Sports Shorts Sports Shorts (April 17, 2002)

NETTING A NATIONAL TITLE . . . While his Menlo School teammates were defeating Redwood Christian, Sacred Heart Prep and Pinewood last week, senior James Pade kept himself busy by playing 15 matches in the USTA Spring Supernational Championship (aka Easter Bowl) at the Riviera Resort on Palm Springs. Pade and partner Douglas Stewart, the No. 2-seeded tandem, played five doubles matches on their way to winning the national title, capped by a 7-6 (9-7), 7-5 win in the Boys 18 finals against the No. 4 team of Ricardo Gonzalez and Andre Iriarte. Pade and Stewart also defeated the No. 3 and No. 5 teams on the way to the finals. In singles, the No. 6-seeded Pade played 10 matches. He reached the Round of 32 before being upset by No. 17 Colin Patrick Purcell, 6-3, 6-3. That knocked Pade into the consolation bracket, where he won six matches to reach the consolation finals. There, Pade fell to No. 4-seeded James Wan, 1-6, 6-4, 6-2. Menlo coach Bill Shine said Pade's effort last week was huge. "It's the second-biggest junior tournament there is, outside of Kalamazoo - which is the national hardcourt championships," Shine said. "He had a fantastic week." The tournament attracted the top 128 singles players and top 64 doubles teams in the country. In addition to his doubles title and singles finish, Pade received the Sportsmanship Award for the Boys 18s. The award honors the one player in the field of 128 who the tournament organizers feel most exhibits the spirit of true sportsmanship and exemplary behavior on the court. In the final three days of the tournament, Pade played seven matches with three going in three sets. On the next-to-last day, Pade was on the court for more than eight hours.
BORCHARDT DECLARES . . . Stanford junior center Curtis Borchardt, who led the Pac-10 Conference in rebounding and blocked shots this past season, has joined teammate Casey Jacobsen by declaring himself available for the NBA Draft in June. Like Jacobsen, Borchardt said he will not sign with an agent, thus leaving open the possibility that he will return for his senior season. The NBA Draft is June 26. Borchardt and Jacobsen have until June 19 to remove their names.

COACHING HELP . . . Woodside Priory is looking for boys' varsity soccer coaches and girls' varsity volleyball coaches for the fall. Interested coaches should contact Woodside Priory athletic director Mark Stogner at 851-6107 . . . A head coach is needed for the Menlo Park American Legion baseball team (ages 15-17). The team includes players from Redwood City, Atherton and Menlo Park. The summer season runs from May 29 to August 4. The schedule typically requires two nights a week and a weekend doubleheader. Information: (650) 780-0168.

FURTHER COVERAGE . . . For more in-depth coverage of local sports events, visit www.PaloAltoOnline.com