Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 37

August 22, 2025

Adames shines in ’emotional’ homecoming, but his ex-teammate hands SF Giants heartbreaking loss

Willy Adames held his helmet above his head as he stood near home plate and acknowledged the ovation he was given by Milwaukee Brewers fans at American Family Field. He then gave Brewers catcher and former teammate William Contreras a hug and nodded in the direction of starting pitcher Jose Quintana.

Adames then took the first pitch he saw from Quintana and launched it 419 feet over the left field wall, and as he rounded the bases, he heard some boos from those fans who cheered his return to Wisconsin just moments earlier.

Adames homered twice in his return to Milwaukee on Friday, with his second homer in the eighth inning starting a comeback that saw the Giants tie the game in the top of the ninth. But Contreras got the last laugh, as he homered off Randy Rodriguez with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to hand the Giants a 5-4 loss.

San Francisco is now a season-low seven games below .500 as it continues its series with the Brewers on Saturday and Sunday.

Rodriguez hung a slider that Contreras hit over the left-center field wall for the dramatic walk-off win. Before Friday, Rodriguez, a first-time all-star this year who took over the closer role after Camilo Doval was traded to the Yankees, was 3-3 with a 7.50 ERA in six innings pitched this month.

“It’s hard to swallow a one-run loss when we felt like once Randy’s in the game there, we’re going to get through the ninth,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said.

WILLIAM CONTRERAS
WALK-OFF BOMB
BALLGAME OVER pic.twitter.com/86SpmEx9Sd

— MLB (@MLB) August 23, 2025

Luis Matos also homered in the second inning, and Adames’ second homer came in the eighth to cut the Brewers’ lead to 4-3. Then in the top of the ninth with runners on first and third, Brewers closer Trevor Megill uncorked a wild pitch that bounced off Contreras’ chest protector and well away from the plate, allowing Matos, who doubled to lead off the ninth, to score.

With the game tied 2-2 in the seventh, Contreras doubled to right off reliever Joey Lucchesi to score Andruw Monasterio. Then, with the bases loaded and one out, former Cal star Andrew Vaughn sent a high grounder to first base off Ryan Walker, scoring Brice Turang from third.

Rafael Devers could not cleanly handle the grounder from Vaughn, but even if he had, he might not have been able to get Turang at the plate.

Adames, who also received a video tribute before the game, played with the Brewers from 2021 to 2024 as he established himself as one of the National League’s premier hitting shortstops. In 548 games over four seasons in Milwaukee, Adames had 107 home runs and 348 RBI, with a .780 OPS. With Adames, the Brewers made the playoffs three out of four seasons.

Adames wore a yellow sleeve on his right arm, and the tops of his cleats were also yellow.

“It’s emotional,” Adames told reporters of his return before Friday’s game. “Obviously, I have a lot of great memories here.”

“To get the reception he did and then he hits a first pitch homer, it’s pretty cool stuff,” Melvin said. “And then hit another homer to get us a little bit closer, and then we tie the game. Willy came in here obviously looking to put together a good game, and he did.”

Adames’ first games back in Milwaukee coincide with Sunday’s Celebration of Life at the park for former longtime play-by-play announcer Bob Uecker, who died in January at the age of 90 after a long battle with cancer. Uecker, one of baseball’s most prominent personalities, was the voice of the Brewers for 54 seasons.

“Being here this special weekend means even more,” Adames said. “But it feels the same, it feels like I never left.”

While the Giants have been in a free fall for most of the last two months, the Brewers, in their second year under manager Pat Murphy, have surged to the top of the National League standings. Entering Friday, Milwaukee had a record of 34-8 since the All-Star break, which included a 14-game winning streak from Aug. 1-16.

“Obviously happy for them, the way that they’ve been playing baseball this year,” Adames said. “I’m really happy for the guys in there, and we’ll see how that goes this weekend.”

The Brewers were no doubt going to test Giants starter Carson Whisenhunt, who had just been recalled from Triple-A Sacramento, as he took the roster spot of injured starter Landen Roupp. Since May 18, Milwaukee led the big leagues in runs per game (5.66) and average with runners in scoring position (.309), and was second in OPS (.781). In that time, the Brewers had a record of 59-23.

The Brewers, who are ninth in the big leagues in fielding percentage (.987), also made several sterling plays on defense.

“That’s part of their game,” Melvin said of the Brewers’ defense. “Some of their hits aren’t too terribly hard, either. But they make contact, and they find some holes. That’s how they win overall.”

Whisenhunt looked OK in the first three innings before he struggled in the fourth, allowing an RBI double to Sal Frelich to cut the Giants’ lead to 2-1. Later, with one out, Vaughn scored from third base on a Whisenhunt wild pitch.

