Free agent watch

No Aggies were taken in the NFL Draft this weekend, but here's what we have confirmed today

--OT Elliot Vallejo signed with the Arizona Cardinals.
--WR Tony Kays signed with Cincinnati Bengals

We're still waiting for on S Jonathan Barsi and QB Jon Grant.

Blue Devils fall late

Elk Grove sent 12 batters to the plate in a nine-run seventh inning to beat Davis High 12-3 on Friday night. The outburst came after DHS rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth.

With two runs already in and the bases loaded, Josh McMahon hit a triple to dead centerfield, which all but ended any chance the Blue Devils (16-5, 7-2 Delta Valley Conference) had to come back in the bottom of the seventh.

Thundering Herd (11-8, 6-3) starting pitcher Troy Watson kept the Blue Devil hitters off balance for six innings allowing only five hits and three runs. He worked out of a jam and minimized the damage in the bottom of the sixth in what was DHS’ best chance to put up a big inning.

Pinch hitter Kyle Williams was hit by a 0-2 pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game. But Watson got Jeff Boulware to ground out to end the threat and keep the game tied at 3.

--Conor Tekautz

Coming this afternoon

Baseball, football (both kinds), softball, Friday's gloriously gold-flagged Enterprise Sports has it all. Here's what you'll find when the paper rolls off our Downtown Davis presses and into the world

Club needs new members
Dave Nix has another Aggie trying to chase him down.
Nix, a standout outfielder for the UC Davis baseball team in the mid 1990s, is the only player in school history to hit better than .400. Catcher Tyler LaTorre made a bid to break into the .400 club last season, ultimately finishing at .363.
Now, 5-foot-11, 190-pound Daniel Descalso takes aim.

Anibaba earns U.S. team spot
It’s every soccer player’s dream is to represent their country in the World Cup. That may be in the cards for Davis High School star Jalil Anibaba one day. Recently, he has gotten closer than any other Blue Devil when he earned a spot on the United States Under-20 team.

New center learns from old one at spring practice
The torch is being passed at center, one of those tradition-within-a-tradition spots on the UC Davis football roster.

Blue Devils no-hit Vikings
Kim Rubey and Sam Gaynor combined to throw a no-hitter on Thursday as the Davis High softball team blew out Valley 10-0 in five innings in a mercy-rule win in Delta Valley Conference action.

Looking at the O-Line

We have kind of a neat story Friday about the passing of the torch at the center position on the UC Davis offensive line. To hear the Aggies talk, rising sophomore Tommy Hernandez looks like the real deal at center. His athleticism is one of the keys to the offense’s switch in blocking schemes and his coachability suggests he could have pretty solid career. Tim Keane, the starter in 2005 and 2006, is now the offensive line assistant, working coordinator Mike Moroski. Here's what UCD coach Bob Biggs said about Hernandez.

“He’s a very athletic center, and you have to be to run the kind of the scheme that we’re running. He seems to have a real command of the calls. What people don’t realize is that the center is like a quarterback, making all the adjustment calls. He’s much further ahead that we thought he might be.”

Schmatically, the offensive line is working this spring to add some outside zone blocking schemes to its playbook. These are similar to what the Denver Broncos and Boise State Broncos run and favor smaller, more athletic linemen. The next question is whether the Aggies will finally be able to run the ball consistently after about three years where that didn’t happen. Biggs said running backs Demario Warren and Joe Trombetta were having good springs, which suggests that they are meshing with this scheme. Of course it's too early to tell anything.

Some other notes that didn’t make Friday's notebook:
--Also along the offensive line, Biggs said the coaching staff was happy with how redshirt Mark Tos has responded to first-team reps. “We’re throwing him to the wolves here, and I think he’s responded pretty well,” the coach said.

--Asked about this spring’s quarterback derby Biggs said, “It’s a pretty good battle right now.” Biggs was happy with what he saw from both Matt Engle and Tim Plough at the weekend’s scrimmage, but is playing his cards close to the vest. He says everything is on schedule and that he expects to name a starter heading into fall camp.

