Taua a Starter; Church Finishes at .272

COLLEGE FOOTBALL ROUNDUP

In Reno Saturday the Nevada Wolfpack got past UNLV 27-20 as VAI TAUA (pictured here with his high school coach DON CROSS) made the first start of his collegiate career, this as an H-back. His primary role was as a blocker as he registered no carries nor pass receptions.

In Champaign, Illinois, the Penn State Nittany Lions fell 27-20 to Illinois. LYDELL SARGEANT ranked #3 on the PSU defense with seven hits—five solo tackles and two assists plus one pass broken up.

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In Salt Lake City MATT SIMS started his second straight game at tight end as Utah knocked off Utah State 34-18. Sims made no pass receptions. Once again the Utes used only three wide receivers instead of the four WR’s they utilized earlier in the season.

In Moorhead, Minnesota Upper Iowa lost its fourth straight game Saturday, this one by 31-28 to Minnesota State-Moorhead. MIKE SLAUGHTER came off the bench to register two solo tackles and four assists but JUSTICE CLEGG apparently saw no action after starting at offensive tackle the week before. Slaughter started the Peacocks’second and third games at defensive end but came off the bench last week. UIU is now 1-4.

In Valdosta, Georgia, Ouachita Baptist lost its second straight after a historic three consecutive victories to open the season. The Tigers fell to #5-ranked Valdosta State 31-3. Starting cornerback DONALD WHITE was in on four assisted tackles for the Tigers. OBU is now 3-2.

In JC ball Saturday in Torrance BOO JACKSON bounced back from a rocky start to finish 15-for-25 for 281 yards and a touchdown as #8-ranked El Camino handed #2 Saddleback its first loss, 31-24.

Jackson suffered two first-half interceptions, but from late in the second quarter to the end of the game, he was 11-for-12 passing for 214 yards and a touchdown.

"He shakes it right off and comes back strong," coach John Featherstone said told the Torrance Daily Breeze.

Jackson ranks #1 in the tough Mission Conference in passing efficiency. After five games Jackson has attempted 103 passes, completed 65 for a 63.1 percentage and 1178 yards. He has had only three interceptions vs. 11 touchdowns. His efficiency rating is 188.6. Next highest in the conference is David Pittman of Pasadena at 172.5. Among the schools who have him on their favorites list are Oregon, Boise State, Hawaii, North Carolina, Kansas, and LSU.

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MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

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In Major League Baseball RYAN CHURCH saw no action Sunday as the Washington Nationals were mesmerized by slowballing Jamie Moyer of the Phillies who won 6-1 to win the National League East title. Nationals slugger Wily Mo Pena, who replaced Church in left field in August went 0-for-4 with all four at-bats resulting in strikeouts. Church’s final numbers read .272, 15 HR, 70 RBI with 43 doubles and a slugging percentage of 464. His slugging percentage was second on the team behind all-star Dmitri Young and his doubles total ranks #8 in the National League. All seven hitters above him on the list had at least 50 more at-bats.

Cabrillo Falls But Ruano Has Breakout Game

At Huyck Stadium Friday night the Cabrillo Conquistadores fell to Nipomo 24-14 but a star was born on the Q defense.

EMMER RUANO (picture) apparently photocopied himself as he seemed to be everywhere. Starting from defensive end or occasionally as an extra linebacker the 5-9, 165-pound senior appeared unblockable. For his efforts he was named Defensive Player of the Game.

THE COMPUTER SPEAKS

by Statmeister Mike Loney

Great teams are able to overcome their mistakes, or don't make them in the first place. Cabrillo, on Friday night, did neither.

The team played hard the entire game, but wasted this effort during a less than two minute span in the second quarter. Facing a game but beatable Nipomo squad, they committed two disastrous execution errors on back-to-back possessions that cost them 14 points and the ball game. After the first decent punt of the evening by Nipomo (36 yds), Cabrillo ran for a yard setting up a 2nd & 9 from their own 15 yd line. On the ensuing play, the quarterback - running back exchange was fumbled. There was a mad scramble for the ball, and at least two Conqs had a shot at recovering it, before Nipomo's Nathan Mendoza scooped it up at the 1 yd line and strolled into the end zone. Score : Cabrillo 6 Nipomo 7.

The second error occurred on the fourth Cabrillo possession. They had a series of plays which demonstrated the offensive inconsistency shown by both teams: an 8-yd loss on a lateral swing pass, a 10-yd gain by the tailback, and a 2- yd loss on a QB sack (net= 0 yds). After a 5-yd illegal procedure penalty was marked off, the resulting punt was blocked due to a variety of factors - a great defensive play not being one of them. Cabrillo went from a 1st and 10 on their own 38 to a Nipomo 1st and goal on the Cabrillo 6-yd line. The following play was a 6-yd TD run by Nipomo tailback Billy Chambers. Score: Cabrillo 6 Nipomo 14.

Cabrillo had started the scoring with a 13-yd TD run by BENNIE GARRETT on the first play of the 2nd quarter to culminate a 10 play, 66-yd drive. The 1st quarter consisted of a Cabrillo 3-and- out, and two short Nipomo drives that resulted in punts of 21 and 15 yards before the Cabrillo scoring drive began. The rest of the 2nd quarter featured a 10 play Nipomo drive which set up a 29 yd FG and two Cabrillo five play drives stalled by sacks (-10 yds and -15 yds respectively).Halftime Score: Cabrillo 6 Nipomo 17.

Cabrillo got back into the game with a 9 play, 67-yd drive to start the 3rd quarter. QB SEAN ALLEN scoring on a 1 yd plunge, and a 2 pt , 2-yd PAT run by Garrett closed the gap to 3 points (14-17). However, most of the rest of the game was a series of turnovers (Cabrillo interception, Nipomo fumble), punts, penalties, and turnovers on downs by both teams. The lone exception was a Nipomo drive that started with 3:03 left in the game. Billy Chambers battered a tiring Cabrillo defense with five carries for 43 yds including an 11-yd TD run with 69 seconds left on the clock, bumping the final score to 24-14 in favor of the Nipomo Titans.

