Today’s edition is sponsored by Rose Hotel
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Welcome to the Tri-Valley Preps Playbook!
It’s time for another week of the Tri-Valley Preps Playbook, your inside source for all things sports when it comes to the East Bay Athletic League!
I’ve been covering the EBAL since 1985 and know the coaches, players, parents, and athletic staffs at all the schools, giving me the inside scoop on what is happening behind the scenes!
Join me each week for some honest feelings about the good, the bad, and the ugly side of high school athletics!
The Big Picture looks at the EBAL baseball and softball races as they head into another week of league play. After this week, teams will be off as they head into Spring Break.
The EBAL Power Rankings feature the baseball, softball, and volleyball power rankings. There is not a lot of movement this week as teams appear to be settling in during league play.
What to Watch once again brings the full slate of East Bay Athletic League action as we head into the last week of EBAL play before spring break!
The Fast Five visits with Foothill softball player Marissa Anderson. I loved her response for her go-to hype song!
That’s it for another week of the 2023-24 Tri-Valley Preps Playbook! Got a great story idea? Let me know at acesmag@aol.com! Have a great year and I look forward once again to seeing how our local athletes compete!
From the sidelines,
Dennis Miller
Playbook Editor
sports@pleasantonweekly.com
The class of EBAL baseball this season has become clear
I spent another weekend digesting the scores from both leagues, trying to get a line on what is happening through the first two weeks of EBAL play. Baseball has somewhat crystalized, but softball … that’s a whole other story.
Power Rankings as of March 25.
EBAL SOFTBALL
1) Foothill (8-2, 2-1): Lost in a football score 18-13 to Dublin, then rebounded with a 5-4 non-league win over Clayton Valley. The Falcons will stay No. 1 for now as they have wins over Granada and Livermore.
2) Livermore (6-1, 2-1): The Cowboys rebounded from a week where they lost to Foothill, winning a pair of games, beating Amador 5-4 and Dublin 4-3.
3) San Ramon Valley (6-3, 3-0): Had an interesting week, beating O’Dowd 8-1 and Carondelet 4-3, but then fell 4-3 in nine innings to Liberty.
4) Amador Valley (4-3, 1-2): Tough week for the Dons as they fell 5-4 to Livermore and 3-1 to Granada. Does have a convincing win over San Ramon Valley this year.
5) California (5-2, 2-1): Played one league game, beating Dougherty Valley 6-1. Also got a 5-2, non-league win over College Park.
Others: Carondelet (4-3, 1-2), Monte Vista (3-4, 2-1), Dougherty Valley (3-5, 0-4), Dublin (3-3, 2-2), Granada (3-5, 1-2).
1) Granada (10-0, 4-0): The Mats stayed perfect on the season and got a pair of strong pitching performances, beating Dougherty Valley 5-0 and Cal 2-0.
2) De La Salle (6-2, 3-1): The Spartans stayed one back of Granada, getting a pair of shutouts, beating Dublin 7-0 and Livermore 12-0.
3) San Ramon Valley (5-4, 3-1): The Wolves vault into the top 5 after first handing Foothill a 9-3 loss, then shutting out Dublin 5-0.
4) Foothill (7-4, 3-1): The Falcons suffered their first EBAL loss falling 9-3 to San Ramon Valley, but then rallied for a 2-0 win at Freedom and a 20-4 win against Dougherty Valley.
5) Amador Valley (6-4, 2-2): The Dons started the week with a 5-4 to Cal, then bounced back with a 1-0 win over Monte Vista.
Others: Dublin (5-5, 2-2), Livermore (6-5, 0-4), Monte Vista (4-5, 1-3), California (4-6, 1-3), Dougherty Valley (3-8, 1-3).
1) Foothill (12-3, 6-0): The Falcons stay unbeaten on the year by beating Amador Valley, then Granada, both by 3-1 wins.
2) Granada (14-4, 5-1): Lost their first EBAL match falling 3-1 to Foothill, Beat Livermore 3-1 in their other match last week.
3) De La Salle (12-0-6, 5-1): The Spartans move up a spot after beating sweeping Dublin and Livermore. The lone league loss is to Foothill.
4) Amador Valley (12-6, 4-2): Fell 3-1 to Foothill to open the week, then closed out the week with a nice rebound, sweeping Dublin 3-0.
5) Livermore (9-7, 2-4): The league tails off after Amador at No. 4. Right now, the Cowboys hang on to the fifth spot. Big match with Dougherty Valley for No. 5 this week.