But Bailey chased down the ball, and with Whisenhunt failing to cover home plate, fired a strike to third baseman Casey Schmitt to get Frelich, who took a few steps past the bag. Whisenhunt got Brandon Lockridge to ground into a fielder’s choice to end the inning, but his night was over after four innings and 88 pitches. He got a no-decision in his fourth start of the season for the Giants.

With the game tied 2-2 in the top of the sixth inning, the Giants loaded the bases with two outs. On a 2-1 count, Jung Hoo Lee fouled off a 94 mph fastball from Shelby Miller that caught too much of the plate, and struck out on the next pitch as he chased an 86 mph splitter that dipped well below the strike zone.

Matos led off the seventh inning with a walk and was later able to steal second base. The throw to second by Contreras sailed into centerfield, and Matos, who didn’t immediately see the ball, got a late jump toward third. The throw to third by Lockridge was on target, and Matos was called out.

The Giants left five runners on base for the game.

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Published on August 22, 2025 18:41

Trump visits a DC gift shop and the Kennedy Center during military crackdown

By WILL WEISSERT and MICHELLE L. PRICE

WASHINGTON (AP) — With National Guard troops in the streets and federal agents at the door of his former adviser, President Donald Trump spent a heavy dose of his Friday channeling his inner tourist and reliving his bygone days as a sports team owner and construction mogul.

He stopped by a gift shop near the White House, visited the Kennedy Center that he now chairs and returned to his increasingly gilded Oval Office to trumpet the U.S. cohosting next year’s World Cup.

“We have a lot of fun,” Trump said. “We’re fixing up the whole world.”

The president’s stops around the city came as the nation’s capital is increasingly on edge amid Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and federalization of Washington’s police force in an effort to better curb crime.

Just before he left the White House, officials announced there had been 76 arrests citywide the previous evening as part of the crackdown. The Pentagon also said National Guard troops patrolling the streets of D.C. would soon start carrying weapons.

“We are going to make D.C. totally safe. When people come from Iowa, Indiana, all of the beautiful places, and they come, they’re not going to go home in a body bag,” Trump said after visiting the People’s House exhibit and its gift shop. “They’re not going home in a coffin, and it’s very safe right now.”

With the crackdown now entering its third week, however, many Washington residents and visitors don’t feel as safe as the president suggests, with persisting concerns that the White House is amplifying racist narratives about urban crime and tearing down homeless camps where the most vulnerable live.

Trump has shrugged off criticisms and declared, when asked about the FBI searching the home and office of his former national security adviser John Bolton, “I’m actually the chief law enforcement officer.” Still, he spent far more time looking and acting like a president relishing the parts of the job that make him happiest.

WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 21: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to law enforcement officers alongside Interior Secretary Doug Burgum (R) at the U.S. Park Police Anacostia Operations Facility on August 21, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Trump administration has deployed federal officers and the National Guard to the District in order to place the DC Metropolitan Police Department under federal control and assist in crime prevention in the nation’s capital. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

At the Kennedy Center, Trump’s activities Friday weren’t public, but he told reporters he’d show off the marble that might be used to refurbish the building — along with other planned renovations, including change the paint on its signature columns from gold to white.

Trump has begun frequently joking about renaming it the Trump Kennedy Center but deadpanned Friday: “We’re not prepared to do that quite yet. Maybe in a week or so.”

WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 21: U.S. President Donald Trump visits the U.S. Park Police Anacostia Operations Facility on August 21, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Trump administration has deployed federal officers and the National Guard to the District in order to place the DC Metropolitan Police Department under federal control and assist in crime prevention in the nation’s capital. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

The president also said he’ll be leading yet more White House renovations — this time on the bathroom attached to the iconic Lincoln Bedroom. It last underwent renovations in 2005.

“We’ll be doing the Lincoln Bathroom which was Art Deco,” Trump said, adding, “We’re making it actually incredible.”

The president even floated the idea of refurbishing the sprawling Old Executive Office Building on the White House grounds, saying it was “such a beautiful building, but it doesn’t look it.”

Trump has already made extensive changes to the White House, redoing the Oval Office to add gold decor, installing patio seating with external speakers around the Rose Garden, erecting two towering flagpoles on its lawn and promising to build a ballroom.

Later in the day, Trump was joined in the Oval Office by FIFA President Gianni Infantino to announce that the Kennedy Center would host the draw for the 2026 World Cup, which will be played in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, from right, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Vice President JD Vance, Richard Grenell, president of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees and Andrew Giuliani listen in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

The former owner of the New Jersey Generals of the USFL, Trump has been heavily promoting sporting events that will take place during his second term, including the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

“I just left the Kennedy Center. We’re spending a lot of money wisely and making it really beautiful,” Trump said during the event with Infantino. “It’s going to be beautiful again. It’s like Washington, D.C.”

