Acorns won league openers this week
MORGAN HILL — After losing El Toro Bowl III and dropping a heart-breaking volleyball match to Sobrato in the span of four days, Live Oak certainly could have used a pickup Wednesday when the rival schools met again in boys water polo.
Leave it to Mack Haines and the Acorns to right the ship.
“We had to win this one,” Haines said after his team beat the Bulldogs 22-5 at Sobrato High. “Our team needed this, too. We’re young and still trying to figure out exactly who we are.”
Wednesday’s victory was a very big step forward. That they trumped a rival school to open Mount Hamilton Division play gave the Acorns a confidence boost heading into a gauntlet of ‘A’-league play. Although green, Live Oak is as talented as ever.
“We’re a little inconsistent right now, but, when we play as a team, we’re playing pretty good,” said Haines, now in his 30th season of coaching prep water polo. “I don’t think we’re an elite team yet, but I think we have a chance to challenge. Every team in this league is a tough team.”
Success will weigh heavily on the Acorns’ five veterans, who were part of a 2008 team that reached the Division II section quarterfinals. Just as graduates Steven Rick and Patrick Acevedo mentored the young players last year, upperclassmen Cody Coleman, Garrett Adkerson, Stephen Saade, Alec Mainland and Danny Robinson are expected to do the same this fall.
“Our experience is big,” Coleman said. “Most of our starters have been playing a while. And most of the younger guys have been playing for a while, too. So, for them to move up is good for us.”
Haines foresees big things for Coleman and Robinson, who made the all-league list a year ago. Coleman was named to the second-team as a utility player, and Robinson was Sophomore of the Year.
“Cody’s a senior now, and, in a lot of ways, his maturity is what drives the team,” Haines said. “Danny’s been a strong player for a long time. Their experience is huge and incredibly important offensively.”
Robinson has been a scoring machine through two-plus years of varsity play. He netted seven goals Wednesday.
“He keeps getting better,” Coleman said. “He’s a lot calmer under pressure and he’s lowered his shot. He’s got that thing on a line now; it’s intense.”
Against Sobrato, Haines was more impressed with his defense, which keyed most of the goals.
“The kids are starting to figure it out,” he said. “We don’t want to wrestle with anyone. We want to play our positions. The more we do that, the better we’ll be.”
There are no mysteries surrounding the Live Oak girls water polo team.
Senior Sarah D’Angelo and junior Rachel Cretcher can answer any question about the talented group, except when asked to address the Lady Acorns’ shortcomings.
“What are we not good at? It’s hard to say,” D’Angelo said Tuesday. “We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses pretty well. Some of us are better on offense; some of us are better on defense.”
Live Oak has been pretty good at both so far. The Acorns improved to 10-1 Wednesday with a lopsided victory over Mount Pleasant in the first day of Mount Hamilton Division play.
The starters are fast, strong and have been swimming and playing water polo together for years. Katie Rick was named Junior of the Year last season, D’Angelo earned first-team all-league honors, and Cretcher and Sarah Sendejas were named to the second team. All four were catalyst in helping Live Oak reach the second round of the Central Coast Section playoffs in 2008.
They join a promising crop of younger players this fall, including sophomore Kelsey White and Sendejas’ freshman sister, Marissa.
“The girls don’t have a whole lot of depth, but they have experience. They’re very fun to watch,” Haines said. “They controlled every aspect of the game Wednesday. They were seamless.
“(D’Angelo) and Katie control the game and create fast breaks, and Rachel is good at every facet.”
Again, the Acorns are solid everywhere — even at goalkeeper where Priscilla Orona has taken over after playing the field in 2008.
“We’re even better this year,” Cretcher said. “I think we’re going to go farther in CCS — that’s our goal.”
First, the Acorns want to get revenge against rival Leland and retake the Mount Hamilton throne. The two heavyweights end the regular season against each other Oct. 28.
“It always comes down to us,” D’Angelo said. “We’re always thinking about them.”
