Page 11 - Mid Valley Times 8-8-19 E-edition

Thursday, August 8, 2019
Reedley kids learn
sport fundamentals
from cops and jocks
Rick Curiel / Mid Valley Times
New Washington Intermediate School eighth grade head football coach Roland Rico leads a group of seventh and eighth grade players in a drill during their first practice on Thursday, Aug. 1. This is the fist year tackle football has been available at the junior high level in Dinuba Unified. They enter the Central Valley Athletic League and kick off their season against Tenaya on Sept. 7. They end their regular season with a home game against Sanger.
Dinuba tackle football expands to Washington Intermediate School
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
The Reedley Police Department used a new event to build relation- ships with children in the community and establish what it hopes is a new summertime tradition.
The department host- ed the inaugural “Cops, Jocks & Kids” Sports Camp on Aug. 6-7 at the Reedley Community Center. Chief Joe Garza said that about 30 chil- dren — ranging in age from 7 to 12 years — participated in the two- day camp while working with 10 police officers and professional staff.
“It was a way for us to interact with kids in a sports setting,” he said. “A lot of agencies and cities have a PAL [Police Activities League] pro- gram, but it’s really hard for us to find somebody to be involved full-time. We figured this would be a good way to involve our officers with these kids.”
The first day, young- sters and police staff played baseball outside the center and volleyball in the main room.
“Our officers are wearing their uniforms, but we’re going to wear whatever footwear is appropriate [with the sport],” Garza said. “Ear- lier, when we were play- ing baseball we were wearing cleats and then for volleyball we’ll wear sneakers. Then we’ll go back outside for soccer
and wear cleats.”
At the volleyball ses-
sion following a lunch break, Community Ser- vices recreation coordi- nator Madison Leighty and recreation assis- tant Ariana Jimenez instructed the children in the basics of how to field, “bump” and hit a volleyball. The players later practiced and par- ticipated in games with
Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
Seven-year-old Kyle Green- wood displayed the t-shirt each young camper received.
officers and other police personnel, and the after- noon concluded with a K-9 demonstration.
“A lot of our guys have played sports, so it’s just a good way to in- teract with these kids as kind of a conduit,” Garza said. “I think a lot of peo- ple can understand and make that connection.”
The camp also had a teaching purpose. Early the first day, campers were shown a video ti- tled “Stranger Danger” designed to teach them safety and caution when
See COPS&JOCKS onpageB2
By Rick Curiel
Mid Valley Times
The future of Dinuba football took a big leap forward last week as the first practice for tackle football began at Washington Intermediate School on Thursday.
The school will now have two teams, seventh and eighth grade, competing in the Central Valley Athletic League, joining teams like Sanger and Reedley.
“This is a big day,” said new Di- nuba High School football coach Carlos Barajas. “This is great for the program.”
Washington Intermediate’s first
game will against Tenaya on Sept. 7. They will then be tested as they match up against Rio Vista of Cen- tral Unified on Sept. 14. Rio Vista is the defending CVAL champions. The matchup will be a home game for Washington.
One of the benefits of hav- ing tackle football at the junior high level, aside from providing a streamlined program from seventh to twelfth grade, is the added play- ing time for players who might not normally get extended time on the field. With the leagues ‘fifth quar- ter’, which actually takes place before each game, one quarter is played that allows those players to
get playing time, and more impor- tantly, valuable experience.
The offense and defense at Washington will also parallel that of their high school counterparts, making for an easier and more ef- fective transition.
“That’s the whole idea,” said Barajas. “We want to get everyone on the same page with what’s going on at the higher level.”
Many of the players on the new tackle football team come in with experience, having played on one of the three youth football teams in town, Dinuba Youth Football, Dinu-
See WIS page B10
Apaches look to come out strong this season
By Mike Nemeth
Mid Valley Times
Isaiah Becerril’s had the nickname “Hammer” since second grade.
He said he earned it from a coach after forget- ting his helmet and jump- ing on the ball just after an onside kick to retain possession. He ignored his own safety for the good of his team. Since then, the original “Ham- merhead” was shortened.
And now just about everybody on the football field uses his gridiron title.
Becerril talked about his backstory just after his Sanger High Apaches’ second official practice July 30 on the practice field behind Washington Academic Middle School. He is a junior and ex- pected to play half back and safety for the var- sity squad this year. And Becerril said he’s feeling positive about the upcom-
ing season.
“We’re going to have a
good team,” he said. “And I’ll try to do all I can for my team to get a win at the end of the day.”
He’s not alone. Many of this year’s Apaches expressed determina- tion to exploit opponents’ weaknesses, capitalize on strengths and pull out a winning season.
Mark Jones, a senior, said that boils down to stopping the other guy. “If we have a good defense,” he said, pausing. “Our defense is good. And de- fense wins the game.”
Jones, listed at run- ning back last season, said he expects to play fullback and outside line- backer this season. He said he hopes to make a difference like his cousin Isaiah Hilliard, one of the Apaches top running backs who graduated in
See APACHES on page B2
Mike Nemeth / Mid Valley Times
Defensive line coach Nikko Mata oversees various plays by Sanger High’s Apaches during the second day of training camp. The Apaches vow to come out strong this season. The Apaches will begin their season at rival Reedley on Aug. 23.