Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 189

March 16, 2025

March Madness: Here’s the bracket for the women’s NCAA Tournament

Women’s basketball has not slowed down at all this season as March Madness arrives.

A year ago, the women’s NCAA championship game drew a bigger television audience than the men’s title game for the first time, with an average of 18.9 million viewers watching undefeated South Carolina beat Iowa and superstar Caitlin Clark. The question was whether some fans would step away as Clark, Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso and other standouts headed to the WNBA.

Instead, the women’s game has featured a compelling bunch of stars all over again, from Paige Bueckers at UConn to JuJu Watkins at USC, Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame and Madison Booker of Texas.

The season has been must-watch viewing for another reason, too: Parity. So far, four teams have held the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25, tying the mark for the most ever. That makes the tournament winner anyone’s guess after some terrific league title games shoved some teams onto the bubble.

Here’s the bracket for the women’s NCAA tournament:

How can I watch the tournament?

Every game of the women’s tournament will be aired — here is a schedule that will be updated with matchups — on ESPN’s networks and streaming services with select games on ABC.

Who are the favorites?

The top four betting favorites as the tournament approaches are (in order): defending champion South Carolina, UConn and crosstown rivals USC and UCLA, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

There are 31 automatic bids that go to conference champions and they are combined with 37 at-large picks by the NCAA selection committee. Bracket matchups are unveiled on Selection Sunday, March 16

When are the games?

The First Four matchups (March 19-20) and first- and second-round games (March 21-24) are on campus, with sites announced March 16.

Sweet 16 weekend (March 28-31) will see games in two sites once again: Birmingham, Alabama, and Spokane, Washington.

The Final Four is in Tampa, Florida, on Friday, April 4, with the championship game on Sunday, April 6.

Contributing: Associated Press

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Published on March 16, 2025 04:00

Horoscopes March 16, 2025: Lauren Graham, communication is power this year

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Joel Embiid, 31; Judah Friedlander, 56; Lauren Graham, 58; Victor Garber, 76.

Happy Birthday: Communication is power this year. Speak up, share your thoughts and fight for your rights. A passionate presence will capture attention and encourage transformation that changes how and where you live. Stick to the truth, and be the one to make a difference. Refuse to let anger set in when intelligence will help you get concrete results. Step into the spotlight and show your leadership potential. Your numbers are 4, 15, 19, 27, 32, 38, 43.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Rely on the truth. Refuse to let anger, emotions and ego set in before you can verify the facts. Control, patience and thinking matters through before responding are in your best interest. Plan and execute your thoughts with precision, clarity and the intent to positively impact whatever situation you face and those involved. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Set your sights on your responsibilities, and get your domestic affairs in order. Stewing about what isn’t working for you can only be resolved with positive change. Liberate yourself by putting in the time and effort and reaping the rewards. Discipline and hard work will offer peace of mind and functionality. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Watch your step, pace yourself, choose your words wisely and stick to the facts. Someone will correct you if you exaggerate or fall short of your promises. Work quietly, hone your skills and make your way forward, and progress will be yours. Love who you are, and think and do for yourself. 5 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You can make anything happen if you put your mind to it today. Refuse to let negativity talk you out of going the distance. Stand tall, put a plan in place and make your journey count. Embrace change and positively impact something that concerns you, and happiness will be yours. 2 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Assess your situation, qualifications and what matters to you most, and you’ll figure out how to turn a negative into a positive. Refrain from giving in to someone putting pressure on you or treating you poorly. Rise above, use your charm and a positive attitude, and focus on what’s best for you. 4 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You can ponder things that irk you, or do something. Communicate, get a sense of what’s possible, and learn how to take suggestions and work them into your plans. The willingness to compromise will be your ticket to success. Consider what others want and barter your way forward. 3 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Gather information, be observant and read between the lines. Let your intuition help you find common ground and turn possibilities into reality. Use pent-up energy to take care of labor-intensive jobs or to achieve a healthy lifestyle. Personal growth is in your best interest, and romance is in the stars. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Choose the most inviting path, and see where it takes you. Travel, learning and communication will fill your heart and soul with passion and encourage you to head in a direction that will test and help you feel complete. Don’t hold back when there is so much to gain heading forward. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You’ll take one step forward and three steps back. Observe what’s happening around you before you venture down a new path. Be reticent about following someone else’s dream when you have your own to aspire to. Rely on your intelligence, desire and what makes you feel passionate, and take the most enticing path. 4 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Set your sights on what makes the most sense financially. Put a budget in place, and keep your health and emotional well-being in mind as you venture forward. Make today about you, your health and the comfort and convenience necessary to maintain happiness. Replenish what’s working and let go of what isn’t. 2 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Pay more attention to how you look and feel, and do whatever is necessary to maintain your status quo. Refuse to fall behind or let someone take over matters that require special attention. Focus on domestic issues, using your resources effectively and lowering your stress level. Self-improvement and love are favored. 5 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Follow through. Good ideas are only worthwhile if you turn them into a reality. Be open, offer suggestions and do whatever it takes to make a difference. Change begins with you, and your actions will result in opportunities that exceed your expectations. Trust and believe in yourself, and move forward with confidence. 3 stars

