Kapri Geenaert and family at the Warriors game, Thursday night, April 9, 2015. From L – Shawn, Kailey, Kenadie and Kapri Geenaert with family member Aiden. photo by F.D. Purcell

Attends game during NBA’s Hoops for St. Jude Week

By F.D.Purcell

Many fans show up to Golden State Warriors‘ games early, in hopes of shaking hands or getting a photo op with their favorite player and this past Thursday was no different. Except this time the roles were reversed; Warriors players shook hands and took photos with someone sitting courtside near their bench.

Kapri and family meet the Warriors’ Stephen Curry and St. Jude NBA Ambassador David Lee. Photo by F.D. Purcell

That person would be six year-old Santa Rosa resident Kapri Geernaert. Chosen to attend Thursday’s game, as a part of the NBA’s Hoops for St. Jude Week, April 3rdthrough 9th, Geernaert met with Warriors players and St. Jude Children‘s Hospital Ambassador David Lee, who visited St. Jude last month in Memphis and donated $75,000 to help support their lifesaving work.

Geernaert is one of 250 to 500 children in the U.S. daignosed yearly with a cancerous tumor called Medulloblastoma, which accounts for 20% of all childhood brain tumors in our country.

Last June, after months of battling flu-like symptoms Kapri’s illness would come to a head. While riding in the car with her mother, Becki she suffered a seizure and the Geernaerts would receive the news that no parent should ever have to hear, their five year-old daughter had a brain tumor.

“The past year has been crazy, a lot of anxiety,” said her father Shawn. Doctors would eventually find multiple tumors peppered throughout her spine and brain areas, one the size of a walnut on her brain that was removed. The others were smaller and did not require removal.

Sitting with her big sisters, 11 year-old Kenadie and nine year-old Kailey and 11 year-old cousin Aiden, the Geernaert girls describe their little sister as “funny” and “cute,” who “likes to do crazy things.” They kept Kapri’s spirit happy by giving her candy, when they visited.

While their mom stayed with Kapri in Memphis her sisters helped their dad out, by helping with laundry and dishes, at their home in Santa Rosa.

“We love St. Jude, it’s a home away from home,” said Becki who was not in attendance Thursday but face-timed with Shawn, becoming emotional when she saw Kapri’s interaction with the players.

Donning a Warriors cap and personalized jersey with her name on the back the soft-spoken first grader told Sports in the Bay she enjoys doing crafts and her favorite player was “#30,” because she “likes the way he shoots.” For those of you living under a rock this season that would be two-time all-star and MVP candidate Stephen Curry.

The Geernaerts credit their faith and church, Spring Hills Church in Santa Rosa, for providing a wealth of support over the past nine months, along with a host of family and friends who held fund raising events and offered words of prayer and encouragement.

After seven rounds of chemotherapy, five weeks of radiation and a nine-month residence in Memphis, Kapri returned home a few weeks ago and is adjusting well. She enjoys visiting her classmates daily and is excited about returning to school in the fall.

“I would encourage people to give $5 or $10, anything to St. Jude because it‘s going to a great cause,” said Becki whose husband was a long-time contributor to St. Jude before Kapri’s diagnosis.

Learn more about Kapri on her Facebook page: Kapri Geernaert.

Follow F.D. Purcell on Twitter: @sportsinthebay_ or on Facebook at: Sports in the Bay

Antioch High pitcher Ayanna Sanchez winds up on her way to a perfect game. Photo by Michael Pohl

By Luke Johnson

Ayanna Sanchez, a freshman on Antioch High School’s varsity softball team, pitched the second perfect game in school history Thursday, March 19, in a 10-0 victory against Dublin. The other perfect game occurrence at Antioch was in 2001 from Melissa Baugh according to coach Nick Wisely.

Sanchez, who has been playing softball since she was 5 years old, is no stranger to throwing perfect games. She has done so on two separate occasions, both coming last year on her travel ball team.

“My defense had my back the entire game,” Sanchez said. “Without them, I would not have been able to throw a perfect game… I am proud to be playing for Antioch!”

Two plays that really set the tone of the game defensively came from senior Ciara Whitesell in centerfield. She made two over the shoulder catches in the right centerfield gap running in full stride. Sanchez struck out five batters in the contest, and after the Panthers went up 10-0 in the bottom of the fifth in the game was called due to mercy rule.

Throughout the season, Sanchez has an ERA of 2.90 and has 41 strikeouts in 41 innings pitched. She is not only lethal on the mound, but also has a strong skillset offensively. She is batting .414, third best on the team behind senior shortstop Natalie Larsen (.474) and junior third baseman Julia Odom (.455), and has scored the most runs on the team with 10 through eight games.

Something unique about Sanchez is that she is not even a student Antioch High School. She attends Dozier-Libbey Medical High School, which has not been known for producing great athletes since its establishment in 2008.

The Panthers have been a little shaky as a team this season. They blew out Kennedy (Richmond), 32-0, in the season opener, but after that they lost three straight, getting shutout in the latter two. Now the team is red hot and currently possesses a four-game winning streak. In the past three games they have outscored their opponents 40-4. At 5-3 overall, the Panthers have the second best record in the Bay Valley Athletic League and will begin league play on April 14.  