A few notes: Garrett had 20 carries for 101 yds and 1 reception for 9 yds, Nipomo RB Chambers was 23-129 yds rushing (2 TD) and 4-27 yds receiving. Passing- Cabrillo (Sean Allen) 6-12-1 69 yds ; sacked 5-34 yds, Nipomo (Mason Sperakos) 9-19-0 134 yds ; 2 sacks for 16 yds. Receiving: Cabrillo- CHRIS ZAHUTA 3-40, BRANDON WHITTAKER 2-20; Nipomo-D. Stroub 3-57, K. Webb 3-50. EMMER RUANO & MATT ROTONDI had good games defensively for the Conqs.

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In other LPL games the Santa Ynez Pirates lost three fumbles in the first half and Templeton capitalized en route to a 36-0 victory, 6-foot-4 Scott Cathcart caught eight passes for three touchdowns over smaller Pioneer Valley defensive backs as St. Joseph surprised the Panthers 28-14, and Morro Bay posted 502 total yards to Santa Maria's 75 in a 68-0 demolition job over the Saints. In non league play star Righetti quarterback Justin Level personally accounted for 430 yards in total offense as the Warriors downed Dos Pueblos 35-23, San Luis Obispo downed Santa Barbara 26-14, West Bakersfield dealt Paso Robles its first defeat of the season 31-27, and Atascadero rolled over Clovis 41-0. Lompoc had a bye.

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Los Padres League standings:

Morro Bay 1-0

Nipomo 1-0

St. Joseph 1-0

Templeton 1-0

Pioneer Valley 1-1

Santa Maria 0-1

Santa Ynez 0-1

Cabrillo 0-2

Friday's Results

Nipomo 24, Cabrillo 14

St. Joseph 28, Pioneer Valley 14

Morro Bay 68, Santa Maria 0

Templeton 36, Santa Ynez 0

CROSS TOUTS GARRETT; HUNT TELLS HISTORY

They were getting after us,” said Cabrillo coach DON CROSS as he thought back to Friday night’s 41-14 whipping at the hands of Pioneer Valley.


“Offensively Pioneer Valley owned us. Those big kids can move. A lot of kids that size are still at the line of scrimmage but they went on downfield.”


Cross tabbed the Panthers as favorites for the Los Padres League championship. “I sure hope there’s nobody any better than they are,” he quipped.


On offense the Conquistadores moved the ball, at least between the 20-yard-lines and when the ball was in the hands of tailback BENNY GARRETT (pictured). “He had 97 yards rushing and he has just a yard under 300 for the season,” Cross said. “He’s an incredibly hard worker. He rarely leaves the field.” Garrett is a corner back on defense and a returner on special teams. He is also among the strongest players Cross has, bench pressing 360. Cross said Portland State is already interested in Garrett for 2008.


“I still think we’re a pretty good football team,” Cross went on, choosing to forget about Pioneer Valley and looking forward to Nipomo tomorrow night. “We just have to be consistent. When we get down there we have to finish. You have to crank it up even more when you’re inside the 20. We have to maintain that energy.”


Cross said the Q’s suffered no further injuries but that wide receiver JOSH BOWMAN will be held out another week due to a concussion and that lineman DAVID KULP is indeed gone for the season.


Friday night’s game at Huyck Stadium will be broadcast by Press Box Productions on Comcast Channel 23 beginning at 7:30.

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HUNT ON HISTORY

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Veteran sportswriter AL HUNT used his Thursday column in the Santa Barbara News-Press to recount the departure and return of DARYL AGUILAR and BOBBY COLLINS from Lompoc High to Rancho Cucamonga and back again [short version Daryl's dad Rick moved after a family breakup and Daryl and his friend Bobby went too]. In his column Hunt posts Collins' track times from last spring at RC. According to Hunt Collins, who was Santa Barbara County champion in the 200 as a freshman at LHS, ran 48.35 in the 400 to take third place in CIF's Div. I meet last spring and earned a spot at the state meet. Besides that he ran the first leg of the Cougars' 4x100 relay team which was the fourth fastest in the state. And he ran in the 4x400 relay which finished to Long Beach Poly in the CIF Southern Section Div. I finals. Both relay teams also went to the state meet. "It is not a stretch to say that Bobby Collins is the fastest high school kid in Santa Barbara County," Hunt proclaims.

Baseball America: Duffy Tops in AZL; Church Stars

Baseball America, the baseball fan's Bible, has named DANNY DUFFY the top pitcher in the summer's Arizona Rookie League.

Duffy signed with the Kansas City Royals as a third-round draft pick after a phenomenal season at Cabrillo High where he posted a microscopic 0.58 ERA and 127 strikeouts.

Baseball America wrote as follows:

"Danny Duffy had the best pro debut of any young pitcher in the league, striking out 15.2 batters per nine innings and going 37 innings without allowing a home run. He did it mostly by working off his fastball. The Royals precluded Duffy from throwing his two-seam sinker and his slider, preferring for him to focus on improving the command of his four-seamer and curveball and using his changeup.

"The Royals also worked on making Duffy's mechanics more consistent and keeping him from rushing through his delivery. He made progress on all fronts. His fastball sits at 88-92 mph and touches 94, and his curveball at times is a plus pitch.

"'He got better at repeating his mechanics and maintaining his stuff late in games as the year went on,' Royals pitching coach Mark Davis said. 'His fastball was firm and live, and he really located down and away well.'"

Top 10 prospects in the AZL according to the magazine—

1. Angelo Villalona, 3b, Giants
2. Engel Beltre, of, Rangers
3. Nick Noonan, 2b, Giants
4. Danny Duffy, lhp, Royals
5. Wilmer Font, rhp, Rangers
6. Wilbur Bucardo, rhp Giants
7. Drew Cumberland, ss, Padres
8. Danny Carroll, of, Mariners
9. Cristian Santana, c, Rangers
10.Mario Martinez, ss/3b, Mariners
11.Mason Tobin, rhp, Angels
12.Michael Anton, lhp, Angels
13.Matt Mitchell, rhp, Royals
14.Yefri Carvajal, of, Padres
15.Charlie Culberson, 2b/ss, Giants
16.Larry Suarez, rhp, Cubs
17.Clay Fuller, of, Angels
18.Sam Runion, rhp, Royals
19.Ivan Contreras, 2b, Angels

20.Jacob Wild, lhp, Mariners

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In other, earlier but unreported Duffy news, the lefty was named to the High School Baseball Coaches Association third unit All-American Team and to their first string All-District team for the western states. Duffy is now back in Arizona for fall workouts with the Royals.

