Around the Horn 2-28-17
VIKINGS SOFTBALL LOOKING GOOD
The DVC softball team opened Big 8 Conference play impressively with a doubleheader sweep of Santa Rosa on Friday, 5-1 and 10-2.
In the 5-1 win, Olivia Soley improved to 2-0 by allowing five hits and one earned run over five innings. Reliever Sita Manoa threw two spotless innings with three strikeouts and no walks. The Vikings' No. 3, 4 and 5 hitters, catcher Terri Taylor, third baseman Elvia Alvarado and Soley, combined for six hits, four runs scored and two RBI. Right fielder Ciara Whitesell walked twice and had two RBI.
In the 10-2 blowout, Soley (3-0) came in to relieve Manoa and allowed just one hit over 2.2 innings. Taylor tripled and had three RBI and two runs scored. Manoa was 2 for 2. Leadoff Marissa Maddox did her job with two runs scored and an RBI.
The Vikings have a busy week ahead. They will host Sacramento City in Big 8 play at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, before hosting De Anza in a nonconference doubleheader Thursday, beginning at 1 p.m. They will travel to Sierra in the Big 8 for a doubleheader on Saturday.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
The No. 10 seeded Vikings (20-10), who returned to the CCCAA Northern California playoffs this season after a year away, bowed out of the second round with an 87-71 loss to host Las Positas.
The Vikings were paced by Brazilian Victor Mijas' 25 points and sophomore floor leader Rodney Pope's 21 points.
Pope, who plans to transfer to a Division I or Division II program, had a strong effort in his Vikings' finale. He enjoyed playing for Vikings coach Steve Coccimiglio.
"Coccimiglio is a great coach. I learned a lot from him," Pope said. "I grew a lot, and Coccimiglio's one of the biggest influences in my life in basketball, honestly."
DVC kept the game close against the athletics Hawks, trailing just 67-59 after a Mijas 3-pointer with about nine minutes remaining, but Las Positas responded with a 6-0 run.
The Vikings started well, holding leads of 15-12 and 18-15, but hot outside shooting by Las Positas substitute Nick Evans, Pope's former teammate at Freedom High, enabled the Hawks to go ahead to stay.
COCCIMIGLIO INDUCTED
Circle the date: DVC coach Steve Coccmiglio will be inducted in the CCCMBCA Hall of Fame on March 11 at 9 a.m. at the Crowne Plaza. The event is open to the public and costs $25 per person. Call Jim Stephens to reserve a seat: 760-567-4269.
This season. Coccimiglio became the third men's coach in state history to hit the 600-win plateau with a win over American River on Nov. 19. In his 27th year at DVC, Coccimiglio has won or shared 12 conference championships. His teams have made seven Elite Eights and one Final Four (1996-97). A former CCCMBCA President, Coccimiglio has been active in the association for many years, several included coordinating and spearheading this CCCMBCA Hall of Fame yearly event.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
DVC broke the century mark for the fourth time this season with an exciting 109-87 win over visiting Mission in the CCCAA Northern California Regional playoffs Saturday night.
Overall, the Big 8 has been strong in the playoffs as four teams have advanced to the Sweet 16, also including No. 1 Sierra, No. 5 San Joaquin Delta and No. 10 American River.
The Vikings' brilliant backcourt of Safiyyah Yasin (36 points) and Doris Jones (29 points) was dominant overall, and the explosive Vikings scored 63 points in the first half alone.
Next, No. 6-seeded DVC (25-6) will travel to No. 3 CCSF in the third round on March 4, and will be one win away from a berth in the eight-team state finals at Las Positas. CCSF, the Coast-North champion, beat No. 14 Laney 73-53 in the second round.
DVC beat CCSF 97-86 in December.
"Should be a very high-scoring affair and a great game to watch," DVC coach Ramaundo Vaughn said of facing the Rams.
DVC had great efforts all around against Mission. Sami Oliver contributed 12 points and seven rebounds, and CC Cuneo added 11 points and six rebounds. Deja Johnson had nine points and nine boards, and Kyla Miller had nine points and eight boards.
BASEBALL
The Vikings (5-9) dropped back-to-back decisions against Chabot 11-5 and Canada-Redwood City 8-2 in nonconference action. Catcher Matt Tom and third baseman both had two RBI in the 11-5 loss, and DH Jared Bannister was 2 for 2 with a run scored. Bannister was also 2 for 4 with two solo home runs against Canada.