Time Out with Joyce Aquino (2016 Calistoga High senior)

Vince D’Adamo: What have you enjoyed most about competing in athletics throughout your life?

Joyce Aquino: I enjoy competition. I love the thrill of trying to be better than the opponent. Joining athletics was a way for me to compete and grow as an individual.

D’Adamo: What are your plans after high school?

Aquino: After high school, I plan on attending college, hopefully UCLA.

D’Adamo: What might you choose as a major? What intrigues you about going that direction?

Aquino: I plan on going into biology, more specifically neurology and physiology. I have always been intrigued about the human body. It's also a beneficial major to take before I go into medical school.

D’Adamo: What has been your favorite class here at Calistoga High?

Aquino: I've always been a science and math geek, and my most favorite class I've ever taken was probably Calculus. It was definitely the most challenging class I've ever taken, but I loved the challenge.

D’Adamo: Within your family who have been the most influential people?

Aquino: My father influences me the most. He's always pushed me to be the best I could be. He is the reason behind my overly competitive spirit.

D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports, that you would most like to meet. What would intrigue you about meeting him or her?

Aquino: I would like to meet Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to graduate from a medical school. Not only is she from the same work field that I want to enter in, she is also the first woman to do so. I want to discuss how she overcame all the sexual obstacles in order to become a doctor.

Exposing the "conference solidarity" theory in bowl season

To root or not to root. To be footed for or not to be rooted for.

When college football bowl season or the NCAA basketball tournament starts, you frequently hear people talk about “rooting for teams in the conference.” The argument in favor of that is so the conference looks good. I can understand the sentiment behind the argument but I don’t just roll over on command when I hear it.

In fact, I’ve gone from being ambivilant about rooting for the conference to thinking it is the most phony bunch of nonsense known to man. The problem I have with that argument is many, including but not limited to it’s a blanket statement.

I can only give my own example as a Nebraska fan. In a way, it’s not the most relatable since they have changed conferences going from the Big 8 to the Big 12 to the Big 10. Rivalries have shifted from Oklahoma to Colorado to Iowa.

Back to this whole argument of “rooting for your conference so it looks good.” I can understand that it is better for a conference to go 6-2 instead of 2-6 in bowl games, NCAA tournaments, etc. The problem I have is that it is the most disingenuous and phony idea on the Planet Earth.

So what you’re saying is that a Red Sox fan should root for the Yankees if they are in the World Series just for American League East solidarity? So what you are saying is that a San Francisco Giants fan should root for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series just so the National League West looks good? If I know of any such fan they should have their fan card ripped off their chest in public. There, I said it. And yes, if I know any Oakland Raiders fan that rooted for the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl in 1997 or 1998, they don’t deserve to be called a Raiders fan.

So I sound a little harsh, yes. The most fundamental problem I have with the “root for the conference” theory is this: I have rooted against these teams all season long so NOW I suddenly have to root for them as a benefit to the conference? To that I say, “Hell no!” I’m more concerned with how my team does in its bowl game or NCAA Tournament game. If my team wins and the conference goes 2-6 in bowl games, I can say, “well, that’s not on us.” However, my team loses and the conference goes 6-2, my thought becomes, “we didn’t hold up our end of the bargain.”

Time machine: 1999 baseball Wood vs. Vintage

Sometimes you remember a team clinching a league championship in stirring fashion. Starting a rally with two outs and nobody on base is about as captivating as one gets. In 1999, the Vintage (Napa, CA) High baseball team had a successful season of historic proportions. It was the kind of team you talk about more than a decade later.

The Crushers defeated Will C. Wood (Vacaville, CA) 7-5 on the way to winning a school-record 27 games. The win came with two regular season games remaining and clinched the Monticello Empire League, its third in five years time.

Setting the stage: Though Vintage had players in this era that went on to make a splash at the college and professional level such as Mike Neu, this era of Crusher baseball was defined by having a team full of grinders that the whole was greater than the sum of its parts.

Though the term chemistry gets thrown around freely and is often viewed as overrated in baseball, this Crusher team had that quality which was as big of a reason as any why they reached the heights they attained.

Add those qualities with pitching, hitting and defense and you have a special combination. The leader of this team was shortstop Steve Skinner. I have never seen a high school shortstop double-clutch throws to first base that still routinely beat the runners. The lineup also included Derek Texdahl, Dal Wilson, Brian Massey, J.R. Roberts, Duke Rasmussen, Lorin Brambila, and Jared Kimball. On the pitching side, there was Wilson, Wes Frey, Andrew Workman and Tom Pridemore.

What stood out about this season was the race for the MEL title that took place between Vintage and the Fairfield Falcons. The Crushers were humble and hard-working bunch. The Falcons were brash and cocky.

Thumbnail sketch of the game: Vintage trailed 5-4 going into the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs. Kimball reached on an error and Massey hammered a triple to straightaway centerfield. Massey slid into third with head-first, getting a face full of dirt in the process. Brambila followed with a walk. Skinner gave the Crushers the lead (6-5) with an RBI single to score Massey and Brambila later scored on a wild-pitch.

