Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 72

What we learned about Warriors from NBA Summer League

After eight games in two cities, the Warriors concluded their Summer League schedule on Saturday. 

They beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 82-71 at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Chris Manon led Golden State with 17 points on 4 of 5 shooting, while teammates Ja’Vier Francis and Blake Hinson combined for 25 points. UCLA product Jules Bernard scored 16 off the bench. 

Now that the summer exhibitions are over, it is time to figure out what can be gleaned from the games. 

Here’s what we learned:  

Will Richard looks like a steal

During the predraft process, general manager Mike Dunleavy made sure to emphasize that the team would like — but was not expecting — to select an immediate contributor in the second round. 

If Summer League is anything to go by, Dunleavy might be pleasantly surprised by at least one of the team’s two draft picks.

Will Richard, who helped Florida win the national championship last spring, was the Warriors’ most consistent player during the summer games.

Unlike many teams that try to give their draft picks reps as the No. 1 scoring option, Warriors summer coach Lainn Wilson placed the 6-foot-4, 22-year-old Richard in the position of a 3-and-D wing, one that he will likely play if he receives minutes during the NBA season. 

The rookie thrived in that role, averaging 10.3 points on 48.5% shooting in his four games in Las Vegas, displaying a willingness to fire away off the catch and attack the basket on cuts and drives.

While his defense can be handsy at times, leading to fouls, Richard has not backed down from high-profile matchups. 

Toohey a work in progress

Alex Toohey does not fit the traditional mold of a “project player,” being neither exceptionally athletic nor a knockdown shooter. 

But after Summer League, there is no question the 21-year-old Australian forward has a ways to go before he is NBA-ready.

Flashes of talent are there for the 6-foot-8 power forward, like when he made a series of nifty reverse layups around Utah’s rotation center Kyle Filipowski during a 15-point night. 

He also took advantage of ballhandling opportunities by bringing the ball up the floor in transition and appeared comfortable in open space. 

But Toohey’s lack of burst was also apparent in the helter-skelter Summer League environment, and he had trouble getting into gaps against NBA-caliber defenses. His poor shooting percentages reflected that. 

Expect to see Toohey spend most of the year developing in Santa Cruz. 

Lainn Wilson can coach

The Warriors had, arguably, the least-heralded Summer League roster. Second-year center Quinten Post did not play, and there were no ballyhooed prospects on a roster populated by NBA hopefuls, benchwarmers and future all-stars in Puerto Rico’s Baloncesto Superior Nacional. 

So for the Warriors to win 4 of 8 games while shuffling through lineups like a hand of blackjack at the nearby Aria was a credit to Wilson’s ability to squeeze every last ounce of talent out of his squad. 

The former video coordinator was recently promoted to the head coach of the Santa Cruz Warriors, which means he will be in charge of developing at least a few of the players from his overachieving Summer League squad. 

Armstrong makes good first impression

Despite spending the last four months of the season with the Warriors organization after being signed from Australia’s National Basketball League, an air of mystery still surrounded 23-year-old Tasmanian point guard Taran Armstrong. 

The 6-5 floor general impressed in his Summer League minutes as the only true table-setter on the roster. Entering Saturday’s finale, he averaged 7.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists while playing with an assorted bunch. 

Like his Australian brethren Toohey, Armstrong is not a particularly twitchy athlete, which showed in Thursday’s loss to the Raptors. But he made the most of his catch-and-shoot opportunities and sprayed the ball around as a passer. 

For a Warriors team desperate for young – and cheap – players, Armstrong might be a factor in the rotation. 

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Other Warriors notables

– Chris Manon may not make an NBA roster, but the undrafted rookie forward probably earned a pro basketball contract somewhere with his high-energy style. He cannot shoot, but that does not matter when you play with the kind of energy — and defend — at the level the Vanderbilt alum does. 

– Second-year big man Jackson Rowe did his best Draymond Green impression during Summer League, making a number of impressive passes as the short-roll playmaker. The 28-year-old could be a factor in the Warriors’ rotation this season.

– Coleman Hawkins was quite vocal about his belief that he should have been drafted, and the 6-foot-10 Sacramento native was probably right. Aside from an atrocious game against the Raptors, he was a high-energy and athletic big who flashed some high-level passing ability out of the high post. 

