26. She also received the same honor from CoSIDA, a national group of college athletics public relation representatives.

Balough helped the Lady Flames gain a berth in the NAIA Tournament, then was solid in her lone appearance at the event, working a five-inning complete game, allowing no runs on just two hits, while striking out four and walking none.

By Bill Dickens
© East County Sports.com
LEMON GROVE (5-17-12) — Former East County standout ARTHUR HOBBS has signed a 3-year deal with the San Diego Chargers.

“Arthur is a true warrior,” Hobbs ’ high school coach at Mount Miguel TOM KARLO said. “He has fought every step of the way and now is in 'The League.' What an amazing story.”

A 2007 All-East County first team pick for the Matadors, Hobbs advanced to Grossmont College and then rode a scholarship to Neb.-Kearney. As a Loper, Hobbs recorded 50 tackles, logged 8 pass breakups, intercepted three passes and blocked two kicks.

© East County Sports.com
ALCALA PARK (5-16-12) — Grossmont High product AARON GRIFFIN was one of five relief pitchers to help Loyola Marymount take down 18th-ranked University of San Diego, 8-6, in Saturday's (May 12) West Coast Conference baseball game at Cunningham Stadium.

The victory clinched the series for the visiting Lions (23-22 overall, 11-6 WCC). For the Toreros (37-13, 13-7), it was just their second 2-game losing streak of the season.

© East County Sports.com
CLEVELAND (5-15-12) — Ball State University saw six members of its women's fastpitch team gain All-Mid-American Conference laurels Monday (May 14), including former Santana High standout AMANDA CARPENTER. The junior center fielder received a second team berth.

© East County Sports.com
PUEBLO, Colo. (5-14-12) — Founded in 1877, Regis University of Denver, Colo., was a charter member when the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference was created in 1909.

On Saturday (May 12) – more than a century later – the Rangers finally captured their first RMAC baseball championship.

A pair of former Grossmont High standouts in STEVEN BRAULT and MATT HEMPHILL contributed, as Regis defeated tournament host Colorado State-Pueblo (formerly Southern Colorado), 9-2, at Rawlings Field.

© East County Sports.com
LAKESIDE (4-29-12) — A pair of former East County high school stars who continued on to be standouts at San Diego State earned opportunities to play in the National Football League.

Quarterback RYAN LINDLEY, who guided El Capitan High to an 11-1 record in 2006, was selected in the sixth round by the Arizona Cardinals. Meanwhile, 6--foot-4, 305-pound offensive lineman TOMMIE DRAHEIM, also of the Vaqueros and Aztecs, reached a free agent deal with the Green Bay Packers.

Colorado Christian's Hannah Rapoport

COLLEGE WOMEN'S SOFTBALL: Rapoport, CCU, place second at RMAC
Waiting begins for NCAA Division II bid

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GOLDEN, Colo. (4-29-12) — After falling in the opening game of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament, former Grossmont High and Grossmont College standout HANNAH RAPOPORT and her Colorado Christian University Cougars ran off five consecutive victories to force a play-back final. However, Fort Lewis College (Durango, Colo.) hung on to take the tournament championships after the third-seeded Skyhawks beat the fourth-seeded Cougars, 7-4, at the Colorado School of Mines Softball Complex.

Rapoport named RMAC player of the year

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LAKEWOOD, Colo. (4-24-12) — The last piece to the building of the new women's fastpitch program at Colorado Christian University proved to be the most important one.

On Tuesday (Apr. 24), the first-year Cougars announced that former Grossmont College and Grossmont High School standout HANNAH RAPOPORT was named the player of the year in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

Rapoport, the leadoff batter, led all RMAC hitters with a .482 batting average – also the fourth-best nationally among NCAA Division II schools. The sophomore pitcher/outfielder also ranked among the national leaders in hits and runs scored.

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DICKINSON, N.D. (4-10-12) — For former Steele Canyon High standout VANESSA ADAME it was a simple enough play. Put down a bunt and sacrifice her Dickinson State teammate to second base.

However, when the catcher's throw to first base sailed toward what seemed like Canada, Adame was almost caught by surprise.

“I was in shock,” Adame recalled after reaching second base. “As soon as I’d seen (head coach Kristen Fleury) waving me around, I was like, ‘OK, this is what you want? Alright.’”

Adame not only scored the game-tying run, her Blue Hawks went on to an 8-3 victory over Black Hills State in Monday's (Apr. 9) game at Gress Softball Complex. It was the team's sixth consecutive victory.

By Nick Pellegrino
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SANTEE (4-5-12) — The San Diego Surge, the national runners-up in the 62-team Women's Football Association, is making a move and will play its 2012 spring schedule at Santee Community Stadium on the campus of Santana High School.

The Surge, which has played under others nicknames (Sunfire, Scorpions) over the past decade, posted 11 consecutive victories to capture the American Conference crown last season before falling in Dallas to the Boston Militia for the national title.

The season opener will be at home against the Silver State Legacy of Las Vegas on Sat.,Apr. 21. Kickoff is at 5:30 p.m.

© East County Sports.com
LAKEWOOD, Colo. (4-4-12) — Former West Hills High and Grossmont College standout HANNAH RAPOPORT received her second player of the week citation in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference for the period ending Apr. 1.

Rapoport, a pitcher/outfielder, had a monster week at the plate, going 15-for-22 (.681) with fire runs and five RBI, lifting Colorado Christian University to within one full game of first place Fort Lewis (Colo.) in the RMAC standings after a 4-game sweep of Colorado State-Pueblo as she posted multiple hits in each contest.

By Nick Pellegrino
© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (3-28-12) — In a welcome homecoming on multiple levels, San Diego State was pleased by the return of head baseball coach TONY GWYNN to the stadium which bears his name to Tuesday's (Mar. 27) ballgame.

Meanwhile visiting UC Riverside saw two of its ballplayers – starting pitcher TREVOR FRANK (Valhalla) and shortstop EDDIE YOUNG (Christian) – get the start before family and friends against the hometown Aztecs.

© East County Sports.com
ALCALA PARK (3-27-12) — Former Grossmont High standout BRYAN HAAR was part of an important rally by the University of San Diego, allowing the 24th-ranked Toreros to complete a rain-delayed sweep of Santa Clara, 12-4, in Monday's (Mar. 26) series finale at Cunningham Stadium to open West Coast Conference play.

© East County Sports.com
MUNCIE, Ind. (3-27-12) — For the second time this season, the Ball State University softball team swept the Mid-American Conference West Division's weekly awards with junior outfielder AMANDA CARPENTER (Santana High) earning player of the week and senior Audrey Workman (Wickenburg, Ariz.) garnering pitcher of the week.

© East County Sports.com
COSTA MESA (3-25-12) — In a battle of East County alumni, former West Hills High standout TAYLOR HALLAHAN blasted a tie-breaking, 2-run triple in the 5th inning, powering Vanguard University past visiting Ottawa (Kan.), 3-1, in a non-conference, intersectional contest at The Pitt.

Hallahan, the leading hitter for the Lions this season, recorded her hit off the Braves' ASHLEY RENALDI, the former Grossmont High pitcher who is the career strikeout leader for Ottawa.

In the second game of the teams' doubleheader, another former Grossmont standout, RACHEL STALFORD, pitched a complete game in a 2-1 verdict to complete the sweep.

Stalford, the 2011 East County pitcher of the year for the CIF Division I champion Foothillers, also drove in the winning run with a triple when Vanguard (22-15) scored twice in the bottom of the 5th to offset a 1st-inning run by Ottawa (11-14).

Braves softball visits The OC
Former Foothillers collide in Saturday doubleheader

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COSTA MESA (3-22-12) — Already ranking among the school's leaders in every important offensive category, Grossmont High product ASHLEY RENALDI will be visiting the Southland this weekend playing for Ottawa University (Kan.).

Included will be a Saturday (Mar. 24) doubleheader against Vanguard University, which features another former Foothiller in RACHEL STALFORD, plus West Hills grad TAYLOR HALLAHAN.

© East County Sports.com
HANOVER, N.H. (3-20-12) — Dartmouth freshman J'VONTE BROOKS, a product of Foothills Christian High, has been named the recipient of the A.D. “Dolly” Stark Award as the Big Green men's basketball most valuable player, head coach Paul Cormier announced during the team awards gathering for the 2011-12 season.

© East County Sports.com
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (3-20-12) – Buoyed by a trio of East County products – plus a school-record 19-game winning streak – the Cal State San Marcos women's fastpitch team moved to the top of the NAIA Softball Coaches Top 25 Poll in results released Tuesday (Mar. 20).

The Cougars (28-2) garnered 11 of 20 first-place votes, gaining its first-ever appearance as the nation's top-ranked program, placing among the national leaders in both pitching (1.04 ERA) and offense (201 runs scored).

© East County Sports.com
IRVINE (3-18-12) — Former Foothills Christian High standout KALOB HATCHER, a sophomore guard at Irvine Valley College, earned first team honors in the Orange Empire Conference men’s basketball team.

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HANOVER, N.H. (3-7-12) — Former Foothills Christian High standout JVONTE BROOKS completed his freshman season at Dartmouth in style, earning a fourth citation as Ivy League rookie of the week. In fact, the youthful Big Green saw their players win the award 10 times, the third-highest total since the award was instituted in 1984-85.

© East County Sports.com
HONOLULU (2-19-12) — Former Helix High pitcher JAKE REED, a true freshman at the University of Oregon, made his collegiate debut Saturday (Feb. 18) at the University of Hawai’i. Although the right-hander did not figure in the decision in a game the Ducks won 3-2 in 12 innings, he was none the less impressive.

In a six-inning outing, Reed scattered 5 hits and allowed only one earned run. He walked 3 and struck out 4.

Reed is rated the 23rd-best freshman in college baseball by Baseball America.

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (2-13-12) — At least two internet blogs were in panic mode over the weekend, learning that Washington Nationals pitcher STEPHEN STRASBURG may miss the opening of spring training, with pitchers and catchers scheduled to report this Monday (Feb. 20) to Space Coast Stadium in Melbourne, Fla.

Don't worry, Strasburg will be okay – there's something else on his agenda.

This Friday (Feb. 17), when San Diego State opens its baseball season against Washington (The University of, not the Nats), the former Aztecs All-America pitcher will have his number retired (37) in pregame ceremonies at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

© East County Sports.com
TEMPE, Ariz. (2-12-12) — The San Diego State women's fastpitch team gained a split of games at the Kajikawa Classic on Saturday's (Feb. 11), with former East County pitcher of the year LORENA KLOPP responsible for the victory in record-setting fashion.

Following a close 6-5 loss to No. 9 Tennessee, the Aztecs bounced back to take down No. 23 Georgia Tech, 3-2, as Klopp drove in all three runs for SDSU (3-2).

Klopp's first at-bat against the Yellow Jackets was a deep, 2 -run homer to also bring home Hayley Miles (double), giving the Steele Canyon High product her school-record 18th of her career. She eclipsed the career record formerly held by four-year players Megan McDonald (2005-08) and Erryn Gutjahr (1996-99).

By the way, Klopp is just five games into her second season with the Aztecs.

