The Sunnyvale Sun

Sports

Sunnyvale athletes win all-league honors

By MIKE BARNHART

There was nothing easy for boys volleyball teams going up against Homestead's squad this past spring. The most obvious challenge was getting hits through the Mustangs' mountainous middle blockers, 6-foot-9 senior Sam Kridl and 6-foot-7 junior Ryan Dedrick. Another issue for Homestead opponents, though, was dealing with the passing and digging skills of junior setter Ryan Bridge.

They were tests that no Santa Clara Valley Athletic League team mastered, as Homestead racked up 14 straight wins without a loss en route to the league championship. The league's coaches acknowledged those facts, while putting together the 2006 all-SCVAL team recently. They honored Bridge as the Most Valuable Player for his all-around play and leadership ability and recognized Kridl and Dedrick among the league's top eight players.

Setter Eric Rowell and middle blocker Frank Fritsch, who helped Los Gatos win the Central Coast Section championship after finishing second to Homestead in league play, were first team selections. Senior outside hitter Gil Perez (Fremont), sophomore opposite hitter Mike Vetrone (Saratoga) and junior outside hitter Lev Girshfeld (Mountain View) also were picked to the first team.

One player from each of the league's eight teams were named to the second team. Defensive specialist Dan Langholff of Los Gatos and outside hitter Mark Pariaszevski of Fremont were the lone seniors in the group. Joining them were sophomore setter Nick McConnell of Saratoga and five juniors: outside hitter Weston Buckner of Homestead, opposite hitter Dennis Chen of Lynbrook, libero Elliot Wang of Mountain View, setter Mitch Bonander of Santa Clara and middle blocker Max Dickson of Wilcox.

Baseball

Three Homestead baseball players and two Fremont standouts were among 15 players named to the all-SCVAL El Camino Division first team. Senior Derek Hargis, junior Eric Taubman and sophomore Evan Marshall of Homestead were tabbed to the first team, along with Fremont seniors Nate Cathcart and Kevin Brahney. Among other first team selections were seniors Adam Khan (Lynbrook) and Scott Newberry (Saratoga) and freshman Chad Estes (Monta Vista).

Second team picks included Homestead seniors Nacho Bermudez and Mike Lawler, Monta Vista senior Nick Burrow, Jeff Roberts and Bo Nielsen of Saratoga and Lynbrook junior Amuro Yamamura. The honorable mention list included Homestead juniors Brian Labadie and Alex Jones and Lynbrook senior Mike Reid.

Softball

Two Homestead softball players, senior catcher Jessica Allemandi (.431 batting average) and junior third baseman Lauren Gniadek (.301), earned all-SCVAL De Anza Division first team status. Four other Mustangs received all-De Anza recognition. Senior pitcher Melanie Gularte (0.93 earned run average) and senior first baseman Courtney Gosnell (.304) were picked to the second team, while sophomore infielder Genevieve Fernandez and senior outfielder Rachel Nishimoto were honorable mention picks.

Seven Fremont players received post-season honors from El Camino Division coaches. Sophomore shortstop Samantha Jennings, junior third baseman Jessica Emerson and junior first baseman Samantha Ellis all earned first team recognition, while junior outfielder Nicole Gil won second team laurels. Two pitchers, junior Teresa Lopez and sophomore Candi Latini, along with junior second baseman Amy Wanninger, made the honorable mention list.