– Gabe Madsen’s 22-point outburst against the Jazz – six 3-pointers in the first half – was the kind of random fun that can occur in the Summer League. And shooting over 50% from 3-point land and the field as whole will pique some team’s interest, whether it’s in the U.S. or overseas. 

– A year after tearing his Achilles, Marques Bolden made his return to the court. Even if he does not make it back to the NBA, he will likely sign with a G-League team or play outside of the U.S. 

49ers release special teams standout George Odum amid major overhaul

By Josh Dubow, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SANTA CLARA — The San Francisco 49ers released special teams standout George Odum on Saturday in the latest move to overhaul that unit.

Odum had been placed on the non-football injury list on Friday with a knee injury and now is off the roster entirely before the first training camp practice is scheduled for Wednesday.

Odum had spent the past three seasons with the Niners, leading them with 759 snaps on special teams and tied for the fourth-most special teams tackles in the NFL with 36 in that span.

Odum was a second-team All-Pro for San Francisco in 2022 but missed 11 games the past two seasons with injuries.

The Niners have made major changes on their special teams after struggles in 2024 led to the firing of coordinator Brian Schneider. Brant Boyer was hired to take over and has made changes at punter, with Thomas Morstead replacing Mitch Wishnowsky and long snapper with Jon Weeks replacing Taybor Pepper.

The Niners also brought in kicker Greg Joseph to compete with incumbent Jake Moody and several other players with extensive special teams experience including linebackers Chazz Surratt and Luke Gifford, tight end Luke Farrell and defensive backs Richie Grant, Siran Neal and Jason Pinnock.

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The Niners placed several other players on injured lists Friday to start training camp, with all being eligible to be activated at any time. Receivers Brandon Aiyuk (knee) and Ricky Pearsall (hamstring), safety Malik Mustapha (knee), linebacker Curtis Robinson (knee), defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos (undisclosed) and offensive lineman Andre Dillard (undisclosed) are all on the physically unable to perform list.

Offensive lineman Ben Bartch (undisclosed) is on the non-football injury list.

 

SF Giants lose second straight game in Toronto, this time with Logan Webb on mound

The Toronto Blue Jays have illustrated through two games why they went into Saturday with a three-game lead in the American League East.

The Giants, meanwhile, continue to plod along on the fringe of the National League wild card race after a 6-3 road loss at Rogers Centre.

Toronto (57-41) broke through for four runs against Giants starter Logan Webb (9-7) in the sixth inning after getting plenty of baserunners but no runs through the first five. The Giants (52-47) got a pair of solo home runs from Willy Adames – his 13th and 14th of the season – and a sacrifice fly from Heliot Ramos but nothing else.

Webb ended up giving up 11 hits in all and had just one strikeout — his lowest total of the season.

“They don’t strike out much,” Webb said. “It seemed like they swung at every first pitch I threw. Seemed like they were on every first pitch I threw. It wasn’t fun.”

Left-hander Eric Lauer (5-2) was the winning pitcher for Toronto, getting relief help from Chad Green, Brenden Little and Jeff Hoffman finishing up with an inning each. Hoffman recorded his 23rd save.

Tyler Heineman of Toronto hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth against Ryan Walker, his third of the season. Heineman played 15 games for the Giants in 2020, hitting .190.

Adames’ second home run of the game came against Green in the seventh inning. It left the bat at 107.5 miles per hour and carried 386 feet, getting the Giants within 4-3.

Getty ImagesWilly Adames of the Giants hits a fifth inning solo home run Saturday in a 6-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Giants managed just four hits, however, while the Blue Jays had 14.

Lauer was done after six innings, throwing 81 pitches with 58 strikes. He had no walks and seven strikeouts, including five of the first six Giants’ hitters.

“He threw back door cutters and his fastball had a little bit more on it than we expected,” Giants manager Bob Melvin told reporters. “His change-up was pretty good. Once Willy got the home run it felt a little bit better, but we ended with just four hits. Just not enough.”

Webb kept working out of trouble through five innings before things came undone in the sixth. It was the second straight game Webb gave up four sixth-inning runs, having done it against the Dodgers before the All-Star break.

