Rendering of the new performing arts center, slated to open spring 2014. Photo courtesy Christian Brothers High School.

Christian Brothers High School is about to break ground on a $6.6 million performing arts center and hired a new theater arts director to help build up the program.

According to school president Lorcan Barnes, on April 4, Christian Brothers will break ground on a 350-seat, state-of-the-art performing arts center, scheduled to open in spring 2014. The building is part of the school’s Building on the Tradition Campaign Phase 2, the first part of which was a $4.5 million field house that was opened in November 2008.

The auditorium in the center features an acoustic space designed with the primary goal of not getting in the way of performers, says Ron Slabbinck, director of media, visual and performing arts for Christian Brothers. “If there’s a student on stage, they will be able to be seen and heard,” he says.

And it also features a “fully advanced state-of-the-art theater structure,” Slabbinck says, including sound and lighting booths, catwalk, and dressing rooms and full scene and set shop behind the stage. “(It has) everything you would want in a theater space — it will be the envy of pretty much any high school in the area with its features and design,” he adds.

Slabbinck says the center will also include a band classroom and choral classroom, plus gallery space for showcasing visual arts that have been incorporated into the lobby and throughout the theater. “We have students who are absolutely incredible artists, performers, and creators that they will finally have a place that will frame their talents in such a beautiful way,” he says. “We have amazing kids and they deserve a space like this.”

To help build the theater program at Christian Brothers, the school recently brought on board Connor Mickiewicz, its new theater arts director, who started this past August.

Students check out the beginning of the building of the new performing arts center. Photo courtesy Christian Brothers High School.

Mickiewicz says the theater program this year began with a “Theater 101″ type class with about 30 students, many of whom had never performed before. However, he says the response from students to the class has been very positive. “From where we started in August to what they’re doing now with their scene work and monologues, I’ve seen improvement — it’s pretty magical to see them grow as artists,” he explains.

Additionally, students have been taking part in theatrical productions this year. In the fall, students performed a production of “Godspell,” and Mickiewicz and his students are currently working on a production of the 1930s comedy “You Can’t Take it With You,” which will be performed April 18, 19, 25-27.

While the performing arts center is under construction, the students’ productions are held at New Helvetia Theatre at 10th and R Streets. Mickiewicz founded New Helvetia Theatre in 2009, where he acts, directs, and produces.

Slabbinck says students have been very receptive to Mickiewicz and how he teaches and directs theater, and having him on board plus the building of the new performing arts center has helped created a “buzz” on campus and stir student interest in the theater program. “We have more students engaged and involved in auditioning for theater productions than I have seen in probably eight years,” he adds. “I think this year has been highly successful — I think it’s upward and onward from here.”

Mickiewicz says since the theater will be larger, more kids can be involved with performing arts. Additionally, he says students will have an opportunity to learn technical theater, such as lighting, sound and set design, “which very few kids have an outlet to do,” he adds.

As the theater program grows, Slabbinck would like to see it become a four-year curricular program with a branch for performance and a branch for technical theater. “If someone lives in the Sacramento area and they think about visual, media and performance arts on the high school level, the first school that comes to their mind should be Christian Brothers — that’s my vision for where this all leads,” he says.

Mackenzie Starnes lives in the Pocket area, attends Christian Brothers High School and is the daughter of David and Tracy Starnes.

During this year of reign as Miss Sacramento County, Mackenzie will use her title, Miss Sacramento County Outstanding Teen, and her platform, Positive Self Image for Teenage Girls, to empower girls and female adolescents through mentoring, public speaking engagements, and self-esteem building activities.

April Smith, program director of Miss Sacramento County described Mackenzie as a very talented young woman, who is very driven to succeed. “You can tell that by her straight A report card and how she turned in everything that was asked for on time.

“Unfortunately, it is sometimes hard to find that in young people today and it is wonderful when you find someone like Mackenzie who is exceptional.  This program is not all about the ‘prettiest girl’ but the contestant who is the most well rounded and talented in all areas of her life.  Mackenzie is amazing in every aspect of her life and that is why she stood out to the judges.”

It’s about 9:45 on a cold January Friday morning, but inside a 7,000-square-foot warehouse located near Executive Airport, sweat is dripping off three dedicated athletes.

“This is what I am seeing,” Coach Arturo N. Fernandez tells one of them, but “This is what I want to see!” Fernandez is trying to get him keep his feet flat and hips pushed back, during bar lifts.

Like a military boot camp where trainees stick to a varied program with climbing ropes hanging from 21-foot-high ceilings and a an indoor 25 meter lane specifically for the use of flipping tires, sprinting, and other “strongman” activities are incorporated into a day’s session.

But unlike a military boot camp, ages range from 7 to 67 and abilities vary from someone transitioning out of a sedentary lifestyle to former athletes.

Abilities are fluid and improvements are encouraged.

Fernandez keeps a tally of workouts his trainees have done in the past and athletes keep track of their personal records, noting how long it takes them to get through a circuit and how heavy the weights they use are.

During a circuit of jump rope and squats (with weights), it’s common to see the athletes tripping over the ropes, as they get tired, but such a misstep is met with a penalty: one roll on the floor, followed by a push up and jumping jack.

But despite the four penalties one person racked up in 10 minutes, Fernandez told the athlete: “You were solid. You were right where you needed to be.”

After a break, one woman came to me and called herself the poster child of South Sacramento CrossFit. “If I could do it, anyone can … I have no strength but the other day, I lifted 155 pounds,” she said.

After the 8:30 a.m. session, athlete Pamela Gifford said what she enjoys about CrossFit is the challenge. “It pushes me past my limits.” She said she gets a sense of accomplishment afterward. She said the model is like having a personal trainer with support group included. “You have friends you want to see there,” she said, and she said if she doesn’t see them she calls them up asking if they’ll be back.

Gifford runs a massage therapy business out of the warehouse and members of CrossFit, she said, get a discount on massage.

