Grueling Season Pays Off in the End for Sunnyslope, Chaparral

CHAMPSRETU ECSTATIC, TIRED Grueling season pays off in the end for Sunnyslope, Chaparral By Jose E. Garcia gram, Chaparral, that comes with its The Republic Iazcentral.com perks and headaches. "There's a lot more scrutiny that There wasn't much time to cele comes with being the athletic direc brate after winning a state high school tor," said Chaparral's former athletic baseball championship. director and baseball coach Jerry Less than 10 hours after winning Dawson. "(Messina) is a hard worker. their state titles, Phoenix Sunnyslope He cares about the program and the and Scottsdale Chaparral's players players." were back at school. Awaiting the play Dawson handed the keys to the ers and coaches/teachers were finals baseball program he build into a na to take and grade. tional power to Messina two years ago. For the seniors, graduation is ap Sunnyslope's Calvin LeBrun pitches But this season took its toll on Messina. proaching, and when school is out, during the Division II baseball "It's been trying," Messina said. baseball coaches and returning play championship against Liberty on "I'm been doing three jobs, and I'm ers are gearing up for summer ball. Tuesday. MICHAEL SCHENNUMfTHE REPUBLIC tired." There are year-round demands placed Messina isn't expecting any sympa on high school coaches and players tournament run as Division II's No.8 thy; not when he's won two titles in his now. seed. first two years as the head coach. Some of the year-round efforts that In order, it defeated top-10 team Oro Chaparral won its 10th title on 'fues go unnoticed helped Sunnyslope and Valley Canyon del Oro, No.1 seed Peo day after slugger Dylan Cozens' walk=-_ Chaparral win state championships ria Sunrise Mountain, preseason No.1 off home run in the bottom of the sev- --~-. this year. But those round-the-clock Peoria Liberty and 2010 and 2011 state enth inning. B'ut Cozens presented an high expectations also brought a lot of champ Scottsdale Saguaro just to issue for Chaparral after he trans stress for Chaparral baseball coach reach the final. In the championship ferred from Scottsdale Desert Moun Sam Messina. game, Sunnyslope trailed 4-1 to Liber tain last year. Sunnyslope started to set the foun ty. Cozens wasn't supposed to play un dation for its championship season last "Even though we were down, we all til a year had passed after he was dis~ summer, when the players began to de knew how close we were as a team, and missed from Scottsdale Desert Moun velop a strong bond. Sunnyslope's play how much we believed in each other," tain's baseball team for alleged disci ers acknowledge that their chemistry Bowman said. "We knew we could do plinary issues. But he started playing played as big a role as their talent in it." for Chaparral before the year was up. winning their program's first title Having an ace up Sunnyslope's Chaparral and the Arizona Inter since 1996. sleeve also didn't hurt. scholastic Association were criticized "Becoming a family was natural for When he came in, sophomore pitch for not saying why Cozens was allowed us," Sunnyslope infielder Casey Bow er Calvin LeBrun allowed only one run to play. This week, Messina again de man said. "It started last summer during Sunnyslope's 6-S victory. clined to say why Cozens was allowed when we were lifting weights. You "It was an amazing feeling," Sun to play. would see the guy next to you busting nyslope infielder Collin O'Neil said. Messina also was asked if he had to his butt, and you wanted to do the same. "We continued celebrating on the bus discipline Cozens this season. We had team dinners. We wanted to be and then went to the LeBruns' home to "I can't comment on that (either)," together, not because we had to, but be eat pizza." Messina said. cause we wanted to." Messina, Chaparral's coach, went Messina won't have to deal with As with any family, there were some out to eat a hamburger and fries with some issues next season. rough times. an assistant after his final. He was asked to continue as the ath Losing a regular-season game to Then he went home and got some letic director, but he said he wants to Glendale Apollo didn't sit well with the rest. This has been an exhaustive year only coach and teach next year. The players and coaches. for the 47-year-old Messina. new athletic director hasn't been se "That woke us up," Sunnyslope Besides coaching, he's also a math lected. coach Jeff Shillington said. teacher, and this year Messina also be In eight days, summer baseball be Sunnyslope went on quite a state came the athletic director of a pro gins for Chaparral and Messina. ~ May 17,2012 The Glendale Star Local school receives $5,000 challenge grant