Danielle French reaches for her hole-in-one ball. Photo by golf coach Brian Kofford

Danielle French gets a hole-in-one

By Luke Johnson

By the narrowest of margins the girls’ golf team of Deer Valley High School won the Bay Valley Athletic League Tournament; upsetting favored Heritage and Liberty Monday, Oct. 10. The Wolverines finished with 491 strokes, while their opponents tied with 492.

The most pivotal shot came from Deer Valley senior Danielle French, who drained a hole-in-one on the sixth hole for an eagle.

“It was pretty amazing. I didn’t think it would go in,” French said. “But it did, and it is something I will never forget… All of a sudden (the ball) disappeared and dropped into the hole, and I was speechless.”

In the regular season, Heritage finished first in the BVAL with a record of 9-1; followed by Liberty 8-2 and Deer Valley 7-3. The Patriots’ top two golfers, Kelly Hunt and Danielle Dickerson, finished with the best individual scores (82 for Hunt and 81 for Dickerson). But down the stretch the deciding factor was an overall team effort by Deer Valley. French shot 96, Thea Jorgensen 87, Maia Dupuis 98, Isela Sandoval 105, Michelae Biagas 105 and Sierra Abel 127 to help the Wolverines claim the BVAL Tournament again, since 2012.

“We felt confident coming into the clubhouse with Danielle (Dickerson) and myself with the two lowest scores,” Hunt said. “But golf is a crazy sport, and we ended up losing by a stroke.”

Monday morning Oct. 27 Deer Valley will take part in the North Coast Section Qualifier Tournament at the Lone Tree Golf Course; featuring several other schools totaling approximately 140 golfers. If the Wolverines do well enough, they will advance to the NCS Tournament on Nov. 3.

Angelina Perez and Caitlin Rice watching the Giants vs. the Washington Nationals during Game 4 of the National League Division Series.

By Allen Payton

Antioch businesses are benefiting from the Giants making into the playoffs.

Caitlin Rice and Angelina Perez both 22 from Oakley, watched Game 4 of the National League Division Series at Tailgaters on Tuesday night, October 7.

As to why they decided to watch the game in Antioch, Caitlin said, “This is a newer tailgaters and we’ve never been here, before.”

Bill Lohr, manager of Tailgaters in Antioch, when asked if the playoffs were good for business he said, “Absolutely! I wish they A’s were in the playoffs, too.”

Tailgaters offers sports-related specials.

“We have a victory toast for all of our local, Bay Area professional sports teams,” Lorh said. “When they win, 10 minutes after regulation, it’s half-off prices on all drinks.”

At the improved Schooner’s, with new owner Mike LaCross, business has picked up during the playoff games, as well.

Besides their usual Happy Hour specials, Schooner’s offers a free pool during all Sunday, Monday and Thursday night football games. The winner gets a gift certificate equal to the score in dollars and cents. So if the score is 24-14, the winner gets a gift certificate for $24.14 to use any time at Schooner’s.

Enjoy the rest of the playoffs and go Giants!

An SST-45 capsule boat races on the river in Antioch on Sunday, October 5, 2014 as part of the Delta Thunder V competition.

By Allen Payton

Antioch residents enjoyed watching the Delta Thunder V speed races on the Antioch waterfront on Sunday, October 5, 2014.

Unfortunately, the races couldn’t be held on Saturday, due to too much debris in the water. By that night, the big boats had left. So, the only ones left to race on Sunday afternoon were the SST-45 capsule speed boats.

But, a good turn-out by competitors and spectators helped the event turn out well. The races were held in memory of the late Antioch Councilman Gary Agopian and his widow Robin was on hand to receive a plaque honoring him, Sunday morning.

The event, organized by Frank Lozano of Inland Marine in Antioch, was a benefit for the Rivertown Jamboree non-profit organization working to bring that event back to Antioch’s downtown, next year.

For more information visit www.rivertownjamboree.com.

Jeremy Newberry, Aaron Miles head the class

By Steve Dulas

An All-Pro lineman and a World Series champion are among the 2014 class of inductees into the Antioch Legends Sports Hall of Fame.

Jeremy Newberry, an All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowl selection, and Aaron Miles, who helped the St. Louis Cardinals win the 2006 World Series, lead a group of 14 individuals and one team to be honored as the eighth annual Hall of Fame class.

The induction will be celebrated with a dinner, on Saturday, October 11 at Lone Tree Golf and Events Center. The event begins with social hour at 5 p.m., dinner at 6 and the ceremony at 7. Tickets are $65 each and available from Antioch Sports Legends, P.O. Box 1033, Antioch, CA 94509. For more information, call Eddie Beaudin at 925-383-4979 or Tom Menasco at 925-325-3255.

Newberry, Antioch High, 1995, was All-East Bay and All-Northern California as a senior at Antioch High School after the 1994 season. He went on to be a three-year starter at center at Cal. The 49ers made him a second-round draft pick, and he went onto an 11-year NFL career.

Miles was the East Bay Player of the Year in 1995, batting .520 as he led the Antioch Panthers to a second straight North Coast Section baseball championship. Miles, a three-time All-East Bay selection at second base, played nine seasons in the major leagues. He retired with a .281 career batting average.