What stands out to me about this rally is that it started with two outs and no one on base. Those rallies can suck the life out of an opponent.

Despite the rally, Vintage still had to get three more outs in the top of the seventh. That half of the inning started restlessly for the Crushers. Wood’s Jimmy Loveday started with a leadoff walk against Frey. With Workman warming up in the bullpen, Crushers head coach Rich Anderson made a trip to the mound.

Though Workman was Vintage’s closer, Anderson opted to stick with Frey. Anderson’s reason for sticking with Frey was because he had only thrown 71 pitches before Loveday’s at-bat. Frey followed by inducing a groundball that Brambila nearly turned into a double-play. Frey then followed by inducing a 4-unassisted line-drive double-play to Brambila.

The game started about as inauspiciously as you could get for Frey, who gave up a three-run homer to Wood’s Mitch Lauer in the bottom of the first. Vintage fought back to make it a 3-2 game after three innings on RBI single by Skinner and Steve Tanner.

What it meant: Despite winning the MEL title, Vintage’s stint in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Div. I playoffs was short-lived, ending after three games. Fairfield, meanwhile, went on to win the SJS D-I title. Though Vintage High baseball has had pockets of success, none have come close to the 1999 version. That team was blessed with quality talent but also great intangibles.

Time Out with Tate Battistini (2016 St. Helena High senior)

Vince D’Adamo: What have you enjoyed most about competing in athletics throughout your life?

Tate Battistini: For me, the fact that I've played sports with all the same girls since I was in little league soccer has been the best part of it all. Being able to grow up with them and experience sports and competition at the same time has really been one of the best experiences throughout it all. This last volleyball season really was bittersweet and being able to look back on the many years we have all played together has been amazing. I will never forget all the memories I've had while playing with all of them.

D’Adamo: What are your plans after high school?

Battistini: After high school I plan on hopefully continuing to play volleyball in college. I've been interested in Lewis and Clark and Academy of Art University in San Francisco, and somewhere between my studies I would love to get out and travel around Europe and South America; maybe study abroad for a year or so.

D’Adamo: What might you choose as a major? What intrigues you about going that direction?

Battistini: I've been deciding between a few different art majors but interior architecture and design really have my interest because I would love to some day design houses and create other various types of pieces. Along with sports, art has been one of my favorite hobbies and I am very inspired by creating things that will further inspire other individuals. Wherever I go with my career it has to be something I love doing and look forward to going to, so art remains my main focus in my college endeavors.

D’Adamo: What has been your favorite class here at St. Helena High?

Battistini: Art with Ms. Seyve has definitely been my favorite class at St. Helena because it has always been the class I can go to and actually chill out in. I've been taking it all four years of High school and I'm super happy I've been able to create so many pieces in it. Also it's nice to be around a teacher who has such a fired up artistic attitude towards teaching. I'm never bored in that class!

D’Adamo: Within your family who have been the most influential people?

Battistini: My parents of course have always influenced me due to their never ending support and love. My dad has always been by my side and continues to be a big supporter throughout any sport or endeavor I've done. My mom does so much for our family and sometimes I have no idea how she manages to do the amount she does for all of us. Together, they inspire me to be the kind of people they are and I will always be beyond thankful for all they have done and continue to do for me.

D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports, that you would most like to meet. What would intrigue you about meeting him or her?

Battistini: Louis Zamperini would definitely be a historical figure I'd like to meet. Not only was he in the Olympics as a distance runner but his story about surviving through world war 2 and being a prisoner of war is one that inspires me greatly. To be able to meet such an amazing individual like him would be crazy and I would love to hear from him about the experiences that he went through. There's only so many people as invincible and inspiring as him.

Time Out with Daniel Gonzalez (2016 American Canyon High senior)

Vince D’Adamo: What have you enjoyed most about competing in athletics throughout your life?

Daniel Gonzalez: Competing in athletics has really been my outlet. I have a very competitive nature and sports allowed me to block out everything in my life and compete to be the best. The best thing about it though it developing lifelong bonds with those around you.

D’Adamo: What are your plans after high school?

Gonzalez: After high school, I plan to go to a four year university preferably in Southern California.

D’Adamo: What might you choose as a major? What intrigues you about going that direction?

Gonzalez: I am definitely wanting to pursue business as a major because it is one of the few things that has interested me. To me, everything is a business and corporations have such a huge influence on the public. It seems to be a direction that holds a lot of power which is also intriguing to me.

D’Adamo: What has been your favorite class here at American Canyon High?

Gonzalez: My favorite class was the "Business Marketing/Management" class because it intensified my passion for a career in business.

D’Adamo: Within your family who have been the most influential people?

Gonzalez: My father has been the most influential because in my mind, he is the epitome of the phrase "hard work pays off". He worked very hard to get where he is now and I will always try to emulate that level of work ethic.

D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports, that you would most like to meet.

