California Sports Feed

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MEET THE TOP TEAM: GRANADA

Granada capped off its dominant regular season by coming from behind to beat San Ramon Valley in the East Bay Athletic League tournament final on Friday. Saturday, the Matadors received the No. 1 seed in the North Coast Section Division I playoffs. The Livermore school, which finished the regular season 25-1 overall and 12-1 in the EBAL, has held the top spot in the Bay Area News Group rankings for the majority of the season. The Matadors have beaten the likes of James Logan, De La Salle, Cardinal Newman, College Park, Liberty and Pittsburg — all of which made the section playoffs. Granada boasts a strong pitching trio of Stanford commit Parker Warner, Mason Ravera and Jake Sekany. The staff has given up just over two runs a game this season. Power-hitters Riley Winchell and Mikey Boyd, junior Tyler Kardy and catcher Tommy Brown anchor Granada’s lineup, which scored 203 runs in the regular season.

Granada’s Carlos Hernandez (19) douses his teammates after defeating San Ramon Valley during the East Bay Athletic League baseball tournament championship game at Granada High School in Livermore, Calif., on Friday, May 10, 2024. Granada defeated San Ramon Valley 6-4. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 

TOP STORYLINES

De La Salle received the No. 2 seed in Division I and will play Bay Valley Athletic League tournament runner-up Liberty in the first round. The Spartans will be looking to capture their seventh consecutive NCS Division I title dating to 2016. The senior led Spartans rely on infielder Hank Tripaldi, outfielder Joe McGee and utility Jack Harper to lead a dynamic offense. Counting NorCals, which started two years ago, De La Salle has won 30 consecutive section and regional playoff games since losing in the NCS Division I final in 2015. … After winning the Diablo Athletic League regular-season title, College Park was awarded the No. 3 seed in Division I and will play No. 14 Berkeley in its first-round matchup. Nathan Leffel and Vincent “Tino” Vassell lead a College Park lineup that has 51 extra-base hits this season. If seeds hold, the Falcons will face No. 6 San Ramon Valley in the quarterfinals. … Benicia is playing its best baseball at the right time, having won seven of its last 10 games. The Panthers are the No. 4 seed in Division II and will play Washington-Fremont in the first round  … Bishop O’Dowd fell short of capturing a West Alameda County Conference Foothill Division title, but a 15-10-1 record helped the Dragons snag the No. 1 seed in Division III. O’Dowd has a first-round bye before beginning its quest to capture its first NCS title since 1993 … No. 1 St. Mary’s-Berkeley and No. 2 Piedmont were given the top seeds in Division IV. Piedmont won the WACC Foothill Division title. 

De La Salle’s Joe McGee (8) hits a three-run home run against San Ramon Valley at San Ramon Valley High School in San Ramon, Calif., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)  College Parks’ Nathan Leffel (2) throws to first base against Acalanes in the third inning at Acalanes High School in Lafayette, Calif., on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)  Related Articles

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WHO CAN MAKE A SURPRISE RUN?

James Logan finished league play undefeated and hasn’t lost since early April. But the Colts were given an unfavorable No. 9 seed and will have to beat Monte Vista on the road to reach the quarterfinals. No matter, Logan has undeniable talent. Do-it-all shortstop Jesus Vasquez leads the Colts in batting average (.473), on-base percentage (.547), stolen bases (22) and hits (35). Logan ace Westley Vega has a 1.47 ERA and 45 strikeouts this season. If Logan can get past the Mustangs in round one, the Colts will likely play top-seed Granada in the quarterfinals, a rematch of Logan’s season opener. Granada won 10-1. … Alameda quietly had a solid season. The Hornets beat the likes of Freedom, Berkeley, Piedmont and O’Dowd — all teams which secured a spot in the section playoffs. Alameda was given the No. 8 seed and will play No. 9 Maria Carrillo at College of Alameda on Wednesday. If seeds hold, the Hornets will play No. 1 Cardinal Newman in the second round …Salesian won the Tri-County Athletic League Stone Division, but was given the No. 12 seed in Division IV. The Pride will have to travel two hours north to play No. 5 Kelseyville, but the Richmond school could have the tools to pull off the upset and make a deep run. Sophomore Evan Vela is Salesian’s best player, batting .453 and allowing just over two runs a game on the mound.

