Sports Shorts
Terrapin spring swim clinic in March at new pool
Terrapins Swim Team is offering a spring stroke and racing skills clinic on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Mar. 5-28 with staff coaches Dan Cottam and Doug Reed at the new Natalie Coughlin Aquatics Complex in Walnut Creek. The clinics are open to recreation swimmers broken out between 8 and under and 9 and swimmers who want to get a jump on the summer season. Swimmers can signup up for all eight sessions of any four. The nationally-ranked Terrapins are also taking signups for swimmers ages six and above of all levels for their year-round swim team. For information visit terrapinswim.com.
MDSA spring soccer league accepting applications
Registration is still open for Mt Diablo Soccer Association’s spring season. The program is open to boys and girls under 5-U19 divisions. The older divisions are co-ed teams. Games start in mid-March. MDSA AYSO Region 223 serves Clayton, Concord and surrounding communities. Registrants now may be placed on a waitlist. For more details and to register visit mdsoccer.org.
Ygnacio Valley Athletic Hall of Fame May 4 dinner tickets available
Ygnacio Valley High has put tickets on sale for its 2019 Athletic Hall of Fame dinner on Saturday, May 4, at Contra Costa Country Club. Inductees are Ron Thompson (Class of 1972, football and baseball), Joe Del Bene (’78, football and basketball), Xan Halog (’84, tennis, basketball and softball), Doug King (’72, tennis), Shawn McGarry (’84, football and basketball), Mike Ivankovich (’87, football and track; coach and teacher) and Wes Greenwood (coach and teacher). Visit yvathletichof.com for details and to order tickets.
St. Bonaventure CYO track practice underway
St. Bonaventure CYO spring track and field program is open to boys and girls in second through eighth grades. Practices are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 4-5:15 p.m. at Newhall Park. Saturday meets begin in March and the season runs through May 10, culminating with the Oakland Diocese championships. For more information call 826-7426, email head coach Matt Tillman at matttillman@gmail.com or go to stbonaventurecyo.com.
Forest Park spring swim clinics start March 4
Forest Park Swim Team coach Jeff Mellinger is offering spring swim clinics starting Mar. 4 and running through the month. The sessions improve strokes for swimmers of all skill levels ages 3-14 before the start of summer rec swimming season. The Flyers will be holding team signups at their pool Thursday, Mar. 7, from 6-8 p.m. and Sunday, Mar. 10, 2-4 p.m. Contact coach Mellinger at jeff.mellinger@gmail.com for details.
Registration open for All Out Sports Leagues spring programs
Youth basketball and adult softball leagues, spring tee ball and spring break basketball clinic are scheduled by All Out Sports Leagues in Clayton this spring. AOSL is taking registration online for all those programs. For complete information on All Out Sports leagues, clinics and other programs, visit alloutsportsleague.com.
Concord AYSO spring program taking registrations
Concord AYSO is now accepting registration for their spring soccer program. The spring season, which runs Mar. 10 – April 14 for playground (3-year-olds), 6U and 8U programs. The region’s 10U – 14U program runs Mar. 23 – May 18. Registration and payment are done on-line at ConcordAYSO.org. Fee is $70 plus $17.50 annual player fee for participants that did not play in the fall program. To pay by cash or check, email registrar@concordayso.org. For more info about Concord AYSO visit ConcordAYSO.org.
Springwood Swim Team registration day Mar. 24
Springwood swim team will hold signups on Sunday, Mar. 24, from 2-4 p.m. at Sports Basement in Walnut Creek. Preseason practices begin on Monday, April 15. For more information email Dori Freitas at dorifreitas@att.net or visit springwoodswim.com.
Clayton Valley Hall of Fame hosting bocce ball tournament Mar. 23
Clayton Valley High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame is holding a benefit bocce ball tournament in Clayton at the Ipsen Family Courts on Saturday, Mar. 23 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. The tournament is limited to 16 teams with a $500 cash prize to the champions. For more information and to register email Herc Pardi at herc_pardi@hotmail.com.
Concord Cup XXVI accepting soccer team registrations
The area’s largest annual youth soccer tournament, Concord Cup, returns for its 26th season at a variety of local parks May 18-19. Boys and girls club and recreation teams from under 9 (2010) through U19 (2000) are eligible to participate. Diablo FC, Mt. Diablo Soccer and Concord AYSO co-sponsor the tournament. Visit concordcup.com for complete information and to register a team to participate.
Triggerfish Aquatics spring stroke clinic runs in March at Springwood
The Triggerfish Aquatics spring stroke clinic is a comprehensive stroke technique clinic designed to develop swimmers of all abilities, improve the four competitive strokes and establish sound muscle memory by using sound mechanics prior to the start of rec summer season practices. The clinic is open to all swimmers and is fully compliant with the latest County Meet rules meaning that participation will NOT jeopardize your summer rec eligibility. The clinic is at Springwood Swim Pool in Concord. Information and registration available at triggerfishaquatics.org.
Diablo FC spring rec league signups underway
Diablo FC is offering a spring recreation league for boys and girls 3-12 years of age at Newhall Park in Concord. Diablo FC professional coaches work with parent volunteers to train in a fun, developmental atmosphere. The league runs from Mar. 18-May 4. Visit diablofc.org to get more information on the rec league and other club programs.
St. Agnes CYO track taking signups
St. Agnes CYO spring track and field program is open to boys and girls in second through eighth grades. Saturday meets begin in March and the season runs through May 10, culminating with the Oakland Diocese championships. For more information email stagnescyotrack@gmail.com or visit stagnescyo.com.
Walnut Country accepting swim registration online
Walnut Country Swim Team is now registering swimmers 4-18 years for its summer rec program. For more information and to register for the summer season visit the Walnut Country Swim Team Stingrays website.
The First Tee holding Mar Tee Gras Crab Feed Mar. 8
The First Tee of Contra Costa is hosting its Mar Tee Gras Crab Feed fund-raising dinner on Friday, Mar. 8, at Clarion Hotel in Concord. The diner supports The First Tee youth golf program. Tickets are $75 and can be ordered online at thefirstteecontracosta.org.
Oakhurst Orcas schedule swim team meet and greet nights
Oakhurst Orcas and eighth-year head coach Jasmine Castillo have scheduled meet and greet registration on Thursday, Mar. 14, and Tuesday, Apr.16, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Oakhurst Country Club in Clayton. Early registration discounts are given to families that register before Mar. 14. Registration forms are available at oakhurstorcas.com under the forms tab.
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.