Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 469

Steph Curry joins double-digit All-NBA club with third-team selection

Steph Curry was named Wednesday to the All-NBA third team, the 10th time in his career his name appeared on a prestigious end-of-season list.

Curry averaged 26.4 points, 5.1 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game while leading the NBA in total 3-pointers made (357).

The now-positionless All-NBA teams are as follows:

First team: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum

Second team: Jalen Brunson, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, Kawhi Leonard

Third team: Devin Booker, Tyrese Haliburton, Domantas Sabonis, LeBron James, Curry

The complete voting results for the 2023-24 Kia All-NBA Team: pic.twitter.com/KrG4Fjc9pW

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 22, 2024

Curry, 36, received zero first-team votes, 13 second-team votes and 78 third-team votes. He has made 10 All-NBA appearances in 15 seasons. He’s one of 28 players to be named to 10 All-league teams, and that list is a snapshot of the most important figures in basketball history.

The list encapsulates the combination of greatness with longevity. It includes James — who became the first player ever with 20 selections — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Karl Malone, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Julius Erving, Dirk Nowitzki, Jerry West, Hakeem Olajuwon, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.

And now Curry.

“Just to be around those names: Kobe, MJ, Tim Duncan — Hall of Famers — it doesn’t matter if you’re a fan of their team, you respect and appreciate what they’ve done for this game,” said Zaza Pachulia, Curry’s former teammate who never tires of talking about No. 30.

Pachulia played 16 NBA seasons, and Curry is entering his 16th. The two-time league MVP and four-time champion remains one of the NBA’s best players.

He has done so by adding muscle to absorb more contact at the rim and compete more defensively. By using his creativity and 3-point stroke to bend the geometry of basketball to once imaginable places. By not getting complacent despite his accomplishments.

“It shows the personality, shows the character,” Pachulia said. “Shows the intelligence of the person, to first of all identify where you need to get better, and then obviously to put enough time and effort in the gym to make sure you get better.”

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Pachulia thinks Curry can play five more seasons to reach 20 years. With modern medicine and training methods, more players are extending their careers. Seven of the 10 players who have played 20 NBA seasons entered the league in 1995 or after.

How many more All-NBA seasons Curry has is the question. To pry open the Warriors’ championship window, he’ll have to maintain his elite level, but the team will also need to prop him up with more shot-creators and playmakers around him.

They can’t ask Curry to carry the organization on his back late in his second NBA decade, because even if longevity is at an all-time high, no one’s an all-world player forever.

Brandon Staley finds ‘common ground’ in joining 49ers’ coaching staff

SANTA CLARA – There is no single reason Brandon Staley is on the 49ers’ coaching staff. Instead, there are many:

a.) Kyle Shanahan wants all-around insight from a former NFL head coach, which was Staley’s job with the Los Angeles Chargers from 2021 through Week 15 last December.

b.) Nick Sorensen enters only his first season as a defensive coordinator, and Staley oversaw the 2020 Los Angeles Rams’ defense, which ranked first in the NFL.

c.) The 49ers’ defensive system could use a few tweaks while returning to its 2017-22 style.

d.) Heck, he’s already coached one Bosa, so now he gets an up-close view of how great Nick is compared to his older brother, Joey.

General manager John Lynch already tapped Staley to help advise during last month’s draft, knowing he had been a larger figure in the Chargers’ three prior drafts.

“I don’t think looking at it as a reset is a bad thing,” Staley said of his career path. “Playing quarterback, when you reset, it gives you pause to move on to the next thing.”

Speaking Wednesday to Bay Area media for the first time since becoming “Assistant Head Coach/Defense,” Staley kept his job description vague. After all, Shanahan – and perhaps Lynch – will dictate what they need from Staley, and not the other way around.

On the surface, he figures to mostly help the defensive backs, filling a void created by Sorensen’s promotion to replace one-and-done coordinator Steve Wilks.

Staley gave no hints of an impending power struggle even though he, too, interviewed for the defensive coordinator role in February.

“Nick knows who the defensive coordinator is, and Brandon does,” coach Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday. “Brandon is in a real good spot, just leaving from being a head coach and how he can help us in a number of roles. I think Nick feels very excited to have a guy on the staff who has called plays, who has done it at a number of different places and things.”