Coming this afternoon

Here's what you can expect in this afternoon's B Section.

Stanford rolls out talent
Stanford crashed the party on Senior Day for the UC Davis lacrosse team. Daphne Patterson scored four goals to lead the Cardinal to an easy 17-4 win at still-being-finished Aggie Stadium.

Davis High School softball team takes care of business
Coming off of a game it felt it should have won, the Davis High School softball team was determined Tuesday to take care of business. Facing a Laguna Creek team that had just one victory on the season, the host Blue Devils did not let up until the 12-0 mercy-rule victory was complete after 4 1/2 innings.

Johnson sharp in rehab stint
WEST SACRAMENTO -- Dan Johnson plans to be patient as he works his way back into shape after a hip injury. But the injury situation up in Oakland could change things. Johnson homered and played the full game at first base as the River Cats beat Las Vegas.

Coming this afternoon

Here's a sneak peak at what's coming up today when the gloriously gold-flagged Enterprise Sports section hits the streets around lunch time.

Clock ticking for trio
Davis High girls soccer coach Allen Carlson says that it’s not very often that he has a solid player who can seemingly score whenever she wants to. So you can only imagine how lucky Carlson realizes he is to have three girls who fit that description in Julie Gallaudet, Mari Egan and Taylor Powell.

Coach mum on Kings’ future
SACRAMENTO -- Eric Musselman dodged questions about his future Wednesday, but after coaching the Kings' to their first losing season since 1997-98, his job security is tenuous.

DHS baseball routs Laguna Creek
The Davis High boys baseball team recorded its first walkoff win of the year on Wednesday.
The thing is, it wasn’t your typical walkoff. Brendan Gill doubled to right-center to score Sean Richards with two outs in the bottom of the sixth to give the Blue Devils a 12-2 win over Laguna Creek. Under Sac-Joaquin Section rules, the game is over if a team is winning by 10 or more runs after five innings of play are complete and the run scored by Richards gave DHS a 10-run lead.

Linebackers suddenly a strength for UCD
The questions posed to David Heckman have changed. That happens when your position group goes from biggest question to deepest on the team. And that's life in the Aggies linebacker corps.

Basketball update

To hear UC Davis' coaches talk Tuesday, they believe they picked up a steal in new signee Adam Malik. Detailing his virtues during an interview, Aggie coach Gary Stewart described just about every aspect of the game. My story in today's print edition includes a description of what the coach called "the greatest high school play I’ve ever seen.” Think Tayshaun Prince in the 2004 NBA Eastern Conference Finals. By some measures, Stewart said, he might have been one of the top-15 players in the entire state. Recruiting is a notoriously inexact science. But signing day is like draft day, everyone is allowed to be optimistic.

Meanwhile changes are afoot in the men's basketball offices. Stewart has seen the future of the Aggie program and it is Princeton, as in the Princeton offense. At it's core, that means UCD will run an offense with a passing center that everyone else will orbit. Lots of teams run modified versions of the set, including Georgetown (which has had some success with it). The Aggie women have run a version of the offense for the last three years and have recorded double-digit wins the last two seasons. Based on that model, this is an excellent time for the men to install it. Assistant Jennifer Gross brought the system from San Diego State and said it took about two years to learn the entire offense. The UCD women had no seniors in 2004-05. So after a year of taking their lumps, they turned around the following year and won 16 games. The UCD men have, in eligibility terms, no seniors this year. Stewart thinks this approach is the best for the long haul, based on the sort of player he can consistently attract.

Some other housekeeping:

--With the signing of Malik, UCD will have 12 players receiving scholarship money next year. That means it can add one more, either by putting a player from the current roster on scholarship or through another signing. Likely the choice would be the latter if there's one to be had. Stewart suggested Tuesday there were possibilities floating around, but he's limited in what he can say because the NCAA forbids coaches to talk about players until they officially sign. It should be noted that in the Aggies' case there is a distinction between having a money slot available and having a scholarship available. The program is funded at 83 percent next year.