Bo Bichette opened the Jays’ sixth with a single and was doubled to third by Addison Barger. Webb got Joey Loperfido on an infield pop-up before Ernie Clement singled on a seven-pitch at-bat, scoring Bichette and sending Barger to third.

That brought up Will Wagner, who doubled in between Matos in left and Jung Hoo Lee to bring in two runs. Heineman then hit a sinking liner to Ramos, with the Giants left fielder getting a poor break on the ball and then failing to secure it on a dive. It went for a double and another run.

By the time Webb got the third out, he’d thrown 24 pitches in the inning after not throwing more than 13 in any of the previous five innings. Randy Rodriguez took over in the seventh, with Webb having a 70 percent strike percentage (56 of 80) but giving up the four earned runs on 11 hits.

“It’s the second time in a row I’ve given up four runs in the sixth inning, so I’ve got to figure something out,” Webb said.

After Lauer had retried the first 12 batters, Adames hit a 391-foot home run to left field to give the Giants their first run of the game on their first hit. It was also their first run in 13 innings against Toronto. The ball left the bat at 106.5 mph, with Adames giving it an admiring look as it sailed over the fence.

In the sixth, Matos doubled into the left field corner, went to third on a fly to center by Patrick Bailey and scored on a fly to right by Ramos. Matos scored despite a strong throw from Barger in right field.

It was an unusual first three innings for Webb, who economized his pitch count (32) while at the same time giving up four hits, a walk and a hit batter. He was helped by two double plays, including a line drive to Casey Schmitt by Bichette to end the third.

NOTABLE

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— Clement, Wagner and Heineman — Toronto’s 7-8-9 hitters — were 6-for-10 and accounted for four runs and five RBIs.

— Robbie Ray, the other Giants starter who was an All-Star, takes his 9-3 record into Sunday’s game hoping to avoid a sweep against Jose Berrios (5-4).

— In the first two games of the series, the Giants struck out 21 times and didn’t draw any walks.

— After getting two hits and hitting the ball on the nose three times in Friday’s game, Rafael Devers was 0-for-4 with a strikeout.

 

Sand City sees reenergized ‘Art Park’ as living, community, creative space

SAND CITY – About a year ago, the city of Sand City purchased a parcel that completed a square area in the West End district of this small Monterey Peninsula jurisdiction. Now that city-owned site is being considered for redevelopment of living, business and community purposes.

The “Art Park” is a city-owned property located at the corner of Contra Costa Street and Ortiz Avenue in the art district of Sand City. Made up of four parcels, the last of which was purchased in the last year, this city-owned site is about three-quarters of an acre.

“The Art Park is in the heart of the city’s West End District – which the city has for many years worked at energizing,” said Sand City City Manager Vibeke Norgaard. “The city prides itself as an artist’s enclave and is seeking ways to provide additional affordable housing and workspace for artists. The city has envisioned a way to provide much-needed housing while still maintaining the site as a community gathering space.”

In February 2024, city staff presented a number of ideas for the short-term, midterm, and long-term use of the Art Park site to City Council during an “Art Park Visioning Workshop.” Based on the options presented, the Council provided direction to staff to explore use of the Art Park site to provide affordable housing geared toward artists, retain an undeveloped park-like area to be used for community events and to provide food and beverage and art studio space.

Since receiving direction from the City Council in February of 2024, city staff have been working with ELS Architecture and Urban Design to develop a programmatic concept for the Art Park site that retains the open space Art Park plaza, provides affordable housing, provides art studio space and provides food and beverage space, according to city documents.

“The goal is to construct an art-focused mixed-use project that includes community event space, affordable housing, art workshop space, four artist live-work units with art gallery space and food and beverage space,” explained Norgaard.

The number of affordable residential units has not yet been determined. However, at least 16 of the units will be deed-restricted affordable – eight extremely-low income and eight low-income units – as required by Sand City’s 2023-2031 Housing Element.

As a city-owned site, the Art Park has the potential to serve city-identified community needs and to play an important part in Sand City’s efforts to catalyze development and build additional housing in the West End District.

In its current iteration, the Art Park is available for rent to be used as an event space and is the location of the monthly 831 Night Market and occasional drumming lessons, according to the city. While the Art Park does become lively once a month during the 831 Night Market, it is generally underutilized. Over the years, the city has identified a number of potential uses and priorities for the Art Park site. These have included parking, housing, food and beverage, and civic/community space.

