Archive for August, 2008

We want to continue to thank the Valley's high school football coaches for sending us the information that will enable us to recognize their schools and, more importantly, their athletes.

NEXT UP in our series, still focusing on the schools that finished out of the running last year, but looking for better days this year:    
    We move the spotlight from our coverage of Apollo HS, Copper Canyon HS, and Desert Mountain HS... to this week's installment covering Maryvale HS and Cesar Chavez HS in the 5A-I Metro I Region, and 3A schools Estrella Foothills in the West Region and Fountain Hills in the South Region.  (Coming up next... Agua Fria HS, Arcadia HS, and Bourgade Catholic.)
                                                                     
    "I really don't know what's going to happen with us," says Maryvale head coach, Pat Rowe.  "We have put in a new scheme offensively and we're excited about it, so only time will tell."
    The Panthers, 4-6 last year, are trying to make things happen in 2008 with a lot of inexperience on the field; only 6 players return on both sides of the ball - and most of them are two-way players.
    Those returning players include: seniors Ray Jones and Saul Duarte at running back and linebacker, senior defensive back Omar Gonzalez, senior center Damien Esquivel, junior Hector Medina on the offensive and defensive line, and sophomore linebacker Aaron Nevins.

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Thanks to all the high school football coaches who responded to our request for information about their team's outlook for 2008.
    Our last Football Preview was included in the print edition of SportZine Magazine, at a time when space was limited.  Today, we are able to use our web edition and enjoy unlimited space to recognize as many athletes as possible.
    We have divided this year's entries into 2 categories: 1) Those that struggled last year and are primed for a new season, and 2) Winning programs that are re-loading to do it again.
    FIRST UP, those that struggled in 2007... Apollo HS (2-8), which will depend heavily on the younger hawks on the roster this year... Copper Canyon HS (3-7), a team plagued by key injuries last season... and Desert Mountain HS (4-6), which is pinning its 2008 hopes on an untested offensive line.
    "We are going to be a much more athletic team than last year, especially on defense," says Apollo head coach, Zack Threadgill.  "Our young players are going to have to step in and play significant roles.  We look forward to the opportunity to compete in our region games, and ultimately compete for the region title."

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    One-fourth of Arizona State University's football roster this season contains the names of players from high schools scattered throughout the Valley.  More than a third of those are freshmen stepping up to the demands of a whole new level of play.
    The lions' share of the local recruits are funneling into the program from Hamilton High School.  The six former Huskies players include freshman wide receiver Gerell Robinson and freshman Patrick Jamison on the offensive line; redshirt freshman linebacker Colin Parker; sophomore wide receiver Kerry Taylor; junior linebacker Gerald Munns; and senior defensive tackle David Smith.

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    Notre Dame Prep infielder Tony Piazza singled in the second game of the final day of the 2008 Area Code Games in Long Beach, CA., to give his Cincinnati Reds to tie the game in the third inning.  The Reds scored once more in the top of the seventh when Brophy Prep's Jake Williams, son of former Diamondbacks third baseman Matt Williams, doubled.
    But both hits came in a losing effort as the New York Yankees took the final game for both teams in the week-long showcase of elite high school talent that ended Monday.  The Games were won this year by the team representing the Texas Rangers in a 4-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.
    Notre Dame pitcher Casey Upperman was the first of a group of Arizona baseball players to make his mark at the Games.  Upperman was credited with the Reds' opening night's 1-0 win over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday, Aug. 5.  In that same game, teammate Kirby Pellan from Corona del Sol HS doubled off Jeffrey Ames from Vancouver, Wash.   Two nights later, Jake Barrett from Desert Ridge HS, took the mound as the starting pitcher for the Reds, but was tagged for the first home run of the Games, as the Reds fell to the Texas Rangers, 4-0.  Lance Harper of Desert Mountain (Scottsdale) HS kicked in a single in the losing effort.

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