Hometown Report: Elk Grove football rivals will meet on ESPN2

July 19 2011 by Taylah Cosgrove in Education Sport Tips |No Comments

Around the region in a forward-lean, four minutes or less

ESPN2 will carry the Pleasant Grove-Monterey Trail high school football opener Aug. 27 without the hype and hysteria of a kickoff showdown a year ago. And, we can only hope, without the bitter aftertaste.

The pregame chaos taxed and infuriated players, coaches, administrators and more in the 2010 Folsom-Grant opener when the Worldwide Leader in Sports barged into town, set up shop on the Folsom campus for two days, dictated which water jugs could be used on the sideline and how much access the local media would be fortunate to enjoy.

Understanding this, Pleasant Grove coach Joe Cattolico initially declined ESPN’s offer. The network persisted, given the intrigue of the program and the school’s national No. 8 preseason ranking. ESPN agreed with Cattolico that students not be pulled out of class for taped interviews, nor would there be any staged crack-of-dawn pep rallies (see last season’s Folsom-Grant buildup). Still, ESPN had the game moved from a Friday to a Saturday to fit its schedule.

Cattolico and Monterey Trail coach T.J. Ewing said they could not comment publicly about logistics, per ESPN’s contractual agreement. ESPN has no comment until it releases a statement announcing its season lineup.

Folsom plays at Grant on Aug. 27, on Comcast, the same night as the ESPN game. ESPN likely takes a regional ratings hit here.

Farewell, old friend

Frank Negri is never somber, but he was Monday morning. The longtime high school football coach for Foothill (and now Natomas) reported that his assistant coach Frank Damico had died after a year-long battle with brain cancer. He was 70. Negri lost his best friend, top assistant and comedic equal.

“It’s the first time in 35 years he won’t be with me in some way,” Negri said. “We just lost the ultimate guy and ultimate assistant coach.”

Baxter moves on

It’s not official until Aug. 1 when a contract is signed, but Bill Baxter announced in an email to scores of regional coaches and friends that he has stepped down as the El Camino girls basketball coach to accept an assistant coaching post with the Sacramento State women’s program. Tireless and driven, Baxter steered El Camino to 600 wins. His charm and name could greatly influence local recruits.

Matt Myers of El Camino, as smooth as a coach as he was a pitcher, was named head baseball coach at Western Kentucky University. He was an assistant with the program the previous four seasons.

Howell’s heat

J.P. Howell of Jesuit and the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday uncorked an 87 mph fastball to strike out Boston’s David Ortz in a 9-6 Rays win. Howell later told reporters it was the fastest he has hit on the radar gun since 2006, evidence his surgically repaired left shoulder is fit.

Howell tossed the most impressive prep outing I can recall, striking out 19 in a seven-inning 2001 playoff win over Del Campo.

Hornet a preseason star

Sac State defensive end Zack Nash has been named the preseason Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year. The senior led the Big Sky with 13 sacks last season.

Morales to Antelope

Mike Morales stepped down as the Florin football coach after six seasons. He will teach math and coach linebackers at Antelope High, where his oldest daughter attends school.

I remember Morales taping ankles, handing out sandwiches and offering hugs and stern criticism as part of a routine day at Florin, where the challenges were many, and the rewards appreciated.

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