Sports El Gato • Friday, October 18, 2019 • elgatonews.com 19 Rao puts a spotlight on the hidden sport of cricket by Revanth Rao Cricket has many forms; one that has become popular National/World Editor is Twenty-20, in which each team has twenty overs – a Cricket is a largely unknown sport in the United States, division of cricket matches – of six balls each to score despite having around 2.5 billion fans worldwide. Even with- as many runs as possible. A league known as the Indian out a foothold in America, cricket is profoundly interesting Premier League, or IPL, founded by Lalit Modi in 2008, for reasons that go beyond the game itself. adopted this format and has quickly become the most Cricket originated in England as a children’s game during popular cricket league in the world. However, Modi was the 16th Century. As it became more popular, Britain shared accused of rigging bids for IPL teams, was found guilty the game with its various colonies; India, Pakistan, Australia, of eight counts of misconduct in 2010, and is currently South Africa, and the West Indies all adopted it. It quickly in exile in London. became a fun way for the British to spread their culture What Modi did, however, was revolutionize the around the world. Cricket never really caught on in the business of cricket, as he brought boatloads of money Americas, though, as both the US and Canada didn’t grow to Indian cricket via the IPL. This led to the Board of very fond of it. However, it grew immensely popular in the Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) holding inordinate Eastern Hemisphere and international cricket matches began amounts of power over the International Cricket Council in the mid 19th century. (ICC). Thus, the BCCI has successfully bullied the ICC into The rules of cricket are somewhat similar to those of giving more revenue to India, shrinking the pool of teams baseball, as the objective is to hit a ball using a bat. Two in the Cricket World Cup, and keeping cricket out of the key differences are that the cricket bat is flat and the person Olympics because it benefits themselves. throwing the ball – known as the bowler – has to bounce it While cricket can give countries a way to engage in off the ground. The batter has to run between two wickets, diplomacy and can produce heart-warming stories, its sets of three wooden stumps, after hitting the ball to score image remains tainted due to governing bodies steeped one run. Batters earn four runs by hitting it to the boundary in corruption. However, it nonetheless remains popular; of the pitch and six runs by hitting it into the stands. They courtesy pixabay when India played Pakistan in 2015, one billion people can also get called out–called wickets–if the bowler hits the watched, showing the reach of the game. wickets or if a fielder catches a hit ball on the fly. LOCKED AND LOADED: This hitter winds up to attempt to hit the ball and run to the wickets. (Source: BBC, ESPNcricinfo, The Economic Times) LG x-country runs the show LG Cheer works to impress by Jenna Roselli The boys’ JV race had 243 competitors. Fresh- by Delaney Brown better equipment, scholarships, and competi- Opinion Editor men William Jenkins, Jack Fan, and Connor Center Editor tions. With these improvements, they hope the The LGHS cross country team finished in the top Bartlett finished in the top 22% with times This past month, the LGHS Cheer Team hit its team will be able to receive more recognition for 20 for all age and gender divisions at the second under 20 minutes. The team finished 10th over- stride during the busy football season. Since the their hard work and spirit. As sophomore Ishy annual Jackie Henderson Memorial Invitational at all. The boys’ varsity team competed against 217 start of the school year, the JV and Varsity teams Slater stated, “In past years, the team has been in September. This event was more special than other athletes, with two sophomores finishing in have been working hard to raise money for future underappreciated and I feel that, to change this, a typical competition, as it was held in honor of the top 100. Sophomore Rahul Jones finished scholarships and equipment, all while perfecting we as a team need to work harder. We really want former North Monterey County High School cross with a time of 17 minutes and 56.8 seconds, their halftime and sideline performances for every to subvert stereotypes that have been set upon country and track field coach, Jackie Henderson, and sophomore Micah Hoang crossed the line weekly football game. us.” To do this, they are working harder than who passed away at age 27 in July of 2017. with a time of 17 minutes and 38 seconds, On Sept.28, the cheer team held a training ever before. With the help of longer practices, The three mile course started at the baseball placing 86th overall and making him the fastest clinic for young and eager cheerleaders in the a rigorous weight training schedule, and new field. Runners then made their runner on the team. For local community to raise money for the team, with cheers, the team has transformed its image. way to the track where they Los Gatos cross country’s attendees ranging from ages four to 13. During Fellow sophomore Holly McCoy believes that ran two laps counterclockwise second competition of the this five-hour clinic, the team taught the young “our team has really improved for the better. and headed into the uphill season, JV and Varsity for students how to perform a variety of sideline We are stronger than ever before.” McCoy, who portion of the course. As they both girls and boys ended routines, jumps, simplified cheers, and stunts. is a flyer, talked about the taxing training she navigated through the wind- the meet strong. With these new skills, the students attended the must go through to give the best performances ing trails, they ran around the The next meet on Oct. home football game held on Oct. 11 to show off possible. Junior Caroline Boyd said “The audi- Jackie Henderson memorial. 