Poll No. 2 is in the books

OK, the Paso-Atascadero poll is officially closed. The tough part is, can we say there's even an official result?

The way the voting see-sawed back and forth, it's likely the majority could have changed 10 more times if I'd kept the poll active all the way until game's true date. (Nov. 9).

Here's how it went if you hadn't been paying attention: When I first posed the question of who would win if the Bearcats and Greyhounds football teams played tomorrow, Atascadero got a resounding amount of support.

There were multiple answers, and Greyhounds supporters had given their team the edge in a close victory, a blowout, overtime, you name it. Most picked blowout.

Word from San Luis Obispo (home to our office) finally leaked the few extra miles up to Paso Robles, and Bearcats fans retaliated with the vote button. An outpouring of support the other way put Paso Robles to win in a blowout as the No. 1 outcome.

I come into the office Friday expecting to see Paso Robles maintaining the advantage, but lo and behold, Atascadero was back on top — bigtime.

Here's the final tally: Greyhounds win going away (179 votes, 51 percent) was the top option. Bearcats win in a blowout (118 votes, 34 percent) was second.

As if couldn't guess what would happen, a few smart alecks had some fun with the "other" option, my favorite being the typed-in answer "who cares?"

But it's obvious people care. I posted a blog about SLO High and Templeton last Friday, and before I knew it, the comments had turned into a full on A-town-Paso debate.

I'd advise the players of both teams not to care too much, yet. They each have a long way to go before that game matters.

Most of the "other" comments were people from San Luis Obispo and Righetti. And either the Tigers or the Warriors — or Arroyo Grande and Lompoc for that matter — could make all of this hoopla moot.

Even so, what say we get another poll going just for fun? Any ideas?

Still the ones

Tuesday's tennis match between San Luis Obispo and Arroyo Grande looked to be a showdown on paper.

Both teams were undefeated in league, and the Eagles had one of the best doubles teams around coming into the match.

But like they have seemingly year after year after year, the Tigers beat back yet another challenger and remain the team to beat in the PAC 7 with a 14-4 win.

And it all started with San Luis Obispo's No. 3 singles player, senior Josie Farrior.

In the first rotation, Farrior scored a steady 6-0 win over Geri Richards, who normally plays No. 1 singles for Arroyo Grande.

Farrior then went on to beat Eagles No. 2 player Lexis Derringer 6-2, and her coup de grace was a 7-6 (7-1) comeback victory over Katie Hollister.

And she does it all in the most rad oversized sunglasses I've ever seen. And because of that, she got to star in the latest "Bloggin' with Scroggin" video spot.

Josie Farrior

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Who needs an energy drink?

I certainly do not — but not just because of that Yahoo! report that ran a few months ago about how they damage your heart and stuff.

Though I might have wandered back into the office sometime around 11:30 p.m. Friday a little drowsy after reporting on a game that started a half hour late, two scores woke me right up.

The first was San Luis Obispo's 26-14 win over Santa Barbara.

No, the Dons aren't some powerhouse team. They were 1-9 last season, which included a 34-14 spanking by the Tigers. Santa Barbara was, however, 3-0 this year — with a decent win over Righetti.

But my concern with the game wasn't the strength of the Dons but of San Luis Obispo. It's so hard to get a good read on the Tigers.

Their offense hasn't exactly clicked in the post Reese-to-Martin era. And though the defense is fast and talented, there aren't a whole lot of wide bodies donning black and gold.

But 26 points? That's a touchdown and a field goal more than San Luis Obispo has scored in any of its first three games. And it's more impressive against an unbeaten team.

So wake up and give the Tigers some credit. I sure will.

Another team I'm willing to give some props to is Templeton. The Eagles' 36-0 shutout of Los Padres League foe Santa Ynez is the second score that slapped me in the face — not because I didn't expect it but because it should quiet some of the Templeton critics, at least for a while.

Each year, it seems the voters in the Top 10 media poll (and others I'm sure) have been slow to give Templeton much respect. The Eagles haven't played the toughest nonleague schedule and the thinking is that they have to prove it in league before they get any respect.

But I'll give the benefit of the doubt to Don Crow's crew because we make it a little too hard for Templeton.

Just because its a school of somewhere around 800 kids, the notion is they can't be good at anything — especially in a league with Santa Maria schools whose enrollments can number more than twice that.

But the Eagles seem to be making a living of defiying predictions and overachieving.

How about giving Templeton some due until the Eagles show it's undeserved? Good until proven bad. Seems to me they've earned it.

Update on a former Tiger

I stood up from my seat and took a step down the stands in San Luis Obispo High's gym to better hear the praise from Arroyo Grande moms who couldn't get enough of this blog.

Oh, how they loved looking at the videos of the kids saying how they read the blog.

This is how I heard it: "Blog, blog, blog ... adualtion ... praise ... you're so cool."

CRUNCH!!! A pair of shiny new crutches.

I looked down out of my euphoria to see I inadvertently stepped on them.

"Hey, watch it, Scroggs!"

It was Ben Hansen, a former three sport standout for the Tigers who graduated last spring. And he had a huge knee brace and a fresh-looking scar on his right knee.

Apparently, Hansen was all set to play football at Hancock College this fall but had surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament and is sitting this semester out.

He said he hurt the knee last spring in a rec league soccer game. Now he's out for the next eight months and hoping to return to the team next season.

I'll wish him good luck regaining the speed and accelleration that made him such a threat for the Tigers in 2006. Thank goodness all I stepped on were his crutches.

Bring on league play

I gleaned one big thing from Mission Prep's 28-20 win at Morro Bay over visiting Orange Cove.

Well... two things.

First, Orange Cove has no orange on its uniform or helmets. No orange. Orange Cove? What were they thinking.

Second, I can't wait for league play to start in the other big conferences around here.

I'm tired of seeing Paso Robles and Atascadero drop 40-point scores on non-league foes. I want to see a showdown between the Bearcats and the Greyhounds (who DO have orange in their uniforms... and gray. Or is it grey?)

I want to see if Arroyo Grande can turn it around in PAC 7 play when it really counts. I can't wait to see the Eagles take on San Luis Obispo, which seems to play everyone close.

Is Righetti for real? What about Templeton? Don't forget Morro Bay.

See, Mission Prep is almost halfway done with Central Sierra League play. It was fun watching two teams undefeated in league square off to get a leg up in the title race.

The Royals basked in the victory with shouts and cheers of "we're No. 1." Orange Cove coaches called for a round of post-game jumping jacks.

It makes me realize how ready I am for Los Padres League play to get into full swing — for the PAC 7 to start working itself out — for the stakes to raise.

Bring it on.

To Vic go the spoils

The results of this blog's first-ever poll are in, and Atascadero's Vic Cooper has won in a landslide plurality.

I put the question to you: Who's the best high school football coach in San Luis Obispo County? And out of the 134 votes tallied, Cooper (pictured right in a Tribune file photo by Joe johnston) came away with 44 — or 32 percent.

"I hope my better years are in front of me and not behind me," quipped Cooper, the only coach to tally more than 30 votes.

Technically, Cooper could have gone to 44 different computers and voted for himself every time, but that's probably not what happened seeing as how Cooper said he was skeptical of the poll and any deeper meaning revealed.

"There’s a lot of good coaches on the Central Coast," he said before giving compliments to San Luis Obispo's Craig Winninghoff (second with 29 percent) and Paso Robles' Rich Schimke (tied for fifth with 11 percent). "That’s a fairly nice honor ... Hopefully, that’s a good sign of having a good staff from top to bottom."

Morro Bay's John Andree took third with 27 votes (20 percent). Arroyo Grande's Tom Goossen (11 percent) was fourth, and the other coach tied for fifth was Mission Prep's Joe Silveira, a former longtime Coast Union coach.

If there was an option for a coach having the most success with the lowest enrollment, Templeton's Don Crow would have gotten more than the 11 votes, or 8 percent, that he got for coming into a tumultuous situation and churning out a playoff program every year.

Instead, Crow finished behind first-year Nipomo coach Russ Edwards (14 votes, 10 percent), a former San Luis Obispo assistant, and tied with Coast Union's Dave Clements, a second-year guy.

Kudos to all the coaches. These guys put in more work than most know, whether they're running eight-man programs or perennial powerhouses.

Check out the new poll, and if you have any suggestions for future questions, feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an e-mail.

All in good fun

Cheering at girls volleyball matches has become the hot new thing to do in the fall.

And the Arroyo Grande students have taken it to another level in the past few years.

They call themselves the Blue Zoo. Some of them dress up in costumes or face paint. Some of them dance. All of them scream.

"It's real exciting for the girls because the school and the student body make a big deal out of it," Eagles coach Ernie Santa Cruz said. "(The players) enoy it and they enjoy the guys in the Blue Zoo rooting for them. It's becoming a big thing at all the schools. The support is there, and it's kind of like the seventh man."

Mission Prep's Michaela Laird knew what the Royals were in for in Arroyo Grande's home opening 3-0 win Thursday.

"We knew that we needed to talk it up and talk loud," Laird said, "but we're working on it. Overall, I don't think we let the crowd affect us too much."

Somtime in the third game, when the Zoo had already unleashed a few rehearsed cheers and done the wave, a wayward spike from Mission Prep's Natalie Fernandez zipped in the direction of the boisterous section.

Was it just a slip? Or was she trying to shut them up a la "Varsity Blues"?

Since Fernandez left the gym before she could be interviewed, we may never know.

In her spot, I might have sent one at them. Look how annoying these guys are -- if you're on the other team. (If you're on their side, they're great.)

