By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 30, 2009
UPDATED Aug. 31 at 10:20 p.m.
-- OK, the DODEA Japan high school football league opened this weekend, and Yokota beat Nile C. Kinnick 55-6, while Robert D. Edgren ... um ... run that by me again?
-- Zama American beat Edgren 40-24?
-- Winless last year, the Trojans beat the three-time defending Class A champion Eagles?
-- And rushed for a school-record 400 yards? And gained a school-record 604 total yards?
-- And Michael Spencer rushed 27 times for 253 yards, the first Zama rusher to go over 200 since ... gad, since Malcolm Hardaway back in the early 1980s?
-- You're kidding, right?
-- You MUST be kidding.
-- First time in the three-season Steve Merrell era that the Trojans scored over THIRTY points, much less 40. They've not done the likes of that in six years.
-- That Ashton Norwood isn't a bad addition, either. Three touchdowns, all on the same play. And an interception run back for a TD.
-- Memo to opposing defensive coordinators: That Trojans Wing-T offense is for real. Never in my 28 1/2 years of covering football out here have I seen a Zama team run the ball so well and so consistently. And they leave you guessing. Just when you think they'll zig, they zag. Just when you think Norwood's gonna take that trap sweep to the corner, Spencer bursts through the middle of the line into the secondary.
-- You think for two seconds that Merrell isn't happy he decided to return for a third season?
-- Didn't think so.
-- Spencer -- and Tevin Johnson -- aren't bad on the defensive end, either. Combined for three sacks and a fumble recovery.
-- And just TWO penalties for Zama, one on an excessive celebration call.
-- Not bad for a team that suited up just 19 players and ironmanned it all the way.
-- Even Zama's cheerleaders enjoyed a charmed life. Without uniforms at game's beginning, venerable Zama science teacher Terry McGinniss, starting her 40th year of teaching this week, purchased 20 maroon Zama Trojans shirts at $20 a pop for each of the cheerleaders. "I don't mind doing it," she said. "That sounds like something Terry would do. She's quite a lady," Zama yearbook advisor Richard Rodgers said. I'm sure that Christina Wheeler, Rachel Cote and the rest of the Trojans cheer gang would heartily agree.
-- But before you go thinking this was all Trojans all the time ... keep in mind that Edgren had its shining moments, too:
-- Try two kick-return touchdowns by Cheston Nurial-Dacalio, including the opening kickoff. And Zach Davis throwing 10 times, completing seven and hitting Matt Linder for touchdown tosses of 68 and 67 yards.
-- Memo to opposing defensive and special-teams players -- Shore up your secondary and kickoff coverage. The Eagles will smoke you.
-- Speaking of smokin', how about that Yokota offense? They looked like they were in midseason form, piling up 524 yards and eight touchdowns on the field turf at Berkey By The Bay.
-- DeEric Harvin did it on both sides of the ball, going 7-for-9 for 203 yards and two touchdowns, while intercepting a pass on defense.
-- Newcomer Gerald McCloud recalled visions of great back of Panthers' past, Darren Taylor, Jo-Jo Anthony, Roy Roach, Bruce Henderson, among others. To the tune of 119 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns.
-- Two touchdowns, Two catches for 81 yards. Welcome back, Bradley Forbes.
-- Though diminutive, Rainey Daley still plays like a giant. Try 156 yards and a touchdown on 16 tries and a 37-yard touchdown catch.
-- Daley's 6-yard touchdown run just before halftime served as the turning point of the game, coach Tim Pujol said. Kinnick had just cut the lead to 14-6 when Elijah Gamble returned a fumble 95 yards for the Red Devils' lone points. But the Panthers responded with the Daley-capped drive.
-- While Yokota was expected to win, "I didn't expect something like that," Pujol said.
-- That Zama at Yokota game this coming Friday sure has taken on a new importance.
-- Somebody, find some equipment for Southern and Okkodo of Guam! Two postponements left George Washington to blank Father Duenas Memorial 14-0 on Friday, in what one observer calls the league's championship game preview. Me thinks defending champion Simon Sanchez might have something to say about that.
Follow me on the Korea tour this week.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 30, 2009
Musings, mutterings and the occasional schmahts as Ornauer concludes his torrid journey from Tokyo to Okinawa to Osan in 48 hours to continue the Pacific high school fall sports walkthrough:
-- Stand up and applaud the Foster Bulldogs. After coming up short in two seasons in the old Okinawa Football League, Tim Craig and Jonathan Molloy -- the OFL's lone holdovers -- and the Bulldogs finally got a chance to celebrate after throttling Yokota's offense 30-6 in Saturday's Torii Bowl.
-- Looks like the U.S. Forces Japan-American Football League may have found a new home, Kubasaki High School's Mike Petty Stadium, which hosted the Torii Bowl, as it did the two OFL championship Habu Bowl games in 2004 and 2005.
-- Seriously, it'd be a great public-relations gesture on Kubasaki's part if principal Steve Sanchez and athletics director/Dragons coach Fred Bales gave the go-ahead for the USFJ-AFL's Southern Division to make Petty its home field. I'm sure the South teams would do their best to reciprocate the gesture (how about a summer clinic for high schoolers conducted by Kadena, Foster and Torii players? Hint-hint?).
