Spoke too soon

The Associated Press is reporting Thursday that J.T. O'Sullivan took repetitions with the 49ers' first-string offense in place of Shaun Hill, who rested a tired throwing shoulder.

Alex Smith and Hill have been slow to learn offensive coordinator Mike Martz's system, according to the report. O'Sullivan completed eight of his 10 passes in 11-on-11 drills.

The 49ers talked about a three-man competition for the quarterback job but have virtually ignored O'Sullivan during the previous five days of camp.

This is what coach Mike Nolan had to say about O'Sullivan on Thursday:

“As I’ve said all along, we’ve got three quarterbacks battling for the position. J.T’s not back in it, he’s been in it. This quarterback position is open. Whoever gives us the best chance to win is the guy.”

O'Sullivan is familiar with the offense and Martz from last season in Detroit. Smith and Hill are not, so it's too early to read into too much of this.

Here is the story that will appear in Friday's Enterprise.

And a final note: This came from Matt Maicco's blog on the Santa Rosa Press Democrat Web site:

"It's bound to come up in a question, so here it goes: Hill and Smith are really good guys. They're friendly and approachable. O'Sullivan does not come off the same way -- and, who knows, that might be a good thing. He seems to have a different personality. I don't know him at all, but like I said, he seems to have a little "edge" to him.

O'Sullivan update

- Been keeping an eye on reports from 49ers camp and things don't appear to be going too well for former UC Davis standout J.T. O'Sullivan.

Alex Smith and Shaun Hill are getting most of the snaps, even though coach Mike Nolan appeared to indicate in the spring that this would be a three-man competition.

We ran this Chronicle story in Sunday's edition.

However, teams tend to play all of their quarterbacks in the preseason, so expect O'Sullivan to see his fair share of the field. New offensive coordinator Mike Martz likes O'Sullivan as well, so maybe there will be more hope later in the summer.

The Enterprise plans to be there Aug. 8 when the 49ers open the preseason in Oakland. No, we won't be sitting in The Black Hole.

Signing off

This blog has been quiet for a while, which is just sort how it goes in the summer. But when things to start to heat up in a couple of weeks there will be different voices bringing it to you both here and in the print edition. Today is my last day as deputy sports editor of The Davis Enterprise. I am off to Madison, Wis. as my wife begins medical school and I weigh my options. I'm going to miss the paper, Davis and this blog, but I also know that it's time for something new.

The program has changed so much in the past five years and it's been a challenge and a joy to tell you all about it. I've made a lot of friends, and I think I'll enjoy the chance to be a UC Davis fan for a little while. I am handing off UC Davis athletics beat duties to Chris Saur. He and sports editor Matt O'Donnell will handle much of the blogging duties. Newly promoted Conor Tekautz will appear in this space as well.

So thanks for reading and I hope you will continue to. The next five years have a chance to be far more interesting than the last five.

A Miles high accomplishment

Davis High School graduate Gina Ostini Miles has just been named to the U.S. Olympic team in the equestrian sport of three-day eventing.

She is training in England with her horse McKinlaigh and will travel to Hong Kong, the venue for the equestrian events, July 31.

Miles and her team won gold at the Pan-American Games last summer.

Here's a video about Miles and her sport.

For more on Miles, check out the Enterprise in the coming days.

Fitzgerald sighting

The Giants officially have three former UC Davis players in their system.

Justin Fitzgerald has signed and is pitching for the Giants' rookie league affiliate in Arizona. Fitzgerald, the Aggies' closer last season, did not allow a run in one inning in his pro debut.

Pitcher Dave McKae (6-4, 4.56 ERA, 18 games) is with Double-A Connecticut and Tyler LaTorre (.286, HR, 3 RBIs, 25 games) is with the High-A San Jose Giants.

Fitzgerald becomes the sixth UCD player to sign a pro contract this summer. The only Aggie who has not signed is pitcher Andy Suiter, who is throwing in the wood bat Northwoods League for the St. Cloud River Bats.

Here is how some of the other Aggies are faring in the minors:

Ryan Coultas (St. Lucie Mets) 0-4, 4.91 ERA, 30 strikeouts, 16 BBs, 3 saves, 40 1/3 innings

Daniel Descalso (Palm Beach Cardinals) .215, 4 homers, 28 RBIs, 73 games

Aaron Hanke (South Bend Silver Hawks) .236, 7 homers, 23 RBIs, 47 games

Jake Jefferies (Hudson Valley Renegades) .207, 0 HRs, 4 RBIs, 16 games

Ryan Royster (Everett AquaSox) .158, 1 SB, 0 HRs, 19 games

Eddie Gamboa (Bluefield Orioles) 0-1, 2.93 ERA, 10 SOs, 3 BBs, 15 1/3 innings

Brad McAtee (Tri-City Dust Devils) 3-1, 0.50 ERA, 16 SOs, 6 BBs, 18 innings

Bryan Evans (Jamestown Jammers) 1-1, 5.11 ERA, 7 SOs, 3 BBs, 12 1/3 innings