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (2-9-12) — Former Mount Miguel High standout DANIELLE MILLER, a member of the UNLV Rebels women’s basketball team, will be coming to San Diego on Saturday (Feb. 11) for a Mountain West Conference game against the SDSU Aztecs (17-5, 7-1) at 2 p.m. in the Viejas Arena. Tickets are $6.

SDSU is joining over 1,000 schools in the Play 4 Kay initiative, which was renamed this year to keep the story and legacy of former North Carolina State head coach Kay Yow, who lost her fight with breast cancer in January 2009, at the forefront. Aztec head coach Beth Burns served as an assistant coach under Yow at NC State from 1988-89.

Arthur Hobbs

The A.P. Little All-America team dates back to the early 1930's and includes players from NCAA Division II and III schools, as well as NAIA institutions.

Hobbs, a resident of Lemon Grove, recently named to the Daktronics/Sports Information Directors All-America team, is just the ninth Loper selected to the A.P. squad. Of the nine chosen, seven have come since UNK joined Division II in 1990.

© East County Sports.com
RALEIGH, N.C. (1-26-12) — According to published reports by CBS.com on Wednesday (Jan. 25), former Valhalla High passing phenom PETE THOMAS is transferring from Colorado State to North Carolina State. The move was also confirmed by Thomas’ personal quarterback coach George Whitfield.

Former Foothills Christian forward J'Vonte Brooks vs. Notre Dame. (Dartmouth courtesy photo)

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HANOVER, N.H. (12-29-11) — Former Foothills Christian High standout J'VONTE BROOKS, one of only 10 players named first-team All-San Diego County covering all divisions in 2009-10, was been named Ivy League rookie of the week for the period ending Dec. 25 playing for Dartmouth.

It was the second league citation for the Big Green freshman forward.

Brooks, a native of Santee, averaged 12.0 points and 9.3 rebounds over the three games during the week before Christmas for Dartmouth (3-10), all coming on the road.

He first registered his second double-double of the season with a dozen points and a personal-best 12 rebounds in a 61-55 overtime loss at Colgate. Two nights later, he contributed 13 points, equaling a season high, while snagging eight boards in another close game, this time a three-point loss at Army. Finally, he scored 11 points and hauled in eight rebounds in an 82-74 defeat at Albany on Friday (Dec. 23).

© East County Sports.com
REDLANDS (11-17-11) — A trio of former standouts at Santana High lifted 13th-ranked University of Redlands into the NCAA Division III playoffs after posting an 8-1 regular-season record.

The former Sultans include senior middle linebacker BRETT ROMERO, and senior receivers KYLE ROMERO, and TYLER AUBREY.

© East County Sports.com
SPOKANE, Wash. (11-14-11) — Humboldt State kicker MATT BRUDER has received recognition for his success in the classroom. The sophomore out of Steele Canyon High was named to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Academic all-conference team. Bruder, an Environmental Resources Engineering, posted a 3.50 grade-point-average.

Last season, Bruder established school records by going a perfect 44-for-44 on PATs, including 9 in a single conest. This season, Humboldt State posted a 9-1 record, claiming the GNAC championship.

By Andrew Smith
© East County Sports.com
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (11-9-11) — Any typical November afternoon in this Rocky Mountain town would go unnoticeable to most people in East County. This particular Saturday (Nov. 12), however, has several ties closer to home than usual.

Only five quarterbacks from East County have eclipsed the 2,000 yard mark passing at least twice in their careers in the 21st century and two of them will meet head-to-head when El Capitan High alum RYAN LINDLEY (SDSU) will face off against Valhalla product PETE THOMAS (Colorado State) as the Aztecs travel a mile high for a Mountain West showdown. The game can be seen live at 3 p.m. PDT on The Mountain (channel 320 on Cox) and also on Channel 4 San Diego.

© East County Sports.com
KEARNEY, Neb. (10-25-11) — Four East County products are making an impact in the Nebraska-Kearney football program.

Senior corner ARTHUR HOBBS, who played at Mount Miguel and Grossmont College, is the top defensive back in the secondary for the Lopers, who sport a 7-1 record and No. 2 ranking in Region III of the NCAA Division II poll.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (10-12-11) — Former Grossmont High pitcher A.J. GRIFFIN has been selected the Oakland A’s minor league organizational pitcher of the year by MLB.com.

The 13th-round draft pick out of the University of San Diego in 2010, Griffin made stops at all four full-season A's minor league affiliates in his first full season, finishing second in the system with his 3.47 ERA and tied for the lead with 156 strikeouts. The 6-foot-5 right-hander also won a pair of games for Stockton in the California League playoffs.

© East County Sports.com
REDLANDS (10-4-11) — Santana High alum senior wide receiver/kick return specialist TYLER AUBREY of the University of Redlands football team has been named as a semifinalist for the 2011 National Football Foundation William V. Campbell Trophy, which honors the sport's best scholar-athlete in the nation. In addition, Aubrey remains in the running as one of possible 16 recipients of the NFF Scholar-Athlete Postgraduate Award of $18,000. The Campbell Trophy, endowed by Health South®, increases the amount of the recipient's grant by $7,000 for a total postgraduate scholarship of $25,000.

© East County Sports.com
RAPID CITY, S.D. (9-27-11) — Steele Canyon High alum JAMIE DALE has seen better days during his four-year career at the NAIA South Dakota School of Mines.

While Saturday’s (Sept. 24) loss to the Valley City State (N.D.) Vikings 29-17 was frustrating, it was also a record-breaking afternoon for Dale and quarterback Nick Russell (Catholic Catholic).

Dale, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound senior running back, rushed for 68 yards on 15 carries, raising his career rushing count to a South Dakota School of Mines record 2,997 yards. He also owns the Hardrockers’ career record for all-purpose yardage with 4,747.

© East County Sports.com
BLUEFIELD , West Va. (9-21-11) — Grossmont High alum JOE MUSGROVE did not log a single pitching win in his rookie season of professional baseball as a No. 1 draft pick of the Toronto Blue Jays this season.

That does not mean the 6-foot-5, 230-pound right-hander failed to make an impact, however, since turning pro in June.

© East County Sports.com
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (9-20-11) — After a quick, seven-pitch first inning, Omaha starter SEAN O’SULLIVAN allowed six runs on six hits over the next two innings as the Storm Chasers fell to the Columbus Clippers 8-3 in Tuesday’s (Sept. 20) nationally televised Triple-A National Championship game before a paid crowd of 9,569 at Albuquerque's Isotopes Park.

© East County Sports.com
YUMA, Ariz. (9-20-11) — Former Granite Hills High quarterback CORY LOCKMAN is making the most of limited playing time as a freshman at Arizona Western College these days.

One of three freshman quarterbacks on the Matadors roster, Lockman delivered scoring strikes of 16 and 22 yards during a 22-point second quarter in Saturday’s (Sept. 17) Western States Football League 55-8 rout of Phoenix College. Lockman clicked on 4 of 7 passes for 46 yards.

© East County Sports.com
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (9-13-11) — NOLAN “NINO” MALLORY has received an appointment to the Air Force Academy, where he is playing football as a wide receiver for the Falcons.

A 3-year starter at Valhalla High School, Mallory suffered a season ending knee injury his junior year when the Norsemen captured the Grossmont South League and played in the San Diego CIF Division III title at Qualcomm Stadium.

Mallory underwent surgery and was able to complete his senior season at Valhalla in 2009.

Focused on serving his country and continuing his education, Mallory attended Northwestern Prep School (Colo.) where he was awarded a coveted USAF Falcon Foundation scholarship. In the fall of 2010 he received a nomination to the USAFA for the second time, and his long awaited Appointment in March.

© East County Sports.com
ALCALA PARK (9-8-11) — More than a dozen players from San Diego County, including three from East County, will return home when Western New Mexico comes to town to meet the University of San Diego in a college football intersectional game Saturday (Sept. 10) at Walter E. Zable Field at Torero Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

Among the Grossmont Conference players to participate for the Mustangs are senior long-snapper DYLAN FITZGERALD (Steele Canyon), freshman linebacker JONATHAN BUTLER (Santana) and freshman running back DAKOTA FURR (El Capitan).

Fitzgerald, a Grossmont Hills League champion in the pole vault with the Cougars, helped Grossmont College to an 8-3 record and a Beach Bowl victory in 2009. Meanwhile, Butler, who broke LEON BENDER’s record for Santana career sacks last year, gained a first team berth on the All-East County team as a senior. Furr was the East County Sports Co-Offensive Player of the Year last season.

Western New Mexico, led by second-year head coach ADAM CLARK – who played locally at West Hills and Grossmont College – opened its season with a 35-28 triumph over Sul Ross State (Texas), scoring in the final 35 seconds to claim its home opener in Silver City, N.M. College Football Notebook

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (9-6-11) — East County high school gridiron standouts are beginning to surface at some new places.

Running backs TRAVON VAN (Helix) is now a starter at Marshall University, while ELLIOT TAYLOR (Mount Miguel) made the Arizona travel squad as a walk-on from the Wildcats’ track team.

© East County Sports.com
FORT WORTH, Texas (8-24-11) — For CLIFTON THOMAS, the record-setting base stealer out of El Cajon Valley High, only 72 hours were needed before he blossomed in his professional debut for the Fort Worth Cats.

After batting just 1-for-14 in his first three games as a midseason signee, Thomas erupted with a 3-for-5, three RBI performance to fuel the Cats' offense against the South Division rival El Paso Diablos in Wednesday's (Aug. 24) American Association ballgame.

On three occasions with a runner in scoring position, Thomas, a centerfielder, delivered a run-scoring basehit in a 12-3 triumph. The contest opened a season-ending, 8-game homestand for the Cats at LaGrave Field.

© East County Sports.com
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (7-29-11) — For players who suffer the type of injury GARY ISAACSON absorbed in the first game of his senior football season at West Hills, it usually spells the end of a career.

That could well have happened to Isaacson had he not had a football scholarship to New Mexico State University dangling in his face. More than that, though, was Isaacson refused to give up. MORE

© East County Sports.com
HOUSTON (7-16-11) — Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers JEFF KARSTENS and KEVIN CORREIA no doubt crossed paths while growing up in East County. Both played baseball in the Grossmont Conference – Karstens at Mount Miguel and Correia at Grossmont High. They each took a turn at Grossmont College but were not teammates.

Funny, now, how they are now teammates at baseball’s highest level. Fact is, the duo has combined for 19 wins thus far this season which has helped the Pittsburgh Pirates move into a tie for the National League Central Division lead with the St. Louis Cardinals heading into Saturday’s (July 16) action.

Karstens, a 28-year-old right-hander, needed only 83 pitches to propel the Pirates into first place for the first time this late in the season since July 17, 1997. The veteran of parts of six major league seasons, Karstens masterfully and efficiently wove through the Houston Astros lineup on the way to his second career shutout in a 4-0 Pirates win at Minute Maid Park.

© East County Sports.com
BRAINERD , Minn. (7-9-11) — Led by former Grossmont High pitchers AARON GRIFFIN and STEVEN BRAULT, the Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers of Minnesota finished the first half of the Northwoods League season in second place in the Southern Division. The Lunkers defeated the Thunder Bay Border Cats 8-5 for their 4th straight win on Wednesday (July 6) before beginning the second round of the summer collegiate baseball season later this week.