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Published on August 22, 2025 16:56

FACT FOCUS: Posts overestimate number of noncitizens living in US by tens of millions

By MELISSA GOLDIN

After the Trump administration announced Thursday that it is reviewing the valid visas of more than 55 million people, social media users began using this figure to inflate the number of noncitizens living in the U.S. by tens of millions.

Posts claimed that these 55 million visa holders, plus about 25 million or more people living in the country illegally, means that nearly a quarter to a third of the people living in the U.S. are not American citizens. The total U.S. population is about 342 million.

But government data contradicts these figures, and experts say the estimates spreading online are highly inflated.

Here’s a closer look at the facts.

CLAIM: Approximately 70 million to 100 million people living in the U.S. are not American citizens.

THE FACTS: This is false. There were nearly 22 million noncitizens residing in the U.S. in 2023, according to the latest Census Bureau data. That includes people in the country both legally and illegally.

The 55 million visas, which includes tourist visas, is not representative of U.S. residents, as not everyone with a visa resides in the U.S. The number of people in the U.S. illegally is nearly 14 million, according to a recent Pew Research Center report. Trump routinely inflates the number of people living in the country illegally, the majority of whom he says entered under the Biden administration, most recently citing totals of 25 million to 30 million.

“The 55 million figure is the total number of visa-holders worldwide, not people who are currently in the United States,” said Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council. “The 25 million figure for undocumented immigrants is also completely false.”

Still, many social media users overstated the number of noncitizens living in the U.S., pointing to these figures.

“55 million on visas, tens of millions of illegals—close to 100 million are foreign aliens,” reads one X post. “Almost 1/3 of the entire country are foreigners. Completely insane if you really think about it. America has no reason or obligation to tolerate this. If America doesn’t deport the tens of millions it needs to, it will cease to exist as a nation.”

In 2024, there were 3.6 million people residing in the U.S. on temporary visas, such as diplomats, exchange visitors, students, and temporary workers, according to the Department of Homeland Security. This does not include people with tourist visas. An additional 12.8 million people were green card holders.

Experts noted that the 55 million people with U.S. visas includes tens of millions who hold tourist visas, which can last up to 10 years, depending on one’s nationality. The State Department issued nearly 6.5 million tourist visas last year.

“I think no one would consider a tourist who comes to the U.S. for a week or two a U.S. resident,” said Michelle Mittelstadt, a spokesperson for the Migration Policy Institute.

A Pew Research Center report released Thursday estimated that in 2023 there were 14 million people living in the U.S. illegally. Other recent estimates cite similar figures. The Center for Immigration Studies, which calls for restricting immigration, found the number to be 14.2 million as of July. On the lower end, the Center for Migration Studies estimated 12.2 million as of mid-2023.

Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck.

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Published on August 22, 2025 16:52

HHS moves to strip thousands of federal health workers of union rights

By MIKE STOBBE

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has moved to strip thousands of federal health agency employees of their collective bargaining rights, according to a union that called the effort illegal.

HHS officials confirmed Friday that the department is ending its recognition of unions for a number of employees, and are reclaiming office space and equipment that had been used for union activities.

It’s the latest move by the Trump administration to put an end to collective bargaining with unions that represent federal employees. Previously affected agencies include the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Environmental Protection Agency.

In May, an appeals court said the administration could move forward with President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at ending collective bargaining rights for hundreds of thousands of federal employees while a lawsuit plays out.

“This action ensures that HHS resources and personnel are fully focused on safeguarding the health and security of the American people,” HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon said in a statement.

Officials with the American Federation of Government Employees said strong union contracts do not hinder strong responses to public health emergencies. Rather, they help make agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have a stable, experienced and supported workforce, the union said.

Some CDC employees said the union has been a source of information and advocacy for the agency’s employees during layoffs this year and in the wake of the Aug. 8 attack at the CDC’s main campus in Atlanta.

Since then, the union has been trying to advocate for a better emergency alert system and better security.

Other affected agencies include the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, and at the Office of Refugee Resettlement within the Administration for Children and Families.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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Published on August 22, 2025 14:38

Justice Dept. declines to defend grants for Hispanic-serving colleges, calling them unconstitutional

By COLLIN BINKLEY and JOCELYN GECKER

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration said Friday it will not defend a decades-old grant program for colleges with large numbers of Hispanic students that is being challenged in court, declaring the government believes the funding is unconstitutional.

In a memo sent to Congress, the Justice Department said it agrees with a lawsuit attempting to strike down grants that are reserved for colleges and universities where at least a quarter of undergraduates are Hispanic. Congress created the program in 1998 after finding Latino students were going to college and graduating at far lower rates than white students.

Justice Department officials argued the program provides an unconstitutional advantage based on race or ethnicity.

