McDonald, in his first year as varsity coach at The King's Academy, learned plenty last Friday night when Suiter crafted a no-hit, no-run game against the Knights' usually potent offense in first-round play of the Central Coast Section Division III baseball tournament.

While only two Knights reached base all night, Menlo put together enough offense against King's ace Jason Linn to win 3-0 at Washington Park in Santa Clara. Menlo, also nicknamed the Knights, moved on to the semifinal round, while TKA played its last game of a successful 17-5 season.

Interestingly, Menlo also ousted King's from the 2004 Division III tourney.

Suiter stymied King's, getting 14 of the 21 outs on strikeouts. Only junior catcher Tim Svozil (hit by pitch) and sophomore infielder Bryan McDonald (walk) made it to first base.

Meanwhile, Menlo used four singles, two doubles and two walks against Linn to create single runs in the first, second and sixth innings.

Linn, who finished his senior season with a 9-2 record and an earned run average of 1.23, learned earlier in the week that he had been named to the All-Private Schools Athletic League first team for the second season in a row.

Two juniors--shortstop Tim Biederman (.431, 31 hits, 35 RBI) and Svozil (.492, 30 hits, 26 RBI, 12 stolen bases)--also were tabbed to the first team. Sophomore centerfielder Evan Chaney (.361, 13 stolen bases) and junior first baseman Danny Clarkson (.304, 16 RBI) gained second team honors and senior outfielder David Norris (.304, 24 runs) received honorable mention.

Tough loss for Homestead

Although losing a CCS semifinal volleyball match to eventual champion Bellarmine was a disappointment, Homestead's season was anything but disappointing.

The Mustangs achieved two team goals by capturing a share of the SCVAL championship and winning more than one match in the CCS tournament. After receiving the No. 1 seed in the 16-team tournament, they scored CCS victories over The King's Academy and St. Francis.

Homestead finished the season with a 24-6 record, including an 11-1 league mark. Unfortunately, the final loss occurred in a CCS semifinals May 17 at Santa Clara High.

Homestead came out strong in the semifinal match, nearly knocking off Bellarmine in the first game before bowing 26-24. The Bells won the second game 25-21, and closed with a 25-19 triumph in the third game.

Homestead began the tourney with a 25-9, 25-21, 25-21 victory over The King's Academy. The Mustangs followed that with three-game sweep of St. Francis in the quarterfinals, 25-23, 25-22, 25-19.

With four members of the starting line-up returning next spring, the future looks bright for Matt Hoffman's Mustangs. Although seniors Jake Rosener and Scott Baird will be missed, middle blockers Sam Kridl and Ryan Dedrick, setter Ryan Bridge and outside hitter Weston Buckner will be back.

Tsai, Bushnell in finals

Homestead junior William Tsai and Fremont senior Kelly Bushnell both qualified in the two throwing events for the CCS track and field finals May 27 at Los Gatos High School.

Tsai's discus throw of 151-6 earned third place, while his heave in the shot put (47-6) was seventh at the CCS semi-finals, held May 21 at San José City College.

The top eight finishers of each event (top 12 in 1,600 and 3,200 races) advance to Friday's finals. A scheduling conflict forced a venue change from San José City, the traditional host of the event. Field events begin at 4 p.m. and running events at 6 p.m.

Bushnell earned the opportunity to defend her section discus title when she placed second at the trials with a personal season best of 123-8, nearly seven feet shy of last year's winning mark. In the 2004 finals, Bushnell's final throw sailed 130-7 and proved to be the winner.

Bushnell also will compete in the shot put, as she gained the eighth and final spot in the finals with a season-best heave of 36-5.5.

Senior Andrew Gabany of The King's Academy advanced in the boys high jump final by clearing 6-2.

Mustangs fall in eight

Homestead's softball team took Live Oak of Morgan Hill eight innings, but lost 2-1 in the first round of the CCS Division I softball tournament on May 18 in Salinas.

The Mustangs, who had moved up to the De Anza Division after winning the El Camino Division in 2004, were hampered by injuries early in the season. But they closed the regular season on a five-game winning streak and entered the CCS tourney with a 13-13 record against a very tough schedule. In fact, 15 of the Mustangs' 26 games were against opponents that played in CCS tournaments this season.

Homestead will lose five seniors from their current squad--shortstop Tegra Lillie, centerfielder Stephanie Kruckenberg, Mandi Schneider, Melissa Gavron and Steffi Holtzapple.

Playing in the Division III tourney, The King's Academy beat Santa Catalina 5-3 in the first round before losing 10-0 to Notre Dame of Salinas in a quarterfinal game. Emily Henderson had three hits against Santa Catalina, including one in a decisive four-run sixth inning. Rebecca Schulenberg was the winning pitcher.

The Knights finished the season 17-10.