Who is the top team?

Because the North Coast Section isn’t switching to a competitive-based format for its playoffs until next school year, its top teams are still sprinkled across numerous divisions. Livermore, the second-best NCS team in the latest Bay Area News Group rankings, is the No. 2 seed in Division II. Benicia, which is ranked two spots ahead of Livermore in the BANG rankings, is seeded third in Division II. … Livermore has Minnesota commit Jae Cosgriff leading a potent offense that has four regulars hitting over .400. Laine Macosky and Payten Williams each hit six home runs, too. … Benicia went 21-1 in the regular season and won its last 13 games. Junior pitcher Sinead Maas went 12-1 with a miniscule 1.13 ERA, and the Panthers offense also put up runs in wins against Division I top seed California, as well as victories over D-I squads Amador Valley, College Park and Clayton Valley Charter. … That isn’t to say reigning Division I champion California, the top seed in the highest division, is some slouch after going 16-8 through a gauntlet of a schedule. Jayda Crosby and Hailey King are both skilled hitters with batting averages over .350 and pitcher Kaitlyn Le has a 2.28 ERA.

What are some top storylines?

James Logan believes it is ready to add a sixth NCS Division I title to the program’s trophy case. But it won’t have an easy road to the championship. If seeds hold, the Colts will be taking a trip to Amador Valley in the second round, another program with a storied softball history. If Logan wins that one, then its semifinal opponent could be battle-tested California, which returns many key contributors from last year’s title team. … Can Alameda get over the Bishop O’Dowd hump in Division II? Assuming the No. 5 seed Hornets beat No. 12 Rancho Cotate, Alameda will have a shot at revenge against O’Dowd. The No. 4 Dragons handed their WACC Foothill rivals their only two league losses, both by one run. O’Dowd’s Zoe Bolick and Alameda’s Jasmine Whorley have had two great pitchers’ duels already, and they might have a third … Alameda isn’t the only team on the island with championship aspirations. Crosstown rival Encinal reached last season’s Division III title game. Now seeded No. 2 in D-III, the Jets continue to rely on slugging duo Lola Whalen and Jazzy Alcantar, who both hit over .400. … In Division IV, No. 9 Hercules will bring a lot of offense but might have to outscore the opposition. The Titans average 15 runs per game while allowing 11. They went 10-2 in the Tri-County Athletic League Stone Division and face a test in Round 1 against eighth-seeded St. Mary’s-Berkeley from the stronger TCAL Rock Division. … Few teams enter the playoffs on more of a roll than Liberty, which has spent the past two weeks run-ruling Bay Valley Athletic League opponents en route to a regular-season and league tournament title. Freshman Jewel Cooper has been a revelation, hitting 10 home runs with a .537 batting average. The Lions will try to maintain their torrid hitting as the No. 7 seed in Division I. 

What team could make a surprise run?

Hard to imagine any Division I team wanting to see No. 6 Granada, who have a deceptive 12-9 record. The Matadors started the season 3-7 before going on a break in late March. Since returning to the field on April 9, the Livermore school has gone 9-2, with victories over playoff teams Liberty, Livermore, Carondelet and Foothill. The Matadors have more power than perhaps any team in the section, with seniors Saskia Rabb (8 HRs), Sarah Deplitch (7 HRs) and Delaney Aumua (9 HRs) all threats to go deep at any time. Freshman pitcher Kamryn Brannon has turned into a reliable option in the circle for Granada, too. The Matadors have EBAL rival Foothill in the first round, and then No. 3 College Park in the second should the seeds hold. 

SAN FRANCISCO — At 24 years old, Patrick Bailey understands the potential implications multiple concussions can carry.

The Giants catcher, back in the lineup Saturday, is also aware of the occupational hazards of his chosen profession and role within it.

“At this point,” Bailey said after suffering his second in as many seasons, “I’m trying to do everything I can to prevent them.”

That means, when Bailey assumes his crouch behind home plate for the first time since last Friday, it will look slightly different. Always preferential to the traditional two-piece face mask that attaches to a hard-shell helmet, Bailey will trade in his headgear of choice for hockey-style mask said to provide more protection.