The state of Tennessee and an anti-affirmative action organization sued the U.S. Education Department in June, asking a judge to halt the Hispanic-Serving Institution program. Tennessee argued all of its public universities serve Hispanic students but none meet the “arbitrary ethnic threshold” to be eligible for the grants. Those schools miss out on tens of millions of dollars because of discriminatory requirements, the suit said.

On Friday, the Justice Department released a letter dated July 25 in which Solicitor General John Sauer notified Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson that the department “has decided not to defend” the program, saying that certain aspects of it are unconstitutional. The letter cited a 2023 Supreme Court decision that racial balancing is “patently unconstitutional.”

The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

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Published on August 22, 2025 14:31

2026 World Cup draw will be held at Washington’s Kennedy Center, Trump says

By WILL WEISSERT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday that the draw for the 2026 World Cup will take place on Dec. 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, and didn’t rule out that he himself might oversee the event.

“It’s the biggest, probably the biggest event in sports, I guess,” said Trump, who made the announcement in an Oval Office event where he was joined by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Vice President JD Vance.

The U.S. is co-hosting next year’s tournament — which for the first time will feature 48 national teams up from 32 — with Canada and Mexico. The draw event will determine the World Cup’s groups, and the games each team plays in the opening round.

Infantino said the 48 teams will play “104 matches in one month” and likened it to “104 Super Bowls.” Trump picked up on that theme, saying, “It’s like having many Super Bowls in a short period of time, because each one of these games, essentially, is a Super Bowl. Some of them are bigger than Super Bowls, actually.”

The World Cup kicks off June 11 at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City and runs through the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Games will be played in 16 cities across the three countries. Washington, D.C., is not among the host cities.

Trump said that the Kennedy Center “will give a phenomenal kickoff and we’ll be involved.” Asked if he’d be the one actually drawing the team names, Trump didn’t answer directly but deferred to Infantino, saying the FIFA chief “was the boss.”

Infantino said, “It’s a very interesting proposal,” and he indicated that he and Trump would discuss the matter further.

President Donald Trump, left, shakes the hand of FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the conclusion of an announcement in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks as Vice President JD Vance, from left, President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem listen in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

President Donald Trump, from left, speaks as FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Carlos Cordeiro listen in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)Show Caption1 of 3President Donald Trump, left, shakes the hand of FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the conclusion of an announcement in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)Expand

The choice of venue is interesting because Trump has taken over the Kennedy Center, installing himself as chair and replacing the board of trustees with loyalists. He’s also hinted he’d like to see the venue renamed the Trump/Kennedy Center.

There had been speculation for months that the draw would be held in Las Vegas. The event is traditionally a mix of entertainment and the business of dividing the teams into 12 groups of four for the opening stage of the tournament. When the United States held the World Cup in 1994, the draw was held at the Las Vegas Convention Center and Stevie Wonder was among the performers.

In December when the draw is held, 42 of the 48 teams will be known, including the automatic berths given to the United States, Mexico and Canada as hosts. The remaining six teams will be determined by playoffs in March.

The president also used Friday’s FIFA announcement to boast about his deploying the National Guard and federalizing Washington’s police force.

“So now, when we have this beautiful event in December, it’s going to be very safe,” Trump said. He added that the FIFA chief “can walk down the street with your beautiful wife. You can take her to dinner, if you can get a reservation.”

Asked about fans overseas obtaining U.S. visas to come watch their teams in the World Cup, Trump at first said the process would be a smooth one, but then added, “Certain countries are going to be very, very easy, and other countries are going to be obviously a little bit more difficult.”

A travel ban that the Trump administration imposed in June includes Iran, which has qualified for the World Cup. The policy makes exceptions for “any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the secretary of state.” It does not include an exemption for fans.

In an unusual move, Infantino also brought the World Cup trophy with him to the Oval Office. It’s a superstition nearly as old as the World Cup itself: players on national teams around the globe believe that touching the trophy before their team actually wins the tournament on the field can spark bad luck.

Even Infantino noted that the trophy is “for winners only,” but then he added to Trump, “And, since you are a winner, of course you can as well.”

The president did just that, calling the trophy “a beautiful piece of gold” and joking about keeping it and displaying it in the Oval Office, which Trump has redone in a gaudy, gold-hued decor.

“It fits very well right on the wall over there,” Trump said.

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Published on August 22, 2025 14:16

High School football tour: Finishing strong the objective for Pacific Grove

EDITOR’S NOTE: Herald sports writer John Devine is spending most of this month visiting Monterey County schools to get a sneak peek of their football teams. This and other previews will be available at www.montereyherald.com.

PACIFIC GROVE – It’s a statistic that doesn’t really move the dial until you look deeper into it.

You can make a compelling argument that no high school football program other than Carmel’s has been better over the first six games of the season in the last two years than Pacific Grove.