At a recent Sand City City Council meeting, the council authorized a partnership with a developer to develop the site.

“That arrangement could take the form of a public-private partnership, a joint venture or a ground lease,” said Norgaard. “City staff will now determine the best way forward to ensure the project can be constructed.”

Norgaard said the next step is for Sand City to develop a plan to complete the project, such as creating a request for proposals to potential developers.

College athletics: Teresa completes book on the history of Hartnell football

SALNAS – Retirement has not kept Danny Teresa from adding to his legacy as a player, coach, administrator and now author at Hartnell College.

A year after producing a book on the history of Hartnell baseball, the recently retired athletic director has completed his book on Hartnell football.

Unlike his baseball book on the Panthers’ program, which was 250 pages, nearly 90 years of Hartnell football put the book at nearly 500 pages.

Football at Hartnell “started in 1932,” said Teresa, who played football and baseball at Hartnell in 1981-82. “It was a lot of research through archives, old programs and talking to different people.”

Teresa, who remains on the Hartnell Hall of Fame committee, wanted to compile one last project from his 35-plus-year career.

“After the baseball book, a lot of my friends and former players said ‘what about the tradition of Hartnell football?’” Teresa said. “It’s one of the richest sports at Hartnell and in the nation.”

Teresa has spent the past two years sifting through old papers and programs, finding results, as well as stats and team photos that date back to 1932.

“Sports stories in the 1930s and ’40s were mixed in with other articles in the newspaper,” Teresa said. “It made it a little more challenging.”

Having played and coached at Hartnell, along with his father Tony, Teresa found stories that he wasn’t aware of about the program’s history.

“When the war broke out in the 1940s, football was an intramural program,” Teresa said. “So there wasn’t as much information. Seeing the names that came through here is mindblowing.”

Hartnell’s storied past includes playing to a tie in the 1952 Junior College Rose Bowl. Yet, that might not have been the school’s best team.

In 1958, behind All-America running back Jim Stireman, Hartnell went undefeated, but didn’t get invited to the JC Rose Bowl.

To this day, it is one of just two teams that completed perfection, joining the 1953 team that went undefeated and untied.

Ironically, 25 years after that 1958 undefeated team, Teresa and Stireman’s son David, played together at Hartnell for one season in 1982, leading the team to a conference title.

“I don’t know the whole story of why they did not get invited,” Teresa said. “But it was one of the better teams Hartnell has ever had. That team is in the school’s Hall of Fame.”

As Teresa continued his research, he stumbled upon a throwback in Ron Critchfield, who participated in football, basketball and track and field at Hartnell.

Critchfield compiled nearly 500 wins as a boys basketball coach in the county, achieving most of his success at Palma.

“The amount of JC All-Americans that went through Hartnell is incredible,” Teresa said. “We could put two or three players each year into the Hall of Fame based on making all-state.”

Among the notable names who went on and played pro football include Ed Brown, Bob Kelly, Tony Teresa, Gary Plumlee, Rocky Thompson, Greg Cox, Anthony Toney and Carl Nicks.

Teresa estimated over 5,500 athletes have played football at Hartnell.

The football program has 30 conference titles on its resume and 16 bowl wins, making it No. 18 in the nation with over 500 career wins.

“This book will have stats for all individuals, as well as team stats of nearly 800 games, not to mention stories,” Teresa said. “There are articles from games over the last 90 years.”

In addition to players’ stats, the records of all coaches were recorded, including Marv Grim, who won a school record 108 games over 14 years, compiling a 73 percent winning percentage.

Matt Collins put together the longest run as a Hartnell football coach at 17 years, winning 93 games, while Dick Voris was nearly perfect in two seasons, going 20-0-1 in 1952-53.

“The reaction I’ve gotten from some of the former coaches and teammates I’ve shown it to – the expression on their faces said it all,” Teresa said.

Teresa hopes to have the book on Amazon by mid-August.

“It is so thick, we can only do a hard cover,” Teresa said. “I feel pretty good about it.”

California reaches new record clean energy milestone

California has hit a new record for clean energy.