The change came at the suggestion of Craig Albernaz, the former Giants catching coach now in Cleveland and who remains a close confidant of Bailey’s. Alex Burg, the Giants’ new catching coach, also consulted with the company who produces the masks, All-Star.

San Francisco Giants’ Patrick Bailey (14) carries his catcher’s helmet before the start of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, May 11, 2024. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 

“Obviously the vision is different, but I don’t think it will be a drastic change,” said Bailey, who debuted the mask during Blake Snell’s bullpen session that he caught Friday. It was the first time he had worn the new style of mask since his days at Wesleyan Christian Academy, where catchers were required to wear the hockey-style mask.

The reinforced padding in the new mask could conceivably have lessened the impact of the foul tip that struck Bailey in the face last Friday. Initially remaining in the game, Bailey was removed the following inning when his vision began to get blurry, and the next morning his suspicions were confirmed when his symptoms didn’t go away.

It was the second concussion Bailey suffered since being called up to the majors last May, though a new helmet wouldn’t have helped last September when the Cubs’ Jeimer Candelario barreled into him on a play at the plate, sending him into concussion protocol for the first time.

Bailey’s concussion history predates his major-league career, estimating he has suffered “three or four” in total “but nothing crazy.”

“Obviously it’s something I don’t want to take lightly, with it being my brain,” he said. “It’s a frustrating thing but something I’ve got to protect and take care of.”

One protective measure already employed by Bailey takes the form of the headband-looking device that is often seen around his neck. The tool, called the “Q Collar,” is designed to reduce the risk of concussions by applying pressure to the neck area.

Bailey had worn the collar while catching but now will expand its use to every part of the game.

When it comes to preventing concussions, manager Bob Melvin said, “You just cross your fingers more than anything.”

“Knock wood they haven’t been severe,” Melvin continued. “I think we’re doing the best we can to not push that. And I think baseball’s done a good job with it, as well. Hopefully the non-severity has been a good thing.”

On a day where the Giants lost another player, Austin Slater, to the concussion list and Melvin lauded the offensive qualities of his replacement, Brett Wisely, the owner of a .498 major-league OPS, perhaps it went without saying the potential impact of adding Bailey back to their lineup.

Before he was sidelined, Bailey’s .800 OPS ranked third on the team behind LaMonte Wade Jr. and Michael Conforto.

The manager was asked if Bailey was capable of providing a “spark” for an offense that has scored the second-fewest runs in the majors since April 24, a paltry 2.87 per game.

“We’ll take anybody who can give us a spark right now. Sure, yeah,” Melvin said. “There are some things we can do offensively to be better and there are some guys that can potentially give us a spark. Bailey would be one.”

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In seven games without their starting catcher and one of their most consistent offensive performers, the Giants went 2-5 while scoring 3.4 runs per game, though that figure was inflated from a series at Coors Field, and the club’s offensive woes predate Bailey’s absence.

“Just having him back is big for us,” Melvin said. “Not only has he had a good offensive year to this point, he means a lot to the pitching staff.”

Notable

In a corresponding move, Jakson Reetz was optioned back to Triple-A Sacramento, leaving Blake Sabol as Bailey’s primary backup. With an afternoon start Saturday, “there’s a chance” Bailey could start both of his first two games back, Melvin said, but “we’ll see each and every day how he feels.”

Slater was dealing with some “fogginess” a day after crashing head-on into the center field wall, according to Melvin. Wisely, who was added to the roster in his place, can be expected to see time in center and could start at shortstop with right-handers on the mound. In 32 games at Triple-A Sacramento, Wisely was batting .311/.403/.487 with almost as many walks (19) as strikeouts (21).

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Football is back.

Sort of.

But any football is good, and given the current state of Bay Area professional sports, it’s desperately needed.

The Niners let us take a look at rookie mini-camp practice Friday — a first look at their draft picks and undrafted free agents.

And it was enlightening.

Here’s what I saw and what I think it means moving forward into OTAs, training camp, and the 2024 season.

Ricky Pearsall is sudden

Slick Rick looked the part of a first-round pick on Friday. He was heads and shoulders above everyone else on the field, save for Renardo Green (more on him in a moment).

And while Pearsall didn’t do anything surprising, it was good to see the undeniable pop in his game. That’s something only really good players can boast — and it’s necessary to be a contributor in the NFL.

