Sports Shorts Sports Shorts (June 22, 2005)

HERNANDEZ RETURNS . . . Stanford guard Chris Hernandez has made the decision to formally withdraw from the 2005 NBA Draft and return to Stanford for his senior season. Hernandez filed the formal paperwork announcing his decision with the NBA office on Friday. "I'm happy to be returning to Stanford to play my senior year and get my masters degree in sociology," said Hernandez. "This spring was a great learning experience and I'm hoping the improvements I made will carry over into next season. I want to thank my coaches and teammates for their support during this time." Said Stanford head coach Trent Johnson: "Although we are obviously pleased to have Chris back next season, we have always wanted what's best for him and have been supportive of him throughout this process. Chris is coming back to a great environment at Stanford next year and will be able to be a part of what we feel could be a pretty good basketball team. We look forward to the strong leadership he will provide the team next season." Hernandez gained first team All Pac-10 honors last year for a second straight season. He averaged 15.2 points per game. Hernandez was a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award for a second straight year, symbolic of the nation's best point-guard.

ON THE COURT . . . Stanford grad Nicole Powell scored 18 points to lead the Sacramento Monarchs to a 67-50 victory over the visiting Minnesota Lynx on Friday night in WNBA action. Stanford grad Susan King Borchardt of Minnesota was 1-of-2 from the foul line to record her first professional point. She missed her only attempt from the field.

SUMMER HOOPS . . . Pinewood grad Katie Digovich scored 22 points to help Golden State beat South Bay, 101-87 in overtime, in the Women's Pro City League opener at San Francisco's Kezar Pavilion on Saturday. In the Men's Pro City League opener, Stanford grad Justin Davis had 15 points but Bay Pride dropped a 99-90 decision to East Bay.

ON THE LINKS . . . The Accel Foundation Golf Tournament, which will benefit the Palo Alto High athletic community, will be held June 27 at Palo Alto Hills Country Club. Cost for the scramble format is $250 per person or $900 per foursome. Cost includes cart, lunch, prizes and post-golf reception. For more information: Cfeeney@aol.com or 327-5870.

ON THE DIAMOND . . . The East Palo Alto Junior Giants are about to start up their 11th baseball season and the league is currently recruiting players, ages 5-14, before the league opener on July 9. Signups are being held each Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Jack Farrell Park. The league features T-Ball (ages 5-7) and teams for players 8-10, 11-13 and 14-17. Interested players and coaches also can register during the week at the East Palo Alto Parks and Recreation Department and the Bell Street Gym. For additional information, call 877-JR-GIANT or find more information at www.jrgiant.com. The Junior Giants program, presented by Bank of America, is a non-competitive baseball league run by the Giants Community Fund.

COACHING CORNER . . . Palo Alto High is looking for a varsity baseball coach for the 2006 season. Those interested should contact Athletic Director Earl Hansen at 329-3886 or send resumes to ehansen@pausd.org . . . Menlo School is looking for a girls' varsity basketball assistant coach and girls' frosh-soph basketball coaches. Call 330-2001 (ext. 2282) or e-mail bmckinney@menloschool.org. . . Menlo-Atherton is looking for coaches for the 2005-06 school year: wrestling, girls' frosh-soph volleyball, track and field assistant, varsity football assistant, JV boys' and JV girls' water polo and cheerleading. Those interested should contact M-A Athletic Director Pam Wimberly at 322-5311 (ext. 5706) or e-mail resumes to pwimberl@seq.org.

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