Lindley and sophomore running back Ronnie Hillman are the first San Diego State student-athletes tabbed to the watch list since former running back Lynell Hamilton in 2006.

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (6-9-11) — Forget about what kind of bat it is. CODY SMITH has never had difficulty swinging the bat. He ranked among the East County leaders throughout his Santana High career.

He carried that prowess over to the NCAA Division I level as a freshman outfielder at San Diego State University this season.

Smith was named to the 2011 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America squad by Collegiate Baseball newspaper.

© East County Sports.com
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (5-24-11) — Santana High product CODY SMITH, a freshman outfielder for San Diego State, is among four Aztecs to earn second team All-Mountain West Conference baseball honors in balloting conducted by the league's seven head coaches. Juniors Brandon Meredith and Chris Wilson (son of Valhalla baseball coach MIKE WILSON) along with freshmen Cole Swanson were also honored.

Allie Scott

© East County Sports.com
STARKVILLE, Miss. (5-23-11) — Former Christian High standout ALLIE SCOTT, a member of the All-East County team last season, has been named to the All-Northeast Regional team by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

Scott, a freshman catcher for Harvard, initially earned a second-team, All-Ivy League berth, then out-voted the senior catcher from Penn to gain the regional award. The honor also included an automatic berth for consideration to the All-America team.

© East County Sports.com
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (5-10-11) — A key factor in a historic season for the Harvard women's fastpitch team has been the play of former Christian High standout ALLIE SCOTT.

Along with capturing the school's fifth Ivy League championship, and with it an automatic berth to the NCAA Division I Championship, the Crimson set a record with their 36th victory of the season. All of this occurred after Scott stepped on campus and took over as starting catcher as a freshman.

Scott led all Ivy catchers on both offense and defense. Along with a near-perfect .993 fielding percentage, she finished seventh among all Ivy batters with a .421 average, tying for second place in home runs (8), doubles (8) and slugging percentage (.877).

© East County Sports.com
CLEVELAND, Tenn. (5-23-11) — The Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) announced its annual awards Thursday (May 19), naming former Santana High standout DANIELLE BALOUGH to the all-conference team for the third consecutive season.

Balough, a senior for Lee University , hit an even .400 entering the SSAC conference tournament, leading the team with 10 home runs and 44 runs batted in.

The Lady Flames had three players named to the All-Division Team, including junior BRITTANY BALOUGH.

© East County Sports.com
POMONA (5-13-11) — Former Granite Hills High and Grossmont College standout TRAVIS TAIJERON, now a senior at Cal Poly Pomona, has been named the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Most Valuable Player.

A candidate for the 2011 NCAA Division II Player of the Year, Taijeron is the fifth CPP player to be named the MVP of the conference and the first since 1991.

A 6-foot-2 center fielder, Taijeron is at the top of the league for most major offensive statistics, including slugging percentage (.731 - 1st), on-base percentage (.516 - 1st), homeruns (14 - 1st) and total bases (122 - 1st). His 14 home runs also ranks 18th nationally. A former catcher and first baseman, Taijeron helped the Broncos (30-19) secure a spot in the CCAA Tournament by batting .459 in the final month of the regular season.

© East County Sports.com
WEATHERFORD, Okla. (5-6-11) — Junior safety JONATHAN DARBY, a product of West Hills High and Grossmont College, has been recognized as the top male athlete of the year at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. The award is based on the student’s athletic achievement, academic standing, community involvement and citizenship.

Darby made an instant impact on the Bulldogs football team this season, leading the Bulldogs with 91 tackles despite missing the last two games with an ankle injury. He was Southwestern's lone representative on the Lone Star Conference’s first-team North Division squad. Darby is majoring in education where he carries a 3.97 grade point average.

Mike McCoy

© Special to East County Sports.com
From the Toronto Sun
NEW YORK (5-1-11) — Grossmont High alum MIKE McCOY worked a long time to get to the major leagues so he is entitled to savour his first home run, an impressive swat of more than 400 feet to right field at Yankee Stadium on Saturday (Apr. 30).

"It was pretty cool and to do it here was a special moment," said McCoy who, at 30 years old, is in just his third year in the majors.

Yankee Stadium fans always throw back opposition home runs so McCoy got the ball. Derek Jeter tossed it to Brian Butterfield, who relayed to Jose Bautista. Bautista then pretended to throw McCoy's memento into the stands before handing it over.

Matt Powell

PRO BASEBALL: Powell belongs to the Windy City

© East County Sports.com
CRESTWOOD, Ill. (4-29-11) — Former Grossmont College standout MATT POWELL, who went on to an All-America catching career at Southern Nazarene (Okla.) University, has been signed off the roster of the San Diego Stars semipro baseball team to a professional contract.

On Thursday (Apr. 28) night, the paperwork was faxed verifying Powell is now a member of the Windy City ThunderBolts, one of 12 ballclubs in the independent Frontier League. The T-Bolts are the defending Eastern Division champions.

A.J. Griffin

PRO BASEBALL: Griffin scores with bunny

© East County Sports.com
BURLINGTON, Iowa (4-17-11) — A.J. GRIFFIN, the 2006 East County pitcher of the year for Grossmont High, sat alone in his corner of the Burlington Bees dugout, except for a new friend.

"It looks just like Tyreace," Griffin told TheHawkEye.com. "It's a bunny dude!"

The rabbit turned into Griffins' good luck charm for Thursday's (Apr. 14) Class A Midwest League ballgame at Community Field.

The right-hander carried a no-hit bid into the 8th inning against the Peoria Chiefs, finally surrendering a base hit to Sergio Burruel with one out. An out later, Grififn yielded to the bullpen as he collected his first victory of the season following a 5-1 decision.

© East County Sports.com
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (4-15-11) — In his finest performance on the mound in his young collegiate career, Regis College southpaw STEVEN BRAULT (Grossmont High) was awarded the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week after allowing just one unearned run in the Rangers 2-1 victory over Colorado School of the Mines on Saturday (Apr. 9).

© East County Sports.com
OSKALOOSA, Iowa (3-24-11) — Former Granite Hills High and Grossmont College standout DARREN GAY pitched a shutout in a Midwest Collegiate Conference opening doubleheader for William Penn University last Saturday (Mar. 19).

After the Statesmen dropped the first game to snap a 5-game winning streak, Gay, a junior right-hander, responded with the team's best pitching effort of the season. Following just six appearances in relief, Gay tossed a complete-game 2-hitter, walking just one in allowing just three baserunners all contest.

© East County Sports.com
YUMA, Ariz. (3-24-11) — Former El Capitan High standout AMBER TAYNTON has been named the NJCAA Region I (Arizona) pitcher of the week after a trio of strong outings for Arizona Western College during the week of Mar. 14-20.

Over 25 innings of work, Taynton struck out 23 batters in leading the Matadors to three victories. Taynton allowed just two earned runs in a 10-5 triumph over Scottsdale, and a pair of unearned runs in a 4-2 decision over Paradise Valley among her victories.

© East County Sports.com
SANTEE (3-19-11) — Santana High graduate HAYDEN PENN has been pitching professionally since 2002. Originally a 5th round draft pick of the Baltimore Orioles, the 6-foot-3, 195-pound right-hander has toiled for the Orioles, Florida Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates in parts of four major league seasons.

The past two years, Penn has been hurling for the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese Baseball League. A year ago, Penn’s lone pitching victory in The Orient came in the Nippon Championships when he worked 5 1/3 innings allowing, 2 runs and 5 hits while striking out three in the Marines 10-4 victory over the Chunichi Dragons. Chiba Lotte went on to win the Japanese version of the World Series.

© East County Sports.com
MUPRHY CANYON (3-3-11) — Former Mount Miguel High defensive lineman OGEMDI NWAGBUO, who played collegiately for Michigan State, accepted a tender offer and signed a 1-year contract extension with the San Diego Chargers.

Nwagbuo, who will enter his third season with the Chargers, played in 15 games this past season, adding depth to the defensive line as a reserve nose tackle. He recorded a season-high five tackles Week 12 against the Oakland Raiders, then posted a fumble recovery in Week 16 at Cincinnati.

© East County Sports.com
SACRAMENTO (3-1-11) — Former Christian High standout EDDIE YOUNG is off to a fast start as the starting second baseman for UC Riverside.

Over the weekend, Young was instrumental in leading the Highlanders to a 3-game sweep of Sacramento State . Included in Young’s efforts was a leadoff single in the 6th, eventually scoring the tie-breaking run in Sunday's (Feb. 27) series-ending, 4-2 triumph.

© East County Sports.com
TURLOCK (2-28-11) — Chico State, a turnaround program which moved to within one victory of a NCAA Division II Women's College World Series berth last season, is off to a flying start thanks to a pair of East County products – BRITT WRIGHT and RACHEL FAILLA.

© East County Sports.com
SAN MARCOS (2-25-11) — They do things differently in the North County.

Although February has yet to turn into March, Cal State San Marcos already announced its athletes of the month for the year's shortest month, with West Hills High product ALEX MILLER among the honorees.

© East County Sports.com
LOS ANGELES (2-13-11/Revised 2-16-11) — Former Steele Canyon High standout LORENA KLOPP, who burst onto the scene with a CIF San Diego Section record for RBI with 60 as a freshman, is doing the same thing in her first season with San Diego State.

Klopp, a two-time All-CIF state selection with the Cougars, slugged a home run and drove in five runs, plus gained a pitching triumph, helping the Aztecs to a pair of victories Saturday (Feb. 12) in the season-opening Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament at UCLA.

Meanwhile, former Christian High standout RICKI GENTRY opened her collegiate career by being named Western New Mexico University's student-athlete of the week for the period ending Feb. 13.

Gentry registered an on-base percentage of .500 during the Mustangs' appearance at the Desert Stinger Classic in Las Vegas. Included was a 3-for-3 outing against Lewis University, then Gentry belted home runs against Western Oregon and St. Edward's.

For the season, Gentry, the designated player, leads Western New Mexico (2-9) with a .450 batting average.

© East County Sports.com
TURLOCK (2-8-11) — A trio of former East County standouts – led by NAIA All-America pitcher BRENNA SANDBERG – were named to the all-tournament team after leading 8th-ranked Cal State San Marcos to the championship of the Best of the West Invitational held at Cal State Stanislaus.

Sandberg, a West Hills High product, was joined by Cougars infielders ALYSSA DRONENBURG (Helix) and ALEX MILLER (West Hills) on the all-tournament team.

Sherika Miller

© East County Sports.com
LA JOLLA (2-6-11) — Former West Hills High standout SHERIKA MILLER marked her return to her hometown by producing a career-high 15 points, but her San Francisco State Gators fell to UC San Diego, 59-52, at RIMAC Arena on Thursday (Feb. 3).

La'Kenya Simon West

© East County Sports.com
LA JOLLA (1-23-11) — Former East County player of the year LA'KENYA SIMON-WEST of Grossmont High School moved into position for a conference championship as a starting forward for Cal Poly Pomona.

Behind 13 points by Simon-West, plus the first career double-double by teammate Charlene Popoff, the Broncos downed host UC San Diego, 82-75, Saturday (Jan. 22) at RIMAC Arena.