Fernandez grew up in the Pocket and is a Christian Brothers alumnus. In 2005, he left Sacramento to serve in the army as an infantryman in service during the Global War on Terrorism. He said it was during his service that he was introduced to CrossFit as the preferred training method for general physical preparedness throughout the special operations community. The American G.I. Forum Alejandro R. Ruiz Chapter recognized Fernandez for his honor, integrity and service to our country.

“It fit like a glove with my foundation of youth sports in Judo, wrestling, and cross country,” he said. He competed against 200 eligible Ranger candidates and was selected not only as one of 80 to go on to be Rangers but also scored highest on the physical training testing.

He was honorably discharged from his duties as an Army Ranger in January 2012, when he worked as the head floor coach at CrossFit Inception and CrossFit Sacrifice – the two largest and most successful CrossFit gyms servicing military personnel in the South East Region. He competed last year in the Regional Qualifiers for the CrossFit Games after a superior performance during the CrossFit Open. Last August, he opened South Sacramento CrossFit.

He has trained a wide variety of clients to include firefighters, law enforcement, Australian Special Forces, and professional fighters. He has also done personal training to assist men and women ranging from never having been active to aspiring competitors in achieving their respective goals.

John F. Kennedy basketball star Lynette Johnson goes up for a shot in the 2012 Sac-Joaquin Championship Game against Oak Ridge. Kennedy won the game by a score of 62-58 and took home the section title. Photo courtesy of David Parsh

Kennedy High School senior hoops star Lynette Johnson has made opponents look bad on the court for three years so far, but things are looking good for Johnson herself as she signed a letter of intent to play college ball at Utah State next year.

Johnson, entering her fourth season as a varsity player, started playing basketball at such a young age that she doesn’t quite remember a time when she didn’t play. Growing up with two older sisters and a cousin who also played, Johnson was always around the game. “It’s kind of just part of my family,” she said.

The 5′10” guard/forward has awed coaches, teammates and opponents with her ability to shoot the ball and to just score in general. Last season in just 18 games, Johnson amassed 339 points, good for a team-leading 18.8 points per game.

The Cougars finished the 2011-12 season with a sparkling 26-9 record and a trip to the semifinals of the Girls Division I State Championships before losing to Berkeley High School 56-38.

Head coach Dave Parsh, who arrived in 2009 along with Johnson, talked about what makes his star player so special.

“She is always aware of what’s going on in the game and she’s tall enough and strong enough to see what’s going on under pressure,” Parsh said. “Plus everybody knows that she’s a great shooter.”

Beyond being a great player, Parsh described why it is so easy for her teammates to play with her.

“She has the type of personality that people follow,” he said. “People just gravitate towards her. She’s a vocal leader and she’s so smart she usually knows what play I’m going to call before I call it.”

Parsh also called Johnson the proverbial ‘Big Man On Campus’ in that she is very popular and everyone knows her around the school.

As for her senior season, Johnson hopes to take the team back to the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs at Sleep Train Arena, a destination that the team has traveled to three straight seasons with her on the team. The team’s record under the three-year tenure of coach Parsh and floor-leader Johnson is a stunning 73-26.

After this year, though, Johnson’s collegiate career is now set before her.

She decided on Utah State during a recruiting trip in October.

“It is a big culture change from Sacramento, but in a good way,” said Johnson of her trip to Logan, Utah. “Everyone was so about Utah State. You could really feel the culture and how much everybody cared about Utah State athletics.”

Johnson also had offers from schools like Pepperdine University, University of San Francisco, and  University of Hawaii, but her visit to Logan was all she needed to make her choice. “People found out that I was a recruit for the women’s basketball team and they were really excited to meet me and I connected well with the coaches,” she said.

Though her skills on the court are undeniable, Johnson wants to make her mark in other ways away from home. She plans to major in psychology, something that she has grown to love during her senior year at Kennedy. One of her older sisters is in school studying the same subject, so just like basketball, it seems to be in the family.

“I’m definitely nervous about being away from home and being completely independent,” she said. “But I’m also very excited to get started. I’ll just need to find that balance between school and basketball.”

Her college career will begin sooner than most, as she plans to attend summer classes at the school which start in June.

As far as what kind of player Utah State is getting, Johnson described her play as “pretty aggressive, but I can play under control too.”

Kennedy kicked off its 2012-13 campaign in the Christian Brothers Tournament on Thursday, Nov. 29 against Del Campo. Results of the tournament were not accessible at press time.

Editor’s note: This is the fifth in a series of articles about McClatchy athletes and teams chosen for its new sports Hall of Fame.
The 50 athletes/coaches and teams from 1938 to 1962 will be inducted as part of the 75 year McClatchy celebration on Sept. 20 at the Riverside Elks Lodge.
For information about the athletes and how to get tickets, go to restoretheroar.org.

At noon on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, 1947, 24,000 frenzied football fans squeezed into Hughes Stadium to see the unbeaten McClatchy Lions and the Sacramento Dragons battle for the Sac-Joaquin League championship.
As a wide-eyed 8-year-old, this was my first football game and would become a Thanksgiving tradition for my family that would last until the 1970s, when the Turkey Day game ended.
Turkey Day 1947 would be the greatest sporting event in Sacramento history with more than half the city attending. After the school opened in 1937, the up-start McClatchy Lions began to chip into Sacramento High School’s athletic dominance by the mid-1940s.
One-half of the city was “Lion Red” while the other half was “Dragon Purple.”
North of Broadway, you were a Dragon; south of Broadway in the suburbs of Sacramento, you were a Lion.
In 1939, McClatchy first beat Sacramento 13-6 behind all-city running back Fred Wristen.* The only tie was in 1940, and Bob Geremia was the star of the 1942 game for the Lions.
1943 brought the Lions a close win 13-12 and the undefeated 1944 McClatchy* team slaughtered the Dragons 44-0 and 25-0. McClatchy had won the last five years, two in 1944 and 45 because there were no night games during World War II, and local teams played each other twice.