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In the major leagues RYAN CHURCH made a statement Wednesday night in New York. He went 3-for-5 against the Mets including a home run and his 43rd double of the season, this off closer Billy Wagner. He raised his season’s batting average to .275.

MLB.com reporter Bill Ladson wrote this—
"In his last 18 games, Church is 19-for-45 with four home runs and 18 RBIs. All of this production has come after he lost his left-field job to Pena. Church is now platooning in center field with rookie Justin Maxwell.
"Church, who has been on the trading block for more than a year, is hoping that he's sending a message to the Nationals and other teams around the league that he can still play with the best of them.
"'I hope [I'm sending a message],' Church said. 'I hope they look at it that way. I do.'"
Church’s 19-for-45 translates to a .422 pace.

STATS NAME AGUILAR KEY; BOO JACKSON POW

The Story Inside the Numbers

by The Statmeister: Mike Loney
DP @ Lompoc

5. Rushing Comparison: DP only had 100 yards rushing on 32 carries for an 3.2 ypc average(1H: 14-53,3.8; 2H: 18-47 2.6), while BOBBY COLLINS was gaining 120 yds (21 carries, 5.7 yd ave.). Lompoc had 164 yards on 42 carries (3.9).

4. Weird Stats: Lompoc only averaged 15.8 net yards per kickoff. (DP 37.3). Lompoc had only 3 penalties in the game - but had 2 of them back to back on their 9th possession (in the fourth quarter ) which helped stall the drive.

3. Why coaches pull their hair out!: Lompoc started the game with an 11 play, 43 yd drive that ate up 6:25 on the clock, but came up empty when they fumbled at the DP 14 yd line.

2. Why their hair turns gray!: Lompoc started off the game in fine fashion - racking up 225 yards on 32 plays (6-8 passing for 110 yds, 24 carries for 115 yds -4.8 per carry) in the first half to DP's total of 128 yds. . But the second half was a different story -90 yds on 22 plays (3-4 41 yds, 18 for 49 yds rushing - 2.7 ypc ) and 30 yards of that came on Bobby Collins' scoring scamper with 2:29 left in the 4th quarter ! Without that run Lompoc had 19 yards rushing on 18 2nd half carries.

1. Player of the Game: Lompoc QB/DB DARYL AGUILAR (picture) He was 9-12 for 151 yards passing with 1TD and no interceptions thrown (he also had a Fumble Recovery, several tackles / passes defensed, and 1 of 3 Lompoc interceptions). His passing #'s were amazingly efficient: an overall NCAA quarterback rating of 208.2 and an absolutely astounding 369.4 on 1st downs. DP QB's went 9-26 for 137 yds , 1TD & 3 Int's (a 68.6 rating).

And in JC---

El Camino College quarterback BOO JACKSON, Santa Ana College defensive back David Allen, and Mt. San Antonio College kicker Jeremy Gener have been named Week 4 Mission Football Conference Players of the Week for their performances on the field.

Jackson (QB, 6-2, 200, So., Lompoc HS) had a nearly perfect afternoon passing to earn offensive player of the week honors. Jackson completed 10 of 13 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions to lead El Camino to its 31-26 win at Mt. San Antonio

Russ Samaniego's Football Foto Gallery

As AL HUNT says, RUSS SAMANIEGO's Football Foto Gallery is "A Thing of Beauty."

These are from the Lompoc-Dos Pueblos game last Friday night.

In other news RYAN CHURCH rapped his 41st and 42nd doubles of the season tonight at Shea Stadium in New York and lifted his batting average to .271 as the Nationals crunched the bumbling Mets.

SARGEANT LIFTS PENN STATE BUT.....

At Ann Arbor, Michigan at The Big House before 111,000 fans cornerback LYDELL SARGEANT (pictured here by his old high school coach DON CROSS) picked off his first interception of the season and ran it back 31 yards Saturday but his Penn State Nittany Lions fell to Michigan 14-9. Sargeant led Penn State in solo tackles with seven, one for a three-yard loss, and added three assists. His total of 10 was a career high.

Michigan was leading 7-3 and driving at the end of the second quarter. The Wolverines had reached the Penn State 24. On third and 10 Sargeant made his grab at the six-yard line and ran the ball out to the 37 where he was tackled by Michigan quarterback Ryan Mallett.

Sargeant was interviewed afterward by the PSU website.
On whether being on the field for a long time exhausted the defense ..."Coach Paterno does a pretty good job of keeping us conditioned. We just have to be ready to play 100 or 20 plays, whatever the offense does."
On his emotions after his interception late in the second half ..."I felt like they had a pretty good drive going there and the defense had to make a play to stop them from getting a field goal and getting a score early. I think that helped us, but there's not much we can do. They scored 14 points. We can improve and we didn't play our best game, but we have to look forward to next week."

ELSEWHERE ON THE COLLEGE GRIDIRON SATURDAY

Before 23,000 Saturday night in Las Vegas MATT SIMS got his first start of the season as the Utah Utes abandoned their four wide receiver offense for the first times and reinstalled a tight end with Sims in that spot. Unfortunately thing did not work out and Nevada Las Vegas rolled 27-0. Ute quarterbacks connected on 23 passes but none to Sims.

VAI TAUA’s Nevada Wolfpack was idle.

In Fayette, Iowa Upper Iowa picked up its first win of the season trouncing Loras College 38-15. JUSTICE CLEGG returned to the starting lineup at right offensive tackle after a week of inaction and MIKE SLAUGHTER came off the bench for three solo tackles and an assist with two coming behind the line of scrimmage. Slaughter had been a starter for the previous two games.

In Arkadelphia, Arkansas cornerback DONALD WHITE registered a solo tackle and three assists Saturday but his Ouachita Baptist team lost its first game of the season to No. 9-ranked Delta State 42-10.


BOO JACKSON connected on 10 of 13 passes for 263 yards but he was on the sideline when the winning TD was scored Saturday night in El Camino’s 31-26 victory over Mt. SAC. Here’s the report from reporter Dave Thorpe of the Torrance Daily Breeze.

El Camino quarterback Boo Jackson had blood pouring from his bottom lip. He needed stitches on the sideline after completing a 25-yard pass and getting knocked to the ground.
Third-string quarterback Jimmy Coy filled in for him. Coy, who was playing ahead of injured second-stringer Kevin Romero, made a brief but important appearance before Jackson returned.


