Mission Prep's Kevin Laird (left), shown during the CIF-Central Section Division V championship game, was among a number of standout senior basketball players in San Luis Obispo County this year. — Photo courtesy of The Fresno Bee ©
While you all share your thoughts on pending all-San Luis Obispo County picks (thanks again — I appreciate the feedback), I just got word that the date for the upcoming Kiwanis Central Coast Basketball Spectacular all-star games for high school senior boys and girls has been set. The 20th annual games, which pit SLO County stars against their Northern Santa Barbara County counterparts, will be held March 28 at Santa Maria High. The girls game is scheduled for 3 p.m., with the boys game to follow at 5 p.m.
Meanwhile, in spring news, the PAC 7 is star-studded in both baseball and softball. In softball, San Luis Obispo freshman pitcher Andrea Reynolds came within an out of a perfect game in a 10-0 win over Mission Prep on Tuesday. Also, Arroyo Grande sophomore Jill Compton struck out 15 batters in a 4-1 win over Lompoc; she had struck out 14 and 16 in her previous two starts.
On the baseball diamond, two players within the league already have a pair of home runs to their credit through the first five games of the year — Arroyo Grande’s Kyle Raubinger and Nipomo’s Jeff McNeil. McNeil is perhaps the most intriguing individual story, as he’s currently amidst his first season playing interscholastically, despite being a senior. (The Cal State Northridge signee caught the eye of scouts this past year playing for the California Wahoos summer-league team and decided to come out for his high school team to help sharpen his game. He had previously played golf for the Titans during the spring.)
Conversely, one of the most impressive overall team starts in the county has belonged to San Luis Obispo boys volleyball, which swept Santa Ynez on Tuesday to run its record to 7-0. Also in that early discussion would be Arroyo Grande boys tennis, which blanked Nipomo 18-0 on Tuesday to bring its record to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in PAC 7 play. The Eagles feature Eli Whittle, ranked as a top-60 freshman in the Southwest region of the country by TennisRecruiting.net. The boys golf scene thus far has been individually highlighted by Nipomo’s Rory Doll. The 6-foot-5 senior is averaging a score of 75.3 this year, and won medalist honors in his first three duals of the season.
Other recent items of note
• The Arroyo Grande girls water polo team cleaned up when the CIF-Southern Section announced its all-Division 4 team on Monday. The Eagles’ Briana Lippert and Melanie Johnson shared Player of the Year honors, while coach Steven Allen earned co-Coach of the Year distinction. Three players were also named to the first team on behalf of Arroyo Grande, which went 30-3, claiming its third straight divisional championship.
• Former Paso Robles basketball star Derrick Jasper was discussed by legendary former UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian in the most recent issue of The Sporting News. The magazine listed 96 reasons the NCAA Tournament is great as is (and shouldn’t necessarily be expanded to 96 teams), and reason No. 66 was the recent renaissance of the Runnin’ Rebels, who are back in March Madness after making it to the Sweet 16 in 2007. “Tark the Shark” praised Jasper’s passing, defense and rebounding. Jasper is one of two county prep products currently playing in an NCAA Tournament field, joining 2007 Atascadero grad Hannah Donaghe, playing for the Stanford women, who’re ranked No. 2 in the country.
6 responses so far ↓
1 what happened? // Mar 17, 2010 at 6:40 pm
Box scores…local Track Meets….Baseball….its a local paper please print them!
2 Who are the Senior All Stars? // Mar 18, 2010 at 6:44 pm
Donovan, Where are the rosters and who was selected to play on the SLO county teams for the senior all star basketball kiwanis spectacular game down in santa maria?
3 hello... // Mar 19, 2010 at 7:47 am
box scores for baseball? track meets? like to see who is doing what on other teams…..you print local senior golf scores….no excuses please…thank you
4 other all stars // Mar 22, 2010 at 1:42 pm
There were other girls also involved in Divisional all-star games for soccer…I know that AG sent Cheyenne Rodriguez as a keeper to the game in which she helped their team to a 4-1 win over Division 4. Kayla DeBlauw was also a member of the team, but could not go due to track meet.
Also, Kate Reinhardt the MVP of league made the 1st team All-CIF as well as Cheyenne Rodriguez-2nd team and Jenna Harshbarger-3rd team all CIF…
Congrats to those girls!!! I am sure there are others from other schools but have not seen total list.
5 Donovan Aird // Mar 24, 2010 at 9:04 pm
Poster No. 2,
The rosters were announced today. Here they are:
*BOYS*
North:
Kevin Laird, SF, Mission Prep
Matt McAustin, SG, Arroyo Grande
Jeff McNeil, SG, Nipomo
Michael Escobedo, PG, Arroyo Grande
Jonathan Fisher, SF, Nipomo
Jordan Hattar, PG, Templeton
Matt O’Connell, SF, Atascadero
Lonnie Watson, SG, Paso Robles
Dakota Oropeza, PF, Templeton
Joe Agbo, PG, San Luis Obispo
Josh James, SG, San Luis Obispo
Derick Beasley, PF, Arroyo Grande
South:
David Terrones, PG, Cabrillo
Nixon Corpuz, G, Cabrillo
T.C. Webb, G, Cabrillo
J.D. Salutan, G, Righetti
Jacob Cano, PG, St. Joseph
Curt Rossen, C, Cabrillo
Jordan Jones, G, Pioneer Valley
Quentin Sims, F, Righetti
Kevin Lindgren, F, Santa Maria
Nick Sauer, C, Righetti
*GIRLS*
North:
Kelsey O’Hagan, SG, San Luis Obispo
Ally Kersthold, SG, Mission Prep
Chelsea Merrill, PG, Paso Robles
Kati Sheldon, PF, Paso Robles
Casey Peterson, SG, Morro Bay
Jenna Sverchek, PF, Arroyo Grande
Aria Johnson, PF, Morro Bay
Cami Castillo, PG, Nipomo
Ciara Ramos, PF, Morro Bay
Christina Combs, SG, Arroyo Grande
Stephanie DaRosa, SG, Mission Prep
Raven Taylor, PF, Atascadero
Hannah Kenny, C, San Luis Obispo
South:
Desra Richards, G, Righetti
Michelle Herrera, G, Santa Ynez
Hannah Miller, G, Pioneer Valley
Samantha Lugo, F, Santa Ynez
Annie Fredrickson, C, Santa Ynez
Shari Belen, G, Santa Ynez
Pearl Gutierrez, G, Santa Maria
Isabel Maldonado, F, Pioneer Valley
Analise Riezebos, F, St. Joseph
Molly Schlemer, C, Righetti
6 Victoria // Apr 19, 2010 at 12:27 pm
I was trying to vote on the Softball poll and it says the person that I marked is not on the poll although it is one the front portion of the poll???
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