Height: 5’4″ Position: Center Forward Class: 2010 School: Scripps Ranch High School
Andi Earle is the senior captain from the Scripps Ranch Field Hockey team that took first place at the Serra Tournament and is the defending Division II CIF Champions. This season alone, Earle has recorded 20 games played, all of which she has started, 34 goals, 13 assists and 94 points. She assisted in the lone goal that lifted Scripps Ranch over Fallbrook in the finals of the Serra Tournament.
A member of the highly competitive US Field Hockey Futures Elite team, Earle was also a qualifier for the Junior Olympics in field hockey in 2008. Earle is a forward for her high school team and a dominant scorer. Her coach, Jane Morrill, told the San Diego Union-Tribune, “She’s the one. When you need a goal, she’ll get it done,” said Falcons coach Jane Morrill. Earle is currently considering Michigan, University of California Berkeley, Stanford and UC Davis to continue her field hockey career.
Natalie Hagglund is a standout outside hitter for the No. 2 ranked La Costa Canyon Mavericks. Hagglund played a huge part in the team’s defeat of No. 1 ranked Torrey Pines this week. All hopes for redemption by Torrey Pines were quickly dashed as the Mavericks, lead by Hagglund were defeated in 3 matches. Hagglund had a team high 10 kills for the La Costa Canyon.
The Mavericks are the six time defending section champions, and have defeated Torrey Pines in ten consecutive meetings, but with Torrey Pines ranked No. 1 this year, it was though this may be their year to reverse that. Hagglund and the Mavericks thought different, “I think we’re better than they thought,” said Hagglund told the NC Times. “That first game took all their momentum away in an instant. They’ve been waiting almost a year to get us again in their gym.”
Natalie Hagglund was also the sole nominee from La Costa Canyon to the All Tournament Team at the California Challenge, where the Mavericks finished in 5th place.
Ricky Seale continues to dominate the opposition. The 5’10” 190lb senior running back out of Escondido rushed 25 times for 162 yards, including a 60-yard TD run, in a 21-21 tie with Torrey Pines last week. Seale, who now has 5,600 career rushing yards, is looking to become the all time rushing leader in San Diego-CIF Section history. He needs only 50 yards against #2 ranked La Costa Canyon to break the all-time rushing mark set by Demetrius Sumier of Cathedral Catholic. PAC-10 powerhouses including, USC, UCLA, Stanford, Cal, and Washington are heavily recruiting Seale for next years college football season.
Katie Dutchman is a senior outside hitter for Torrey Pines. She was named to the California Challenge all-tournament team after getting six kills in a 25-15, 25-22, 25-21 loss to Goleta Dos Pueblos in the finals of the tournament.
Torrey Pines who hosted the annual California Challenge Girls Volleyball tournament advanced to the final match of the 16th annual tournament for the first time since 2001, wasn’t about to hang its head after failing to keep the championship trophy in the Falcons’ own awards case.
“We hoped we could win, be in the finals,” said senior outside hitter Katie Dutchman. “It was amazing that we actually got there.”
Harrah was especially pleased with the effort of Dutchman, who stepped into the role of outside hitter at the start of the year. Not only has she adapted, but it has allowed for 6-2 middle hitter Katelyn Cuff to find a home in the starting lineup, too.
Sam Hoekstra is an explosive running back/ defensive back out of Santa Fe Christian High School in California. Sam was simply unstoppable when his Santa Fe Christian Eagles took on the Coronado Islanders last week. Sam scored 2 touchdowns while amassing 226 rushing yards on only 13 carries, including an impressive 75 yard punt return touchdown. Sam now has 865 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in only 6 games this season while averaging a staggering 16.32 yards per carry. Sam and his 6-0 Eagles look to extend their unbeaten streak when they faceoff this week against their conference rival, the 5-2 Christian Patriots.
