It took several minutes, but the Sobrato boys water polo players
eventually laughed and smiled in their locker room after
Wednesday’s 22-2 loss to Leland
MORGAN HILL — It took several minutes, but the Sobrato boys water polo players eventually laughed and smiled in their locker room after Wednesday’s 22-2 loss to Leland.
Give the Bulldogs credit. Rebuilding seasons can be a drag.
Three games into their first Mount Hamilton Division campaign, the Bulldogs are 1-2 and have been outscored 51-17. Granted, their two losses came by ugly margins against league stalwarts Leland and Live Oak. Sobrato edged Santa Teresa 10-7 last week and has winnable games ahead versus Pioneer and Willow Glen.
Hope for recovery in 2009 is not lost.
“We’re just trying to stay positive,” the Bulldogs’ lone senior, Mark Barats, said. “Teams like Leland, these are good teams. We just don’t have a lot of experience. We’re doing what we can.”
Barats and his teammates felt out of their league against the visiting Chargers (15-3 overall, 3-0 league), who have claimed the league’s regular-season crown the past three years. They scored the first nine goals — mostly on fastbreaks — and led 14-2 at halftime.
Kyle Meggs netted five goals, and Jonathan Lie scored four to lead Leland.
“They’re just a lot more experienced,” Sobrato junior Matt Bynre said. “We hope to be at their level in a year or two, but it just takes practice.
“Leland is a lot faster and more organized than us, but, again, it’s just their experience.”
Even in defeat, the young Bulldogs are making progress. Sophomore hole-set Adam Jasper scored their first goal from 10 meters out in the first quarter, and Byrne assisted Barats’ tally with 1:33 left before halftime. Sobrato’s sophomore goalkeeper, Patrick Read, collected 15 saves.
“I honestly think this team is going to be great in a few years,” Barats said. “The younger guys are learning. Guys like Patrick and Matt, they’re a lot further along than they were beginning of the season.”
Paul Harris, who coached the Bulldogs to a Santa Teresa Division title in 2008, said the team’s progress will continue during swimming season in spring.
“They’re going to be a lot faster next year,” he said. “Right now, they’re learning the offense; playing smarter, player better. I think this year’s experience is going to help them. It’s going to be a good team next year.”
NOTE:The original version of this story incorrectly identified Leland’s Jonathan Kane in a photo. The player is Ishan Shah.
