High school lacrosse growth reaches Napa

The world of high school lacrosse is about to get bigger in Napa, CA.

After continuous discussions with the Napa Valley Unified School
District, the Board of Trustees approved to formally add the sport at
both Napa and Vintage High Schools. Justin-Siena has field the sport
since the 2010-2011 school year. The sport will offer both boys and
girls teams in the spring.

Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in the United States as high school
student-athletes continue to show interest in participating. The next
hurdles to clear are financial and logistics.

Napa and Vintage moving to the CIF North Coast Section last year from
the Sac Joaquin Section facilitates the adding the sport because the NCS
has a far greater volume of schools with lacrosse than the SJS. Justin has
been in the NCS since the 2000-2001 school year. Quite simply, as
members of the SJS, Napa and Vintage would not have found enough
opponents.

The addition of lacrosse for Napa and Vintage also means the end of the
Napa Force, which is a Northern California Junior Lacrosse Association
team. The reason for the move is because the players on that team that do
not go to Justin, which is a private school of about 600 or so students, can
fill rosters on Napa and Vintage.

For those not familiar, lacrosse combines the skills of various sports in
that the scoring concept involves a net like hockey and soccer. It also
involves using a stick, similar to jockey. The sport also involves stopping
and starting on a dime like soccer and basketball and involves sprinting
like track. The sport is also physical like basketball, soccer and hockey.

The fact that NVUSD is adding this sport does not come as a surprise
because it has become exceedingly more popular locally as well as
nationally. Moreover, an increasing amount of families are leery of their
sons playing football and youths are not universally playing baseball as
past generations. The sport also features a higher volume of scoring than
soccer, hockey or baseball. You can argue whether that’s good, bad or
indifferent but it’s reality.

The only question becomes is the growth of this sport a trend or an
aberration? I lean towards the former. Despite the popularity surge, there
is still segments of people that consider lacrosse an obscure sport. Also,
because of the volume of equipment required to purchase in order to play
the sport, it becomes quite costly.

Between purchasing helmet, stick, elbow pads, and gloves, just to name
a few, suddenly you have a pretty costly sport compared to others that do
not require buying as much equipment.

I would venture to say the growth is closer to being a trend because over
70 NCAA schools field the sport and that’s just at the Div. I level. That
scenario will present yet another sport where a youngster can earn a
scholarship. Couple that with the fact that more high schools and youth
programs are adding the sport, that means the feeder system becomes
bigger.

It is also a sport that does not penalize a kid for his or her lack of size.
Though the sport has been popular for a long time in the Northeastern
states, the growth has especially become prominent in your West Coast
and Midwest states. Keep in mind, the University of Denver was the
first school to field lacrosse that was not in the Eastern time zone.

Even though the sport is not growing as rapidly on the professional
level as it is for youths, the Major League Lacrosse plans to expand to
16 teams within the next ten years. There are current six teams. With
the growth at the youth level, one would think the domino effect reaches
the professional ranks.

Therefore that popularity reaching these parts was only a matter of time.

Buckner's passing a reminder that he deserves a better legacy

Sometimes there are great players that deserve better legacies.

The Major League Baseball world was shaken on Monday morning
with the news of 22-year MLB veteran Bill Buckner having passed
away at age 69 as a result of dementia.

Buckner played 22 seasons in the big leagues from 1969-90.
Unfortunately, he is most remembered for his error in Game 6 of
the 1986 World Series, when he let Mookie Wilson's ground ball
get through his legs. The error allowed the game-winning run to
score, and the Mets went on to win the series in seven games.
The Red Sox were seeking their first World Series title since 1918.
Boston later lifted its curse by winning four World Series crowns
from 2004-2018.

Following his playing career, Buckner spent some time coaching
and managing in independent and minor leagues. He officially
retired from baseball in 2014.

