STRIKE TWO: HIT ONE. Rams off to rough start

BY DAN SANKEY
Contributing Writer

PHOTOS BY NATHAN WEYLAND

Super Bowl Sunday wasn’t a super start for the Rams’ baseball season, with opening weekend ending 1-2.

Coach John Vanoncini’s team had good starting skills, but need to follow through with their bats to bring in a winning record this season.

Sunday’s game against Laney College exposed the Rams’ difficulty batting under pressure, leaving nine runners on base in an 8-1 loss.

Laney came on early, scoring three runs in the first three innings before starter Nick Gorman was able to find his arm deep into the fifth.

The Rams got runners on base throughout the game but couldn’t drive in runs, thanks to Laney’s superior defense.

“They just beat us,” Vanoncini said. “They were able to get the first runner out every inning and we didn’t. Statistically, that’s how you win games.”

Laney’s infield squelched the Rams’ numerous chances to score with diving catches and well-executed double plays.
Derrick Reynolds hit the lone RBI in the third inning with a solid drive squeaking in fair along the third base line. It was one of the Rams’ few good breaks not thwarted by Laney.

Laney consistently displayed patience at the plate. “They were hitting awesome. They can hit fastballs, so I tried to give them change ups,” said pitcher Nick Gorman.

Nine out of the Rams’ 10 pitch-ers this year are freshmen. Vanoncini and pitching coach Jeff Menard tried to give them as much experience as possible for the games ahead.

There was a good deal of stand out play, raising hopes for the season once the Rams settle down under the pressure of having runners on base.

Catcher Derek Luque played well on Sunday, getting three hits and orchestrating a steal-defeating double play, ending a potentially high-scoring inning for Laney.

Tyler Axelrod started the season strongly for the Rams in game one on Saturday, pitching five scoreless innings with four strikeouts for a 2-0 win against Mendocino College, with Justin D’Agostino earning the save.

Outfielder Ryan Peterson hit well all weekend, with two RBIs against Solano College in game two of the double header to give the Rams the early lead. Starter Alex Sow-yrda pitched five shutout innings in the game, staying in for seven with just one earned run, but the unseasoned bullpen couldn’t hold onto the win in the final plays of the game, losing on a home run in the ninth to fall 5-4.

Other standouts in game two were Evan Kruger and Derrick Reynolds, both getting two hits and two RBIs.

Outfielder Jerome Saddler also hit 4-10 over the weekend, with two stolen bases and two RBIs helping to build a solid base of batting to back up an apprentice pitching squad’s confidence heading into the season.

SCOREBOARD

Baseball

Rams 7 Porterville 6
Despite the rough start, the Rams managed to pull out a victory at Porterville. After losing three of four, the Rams pulled to within one win of evening their record, which now stands at 2-3. Derrick Reynolds led the way offensively, going 2 for 3 with two RBI’s and two runs scored. Alex Sowydra pitched five innings to earn the win, recording four strikeouts and allowing four earned runs. In the previous game, the Rams offense fluttered and the pitching staff did not match their young potential. College of the Sequoias prevailed 9-1. - Dan Verel


Men's Basketball

Rams 80 Foothill 45
The Rams continue to roll through conference play heading into the playoffs. Their play now resembles the high expectations set early in the season. Just this week, the Rams enjoyed two lop-sided wins at home, defeating Skyline and Foothill easily by 30 points in each game. Earlier in the week, the Rams beat Chabot 86 to 68, in which four players scored in double figures. Friday’s victory over Foothill clinched the league championship for the Rams, who finished the season in first place in the Coast Conference. - Dan Verel

Women's Basketball

Rams 85 DeAnza 47
After suffering a disappointing loss to Foothill on Wednesday, the lady Rams bounced back by blowing out visiting DeAnza. The win guaranteed the women a spot in the upcoming playoffs, and kept them locked in a three-way tie for first place with Mission and Foothill. Nia Reate Galapza paced the way for the Rams with 14 points, followed by center Ramona Vai’s 11 points.
- Dan Verel

Track and Field

At the Coast Conference preview in San Jose, City College athletes impressed, placing first in 11 events. Shawna Ellis won the 100 meter dash with a time of 12.74 seconds. On the field, Ellis won both the women’s long jump and triple jump. For the men, Ameer Tillman placed first in the 200 meter dash at 22.12 seconds, while Hollywood Radford won the 400 meter dash at 50.23 seconds. In the 1500 meter run, the men dominated, claiming first through third places. Francis Gadayan finished first followed by Kenny Sparks and Gus Gibbs.
-Dan Verel

BLACK ATHLETES: Education needs to be number one priority

BY ALEX FONG
Staff Writer

Arif Khatib lectures students at Rosenberg Library about the travail of the black athlete in America. DUSTIN GRAY / GUARDSMAN

Money has taken precedence over the black athlete’s welfare, according to the president of the African American-Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame.