Solar, wind, hydropower and other carbon-free sources made up 67% of the state’s retail electricity supply in 2023, the most recent year that data is available, according to new statistics released Monday by the California Energy Commission.

The total is up from 2022, when it was 61%. It exceeds the prior record of 64%, set in 2019.

Under a state law signed by former Gov. Jerry Brown in 2018 aimed at reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions that are contributing to climate change, California is required to reach 100% renewable and carbon-free electricity by 2045.

Solar, wind, geothermal, large hydropower, biomass and nuclear energy are allowed to count under the law.

“This is a major milestone on our journey to a 100% clean energy future” said David Hochschild, chairman of the California Energy Commission. “Two-thirds clean energy was considered mythology even 10 years ago. Alternative energy is now the wrong word to use for renewables. And we are just getting started. The momentum is profound.”

The new record comes as renewable energy is facing several headwinds.

Earlier this month, Republicans in Congress passed and President Trump signed a bill that removes and reduces many of the tax breaks, federal grants and other incentives that were put in place by President Biden to encourage states, private companies and homeowners to expand renewable energy and electric vehicles.

Trump also signed an executive order on July 7 directing the Treasury Department to review tax subsidies to renewable energy.

“Ending the massive cost of taxpayer handouts to unreliable energy sources is vital to energy dominance, national security, economic growth and the fiscal health of the nation,” Trump wrote.

Gov. Gavin Newsom called that approach, in which Trump continued long-running subsidies for oil and gas, a mistake.

“As the federal government turns its back on innovation and commonsense, California is making our clean energy future a reality,” Newsom said Monday in a statement. “The world’s fourth-largest economy is running on two-thirds clean power – the largest economy on the planet to achieve this milestone.”

California has some of the highest electricity costs of any state. The average retail electricity price in California in April was 31.77 cents a kilowatt-hour, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, nearly twice the national average of 17.45 cents. Only Hawaii (42.44 cents) and Connecticut (32.28 cents) were more expensive.

“Governor Newsom’s press release is a perfect example of political theater. He brags about a 67% clean energy milestone but ignores the real story,” said Steve Hilton, a Republican running for governor in 2026. “California families and small businesses pay the highest electricity prices in the nation, we have one of the highest poverty rates, and our economy is being choked by overregulation and soaring energy costs.”

Polls show clean energy remains popular. In a poll last year by the non-partisan Public Policy Institute of California, 66% of California voters said they support the state’s law requiring 100% clean energy by 2045.

An array of solar panels collects sunshine in the foreground of Mount Shasta in Weed, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Hochschild said part of the reason for high electricity costs is wildfires. State regulators have required utilities like PG&E to bury powerlines in highly flammable areas to reduce fire risk, which can cost millions of dollars a mile.

Frank Wolak, a Stanford University energy economist, noted that clean energy mandates are a big reason Californians pay twice as much for electricity as people in Texas and other states.

“Renewable energy is great,” Wolak said. “But the burden often falls on people who are renting and living in apartment complexes. People who don’t own a house can’t put solar panels on the roof to lower their electricity bills.”

One of the main challenges is that the sun doesn’t shine at night and the wind doesn’t always blow.

To address that, California regulators have pushed utilities and other companies in recent years to build battery storage plants. The plants capture electricity generated by solar farms during hot parts of the day and then release it back onto the power grid at night after the sun goes down.

Battery storage has increased tenfold in the past five years in California, from 1,474 megawatts in 2020 to 15,763 megawatts now, according to the California Energy Commission. A megawatt is enough electricity to run 750 homes. California has been building battery storage faster than anywhere in the world except China.

But a major fire in January at one of the world’s largest battery storage plants, run by Texas-based Vistra in Moss Landing,  has raised safety concerns about the technology and given rise to community groups opposing new plants in their neighborhoods.

Nevertheless, the California Energy Commission last month approved the world’s largest battery solar project, a huge new facility in Fresno County, the Darden Energy Project.

Many more will have to be built, Hochschild said. Electricity demand is steadily growing statewide due the growth in electric car sales — 25% of new car sales in California are now electric vehicles, the most of any state — along with the expanded demand from data centers needed for artificial intelligence.

The state will need 52,000 megawatts of battery storage by 2045, the energy commission estimates.

