Sportstars
Evening the Field
   Fans of Northern California prep football better start getting used to the term “competitive equity” as it relates to the playoffs in the Sac-Joaquin Section, North Coast Section and Central Coast Section.    To be precise, competitive equity is simply a different method used to determine which playoff... Read more
Mascot Makeovers
   Now that Calaveras-San Andreas plus three other California high schools will have to switch from Redskins as their nickname, it’s only obvious to assume that more schools with Indian-themed nicknames may choose to switch as well.    Calaveras is not the only CIF Sac-Joaquin Section school that falls... Read more
NFL has NorCal flavor
   Everyone talks about a graduating class from high school and key athletes moving on into college, but it’s always fun to check out those who’ve earned jobs as rookies in the NFL after playing in college.    There’s a strong group of those players this year from Northern... Read more
De La Salle will be just fine
State Of Play: Mark Tennis    There was a lot of message board and twitter debate about the strength of that Trinity (Euless, Texas) team that De La Salle-Concord lost to 26-21 on Aug. 29 in Mansfield, Texas.     Some don’t think the Trojans are one of the top five... Read more
Method To Rankings Madness
State of Play: Mark Tennis (California Football Preseason TOP 20 follows below)    Preseason prep football coverage tends to be dominated by rankings of the top teams, but looking at players has always been important as well.    Key factors one always looks at for teams includes returning starters, what happened... Read more
Slide On Over
While compiling the all-time football scores archive earlier this month for Justin-Siena High of Napa, it was fascinating to see what happened after the school jumped from the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section to the CIF North Coast Section. According to football head coach Rich Cotruvo, who has been at the... Read more
Softball’s Super 7
  By MARK TENNIS | Cal-Hi Sports   In last issue’s column for SportStars, we reflected back on the top teams in CIF North Coast Section history in baseball due to this year’s team at College Park of Pleasant Hill ending at No. 1 overall in the state.  ... Read more
Park’s Place
With its 26-4 final record, including a win over Central Coast Section Open Division champ St. Francis-Mountain View plus an avenging win over De La Salle in the North Coast Section Division I championship, it ended up not being too hard to elevate College Park to the final No.... Read more
600 & Counting
California has another softball coach who has reached the 600-win total after Teri Johnson from James Logan-Union City won her 600th with her team’s 10-0 triumph over American-Fremont on Tuesday, May 19. Johnson, who is in her 30th season, became the 12th softball coach in state history to achieve... Read more
Storybook Finish
   In some sports, such as track and field, it’s much easier for great California high school athletes to end their careers with a magical moment.    It’s the final race, final jump, final relay leg and they do what they usually do. Win, collect a medal, wave to... Read more
Amazin’ Mack: McClymonds’ 32-0 mark remains pinnacle of state’s stellar 2007-08 season
State of Play: Mark Tennis    Some seasons we cover are like fine wines and only get better with age. Take the 2007-08 California boys basketball season, for example.    In the next-to-last game of that season, which was the CIF Division III state championship, future Golden State Warrior Klay... Read more
State of Play By Mark Tennis    It won’t be known until early July who will be the 2013-14 State Athlete of the Year, but for someone who put in the effort to excel in three different sports, a special tip of the hat should go to Miramonte’s Drew... Read more