LJ FB: Scully

"They're so fast," Trevor Scully said of varsity defenses in practice and passing league this summer. "It's a joke (comparatively) against JV offense. They're in slow motion compared to varsity."

As a result, Scully said he will be able to read his keys much quicker against his likely opponents on the junior varsity level this coming season.

Scully, likely to share quarterback duties on the La Jolla High junior varsity with Kenny Hayden, spoke between turns on the field against Point Loma, Clairemont, and Santana Tues., July 28. Scully, a sophomore, took snaps along with juniors Cole Dimich and Reilly Rowan, the latter two expected to be in the mix for the varsity quarterback position with senior Casey Brown.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

LJ FB: Final tune-up

Sophomore DB Aldahi Enciso (underneath) steps in

to make a nice pick in one of the highlights

of Passing League July 28. (Photo by Ed Piper)

La Jolla High played a lot of the younger members of the football program in a final Passing League tune-up Tues., July 28, at Clairemont High before official season workouts start Aug. 3.

"We're giving some of the younger ones a chance to play," said Ray Smith, new Offensive Coordinator for La Jolla.

On the offensive side, Reilly Rowan, Cole Dimich, and Trevor Scully each took snaps at quarterback through the two-hour workout. The Vikings faced Point Loma, host Clairemont, then Santana in successive passing/defense 7-on-7 scrimmages.

Wide receiver Joseph Duran had several catches, displaying good speed and hands. Alex "Doc" Dockery's number was called a lot at receiver, as well. Andrew Mitchell saw a lot of action at tight end. Rowan, between turns at quarterback, also filled in at tight end.

The Vikings' season opener will be at La Jolla Country Day Fri., Aug. 28, at 7 p.m.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

LJ baseball: Underwood - 'Congratulations'

(news.yahoo.com)

 



Gary Frank tells a great story about Malaika Underwood's introduction to the varsity baseball team her junior year at La Jolla High School in 1998.

Underwood was to go on to fame and fortune as the CIF Female Prep Athlete of the Year during her senior year at LJHS in 1999, and member of the gold medal-winning USA women's baseball team in the Pan Am Games this past week in Canada.

But in the spring of '98, with Coach Bob Allen at the head and Frank a varsity assistant, Underwood was still not guaranteed a spot on the varsity squad.

She came in late to baseball, after the girls basketball team went far into the CIF playoffs. As a result, the second baseman, who had played for the junior varsity, hadn't tried out for the team. The Vikings were already playing tournament games.

Coach Allen decided to put Malaika into a game to see what would happen.

Let Frank tell the story:

"Bob put her in at second base in the bottom of the sixth inning at Oceanside High School. The first out of the inning was a popup to her, which she handled fine.

"After a runner got on first, the next batter hit a slow grounder to third base. He threw to second base and Malaika turned a great double play, while getting taken out by an aggressive slide by the baserunner.

"She just got up, dusted herself off and came back into the dugout like it was no big deal.

"She came up to bat in the top of the seventh, and quickly fell behind 0-2. Then she ripped a fastball down the right field line for a double.

"When she advanced to third base later in the inning, Bob told her, 'Congratulations, you just made varsity.'"


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

LJ FB: Carter's comments

"They're scrambling. They're scrambling," said Head Coach Jason Carter, when asked about his La Jolla High football team during offseason workouts.

"We're not big. We're vertically challenged," he said, quieter after practice Mon., July 27, than sometimes he is at other times.

"We don't have the size we had the last two years. We had that group the last two years."


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

LJ baseball: Malaika Underwood

(UT)

Malaika Underwood, who helped lead the U.S.A. women's team to the gold medal in the Pan Am Games the past two weeks, is "one of the all-time greatest student-athletes in La Jolla High history," according to Gary Frank, head baseball coach who was a JV assistant and varsity assistant during Malaika's years at LJHS.