I first started following baseball in 1982 and when I heard that
Buckner graduated from Napa High School in 1968, I became an
instant fan of his. Though I grew up a San Francisco Giants fan,
I remember going to an Oakland A’s game when they were hosting
the Red Sox. When Buckner came up to bat, I remember thinking,
“Wow, he’s from my hometown.” Buckner was enshrined in the
Napa High Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997 and the CIF Sac Joaquin
Section Hall of Fame in 2010.

Buckner was born in Vallejo, CA, which is about a half hour South
of Napa but grew up in American Canyon, which is located between
Napa and Vallejo. American Canyon, however, did not get its own
high school until 2010, which meant kids that lived there went to
school in Napa. Just think, Buckner could have been an American
Canyon Wolves player.

While I’m not suggesting that his aforementioned error should be
summarily dismissed, it is also important to remember that while
it was the final play of that game, there were other factors that
are attributable to the Red Sox losing that World Series.

Regardless of profession, I have always believed that a person’s
resume is the body of work over a period of time. Unlike some
Napa and/or Vallejo natives, I never had the pleasure of meeting
Buckner. Everyone I talked to that either met or knew him, spoke
in glowing terms. I have no reason to think anything to the contrary.

The grace in which he handled years of criticism, and especially
in the face of death threats is exemplary. I don’t know if anyone
could have handled it better.

As I look at Buckner’s career, I can’t help but think, “It’s a crying
shame that he does not have a better legacy in baseball.” Those
who truly know the game appreciate it, while the short-sighted
ones point to a certain night in 1986 and let it overshadow his
greatness.

Though he only played in one All-Star Game (1981), strong
arguments can be made that he belongs in the Hall of Fame.
Buckner played for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1969-1976),
Chicago Cubs (1977-1984), Red Sox (1984-1987, 1990),
California Angels (1987-1988) and Kansas City Royals
(1988-1989).

The bottom line is that Buckner deserves to be remembered for
much more than the error. Anyone with a clear conscience can
see that the good he did in baseball far outweighed the bad.
Buckner finished his career with a .289 batting average, .321
on base percentage and .408 slugging percentage. Though he
is remembered for the aforementioned error, Buckner recorded
a fielding percentage of .991 playing first base, left-field and
right-field.

Buckner compiled 2,715 career hits and 174 home runs. He was
the National League batting champ in 1980 and received MVP
votes in five different seasons. In the 1970s and 1980s, only
all-time hits leader Pete Rose compiled more hits.

When I think of Buckner’s career, it takes me back to when baseball
was a different game. It was the pre Performance Enhancing Drug
(PED) era. You did not see cartoon like home run totals. The
emphasis was about making contact. Buckner was the epitome of
the term “tough out.”

He still holds the Napa High record for fewest strikeouts in a
season (one) with a minimum of 50 at-bats. Buckner never had a
game in which he struck out three times and once had a stretch
where he went nearly 200 at bats without a strikeout. Those
numbers are hard to fathom in today’s game where about one-third
of the at-bats end either in a walk, strikeout or home run. In 22
seasons, Buckner had 7,764 plate appearances and only struck
out 453 times. That’s one strikeout per 17.1 plate appearances.
Let that marinate for just a moment.

Since Buckner is no longer on this Earth in body, it behooves
everyone to think of Buckner’s legacy as heavenly.

2019 nonleague football schedule breakdown: Napa Grizzlies

This is the third story in a series featuring nonleague schedules for

Napa Valley high school football teams. Today, the focus is the Napa
Grizzlies:

What was once a picture of stability has become a revolving door. The
Napa High football team under only four coaching changing from
1979-2016 (Les Franco, Bob Herlocker, Jerry Dunlap and Troy Mott).
The Grizzlies are undergoing their fourth coaching change in as many
seasons.

After Mott resigned, Jesus Martinez and Tom Petithomme each coached
for one season, 2017 and 2018 respectively. Enter Richie Wessman, who
was hired in January.

Napa has gone from a perennial contender to also ran overnight. The
reasons for the decline are many that we will not rehash because it has
been written and talked about ad nauseum.