El Camino ran the ball on Coy's first three snaps. But on third-and-7 from the Mt. SAC 9-yard line, Coy threw a pass into the end zone that went off Jonathan Price's fingertips into the hands of Harry Deberry.
It was not only Coy's first and last pass attempt, it turned out to be the winning touchdown.
The play gave El Camino an 11-point lead with 13:21 remaining. Jackson returned stitched and bandaged, completed a key pass down the stretch and the Warriors held off the Mounties to escape with a 31-26 Mission Conference interdivision win at Hilmer Lodge Stadium in Walnut.
Jackson bit through his lip on an earlier play but stayed in the game. His wound then grew larger after a completion to Verran Tucker (three catches, 114 yards, one touchdown) a split-second before getting hit hard.
So there was Jackson, who was 10-for-13 for 263 yards and three touchdowns, getting medical attention while Coy finished the drive.
"Six stitches, that was painful," Jackson said. "Blood was pouring on my hand. But when Coy led the team downfield and then threw that touchdown pass while I was getting stitches, it made me smile."
The fact that the Warriors (3-1) defeated a tough opponent on the road while playing the first half in a heavy downpour, made El Camino coach John Featherstone smile.
"We knew it would be a tough game because we haven't won on the road yet, and especially not with bad weather against a good team," Featherstone said. "We're happy to get away with the win."
El Camino, ranked No. 5 in the nation by JC Grid-Wire, held Mt. SAC's ground game to 73 yards, but Mounties quarterback Kevin Craft had a big day, completing 25 of 44 passes for 389 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Craft has not thrown an interception this season.
When El Camino had to make a defensive stop, it was able to get one. The Warriors clung to a 31-26 lead when they turned the ball over on downs at the Mt. SAC 21-yard line with 54 seconds remaining.
Free safety Chris Williams made a big hit to jar the ball loose from Mounties receiver Eric Walker for an incomplete pass.
But an El Camino penalty and Craft's 29-yard pass play to Eunique Williams helped put Mt. SAC (2-2) on the Warriors' 20 with nine seconds left.


Craft had two shots at the end zone, but an El Camino secondary led by Williams and Lamar Chapman blanketed the Mounties' receivers and Craft couldn't find anyone open. Craft lofted his last pass up for grabs near the back of the end zone and it fell incomplete.
"We made some key mistakes on both sides of the ball, but we maintained, got our footing and won the game," said defensive end Simi Kuli, playing in his second game after sitting out the first two with a knee injury.
After Mt. SAC pulled to within 31-26, Jackson returned and hit Tucker in stride on a 49-yard pass play to the Mounties' 10-yard line with 4:25 remaining.
Looking to put the game away with a touchdown, El Camino turned the ball over and Mt. SAC's Tyrell Irvin recovered and brought the ball to the Mounties' 16-yard line. But on Mt. SAC's next drive, a heavy pass rush by Kuli, a near interception by Williams and an errant snap that went for a 26-yard loss helped keep the Mounties out of the red zone.
El Camino took a 7-0 lead when Jackson found Greg Moore wide open downfield after a defensive back slipped. Jackson side-stepped a pass rusher before throwing a strike to Moore, who waltzed into the end zone.
After a defensive stop, El Camino embarked on its most impressive drive, going 68 yards on nine plays, highlighted by Kenny Ashley's 23-yard run and capped by Ashley's 6-yard score. Ashley had no plans to receive the ball on the play, but Jackson mishandled the snap and the ball hit the mud. Jackson picked it up and flipped it to Ashley behind him and Ashley cruised in for the score.
"I picked it up, then looked up and everyone was in my face," Jackson said. "I saw Ashley, and when I saw that nobody was near him, I just pitched it to him."

CHURCH RESTORED TO NATS' LINEUP, BRAVES WIN

RYAN CHURCH (pictured in this photo by Mike Collins of Collinsphotography.com) was restored to the Washington Nationals' starting lineup Friday night. The story from reporter Bill Ladson of MLB.com.

WASHINGTON -- Outfielder Ryan Church started for the second consecutive game in center field on Friday night against the Phillies, and Nationals manager Manny Acta acknowledged that Church's hot bat is the reason why he's in the lineup.
Entering Friday's action, Church has 15 RBIs in his past 18 games, and he's hitting .310 in his last 28 games. For most of that time, Church has been a reserve. He lost his job as the everyday left fielder after Wily Mo Pena arrived in a trade from the Red Sox on Aug. 17.
"Not only [am I going with the hot hand, but] 40 doubles and 64 RBIs and a [.347] on-base percentage is hard to ignore," Acta said. "So we are trying to put our best team out there."
Church has not made it a secret that he doesn't like being benched, but he hasn't taken his displeasure out on the field, which has pleased Acta.
"I think he had the right attitude about it," Acta said. "I also think this is the first time he has had this many at-bats. A break was probably good for him. Call it a breather and he's energized."
Although he has set career highs in almost every offensive category, Church doesn't sound like a man who's satisfied with his season.
"I have 100 and something at-bats that I missed out on," Church said. "I know I can play. I really don't want to talk about it. It's one of those things where it's the end of the year, and you take advantage of whatever you can get."
With Church in the lineup, it means that Nook Logan has to sit. Logan's hitting .237 during September."

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HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL-- BRAVES WIN

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DARYL AGUILAR connected on 9 of 12 passes while the Lompoc defense led by GILBERTO RIOS and SETH BROADHEAD held Dos Pueblos’ passing attack to 9-for-27 with two interceptions to give the Chargers their first defeat of the season, 28-14.


The Braves took a 21-7 halftime margin into the second half after which they appeared to snooze.


“Overall it was a great effort,” coach ROBIN LUKEN told his team afterward. “A lot of good things happened. But for 22 minutes tonight you guys didn’t block a soul.”


DP scored in the third quarter to pull within one TD and it was not until BOBBY COLLINS reeled off a 30-yard TD run with 2:29 remaining that the victory was sealed. Collins rushed for 124 yards on 21 carries and scored three TD’s, the earlier two coming on runs of 15 and 11 yards.


STEVEN MOREHART was Aguilar’s most frequent receiver as he hauled in four passes for 55 yards and a TD.


“He ran around but he always kept looking,” Morhart said of Aguilar. “Daryl kept his head up.”

