Modesto Sports

The Central California girls water polo qualifier for the Junior National Championships continues today at Johansen High in Modesto and Pitman High in Turlock, with matches beginning at 8 a.m. and continuing to 5 p.m. The top teams in each age group advance to the national tourney, the first week in August in Pasadena. The 14-under and 18-under girls are at Johansen, while the 16-under girls will be playing at Pitman.

Spin moves. Stiff-arms. Jump cuts. Flips.

Nathan Sanchez showcased just about every evasive move in his bag of tricks on Friday night.

There's not a team in the Stanislaus District with more talent than Escalon High, yet coach Greg Largent has got a short bench for this week's Lee Hampson Tournament.

It was a bittersweet end to the baseball season for Ripon Christian High coach John De Visser, who guided the Knights to their best season in school history.

Turlock High senior Paul Smith, The Bee's 2010 Golfer of the Year, fired a two-round total of 1-over 145 for a one-stroke win at a USGA Junior qualifying tournament at the Yolo Fliers course in Woodland.

Central Catholic High senior outfielder Billy Flamion, a three-time member of The Bee's all-Stanislaus District Baseball Team, has made the final tryout to play for the Milwaukee Brewers at the prestigious Area Code Games in August in Long Beach.

There were times last spring when Andy Morris' temper got the better of him, and his pitching statistics suffered because of that. "I'd get angry when I threw a good pitch and it was called a ball, and pretty much everyone would know I was upset," the Oakdale High junior said.

Thursday's results from the Lee Hampson Summer Tourney and the upcoming schedule.

Wednesday's results from the Lee Hampson Summer Tourney and the upcoming schedule.

This is the summer of hope for Cody Swartwood and Robert Steves, aspiring ballplayers given very different tasks when their high school seasons ended a few weeks ago.

The Lee Hampson Baseball Tournament, a five-day affair featuring 19 Stanislaus District teams, starts today with games at Oakdale and Johansen high schools and Modesto Junior College.

Lee Hampson Summer Tourney schedule.

Surgeons and physical therapists say they see an epidemic of overuse -- fractures, tears, and worn-down joints -- in children who are playing at higher intensities and at younger ages. Surgeries to repair shoulder, elbow, knee, and hip injuries, once thought to be adult fare, are being routinely performed on preteens and teenagers.

STOCKTON -- As he was most of the night, Escalon High's Nick Largent was in the thick of the play that helped decide the 37th Lions All-Star Classic.

Mike House says his son still listens when the "old man" has something useful to say, but experience has taught him that it's best to talk following a large meal.

Many of the Stanislaus District's top baseball players take the field today for the inaugural Merced-Stanislaus All-Star Game.

Roger Canepa has long been a fan of power football, lining up a couple of powerful backs behind a big line and turning them loose.

Adam Virchis appreciates the talent he sees while roaming the San Joaquin Valley as a scout for the Chicago White Sox, but he can't let himself get caught up in the moment.

Once a decade or so, it seems that Mariposa High produces a football player that makes your jaw drop.

Many of the Stanislaus District's top baseball players take the field Saturday for the inaugural Merced-Stanislaus All-Star Game.