“What’s disturbing and troubling to me is that we’re getting away from education,” said hall president and former UC Berkeley business teacher Arif Khatib. He made the comment during a Feb. 17 talk at Rosenberg Library. The City College African-American studies department sponsored the event for Black History Month.

His lecture to a mostly black audience of about 40 also covered minority sports figures en-shrined in the non-profit hall of fame he established in 2000 to honor the accomplishments of minority athletes.

“This is an area that hasn’t been adequately covered so far,” said Glenn Nance, chair of African-American studies. “There are some people that write newspaper articles now and then, but they really don’t go into depth on it.”

Athletes under discussion included historical Olympic figures such as 1948 high jump gold medalist Alice Coachman (awarded in 1948) and 800-meter gold medalist Mal Whitfield (awarded in 1948 and 1952).

“They were not just dedicated to running track,” Khatib said. “They were dedicated to education. Some of our most noted African-American physicians, doctors and world leaders came out of that era.”

Whitfield, for example, became a United States goodwill ambassador to Africa after retiring from competition and graduating from California State Universi-ty, Los Angeles.

But today’s athletes might not replicate such success af-ter ending their own sports careers.

Those who enter the pros out of high school and earn a lot of money face “after the glory” days. “If they get hurt and can’t fall back on something, you’ll be surprised at how fast that money goes,” Khatib said.

He said that college also posed a problem.

“Athletes who go to a NCAA college and bring billions of dollars to that college can’t find a job when they graduate. If they don’t make a pro team, they have a problem, and the universities could care less,” Khatib said.

Instead of attending liberal white schools, Khatib suggested going to black historical colleges where students can get scholarships, a strong academic education and opportunities in two sports divisions unaffiliated with the NCAA.

City College is another option. “We’re taking people from high school and preparing them for college,” said Willie Hector, a bodybuilding and basketball instructor. “We have tutorials for people who can get them to do what they want to do.”

The talk also addressed the role of rac-ism in modern sports.

Khatib cited the paucity of black drivers in NASCAR and black females on the U.S. Olympic swim team as examples of racism.

“People who are outstanding just can’t be denied,” audience member PeterJohn LaCrosby said. “I think racism may play a part in sports like ice-skating, swimming and hockey, but it’s representation as well.”

Black City College track athlete Jason Bolden-Anderson agreed. “We just don’t have those kinds of issues,” he said.

Joyce Medici, an audience member, pointed out that there are still very few team owners of minority descent, but she believes that ath-letes themselves face little discrimination because of the proliferation of minority athletes.

LADY RAMS POISED FOR PLAYOFF CONTENTION

BY DAN VEREL
Editor

NATHAN WEYLAND / GUARDSMAN

With the playoffs fast approaching, the women’s basketball team looks to finish strong in preparation for their cross-conference games against rivals Mission College, Foothill and DeAnza.

In addition to working on fundamentals, coach Jamie Wong’s squad stresses the concept of team play. In light of the New England Patriots’ recent Super Bowl victory, the selfless mindset seemingly applies to the lady Rams.

Coach Wong rattled off clichés about team play, but no matter how contrived it seems to be working. “The team really stands out. They worked hard on and off the court,” she said. “A big thing with this group is to help each other.”

The concept is firmly instilled with the players. “Now is the time to pull together as a team,” said Rams standout center Ramona Vae. For a talented team, modesty is a welcome attitude that reflects their recent success.

“We just need to play smart and come together,” Rams’ guard Pernisha Battle said. “We’re good friends on and off the court.”

Playing smart shouldn’t be an issue considering Wong’s squad boasts a 3.26 team GPA.

The Rams seem poised to advance in the playoffs. Defense is an important factor. The Rams aim to apply more pressure on the opposition. “We’re trying to keep teams under 50 points,” Wong said. This will be key in playing against highly talented teams like Foothill and Mission.

Offensively, Wong says their half-court game needs improvement. “Our transition game has been really strong,” she said. “We’ve been running like crazy, but we were having trouble scoring at the half-court.”

If the needed adjustments are made, the Rams should prove to be a threat in the playoffs.

e-mail: sports@theguardsman.com