-- ThoughFoster scored four touchdowns, including 28 unanswered points after falling behind 2-0 at first quarter's end, it appeared as if the Bulldogs spent the entire first quarter scraping off the rust and spraying WD-40 all over themselves.
-- That tends to happen when you haven't played for three weeks (Yokota hadn't played since Aug. 1), and you're trying to find your groove. Again. After all, Foster, which beat Torii on Aug. 8 in the South championship game, hadn't played the previous three weeks, either.
-- Thus, one might consider Foster fortunate to have garnered 189 yards on offense. Terry Brawner was responsible for most, throwing TD passes to Corey Moore and Quentin Knight and scoring on a 10-yard (!!!) quarterback sneak.
-- Surely,Foster's defenseand special teams were firing on all cylinders -- eight sacks, eight takeaways. Craig and Tim Grant sacked Yokota QB Ryan Jones for a safety and Danny Ramirez covered his own blocked punt for a touchdown.
-- No wonder Yokota was limited to 18 net yards on offense. That and not having played for a month. Coach Herb Fletcher blamed "lack of focus" for the defeat.
-- No Okinawa team had ever won the USFJ-AFL title until Saturday. Never before Saturday had the Torii Bowl traveling trophy left Honshu.
-- The last Marine team to win any interarea championship was in the 1985 "Challenge Bowl," when Okinawa Interservice League champion 4th Marine Panthers waylaid Yokota 43-13 and Misawa 33-7, when the Warriors and Jets shared the Kanto Plain Interservice League championship.
-- Yokota fell to 0-3 in Torii Bowl games, falling 12-6 at Yokosuka in 2000 and 30-21 at Misawa in 2005.
-- First-year commissioner Robert Cole'sidea of spreading out the playoff games to ensure that teams had enough time to make travel arrangements was a noble and good one. The one drawback -- rust. But that's something that practice can iron out, and ensuring players get to practice consistently.
-- Great job this season by Cole, and great cooperation by the teams to work out the issues and ensure a quality season was played.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 28, 2009
Yokota 55, Nile C. Kinnick 6. Yokota rolls up more than 500 yards of offense and eight touchdowns. Not surprising.
Zama American 40, Robert D. Edgren 24. Trojans pile up school-record 400 rushing yards, 604 total yards. Edgren still dangerous, two kick-return TDs and two long passing TDs. But still unexpected.
George Washington 14, Father Duenas Memorial 0. Looks like the Geckos are back.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 28, 2009
Can Robert D. Edgren make it four straight Far East Class A football titles? They'll have company chasing DODDS-Japan's title-game berth as Zama American has joined the Class A race. Can Yokota overcome thin numbers and extend its school record to 11 straight DODDS-Japan and Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools titles? Can Nile C. Kinnick's young, green players develop in time to give Yokota a run? Find out here in our DODDS-Japan season preview.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 28, 2009
They've endured years of disappointment, going 0-4 in the Far East Class AA playoffs and only finishing as high as third place in the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam playoffs. But incoming coach Billy Henry feels Guam High has the pieces in place for a breakout season that will turn the Panthers from also-rans to contenders. Read all about the Panthers in our
season preview.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 27, 2009
Things seen and heard around Berkey Field, the place which makes me wish that every field from Misawa to Mangilao would be field-turfed:
-- Memo to opposing defensive coordinators: Without a doubt, the Red Devils will be able to score. Between three returning starters in the offensive line, plus two running-back move-ups from the junior varsity (Elijah Gamble and Ryan Wang) and a pair of bookend newcomer tight ends (John Allen and Anthony Smith), the term "smashmouth" comes to mind.
-- But that's been the hallmark of just about any successful team at Yokosuka Naval Base, military or high school, since the 1990s. Seahawks and Red Devils teams that have been able to run hard, bruising up-the-gut style, have been champions.
-- Kinnick hasn't had that since the mid-1990s, when LaShawn Williams, Jared Warner and George Thompson helped the Red Devils to a school-record four straight Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools titles.
-- The big question, though, is a greenhorn defense. Very likely, David de los Santos, Josh Robertson and Adam Cason will be asked to have their offensive-line skills translate to the other side of the ball. Ironman time very likely for all three.
-- In fact, there are a lot of fresh faces on this Kinnick team. Defense will likely be rebuilding at the same time the offense is reloading. Could be we see quite a few high-scoring games this season as coach Gary Wilson tries to build the foundation for future Kinnick success.
-- Yokota visits Berkey to open the season at 7 p.m. Friday.
Follow me as I visit Korea's training camps next week.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 27, 2009
Things seen and heard around Trojans Field, where a new sense of excitement and urgency abounds as Zama faces a new challenge, battling for a Far East Class A title:
-- Friday's home opener against four-time Class A champion Robert D. Edgren now means twice as much as it did. Aside from the start of the chase for a DODDS-Japan title, the winner of this season series earns the league's Class A title-game berth and a trip to South Korea to face either Osan or Daegu American for the championship on Nov. 7.