The Braves evened their season record at 2-2 with the win. They have a bye on Friday before opening Pac-7 action against Righetti.


CABRILLO FALLS


In the first game of the Los Padres League season the Pioneer Valley Panthers scored on drives of 67, 96 and 62 yards and on a 50-yard interception return to take a 28-7 lead in the second quarter and were never headed. The final was 41-14.


While the Panther running game rolled up 331 yards, PVHS’ defense meanwhile stopped Cabrillo twice inside the 10-yard-line. “They have big, physical kids up front,” said Cabrillo coach Don Cross. “We’re kind of undersized there on defense.”

The Conqs ran the ball decently. BENNIE GARRETT totaled 94 yards on 21 carries and GREG WATSON had 85 on 10 rushes including a fourth quarter TD.


Pioneer Valley vaulted to the top of the LPL standings at 1-0 and 3-1 overall, while Cabrillo falls to 0-1 and 1-2.


OTHER GAMES


St.Joseph unveiled sophomore running back Russell Perkins who ran for 181 yards in a 14-0 shutout over Bishop Diego as the Knights finish preseason 2-1.


Morro Bay, now 3-0, demolished Wasco 40-0, Atascadero did the same to Dinuba 42-0, Paso Robles pummeled Ridgeview of Bakersfield 48-13 to push their record to 4-0, San Luis Obispo downed San Marcos 14-7, Santa Maria fell to King City27-6, Righetti lost to Santa Barbara 34-29, Santa Ynez picked up its first “W” of the season 26-7 over Carpinteria. Arroyo Grande plays Washington of San Francisco tonight. Nipomo and Templeton were idle.

CROSS LIKES ROTONDI; CHURCH, THOMAS STAR

“Dos Pueblos got after us a little bit,” Cabrillo coach DON CROSS shrugged Thursday. “They’re a quality team that outplayed us. We played great for a long time, but the interception before halftime hurt us. In the second half they still had momentum. Both second half touchdown drives started on our side of the field. My hat’s off to them.” Cross added that the Charger defense penetrated the Cabrillo backfield more than he would have liked.


Early in the game guard DAVID KULP went down with a knee injury which did not help the situation. Cross later found out that the senior will be lost for the season. “Déjà vu all over again,” he quipped ruefully thinking back to last year when a raft of injuries decimated his team.


On the positive side Cross saw linebacker MATT ROTONDI (pictured here) working overtime. Rotondi led the team in tackles racking up 15 while JAKE FARLEY and ZACH HOLMES noteched nine each to share second place.


In tomorrow night’s Los Padres League opener at Pioneer Valley Cross said his team will face a big, physical team that makes few mistakes. “I haven’t seen them making errors, not putting the ball on the ground or being penalized. They are large up front, 260-280. They run between the tackles behind those big boys. We’ll have to counter that with quickness. The key for us is to control that line surge.” Pioneer Valley is 2-1, Cabrillo 1-1.


MIKE NELSON will move over from tackle to take Kulp’s spot while KEVIN PFISTER will fill take over at tackle. The contest, the first of the Los Padres League season, will be broadcast on Comcast Channel 23 beginning at 7:30.



RYAN CHURCH SHOWS [AGAIN] WHY HE SHOULD BE PLAYING

In Washington D.C. tonight opposite the Phillies RYAN CHURCH got one of his now occasional opportunities to be in the starting lineup and he responded with two doubles in two trips to the plate. They were his 39th and 40th of the season. Just to keep you up on the stats Churchie boasts a .458 slugging percentage to go with his 40 doubles and 14 home runs. The other corner outfielder, the one who has played all season and continues to, the one named Austin Kearns, is slugging 53 points lower at .405. We ask once again, why is Kearns playing and Churchie sitting?!?

BELINDA THOMAS BOWLS WITH THE PRO'S

Here was DeDe Davison, winner of 17 Western Women's Bowling Championships. Over there was Kelly Kullick, winner of the U.S. Women's Open in 2003. And across the room were five more bowlers who toured the nation on the women's pro tour."

Watching them like a hawk was Lompoc’s own BELINDA THOMAS.

One of the more prestigious bowling events for women is the U.S. Women’s Open. It debuted in 1949 and continued as a premier event until the Women’s Professional Bowling Association (PWBA) disbanded in 2003. Now, it is back, stronger than ever under the direction of the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) and in partnership with the Professional Bowling Association (PBA). In August 128 of the nation’s finest women bowlers converged at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno to participate in the rejuvenated event. Seven of the players were former women touring professionals.

Belinda Thomas, co-owner of Ocean Lanes is a relatively newcomer to the sport having started to seriously bowl in 2005 when she arrived in Lompoc. She was introduced to bowling in 2004 and like so many novices, used a K-Mart bowling ball and bag for her first taste of the sport.

After purchasing Ocean Lanes she decided there was more to bowling than merely rolling a ball down 60 feet of wooden lanes. Accordingly, she got some decent equipment, talked with people who knew and understood the sport, and finished her first year with a fairly decent 149 average. She continued her education, learning about various lane conditions, the reaction of bowling ball surfaces with wooden and synthetic lanes, and with the multiple variations of lane conditioning and its affect on scoring. She also devoted the hundreds and hundreds of hours of practice required of someone wanting to improve her game. She remained focused and finished the second year with a respectable 176 average. “Not bad,” she said, “but not good enough.” She continued her training and is now seeking a full time coach. Her average for year three is currently 186.

Her ambition is to become a professional bowler. She wants to share the lanes with the likes of Kullick, Davidson, and other former pro’s like Carolyn Dorin Ballard, and Kim Terrell but on an equal basis, comrade to comrade.

Belinda’s adventure to the U.S. Women’s Open was a thrilling experience, hobnobbing with the pros, with other players having years and years of experience in the professional ranks, and with those, like her, just starting out. She was nervous, of course, but surprisingly, not intimidated. She found the pros to be a lot fun and was able to relax with them prior to competition. Once the pros laced up their bowling shoes, however, and stepped on the approaches, it was altogether a different ball game. On came their game face and it was off to the races for position standing and money.

Although Belinda did not finish as high in the standings as she wanted to, the experience was worthwhile. It affirmed her determination to become a professional bowler in the near future. Belinda will watch the finals of the U.S. Open televised on ESPN the second Sunday of October but with the mindset that says, “I want to be watched, and I will someday soon.” Belinda wants to thank all of her sponsors for without their support, she would not have been able to bowl in this event. She will always cherish those who made her adventure possible.

