Singer and songwriter David Bowie released a song title called “Changes” in 1971.
The lyrics included the word being pronounced “Ch-ch-ch-changes!”
With another Napa Valley high school softball season in the rearview mirror, the word
change applies quite strong as it applies to the 2018-2019 athletic landscape.
change applies quite strong as it applies to the 2018-2019 athletic landscape.
The shakeup will be huge next year for four of the six schools. Calistoga and St. Helena
remain status quo in the North Central League III and I respectively.
The change part comes involving Justin-Siena, Napa, Vintage and American Canyon.
Justin will part ways with the Marin County Athletic League, where it has been since
2000. Napa and Vintage will vacate the Monticello Empire League, where each has been
since 1975. American Canyon will leave the Solano County athletic Conference, where it
has been since the school opened in 2010.
Beginning the 2018-2019 school year, the landscape will change dramatically for Napa,
Vintage and American Canyon. To a lesser degree it will change for Justin as well. For
Napa, Vintage and American Canyon, no more trips East on Interstate 80 as the move from
the CIF Sac Joaquin Section to the North Coast Section, unless they preserve any
longstanding matchups between MEL and SCAC combatants. For Justin, unless they retain
any MCAL teams as nonleague foes, no more trips to Marin County. Justin moved from the
SJS to NCS in 2000.
SJS to NCS in 2000.
Justin, Napa, Vintage and American Canyon will have Sonoma, Casa Grande and Petaluma
as its league foes. The name of the new league is the Vine Valley Athletic League. By my
own admission, I have followed Sonoma, Casa Grande and Petaluma very little because I
have had no reason.
own admission, I have followed Sonoma, Casa Grande and Petaluma very little because I
have had no reason.
So I decided to research the last ten seasons involving the aforementioned schools. While
that span does not tell the entire story, it is enough of a sample size to gauge a program’s
trajectory.
that span does not tell the entire story, it is enough of a sample size to gauge a program’s
trajectory.
Here’s a breakdown of the new league and a look at crossover games that took place last
season. The definition of crossover in this context means the aforementioned Napa schools
against their newly acquainted league opponents. Since Napa and Vintage have played each
other continuously as MEL foes, I exclude that history. I do the same for Casa Grande,
Petaluma and Sonoma for similar reasons.
other continuously as MEL foes, I exclude that history. I do the same for Casa Grande,
Petaluma and Sonoma for similar reasons.
AMERICAN CANYON
American Canyon did not open until August 2010, and that year was only grades 9 and 10
which meant no varsity sports until 2011-2012. Even that season had varsity sports without a
senior class. Roger Harris is the only softball head coach the school has ever known. The
Wolves are 82-88-2 in that stretch with the record being skewed by a 2-16 season in 2012,
which was without a senior class.
which meant no varsity sports until 2011-2012. Even that season had varsity sports without a
senior class. Roger Harris is the only softball head coach the school has ever known. The
Wolves are 82-88-2 in that stretch with the record being skewed by a 2-16 season in 2012,
which was without a senior class.
American Canyon reached the SJS Div. III playoffs each of the last five years with the lone
win coming over Rosemont, 9-8 in 2014. In head-to-head matchups, the Wolves are 0-3
against Sonoma, 0-1 against Vintage and 0-2 against Napa.
win coming over Rosemont, 9-8 in 2014. In head-to-head matchups, the Wolves are 0-3
against Sonoma, 0-1 against Vintage and 0-2 against Napa.
CASA GRANDE
The Gauchos have experienced a checkered ten-year stretch in going 108-110. From
2009-2013, Casa Grande went 63-48 under Louie Bruce (2009-2012) and Joanna Martin
(2013). The program then had four straight losing seasons, 30-54, under Martin (2014-2015)
and Scott Sievers (2016-2017).
2009-2013, Casa Grande went 63-48 under Louie Bruce (2009-2012) and Joanna Martin
(2013). The program then had four straight losing seasons, 30-54, under Martin (2014-2015)
and Scott Sievers (2016-2017).
Casa Grande went 15-8 in 2018, reaching the NCS Div. II playoffs as a No. 14 seed. The
Gauchos upset No. 3 Antioch 1-0 and lost to No. 6 Bishop O’Dowd 3-1. The Gauchos are
28-36 under Sievers in three years but showing upward mobility going from 4-17 in 2016,
9-11 in 2017, 15-8 in 2018. In head-to-head matchups, the Gauchos are 2-6 against Napa
and 1-1 against Vintage.
Gauchos upset No. 3 Antioch 1-0 and lost to No. 6 Bishop O’Dowd 3-1. The Gauchos are
28-36 under Sievers in three years but showing upward mobility going from 4-17 in 2016,
9-11 in 2017, 15-8 in 2018. In head-to-head matchups, the Gauchos are 2-6 against Napa
and 1-1 against Vintage.
JUSTIN-SIENA
Since winning the NCS Div. IV title in 2011, the Braves have experienced seven consecutive
losing seasons, going 59-99 in the process. Micah Putnam coached the team from 2012-2015
followed by Tim Garcia from 2016-2018.
losing seasons, going 59-99 in the process. Micah Putnam coached the team from 2012-2015
followed by Tim Garcia from 2016-2018.
