Sports Shorts Sports Shorts (January 24, 2003)

LOGAN TOM TURNS PRO . . . USA Women's National Team standout Logan Tom scored six points after coming off the bench in her professional debut last Saturday as her new team, MRV/Minas of the Brazil Superliga, defeated Blue Life/Pinheiros, 3-1. Tom, a two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association Player of the Year and four-time first-team All-American in her four seasons at Stanford University, joined one of the best teams in the top Brazilian domestic league on Jan. 4 shortly after finishing her collegiate eligibility with a runnerup finish at the NCAA Championships. Teams in four countries (Brazil, Italy, Puerto Rico and Spain) made offers to sign the world-class player, a 2000 Olympian for the USA at the age of 19 and one of the stars of the American team that captured the silver medal at the 2002 World Championships in Germany. "I looked at everything all of the teams offered and Brazil came out on top," said Tom, 21. "Brazil has always been one of my favorite places to play, so of course it is a bonus to get to play here. But I just wanted to start my professional career." Financial terms of her contract were not disclosed. But in addition to her salary, she will receive the use of an apartment in Belo Horizonte and a car. The season runs until the end of April, and Tom figures to return to Colorado Springs, Colo., to resume training with the USA Women's National Team "sometime in May." Until then she is working hard to learn a new language (Portuguese) and to adjust to life as a professional athlete. Tom, who also left school to train with the National Team prior to the 2000 Olympics, is about 50 units short of getting her degree in international relations at Stanford. When asked if she planned on returning to school to finish her studies, Tom was undecided. "I'm still trying to figure out the Stanford thing," she revealed. "I'm just kind of going where life takes me right now."

CARDINAL CORNER . . . Stanford juniors Erin Dobratz and Katie Norris are among the 13 synchronized swimmers named to the 2003 World Championships and Olympic Games Training Squad. Dobratz and Norris earned their spots on Monday after three days of evaluation at the Weyerhaeuser-King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Wash. Dobratz and Norris travel to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs in March for further evaluation. In May, the squad will be cut to a delegation size of 10 for the World Championships, and further pared to nine in May of 2004 for the Olympic Games. Stanford sophomore Shella Sadovnik was named to 2003 U.S. National Team II, which will compete at the 2003 United Airlines Open, July 15-19 in Federal Way, Wash.

COACHES NEEDED . . . Sacred Heart Prep is looking for a junior varsity baseball coach, a varsity track coach, head varsity football coach, head JV football coach and head boys' water polo coach. Those interested can contact Athletic Director Mike Ciardella at 473-4031 . . . Palo Alto High is looking for two assistant swim coaches, a JV softball coach and a JV boys' tennis coach for the upcoming season. Interested persons should contact Paly Athletic Director Earl Hansen at 329-3886 . . . Menlo-Atherton High is looking for coaches in the following sports: frosh-soph softball and head track and field. Those interested can contact Athletic Director Pam Wimberly at 322-5311, extension 5706 . . . Mid-Peninsula High School is searching for a varsity baseball coach. Any one interested can contact Athletic Director Chris Spano at 650-321-1991, extension 105.

SOCCER NEWS . . . A new Palo Alto-based Boys' Under-14 CYSA team, forming for the spring season, will hold its first tryout on Jan. 25 at Greer Park on Field No. 5 at 3 p.m. Players must be born after Aug. 1, 1989. For more information, contact Brad at 858-2076 . . . The Stanford Firebolts, a Girls' Under-13 CYSA team will be holding tryouts on Jan. 26 and Feb. 2. Contact Charlie Volpe at 424-0416 or cwv@pacbell.net for more information . . . The Stanford Blaze, a Girls' Under-10 CYSA team, will hold tryouts to fill three roster spots. For information, e-mail MarkH@simultrans.com or call 614-3011.

SOFTBALL SIGNUPS . . . Signups for the upcoming Palo Alto Girls Softball season, formerly Palo Alto Bobby Sox, will conclude Saturday in Room H1 at the Cubberley Community Center from 9 a.m. to noon. Players also can register by mail at www.paloaltogirlssoftball.org, through the hot line (361-0743) or by e-mail at pags2003@yahoo.com. The Palo Alto program is now affiliated with the Amateur Softball Association (ASA).

BASEBALL TRYOUTS . . . The Palo Alto Babe Ruth baseball program will hold tryouts for 13-15 year olds for the upcoming season on Saturday, Feb. 1 and Saturday, Feb. 8 at Gunn High School. Tryouts for 14 and 15 year olds begin at 9:30 a.m. while tryouts for 13 year olds begin at noon. The program is open to residents of Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton, Woodside, Portola Valley or Redwood City (south of Jefferson Ave. only). Players must bring their birth certificate. For registration information, go to www.eteamz.com/palo_alto_babe_ruth.

NOTEWORTHY . . . Tickets are available for the Pac-10 women's basketball tournament to be held at the San Jose Arena between March 7-10, 2003. Only All-Session tickets are currently available, with an order placed before Dec. 1 guaranteeing prime seats for all five sessions. Information about ordering tickets, and other special packages, can be obtained by visiting www.realsports.com/pac10 or www.pac-10.org. Stanford is favored to win the Pac-10 title and earn the top seed for the tournament, which features all 10 conference teams.