Ezpinoza takes second in Sacramento racquetball tourney
Gilroy’s Ricardo Espinoza, a co-owner of Planet Fitness, placed second in the Men’s B singles at the Greater Sacramento Open racquetball tournament last Sunday.
Espinoza, 35, was participating in his very first racquetball tourney and was unseeded. Nevertheless, he made it all the way to the final match, losing 2-1 to California’s No. 2-ranked racquetball player Jeff Parker.
In the best-of-three, single-elimination format, Parker took the first game in the final, 15-12. Espinoza came back with a 15-5 win in the second. The Gilroy native went up 5-0 on Parker in the tiebreaker, but the ranked player came back to take the game and match, 11-9.
“It was a blast,” said Espinoza, who plans to play in more tournaments in the coming year, starting with the upcoming Super Bowl Open in Stockton from Jan. 28 to 30.
“It’s addicting,” he said of his first foray into tournament play. “I was unseeded (in the three-day tournament), so I had to play on Friday, I had to play five matches to get to the final. But for the next one, I should get a state ranking and be seeded.”
Espinoza was one of 22 players in the B section at the tournament, which played host to 221 players overall. He said many of the players he faced were shocked to learn he had no tournament experience.
“They thought I was a ranked player, and when I told them it was my first tournament, they were like, “No way,'” he said with a laugh.
Triathlon development program
Hammerhead Triathlon is taking applications for membership in its 2005 youth development program and racing team. Hammerhead is a junior elite/U23 developmental team coached by USA Triathlon Talent Scouts. Hammerhead athletes range from 10 to 23 years of age and are encouraged to maintain impressive academic careers while they become the healthy champions of tomorrow in a motivational and supportive atmosphere. There will be two information meetings for the 2005 program and team. Both a parent and the athlete must attend at least one of the meetings to be eligible for the team (no exceptions).
When and where: Jan. 28 from 7 to 8pm or Feb. 18 from 7 to 8pm, at the Gavilan Community Education office (next to tennis courts at Gavilan College).
What to bring if joining the team: 1. Hammerhead Triathlon Questionnaire; 2. Hammerhead Triathlon Release; 3. Emergency Care Permission Form; 4. USA Triathlon Membership; 5. Hammerhead Triathlon Contract
The team will begin training in early March. Our coaches will offer 2 track workouts per month (one in Gilroy and one in Morgan Hill) and two or more bike rides (mountain or road bike) per month (weather permitting). Â
Some obligations for team members include: Keeping grades at or above a C or 2.3 grade point average; racing six or more designated races throughout the year (March 1-Nov.31); volunteering for 20 hours or more of service within the Hammerhead Community (Camp Hammerhead or the Hammerhead Triathlon).
To download the appropriate application forms, visit www.bodyandmindsolutions.com/hammerheaddevelopment.html. Fill them out and return them to in**@******************ns.com.
Little League tryouts
Over 900 kids participated in Gilroy Little League last season and now the program is holding tryouts for this years boys’ baseball and girls’ softball leagues at Las Animas Park on Saturday, Jan. 15 and Saturday, Jan. 22.
Tryout times by age are:
Boys, 13-15 – 8am; Boys/Girls, 11-12 – 9am; Boys/Girls, 9-10 – 10am; Boys, 8/Girls, 7-8 – 11am; Boys, 6-7 – Noon. No tryouts necessary for T-ball players.
Birth certificates are required for registering new players. Fees: T-ball – $75; Boys Seniors (13-15) – $105; others – $95. Opening day is March 19.
Visit www.gilroylittleleague.org for more information, including tryout rescheduling in event of rain.
Spirit girls’ softball registration
The Spirit of Morgan Hill girls’ softball league is accepting player registrations for girls ages 5 to 18 and coach/manager applications for the upcoming 2005 season. Player registration forms are available on line at www.eteamz.active.com\spiritofmorganhill or at Friendly Fred’s. Walk-up registration is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 15 from 9am to 2pm at Friendly Fred’s in Tennant Station (by the new Safeway) in Morgan Hill. Player evaluation for girls 11 and older and uniform sizing for all girls are scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 22.
For more information, please call 683-2066 and leave a message.
Softball tryouts
G.P.A. & Sports is holding tryouts for 12U “A” Girls Fastpitch for their upcoming softball season. Tryouts are scheduled for Jan. 23 and 30 at Gavilan College. 11:00 am to 12:30 pm Pitchers and catchers go from 11am to 12:30pm, while all other try out from 1-3. For more information, contact “Coach Pops” Gene Carlisle at (408) 859-1301.