The 1947 team
In 1947, Sacramento was coached by George Relles and led by quarter-back Jack Higdon and running backs Henry Barsanti, Vic Frediani and Ed Day.
Burt Delevan and Peter Mering anchored the line. The closest game was against Grant where the team trailed 7-0 at half. The second half was led by Day, Frediani and Mering, and Sacramento ended up winning 19-7.
The Lions, coached by George Bican,* were led by the “high-stepping twins,” John Pappa* (14 touchdowns) and Del Rasmussen* (nine touchdowns).
Rasmussen had run for almost 700 yards and averaged 13.4 yards per carry. Pappa had more than 400 yards and fullback Chuck Marino had almost 300 yards.
Tony Geremia* was an outstanding passer and kicked extra points. Ends Curtis Rowland* and John Matulich were his favorite receivers.
The McClatchy line was led by all-city tackle/linebacker Leon King*, guards Sturmer White and Bill Burns*, all-city center Vern Sampson* and tackle Clarence “Tiger” Orr.
Grant Deary, Bob Farmer* and Bob Norris came in on a strong McClatchy defense that had four shut-outs during the year.
The Lions averaged 33 points per game on offense.
The winning streak
McClatchy started its winning ways on Oct. 4, with a 36-0 win over Christian Brothers with Geremia throwing touchdowns to Pappa and Marino.
The following Friday in the rain at Hughes Stadiums, the Lions beat Woodland 26-0 with Rasmussen running for 121 yards and Pappa 77 yards. At Grant the following week, Geremia threw for more than 200 yards and the “twins” each scored once for a 45-13 victory.
Bican pulled out his bag of tricks and put Leon King at fullback for a touchdown and extra point.
Meanwhile, Sacramento was rolling along beating CBS 27-0, Turlock 12-0, Stockton 12-0, Modesto 25-7, Lodi 13-6, Woodland 21-13 and Grant 19-7.
Defense was the heart of the team, and everyone expected the Lions to give a tough match when they met the Dragons on Thanksgiving Day.
Leading up to the big game, McClatchy visited the Lodi Flames, and before 5,000 fans, Pappa (94 yards and 3 touchdowns), and Rasmussen (68 yards and 2 touchdowns) ran wild for a 39-0 victory.
Rowland blocked a punt and Farmer intercepted a pass to preserve the shutout. The following week against Modesto, with Pappa having a bad heel and Rasmussen the flu, Marino was the workhorse with 104 yards and two touchdowns.
Rasmussen still had 89 yards, Rowland a TD and Deary an interception at linebacker.
Nov. 27 was here at last.

Turkey Day game
The city was in a frenzy.
The local radio station KFBK had a huge pep rally on the air at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday with Tony Koester, the Sacramento Solons announcer, as the MC. On Thanksgiving morning, people began lining up for tickets four hours early at 8 a.m.
The headline of the Sacramento Bee on Friday, Nov. 28, read: “Lions roar to 35-14 victory over Dragons before record 24,000.”
The article read: “A storming fireball C. K. McClatchy High School eleven collaborated with the greatest crowd in the annals of Sacramento sports yesterday to bust the record books wide open in the most dynamic and colorful Thanksgiving Day football game ever produced within the confines of Hughes Memorial Stadium.
While more than 24,000 gridiron enthusiasts crammed into every cranny of the arena for the first time in its history, overflowing into the aisles, hanging precariously on the rims, and spilling out on to the track surrounding the playing turf, THE RAZZLE DAZZLE LIONS cannonaded their way to the Sac-Joaquin section championship with a glittering 35-14 conquest of the Sacramento Dragons.”**
The Lions struck early and often building up a 21-0 halftime lead. Del Rasmussen* carried only nine times for 189 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Sacramento Bee article continued: “The fair haired boy…was dashing Del Rasmussen, a swivel hipped, squirming, prancing ball packer of all-conference magnitude who broke the Dragons’ backs with two long touchdown scampers. Fronting the way for him and sidekick John Papa was a dominant offensive line led by the 220 pound Leon King…who was tremendously effective at tackle and linebacker. Geremia had an outstanding game, with fourth and goal at the three, he crossed up Sacramento with an end-around to Curtis Rowland for a touchdown and a 21-0 halftime lead.”**
McClatchy scored twice more in the third quarter with Marino scoring a touchdown in his fourth straight game against the Dragons.
Sacramento blocked a punt and scored to start the fourth quarter. Again in the fourth quarter, a missed handoff resulted in a fumble at the Dragon 22.
“Henry Barsanti caught the ball in mid air and set sail for the goal line. Pappa, however, picked himself up off the turf and, after spotting Barsanti 15 yards, amazingly overhauled him on the Lion nine. Fumbleistis set in on the second play, and Rasmussen recovered to thwart any hope of a Dragon rally.”**
When the game ended, it took Bican and Principal S. A. Pepper 20 minutes to break through the many well-wishers to celebrate the Lions’ first section title in football. When they arrived at the locker room, the team went crazy.
“The Lions coach waited for the cheering to subside. Bican tried to speak but was choked up with emotion before he finally said, ‘My 45 boys all looked good.’ My boys all blocked in excellent fashion and we were ready for this one.’”**

Great athletes
The 1948 graduating class had many outstanding athletes. Section championships were won in football and track, a tie with Sacramento for the baseball championship, and the basketball team led by Rasmussen, Dick Balfour and Matulich won the northern section, but lost to Stockton for the Sac Joaquin title.
Roger Osenbaugh* and Jim Westlake would go on to play professional baseball with the Solons.
Balfour would win the section pole vault and Pappa would win the section 100 and 220 for the third straight year.
Pappa would go on to UC Berkeley and score two touchdowns in the 1951 “Big Game” and play in two Rose Bowls.
Rasmussen would become a star running back at Santa Clara, and King would be a starter at Stanford and play in the 1952 Rose Bowl.
However, 65 years later, I think I remember Rasmussen dashing for long gains, Pappa chasing Barsanti over 60 yards to catch him on the nine, crushing hits by King and Sampson, and Geremia throwing darts to Rowland, Rasmussen, Matulich, and Pappa for big gains.
24,000 people in Hughes Stadium for one exciting, colorful, afternoon – I definitely remember that.