Reports from the Pan Am Games in Canada have carried the news that Underwood played baseball for the boys team in high school. Even more, Malaika was the CIF Female Prep Athlete of the Year in 1999 for her senior year.

She was the starting second baseman on the Vikings varsity as a senior. She played girls volleyball in the fall and girls basketball in the winter, and was named All-County in both those sports before moving to Coach Bob Allen's baseball team in the spring.

According to Frank, who by then was Allen's assistant after finishing a minor league baseball career himself, Underwood was the only girl in the county playing on a boys high school baseball team.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

LJ FB: Offense

Tyler Roach, offensive coordinator of the La Jolla High football team, is pleased at this point in the summer, before official season workouts begin August 3.

"Our offense is at a really good place right now," says Roach. "We've come a long way from spring ball and have built momentum over the summer with all of the passing league tournaments."

Casey Brown has been taking a lot of snaps at quarterback in the passing leagues this summer. Reilly Rowan, a junior, is available but filling in a spot at tight end a lot.

"I've been happy with the progress the skill players have made, especially at the quarterback position," says Roach, back for his third year as offensive coordinator. "More importantly, we've started to gel as a group and have become more competitive because of it."

Regarding official workouts beginning Monday, August 3, Roach says the emphasis will be with the offensive lineman. "Our offense can only go if we get the guys up front going early.

"Everything starts with those guys, so if we can get the five offensive lineman to come together as a unit, I like our chances."


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper 

LJ FH: Having fun - learning - bonding - succeeding

Lisa Griffiths, the new field hockey coach at La Jolla High, has been entertaining guests from her native Australia this summer. Her program will gear up in August, so this is a good time to take care of her "real" job--financial advising--before the demands of the fall season.

"My philosophy is that I believe that if the girls are having fun, then they will learn," says the varsity coach, who is moving over from Clairemont High School after two years.

"If they have fun, they will bond. If they bond, then they will succeed."

From all appearances, Griffiths knows her X's and O's--the technical part of field hockey. She also shares a kinship with Paula Conway, the Vikings' former coach who hired Griffiths, as far as coaching philosophy and outlook. That seems to mean a mature, caring type of coaching.

When Conway introduced the new coach to a reporter last winter, she was very pleased to have hired the Australian. Clairemont has a developing program, whereas La Jolla, under Conway the last handful of years, has gotten over the hump from "The Little Engine That Can" to one that recorded several shutouts during the 2014 season and easily qualified for the playoffs.

Another point Griffiths emphasizes in her answers to questions via email is her relationship with team members. "I also believe in an open-door policy," she says. "If the girls have comments/issues/suggestion(s), I am always open to hearing them."

At least from observing the coach and her former team when the Chieftains played at La Jolla last season, it seemed there was a good rapport that had been developed between coach and players.

Unlike Conway, who is a teacher and staff member on campus during the school day at La Jolla, Griffiths will be a walk-on coach, meaning she is employed elsewhere during the day. The positives include the fact such coaches are often well-voiced in their sport and know the technical aspects. The negatives include the reality that the coach is not as easily accessible as a classroom teacher, who is on campus all day every day and whose classroom or office the girls and others can drop by to talk with her.

Each individual coach defines how that works in their case, in this day of cell phones, texting, the Internet, and social media. For example, Vikings boys basketball coach Paul Baranowski maintains an up-to-date schedule and practice calendar on a website that players, their families, and others can easily access to be assured what event is happening what day. He is also good at answering his cell phone.

Griffiths, who was friendly even during the Clairemont-La Jolla game a year ago when a reporter/photographer introduced himself on the sidelines in the middle of action, would seem to have the manner and people skills to do well within the La Jolla High school community.

She has already participated with some of her future players in an offseason school event last spring.

Being a walk-on coach, Griffiths says she has "a very supportive boss" at Edward Jones, where she works in financial advising. Sean Manatt "used to play college football for Iowa State, and it's great because he always asks how my girls are going and I can bounce ideas off him."

