Dissa and Data: Cardinal Newman, SSU grad Scott Alexander gets MLB call-up

The No. 1 seed Maria Carrillo baseball team enters the North Bay League tournament at 4 p.m. today with a far better record (16-8, 12-2) than its opponent, No. 4 Montgomery (11-13, 7-7), but the Pumas have nothing but respect for the Vikings.?After all, the Vikings bested the NBL champs 11-5 on April 8. The same Vikings squad beat a strong No. 2-seeded Casa Grande team twice in league play.

“I really like the way Montgomery plays,” Pumas coach Derek DeBenedetti said. “They have this ‘Never say die’ attitude. They just fight and scrap and they never give up. It’s fun to play against because you can’t let up.”

Star volleyball camp

Middle and high school girls can hone their volleyball skills at two three-day camps planned in July at El Molino High School.

The head coach, Tom Houser, has been coaching volleyball since 1985.He will be working with Hillcrest Middle School volleyball coach Sharon Lochert.

The Star All-Skills camp July 10-12 is for middle or high school girls with advanced, intermediate or rookie skills. The High Expectations Camp July 14-16 is for girls with extensive (at least three seasons) of competitive volleyball.

Camp times, prices and other details can be found at www.coachhouser.com/StarCampCalendar2016.html or questions emailed to SharLo@sonic.net.

Alexander in The Show

Scott Alexander, who pitched for Cardinal Newman and Sonoma State, was called up to the majors recently and has already appeared in three games for the Kansas City Royals. In those appearances against the Yankees and Braves, the Santa Rosan has pitched 52/3 innings, struck out seven and allowed one earned run.

“Scott’s senior year was also my first year coaching at Newman,” said T.J. McMahon. “I could tell even back then he was something special. It was absolutely a thrill to coach him. I’ve never been around a player that has a work ethic like his.”

Send-off for softball seniors

The first Redwood Empire NBL-SCL senior softball game will be held June 18 at Santa Rosa JC.

“We hope to make this an annual event,” Montgomery coach Mike Malvino. “It’ll showcase the seniors and also give them a special send-off.”

Santa Rosa High’s Jeff Pratt and Malvino will coach the NBL. Leading the SCL will be Petaluma’s Kurt Jastrow and Sonoma Valley’s Dean Merrill.

Press Democrat Staff ?Writers Kerry Benefield, ?Lori A. Carter, Phil Barber and Press Democrat ?correspondent Howard Senzell contributed to this report.