Trailing by seven points with just 10 minutes remaining in regulation, the Broncos fired off a 17-0 run for their seventh straight triumph.

Christina Rios	Precious Robinson

© East County Sports.com
REDLANDS (1-14-11) — The University of Redlands took the first step to claim consecutive regular-season titles in women's basketball for the first time ever after capturing its Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener in a 52-46 home decision over Cal Lutheran at Currier Gym on Jan. 8.

And starting point guard CHRISTINA RIOS, a Grossmont High alum, is leading the way for the Bulldogs (7-4, 1-0).

© East County Sports.com
STILLWATER, Okla. (1-8-11) — Former Mount Miguel High standout PRECIOUS ROBINSON is relishing her role as the 6th player for nationally-ranked Oklahoma State.

For the second consecutive season, Robinson is one of the top percentage shooters in the Big 12 Conference, helping the Cowgirls (13-1) to a ranking of No. 25 in the nation entering this weekend's conference opener at Kansas State.

Celebrating their 2009-10 PASL-Pro North America championship are (l-r) the Sockers' Paul Wright, Scott Martin, Aaron Susi and Dan Antoniuk. (San Diego Sockers courtesy photo)

Paul Wright

NASCAR

THE FIFTH DIMENSION El Cajon's Jimmie Johnson claims record 5th consecutive Sprint Cup championship (NASCAR courtesy photo)

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (12-19-10) — After originally committing to play for San Diego State basketball coach Steve Fisher, former Foothills Christian High standout TROY LEAF notes there are no hard feelings after he later signed with UC Santa Barbara.

"I still respect Coach Fisher as a man, and he respects me as a player," said Leaf after his Gauchos made a visit to Viejas Arena on Saturday (Dec. 18).

If events followed a different path, Leaf may well have been wearing the hometown whites for the 10th-ranked and undefeated Aztecs. Instead, Leaf, along with more than two dozens family and friends, were wearing the UCSB blue in support of last season's CIF San Diego Section all-division player of the year.

"I don't even think about it anymore," Leaf noted on almost becoming an Aztecs guard. "Right now, everything in Santa Barbara is great as I try to learn playing a college system."

The true freshman has already been making contributions for UCSB, averaging 10 minutes per contest. Leaf scored a career-high five points in a 90-64 loss to SDSU, which followed Santa Barbara 's 68-62 road upset triumph over 22nd-rated UNLV on Wednesday (Dec. 15).

© East County Sports.com
SANTA BARBARA (12-15-10) — Former Foothills Christian High standout TROY LEAF, the reigning CIF San Diego Section all-division player of the year, will make his San Diego debut as a collegian on Saturday (Dec. 18) when his UC Santa Barbara Gauchos complete a 3-game roadtrip against 10th-ranked San Diego State at Viejas Arena. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. LISTEN

© East County Sports.com
CHENEY, Wash. (12-16-10) — For the second year in a row, former Mount Miguel High standout CHIDOZIE EKEWEOZOR will a be a starting offensive tackle for defending national champion Villanova (9-4).

Villanova will play in the FCS semifinals of the Division I-AA Football Championship series against No. 5 seed and host Eastern Washington (11-2) in a game that will take place Friday (Dec. 17) at 5 p.m. at Roos Field. The contest will be nationally televised on ESPN2.

Cavin McCall displays 'the hardware'

© East County Sports.com
LA HABRA (12-14-10) — CAVIN McCALL, the reigning club champion at Cottonwood Golf Club in Rancho San Diego, captured the 36th annual Southern California Golf Association (SCGA) Tournament of Club Champions, held Monday (Dec. 13) at Hacienda Country Club.

Cavin McCall

SCGA Story

McCall defeated Daniel Ragsdale from North Ranch Country Club with a par on the fifth playoff hole after each posted even-par rounds of 71 during regulation play.

McCall, a 23-year-old senior at Cal State Dominguez Hills, is a former player and current Assistant Coach of the Toros' men's golf team. He will graduate in May with a communications degree.

McCall is relatively new to the game, having only played for seven years, yet now owns consecutive club championships at Cottonwood. He becomes the first club champion from Cottonwood to win the prestigious SCGA tournament.

“I’ve been playing well and my hope coming in was to finish in the top 10,” said McCall, who outlasted 107 club champions from throughout the Southland.

The triumph earns him an exemption into the 112th SCGA Amateur Championship, slated for July 8-10, 2011 at San Gabriel Country Club, and the SCGA Public Links Championship (formerly the PLGA Amateur Championship), March 25-27 at Brookside Golf Club in Pasadena.

McCall played golf and baseball at Christian High, then played golf for Cuyamaca College before moving on to CSUDH, emerging as the top performer for the Toros during the 2009 season.

© East County Sports.com
LIBERTY, Mo. (12-8-10) — It may be a few baby steps, but for former El Capitan High and Grossmont College standout JON MOLZEN, the 2010 football season must be called a success.

Playing for William Jewel College, an NAIA program, which posted just a single victory in 2009, Molzen and a cast of fresh recruits arrived at the western Missouri campus just outside of Kansas City and posted with three additional triumphs in a 4-7 campaign.

© East County Sports.com
SAN FRANCISCO (12-7-10) — It's not often a true freshman can step into a college starting line-up, yet former West Hills High standout SHERIKA MILLER is doing well in such a role for San Francisco State.

© East County Sports.com
ALCALA PARK (11-25-10) — Cal State Fullerton freshman YVONTE NEAL, the reigning East County player of the year out of Mount Miguel High, came off the bench to score five points and grab three rebounds, but the Titans fell to host University of San Diego, 71-60, Wednesday (Nov. 24) at Jenny Craig Pavilion.

Neal, a pure freshman, hit 2-for-4 from the field, while two of her boards were on the offensive glass in her 12 minutes of the court.

Special to East County Sports.com
BALBOA PARK (11-10-10) — In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the CIF-San Diego Section, the local section celebrated the milestone by recognizing the top 50 athletes from 1960 to date. The 50 players from a variety of sports were selected by a panel under the auspices of the CIF-SDS. Members of the panel were Steve Brand, Bill Dickens, Kirk Kenney, Joe Naiman and Rick Smith. All have covered high school sports for various media across the region for decades.

Section Commissioner Dennis Ackerman said many of the 50 will attend the high school football championships on Monday (Dec. 6) at Qualcomm Stadium, to be honored between the Division II and Division I title games.

The 11 East County honors include: Sharon Barrett, Monte Vista (golf); Reggie Bush, Helix (football); Tony Clark, Valhalla-Christian (basketball-baseball); Terry Forster, Santana (baseball); Mark Gerardi, Valhalla (wrestling); Greg Louganis, Valhalla (swim-diving); Mark Malone, El Cajon Valley (football-track); Eileen Maul, Santana (gymnastics-diving); Jim Plum, Helix (football-baseball); Tommy Vardell, Granite Hills (football-wrestling); and Bill Walton, Helix (basketball).

Oakland Raiders tackle Khalif Barnes / Raiders.com courtesy photo

© East County Sports.com
OAKLAND (11-7-10) — Former Mount Miguel High and University of Washington offensive lineman KHALIF BARNES scored a rare touchdown Sunday (Nov. 7), keying the Oakland Raiders in a 23-20 overtime victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Midway through the third quarter, Barnes hauled in a 2-yard TD pass from Jason Campbell on a tackle-eligible pass, giving the Raiders a 14-13 lead in a ballgame that saw the Raiders get shutout in the first half.

In his second season with Oakland, Barnes garnered just two previous starts in 14 appearances after moving to the Bay Area following four seasons as a full-time starter with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The catch was his first career NFL reception.

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (11-4-10) — In the history of East County football not many shootouts get bigger than Saturday’s (Nov. 6) Mountain West Conference Colorado State versus San Diego State shootout at Qualcomm Stadium.

Kickoff is 7 p.m. when the visiting Rams quarterback and Valhalla High graduate PETE THOMAS takes aim at the Aztecs, who are led by El Capitan High grad and SDSU junior RYAN LINDLEY.

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (11-4-10) — Five freshman out of East County — EVAN POTTER (Grossmont), DYLAN GARCIA (Granite Hills), JARED HUNT (Granite Hills), CODY SMITH (Santana) and KYLE HAYES (Santana) – will participate in the 2nd Annual Aztec Red-Black World Series this weekend at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

© East County Sports.com
REDLANDS (11-3-10) — Four East County graduates are helping the Redlands University Bulldogs make a run for the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football championship this season.

The quartet includes Santana High products TYLER AUBREY, the ROMERO brothers – BRETT and KYLE – and Valhalla freshman MATTHEW SWANGER.

© East County Sports.com
MAYVILLE, N.D. (10-25-10) — Former Grossmont High safety DOMINIQUE BRADLEY of Mayville State University was recently named the Dakota Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against Jamestown College (N.D.). He was also listed among the honorable mention for the NAIA national award.

The Comets freshman broke a 29-year-old NAIA record with his 99-yard punt return for a touchdown.

© East County Sports.com
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.
(10-20-10) — Former Valhalla High standout PETE THOMAS, the first true-freshman starting quarterback at Colorado State since at least World War II, completed 10 of 14 passes for 233 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Rams buried visiting UNLV 43-10 in Saturday’s (Oct. 16) Mountain West Conference action.

Colorado State University quarterback Pete Thomas celebrates with fans after leading the Rams past visiting Idaho (Photo by Dan Byers, CSU media relations)

© East County Sports.com
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (9-27-10) — Former Valhalla High standout PETE THOMAS, the first true-freshman starting quarterback at Colorado State since at least World War II, earned Mountain West Conference honors in just his fourth collegiate outing.

On Saturday (Sept. 25), Thomas led the Rams to a last-minute, game-winning drive to defeat Idaho, earning conference player of the week honors. Thomas orchestrated a 12-play, 66-yard drive over the final 2:38 of regulation, setting up Ben DeLine’s 35-yard game-winning field goal at the gun in a 36-34 triumph over the Vandals.

After the 6-foot-10, 240-pound center participated in the Lusophony Games as a member of the Angolan National Team in 2006, the then 16-year old was selected to the Basketball Without Borders Africa camp in 2006 and ’07, in which the top 100 players from 28 countries on the continent were selected to participate by FIBA and the NBA.

© East County Sports.com
ST. CHARLES, Mo. (9-21-10) — Former West Hills High quarterback PHILIP STABACK, a senior signal-caller at Lindenwood University, has earned NAIA National Offensive Player of the Week.

Staback completed 27-of-40 passes for 404 yards, the fourth-highest total in Lindenwood history for a game. He threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first quarter and rushed for another touchdown in the third quarter to keep the No. 2 Lions undefeated following a 45-27 victory over No. 8-ranked Missouri Valley.

© East County Sports.com
MAYVILLE, N.D. (9-14-10) — Mayville State University defensive back DOMINIQUE BRADLEY was named the Dakota Athletic Conference Player of the Week for his performance during the Comets' win over Trinity Bible College on Saturday (Sept. 11) in Ellendale, N.D.

Steele Canyon products doing well at Humboldt State

© East County Sports.com
ARCATA (9-14-10) — Head coach Rob Smith and his Humboldt State Lumberjacks, lost their season-opener against Cal Poly, 23-17, on Sept. 4, but rebounded to win the following week against Dixie State in St. George, Utah, 49-14.