-- Coach Steven Merrell says he and his team are looking at the whole season, DODDS-Japan, the Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools, the team's first win over perennial power Yokota in a decade. "It wouldn't mean anything to win anything if you don't have a successful season," he said.
-- As is the case with many teams in the Pacific this season, overall player numbers are down, down, down. Although Zama has more returners and starters (10 each) than at any time in Merrell's three seasons, only 19 are suiting up for the varsity.
-- But certainly, the Trojans are a year older and a year wiser, and a large measure of the returnees/starters line up at key spots to trigger Merrell's tricky Wing-T. Executed well, the Wing-T is one very hard offense to bottle up; just ask anybody who played against Air Force during coach Fisher DeBerry's heyday.
-- One Zama player familiar with Edgren is Cory Peckins, a junior transfer from Osan American, whose Cougars lost 35-7 in the Class A title game at Edgren last November. You don't think for a second that Peckins wants even the slightest hint of redemption?
-- Friday's opener kicks off at 7 p.m. I'll be there.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 27, 2009
Things seen and heard around Guam High Panthers football camp, where cautious optimism dictates that a breakthrough title-contending season may be possible:
-- No question, Panthers football will be wide-open and exciting with new coach Billy Henry's four-receiver spread-option set. The sort of offense is what's made leagues like college football's Big XII so intriguing. Harkens back to the days of the mid-1990s and early 2000s when strong-armed QBs such as Chris Wessling and S.P Phillips powered the exciting John F. Kennedy and Father Duenas Memorial offenses.
-- For his part, Henry brings a different sort of defensive mindset from his days of coaching at Hohenfels, Germany. He assumes the helm from departed Brandon Miller, who helped the Panthers match their best season, placing third in the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam playoffs last year.
-- Henry firmly believes that better is possible, that the commitment is there and along with experience "gives (us) the opportunity to meet and possibly exceed our goals."
-- That would mean snapping an 0-4 skid in Far East Class AA playoff games, after reaching the IIAAG championship game, another something which the Panthers haven't done.
-- The IIAAG returns to its one-division, single round-robin set up, with the playoffs concluding Oct. 31. New to the league this season is the Okkodo Bulldogs. Okkodo is the island's fifth public school, which opened last year. Panthers visit Okkodo in Saturday's season opener.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 25, 2009
OK, campers, here goes Ornauer for the umpteenth million year, putting his neck on the line to give you a (hopefully) crystal clear look into the upcoming weekend in high school football, and who will win (on average 80 percent of the time). Here goes nothin':
Friday, Aug. 28
Japan
Yokota at Nile C. Kinnick, 7 p.m. -- No question, the host Red Devils will score on Yokota. The question being, can Kinnick's young defense shut down the Panthers and their returning senior duo of Rainey Daley and DeEric Harvin? Panthers are still the champs until somebody knocks them off. ... Panthers 18, Red Devils 15.
Robert D. Edgren at Zama American, 7 p.m. -- Now, every Eagles-Trojans game counts for something, two steps along the road to reaching the Far East Class A title game. Who takes the first one, three-time defending Class A champion Edgren, or can Zama snap its seven-game drought of last season? ... Eagles 20, Trojans 14.
Guam
Friday, Aug. 28
Father Duenas Memorial at George Washington, 7 p.m. -- As all eyes were on the Friars and Geckos, Simon Sanchez sprang through the two and won the league title. You know FD and GW enter this season hungry and determined to make amends. ... Friars 17, Geckos 15.
Saturday, Aug. 29
Guam High at Okkodo, 10 a.m. -- Panthers aim to make a winner out of Billy Henry in his Guam High coaching debut, and build on their school record-tying third-place league title last season. Okkodo's Bulldogs take the field for the first time; the school opened last year. ... Panthers 21, Bulldogs 13.
Southern vs. Simon Sanchez at Okkodo High School, 3 p.m. -- Now, the question being, can the Sharks make it back-to-back titles, recalling their glory days of the mid-1990s? The Dolphins, meanwhile, have to wonder if they'll ever enjoy glory days. ... Sharks 23, Dolphins 11.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 25, 2009
Another program that has hung the "Unfinished Business" shingle outside its field house:
-- Examine the entire body of work, and you find Yokota is still the gold standard -- the 10 straight DODDS-Japan and Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools titles and well beyond, dating back to when the school opened in 1973. No DODDS school has won as many titles as has Yokota since 1973, and only Kubasaki has won more in DODDS-Pacific history.
-- Yet despite that legacy,this proud program has yet to win a Class AA title, and has reached just one Class AA title game, losing 39-13 at Kadena in 2007.
-- Memo to opposing special-teams' coaches: Do not -- repeat -- not sleep on the Panthers' special units. Last week against Nittai Dai Buzan, a Japanese high school team, senior DeEric Harvin returned to kicks for touchdowns, Yokota blocked a punt into the end zone for another TD and had Buzan's punting unit so flustered, it snapped the ball out of the end zone.