The Blue Zoo

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Conspicuously absent

EDIT: Chloe Redman is intending to play for Cuesta College in the spring. You can read the update on this story here.

Tennis talk might not make the numbers spike on the hit count-O-meter, but there was some off-court drama at Morro Bay High for the Pirates' match against visiting San Luis Obispo that just may.

The buzz surrounded Morro Bay standout Chloe Redman — now apparently a "former" Morro Bay standout.

Redman (pictured in a Tribune file photo by Joe Johnston) finished as the second best individual in the Los Padres League as a junior last season and led the Pirates into the CIF-Southern Section Division IV quarterfinals by winning five of six sets in two playoff rounds.

She was set to return as arguably the best senior in the county this fall but was nowhere to be seen Tuesday, and Morro Bay coach Karen Roth declined to comment, only saying Redman was no longer at the school.

The loss is a big hit for the Pirates on the tennis and basketball courts, where Redman was a key rebounder and defender for coach Cary Nerelli.

Rumors were flying as to where Redman went, why and how. But nothing was confirmed as of Tuesday night. Expect an update in the coming days.

We've got spirit

Yes, we do.

Paso Robles football

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Doom and gloom in Paso?

The Paso Robles High football team's big 52-0 win Friday over Santa Ynez was impressive to watch.

But if there's anyone out there who can find a puny storm cloud in big load of silver lining, it's a coach.

And the Bearcats' Rich Schimke is an experienced one at that.

"We got a long ways to go," he said after the game. "We made way too many mistakes. I know it sounds weird, but you watched the second half. You saw all the penalties out there. We have to maintain our discipline."

The Bearcats were called for 85 yards worth of penalties on nine flags, 10 if you count one that was declined by the Pirates.

"And the fumble down there in the red zone," Schimke said, "we can't have that."

Lots of times coaches will undersell their team or accomplishments because they don't want their high school athletes to get too full of themselves. Or they don't want to provide bulletin board material to another team.

That's why what media members refer to as "coach speak" is so boring to read, yet it's use is nearly universal.

But don't write off Schimke's comments as a simple attempt to be humble in the wake of a dominant win.

It's the second week in a row Paso Robles has been dogged by penalties and turnovers in at least one half. There will come a time when an opponent will have the talent and experience to be able to capitalize on some of those mistakes.

So the Bearcats will work on them. They should.

And they should also enjoy the win. There was more than enough to be proud about.

Climbing the ladder

The Arroyo Grande girls volleyball team's season has stalled in the CIF-Southern Section divisional quarterfinals each of the past six seasons.

The Eagles are hoping to end that streak this year by finally breaking into the final four. They've got the talent with PAC 7 MVP setter Olivia Trudeau and their top five hitters back, including senior Brooke Arnold (right *Tribune file photo by Jayson Mellom). But if they want to extend their year, they've got to get a better playoff seed.

One way to ensure that is to improve their ranking.

Not to slight San Luis Obispo and Nipomo, but wins over county rivals just aren't impressing the Southern Section poll gurus. Another undefeated romp through the PAC 7 isn't going to get Arroyo Grande much. The Eagles only got a No. 8 seed out of it in 2006.

What Arroyo Grande needs to do is play its best in two non-conference tournaments this month. Otherwise, the Eagles could end up with another tough seed against another of the heaviest hitters from the south.

Circle these dates if you're Arroyo Grande: This Saturday, the Eagles head to the San Luis Obispo High tournament; and September 29, they play against a field of mainly Ventura County teams at Royal High in Simi Valley.

These are the spots where Arroyo Grande can improve on the preseason No. 8 ranking assigned to them by the section.

Oh, and it seems you aren't the only one reading this blog. See below.

AG girls volleyball

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Read this blog... or else!

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Brett Hiatt

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Out of the unknown

Coming into Friday's season-opening 42-22 win over Washington Union, the Atascadero High football team was a conundrum to a few of us prep sports experts at The Tribune.

Since becoming head coach, Vic Cooper seemed to have the program going in a great direction. All three levels of the program went 9-1 in the regular season in 2006. And the Greyhounds ran through the PAC 7 with little problem last year.

But by the same token, all of the most recognizable stars from last season's team had graduated. And unless you were camping with the team this summer or the biggest Atascadero freshman and junior varsity team fan, you had to wait until Friday's game to really have a good idea of what the new guys would do.

There were plenty of questions.

"I say every one of them got answered," said safety Jake Norlock, who also rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown at running back. "We threw, we ran, we did everything that we wanted to do. Washington Union was a great test."

The team certainly looked impressive. But the Greyhounds didn't show much in the passing game. First-year starter Steven Manier passed for 65 yards on six of 10. Only two completions went to a wide receiver. Two went to tight end Jack Robinett. Three Atascadero completions were screens to running backs.

There might still be some uncertainties there but expect them to be concrete in the coming weeks as the Greyhounds take on No. 1-ranked CIF-Southern Section Northern Division power St. Bonaventure and No. 7 Thousand Oaks, the team that handed Atascadero its regular season losses at every level.

Against bigger and better teams, the Greyhounds might find themselves needing to pass more.

Cooper continued

Tribune file photo by David Middlecamp

Need another Vic Cooper fix? Here's all the background information we couldn't fit in Friday's story but that real Atascadero fans should know about their beloved football coach.

Vic Cooper is the oldest of three football-playing Coopers to put on pads at Atascadero and graduated in 1985.

Former coach Larry Welsh remembers him as a “quiet hero” who didn’t say much but got the job done. He imagined that’s how Cooper coaches, too. Paso Robles coach Rich Schimke, a 1981 Greyhounds grad, coached Cooper on the junior varsity level early in his career.

“He was a big hoss,” Schimke said, “a big tackle, very coachable, a student of the game. It’s kind of neat seeing him get into the teaching profession and coaching as well.”

Cooper’s parents were heavily involved in the booster club and, ultimately, their connection to Welsh was what got Cooper a job as a junior varsity assistant at his alma mater in 1988 while he attended Cuesta College.

When he transferred to Fresno State, he commuted back and forth from the Friday night football games to his early-morning Saturday job unloading trucks at a Fresno department store.

And after getting his bachelors, Cooper was the Greyhounds’ varsity offensive line coach from 1994 to 2002 and served as the offensive coordinator the year before he took over as head coach.

That should put Cooper's recent success in perspective. His ties to the community, knowledge of the tradition and passion for the school is a lot of the reason he has worked well with boosters, assistant coaches and players and turned the Greyhounds back into a winner.

“Coach pours his heart into football, and I really believe that he bleeds orange and sweats gray,” said Jake Norlock, a senior who’s moving from linebacker to safety this fall. “It’s really easy to play for a coach that puts that much of his heart into it.”

Football season kicks off tonight! Don't forget to vote in the new poll.

The ceremonial first blog.

It's official.

With Mission Prep's 20-6 win over Coast Sierra League rival Avenal on Friday, the 2007 fall season is off and running. And with the new season comes a second school year of blogs.

Royals junior quarterback Dylan Morrow got away without being interviewed after the game despite throwing for more than 200 yards and two touchdowns. After one game, he's on pace for more than 2,000 yards and 20 TDs.

But I saw him lingering in the stands while finishing up my story in the press box and decided to walk down and give him the opportunity to be the first athlete quoted in the new season of Bloggin' with Scroggin.

He started every game last season for the Royals. He's played on the baseball and basketball teams. He even played on the San Luis Obispo 16-and-under Babe Ruth All-Stars, a team we featured after it advanced to the World Series this summer.

And I'd never interviewed him. Chances are nobody had. I thought, "Morrow must have more pent up quotes than anybody on the team!" So I held my digital recorder up and gave him carte blanche.

"Uh, Mission rocks," he said.

Anything else?

"Nope, that's all."

And we're underway.

Sights from the state meet

Couldn't make it to the CIF State Track and Field Championships in Sacramento? Here's the jist in a couple words: Hot and cold.

I was told it wasn't as hot as it's been in previous years, but it was still pretty scalding in the daytime.

I got called out in the press box for wearing my posh designer brand jeans in such sun block-worthy weather. But when events stretched past 10 p.m. for Friday's preliminaries, I got the last laugh when underdressed reporters went down to do late night interviews, shivering in their khaki shorts.

But here's a few other things you might have missed, even if you came.

Making the short trip up from Palo Alto, Stanford freshman Erin Delaney was there to cheer on former teammate Tom Nagengast. The former Bearcats girls shot put state champion said she hasn't transfered the success she had at the high school level over to college yet.

Delaney was a few centimeters away from advancing to the NCAA West Regional and didn't hit the same marks she did as a Paso Robles senior, but she took solace in taking the bottom spot on the all-time top-10 list of Cardinal throwers.

Sticking with the Paso-Robles and throwing-events vibe, Bearcats coach Bill Stansbury told me senior Greg Draper has committed to throw for Cal State Bakersfield next season.

Also slated to be a Roadrunner is state champion Derek Johnson of Agoura - who won the event Saturday with a throw of 203 feet, 6 inches and had two more over 195. So Draper should have a good throwing partner to work with.

Finally, there were two national records set at Saturday's meet. Taft's Jeshua Henderson won the boys 300-meter hurdles in 35.34, and Castilleja's Tori Anthony won the girls pole vault at 14-1.

Obviously, both marks also set new California and state meet records, but interestingly, Anthony eclipsed former Morro Bay and San Diego State vaulter Shayla Balentine's state meet record.

Balentine vaulted 13-8 in 2001, which was a national record at the time. Though two other California girls have beaten the mark since then, including Anthony's 13-10 earlier this season, none were at the state meet until Saturday.