*Denotes Hall of Fame inductees
**Sacramento Bee quotes from sports writer Murray Olderman and Tom Kane

jim@valcomnews.com

In the late 1940’s and early 50’s high school baseball in Sacramento was at its zenith. McClatchy, Sacramento, and Christian Brothers all had outstanding teams and talent. Roger Osenbaugh and Jim Westlake of CKM signed pro contracts after the 1948 season followed by Woody Held (Sac), Richie Meyers (Elk Grove), Tony Stathos (CKM), John McNamara (CBS), and Harry Dunlap (Sac). Sacramento Junior College combined the city’s best baseball players to go for the state title for three straight years from, 51 to 53, winning the state title in 51 and 53 at the Edmonds Field.

Possibly the greatest high school baseball teams to ever play in Sacramento were the McClatchy teams of 1951 and 52. The 51 team won 22 without a loss and the section title, and the 52 team followed with 18 more wins before losing to CBS after McClatchy’s win streak reached 40 games.

With a McClatchy Athletic Hall of Fame starting this fall after 75 years, these two teams and their players were picked as one of the three greatest teams in McClatchy’s first 25 years. They will be honored on September 20, with a dinner at the Elk’s Club and on the 21st at half time of the McClatchy football game.

Led by the Rose brothers Earl (51) and Ralph (53), Peter Stathos (52), and Dick Traversi (52), six Lions made all-city in 51 and five made the all-city team in 52. Chris Chrstian, JC Masters, and Ralph Rose were the pitchers with Earl used in relief. Traversi played first, Stathos, second, and Earl Rose played in the outfield.

McClatchy hit .309 as a team with Earl Rose setting a school record getting 49 hits in 94 at bats for a .521 average. This record has never been broken. Junior Peter Stathos also broke the school record hitting .512. He had 42 hits and drove in 28 runs. Traversi was a unanimous choice for All City getting 28 hits and being an excellent glove man at first base. Traversi would go on in his senior year to lead the city in scoring for the McClatchy basketball team.
The pitching staff was led by seniors’ Chris Christian and JC Masters. Christian had eight wins and Masters had six. Bob Jones was the catcher and made all-city. Outfielder Jerry Pesavento and shortstop Bob Ayres made honorable mention.

McClatchy started the season with wins over Willows, San Juan, and Grass Valley. They reached nine straight when they beat Grant 11-2 and came closest to their only loss when their game with CBS was called for darkness after eight innings with the score 11 to 11. McClatchy had led 9-0 but four errors allowed the Pete Mikichich led CBS to tie the score and send it to extra innings.

Chris Christian next threw a one-hitter at Sac and the Lions won easily 11-2. Masters came back to beat the Dragons for their 15th straight 6-3. The Lions had to come from behind in this one as the Dragons scored two in the first. Stathos drove in two runs in the second and Ayres tripled home Masters to put the Lions ahead for good. Ralph Rose then threw a two-hitter to beat St Mary’s for their 16th straight. McClatchy beat Woodland 8-2 and came back for a close 6-5 win over Sacramento for their 22nd and final win of the season.

Coach Cliff Perry commented that, “This was the best team I have ever coached. Earl Rose was obviously the top senior with his .521 average, but seniors JC Masters, Chris Christian, Bob Jones, Dave Thomas (21 steals) , and Jerry Pesavento will be tough to replace.”

The 1952 season started up right where it left off with Ralph Rose, Roger Herscowitz, Don Deary, and Mike Toomey being the main pitchers. Sophomore Bill Werry handled the catching., Traversi played first, Stathos, second, Bob Ayres, short, and Bruce Parsons/ Hui Jackson third. Rose, Gene Huyrch, Jan Aitken, and Parsons were in the outfield.

All-city performers included: Aitken, Ayres, Stathos, Traversi, and Werry in the Sacramento Bee, and Aitken, Rose, Stathos, Traversi, and the Sacramento Union. Huyrch and Ayres made honorable mention. Peter Stathos led the team in hitting with a .438 average, Traversi hit .417 and Rose was .407. Werry .417 and Huyrch each hit four triples and Huyrch had six home runs. Stathos was chosen to play in the East-West All Star game in Oakland after the season.

The Lions started the 52 season fast with eighteen straight wins before falling for the first time at the end of the season They did win the city championship for the third straight year. Highlights included a 21-2 win over Rio Vista, 29-1 win over Turlock and their 35th straight win a 9-2 victory over St Mary’s of Stockton.

The streak finally came to an end in May when Dave Higgins (all-city) from Christian Brothers beat the Lions 11-4. McClatchy was never in the game as Higgins pitched six shutout innings before McClatchy scored twice in the 7th and 8th.
When asked about the McClatchy 51-52 baseball teams that won 40 straight games, Stathos commented, “We had a great coach, Cliff Perry, and great players, Traversi, Aitken, Ayres, and the Rose brothers. We had great pitching, JC and Chris in 51 and Ralph Rose, Herscowitz, and Deary, in 52. Werry and Hurych came out of nowhere to really help us in 52. Forty straight wins. Wow, nobody will ever do that again.”

This is the first in a series of articles as part of the McClatchy 75th year celebration, and the institution of a McClatchy Sports Hall of Fame. A banquet will be held on Sept. 20, at the Elks Clubs honoring 50 individuals and five teams from the first 25 years (1938-1962). All McClatchy graduates and family are invited to participate. For information: go to RestoretheRoar.org or contact Jim Coombs at (916) 422-9082 or Bob Sertih at (916) 441-0657.