In each of the past two seasons, the Breakers have started 6-0 and 5-1, putting them on the cusp of a playoff spot. But Pacific Grove has also struggled down the stretch the past two seasons, going 1-3 in its final four games each season.

“The path to the playoffs has gone through Carmel and North Salinas in our division,” Pacific Grove coach Jeff Gray said.

Both those teams are no longer a part of the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s Mission Division South, having been bumped to the Gabilan Division, with Alvarez coming down.

“I don’t know if it makes the league any weaker,” Gray said. “From my vantage point, it seems like our league might be even more balanced.”

(John Devine -- Monterey Herald)

Injuries clearly played a role in the Breakers’ late season struggles, as well as playing both the Padres and North Salinas toward the end of the year.

“When you get banged up, it affects you like any other team,” Gray said. “When it comes to the trenches, our depth hurts us, particularly when we’re a little more beat up.”

Gray has already been dealt a blow before Pacific Grove’s first practice when quarterback Brody Edmonds broke his humerus pitching for a summer travel baseball team in Arizona in late July.

Last year, the 6-foot-5 three-sport standout became the first Breaker quarterback to throw for over 1,000 yards in seven years, finishing with nearly 1,300 yards.

“I feel bad for Brody,” Gray said. “He’s a big part of this team. But we feel like we have a quarterback who has been competing against Brody for two years and has made a huge commitment to his summer workouts. He has prepared for this moment.”

Pacific Grove's Ersi Kullolli. (John Devine -- Monterey Herald)

Gray was referring to Ersi Kullolli, who was a starter on the JV team during his sophomore season, and was Edmonds’ backup last year, having evolved over three years.

“To be honest, I’m proud of the work people have put in during the off-season,” flyback Garrett Kuska said. “Ersi has been working hard, coming in early and putting in the work. If someone is going to fill Brody’s shoes, it’s Ersi.”

With a school enrollment of under 600 kids, the Breakers are never going to have a deep enough roster to avoid starting players on both sides of the ball.

Gray understands the hand he’s been dealt. He embraces his players playing multiple sports. Yet, it does cut into his off-season plans.

Floyd Smith follows blocker Garrett Kuska for Pacific Grove during practice. (John Devine -- Monterey Herald)

While the Breakers were in the weight room over the summer, sharing athletes with summer league basketball and travel baseball limits Gray’s options.

“We had groups of 30 showing up daily,” Gray said. “We also had 25 kids go to the Cal Poly football camp. That’s different than in years past. The dedication to football seems a little stronger.”

Still, because of commitments to other sports or activities, Gray’s team didn’t take part in any 7-on-7 camps or practices with other schools this past summer.

“We have to be flexible,” Gray said. “Our kids have other commitments. It’s a tougher road for us because we don’t always have our core here week in and week out.”

Not surprisingly, the loss of time in the off-season shrinks the playbook during the first part of the season.

“Maybe we won’t have everything we want installed in our first or second game,” Gray said. “But eventually we’ll get it all in. If we were more of a spread or no-huddle team, it might hurt us. But we’re not.”

Pacific Grove's Isaac Sanchez. (John Devine -- Monterey Herald)

Instead, the Breakers are a run-heavy offense that likes to chew up the clock and wear opponents down.

“We really rarely have plays that are 30 or 40 yards,” Gray said. “Ours are 5 yards at a time. Whether that wears on the defense … that’s the game we play.”

One of Kullolli’s prized targets when he puts the ball in the air will be Andrew Nimri, an all-county basketball player, who shared the team lead in touchdown catches last year as a sophomore.

When the Breakers aren’t tossing balls out to their tailbacks, they’re throwing soft passes in the flat to the likes of Kuska and Northrup Kirk.

“The offense will look similar,” Kuska said. “We’ll miss Brody. But football is the ultimate team sport. It takes all 11 guys on the field. With the offense we have surrounding a guy like Ersi, we can do a lot of damage.”

Pacific Grove's Garrett Kuska. (John Devine -- Monterey Herald)

Kuska combined for nearly 700 rushing and receiving yards last year, while Kirk has evolved over the summer as a potential featured tailback as a sophomore.

“He (Kirk) will get more touches this year,” Gray said. “He’s worked harder than anyone else in the weight room. He’s been to five camps. He’s a kid that wants to play football beyond high school.”

What the Breakers lack in size up front is often made up in execution and precision blocking, anchored by the return of tackles Ryder Gamecho and Isaac Sanchez.

Gamecho, who doubles as a linebacker, was an all-league offensive tackle, helping the Breakers rack up more than 3,000 yards last fall.

“Both have an understanding of the system,” Gray said. “We like to run those quick tosses to the outside. Ryder and Issac are responsible for getting out. They are the key to our offense.”

