Sports Shorts Sports Shorts (January 26, 2005)

MAKING A SPLASH . . . Stanford grad Markus Rogan won the 200 back at the World Cup short course meet in Berlin on Sunday in a European record time of 1:50.67, 0.15 seconds off the world record. Rogan, a two-time NCAA champion, earned a pair of silver medals at the 2004 Olympics. Stanford grad Randall Bal, a four-time NCAA champion as a member of relay teams, finished second to Rogan with a 1:52.05. Bal finished in a first-place tie with Germany's Thomas Rupparth in the 50 back, each timed at 23.77.

HONORED PLAYERS . . . Stanford women's volleyball coach John Dunning may be losing to graduation one of the best ever to wear a Cardinal uniform in Ogonna Nnamani, but he'll be able to say that he's adding two National Players of the Year to the roster in the fall. Wilson Classical High (Long Beach) senior Cynthia Barboza was named the Gatorade National volleyball Player of the year and Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis) senior Erin Waller was honored as prepvolleyball.com's National Player of the Year. Barboza became just the fourth high school athlete to earn the Gatorade award in back-to-back years, joining Marion Jones, LeBron James and Candace Parker. She also became the sixth incoming Stanford volleyball player to win the award since 1995, joining Kristin Richards, Nnamani, Logan Tom, Sara Sandrik and Kerri Walsh. Nnamani, Tom and Walsh all participated in the 2004 Olympics. Barboza was named as an alternate. Waller, averaging six kills a game, led IWA to an undefeated season. The Red Knights played just 82 games in 40 matches.

OAKS' CORNER . . . The Menlo College men's basketball team won its third consecutive Cal Pac Conference contest with a 60-52 victory over host William Jessup on Saturday night. Freshman Zack Peck scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds as the Oaks (7-2, 7-9) find themselves within striking distance of conference leader Notre Dame de Namur. Menlo travels to Holy Names on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. contest. The Oaks defeated host Bethany, 58-46, on Friday night as senior Kyle Arneson recorded a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds. James Gilkey and Bryon Wesley each added 10 points . . . The Menlo College women's basketball team defeated host William Jessup, 67-54, in Cal Pac Conference action on Saturday night. The Oaks (10-6, 6-3) were led by freshman Kepua Lee, who scored 20 points. Senior Maria Gomez scored 11 points. Menlo travels to Holy Names on Friday for a 5:30 p.m. contest. Menlo beat host Bethany, 68-33, on Friday night. The Oaks held Bethany to 19 percent shooting from the field. Lee scored 13 points and Sonet Yee added 10. Ashlynn Dolcini had a season-high 11 rebounds. Gomez, who became Menlo's all-time scoring leader against Cal State Maritime last week, added nine assists. Gomez had 692 points entering play on Friday. Heather Hoffman (1998-02) held the previous mark at 688.

SIGNUPS AND TRYOUTS . . . Palo Alto Babe Ruth will host an open tryout for the 2005 baseball season on Feb. 5 and Feb. 12 at the Gunn High baseball field. Players 14 and 15 years of age try out at 9:30 a.m., followed by 13 year olds at noon. Residents of Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, Portola Valley, Atherton, Menlo Park, Woodside and Redwood City are eligible to try out. More information at: www.etamz.com/palo_alto_babe_ruth. Palo Alto Babe Ruth also is looking for a manager for the upcoming season. Those interested should contact Neil McGregor at nmcgregor@pacbell.net . . . The Stanford Vortex U-15 (in fall) Class 1 boys' soccer team is holding tryouts for the spring and fall seasons on Saturday and again Jan. 29, 1-3 p.m. at JLS. Call Terri at 321-5944 for more info or go to www.stanfordsoccerclub.org.

COACHING CORNER . . . Menlo-Atherton and Woodside highs are looking for coaches for their varsity girls' lacrosse teams this spring. Both are paid positions. For M-A, contact Mary at 854-4920 or Wachtelfam@aol.com. For Woodside, contact Donna at 365-6404 or dblosey116@aol.com. Menlo-Atherton also needs a girls' JV lacrosse coach and a frosh-soph softball coach. Those interested should contact M-A Athletic Director Pam Wimberly at 322-5311 (ext. 5706) . . . Palo Alto High is searching for a new girls' water polo head coach for the 2005 season. Interested persons should contact Earl Hansen, Palo Alto Athletic Director, at 329-3886 or ehansen@pausd.org . . . Basketball and soccer coaches (for boys and girls) are needed at St. Elizabeth Seton School in Palo Alto. Interested coaches should contact Pat Foy at 326-9004 . . . Menlo School has openings for girls' softball coaches: a varsity assistant, head frosh-soph and frosh-soph assistant. The season runs from February to May. For more information: 593-3895 . . . Sacred Heart Prep is looking for the following coaches: Varsity softball, varsity baseball and varsity girls' lacrosse. Those interested should contact Anthony Thomas, Athletic Director at 473-4031 . . . Castilleja School is looking for coaches for the upcoming season in varsity track and field in addition to an assistant coach for swimming. Interested persons should contact Athletic Director Jez McIntosh at jez_mcIntosh@castilleja.org.

SOFTBALL SIGNUPS . . . Registration continues for the Palo Alto Girls' Softball spring season and is open to all girls, ages 5-14, in Palo Alto and surrounding communities. Practices begin in March and will be followed by an active schedule of games through May. After the spring season, travel teams will be formed for girls who wish to play at a more competitive level. The focus of Palo Alto Girls' Softball is on teamwork sportsmanship, positive values and fun, while developing fundamental softball skills. The youngest players begin with T-ball. All practices are in Palo Alto, as all games for players 10-under. The older divisions (12-under and 14-under) will do some traveling during interleague games. Registration ends Jan. 31. Players can register online at www.paloaltogirlssoftball.org or pick up registration forms at their local schools. For more information: 361-0743.

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