Lisa is a long-time field hockey player. "I have played hockey since I was 15, so my life pretty much revolves around that. I also enjoy learning more about (the) history of the world."

"My outlook for the program is to continue in the footsteps of Coach Conway and take the girls to CIF and hopefully make the finals in the next two years," the new coach says. "She has built a strong program and I hope to continue that."

A challenge in the La Jolla field hockey situation is that the Vikings play elite teams like Scripps Ranch whose players compete year-round. La Jolla players don't have a local youth league to play in outside of the school season. This means that the Vikings beat up on lesser teams last season, recording several shutouts. But then they came up lacking in the end when facing the very top teams, not being able to finish.

Conway and Griffiths give off different coaching personas. Conway is a no-nonsense, authoritative coach whose players respect her and are somewhat in awe of her. She and her husband worked with the U.S. Olympic program in Chula Vista, so she is well-known and respected in the field hockey community. Griffiths would seem to be more easy-going. She can receive mentoring along with support from the more-experienced Conway.

Conway, with two young children, has had to juggle her coaching obligations with her teaching duties as a P.E. teacher, family responsibilities, and her position as Athletic Director at LJHS.  Her daughter was usually on the sidelines during games the last two seasons, sometimes tended to by a La Jolla player who was not in the game. Her mother began bringing the children to games as babies. The stroller would be positioned near the team bench as Conway carried on sideline team chats.

The Vikings seemed to be fortunate for the coming school year in that their home field on the Muirlands Middle School remained intact while the Edwards Stadium surface is reconstructed. However, the football team has been carrying on workouts on that same Muirlands field this summer. So whether the two programs will peacefully coexist this fall is not known. Possibly one of the programs would relocate to another practice field. University City's baseball team has done this while its new field is being constructed on campus. The Centurion team plays at an off-campus location on Governor Drive.

Lauren Robbins, a team leader the last couple of seasons, graduated from LJHS in June yet plans to be around to help the team this fall while waiting to enter college after the turn of the year.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

LJ FB: QB's

Senior Casey Brown leads the offense against

Clairemont in Passing League action July 21.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

What makes Casey Brown unique as a quarterback?

"Casey is dynamic," texted Tyler Roach, La Jolla Offensive Coordinator, "true dual threat at QB."

What makes Reilly Rowan unique?

"Reilly is a lefty, true old school football player. Tough and smart. He's playing a lot of TE (tight end) for us now."

Redheaded junior Reilly Rowan throws in

warm-up drills before Passing League

at Clairemont.

Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

LJ baseball: Holdgrafer All-American

Timmy Holdgrafer's only defeat in 2015 came when

he pitched a four-hitter against Mission Bay in the

Western League opener April 13. His counterpart,

Imani Abdullah, also pitched a four-hitter. The only

run scored in the 1-0 decision against Holdgrafer

was unearned. (Photo by Ed Piper)

I've been out with surgery, but in the meantime the awards keep piling up for Tim Holdgrafer, the CIF Player of the Year in baseball this past spring.

Holdgrafer was named Second Team All-American by MaxPreps. In so doing, he became the first La Jolla High baseball player to be an All-American, according to Coach Gary Frank.

The 6'1", 165-pound graduated senior's statistics have become familiar, they've been repeated so often for each of his awards:  First Team All-Western League for the third year in a row, Western League Player of the Year, San Diego Union-Tribune Player of the Year, MVP of the Bully's East Tournament, in addition to his recognition as CIF Player of the Year.

Timmy set a La Jolla High record with his 10 wins this season (10-1 record). He also set season and career records at the school for innings pitched in 2015, with 88 1/3 and 203 1/3, respectively. His microscopic ERA of 0.87 this season and 1.62 ERA for his career were both second on the all-time LJHS list.

The right-handed ace of the Viking pitching staff also recorded 86 strikeouts and gave up only seven walks in 2015, which make up a ridiculous 12.2 K/BB ratio. In this week's Sports Illustrated story on the New York Mets' pitchers, the writer was making a big deal out of Bartolo Colon's K/BB ratio of 7. Holdgrafer's was nearly double that.