Balentine is still the third best vaulter in state history, and former Atascadero standout Chelsea Johnson, whose best high school mark is 13-6, is sixth.

I never said I wouldn't pander

Here's a tidbit for you San Luis Obispo High football folks.

In the background of the Tigers' CIF-Southern Section Division II semifinal boys tennis loss to Diamond Bar, the San Luis Obispo football team was beginning its second week of spring workouts.

It was hard not to keep my eyes on the court with some of the competitive play going on, so I only heard the football team counting out jumping jacks or something like that. So no scouting report.

But football conversation did wander over to the tennis courts eventually, and a few details leaked out. In the race to replace departed senior Conner Reese, a school record-holder in multiple passing categories, there is a good, old-fashioned quarterback controversey.

Sources close to the team say it's neck and neck between incoming senior Jake Miller, who backed up Reese last season and racked up 67 tackles and three interceptions from his safety spot, and junior David Schultz, who battted .378 in 74 at-bats on the baseball team this spring.

Neither has too much of a size advantage. According to MaxPreps.com, Schultz is 6 feet, 1 inch and 170 pounds. Miller, who played half of last season after a blow to the throat left him with a vocal chord injury, measured 6-1, 173 in the fall.

Miller completed two of three passes behind Reese for 15 yards and a touchdown, a 10-yard strike to fullback Mac Sutcliffe in a 43-10 blowout of San Marcos. Schultz, who played junior varsity football in the fall, kept his arm in shape this spring by going 2-1 on the mound for the Tigers. His 3.98 ERA was third on the team.

Whichever quarterback wins the job, he'll have huge shoes to fill and high expectations. The Tigers return the best group of All-County players next season and no doubt look to compete for the PAC 7 title again.

Pick your playoff run

Two fantastic runs to the quarterfinals. But what if there could be only one?

The Arroyo Grande boys basketball team went from wild card to CIF-Southern Section Division II title contender with three straight upsets before falling in the quarters this past winter.

And Tuesday, the Eagles boys volleyball team gained entry into the round of eight for the first time in school history by beating Santa Ynez in convincing fashion after a first-round romp and a PAC 7 championship regular season.

Which one is more special? Which will be more memorable? Normally, those questions might not be very relevant, but two of the team's key players in the runs for each team are two in the same.

Seniors Daniel Wrage and James Tringham came up big in both sports. Which one would they choose?

Wrage honestly ranked the basketball run as his best memory. The team won on some of his own late-game heroics. And the underdog story of a fifth-place team that squeaked into the playoffs with an at-large bid was dangerously close to becoming an instant legend.

Without picking a preference, Tringham felt special being a part of Arroyo Grande boys volleyball's deepest playoff run to date. The Eagles beat San Luis Obispo in six of the eight games between the two teams. Now everything they do is setting a new program standard.

"We had a good year, we won league and now we're in the playoffs," Tringham said. "I don't want to say this is expected, but this is fun."

I was ready to give my own judgement and tell everyone which playoff run is more important to the school and the respective sports in the long run, but, as Wrage reminded me, volleyball isn't finished yet.

I'll hold off on a decision before seeing what Arroyo Grande can do against Santa Barbara on Friday. But that doesn't mean you have to.

Untold tales of sportsmanship

Midway through San Luis Obispo High's tennis match with visiting Burroughs-Burbank in the first round of CIF-Southern Section Division II playoffs Thursday, I had a chat with Burroughs coach Roy Bernhardt.

His team hadn't been in the playoffs since 1993, and as a warmup question, I asked him what he thought of the Tigers — the cream of the team crop here in our area.

The question wasn't hard-hitting enough to beat an egg, I know, but I was feeling him out. San Luis Obispo, which won 12-6, was dominating, and hey, you are reading a blog about it.

The first thing he complimented the Tigers on was their conduct. They all were true sportsmen, he said. It was relevant considering that certain nameless players were flinging rackets and water bottles in losing frustration.

Here's my comment. I wish I'd said it to him. Winning a game or match going away isn't a true test of sportsmanship.

I've gotta say it's pretty easy to deal with winning, especially when it's by a lot. Winning with class does take some effort, but your level of sportsmanship truly shows when you have to deal with adversity — a blown call, some bad luck or a hostile crowd.

Paso Robles softball pitcher Michelle Moses gave up the first ever home run at San Luis Obispo's softball diamond, and it cost the Bearcats the game and the chance to be all alone in first place in the PAC 7 a couple weeks ago.

Choking back some emotion, she actually did an interview with me after the game and thanked me for coming. A lesser sportsman might have told me to buzz off.

After being eliminated from playoff contention in a blowout loss to Atascadero this week, Arroyo Grande baseball catcher Lucas Kephart saw me walking by and flashed me a big smile.

I'd seen it before. It was the same one I got after two games where I watched him homer earlier in the season. It's the same one I'll see next time, too, whether he pops up or strikes out.

At the PAC 7 track finals last week, Eagles sprinter Stephanie Micheli thought she finally had rival Tonie Williams of San Luis Obispo in the 200-meter dash. But Micheli lost by .01 seconds, lost her balance through the finish line and lost sizeable chunks of cheek and shoulder skin on the track.

Not only did she come back for her next race a few minutes later, but she talked to me, gave kudos to Williams and vowed to beat her with a renewed determination.

These kids weren't happy with losing. Nobody really is. But they had untold stories where they handled it with grace.

Tigers tennis handled winning just fine. Will they do the same while losing? Only a runaway section title would mean they wouldn't get the chance.

Fist fights and running spikes

What makes you want to order the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight?

Maybe you order it. Maybe you don't. Maybe you're like a lot of people and you just think about it. But why?

Because they hate each other. Or they say they do. There's actual, publicized dislike between the two.

OK, that's enough free publicity for De La Hoya-Mayweather.

The front page of the dyestatcal.com Web site, the state's leading source for high school track and field information (it deserves the publicity), highlighted a figurative fight of its own this week.

In between photos of nationally reknowned Mission Prep sophomore Jordan Hasay and Oak Ridge-El Dorado Hills senior Alex Kosinski, who will face off in the 1,600-meter race at Saturday's Sacramento Meet of Champions, was a graphic of a pair of boxing gloves.

The race is a high-profile showdown, and dyestatcal.com did well to promote it, but here's what I know from my expereince: Runners don't seem to hate each other in that way.

In the past, Hasay's only had the nicest things to say about her competitors.

Don't get me wrong, she wants to win perhaps more than anybody I've ever met. Try conducting an interview with Hasay after suggeting there might be the slightest outside chance that one out of 1 billion people thinks she might not win a race. Her past history, including state and national titles, commands ultimate respect.

But it's not like she wants to eat anyone's kids or gets into fistfights on the podium. It's not like she's likely to get intentionally tripped by a rival on the way to the finish line.

The race previews read about how one runner is close in time to another. They're not about how A-Rod charged the mound against Schilling. Or how T.O. spit in someone's face.

When runners don't win, they're more likely to blame themselves than point the finger at an opponent or an official.

High school runners don't hate each other. Nor should they. But that's also why it's not on pay-per-view.

SLO High Football

Gotcha!

This blog has little to do with my thoughts on San Luis Obispo High football, per se. But just go with it.

I noticed that a previous blog got pirated off course by a couple of posters who saw an opening to bring up Tigers football. It seriously seems like that's all anyone is interested in.

And since I just came off a meeting with The Tribune's Managing Editor Tad Weber today where we talked about ways to make the blog a little more fresh, I figure put "SLO High Football" in the headline — and KABOOM — the hit count numbers will soar off the charts.

And that's exactly what I want to blog about: football versus spring sports.

I know football is king, not just locally, but nationally. Basketball and hockey playoffs have begun, baseball is back in full swing, but all anyone wants to talk about is NFL Draft.

I try to write a thoughtful blog on the Tigers boys volleyball program and the only two comments are about a prep football season that's four months away.

Incidentally, those were my first two comments since March. So either I'm really boring or spring sports are. Which is it? (After speaking at C.L. Smith Elementary in February, the fourth grade class will tell you it's me. So don't ask any of them.)

I'm not buying the idea that more kids play football, therefore more parents are interested. Talk to Jordan Hasay's dad, Joe. He'll tell you that track and field's numbers dwarf those of baseball. I'd bet they're pretty close to football, too. And have you checked out a track and field story recently? Many of the stars are the same boys who played football.

So what's the deal? Should I just change this blog to an all-football-all-the-time experience?

OK, I'm not asking that seriously, but here is a topic to discus: Why doesn't anyone seem to care much about spring sports?

Height helps in diving, or so it appears

Elizabeth Foran, Atascadero High's dynamic diver and the current Tribune Prep Athlete of the Week, talked this week about the toughest aspect of diving.

It wasn't the high dive or the cold wind, though those topics made it into the Prep Athlete of the Week story, but the subjective scoring system.

"The hardest thing about diving is how I do is really in somebody else’s hands," Foran said. "When I go out there, I have five judges giving me scores on what they think I did.

"It’s so hard because you have to please those judges."

I didn't tell her that in baseball you have people judging whether you got a hit or an error because, heck, she was on a roll. Journalism tip: Don't interrupt a teenager who's best quotes don't include "dude," "like" or "uhm."

And apparently, it isn't aways technique that pleases those dastardly judges, whomever they are. Common notion has judges liking taller divers, Foran said.

Foran, who's only 5-feet tall, said she has an advantage over longer opponents because she can "flip easier, flip faster and do more flips." She does have less body to flip.

But ...