--Stewart had hoped to have the schedule out this month, but that's probably not going to happen now. UCD has a contract to play in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, although it doesn't know where it is going yet. But there are variables in the non-conference schedule as other programs have sought to move contracted games for a variety of reasons, mostly all of them relating to television.

Picnic Day in the rain

Today's UC Davis-Cal State Fullerton baseball game on Saturday has been postponed by rain. The teams will play a doubleheader Sunday starting at 10 a.m. Both games will be scheduled for nine innings, but the second one likely will be curfewed because the Titans have a 7:30 p.m. flight back home.

Meanwhile, the Aggie football team practiced in the rain over at Aggie Stadium. I wasn't there, but reports are that the artificial turf held up especially well. UCD associate athletic director Bob Bullis said he didn't see any players slip. In fact, he said, the only thing that was really slick was the ball. It's probably good for UCD to see to see how the field works in bad weather. That could come in handy, say, during next year's playoffs.

If anyone was at the practice and had any observations on the stadium please feel free to post them here.

You know what they say about momentum

After scoring 34 runs and taking two of three against Pacific last weekend, the UC Davis baseball team was hoping to carry some of that momentum into this weekend’s series against Cal State Fullerton.

But then Titan starting pitcher Wes Roemer toed the rubber.

Roemer allowed seven hits and two runs over eight solid innings and his team gave him more than enough support offensively. The Titans took the opener 9-2 at Dobbins Stadium.

UCD starter Trevor Fox was inconsistent on the mound allowing seven runs and eight hits over five innings. Fox barely made it out of the fifth when he hit three Titan players and committed his second balk of the game.

Down 8-0 in the bottom of the sixth, the Aggies attempted to rally but, with two runs already in, Kyle Mihaylo grounded out with the bases loaded to end the threat. That was the only trouble Roemer got himself into.

Daniel Descalso had three hits -- the only Aggie batter with more than one hit -- including a double and an RBI.

--Conor Tekautz

Coming this afternoon

Here's what's in store in the Enterprise's pre-Picnic Day brilliant B Section, which hits streets around one this afternoon.

Durable duo keys Ags
The UC Davis softball team has its own version of a one-two punch in pitchers Lindsay Tognetti and Jessica Hancock. The two have combined to earn 23 of the Aggies’ 24 wins while each has an ERA under 3.

Turpin learns different throw
A three-year starter for the UCD women’s basketball team, Jackie Turpin made a smooth transition to track last year. Almost immediately she vaulted into the school’s all-time top-10 list in both discus and javelin.

Gloves can’t save Davis High softball
The Davis High School softball team flashed the leather Thursday afternoon, turning in a few “Sports Center” kind of plays. Unfortunately for the Blue Devils, they could not produce many highlights with the bat, dropping a 5-2 game to Elk Grove in the second Delta Valley Conference game of the year.

Big news from the NCAA

The NCAA just announced that it is doing away with some of last season's controversial clock rules for football. Here are the details.

--After a change of possession, the clock will once again start on the snap of the ball rather than at the start of the 25-second clock. Last year the game clock started when the ball was ruled "ready for play." This had the effect of shaving plays and time off of the average game. But there's no telling how many last-minute rallies it wiped out.

--Also on kickoffs, the game clock won't start until the ball is touched by the recieving team inside the field of play. Last year the clock starting running when the ball was kicked, which created an odd tactical advantage for rulebreakers. Teams could run time off the clock by going offside on kickoffs. North Dakota State did that on Nov. 4 against UC Davis. After scoring the go-ahead touchdown in the final seconds, the Bison purposely went offside on the ensuing kickoff. This allowed them to run the remaining time off the clock. UCD, therefore, did not have the chance to run a play from scrimmage.