At the plate, Holdgrafer, who led off much of the first half of the season, then was switched by Frank to the third slot to take advantage of his ability to drive in runs, batted .364, with 24 RBI's, 5 doubles, and 2 triples.

Surprisingly, the 20 stolen bases the St. Mary's-bound pitcher/position player racked up during his season were left out of the MaxPreps citation which appeared recently. Timmy stole home once, and was called out at home plate on a disputed call on a second attempted steal of home.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

LJ FB: Passing league

Cornerback Ben Steigerwalt (right) makes stop

during passing league action against Mission Bay's

offense. (Photos by Ed Piper)

La Jolla's football team faced off with Mission Bay and Clairemont on the new Mission Bay field, the same one that the Vikings will play three of their games on during the upcoming season, in passing league action Tues. afternoon, July 14.

Senior Casey Brown and junior Reilly Rowan were expected to take snaps at quarterback during the three-way scrimmage. With Madison bowing out, La Jolla's defense opened up facing Mission Bay's offense, while the Chieftains sat out. Then LJHS's offense was to run plays against Clairemont's defense following a Mission Bay defense/Clairemont offense stint.

"We played Santa Fe Christian last week," said one of the Viking participants. There are a series of Tuesdays on which La Jolla is vying in passing league action. Coach Jason Carter's squad hosted the Eagles on the Muirlands Middle School playing field, which will be La Jolla's practice field in the coming year and through the summer of 2016 while construction goes on on Edwards Stadium.

Brown is listed at 6'0", 160 pounds. He would be the smaller option at the quarterback position. Rowan is listed at 6'3", 195 pounds. Offensive Coordinator Tyler Roach, who was present at Tuesday's workout, has said that in the post-Colin Rugg era, the Vikings will probably mix it up a little more with potentially more running than in the Carlton O'Neal-Brandon Bonham days. Those two receivers, along with Rugg, set school records in receiving and passing, respectively, while gaining All-CIF honors.

T-shirts with new slogans weren't apparent Tuesday, though some coaches still sported "Unfinished Business" and the like from last year's campaign. What was visible was the new head protection on each player, which the LJHS football program has purchased to cut down on impact related to head injuries. According to Internet sources, the proven effectiveness of those padded helmets remains to be seen, though their manufacturer touts them as cutting impact up to "33 percent".

While a reporter clicked snapshots, an assistant coach for the Vikings called out to players to fasten the padded helmets as they completed warm-ups for the passing league.

In the opening segment against Mission Bay's two quarterbacks, Daniel McColl held down the middle linebacker position directly in front of the center. McColl, who is moving right into leadership positions on both the football and basketball teams this summer, snatched an interception later in the defense's competition against the host Buccaneers.

Quarterback Casey Brown makes tosses

during warm-up drills at Mission Bay

passing league event July 14.

Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

College athlete stipend, revisited

While we're talking sports, we can revisit the topic of stipends for college athletes. If you've read my earlier entries, you know that I favor these. My reasons are that money is already changing hands, corruption is rampant (look at the massive scandal over University of North Carolina credits being manufactured for decades), and we can no longer live in unrealistic thinking about "amateur" athletes that fit the 1940's.

A recent story states, "...the Power Five schools voted in January to allow the NCAA's member institutions to provide student-athletes with full cost-of-attendance stipends..." This will include living expenses not covered by tuition-only athletic scholarships.

There have been numerous stories in the past few years profiling athletes who go to big-name sports universities, who had to eat one meal a day because they didn't have money to buy food, and the like. Antiquated NCAA rules prohibit a booster club member from handing the athletes a Subway sandwich, because that constitutes a violation. Ridiculous.

The article goes on to state, "...(M)any schools have declared their intention to offer these stipends, and can begin doing so this fall."