Placekicker MATT BRUDER, a 5-foot-7, 152-pound true freshman out of Steele Canyon High School in Jamul, has emerged as the Jacks' starter at that position. Bruder kicked a 40 yard field goal against SLO, 2 PATs and 4 kickoffs for 221 yards (55.2 average).

Defensive players who flashed signs of readiness include another Steele Canyon alum, JUSTIN HORNSBY, who was knocked out of action by an injury last year, but appears completely recovered in time for his second chance at a senior year on the defensive line.

© East County Sports.com
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (9-1-10) — Former Helix High standout ANTHONY LARCEVAL will face the biggest assignment of his life as a starting defensive tackle for San Jose State University when the Spartans open the season Saturday (Sept. 4) against top-ranked Alabama.

It will be the second time in San Jose State's 93-year football history opening against the preseason No. 1 (Nebraska , 2000) as they make the journey to the Deep South and Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Larceval, a 6-1, 265-pound red-shirt freshman, will participate in his first ballgame since falling in the 2008 CIF Division II title game to Oceanside, 23-19, after sweeping to the Grossmont South League title en route to being tabbed the East County Defensive Player of the Year.

© East County Sports.com
MADISON, S.D. (8-29-10) — Junior KHALID WATERS rushed for 197 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries, while sophomore brother JEFF WATERS scored on a 6-yard run, leading Midland Lutheran (Neb.) to a 38-7 Great Plains Athletic Conference rout of host Dakota State University Saturday (Aug. 28) at Trojan Field.

Homer Mauga

© East County Sports.com
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (8-21-10) — Quarterback PETE THOMAS knew what he was doing when he worked feverishly to secure his high school diploma in January. Early graduation from high school is already paying dividends.

The 6-foot-5, 218-pound freshman out of Valhalla High has battled his way in to a starting role as the quarterback at Colorado State University.

© East County Sports.com
MOSCOW, Idaho (8-16-10) — HOMER MAUGA, a junior transfer from Grossmont College, is making a swift impact at the University of Idaho.

A 6-foot, 225-pound linebacker, Mauga – a Helix High graduate – recorded a team-best 8 tackles in the Vandals’ first intra-squad scrimmage last weekend.

Defense figures to be Idaho’s strength this season as 10 lettermen return from last year’s fourth-place finish in the Western Conference. The Vandals posted an 8-5 record and edged Bowling Green, 43-42, in the Humanitarian Bowl last season.

© East County Sports.com
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (7-31-10) — A trio of East County products earned berths on the NAIA All-America women's softball team, the association announced.

Gaining second-team berths are Lee (Tenn.) infielder DANIELLE BALOUGH (Santana) and Cal State San Marcos pitcher BRENNA SANDBERG (West Hills), while Dordt (Iowa) first baseman SARAH SEYMOUR (Christian) received an honorable mention citation.

© East County Sports.com
NEW YORK (7-21-10) — Los Angeles Angels pitcher SEAN O’SULLIVAN made his first major league start in nearly a year Tuesday (July 20) against the world champion New York Yankees in a game televised over the Armed Forces Network from Yankee Stadium.

Of course, the majority of the audience, including the 47,775 fans at Yankee Stadium, was focused on seeking a New York knockout.

After surrendering two runs and two hits in the first inning, O’Sullivan – a product of Valhalla High and Grossmont College – settled in to hold the Yankees hitless over five innings to gain his first pitching decision of the season as the Angels prevailed 10-2.

Nick Longmire trots the bases following his first professional HR. (Howard Owens The Batavian)

Special to East County Sports.com
BATAVIA, N.Y. (6-28-10) — Although the Batavia Muckdogs (4-6) are off to a so-so start in the Class A New York Penn League, former Grossmont High slugger NICK LONGMIRE is on a hitting rampage.

The Muckdogs’ center fielder and No. 5 pick of the St. Louis Cardinals, Longmire leads the league in six offensive batting categories through 10 games. That includes hits (15), triples (3), home runs (3) and RBI (16). His .405 batting average is No. 2 in the circuit.

Special to East County Sports.com
BATAVIA, N.Y. (6-21-10) — Fresh off signing a professional baseball contract as a 5th round draft choice of the St. Louis Cardinals, former Grossmont High standout NICK LONGMIRE has made an immediate impact for the Class A Batavia Muckdogs of the New York Penn League.

Batavia’s fans fell in love with the East County center fielder instantly.

In the Muckdogs’ home opener on Saturday (June 19), Longmire clubbed a home run, two doubles, and had a sacrifice fly to drive in six runs as Batavia edged the Auburn Doubledays, 7-5.

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (6-26-10) — El Capitan High alum KYLE PHILLIPS, 26, is coming home – sort of.

A 10th round draft pick of the Minnesota Twins in 2002, Phillips will now pick up his paychecks from the San Diego Padres organization. The left-hand-hitting third baseman was traded by the Toronto Blue Jays from their Pacific Coast League Triple-A farmclub in Las Vegas to the Padres PCL Triple-A ballclub in Portland on Friday (June 25).

© East County Sports.com
NORTHRIDGE (6-23-10) — Former Grossmont College pitcher BRIAN LONGPRE, who concluded his amateur career with two seasons at Cal State Northridge, has signed a free agent contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Longpre, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound right-hander, toiled for the Griffins as a redshirt sophomore during the 2008 season after bouncing back from San Diego State as a freshman. He struck out 37 batters in 31 1/3 innings while compiling a 4.31 ERA.

© East County Sports.com
HUNTINGTON, W.V. (6-14-10) — Former Helix High running back TRAVON VAN, who was ticketed to attend the University of Florida, has changed course after spending last season at Milford Prep Academy.

The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Van will be eligible to play for the Thundering Herd this season if he clears academic tests. If he fails that test, Marshall first-year head coach John ‘Doc’ Holiday said he will apply for a hardship scholarship to the NCAA for Van

Van rushed for 315 yards and three touchdowns on 86 carries. Serving much of his time as a slotback at Milford, Van also caught 24 passes for 289 yards for the Falcons.

Nick Longmire Pacific Tigers	Greg Garcia Hawai'i Rainbows

The next Strasburg?
Five local players tabbed on Day Two of MLB draft

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (6-9-10) — Five college athletes with East County ties were selected in Tuesday’s (June 8) second day of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

At the top of the list is University of Pacific junior outfielder and Grossmont High alum NICK LONGMIRE (VIDEO) who was selected in the 5th round by the St. Louis Cardinals with the 169th overall pick. He is the highest player drafted out of the Stockton-based university since 2007.

A.J. Griffin USD Toreros	Cameron Selik Kansas Jayhawks

This season at Pacific, Longmire finished as the top hitter in the Big West Conference games with a .354 average. He hit .327 overall.

In his senior year at Grossmont, Longmire led the Foothillers with a .514 batting average, 15 home runs, 19 stolen bases, 36 RBI and a 1.010 slugging percentage. He was also named the San Diego CIF Division II Player of the Year.

Other Inlanders selected were: Valhalla (University of Hawai'i) product and middle infielder GREG GARCIA (7th round, St. Louis); Grossmont alum and USD senior right-handed pitcher AJ GRIFFIN (13th round, Oakland A’s); Grossmont College ’s (now a Kansas University junior) CAMERON SELIK (22nd round, Washington Nationals); and 6-foot-8 Grossmont College freshman KEVIN KLEIS (27th round, Pittsburgh Pirates).

Laurie Lindow (UTM photo)

© East County Sports.com
MARTIN, Tenn. (5-22-10) — Former Santana High catcher LAURIE LINDOW, a member of the 2004 and 2006 All-East County teams, called it a career after 17 seasons of softball following the elimination of her Tenn.-Martin Skyhawks from the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.

Lindow, a 3-year starter, helped UTM post a solid 47-11 record this season before falling in the OVC championship game to Jacksonville State .

During the tournament awards ceremony, Lindow and two of her teammates were named to the OVC All-Tournament Team. It was Lindow's second such citation. She was also named to the regular-season All-OVC select as a first-team honoree, leading in conference in number of runners picked-off or caught attempting to steal.

Eric Krause

© East County Sports.com
OSKALOOSA, Iowa (5-22-10) — The awards continue to arrive for former Granite Hills High standout ERIC KRAUSE, who now performs for William Penn University.

Following a Final Four appearance at the California state community college championships for Southwestern College, Krause continued his excellence with the Statesmen, earning Pitcher of the Year award in the Midwest Collegiate Conference.

Courtesy, William Penn Media Relations
OSKALOOSA, Iowa (5-12-10) — ERIC KRAUSE, a graduate of Granite Hills High and Southwestern College, concluded his junior campaign with another solid performance, netting him Midwest Collegiate Conference Pitcher of the Week laurels, the league office announced Monday (May 11).

Krause picked up his third league award of the spring as the Statesmen won the game he started on Friday, but lost later that day to end their 2010 season at 25-19.

The junior finished the week 1-0, helping Penn to an 11-2 win over Clarke. In seven innings of work, he gave up two runs (both earned) on four hits, striking out seven with two walks.

© East County Sports.com
ATLANTA (5-21-10) — Nothing has come easy in the long professional baseball career of former Monte Vista High product BROOKS CONRAD.

It took eight long years toiling on bus trips through the minor leagues before Conrad finally advanced to "The Show," breaking in with the Oakland A's in July 2008.

Two years later, Conrad gained an opportunity to do something he had never done in baseball, although the odds were against him.

Batting just .167 without an RBI as a pinchhitter this season, all Conrad could do was grab his helmet in disgust when his long fly ball seemingly landed in the glove of Cincinnati Reds left fielder Laynce Nix in front of the 380-foot sign.

The 2009 East County Sports co-Players of the Year share freshman awards in college. Jazmin Daigle (CCU photo) Amanda Carpenter (Ball State photo) Daigle named Frosh of the Year © East County Sports.com CONWAY, S.C. (5-15-10/revised 5-22-10) — Coastal Carolina University softball standout JAZMIN DAIGLE (Steele Canyon HS) took home one of the major awards given by the Big South Conference, named as the Division I circuit's Freshman of the Year. Daigle also gained a second-team berth on the All-Big South team after ranking fourth in the Big South (tops among first-year players) with a .371 batting average. Daigle ranks fourth in the Big South (tops among first-year players) with a .371 batting average. Hitting in the third spot for the Chanticleers, the rookie leads her team in several offensive categories, including batting average, hits (59), doubles (9), RBI (28) and total bases (89). Daigle registered a 14-game hitting streak during the season, hitting .420 during the span. She also tallied 16 multiple-hit games and seven multi-RBI performances during her freshman campaign, including a grand slam in her first collegiate game against USC Upstate. Coastal Carolina will host the 2010 Big South Championship as the 6th seed against No. 3 Winthrop.

Carpenter ain't no apprentice © East County Sports.com AKRON, Ohio (5-15-10) — Ball State University left fielder AMANDA CARPENTER, a Santana High product, has been named to the All-Freshmen team for the Mid-American Conference, in results announced after balloting by conference coaches. Carpenter ranks second on the Cardinals with six home runs, and owns the team's fifth-highest batting average with a .305 mark. She is ranked No. 2 in the conference with 39 runs scored and 40 RBI. In conference play alone, Carpenter is batting at a .324 clip and is tied for first on the team with four home runs. Additionally, she ranks in the top-five in the MAC in three categories – runs scored, RBI and total bases. At Santana, Carpenter established school and East County records for doubles in a season.