“Heritage is the team to beat for sure,” Wisely said in regards to contending for BVAL Championship, “But after that I think it is wide open… Every team is a possible playoff team, and anybody can beat anybody any given day. If we play the right ball, we can win day in and day out.”

Head coach Alvin Attles, Clifford Ray, Jeff Mullins, Charles Johnson, Rick Barry, George Johnson, Jamaal Wilkes, Butch Beard and Assistant Coach Joe Roberts pose with their 1974-75 championship trophy.  Photo by Z’ma Wyatt

By F.D. Purcell

The banners that hang high in the raptors of Oracle Arena for the players, teams and coach who’ve made contributions during their Philadelphia years and since their relocation to the Bay Area in 1962.

May 25th will mark 40-years since Golden State won their last NBA Championship. Comprised of a deep bench and players led by Hall of Famers such as Rick Barry and Jamaal Wilkes the Warriors finished with a 48-34 record finishing 1st in the Pacific Division.

“It was a fantasy year, said Barry the MVP of Game 4, we never quit and we never gave up. We were the deepest team in the NBA, a Cinderella team.”

He’s correct, the Warriors weren’t the favorite to win and certainly weren’t expected to sweep the then Washington Bullets in Washington especially after Bullets forward Mike Riordan attempted to get into the head of star player Rick Barry in the final game but instead it would be head coach Alvin Attles who would be ejected in the first quarter for standing up for Barry. Golden State scrapped their way to a 96-95 victory, their first and last championship since that date.

Fast-forward 40-years later, a little more gray and some no longer with us a handful of those team members graced Oracle Arena with their presence and it was as though they hadn’t missed a beat. Butch Beard, George Johnson, Rick Barry, Clifford Ray, Jeff Mullins, assistant coach Joe Roberts, Jamaal Wilkes and head coach Alvin Attles were some of those present on Monday.

There were lots of laughs and Barry was in his usual dominate form taking over questions and choosing the longer route when answering questions and everyone else’s; however, he also gave much deserved credit when it came to his former teammates and coaches.

The press room was packed as new media blended with old, times when you couldn’t live tweet and watched the game on tape delay. Those in attendance sat on the edge of their seats marinating on every word from the championship team and each vivid detail from flying coach and the sometimes disgusting habits of teammates and legendary announcer Bill King. It was refreshing to hear raw honesty minus the direction of a spin doctor.

“I’m appreciative to the Warriors for bringing us all together. I’m excited to see everyone including the late Phil Smith’s kids,” said 1975 Rookie of the Year Jamaal Wilkes, then known as ‘Keith.’ “It’s very moving and touching.”

A heartfelt ceremony was held before the second quarter honoring the championship team and the sellout crowd of 15,595 gave a rousing standing ovation as former center Clifford Ray, known on the court as a menacing figure, fought back tears.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr chose not to discuss any plays during the timeout instead opting to allow his team to soak in the ceremony. Afterwards Kerr said how special it was to have the championship team speak with his guys after their 107-76 victory over the Wizards.

“It’s just good encouragement for the mission that we’re on this year. I think there is something special about it being their 40th anniversary of winning the championship,” said center Marreese Speights, who finished the game with 16 points. “Having them all here gives us a visual of where we want to be. I think it’s a good motivation for the last part of this regular season and then once we get to the playoffs.”

Golden State will return for one game on Thursday, April 2nd versus the Phoenix Suns after their four-game road trip. They will head on the road again for a three-game road trip that includes Dallas, San Antonio and New Orleans.

They will host their final four games at home: Portland, Minnesota, Memphis and finish their regular season versus the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, April 15th.

By Rick Hilton, Administrative VP, Delta Baseball & Softball League

Local youth sports organization, The Delta Baseball & Softball League (DBSL), announced recently, its donation of over $3,150 to East Contra Costa County schools.  The donations will be made through a special DBSL program called, “Delta Goes to Bat for Schools” and this isn’t the first time this youth sports league has donated money to local schools.

Starting in 2012, the program has provided much-needed donations that give schools and their PTAs/PTOs additional resources.  With the latest announcement, Delta Goes to Bat for Schools reached a significant milestone – over $10,000 in donations to local schools.

The Delta Goes to Bat for Schools program began at a late night board meeting in the Spring of 2012.  Due to an unanticipated influx of new sponsorship dollars and an enrollment 5% higher than budgeted for, DBSL found itself with a slight budget surplus.

Several alternatives were batted around, but the league eventually settled on their local schools as the place where a few hundred dollars might have the greatest impact, both practically and symbolically for the kids in the league.  

From this initial budget overage, they developed the Delta Goes to Bat for Schools program, making it a part of the league’s priorities.  Now a percentage of the fees families pay to play in the Delta Baseball & Softball League are donated back to the school that the players attend, bringing tangible benefits to students beyond the DBSL.  Board member David Chuey explains the nexus between youth sports and schools, “sports in general and team sports specifically teach kids things like communication, teamwork, good sportsmanship, and responsibility – all qualities that aid in their overall physical and educational development”.  