Here's my thinking: It is a stipend, not a salary. No one is saying we should pay these college athletes like professionals--though they are trained and otherwise treated as professionals, required to attend meetings, practice, and other events throughout the year, not just during the season. A stipend, the way I see it, is part of a new, positive approach to the mega-billion-dollar business that college sports have become.

Johnny Manziel, while still at Texas A&M, received money for signing a certain number of photos. He was penalized by having to sit out part of a game. The greedy university presidents, athletic departments, and boosters are making millions of dollars, into the billions, by the participation of these talented athletes who train arduously in pursuit of excellence and professional careers. The exploitation of these athletes by these institutions for the almighty dollar is blatant and far beyond being reined in by any antiquated, old-fashioned "amateur athletics" approach such as what the NCAA has still had in place until now. The stipend idea at least lets a little fresh air into the building.

There is so much money in athletics at the college and pro levels because of television. Besides ESPN providing 24-hour sports news, there are now Fox Sports One, NBC's sports network, and others. These businesses, through the sheer power of advertising income, infuse billions of dollars into sports.

In the scandal at the University of North Carolina, in which a professor oversaw the awarding of class credits to athletic team members for little or no class attendance or work submitted--over two decades or more, not just in the last few years--the pressure to bend the rules ramped up with the building of a new basketball facility for then-coach Dean Smith's basketball team. The arena broke the back of what formerly was a fairly clean program. The Tarheel facility took over the athletic department, blew everyone's perspective out of the water, and caused boosters to act in egregious ways that didn't happen when the basketball program was smaller.

By the way, I have the utmost respect for Coach Dean Smith at UNC. He was an honorable man. He had nothing to do with the corruption in this case.

I think if a Madeleine Gates matriculates at UCLA and plays volleyball, and continues to train year-round to be a productive member of the Bruin team, it is reasonable for her grant to include things beyond tuition: like food, laundry money, and so forth. I'm only using her as an example. The work that these kids put in is incredible. On top of their sports duties, they still have to go to class, create complex class projects, fit in time to study for high-stakes exams, and move toward job prospects in the business and work world, in addition to any pro career they might have.

I hope you will see the reasonable nature of the stipend idea.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

Dog days of summer

There was a short period right after the Viking baseball team finished its season in early June when there were no local sports at all.

It was dry.

I looked in the local paper, and there was nothing but national news about pro sports. Nothing about local high school athletes.

Depressing.

This went on for a week or so, until the LJHS basketball team relieved us all of sports withdrawal with summer league basketball.

I remember my disappointment during the dry period, after a mass infusion of high school sports--taking photos and writing stories--to feed my addiction continuously from late August 2014 through the entire school year.

Maybe it was time I got off the bus to cool out for a while.

There aren't many sources for local high school sports, so when I see information, I eagerly drink it up. There's the local paper. And my (periodic) blog. I don't watch much TV, so I miss the KUSI reports, though I talk to the cameramen when they come to events.

The summer, outside of summer league basketball, can run plenty dry. I found out in the last two years that weekend football leagues sometimes charge admission and don't honor media passes. I'm out of there. The same is true of some basketball summer leagues, but there are enough events that honor the media pass that I can still get my fix of events and take plenty of photos of Viking basketball players.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

LJ b BB: Younger players

Charlie Gal (22) hits the floor and scrambles for

a loose ball against Mesa (Murrieta) Sat.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

"I'm trying for varsity," Charlie Gal, a big sophomore, said when he helped me carry my photo equipment down the steps in the Point Loma Nazarene gym. He wasn't acceding to my statement that he was headed for certain to the junior varsity basketball team next season.

"That's what Coach wants to see--you fighting for it," I told him as I thanked him for relieving me of my rolling camera case while I await surgery for a hernia.

Gal and the other younger players--Charlie is a sophomore--play in JV leagues during the week, then join the varsity for weekend tournaments like the PLNU Team Camp. These players have contributed significantly over the past month.