-- Speaking of Harvin, he and fellow senior back Rainey Daley weren't even supposed to be back for their swan song high school years. Yet here they are, and that "Unfinished Business" they speak of include finally summiting Class AA Title Mountain, and for Harvin, a basketball guard, avenging the Panthers' Class AA basketball tournament championship loss to St. Mary's International ... on Yokota's home court.
-- Memo to opposing offensive coordinators: Daley may look small, just 5-foot-5 and 125 pounds if he's one ounce ... but he plays somebody a foot taller and 100 pounds heavier. And he will attack your running backs and quarterback relentlessly.
-- Daley and Harvin are a luxury that's eluded longtime coach Tim Pujol recently -- players he's coached for four seasons.
-- Yokota remains at the Class AA level despite enrollment being well below the 360 cutoff. But that's the Panthers and that's Pujol for you.Pujol's a Texas guy. Doesn't matter to him whether it's Daegu American or the Dallas Cowboys; he and his team will suit up and play.
-- First game: Friday, 7 p.m. at Nile C. Kinnick.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 25, 2009
Things seen and heard around Robert D. Edgren football Eagles Country, where it's already cooling down after its usual short summer:
-- Still think Edgren can't compete with the Class AA "big boys?" Try on these numbers: In coach Chris Waite's first season, the 2006 Eagles improved from 1-8 to 4-4, won the Class A titleand lost by one point to Yokota. The 2007 Eagles went 5-3 and lost two games by one point, once to Yokota -- and for the second straight year thanks to a controversial failed two-point conversion. Then last year, Edgren was 7-2, lost a game by a point, then beat Yokota 20-18. "I definitely think we're competitive," Waite rightly said.
-- Think the Eagles can't replace the departed Johnell Alexander (1,903 total yards, 197 touches, 20 touchdowns, 57 tackles, 5 interceptions)? Don't for a moment be surprised at the play of skills positions players Jon Benavidez, Cheston Nurial-Dacalio, Ja'Maal Dennis and Gerald Atkinson. Waite now seems able to replace them as quickly as they depart.
-- One part Waite didn't have to replace was at quarterback. Zach Davis, a junior, is Waite's first two-year starter since taking over the team in 2006.
-- And for the second straight year, the Eagles enter a season with solid, experienced linemen -- bolstered by transfer junior Sayer Austin from Yokota.
-- Seventeen of the Eagles' 27 varsity players either return from last year's roster or move up from junior varsity.
-- Only thing up in the air seems to be who will assume that role of fiery, Drew Holder-type leader. My vote goes to Davis; quarterbacks should be the ones to drive the bus, and Davis has a historic win over Yokota and that third Class A title start under his belt.
-- First game: Friday, 7 p.m. at Zama American.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 22, 2009
All through his high school days, Michael Fulwiler dreamed of one thing -- playing college baseball at University of Washington in Seattle.
The former Kubasaki slugger isone step closerto that goal, having been picked up by new Huskies coach Lindsay Meggs for the fall season as an extra outfielder.
Fulwiler, a sophomore at UW, played club ball for the Seattle Reds, a U-18 traveling program run by UW alum Justin Drake. Fulwiler gained notice at the West Coast Summer World Series in San Diego, playing for the Triple Play Hornets and batting .420 with four doubles and a triple in 14 games over six days.
After considering several offers at junior colleges, Fulwiler got a call from Meggs on Monday with the fall ball offer. He hasn't made the 35-man spring roster (yet), but he's guaranteed seven weeks of fall ball.
Fulwiler still sees it as an "uphill battle" but he insists he's "not going to let myself not make this team."
Fulwiler was
Stars and Stripes' male Athlete of the Quarter for the spring 2008 season. Stay tuned. I'll keep up with his progress.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 21, 2009
Things seen and heard in Dragonland, practice and Green vs. White game Friday:
-- It might seem on the surface like more rebuilding in Dragonland. Just one starter returns, another transfers in two weeks and just five others return out of 30 total varsity players. But 50 have come out for the junior varsity, many in their first year on Okinawa. It may not happen this year, but good things may be in the offing, next year or the year after.
-- Memo to opposing defensive coaches: Double-team senior newcomer wide receiver Clay Beasley, late of Hillsborough, Ohio. On every play. He will burn you, as he did the White secondary four times for touchdowns. Senior running back Josh Bales, the lone returning starter, is still diminutive but has speed to burn. Don't sleep on either.
-- Decisions, decisions. Who will get those two the ball? After two years as a part-time starter, Kaleb Robinson -- who suffered a left (non-throwing) shoulder injury last fall -- hung up his pads to concentrate on baseball.
-- That leaves seniors Mateo Sanchez and P.J. Varner, two other baseball refugees, to battle it out for starting quarterback honours.
-- Yep, that is Tim Craig, team captain of the U.S. Forces Japan-American Football League's front-running Foster Bulldogs, serving as head coach of Kubasaki's junior varsity. While a vital cog in Foster's defense, Craig lives for developing youth into the next generation of football stars. Excellent move by varsity coach Fred Bales to bring him aboard.