Ironically, Staley recalled being on the other end two years ago, when he interviewed Sorensen for the Chargers’ special teams coordinator job. Sorensen ultimately joined the 49ers as a defensive assistant, and, two years later, so has Staley.

“Talking to Kyle and John, there is a lot of common ground in how to lead a football team,” Staley said. “That is what I was looking for more than anything, an opportunity where you feel you’ll be aligned with the right people who do things the right way and you have a chance to improve, and where you also have a chance to affect a team that can compete for a championship.

“All those stars kind of aligned. It’s been energizing. That reset has allowed me to do that.”

Staley, 41, began coaching in the college ranks 2006-16, and it was early in that first job as a Northern Illinois graduate assistant that he overcame a cancer battle with Hodgkin lymphoma.

“My personal journey, there is not a day that goes by where I am not reminded of it, and I am very thankful for it,” Staley said. “Hopefully it will help me here.”

Staley’s NFL start involved coaching outside linebackers under former 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio on the Chicago Bears (2017-18) and the Denver Broncos (2019).

“Oh man, I felt like I coached for the Niners long before I got here. Working with Vic and then Ed Donnatell, they both mean a lot to me,” Staley said.

Staley was the 2020 Los Angeles Rams’ defensive coordinator when they – including new 49ers pass rusher Leonard Floyd — led the NFL in fewest points and yards allowed. That propelled Staley to a head-coaching role with SoFi Stadium’s other tenant.

He went 24-24 with the Chargers, reaching the playoffs once when their 2022 team infamously blew a 27-0 lead in a wild-card loss at Jacksonville. He was fired after Week 15 last season following a 63-21 loss in Las Vegas on ”Thursday Night Football.”

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“You take a deep look at all of it. You have to unpack it the right way. You have to take time to do that, which I did,” Staley said of getting fired. “You have to talk to a lot of different people who can help you. I read a lot. I worked out a lot. I was with my kids. Through all that, doing it the right way, it led me to an opportunity here and I was ready for it.”

That reading went far beyond playbooks. He read line after line of biographies and leadership lessons, and even economics.

“I’m a big book guy. I’m not a podcast guy. I have to read it, highlight it,” Staley said. “I’ve always looked at reading as improving, you’re getting closer to being better and more of who you can be. … I don’t really read for fun. I read to improve.”

Improving the 49ers’ defense under Sorensen’s authority is priority No. 1.

“Brandon is helping him on a lot of things just like all the other coaches do on the defensive staff,” Shanahan added. “With Brandon’s expertise just in other areas than just defense, with his expertise as a head coach and things, I thought he was a real benefit in the draft and helps me in a number of areas also.”

— The 49ers finalized their preseason schedule. They’ll visit the Tennessee Titans on Aug. 10 (4 p.m. PT), host the New Orleans Saints on Aug. 18 (5 p.m.), and finish the exhibition slate in Las Vegas against the Raiders on Aug. 23 (7 p.m.).

Monterey approves business licenses for four dispensaries

MONTEREY >> The Monterey City Council approved four storefront retail cannabis business permits for the top four applicants who applied for a spot at Tuesday’s city council meeting.

The council voted 4-0 to move forward with Monterey Responsible and Compliant Retail LLC (Embarc), Element 7 SF4 LLC (Element 7), Monterey Pacific Retail Holdings, Inc. (Culture Cannabis Club) and OTC Monterey, LLC (Off the Charts). Councilmember Ed Smith was absent.

City Council also held a drawing for the businesses to select their preferred location. Element 7 was first and chose downtown Monterey. Off the Charts was next, selecting the Lighthouse Avenue location. Culture Cannabis Club chose the Wave Street area. Embarc was last and accepted the location at North Fremont Street.

The next steps will be for each business to obtain zone clearance and their spot will be contingent on it.

During Tuesday’s meeting, the Selection Committee, which consisted of Mayor Tyller Williamson and Vice Mayor Kim Barber, went over their criteria for scoring each applicant including things like their qualifications, business plan, security plan and sustainability.