Justin has a ten-year record of 110-127. Tricia Wall was the head coach in 2009, that season
the Braves were 15-10. Rick Robben coached the 2010-2011 teams, during which time the
Braves were 36-18 with the aforementioned NCS Div. IV title. Justin has six playoff seasons
in the ten-year span. In head-to-head matchups, the Braves are 0-2 against Sonoma and 0-3
against Vintage.
the Braves were 15-10. Rick Robben coached the 2010-2011 teams, during which time the
Braves were 36-18 with the aforementioned NCS Div. IV title. Justin has six playoff seasons
in the ten-year span. In head-to-head matchups, the Braves are 0-2 against Sonoma and 0-3
against Vintage.
NAPA
The Indians have experienced both a lot of coaching turnover and a lot of success. John
O’Connor retired after the 2014 season. Since that time, there has been a coaching change
every year from Karen Yoder (2015) to Ron Walston (2016) to Tammie Mansuy (2017) back
to Walston (2018).
O’Connor retired after the 2014 season. Since that time, there has been a coaching change
every year from Karen Yoder (2015) to Ron Walston (2016) to Tammie Mansuy (2017) back
to Walston (2018).
The Indians possess a 177-105-1 in the previous ten years with just one losing season, one
.500 campaign (12-12 in 2014), three 20 win seasons, and eight playoff appearances that
included the 2017 SJS Div. II championship, winning it as the No. 8 seed. Napa has a playoff
record of 12-11. In head-to-head matchups, the Indians are 6-2 against Casa Grande, 4-2
against Petaluma, 1-0 against American Canyon and 1-0 against Sonoma.
.500 campaign (12-12 in 2014), three 20 win seasons, and eight playoff appearances that
included the 2017 SJS Div. II championship, winning it as the No. 8 seed. Napa has a playoff
record of 12-11. In head-to-head matchups, the Indians are 6-2 against Casa Grande, 4-2
against Petaluma, 1-0 against American Canyon and 1-0 against Sonoma.
PETALUMA
Petaluma has been a picture of consistent success the last ten years under head coach Kurt
Jastrow, going 194-56 with nine playoff appearances, a 12-8 postseason record, six seasons
of 20 or more wins and no losing seasons.
Jastrow, going 194-56 with nine playoff appearances, a 12-8 postseason record, six seasons
of 20 or more wins and no losing seasons.
The Trojans had three straight years of deep NCS Div. II playoff runs. In 2011, Petaluma
defeated Carondolet for the NCS Div. II title. In 2012, the Trojans reached the NCS Div. II
title game only to have their repeat bid fall short with a loss to Concord. In 2013, Petaluma
reached the NCS Div. II semifinals, losing also to Concord. In head-to-head matchups, the
Trojans are 2-4 against Napa.
defeated Carondolet for the NCS Div. II title. In 2012, the Trojans reached the NCS Div. II
title game only to have their repeat bid fall short with a loss to Concord. In 2013, Petaluma
reached the NCS Div. II semifinals, losing also to Concord. In head-to-head matchups, the
Trojans are 2-4 against Napa.
SONOMA
The Dragons have enjoyed steady success the past decade in recording a 142-105 record
since 2009. Sonoma went 6-12 under Jan Moore in 2009, 101-75 under Dean Merrill
(2010-2016) and 35-18 the past two seasons under Keeley Ray.
since 2009. Sonoma went 6-12 under Jan Moore in 2009, 101-75 under Dean Merrill
(2010-2016) and 35-18 the past two seasons under Keeley Ray.
Sonoma has had just one losing season, two .500 campaigns (12-12 in both 2011 and 2012)
and one 20 win season. The Dragons postseason record is 4-7 but have made noise the last
two seasons in the NCS Div. III playoffs. Sonoma reached the title game in 2017 before
losing to San Marin. The Dragons reached the semifinals in 2018 before being eliminated by
Marin Catholic. In head-to-head competition, Sonoma is 0-1 against Napa, 2-0 against Justin
and 2-0 against American Canyon.
and one 20 win season. The Dragons postseason record is 4-7 but have made noise the last
two seasons in the NCS Div. III playoffs. Sonoma reached the title game in 2017 before
losing to San Marin. The Dragons reached the semifinals in 2018 before being eliminated by
Marin Catholic. In head-to-head competition, Sonoma is 0-1 against Napa, 2-0 against Justin
and 2-0 against American Canyon.
VINTAGE
The last decade has been both the best and worst of times for the Crushers, who went
175-95-1 in that span. The 2018 campaign was a struggle with Vintage going 4-16 under
first-year head coach Cat Guidry. The Crushers were 49-26 under Saanen Kerson (2015-2017)
with two SJS Div. II appearances and two wins.
175-95-1 in that span. The 2018 campaign was a struggle with Vintage going 4-16 under
first-year head coach Cat Guidry. The Crushers were 49-26 under Saanen Kerson (2015-2017)
with two SJS Div. II appearances and two wins.
Vintage went 71-20 under Rick Robben from 2012-2014 with the 2013 campaign being the
high-water mark with the team going 34-1, winning the SJS Div. II title. The Crushers were
41-33-1 the previous three years under ward Mullins. Vintage recorded an 8-5 mark in the
postseason and had just one losing campaign. In head-to-head matchups, the Crushers went
3-0 against Justin, 1-0 against American Canyon and 2-0 against Casa Grande.
high-water mark with the team going 34-1, winning the SJS Div. II title. The Crushers were
41-33-1 the previous three years under ward Mullins. Vintage recorded an 8-5 mark in the
postseason and had just one losing campaign. In head-to-head matchups, the Crushers went
3-0 against Justin, 1-0 against American Canyon and 2-0 against Casa Grande.
No comments:
Post a Comment