"If you’re tall and long your dive looks cleaner," Foran said. "I can go out and do a dive and a tall girl can do the same dive, just not as good, but it’ll look better. When a girl is long, it just looks like she’s going in straighter and it just looks prettier, and it almost looks harder because she has just that much more to throw around."

She wasn't complaining about it. I just found the height topic intersting and continued asking about it.

It's not a foreign concept. I've heard similar things about equestrian judges when I covered the sport in college. They favor taller riders because they look more graceful or something to that effect. They probably like taller horses, too. It might up the degree of difficulty.

(Note to self: I wonder if the sports writer awards favor taller reporters. Remember to add "6 feet, 3 inches" under my byline.)

So yeah, judges, come off it. Stop the discrimination already. Foran, other diminutive divers and equestrians everywhere deserve equality.

What'll they do on senior ditch day?

Ready for a shocker? The San Luis Obispo boys volleyball team fields 12 seniors. Twelve!

Are your socks still on? Well, let me put it this way. Twelve 12th-graders are enough to field two separate lineups of seniors.

And it really gets put into perspective when written like this: With 15 players total, only a maximum of three will be returning next season — as long as none decides to go pro.

That “go pro” line would have been a joke if hadn’t already happened.

Would-be sophomore Hawk Hatcher isn’t back with the team after a standout freshman season last year. Word is he’s breaking into the pro beach volleyball circuit, but that’s for another blog.

Back to the seniors.

Imagine you’re a high school coach. (Maybe you ARE a high school coach. I wish I knew who read this stuff.) Now imagine replacing 80 percent of your team in one offseason.

Not just the starters, 80 percent of the whole team.

Sock check.

And it’s not as if high school athletics actually puts a premium on returning players or anything. Well actually, that’s exactly how it is.

Here’s a behind the scenes tidbit: I voted the Atascadero High football team No. 1 in every one of the Tribune’s Top 10 media polls this past season — from week 0 to week 10 — because, by my count, the Greyhounds had the most number of All-County players returning.

No, I’m not an A-town homer. Before moving to the Central Coast in February 2006, I’d only driven through SLO County a few times. I knew nothing about high school football tradition around here.

But who dominated the area? Atascadero. And it might have been because they had a lot of returning seniors.

So when I called San Luis Obispo volleyball coach Jon Hastings about naming his dominant hitter Curtis Abram the Athlete of the Week a couple weeks ago and found out he was losing all those seniors, I had to at least jokingly ask.

“Are you going to retire after this one, coach?”

He denied it. Laughed about it. Maybe thought about it?

Nah, and here’s why.

Two of those three players set to return are sophomores Julian Demalleville, a mini version of Abram, and 6-foot, 6-inch Shane Kennedy, tabbed a college volleyball prospect in the Tigers’ official program.

I’d like to see what the unofficial program says about him, but in a 3-0 win over Righetti Wednesday, Kennedy looked pretty good. He had a season-high seven kills. And Demalleville’s consistently been one of the team’s top three hitters all season.

San Luis Obispo looks like it’s on track to win its seventh straight league title, if it can get past Arroyo Grande on Tuesday and run the table.

The Tigers might have an uphill battle if they get a chance to go for No. 8, but all things 12 considered, it wouldn’t be that big of a surprise.

Remember the time?

With a thrilling back and forth win in the Softball by the Beach Invitational, the Arroyo Grande softball team vaulted itself into the semifinal of the 13th annual edition of the tournament.

One of the questions I asked first-year coach Amber Derbidge after the game was asking for the last time an Eagles team won the tournament, to which she didn't have an answer.

But first-year coaches get occasional reprieves for this type of stuff, especially immediately after artery-stopping games like Friday's.

So I bring the question to you. When was the last time an Eagles softball team won it's own tournament? Has it ever?

I presented a similar question in an Arroyo Grande football story last season when Reade Lobdill ran for a ton of yards and nobody could remember the last time it had happened right after the game.

A couple of dilligent parents e-mailed in the next day with the appropriate answer. So get to it softball parents. Don't tell me the football moms are better historians than you are.

The cold capital of the universe

I'm not a San Luis Obispo County native, so stop me if I'm wrong, but is Sinsheimer Park not the coldest pocket of the Central Coast?

It's like a bermuda triangle of weather — where cold gets lost and can't find it's way out.

No matter if it's baseball, swimming or water polo. At every high school event I've covered at Sinsheimer, I've had a tough time deciding whether to cover the event or go into hibernation.

In addition to the pool and baseball stadium, there are also softball diamonds and a playground on the premesis. But if I had kids, I wouldn't let them play at Sinsheimer alone for fear the fog would roll in and carry them away.

The weather is generally great in San Luis Obispo, which is why I'm baffled by this entire phenomenon. No joke, It's even colder than Templeton's football stadium.

Is there some scientific explanation for this out there? Anybody got any theories? It's not like it's keeping me away from any good action, but I know when I'm headed there to break out the knit cap, jacket and homemade quilt.

Now you do, too.

Quarterback controversy

Looking ahead to this past fall's Atascadero-San Luis Obispo High football game, I billed it as a matchup of clashing quarterback styles in the newspaper preview.

Gunnar Jespersen versus Conner Reese. Machismo versus mechanics.

Though the Tigers' Reese put up big numbers in the game, Jespersen led his team to the win.

Well, the two met up again Friday — this time on the diamond.

With the score tied 1-1 in the sixth inning, the three-game series up for grabs and runners on first and second with no outs, San Luis Obispo brought in Reese to pitch out of a jam. He loaded the bases on a fielder's choice and guess who came up to bat?

Now there doesn't seem to be any personal rivalry between the two. They seem to have a mutual respect, zero animosity. Reese even looked puzzled when I shot him a comment about the moment after the game.

But come on — doesn't it sound juicy?

Senior quarterback versus senior quarterback, one more round for old time's sake.

After a first-pitch ball, Jespersen came up hacking, looking to make the big swing that would bury the Tigers. But Reese threw the next two pitches for strikes.

Jespersen fanned on the fourth offering, an outside pitch that sent him back to the dugout after swinging his bat in frustration.

So what does this all mean?

Nothing. It's baseball. Hitters get out seven out of 10 times and go to the hall of fame. But maybe next time Jespersen and Reese can face off in checkers — or armwrestling. I'd show up to watch them play Mille Bourne cards.

Hard times in softball

You know how when you get older and you try to do the same kinds of athletic things you did when you were young?

Whether it's pickup basketball or some slow-pitch softball, you feel great while you're reliving the glory days, but the next morning, you ache in spots you never even knew had nerve endings.

My bet: Arroyo Grande High softball pitcher Chelsie Rodriguez is probably getting a good preview of what that's going to feel like right now.

In Thursday's 4-3 loss to Atascadero, Rodriguez got off to a roug start. She gave up a leadoff double and a bunt single to the first two batters she faced.

The Greyhounds' Brianna Smet drove in the two runners with a frozen rope — that lined right into Rodriguez's left hip and dribbled into right field.

She shrugged off any attention from the trainers, remained in the game and allowed just one hit to the next 19 batters she faced.

"It did hurt," Rodriguez said. "But I was so upset I didn't make the play that I didn't even notice it."

No, people, softballs really aren't all that soft. And maybe I'm just getting old, but I think she'll feel it in the morning.

The track and field diaries

In a recent interview about trade secrets, Templeton High runner Garrett Cowan let me completely inside the mind of a distance runner.

Cowan wasn't shy about giving away some of his best race strategies, adding that runners are normally so paranoid about what other runners say and do, they probably wouldn't take his advice anyway.

One of the most unexpected quips Cowan got off was about how he sizes up the field pre-race. In a 2-mile race, Cowan likes to stick with the runner who starts out fastest and overtake him somewhere near the end of the final lap.

One of the keys to that strategy is trying to determine who the fast starter will be before the gun sounds. Cowan says he's guessing right 80 percent of the time. Here's one of his tipoffs.

"If you look at the guy in the line that has shaved legs," Cowan said, "you can tell he's taking it very serious. He thinks he's the best runner, and he's going to go out really fast."

Apparently, there's a myth out there that shaved legs make you faster. Cowan said some runners shave just to intimidate the other competitors.

I think the same might be true for rush-hour traffic. That might explain why I always see so many female passengers in shorts with their bare feet up on the dashboard.

Well, let me tell you ladies, neither Garrett Cowan nor I will be intimidated!

Any scouts out there?

OK, I need some help.

Since we just wrapped up prep basketball coverage last week and I spent most of the past week in the office doing office things, I can't wait to get back out and start covering some baseball and softball games.

Track, tennis, swimming and golf are good, too. But since baseball and softball previews appeared this week in The Tribune, the question is timely...

Who are the best baseball and softball teams in the county right now? I haven't seen enough of them to guess. So I'm asking you.

Can San Luis Obispo baseball and new coach Casey Candale recover from the loss of six All-County starters and get back in contention? Can Templeton softball keep it rolling in the Southern Section? What about Atascadero? Nipomo? Arroyo Grande?

Before I get out there and really start digging in, handicap the teams for me. Who should I watch out for?

Simko's anonymous savior

In Thursday's edition of The Tribune, read about Todd Simko, the Arroyo Grande High baseball player who suffered a broken neck and a crushed throwing hand in a devastating car crash.

In less than a year, Simko is back on the field for the Eagles — and getting significant playing time.

As is the case with a lot of lengthy newspaper stories, some additional info was left out. It happens. Here's where I can go back and share some more.

Todd and friend Sean Simpson were speeding on Corbett Canyon Road when the car Todd was driving flipped and crashed, trapping his arm under the wreckage.

Here's the part that didn't get into the paper, and where you blog readers may be able to help.