SportsForce athletes haven been recognized over the past few weeks for their stand out performances. Previous Athlete of the Week, running back and USC commit Dillon Baxterhas been the talk of many news outlets with an explosive start to his season. 619Sports.net wrote of Baxter and Missions Bay’s 49-27 win over Point Loma:
“ He ran the ball 22 times for 133 yards and four scores; breaking through tackles and embarrassing defenders along the way. Through the air he totaled 170 yards with 2 touchdowns and only one interception.
“All week we’ve been preparing,” said Baxter after the game. Our wide receivers just had to execute, the O-line had to buckle down because we knew they have a strong front. We just came out and matched their intensity and took it over.”
Baxter had another amazing performance two weeks back against the Lincoln High Hornets, with the San Diego Union-Tribune reporting:
Baxter rushed for 268 yards and two touchdown in addition to passing for another 277 yards and four TDs while coming ever so close to 600 total yards after returning a crucial interception 41 yards to lead the Buccaneers to a 41-34 non-league victory, spoiling Lincoln’s homecoming.
Kenny Stills, Jr, has also had a very impressive season thus far, and the Union-Tribune recently published a feature on the La Costa Canyon receiver. The Union-Tribune highlighted how Stills relationship with his father has helped to nurture his sports career. Stills father is Kenny Stills Sr, former NFL player and current USD defensive backs coach. The U-T writes:
Stills Sr. knew his son had talent and drive, but he has surpassed his expectations.
“Honestly, Kenny has developed more than I ever dreamed,” Stills Sr. said. “I’ve been a coach at the high school, college and pro ranks, and I can tell you I am totally impressed with the way he has developed into a complete player.”
Stills said his son has had one big motivating factor driving him his entire career as a football player.
“He’s always wanted to be better than his dad,” Stills Sr. said.
This past weekend, the senior receiver continued his dominance and had nine catches for 130 yards, threw a 29-yard touchdown pass, returned an interception 75 yards interception and finished a 56-7 win over Mission Hills with 311 all-purpose yards.
Kendall Polan is an exceptional setter with a dominant serve out of La Costa Canyon High School (Carlsbad, CA). Kendall is a natural leader with soft hands, great ball handling skills, and fires a devastating topspin jump serve. Already committed to Yale University, Kendall has already led her team to two CIF Division I titles and a California state championship.
Polan has won several individual awards including: Durango Tournament MVP, CIF State Championship Match MVP, All-Avocado League First team and San Diego Union-Tribune All-San Diego Section first team. Currently ranked the number one on the ESPN RISE FAB 50 national volleyball rankings, Kendall and her teammates hope to carry this season’s success into another state title.
Ian Autman is a sophomore running back out of Olympian High School in Chula Vista, CA. Ian Autman had a breakout game vs. San Ysidro which included 10 carries for 110 yards with 3 TD’s.Ian is a compact runner with explosive speed and agility. Built in the model of other undersized running backs, like Maurice Jones-Drew or Darren Sproles, his quick footwork and low center of gravity make him elusive and difficult to tackle. He is the leading rusher averaging almost 7 yards per carry for the undefeated 5 – 0 Olympian Eagles.
The fall session of the Surf City Softball Showcase was held in Huntington Beach over the weekend of October 9-11th, 2009.It featured 128 teams from the Southern California area and showcased the very best that fastpitch softball has to offer. Check out SportsForce’s coverage of the Showcase below.
Lauren Birks is the XX1090 Student Athlete of the Week and a stand out outside hitter for the La Jolla Country Day Girls Volleyball team. Head Coach Peter Ogle had nothing but praise for the 6’0” class of 2011 powerhouse.
Coach Peter Ogle says, “Lauren is a very special talent, explosive and quick. She is currently getting recruited by many of the larger college programs around the country.”
“Off the court Lauren is a very good student and has a great sense of humor and likes to have fun.”
Off the court La Jolla Country Day faculty has commented that “Lauren is such a mature young lady and very nice to be around.”
La Jolla Country Day is enjoying an undefeated season so far with Lauren leading the team in kills and aces and is being actively recruited by numerous top college programs around the country. She was also recently named Scripps Ranch High School Tournament MVP.