In June of 1964, I graduated from Sacramento High School – in what seemed like a momentous accomplishment at the time.

Marty Relles

During the last week of school, I carried my yearbook around with me and solicited signatures and comments from my friends and fellow alumni.

When he signed the book, my friend Jim Edwards scrawled, “See you over at Freeport U.”

Yes, that was my plan.

During high school, other kids planned for college, earned top notch grades, took the SAT and applied to attend the best universities.

I hadn’t done that, so Sacramento City College (SCC), also called “Freeport U.,” and also called a “high school with ash trays” was my only option for higher education.

I decided to make the best of it. I enrolled in two classes that summer and earned B grades in both.

When I showed up for fall classes, my friend Mark Lazarotto collared me saying, “I am starting a new political club on campus, want to join?”

I reluctantly agreed.

The club was an ultra-conservative organization: The Young Americans for Freedom (YAF). This was definitely not my politics, but – Mark insisted – so I joined.

The club’s tenure at City College lasted one year. But joining the YAF had a good outcome for me personally. The small membership (five students) voted me vice president of the club. That qualified me to represent our organization on the Inter Club Council, the group of students which acts as a liaison between the entire student body and the administration.

Participating on the ICC affected me in ways I could not imagine at the time. It gave me the opportunity to work with the “best and the brightest” at SCC and to learn the dynamics of working on an important school organization. This experience benefited me immensely later in life.

The ICC met monthly. In addition to planning school events such as dances and the annual Pioneer Day celebration, the organization presented student’s concerns and needs to the administration. To this day, I am thankful for having that experience.

In addition to my participation on the ICC, City College had another benefit for me. I reconnected with a group of kids I knew from Christian Brothers School: Henry Aguire, Joe Cisneros, Pete Sartlidge, Michael McDermott and others such as Jim Hansen (police officer Tiny Hansen’s son) also attended SCC at the time. We hung out together at school.

We formed a bond which lasted well after college. We met in the cafeteria for lunch, had parties, went to dances, and joined in extra-curricular activities such hunting. We were a “band of brothers.” Sadly, I subsequently lost touch with most of these guys, including Mark Lazarotto, the President and founder of the YAF, but the memories of our time together at SCC remain strong.

In the fall of 1966, I transferred to Sacramento State College. My time at SCC had come to an end. It was time to take on more serious educational challenges.

Sac State would prove to be a much greater challenge than City College. Ultimately, it took me another nine years to earn my Bachelor of Arts Degree, counting a two year tour of duty in the U.S. Army.

Now my time at Freeport U. is another unforgettable Janey Way Memory.

marty@valcomnews.com

While sitting in his Little Pocket home recently, senior softball player Bob Nevis spoke about a major injury that he suffered during his youth.

SACRAMENTO NATIVE Bob Nevis has achieved much success in baseball and softball despite acquiring a disability during his childhood. / Valley Community Newspapers photo, Lance Armstrong

“I was playing tackle, sandlot football when I was 11 years old and I tore some ligaments in my right knee,” said Bob. “I went to the doctor and they drained it and it continued to bother me off and on for a year before I was taken to a specialist in Sacramento and it was discovered that I had developed tuberculosis in the bone. When they operated and scraped the TB off, they fused my knee and it would never bend again.”

For many or perhaps most people in his position, such an injury would end their participation in competitive sports. But Bob is neither many nor most people.

Instead, this Sacramento native has achieved the type of success on the ball diamond that many able-bodied people dream of accomplishing.

Bob’s roots are in the Sacramento area. His father, Joseph Edward Nevis, was born in Sacramento and his mother, Loretta May (Jacinto) Nevis, was born in the Delta town of Hood. One of four children, he grew up here and was a 1955 graduate of Christian Brothers High School. Bob’s family history in America began on Sept. 1, 1901 with the arrival of his grandparents: Dan and Mary Nevis, who came from the island of Pico in the Azores Islands.

For Bob, 74, who wore a San Francisco 49ers sweatshirt during his interview, sports has been an extreme interest of his since nearly about the time he began to walk.

And although he does not walk as well as most people walk, Bob explained how his love for sports and keeping active has allowed him to exceed expectations.

“I was in a TB ward in Weimer (Placer County) for a year and three months and then when I got out, I was on crutches for a while,” said Bob. “The kids used to say that I could outrun some of the kids on my crutches. I pole vaulted (with the crutches), taking 9-foot strides and that is not an exaggeration. In all my life, I have never seen anyone else run on crutches that way and nobody else has either that I know of. I ended up playing hardball with my brothers and a bunch of guys who we grew up with and we won a lot of championships.”

Bob cherishes his days of playing in winter and spring baseball leagues during his youth and his yellowed newspaper clippings from these years appear as precious as trophies to him.

During his interview with this publication, Bob spread out the clippings on his kitchen table and said, “These are from my days of playing ball when I was a young man.”

All of the clippings, with the exception of one, highlighted the very successful Gerlinger’s of the National Division of the Sacramento Municipal Spring Baseball League. Gerlinger Motor Parts, which was the team’s sponsor, was located at 2020 K St. and owned by South Land Park resident George Gerlinger.

The clippings provided additional evidence that Bob was more than just a minor contributor to the team.