She is committed to making next year’s Women’s Open an even bigger adventure. -- By KARL CORSER

Luken Remembers Vargas' Role vs. Royals

Lompoc High football coach ROBIN LUKEN pointed out a relatively unsung hero of the Braves’ first victory last Friday night--linebacker FAVI VARGAS, pictured here.



In the hoopla over BOBBY COLLINS’ 194 yards rushing and tackle GILBERTO RIOS’ four sacks it was overlooked that Vargas tied Rios for defensive points assigned by the coaching staff after watching film of the game. And right behind those two pointgetters was big #70 SAUL DOMINGUEZ, the tackle on the other side from Rios.



Luken also praised his offensive line which opened the holes for Collins. “They did a pretty good job,” Luken said. Asked if there was any one of the five who stood out, Luken said there was not. “They all did a good job,” he insisted. “They’re getting better.”



Luken said the best part of the victory was the camaraderie the team displayed on the field. “The last couple of years we haven’t had that,” he noted. Still needing work is pass defense and clarity between linebackers and defensive ends regarding who covers who, the coach added.



Injuries will sideline two Braves Friday night when LHS hosts Dos Pueblos. Wingback BRANDON ALONZO will be out with a sprained ankle and center ANDREW VAN DYKE will sit with a patellar tendon problem, both until the Righetti game. Van Dyke will be replaced by THOMAS McCAFFREY. Alonzo’s spot will be taken by a trio of DAVID MAGANA, SCOTT AGUAILAR and MASSON BLOW.



Luken said the trick to stopping Dos Pueblos is quarterback Gary Braun who ran for five yards per carry against Cabrillo and connected on eight of 17 passing. “We’ve got to stop him,” Luken said. “He’s a pretty good athlete and he does a lot of things well.”

Game time is 7:30.

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Thanks for the kind Comment from AL HUNT, longtime Sports Editor of the Lompoc Record. "A thing of beauty??" Post your comments by clicking on 'COMMENTS.'

Russ Samaniego's Football Foto Gallery

SCOTT AGUAILAR (11) hauls in a pass at Huyck Stadium as Lompoc wins its home opener over San Marcos.

A miraculous pass reception by STEVEN MOREHART (81) as he dives out of bonds.

GILBERTO RIOS (50) and BUCKY MARTINEZ (67) lead the attacking defense.

SAUL DOMINGUEZ (70) and JAMES MITCHELL (6) make the tackle.

Swarming Lompoc defense led by JAMES MITCHELL (6).

JAKE MOREHART (15) and GILBY CORNEJO (8) make acquaintances with Royal #24

JAKE MOREHART (15) throws this Royal down with one arm.

The swarming Lompoc defense pulls down another ball carrier. Identifiable here are SETH BROADHEAD (40) and GILBERTO RIOS (50).

BOBBY COLLINS (10) jukes a San Marcos defender.

BOBBY COLLINS (10) sweeps right behind blocking by JAKE MOREHART (15).

GILBERTO RIOS (50), BUCKY MARTINEZ (67) and FAVI VARGAS (45) swarm a Royal ballcarrier.

Noseguard BUCKY MARTINEZ (67) registers one of Lompoc's seven sacks.

GILBY CORNEJO (8) and SETH BROADHEAD (40) lead a gang-tackling defense.

MASSON BLOW (3) starts upfield with blocking by JAKE MOREHART (15) and SAHID TORRES (51).
BRANDON ALONZO (22) goes left.

ALONZO (22) takes pitch.

AGUAILAR (11) knifes through the defense.

All photographs are from the Lompoc-San Marcos game Friday night at Huyck Stadium.

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In Monday night baseball news RYAN CHURCH boomed his 14th home run for his 61st and 62nd RBIs tonight in a seventh inning pinch hitting appearance against the New York Mets.
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Vai Taua Rushes for 71 in Nevada Blowout

In Reno Saturday VAI TAUA rushed for a personal best 71 yards in Nevada’s 52-17 runaway victory over Nicholls State. In the biggest day of his career Taua, still only a redshirt freshman, carried the ball nine times and gained 71 yards. His best run went for 20 yards, the longest of any of eight Wolfpack running backs. Taua remains the No. 2 RB as starter Luke Lippincott totaled 127 yards and a TD. Taua is pictured here in a photo by his Cabrillo coach DON CROSS.

LYDELL

In State College, Pennsylvania, starting cornerback LYDELL SARGEANT made a solo tackle and an assist Saturday in Penn State’s blowout 45-24 victory over Buffalo. After three games Sargeant ranks No. 4 in tackles for the Nittany Lions. He has posted seven solo tackles and four assists for 11, behind only the three PSU starting linebackers.

MATT

In Salt Lake City Saturday Utah tight end MATT SIMS saw playing time but was not in the starting lineup as Utah surprised UCLA 44-6. He made no receptions. Sims made regular starts last season but has not been given a start during 2007.

SLAUGHTER

In Fayette, Iowa, Saturday MIKE SLAUGHTER was in the starting lineup for the second straight week at defensive end but Upper Iowa fell to Wayne State 34-28. Slaughter was No. 2 in tackles with eight—three solo and five assists. He led all of the D-line in that category. Offensive tackle JUSTICE CLEGG saw no action after starting the Peacocks’ first two games.

DONALD

In Arkadelphia, Arkansas, starting left cornerback DONALD WHITE registered five solo tackles and two assists Saturday in Ouachita Baptist’s 31-10 victory over Arkansas-Monticello in the Gulf South Conference opener. White’s total of seven followed only the totals of two linebackers. After three games White ranks No. 3 in tackles with 17—10 solo and seven assists. He also has registered two breakups. OBU is now 3-0 for the first time in more than 25 years.