-- One thing's certain -- the Dragons are "tired of losing," Fred Bales said, evidenced by the Dragons' 10-game losing streak to Kadena dating back to the 2006 season. For the moment, though, Kadena remains the "team to beat" in the Okinawa district, he said.
-- First regular-season game Sept. 4 vs. Kadena at Ryukyu Middle School, 7 p.m. kickoff.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 21, 2009
Things seen and heard around campus as Ornauer begins his parade around the football-playing schools of the Pacific, starting with Kadena High School on Okinawa:
-- Kadena's super sophs of last year's football and track squadsare now juniors, poised to do some serious damage out of the backfield. Lotty Smith, Shariff Coleman, Thomas McDonald and newcomer Dennis Sharp should make quite a bit of noise. Memo to opposing defensive coaches: Put a body on each of these guys. Or two or three.
-- Off the island the Panthers will travel during this year's regular season for the first time. They head to Robert D. Edgren for a game Sept. 26 and might possibly travel to Yokota for an Oct. 17 contest.
-- Which has a good and bad side to it, the good being Kadena gets to play somebody in season besides Kubasaki, but perpetuates what coach Sergio Mendoza refers to as the "separate and unequal" situation that sealocked Okinawa teams face only in football. To play off-island teams, Kadena -- and Kubasaki -- must go out of pocket or hope those teams come to Okinawa. Japanese basketball and baseball teams abound on Okinawa, but no Japanese high schools play American football on island.
-- You can't convince me that out of a school of more than 900, only 41 players went out for football. Kubasaki has two thirds of that enrollment and twice as many football players.
-- So, Kadena will very much play ironman football with just 20 varsity bodies. But 13 are returners and most of them saw at least a few starts.
-- Whichever quarterback ends up starting, seniors Stan Schrock or Norman Correa, there'll be a good, solid backup on the bench in case something happens to either.
-- Plenty of help in the community over the summer; Mendoza's assistants and coordinators read like a who's who of the U.S. Forces Japan-American Football League's Southern Division. Corey Moore of Foster, Jimmy Wright and Andy Broome of Kadena, among others.
-- Two words can sum up Kadena's approach to this season: Unfinished business. Front and center in Mendoza's memory of 2008 is Seoul American's Trin Stansel stopping Jordan Ray on a two-point conversion that would have won the Class AA football title. Instead, the Falcons prevailed 22-21. "If ever I wanted a do-over, that's the one," Mendoza said.
-- Toward that end, the Panthers "doubled and tripled" their off-season conditioning, going sometimes 3 1/2 hours in the brutal Okinawa heat. "We hope it pays off," Mendoza said.
-- First regular-season game Sept. 4 vs. Kubasaki at Ryukyu Middle School, 7 p.m. kickoff.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 21, 2009
Well, two-a-days have begun and we're steadily gearing up for high school fall sports openers. Football gets underway in Japan, Guam and Okinawa on Aug. 28 with Korea to follow on Sept. 5. Following a handful of games and meets sprinkled throughout the region, the first full weekend of cross country, volleyball and tennis happens Sept. 11-12. Highlighting that is a visit to the Kanto Plain by defending Far East tennis team champion Kadena.
Follow me as I visit Kadena and Kubasaki on Aug. 21 (today), Robert D. Edgren on Aug. 24, Yokota on the 25th, Zama on the 26th, Nile C. Kinnick on the 27th and 28th, Seoul, Osan and Daegu American in Korea Aug. 31-Sept. 3. Football camp reports daily.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 21, 2009
We'll have to wait a week to crown a new U.S. Forces Japan-American Football League champion. Yokota's Warriors are committed to support this weekend's Friendship Festival at Yokota Air Base, so the original scheduled date of this Saturday is out. The hope was that it could be played on Friday, Aug. 28, but Kadena and Kubasaki High Schools are playing a preseason game at Ryukyu Middle School that evening, so the referees are not available. That leaves the 29th, which is the new tentative date for the Torii Bowl title game, Northern Division champion Yokota vs. unbeaten South champion Foster at Kadena Air Base's McDonald Stadium, 6 p.m. kickoff.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 20, 2009
Word from her former athletics director, Nico Hindie, of Nile C. Kinnick High School: former Red Devils three-sport star Yasmine Espree has made the Virginia State women's volleyball team as a walk on. The Trojans begin their season next weekend in the Andersen University Invitational at Andersen, S.C. Virginia State is a Division II school in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. For more, visit
http://www.vsu.edu/athletics/.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 15, 2009
OK, campers, even Ornauer needs a few "me days." Off to the States he goes to spend time with family. I'll be back on Okinawa on Wednesday.
We'll preview Japan, Guam and Okinawa high school football the last week of August, just before school opens, Korea football season on Sept. 4 and Pacific tennis, cross country and volleyball the weekend of Sept. 11-13.
And as always, keep an eyeball here on SportsBlog Nation as week to week, we review and preview gridiron doings, the weekly Top Ten and ORNY's outlook.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 15, 2009
Musings, mutterings and the occasional schmahts as Ornauer continues his power-hydration and prepares for a quick three-day journey stateside:
-- It was pretty much the ending most people people expected, but Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni gave now two-time champion 1st Marine Aircraft Wing everything it could handle and more in
Friday's championship game of the 2009 Far East Regional Softball Tournament. Wing held off an Iwakuni team determined to force an "if necessary" game 5-3.