Overall public comment was supportive of having dispensaries in Monterey in general. Two issues were brought up that were addressed by City Council briefly, including the fact that all of the applicants had experience running dispensaries with locations in other cities across California. One public speaker questioned if enough effort was put into ensuring there was diversity amongst the applicants.

Councilmember Alan Haffa also addressed concerns from an online video clip of Off the Charts, that reportedly showed the business in a bad light.

“There was a video on Youtube, and a statement to the fact of ‘we don’t have to pay our vendors’ and there were other choice words used to describe those vendors,” Haffa said.

A representative for OTC Monterey, LLC responded during public comment that the video was a 30-second clip taken out of context and that the business was committed to paying vendors an appropriate wage.

“A 30-second illegally recorded, out-of-context statement can really do a lot of damage,” said Sean Maddocks, with OTC Monterey, LLC. “Off the Charts has opened 23 stores in California, and we continue to open those stores on terms with our vendors, meaning those vendors trust us to pay them on time.”

The Selection Committee also recommended four applicants be placed on a waitlist, in case any applicant drops out of the top four. This includes Infinity Assets Monterey LLC, Montery Organic LLC, Monterey Retail Group, Inc. and Dispo Monterey LLC.

Seaside City Council approves ballot question to set length of mayoral term

SEASIDE – A ballot question that would change the Seaside mayor’s term from two to four years was recently authorized by the City Council for the Nov. 5 general election.

At its meeting last Thursday, the council adopted a resolution calling for the holding of a general municipal election for the submission to the qualified voters of a question, “Shall the term of office for mayor be four years?” If passed by a majority of voters, 50% + 1, the mayor’s term would change with the 2026 general municipal election. The resolution was approved unanimously as a consent agenda item.

The mayor and council members are currently voted in at large, and since the city’s incorporation nearly 70 years ago, the mayor has been elected for a two-year term. If this ballot question passes with the majority of votes, then the mayoral candidates in the 2026 election would be running for a four-year term. Council members already serve four-year terms.

In early April, the subject came up during public comment at a city council meeting. At that time, it was requested that the council consider a ballot question to pose to Seaside voters regarding changing the length of the mayor’s term from two to fours years.

At its April 18 meeting, the city council agreed to add the item to the agenda in response to a request from Mayor Pro-Tem and Vice-Chair Dave Pacheco. The elections office was tasked with presenting proposed ballot question measures for the Nov. 5, general election.

During its May 2 meeting, the Council considered and voted unanimously to move forward with placing a question on the ballot regarding the length of the position of mayor to four years.

“There are very solid reasons for a two year term as well as for the extension to four years,” said Seaside Council member Alex Miller in his monthly newsletter released on Tuesday.

Miller said that with a two-year term, Seaside residents can reevaluate the mayor’s performance and leadership every other November. Shorter terms allow residents to address any dissatisfaction with the mayor’s performance more promptly, and it fosters a sense of responsibility as the mayor must remain responsive to the evolving needs and concerns of the community to secure reelection.

With a four-year term, Miller said extending the mayoral term to four years can provide more stability in leadership, allowing the mayor more time to implement long-term initiatives and policies without the constant pressure of reelection. With a longer term, the mayor can see projects through to completion, promoting continuity in governance and minimizing disruptions that may occur during administration transitions.

“A four-year term allows the mayor to dedicate more time and energy to governing effectively, as they are not as frequently preoccupied with the demands of reelection campaigns,” said Miller.

In California, the city council can submit whether the mayor should serve a two-year or four-year term to the electors at a general municipal election or a special election, according to a staff report. In accordance with the Government Code 34900, at any general municipal election, or at a special election held for that purpose, the city council may submit to the electors whether electors shall thereafter elect a mayor and four city council members, and whether the mayor shall serve a two-year or four-year term.

“When considering whether to extend the mayoral term to four years, it is crucial to weigh the benefits of stability and continuity against the necessity of regular checks on leadership through more frequent elections,” said Miller. “Ultimately, the decision lies in what best serves the interests of the Seaside community.”

Cal Am wants references to desal struck from CPUC hearing

SACRAMENTO — In the ongoing battle over estimates of how much water the Monterey Peninsula will have and will need, for the next few decades, California American Water Co. is asking a state regulator to strike language in a motion by Marina Coast Water District and the city of Marina relating to the company’s hoped-for desalination project.