The success of the program has inspired DBSL to go beyond donations.  In addition to over $10,000 in direct cash contributions, DBSL partners with local schools to assist with carnivals and fairs, field day activities, and a wide variety of fundraising events, all focused on increasing the opportunities for local students to grow and develop their mind and bodies through better access to athletic programs. 

This year’s donation of $3,150 will go to public, charter, and private schools in Antioch, Brentwood, Discovery Bay, Knightsen, Oakley, and Pittsburg.  Representatives from five schools – Sutter Elementary, John Mir Elementary, Lone Tree Elementary, Orchard Park K-8 School, and Holy Rosary Catholic School – have been invited to the league’s Opening Day at Freedom High School on March 21, 2015 as honored guests.  The league will present checks to each of the represented schools as a part of their opening day ceremony.

Matthew Wright, the League President in the inaugural year of Delta Goes to Bat stated “As an idea that was kind of stumbled upon towards the end of a long night of league meetings, Delta Goes to Bat ended up being one of the best things we did as a board of directors that year.  It’s great to see that the leadership of the Delta Baseball & Softball League continues to make it a priority to support our local schools through this program.”

League President Mark Foley does indeed continue the commitment started by 2012 Board of Directors.  “The Delta Goes to Bat program has become fundamental to DBSL and is high on my list of priorities for the league,” Foley said.  “This program, along with our C.H.A.M.P. Buddies Program, exemplifies the spirit of community service and involvement we hope as a league to instill in our young players.”

The Delta Baseball and Softball League, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, was founded in 1984 as the Delta Peanut League by a group of like-minded parents seeking an alternative to the high pressure, high intensity youth sports leagues available at the time.  Starting with 6-8 year old players the league has grown to include children from age 4 to 13, and today continues the non-competitive legacy and vision of the league founders, and competitive divisions playing under the banner of Cal Ripken Baseball and Babe Ruth Softball.  In 2007, the league added a division for differently-abled children, the C.H.A.M.P. division (formerly FREEDOM division) where physically or mentally challenged children learn and play baseball free of charge alongside all of the other children in the league.

To learn more about the Delta Baseball & Softball League please visit www.deltabaseballleague.com or www.facebook.com/DeltaBaseballandSoftballLeague.

What: 6 week golf league at Lone Tree Golf Course

When: Your choice of afternoon each week (ie. Monday Teachers’ League); Start generally between 4 – 5:30 PM

Cost: $120 up front per person

Includes: 9 holes of golf with cart, prize fund, after play simple appetizer

Other: Lone Tree staff will organize different format of play each week to keep fun & interesting. All levels of players welcome. Closest to the pin each week also.

·League can be customized. Number of weeks, start times, skip week if need.

·Lone Tree can create online sign up to make easy!

·Start can be consecutive tee times or Shotgun start.

·Various week nights available.

· # of total weeks 5 min, 16 max ($20 per week per person)

·Min # of players 12; Maximum: 68

·Just grab some friends and Lone Tree Golf staff will help you coordinate it.

Damani Jackson-Wright drives down the court. By Michael Pohl.

By Luke Johnson

Not many 17-year-olds can say they inspire nearly everyone they encounter. But that is the case for Antioch High School senior Damani Jackson-Wright.

“Damani is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting, and without his presence at practice, the intensity we have now wouldn’t be the same!” Antioch shooting guard Victor Anguiano exclaimed. “He doesn’t affect every single kid directly, but he motivates others, especially me.”

What makes him a unique athlete for varsity basketball and track is that Jackson-Wright has an extremely rare birth defect called Meromelia, leaving him without a left hand and forearm.

When basketball coach Andrew Riva met Jackson-Wright, he was skeptical initially, but that changed quickly.

“I thought to myself, ‘How is this gonna work?’” Riva said. “But it took all of about five minutes for me to realize it was going to work.”

Jackson-Wright played just about every sport growing up, and has always been a huge video gamer He uses the end of his left arm, which he refers to as “the nub,” to stir the analog stick, and will use his left knee to tap the left trigger button on the back of the controller.

But it was not all fun and games for Jackson-Wright as he matured, because other kids would sometimes pick on him for his disability.

“Growing up he always got made fun of,” his cousin Cameron Schmidt said, who is a senior on Deer Valley High’s basketball team. “I felt like it was my responsibility and the rest of the families’ responsibility to stick up for him. But now, he has learned to stick up for himself. He shrugs it off and is really strong about it now, but growing up it was kind of hard.”

Jackson-Wright’s has been on the varsity basketball team for two seasons, and has been competing in varsity track since his freshman year. Schmidt, along with teammates and coaches, added that Jackson-Wright made these teams from strictly merit and not out of pity.

His role on the team is not one with a lot of playing time, but still serves significant value and requires leadership. When given the opportunity, the 5-foot-6 guard has proven why he deserves to be on the hardwood by draining multiple contested three-pointers.

He also had an assist that was featured on Cal-Hi Sports’ Top Plays of the Week last month.

“Without him, we wouldn’t have the record we have now, that’s for sure,” Anguiano said about the Panthers who are playoff bound for the first time in four years.