Birthday Baby: You are brave, intent and passionate. You are willful and unique.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes.

2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others.

3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals.

4 stars: Aim high; start new projects.

5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.

Want a link to your daily horoscope delivered directly to your inbox each weekday morning? Sign up for our free Coffee Break newsletter at mercurynews.com/newsletters or eastbaytimes.com/newsletters.

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Published on March 16, 2025 03:00

March Madness: Here’s the bracket for the men’s NCAA Tournament

The beloved annual tradition that is the NCAA Tournament begins this week. Tens of thousands will fill out brackets in hopes of winning the office poll or at least a bit of respect with the matchups set on Selection Sunday.

Who will win it all? The tournament tips off with the First Four on March 18 and the first round begins March 20.

Here’s the bracket for the men’s NCAA Tournament:

How can I watch?

Every game of the men’s tournament will be aired — here is a schedule that will be updated with matchups — either on CBS, TBS, TNT or TruTV and their digital platforms, including Paramount+. CBS will handle the Final Four and national title game this year.

The NCAA will also stream games via its March Madness Live option.

Who are the favorites?

The top three betting favorites as championship week arrives are (in order) Auburn, Duke and Florida, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

There are 31 automatic bids that will be filled via league tournaments and they will be combined with 37 at-large picks by the NCAA selection committee. We all find out on Selection Sunday, March 16, when bracket matchups are unveiled.

When are the games?

The First Four is in Dayton, Ohio, on March 18-19 and from March 20-23 stretch from Providence, Rhode Island, to Seattle.

The Sweet 16 weekend will see games March 27-30 in Newark, New Jersey (East Regional), Atlanta (South), Indianapolis (Midwest) and San Francisco (West).

The Final Four is in San Antonio on Saturday, April 5, with the championship game the night of Monday, April 7.

Contributing: Associated Press

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Published on March 16, 2025 03:00

March 15, 2025

Pro Soccer: Union kick off home season with a win over Oakland

SEASIDE — A nearly sold-out crowd waited patiently at Cardinale Stadium to erupt. Producing three goals in a span of 13 minutes in the second half Saturday provided a roar that could be heard in Cannery Row.

Showcasing a new look with a cast of new faces, Monterey Bay FC provided a glimpse of what it believes is the future, opening its home season in front of over 5,000 fans with a 3-2 win over Oakland Roots SC.

The output marked the first time since April 15 of 2024 that the Union scored three goals in a match — achieved just once last year in a season in which the franchise mustered a mere 30 goals.

Having swept the Roots last year, Monterey Bay FC has won its last three matches against its closest rival, improving to 1-1 in the United Soccer League Championship’s Western Conference.

The Union, who will play three matches in seven days, will host Inter San Francisco on Wednesday in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, before returning to USL play Saturday at Orange County.

Orange County, who beat Oakland 4-2 on opening night, played Lexington SC to a 2-2 draw Saturday.

The Union also snapped a five-game home scoreless drought that dated back to last season, when they finished with the third worst record in the USL.

While an abundance of new faces graced the pitch for the Union on a 56-degree evening, it was forward Mayele Malango that ended the home scoreless drought, slicing a shot through the right corner at the 55-minute mark to tie the match at 1-1.