8 proved to be a difficult all that they learned for the first half of the game, ence really can’t see the amount of hard work When the trail ended, runners challenge for Los Gatos. accompanying the Cheer and Dance teams on the we put into our performances because our goal made their way back onto the Up against tough compe- sidelines. The young apprentices wowed the audi- is to make it look easy.” For two hours twice track and headed into the tition like Los Altos and ence with their adept routines and cheers. a week each respective position trains certain middle of the football field to Palo Alto High School, the Junior Brooke Reid expressed her enthusiasm muscles so that they can work together almost cross the finish line. boys varsity team finished before the game, stating, “I was really glad that like a machine. Girls’ JV finished 3rd in the 11th out of 14 schools. the kids get to have the experience of performing Make sure to watch out for the cheer team in league with an average run- Junior Oliver Wang was at a game. I wish I had something like that before the following months during this current football ning time of 24 minutes and the fastest Varsity boy I joined the team.” season and the upcoming basketball season as 47 seconds. two LGHS sopho- for Los Gatos, finishing From this cheer clinic, the team raised around they impress the crowd with their incredible mores, Natalie Ho and Laura in 61st place with a time two thousand dollars that they plan on using for dedication and ability. Pickering, finished in the top of 18 minutes and 4.8 20. Junior Elizabeth Kinsella seconds. The Varsity girls also finished in 8th place with team placed 7th in the courtesy M. Hoang a time of 23 minutes and 2 competition. The meet seconds. Girls’ Varsity also SPEEDSTER: Lucy Klarich races to lead the pack. went extremely well for found great success, placing in Pannell as she was the 6th. Three girls – freshman Sophie Tau and sopho- fastest varsity girl, placing 12th with a time of mores Veloria Pannell and Fiona Herron – finished 19 minutes and 36.3 seconds. Freshman Noah in the top 55 with times ranging from 20 minutes Hale also had an excellent meet, finishing in and 45.2 seconds to 20 minutes and 27.9 seconds. 9th place with a time of 18 minutes and 35.3 LGHS’s fastest runner was junior Viveca Pannell, seconds. Despite the tough meet, the cross E. Morley who finished 8th in the Varsity competition, with country team persevered and was tenacious a time of 18 minutes and 33.9 seconds. on the track. HANDS UP, FANS UP: LGHS Cheer perform for the crowd, hoping to get the spectators rooting and on their feet. SF Giants manager Bruce Bochy retires after 25 years by Senji Torrey In 2012 and 2014, Bochy guided the Giants to two ship,” among other things. Though their tribute messages were all different, all of Sports Editor more World Series wins, adding his name to the list of them had the same teary-eyed finish: “Thank you Boch.” On Sept. 29, San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy notable MLB managers. By the end of his career, Bochy (Source: Baseball Reference) retired after a 9-0 defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers. amassed more than 2000 wins, four Pennants, and three Throughout his thirteen years as a manager for the Giants, World Series. Bochy led SF to winning seasons, pennants, and three World At his last game, Bochy, Giants fans and players, and Series titles. Through all of this, he kept his class, modesty, Dodgers fans and players alike shed tears for this legend. and smile in the dugout. Many held up signs, players paid tribute to Bochy and his Bochy came to San Francisco in 2007 after a successful career, and Bochy himself thanked San Francisco fans for season as the manager for the San Diego Padres. In the 2007 their love. His longtime friend Huey Lewis teared up as season, the Giants finished at the bottom of the NL West, he took time to share his gratitude saying, “You know, casting doubt on Bochy and his tactics. The Giants would stay conventional wisdom has a thing. Managers don’t win in the bottom half of the bracket for the next two seasons, games, players win games. But those of us who are San further solidifying the skeptics beliefs. Francisco Giants fans, we know differently”. While Bochy’s impact wasn’t immediate, it was extremely “Thank you, thank you. This place has enriched profound in 2010. During this year, Bochy directed the Giants our lives with friendships, experiences, [and] memories to a 92-70 record, reaching the top of the National League beyond what words can express. I consider myself the standings. In the postseason, he extended this success, lead- luckiest man on the face of this Earth...Thank you for ing his team all the way to the World Series where they faced making it so.” said Bochy. off against the Texas Rangers. The Giants only allowed the Though Bochy thanked others for the time he was courtesy Obama White House Rangers to win one game, finishing off their opponents in five given, many players, managers, and other athletes gave games and winning their first World Series title since 1954. their thanks to him for the “memories…[and] friend- HIGHEST OF HONORS: Bochy proudly presents a Giants jersey to former President Barack Obama.