-- Wing went a robust 8-0 in the tournament and outscored its opponents 105-13, in what may have been the most one-sided outcome in this event since the Okinawa Unknown Marines dominated the tournament in the late 1980s. That was prior to Marine Corps Community Services changed the tournament format to strictly the command teams that we see today.
-- That makes it two straight titles for Wing andthree in the last six five years.
-- Bob Willard's been there for those last two titles and his three-run in-park third-inning homer, which split Iwakuni's outfield defense to the fence, gave Wing the lead for good.
-- Congratulations to six-time All-Marine Tim Vannoy, who finally got a gold medal after silver-medal finishes in five regional tournaments, be they on Okinawa or the East and West Coasts.
-- Congratulations to Richie Krause, a three-time All-Marine who got his first gold medal as a coach.
-- Congratulations to Vannoy, Krause, Willard and Wing teammates Chris Wine and Joshua "Mongo" O'Brien, along with 3rd Marine Logistics Group's Rolando Wallace and Iwakuni's Aaron Marsh. They're headed for All-Marine tryout camp scheduled for Aug. 28-Sept. 18 at Cherry Point Air Station, N.C. All-Armed Forces follows Sept. 19-24 at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.
-- From the "Nobody asked me, but" file ... we saw several instances of this during the tournament ... Doesn't a fielder still have to make the tag, not just have the throw beat the runner to the base, for it to be an out when it's a non-force-play situation?
-- Nice touch,Marine Corps sportssending
Dan Daniels, the All-Marine coach, to scout the tournament. Nothing like seeing the players you want to take to camp first-hand.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 13, 2009
1st Marine Aircraft Wing remains in the driver's seat after run-ruling 3rd Marine Logistics Group 13-1 in Thursday's quarterfinal in the 2009 Marine Corps Far East Regional Softball Tournament. Josh O'Brien of Wing has been absolutely murdering the ball, and is making a solid run at MVP and an All-Marine tryout camp berth.
To add injury to insult for 3rd MLG, player-coach and pitcher Todd Hodgkinson took a softball in the nose after an accidentalnearly point-blank throw from one of his teammates. He suffered a broken nose and lacerations to the nose. Painful to watch. Hope he'll be OK.
Now, 3rd MLG has taken on the Cinderella role. Trailing U.S. Naval HospitalCamp Lester13-5 entering the bottom of the seventh, 3rd MLG stormed back for nine runs, tying it on Jon Motta's in-park grand slam, then winning it when Steven Whitmore came home from first on a throwing error.
Hospital, which has only won three games in this tournament since it began playing in Far East Regionals in 2003 and has never played its way into the final day, was going for its first win since the 2003 tournament.
Wing vs. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni at 3 p.m. Friday in what may be Championship Preview #2. The championship game is at 7:15 p.m., with an "if necessary" deciding game at 8:45 p.m.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 12, 2009
It was the close, nip-and-tuck battle everybody expected until the seventh inning, when 1st Marine Aircraft Wing scored four runs to break open their 8-2 victory over Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in the battle of the unbeatens Wednesday in the 2009 Far East Regional Softball Tournament. That gives defending champion Wing the top seed entering the double-elimination playoffs that begin at 3 p.m. Thursday. The "real" tournament now begins. Two more days.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 11, 2009
With two days gone in the 2009
Marine Corps Far East Regional Softball Tournament, it's readily apparent that defending champion 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni are the main contenders. Each unbeaten after a combined seven games, the two will collide at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Gunners Field 1 on Camp Foster in what will decide the top playoff seed and serve as a championship preview. Should be a good game.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 11, 2009
Musings, mutterings and the occasional schmahts as Ornauer searches for the guy who pipes refrigeration to Gunners Fitness Center Softball Complex on sultry summer afternoons:
-- It's readily apparent that the title is defending champion 1st Marine Aircraft Wing'sto lose after one day of play in the
Marine Corps Far East Regional Softball Tournament. They outscored opponents 35-0 and played just 10 innings, while the other three games went the full seven, and committed just two errors in beating Marine Corps Base Camp S.D. Butler 19-0 in the opener and U.S. Naval Hospital Camp Lester 16-0 in Monday's finale.
-- Somebody put a handle on the ball! A total of 58 errors committed in Monday's five games. Horrid. Just horrid.
-- How often do you see this? Base's roster includes what's believed to be the first father-son combination ever to take the field for one team at the Far East Regionals, Michael Montoya Sr. at first base and Michael Montoya Jr. in left field.
-- Equally rare is the presence of a woman player. Base touts on its roster Tara Ballard, a first-year Marine who played fastpitch softball back home in North Carolina. Ballard played right field in two games andcontributed an RBI single in Base's 9-7 loss to 3rd Marine Division/III Marine Expeditionary Force.