The rest of the Class of 2014 includes Manuel Bermudez, baseball; Stacey Johnson, basketball; Christina Conn and Stephen Sanchez, swimming and diving; Mark Butterfield, Mike Lucky and Cal Chaney, football; Dave Kirkpatrick, all-around athlete; Matt Hurd, track and field; John Rebstock, Coach; Brooks Golden, Community Leader; Casey Rhyan, wrestling; and the 1957 Antioch High golf team.

The Sports Legends Hall of Fame celebrates the athletic history of Antioch, from its days as a working town. Its strong allegiance to local sports teams helped produce a rich athletic tradition, nurturing the development of athletes such as Pro Football Hall of Famer Gino Marchetti, NFL All-Pro Duane Putnam, and major league baseball players Gene Rounsaville, Alex Sanchez, Jeff Pico and Miles.

These pro superstars, and 114 other distinguished hometown HOF athletes and eight championship teams, have now been permanently honored in a 2,500 square-foot museum display called the Antioch Sports Legends Hall, presented by the Antioch Historical Society.  Legends Hall formally opened Oct. 27, 2007.  A group of longtime residents and sports boosters has spent nearly nine years working on these dazzling displays, which features valuable memorabilia from the 1920s to the present, wall and video displays honoring current sports pros and the centerpiece of the exhibit, 15 framed placards with the biographies of the Class of 2014. “Sports Legends” inductees will be displayed Oct. 11. Hometown prep standouts from all high school sports and both genders are represented in a variety of different sports, along with coaches and community sports leaders. 

The rest of the class of 2014 includes:

Butterfield (Antioch, 1991) passed for 3,957 yards in three seasons at Antioch, with 28 TDs in his last two seasons, then went on to earn second-team All-Pac-10 at Stanford in 1995. He reached the NFL with the Chicago Bears.

Lucky (Antioch, 1994), an All-State tight end in 1993, caught 53 passes for 1,000 yards and 16 TDs in two years for Antioch and earned a scholarship to Arizona. A two-year starter for the Wildcats, he played four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys.

Chaney (Antioch, 1954), a two-way lineman, was selected Most Valuable Player of Antioch’s 1953 team, and earned All-Metro and All-Northern California honors, and was later named to the Antioch Ledgers’s All-Time Team from 1950-67.

Bermudez (Antioch, 1995), a pitcher, was 11-1 in 1995 with a career record of 39-9, and was a two-time All-East Bay selection. He went on to pitch 11 seasons in the minor leagues.

Johnson (Antioch, 1991) averaged 27 points a game, 11 times scoring 30 points or more, en route to 1991 East  Bay Player of the Year honors. She went on to play for Arizona State and Houston.   Conn (Antioch, 1993) won the 1993 NCS diving championship with a record score of 471.20 which stood for 20 years, and was a three-time High School All-America. Sanchez (Antioch, 1991) was a three-time High School All-America in the 500-yard freestyle and twice in the individual medley. His record time in the 1990 NCS individual medley final stood for seven years.

Kirkpatrick (Antioch, 1958) was first-team all-league in football and basketball, was second-team all-league in baseball, and also competed in the hurdles and the long jump for the track team.

Hurd (Antioch, 1996) still holds the school record for the high jump, 6 feet, 8 inches. Rebstock was a legendary fastpitch softball pitcher who later coached for 22 years at Antioch and Deer Valley, winning one NCS softball title.

Golden served the community for 29 years as a teacher, coach and administrator, was elected to the school board and volunteered in the community. Rhyan (Antioch, 1988) took third in the state and led the team with 20 pins during the Panthers’ run to the 1988 CIF State wrestling championship.

The 1957 Antioch High golf team went undefeated, beating seven-time champion Acalanes in the County Championship tournament.

Debbie Nelson coaches a student in batting.

By Allen Payton

Debbie Nelson is proud to announce the opening of the new All American Sports Academy in Antioch.

Debbie grew up in Antioch and attended Antioch High School where her softball jersey number has been retired in her honor. She was recently inducted into the Antioch Sports Legends Hall of Fame. As a college player, Debbie achieved All Region, All State, and NCAA All-American honors while earning her degree at Sacramento State. She has been coaching for over 26 years at many levels including high school, college and the National Pro Fastpitch League.

In 1997, Debbie opened All American Sports Academy in Tracy, California and is recognized as one of the top year-round indoor training facilities for softball and baseball in Northern California. The academy has produced over 400 All-Star, All-League and All -Conference players.

Now she is bringing her expertise back to her hometown.

Her second location, a positive, professional training facility is staffed with successful, experienced and talented instructors personally, hand-picked by Debbie. They include Alannah Johns, Brandi Macias, Jenni Holtz, Stacy DelChiaro, and Lauren Rodrigues.

“I believe in Antioch and appreciate the support the community provides the youth sports programs,” she said. “I want to be able to give back and team up with other community members to provide a great environment for kids. Plus, reach out to the high schools and enhance the athletes and teams, there.”

