Modesto Sports

Calvin Thomas spent much of his senior season playing in relative obscurity, roaming center field and punching out hits for Modesto High.

Two down and one to go. That's Caitlin Brooks' plan after taking Escalon High to a second straight Sac-Joaquin Division 5 softball crown.

When Craig Miller singled to center field, driving in two runs to tie the 21st Modesto Sunrise Rotary Classic small-school game, it appeared the West might rally to victory.

MERCED -- Justin Steelman was lost in the moment.

Johansen coach made a good team much better

Modesto Christian graduate Taryn Garza, whose senior year had a disappointing finish after a late-season hamstring injury, placed third in the 400 meters Saturday night at the 51st Golden West Invitational at Folsom High School.

The 2010 Modesto Sunrise Rotary Baseball Classic doubleheader is today at Thurman Field in Modesto, with the small-school game at 3:05 p.m. and the large-school game at 7:05.

Frank Ferreira talks like a proud papa when discussing Le Grand High's soccer program, and for a good reason.

It's going to be some time before Ripon High rolls out another soccer star the level of Renae McFadden. The four-year star won four Trans-Valley League crowns, played in three Sac-Joaquin Section finals and won section titles her final two years.

Brian de la Porte and Ceres High's tennis program will be in a new league next year, so this was their last chance to beat rival Manteca and win a Valley Oak League crown.

Luis Ochoa says he was destined to play tennis well before he was born. "When my parents got married, they wanted a sport the two of them could play together," said Ochoa. "They both liked tennis and it was a sport they knew the kids could play, as well."

What a turnabout for Turlock High's Mark de la Motte, who spent much of the season looking for a consistent No. 2 behind ace Vince Wheeland.

Markus Sanders burned his initials onto the valley sports scene with his eye-catching football season at Pitman High. Six months later, he conquered another discipline — the discus.

Buhach Colony High junior Rebecca Hammar, an elite weight events star, has competed everywhere from Stanford to New Orleans to Denver.

Modesto High's Arlen Peters, a coach in the area for nearly 30 years, has spent the last 24 in the Panthers' track and field program.

Michael Chiavetta, Modesto High's swim coach for the past 12 years, has heard the theory — the Panthers' success is based on more depth than quality, and the Panthers fill the lanes and gather the points. Chiavetta agrees, but only to a point.

Brooke Fuller reads a sentence and, in many cases, must read it again to absorb its message. She has repeated this over and over, day after day and year after year.

If you sought Central Casting in need of a swimmer, you would find Downey High graduate Tim Richard. He stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 198 pounds, an imposing presence as he dives into the pool.

Gustine pitcher Ben Griset was selected Western Athletic Conference MVP and Central Catholic junior outfielder Billy Flamion was selected Offensive Player of the Year by the coaches.

Mariposa shortstop Jarrett Miller, in his first year at the position, was named Southern League MVP for baseball by the league's coaches.