kjones's blog

Cal State Stanislaus third baseman Erica McIntyre has a cool story I finally hd a chance to relate when she did so well in Friday's doubleheader against Chico State. McIntyre scored the winning run in the first game - a 3-2 victory - and had three hits in the Warriors' 4-3 win in 11 innings. She was also hopping at the "hot corner" - snagging four line drives and fielding four other ground balls.

"I usually don't get that many balls," McIntyre said. "Pitchers usually pitch outside and the balls go to the right. It was great to be in the game."

McIntyre likely took playing time away from a utility infielder when she joined the team in January. No four-year schools approached her after the was a first-team All-Big 8 selection at Sacramento City. The Fairfield native said she kept working out, hoping she'd get a late call, but preparing herself for the worst while doing secretarial duties for her parents' business.

Just the idea of duct taping my face in an effort to prevent frostbite makes me want to cozy up to a fireplace. For Nick Olstad - who has relatives in Modesto and Atwater - the practice is no big deal, a necessary part of saving his skin while racing nearly 2,000 miles across Alaska on a snowmobile.

Olstad still suffered some frostbite to his neck, despite layers of clothes and protective equipment - again, I shudder at the thought of an Alaskan deep freeze - but it was worth it. With partner Todd Minnick, Olstad won his second Iron Dog race and earned $25,000 in prize money for his efforts.

Now that he's an upperclassman, it's Tom Mendonca - not the comparitively juvenile-sounding "Tommy" who garned loads of attention starring for the Fresno State baseball team in its 2008 national title run. There were no orders, but even the school's official website lists No. 32 as Tom now where he had previously been "Tommy." It's fitting though, especially after considering what came after the College World Series for the player from Turlock and how he reacted to it.

Mendonca said there was no way he could pass on an opportunity to play for the Team USA collegiate team, despite the fact the Bulldogs played more games than any college team in the country. He got the national team call the day before of the day of the championship game - it's a blur now - and used the experience as a learning opportunity.

Family and close friends of longtime area softball coach Laura Norwood knew there woud be hundreds of people who would want to attend her funeral service. But getting a large-scale service together quickly was overwhelming. So her memorial service was kept small and a Celebration of Life service has been planned for Jan. 31 at 1 p.m. at the Old Fisherman's Club on 10800 Maze Rd. in Modesto. Daughter Sara Norwood would like to know how many people to expect, and listed three ways people can indicate they will be coming - by e-mailing Yvette Santos at rny1183@sbcglobal.net, calling Ralph Santos at 202-4682 or Sara Norwood at 596-5250. Donations can be made in Laura Norwood's name to Grapettes 12-u, 1913 Poppy Ln. Ceres, Ca. 95307.

At noon on Christmas Eve, the Cal State Stanislaus women’s basketball team was hanging out at the Anchorage International Airport. Stuck in Alaska three extra days due to bad weather that canceled Sunday’s connecting flight in Seattle, the Warriors had an early morning flight Wednesday that would have gotten them back to Northern California late in the afternoon. With the flight to Seattle delayed, the Stanislaus contingent would miss its flight out of Seattle.

On the bright side, the Cal State Stanislaus women’s basketball team is safe and sound in a nice hotel in Alaska. They’ve practically had the run of a Marriott in Anchorage, where they went to play a couple games against the No. 3 Division II team in the country.

Only Alaska isn’t geographically united to the states the Warriors are trying to get back to. Grounded flights in Seattle thanks to weekend snow storms made it impossible for Stanislaus to come back the way they came. Booked flights and cost-prohibitive fares have made it impossible for them to get back any other way, either.

With their best start in years, the Cal State Stanisluas women's basketball team has a number of feel-good stories. One of them is the return of Antwinette Turner, who maintained close relationships with her former teammates and coach despite transferring to San Francisco State after her sophomore season. She has returned this year and is making the most of the opportunity, playing with fire and enthusiasm, eager to show how happy she is for the second chance.
Among her favorite memories of Stanislaus: No one at San Francisco called her “Stitch” — the nickname she picked up on the first day of practice her freshman year. She required medical attention when current senior guard Gwen Page “busted up” her chin in a collision.