The motions are part of a hearing before the California Public Utilities Commission, or CPUC, that could decide the fate of Cal Am’s long-sought plan to build a sizable desalination plant in Marina.

Cal Am, Marina Coast, the city of Marina, Monterey One Water, Public Water Now and the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District filed briefs with the CPUC late last month declaring what the estimated supply of water from all sources would be by 2050, and what the peninsula’s demand will be by that time.

The outcome of the current CPUC hearing is key to whether the desal plant will be needed, and consequently will be permitted. Administrative Law Judge Robert Haga will examine the April 30 motions, render an up-or-down proposed ruling and ship it off to the five-member CPUC to vote on.

All but one filing in the hearing, called Phase 2, contain evidence that Monterey One Water’s Pure Water Monterey Expansion recycling project will produce more than enough water to meet the demand for the next three decades. The one counter filing was Cal Am’s.

Phase 1 was a decision by the CPUC last year approving a water purchase agreement between Cal Am and Pure Water Monterey Expansion, which is slated to be completed by the end of next year. The Phase 2 hearing is to determine which supply and demand estimates are accurate.

Cal Am’s filing last week is asking Haga to strike portions of the public agencies’ briefs critical of the desal proposal and references to conditions the California Coastal Commission placed on the project in its conditional approval. Cal Am is arguing that any discussion of a desal plant is outside the scope of the Phase 2 hearing that is focused solely on supply and demand.

“The attempt of (Marina Coast) and Marina to address issues beyond the scope of Phase 2 is inconsistent with the Public Utilities Code and the Commission’s Rules, prejudices the parties and wastes the time and resources of the parties and the Commission,” Cal Am stated in last week’s motion. “Accordingly, (Cal Am) respectfully urges the assigned Administrative Law Judge to strike the portions of the Phase 2 briefs of (Marina Coast) and Marina.”

Opponents argue that the state of the desal project is highly relevant to any discussion of supply and demand along the peninsula.

The Coastal Commission’s conditional approval last year listed some 20 conditions that Cal Am must meet in order to receive final approval, conditions opponents say Cal Am will be hard pressed to meet. One of those conditions is the CPUC’s approval. Cal Am had received prior approval from the CPUC for a 6.4 million-gallons-per-day desal plant, but then downsized it to 4.8 million-gallons-per-day plant it put before the Coastal Commission. The downsized plant is new application that needs approval from the CPUC.

“It seems Cal Am wants to side-step the uncomfortable conversation of whether the desalination plant is actually needed.” said Dave Stoldt, the general manager of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, whose position is the Pure Water Monterey Expansion will provide all the water needed for the coming three decades. “Further, it seems like the company doesn’t want the CPUC to know what it promised the Coastal Commission in exchange for the heavily conditioned approval to move forward.”

One of the sections of Marina Coast’s brief that Cal Am wants struck is the water district’s allegation that “Cal Am fails to provide any assessment of the (desal project’s) availability and reliability and fails to include any evidence confirming that the desal project has the permits and legal approvals required for it to move forward.”

Meanwhile, the Pure Water Monterey Expansion is on track to add another 2,250 acre-feet – 730 million gallons – to the Monterey Peninsula’s water supply.

“This additional recycled water will expand the total (Pure Water Monterey) water supply to 5,750 acre-feet per year (1.87 billion gallons),” Stoldt said. “That’s over half of the Peninsula’s drinking water and all the water supply necessary for housing, jobs, growth and drought for decades.”

Paul Sciuto, general manager of Monterey One water, said the expansion project is the fruit of “dedicated policy makers, staff, consultants, and contractors” and that the end result “will be the climate resilient water supply this community has long envisioned.”

It could be a couple of months still before Haga rules on the briefs, and when he does, it is likely to generate more briefs either in support of or against his ruling.

Prepare for a change in your US travel with this visa waiver. It involves a selfie

Daniel Shoer Roth | Miami Herald (TNS)

The program that allows travelers from 41 countries to enter the United States for short-term stays without a visa is undergoing a significant update.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection has proposed changes to the ESTA application for the Visa Waiver Program that could take effect soon and affect travel. ESTA stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorization.

