Results are in for the Diablo Scorpion Lacrosse Club, and coaches, kids and families can be proud of their season. A grand example of the league’s success is the Scorpion Venoms, who just won the 7A championship and have been undefeated for two seasons.
The semi-final game was a 10-0 win over the Scorpion Spyder 7A team; the championship game was a 6-1 win over the Lamorinda Blast 7A team.
“The old saying that defense wins championships was so true for this team,” said assistant coach Brad Hock. “Our team gave up the fewest goals of any team in the junior division (seventh and eighth grades). Of our 16 games, nine were shutouts.”
“The success of our program is a result of the dedicated and experienced coaching staff and the support of the parents,” said Phil Connelly, club president. “Our coaches are predominantly former college players, and our players benefit tremendously from the passion for the game these coaches demonstrate.”
Scorpion coaches include head lacrosse high school coaches, including Adam Lechner from Monte Vista; Bob O’Meara of De La Salle; Peter Worstell of San Ramon Valley; and Kurt Vierra of Cal High.
The Diablo Scorpion Lacrosse Club consists of more than 400 boys and girls from kindergarten through the eighth grade from Danville, Alamo, Diablo and San Ramon. It has a total of 18 teams and fields 12 boys and four girls teams that compete in the Northern California Junior Lacrosse Association against 46 clubs from Sacramento to Monterey.
The program sends the majority of its players to San Ramon Valley, Monte Vista and De La Salle high schools. Monte Vista has won the Northern California High School Championship three years in a row, and the San Ramon girls won their first championship this year. Many of these players continue playing at the college level.
The Diablo Scorpion Lacrosse program was started in 2000 by Danville residents George Pereira, Steve Wahrlich, Peter Worstell, Paul Ferry and Steve Reyda. Pereira was president of the club from inception until 2005 when Connolly took the job.
“I got involved with the program when I relocated to Danville,” said Connolly.
He grew up in Garden City, NY, with two of the founders so they knew he had played varsity lacrosse at West Point.
“I have been hooked ever since,” said Connelly. “In 2002, I helped establish and coached the bobblehead program for second- and third-graders. Since that time, I have either coached or assisted other teams in our program.”
The Diablo Scorpion Lacrosse league runs from February through May. Player registration fees range from $100-$300. Information can be obtained at www.scorpionlacrosse.com by calling 648-7845. •
Diablo Scorpion 2006 results:
Boys:
* Junior A – 8th grade division: Champions (undefeated), coached by Martin Wenzel of Alamo
* Junior B division: Bronze medal winner, coached by John Demarest of Danville
* Junior A – 7th grade division: Champions (undefeated), coached by Sam Greason of Lafayette
* Pups A – 6th grade division: Champions (undefeated), coached by Peter Worstell of Danville
* Pups A – 5th grade division: Champions (undefeated), coached by Beau Shore of Lafayette
Girls:
*Junior A – 1 division: Champions, coached by Rick Jeffrey of Diablo