The facility offers a variety of training services including competitive travel teams, lessons, cage rentals, coaches clinics, recruiting workshops, motivational seminars, camps and clinics to help you master your game.

All American Sports Academy is located at 1791 Vineyard Drive, off East. 18th Street in Antioch and will be open for operation on September 2. For more information please visit allamericansportsacademy.net.

Owner Marcus Malu, right, shared a few words before cutting the ribbon during the Grand Opening of Malu Fitness in Antioch, August 9.

By Luke Johnson

Nearly a hundred people gathered Saturday, August 9 to celebrate the Grand Opening of Malu Fitness, in Antioch.

A list of local area celebrities and dinitaries were in attendance. Cal-Berkeley’s head football coach Sonny Dykes, professional basketball player Eli Holman and Brentwood Vice Mayor Joel Bryant all made an appearance.

After cutting the big red tape, employees and gym members gave back to the community and served free food to the homeless in downtown Antioch.

“I know how it is to be down on your luck. To be called a loser. To be called a ‘brokey-broke,’” owner Marcus Malu said. “The opportunity and doors that God has opened for me and the people He has put in my circle, why not take advantage of all those things? Why hold on to that hook up when you can have your hook up, hook you up, to hook everybody else up? It’s not, ‘scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.’ I’m scratching your back because I know your back itches.”

Malu has been a personal trainer for five years, and has produced top tier talent. He worked with former Freedom High School running back Joe Mixon, who received over 50 Division I scholarship offers. Current athletes under Malu, Freedom High senior Dominic Fredrickson, Antioch High sophomore Najee Harris and Heritage High senior Sam Hinn combine for well over a dozen offers.

Malu is not just Marcus’ last name, it’s also an acronym which stands for “Making Athletes Live Unique,” which is their slogan. One thing that makes Marcus unique is that he trains kids, whose parents cannot afford it, for free.

“I grew up with nothing, but at the same time with the very little that we had, my parents taught me to always share,” Malu said. “If somebody ain’t got it, reach out and help them. It’s always been that way.” Malu Fitness is located at 8 Walter Way, off A Street. To learn more, call (925) 305-6249 or visit www.Facebook.com/malunique.

Family‐Friendly Gym Aims to Become a Positive Presence in the Community

Double Trouble Boxing (DTB), an Antioch-based boxing gym welcoming members of all fitness levels, will hold its official grand opening event on Saturday, May 10, 2014 at 1908 A Street in Antioch, CA beginning at Noon. The free, family‐friendly affair will offer food and giveaways from local sponsors such as Celia’s, Costco, Juarez and Subway; a bounce house and other treats for kids; and a waived enrollment fee for new members who sign up during the event.

“We are thrilled to be hosting our supporters and the community at our grand opening on May 10,” said Michael Alexander, co‐owner of DTB. “Sharing our love of the sport of boxing as well as helping people achieve their health and fitness goals are passions of ours, and the event is our opportunity to showcase these passions as well as our first‐class facility and staff members.”

Boasting a custom‐built boxing ring and state‐of‐the‐art sound system, the 2,119 sq. ft. gym also features a wide variety of weight training and cardiovascular equipment, including free weights, treadmills, elliptical trainers and stationary bicycles. Classes offered at DTB were designed with athletes of all skill sets in mind, ranging from cardio and technical boxing to cycling and kids’ boxing. Personal training with DTB’s certified fitness instructors is also available.

DTB is located in the heart of downtown Antioch’s business district, a move which Daniel Castillo, co‐owner of DTB, says was strategic. “A large part of the reason we chose downtown Antioch for our gym was that we have deep ties to the community,” said Castillo. “Both Mike and I attended school in Antioch, so the city will always feel like home to us. In addition to helping revitalize the area’s economy, we wanted to provide the city’s youth a place where they could come and participate in a positive after‐school activity,” he said, referencing the large number of elementary and high school‐aged children that are members of the gym.

Despite its relative newness, DTB and its staff members are already an active presence in the Antioch and East Contra Costa County communities. The gym recently sponsored and hosted special training classes for young, African American males in conjunction with a local mentoring and advocacy program, and DTB’s staff members participated in a volunteer cleanup day for the City of Antioch. Additionally, both Alexander and Castillo are frequent attendees and presenters before the Antioch City Council. The DTB owners say that they look forward to seeking out, participating in and supporting other community‐oriented initiatives in the future.

About Michael Alexander:

Michael Alexander is the co‐founder and co‐owner of DTB and also serves as a trainer and instructor at the gym. An Antioch native, Alexander became a professional boxer in 2007 after serving in, and boxing for, the United States Marine Corps for four years. He received his degree in kinesiology with a concentration in human performance analysis from San Francisco State University.

About Daniel Castillo:

DTB co‐founder and co‐owner Daniel Castillo is also a trainer and instructor for the facility. He graduated from Pittsburg High School in 1999 and became a professional boxer in 2006 after several years of Golden Gloves fights under his belt as well as professional appearances on HBO, Showtime and Spike TV networks. Castillo is a professional sparring partner to many of the fighting industry’s elite athletes, including UFC stars Nick and Nate Diaz.

For more information about DTB, visit the gym’s website at ww.antiochdtb.com.