An off-duty emergency doctor was riding a bicycle when he came upon the wreck and prevented Todd from being moved — an eventual life-saving move considering doctors later told Todd he might have been paralyzed or killed had his neck shifted a minimum of two millimeters.

"He kind of took control of the situation," Todd said. "(Other witnesses) were afraid that the car was going to explode and be caught in the fire."

The Simkos were very thankful of the off-duty doctor and his efforts to protect Todd. Only one problem: They couldn't thank him in person.

None of the Simkos were at the wreck site and amidst a cataclysmic family tragedy, it's kind of hard to follow up on everything. So the doctor's identity remains a mystery.

"I don't know what his name is actually," Todd's mom, Linda, said when asked for it. "He was an angel in disguise, which is basically what I call him."

So, if you know this doctor — or are this doctor — leave a message. I'm sure the Simkos would be grateful. (And I'll be glad to know the blog is reaching the medical community. Maybe it'll get me a better co-pay next time I have doctor's appointment.)

Who's your Player of the Year?

One of the most stressful assignments I have in any given year is picking a Player of the Year and accompanying All-County team for any given sport.

The biggest debate between players often is this: Statistics versus success.

Let's take County Player of the Year for example. In general, there are two types of candidates. The best player on the best team. Or the player with the most impressive stats.

It makes my job easier if those candidates are the same person. Think Derrick Jasper in '05 and '06 and Hannah Donaghe this past season.

But when those people aren't one in the same, The Tribune (me in this case) has to make a subjective choice. I know what my criteria is. What I'd like to know is yours. The Readers. San Luis Obispo County.

We're talking about your players of the year here. Who would you like to see represent you for all eternity?

The most valuable player of the team with the best record? Or an impressive stat compiler from a less decorated team?

Keeping cool after tough loss

Terrance Harris had a right to be really upset Wednesday night. But he wasn't.

Well, I wasn't with the Mission Prep boys basketball coach all night. Maybe he went home after the Royals were upset 64-62 by Bakersfield Christian in the semifinals of the CIF-Central Section Division V playoffs and broke a stack of concrete blocks with a head butt like those karate guys on TV.

But whatever frustrations Harris might have had after a loss that, let's be honest, nobody saw coming — he kept them inside.

Seconds after the final buzzer sounded and the Royals had ended their first post-Tom-Mott-era playoff run with a disappointing loss, Harris calmly walked over and did a radio interview. Then he talked to me (which, I admit, isn't always THAT fun.)

In journalism school, at least mine, they tell you to give coaches and players a 10-minute period to get over the game. But Harris took no cool down time, no time to gather his emotions. Just, hey, let's do this. And it was a classy and respectable thing to do.

Mission Prep lost. And it was a bad loss. One they should have won had they come out a little more focused. Plus, the Royals were getting handcuffed by the referees.

I've seen plenty of other coaches from high school to college turn around after a game like that and blast the officiating, completely duck interviews or fire off "no comments."

Publicly, Harris stood tall, was accountable and made no excuses. That attitude was certainly refreshing.

If you see him around town with a Band-Aid on his head, though, give my condolences to the concrete blocks.

The third season

Sometimes people call the playoffs "the second season." It's a valid metaphor. Ask the Arroyo Grande High boys basketball team.

The Eagles took fifth place in the regular season and lost to rival Nipomo three times. But in the second season, the playoffs, they captured the imagination of central coast basketball fans.

Arroyo Grande's venture deep into the quarterfinals of the CIF-Southern Section Division II-A playoffs had us all wondering wether an unseeded wild-card team could actually win a section title.

The second season. It's like "wait 'til next year" — just without all the waiting.

But Tuesday night marked the beginning of what I'm starting to call the third season.

That's when all of the bigger schools in the county have all been eliminated from the playoffs and small schools like Mission Prep and Coast Union start getting all the front page attention.

They're accustomed to it. The Mission Prep boys and girls are favored to win section titles. The girls are going for No. 15 in a row. For the boys, it would be No. 4, but the past two were stripped in a recruiting scandal. (TO disgruntled Royals fans: New Times used the 'S' word. I should at least get one freebie.)

The Royals girls have already cemented a spot in the state playoffs. Coast Union nearly joined them before being tripped up at home Tuesday. The Mission Prep boys can clinch an appearance with a win tonight.

This third season could potentially go on for another week or two. So get ready for some more "Royals Flush" and "Mission Accomplished" headlines.

Can the Eagles avoid turning into pumpkins?

Ryan Glanville's still not ready to say it, but I will — and have. Cinderella.

I've been on the Arroyo Grande boys basketball coach for days asking if his at-large team fits into the glass slipper, and I'll probably keep doing it.

I bugged him about it Friday night after I heard the Eagles upset No. 1-seeded Palmdale in the CIF-Southern Section Division II-A playoffs. A couple days later, calling from my cell phone about Athlete of the Week Daniel Wrage — and only coincidentally in an insanely long holiday-weekend line at Disneyland — Cinderella came up again.

After Tuesday's 47-44 win over Moreno Valley, I couldn't resist.

"You asked me about that the other day and it was 'definitely no,' " Glanville said. "Now we're a little closer."

Arroyo Grande is living that underdog story that everyone loves. The Eagles placed fifth in the PAC 7 and only squeaked into the playoffs through the good graces of the section seeding gurus.

They won a wild card game against Channel Islands, then toppled the No. 1 seed. Now, after another win, they're in the quarterfinals hosting No. 9 Norco with as good a chance as anybody else of taking a divisional title.

But looking too far ahead can be crippling. That's probably why Glanville's not ready to call his team a Cinderella. She charmed the prince and lived happily ever after.

But Arroyo Grande's got three more balls to attend before midnight. It's alright if the Eagles are taking them one at a time.

OK, that's enough fairy tale allusions for one blog. Sorry, the Magic Kingdom really messes with your mind.

A first of Titanic proportions

Would there be a spine-tingling chill? What would the fans be like? Would I be able to find any parking?

Since the Nipomo High boys basketball team was playing in its first playoff game in school history Wednesday — and that game was at home — I was just as curious to check out the atmosphere as I was to see the action. Who knew what to expect?

In the game, Antelope Valley beat the Titans 67-56. But here's a rundown of some of the little behind-the-scenes details I observed. We'll go chronologically.

• First off, the restroom didn't seem to have any extra playoff oomph. But I only went into the one marked "Men."

• Hands freshly cleaned, I got into the gym and saw the turnout. It wasn't bad. The home stands ended up tightly filled and the crowd packed a pretty good wallop.

• Student Jasmine McNeil sang the national anthem, and it was excellent. One of the top three renditions I've heard in almost a year at The Tribune. I wondered aloud if she got the gig through some kind of "Nipomo Idol."

• The public address announcer read the obligatory CIF-Southern Section please-don't-harass-the-refs speech, but I don't think anyone was listening.

• The chants of "De-fense! (clap, clap) De-fense!" started off pretty early, and it seemed the locals were eagerly anticipating their first playoff game, too. But when the Titans made just one of their first 11 shots, it sort of took some of the enthusiasm away.

• The Nipomo cheerleaders were in the house. It was the first time I'd seen them all year. But while Antelope Valley controlled the game in the first half, a small cluster of visting moms, who traveled three-and-a-half hours to see their Antelopes, did most of the cheering.

• On a side note, Antelopes sure is an imaginitive name for a team from Antelope Valley.

• Dominque Saunders explodes for 15 points in the third quarter, and a hush falls over the AV moms. The Nipomo crowd starts chanting "Our house!"

• The Titans fans file out looking disappointed. But I'll give them a good grade. It was a fun ride and the community did well for its first playoff game. Perhaps it was a good thing the restroom was subdued.

The others

Had enough of recruiting stories? Well, it's not over yet.

Though there were three San Luis Obispo County high school football standouts who signed national letters of Intent to play in college (all at Cal Poly) on Wednesday, don't expect them to be the only locals who'll be playing on Saturdays next fall.

Widely referred to as signing day, Wednesday marked the first day of the nearly two-month long regular period within players can sign. Several others will likely make decisions before the April 1 deadline.

Here's a list of a few local guys to watch:

• T Andrew Hall, Tempeton, 6-5, 260
• RB Harrison Keller, Mission Prep, 5-11, 185
• WR Kevin Martin, San Luis Obispo, 5-10, 160
• QB Conner Reese, San Luis Obispo, 6-3, 180
• T Dylan Gross, Morro Bay, 6-6, 295
• RB Kevin Scott, Morro Bay, 5-11, 180
• LB Reade Lobdill, Arroyo Grande, 5-9, 195
• DB Matt Lynch, Arroyo Grande, 5-11, 183
• OL Garrett Rodgers, Nipomo, 6-0, 243
• P Mike Trujillo, Nipomo, 6-1, 191
• DL Joe Murell, Coast Union, 6-3, 220

Did I forget to mention anyone? Then let's hear the scoop. And who do you think will make the biggest impact in college?

I'm lovin' it... just not before a game

Let's hope no McDonald's executives are reading this blog.

Why? Because Atascadero High girls basketball standout Hannah Donaghe was presented with a certificate Tuesday by the fast food corporation for being nominated for the McDonald's All-America team.

Then she went to Subway for her pregame meal.

"You can't eat McDonalds before the game," Donaghe said. "I'll get heartburn or something."

OK, Jared. You stick to your sandwhiches. But it might cost you a spot on the team. (If any McDonald's people are reading this, I want to let you know I'm immeasurably proud that my hometown is the site of the very first McDonalds franchise.)

