Today’s edition is sponsored by The Rose Hotel.
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Welcome to the Playbook!
Each week the Playbook will bring you a story about something related to the current high school sports taking place locally. With 40-plus years of covering the East Bay Athletic League, the Playbook knows the landscape of local sports and will bring you the ins and outs, as well as the good (and the bad) of prep sports!
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The Big Picture is right back where it was last time — the crazy EBAL boys’ volleyball competition. Last week us brought us three big upsets that show on any given day, anything can happen. Also, get a better feel of where baseball and softball are at as they enter the last two weeks of the season.
EBAL Power Rankings saw some movement in the baseball rankings, with one team dropping from the top five, while another returns! There was some movement in volleyball as well.
What to Watch sees some big softball and baseball games taking place and the last week of the EBAL volleyball regular season.
Got a great story idea for something? Don’t hesitate to let me know at acesmag@aol.com!
From the sidelines,
Dennis Miller, Playbook Editor
Unexpected upsets usher in tense final day for EBAL boys’ volleyball regular season
Just last week I wrote about how deep and talented the boys’ volleyball league is this season — and then the teams went out and proved it, throwing the league into some chaos heading into tonight’s final match of the regular season.
Power Rankings as of April 28.
EBAL BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL
1. San Ramon Valley (20-7, 9-3): The Wolves beat Cal and Dougherty Valley to move into a three-way tie for first place. Will watch how Amador-Foothill match goes on Tuesday. Then again, if Monte Vista beat De La Salle, it can beat SRV.
2. De La Salle (18-7, 9-3): Somehow the Spartans fall to Monte Vista – the Mustangs only second win in the EBAL. They are tied with San Ramon Valley and with Amador Valley for first place.
3. Amador Valley (19-5, 9-3): The Dons beat Monte Vista and Granada to move into a first-place tie. Close out Tuesday night with an awesome match at Foothill.
4. Foothill (21-10, 8-4): The Falcons were on fire, then had a week where they got beaten by Livermore and California. Now they are second, trailing De La Salle, San Ramon Valley, and Amador Valley by a game.
5. Dublin (17-7, 7-5): The Gaels lost to Granada and beat Livermore, as another team had an awkward week.
The rest: Granada (16-9, 6-6), Livermore (18-14, 4-8), Dougherty Valley (7-15, 2-10), California (11-13, 4-8), Monte Vista (2-12, 2-10).
EBAL BASEBALL
1. Granada (16-4, 8-1): Finally lost an EBAL game when they fell 6-4 to Foothill. Avoided the sweep by pulling out a 1-0, extra inning win.
2. De La Salle (14-3, 6-1): The Spartans take a pair from San Ramon Valley, winning 2-0 and 10-0. Now even with Granada in the loss column.
3. Foothill (15-5, 5-3): Hung the first EBAL loss on Granada beating the Mats 6-4 on Wednesday. Dropped a tough 1-0, extra-inning loss on Friday.
4. Livermore (13-6, 5-3): The Cowboys only played one game, pulling out a 3-2 win over Monte Vista.
5. Amador Valley (13-7, 5-5): The Dons have a great week, sweeping Dublin 5-0 and 4-1 to move back into the top five in the Power Rankings.
In the hunt: San Ramon Valley (10-7, 4-3), Dublin (16-5, 5-5), California (11-7, 5-4), Monte Vista (5-15, 1-7), Dougherty Valley (2-16, 0-8).
EBAL SOFTBALL
1. California (12-6, 7-2): It was a crazy week for almost everyone as all the top ranked teams won one and lost one during the week. Lost to Granada and beat Livermore.
2. San Ramon Valley (12-6-2, 6-3): The lone team in the top five that won both games last week, beating Dublin and Foothill. Takes a jump up to the No. 2 spot
3. Foothill (11-5-1, 6-3): The Falcons dumped Dougherty to start the week, then dropped a 3-2 final to San Ramon Valley.
4. Livermore (13-7, 5-4): Big 9-8 win over Carondelet, then the Cowboys turned around and lost 3-2 to California.
5. Granada (10-8, 5-4): Got an impressive win over California, then dropped a 3-2 game to Carondelet.
In the hunt: Amador Valley (9-11, 3-6), Dougherty Valley (9-6, 4-5), Carondelet (9-11, 7-2), Monte Vista (6-8, 2-7), Dublin (1-13, 0-9).
Today (April 29) – EBAL Softball: Livermore at Foothill, 4 p.m. EBAL Boys’ Volleyball: Amador Valley at Foothill; Monte Vista at San Ramon Valley, 6 p.m. EBAL Baseball: De La Salle at Livermore, 4 p.m.
Tomorrow (April 30) – EBAL Baseball: Amador Valley at De La Salle; Foothill at Livermore; Dublin at Granada, 4 p.m.
Thursday (May 1) – EBAL Softball: San Ramon Valley at California; Foothill at Granada, 4 p.m.
Friday (May 2) – EBAL Baseball: Livermore at Foothill; Granada at Dublin, 4 p.m.
SF Giants celebrating Brandon Crawford before Saturday’s game
The San Francisco Giants were gearing up for “Brandon Crawford Celebration Day” last weekend, honoring the retired World Series champion shortstop and Pleasanton native before their day game on Saturday.
Pleasanton Preps: Injured pole vaulter now going to desired rehab hospital
As much as I criticized Kaiser, I must give them credit for agreeing to recommend Aman Deshmukh to Colorado to the place everyone seems to think was the best choice to provide all the tools for Aman.
Dennis Miller is a veteran sports writer and editor, covering sports in the Tri-Valley for over 35 years. In addition to being the editor of Tri-Valley Preps Playbook, he has written a weekly column for Pleasanton Weekly and PleasantonWeekly.com, “Pleasanton Preps,” since 2011. Email him at sports@pleasantonweekly.com.
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