Minutes later newcomer Ilijah Paul drilled one through the net at the 65-minute mark to give the Union a 2-1 cushion, before Anton Sojberg produced his first goal as a member of the Union to push their lead to 3-1.

Sojberg’s goal turned out to be the game winner as the Roots Peter Wilson countered with a goal in the 70th minute to cut the deficit to one with roughly 17 minutes remaining, including stoppage time.

Adam Larsson and Grant Robinson were both credited with assists for the Union. Nico Campuzano picked up his first win between the pipes for the Monterey Bay FC.

The Union, who opened the USL season with a 1-0 road loss in San Antonio, hold a 4-2-1 series lead over Oakland, including the franchise’s first ever win back on March 26 of 2022.

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Published on March 15, 2025 22:09

Steve Kerr passes Al Attles for most wins in Warriors franchise history

SAN FRANCISCO — The greatest coach in the history of the Warriors organizations now has the win total to match.

With Golden State’s 97-94 victory over the New York Knicks on Saturday at Chase Center, Steve Kerr passed the late Al Attles for first all-time in franchise history with 558 regular-season wins.

“I’m incredibly lucky to be part of this organization and part of this city,” Kerr said postgame. “Very humbled by the honor because of Al’s greatness and what he means to the franchise.”

Kerr thanked the fans and players like Steph Curry and Draymond Green in a brief on-court speech after the win. A tribute video featuring Erik Spoelstra, Phil Jackson and former Warriors assistant coaches congratulating him flashed on the jumbotron. The Attles family also presented him with the game ball in Golden State’s locker room.

“More than anything, it’s just a sign of organizational stability and success,” Kerr said before the win.

“My general managers, both Bob (Myers) and Mike (Dunleavy) having great faith in me, and Joe (Lacob) as well when things haven’t gone well. I think in a lot of other franchises, I could’ve been fired maybe after we had the worst record in the league or didn’t make the playoffs the next year. That’s how a lot of franchises operate. To me, the record is really an organizational one.”

Always conscientious and often self-deprecating, Kerr said he didn’t have a clue what he was doing when he first started out with the Warriors. He’d never coached before when the Warriors hired him a decade ago out of the broadcast booth to replace Mark Jackson.

He’d told his mentor, Phil Jackson, that he was coming to the Knicks before flipping to the Warriors, who presented a better, younger core of talent around Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.

Even he admits that had he gone through with the Knicks opportunity, he would’ve been fired within a couple years. Instead, he has won four championships with the Warriors and set the cultural foundation for one of the most iconic dynasties in league history.

Kerr implemented a laid-back, player-friendly environment off the court, taking the team dinners he learned under Gregg Popovich and bringing them to Golden State. On it, he brought elements of the triangle offense he played with Michael Jordan’s Bulls and skyrocketed the Warriors to perennially the top passing team in the NBA.

“The offense he brought to this organization, the family atmosphere he brought to this organization — that was Steve,” Green said. “You see after a game, it’s 10 kids running around the court. You come into a given practice, my kids are running around, someone else’s kids are running around, that’s Steve. In this life we live, we’re gone a lot. When you have a coach like that who understands those things, it just makes work that much better. You can bring your kid to work knowing that you missed things. That helps. Bringing your family on the plane. You talk to some teams around (the league), they ain’t doing that. That’s insane. He brought that culture to this team. All of that is part of the success you see.”

Kerr, the all-time leading 3-point shooter by percentage as a player, brought an offensive-mind to the bench. But in recent years, with more experience, he’s become a much more balanced coach, longtime assistant Ron Adams said.

Under Kerr, the Warriors have won championships in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022. He was the NBA Coach of the Year in 2016, when Golden State won a record 73 games. And this past summer, he and Curry led Team USA to gold at the Paris Olympics.

And as long as Curry’s still on the team, Kerr isn’t going anywhere. And like every Curry 3, every Warriors win will be a new franchise record for the head coach.

“He changed everything. He has been as important as anybody with what this organization has become,” Green said.

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Published on March 15, 2025 20:06

Warriors continue to surge, earn rock-fight victory over Knicks

SAN FRANCISCO — Like the individual matchup between Draymond Green and Karl-Anthony Towns, the Warriors and Knicks locked their horns.