Renardo Green isn’t here to mess around

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The 49ers’ second-round draft pick is handsy — he can really jam at the line of scrimmage, flip his hips, and mirror receivers. I saw him to do it to Pearsall a few times on Thursday. It’s exactly what we saw at Florida State, but, again, it’s worthwhile to receive visual confirmation against NFL-caliber players (and others).

Might this ability with the mitts be a problem for Green? Perhaps. But one could argue it’s an issue for Charvarius Ward, and no one is complaining about him these days.

If I had to place a bet today, Green starts at cornerback opposite Ward.

I can’t wait to see him against a steady diet of real NFL players.

Jacob Cowing does what he does

The Arizona receiver had his routes in Tucson, ran them to perfection, and picked up bundles of yards and touchdowns.

The 49ers watched the tape, decided, “That works for us” and will have him doing the same thing for them in the not-too-distant future.

If you need a comp for Cowing, think Julian Edelman.

Yes, that’s high-end play, but it lines up: No one could quite explain how Edelman kept getting open. (Cowing was underwhelming in wide receiver drills, unlike Pearsall, who elicited oohs and ahhs.) And he wasn’t making guys miss in the open field, either. He was a slot guy, but played often as an X or Z receiver with tight splits.

Edelman was just a bit better at catching punts, though.

Cowing was trying to be revolutionary on Friday, catching punts overhand. Like, the same way you’d catch a pass that’s above your shoulders. He, of course, failed at changing the game, because that’s silly tactic. It reached the point where coaches had him pin towels under his arm pits, as to prevent him from doing the overhand method.

So the idea of Cowing making an immediate impact on special teams seems a bit far-fetched for now.

It’s a good thing he has sweet hands and can separate 100 times out of 100 on an out route.

The running backs are going to create (champagne) problems

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There is a world where the 49ers had their No. 2 and No. 3 running backs on the field at rookie mini-camp.

And there’s a world where that No. 3 turns out to be the No. 1 for this team.

Let me explain: Issac Guerendo and Cody Schrader are both NFL running backs. It’s frankly absurd Schrader wasn’t drafted.

Guerendo is the second coming of Raheem Mostert. He even has the same upright running style.

He’s not the cleanest receiver out of the backfield (though the quarterbacks weren’t worth the time Friday), and he struck me as a bit tentative on Friday, but he was clearly an elite-level athlete. I’m not worried at all about him being the Niners’ change-of-pace, third-down back in 2024, with big upside down the line.

Schrader, though, needs to make this team.

Let me disclose my bias: I’m a Missouri Tiger, class of 2010 and I watch — and yell at — every Tigers football game no matter if they’re good or bad. It’s a real problem in the Kurtenbach household. My family couldn’t even hang out with me during the Mizzou-Florida game, I was downright unhinged. (Pearsall had 111 yards and a touchdown on three touches in that game.)

So you’re not going to find a bigger fan of Schrader than me. He was the second-best player in America last season and I consider any contrary opinion personal affront.

(Buddy, I’m getting fired up just thinking about his season.)

If the Niners want to carry three running backs and a fullback, then they’d be well served to drop the veterans — Elijah Mitchell and JP Mason — and keep the rookies.

If they want to keep four plus a fullback, Mason is out of a job — the Niners loaded up on special teams players, after all.

Thinking about the future, Schrader is going to be a real problem for John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan. Once the Niners start running drills where he can actually run the ball, it’s going to be obvious he needs to be on the team.

If you play him in the preseason, it’s going to be evident he can help a team win.

So do the Niners get cute and try to hide him from other teams and try to get him to the practice squad?

Or do they take the win and jettison one of two other good running backs for him?

I’m fascinated to find out. And I’m excited for you all to see this guy play. The Niners won big by getting him to Santa Clara.

Drake Nugent is going to hang around for a long time

But the Niners’ best undrafted free agent is center Drake Nugent.

I have one word to describe him: Stallion.

Boy was he impressive in drills Friday. And my goodness is he a stocky lad.

You want a body comp? Jason Kelce. Just a stump of a man with crazy left-to-right speed and a bad attitude in the middle.

I couldn’t take my eyes off him Friday.

Jarrett Kingston and Dominick Puni looked good. Exactly what we saw from their college tape — Kingston is smooth but lacks that power you’d like to see in his hands; Puni takes a bit to get going with his feet, but when he gets his hands on you, they stay on you.

I also liked what I saw from Corey Luciano, who was out there getting some extra work.

But the Niners have something with Nugent. As much as I think Kingston and Puni could be the Niners’ center of the future (or halfway point of 2024), it’s clear (at least to me) now that the true center of the future is Nugent.

I gotta see this guy in live reps, but I’m all in.

A few other quick thoughts:

• Mason Pline has the size and the hands to be an NFL tight end. The question is if he can reasonably block. I’d bet on it.

• Isaiah Avery, an undrafted cornerback out of Portland State who was ranked No. 146 at CB by the Athletic, deserves a shot at training camp. He stacked good reps in 7-on-7 Friday. There’s something there worth exploring — another classic case of a solid player falling through the cracks.

• Timothy Patrick, an undrafted free agent out of Southern Utah, deserves a shot in the summer as well. He might just look really good in drills, but he was markedly better than all but two receivers (Pearsall and Cowings) on Friday.

• Fans of the column (and the Dieter and Hutch podcast) have known about Malik Mustapha for a while, but the level of buzz around him at 4949 is off the charts. It took 20 seconds of 7-on-7 drills to see why. He’s going to see the field a lot in 2024 — he’s a game-changer with more range than Talanoa Hufanga.

• I didn’t get to see much of the defensive linemen, but good reports from multiple folks who did catch more of them on Shakel Brown, a second-year player out of Troy. He was injured last year and waived by Tennessee a few days ago, but don’t sleep on him to be a player for this team in 2024. Not only are the Niners weak at defensive tackle, but anyone who played for Jon Sumrall at Troy deserves a serious look. That guy can coach — learn the name now, you’re going to hear it a lot in the years to come.

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SANTA CLARA – Malik Mustapha lurked in the secondary as he debuted on the 49ers’ practice field at rookie minicamp.

No hitting was allowed, so there’s only so much a player can do for a first impression.

Seeing Mustapha patrol the field and communicate loudly made imaginations run wild, such as: maybe this guy’s versatility and violence will pan out as advertised.

“With safeties today and defensive backs today, you have to be versatile, even linebackers. It’s such a fast game and offenses look to expose you,” defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen said Friday. “We like when guys have versatility. We also just loved his playing style.”

Mustapha is 5-foot-10, 209 pounds. He’s drawn high-end comparisons to safeties of similar stature, such as the Arizona Cardinals’ Budda Baker (5-10, 195), ex-49ers star Donte Whitner (5-10, 204) and ex-Colts mainstay Bob Sanders (5-8, 206).

“When I see the ball, I’m just going to go attack it and disrupt it any way I can,” Mustapha said. “It’s not about how tall and big I am, but about having the heart and desire. The fuel and love I have for this game drives me to be that way.”

At Wake Forest, Mustapha returned in 2022 from an anterior cruciate ligament tear and thrived as “The Panther” who roamed in a newly installed defensive package.

“There were a lot of hats I had to wear,” Mustapha recalled. “It was fire-zone (blitz) calls, to pressure the quarterback and use my athleticism to disrupt him, or to spy on the quarterback, as well.”

More simply, Mustapha proved adept at blending into the defensive front, or with linebackers, or as a third safety. That later role is most likely in the 49ers’ scheme, amid incumbent starters Talanoa Hufanga and Ji’Ayir Brown.

Mustapha spoke eloquently at 49ers’ rookie minicamp, just as he did at the NFL scouting combine to general manager John Lynch.

“He was lighting up when I was breaking down the Wake Forest play calls they had pulled up,” Mustapha said. “As a safety you have to know moving pieces, who’s doing what on defense. He saw I know what I’m talking about.”

Lynch, after the draft, said of Mustapha: “We talk a lot about running to the football and getting there with bad intentions and Malik kind of embodies that. One of our favorite interviews, one of my favorite interviews at the Combine. He really handles himself well, but on the field plays the right way.”

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall participates in a practice in Santa Clara, Calif., on Friday, May 10, 2024. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group) 

PEARSALL LOOKS THE PART

Ricky Pearsall fit the profile of a pro-ready receiver and potential punt returner. He broke open on a go-route, only to get slightly overthrown by undrafted rookie Tanner Mordecai. Later, when Pearsall came out of his break near the right sideline, tryout-QB Mitch Davidson’s pass already was sailing past him out of bounds – and Davidson promptly signaled to himself accepting blame.

Soon enough, Pearsall will be catching passes from Brock Purdy (and Josh Dobbs and Brandon Allen). The rest of the 49ers are in Phase 2 of their offseason program. Organized team activities begin May 20, then training camp about two months later. Then a plentiful career in the NFL.

GREEN INSIDE/OUT

Second-round pick Renardo Green will intensify the cornerback competition heading into this season. Initially, he’ll be trained on the inside to cover slot receivers, though he lined up at left cornerback in Friday’s early drills.

“We’ll start him out inside and see what he can do in there. If you can retain it, you want to learn it earlier,” Sorensen said. “We know what Demo (Lenoir) can do. Sammy Womack’s done a good job the last couple weeks, and so has Kemon Hall. (Green) will get some work outside, too.”

PUNI CAN PROTECT PURDY

Offensive lineman Dominick Puni, a third-round pick, has the strength and versatility to potentially play anywhere, though right guard might be his most immediate shot. Regardless of where he might be, he knows the assignment on who to protect. “I love Brock Purdy. The fact he was the last pick, that’s storybook,” Puni said. “When the other two quarterbacks went down, he came in the (2022) Miami game and won that game. I said, ‘Watch him, he’s going to cook.’ Then he started cooking.”

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jacob Cowing participates in a practice in Santa Clara, Calif., on Friday, May 10, 2024. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group) 

PUNT RETURN PROSPECTS

Pearsall and fourth-rounder Jacob Cowing fielded punts, and although Cowing muffed two early opportunities, he envisions big things for himself in that role. “It’s about getting better at that aspect of catching, getting comfortable, trying to get the ball down the field and trying to go score a touchdown,” Cowing said. “I heard it’s been over a decade it hasn’t been accomplished. That’s definitely one of my goals this year.” Indeed, the 49ers’ last touchdown on a punt return came in the 2011 opener by Ted Ginn Jr.

MOST GRACIOUS PLAYER

Linebacker Tatum Bethune, a seventh-round pick and the last member of the 49ers’ eight-man draft class, called the rookie minicamp “a life-changing experience. … This is something I always dreamed of, and now I just have to make the most of it. I feel if I go out there and be myself, once I do that, whatever results come with that, I’ll be satisfied I gave everything I have.”

BEST UNDRAFTED SIGNEE

Center Drake Nugent’s 6-foot-1, 298-pound frame and power will be worth watching in the upcoming months. The 49ers need a backup center to Jake Brendel, and Nugent is coming off a national championship with Michigan, after he transferred from Stanford. Honorable mention in this category: tight end Mason Pline.

BEST AUDITION

Defensive tackle Shakel Brown (6-foot-3, 295 pounds) looked worthy of a callback, and he responded perfectly to a do-over on a drill with position coach Kris Kocurek. Brown was cut by the Tennessee Titans last May after spending 2022 on Injured Reserve as an undrafted player from Troy.Related Articles

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Terique Owens participates in a practice in Santa Clara, Calif., on Friday, May 10, 2024. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group) 

FAMILY TIES, PART I

It was a sentimental scene watching a wide receiver in an “Owens” jersy run routes on the practice field. Twenty years after Terrell Owens left the franchise, his son, Terique, wore No. 84. Wide receivers coach Leonard Hankerson tutored the younger Owens’ footwork on a three-cone drill, and such advice is what the undrafted rookie anticipates and needs.

FAMILY TIES, PART II

Puni takes great pride in the fact he didn’t allow a sack last season upon replacing his brother as Kansas’ left tackle. His pride in his entire family runs deep.

Said Puni: “They’re the reason I’m genetically the way I am, so I thank them for that. My dad playing football and him teaching me the game – my whole time growing up, until high school, he coached me. He really taught me hard work and how to do everything the right way; don’t take short cuts. My mom, she played sports, too, but outside of sports – I can’t cuss, can I? – she worked her butt off and had three jobs at one point. Just the fact she was able to do that for us, and for my dad to coach me growing up, our family aspect is a huge thing. It’s cool.”

 

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