The prestigious Area Code Games are set for Aug. 4-9 at Blair Field in Long Beach.
Blair Field is the home of the Long Beach State baseball team and the former practice home of the old Los Angeles Rams football team.
The Area Codes run by StudentSports.com is arguably the best showcase in the country. It originated in 1987 in Lodi, started by Bob Williams and the Northern California Major League Scouts. The intent was to gather the best prep underclassmen, based on telephone area codes.
The games have now of course moved to SoCal and there are too many area codes for the name of the event to be accurate. However the Oakland A's do sponsor the NorCal team which is loaded with top players from the Bay Area and beyond.
Among the A's standouts from the CCS are: Kris Bubic (Mitty), Brendt Citta (Leland), Jonathan Engelmann (Burlingame), Matthew McGarry (Menlo-Atherton) and Chris Papapietro (Serra); and Troy Miller (Soquel).
Among the stars from the NCS are: Aaron Ackerman (California); Myles Coston, Justin Hooper and Michael McAdoo (all of De La Salle); Joe DeMers, Nick Oar and Trevor Larnach (all of College Park); Zach Keever (Alhambra); Kevin Milan (Heritage); Andreas Papageorge (Amador Valley), Eric Parnow (Casa Grande), James Terrell III (St. Patrick-St. Vincent) and Zach Stromberg (Acalanes).
Out of the AAA is Craig Colen of Lowell. And out of Oakland is Nick Hoerner of Head-Royce.
NORCAL TRIO IN UNDERCLASSMEN GAMES: College and pro scouts are attracted to the Area Code Games like moths to a light bulb and you can bet they'll also be eager to see the new Area Code underclassmen games. Playing for the West underclassmen squad is Monterey shortstop Carter Aldrete, Bishop O'Dowd outfielder Otis Statum and Sacred Heart Prep third baseman Andrew Daschbach. All are rising juniors. Aldrete, a three-sport star, is the son of former Cal star Rich Aldrete and the nephew of ex-San Francisco Giants outfielder Mike Aldrete.
PACIFICA AMERICAN ON ITS WAY: The celebration/sendoff for the Pacifica American Little League was Tuesday night at the Surf Spot. The team is now headed for the Western Regional Little League tournament in San Bernardino.
Contributions were taken and family and friends enjoyed refreshments and food at the boys' farewell.
Wrote Natalie Ackroyd on the PALL Facebook page: "Thank you to everyone that came out last night to send these guys off. It is so amazing how much support our town receives. Thank you all who made donations as well. It is so appreciated! You truly are the best fans. The boys are on their way....please be sure to watch us on www.gc.com (game changer) and to see our schedule please go to www.eteamz.com/llbwest. Our games will also be on ESPN3 this weekend, so be sure to check that out. Thanks again and Go Pacifica Allstars!"
Pacifica American's first game is at 11 a.m. Friday against Hawaii at Al Houghton Stadium. It is the first game of the event.
SON OF CLAUNCH: The 1979 North Monterey County football team quarterbacked by Stan Claunch rescued the fledgling Condors from the abyss and helped turn the program into a power. Coached by Phil Maas with Roger Sugimoto as the offensive coordinator, North County went from 0-10 in 1978 to a championship team the following season. More than three decades alter, Claunch's son -- Troy Claunch -- is also a quarterback. He'll be on the JVs this season at Vacaville High.
Said Stan Claunch in response to my query: "He will be a much better QB than I was. He is taller and smart!"
Well, Stan Claunch was a pretty darn good, clutch player. And Sugimoto was the guru of the fly offense and expert at calling plays. Back to young Troy of Vacaville ... he will miss a week of practice in August to play on the Northern California USA Baseball team that will be playing in North Carolina. Stan said his son loves football but has been talked to by several colleges about playing college baseball. Go Troy. And listen to your pops, because he could sling it back in the day.
CONDOLENCES: Sending good thoughts out to my first cousin Bill Hogan in Half Moon Bay whose wife Joan died of cancer recently. I only met her a handful of times but she was a nice woman. Bill was a starting linebacker on Riordan's 1972 WCAL co-championship football team coached by Bob Toledo. He also played JV basketball with Riordan's great point guard Alton Byrd.
GLORY DAYS: Thinking about my cousin Bill Hogan, it's amazing to contemplate but in the old days pre-teens were much more free and mobile than now. I recall visiting him in San Francisco when I was a kid and going with his friends to a 49ers' game at Kezar Stadium. We trekked (without adult supervision) from the Sunset District to Golden Gate Park for the game and we all got in for free with Christopher Milk tickets; those were coupons you'd cut off the milk cartons after purchase -- collect two of them and you got into the game for free.
Hogan and his St. Gabriel's School posse had a racket. On 49er game day Kezar personnel would bring the black and orange seat cushions over from Candlestick Park and rent them to Niner fans for 25 cents apiece. Then after the game kids like us would scurry around the stadium collecting the cushions and turn them in for a nickel apiece. It was kind of amazing -- we'd attend a Niners' game and actually make money! Pretty sure kids won't be able to do that at the new Levi's Stadium.
GAMBLERS PREVAIL: The Tri-County Gamblers won the Joe DiMaggio League title over the weekend, defeating Mendocinto 9-2 and 9-7 in the finals in Yountville. The Gamblers trailed 6-0 in the first inning of the title game before rallying. It was their second consecutive title.
Tri-County standouts included pitcher Hayden Bailey, as well as Trevor Ray, T.J. Dove, Devon Pettingill, Nathan Ahlers, Tyler Minton, Colton Minton, Logan Wurm, Trenton McDaniel and John Treat.
Tri-Counties -- comprised of college, junior college and high school players from Vacaville, Winters and Sutter County -- went 40-9 overall.
Briefly: Pajaro Valley High is seeking a girls varsity soccer coach ... Soquel rising senior pitcher Troy Miller has committed to Michigan, reports the Santa Cruz Sentinel ... Mitty softball standout Haley Wymbs has committed to Seattle University.
