http://www.paloaltoonline.com If it is local and useful, it is on PaloAltoOnline.com. en-us Of local note

Stanford senior Eddie Penev was named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Gymnast of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday.]]> Alina Garciamendez became the 16th Stanford player named to Soccer America MVP's first team, the All-America team for the nation's preeminent soccer publication.]]> Cardinal corner

The No. 10-ranked Stanford men's tennis team opened its dual-match season by blanking visiting Sacramento State, 7-0, on Tuesday afternoon at Taube Family Tennis Stadium.
]]> Tuesday's prep roundup
SHP girls knock Menlo from top spot

The Pinewood girls' basketball team took over sole possession of first place in the West Bay Athletic League (Foothill Division) with a 57-47 victory over host Castilleja on Tuesday night.]]> The Menlo College women's basketball team will be looking to keep its Cal Pac Conference winning streak intact while the Menlo men hope to start one when both play host to Cal Maritime on Thursday in Haynes-Prim Pavilion.]]> Sacred Heart Prep seniors Will Runkel and Zach Churukian have taken steps to continue their water polo careers in college after both committed to universities this week.]]> Monday's prep soccer

A goal by senior Kendall Jager in the 72nd minute pulled the Sacred Heart Prep girls' soccer team into a 1-1 deadlock with host Priory in a key West Bay Athletic League (Foothill Division) match on Monday in Portola Valley.]]> The quest for an NCAA title begins anew for the Stanford men's tennis team on Tuesday when the Cardinal opens its dual-match season against visiting Sacramento State at 1:30 p.m.]]> Stanford football may lose two top tight ends to the NFL this year, but those losses could be offset by the commitment of De La Salle High's Austin Hooper, a 6-5, 240-pound defensive end/tight end who was recruited for offense.
]]> Menlo-Atherton High grad Bob Melvin agreed to terms with the Oakland Athletics Monday to a two-year contract extension through the 2016 season.
]]> Weekend prep roundup

With junior Cadence Lee leading the way, the Gunn wrestling team came up with arguably its best performance of the season while producing five individual champions and a second-place team finish at the San Ramon Invitational on Saturday at San Ramon Valley High.]]> The lack of depth from Stanford's bench was the sore spot Sunday, as the fifth-ranked Cardinal dropped its first Pac-12 Conference contest in over four years, losing to visiting California, 67-55, and dropping in the conference standings.
]]> Stanford roundup

The Stanford wrestling team completed its East Coast swing Sunday, losing 24-14 to host American at Bender Arena in Washington, D.C. The Cardinal falls to 4-10 overall this season, while the Eagles improve to 3-2.
]]> In its second quad meet and first Pac-12 match up of the season, the Stanford women's gymnastics team provided plenty of highlights to capture its second first-place finish of the season.
]]> The Stanford men's basketball team had plenty of opportunities to hold home court advantage but cold shooting in the second half and the inability to take advantage of Washington mistakes led to another frustrating loss.
]]> Saturday's Cardinal corner
Cardinal men rally for volleyball win

Stanford freshman Amy Weissenbach won her much-anticipated collegiate debut, capturing the women's mile in the final steps at the UW Indoor Preview track and field meet on Saturday in Seattle, Wash.]]> Freshman setter Joe Ctvrtlik had 17 assists in his first collegiate appearance, leading No. 3 Stanford to a 25-18, 25-20, 25-12 victory over UC Santa Cruz in a nonconference men's volleyball match Friday night at Burnham Pavilion.]]> Five former Stanford stars were among players assigned to teams in the new National Women's Soccer League, during a special national-team allocation process. A college draft follows on Jan. 18, at the NSCAA Convention in Indianapolis.
]]> At approximately 11:55 a.m. on Saturday, the Stanford track and field season begins. The gun will signal the start of the third and final heat of the women's mile at the UW Indoor Preview at the University of Washington's Dempsey Indoor track, the first race or event for Stanford athletes this season.]]> Thursday's prep roundup

Menlo School opened defense of its West Bay Athletic League (Foothill Division) girls' soccer title with a 3-0 victory over host Crystal Springs on Thursday.]]> There will be 15 new players who will suit up for the Menlo baseball team, adding to an already stacked roster that enjoyed the program's best season of all time last year, as the Oaks earned their first ever trip to the NAIA National Tournament.
]]> The fun has returned to the Palo Alto boys' soccer team. Goals can be enjoyed, victories can be celebrated and expectations can be achieved. There is talk of winning titles again, albeit in the lower SCVAL El Camino Division, and reaching the Central Coast Section playoffs is more reality than dream. Moreover, there is hope just one year after there was none.]]> With six conference titles in the past decade, the Stanford women could accurately pronounce themselves as the West Coast power for indoor track and field. The Stanford men, coming off a runner-up finish in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation, command a certain respect on the boards, as well.]]> Stanford and the Pac-12 Conference today released the 2013 Cardinal football schedule, featuring seven home games at Stanford Stadium for the defending Pac-12 champions and Rose Bowl Game champions.
]]> Wednesday's prep roundup

The Pinewood girls' basketball team suffered through a rare losing season in the West Bay Athletic League last year, winning only four of 10 Foothill Division games.]]> Aaron Bright scored a season-best 21 points, Dwight Powell recorded a double-double and Chasson Randle also had a hot hand as the Stanford men's basketball team opened its home conference schedule with a 78-67 win over Washington State on Wednesday night.
]]> Stanford roundup

Stanford football and basketball fans can enjoy both on Saturday night as a championship celebration of the Cardinal's Rose Bowl victory will be sandwiched around the men's Pac-12 hoop game with visiting Washington.]]> Palo Alto High grad Jeremy Lin continued his solid all-around play, but it wasn't enough to prevent the Houston Rockets from dropping an 88-79 decision to host New Orleans in NBA action Wednesday night.]]>