Sports Wrap Sports Wrap (August 06, 2004)

Best fast-pitch in the west

Few errors, phenomenal batting and a strong pitching staff earned the Mountain View NOVA 10-and-under fast-pitch "B" softball team the National Softball Association Western World Series title in Seattle on July 25.

The team's record for the week-long tournament was 6-1 overall. NOVA won the championship game 9-1 in six innings.

"The tournament was a lot of fun for both the girls and the parents," coach Steve Duvaras said. "It's the first time our team has traveled out of state for a tournament, and to come back as the Western Champions is really special."

With this win, the girls claimed the No. 1 Western seed and the opportunity to advance to the Super World Series on Labor Day weekend in Illinois.

The team will hold fundraising activities throughout the month. Contact Steve Duvaras at (415) 722-4653 for more information.

Prep football standouts play in all-star game

Local high school athletes helped represent the North County at the 30th annual Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Game on July 21 at San Jose City College, where North lost 20-15 to South.

Among North's most decorated athletes was Will Taufoou of St. Francis. As a running back, he rushed 1,108 yards and scored 12 touchdowns last season. And as a linebacker, he earned a team-high 85 tackles and was voted WCAL MVP, Mid-Peninsula MVP and has been named to the All-Star Team three consecutive years.

Also from St. Francis was Sione Umufuke, the team's Most Valuable Defensive Lineman, and Justin Sieber, WCAL Defensive Back MVP.

Mountain View team captain and WCAL Outstanding Defensive Lineman, Daniel Croom, joined Los Altos' Shawn Girouard and Ryan Sherbino on the North team.

Pole vaulters score high

St. Francis sophomore Casey Roche cleared a personal record 15 feet 5 inches in the pole vault to take the Junior Olympic National Intermediate Boys Pole Vault title on July 30 in Eugene, Ore. With the win, he upset current California State Champion, Scott Roth of Granite Bay,

Although Roche competed in the Intermediate Boys (15- to 16-year-old) division, his winning height would have also won the Young Mens competition (17- to 18-year-olds).

With the win, Roche qualified for the World Youth Games in Marrakesh, Morocco.

Having finished second at the Junior Olympic Regional Decathlon in Fresno in June, Roche qualified for the Junior Olympic National Decathlon as well.

In his first-ever decathlon, St. Francis junior Kyle Mills-Bunje earned second at Junior Olympic Regionals. He finished 12th and cleared a personal record 13-5 in the pole vault during the two-day competition.

St. Francis junior Taylor Franklin finished third in the Intermediate Girls National Pole Vault with a jump of 11-4.

Tippets takes national title

St. Francis alumnus and Los Altos resident Lauren Tippets and the Pleasanton Rage under-19 girls soccer team recently returned from Orlando, Fla., with a National Championship medal.

Tippets currently plays for Duke University.

Miller among the greats

Los Altos High School recent graduate Allie Miller was selected to the San Jose Hall of Fame, which annually honors local high school athletes who demonstrate excellence in sports, academics and personal character

Miller won the high jump state title and was the only three-event winner at the CCS track and field championship this year, claiming the high jump as well as the 100m and 300m hurdles.

She will focus on the heptathlon at UCLA next year.

-- Colleen Corcoran

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