Panthers slugger Jayme Jarvis (Chapman Univ. photo by David Rubene) Anything but a lemon Jarvis tabbed NCAA D-3 All-West Region Courtesy, Chapman Media Relations ORANGE (5-14-10) — Chapman University softball player JAYME JARVIS, a product of Steele Canyon High School, has been named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III All-West Region team.

A league of their own © East County Sports.com CLEVELAND, Tenn. (5-14-10) — "Playing with Fire," the slogan to market the Lee University athletic department, couldn't be any more appropriate for the Lady Flames women's fastpitch team. And the BALOUGH sisters of Santana High – junior infielder DANIELLE and sophomore pitcher BRITTY – are leading the way. Lee enters the week ranked second nationally in the NAIA with a school record-tying 55 victories in its stellar 55-4 record. Included is a mark of 30-2 for the championship in the Southern States Athletic Conference, then the school swept to the title in conference tournament with a 10-2 decision over Shorter College in the finale. With the crown, Lee gains the conference automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship, set for May 20-26 in Decatur, Ala.

© East County Sports.com
EAGLE ROCK (5-10-10) — Former Grossmont High standout ALYSSA ESCALANTE capped her career at Occidental College with her third All-Southern Californian Intercollegiate Athletic Conference team selection.

Escalante, a senior who split time between catcher and designated player, was voted by the coaches to the second team for the third time in her four seasons with the Tigers. She also landed berths following her freshman and sophomore seasons.

© East County Sports.com
HOUSTON (5-10-10) — West Hills High alum BRENNA SANDBERG tossed a 5-hit shutout, while Helix High product ALYSSA DRONENBURG batted 3-for-4 and scored three times, leading CSU San Marcos to a 9-0 pasting of Simon Fraser (B.C.) in the title game of the NAIA regional for independent ballclubs.

The victory, the first regional championship in school history, gives the 5th-ranked Cougars (38-14) an automatic berth to the NAIA National Championships, slated to open May 20 in Decatur, Ala.

But during his final year at Grossmont High School (1999), he honestly thought he had a future on the hardwood.

"I had a really good senior year in basketball - 23 points a game, six or eight assists a game, 86 three-pointers," he said. "But no recruiters."

To everybody but McCoy, the reason was obvious. Even his father had to call him on it.

"I was short," he said with a chuckle.

He still is. But that was less a barrier in the sport that gave him a long-term job and finally, at age 29, a spot on the opening-day roster of the Toronto Blue Jays.

© East County Sports.com
ABILENE, Texas (5-1-10) — Texas A&M-Kingsville senior centerfielder CLIFTON THOMAS (El Cajon Valley HS/Grossmont College) has been selected to the first team of the All-Lone Star Conference baseball team. The award was announced at Friday's (Apr. 30) banquet held prior to the start of this weekend's LSC baseball championship at Abilene Christian's Crutcher Scott Field.

Thomas has been the mainstay to the offensive production after putting together one of the most exceptional seasons in school history. Thomas batted .381 with 59 runs, 20 doubles, 9 triples, 9 home runs, a .690 slugging percentage and 26 stolen bases, all while playing outstanding defense. In fact, all but one Kingsville starter batted more than .300 this season (the lone exception batted .296).

Mats Mattson (UNO photo) Mattson produces landmark triumph UNO upsets defending national champ LSU © East County Sports.com BATON ROUGE, La. (4-30-10) — Following Tuesday's (Apr. 27) landmark victory, perhaps the University of New Orleans should re-think its proposal to the NCAA to drop to a non-scholarship Division III program in a few years. Backed by a strong relief pitching stint by Grossmont High product MATS MATTSON, the Privateers rallied with four runs over the final two innings to stun 15th-ranked and defending national champion LSU, 7-4, before a Tigers crowd of 10,584 at Alex Box Stadium. While Mattson shut down the Bayou Bengals, UNO senior Nick Schwaner belted his club-leading 15th home run in the 8th inning for the go-ahead runs to snap the ballclub's 9-game losing streak in one of biggest Division I upsets in the nation this season. Mattson struck out two Tigers in 1 1/3 innings of relief to garner the victory. Mattson, a junior left-hander, has been one of the few bright spots for the Privateers (11-29). Despite being a middle-reliever, Mattson now leads the pitching staff in victories (3), now owning a 7-2 overall record in his past two seasons with New Orleans . He is averaging nearly one strikeout per inning (30 Ks in 32.0 IP), while issuing just five walks.

Nick Spears Shain Stoner Ryan Brosnan (SNU photos) The Sooner Lumber Company © East County Sports.com PLAINVIEW, Texas (4-30-10) — In a career outing, former Grossmont College standout NICK SPEARS belted two home runs and knocked in six runs in a 4-for-5 performance, leading Southern Nazarene University to a 24-14 pasting of host Wayland Baptist in a Sooner Athletic Conference contest Tuesday (Apr. 27). The ballgame featured 11 homers, including seven by the Red Storm (30-13). Spears, who was named the conference top shortstop as a junior in 2009, continues stroking a hot bat. The senior is now averaging .425 this year. Meanwhile, Spears' pair of homers gives him 13 for the year, matching West Hills High alumni SHAIN STONER for the club lead. Stoner leads all Southern Nazarene batters with a .479 batting average, while is just one behind Spears for the RBI lead with 56. Also playing for SNU is RYAN BROSNAN (Santana), who is batting .285 after missing half of his freshman season at Grossmont College with a broken hand after hitting .321 for the Griffins.

Jessie Owens (PLNU photo) Owens lone frosh on All-GSAC team © East County Sports.com POINT LOMA (4-30-10) — JESSIE OWENS, a former All-East County player for Christian and Santana high schools, continues to shine for 6th-ranked Point Loma Nazarene University. Owens, who plays in the outfield for the Sea Lions (26-12), was the only freshman named to the All-Golden State Athletic Conference softball team. The listing of 18 players was voted on by GSAC coaches. Owens leads all PNLU batters with a .347 batting average – the 9th-best in GSAC – starting in every contest for the Sea Lions this season. The left-handed hitter (Owens is a righty when pitching) also leads the conference in stolen bases with 24, five more than second-standing AMANDA OMAHEN (Granite Hills), an Alpine resident who is the leading hitter (.326 average) for Vanguard University.

Brenna Sandberg (left/ctr), Alyssa Dronenberg CSU San Marcos makes huge jump © East County Sports.com HOUSTON (4-28-10) — Earning its highest national ranking of the season, the No. 7 Cal State San Marcos women's softball team earned the top-seed in next week's NAIA regional for independent ballclubs. The 6-team, double-elimination event will be hosted by 21st-ranked University of Houston-Victoria. The Coyotes (35-13) are led by pitcher BRENNA SANDBERG (West Hills) and power-hitter ALYSSA DRONENBURG (Helix). Sandberg owns a 33-10 record and a 1.30 ERA, with both totals listed among the NAIA national leaders. Among the junior right-hander's recent victories was a 7-4 verdict over top-ranked Cal Lutheran last Wednesday (Apr. 21) in Riverside. Dronenburg owns a club-best .440 batting average and an even more impressive .888 slugging percentage, placing her 10th in the nation. Nearly half of the sophomores hits go for extra bases, including 16 home runs, plus 48 RBI. One of her homers came in back-to-back fashion with teammate Ciera Ashman (Patrick Henry HS) in the win over Cal Baptist. The Coyotes earned a first-round bye in the regional, meeting the winner between Ohio Dominican and Brithish Columbia. on Thurs., May 6. The other half of the draw features 2nd-seed Simon Fraser (B.C.), plus LSU-Alexandria and host UHV. The event winner will gain an automatic berth to the NAIA Women's World Series, slated for May 20-26 in Decatur, Ala., although San Marcos seems a lock for an at-large berth.

© East County Sports.com
PROVO, Utah (4-26-10) — Former Steele Canyon High standout SAMANTHA BEASLEY struck out 11 BYU batters Friday (Apr. 23), lifting San Diego State to a 9-4 Mountain West Conference victory over the host Cougars.

With the effort, Beasley's career-long 9th consecutive victory, the junior set an Aztecs record for strikeouts in a single season with 277, two more than Christina Ross (2008). Beasley has now won 17 of her last 18 decisions for SDSU (27-11, 5-1 MWC).

© East County Sports.com
KEARNEY, Neb. (4-22-10) — Former Grossmont College student KENNY HILL, a 2009 grey-shirt football player who never actually played for the Griffins, still possessed plenty of videotape of his abilities to gain a scholarship with Neb.-Kearney, an NCAA Division II school.

The school was attractive since the Lopers graduated all four starters from their secondary. Now, following spring ball, Hill has been named the starting right-side cornerback for this coming season. The left side will be filled by Ryan Lendrum ( Carlsbad ).

Hill's career including two seasons at St. Augustine High, where he was one of the county's leading tacklers (111 stops, 47 solo) while gaining an all-Eastern League honorable mention berth, He also played two seasons of basketball with the Saints.

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound defender is majoring in broadcast communications (3.50 grade-point average). Hill's cousins are former Lincoln High standout and current Philadelphia Eagles running back Dewayne Wright and retired Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Tony Hill.

© East County Sports.com
BUFFALO, N.Y. (4-22-10) — One of the problems playing outdoor sports in the northeast is always the weather. So unlike their Southern California brethren, the University of Buffalo women's softball team didn't hold its home opener until Apr. 14. But it was memorable.

Former Helix High standout TERESE DIAZ established a school record with 16 strikeouts, throwing a no-hitter at St. Bonaventure in a 7-0 victory.

Ashley Lovelady

The 2009 Player of the Year in the Pacific Coast Conference, Lovelady again paced Northwestern's Rangers to a road doubleheader split with Rogers State (Okla.).

In game one, Lovelady batted 2-for-6 in an 11-inning loss, but bounced back in the second contest by going 2-for-4 with two runs and a pair of RBI in a 4-1 triumph. The big blow was a 2-run homer to left field in the 3rd inning, raising her season batting average to .440 with seven homers.

Eric Krause (WPU photo)

The Granite Hills High alum hurled eight scoreless frames for William Penn (Iowa) University last week, including a complete game six-hit, 7-inning shutout with nine strikeouts in beating Iowa Wesleyan.

Krause raised his season record to 7-1 while lowering his ERA to 2.45. The junior right-hander has 66 strikeouts in 56 innings for the Statesmen (22-13).

© East County Sports.com
OSKALOOSA, Iowa (4-17-10) — Former Granite Hills High-Southwestern College pitcher ERIC KRAUSE tossed two strong games to earn Midwest Collegiate Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Week laurels for the league-leading William Penn University Statesmen.

Krause picked up his first career league award as the NAIA Statesmen (20-12, 10-4 MCC) went 5-1 last week. The junior right-hander went 2-0 during his week of honor. He gave up just one run (earned) on nine hits in 13 2/3 innings while striking out 16 with only one walk. Opponents hit only .188 against him.