Neither team led by double digits all night, the final three quarters were rock fights and the officials permitted each team to play bruising defense. Steph Curry even took the podium with a reddish shiner under his right eye.

Although Towns (29 points, 12 rebounds) won his battle against Green, the Saginaw native polished off the 97-94 victory with a “Night-Night” celebration.. Golden State (39-28) held the Knicks to three points in the last 2:52 before garbage time, shutting down Towns and anyone else with tenacious energy.

Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) strikes the night-night pose after scoring in the final minute of a 97-94 victory over the New York Knicks at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

The win gives head coach Steve Kerr 558 regular season victories, making him the sole franchise record holder. The Warriors are now 14-1 with Jimmy Butler in the lineup and have beaten the Knicks twice in the past two weeks.

“We’re on a good run, but we know exactly what’s happening: nobody else is losing behind us,” Kerr said. “So we’ve got to keep fighting and keep winning.”

Earlier this month, Green spread an erroneous rumor that Towns missed their game against the Warriors because he was ducking Butler, his former teammate. In reality, Towns was attending the funeral of a family friend who died of breast cancer.

Given an opportunity to apologize, Green said he was sorry for Towns’ loss, but also plugged his podcast twice.

That drama set the stage for Saturday night.

Steve Kerr smiles enroute to his 558th coaching win as head coach of the Golden State Warriors, surpassing At Attles as the team’s winningest coach, Saturday, March 15, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Gui Santos drives on New York Knicks’ OG Anunoby (8) in the first half at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) drives on New York Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns (32) in the first quarter at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

New York Knicks’ Mikal Bridges (25) is fouled by Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) while driving past Stephen Curry (30) late in the fourth quarter at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Knox II (31) fouls New York Knicks’ OG Anunoby (8) in the first quarter at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

New York Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns (32) recoils after fouling Golden State Warriors’ Jonathan Kuminga (00) in the second half at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) sets the defense against the New York Knicks in the second half at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., Saturday, March 15, 2025. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) strikes the night-night pose...

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Towns went right at Green early. On the Knicks’ first possession, he pump-faked Green out of his shoes and soared in for a dunk. In the first five minutes, Towns collected six points, five rebounds and two assists while being guarded by Green. Then he added a step-back 3 over Jonathan Kuminga and a euro-step past Buddy Hield for good measure.

As Towns cooked, Kuminga made a strong two-way impact off the bench. In his second game back from his severe ankle sprain, Kuminga played under control, pushed the pace and filled up the stat sheet.

Butler banked in a running halfcourt shot to put the Warriors on top, 32-31, after the first quarter.

Green forced a Towns turnover in an isolation situation on the wing, batting the ball out of the center’s hands. Then they got tangled up on the other end, with Towns getting whistled for his third foul. Green pointed toward New York’s bench afterward, signaling for Towns to go take a seat (which he did).

New York’s defense improved without Towns (and Jalen Brunson, who missed the game with a sprained ankle). The Knicks held Golden State scoreless for three minutes, a stretch that included three turnovers.

With Towns’ foul trouble, Mikal Bridges, Miles McBride and OG Anunoby stepped up. But defensive havoc from Green generated points in transition.

Towns opened the second half by splashing in his second 3-pointer and the Knicks retook the lead shortly thereafter. After Towns finished a left-handed drive past Green, the Warriors briefly switched Butler onto the center. That didn’t work. Then Towns scored in the post against Green.

As Towns cooked, Curry heated up. He sank a pair of 3s and scored 12 of the Warriors’ 21 third-quarter points, helping preserve Golden State’s slim lead.

Towns scored nine straight points as part of an 11-4 Knicks run to draw New York within two. As the Warriors got 3-happy, Towns feasted inside.

Towns missed a 3-pointer with two minutes left that would’ve put New York ahead and Green stonewalled McBride at the rim for a block before coming up with a strip on Towns, drawing an offensive foul in the process.

To put the Knicks away, Green drove past Towns and finished at the rim. For the second time this year, he borrowed Curry’s “Night-Night” celebration (Curry graded it an A-). He got the last laugh, and when Towns ultimately fouled out, the Chase Center fans waved him goodbye.

“It was good to see KAT show up and play like that,” Green said postgame. “Played hard, played well. Physical. Probably the most physical I’ve ever seen him. Had a little extra motivation so that made the game really fun, that was great.”

