Robinson, Cretcher lead Acorns into 2010
MORGAN HILL — Live Oak coach Mack Haines will be happy if his boys water polo team reaches the Central Coast Section playoffs, a modest goal considering how well the Acorns cohesively picked apart San Benito in an 18-4 drubbing Wednesday at Live Oak High School.
It was the end result of a grueling nonleague schedule Haines hoped would build team chemistry in time for Mount Hamilton Division play. Last week, the Acorns lost 17-6 to Valley Christian and took their lumps at the John Schmidt Tournament, playing six games in four days against some of the best teams in the state.
Wednesday, Live Oak was in midseason form.
“I really am pleased with how we look,” Haines said. “Last week, we played three really strong teams, and we got our butts kicked. It was really just a gut-check, and the kids came together. They weren’t intimidated.
“Some of the lessons we learned from those teams we applied today.”
There are no positions listed on Live Oak’s roster, just names and a concept: defense. The Acorns are sure to score in bunches this fall, having returned the league’s 2009 Junior of the Year, Danny Robinson, and second-team all-league selections Connor Haines and Saul Orona. But most of their scoring opportunities start with outlet passes off defensive stops.
“That’s the game Live Oak plays,” San Benito coach Tom Agan told his players at halftime. “They wait for you to make a mistake or throw a bad pass and they turn it into a breakaway.”
That spells disaster against Robinson, the league’s scoring leader over the past three years. Robinson can find the net from anywhere inside 15 meters.
“Danny certainly helps tremendously with offense. We need him because we’re not an offensive team,” Haines said. “Everything happens for him because everyone plays defense.”
Live Oak’s relatively small roster numbers over the past years have been a blessing in disguise for younger players. Nathaniel Batey, Daniel Enriquez, Connor Haines and Orona are competing like seasoned veterans, and sophomore Nicholas Hofmann has looked solid in his first year starting at goalie.
“We have a lot of young guys, but we work well together,” Robinson said. “We’ve definitely learned a lot in the past few weeks. Basically, we just need to keep our game speed up and make better passes, keep improving.”
If they do that, the Acorns may need to raise expectations.
The departure of 2010 graduates Katie Rick, Sarah D’Angelo and Sarah Sendejas leaves a thin pantry for the Live Oak girls, though, the team does have a league-MVP candidate in Rachel Cretcher, a senior hole set.
Cretcher spent this offseason training with NorCal Water Polo Club, an elite group of aspiring college players.
“We want to have the best season possible, but it’s definitely going to be tough replacing three vital seniors,” Cretcher said. “Going to CCS would make this season special.”
Veterans Kelsey White, Marissa Sendejas and Priscilla Orona will play an integral part in the team’s success this year. Orona has all-league potential in the cage but could start at any position. She will switch in at goalie with Amber Acevedo.