For the season, the Statesmen’s ace is 6-1 with a 2.81 ERA. His six wins and 57 strikeouts in 48 innings lead all MCC pitchers.

Clifton Thomas (TA&MK photo)

Thomas was named LSC Player of the Week for this effort.

© East County Sports.com
ADA, Okla. (4-19-10) – Former El Cajon Valley High-Grossmont College outfielder CLIFTON THOMAS hit for the cycle Friday (Apr. 16), leading Texas A&M-Kingsville to a 12-7 Lone Star Conference victory over East Central (Okla.).

Thomas singled in the 1st inning, led off the 5th with his seventh homer, began the 6th with his sixth triple and doubled in the 7th.

In the 7th, it looked like Thomas would not have a chance to hit for the cycle when the first two Hoggie batters made outs. Trent Wagner was then hit by a pitch to give Thomas a chance and the senior center fielder came through with a double to complete the cycle.

The Javelinas finished the game with 15 hits. Thomas went 4-for-5 with four runs and two RBI.

© East County Sports.com
CLEVELAND, Tenn. — The final season of Point Loma Nazarene University softball finds the Sea Lions ranked third nationally in the NAIA. Above them: defending national champion Cal Baptist as a unanimous No. 1 at the top rung of the rankings, followed by Lee University (Tenn.), which features several East County products.

The Lady Flames (36-3) are currently riding a 22-game winning streak, aided by starters DANIELLE and BRITTY BALOUGH of Santana High.

The Flames lead the Southern States Athletic Conference by 4.5 games following Tuesday's (Apr. 6) doubleheader road sweep at Brenau University (Gainesville, Ga.), raising their SSAC mark to 19-1.

© East County Sports.com
SAN MARCOS (3-30-10) — With an influx of players from San Diego County, both Cal State San Marcos and little Simpson College of Redding rank among the winningest NAIA teams in the west this season. The teams met in an important doubleheader with playoff implications on Monday (Mar. 29), heavily influenced by East County products.

Helix High alum ALYSSA DRONENBURG slugged a grand slam in the opener, while West Hills High product BRENNA SANDBERG struck out 14 over both contests, allowing just one earned run, as CSU San Marcos swept the twinbill, 8-1 and 2-1.

© East County Sports.com
SAN BRUNO (3-30-10) — Former Grossmont High standout AARON GRIFFIN shared this week's West Coast Conference pitcher of the week honor following one of the best pitching efforts of the season for Loyola Marymount.

Facing powerful Cal State Fullerton, Griffin , a freshman right-hander, tossed his first career complete game, leading the Lions past the Titans, 4-2. Griffin carried a shutout into the 9th, then hung on to defeat a team which owns three College World Series titles.

© East County Sports.com
KINGSVILLE, Texas (3-22-10) – In perhaps the biggest weekend of his collegiate career, former El Cajon Valley High and Grossmont College standout CLIFTON THOMAS batted a smooth .706 (12-for-17) to lead Texas A&M-Kingsville to a 3-1 series victory over Northeastern State (Okla.) at Nolan Ryan Field.

© East County Sports.com
MUNCIE, Ind. (3-20-10) — Former Santana High standout AMANDA CARPENTER is building a nice career at Ball State University.

The starting freshman outfielder for the Cardinals capped a big week by being named the Mid-America Conference player of the week for the period ending Mar. 14. It was the left-hander's first career citation for her playing during a two-week, spring break roadtrip to Clearwater, Fla.

© East County Sports.com
PHOENIX (3-17-10) — It took a lot longer than expected, but the new baseball program at Academy of Art University in San Francisco finally owns its first-ever baseball victory. And the winning pitcher hails from East County.

When the history of Urban Knights baseball is penned, it will be former Helix High standout ALEX ROSENTHAL who will be denoted as gaining the first win after AAU downed host Grand Canyon University, 5-4, in the second game of a Pacific West Conference (NCAA Division II) doubleheader held March 12 at Brazell Stadium.

Courtesy, SDSU Media Relations
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (3-12-10) — San Diego State junior SAMANTHA BEASLEY (Steele Canyon HS) has been named the Mountain West Conference Pitcher of the Week, the league announced Thursday (Mar. 11). It is the third weekly award for the righthander and the seventh of her career. MORE

The following week, Beasley topped former Helix High standout pitcher TERESE DIAZ, as the Aztecs (13-8) won their fifth straight victory after topping the University of Buffalo, 5-0, Wedesday (Mar. 10) at the SDSU Softball Stadium.

© East County Sports.com
NEWBERG, Ore. (3-5-10) — The University of Redlands women’s basketball team takes on No. 13 University of Puget Sound (Wash.) on Friday (Mar. 5) at George Fox University in the Bulldogs' first-ever NCAA appearance.

Sharing in that inaugural NCAA Division III playoff debut is former Grossmont High guard CHRISTINA RIOS, currently a sophomore backcourt point guard standout at Redlands.

© East County Sports.com
CHICO (2-24-10) — Sophomore RACHEL FAILLA, Chico State’s top slugger from a year ago, is already providing the Wildcats with plenty of middle-of-the-lineup production in 2010.

Failla batted .364 over the weekend, collecting a pair of extra base hits – including her first home run of the year – and drove in four runs in Chico State 's four-game series against Cal State Monterey Bay . For her efforts, Failla is the first Chico State softball player this spring to be honored as Wildcat of the Week.

© East County Sports.com
RIVERSIDE (2-21-10) — Former Helix High standout ALYSSA DRONENBURG will be listed among the leaders when the first set of NAIA national batting statistics are released shortly.

Entering Saturday's (Feb. 20) ballgame against top-ranked Cal Baptist at the Southern California Smash tournament, Dronenburg, the starting Cal State San Marcos first baseman, was batting an even .500 following a 2-for-2 outing earlier in the day against Holy Names.

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (2-20-10) – Addison Reed, the 2009 National Stopper of the Year, made his first collegiate start but took the loss as 22nd-ranked Oklahoma opened the NCAA baseball season by rallying past San Diego State, 7-4, Friday (Feb. 19) at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

Reed, a junior who was a consensus All-American, carried a 3-2 lead into the 5th inning, but allowed a pair of runs before getting lifted following a career-long stint of 4 1/3 innings.

© East County Sports.com
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (2-16-10) — San Diego State junior SAMANTHA BEASLEY (Steele Canyon HS) was named the pitcher of the week in the Mountain West Conference. It was her fifth career citation.

Beasley, a 2009 all-MWC performer, registered four of the Aztecs' five victories to open the season at the Kajikawa Classic last week, each against ballclubs receiving votes in both major national polls. Over 22 1/3 innings, she struck out 32 batters while posting a 0.31 earned-run average.

© East County Sports.com
KINGSVILLE, Texas (2-7-10) – Former El Cajon Valley High standout CLIFTON THOMAS opened his senior season at Texas A&M-Kingsville in record-setting fashion.

Thomas, the starting centerfielder, equaled a school record by stealing four bases in the season opener, lifting the Javelinas to a doubleheader sweep of University of Houston-Victoria, 8-2 and 10-0, on Friday (Feb. 5) at Nolan Ryan Field.

© East County Sports.com
SAN MARCOS (2-3-10) — Former Helix High standout ALYSSA DRONENBURG helped christen the new softball diamond at Cal State San Marcos by blasting a pair of home runs, powering the Cougars to a doubleheader sweep of Redlands on Saturday (Jan. 30).

CSUSM, behind Dronenburg's blasts, captured the opener, 6-1. Former West Hills standout BRENNA SANDBERG, a junior, then captured her second pitching victory of the day with a 4-3 decision in 8 innings in the debut of new Cougars coach Dave Williams, the former long-time skipper at Point Loma Nazarene.

© East County Sports.com
OMAHA (12-26-09) — In San Diego, football coaches select all-league and all-CIF divisional teams, while the media chooses regional (e.g., all-East County, all-North County) all-star squads, including the official All-San Diego Section teams.

The same process holds true across the nation, including Nebraska, where the Omaha World-Herald named the state's All-NAIA college team.

Two former East County standouts were honored.

Named to the World-Herald's first team were running back KHALID WATERS (Grossmont HS) and BRANDEN BROWN (Steele Canyon), a defensive back. The La Mesa residents are both sophomores for Midland Lutheran University.

© East County Sports.com
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (12-19-09) — With the deep passing game absent due to rainy conditions, former Monte Vista High standout BRANDYN HARVEY was anything but unhappy after going without a reception Friday (Dec. 18).

Instead, Villanova (14-1) went with short passes and the ground game to rally past top-seeded and undefeated Montana, 23-21, for its first NCAA Football Championship Subdivision title at Finley Stadium. MORE

Harvey, Nova advances to FCS finale

© East County Sports.com
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (12-16-09) — After winning a CIF championship at Monte Vista High in 2003, former Monarchs standout BRANDYN HARVEY will attempt to gain a collegiate crown on Friday (Dec. 17; 5 p.m. PT on ESPN2) at Finley Stadium.

Harvey, the starting wide receiver for Villanova, will play for the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) crown against No. 1 Montana. In the semifinals, Nova scored late to nip William & Mary, 14-13, while the Grizzlies eliminated Appalachian State, 24-17.

© East County Sports.com
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (12-15-09) — It's never too early for baseball, as the NAIA released its preseason rankings and the preseason All-America team – both with a distinctive East County flavor.

Former Grossmont College standout ROSS BLONDIN not only landed a first-team berth along with his Lubbock Christian teammate R.L. Eisenbach, the defending national champion Chapparels gained the No. 1 ranking in the 2010 NAIA Baseball Coaches’ Preseason Top 25 Poll.

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (12-12-09) – JERICA WILLIAMS, a three-time All-East County pick, and San Diego State junior guard, has decided to leave the SDSU women’s basketball team. A 2006 Mount Miguel graduate, Williams played in eight games as a reserve this season for the Aztecs, averaging 3.5 points per contest.

© East County Sports.com
HELENA, Mont. (12-8-09) — The last time former West Hills High quarterback PHILIP STABACK was involved in postseason play, it was a rather forgettable experience. Starting for Mesa College, the Olympians were shutout by Fullerton, 26-0, as Staback threw for just 166 yards and a pair of interceptions.

Vowing for such a debacle to never occur again, Staback is now within one game of capturing a national championship.

Now the starting quarterback for Lindenwood University of St. Charles, Mo., Staback threw for 374 yards and three touchdowns Saturday (Dec. 5) to lead the 3rd-ranked Lions past No. 2 Carroll College, 42-35, in the NAIA national semifinals.

The winning touchdown came with 49 seconds remaining when Staback capped an 88-yard drive with a 10-yard scoring pass to senior receiver Matt Bramow. The Lions offense finished with 568 total yards against the second-rated defense in the NAIA, as Staback, a criminal justice major, completed 25-of-35 passes.

Wes Davis What a Treat! Davis to Emerald Bowl © East County Sports.com SAN FRANCISCO (12-6-09) — Former Steele Canyon standout WES DAVIS and his Boston College Eagles were rewarded for a solid 8-4 season, gaining a berth in the Emerald Bowl. The Eagles will meet the USC Trojans (8-4) at AT&T Park on Sat., Dec. 26, with kickoff on ESPN set for 5 p.m. PT. Executive director Gary Cavalli extended the Emerald Bowl bid to each team today (Sun., Dec. 6).