Others: San Ramon Valley (4-10, 0-3), Dougherty Valley (2-3, 2-3), Monte Vista (3-7, 1-2), California (2-8, 2-4), Dublin (1-10, 0-6).
Tuesday, March 26
Softball (all games at 4 p.m.)
Amador Valley at Foothill, Livermore at Granada, California at Carondelet, Monte Vista at San Ramon Valley. Dublin, Dougherty Valley, bye.
Volleyball (all games at 6:30 p.m.)
Granada at San Ramon Valley, Dublin at California, Livermore at Dougherty Valley, Amador Valley at De La Salle, Foothill at Monte Vista.
Tennis (all matches at 4 p.m.)
San Ramon Valley at Dublin, Livermore at Dougherty Valley, Monte Vista at California, De La Salle at Amador Valley, Granada at Foothill.
Golf (all matches at 3:30 p.m.)
Dougherty Valley at Amador Valley, San Ramon Valley at Foothill, De La Salle at Granada, Monte Vista at Dublin, California at Livermore.
Boys’ lacrosse (all games at 7 p.m.)
Amador Valley at California, Monte Vista at De La Salle, Dublin at Livermore, San Ramon Valley at Dougherty Valley, Foothill at Granada.
Girls’ lacrosse (all games at 7 p.m.)
California at Amador Valley, Carondelet at Monte Vista, Livermore at Dublin, Dougherty Valley at San Ramon Valley, Granada at Foothill.
Wednesday, March 27
Baseball (all games at 4 p.m.)
Amador Valley at Livermore, Foothill at Dublin, De La Salle at Dougherty Valley, California at San Ramon Valley, Granada at Monte Vista.
Thursday, March 28
Softball (all games at 4 p.m.)
Livermore at Dublin, Granada at Amador Valley, California at Foothill, Dougherty Valley at Monte Vista, San Ramon Valley at Carondelet.
Volleyball (all games at 6 p.m.)
Livermore at Dublin, Granada at Amador Valley, California at Foothill, Monte Vista at De La Salle, San Ramon Valley at Dougherty Valley.
Tennis (all matches at 4 p.m.)
Dougherty Valley at California, Dublin at Amador Valley, Foothill at Livermore, De La Salle at Granada, Monte Vista at San Ramon Valley.
Golf (all matches at 3:30 p.m.)
Dublin at Granada, Foothill at Livermore, San Ramon Valley at Dougherty Valley, Amador Valley at De La Salle, Monte Vista at California.
Friday, March 29
Baseball (all games at 4 p.m.)
Livermore at Amador Valley, Dublin at Foothill, Dougherty Valley at De La Salle, San Ramon Valley at California. Granada, Monte Vista, bye.
Girls’ lacrosse (all games at 7 p.m.)
Carondelet at Amador Valley, Foothill at Livermore, San Ramon Valley at California, Granada at Dougherty Valley, Dublin at Monte Vista.
Boys’ lacrosse (all games at 7 p.m.)
Amador Valley at De La Salle, Livermore at Foothill, California at San Ramon Valley, Dougherty Valley at Granada, Monte Vista at Dublin.
Pleasanton Preps: Amador baseball teams up with PLL Challengers for spring training day
Wins on the field are always something every athletic team strives for, but winning when not playing is a life experience that will carry with the athletes for a lifetime. Such was the case for the Amador Valley High baseball team on March 10…
We interview high school athletes and coaches all the time. Occasionally we ask them questions that have nothing to do with sports. Here’s one:
Name (School): Marissa Anderson (Foothill)
Nickname: Riss
Sport: Softball
Year in school: Senior (2024)
Favorite late-night food: Cold Stone Ice Cream
What are you watching on Netflix: “Legacies”
Who is a must follow on social media: Arms of Eve, a company that sells the cutest minimalistic jewelry.
Go to hype song: It changes weekly, right now it’s “Drive By” (Train).
Favorite quote: “Don’t you worry your pretty little mind, people throw rocks at things that shine.” (Taylor Swift)
Do you have someone you want us to interview? Email sports@pleasantonweekly.com.
Be a Sport!
There are many ways to get involved and get the word out about local athletes and teams!
Send photos of your athlete! to sports@pleasantonweekly.com and get a $10 Amazon gift card.
Post game scores, highlights and photos to acknowledge the hard work of your team and athletes here.
When and where will games, meets and matches be? Tell interested community members here.
Have questions? Email sports@pleasantonweekly.com.
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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