Hochschild said the Moss Landing plant was built five years ago using battery chemistry that is now being replaced by safer technology. And the facility was built by stacking thousands of lithium-ion batteries inside an old PG&E concrete building. New standards require each battery unit to be outside, separated from each other with sensors and alarms.

“I don’t believe there are safer battery standards anywhere in the world for what we require here,” Hochschild said. “I have to vote on all these projects. I will never vote to approve a battery storage project or any project that I feel wouldn’t be safe in my community or my house.”

Liza Horvath, Senior Advocate: Killing the messenger

Dear Readers, This column was originally published in 2017. I have received questions about the professional fiduciary field so I am rerunning this column with a few updates. Enjoy!

“A professional fiduciary could easily spend all day simply complying with the rules. To do so, however, would be to miss the forest for the trees because trustees have a higher calling, a duty to their beneficiaries that far exceeds the regulatory and legal responsibilities,” Gail E. Cohen, vice chairman and general counsel, Fiduciary Trust Company.

Many families use trust agreements to pass wealth from generation to generation. When spouses are involved, tax planning can be a motivation to use a trust but many times property is held in trust so that a child or other heir who may not be ready to manage money does not get a huge amount of assets dumped in their lap and go on to waste or lose those assets. Over the years, we have seen “trust babies” – Paris Hilton, for example – act out and misbehave believing that the silver spoon in their mouth entitles them to treat others (and themselves in the process) as less-than.

Most of the time, parents, uncles and grandparents are well intentioned in setting up trusts for heirs seeking to help a child with educational expenses, a down payment for a first home or funds to start a business. These are all excellent ways to encourage a child to better themselves.

The rub is – who is going to administer the trust? Do parents really want a sibling to be the “overlord” of the other – mandating the production of school transcripts or a viable business plan in order to be given support? History shows that it is rarely a good idea to have an adult child, friend or other relatively inexperienced trustee in a position where “a trustee’s discretion” must be used to make sure the intentions of Mom and Dad are carried out properly. As a result, the professional fiduciary is born. Bank trust departments have historically been the only professional trustees but more and more individuals are becoming fiduciaries as their chosen profession. In 2006, the Professional Fiduciaries Act was enacted and California began regulating the fiduciary profession.

But why? One litigation attorney warned me that, “As a professional fiduciary, you walk around with a target on your back.” The job is technical and there are many ways to err, but another contributing factor can be the resentment of the heir. Many trust beneficiaries are angry and, instead of seeing the trust as a gift, they perceive the trustee as controlling their money and therefore limiting their happiness. Until a beneficiary grows out of such a perception, the trustee can be the target of aggression, ridicule and, often, lawsuits. They kill the messenger.

Sometimes a professional fiduciary is the only and best choice. A son is married to a woman you distrust? Leave his assets in trust and have the experienced trustee fend off the divorce lawyers. A daughter that could be easily taken advantage of?  Who better than a stern fiduciary to help her stay out of another’s crosshairs?

Trust agreements are, at their essence, relationships framed by a legal structure but, is a trustee really one that is drawn to a higher calling? That seems a bit self-aggrandizing. Passionate and committed to a profession that is helpful to many but resented by some may be more accurate.

Liza Horvath has over 30 years of experience in the estate planning and trust fields and is a licensed professional fiduciary. Horvath currently serves as president of Monterey Trust Management. This is not intended to be legal or tax advice. If you have questions call (831) 646-5262 or email liza@montereytrust.com 

Pulealli searching for playing time in final season at UCLA

Offensive lineman Noah Pulealli will look to see the field in his final collegiate football season for UCLA.

A four-time member of the Athletic Director’s honor roll, the redshirt senior has spent most of his career playing on the Bruins scout teams.

A Palma graduate and former four-star recruit by 247Sports, Pulealli comes into the season as a 6-foot-3, 310-pound tackle/guard.

A member of The Herald’s All-County football team as a junior in 2019, Pulealli also played basketball at Palma.

210 fall athletes to watch over 70 days

Alondra Rios, Alisal cross country: One of the reasons Alisal will be the favorites to repeat as Gabilan Division champions is the return of the junior distance ace.