The Grizzlies have gone 3-16 the last two seasons, including 0-10 a year
ago for the first time since 1955. Napa’s win came on Oct. 27, 2017, when
it was known as the Indians.

On the surface, however, the Grizzlies would appear to be in the position
of an immediate turnaround. What that translates into from a win-loss
standpoint who knows? However, a season with a record North of .500
appears to be a strong possibility.

For openers, the Grizzlies’ varsity team, which had 28 players last season
(plus or minus a few), is getting a big lift in that the JV team. Napa’s JV
went 7-2-1, winning a share of the Vine Valley Athletic League with
crosstown rival Vintage, whom it played to a 14-14 tie in the Big Game.
Granted, JV success does not always translate on varsity but in this case
it provides optimism because last year’s JV team had about 45 players
(plus or minus a few).

Other reasons for optimism is the return of the freshmen football team,
which went away last season due to lack of numbers. Considering that
the VVAL is not exactly Murderer’s Row coupled with a favorable
nonleague schedule, the seeds are in place for a bounceback season.
Granted, the Grizzlies have to prove it on the field but the ingredients
are there to take advantage. Napa’s nonleague opponents have a combined
record of 77-131 the past five seasons and went 22-22 in 2018. Here’s a
closer look:

AUGUST 23

AT MIDDLETOWN

On the surface, it is strange to see a Div. II team like the Grizzlies matching
up against a Div. V team like Middletown. Though if you like the small
town, Friday Night Lights feel that resembles Mid-America, Middletown is
a great experience. The Mustangs are a long-time small school powerhouse
under head coach Bill Foltmer. Middletown went 11-3 last season on the
way to winning the CIF North Coast Section Div. V title and has gone
42-18 the last five seasons. The biggest advantage the Grizzlies will have
in this game is fewer players going both ways, meaning offense and defense.

AUGUST 30

VS. NEVADA UNION (GRASS VALLEY)

If you are looking for a “how the mighty have fallen” story, look no further
than the Miners. Nevada Union was once a program that made other teams
tremble. Those days are long gone. Jefferson Heidelberger is not walking
through the door, fans. The Miners have gone 11-39 the last five seasons
with 3-7 being the high water mark in that time. Nevada Union’s last
playoff appearance was 2012 and the last winning campaign was 2011.
The two teams have played in each of the last three seasons. Napa won
the 2016 matchup 35-34 in overtime. The Miners won 14-13 and 59-34
in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

SEPTEMBER 6

AT VALLEJO

The third oldest rivalry in California is being revisited for the first time
since 2013. The last time the two teams met they were known as the Indians
and Apaches. The teams were long time combatants as members of the
Monticello Empire League and continued to play each other as nonleague
opponents when Vallejo, which is now the Redhawks, moved to the now
disbanded Solano County Athletic Conference. The series was discontinued
in large part because it was so one sided. Between 2002-2013, Napa won
by an average score of 43.1-to-13.5. Like Napa, Vallejo shifted from the Sac
Joaquin Section to the North Coast Section beginning in the 2018-2019
school year. Vallejo’s last winning season was 2005. The Redhawks,
who compete in the Tri County League’s Stone Division, went 4-6 in 2018
and are 11-38 the last five years.

SEPTEMBER 13

VS. ARMIJO (FAIRFIELD)

This game will be played on Friday The 13th and this matchup has been a
house of horrors for Armijo, which like Napa will soon to be no longer
known as the Indians. The two teams met as long time members of the
MEL, where Armijo still competes. The Indians last non-losing season
was 2006 (5-5) and last winning season was 2005 (8-2). Armijo is 13-36
the last five years and went 4-6 last year. The last four head-to-head
meetings, Napa won by an average score of 58.3-to-9.6.