Defensively, Kirk was electric as a freshman, intercepting three passes last year, returning two for touchdowns, while Kuska provides depth in the secondary, having picked off two passes.

As valuable as Sanchez is on the offensive line, he’s a returning all-league defensive lineman, while Gamecho anchors the linebacking corps.

“We have to come up with a good rotation on the defensive side,” Gray said. “We’d like to keep our core of offensive lineman out there as much as we can. But without some of those guys, we seem to take our lumps on the defensive side.”

Brad Stade(John Devine — Monterey Herald)All six losses Pacific Grove has suffered in the past two years are to teams that reached the playoffs, with two of those losses being by three points, including a 44-41 setback last fall to eventual state champion Carmel.

“We’ve looked at our schedule,” Kuska said. “There are a lot of games we can win, and there are a lot of games where we have to show up. We want to go to the playoffs. We want to do everything we can to get something important and big out of this season.”

Still, the road to a title or a postseason appearance will likely hinge on the Breakers’ health once they get into Mission Division South play.

“I think our returning kids know how close we were to being a playoff team,” Gray said. “They know what it takes to win games and be competitive. We have to ride on the backs of the kids that have experience.”

Having a roster hovering in the low 30s isn’t anything new for Gray. The difference this fall, though, seems to be the commitment more kids have made to the program in the off-season.

“The younger kids are seeing the star athletes making that commitment, showing up and putting in the work,” Gray said. “That helps the rest of the program. It gets contagious.”

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Published on August 22, 2025 14:08

Highway 1 overnight closure at Rocky Creek near Big Sur this weekend

BIG SUR – Caltrans will have another full-overnight closure of Highway 1 at Rocky Creek about 12 miles south of Carmel this weekend for continued work on the seawall damaged by the slip out that occurred more than a year ago.

Sunday’s closure will begin at 10 p.m. so that crews can use a crane that spans both lanes of the roadway to lower materials to the shore below. The highway is scheduled to reopen by 6 a.m., Monday.

Caltrans continues emergency repairs to Highway 1 near the Rocky Creek Bridge — post mile 60 — where the slip out occurred on March 20, 2024. The repairs include the construction of viaducts under both lanes of the roadway, which have been completed, and reconstruction of the seawall below, which is ongoing.

The seawall repair work is part of an ongoing emergency project aimed at reinforcing the seawall that protects the south end of the Rocky Creek Bridge and the slope beneath the recently constructed viaduct, according to Caltrans. The repairs will enhance the seawall’s resilience against wave action and prevent further erosion, ensuring the long-term stability of the coastal route.

The Rocky Creek slip out resulted in a loss of a section of the southbound lane, which crashed onto the seawall below and disrupted the flow of traffic to Big Sur for a time. Caltrans later established one-way, 24-7, signalized traffic control to allow for travelers to access activities and businesses in Big Sur.

Caltrans first repaired the southbound lane by drilling and casting reinforced concrete columns and installing girders as part of the construction of a viaduct to support the roadway. Concrete was then poured for the bridge deck and soon after, the lane was reopened to travel on March 8. The northbound lane was repaired in the same fashion and opened to through traffic on June 30.

Now that the two viaducts have been built to support the highway, the other part of the repair job continues on the seawall below, which was also damaged when the slip out happened and will affect traffic at times over the summer.

The crane used to deliver the materials to the seawall repair site below is elevated and supported off the roadway by “outriggers,” which distribute the load of the crane to four points around it thereby stabilizing and leveling the crane, according to Caltrans. If the tires of the crane were touching the ground, they would introduce another point of contact and may cause the weight to be distributed unevenly which could cause the crane to tip.

Caltrans says that as it continues the emergency project in the coming months, additional lane and road closures will also be expected in the area. Advance notice will be provided to the public before each closure.

Gordon N. Ball, Inc. of Walnut Creek and Teichert Construction in Sacramento served as the contractors throughout the repair effort. The total cost for the project, first estimated to be about $20 million, is now estimated at $15.4 million.

Though Highway 1 to Big Sur is open, the coastal highway remains closed 40 miles south of Carmel due to the Regent’s Slide — post mile 27.8 — which occurred March 9, 2024, and where top-down removal of slide material by crews began on April 30, 2024. Caltrans recently reported it would have a new estimated completion date for the Regent’s Slide repair effort by mid-September.

Travelers to the Big Sur coast from southern California will also encounter the closure of the coast highway at Regent’s Slide. The vast majority of the Big Sur coast remains accessible and open with about 6 miles of closure between the north and south ends of Highway 1 to accommodate work on Regent’s Slide.

Road information and updates can also be found on Caltrans District 5 Social Media platforms: X/Twitter at: @CaltransD5, Facebook at: Caltrans Central Coast (District 5) and Instagram at: Caltrans_D5.

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Published on August 22, 2025 14:08

Why buy granola when you can make it at home?

