Brentwood Press - Index

Brentwood Press - BrentwoodPress_08.22.08 - Index

4B | brentwoodpress.com sports august 22, 2008
New BVAL marks new era for East County sports
The newly reformed Bay Valley Athletic
League, which now includes only the six East
From the
Press Box
Avi
Burk
Approved Repair Facility For All Major Insurance Companies
Direct Repair Network
4515 O’Hara Avenue
Brentwood
634-2211
Mon - Fri: 7:30-5:30
County High Schools
(Liberty, Heritage,
Antioch, Deer Valley,
Pittsburg and Freedom)
officially kicked off its
first season on Monday
afternoon, when teams
took to the field, court,
track and pool for their
first day of fall practice.
The restructuring
of the BVAL, which no
longer features Clayton
Valley, Ygnacio Valley and perennial athletic
Serving East County for Over 32 Years
Pest Control
For Three Generations
$ 60 00
Per Service
On an every other month Program
ALL WORK GUARANTEED
State licensed & Bonded
925 513 0505
www.burgepest.com
$ 20 00 OFF
powerhouses Carondelet and De La Salle,
will provide several exciting benefits to East
County’s student athletes, most notably the
chance to play more games against historic rivals,
as well as the chance to forge new rivalries
through frequent, heated competition.
“The great thing about it is that the
traditional rivalries are still there, like us and
Pittsburg and Deer Valley, and Liberty and
Heritage in Brentwood,” said new Antioch
athletic director Will Whitney, who is also
the head girls varsity soccer coach. “Those
traditional rivalries are alive and well and at
the same time we have room for other local
schools to form new rivalries of their own
moving forward.”
• Highest Quality,
Affordable Rates
• Foreign & Domestic
Repairs
• Laser Accuracy
Unibody Repairs
• Rental Cars &
Towing Available
FREE ESTIMATES • COURTESY SHUTTLE SERVICE
Voted Best
6 Years in a Row
On a Single Service
Not valid with any other o� er or coupon.
Another benefit of the newly reformed
league is shorter bus rides to and from games,
which means that student athletes will be
forced to miss fewer classes and ought to have
an easier time keeping up with their studies
over the course of a season.
Perhaps most importantly, the move will
also provide student athletes at the six remaining
BVAL schools the opportunity to compete
for league titles on a more level playing field,
although it will likely hinder their ability to
earn at-large berths when the North Coast
Section playoffs roll around.
“I think it’s a tremendous positive for
East County,” said Freedom athletic director
and boys and girls head tennis coach Steve
1510 Neroly Road
Oakley, CA 94561
(925) 420-4575
www.diamondhillssc.com
Amaro. “The ability to play for a league
championship against schools that are more
equitable is really exciting not only for the
athletes, but for the coaches and the parents as
well. It makes everything wide open in terms
of championships.”
The one wildcard to the reshuffling of
the league is the new triple-round-robin league
schedule, which is unlike anything Heritage
athletic director Pat Cruickshank has seen.
In the nine-team BVAL of years past,
teams faced each of their league opponents
twice over the course of a season (and once in
football). But this year, each school will face
see Press Box page 5B
Experience the next generation of Sports Clubs
Diamond Hills Sports Club and Spa –
Contra Costa’s newest and most anticipated
sports club will be here before you know it!
So join today and save.
Receive an offi cial 2008
Beijing Summer Olympics
T-shirt upon joining while
supplies last!
Held Over!
Phase II Membership Pricing
Only $75 Initiation Fee!
Hurry! Offer extended thru August 31, 2008