BOO

In California commun ity college action El Camino’s 38-14 victory over Riverside Saturday night, was covered by Torrance Daily Breeze reporter David Saunders. Saunders wrote that El Camino quarterback BOO JACKSON had a relatively easy night—
“With so many of its drives starting on a shortened field, El Camino favored the running game more than the pass. Why not? The team used 11 different rushers and gained 285 yards on 42 carries for an average of more than 6.8 yards per touch.
"Our plan was to come out and run the ball to open up the pass," quarterback Boo Jackson said. "We started pounding the ball up the middle and we started getting 10-yard gains, 15-yard gains, 20-yard gains and we never went away from it."
Though Jackson threw touchdown passes of 32 yards to Verran Tucker and 40 yards to Harry Deberry and rushed for another score, he had one of his lightest nights of his El Camino career in terms of workload. Jackson had season lows in completions (9), attempts (16) and yards (140).
"Running the ball like that takes a lot off of my shoulders. I don't need to keep throwing the ball," Jackson said."

Full Strength Braves Win; Q's Fall to DP

Finally at full strength the Lompoc Braves registered their first victory of the season Friday night stopping
San Marcos 19-7 in the LHS home opener.

His eligibility cleared earlier in the day Friday by CIF BOBBY COLLINS showed the form Braves fans have been waiting for. He is pictured here by photographer RUSS SAMANIEGO behind blocking by JAKE MOREHART.

Collins rushed for 194 yards on 17 carries for a whopping 11-yard-per carry average and scored a touchdown for a spectacular junior year debut.

"It felt great to finally be out there to help my team," Collins told Santa Barbara News-Press reporter Dennis Bateman afterward. "The offensive line helped me a lot," he added to the Lompoc Record's BRAD MEMBERTO. Collins reeled off runs of 21, 15, 16, 19 and 49 yards when he ran to the outside.

Just as impressive, in fact voted the Player of the Game in the press box, was Brave defensive tackle GILBERTO RIOS. The Blue defense threw San Marcos quarterback Sean Kerr for losses seven times with Rios accounting for four of those. The pressure harried Kerr into a dismal 5-for-20 night passing with many of his incompletions coming on plays with Braves hanging all over him.

"He played a heckuva game," said coach ROBIN LUKEN of Rios. "He did a great job."

Lompoc touchdowns came from quarterback DARYL AGUILAR (also cleared by CIF) from the one and four after long drives, and by Collins on his 49-yard long gainer after a pitch left.

Big pass plays included a 22-yarder from Aguilar to RUDY YRUEGAS, a 29-yard screen to MASSON BLOW, and a sensational diving completion to STEVEN MOREHART FOR 27 yards to set up LHS' second TD.

"They're coming around," Luken told Memberto. The Braves, now 1-2, host Dos Pueblos next Friday.

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Conquistadores Upset

At Valley Stadium in Goleta Dos Pueblos came up with a 44-yard interception return to post the game's first score and never looked back as the Chargers downed Cabrillo 21-7.

The DP defense limited Cabrillo to just six first downs and 155 total yards. The score was 21-0 before Cabrillo quarterback SEAN ALLEN found BRANDON WHITTAKER for a 30-yard scoring pass with 4:04 to play.

GREG WATSON led Cabrillo rushing with 56 yards on 10 carries. BENNIE GARRETT added 52 on 17 tries. VINCE MARZULLO came up with a fumble recovery which stopped a Dos Pueblos drive at the Cabrillo 10.

Cabrillo (1-1) opens Los Padres League play at Pioneer Valley next Friday in a game to be broadcast by Press Box Productions on Comcast Channel 23.

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In other action St. Joseph demolished Arroyo Grande 35-6 to send the Eagles to an 0-3 start, Carpinteria stopped Nipomo 27-20 to dump the Titans to 1-2 in pre-league play, Bishop Diego clobbered Santa Maria 48-7, Nordhoff nipped Santa Ynez 10-6, Pioneer Valley stunned Eastside of Lancaster 35-8, Righetti slipped past Tehachapi 21-19, San Luis Obispo defeated Oxnard 17-9, Atascadero won 14-11 over Thousand Oaks, Templeton blasted Orosi 57-10, Paso Robles stopped Hanford 27-10, and Morro Bay was idle.

Cross Praises O-line, Holmes, Whittaker

Cabrillo football coach DON CROSS could not stop praising his team Thursday as he looked back at the Conquistadores' blowout victory over Pacifica.

"You've got to start with the offensive line picking up the blitzes," Cross began. "That really gave us trouble last year. When you run for over 300 yards you're doing something right. Cross went on to name all five interior linemen-- center PAUL McNEIL, guards DAVID KULP and JAKE FARLEY, and tackles ALEX HURD and MIKE NELSON.

"And we had five turnovers," Cross continued turning to defense. Two turnovers in particular, by BRANDON WHITTAKER (20) and ZACH HOLMES (50) pictured here, kept Cross talking when he should have been preparing for class. "The interception Brandon Whittaker got was textbook Cover Two," Cross raved. "He almost ran it all the way back!"

The interception of a deflected pass by noseguard Holmes made Cross bubble over as well. "He ran from noseguard out to the flat. He would not have been in the picture had he not hustled out there. This was out on the sideline, he just hustled. It was great to see it. From a coach's standpoint that play was awesome."

Cross also mentioned BENNIE GARRETT's 140 yards rushing and TD pass, quarterback SEAN ALLEN's comfort level and 5-of-6 passing, and GREG WATSON for his 86-yard interception return.

The Conquistadores visit Dos Pueblos tomorrow night.

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LYDELL---

Cross travelled from Lompoc to Pennsylvania last Friday night to watch former Conq LYDELL SARGEANT at the Penn State-Notre Dame game along with 110,000 others in Happy Valley. "That atmosphere was something else," he said. "Cars and motor homes are parking two and three miles away and people are walking to the stadium. We had just two hours of sleep but we were energized. You can feel the energy outside the stadium. Inside I've never seen anything like that in my life. Sonya was sitting next to me and we couldn't even hear each other. It was crazy. Especially when Notre Dame was on offense. You saw several delay-of-game calls. That was because of the crowd. Lydell played great. They didn't catch a ball on him. He definitely looked comfortable. He tried to bait Jimmy Clausen into throwing out into the curl area but Jimmy didn't throw. He's totally enjoying his experience." Cross gave credit to Clausen, the former Oaks Christian quarterback. "I thought he played pretty darn well. He was sacked seven times but he got hit 30 times."