By Lynda Balslev | TasteFood

Now that school is back in session, try making this recipe to keep on hand for easy breakfasts and wholesome snacks. Homemade granola is a healthy pantry staple. It’s also simple to make, requiring a mere 30 minutes to bake.

Use this recipe as a template and mix and match ingredients to your taste. Follow a basic ratio of 2 cups oats to 1 cup coconut to 1 cup nuts to 1 cup dried fruit. Then you can embellish, using different grains and seeds, such as flax, sunflower seeds, goji berries or even wheat germ, depending on what you like. And consider doubling the batch, because it’s guaranteed to be gobbled up.

Keep an eye on the granola as it bakes, but don’t stir it — you want it to stick together. It should be ready once it’s evenly golden brown in color. Do not add the dried fruit until after baking, because the sugars in the fruit will cause it to burn in the oven. Simply sprinkle the fruit over the granola once it’s removed from the oven to cool.

Homemade Granola

Active time: 10 minutesTotal time: 40 minutes, plus cooling timeYield: Makes about 5 cups

2 cups old-fashioned oats1 cup unsweetened shaved coconut1 cup coarsely chopped raw almonds1/4 cup pepitas1/3 cup (packed) light brown sugar1/4 cup maple syrup2 tablespoons neutral vegetable oil2 teaspoons vanilla extract1 teaspoon ground cinnamon1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (or 1/4 teaspoon table salt)1 1/2 cups raisins (or a mix of raisins and dried cranberries)

Heat the oven to 300 degrees.

Combine the oats, coconut, almonds and pepitas in a large bowl. Whisk the sugar, syrup, oil, vanilla, cinnamon and salt in a small bowl. Pour over the oats and stir to thoroughly coat.

Spread the mixture on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment (or a Silpat). Bake until light golden, 25 to 30 minutes, rotating the pan once for even cooking.

Remove from the oven. Scatter the raisins over the top without stirring the granola. Cool completely.

Once cool, crumble the granola, leaving small chunks. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

Lynda Balslev is an award-winning writer, cookbook author, and recipe developer based in northern California. Visit TasteFood at TasteFoodblog.com.

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Published on August 22, 2025 13:25

Inman: 49ers 53-man roster projection before preseason finale

SANTA CLARA — One 49ers preseason game to go, this Saturday at 5:30 p.m. against the Los Angeles Chargers. An intial 53-man roster is due Tuesday, straight from the desk of general manager John Lynch.

Injury designations and other unexpected twists are sure to come. But let’s cut to the chase and workshop these 49ers amid a constant stream of newcomers to camp (* denotes starter):

QUARTERBACK (2)

*Brock Purdy

Mac Jones

In the mix: Carter Bradley, Tanner Mordecai

Non-football-injury list: Kurtis Rourke

Analysis: Kyle Shanahan should sit Purdy for Saturday’s finale against the visiting Chargers, rather than risk injury behind a makeshift line and patchwork receivers. Jones, after spraining his knee in Saturday’s win at Las Vegas, appeared in a good mood as he watched Thursday’s practice and should be available Week 1 in Seattle, if needed. QB3 can be available in reserve off the practice squad.

RUNNING BACK (4)

*Christian McCaffrey

*Kyle Juszczyk (FB)

Isaac Guerendo

Jordan James

In the mix: Jeff Wilson Jr., Ke’Shawn Vaughn

Injured reserve: Corey Kiner, Patrick Taylor Jr., Ameer Abdullah

Analysis: McCaffrey, in the credible words of Trent Williams, “looks fantastic. He looks like Offensive Player of Year Christian. That’s refreshing to see.” Guerendo is back from a dislocated shoulder (perhaps with a season-long harness). James is injured but working on the side – and essentially on scholarship onto the 53-man. Anemic depth will mean great exposure Saturday for Wilson and Vaughn. Kiner was not claimed off waivers and reverts to Injured Reserve.

WIDE RECEIVER (6)

*Ricky Pearsall

*Jauan Jennings

Jordan Watkins

Skyy Moore

Robbie Chosen

Jacob Cowing

Physically Unable to Perform list: Brandon Aiyuk

Suspended (anticipated 3 games): Demarcus Robinson

In the mix: Russell Gage, Isaiah Hodgins, Junior Bergen, Terique Owens, Malik Knowles, Malik Turner.

Injured reserve: Equanimeous St. Brown, Trent Taylor

Analysis: Asked by the 49ers’ flagship radio station if this wide receiver unit could be his tenure’s best if all are available, Shanahan was as aghast as you, then said: “I mean, we’re far away from that right now. We have to get all those guys you mentioned back.” Then the 49ers traded for Chiefs 2022 second-rounder Skyy Moore, who’s more of a return specialist than a wide receiver savior. Aiyuk is likely on PUP until Week 6, Robinson is suspended at least the first three games, and Week 1 uncertainty shrouds Watkins (high-ankle sprain) and Cowing (hamstring). Chosen has stepped up as a leader who can still blaze down field, but perhaps the 49ers try sliding him through to the practice squad.

