By JIM McCUE | SportStars   By high school, some ballplayers have accepted the fact their Major League dreams from childhood will never become reality.  But, given the chance, each and every high school player would relish the opportunity to experience the neatly-manicured grass, monstrous video board, booming public... Read more

If there was a flashpoint to the 2011 Amador Valley softball season that concluded with the program’s first North Coast Section title, it came in the Livermore Stampede tournament in early April.  The Dons were 9-0 after beating Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills in their tournament opener, and then a... Read more

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SCOUT IT OUT LOUD Northern California is one of the most plentiful regions for producing professional baseball players. Take a look at the big league rosters and you will find all-star caliber players such as Dustin Pedroia (Woodland), Jimmy Rollins (Alameda), and CC Sabathia (Vallejo) and of course many... Read more

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SOFTBALL PRESEASON TOP 20   NorCal rankings only. Records are from 2011   1. Archbishop Mitty-San Jose (28-3) Power, speed and pitching are all present for a Monarchs team which began the year as the state’s No. 1 team.   2. Sheldon-Sacramento (27-6) Huskies lose power-bat Danielle Henderson, but... Read more

BASEBALL PRESEASON TOP 20   NorCal rankings only. Records are from 2011   1. Jesuit-Carmichael (25-6) If your ace is committed to Stanford and your SS to Oregon State, good things are happening.   2. St. Mary’s-Stockton (22-9) Switch-hitting star Gio Brusa leads the way for a Rams squad... Read more

NorCal Baseball Top 15 Final rankings    1. St. Francis-Mountain View 25-6 2. Palo Alto         28-9 3. Archbishop Mitty-San Jose 26-6-1 4. St. Mary’s-Stockton         24-10 5. Jesuit-Carmichael         25-9 6. James Logan-Union City 24-4 7. San Benito-Hollister 22-9 8. Campolindo-Moraga 19-8... Read more

NorCal Softball Top 15 Final season rankings.   1. San Benito-Hollister 29-1 2. Sheldon-Sacramento 27-6 3. Archbishop Mitty-San Jose 28-3  4. Elk Grove 28-6  5. Valley Christian-San Jose 25-6 6. Rodriguez-Fairfield         28-3   7. Johansen-Modesto         27-4 8. Amador Valley-Pleasanton 20-5 9. Sierra-Manteca 26-2-1 ... Read more

   BASEBALL   Andrew Buckley, P, De La Salle-Concord, Sr. COMMENT: Posted a 1.71 ERA with a 5-2 record and one save over 49 innings.   Bryson Brigman, SS, Valley Christian-San Jose, Jr. COMMENT: Two-year starter for Warriors is already a two-time All-CCS player and a two-time world champion... Read more