The ESTA authorization — an automated system used to determine the eligibility of visitors traveling to the United States — is the easiest and quickest entry permit for travelers to enter the U.S. territory visa-free.

As published in the Federal Register on April 30, Customs and Border Protection intends to update the ESTA application website to require applicants to provide a “selfie” of their faces, in addition to the usual photograph on the passport biographical page.

What about the selfie requirement to enter the US?

The selfie photos would be used to ensure that the applicant is the legitimate holder of the document used to obtain an ESTA travel authorization, authorities said.

According to the proposal, which is subject to public comments over the next 30 days, applicants previously could allow a third party to submit the ESTA application on their behalf. However, with this update, travel agents or family members would now be required to provide a photograph of the ESTA applicant.

“The ESTA Mobile application currently requires applicants to take a live photograph of their face, which is compared to the passport photo collected during the ESTA Mobile application process,” the Department of Homeland Security`s notice states. “This change will better align the application processes and requirements of ESTA website and ESTA Mobile applicants.”

The CBP notification said the public should provide comments no later than May 30.

©2024 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Summer travel boom: 82% of Americans plan to get away in 2024

Avery Newmark | (TNS) The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Get ready for a summer filled with adventure and exploration. As Memorial Day weekend approaches, signaling the official start of summer travel season, Americans are buzzing with plans to explore, relax and make lasting memories.

The Vacationer’s yearly summer travel and trends survey has dug up some insights into what vacationers have in store for the upcoming season.

An impressive 82% of adults in the United States — more than 212 million people — are planning to travel this summer. While this number is slightly lower than last year, it still demonstrates a strong desire to get away. Among these travelers, 42% plan to embark on multiple trips.

Despite a slight decrease in intention to travel by plane from last year, with 52% planning to fly at least once this summer, international travel is gaining popularity. Nearly 25% of Americans are ready to stamp their passports, with adults between 18 and 29 being the most likely to embrace this trend. In contrast, only about 10% of Americans over 60 have similar plans.

Domestic travel continues to be the top choice, with 57% of respondents opting to explore the beauty and diversity within the United States.

More than 75% of adults surveyed are revving up to hit the road this summer, with folks aged 45 to 60 leading the pack — nearly 85% in this age bracket intend to take a road trip. Although many Americans will take shorter drives — less than 100 miles or less than 250 miles — more than 33% will take a road trip more than 250 miles from home. Approximately 5.82% will journey more than 1,000 miles.

When it comes to the busiest weekends for travel, the Fourth of July takes the lead at 30%, followed by Memorial Day at nearly 22% and Labor Day at 19%, with 54% opting for none of those times. Respondents could choose all dates that applied, so percentages did not add up to 100.

So whether you’re dreaming of sandy shores, bustling city streets or quiet countryside getaways, just know you won’t be alone whether you’re on the road or in the air.

_____

©2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Horoscopes May 22, 2024: Naomi Campbell, embrace change

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Novak Djokovic, 37; Apolo Ohno, 42; Ginnifer Goodwin, 46; Naomi Campbell, 54.

