Rain postpones field hockey final

By Dick Sparrer

There was no championship celebration after last Saturday morning's Central Coast Section title match between Los Gatos and Prospect. But the reason was simple... there was no match.

Wet, sloppy conditions caused the postponement of the championship match that was to be played on Monday, weather permitting.

So the Wildcats and Panthers would have to be a little patient before determining a CCS field hockey champ. But after a couple of hard-earned wins earlier in the week, the two teams could no doubt use the extra time to relax.

Both the Cats and Panthers pulled out 1-0 wins in the CCS semifinals earlier in the week, and both teams had to score second-half goals to break scoreless ties.

Los Gatos snapped a 0-0 draw when Anita Reyes knocked in a goal in the second half that led the Wildcats to a 1-0 win over Mitty.

Reyes, the leading scorer for the Cats this season with 16 goals and 14 assists, scored the game-winner with 13 minutes left to play.

Passes from Heather Kottmeier and Nikki Anderson set up the talented senior for the game-winning goal.

The win pushed the Wildcats, led by talented veteran coach Henry Reyes, into the CCS championship match. The Cats take an 11-1-2 record into the finals.

The only blemish on that otherwise solid record is an early season loss to Prospect. And the Panthers, directed by head coach Jean Campbell, hope to snatch another win from the Wildcats in the finals.

Prospect earned its place in the championship match with a tough 1-0 victory over St. Francis last week.

Cameron Katos tapped a pass from Amber Madsen home for the only goal Prospect needed to clinch the win over the Lancers.

Goalkeeper JoNina Cross made sure that the goal stood up for the Prospect win by making seven saves in the net for the Panthers.

The Panthers, who were 12-1-4 as they moved into the CCS finals against the Wildcats on Monday, opened CCS with a 3-0 win over Monta Vista.

Los Gatos won its CCS opener in a cliffhanger, tying Willow Glen 2-2 before winning 3-2 on penalty strokes.

Cats fall in finals

Alyson Coler pounded down 26 kills to lead the Los Gatos girls volleyball team to an impressive win over Palo Alto and a berth in the Northern California tournament.

But the Cats lost to Los Altos a match later in the CCS Division III finals.

Gatos was up two games to one in the match, but lost the last two games to the Eagles to drop the title.

The Wildcats, 25-9 for the year, will be on the road to open the NorCal playoffs this week. The Cats play their first game on Nov. 23 with their sights set on a possible rematch with the Eagles in the NorCal finals.

Gatos pounded Paly in the CCS semifinals. Coler, a senior outside hitter, led the Cats to a 15-6, 15-6, 11-15, 15-4 win over the Vikings that pushed Gatos into the CCS finals and earned the Wildcats a place in NorCal.

Los Gatos beat Los Altos 15-3, 7-15, 15-12 to take a 2-1 advantage in the CCS championship match, but the Eagles fought back to win the final two games 15-13, 15-7 to claim the section title.


Gatos had opened the CCS playoffs with an easy 15-3, 15-1, 15-5 win over Burlingame, then beat Sacred Heart Cathedral 15-7, 15-1, 15-12 to advance to the semi round against Palo Alto.

Coler, Erin Lewis and twins Kelly and Lauren Rinehart are key players for the Wildcats.

Polo team loses

The Los Gatos boys water polo team dropped a 10-4 decision to Menlo in the CCS Division I quarter finals.

Goals by Marc Walleen, Philip Roan, Paul Perry and Todd Dixon weren't enough to spark the Wildcats to a victory.

Cats run at state

The Los Gatos boys and girls cross country teams will each be running at the state high school championships at Woodward Park in Fresno on Nov. 27.

The Wildcats, who were featured on KICU-Channel 36's High School Sports Focus television show last Friday night, were Central Coast Section champions in both divisions back on Nov. 13 at Crystal Springs in Belmont.

The Gatos boys coasted to the CCS Division III championship with 26 points, while St. Francis was a distant second at 84.

Russ Martin, Tomas Viramontes, Jeff Hoeft, Zach Regner and Matt Bates each finished in the top 10 at CCS and together will chase a state title this weekend. Greg Tolan and Darren Key are other top Cats.

The Los Gatos girls, meanwhile, outran Watsonville to the CCS Division I championship at CCS. The Cats ran up a low 61 points to 93 for Watsonville.

Sophomore Michelle Beritzhoff was seventh in CCS, with freshman Merin Clark ninth and frosh Carolyn Penner 11th for the Wildcats.

Kate Leary, Theresa Rehder and Lynsey Harris are other top Gatos runners who will help lead the effort as the Cats go after a state crown this Saturday.

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