Gonzalez: I would love to meet Steve Jobs because with his company, Apple, he had the world wrapped around his finger. Apple is easily one of the most successful tech companies and to have that kind of impact on the world just from a business is an incredible achievement.

My career change one year later

Change -- it’s part of life. Sometimes we resist it. Well, in my case often times but I digress. Sometimes, we welcome it. Other times, it’s all we have left in our pocket.

Many people in their professional life undergo a career change about 5-7 times. It was exactly one year ago today that I turned the page (pun intended) on journalism as a full-time income and joined Alhambra Water as a route trainee. I graduated to route sales representative four months later:

http://napavalleyregister.com/news/opinion/mailbag/the-ride-has-been-great-but-time-for-a-change/article_3a3683ac-2318-5f2a-966c-4dc45bb2fbf2.html

I have not given up writing entirely, however, as I try to maintain a steady stream of content on this blog. I also freelance write for my former employer on Friday nights during football season. One year later, I have no regrets at all about leaving the newspaper industry but I love writing enough to keep it in my life. However, I don’t miss the other headaches of the newspaper industry: fundamentals of journalism have been bastardized by social media, deadline pressure, time away from family and corporate suits that don’t know diddly about sports thinking they can tell an accomplished sports reporter how to do his job.

The career change I made was about as extreme as you get -- sports reporter to water delivery. So how did I get the job? Well, I interviewed -- twice. To that end, I thank Richard Slate (Vallejo branch manager) and Tim Ramos (Vallejo branch route development manager) for taking a chance to hire yours truly.

My selling points were multiple. For openers, I saw that the newspaper industry was a sinking ship, so I did something about it. I got my Class B Driver’s License. I gained real world driving experience driving buses both for a retirement home and for a wine touring company.

I think my being proactive appealed to them but I had two more hurdles: pre-employment drug test and physical skills test. I never worried about the former but I did the latter. However, once I passed the latter, I was in the clear. Hauling five-gallon bottles of water that weigh 43 pounds is a physical job. Can 42-year old handle a job that normally goes to people in their 20s? I learned the value of having a great work ethic at an early age from my dad. Even though I worked in a white collar environment for 18 years, physical labor was not a foreign concept since I changed tires at my father’s business.

I remember my first day of training with current colleague Juan Ybarra, who was a foreman at the time but has since gone back to being a route sales rep. My body had to be thinking, “Vince, what the hell did you get yourself into?” It was a struggle the first week. In fact, by the end of the first day, I thought Juan had changed my name to “Goddammitt!”

So how has the change treated me one year later? Like any change, it has been an adjustment but I would say it’s been a good change.

The hours are long and hard, frequently working 10-12 hours per day at a physical job ain’t for sissies. However, physically, the job has whipped me into shape as I have lost 25 pounds in the process without changing how I eat -- like crap. Physically, I am in the best shape I have been since I was 22 years old. Without going into numerical specifics, the money is light years better than what I made as a newspaper reporter.

The best part of the job though is no weekends, no holidays and no evenings. That freedom adds up to seeing my family more often.

What has been refreshing is that I have gone from one of the most shrinking industries to one of the most growing ones. Even with California’s drought, the water industry is growing. The reasons are vast and include but are not limited to poor quality of tap water and people being more hydration conscious.

Change can be unsettling but one thing I learned is that when you are in a dying industry, it behooves you to make a change.

Time Out with Nigel Center (2016 American Canyon High senior)

Vince D’Adamo: What have you enjoyed most about competing in athletics throughout your life?

Nigel Center: The grind, working harder than the next person to be the best player on the team. It's always fun to compete because you make friends in the process and these friendships last forever.

D’Adamo: What are your plans after high school?

Center: I plan on going to a four-year college on a scholarship to play either football or run track and to work on getting a business degree.

D’Adamo: What might you choose as a major? What intrigues you about going that direction?

Center: I would love to be either a business major or a visual designs major. I want to be a business major because one day I would love to own my own company and I say photography as a backup because I really love to take pictures and it can give me an out to go sight-seeing.

D’Adamo: What has been your favorite class here at American Canyon High?

Center: I think my favorite class would've been my Algebra II class in 10th grade, learned a lot and had fun in the class as well.

D’Adamo: Within your family who have been the most influential people?

Center: I'd have to say my mom. I've seen her at her worst and seen her struggle and overcome it all and that influences me to be a better son, student and athlete for her. I'd also so my pops , seeing him work as hard as he does to do everything he can for the family is amazing to me and inspires me to do just that but better.

D’Adamo: Name a historical figure, dead or alive, in or out of sports, that you would most like to meet.

Center: I have three actually, the first one would be Reggie Bush because he is the person who I've looked up to my entire years of playing football, I even wore No. 5 in my pop warner years just like him. The second person would be Drake because he's my favorite artist and when I listen to his music I relate to it a lot. The last would be Malcolm X, he was such a huge part of black history and after I read his bibliography it only made me want to know more about him.