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Firebirds defeated in NorCal semifinals
Basketball players now turn to baseball
By Dick Sparrer
It had to be something of a bittersweet weekend for Fremont senior Troy Tulowitzki.
On the one hand, the star of the Fremont baseball team could finally focus his attention on the diamond with the Firebirds already a week into the season in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.
But on the other hand, the beginning of one season for Tulowitzki had to coincide with the end of another--the 2001-02 high school basketball campaign.
And that season came to an abrupt end last Saturday night when the Firebirds lost a 44-37 decision to Rio Americano in the semifinal round of the Northern California Division II playoffs in Sacramento.
But what a season it was for Fremont. The Firebirds posted a 44-37 season record that included three wins in the Central Coast Section Division II tournament and a trip to the finals against St. Francis, and another win at NorCal and a trip to the semi's against Rio Americano.
The year ended last Saturday night in Sacramento, though, when the Firebirds lost by seven to the Raiders. Rio Americano will now go on to meet St. Francis for the NorCal title while Tulowitzki and the rest of the Firebirds will go on to their spring sports.
Still, the 'Birds gave it a good run.
Tulowitzki pumped in 31 points to lead Fremont to an impressive 52-47 win over Northgate (27-3) in the first round of the NorCal tourney.
The senior guard had four three-pointers among his eight field goals and he added 11 points at the free-throw line.
Fremont was down 8-4 after a quarter, but outscored Northgate 18-11 in the second period to take a slim 22-19 lead at intermission. The Broncos cut the lead to two by the third of the third, but the Firebirds topped their hosts 20-17 in the final quarter to pull out the five-point win.
Junior guard Jesse Enchill joined Tulowitzki in double digits with 10 points, including a three, and senior center Matt Phelps added eight points. Tyler Duran hit two points and Jacob Esau had one.
The win pushed the Firebirds in the semi's against Rio Americano, and Fremont fell behind early.
The Raiders were up 11-6 after a quarter and 22-10 at the half. Fremont battled back to cut the 12-point lead by a point in the third and by four more in the fourth, but the Firebirds could get no closer.
Esau wrapped up his career with a 13-point night to lead all Fremont scorers. Enchill added nine, Tulowitzki seven, Phelps five, Duran two and Travis Harris one.
Rounding out the 2001-02 Fremont squad, coached by Miguel Castillo, were Leonard Wells, Scott Brown, Paul Russell, Scott Boardman, Ryan Boardman, Donnell Forks, Brett Bonetti and Nick Arnold.
Baseball team falls
Brian Diatte certainly wasn't wishing the Fremont basketball any ill will, but he couldn't have been too disappointed to see the Firebirds lose on Saturday night--after all, no less than half dozen of his baseball players are also basketball players.
The best of the bunch is Tulowitzki, who returns to the diamond for his fourth season as a Fremont starter. A returning all-leaguer, Tulowitzki is the Fremont pitching ace and hitting star, who plays shortstop when he's not on the mound.
Tulowitzki was the most valuable player in the division last spring and won a second-team spot on the all-CCS team.
But he's just one of six Firebirds who will join the baseball team this week now that the basketball season is over.
Duran, a junior second baseman who will also pitch for Fremont, and Bonetti, a junior right fielder, are each returning starters for the Firebirds.
Russell and the Boardman brothers are all juniors expected to make big contributions to the varsity this spring.
Of course, all of the Fremont baseball players haven't been on the basketball court.
Seniors Kyle Severns, Vince Klumper, Delaney Duran, Javier Eredia and Brandon Tikalsky are all top-notch varsity returners for coach Diatte's crew, along with junior Kris Dunwoody.
Severns, a senior first sacker, and Klumper, a senior pitcher and utility player, are each returning all-leaguers for Fremont.
Durgin returns to left field and Eredia to right for the Firebirds. Tikalsky plays first base and Dunwoody plays the outfield, but both will also see mound action for the 'Birds.
Along with Russell and the Boardman brothers, other top prospects this spring include seniors Esteban Carbajal and Gilbert Aragon and juniors Jack Chapman, Ernie Vargas, Matt Martinez and Daniel Murrell.
Fremont went 17-1 to win the championship in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League last season, and the Firebirds were 21-10 for the year. Diatte is looking for his club to finish in the top four this season in the De Anza Division, and he figures Wilcox and Gunn to be the title favorites.
Unfortunately for the Firebirds, they ran into one of those favorites last week while their basketball players were still on the court. Fremont lost 9-2 to Wilcox in the league opener for each club. Chapman had two hits in the game for Fremont.
The Firebirds evened their league record at 1-1 with an 11-9 win over Cupertino on Friday. Durgin had three hits and Carbajal knocked in three runs to lead Fremont to the win.
Severns was the winning pitcher for Fremont and Eredia came on to pick up the save.
Fremont gets a break in the schedule this week. The Firebirds aren't back on the diamond until Friday, when they host Gunn at 3:30 p.m., which means the basketball players will have a full week of practice before playing a game.
In other action last week, Fremont dropped a 3-2 non-league decision to Westmont. Dunwoody had two hits for the Firebirds and Chapman doubled.
Mustangs split
The Homestead baseball team opened the El Camino Division season with a split, beating Los Altos 8-7 before losing 10-9 to Santa Clara.
Brian Maihack, Bryan Beres and Brian McGee each homered to lead the Mustangs to the tight one-run win over the Eagles.
McGee singled, doubled and homered to drive in three runs for Homestead in the win. Beres finished with two hits and Matt Whiteman and Brandon Dougherty each doubled.
The Mustangs fell behind 4-0 in the first but battled back to take a 7-4 lead. Los Altos tied it in the fourth, but Homestead broke the tie, scoring the game-winning run in the sixth.
Homestead couldn't come up with the tying run two days later, though, and lost 10-9 to Santa Clara.
The Bruins led 3-0 after an inning, but Homestead rallied to take a 5-4 lead after three. Santa Clara upped its lead to 10-6 heading into the last of the seventh before the Mustangs rallied for three, only to come up a run short.
Beres and McGee homered in this one for the Mustangs. Beres doubled and homered to drive in three runs and McGee singled and homered to knock in three.
Dougherty doubled and singled twice to drive in three runs for Homestead in the loss.
Reminder to coaches
Athletic directors were recently sent packets to distribute to spring sports coaches. In the packets were questionnaires for coaches to complete, along with letters requesting information, rosters and schedules for the upcoming 2002 season.
Coaches are encouraged to return the information to the newspaper as soon as possible so that we can begin coverage of the spring season. Call Dick Sparrer at 408.354-3110, ext. 31.
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Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