The following are some of the word-for-word highlights of Bob’s undated clippings:

• Bob Neves (sic) yesterday pitched Benny Wolf’s Gerlinger’s to a 14 to 0 win over the Northgate Gators for the championship of the City Spring Baseball League’s American Division.
• Bob Nevis, with a four-hitter, yesterday chucked the Gerlinger’s to a 13 to 5 triumph over Aerojet in a Spring Baseball League contest.
• Chuck Griffith and Bob Nevis combined to hurl a four-hitter yesterday as the Gerlinger’s tripped the Lemon Hill All Stars, 3 to 2 in an American Division of the City Winter Baseball League game at Leiva Field. Gerlinger’s scored its runs on a towering home run by (Bob’s brother) Bill Nevis, who also doubled and singled, and a two-run double by Mike Furtado. (Note: Furtado, who is Bob’s cousin, later won league championships at Sacramento State College in 1965 and 1968 and was a teacher, vice principal and baseball coach at Elk Grove High School).
• The Gerlinger’s of the National Division of the Sacramento Municipal Spring Baseball League won their ninth straight contest yesterday with a 7 to 3 triumph over the Mac’s (Oldtimers). Bob Nevis pitched the win and aided his own cause with two doubles and a single.
• Home runs by Bob Nevis and Jerry Branch helped the Gerlinger’s to a 7 to 6 victory over the Orangevale Lions in the American Division of the Winter Baseball League yesterday on the Grant Field.
• Gerlinger’s toppled Mac’s Oldtimers, 14 to 5, yesterday in the Spring Baseball League. Larry Meredith had four singles and Bob Nevis a triple and a single for the winners.
• Gerlinger’s won its 12^th consecutive National Division Spring League baseball game yesterday, downing the KSFM DJs, 6 to 3.
• The Gerlinger’s, wrapping up a perfect season, yesterday posted their 13 straight victory in downing the Post Office, 5 to 3. Gerlingers won the Spring League baseball championship.

BOB NEVIS stands prepared to field a ball at first base. Nevis has also experienced success as a pitcher. / Photo courtesy, Bob Nevis

Bob also remembers hitting three triples in a game at Southside Park in about 1962.

At various times, the Gerlinger’s success was aided by such players as Larry Bowa, Spider Thomas, Don Semon, Bernie Church, Don Zets and Hank Falconer (who was signed by local agent Ronnie King and tried out for the Pittsburgh Pirates), who were all scouted by professional clubs.

The late Sacramento Bee editor Marco Smolich dedicated an entire article to Bob in 1953 and noted in part of his story that Bob, who was attending The Sacramento Bee-KFBK Baseball School at Edmonds Field, was the “personification” of “hustle.”

In about 1965, Bob, who worked for 57 years as a residential home painter, hurt his right hip and quit playing league baseball. He raised a family in Sacramento and has three sons, Lance, Mike and Joe, and a stepdaughter, Schnee.

It was not until 1993 that Bob was playing competitively again, as he joined the league, Golden Seniors Softball Club of Sacramento.

Bob continues to play softball today and has experienced much success on a tournament team.

Among the highlights of his participation in tournament play was winning the California Cup in Woodland and the Silver Medal in the World Series in Phoenix in 2009 and the Hall of Fame Tournament in Manteca in 2011.

While playing on the exhibition team, the Can-Sirs, a cancer awareness team for men, Bob was awarded the Most Valuable Player award in 2011. Bob is a prostate cancer survivor.

Bob, who is known for his sense of humor, quipped, “The (MVP) award can’t be for the Most Valuable Player. It must be for the Most Valuable Portuguese.”

Another highlight for Bob is having the opportunity to play ball again with his brothers, Jerry and Bill, as the three brothers play together in the Travelers League, which is not affiliated with the Golden Seniors.

MVP. This patch represents Bob Nevis’ accomplishment of being named a senior softball most valuable player in 2011. / Valley Community Newspapers photo, Lance Armstrong

In thinking back on his years of playing baseball and softball, Bob said that he has enjoyed many good times and hopes to continue playing softball for many more years.

“I’m glad that I continued to play ball and overcame the self consciousness of thinking that I can’t do something,” Bob said. “I’ll continue to play ball as long as I can be of help to my team. I’ve enjoyed every minute with my teammates and the camaraderie and the couple of beers and the stories and the jokes and the lies. It’s been all great.”

Editor’s note: This is part one of a two-part series featuring high schools in the Arden-Carmichael News publishing area.  In this article, we highlight Rio Americano, El Camino and Del Campo high schools.

IT’S GAME TIME. Local high school football teams have put in lots of hard work and dedication during the off season. This fall, each team will see the results of its labors. No matter the outcome, it is character building. / Photo iStockphoto

All across the country the stadium lights are clicking to life on Friday nights. For Rio Americano, El Camino and Del Campo, the sweat and grind of the offseason is about to pay off. It’s game time.

Rio Americano Raiders

Rio Americano comes into this season looking for a taste of the playoffs after just missing out last year. The Raiders (4-6 in 2010) will depend on a young group of mostly juniors to try and get the team over the playoff hump. Head coach Christian Mahaffey talked about his goals for the team in 2011.

“We have only nine seniors, the rest are juniors. We’re young and talented,” he said. “We don’t have a defined goal this year other than to play hard week-to-week.”

There’s no question that the next logical step for the Raiders is a playoff spot in the Capital Football League.

“I think (the playoffs) is a definite possibility,” said Mahaffey.

Rio will rely heavily on a strong run game in 2011. Last season the Raiders averaged 248.5 yards per game on the ground.

Star running back and cornerback Basil Okoroike is an undeniable team leader according to Mahaffey. Last season Okoroike ran for 573 yards and eight touchdowns and also caught eight passes and added another score through the air.

Mahaffey named Bobby Keenan (offensive tackle/defensive end), Alfonso Castro (offensive tackle/defensive end) and Bob Roseberry (offensive guard/defensive tackle) as other players to watch this year.

The biggest rival for Rio is now and has always been Jesuit High School. If you stand at the corner of either school and peer around the corner, you can quite literally see the other school. They are so close together that a rivalry has brewed deep within the student bodies for generations.

In 2010 the Raiders defeated the Marauders of Jesuit in a wild game by the score of 34-33. This year, however, Rio fell to their archrival in a scoreboard busting season-opener by the score of 52-38 on Sept. 3.

In the game, Okoroike rushed for 157 yards and two touchdowns. He also returned five kicks in the game for a total of 72 yards; Keenan amassed seven tackles (including a sack) and junior quarterback Mark Lyon threw for 193 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the loss.

