Mike McKean / Assistant Sports Editor | Posted: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 12:00 am
Latiffia Taylor has been streaking her way to the top of the Western State Conference in track and field so far in 2004, and that/s just one of several things that has Louie Quintana excited about Hancock/s program.
The longtime coach, in his second full season with the Bulldogs, said so during Monday/s Northern Santa Barbara County Athletic Roundtable luncheon at Giavanni/s Pizza. But he saved his biggest praise for the freshman sprinter.
"She/s taken 15 first-places, seven second-places and three thirds," said Quintana of the Martinsville, Va. native. "She/s ranked No. 1 in the 100 (meter dash) in our conference, which, at 13 schools, is a pretty tough conference."
That talent in the speed events showed itself last Saturday in Fresno with wins in the 100 and the 100-meter hurdles, along with a third-place finish in the 200 and a fourth in the triple jump.
"She/s also ranked No. 1 in the low hurdles, but I know she ran really well in Fresno in that event," added Quintana, joined at the luncheon by men/s sprinter Trevor Shamblee. "She/s done a great job for us all season."
For her efforts on the track, Taylor was awarded the Roundtable/s Female Athlete of the Week award.
The Male Athlete award went to St. Joseph High golfer Ryan McConnell for leading the Knights to two important wins, shooting a one-under 71 to lead St. Joseph past Morro Bay in a dual match on Monday, then repeating the feat in the Knights/ win in a Los Padres League meet at Black Lake on Thursday. McConnell was joined from his team by Bryan Woodruff.
The Roundtable also announced a change to the schedule for the next two weeks: with the onset of Easter holidays around the area, it was announced that for all the schools in session next week, all spring sports would be welcomed at next Monday/s meeting. Those taking the week of April 5-9 off would have the same arrangement on the following meeting on April 12th.
ST. JOSEPH
Assistant coach Angeli Guerrero, daughter of coach Greg Guerrero, brought senior starters Whitney Adam and Katie Dering to the luncheon, then spoke on the Knights/ season, currently at 4-4-1.
"We/re expecting big things out of this team," Guerrero said. "We/ve got a big game against Cabrillo coming up this week."
Track and field was represented by assistant Deanna Ross, sitting in for coach Greg Sarkisian. Joining her were Greg Reynolds, a double medalist in the jumping events at last weekend/s Santa Barbara Easter Relays; and freshman distance runner Daina Tubbs, who posted top-five finishes at the Easter Relays "where her times in the 3,200 and the 1,600 were only bettered by Lompoc runners."
Keith Lorenz was on hand for the volleyball teams, accompanied by Ryan Acquistapace and Brett Klinesmith.
RIGHETTI
Softball coach Richard Cornejo was a happy camper after his team/s 10-2 start to the season, especially after knocking off Clovis West in a Saturday doubleheader, sweeping a team ranked by USA Today as No. 19 in the country.
"It was a very successful Saturday for us, to say the least," Cornejo said.
Eating with Cornejo was starting infielder Tabitha Taylor and pitcher Carissa Segura, who has verbally committed to pitch at Philadelphia/s LaSalle University.
Cornejo also spoke about the school/s annual "Best of the West" Tournament, starting on April 12th at the Hagerman Softball Complex. He added that on Tuesday the 13th, the tournament will join with the American Cancer Society for a "Strike Out Cancer" fund-raiser for breast-cancer awareness. Tickets for the raffle can be purchased on site or at Righetti home games until then.
Terrence Got was on hand with three members of the Warriors/ golf team 7 Jordan Jacobs, John Biegel and Cole Philley.
"It was disappointing to finish where we did," Got said, referring to last week/s fifth-place finish at a PAC-5 League meet, "but we/ve got a wealth of solid players here and we/re going to do good things."
SANTA MARIA
Softball coach Mia Ituralde was quick to label the Saints/ season to date.
"Things have turned out pretty bright," Ituralde said, referring to their 2-0 LPL start.
Joining her at the event was senior catcher Ivana Robles and sophomore utility player Sophia Beltran.
Track coach Rhett Carter was joined by middle-distance runner Robert Butler, who has shone in LPL action so far this year in the 400.
"He/s been improving by about a second with every week," Carter said of Butler. "If he keeps that pace up, with about six weeks to go, he should be down in the 48-second range soon."
VALLEY CHRISTIAN
Softball coach Stan Bickley was accompanied by regulars Cynthia Regalado and Lara Hertzog and spoke on the Lions solid start, including a 24-1 win over Shandon, in which Regalado twirled a no-hitter.
SANTA YNEZ
Track coach Dan Bixler showed up with junior distance runner Carlyle Eubank, who won the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 at an LPL meet in Nipomo last week, then added a leg in the winning 4x400 relay team vs. the Titans, coming directly after winning the 3,200.
Eubank also claimed the win in the 1,500 at the Easter Relays, missing the school record by .12 of a second.
CABRILLO
The softball team was the lone group on hand for the Conquistadores, with coach Mary Beth Stieber joined by pitcher Brooke Brockett, catcher Erin Cabral and infielder Jessica Kennedy.
March 30, 2004