Making strides

The MVLA Avalanche advanced a round farther than it did at last year’s US Youth Soccer Region IV Championships, but the under-15 girls soccer team still fell short of its goal.

“One step closer,” said coach Erin Montoya, whose Avalanche reached the semifinals. “Hopefully, next year.”

Late-entry Oaks make most of tournament appearance

One team’s cancellation was another team’s revelation.

The Palo Alto Oaks proved that, even on one day’s notice, they’re ready to play – and win. Filling in for a Clovis squad that failed to show up for the Best of the West tournament, the local semipro baseball team went 3-0 last week at UC Berkeley.

A straight shooter

Young basketball players attending the Golden State Warriors Basketball Camp last week at Foothill College received a lesson in shooting from one of the best shooters to play in the NBA.

Warriors shooting coach Sidney Moncrief spoke about the art of shooting to a group of more than 100 campers June 24. Moncrief emphasized the fundamentals of shooting: good balance, eyes on the target, elbow in toward the body during the shot and good follow through.

LA-based team nets NorCal lacrosse title

The South Bay Crusaders’ Pups lacrosse team completed an improbable run to the regional championship with back-to-back victories over higher-seeded teams at the recent Northern California Final Four in San Jose.

The Crusaders finished first among 38 teams competing in the Pups B2 Division (fifth- and sixth-grade boys) at San Jose State’s Spartan Stadium, marking the first NorCal championship for the Los Altos-based lacrosse club. Players on the Crusaders are from Springer, Loyola, Almond, St. Nicholas, Santa Rita, Oak and Los Altos Christian schools.

Sports on the Side

MV hires coach

Mountain View High has hired Jeremy Sias as its new girls water polo coach, according to athletic director Dan Navarro. Sias played water polo at UC Santa Barbara.