LJ b beach VB: Still more photos 9/26

Photos by Ed Piper

Jerry Santoro leaps; Jake Morrison looks on.

LJ FB: Even more photos 9/20

By Ed Piper

Receiver Kai Fukuda (10) takes a handoff

from QB Hank Hansen on a jet sweep

for three yards. The Vikings scored again

a short time later on Julian Zavala's 30-yard

field goal to take a 17-0 lead early

in the second quarter.

Injured QB Hudson Smith pats fill-in

Hank Hansen on the shoulder

after LJ built up a 17-0 lead

over Mission Bay early in the second quarter.

LJ FB: Still more photos 9/20

Photos by Ed Piper

Vike back Aidan "Carolina" McGill (8) prepares

to take a handoff from QB Hank Hansen (far right)

on LJ's second play from scrimmage

with a 7-0 lead.

Fill-in QB Hank Hansen (far right) checks

his play sleeve during his first time ever

leading the Vikings' offense from the

QB position. LJ built a 30-0 halftime lead.

LJ running back Aidan McGill (top right)

is about to take the handoff for a first down run

on 4th-and-4 from QB Hank Hansen (4).

In the right foreground is receiver

Kai Fukuda.

Aidan "'Lina'" McGill runs eight yards for first

down in front of Buc Colton Trout (85)

to keep the drive alive. LJ scored for a

14-0 lead with only eight minutes gone.

Referees had to measure to ensure LJ's first down

in the opening quarter on Aidan McGill's run

on 4th-and-4.

Referee signals first down as Vike Palmer

Barnett (14) applauds in foreground.

Vike OL continues drive to 14-0 lead, first quarter.

LJ g VB 0, Sage Creek 2 - Scripps Ranch Tourney - Gold Division bracket play 9/28

Photos by Ed Piper

The Vikings lost 25-21, 25-19 to Sage Creek in the Gold Division semifinal at 8 a.m.

LJ baseball: Moyer remembers Malaika's skills

Coach Nancy Moyer, as she

helped run the Scripps Ranch

volleyball tourney

Sat., Sept. 28.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

"It was called, 'Get the ball to Malaika and she'll score,'", said Nancy Moyer, Viking great Malaika Underwoood's high school basketball coach, while she helped manage Scripps Ranch's girls volleyball tournament Sat.. Sept. 28.

Moyer, now a staff member at Scripps Ranch, had the privilege of coaching the only girl to ever play baseball in the CIF San Diego Section--though in basketball, and not even Underwood's best sport, which was volleyball.

That volleyball coaching honor went to Nancy Pearson, who is now an assistant principal in Northern California.

Bob Allen was Malaika's baseball coach during her outstanding prep career at La Jolla High.

The three-sport star went on to play volleyball at the University of North Carolina. In her senior year at La Jolla in 1999, Underwood was selected the Female Athlete of the Year for San Diego for her exploits in baseball, basketball, and volleyball.

"She was captain her sophomore year," remembers Moyer, who was moving a-mile-a-minute in her duties during bracket play in the two-day, multiple-site tourney, which included Coach Kelly Drobeck's Viking squad.

"(Malaika) was captain her sophomore, junior, and senior years" on the girls basketball team. She played a LeBron-ish forward position, relied on for scoring and rebounding.

Malaika, visiting the San Diego area from her home base in Jacksonville, Florida, with her older daughter Birdie, last Spring, was inducted into the Viking Baseball Hall of Fame. Moyer was there, along with Allen, for a group photo of the three--missing Pearson.

The second baseman was named All-CIF in basketball, as well as Player of the Year in volleyball. She stands about 5'9".

Asked if she coached the superstar in any other sport besides basketball, Moyer answered wistfully, "No. I was softball coach." But Malaika chose baseball. She would have been a star if she had played softball.

Also, Underwood did not play varsity basketball her freshman year.

LJ g VB d. Morse 25-16, 25-21- Scripps Ranch Tourney - pool play 9/27

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ FB: More photos 9/20

Photos by Ed Piper

Band members on the track before the game.

The sax players are looking pretty cool.

The Viking defense is hungry and smelling a kill

as all-league outside linebacker Jack Long (45)

and teammates rush QB Trey Arnold (upper far left).

LJ QB Hank Hansen points Kai Fukuda (10, far left)

to line up on the opposite side on 1st-and-goal

from the six-yard line.

Viking captains (from left) Hank Hansen (4),

Aidan "Carolina" McGill (8), and

Jett Thomas (75).

"Stand up or sit with UR mommy"

Buc captains (from left) Robbie Page (4), Jevyn

Higman (0), (55), and Caden Taffe (3).

Student trainer Heidi Weise (L) hugs

former trainer Sara.

First-year DB coach Eric Burrell, who played

for the New Orleans Saints, reveals himself

to be a lefty thrower.

He also wore cowboy boots

during the league opener.

LJ FH: Q&A with Sofia Saiegh and Talia Snider

 

Vikings Sofia Saiegh (10), a freshman,

and Talia Snider (4), a sophomore

By Ed Piper

Sofia Saiegh and Talia Snider are both younger members of the La Jolla High varsity field hockey team. Both were very forthcoming and eager to engage with a member of the media before the Vikings' Western League game at Bishop's Thurs., Sept. 26.

What roles do you play on the team?

Talia: As a sophomore, we have a couple of freshmen here. We have three in total. I feel like I just encourage them as much as possible.

Sofia: I'm a freshman, and I feel my role is just to be a team player and learn from all these players who have more experience, and hopefully improve a lot this year.

What's an advantage of team sports versus individual?

Sofia: I think in team sports you have a family and people to depend on and look up to. You play together and you're not isolated. If you play sports individually, sometimes the mental pressure can be a lot.

Talia: I know that some of the strongest bonds are definitely on this team and you build a relationship together. So with Sofia, she's one of my favorites. And I think being that isolated (in individual sports), you don't get that experience of having teammates and having that special bond.

Where do you play?

I play right midfield. (both)

Good luck, you guys.