2019 nonleague football schedule breakdown: Vintage Crushers

This is the second story in a series featuring nonleague schedules for
Napa Valley high school football teams. Today, the focus is the Vintage
Crushers:

After years of chasing their peers, the Vintage Crushers have elevated
roles from the hunted as opposed to the hunter. The Crushers went through
four coaching changes in a nine year span after Les Franco retired at the
end of 2006. The incoming Vintage senior class, however, has had Dylan
Leach as the only coach they have ever known.

In three years time, Leach has assembled a high quality coaching staff and
established a bankable culture. The Crushers have gone 22-11 since Leach,
who is a 1992 graduate of Vintage, was appointed as head coach including
17-6 the previous two years. Last season, Vintage went 10-3 after an 0-2
start. The Crushers won the Vine Valley Athletic League for their first
league crown since 2005, when they finished in a three-way tie with Napa
and Vacaville as members of the Monticello Empire League.

The Crushers blasted James Logan (Union City) 36-0 in the CIF North
Coast Section Div. I playoffs before upsetting No. 1 seeded Antioch 24-21
in overtime. Vintage lost to eventual champion San Ramon 14-3.

Before each high school football season, one of the most comical things
to listen to is fans, parents and even coaches talking about their team’s
strength of schedule or someone else’s lack of schedule strength.

Each time I hear such sentiments I ask myself, “OK, and what exactly are
you basing your statement on?” Is it last year’s record? Is it based on how
many starters a team has returning? Even though an opponent is subpar
now are you basing it on remembering them as a powerhouse?

The formula used for breaking down the nonleague is looking at last season’s
record and the collective mark of the past five seasons. In addition, what are
that team’s trends within the five-year period? Is that record skewed by one
really good or bad season? The problem with solely going by last season’s
record is that one season does not transfer to the next?

The Crushers’ 2019 nonleague opponents have a combined 134-93 record
over the past five seasons and went 22-22 last season. Here’s a closer look:

AUGUST 23

Vs. Will C. Wood (Vacaville)

The Crushers and Wildcats continue to square off even though they are no
longer MEL combatants. Wood has won four of the past five meetings
(42-28 in 2014, 56-39 in 2015, 24-21 in 2017, 35-7 in 2018). Wood’s
decisive win over Vintage in 2018 was in the season opener and was the
low point for the Crushers’ otherwise great season. Vintage defeated Wood
28-27 in 2016, which could be surmised as a high point in Leach’s tenure.
The Wildcats have gone 34-21 the past five seasons, ranging mostly between
5-5 and 7-4 with a 10-2 mark in 2015 also in the picture.

AUGUST 30

At El Cerrito

The Gauchos are an NCS Div. III team but a higher end one that competes in
the Tri County League’s Rock Division. El Cerrito has won its league twice
in the past five years, during which time it has compiled a record of 35-22
and have been to the postseason in each of those years, never going worse
than 6-6. The 2018 season was the high water mark of that stretch. The
Gauchos went 9-4, reaching the NCS Div. III semifinals, beating Petaluma
(49-0) and Miramonte-Orinda (44-21) before losing 38-0 to Cardinal Newman
(Santa Rosa).

SEPTEMBER 6

Vs. Acalanes (Lafayette)

For the second time in as many seasons, the Dons, who are coached by long
time Solano Community College head man Floyd Burnsed, will venture into
Memorial Stadium. Acalanes prevailed 28-27 in last year’s matchup, dropping
the Crushers to 0-2. That game, however, had Vintage rally from a 20-7 second
half deficit only to fall short. The second half of that game catapulted the
Crushers’ 10-game winning streak. Acalanes has been a mixed bag the last five
years, going 29-27. The 2017 campaign was the high point (9-2) while 2015
was the low point at 4-8.

SEPTEMBER 13

At Bellarmine Prep (San Jose)

If there ever was a case of how the mighty have fallen, look no further than the
Bells. Bellarmine was once a West Catholic League powerhouse along with
Serra (San Mateo). Despite a 36-23 five-year record that looks good on the
surface, the Bells’ arrow has been plummeting downward, going a combined
6-15 the last two seasons. Vintage won last year’s contest 26-14.