With six, Acorns place more players in TCAL all-league teams
than any school in the league
They went undefeated in the Tri County Athletic League and
posted an overall record of 24-9, and the Live Oak boys water polo
team also advanced farther than any other public school in the
Central Coast Section playoffs, losing only to nationally ranked
Bellarmine in the championship game.
That’s why it was no surprise to learn that the Acorns had more
players named to the prestigious All-League list than any other
school in the TCAL.
With six, Acorns place more players in TCAL all-league teams than any school in the league
They went undefeated in the Tri County Athletic League and posted an overall record of 24-9, and the Live Oak boys water polo team also advanced farther than any other public school in the Central Coast Section playoffs, losing only to nationally ranked Bellarmine in the championship game.
That’s why it was no surprise to learn that the Acorns had more players named to the prestigious All-League list than any other school in the TCAL.
Leading the way was Live Oak’s Justin Short, who was named league MVP for his outstanding offensive skills. During the season, Short accounted for 43 percent of Live Oak’s entire scoring -a whopping 153 goals. He was also named to the All-CCS First Team squad.
“He could operate on both offense and defense for us,” Live Oak coach Mac Haines said. “He was constantly moving.”
Short was also so dominant on offense that he led the league in drawing 20-second fouls on the opposing players that were guarding him. In all, he racked 73 kick-out fouls.
Live Oak goalie Shea Coleman was another player to make the prestigious First Team list. A three-year starter, Coleman was the anchor of the Acorns’ defense.
“It wasn’t just his shot-blocking ability that made him so good. He had the ability to change other teams’ defenses because of his ability to come out of the cage and steal the ball before a shot was attempted,” Haines said.
Coleman’s ability to make clutch steals forced the opposition on a number of occasions to move their two-meter set player farther away from Coleman, which made their scoring ability less effective.
“He was also such an accurate passer that he was the centerpiece for our counter-attack as well,” Haines said.
Another player the Acorns will miss next season is senior Bryson Bailey. Bailey caught the attention of the coaches in the league, who vote for the awards list, courtesy of his dominant physical play as the player most likely to guard the opposing team’s two-meter scoring threat.
“He was one of the strongest two-meter guards in our league,” Haines said. “He was big and strong and he was also our second leading scorer.”
The only junior to make the prestigious First Team list for the Acorns was utility player Kyle Fast. Haines was most impressed with his unselfish play in the pool.
“He’s the type of player that every team needs,” Haines said. “He is unselfish and intelligent. Many times he would guard the other team’s best player or do whatever assignment we asked of him that was best for the team’s strategy of winning.”
Live Oak junior Cameron Peach and sophomore Sam Cretcher both earned second team honors.
Down the road in Hollister, San Benito High posted a 13-8 record overall and finished second in league behind Live Oak. Despite their strong showing, the Balers barely missed qualifying for the playoffs, but they have some solace in knowing that three of its players made the league’s First Team list and another was named to the Second Team.
Twin brothers David and Joel Smith both scored First Team honors. David, a junior, was the Balers leading scorer this season and had strong enough skills and speed in the pool to play both sides of the ball.
“He was real versatile for us,” said Baler coach Tom Agan. “He played a lot of two-meter D, which is a real pressure position, and he scored a lot of goals too.”
His brother Joel, a senior, spent most of his time on two-meter offense and also played the driver position.
“He was a real intense player for us,” Agan said. “He could play all over the pool and scored a lot of goals too.”
The final Baler to earn First Team honors was junior Rory Block. As a left-hander with a strong shot, Block could wreak havoc on opposing defenses.
“He scored a lot on opposite angles,” Agan said.
The other Baler to earn Second Team honors was junior Matt Thorp.
Gilroy High struggled all season long and finished in last place in league, but senior Austin Gubrud did manage to make the Second Team list to give Gilroy High some representation.
With perennial powerhouse Live Oak leaving the league next year to compete in the Blossom Valley Athletic League in San Jose, San Benito High is expected to move to the forefront as the team to beat in the TCAL in 2006.
The Balers will be losing only Joel Smith and Cliff Gere to graduation next May and have a solid group of younger players coming up.
2005 TCAL Boys Water Polo All-League Awards
Most Valuable Player: Justin Short, senior, Live Oak
First Team
Shea Coleman, senior, Live Oak
Justin Short, senior, Live Oak
Bryson Bailey, senior, Live Oak
Kyle Fast, junior, Live Oak
David Smith, junior, San Benito
Joel Smith, senior, San Benito
Rory Block, junior, San Benito
Matt Parrolini, senior, Salinas
Thomas Carroll, senior, Salinas
Sam Figueroa, junior, Salinas
Chase Motley, senior, Carmel
Second Team
Ben Dew, senior, Carmel
Ian Hagen, senior, Carmel
Matt Thorp, junior, San Benito
Cameron Peachy, junior, Live Oak
Sam Cretcher, sophomore, Live Oak
Adam Kantor, senior, Robert Louis Stevenson
Josh Kantor, junior, Robert Louis Stevenson
Keir Myer, senior, Robert Louis Stevenson
Austin Gubrud, senior, Gilroy
Sean Pezzinni, sophomore, Salinas
Matt Melendrez, senior, Salinas
