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Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009

Shawn Jansen: Eye on Preps -- Costa start grabs town's attention

Frank Marques found himself in a church on Saturday afternoon.

The Hilmar football coach was attending a wedding.

However, that didn't stop Marques from getting updates of the Oregon-UCLA game on his phone.

"Yeah, I was getting updates in church," Marques said. "It was pretty exciting."

Usually cell phones in church are a big no-no, especially during a wedding.

Marques had a good excuse.

Former Hilmar star Nate Costa was making his first career start for Oregon.

Costa completed 9 of 17 passes for 82 yards and a touchdown in Oregon's 24-10 win.

"I was able to watch the first half with my coaching staff," Marques said. "There were parties and gatherings all around town. I had to TiVo the second half because of the wedding."

It was an emotional day for Marques because of everything Costa has gone through at Oregon, including two ACL surgeries.

"I was a nervous wreck," Marques said. "More nervous than when I coach our games. I don't like the feeling of having no control of what's going on. If I had a son, that's how I think I'd feel.

"It was harder watching him than our team because of everything he's been through with the two knee surgeries and not taking a snap in two years."

Watching the second half at home later that night was a lot easier, especially since Marques already knew Oregon had won the game.

"I heard a lot of the kids talking about the game on Monday," Marques said. "It was like a mini-Super Bowl in Hilmar."

The Le Grand softball team recently received Super Bowl champion treatment at the capital.

Senator Jeff Denham, R-Merced, invited coach Gia Priddell and her players in honor of their three straight Sac-Joaquin Section championships.

The team was invited down onto the senate floor, where they received a proclamation from Denham.

"A lot of the girls are seniors and are taking Economics, so it was cool for them to see how the budget got passed and different bills were passed," Priddell said.

The girls did miss out on one of their goals for the trip.

"They really wanted to see Governor Swarzenegger," Priddell said. "We went on a tour and went by his office, but he was in meetings.

"The girls were hoping to run into him. They wanted to meet the Terminator."

Today's big boys water polo showdown between Golden Valley and Turlock has been moved to Merced College.

Golden Valley (8-0 Central California Conference, 14-2 overall) will play Turlock (7-1 CCC) at 6 p.m.

The girls game between the two schools will proceed the boys game at 5 p.m.

The Los Banos football team will get quarterback Erik Martin back this week against Golden Valley.

The senior was cleared to play on Monday. Martin has missed the last two weeks after suffering a concussion early in the game against St. Mary's on Sept. 25.

"He seems to have a bounce in his step," Los Banos coach Dennis Stubbs said. "He hasn't played in three games really. It's new for us now really after three weeks without him."

It doesn't look like running back Darron Brown will be ready to go against GV.

Tuesday's storm forced area coaches to scramble.

Sports like golf and tennis were forced to reschedule games.

Football coaches were forced to cut practices short or head indoors.

Hilmar took their practice into the old gym. Golden Valley held a walk through in the locker room.

"The rain is one thing, but it was blowing sideways at our place," said Merced coach Rob Scheidt, who cut practice 30 minutes short.

"Guys are cold and you're dealing with wet weather. We're not totally concerned. It's supposed to be cleared up on Friday."

Let's hope.

Football players might love playing in the rain and mud.

However, notebooks and stat sheet don't last long in the rain.

Shawn Jansen is a Sun-Star sports reporter. He can be reached at 385-2462 or via e-mail at sjansen@mercedsun-star.com.