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Published on March 15, 2025 20:01

49ers trade top rusher Mason to Vikings in exchange for draft assets

On the same day the 49ers brought back a longtime member of their backfield in Kyle Juszczyk, they reportedly agreed to send away another major figure in their rushing offense.

The Niners are trading Jordan Mason, their top rusher in 2024, to the Minnesota Vikings just days after giving him a second-round tender as a restricted free agent, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Saturday.

In exchange for Mason and their sixth-round pick in next month’s draft (No. 187), the 49ers will receive the Vikings’ fifth-rounder (No. 160) and sixth-round pick in 2026.

Mason agreed to a two-year deal with the Vikings that will pay him at least $7 million and as much as $12 million, according to multiple reports.

The 25-year-old running back was the 49ers’ lead rusher for most of the 2024 season after Christian McCaffrey missed the first two months with Achilles tendinitis in both legs. Mason rushed for 100-plus yards and a score in three of the first four games and finished the season with 789 yards on 153 attempts. He ceded the starting spot to McCaffrey in a Nov. 10 win over Tampa Bay, then both backs suffered season-ending injuries — a high ankle sprain for Mason — Dec. 1 in a snowy blowout loss in Buffalo.

The trade leaves the 49ers relying more on McCaffrey, who played just four games last season. Behind him on the depth chart are Isaac Guerendo, who took over in the backfield late in the season after Mason and McCaffrey went down; Patrick Taylor Jr., who started a December loss to Miami after Guerendo injured his leg; and Israel Abanikanda, whom they claimed off waivers from the Jets in December.

The 49ers, after starting four different running backs throughout the 2024 season, appear likely to add to that group via the draft or free agency.

Mason originally joined the 49ers as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia Tech in 2022, so the trade represents more value than they spent on him initially, even as it may seem modest for a player who broke out as a starting-caliber back last fall.

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Published on March 15, 2025 19:02

Warriors targeting Tuesday for Brandin Podziemski’s return

SAN FRANCISCO — Brandin Podziemski remains sidelined by a minor low back strain, but there’s a light at the end of a short tunnel.

The Warriors are hoping for Podziemski to return next Tuesday against the Milwaukee Bucks, Steve Kerr said before Golden State’s game against the Knicks on Saturday. The Knicks game was Podziemski’s fourth straight night in street clothes and Monday’s Nuggets game will be the fifth.

Podziemski suffered the back injury in the first minute of the Warriors-Nets in the Barclays Center on March 6. He’s averaging 10.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists while ranking third on the team in plus-minus. In his rehab process, he has advanced to on-court work and conditioning recently.

When Podziemski returns, the Warriors will have a bloated rotation. Jonathan Kuminga is back from his severe ankle sprain and playing in short bursts. The team has been committed to keeping Gui Santos in the mix as a glue guy and Gary Payton II is playing the best ball of his season. Golden State played 10 guys in their win over the Kings, and Podziemski rejoining the mix makes it 11.

“It’s just really hard to play more than 10,” Kerr said. “I also know that often times these things work themselves out. You know, not everybody’s available. I would hate to take anybody out of the rotation now the way everybody’s playing. But I’m probably going to have to.”

Kerr on precipice of history

The next win the Warriors secure, Kerr will hold the franchise record for victories as a head coach. He’s currently tied with the late Al Attles with 557 .

“More than anything, it’s just a sign of organizational stability and success,” Kerr said. “My general managers, both Bob (Myers) and Mike (Dunleavy) having great faith in me, and Joe (Lacob) as well when things haven’t gone well. I think in a lot of other franchises, I could’ve been fired maybe after we had the worst record in the league or didn’t make the playoffs the next year. That’s how a lot of franchises operate. To me, the record is really an organizational one.”

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Published on March 15, 2025 16:27

SF Giants’ Sandoval reconnects with Verlander — but avoids elephant in room

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Pablo Sandoval and Justin Verlander know their shared history. The two will be forever linked in baseball lore. They both have a place in Cooperstown, albeit for different reasons.

More than a decade after their historic encounter in San Francisco, Sandoval has no intentions of bringing up the past.

