Spoorrttss Section B Wednesday, June 14, 2017 Pleasanton Express

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO The Pleasanton 7-on-7 football team completed an undefeated run at the Rockport-Fulton tournament Saturday to clinch a spot in the state tournament. Pictured (standing, from left) are coach Larry Bosquez, coach John Lo- pez, Cristian Gaytan, Daniel Valadez, Jordan Bosquez, Gio Perales, Louis Arguijo, Johnny Zamora, Cass Campbell, Nick Ramos, Isaac Mendiola, Steven Mendiola, Nathan Bosquez, coach Jerrell Mitchell, coach JJ Zamora, (kneeling, from left) Ethan Gonzales, Dalton Hobbs, Jaylen Escamilla, Juan Ramirez and Alvino Casarez.

7-ON-7 FOOTBALL EAGLES 7-ON-7 HEADED TO STATE STEPHEN GARCIA port-Fulton tournament. mine the champion. the Longhorns 40-33. The state tournament team or making a donation SPORTS EDITOR The Eagles went 5-0 on The Eagles punched The win followed a per- will be June 29 and 30 at to help with travel expens- Saturday, advancing to the their ticket to state with fect run through pool play. Veterans Park and Athletic es contact Arlene Zamora The Pleasanton 7-on-7 Division II state tourna- a comeback victory over The Eagles beat Ingleside Complex in College Station. at 210-632-1872 for more football team qualified for ment along with Goliad. George West in the semifi- 35-7, Skidmore-Tynan 40- Pleasanton coach Stephen information. state after going undefeated Pleasanton won a coin toss nals. Pleasanton trailed by 18, Banquete 36-28 and Liska asks that those in- this weekend at the Rock- with the Tigers to deter- 14 before rallying to top host R-F 34-14. terested in sponsoring the I don’t much care for

Unlike Lil B, I cannot record-setting Warriors the two were entering forgive Kevin Durant. team down 3-1 in the were nowhere near the While the Bay Area Western Conference Finals same. Yes, James brought rapper lifted his “curse” last season. That’s right: all-star along last summer when Durant Durant was one win away with him, but even that signed with the hometown from taking Oklahoma pales in comparison to the , I City to the Finals for a sec- talent gap Durant’s War- have no reason to let him ond time in his career. riors have created. off the hook. In fact, after Imagine if the Thunder James received his this year’s NBA Finals, I would have pulled it off. share of criticism in the have even more reason to move, but hate The Slim Reaper. showed what he is capable ultimately With one move, Durant of in what was most likely won a title single-handedly removed an MVP season. While the without a any drama from the NBA. dynamic clearly was dif- “super While many made this ferent with Durant gone, team” last prediction a year ago, I did Westbrook’s talent was on year. Durant not truly understand the full display all year. You’re will have impact of his signing until telling me he and Durant to show me I saw the destruction of aren’t enough to win a he can do it the Cavaliers in the cham- championship? I really feel without the Stephen pionship series. the Thunder were not far help of some Garcia STEPHEN GARCIA | PLEASANTON EXPRESS Durant’s move is un- off from a title. of the NBA’s Tyler Gonzales makes contact during the Pleasanton tournament in February. precedented. Never before But Durant took the greatest. has there been a team easy way out. While Geaux for with the talent overload Instead of plotting a way rings are Broke BASEBALL the Warriors have. Never to take down the Warriors, the goal, before has one team had who have been the class they do not two former MVPs playing of the Western Conference define individual success. Gonzales selected to all-star game together in their primes. for the last three seasons, Zaza Pachulia is not better Did I mention Golden Durant hopped on board. than Charles Barkley just State already had an all- Some NBA players because he won a title. STEPHEN GARCIA Eagles last season, playing share of the District 30-4 time great shooter and spend their entire careers Durant would have been SPORTS EDITOR multiple positions, includ- championship. The Eagles one of the top defenders chasing a championship remembered as an all-time ing third baseman, second also advanced to the area in the league? ring. It is often the most great with or without a Recent Pleasanton baseman and outfielder. round of the playoffs after Some would argue Du- coveted accomplishment championship. But now, graduate Tyler Gonzales The left-handed batter defeating Lytle. rant is not responsible for in the sport. his name will always be will participate in a local had a .288 batting average, The annual showcase the competitiveness of the I can remember the linked to his decision to all-star game for a second racking up 19 hits and 12 game is designed to give NBA. They’re right. That frustration LeBron James join Golden State. consecutive year. RBIs in 25 games. Gonza- local players a chance to doesn’t mean his move— felt before he got his first I’m sure Durant will Gonzales was selected to les also had a .440 on-base play in front of college and now his legacy—is title. James was so fed up win more titles as long as play in the Texas Select All- percentage his senior year. coaches with hopes of immune to criticism. he jumped to Miami to the core roster remains. Star Showcase on June 17 Gonzales had a .872 pursuing a career at the Was Durant really that start the “super team” era But that doesn’t mean I at Nelson Wolff Municipal fielding percentage on the next level. far off from winning a that we are in now. will like him. And it sure Stadium in San Antonio. way to earning first-team The event is paid for by championship in Okla- Some might compare doesn’t mean I will like the Gonzales was a true all-district honors. He local small businesses, homa City? I don’t think the moves by Durant and NBA. In fact, my interest utility player for the helped Pleasanton win a organizers said. so. His Thunder had the James, but the situations has started to wane.