Happy Birthday: Put pressure on yourself to make things happen this year. Learn, explore and experiment. It’s up to you to connect with experts who can point you in the right direction. Embrace change and pursue your dreams with a smile and a kind heart, and you will reap the rewards. Your numbers are 2, 10, 18, 26, 34, 42, 45.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take care of legal, financial and medical issues swiftly. Changing how you handle your investments or do a job will offer insight into personal gain and something that makes you feel good about yourself and the direction you are heading. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Get involved, do your part and make a difference. Putting your energy where it makes you feel good will help clear any misconceptions regarding possibilities and what you can contribute. Romance, personal gain and self-improvement are favored. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Make up your mind and start your day with determination and a plan that helps you reach your goal. Don’t let anyone slow you down. An astute view of your situation will help you make the right moves. Position yourself for success and proceed. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Expand your mind, vision and plans to suit your needs. Following through with something meaningful will align you with like-minded people and possibilities. Stop contemplating and start following your heart and exploring your options. 5 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Someone will block you using emotional tactics. The less often you deal with others, the easier it will be to get things done. Channel your energy into learning and honing your skills to accommodate your goals. Tunnel vision will get you where you want to go. 2 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You are on the right path; let your imagination flow and shape how you want to proceed. Share your thoughts, listen to experts and set criteria to reach your objective. Personal gain, peace and love are apparent and will lead to your desired security. 4 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Fix your surroundings and make your space conducive to your goal. A proper workspace that can help you achieve the most will boost your morale and feed your imagination. Don’t settle for less when you can have so much more. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Keep the momentum flowing. Get involved, speak your mind, and make your intentions and feelings clear to those who matter to you. Ignore anyone pressuring you to do things that benefit them more than you, and you’ll gain perspective and achieve your goal. Personal gain is favored. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Take a break. Refrain from letting monotony settle in and ruin your day. Return to basics, consider what matters most and redesign your schedule to meet your needs. An energetic activity will pump you up and renew your faith in yourself and what you can achieve. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Join forces with those who share your concerns. You can make a difference if you participate. Pay attention to detail, and make concessions to explore your options. A personal change looks promising and will promote love and personal growth. 4 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Take your time. Don’t trust what others do or say. Follow your heart and use common sense when dealing with domestic issues and the changes those around you want to implement. Pay more attention to health, fitness and striving to be your best. 2 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Do whatever it takes to educate, enforce your plans and change what isn’t working for you anymore. Opportunity begins with you, so don’t be afraid to take the path that beckons you instead of following the crowd. Choose to love yourself. 5 stars

Birthday Baby: You are imaginative, energetic and flexible. You are compassionate and helpful.

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. 

CCS postseason: Alvarez to play for third straight section softball title

SALINAS — A season that began with such promise along with a record-breaking start hit a pair of roadblocks that changed the dynamics of Alvarez’s spring.

Perseverance meant overcoming a seven-game losing streak from a pair of tournaments, followed by a five-game skid — at one point sitting at 2-9 in the Gabilan Division.

“We had to let them know that the losses are learning lessons,” Alvarez coach Andy Meza said. “We had two key injuries. A lot of the younger players had to step up and fill some shoes. We told them we’re still a strong team.

That championship pedigree that catapulted the Eagles to a pair or Central Coast Section didn’t disappear. It just needed to be redefined.

Alvarez will await the North Salinas-Santa Teresa winner in its bit to three-peat after Tuesday’s 10-0, six inning win over San Mateo in the Division III semifinals at the Salinas Sports Complex.

“I’d love to see an all local championship,” Meza said. “We’ve battled adversity throughout the year. I like to get another shot at North Salinas.”

Alvarez (16-12) dropped both of its Gabilan Division games to North Salinas — the defending CCS Division V champion — by scores of 5-2 and 6-2.

A meeting with No. 2 seed Santa Teresa would mean a rematch of last year’s CCS Division III title game, in which the No. 4 seeded Eagles secured a 5-2 win.

“Honestly, at the end of the game, there wasn’t a big celebration,” Meza said. “The talk was we’re not finished yet. We have more work in front of us.”

Opening the season with a school record nine-game winning streak, the Eagles suffered a pair of injuries to two key parts to its offense. What transpired was a 2-12 stretch.

“The 0-7 skid hurt the ego,” Meza said. “We went through a rough stretch. But we battled. We had to findn ourselves until these kids came back.”

Closing the regular season with three straight wins and a play-in win brought the confidence back for the postseason, where for the first time in two months, Alvarez has its entire lineup intact.

“No, I didn’t expect this a month ago,” Meza said. “I love my coaching staff. They inspire the girls and push them. There part of the season we’re at this point.”

It doesn’t hurt have an ace in the circle in junior Dani Amendola in the circle, as the right-hander struck out 12 in six innings, allowing one hit.

In two postseason game, the all-county hurler has 22 strikeouts in 13 innings, allowing just one earned run. Amendola also has a game-winning hit to her credit.

Amaris Perez continued to swing a hot bat for the Eagles with three hits, including a double and triple. In two playoff games, she is 5-for-7 at the plate with three steals.

