The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper

Photograph by Robert Scheer

Fremont's Gabe Duran reaches high for a throw in a tournament game against Palma earlier this year. The Firebirds were in action against Cupertino and Palo Alto last week and split the league games.

Firebirds, Mustangs in CCS

Volleyball playoffs under way this week

By Dick Sparrer

The Fremont boys' volleyball team lost one championship last week--but now the Firebirds are going for another.

The 'Birds easily whipped Leland and Gunderson to complete an outstanding season in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League, but they finished two matches behind unbeaten Los Gatos in the final league standings. Gatos posted a 14-0 record to win the title, with Fremont a close second at 12-2.

But the Firebirds will chase another crown when they open play in the Central Coast Section playoffs this week. Fremont boasts a 21-8 season record and is the No. 5 seed in the tourney. The Firebirds will open the playoffs on the road against No. 12 Redwood Christian (14-6) on May 14, 7 p.m.

Los Gatos enters the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in CCS. The Cats are 33-1 for the year and host Valley Christian of Dublin (18-3) in a first-round match on Thursday.

Bellarmine sports a 21-0 season record and is the No. 2 seed in the tourney. The Bells are home against San Lorenzo Valley (13-14) in first-round action on Thursday.

In some other first-round matches No. 9 Del Mar (11-9) visits No. 8 Harbor (18-7), No. 13 Valley Christian of San Jose (18-14) travels to No. 4 Monterey (32-3), No. 6 Gilroy (21-5) is on the road to face No. 11 Saratoga (17-4), No. 10 Mt. Madonna (9-4) goes to No. 7 Serra (19-10), and No. 14 Hollister (23-10) heads to No. 3 Homestead (26-7).

Fremont wrapped up the regular season with easy wins over Leland and Gunderson last week. The Firebirds turned back the Chargers 15-8, 15-7, 15-3, then crushed the Grizzlies 15-4, 15-5, 9-15, 15-5.

Homestead made it to the finals of the West Catholic Athletic League finals before losing to the Bells.

The Mustangs opened the playoffs with a 15-5, 15-13, 18-16 win over Sacred Heart Cathedral, then beat Serra 12-15, 15-10, 15-10, 15-10. Homestead lost the title match to Bellarmine 15-12, 15-7, 16-14.

'Birds, Mustangs split

Both the Fremont and Homestead baseball teams split in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League last week.

Fremont edged Cupertino 3-1 before falling 4-1 to Palo Alto. The Firebirds are now 9-7 in the division and 12-13 for the year.

Jason Placencia was the winning pitcher, pushing his record to 3-0, and Ray Loya came on to get the save in the tight 3-1 win over the Pioneers.

Chris Hoff singled and doubled and Petey Hernandez had two hits to lead a six-hit attack for the Firebirds. Warren Rick ripped a double and Johnny Tona drove in two runs.

Homestead opened the week with a 4-1 loss to first-place Wilcox, but the Mustangs came back to beat Cupertino 6-4. Tony Plant nailed the mound win, improving his record to 4-5, and James Park picked up the save.

Adam Milliken was swinging the hot bat for the Mustangs with a homer and two doubles in the win. Manny Rosario also homered for Homestead.

Robbie Garcia slapped a pair of hits to drive in two runs in the win and Aaron Hall also knocked in a couple of runs.

Homestead is now 6-9 in division play and 7-12-1 for the year.

The King's Academy, meanwhile, slipped to 5-2 in the Christian Private Schools League after dropping a 3-2 nod to Saint Lawrence Academy.

Lady Birds win two

The Fremont girls' softball team pulled out a pair of thrilling wins in the El Camino Division of the SCVAL. The Lady Birds are now 9-2 in the division and 15-8 for the year.

Shiela Hess recorded back-to-back pitching wins for Fremont, tossing a two-hitter in an 8-1 win over Lynbrook and a five-hit shutout in a 1-0 win over Santa Clara.

Hess struck out six and walked just two in her gem against the Bruins. Christine Andrade and Samantha Hess each doubled in the win.

Sh. Hess had a couple of hits to drive in two runs to help her own cause in the 2-1 win over Lynbrook earlier in the week.

Andrade tripled twice for the Firebirds and Robin Glass had two hits. Courtney Cantor tripled home a pair of runs.

Homestead claimed its first win of the league season last week with an 8-6 victory over Cupertino in the De Anza Division of the SCVAL.

Leann Cook ripped a three-run home run and Julie Speckels ripped a two-run homer to lead the Mustangs past the Pioneers.

Natalie Corral ripped three hits and was also the winning pitcher for Homestead in the game. Corral tossed a five-hitter to get the win and push her season mound record to 5-8.

Jennifer Henniger singled and tripled and Kelly Hereld and Erin Skitt added two hits apiece. Shawnti Bortoli tripled in the win.

Earlier in the week, Bortoli singled and doubled, but Homestead lost a 7-2 decision to Wilcox.

In other local action, Janna Schroy had a big day in leading the King's Academy to a 16-0 win over Saint Lawrence in the Christian Private Schools League.

Schroy blasted a grand slam, and she also teamed with Cecily Gordon to flip a five-inning perfect game for the Knights. Schroy finished the day with three hits and drove in five runs.

Rebakah Atwell doubled and singled twice to drive in three runs, and Heather Garrell knocked in two runs with three hits. Michelle Smith doubled and singled twice and Kirsten Cosrstorphine had three hits.

Megan Blind, Adrienne Cole, Jessica Fleming and Jessi Salute added two hits each and Kathryn Neufeld doubled.

The Knights are now 7-0 in the division and 18-3 for the year.

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, May 13, 1998.
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