“I don’t bring it up,” said Sandoval, a guest instructor with the Giants this spring. “When you respect a player, (when) you respect a guy who’s still playing that throws the ball the way he does, you don’t bring old memories up. It’s going to be there forever, but you don’t bring it to the guy when you respect him.”

Sandoval, of course, is referring to Game 1 of the 2012 World Series against the Detroit Tigers, a night where he joined Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson and Albert Pujols as the only players to hit three home runs in a single World Series game. Two of those home runs were off Verlander. Sandoval went on to win World Series MVP as San Francisco swept Detroit; Verlander wouldn’t touch the mound again that October.

Due in large part to those three swings, Sandoval will forever maintain icon status in San Francisco. As he sat in Scottsdale Stadium’s first-base dugout before the Giants’ 6-2 win overthe Seattle Mariners, Sandoval had a much greater interest in looking ahead than looking backwards.

Sandoval is one of several guest instructors who’s been in camp for the Giants this spring, a list that includes members of the ’10, ’12 and ’14 championship teams such as Yusmeiro Petit, Santiago Casilla and Joe Panik. He wasn’t on the original list, but Sandoval sent president of baseball operations — and former teammate — Buster Posey a text once he returned from playing in Dubai’s Baseball United expressing his interest in helping the team.

“He knows how important it is to wear this jersey,” Sandoval said of Posey. “He knows how to win. He knows how to put the pieces together to win.”

“He’s got a lot of enthusiasm and he’s really happy about being here,” said manager Bob Melvin. “I don’t really check in with him. I just watch how he does his thing and how the guys respond to him. It’s been that way with everybody that we’ve had here, but he’s got a certain flair to him.”

While Sandoval is currently moonlighting as a coach, the 38-year-old’s playing days aren’t quite over. He hasn’t appeared in the majors since 2021 but intends to play another season for the Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League. Along with totaling 10 homers and 79 RBIs over 120 games with the FerryHawks, Sandoval tossed 7 1/3 scoreless innings with four strikeouts. More than the numbers, Sandoval appreciated that his family had the chance to watch him play.

“My family had so much fun spending time with me out there,” Sandoval said. “It’s one of those things where when you see your kids and your family there in the stands, you want to perform well. You want to do things for your family. That’s why I keep doing it. My kid wants me to play: he’s playing ball now.”

Sandoval intends to continue playing “until my body says no,” and once that day arrives, he wouldn’t be opposed to transitioning to the coaching sphere. He, unsurprisingly, still loves spending time on the field and would take an opportunity if one was presented. That said, Sandoval still wants to spend time with his family; his eight-year-old son, Liam, is playing baseball and Sandoval wants to be in attendance for his games.

In time, Sandoval will make a decision on what path he takes once he decides to hang up his cleats. For now, he’s enjoying the opportunity to help the Giants wherever he’s needed. On Saturday afternoon, Sandoval spoke to the team’s minor leaguers at Papago Park, a message that was well received by a certain first base prospect.

“It was cool hearing stories about that World Series run they did in 2014,” said first baseman Bryce Eldridge, who will miss Saturday’s Spring Breakout game due to a left wrist injury. “Joe Panik was there and they were showing his highlights. That play he made in Game 7 was the most unreal play of all-time. He definitely doesn’t get as much credit for that. … I feel like that should be in every single video on Instagram about fielding.”

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Published on March 15, 2025 16:22

COVID-19: Reflecting on the lost seasons of life, sports

EDITOR’S NOTE — Wednesday marks the five-year anniversary of California going into shelter-in-place during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the coming weeks The Herald will take a look back at how Monterey County residents and organizations navigated that time, as well as the lessons learned. We start with a personal reflection from sports writer John Devine.

The plan that morning was to watch my son compete that afternoon in his third high school track meet.

Surprisingly, we were informed in an email from the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District that parents would not be allowed to attend Monterey High School’s meet at North Monterey County High, as fears of COVID-19 were rising.

It hadn’t felt like the pandemic was a reality. A day earlier, it seemed like an online prank. No one we knew was sick. No one was wearing a mask. Life was normal.

Yet, if it was deemed unsafe for spectators to watch a high school track meet from the stands, my first thought was I didn’t want a then 14-year-old on a bus with 50 other kids.

So I pulled him.