Alexia Meza doubled and tripled and drove in two runs, while Lizbeth Ramirez finished with two hits and an RBI. Having Jazzy Riemedio back in the lineup has been bonus, as she drove in three runs, two coming on a single to end the game.

Baseball

Capuchino 4, Monterey 3: The top-seeded Mustangs erupted for four runs in the sixth inning to erase a three-run deficit and knock off Monterey under the lights at Sollecito Park.

The No. 4 seeded Toreadores, who came into the semifinals riding a three-game winning streak, including a playoff opening win over Soledad, jumped out to a 3-0 lead before Capuchino rallied in the bottom of the sixth.

Monterey left the bases loaded in the seventh.

Jackson Everett was sailing along with a shutout through five innings for Monterey, who finishes the season 14-16, having missed the playoffs just once in the last 30 years.

Capuchino and Monterey both finished sixth in their respective leagues this past spring. The San Bruno-based school is 13-2 outside the Peninsula Bay Division, improving to 19-10 overall.

The Mustangs are making their second straight finals appearance, having fallen 3-0 last year to Hillsdale. Prior to that, they hadn’t reached the CCS finals since 1981.

A sacrifice fly from Gino Grammatico staked Monterey to a 1-0 lead. A run-scoring single from Matteo Marotta-Gallegos drove in Pat Adams in the sixth to give them a three-run cushion.

Lincoln 6, Alisal 4: The Grizzlies rallied for four runs in the seventh inning to stun No. 2 seed Alisal in the CCS Division VI semifinals at Hartnell College.

Champions of the Mission Division, Alisal had jumped out to a 4-1 lead through five innings, pushing across runs in the first, fourth and fifth innings — with the benefit of just three hits.

Pitcher Julian Valadez was sailing along for the Trojans (19-8) through six innings, before a hits batsman with one out in the seventh inning ended his night.

What transpired was a fielders choice and error that paved the way for No. 3 seed Lincoln to push across four runs to erase a two-run deficit.

While Alisal got the tying run to the plate in the seventh inning, a double play whipped it out, sending Lincoln to the finals for the first time in school history.

Angel Barajas, Xavier Mendez, Caleb Gabriel and JP Serrato all drove in runs for Alisal.

SF Giants’ win streak comes to an end as they blow 4-run lead in 9th inning to Pirates

PITTSBURGH — Everything, it seemed, had been going the Giants’ way this week. They shook the monkey of being the majors’ last team to win three games in a row off their back, reeled off a fourth and were in position to extend their win streak to five Tuesday evening when the ninth inning began.

Holding a 6-2 lead, the Giants didn’t send Camilo Doval out to start the inning on the mound. But he ended it by walking back to the visitor’s dugout after blowing a save situation that didn’t exist when Luke Jackson took over at the beginning of the frame.

After allowing the Pirates to tie the score in the ninth, it took only one pitch into the bottom of the 10th for the Giants’ four-game win streak to come to an end, 7-6.

“We had a game tonight that we should’ve won,” said the Giants’ starter, Logan Webb, whose six two-run innings went to waste. “It doesn’t make it feel any better just because we won four in row before that. It should’ve been five in a row.”

Nick Gonzales laced Erik Miller’s first pitch into center field, driving home the Pirates’ automatic runner. The Giants weren’t able to score theirs in the top half of the inning after Jackson, Doval and some shoddy defense teamed up to blow a four-run lead.

Manager Bob Melvin gave Jackson three batters in the ninth — two of whom reached base — before calling on his closer.

“They get two guys on, we bring Doval in for the save and it’s 6-2 with two guys on,” Melvin said, “you feel pretty good about winning the game.”

The usually dominant Doval struggled to find the strike zone, Marco Luciano — the Giants’ rookie shortstop — bobbled a potential game-ending double play grounder, and a Pirates rookie making his major-league debut snuck a single past second baseman Thairo Estrada to extend the inning.

Doval was charged with his first blown save of the season, though the first two runs were charged to Jackson and the final two were unearned because of Luciano’s error.

“He did his job,” Luciano said of Doval through Spanish-language interpreter Erwin Higueros. “I felt bad for him. I felt bad for me. I want to help, at least, to get a force out. But those are things that happen. … I did not put my glove in the right way. I was undecided how I wanted to field the ball.”