Gal has rebounded and pounded the offensive boards. He's proficient at taking the ball to the basket from the box. Quinn Rawdin, a lefty guard, showed a good touch from outside over the weekend at Point Loma. He is adjusting to "playing with the big boys", which is normal. His time will come.

Jacob Ohara played early in the summer. McClain Thiel made his appearance with the combined varsity team at PLNU. He's a future star, as well. There are a lot of young guys coming up, who have a good work ethic, a good attitude, and who play for the team. We'll be hearing more from these sophomores in the future.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

Athletic complex update

Big chunks of concrete are piled up near the restrooms, alongside the track, as reconstruction proceeds on Edwards Stadium.

The concrete made up the walkway along the southern edge of the football field, near the snack bar area. It also comes from the sidewalk between the tennis courts and the football field. Both walkways are reduced to dirt at this point.

Other than that, there aren't many differences apparent as the old field surface awaits removal for placement of a new artificial turf.

The boys locker room and adjacent bathrooms next to the field still stand and are intact. Those should be coming down soon, according to a source. The pressbox was removed two weeks ago from atop its perch high in the home side stands.

Scripps Field lettering still visible on wall

facing away from the football field. The stadium

and field were more recently renamed.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

LJ b BB: Who's on the team?

Guard Francisco Ramos sneaks in

between Alta Loma defenders in

65-63 win Fri. (Photo by Ed Piper)

Paul Baranowski has told me that parents ask him about things I post on my blog about the La Jolla High basketball team. He tells them he has nothing to do with what is written here.

That is totally true, and totally true about what I am going to write now. It's not controversial, or confidential, or any other thing "con-". It is from the peanut gallery.

My musings on who will potentially constitute the team in winter 2015-16 are based, however, on having observed most, almost all, of the Vikings' summer league games over the past month. I had a short chat with the coach during the most recent tournament, at Point Loma Nazarene University.

I just want parents to know that there is no official information coming out here that Baranowski has issued. He is a big boy, and he can perfectly express himself through his own channels.

Having said all that, it would appear that the following is shaping up to be the case.

In the front court, Alex Pitrofsky and Morgan Albers will be returners and, most likely, starters come the 2015 opener in December. Handling the ball at the guard position will include returners Reed Farley, Eddie Parker, and Tony Coan, the last of the black headband.

New blood coming in to inject new life into the La Jolla lineup looks like Daniel McColl and Garrett Brown. In the backcourt should be Nick Hammel, Francisco Ramos, and Bijan Hashemi.

That's 10 folks. That's most of the potential roster.

Regarding Ramos, a spunky, short, active spark plug, Baranowski said Fri., July 10, "I like him, too. He has a difficult situation. He plays the same position as Reed. He's also the same year. (Both are juniors.) Reed is working on playing with Francisco. Reed is working hard this summer." (Farley was away playing for his travel team while the Vikings were at the PLNU Team Camp.)

As reported earlier, Baranowski also said, "(McColl) could be starting for us next year." He rebounds, shoots, even handles the ball. He has looked good in summer action. He gives LJHS a physical presence alongside Pitrofsky under the boards.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

LJ b BB: Update

Vikings' Alex Drew (in red) faces

Mesa Murrieta pressure in

PLNU Team Camp play.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

With 3:45 left in the game and La Jolla up by eight, Daniel McColl sank the first of two free throws.

"You  obviously didn't coach him on free throws," Coach Paul Baranowski called up to David McColl, Daniel's older brother, sitting in the stands at Point Loma Nazarene University.

Baranowski was having fun with the elder McColl, a former player of his whom he had talked to between games at the summer team camp the Vikings were participating in.

Daniel put the second free throw in, as well, exhibiting his nice touch with a nice rotation on the ball. Besides his free throw shooting, the junior has shown an ability to play defense and a desire to bang the boards and put the ball back up on the offensive board.

"He could be starting for us next season," said Baranowski.