Courtesy, Eastern Illinois University
CHARLESTON, Ill. (12-6-09) — A memorial service to honor the life of Eastern Illinois assistant football coach Jeff Hoover was held Saturday (Dec. 5) afternoon in the Grand Ball Room of the Martin Luther King Jr., Student Union on the EIU campus.

Hoover, 41, a 1986 graduate of Monte Vista High School, where he was a standout football player and wrestler, will also be honored with a a memorial service on Dec. 13 at Portland State University, where Hoover coached previously to joining the EIU staff.

Hoover lost his life in a tragic car accident when returning from the Panthers first round FCS playoff game in Carbondale, Ill. Hoover had just completed his third season as a member of the EIU coaching staff.

In 2009, as a senior at Cal Lutheran University, Toilolo feels fortunate to even having played in Saturday (Nov. 21) NCAA Division III playoffs. Never mind that the Kingsmen lost the game 38-17 to Linfield (Ore.) in McMinnville, Ore. Toilolo completed 18 of 34 passes for 155 yards in the defeat.

© East County Sports.com
FREMONT, Neb. (10-29-09) — Midland Lutheran College, a member of the NAIA Great Plains Athletic Conference, continues to play well with a quartet of East County products on its squad. However, the Warriors keep coming up just short against nationally ranked opponents.

For the third time this season, MLC held a lead against a Top 25 foe. But this latest time, a 21-6 halftime lead disappeared in a 38-27 setback to 5th-rated Morningside College.

© East County Sports.com
ARKADEPHIA, Ark. (9-29-09) — Before a packed home crowd, No. 21 ranked Ouachita Baptist turned in the most impressive victory in school history on Saturday (Sept. 26), with a 38-14 win over No. 9 Delta State.

The triumph raised the Tigers' record to 4-0, with JEREMY YOUNG, a senior standout out of El Cajon Valley High, at center stage.

Young put together another stellar night receiving with 151 yards on 12 catches. Young also added three rushes for 39 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown run. He totaled 240 yards of all-purpose yardage on the night.

In his last two games, Young, the NCAA Division II Player of the Week, has reeled in 24 passes for 412 yards in his last two games.

© East County Sports.com
STANFORD (9-25-09) — It seems almost yesterday when Monte Vista High graduate CLINTON SNYDER was involved in his final athletic event which was a basketball playoff game at University City.

The University City crowd was raucous to say the least, holding up placards bearing Snyder’s face and continually hollering at him. Although he was angry, Snyder kept his emotions hidden.

Now the Cardinal defensive leader, Snyder, a 6-foot-4, 240-pounder, has a fumble recovery and made 21 tackles – 15 solo – in the three games.

© East County Sports.com
DENVER (9-22-09) — Former Grossmont High and USD infielder MIKE McCOY has been promoted to the Colorado Rockies for their stretch run for a wild card berth in the National League playoffs.

© East County Sports.com
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. (9-22-09) — After setting a school record 261 yards on 13 pass receptions on Saturday (Sept. 19), Ouachita Baptist University senior wide receiver JEREMY YOUNG was named the Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Week.

Courtesy, Poinsettia Bowl committee
SAN DIEGO (9-15-09) — San Diego County Credit Union has extended its title sponsorship of the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, 2009 Bowl President Barbara Warden announced today. The extension is for sponsorship through the 2010 contest, with options for 2011 and 2012. Financial terms were not disclosed. San Diego County Credit Union served as title sponsor since the game’s inception in 2005.

© East County Sports.com
PHILADELPHIA (9-2-09) — Two East County graduates will be in Villanova University’s starting lineup Thursday (Sept. 3) when the Wildcats tangle with Temple University in the inaugural Philadelphia Mayor’s Cup Game at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles.

© East County Sports.com
LA MESA (8-31-09) — Cal State Fullerton baseball coach Dave Serrano caught Helix High alum ZACH TANIDA by surprise when he called Highlanders’ baseball coach COLE HOLLAND and offered the catcher out of San Diego Mesa College a chance to catch for one of the nation’s top college programs.

© East County Sports.com
EL CAJON (8-9-09) — Former East County standouts JOSH MAZZOLA, SHANE KAUFMAN, LANCE JANKE and JOHNNIE LOWE, all 2006 graduates of the Grossmont College baseball team, are currently making a strong showing at the minor league level.

© East County Sports.com
ANAHEIM (7-17-09) — SEAN O’SULLIVAN, is ticketed to return to the active roster for the Los Angeles Angels on Monday, July 20, when he is slated to start on the road against the Kansas City Royals at Kaufman Stadium.

© East County Sports.com
SAN DIEGO (7-15-09) — San Diego State's STEPHEN STRASBURG has been named recipient of the 2009 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award as the top collegiate player in the nation, USA Baseball announced Tuesday (July 14).

The award caps off a college season that saw the Aztec right-hander win numerous major awards as the top hurler in the NCAA Division I ranks. Strasburg, a product of West Hills High, becomes the second SDSU player to capture the Golden Spikes trophy after former Aztecs first baseman Travis Lee received the award in 1996.

© East County Sports.com
ATLANTA (7-14-09) — Former Monte Vista High graduate BROOKS CONRAD has spent the majority of his professional baseball career toiling in the minor leagues.

Oh sure, he had a brief stint – 19 at-bats – with the Oakland ’s A’s during the 2008 season. But then, a .158 batting average is obviously not a high enough caliber to keep one in the big leagues.

The A’s gave Conrad his release following last season and the Atlanta Braves signed him as a free agent on Nov. 18, 2008.

Atlanta manager Bobby Cox sees a positive upside for the switch-hitting Conrad, whose primary position is second base.

“Fans will love this kid," Cox told MLB.com. “He's all-out all the time. He's one of those gritty old-timers. He's not old, don't get me wrong, but he plays like the old-timers."

The 29-year-old Conrad was batting an unspectacular .259 (67-for-259) with 9 home runs and 38 RBI at Triple-A Gwinnett, Ga. Yet, Cox had a feeling Conrad was ready to have a breakout year. The first step of that opportunity came earlier this month when Conrad was called up to the major league club.

The veteran skipper wasted little time putting Conrad in the hot seat, dispatching him as a pinch hitter. And Conrad responded with a three-run home run that gave Atlanta a 9-8 nod over the Nationals in Washington.

© East County Sports.com
ANAHEIM (7-3-09) — SEAN O’SULLIVAN was staring at three possibilities this weekend. He could remain one of the Los Angeles Angels’ five starting pitchers or be shuttled to the bullpen for the first time in his brief professional baseball career.

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SAN DIEGO (7-1-09) – Two more graduates of coach ROB SANDOVAL’s highly successful Mount Miguel High girls basketball program have bounced into the NCAA Division I level after two sparkling seasons at the junior college level.

PRECIOUS ROBINSON, a 6-foot National Junior College Athletic Association All-American out of Central Arizona JC, has accepted a basketball scholarship to Big 12 power Oklahoma State University. Robinson will get a quick start to the 2009-10 season, as the Cowgirls were one of 16 teams to play in the women's preseason NIT.

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TACOMA, Wash. (6-27-09) — It was pregame warm-ups as usual for KYLE PHILLIPS, the leading hitter for the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s of the Pacific Coast League Friday night (June 26) in Tacoma.

That is, until pitching coach Andy LaRoche hollered to Phillips that Las Vegas manager Mike Basso wanted to see him.

“Since I hadn’t played for eight days I thought it could be one of two things – either I was going home or being dropped to Double-A,” said the 25-year-old El Capitan High graduate.

He was wrong on both accounts. Basso informed Phillips that he’d been called up to the major leagues by the Toronto Blue Jays. He was ticketed for a “red-eye” flight that would allow him to get to the Rogers Centre in the Canadian city in time for Saturday’s (June 27) game against the visiting American League champion Tampa Bay Rays at 10 a.m. (PT).

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SAN FRANCISCO (6-16-09, 9:59 p.m.) — Rancho San Diego's SEAN O'SULLIVAN will be hard-pressed to select what he liked best about his dream debut in the majors Tuesday (June 16) at AT&T Park.

The 21-year old right-hander out of Valhalla High and Grossmont College allowed just five hits over seven solid innings to collect the victory in his MLB debut. The former East County high school batting champion also registered a basehit, leading the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to an 8-1 spanking of the San Francisco Giants.

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SAN FRANCISCO (UPDATED 6-15-09, 7:50 p.m.) — The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim announced that Ervin Santana will not make his scheduled start Tuesday (June 16) against the San Francisco Giants due to elbow problems, calling up former Valhalla High and Grossmont College standout SEAN O'SULLIVAN for his Major League debut at AT&T Park.

O'Sullivan is slated to be added to the 25-man roster by Angels management prior to the contest. However, O'Sullivan (5-2 with Class AAA Salt Lake City) knew something was up as recently as Sunday.

"Once in a while, the pitchers get to take batting practice if there is time, but Sean was told to take BP prior to Sunday's day game at Reno," said PAUL O'SULLIVAN, his father. "That was his first indication something might be happening."

The Bees flew home to Salt Lake City, but O'Sullivan's stay was brief.

"When they arrived at the clubhouse to unpack, the Bees' manager told him not to."

Instead, O'Sullivan was whisked to the airport for a 90-minute flight to San Francisco to join the Angels for an interleague series.

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LUBBOCK, Texas (6-13-09) — Former San Diego State and West Hills High pitcher STEPHEN STRASBURG has been named the inaugural recipient of the College Baseball Foundation's national Pitcher of the Year Award. MORE-1

Concurrenrly, Aztecs relief pitcher ADDISON REED is the 2009 recipient of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's Stopper of the Year Award, which the NCBWA announced Saturday (June 13) in Omaha on the opening day of the College World Series. MORE-2

Joining Reed as national finalists also included Kyle Bellamy of Miami (Fla.), Jake Hale of Ohio State, Matty Ott of LSU and Eric Pettis of UC Irvine. All five relief aces helped their respective teams advance to the 64-team field of the 2009 NCAA Baseball Tournament.

In addition, Strasburg was named along with North Carolina first baseman Dustin Ackley, Arizona State pitcher Mike Leake as finalists for the 23rd annual Dick Howser Trophy, emblematic of the NCBWA player of the year. MORE-3

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (6-10-09) — Lee University second baseman DANIELLE BALOUGH (Santana HS) has been selected to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region team for the 2009 season.

Balough, a sophomore, hit .405 for the NAIA 16th-ranked Lady Flames this past year, socking three home runs and 16 doubles. She also scored 31 times and recorded 48 RBI, earning an All-Southern States Athletic Conference berth to lift Lee (39-14 overall) to a second-place finish in the SSAC Tournament.

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ORANGE (06-09-09) — Chapman University senior and Grossmont High graduate TRISTAN PHILLIPS has been named to the All-West Region Division III baseball team, as selected by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA).

A second team pick, Phillips batted .416 with a team-high 64 RBI and added eight home runs and 17 doubles. Phillips' RBI total is the most by a Chapman player since 1999.

Meanwhile, Blondin helped Lubbock Christian (Texas) to the NAIA national championship.