Seriously though, Donaghe does have an outside shot to make the All-America team. She is one of 2,500 nominees according to Greyhounds coach Paul Hill, and only 24 will make the final cut.

Even if she doesn't make it, Donaghe is a lot closer to No. 25 than she is to No. 2,500. Its not as if her parents nominated her. Hill said he got a call out of the blue from someone in North Carolina that informed him of the honor last month. Donaghe, a Stanford signee, was rated the 44th best senior prospect (23rd among guards) by scout.com before the season, and her numbers have improved from the ones she posted her junior year — the ones that earned her the rankings.

Check out her stats from this year and last year.

From here, there are several more cuts as the nomination process continues. Final teams are expected to be released in mid-to-late February, and the game will be played in Louisville, Ky., on March 28.

The Best Eats

Normally, I'll grab a bite before I head to a sporting event — mainly because snack bars at high school games tend to be a little overpriced.

If I were a parent, I wouldn't mind parting with $5s for a bag of Skittles and a slice of cold pizza. The money all goes back to girls soccer uniforms and other worthy causes.

But I'm not even married.

Still, every once in a while, I'll sample the high school cuisine if something piques my interest. And the best item I've had on the Central Coast comes from Atascadero.

The booster burritos at the gymnasium are spectacular. Picture a big flour tortilla wrapped around a heaping portion of beans, rice and your choice of meat, plus chips and salsa. They came heartily recommended and I gleefully wolfed my first one down Tuesday.

I took that $5 and lived it up.

So now, I'm a little more open to trying out some high school snack bars. Are there any other must-eats around here? Any high school venue, any time. Throw out some suggestions.

Verbal Remedies

Atascadero High's Brandon Roberts, an All-County tight end and linebacker on the Greyhounds' league championship football team, told me Tuesday he made a verbal committment to attend Cal Poly.

Since nobody else knows yet, I'll call it a Tribune/Bloggin' with Scroggin exclusive. Editors like when we write that.

Roberts had been getting recruiting attention from Pac-10 schools and was favoring Stanford before coach Walt Harris was fired and replaced by Jim Harbaugh. Last we'd spoken, he had narrowed his choices to Columbia and the Mustangs.

Roberts, 6 feet, 2 inches and 215 pounds, is currently coming off the bench for the Atascadero basketball team. Here are his football stats from this past season: 12 touchdowns (6 receiving, 5 rushing and 1 on defense), 24 receptions for 485 yards and 54 tackles on defense.

So Mustangs fans, what do you think? Can Roberts be a difference-maker at Cal Poly?

PTPers face off

I asked Nipomo's Dominique Saunders (28.4 points per game) and Atascadero's Danny Thomas (18.5 ppg), the PAC 7's two leading boys basketball scorers, to size each other up as shooters.

Not only are both the "go-to" guys of their teams. The two have similar games. Both drive the basket, hustle for putbacks down low and can just as easily step out and shoot the 3.

No strangers, here's what they said about each other after meeting on court for the first time this season, a 58-48 Greyhounds win Tuesday.

Said Thomas (on Saunders): "He's a good scorer. He scores whenever he wants, and even as kids growing up, he was the same way. He's stronger with the ball in the post and he has a quicker first step. I think I'm a better shooter than he is, but I'm not sure."

Said Saunders on Thomas: "He's quick, and he has a good first step. If he makes a move, and you don't move with him, he's around you. We both drive to the basket, but the difference with him is he plays point for his team. I'm basically on the wing."

Though personally outscored by Saunders 23-18, Thomas got the first laugh with the win Tuesday, but the two will meet again in the regular season finale Feb. 9 in Atascadero.

Watch out for the speedbumps

Losing focus is a big problem in sports. Look at the Ohio State football team.

When the matchup was first announced, nobody had the Buckeyes losing to Florida in the BCS national championship game. Then the Gators actually won 41-14 Monday.

That's what happens when everyone tells you you're the greatest uninterrupted for 50 days.

And the Atascadero High wrestling team has to be feeling like it's the best right now. The Greyhounds have soundly beaten Nipomo and Righetti, the two PAC 7 teams that have the lineups to challenge their own.

Atascadero is even riding the high of taking its own New Year's Revolution tournament, dethroning three-time defending champ Chaparral (Parker, Colo.) in the process.

"I think we've beaten the most difficult teams and we've pretty much secured the league title," Greyhounds 160-pounder Blake Willard said after Atascadero took apart the Titans 57-9 on Wednesday. "We just have to keep our heads straight."

Willard's right about it all, especially about staying motivated.

They're the front-runners, and the Greyhounds can't lose focus now. They feel like they've already won, but there are still three PAC 7 opponents looming — Pioneer Valley, San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles. Then comes the league finals.

Even though they seem like gimmes, wrestling is the touchiest sport. All it takes is a lazy day or two to risk failing to make weight.

"Who've we got this week? The Tigers? Oh, a little dressing on the salad this time won't matter."

BAM! — Next thing you know, the scales are tipping and you're sitting out. Some JV guy steps in, and who knows what's going to happen.

Atascadero looks to have a smooth road ahead, but sometimes the speed bumps that do the most damage to your undercarriage are the ones that don't get painted with the yellow lines.

The sport that doesn't get cancelled

The swollen clouds overhead looked like they could barely contain what had to be a great lake's worth of water up there.

And some of us at The Tribune wondered if the prep girls water polo tournament at Arroyo Grande High was going to be postponed or canceled.

"Pshht, please," I thought in my best Ozzie Guillen impression.

While sports editor Melissa Geisler offered to call ahead to make sure I wasn't driving out to A.G. for nothing, I declined and hopped in my car.

To no surprise, when I got to the Eagles' new swimming complex (which is quite nice by the way), howling wind was threatening to blow over canopies, the No. 2 graphite clouds hung menacingly ...

... and the girls were in the pool warming up.

In case you didn't know, neithern rain, nor sleet, nor snow — nothing can stop water polo.

Not even lightning canceled a game a few years ago, Arroyo Grande coach Steven Allen said. It was interrupted by a couple of 30-minute thunderstorm breaks, but 2 1/2 hours after the game started, it was in the books.

"I've seen pretty bad hail," Allen said, "going in hard where it kind of looks like snow."

And because this is how they do it in the CIF-Southern Section, the girls get it worst. They play in the winter while the boys play in the fall.

Eagles junior Erin Higginbotham acted as if the dark skies were business as usual, even calling it "perfect water polo weather." But she can't deny scampering straight from the post-game handshake over to the Arroyo Grande changing room.

"It gets pretty miserable," Atascadero coach Mitch Stafford said. "I don't know how the girls do it. Guys, it's like board shorts and sandals all season."

They play in the wind. They play in the fog. Water polo versus the hurricane? I'll take water polo.

There's gonna be a showdown

OK, this blog is about soccer — But don't click "back" yet.

Even though they're played on the same field locally, I know there's less interest in the pitch than the gridiron. Evidence: soccer ratings and attendance figures in the United States.

Also, I haven't gotten any complaints when soccer scores haven't been called in. Meanwhile, someone gets ommitted from a two-paragraph basketball roundup and it's the armageddon.

But hear me out on this one.

The PAC 7 boys soccer title may be in the balance Friday when Paso Robles (13-1-2, 2-0 PAC 7) hosts San Luis Obispo (14-2-1, 1-1 PAC 7).

The Bearcats and Tigers are off to great starts this season, and this game really makes things interesting. A Bearcats win gives them a cushy two-game lead in league play, putting pressure on San Luis Obispo and the rest of the PAC 7 to be perfect the rest of the season in hope of winning a championship.

But a Tigers win brings the Bearcats right back down to Earth, knotting them in the league standings. By Saturday, there could be a four-way tie for the PAC 7 lead and only three playoff spots to go around if San Luis Obispo pulls the minor upset.

Keep an eye on this race as it heats up.

Alright, now you can click back.

A Christmas tradition

It's right up there with Rudolph, mistletoe and decking the halls: Hannah Donaghe getting injured.

For the third season in a row, the standout senior Atascadero High girls basketball player will be missing December games because of an on-court injury.

In 2004-05, knee tendonitis sidlined her for 12 games. Last year, an ankle sprain kept her out for eight. And after banging hips with an opposing player in Friday's 52-40 win over defending league champion Righetti, Donaghe's been diagnosed with a knee strain that's expected to keep her out of somewhere between three and six games.

It's jokeworthy only because the injuries aren't extremely serious. This blog would have a decidedly more somber tone if the Stanford-bound Donaghe's career was in jeopardy.

Greyhounds coach Paul Hill was not joking when he was ejected after an altercation with Righetti coach Harold Oliviera as Donaghe lay writhing in pain in the third quarter.

Hill missed the fourth quarter and sat out Wednesday's 46-41 loss to West Bakersfield in accordance with CIF regulations.

As he returns to the bench today, he has to be concerned about the impact Donaghe's void will have on a team hoping to win its first league title in nine years.

Atascadero (9-2) is 2-0 in PAC 7 play after beating Righetti, the preseason favorite to win after returning Cal Poly signee Kristina Santiago, and Arroyo Grande, last year's second place team in the PAC 5.

But Donaghe, the leading scorer on the Central Coast with 24.2 points per game, is expected to miss one league game and might not be her usual self immediately when she returns.

By the end of the season, Donaghe could end up with a slew of Most Valuable awards and All-this-and-that honors. But the way her teammates respond while she mends up could make the Greyhounds as a title team — or break them.

Their happy New Year depends on it.

End of an era

Jon Huss doesn't have much use for the details. At least not the ones I kept asking about.

The 25-year Arroyo Grande football coach retired this week, and that's what I remember most about this past season.