-- Ballard is the first woman to play at Far East Regionals since Rachelle Smith took the field for Hospital back in 2003, the last time Hospital won games in this tournament.
-- Nice to have the presence of Dan Daniels, the Marine Corps men's softball coach, watching and scouting the Far East Regionals. Nothing like having the guy who heads the team actually see the six players he'll be taking to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., for tryout camp. Bravo to Marine Corps sports director Steve Dinote for giving Daniels the go-ahead to come here.
-- Weather looking good for the rest of the week. But talk about beastly hot.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 9, 2009
Musings, mutterings and the occasional schmahts as Ornauer stares the first day of high school two-a-days in the face, wondering where summer went so quickly:
-- Foster over Torii 25-7 on Saturday at Kadena Air Base's McDonald Stadium for the U.S. Forces Japan-American Football League's Southern Division title. Foster will now host North champion Yokota at 6 p.m. on Aug. 22 at McDonald.
-- But what an interesting route the Bulldogs took to get to their first Torii Bowl title game:
-- Not since the 1999 Atsugi White Dolphins' defense outscored its offense for the entire season have we seen stuff like this. Anthony Williams and Daniel Ramirez each returned interceptions for touchdowns as the Bulldogs' defense outscored the offense two TDs to none.
-- Special teams also had their moment in the sun, when TimGrant leapfrogged the center and blocked William Arnell's punt into the end zone, where Adam Lashley fell on it. And Ky Gregory booted two field goals, failing on two others that would have given him the league record for FGs in one game.
-- Defensive captain Tim Craig's words are as old as the game itself, but they still ring true. "Offense wins ballgames. Defense wins championships." One could hardly argue.
-- Memo to league interception leader Frederick Guild (8) of Yokota: That's Johnny Jean-Francois leading the defense with two pickoffs for Foster.
-- That's not to say Foster's offense resembled a blank-firing pistol. The Bulldogs did amass 224 yards and kept the chains moving (nine first downs). And targets Corey Moore and Jonathan Molloy sure made backup quarterback Terry Brawner's job easier (7-for-18, 73 yards).
-- Even Gregory contributed to the offensive fireworks, helping set up his first field goal by hitting Molloy for 19 yardson a fourth-down fake-punt gadget play.
-- And that's not to say Torii came to the field punchless, especially through the air. Adam Edmondson, pressed into starting duty after quarterback Jordan Frank went down with a rib injury July 18 against Kadena, got picked off four times, but he did complete 8 of 20 other passes for 194 yards.
-- Chris Speed. 54-yard touchdown catch. Aptly named.
-- Former West Point cornerback Rick Angle came to Saturday's game intent on only helping head coach Darell Keith. But he suited up, played corner and even intercepted a Brawner pass near the end of the first half.
-- Memo to Foster's offensive coordinator: Work on run blocking. You'll need to balance your attack. There's a reason the North has the reputation as the USFJ-AFL's "black-and-blue division." One word: Smashmouth. If they shut down the run, they'll just pin their ears back and come all day. And Guild plays a brilliant center field as a free safety.
-- Memo to Yokota's defensive coordinator: Work on pass defense. Foster has some fleet-footed cats who know how to get open and hold onto the ball once it gets there.
-- "GIMME TWO THUMPS, TWO CLAPS AND AN OOOO, AHHHHH."
-- "WHO BRINGS THE HEAT IN THE KANTO? YOU KNOW!"
-- See you on the 22nd.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 8, 2009
Foster's defense forced five turnovers,Anthony Williams and Daniel Ramirez returned interceptions for touchdowns, Tim Grant blocked a punt into the end zone for another and Ky Gregory booted two field goals as the Bulldogs clinched the Southern Division championship 25-7 Saturday over the Torii Wolfpack.
Foster now hosts North champion Yokota in the U.S. Forces Japan-American Football League title Torii Bowl game Aug. 22 at Kadena Air Base's McDonald Stadium. More Sunday.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 4, 2009
Whoo-wee. Talk about a time-management balancing act.
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By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 2, 2009
They each placed second in the Korea Traveling League men's and women's post-level softball standings. But on the league's brightest stage, the Koreawide post-level tournament, Yongsan's men and Osan's women struck the right note at the right time.
Yongsan's men took the hard route, coming out of the loser's bracket to double-dip Camp Casey in the championship. Osan's women also needed two victories, which they got against host Camp Humphreys.
Kanto Kup is next Sept. 4-7 at Yokota Air Base, followed by the Kadena Klassic Oct. 9-12 on Okinawa.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 2, 2009
Musings, mutterings and the occasional schmahts as we put one U.S. Forces Japan-American Football League semifinal to bed and await the outcome of Saturday's Torii-Foster Southern Division title game:
-- A 180-degree turnaround from losing 41-12 at Yokosuka on May 30
to winning 18-12 on Saturday at the same venue should not be all that surprising.
-- In that May 30 encounter, Yokota quarterbacks threw four interceptions and the Warriors put four other balls on the ground that ended up in Seahawks hands.
-- Which simply provided Yokosuka with scads of opportunities to do what any good team should do, take advantage of the other team's mistakes.