TIGHT END (3)

*George Kittle

Luke Farrell

Jake Tonges

In the mix: Brayden Willis

Analysis: Best camp of Kittle’s nine-year career, from a production and leadership perspective. Tonges has come on strong, as evident by the game-winning drive in Vegas and versatility to fill in at fullback. Willis has flashed, too, but the 49ers cut him after last year’s strong preseason so history could repeat.

OFFENSIVE LINE (9)

Trent Williams

Ben Bartch

Jake Brendel

Dominick Puni

Colton McKivitz

Spencer Burford

Connor Colby

Nick Zakelj

Austen Pleasants

In the mix: Drew Moss, Isaiah Prince, Matt Hennessy, Michael Dunn, Drake Nugent

Suspended: Isaac Alarcon

Injured reserve: Andre DIllard

Analysis: The bet is both Bartch and Puni are the starting guards Week 1 as they cope with elbow and knee injuries, respectively. Hennessy’s service as the second-string center definitely could merit a roster spot but not in this mock roster. The 49ers may opt to save room for another team’s castoff to help at guard or swing tackle. Prince warrants a further look at tackle vs. Pleasants (see: Saturday’s finale).

DEFENSIVE LINE (11)

*Nick Bosa

*Mykel Williams

*Jordan Elliott

*Kalia Davis

Bryce Huff

Jonathan Garvin

Trevis Gipson

C.J. West

Alfred Collins

Sebastian Valez

Kevin Givens (short-term IR)

In the mix: Sam Okuayinonu, Robert Beal Jr., Evan Anderson, Jaylon Allen, William Bradley-King, Bruce Hector, Shakel Brown,

Injured reserve: Bradlee Anae, Tarron Jackson

Analysis: Bosa has steered clear of team drills the past couple of weeks but looks primed for double-digit sacks, especially if Huff pans out as a pass rusher (he impressed Thursday vs. Williams). The 49ers need rookies Mykel Williams and C.J. West back from knee injuries but realize they will learn on the fly whenever healthy. Elliott is playing as their stoutest defensive tackle, a position where questions make them susceptible against the run, again. Odds are they keep Okuayinonu over Gipson as an edge rusher.

LINEBACKER (5)

*Fred Warner

*Dee Winters

*Tatum Bethune

Nick Martin

Luke Gifford

In the mix: Curtis Robinson, Chazz Surratt, Jalen Graham, Stone Blanton

Analysis: Warner got heated in Thursday’s practice and had to be escorted to the defensive sideline. So, yes, All-Pro Fred is ready. His wingman? Dee Winters held down that first-string weak-side role all camp, but one wonders if Tatum Bethune could overtake Winters with a hard-hitting style and increased knowledge of the system. Which is more reliable to complement Warner? Martin’s stock is climbing after his dud of a preseason debut. Practice squad spots await a veteran or two.

CORNERBACK (6)

*Deommodore Lenoir

*Renardo Green

*Upton Stout

Dallis Flowers

Chase Lucas

Derrick Canteen

In the mix: Darrell Luter Jr., Fabian Moreau, Jakob Robinson

Injured reserve: Tre Brown, Tre Tomlinson

Analysis: Stout has been stashed for over a week with a calf injury, making Lucas their lone nickel (slot) defender. Lenoir could bump inside again if they must put Flowers on the outside with Green in Week 1. Lucas has been a preseason star, but that carries less weight than you think, so his job security is a mystery. Canteen is a wild card as an undrafted rookie who’s flashed on special teams, more so than Luter, while others may prefer another undrafted rookie in Robinson.

SAFETY (4)

*Marques Sigle

*Jason Pinnock

Ji’Ayir Brown

Siran Neal

In the mix: Richie Grant, Jaylen Mahoney

Analysis: Do they pair the veteran Pinnock with Sigle or Brown? Sigle is a rookie who’s impressed this preseason, and he might exemplify the defense’s youth movement. Neal is a versatile defensive back but more importantly is he got touted as a potential All-Pro special teams player by coordinator Brant Boyer.

SPECIALISTS (3)

Jake Moody

Thomas Morstead

Analysis: Moody’s 59-yard, walk-off field goal in Las Vegas “could change his career,” Boyer said. He wasn’t exaggerating about what a confidence boost that is for the third-year kicker, who missed from 47 and 55 yards Thursday and may never put fans at ease the way Robbie Gould did. Morstead and Weeks have been trustworthy newcomers, each at age 39.

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Published on August 22, 2025 04:30

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