The NCAA still wants to eliminate dead time in games. It is shortening team time outs to 30 seconds (although TV can still extend those by going to commercial). Also, following commercial timeouts, the play clock will be reset to 15 seconds rather than 25. In addition, kickoffs have been moved back five yards to the 30-yard line, mirroring the NFL. The goal is to create more returns.

There is still some talk of switching to the NFL's play-clock rules, and the NCAA rules committee will study that.

Coming this afternoon

Here's what to look for in your pre-pre-Picnic Day Enterprise Sports. It's a big week at UCD, what with the arrival of Cal State Fullerton for three baseball games and the continued growth of the softball team.

Cats established bond in college
WEST SACRAMENTO — For Kurt Suzuki and Jason Windsor, the 2007 baseball season began like so many in recent memory. Suzuki, the Sacramento River Cats catcher, and Windsor, the team’s opening day starter, are playing on the same roster for the fifth time in less than four years. The battery mates led Cal State Fullerton over Texas in the 2004 College World Series before being selected as consecutive picks by the Oakland Athletics organization in the amateur draft.

Blue Devils run over Herd
The Davis High baseball team picked up right where it left off on Monday.
After getting 21 hits and scoring 29 runs against Valley, the Blue Devils pounded out 11 hits on Wednesday to take down Sac-Joaquin Section power Elk Grove 11-6 in a key game in the Delta Valley Conference.

Spring notes: QB candidates share similarities
Together for four years in a back-up capacity, the competition between Matt Engle and Tim Plough can sometimes feel a little awkward. But that doesn't make them want to win any less.

Coming Friday: Lindsay Tognetti and Jessica Hancock have pitched UCD softball back to respectability

A quiet signing day

It's spring signing day for basketball, and the UC Davis men are expecting to score at least one signature today. But don't be surprised if the official announcement is held for a day or two. Aggie coach Gary Stewart is in Greater Los Angeles for the next couple of days at the Big West meetings. He said yesterday that he wanted to be around campus for the announcement.

Coming this afternoon

Another big day in the excellent Enterprise Sports section. Here's what will be there when it hits the streets shortly before 1 p.m. today.

Reliever bounces back, but Ags lose
UC Davis' all-time appearence leader Nik Aurora pitched 1 2/3 sturdy innings, but the Aggie, offense, however, couldn’t deliver in several key spots, falling to Fresno State 4-3 at Dobbins Stadium.

DHS boys not on vacation
Joe Contreras recorded 18 kills as a short-handed Davis High boys volleyball team swept Laguna Creek 25-15, 25-22, 25-21 on Tuesday. Dennis Kum added five kills and 20 assists for DHS, which improved to 4-6 overall, 2-2 in the Delta Valley Conference.

UCD settles for split with rival
SACRAMENTO — The UC Davis softball team never really got its offense going Tuesday until it was too little too late as the Aggies split a doubleheader at Sacramento State.

Stokes helps sink Beavers
WEST SACRAMENTO — Jason Stokes is adjusting to life in Oakland's minor-league system. So far, so good.

A comeback thwarts a comeback

STOCKTON -– The UC Davis baseball team has been playing a game of how many runs will it take, but for junior Eddie Gamboa Friday represented something much more.

Gamboa picked up the win in a 10-5 victory over University of the Pacific. It’s been a long road back for the right-hander who missed all of last season after recovering from Tommy John surgery. Gamboa, who excelled in multiple roles in 2005, has been limited to short relief stints this season.

He came on in relief with no outs and two on in the fifth inning Friday. Despite a four-pitch walk and then an RBI single, Gamboa then induced a nifty home-to-first double play, and he rolled from there. He went the final five innings, allowing two runs.

Until recently, Gamboa has been told by his physical therapist to pitch exclusively with his fastball and change-up. He was able to add his breaking ball and slider Friday and hopes to add the knuckleball soon.

Considering the Aggie pen couldn’t hold an 8-2 lead just a day before, it was a welcome relief all the way around.

