Tracy softball players head to national championship

The All American Sports Academy 10U softball team will head for the Amateur Softball Association 10U-A Western National Championships in Medford, Ore., next week, Aug. 3 through 7.

The 10-member team, including Tracy players Amanda Hernandez, Jalen Ervin and Rachel Cid, qualified for the national contest with a second-place finish in the Greater San Joaquin Softball Association Championship in June. The team has played in more than 20 tournaments and “friendlies” since spring in venues from Sacramento to Los Angeles. Teams in the A divisions are the top competitors in the state.

Other high-profile tournaments include the United States Specialty Sports Association California State Championship in the 10U division, which was played over the Fourth of July weekend at Big League Dreams in Manteca. It was a qualifier for the USSSA World Series Fastpitch Championships. The team also played in the Independent Fastpitch Association West Coast World Series in Stockton, July 22 through 25.

Tournament wins this year include the USSSA “Luck of the Irish” Tournament on March 13 and 14 and the DF Softball “IFA Is Da Bomb” tournament on March 21.

Other team members are Amber Watson, Izabella Owen, Lacey Sandoval-Gallegos, Madison Kahwaty, Megan Lutz, Mikaela Ferreira and Rachel Gordon.

AASA 12U team records win at Nebraska tournament

All American Sports Academy 12U softball team, based in Tracy, took a tournament win last week in the Cat Osterman Experience in Bellevue, Neb., July 19 to 24. The AASA team competed against 24 teams from around the U.S. and was the only team from California. AASA went 9-0-1, including a 4-1 win over the Alabama Thundercats in the championship game.

The team also took first place in the around-the-horn-competition and set a new record in that event for the Cat Osterman Experience. AASA catcher and first baseman Taylor Zehr was a finalist in the home run derby, and infielder Ashley Del Real took second in a timed race around the bases.

Other team members are Sierra Mello, Sam Owen, Jasmine Carter, Morgan Miramontes, Deanne Garza, Sierra Alamo, Haley Martin and Tina Brown.

The Cat Osterman Experience is named for the Olympic softball player, and tournaments take place every week on a 40-acre softball complex that opened this summer.

Tracy youth wins gold at taekwondo Junior Olympics

Rohit Saini, 6, has just returned from national taekwondo competition in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Las Vegas, Nev.

He placed fifth in a field of 20 competitors in forms at the 2010 National AAU Youth and Adult Taekwondo Championships in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., June 28 through July 2, and followed that up with a gold medal in forms at the 2010 AAU West Coast Junior Olympic Games in Las Vegas, July 24 and 25.

Saini was formerly with Moon Taekwondo on Grant Line Road, and now trains with the family martial arts studio, JoJo’s Martial Arts Academy at Tracy Boulevard and Clover Road, where he works with instructor Kochai Saleh.

Wrestlers claim medals at Union City tourney

The Tracy Wrestling Club attended the State of California Wrestling Association for Youth tournament at Alvarado Middle School in Union City on Saturday, July 24.

Eight Tracy wrestlers competed, and six took home medals, some after as many as six matches.

First-place medalists included Amrit Singh, competing in Division 5 (high school). He had just returned from the USA National championships in Fargo, N.D., where he fell short of the medal rounds. On Saturday, he was back to dominating the mat with a first-place finish, including a 2-0 win in the final to avenge a loss during the previous season.

Zach Blackwell placed first in Division 6 (high school) wrestling after recovering from an injury that had sidelined him for a few months. He won all of his matches by pin.

Eli Blackwell placed first in Division 2 (kids), winning the championship match on a 9-7 decision after being down 7-3 going into the third round. Blackwell faced the only wrestler he has lost to in SCWAY tournaments, a wrestler who had been undefeated this season.

Other Tracy medalists include Angel Castillo in Division 4 (middle school), second place; Jaskaran Singh in Division 4 (middle school), third place; and Vanden Caudillo in Division 1 (kids), third place.

Albert Landeros and Mike Frymyer finished in fourth place in Division 5 (high school), just short of the medal rounds.

Cougars win at both levels in Pleasanton showcase

The California Cougars girls U16 team won the Rage College Showcase last weekend in Pleasanton. The Cougars opened with a 3-0 win over DeAnza Force 94G Blue. Grace Cabri, Xiovana Ordaz and Stephanie Pawek had a goal each. Fiona Kennedy had two assists, and Pawek added one.

The Cougars then beat Dos FC 94 Red from Washington, 1-0, on a Kennedy goal and tied the Tracy Futbol Club Revolution, 0-0, after a Kennedy goal was called back in the last few minutes of the game.

In their final game, the Cougars beat Pleasanton Rage 2-0 on two goals from Kennedy. Pawek and Lana Pineo had one assist each. Goalkeeper Victoria Case posted four shutouts in the tournament behind the strong defensive play of Cabri, Katia Gaytan, Taylor Long, Kristina Miles, Dianna Murillo and Elizabeth Wuellner.

At that same event, the Cougars U19 team also took a tournament win. They opened with a 3-0 win over Carlsbad Elite G92. Jessica Cervantes scored all three goals on assists by Valeria Ordaz, Joanna Ortiz and Alexis Poppoff. The Cougars then beat Arsenal FC White 2-1 on two goals from Ortiz, with one assist from Poppoff. The Cougars beat FC Man United Red 3-0 on goals from Jamie Flores, Megan Mata and Alyssa Strope. Vannesa Haro, Mata and Ortiz provided an assist each.

In their final game, the Cougars defeated Eagles Blue 2-0 on goals by Kylie Gacer and Poppoff. Haro had one assist. Goalkeeper Brianna Murawski posted three shutouts in the tournament and gave up only one goal behind the strong defensive play of Karly Dunning, Haro, Sydnee Koscielecki, Strope and Stephanie Vanni.

The Cougars U19 girls now have won three tournaments this summer, which moves them to the No. 1 spot in Cal-North in the latest GotSoccer.com rankings.