Sports Shorts Sports Shorts (September 06, 2002)

POP WARNER OPENERS . . . The Palo Alto Knights' Pop Warner Football League program can gain a bit of revenge this weekend when it travels to Oak Grove High in San Jose to face nationally ranked Oak Grove in season opener for both programs. The Knights will face four of the 2001 league champions, two of which went on to win national championships last season at the Pee Wee and Jr. Midget divisions. The Palo Alto Mighty Mites will open Saturday's full day of action at 11 a.m., with games following at 1 p.m. (Jr. Pee Wee), 3 p.m. (Pee Wee), 5 p.m. (Jr. Midget) and 7 p.m. (Midget). The Knights tuned up for their respective league openers by winning games last weekend in their annual jamboree, held at Menlo College. Palo Alto, which has become one of the top youth football programs in Northern California, dominated at all levels of play on a hot Sunday afternoon. The Mighty Mites (7-9 year olds) scored four times in the first three quarters while shutting out Morgan Hill. The Jr. Pee Wee's (9-11 year olds) scored a 24-16 win over a quick East County (Oakland) team. The Pee Wee's (10 -12 year olds) won convincingly over Morgan Hill, 28-0. The Jr. Midgets (11-13 year olds) breezed to a 22 -0 halftime lead on their way to finishing off Hollister, 30-0, and the Midgets (12-15 year olds) won 14-0 over Hollister.

HALL OF FAME . . . Stanford men's basketball coach Mike Montgomery will be inducted into the Long Beach State University Hall of Fame on Oct. 23. Montgomery, the all-time winningest men's hoop coach in Stanford history, played on the 1966 and '68 basketball teams at Long Beach as a reserve guard. He received his BA degree in physical education in 1968. Montgomery will enter his 17th season as Stanford's head coach in 2002-03 with a record of 339-156 and 10 trips to the NCAA tournament, including eight straight. Montgomery's overall record in 24 years as a collegiate head coach is 493-232 with 16 postseason appearances.

SOCCER SEMIS . . . The defending Central Coast Section Division III boys' soccer team from Sacred Heart Prep can earn a berth in the finals of its own Gator Classic by defeating visiting College Prep (Oakland) on Saturday at 3 p.m. In an earlier semifinal match, Pinewood (1-0) will face Fremont Christian at 1 p.m. The winners will meet in the championship match on Sept. 21 at 3 p.m. Sacred Heart Prep (1-0) opened its season Wednesday with a 7-1 romp over Stuart Hall of San Francisco. Senior Matt Smith had three goals and three assists to pace the Gators, who received two goals each from senior Sergio Soto and junior James Oberhausen. Pinewood advanced with a 6-3 opening win over King's Academy.

ON THE LINKS . . . Entries are now being accepted for the annual City of Palo Alto Men's and Women's Senior Golf Championships to be played on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at the Palo Alto Municipal Golf Course. The event is open to senior men and women over the age of 50 with an established handicap. Entry fee is $70. The deadline is Sept. 20. For information call Palo Alto Recreation at 463-4920.
COACHES NEEDED . . . The Palo Alto Recreation Department motto is "everyone plays," but there's a caveat. If they don't come up with enough coaches, some middle school athletes may be left out. "The need for coaches is critical," said Recreation Sports Coordinator Chris Neier. "We're trying to get the word out, but it's difficult to find coaches at this time of the year." Coaches are needed in girls' volleyball, boys' flag football and girls' and boys' cross country. Neier somehow has to come up with 35 coaches in the next two weeks or so, with the need most pressing in volleyball. The season runs from the first week of September until late October, and no coaching experience is necessary. For information, call the Palo Alto Recreation Department at 650 329-2464 . . . Woodside Priory is looking for a girls JV volleyball coach for the 2002-02 school year. Interested coaches should contact Woodside Priory athletic director Mark Stogner at 851-6107.