What was his career record? Who was the Arroyo Grande single-game rushing record-holder and how many yards did he have? When was the last time the Eagles failed to make the playoffs?

All these questions came up somtime during the five months I've known him. Each time, Huss didn't know the answers — and each time, it didn't seem to bother him.

I kind of needed to know these things because the phrase: "Arroyo Grande hasn't made the playoffs since sometime circa the height of Hammer Time." just isn't going to cut it with the boss.

We actually do have to be 100 percent accurate in our figures.

But even though it meant a little more work on my part, it didn't bother me when Huss didn't have the answers.

The longest conversation I think we ever had was after a football practice leading up to the reguar season finale with rival San Luis Obispo when a the topic about playoff conquests of the past finished off with what a bunch of players was doing these days.

None of them were Jamie Martin. The NFL quarterback would be the easy one to keep track of. But the Average Joes who went on to be ranchers, coaches, dads.

He hadn't forgotten those details.

But since I was only around for one of the 25 years, mine can't be the best perspective. What are your favorite Huss moments?

The good luck guy?

It wasn't long after Mission Prep's impressive 69-64 boys basketball win over perennial power Crenshaw in the Royals' eighth annual version of their Christmas tournament that I realized, I've never witnessed a Mission Prep loss.

That's right. I was at Cowitz Court for two rounds of CIF-Central Section playoffs at the end of last season, and I also covered the first two rounds of the Southern California regional playoffs in San Luis Obispo. All four were Royals victories. It got eerie when Mission Prep came back from being down double-digits against a state power in my presence Friday.

But whether I'm the lucky charm, or if the Royals just have a good home-court advantage, the most important thing to remember is that it was college beat reporter Brian Milne who covered Mission Prep's loss in the Southern California regional final in Fullerton last March.

I heard Milne broke a mirror that day. Direct all complaints to him here

Today's weather calls for blog

Tribune photo by Jayson Mellom.

I've been laying low the past couple of weeks (notice the drop-off in blog posts?). But BWS — Bloggin' with Scroggin — is back for the winter season. Expect update frequencies to spike like the monster waves hitting the Central Coast right now.

Today's 15-foot westerly swell is my early take on the boys basketball picture.

While on a break from the blog, I was able to see almost every San Luis Obispo County boys team play and I've handicapped a handful of them — a la our Tribune's Top 10 high school football media poll.

Except since it's my blog, I'm the only medium that voted. But enough about me, on to the kids and the rankings.

1. Nipomo (5-1) - Led by smooth scorer Dominique Saunders (28 points per game), the veteran Titans made an early-season statement by winning Morro Bay's Ted C. Harding Invitational Tournament, beating rival Arroyo Grande for the first time in school history in the process.

2. Mission Prep (5-0) - With senior center Luis Santiago back (12 ppg), the Royals might have the best mix of talent and experience, but behind sticky-fingered junior point guard Andrew Richardson (3 steals per game), there isn't much ball-handling depth.

3. Arroyo Grande (4-2) - Point guard Lyle Parsons has poise to spare, and the Eagles have as much, if not more, height across the board than any other local team. Freshman Tanner Hinek (6 feet, 5 inches) has been a great addition spelling 6-7 center James Tringham.

4. Atascadero (4-2) - Danny Thomas (23.2 ppg) and Andrew McMillian (17.8 ppg) are combining to score 41 points per game. If any of the three others hovering between 6 and 7 step up during a given game, the Greyhounds can beat anybody in the county.

5. San Luis Obispo (5-4) - Nathan Breneman (15.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg) has emerged as one of the county's premier big men, and second-leading scorer Conner Reese (8.9 ppg) is in the top three on the team in every major statistical category aside from blocks.

Thanks for showing up

When both remaining San Luis Obispo County schools got eliminated from the CIF-Southern Section playoffs Friday, it guaranteed that none of the nine 11-man football teams within The Tribune's coverage area — and, heck, none on the Central Coast — would get further than the second round.

It's been five years since a county team has won a section title, something there was no shortage of in the 1990s, and you can count on one hand how many have been past the second round in the 2000s. It's a topic we breached on opening night, wondering if the idea of a section championship has become antiquated.

I put that question to local coaches before the season, and most of them were confident that, although against some heavy odds, Central Coast teams can still compete in the playoffs.

What do you think? They say pink is the new black. Is the second round the new finals for county teams? Is that good enough? It's certainly no slight against the local schools. Teams like Oaks Christian and Canyon Country are gunning for the first state title games. They'd beat 95 percent of the teams in the country.

Will SLO County get back in the championship mix? What will it take? Or does it even need to?

We've all done it

The end-of-the-season cry.

I saw it once again Friday night. Atascadero fell in the first round of the playoffs and on came the sprinklers.

Now, I'm not pointing this out to belittle the Greyhounds. I did it, too, back in the day. You didn't even want to see the red rings around my eyes after my last high school basketball game - and we weren't even that good (Sorry coach Sharp).

Who didn't cry after their final intersholastic sporting event? They're the weird ones.

But in the midst of that Atascadero agony, it hit me.

Consider this: With so many high school football playoff games going on this Friday, how many hundreds of kids bawled together in the throes of defeat in California alone? Or is it thousands?

Nationwide, we're certainly talking about a lot of losses, a lot of kids and a lot of salt. This past Friday might mark the biggest mass cry of any day this year.

And I'm all for it.

High school boys aren't known for sharing feelings or hugging or making themselves vulnerable. This is their one day a year where they can do it in front of thousands of people. And it's cool.

It wasn't fun to see. And an early exit wasn't the way the Greyhounds were hoping to finish off their best season in close to a decade.

But in a few years, all people will remember is that Atascadero went 9-2, won the PAC 7 title, blew out its two biggest rivals and made it to the playoffs.

The Greyhounds have far better things to cry about than most.

The All-Bloggin' Team

In a conversation with Mission Prep football coach Joe Silveira this week, the topic quickly turned to Tribune County Football Player of the Year and who the best nominees would be.

"That's who I'd go with," Silveira said after saying who he'd go with.

Not that the conversation with Joe has much to do with this blog, but it sparked an idea. People like giving input on things like Player of the Year debates and All-County teams.

Think about it. What if I asked blog readers to give out thoughts on who should be regarded as All-County performers? Could you resist from clicking that "add comments" link?

I'm guessing maybe.

But if you choose to leave some nominees, I'll read every one. When the sports department gets together in the next few weeks, we'll take everything into account.

So have at it. Who should be the All-County first-team quarterback, left tackle and safety? Or second-team punter? (Honestly, that's the toughest one to pick.)

Sorting through the scenarios

Wondering who's got the best chance to make the CIF-Southern Section football playoffs but wary of the impending Excedrin headache that goes along with dissecting the standings?

No worries. Your friendly neighborhood preps writer has done it all for you.

I spent more than a few minutes talking with athletic directors and football coaches Wednesday, trying to get a handle on the playoff scenarios.

Three teams from the PAC 7 are going and four from the Los Padres League. We won't know them all until Friday. But here's a quick guide to help you figure it out before you head to games this week.

Who's in: No matter what happens, Atascadero and San Luis Obispo have guaranteed spots in the playoffs in the PAC 7. In the LPL, Morro Bay, St. Joseph and Pioneer Valley are in. It's also official, Atascadero and St. Joseph have clinched league titles and No. 1 seeds (though San Luis Obispo can get a share of the PAC 7 crown if Paso Robles upsets Atascadero).

The final spot in the PAC 7 will go to Arroyo Grande as long as the Eagles beat San Luis Obispo on Friday. If Arroyo Grande loses and Paso Robles wins, the Bearcats will get the berth. If both teams lose, there will be a three-way tie between Arroyo Grande, Paso Robles and Righetti, and according to Lucia Mar athletic director Dwight MacDonald, Paso Robles would be in based on a low number draw at the beginning of the season.

Templeton will get an LPL spot with a win over Santa Maria, but the berth could go to Templeton even if it loses to Santa Maria today. In order for Nipomo to get in, the Titans need a Templeton loss and must beat St. Joseph, who's 6-0 in LPL play. Nipomo can also get in with a loss if Templeton falls and Morro Bay loses at Santa Ynez.

There. Hopefully, reading that was quick and painless. I'm going to go stick my head in the freezer.

Clash of the Titans... and the Eagles (fans)

Tribune photo by Aaron Lambert

Tuesday’s pivotal girls volleyball matchup between Arroyo Grande and Nipomo had he feel of something like a major college basketball game.

Two rowdy student sections were going head-to-head for dominance on and off the court. Arroyo Grande did its “Get out the game” chant. Nipomo countered with a rendition of “Mighty, mighty Titans.”

Each tried to drown out the other while employing the dirtiest looks this side of the Measure J debate.

After the game, one adult Eagles supporter actually went up to a student fan who helped lead the cheers and said, “You guys did it.”

I’d argue that the girls actually did most of “it” in Arroyo Grande’s 3-0 win, but it was a blast watching the dueling constituencies.

And as an added bonus, the Nipomo kids, who said they weren’t allowed to dress up during school, came decked out in some great Halloween costumes.

Notables were a walking refrigerator box painted like Spongebob Squarepants, a circa 1970s male tennis player complete with short shorts and a young man with a lucha libre mask. I think he was supposed to be Hijo del Santo, but I’m not sure.

But the Bloggin’ with Scroggin award for best costume went to Nipomo’s Mikie Michel.

Followed by four body-painted shirtless guys I assumed to be the Eastside Boys, Michel strutted into the gym moments before game time as rapper Lil Jon.

