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 first week of EBAL baseball and softball. Just one week into the season is there anything we can take from one week? What are the overreactions from just one week of EBAL play?
The EBAL Power Rankings feature the baseball, softball, and volleyball power rankings. Both baseball and softball see new No. 1 teams for the opening week of EBAL play.
What to Watch has the full slate for the EBAL spring sports as league is underway!
The Fast Five visits with Foothill lacrosse player Graham Zander. His favorite quote is simple and so straight to the point!
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
Who are the baseball and softball tone-setters after opening week of EBAL action?
It’s been all of one week for East Bay Athletic League play in baseball and softball. Any surprises? Who set a tone and who disappointed? Let’s look at both sports…
Power Rankings as of March 18.
EBAL SOFTBALL
1) Foothill (8-1, 2-0): Turned the league upside down in the first week, beating former No. 1 Livermore 10-0, then taking down Granada 5-2.
2) Livermore (4-1, 0-1): Only played one EBAL game but got beaten 10-0 by Foothill. Did beat a very good Freedom team 8-3 last week.
3) Amador Valley (4-2, 1-0): Opened EBAL play with a 4-3 win over Dublin. Also beat Arroyo last week.
4) San Ramon Valley (4-2, 2-0): Opened strong in league beating Dougherty Valley 9-4, then California 2-1.
5) California (3-2, 1-1): Split games to open the EBAL season. Drilled Monte Vista 13-3, then fell 2-1 to San Ramon Valley.
Others: Carondelet (2-1, 1-0), Dougherty Valley (3-3, 0-2), Dublin (2-2, 1-1), Granada 1-4, 0-2), Monte Vista (1-3, 0-1).
1) Granada (5-0): The Mats start strong, beating San Ramon Valley 6-1, then De La Salle 5-4 to stay perfect on the year and take over the top spot.
2) De La Salle (4-2, 1-1): The Spartans beat Amador Valley to open play last week but ended the week with a 5-4 loss to new No. 1 Granada.
3) Amador Valley (5-3, 1-1): Opened league play with a 6-2 loss to De La Salle but then came back with a 16-0 win over Dougherty Valley.
4) Dublin (4-3, 2-0): Opened league play with a pair of wins to jump into the top five. Beat Cal 4-2, then Monte Vista 9-2.
5) Foothill (5-3, 2-0): Made a statement the first week of the season beating Monte Vista 13-7 and California 6-4.
Others: San Ramon Valley (3-4, 1-1), Livermore (6-3, 0-2), Monte Vista (2-3, 0-2), California (3-5, 0-2), Dougherty Valley (2-6, 1-1).
1) Foothill (10-2, 4-0): Another perfect week for the Falcons, taking out Livermore and De La Salle, both by 3-0 margins. In fact, the Falcons have yet to lose a set in the league.
2) Granada (9-2, 4-0): Beat Dublin 3-0, then Amador Valley 3-1 to stay perfect in the league. Huge one with Foothill this week.
3) Amador Valley (10-5, 2-1): Tough week for the Dons, losing to Granada in league and then O’Dowd in a non-league game.
4) De La Salle (10-6, 3-1): Took care of Dougherty Valley but then fell 3-0 to Foothill.
5) Livermore (7-2, 2-2): Fell to Foothill but then rebounded with a 3-0 win over Dublin.
Others: San Ramon Valley (4-10, 0-3), Dougherty Valley (1-2, 1-2), Dublin (1-8, 0-4), Monte Vista (3-7, 1-2), California (1-6, 1-3).
Tuesday, March 19
EBAL Softball
All games at 4 p.m.
Amador Valley at Livermore, Dublin at Foothill, Carondelet at Monte Vista, Dougherty Valley at California, San Ramon Valley and Granada, bye.
EBAL Volleyball
All games at 6:30 p.m.
Granada at Livermore, Amador Valley at Foothill, De La Salle at Dublin, Monte Vista, Monte Vista at San Ramon Valley, Dougherty Valley at California.
EBAL Tennis
All matches at 4 p.m.
California at Dublin, Foothill at Amador Valley, Dougherty Valley at De La Salle, San Ramon Valley at Granada, Monte Vista at Livermore.
EBAL Golf
All matches at 3:30 p.m.
Amador Valley at San Ramon Valley, De La Salle at Foothill, Granada at Monte Vista, Dublin at California, Livermore at Dougherty Valley.
Wednesday, March 20
EBAL Baseball
All games at 4 p.m.
Monte Vista at Livermore, Dougherty Valley at Granada, Dublin at De La Salle, California at Amador Valley, San Ramon Valley.
Thursday, March 21
EBAL Softball
All games at 4 p.m.
Dublin at Livermore, Amador Valley at Granada, Monte Vista at Dougherty Valley, Carondelet at San Ramon Valley, Foothill and California, bye.
EBAL Volleyball
All games at 6 p.m.
Foothill at Granada, Dublin at Amador Valley, Livermore De La Salle, Monte Vista at Dougherty Valley, California at San Ramon Valley.
EBAL Tennis
All matches at 4 p.m.
Dublin at Foothill, Amador Valley at Dougherty Valley, De La Salle at California, Monte Vista at Granada, San Ramon Valley at Livermore.
EBAL Golf
All matches at 3:30 p.m.
Amador Valley at Monte Vista, Foothill at Dougherty Valley, Granada at California, Dublin at San Ramon Valley, Livermore at De La Salle.
Friday, March 22
EBAL Baseball
All games at 4 p.m.
Livermore at De La Salle, Granada at California, Amador Valley at Monte Vista, Foothill at Dougherty Valley, Dublin at San Ramon Valley.
EBAL Girls’ Lacrosse
All games at 7 p.m.
Amador Valley at Granada, Monte Vista at California, Dublin at Foothill, Carondelet at Dougherty Valley, San Ramon Valley at Livermore.
EBAL Boys’ Lacrosse
All games at 7 p.m.
Granada at Amador Valley, California at Monte Vista, Foothill at Dublin, Dougherty Valley at De La Salle, Livermore at San Ramon Valley.
Pleasanton Preps: Youth soccer partnership helping game become more accessible
When Valley View Elementary School in Pleasanton partnered with the Ballistic United Soccer Club and the Get on the Bus program that helps bring the game of soccer to underprivileged kids, there were simple things they had hoped to accomplish. And along the way something else happened – the team got good.
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): Graham Zander (Foothill)
Sport: Lacrosse
Year in school: Senior (2024)
Favorite late-night food: McDonald’s nuggets
What are you watching on Netflix: “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure”
Who is a must follow on social media: Ghetto Gronk
Go to hype song: “I Came Thru” (NBA YoungBoy)
Favorite quote: “Hard work works.” (Kobe Bryant)
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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