Rios is among four returning runners for the Trojans, running three plus minutes faster than her freshman season in 2023. The junior ran track in the spring to improve her speed.

Ryder Eldridge, Pacific Grove water polo: Evolving last year as a sophomore, Eldridge will see his role increase on the offensive end this fall for the Breakers.

Finishing among Pacific Grove’s team leaders in steals last season, Eldridge quietly produced 30 goals on a team with four senior scorers.

Jeremiah Laui, Seaside football: A member of The Herald’s All-County Defensive team as a sophomore in 2023, injuries cut into Laui’s season last fall.

Used as a linebacker and defensive end, the 6-foot-2 senior recorded 12 sacks in 2023. Luai will also be used as a tight end and H-back for Seaside.

Horoscopes July 19, 2025: Benedict Cumberbatch, you’re due for a change

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Trai Byers, 42; Jared Padalecki, 43; Benedict Cumberbatch, 49; Nancy Carell, 59.

Happy Birthday: You’re due for a change. Look around; watch what everyone else is doing, and you’ll discover how to make your life easier, better and more in tune with who you are and what you want. Keep the momentum flowing, but don’t risk your health or physical well-being. Measure your progress and make every move count. The choice is yours; take control. Your numbers are 7, 14, 23, 31, 36, 43, 49.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Keep as many options open as possible. Scrutinize what’s unfolding around you. Look for more affordable ways to achieve what you want. Too much of anything will be expensive, time-consuming and detrimental to the outcome you want to achieve. Keep an open mind, make suggestions and prepare to implement positive change. 3 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Put emotions aside when dealing with shared expenses or joint ventures. Do what’s right, not what you think someone else wants you to do. Honesty and integrity are necessary to maintain good relationships, avoid losses and regain a position that embodies you. Take nothing and no one for granted. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Follow your instincts and use your voice to bring positive change at home and work. Show your diversity, and you’ll capture the attention of someone able and willing to help you further your goals. Participate in organized protests and functions that address issues of concern. Avoid snap decisions regarding your appearance. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Participate in something that concerns and motivates you. Your input will make a difference and allow you to connect with people who offer hope for a brighter future. Be part of the solution and help eliminate the problems that irk you. Push for positive change and a healthier lifestyle. 4 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Address emotional situations. Sharing your thoughts and feelings can help you alleviate tension and foster healthier relationships. Make plans to travel and visit people you enjoy spending time with. Reflect on what holds you back from the life you want and consider how to address the issue. Romance and personal improvements are favored. 2 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Protect against illness and injury. Rely on intelligence and charm to defuse potential conflicts. Refuse to let uncertainty stand in your way. Prioritize having fun, being active and nurturing your emotional well-being. Day trips that include reuniting with old friends can boost your morale and remind you to be grateful for what you have. 5 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Go on a learning spree. A balanced lifestyle will help you make better choices and set clear boundaries with those who confuse you or cause self-doubt or insecurity. Stop ignoring what needs updating or replacing, and start living according to your needs. Choose equality, not dominance, in relationships. 3 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The tension between what you want to do and what others expect of you will cause distress. Strive to strike a balance between pleasing others and prioritizing your own needs. An opportunity to bring people together will work in your favor and lead to an interesting encounter with someone you meet. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Adopt change with open arms, and you can discover someone or something that brings you joy and comforts your soul. Talks will lead to future encounters and new beginnings. Love will play a role in your choices, and spending more time working toward a common goal with someone special will be beneficial. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Look at financial, legal or medical concerns, and set up a plan or schedule to deal with such matters swiftly. Home improvement projects can often turn out better than anticipated and enhance your lifestyle. An opportunity to expand your circle of friends will lead to someone who intrigues you. Personal growth will flourish. 5 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): A change will be uplifting. Home improvements that augment your comfort and convenience will help you relax, enjoy and appreciate what you have. A social event will lead to interesting conversations and potential plans that will help you achieve one of your life goals. Love and romance are in the stars. 2 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Do the research, take the initiative and start something that pumps you up and brings you joy. Social interaction and engaging in activities you love will lead to friendships with people who share your enthusiasm. It’s time to earn extra cash by turning something you love to do into a lucrative pastime. 4 stars

Birthday Baby: You are creative, emotional and passionate. You are insightful and orderly.

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.

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