From the sideways cap and sunglasses to the trademark dreadlocks and golden chalice, Michel (the guy with the orange hat up there) had Lil Jon down. Kudos to Michel. Hopefully, he can wear the thing more than once.

Also, if it seems like I’m leaving out the Arroyo Grande costumers, it’s because they always dress “creatively” for volleyball matches. And other than a few girls with painted on mustaches, it was hard to tell if any of their outfits were specifically for Halloween.

If this was the precursor for what gyms will be like this winter, bring on basketball season.

Guilty conscience

Central Coast athletes should be an example for sports figures worldwide.

Friday night was the second time in a couple weeks that a local football player uttered something akin to the phrase, "I have to admit..." followed by an embarrassing actuality that somewhat took the gloss off a pretty big accomplishment.

First it was Atascadero running back Michael Reynoso, who had to admit he threw up after making a 95-yard touchdown run against King City. For the record, I didn't even ask.

Friday it was Arroyo Grande's Reade Lobdill, who rushed for 247 yards, a rarity for the Eagles considering the way they share the ball in coach Jon Huss' fly offense.

Admitted Lobdill, also a preseason All-County linebacker: "I have to say that I didn't make a tackle in the first half. I was focused so much on offense."

That was also unprovoked.

I'm preparing to interview Coast Union running back T.J. Nelson, who ran for 451 yards at Fresno Christian this week, sometime soon, and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to hear that he chopped down the cherry tree or shot the sheriff or didn't eat his Wheaties.

If only professional athletes could be as open. Who wouldn't want to hear a certain high-profile baseball player admit he juiced — or another world-famous cyclist for that matter? Anyone who heard Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenny Rogers bumbling this week about the pine tar incident knows how honest he is.

But here in San Luis Obispo County, our athletes spit it right out. Here's to telling the truth, no matter how unflattering it may seem.

K-Mart: SLO's Blue Light Special

Though the Atascadero High defense may feel like it shut down San Luis Obispo in the Greyhounds' 42-13 football victory Friday, it's because they were only hoping to contain Tigers receiver Kevin Martin.

Martin, who set a San Luis Obispo team record with 189 yards on seven receptions in win over Righetti last week, followed up the effort with a 13-catch, 162-yard performance agaist Atascadero and scored both of the Tigers' touchdowns.

"He's definitely the best receiver we've seen," Greyhounds coach Vic Cooper said, "including the kid from Clovis that's going to Fresno State."

Cooper was referring to Clovis' Matt Lindsay, a Scout.com two-star recruit who made a verbal committment to the Bulldogs and caught 12 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown in Atascadero's 17-15 win in Clovis last month.

Martin, who leads the Central Coast in receptions and yards, entered the game ranked in the top 15 in the state in receving yards and 46th in the nation, according to Maxpreps.com.

And he's quickly made a reputation for making the tough catches: diving grabs, acrobatic leaps and holding on the ball after big hits.

"We have a little kind of connection," Tigers quarterback Conner Reese said. "He makes great plays and that's what I like."

When was the last time a league MVP was a receiver? If the Tigers can rebound from the loss and get back into the PAC 7 title picture, Martin could find himself in that kind of a discussion.

Deeply shallow

As Stuart Browlee stood arms stretched in goal for the Atascadero High boys water polo team — his belly button above the water level — there was no way he was giving up a goal to visiting Nipomo High.

"Stop standing up!" one mustachioed Titans fan yelled.

See, your feet aren't supposed to touch the bottom of the pool in water polo. But here was Brownlee, standing straight up with nearly half his body out of the water. But most pools are deep enough where standing up isn't really a problem.

I wasn't too surprised to find out Brownlee wasn't 14-feet tall when he crawled out of the pool after the game. The real shocker was that one end of Atascadero's pool is only 3 1/2-feet deep. That's like one half of a football field being 20-yards wide.

Because of the shallow end, the rules get bent a little when it comes to goaltending. Contrary to spectators' gripes, the goalie is allowed to stand.

And that's not the only tweak to the rulebook and strategy guide. The goals are super huge, and the teams switch sides every period as opposed to only at halftime. Plus, most goals are scored by whichever offensive team is currently attacking the deep end.

Players other than the goalkeeper still aren't allowed to touch bottom, which can get a little ridiculous when guys like Atascadero's 6-foot-3 hole set Karl Weit can nearly sit down in the shallow end and keep their heads above water.

Fans knock the pool. Opposing coaches say it somewhat disables their team's offense. Even Atascadero coach Mitch Stafford denies it's an advantage for his team, saying it's just less of a disadvantage for the Greyhounds. And when Atascadero goes on the road, it makes other pools seem twice as wide and even more cavernous.

It certainly is a different brand of water polo. That is, if you're accustomed to water polo. Football fans are probably thinking, "As long as it's deep enough to submerge all the Speedos, it's cool."

The box of all boxes ...

Before I went off to cover Atascadero's thrilling 24-17 prep football victory over Arroyo Grande — the Greyhounds' first win over the Eagles since 1997 — Tribune intern Tristan Aird told me that Doug Hitchen Stadium in Arroyo Grande had the best press box on the Central Coast.

He lauded the construction and the viewing angles, the large windows and the lighting.

Tristan was right. The Doug Hitchen press box experience was priceless but not because of its comfort.

The best part about the box is that the radio and print media are all together in one big room. Normally, the radio play-by-play announcers are separated from the newspaper reporters and put in different rooms.

Picture the Atascadero radio guys in one extreme corner, the Arroyo Grande guys in the other, this unbiased reporter in the middle and several Eagles boosters filling out the rest of the chairs.

In a tight game, it was a hoot to hear the Atascadero radio guys pipe up when the Greyhounds made a big play or got nailed with a controversial penalty. And when Arroyo Grande busted a big run, the Eagles' play-by-play men had their say. It was kind of like watching all the television channels at once.

And to top it all off, the stadium's namesake, Doug Hitchen himself, who worked at the high school for 34 years and 17 as principal, sat like a king on his throne in the dead center of the box, fittingly on a chair taller than everyone else's.

Is Arroyo Grande’s the best press box? I haven't been to them all, but it was a great place to watch an exciting game.

Mr. Anonymous

For the record, I very much enjoy when readers log onto the blog and tell us exactly what we’re doing wrong. I wish everyone would do it.

But for some less internet-savvy readers, they just wait until they see a guy with a clipboard at a high school game, ask if he's with the T.T. and do it in person. That’s cool, too. (Except for the T.T. part. It’s just “The Tribune” now. Telegrams are so last century.)

The last time a reader came up to me, he brought up a good point. I was forced to reveal a heavily guarded newspaper secret. And now I’m giving it away in this blog.

He wanted to know if I was the guy who came out to last week’s water polo match — because if I was, I got all the details wrong. I told him that nobody was at the match.

“But it said ‘staff reports,’ ” he exclaimed.

I might get fired for telling you this, but here’s the journalism secret revealed: “Staff reports” in a byline is newspaper code for “we weren’t there.”

We sports journalists also have other cryptic ciphers, kind of like the “Da Vinci Code.” And I’ve heard when you put them all together and read them backward in a mirror, they reveal the source of the Barry Bonds grand jury leak, but I’m not sure.

Basically, whenever you read a sports story that’s penned by the staff of The Tribune, it means the report’s information was either taken over the phone or written off a news release — or both. Sometimes I write them or another reporter or editor does. Most times it’s one of our interns or news assistant.

Mistakes surely happen, but not because some reporter covered the game with his eyes closed.

Who's lookin' good? You tell me

OK, since you made it pretty clear in my blog last Friday that The Tribune, meaning me, doesn't really know much of anything when it comes to high school football, I've decided to go to the people who do: You, the readers.

But seriously, all phony self-deprication aside, we're halfway through high school football season, and I want to know who you think are the players who've been most impressive so far this season.

I'll throw a few easy names out there. San Luis Obispo quarterback Conner Reese has looked sharp. Atascadero running back Michael Reynoso surprised me. And despite a ho-hum showing against Templeton on Friday, Morro Bay's Kevin Scott has showcased his sprinter's speed.

Now before some rogue Mission Prep Harrison Keller fan blasts me for leaving him out, remember, I can only go to one game a week. This is your chance to tell me who I need to see -- without calling me an idiot preferably.

Who's on "Bloggin' with Scroggin's" midseason All-County team? You decide.

Back on the market

Ashley Adams just wanted everybody to give her some space.

Phone calls, e-mails, nagging fans. The Division I volleyball recruiting process was taking a mental toll on the 16-year-old San Luis Obispo High junior last winter.

Now 17 and a senior, Adams said she was rushed into making a decision when she verbally committed to attend Louisville on an athletic scholarship in February. And two weeks ago Wednesday, the Tribune County Player of the Year rescinded the committment, which she made without visiting the Kentucky campus.

"I thought I wanted to go there, but I just wanted recruiting to be over," Adams said. "It was was a rushed decision."

Now Adams is back on the market, and she said hometown upstart Cal Poly and perennial power Hawaii are her top two, with Louisville still harboring an outside shot to get her back.

Mustangs coach Jon Stevenson, who is prohibited by the NCAA from commenting on recruits, is trying to build the program back up to its glory days in the mid-80s, when the Mustangs were a national title contender. An athletic talent like Adams is sure to further that goal.

Before she can take her official visits, Adams has to take the ACT test, which she's scheduled to do Oct. 28. She said Cal Poly may have the advantage of being close to home, but the most important factors in her decision will be quality of education and which school will give her the best opportunity to play volleyball after college.

"Olympics, beach, whatever," Adams said. "I love volleyball so much, I want to play as long as a I can for as long as I can."