Rio shares the Capital Football league with Whitney, Mira Loma, Antelope, Cordova and El Camino high schools. Last season the Raiders went 1-3 against league opponents. Rio begins league play on Oct. 8 against Cordova.

El Camino Eagles

El Camino comes into the season with a similar goal – improving on a so-so season in 2010. The Eagles (4-6 in 2010) will take into the season a young team that lost five senior starters on the offensive line. Head coach Adam Reinking thinks his team has what it takes to climb back into the playoff picture.

“Our strength is in our offense and our specialty players,” he said. “We have to give maximum effort in every rep, practice and game. If we do that, wins should take care of themselves. Our team goal is to win league and make the playoffs.”

The Eagles haven’t made it to the postseason since 2006, but just a slight upgrade in league play could have them back in the hunt this season. The team averaged 255.1 yards on the ground last season, making them a vaunted rushing attack that should continue this year.

Coach Reinking named Will McGehee (running back), Jonah Lessard (quarterback), Dee Kuwabara (wide receiver) and Cameron Marcum (cornerback) as players to watch this season.

El Camino’s geographical rivals are Rio Americano and Mira Loma. All three happen to reside in the same conference, so those rivalries hold a little extra meaning for the teams involved. The three schools are separated by only a few miles.

The season has started out on a sour note for the Eagles as they have lost their first two games of the season to non-league opponents Colfax and Union Mine. So far on the season, McGehee has rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown; Lessard has thrown for 246 yards and a pair of scores; Kuwabara has 155 yards receiving along with two scores and Marcum has racked up seven tackles and two passes defended.

The playoffs only take into account league games, however, so the Eagles have some time to correct themselves before league play begins on Oct. 6 against Antelope.

Del Campo Cougars

Del Campo (8-3 in 2010) is coming off a successful season that saw the Cougars reach the playoffs. And while they lost the playoff game against Rosemont High School, the team remains confident that another playoff run is within its grasp.

“I love my team, but we are very young and not as talented as in the past,” said head coach Mike Dimino. “We are working hard right now. We have 32 juniors and 14 seniors. Our juniors as a JV team went 4-6 last year.

While the team appears to be raw in the early going, Dimino has been impressed with how his defense has played thus far.

For a team that has won 51 games in the past five seasons (and won two section titles), this year of rebuilding is something the school isn’t used to in recent years.

“I have never coached a team to less than a .500 record,” Dimino said. “This might be the first. Hopefully we get better each week and be ready for league play next month. As it is now, we have a lot of improving to do.”

The team captains for the Cougars are Adrian Garcia, Sam Perez, Anthony Rodigo and Danny Newman.

The Cougars play in the Capital Valley Football Conference along with Bella Vista, Rio Linda, Oakmont, Christian Brothers and Casa Roble high schools. Dimino identified Casa Roble as the team’s biggest rival.

“They are the only team to win a league championship other than us,” he said.

The Cougars will meet the Rams of Casa Roble on Oct. 14. Del Campo currently holds a 1-1 record on the year after a loss against Enterprise (17-10) and a win against Rancho Cotate (15-14). League play begins for Del Campo on Oct. 7 against Rio Linda.

Ron King holds a baseball bat with engraved autographs from the 1971 World Champion Pittsburgh Pirates. During his scouting career, Ron was a scout for three World Championship teams. / Valley Community Newspapers photo, Lance Armstrong

This man, Ron King, who is known as “Ronnie” by many of his closest friends, grew up at 309 W St., near Southside Park, as the only child of Manuel and Anna King.

When he was about eight years old, Ron, 82, who presently resides in Sacramento with his wife Betty, began playing baseball.

It was at this time, during the 1930s, that Ron planted his roots toward becoming a notable figure in the city’s professional baseball history, which dates back to the 19th century.

Born to play ballBaseball was very much a large part of his life at a very young age, Ron explained.

“I used to carry a catcher’s glove with me all the time in case somebody wanted to play catch,” he recalled.

Ron honed his baseball skills during his youth on Sacramento fields, as he played in local city league games.

He also picked up a baseball job in 1937, when he became employed at Cardinal Field – home field of the Sacramento Solons of the Pacific Coast League – at Broadway and Riverside Boulevard.

Ron initially worked at the stadium as a visitors’ batboy, then the following year, he gathered baseballs off the roof with Norman Greenslate, another youn

Ron King, who was a catcher during his baseball playing days, is shown in this c.1945 photograph. / Photo courtesy of Ron King

g, local baseball player.

In 1940, Ron once again became the visitors’ batboy, followed by the scoreboard operator in 1941 and 1942 and a visitors’ clubhouse boy from 1943 to 1946.

While working as a scoreboard operator, Ron was paid 25 cents per game and 35 cents per doubleheader.

Considering Ron’s love for baseball, working at Cardinal Field, which by 1945 was known as Edmonds Field, was a dream job.

Working at the stadium presented Ron with the opportunity to meet professional players. And for Ron, this was an experience that was the equivalent of a motion picture fanatic meeting Hollywood movie stars.

The CB years

After gaining experience playing on city league baseball teams during his childhood, Ron played baseball for Christian Brothers High School, when the school was located at 21st Street and Broadway.

Since baseball was Ron’s greatest passion in life, it did not take long for him to become known as a “baseball nut.”

Evidence of Ron’s love for baseball can be seen on a page of a 1946 edition of his high school newspaper, The Talon, which includes a write-up with the following words: “Do you want to know anything about baseball? Ask Ronnie King.”

Land Park resident Ron King points to a photograph of Steve Sax, one of the top players who he scouted during his Major League Baseball scouting career. / Valley Community Newspapers photo, Lance Armstrong

Ron said that Brother Eugene Ward, Christian Brothers’ principal at the time, was a big influence in his life.

