SportsForce is even busier than usual as we prepare to launch our site very soon. As usual we have a ton of events coming up on the calendar as well as finalizing some clients’ final products. Though many of our team members were in the office on Friday working hard, the 4^th of July provided a nice break for the team and chance to recharge and continue to move forward.

Fox Sports en Espanol sportscaster Adrian Garcia Marquez Stops In

Fox Sports en Espanol and the San Diego Chargers Radio Network en Espanol sportscaster Adrian Garcia Marquez was in the office this week to talk sports, the future of SportsForce and more.

New Addition to SportsForce Street Team Ronan Galvin

SportsForce is still growing as a company as we get closer to our site launch. This week SportsForce added Ronan Galvin to our street team. Ronan said of his experience so far, “SportsForce is a unique atmosphere wth like-minded people all working to help create the next big thing in high school sports. The Sports Development Intern is an ideal position because I get to research the sports I love and be in an environment of a small business.” With a background in football and basketball, we are excited to have him as an addition.

“Old Yeller” Swings by Office

Integral SportsForce Video Production Partner, Ken Heshler stopped by the office to check up on our equipment and outfit us with some new editing equipment to make our workflow even faster. Ken was also sure to share some stories of precarious shooting conditions in the early days of SportsForce. We’ve come a long way!

SportsForce’s Tom Antl Visits University of Louisville Athletics Department

SportsForce’s Tom Antl was visiting with the University of Louisville Athletics Department this past week. Though the trip was to visit a friend, Tom always on task, was sure to check out the program and even snap a pic of their pristine women’s lacrosse field.

Sara Fraschetti, Girls Lacrosse Coach, Stops In To Check In

Our own adviser for girls lacrosse, Sara Fraschetti stopped in this week to talk about the future of SportsForce and girls lacrosse. Sara graduated from La Costa Canyon High School (Carlsbad, CA) in 2001 when the Girls Lacrosse team seized their first California State Girls Lacrosse Championship. She went on to play at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo as attack and center for three years where she helped the team earn three of their seven consecutive Club Division-I National Championship Titles. Sara returns for her third year as the La Costa Canyon High School Girls Varsity Lacrosse Assistant Coach. Sara helped lead the team to a 23-0 record in 2008 and 2nd consecutive CIF Championship (San Diego section).

Things are back to full speed with the holiday weekend behind us. Be sure to stay posted!

SportsForce was at the 2009 Breitbard All-CIF awards held at the Hall of Champions in San Diego, CA June 22, 2009. Former Padres Pitcher and 1976 Cy Young Award Winner Randy Jones was the keynote speaker, and honorees had the pleasure of receiving their awards from him.

Awards were given out to members of the first and second teams in baseball, softball, boys track and field, girls track and field, boys swimming, girls swimming, boys volleyball, boys tennis, boys golf, gymnastics, boys lacrosse and girls lacrosse. The “First” and “Second Team” recognition was decided by a media panel with input from coaches. The honorees came from several high schools through out the region, with no one school dominating the awards. Some of the schools with top athletes were: Mission Hills, Rancho Buena Vista, Poway, Mt. Carmel, Steele Canyon, Scripps Ranch and Escondido to name a few.

Player of the year honors for baseball went to Steven Packard of Mission Hills. Laura Winter of Rancho Bernardo nabbed the top honor for softball. Mac Fleet of University City was the top athlete in Boys Track and also the top athlete for the 1600M. Sammy Silva of Our Lady of Peace was the Athlete of the Year for Girls Track and the top competitor in the 1600M. Spencer Didio of Carlsbad was named the top performer in 100 Butterfly as well as the Athlete of the Year for Boys Swimming. Jessica Schmitt of Torrey Pines was named Athlete of the Year for Girls Swimming, as well as the top performer in the 200IM.

Myles Muagututia of Francis Parker was honored as Player of the Year for Boys Volleyball. The top honoree for Boys Tennis was singles player Zach Leslie of Point Loma. Top finisher and Boys Golf Player of the Year was awarded to Steven Kearney of La Costa Canyon. Gymnastics Athlete of the Year and All-Around Top Competitor is Tina Wilhem of Mt. Carmel. Bobby Braun of Coronado was named the Player of the Year for Boys Lacrosse. Jackie Candelaria of La Costa Canyon took the honors for Girls Lacrosse.

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While most of us will be spending the next few months traveling, surfing, relaxing, and pretending to work out, there is a small, hard working group of teenagers all over the country who will be doing exactly the opposite: high school football players. Regardless of the level, football players around the country are spending their summers getting up unnecessarily early, practicing, lifting, memorizing their playbooks, training, and drinking protein shakes in preparation for their fall seasons. While spring ball is when these athletes spend time in the weight room bulking up, summer ball is when they take the time to hone their skills and build team chemistry. This is the time for coaches to teach their players the ins and outs of their playbooks, and then see who emerges on top with the right to start in the fall.

SDSU Passing League 06_19_09 from Sports Force on Vimeo.

In order for coaches to test their kids in game situations and in order for the players to gain valuable playing experience at their respective positions, passing league tournaments are run all over the country to satisfy that competitive need. Throughout the “off-season,” football players are put through rigorous training sessions with the expectation that by the time summer rolls around, they will be in top physical shape. Finally, come late May, they have the opportunity to show off their hard work on the field at a passing league tournament. A passing league game features all offensive and defensive players, with the exception of lineman, squaring off without pads or helmets. In this two-hand-touch, 40-minute game, crisp passes, precise route running, and lock down man defense are the keys to victory.

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Not many people were surprised when Stephen Strasburg was selected as this year’s number one MLB Draft pick. Strasburg went to the Nationals and so ended the discussion and hearsay of where he might end up. Strasburg, the 22-year-old pitcher from San Diego State University, has already become somewhat of a legend with stories of a 100 mph+ fastball, 90 mph slider, and Major League ready composure. But, like most legends there is much about the Stephen Strasburg story that isn’t covered by most media outlets. It is important for fans, scouts and reporters alike to go beyond the legend and learn more about Strasburg. Luckily enough, SportsForce has been able to document some of his season and has a straight forward and simple scouting report to share on the soon to be first round selection.

Being headquartered in San Diego, we have seen Strasburg a number of times and agree he is a truly dominating pitcher. Strasburg’s stuff is very impressive and would fool even some of the Major League’s most seasoned hitters, but contrary to what others have reported, Strasburg is not a four-pitch pitcher. Nor does he feature a 90-mile per hour slider. Rather, Strasburg is a developing pitcher who has two dominant pitches with room for improvement. This is partially what excites Major League teams since today’s game is being built more and more around developing pitching at the minor league level. Strasburg has the potential to be a #1 starter that can carry a team similar to a Roy Halladay, Brandon Webb, Jake Peavy or Johan Santana. However, he must first overcome a few obstacles.

Stephen Strasburg Scouting Video vs. UC Davis April 4th, 2009 from Sports Force on Vimeo.

Strasburg relies primarily on two pitches: his explosive 95+ mile per hour fastball, which has been clocked as high as 103, and his sharp downward biting curveball. The fastball overpowers hitters and can be located to both sides of the plate. At this point, Strasburg is not a pitcher who locates his fastball consistently every time, but what he lacks in precision he makes up for in conviction and confidence. His curve ranges from the low to mid 80’s (mph) and can be thrown for strikes in almost any count ,which is rare for a young pitcher. When his curve is used in conjunction with the fastball, he often makes hitters uncomfortable and leaves them guessing what’s next.

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