Pioneer Sports Shorts for Sept. 2021
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (Sept. 15, 2021) — The Pioneer wants to publish your sports news items.
Please let us know about your sports news, special events, fund raisers, tryouts, signups and accomplishments. Youth leagues, clubs, schools and adult programs are all welcome to send us a rundown on what you’re doing. Include all the necessary details (too much information is better than too little!) and your contact information. It’s as simple as sending an email to sports@pioneerpublishers.com.
36th annual Concord Mayor’s Cup Golf Classic Oct. 22
Mayor Tim McGallian will host the 36th annual Concord Mayor’s Cup Golf Classic on Friday, Oct. 22, at Diablo Creek Golf Course. The event begins at 11 a.m. with lunch and registration and ends at 7 p.m. after dinner and awards. The entry fee of $150 ($125 for golfers age 60+) includes a golf shirt, green fees, cart rental, lunch, prizes and an awards dinner. All proceeds benefit the Concord Historical Society, Concord Junior Giants and the First Tee Contra Costa Youth Golf Program.
For more information call 686-6266. Registration is being taken online at cityofconcord.org.
Long-time Carondelet athletic director Dona Smith passes at 94
One day short of her 95th birthday, long-time Carondelet High School athletic director Dona Smith died Aug. 28. The Walnut Creek resident defined much of her life around her love of sports. Born Aug. 29, 1926, Smith was a tap dancer and band majorette in her younger years. Basketball was her biggest passion and legend has it that she was the Steph Curry of her day. She held the single-game scoring title for many years at the University of Montana.
Smith parlayed her love of sports into the athletic director position at Loretto High School in Sacramento for 10 years prior to holding the same position at Carondelet for 18 years until her retirement in 1990. Friends and family are invited to a graveside service on Friday, Oct. 1, at 10 a.m. with a reception immediately following at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Lafayette. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to Monument Crisis Center, 1990 Market St., Concord 94520.
3 local soccer players selected for ODP West Region pool
Clayton Valley Charter High School goalkeeper Laine Moraes of Clayton, Diablo Valley Wolves 03/04 National Premier League team member Sydney Boele and Clayton resident Natalia Brunal were selected as members of the Western Pool of the US Youth Soccer ODP program. Boele and Moraes are part of the girls 2004 group while Brunal is in the 2009 age group.
Their selections came after regional camps in June and July. The girls are now looking to be selected to compete at the upcoming US Youth Soccer ODP Interregional events in November Nov. 20 – 24 in Orlando, Florida.
Carondelet sharpshooter Kaleigh Castillo wins bronze
Carondelet High senior Kaleigh Castillo won bronze in the U.S. Junior Olympics Championships open junior women trapshooting this summer in Hillsdale, Michigan. Castillo finished behind shooters from Tennessee and Texas. She picked up a shotgun for the first time less than four years ago when she joined the Cougars trap team in her freshman year.
De La Salle junior tight end Cooper Flanagan chooses Notre Dame
Cooper Flanagan, a 6-6, 240-pound junior tight end for De La Salle, made a verbal commitment to Notre Dame football earlier this month. He had also received interest from Arizona, Colorado, Cal and Florida State. He posted his decision on Twitter thanking his Spartan coaches and teammates along with the Notre Dame staff. His message concluded, “Thank you coach Kelly and the entire coaching staff for believing me and giving me this chance of a lifetime opportunity, I’m all in! Go Irish!”
Junior Optimist offering fall league baseball
Junior Optimist Baseball League is having co-ed baseball this fall for ages 4-9 years old. They will hold Fall Ball on Saturdays through Oct. 30 at the JOBL Complex in Concord. The program is considered both instructional and recreational baseball. JOBL fall ball has been held for the better part of 20 years while the traditional spring JOBL season was first held in 1963. Visit joblconcord.com for more information and to register.
St. Bonaventure CYO cross country, basketball
St. Bonaventure CYO basketball and cross country programs are both taking registrations. Coach Joe Sullivan says cross country is for boys and girls in third through eighth grades. Basketball begins this month and runs through the playoffs in the new year. Boys and girls in second through eighth grades can take part in CYO basketball. For more details on cross county contact Sullivan by email rleprcn@pacbell.net or phone (925) 969-0207. For St. Bonaventure basketball contact Ferd Santos stbonaventurecyo@gmail.com or (925) 270-9390. You can register online at stbonaventurecyo.com.
MDSA Thunder U12 boys champions in San Ramon
MDSA Thunder 2010 Boys Elite defeated Manteca Rangers 3-2 in the championship game of the San Ramon Soccerfest Navy Division last month. Manteca and MDSA each won all their group stage games by lopsided scores before playing a tight game in the finals. The local team includes, front row from left, Will Watkins, Jerry DeLeon, Vinny Carone, Anthony Gonzalez, Ieuan Azarcon, David Dombrowski, Brayden Shen, Ethan Manion, Raymond Lucia, Ian Meyer, Max Habermeyer, Juan Terriquez; back row, coaches Chris Dombrowski, Joe Lucia and Ryan Carone. Not pictured, coach Jason Habermeyer.
Jay Bedecarré
Jay Bedecarré is a long-time resident and writer in Concord and Clayton. He began his newspaper writing career while still a senior at Mt. Diablo High School and he has been part of The Pioneer since its inception in 2003. Jay also operates Bay Area Festivals, presenting events around the San Francisco Bay Area including Bay Area KidFest annually in Downtown Concord.