“Brother Eugene said to me, ‘If I asked you to read a page, you can’t tell me what you read.’” Ron said. “I looked at him and said, ‘No.’ Right about when baseball was going to start, (Brother Eugene) gave me a poem and he said, ‘I want you to learn this poem. I’ll give you a day to learn it and if you don’t learn it, you’re not going to play.’

Determined to play baseball at the school, Ron learned the poem so well that he can still recite the poem to this day.

Fortunately for Ron, who was given more than one lesson in discipline from Brother Eugene, and Christian Brothers High, Ron achieved much success playing high school baseball.

In 1946, the year that he graduated from the school, Ron was named as one of the 12 players of The Sacramento Union’s All-City Team.

Reminiscing about his four years of playing varsity baseball at Christian Brothers High, where he was also the student body vice president during his senior year, Ron said that the baseball team had much success during this time.

“We didn’t lose too many games,” Ron said. “Our pitching staff was pretty good. We had four pitchers on the team and three of them pitched in the National Division of the Sacramento Winter League and (this semi-pro division) was the big thing before pro football took over. The games used to draw quite a few people.”

At the age of 15, Ron became the youngest player to ever join the National Division, which played its games at such places as William Land, McKinley and Stanford parks.

The minor leagues

Following his time at Christian Brothers, Ron began to live out his dream, as he signed with the Cleveland Indians organization and played with its Bakersfield farm club in the California League in 1946 and 1947 and then in Billings, Mont. in the Pioneer League in 1948.

Ron King, shown sixth to right in the front row, was a player-coach for the Salem Senators of the Northwest League. / Courtesy of Ron King.

In 1949, Ron played in Dayton, Ohio and was part of a pennant winning team in the Double A Central League.

Ron took on a new role in baseball in 1950, when he served as a substitute catcher for various teams’ catchers who were recovering from injuries.

Ron said that it was during this segment of his career, playing for teams in Dayton, Ohio, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Wilkes Barre, Pa. and Oklahoma City, Okla., when he “learned how to travel.”

After taking time away from baseball in 1951 and 1952 to serve his country during the Korean War, Ron joined a Reading, Pa. team, which ended up posting a 106-42 won-loss record in his first season with the Eastern League club.

In 1954, Ron came home to play in familiar territory, as he became a member of the Sacramento Solons. But his time playing for his hometown team was short-lived.

In 1955 and 1956, Ron was a player-coach for the Salem Senators of the Northwest League.

Team manager

Ron was selected to manage the Senators on the road, because the team’s owner, who was also the Senators’ home manager, did not like to participate in the road trips.

Ron King shows off his 1997 Major League Baseball West Coast Scout of the Year ring. / Valley Community Newspapers photo, Lance Armstrong

Since it had been one of his dreams to manage a team, Ron said that he was excited to become the team’s road manager.

Since minor league managers at the time were also required to be players, unless they owned the team they were managing, both Ron’s playing and managing career came to an end during a playoff game in 1956, when he severely injured his back.

But true to the well-known line, “When one door closes, another opens,” a new door opened for Ron when he was contacted by Joe L. Brown, general manager of Major League Baseball’s Pittsburgh Pirates.

Talent scout

Ron said that Joe L. Brown, who was the son of the actor and comedian Joe E. Brown, offered him a job as a baseball scout for the Pirates organization.

“(Joe L. Brown) said to me, ‘The streetcar only comes by every so often, so if you want to be a scout, you better get on the streetcar,’” Ron recalled.

Making the decision to jump aboard this figurative streetcar, Ron began his new role in baseball.

Ron said that becoming a scout was one of the best decisions he made during his many years in baseball.

And when asked how well he transitioned into the role of a scout, Ron showed how much of a natural he was for this position when he said, “Well, I don’t know, you just went after the guys who could play and who had the tools. And I knew what I was supposed to look for in a player.”

While working for the Pirates from 1960 to 1974, Ron scouted the following notable players from Sacramento: Bob Oliver, Jim Nelson, Greg “Duke” Sims, Rod Scurry, Rich Standart, among others.

Commenting that different scouts have different methods of scouting players, Ron said that as a scout, he placed great emphasis on a player’s speed.

“Speed was the big thing,” Ron said. “Power became second and then the arm became third, except with the catcher, shortstop and the right fielder.”

During a time when the Pirates wanted Ron to relocate back East, he instead took a scouting job with the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 25, 1974.

Ron King is shown in his Salem Senators uniform in this c. 1955 photograph. The circle drawn around his head indicates that he was selected to play on the team. / Photo courtesy, Ron King

While maintaining his Sacramento home base with the Dodgers until 1987, Ron scouted various players, including Steve Sax, R.J. Reynolds and Rudy Law.

Sax was one of Ron’s biggest recruits, as he was drafted into the Dodgers organization in 1978, won the National League Rookie of the Year award and was a five-time All-Star in 14 seasons.

Following his time with the Dodgers, Ron worked for three years as a national cross checker for the Philadelphia Phillies before taking a job as a national supervisor in his second stint with the Pirates.

Ron, whose best friend in baseball was Pittsburgh Pirates legend Willie Stargell, is also known for scouting many other notable players, including Max Venable, Rich Rodas, Matt Whisenat, Brian Clark, Joel Adams and certainly one of his favorites, the All-Star catcher, Jason Kendall.

One of the proudest moments in Ron’s baseball career, which ended in 2000, came in 1997, when he was named the West Coast Scout of the Year by Major League Baseball.

Now in his retirement years, Ron, who still enjoys watching professional baseball games, as well as serving as president of the Southside Improvement Club and reading mystery books by James Patterson, Michael Connelly and John Sandford, said that he enjoys reminiscing about his many years working in baseball.

“I got to do everything I wanted to do,” Ron said. “Every time I woke up in the morning, I looked up at the sky and said, ‘Thanks.’ When you get to do what you want to do all the time, you’re pretty lucky. So, (being employed in baseball) was a dream come true.”

lance@valcomnews.com