Sports Shorts Sports Shorts (January 28, 2004)

MENLO MUSINGS . . . The Menlo College men's basketball team snapped an 11-game losing streak with a 73-70 victory over host Pacific Union College on Saturday. The Oaks (2-6 in the California Pacific Conference, 2-13 overall) won for the first time since Dec. 6 thanks in large part to Mike Watters, who scored a career-high 37 points against the Pioneers, hitting 10-of-14 shots from the field and 15-of-17 from the foul line. Watters scored 30 points in Menlo's loss to Simpson on Tuesday. Kyle Arneson added 17 points and a team-high six rebounds while Tim Coyne scored 12 points. Coyne made all three of his long range shots and also dished off a team high five assists. The Oaks were scheduled to play at Simpson on Tuesday before hosting Dominican on Friday at 7:30 p.m. . . . The Menlo College women's basketball team received a surprise visit from WNBA star Sue Bird during practice on Friday, and then traveled to Pacific Union on Saturday and turned in a professional-like performance en route to a 75-24 victory over the Pioneers. Bird, who helped Connecticut win the NCAA championship and is now with the Seattle Storm, spoke to the Lady Oaks for about an hour on a variety of subjects. The talk must have helped as Menlo turned in its best defensive effort against Pacific Union, allowing just eight points in the second half and forcing a total of 29 turnovers. While every Menlo player scored, only the five Pioneer starters reached the scoring column. Keisha Thomas scored 12 points and had even steals as no Lady Oak played more than 24 minutes in winning their fifth game in the past eight. Cindy Epps added nine points and a team-high seven rebounds. Ki'i Spencer-Vasconcellos led Menlo with 16 points. The Lady Oaks (3-3 in Cal Pac play, 7-8 overall) were to play at Simpson on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., and will then host Dominican on Friday at 5:30 p.m.

LOCAL SOCCER NEWS . . . The Stanford Firebolts' Under-14 girls' Class 3 CYSA team will hold tryouts Saturday, Jan. 31 and Feb. 7 at 10 a.m. at Greer Park Field No. 5. Information: 424-0416 . . . The Stanford JV, an Under-12 boys' Class I team that plays in the Ambronzino League, will hold tryouts this Saturday at Mitchell Park. The team is coached by European pro Chris Sullivan. Information: 269-4971 . . . The Stanford Vortex Under-14 boys' team is holding tryouts for the spring and fall seasons. Information: 321-5944 or www.stanfordsoccerclub.org . . . The Palo Alto CYSA Soccer Club will be conducting tryouts for the upcoming season for boys and girls between the ages of 10-14 at the Cubberley fields. The Under-10 and Under-12 boys' and girls' teams will conduct tryouts on Sunday, Feb. 1 and Saturday, Feb. 7. The Under-13 and Under-14 boys' and girls' teams will hold tryouts on Saturday, Jan. 31 and Sunday, Feb. 8. For more information, visit the website at www.pasoccerclub.org . . . The Union Football Club is a recently formed CYSA club located in Palo Alto and will be holding tryouts. For information, visit the website at www.unionfootballclub.com or call 387-4128 . . . The MVLA CyberRays, a CYSA Under-12 girls' Class 3 (born after 7/31/91) is looking for several fast, skilled and dedicated players to help the team move up to the next level. Players can be from Saratoga, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Los Altos, and Los Altos Hills. For more information: 996-0505 or by email at almartin@stanford.edu . . . The Stanford Wildfire, an Under-12 girls' Class 3 team moving to Class 1, is holding tryouts for the upcoming spring season. Contact Barbara Zimmer at 424-0736 or kev-barb@pacbell.net . . . A Boys' Under-14 Class 3 CYSA team in San Carlos is looking for players for the spring season. Tryouts will be Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 from 10 a.m. to noon at Highlands Park/Stadium Field. Information: 598-9920 (ext. 8).

SOFTBALL SIGNUPS . . . The final day for walk-in registration for the 2004 Palo Alto Girls' Softball league season will be Saturday, Jan. 31 from 10 a.m. to noon in Room H-1 at the Cubberley Community Center. Players ages 5-15 also can register online at www.paloaltogirlssoftball.org. The league, affiliated with the Amateur Softball Association (ASA), serves players from Palo Alto, Menlo Park, East Palo Alto and Los Altos Hills. The spring season begins in March and runs through June.

COACHES NEEDED . . . Woodside Priory is looking for baseball, golf plus track and field coaches for the spring season. Interested coaches should contact Athletic Director Mark Stogner at 851-6107 . . . Sacred Heart Prep is looking for assistant swim coaches for the spring, to work with the boys' and girls' teams. Interested coaches should contact SHP athletic director Mike Ciardella at 473-4031.

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