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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/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/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/20091115/sports/911159969
]]> For his 65th birthday, Petaluma coach Steve Ellison got an unexpected gift Sunday: A reprieve from watching game film until his eyes bled. The North Coast Section playoff pairings were unveiled and Ellison’s 10-0 Trojans earned both a No. 1 seed in the Division II bracket and a first-round date Friday with a familiar foe in No. 16 Rancho Cotate. Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:27:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091115/sports/911159969 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091114/sports/911149956
]]> Hard to imagine what felt better for Montgomery, winning the NCS or beating Casa to do it, who won the previous two NCS titles, both victories over Montgomery. Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:31:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091114/sports/911149956 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091114/sports/911149958
]]> For 72 minutes, Marin Catholic controlled things. Like the midfield, the clock, and the scoreboard in the finals of the North Coast Section boys Div. I. Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:29:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091114/sports/911149958 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091114/sports/911149950
]]> With two minutes left in the first overtime Saturday night, Sonoma Academy teammates Kate Bayes and Ashley Cliver figured out how to finally score a goal and win another section title. Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:46:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091114/sports/911149950 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091114/sports/911149948
]]> Wildcats bow to Branson in playoffs for second year in a row. Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:56:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091114/sports/911149948 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091114/sports/911149979
]]> The Press Democrat will provide live scoring updates from the Division I and III boys' and girls' soccer championship games today. Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:12:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091114/sports/911149979 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091114/sports/911149946
]]> When Kaitlyn Dunaway and Hayley Ross joined the Petaluma varsity volleyball team three years ago as freshmen, it wasn’t like they had gained initiation into one of the region’s great sports programs. Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:03:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091114/sports/911149946 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091113/sports/911139858
]]> With nearly seven minutes left in the second quarter, Petaluma, one win away from a perfect regular season, trailed Healdsburg by a point. Not to worry. Petaluma's response was oh so familiar. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:15:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091113/sports/911139858 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091113/sports/911139856
]]> A tough defense, a strong passing attack — Newman had a lot of virtues over the past few years, but perseverance wasn't necessarily one of them. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:36:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091113/sports/911139856 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091113/sports/911139860
]]> Two teams with high-powered offenses going full-speed from start to finish. Cloverdale upheld its end of the deal, but visiting St. Vincent didn't. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:05:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091113/sports/911139860 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091113/sports/911139927
]]> The Press Democrat will provide live scoring updates from three high school football games tonight. The blog starts at 7 p.m. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:33:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091113/sports/911139927 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091112/sports/911129873
]]> From Petaluma to Cloverdale, here's what to watch for on high school football fields throughout the region tonight. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:26:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091112/sports/911129873 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091112/sports/911129877
]]> Not long before Petaluma’s practice on Wednesday afternoon, Trojans defensive coordinator Manny Lopes was discussing some of the stars on his accomplished unit. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:29:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091112/sports/911129877 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091112/sports/911129867
]]> They don’t have a 1,000-yard running back. Or a prolific passing game. Or one player that makes an offensive coordinator lie awake at night. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:06:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091112/sports/911129867 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091111/sports/911119874
]]> After 40 minutes Wednesday night, second-seeded Santa Rosa's dream season sure looked doomed. Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:41:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091111/sports/911119874 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091111/sports/911121093
]]> Montgomery continued its march through the North Coast Section soccer tournament Wednesday night. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:03:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091111/sports/911121093 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091111/sports/911119875
]]> Petaluma's Hugh Dowdy and Casa Grande's Jacque Taylor won SCL cross country titles while saving fuel for tougher fields in coming weeks. Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:54:00 -0500 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091111/sports/911119875