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]]> The NCS Football Championships begin tonight. Here's a look at the best games to watch. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:51:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091119/sports/911199863 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091119/sports/911199868
]]> In the past 31 years, the Casa Grande and Petaluma football programs have combined to win 378 games and make 23 playoff appearances. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:38:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091119/sports/911199868 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091119/sports/911199865
]]> The Montgomery defense has dominated this season thanks to size, speed, quickness and, well, burpies. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:01:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091119/sports/911199865 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091119/sports/911199960
]]> Giants ace Tim Lincecum won the NL Cy Young Award on Thursday for the second consecutive season to become the first repeat winner since Randy Johnson, emerging from one of the tightest votes in the history of the honor. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:40:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091119/sports/911199960 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091119/sports/911199888
]]> Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti says Tim Lincecum, at this point in his career, is ahead of Sandy Koufax, who took several major-league seasons to grasp the art of pitching. The thought is dizzying and wonderful in its way. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:01:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091119/sports/911199888 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091119/sports/911199866
]]> Frank Gore leads the 49ers in rushing and is second in pass receptions, but on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers he will have the responsibility of stepping up to block defensive/linebacker end Aaron Kampman in pass protection. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:47:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091119/sports/911199866 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091118/sports/911189870
]]> Thanks to an improbable rally in a wildly entertaining third game, the top-seeded Trojans beat No. 5 Maria Carrillo 18-25, 25-15, 34-32, 25-19 Wednesday night in the NCS Division II semifinals at Maria Carrillo. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:29:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091118/sports/911189870 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091118/sports/911189874
]]> Bishop O'Dowd struck early and often, putting away Analy in 3 straight games in an NCS Div. III semifinal — the first home loss for the Tigers in 3 years. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:33:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091118/sports/911189874 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091118/sports/911189887
]]> San Marin's Laura Posylkin won the NCS singles championship, but it was Middletown's Miriam Lane that provided the “feel good” story. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:29:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091118/sports/911189887 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091118/sports/911189895
]]> Coach Tom Cable made it official Wednesday, promoting Bruce Gradkowski to starting quarterback and relegating former top draft choice JaMarcus Russell to backup. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:09:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091118/sports/911189895 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091118/sports/911189888
]]> The Green Bay quarterback, whom the 49ers meet on Sunday, has been sacked a league-high 41 times in nine games. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:51:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091118/sports/911189888 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091118/sports/911189881
]]> The Warriors played Boston close in the first half, but the Celtics scored 12 straight points in the third quarter and never looked back. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:11:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091118/sports/911189881 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091118/sports/911189878
]]> Roderick Pearson recreates game situations when he's alone in the gym. This time, it happened in front of a hostile crowd on the road. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:07:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091118/sports/911189878 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091117/sports/911179901
]]> Despite limited personnel, the Warriors were within four points with less than two minutes to play Tuesday night at Cleveland before losing 114-108. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:57:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091117/sports/911179901 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091117/sports/911179913
]]> Josh Morgan went out of his way to help the player who was tabbed to replace him. But the demotion he expected never occurred. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:34:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091117/sports/911179913 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091117/sports/911179951
]]> Montgomery boys’ basketball coach Tom Fitchie, one of the most decorated coaches and players in Empire history, has taken a leave of absence for personal reasons. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:07:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091117/sports/911179951 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091117/sports/911179904
]]> After the first day of the NCS girls' singles and doubles championships, the only area player still in contention is from a school without a court on campus. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:44:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091117/sports/911179904 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091117/sports/911179897
]]> The Pumas are, without question, an Empire volleyball dynasty. But entering their meeting with visiting Petaluma at 7 p.m. today in the NCS Division II semifinals, they are also carrying this unfamiliar tag: Underdogs. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:40:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091117/sports/911179897 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091117/sports/911179917
]]> Santa Rosa’s second-leading scorer, Leon booted in two goals to spark the Panthers to a comeback win over Casa Grande in the North Coast Section Division I boy’s soccer semifinals. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:05:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091117/sports/911179917 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091117/sports/911179924
]]> Bailey, a 6-foot outside hitter, had 11 kills, seven digs and one block in the top-seeded Eagles’ 25-20, 25-7, 25-8 win over No. 8 Pescadero in the North Coast Section Division VI quarterfinals. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:54:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091117/sports/911179924 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091117/sports/911179946
]]> 1. PETALUMA (10-0) Perfect Petaluma peaking for playoffs. Isn't alliteration fun? 2. CASA GRANDE (9-1) Has won five straight, by an average of 25.6 points, since Egg Bowl loss. 3. MONTGOMERY (8-2) Only losses to Grant and Casa Grande — teams with a combined 19-1 record. 4. CARDINAL NEWMAN (6-4) Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:12:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091117/sports/911179946 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091117/sports/911179949
]]> BOYS 1. Santa Rosa (20-4-2) ’09 magic is over; trick is to do it all over again in ’10. 2. Elsie Allen (13-9-2) Too bad Lobos only played one good half against Marin Catholic in semis. 3. Casa Grande (14-9-2) OK, OK, Gauchos were much better than anticipated in the postseason. 4. Analy (15-6-2) Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:16:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091117/sports/911179949 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091117/sports/911179902
]]> Making back-to-back tournament appearances, the Sonoma State University volleyball team earned the third seed in the NCAA Division II West Regional. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:07:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091117/sports/911179902 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091116/sports/911169892
]]> Andrew Bailey, who had 26 saves and a 1.84 ERA for the Oakland Athletics, was selected first on 13 of 28 ballots and finished with 88 points to win the American League Rookie of the Year Award. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:21:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091116/sports/911169892 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091116/sports/911169919
]]> Getting healthy, playing at home, stringing together wins - check off three goals for the Santa Rosa Junior College women’s soccer team heading to the playoffs. Returning to the California Junior College Final Four where the Bear Cubs were runners-up a year ago is next on the check list. A state title would be even better. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:36:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091116/sports/911169919 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091116/sports/911169921
]]> The best could be yet to come for the Santa Rosa Junior College men’s soccer team as it aims for another deep postseason run. After taking another Big 8 Conference title, the Bear Cubs look to host a Northern California playoff game on the school’s new athletic field Saturday. The California Junior College playoff brackets will be set today. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:26:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091116/sports/911169921 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091116/sports/911169885
]]> ALAMEDA - Raider Nation has a lot of questions for Darrius Heyward-Bey. Are you angry? Depressed? Is the pressure starting to get to you? Could you catch a football if your career depended on it? Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:18:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091116/sports/911169885 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091116/sports/911169881
]]> When Alex Smith and Aaron Rodgers visited the 49ers a day apart in mid-April 2005, there did not seem to be many similarities in the two highly touted draft prospects. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:43:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091116/sports/911169881 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091116/sports/911169882
]]> JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski await to hear from coach Tom Cable on who will get the start at quarterback against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:36:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091116/sports/911169882 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091116/sports/911169878
]]> The Warriors sent disgruntled swingman Stephen Jackson and guard Acie Law to the Charlotte Bobcats on Monday for shooting guard Raja Bell and forward Vladimir Radmanovic. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:22:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091116/sports/911169878