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!
The Playbook is delivered each Tuesday into your inbox! It’s free — you just register to get it. Be sure to share with the players and parents of your team so they can get the Playbook each week too! They can do it at danvillesanramon.com.
The Big Picture looks at the craziness that has become the EBAL Boys’ Volleyball as the league seems to be turning upside down as we head into the final couple of weeks of the season. We also take a quick pass at softball and baseball as they reach the final three weeks of the season.
EBAL Power Rankings come from spring break and one entire league has changed with a shake up affecting all the top five in the power rankings. A new number one this week. See what league it is!
What to Watch has the big games this week as EBAL baseball has some huge two game sets this week. Check out where and when they take place!
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
EBAL boys’ volleyball race tightens — with Foothill, De La Salle tied at top and three teams on their heels
At the beginning of the EBAL spring season, I wrote about how deep and talented the league was when it came to boys’ volleyball. Now as we wind down to the final two weeks of the season, the league is every bit as contentious as I forecast…
Power Rankings as of April 21.
EBAL BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL
1. Foothill (21-8, 8-2): Huge week for the Falcons as they take the Silver Division of the City Classic in San Francisco, then hang a sweep on De La Salle to move into a tie for first place.
2. De La Salle (17-5, 8-2): The Spartans get swept by Foothill last week to fall into a tie with the Falcons for first place in the league. Drop a spot with the loss to Foothill.
3. San Ramon Valley (17-7, 7-3): The Wolves beat Dougherty Valley, then get swept by Amador Valley and will now fall a place in the rankings.
4. Amador Valley (17-5, 7-3): Big week for the Dons as they beat Granada and San Ramon Valley, with a non-league win against Las Lomas thrown in the middle. Since losing to Foothill, they have won 10 in a row.
5. Dublin (15-5, 6-4): Beat Livermore but lost to Granada last week and dropped a spot in the rankings.
The rest: Granada (15-8, 5-5), Livermore (17-12, 3-7), Dougherty Valley (7-13, 2-8), California (10-12, 3-7), Monte Vista (1-11, 1-9).
EBAL SOFTBALL
1. California (11-5, 6-1): The Grizzlies are going out and winning games in EBAL play. This past week they beat Amador 12-2, then Dougherty Valley 8-0. They now stand 6-1 and are on top of the EBAL with Carondelet.
2. Foothill (10-4-1, 5-2): The Falcons keep flying under the radar, winning games and staying in contention. It will be an exciting final couple of weeks.
3. Livermore (12-6, 4-3): The Cowboys have lost their last two games – San Ramon Valley and Amador Valley – to take a drop here from the top ranked team to No. 3.
4. Granada (9-7, 4-3): The Mats had a somewhat surprising loss to Dougherty Valley last week but still sit strong in the upper half of the league.
5. San Ramon Valley (10-6-2, 4-3): The Wolves climb back into the top five beating Livermore and Monte Vista last week.
In the hunt: Amador Valley (8-9, 3-4), Dougherty Valley (8-5, 3-4), Carondelet (8-10, 6-1), Monte Vista (4-8, 0-7), Dublin (1-11, 0-7).
EBAL BASEBALL
1. Granada (14-3, 7-0): The Mats beat San Ramon Valley 7-4 in their lone EBAL game last week. Now, they get Foothill in a home-and-home series this week. Can knock Foothill out of the regular season or open the door for the Falcons.
2. De La Salle (12-3, 4-1): The Spartans skipped EBAL last week as they are playing in the Boras Classic in Sacramento, going 3-1 in the prestigious tournament.
3. Dublin (16-3, 5-3): The Gaels split games with Foothill last week, beating the Falcons 1-0 at home, then losing 8-7 at Foothill.
4. Foothill (14-4, 4-3): The Falcons split games with Dublin and have won five of their last six games. They have a monster, two-game set with top ranked Granada this week.
5. Livermore (12-6, 4-3): The Cowboys split games with Amador Valley last week to stay in the hunt in EBAL play.
In the hunt: San Ramon Valley 10-7, 4-3), Amador Valley (11-7, 3-5), California (8-7, 3-4), Monte Vista (5-15, 1-7), Dougherty Valley (2-14, 0-6).
Today (April 22)
EBAL softball: California at Granada, Carondelet at Livermore, 4 p.m.
EBAL volleyball: Granada at Dublin, 6 p.m.
Tomorrow (April 23)
EBAL baseball: Dublin at Amador Valley, Granada at Foothill, San Ramon Valley at De La Salle, 4 p.m.
Thursday (April 24)
EBAL volleyball: Amador Valley at Granada, 6 p.m.
EBAL softball: Livermore at California, Granada at Carondelet, Foothill at San Ramon Valley, 4 p.m.
Friday (April 25)
EBAL baseball: Amador Valley at Dublin, Foothill at Granada, De La Salle at San Ramon Valley, 4 p.m.
‘A generational talent’: Foothill sophomore Luka Mijatovic focusing on the little things as he captures the attention of the swimming world
Pleasanton’s Luka Mijatovic, 15-year-old sophomore at Foothill High School, is well-known in the USA Swimming community and could possibly be standing on the medal stand during the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Pleasanton Preps: Insurer pushback adds strain for paralyzed Foothill pole vaulter, family
Now the rehabilitation begins, and it’s turned out to be a major issue for the family … While it is a highly regarded facility, the question is: Is that the best place 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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