-- Fast forward to Saturday. Yokota committed just one turnover. One. Easy to see why Yokosuka was afforded fewer opportunities to knock on the Warriors' end-zone door.
-- Instead, it was the Warriors taking advantage of theirs, particularly in the second half, when Yokota scored three unanswered touchdowns to rally from a 12-0 second-quarter deficit.
-- Even when the Warriors did make a mistake, fumbling at Yokosuka's goal line, there was Yokota's Dell Washington covering it in the end zone to slice the lead in half.
-- Then there was Christopher Rhodey's blocked punt which set up the first of two quarterback-keep TD runs by Ryan Jones.
-- Jones' second touchdown capped an 85-yard drive in 1 minute, 27 seconds that left Yokosuka trailing 18-12 with just 14 seconds left to try a comeback.
-- After starting the season 0-3, Yokota has won four of its last five. After starting the season 5-0, the Seahawks exit by losing their last two.
-- A touchdown run and a touchdown pass by Yokosuka's Bob Docherty. Total of 12 for the season. Can anybody say Offensive Player of the Year nominee?
One week to the start of high school two-a-days.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 1, 2009
Shows what can happen when you take care of the football. Coughing it up only once, Yokota ralliedfrom a 12-0 second-quarter deficit to win the U.S. Forces Japan-American Football League Northern Division title 18-12 Saturday at Yokosuka.
Now, Yokota awaits the outcome of the Southern Division title game (Torii vs. Foster was postponed Saturday because of lack of field; it should be made up this coming Saturday). More Sunday.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 1, 2009
It went into the books as a 4-2 victory by Western Oregon over Central Washington in an NCAA Division II women's softball tournament qualifier on April 26, 2008.
Butthe game will resonate forever, due to the
selfless act of total sportsmanship on the part of Central Washington's Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace, carrying injured Western Oregon batter Sara Tucholsky around the bases after she'd hit a home run, but tore a knee ligament while tripping over first base.
It should be required reading for any and all who play, coach or officiate sport. It's what sport is truly about. That we could each have it in us to sacrifice a victory for the ultimate goal in sport, which is the betterment of each and every one of us as people.
I remember when two Yokota High School cross country runnershad it in them. Sarah Jones and Candace Lindskog came to the aid of a fallen Nile C. Kinnick runner, Carolyn Van Deventer, when the latter stumbled on the wet course and fell down an embankment, impaling her arm on a piece of metal. It was Sept. 16, 2000, at Iwakuni, Japan.
One of the Yokotans remained with Van Deventer, doffing her running vest to help keep her warm and ward off shock. The other ran -- backwards, so she'd remember what the course looked like -- to the starting line to summon help.
Hands down, Jones and Lindskog were my athletes of the quarter for the fall of 2000, and will forever shine brightly as heroes in the treasure trove of countless memories I have of my days out here.
By Dave Ornauer
Published: August 1, 2009
Things seen and heard around Foster Field 1 on Okinawa as players prepare for Marine Corps Far East Regional Softball Tournament action 10 days from now:
-- If you've seen public-service announcements AFN thataddress the "Golden Rule" when dealing with enemy casualties or prisoners of war, chances are you might recognize Marine Staff Sgt. Jeremy Hinkhouse, who plays for Okinawa's 1st Marine Aircraft Wing softball team.
As a combat instructor three years ago at Camp Geiger, N.C., Hinkhouse, 34, of Green Bay, Wis., was one of several Marines and soldiers selected to speak in those ads. They were taped at American Forces Radio & Television Service headquarters at March Air Force Base, Calif.
"I was lucky," Hinkhouse said of being chosen, adding that on Okinawa, he gets the "I've seen you on TV!" treatment frequently. "I have a lot of people ask me about that."
-- When the Far East Regionals begin on Aug. 10 at Foster Field 1, the tournament will not be just "where the boys are."
A woman player, Tara Ballard, will suit up for host Marine Corps Base Camp S.D. Butler. A lance corporal who works up at Hansen, Ballard will likely see outfield timeas she does for the Yard Busters women's open team. She played shortstop and third base for her high school fastpitch team at Swansboro, N.C.
Ballard will become the first women's player in the tournament since Rachelle Smith pitched for U.S. Naval Hospital in 2003.
UPDATED Aug. 1 -- Ballard played in all five of American Legion's games on Saturday in right field. Legion won the tournament going 6-0 and beating 1st MAW three times.
-- Kadena Air Base's Four Diamonds Complex and the Far East Officials Association will host a fundraiser softball tournament Aug. 28-30, with all proceeds going to the family of Erin Harding, the triathloner and dependent spouse critically injured in a July 23 hit-and-run accident. She's in transit to San Diego's Balboa Naval Hospital and her husband, Maj. Todd Harding, is being sent to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar nearby.
The tournament is open to the island's three women's open teams and all company-level teams, regardless of service affiliation. Each company team may pick up two open- or post-level players. For more, contact FEOA commissioner Todd Hodgkinson at 080-3538-0247 or e-mail todd.hodgkinson@usmc.mil.