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BOWLING---

Local bowling star DOUG FENNELL opened the 2007-08 winter bowling season at Rancho Bowl in Santa Maria Monday rolling a super sensational 813 three-game series and a 1063 for his four-game match. He opened his match with games of 278 and 279, slumped to a “mere” 256 and closed with a sterling 248. The series was amongst the highest ever in his illustrious bowling career. His personal best high three game series is 835, and for four games 1090.
One of the best of the best on the Central Coast Doug has averaged between 210 and 230 for the past ten years. Doug was pleased with his 813 series for it took place at other than his "home" house, Ocean Lanes. Bowlers sometimes get a reputation as being only able to bowl in one bowling center. This has never been true with Doug and this opening 813 proves it. --By KARL CORSER

Luken Tabs Broadhead, Morehart, Rios

Lompoc High football coach ROBIN LUKEN singled out defensive end SETH BROADHEAD, linebacker JAKE MOREHART, and defensive tackle GILBERTO RIOS for their play in Friday's disappointing loss to Nipomo.


"They did a great job of running around and making things happen," Luken said. "We made a lot of mistakes but those three guys did a great job."


By midday Wednesday injured tailback MASSON BLOW still had not practiced and was questionable for Friday's game with San Marcos at Huyck Stadium (to be broadcast by Press Box Productions on Comcast Channel 23). "That's our rule," Luken said. "If you don't practice by Wednesday you don't play."


Quarterback will remain in the hands of sophomore RICHARD HIRZEL, the coach continued. "He saw himself on film. He saw the mistakes he made. He'll be better." Transfer papers still had not arrived on Wednesday for quarterback DARYL AGUILAR and tailback BOBBIE COLLINS, Luken added.

BASEBALL

In major league baseball RYAN CHURCH belted his 13th home run Wednesday night agains the Marlins.... In minor league ball CHRIS WHITE went 3-for-5 Tuesday night but it was not enough to boost his Oneonta Tigers into the New York-Pennsylvania League championship series. The Tigers fell to Auburn 5-4. White batted a blazing .357 in the playoffs with a 2-for-5 game in the opener to go with the fantastic finale. It was a sensational windup after an up-and-down rookie season. White went 1-for-19 in his opening professional games with Oneonta and was sent down to the Gulf Coast League Tigers in Lakeland, Florida. There he regained his stroke and posted a .279 batting average, and was promoted back to Oneonta. In his second stint in the New York city he batted .261 though in the record books it will be combined with that let's-just-forget-it start and will appear as .197. But then came the playoffs.....

Duffy's Biggest Thrill; DC Fans Defend Church

DANNY DUFFY’s biggest thrill this summer was pitching head-to-head against major leaguer Kerry Wood of the Cubs.

So said the June Cabrillo graduate, and Kansas City Royals’ third round draft pick, on Lompoc Locker Room, the TV Show airing beginning today on Comcast Channel 25. Days and times are available on the left of your screen.

“His stuff is just filthy,” Duffy exclaimed, before adding that Wood’s young opponent did not give up any runs either.

It took about a week for the Lompoc lefthander to come down from the clouds and begin to feel as if he belonged in the professional ranks in the Arizona Rookie League, he said.

“That was the joke back at the hotel. ‘We have to act like professionals now,’ we kept telling ourselves.” Virtually everybody else was a rookie too, so for all it was a new experience.

Duffy pitched 37 innings giving up just 24 hits and six earned runs. His earned run average was a blue-chip 1.45. His strikeouts totalled 63 contrasted to just 17 bases on balls. His strikeout total ranked No. 6 in the Arizona League, even though many pitchers including all five with higher strikeout totals, pitched many more innings.

Duffy said the biggest difference between the Los Padres League and the Arizona League was that he could no longer simply throw his fastball past hitters. No matter that it is now clocking at 97 mph. “If you throw a fastball up they’re going to hit it. If I can hit my spot down and away I’m OK.”

Royals coaches wanted Duffy to work on his pitching mechanics, especially taking a consistently shorter stride and “stay on top of the ball” with his fastball. On his curve he was encouraged to use the same arm angle, over the top. He was limited to three pitches—fastball, curve, and change up—which meant he had to discard his slider and two-seam fastball.

Without the slider, which had been his out pitch in high school, the change up became his strike three choice.

“I try to throw it with fastball arm speed. My pitching coach at Cabrillo, coach Denny, really got me going on that. That’s part of the reason I’m where I’m at today because I developed that pitch so well.”

More consistent mechanics gave him more control, he said. His base on ball totals declined as the summer progressed. He also learned to “pitch to contact” – or not strike everybody out but to retire hitters on ground balls and flyouts. At the same time Duffy’s pitch count lengthened. He was limited to 30 pitches at the beginning, then 50, then 65-75.

Duffy’s biggest lesson of the summer?

“Don’t worry about what you can’t control.”

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FANS COME TO CHURCH'S DEFENSE

Washington Nationals fans are not stupid. And they are increasingly coming to the defense of the now-benched RYAN CHURCH. Read these notes from fans to Bill Ladson of MLB.com--

"Ryan Church hits right-handed pitching better than Austin Kearns, Wily Mo Pena and Nook Logan. I can't understand why any of those guys ever start ahead of Church. -- Geoff B., Las Vegas"

LADSON--"The Nationals are benching Church because he is not hitting home runs and driving in runs. It has nothing to do with his batting average. I think the expectations have been extremely high for Church. The organization believes he can hit 30 home runs and drive in 100 runs."

"Your comment about Kearns getting a free pass from the "think tank" is right on. There are several other players who have gotten a free pass, too, this year. Their shortcomings are never mentioned and their every little accomplishment is treated as if they are headed into the Hall of Fame. Yet other players are roundly criticized for every perceived shortfall (for example, Church). Such uneven treatment of players is very troubling to me as a fan. -- Teresa E, Washington, D.C."

And a word from Mr. En Fuego -- To illustrate the point let's compare rightfielder Austin Kearns with Church.

Until August 18 when Church was benched, the two had almost the identical number of at-bats. Now Kearns has 82 more. Still......

In home runs it is Kearns 13, Church 12. Even all-star Dmitri Young has only 12.

In doubles it is Church 38, Kearns 31. Church leads the team.

In RBI -- Church 59, Kearns 58

In slugging percentage-- Church .440, Kearns .405

Their batting averages are identical-- .266

So if the Nationals want power from a corner outfielder, why was Kearns not benched for Wily Mo Pena? Unless it's that Jim Bowden falls in love with his old Cincinnati Reds. For Christmas how about the Nats hiring a real General Manager!!!!!!!