The game came down to power against power: the hard-throwing Doval vs. Oneil Cruz, who earlier lined the hardest-hit ball in the majors this season — an exit velocity of 120.4 mph — off Webb, who was in line for the win until the 6-foot-7 shortstop’s third hit of the night.

Wasting no time, Cruz attacked the second pitch of the at-bat — a 100.3 mph cutter — and dethroned himself from the top of the leaderboard. He sent a double screaming into the right-field corner at 121.5 mph, allowing the tying run to mosey home from third base. That it was hit so hard might have been the only reason the would-be winning run, the speedy Bryan Reynolds, received the stop sign when he reached third.

Just as they became the last team in the majors to win three games in a row, the Giants became the last to lose when scoring at least five runs. The previous 15 times they had reached that figure it had been enough to win.

While they built a 6-2 lead behind a pair of home runs from Thairo Estrada and Matt Chapman and six strong innings from Webb, early miscues and missed opportunities came back to haunt them. They went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position — including all three at-bats with their automatic runner on second base in the 10th — and stranded 10 men on base.

“We had plenty of opportunities to widen the lead earlier in the game,” Melvin said. “But a lot of times it ends up being in close games like that late, you’ve got to play good defense.”

Working around base runners in five of his six innings, Webb limited the Pirates to two runs on six hits and struck out six — all on his changeup — but the one walk he issued, to the last man in the Pirates’ lineup, came back to bite him.

After putting Ji Hwan Bae on base, Webb allowed the Pirates’ rookie center fielder to steal second, then advance to third when he failed to cover first base, allowing Andrew McCutchen to leg out an infield single. The next batter, Reynolds, bounced a ground ball that allowed Bae to score.

“I’ve got to get over there,” Webb said. “The way he hit it, I was kind of watching the ball. But you’ve just got to go right over there. The way he hit it, was spinning a little weird. I just didn’t think about it. I’ve gotta get over to save the run for us. Today, maybe that’s the difference in the game.”

The Giants have lost four of Webb’s past five starts, though he has limited opponents to four runs over his past three starts.

With three RBIs, Estrada increased his team-leading total to 29. Two came on his fifth-inning blast that made the score 4-1, and he added another in the eighth.

Chapman negated the run the Pirates scored after Estrada’s homer with a line drive that carried over the center field wall to make it 5-2. Adding a sharp double in his previous at-bat, Chapman is batting .378 (14-for-37) with six two-base hits and a pair of homers since the start of the past home stand, raising his OPS to .718 from .601.

Wilmer Flores was not credited with a base hit or any RBIs on the ball off his bat that opened the scoring but provided a pair of singles for his fourth multi-hit game of the season, the second of which came after the Pirates swapped in a right-handed reliever for the left-handed Pérez.

It was an easy scoring decision in the first inning to charge an error to Cruz, who called off his left fielder while backpedaling onto the outfield grass, where the late-afternoon sun was blaring. It should have been a routine play and the third out of the inning but instead turned into two runs.

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On his three hits, Cruz recorded the two hardest-hit batted balls in the majors this season and another that ranked in the top 16.

His line drive in the first inning reached the right-field wall so quickly it limited him to a single. The ball left his bat at 120.4 mph, briefly topping Giancarlo Stanton for the highest single exit velocity recorded in MLB this season, only to lose the title to his 121.5 mph double off Doval.

There had been 19 total balls put in play 120-plus mph since Statcast began tracking the data in 2015 before Cruz contributed two in one game.

Cruz’s double in his second at-bat was clocked at a mere 116.3 mph, a figure topped by Giants hitters only twice since 2015 (Joc Pederson, 116.6 mph, in 2023; and Mac Williamson, 116.8 mph, in 2016).

“I was searching for the exit velocity after the first one,” Webb said. “I knew it was hit very hard. I saw that, and then the second one, I thought might’ve beat the first one.”

Up next

LHP Blake Snell (0-3, 11.73) is expected to be activated from the injured list to oppose RHP Jared Jones (3-4, 2.89) in the second game of the series, with first pitch scheduled for 3:40 p.m. PT Wednesday.