r The Arizona Diamond May 14. backs Foundation an Bowles applied for a nounced today the '20 win grant to start and support ning schools in the inau an Autism Movement Pro gural "D-backs $100,000 gram. This program would School Challenge," pre use technology (Xbox Ki sented by the University nect) to help students learn of Phoenix. eye-hand coordination, With nearly 700 sub improve muscle strength missions from Arizona and to build social skills schools, the winning grants such as emotional regula come from all around the ubmifteCTj:ihoto tion and taking turns. state of Arizona and will Desert Valley Elementary School Behavior Specialist Bowles first learned fund projects ranging from Janelle Bowles accepts the $5,000 check her school her grant was approved received during the May 9 D·Backs game. anti-cyberbullying pro last week in the amount grams to a sign-language Each school will receive fitness and school/campus of $2,480 to buy equip friendly library, after its check during anon-site improvements. The win ment and games. How school nutrition programs assembly this month and ning schools in Glendale ever, the Foundation was to an autism movement will also be honored on the were: so impressed with Bowles' program and athletic facil field at an upcoming game Sonoran Sky Elemen application that they later ity upgrades to asbestos at Chase Field. The assem tary Lending Library - In contacted the school and removal. blies began May 7. novationlTechnology increased their award to "This has been a tru "The entries that were Apollo High School $5,000. Bowles was one ly humbling experience received demonstrated Athletic Training Facility out of 20 recipients to to locate so many needs the creative and unique Upgrade receive a graqt from this throughout Arizona and ways that Arizona educa St. Louis the King Cath challenge. provide some of the as tors have developed to olic School - Asbestos In addition to the grant, . sistance required to change address the challenges Abatement Bowles' submission also the future for our children," that their schools are fac Arroyo Elementary Ar earned her students and said D-backs' President ing," said University of royo Inc. BizTown Pro staff members 2,000 tick and CEO Derrick Hall. Phoenix President Dr. Bill gram - Glendale Educa ets to watch the Arizona "The gratitude expressed Pepicello. tional Programs Diamondbacks game May by the recipients and the All public, private and Desert Valley Elemen 9. Desert Valley Elemen sheer number of schools nQnprofit charter schools, tary Autism Movement tary sent out a school mes in need has made it abun , Grades K-12 were eligible Program - Innovation/ senger to parents notifying dantly clear that we should and the winning schools Technology them about the game and and we will replicate this sought to bring in funds Desert Valley Elemen sent three tickets home program again later this to assist in one of four tary School's Behavior with each child. year with our great part categories: educational Specialist, Janelle Bowles, Each ofthe schools that ners at the University of programs, innovation and was awarded a 55,000 did not receive a 55,000 Phoenix." technology, nutrition and grant from the Arizona Di grant will be personally amondbacks Foundation contacted by aD-backs in the D-backs S100,000 representative and encour School Challenge, pre aged to reapply when the sented by the University D-backs and the Univer of Phoenix. The check sity of Phoenix kick off was presented to the en the second round of the tire school at a pep rally program in August. SPORTS May 17,2012 Former Glendale player gets pre-draft tryout with NBAteam former (jl,;ndalc I1c'apniis' Target Center, the Beavers shooting 57.9 High Schuol basketball where Eliisor will be percent 111 field goals and player James EllisoL given a full day of tcst shot 83.4 percent from who attended Minnesota mg, drills and workouts. the free throw line. In Bemidj i State Univer Ellisor, a forward, was 2011-12, he became the sity, has been selected named the Daktonics Di first student-athlete from to participate in a closed vision II Men's Basket BSU to earn Ail-Ameri pre-draft tryout with the ball Ron Lenz National can recognition from National Basketball As Player of the Year. three different publica sociation's Minnesota In two seasons at Bem tions in a single season. Timberwolves. Agents idji State, Ellisor scored He led the Beavers to a and scouts will attend the 1,129 points to rank 13th 22-9 record. private workout at.Min on BSU's career points It was the team's sec list, and he was the 15th ond appearance in the player at BSU to reach NCAA Division II tour the 1,OOO-point mark.

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