La Jolla was in the midst of winning 12 straight summer league games, losing only at West Hills High in the first action of the summer, then a loss by two points to Palm Desert Sat., July 11, at the PLNU Team Camp.

"No," Baranowski answered when asked if the undefeated streak was significant. The important thing, he said, is getting in the work, giving returners and new varsity team members a chance to work on skills and work together.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

LJ FH: Introducing Lisa Griffiths

Lisa Griffiths, the new field hockey coach at La Jolla High, has a delightful Australian accent. More importantly, she knows field hockey and is an experienced coach.

Says Athletic Director Paula Conway, who is stepping down to make way for Griffiths, "Lisa is passionate about growing the sport of hockey in the La Jolla community. She has the knowledge, desire, and energy to help this program continue to succeed."

In Australia, where Griffiths grew up, according to Conway, field hockey is a prominent sport. "Player development starts at the age of five," she says.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

LJ b BB: Undefeated

Shooting guard Nick Hammel powers the ball upcourt

against Lutheran High in blowout win July 6.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

La Jolla's basketball team is motoring through its two summer leagues without a defeat to this point. That's not counting the West Hills tournament beginning the summer.

On Monday and Wednesday evenings, the Vikings play at Montgomery High School in the South Bay. On some days, traffic during commute time to the games is horrendous, taking up to an hour to travel the distance between schools.

On Tuesday evenings, Coach Paul Baranowski's squad plays in the Hoover High summer league.

So far, after seven games, the Vikings are without a defeat. The biggest margin of victory came Mon., July 6, over Lutheran High of Chula Vista, 59-32, at Montgomery.

Reed Farley and Alex Pitrofsky have led La Jolla to big leads, sometimes earlier in the game, sometimes later. La Jolla doesn't seem to be extremely well tested in the Montgomery league, especially. Most of the other participating teams in that league are from the South Bay: Olympian, Montgomery, and others.

Garrett Brown protects the ball in Lutheran game.

Brown is a three-sport athlete.

Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

LJ field hockey: New coach

Paula Conway, the Vikings' stellar field hockey coach, has hired Lisa Griffiths, coach at Clairemont, to take over her position this fall.

Conway will continue in her position as athletic director at La Jolla High. She teaches physical education.

Griffiths and Conway had conversations after last season, when the Vikings beat the Chieftains twice by shutouts. In fact, Conway introduced Griffiths to a reporter last spring, saying that she was coming over to LJHS to coach.

In the season opener last fall, Griffiths' team fell to La Jolla, 6-0, on Sept. 3. Two weeks later, in the Serra Tournament, the Vikings skunked Clairemont again, this time 3-0.

Griffiths was the varsity coach at Clairemont for one year.

Neither coach returned messages left for them.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper

Edwards Field redo: Update

Pipes stacked up on the street outside the left field

fence of the softball field. In the distance is evidence

of digging related to drainage issues.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

Visible changes noticed from a week ago in the reconstruction of the Edwards Field complex at La Jolla High School include:
   --The pressbox is gone.
   --The wooden steps to the girls restroom have been removed.
   --Giant pieces of broken-up concrete from walkways and surrounding the restroom are piled up near the track.
   --There are pipes, apparently to solve the drainage problem, stacked up on the street beyond the left field fence of the softball field.

The restroom, thought a week ago to be on the verge of demolition, still stands in the corner of the football field. The boys locker room, likewise, is ready and waiting.

Part of the concrete in handicapped spaces, and adjoining, in the parking lot in front of the Small Gym has been removed. That coincides with the handicapped space next to the entrance to the Big Gym being reduced from concrete to dirt, as well.

One LJHS student-athlete commented, shaking his head, "They've piled up tons of trailers and equipment on the field."

Next fall will be exciting, with the football team traveling to several campuses for "home" games while the field is under renovation. Two of those games are scheduled as early as 5 p.m. on Friday afternoons (against Bishop's and West Hills, both at Mission Bay) and two at 6 p.m. (against Fallbrook and Point Loma, both at University City).


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper