Page 6 September 10, 2015 EL SEGUNDO HERALD FREE FALL BALL 6U Clinics Starting Sunday September 13, 2015 • 9:30 - 11:00am ESGS is running a FREE Softball Clinic for all girls that turn either 5 or 6 years old by the end of 2015. It will take place at Richmond Fields each Sunday starting 9/13. Whether you played last season or are new to Softball this is a perfect way to get introduced to this incredible sport in a fun, safe and controlled environment. All your Daughter will need is a Glove and a Pair of Sport shoes … they do not have to be Cleats. Come on out an join us on 9/13 .. Bring a friend! PLEASE RSVP TO: GIRLS RULE!!!!! ElSegundoGirlsSoftball@gmail.com El Segundo Girls Softball is a non-profit organization and not affiliated with ESUSD. El Segundo Girls Softball PO Box 584 El Segundo, CA 90245 www.elsegundogirlssoftball.com El Segundo Cross Country Preview By Gregg McMullin Photos by Gregg McMullin The El Segundo boys’ cross country team won their first ever Ocean League championship in 2014. The Eagles edged Santa Monica for the title and the two schools figure to battle it out again this year. This season’s team looks to be better than last year’s squad according to head coach Marcos Bolanos so a second league title is certainly attainable. “2015 looks to be the year we have the most talent we’ve ever had. Both the boys’ and girls’ teams have put in the hardest summer training yet. They look eager to continue to carry that work ethic into the season,” said Coach Bolanos. All you need to hear around the campus is the first name and you automatically know who the students are speaking about and what sport he participates in; that first name is Gavin. For the past two seasons the boys’ team has been led by captain Gavin Glynn. Glynn, a senior, is looking to add a second consecutive Ocean League title to his running resume and he’s running faster than ever. In his team’s first meet Glynn renewed his battle with Santa Monica’s Lucas Jackson at the Cool Breeze Evening Invitational. These two battled each other in the Ocean League last year where they ran one-two in 49ers or Raiders? By Adam Serrao, asixlion@earthlink.net With football season starting any day now, the two teams from the Bay Area happen to come under the spotlight. This, after all, may be the only time all season that they do. Though there is still no football team here in Southern California, the state of California happens to employ some traditionally respectable football teams. Traditionally is the key word there. Among those teams, however, are the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders. While the 49ers seem to be on a downward spiral, the Raiders look to be resurfacing as an at least somewhat respectable franchise for the first time in almost 15 years. Which team do you think will be better this season? Back in the ‘70s, the Oakland Raiders were the kings of the Bay Area. I realize how much I just sounded like an old grandpa with the adage “back in my day...”, but it’s true. There was one point not too long ago where the Raiders had the most wins out of any team in football history. Well, the days of Gene Upshaw, Ken Stabler, Fred Belitnikoff and even Tim Brown, for that matter, are long gone. Ever since the team’s Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl XXXVII against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Raiders have been downright atrocious. San Francisco, on the other hand, seems to be entering a new era themselves. After three straight strong seasons in which the team went 36-11-1, made it to the playoffs three times and the Super Bowl once, the 49ers seem to be deteriorating before our very eyes. Jim Harbaugh was sent packing last December and has now wound up back in the college ranks to coach Michigan. The offensive line lost three starters, Patrick Willis, Justin Smith and Chris Borland all retired, and new head coach Jim Tomsula finds himself having to work with merely scraps of what the one-time Super Bowl team used to be. So what do the two teams need to happen in order for them to get better? Beginning with the Raiders, new head coach Jack Del Rio needs to come in and instill a level of professionalism (yes, that also means to not lead the league in penalties), while also fixing a defense that has been ranked in the bottom third of the league for 10 of the past 12 seasons. Quarterback Derek Carr compiled 21 touchdowns and 3,270 passing yards last season to lead all rookies. He will need to continue to develop, though. One thing that should make it easier for him to do so is a playmaking wide receiver like rookie, Amari Cooper. Lastly, Latavius Murray will have to become a true three-down running back that can control the line of scrimmage. A running game does wonders for an offense and it’s up to Murray to come through for the Silver and Black. Across the bridge in San Francisco, Tomsula and the ‘9ers will get better primarily if quarterback Colin Kaepernick gets better. Over the past two years, Kaepernick’s yards-perattempt average has plunged demonstratively. The offensive line also needs to be better, as Kaepernick was sacked 52 times last year. The issue with San Francisco has never really been defense. Despite their losses on that side of the ball this offseason, NaVorro Bowman Gavin Glynn and Santa Monica’s Lucas Jackson, shown in last year’s Ocean League finals, have a friendly but competitive rivalry going. They finished one-two at a recent meet. See Eagles, page 11 See 49ers, page 16
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