Today’s edition is sponsored by The Rose Hotel.
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Welcome to the Playbook!
Here we are ready for the EBAL winter season! Each week the Playbook will bring you a story about something related to the current sports taking place locally!
With 40-plus years of covering the EBAL, the Playbook knows the landscape of local prep sports and will bring you the ins and outs, as well as the good (and the bad) of prep sports!
Each version of the Playbook is delivered each Tuesday into your in box! It’s free: You just have to register to get it. You can do it at www.danvillesanramon.com.
The Big Picture talks about one of the greatest athletes to ever play in the EBAL: former San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford. The 2005 Foothill High graduate recently retired from baseball after playing 14 years (13 of which came for the Giants) winning a pair of World Series and several individual awards. The Playbook looks back at his time as a high school athlete. Also, this week we look at the girls’ basketball game of the year which is taking place this week.
EBAL Power Rankings has no movement at the top of any division, but there was plenty of shuffling in the ranks of all four rankings!
What to Watch lets you see where the big matches or games are this week! Also read why these are the games to see.
Got a great story idea for something coming up in the winter? Let me know at acesmag@aol.com!
From the sidelines,
Dennis Miller, Playbook Editor
It looked effortless: Retired Giants’ legend Crawford was just as iconic in high school in Pleasanton
When iconic San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford announced his retirement in late November last year, news outlets everywhere were quick to put out stories about his pro career. But I wanted to wait and write about a different Crawford. I wanted to talk about Brandon Crawford, the high school athlete.
Power Rankings as of Jan. 13.
EBAL GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
1) San Ramon Valley (12-2, 1-0): The Wolves roll a pair of opponents last week. There is a monster game Tuesday night as the Wolves will host Carondelet is a game that will decide the EBAL regular season champ in only the second game of the season.
2) Carondelet (13-3, 4-0): The Cougars pound Monte Vista 76-29 to move to 4-0 in league already. They have the game of the year Tuesday with a trip to San Ramon Valley in a game that will likely decide the regular season.
3) Dublin (12-0, 1-0): The Gaels win three times beating Mt. Diablo, Livermore, and Freedom. Big game Tuesday night when they travel to California, by far the best team they have played this year.
4) California (8-6, 1-0): The Grizzlies have a busy week, topped off with a 63-22 win over Amador Valley to open league play. They have a chance to dump Dublin from the unbeaten ranks on Tuesday night.
5) Dougherty Valley (10-6, 0-2): The Wildcats have dropped four in a row, but they have come to three very powerful programs.
On the bubble: Monte Vista (6-10, 0-1), Foothill (5-9, 0-1), Amador Valley (6-9, 0-1), Granada (7-11, 1-1), Livermore (7-10, 1-1).
1) De La Salle (15-1): The Spartans come out and beat a solid Monte Vista on the road 58-30. Big game on Tuesday as they host San Ramon Valley.
2) Dublin (15-1, 1-0): The Gaels beat Livermore but had to work, winning 69-57. The big game this week is Tuesday when they host a hungry 15-2 California, a team they beat 54-45 in tournament play in early December.
3) San Ramon Valley (10-6, 1-0): The Wolves got a huge win to open EBAL play, holding off Dougherty Valley 79-75. Also beat Head-Royce earlier in the week.
4) Dougherty Valley (11-6, 0-1): The Wildcats fall at San Ramon Valley 79-75 to open league and fall behind the Wolves in the rankings.
5) California (15-2, 1-0): The Grizzlies open league with a convincing 56-44 win over 13-3 Amador Valley. Monster game on Tuesday at Dublin, with a chance to redeem one of their two losses.
On the bubble: Amador Valley (13-3, 0-1), Livermore (13-4, 0-1), Monte Vista (12-6, 0-1), Granada (7-11, 1-0), Foothill (11-7, 0-1).
EBAL GIRLS’ SOCCER
1. Granada (6-0-4, 0-0-1): The Matadors have now played 10 games and have yet to give up a goal. Always remember, if you don’t give up a goal, you can’t lose.
2. Foothill (4-0-3, 0-0-1): The top two teams battle to a 0-0 tie so need to keep them in place for this time.
3. San Ramon Valley (3-0-0, 1-0-0): You can’t do much better than the Wolves — three games, three wins, and no goals allowed.
4. Carondelet (8-2-0, 1-0-0): I am sure the Cougars will be in the top two spots by the end of the year but at this point, with a couple of losses, some other teams are more deserving of it right now.
5. Amador Valley (2-0-0, 2-0-0): The Dons, as has been the norm recently, play very few games compared to most teams, but are always there at the end.
On the bubble: Dublin (5-1-0, 1-0-0), Dougherty Valley (3-3-0, 1-1-0), Livermore (2-4-1, 0-1-1), California (3-4-1, 0-1-0), Monte Vista (1-2-1, 0-1-0).
EBAL BOYS’ SOCCER
1. De La Salle (6-2-1, 1-0-0): The Spartans picked up a pair of wins last week, beating Monte Vista 1-0 in the EBAL opener, then Alameda 2-0 on Saturday).
2. Granada (9-2-0, 1-0-0): The Matadors open EBAL play with a 2-0 win over Foothill and move up a spot in the rankings.
3. California (7-2-2, 1-0-0): The Grizzlies got a 1-0 win over Amador Valley to get league play started. Lost 2-1 to Arroyo in a non-league game
4. Dougherty Valley (5-2-2, 1-0-0): The Wildcats picked up a huge 2-0 win over San Ramon Valley to open EBAL play, then came back and fell 2-0 to Cardinal Newman on Saturday.
5. San Ramon Valley (7-4-1, 0-1-1): Tough week for the Wolves as they dropped a pair of games, losing to Dougherty Valley in league and Clayton Valley.
On the bubble: Monte Vista (3-2-1, 0-1-0), Foothill (5-6-1, 0-1-0), Amador Valley (3-5-3, 0-1-0), Livermore (4-4-2, 1-0-0), Dublin (1-2-4, 0-1-0).
Tuesday, January 14
EBAL Girls’ Basketball (7:30 p.m.)
Carondelet at San Ramon Valley: The top two teams by far in the EBAL square off in only the second week of the season. With each team only playing each other once in the league season, the winner will have control.
California at Dublin: The Gaels have not lost yet this year, but the Grizzlies will be the best team they have played yet this season.
Boys’ Basketball (7:30 p.m.)
San Ramon Valley at De La Salle: The Wolves opened the league season with a huge win over Dougherty Valley but now travel to Concord to face a Spartans team hitting on all cylinders right now.
California at Dublin: The Grizzlies are 15-2 overall and coach Steve Ohlmeyer has been building one of the most consistent teams in the league. But, they need a win over they top programs to take the next step. Dublin is 15-1, with the lone loss coming to Crespi of Los Angeles. It could be a statement game for Cal.
Girls’ Soccer (6:30 p.m.)
Foothill at Dublin: The Gaels are 5-1 and Foothill at 4-0-3 have yet to lose a game.
Friday, Jan. 17
EBAL Boys’ Basketball (7:30 p.m.)
De La Salle at Dougherty Valley: After losing the EBAL opener to San Ramon Valley, Dougherty Valley has lost the margin of error, and with hosting the Spartans will give them the best chance of getting a big win.
Pleasanton Preps: Major League Table Tennis is latest sports barnstormer to stop by fairgrounds
I mean how cool is that? It’s a sport that all of us have played at some time in our lives. I watched it during the last Olympics and plan on making it down for at least one of the days this weekend.
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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