Two hours later, the meet was canceled before anyone boarded the bus. Instead, Monterey held an intra-squad meet where my son and his teammates competed one more time, knowing there was going to be at least a pause in the season.

Relay handoffs were taken, hurdles were cleared. Handshakes and hugs were the theme as the team gathered one more time for a warm down lap.

The feeling that day, though, was eerie. I remember my son’s senior teammates and the look of despair covering their faces, staring into space, wondering if their high school careers were over.

Most coaches that spring five years ago felt things would calm down in a couple of weeks, maybe a month. After that maybe a season could be salvaged with events in May.

Instead, everyone sat around for roughly six months with no sports, no in-school learning, just a state of discontent that this was really occurring – in this day and age.

My beat is covering local sports for The Herald and I found myself furloughed for five months, uncertain whether it was time for a career change, concerned about how to support a family, as well as keeping two teenage boys active and engaged.

This wasn’t 1920. A century after the last pandemic, we didn’t have a solution or the knowledge to overcome this?

When it became clear that the spring seasons were a wash, the talk was that the heat of summer would end this nightmare.

It’s a virus, right? Like most flu in the winter, the summer would clear the air. Or so some of us thought.

Instead, it lingered, to the point where there were upticks in cases. As a result, the California Interscholastic Federation shut down the start of the fall season. Most schools in California continued with online-only learning in the fall.

Football teams that tried to get together at local parks, hoping to be ready once the season started, were chased away. When athletes were allowed to condition on campus –10 feet apart from each other — any ball used had to be sanitized after each throw.

The uncertainty was probably the hardest part in all this. Each week, there was talk that maybe we can resume in two weeks, before being extended another two weeks.

Different plans continued to be drawn up with hopes of an abbreviated fall season. It came and went with no season.

Football pads and helmets remained locked in a shed. Volleyballs and nets were left in storage, as were water polo balls and goalie nets, collecting cobwebs.

Oh, golf became a popular sport because anyone can play and still distance themselves from others. The bike trails became more crowded when they finally reopened.

The gloom of the winter months brought a dark cloud over the Central Coast as basketball, soccer and wrestling were shut down.

Despite COVID still surging during the winter months, the belief in January was that outdoor sports could slowly resume with strict precautions – such as testing kids once a week.

Nearly a year after the pandemic started, a cross-country meet was held at York School in late February, the official return of high school sports in Monterey County.

It would be an abbreviated season for fall sports with no championships, just a chance for kids to get one or two meets in.

Football was next, although a handful of schools chose not to play in the spring. Those that did got four games in at best. Most settled for two or three as COVID forced some programs to stop.

Some sports like girls’ volleyball never resumed. So girls were given a chance to play on the boys’ volleyball teams in the spring.

COVID vaccines became available for anyone over the age of 5. While it didn’t make you invincible, there was a sense of normalcy returning. Masks were slowly coming off.

There were restrictions. All sports required testing once a week. Depending on what day a school tested, you held your breath that the event would not be canceled.

The pandemic changed the direction in my son’s abbreviated sports career. He chose to swim instead of glide over hurdles in mid-April.

While schools were still being taught online, sports brought kids back to campus, enabled them to reconnect with classmates and friends for the first time in a year.

The Salinas Union School District chose to only compete against each other, with no playoffs, regardless of their finish, leaving players and coaches frustrated.

The Central Coast Section brought the playoffs back for baseball, softball, soccer, basketball and track and field.

Seasons were extended into the end of June for those that made the baseball or softball playoffs and the CCS track and field championships.

The winter and spring seasons went on simultaneously. Multi-sport athletes were faced with the challenge of making a decision. No one was allowed to compete in two sports at the same time.

While it’s been five years, the word COVID still makes me cringe. When a kid has it, schools forced them to stay home. Not so with the flu and other viruses.

To this day, there are questions that have never been fully answered. The loss of a year hurt a lot of programs in all sports at all schools. Kids found other things to do, got jobs. Some never got a senior season.

Have we fully come back? For the most part, yes. You’ll still occasionally see someone wearing a mask. It’s a subtle reminder – that five years later – it is still out there. We have just learned to live with it. But it’s a period in our lives we will never forget.

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Published on March 15, 2025 15:00

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