--Matt O'Donnell

Coming this afternoon

Check out this afternoon's paper for updates from all sorts of far-flung baseball diamonds.

River Cats walk to victory

WEST SACRAMENTO -- Kevin Melillo's big opening day ended with a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth as the River Cats beat Tacoma 8-7

Ags can’t hang on to eight-run lead

STOCKTON — Trevor Fox has been the Aggies’ tough-luck pitcher this season.
Usually, that tough luck has resulted because of poor run support. Thursday, the Aggies’ bullpen was the culprit in a 12-10 loss at University of the Pacific. Leading 8-0 at one point, the Aggies (9-17) gave up 10 runs in the bottom of the eighth without committing an error to turn what looked like an easy win into an agonizing loss at Klein Family Field.

Blue Devils split at Fresno

The Davis High School baseball team won two and lost two at the Fresno Easter Classic.
The Blue Devils (9-3) beat North of Bakersfield 4-2 and McCLane of Fresno 5-3 but lost 2-1 to Clovis West and 10-9 to Madera.

More stadium

In true blogging fashion, I led with opinion Sunday on the lights questions. Here are some facts that didn't make Monday's stadium story (which was not posted over at davisenterprise.com; you web-only readers really only get about a quarter of what we write about UCD sports) for space reasons.

Athletic director Greg Warzecka told me Sunday they were close to a decision on lights. There is a committee trying to find the requisite money to pay for stadium lights. Warzecka is a cautious guy in his public statements, so that, as well as other things I've heard, suggests there are positive developments. No one has shared those developments with me. It's probably a little better than 50-50 that there are lights at some point this year.

Should lights be approved, associate athletic director Bob Bullis estimated it would take four months from the opening of bidding to the completion of installation. If you've followed the whole construction process, you'll know that amounts to a blink of the eye. The opening game is Sept. 1 against Western Washington, so the math on that is not complex. The good news is that stadium is already wired electrically for lights, so the necessary outlets are already built into the stadium infrastructure. That will speed the process. If UCD is forced to play afternoon games in September, I'm told that one thing they can do is run the sprinkler system (I know, sprinklers for an artifical field) over the playing surface just before game time. A splash of water apparently resets the temperature on the playing surface. The field drains really quickly, so that's not really a concern.

Opening day at Aggie Stadium

The UC Davis lacrosse team opened Aggie Stadium today with a resounding 17-5 victory over Saint Mary's. Below are some photos from the first competitive event in the new $30 million facility. For all the reaction, check out Monday's Enterprise. These photos are from Davis Enterprise staffer (and noted lacrosse enthusiast) Wayne Tilcock.

UC Davis' Megan O'Connor takes the opening draw against Saint Mary's Abbie Coleman.

Eri Ichikawa (8) takes a shot in the second half. This sort of shows how the scoreboard towers over the stadium.

The crowd was announced as 352, which senior Megan O'Connor said was the biggest in her time at UCD.

I watched the first half of the game from the field. It's a pretty impressive view from down there, in that all you can see is the stadium around you (The Genome and Biomedical Sciences Building, upon which the webcam is mounted, is the only non-stadium building you can see from the field). The sound inside is pretty incredible. Standing with staff writer Conor Tekautz against the East wall, we could hear the officials make calls from the other side of the field. The place is going to be extremely noisy when construction is complete and there are 12,000 people there for the Cal Poly game. It's exciting.

In the coming weeks, administrators will make a decision on lights. The opinion here -- and given my selfish deadline-driven preference for day games, it gives me no pleasure to say this -- is that lights aren't optional. This was a mild morning, but, if you click on the top photo you can see the heat waves coming off the field. The climate on the field and the climate in the stands are different. It's almost like getting into your car in Oakland and exiting it in Davis. Today it wasn't so bad. But at 1 p.m. in early September, it could approach 120 degrees at field level. There's a reason why UCD usually plays its early-season games at 6 p.m.