Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 243

10 EV Th Arbnm Republic Silurdiy, AugMt 28, I9W 6 1011 12 Sports Coordinator, Tom Blodgett (602) 444-7727 EDM IflHIIIgMhfW Taletoted Doteoii favored to regnomi GOLF FilEVIEW By Craig Morgan and Daw Vest Th Arizona Republic Earl Barrett has it made: retirement, plenty of golf and now, a great golf team. Despite stepping down three months ago at Dobson, the former physics teacher is still coaching the Mustangs' girls team. This season the assignment is easy. "This team is as good as the one a couple years ago that took second (at state)," Barrett said. "They're all very long off the tee, and they get better every day.

But you know the best thing about these girls? fall, thanks to younger sister Katy, who joins the team as a freshman. "Right now Katy's playing just a little better than Sarah, and she's going to be our No. 1 for our first match," Toros Coach A.J. Sligh said. Both Heffels will be in the hunt when the East Valley Region and state tournaments come along, but Mountain View is the lone team in the region that also has the depth to challenge Dobson.

Please see TALENTED, Page EVI1 They're all great kids who care about each other so I don't have to worry about anything." East Valley Region rivals had better worry about the Mustangs. Junior Kristen Campos (15th state) returns as the team's No. 1 player after a long break refueled her golfing desire. Dobson has plenty of talent to back I I Campos, a legitimate, title contender. Kris-ten's younger sister Olivia joins the team this year as a freshman while No.

2 player Kellyn Newman and No. 3 Dionna Pellerito are both back. With freshman Tiffany Tavee showing rapid progress and sophomore Evie Lewis also shooting in the low 40s, the Mustangs are the team to beat in the region this year. Sarah Heffel has finished in the top 10 the past two seasons (she tied for seventh last year) for Mountain View, but her status as the team's No. 1 player is in jeopardy this Chandler High School Coach Richard Gray hopes this will be a breakthrough year for his Wolves.

Photos by Michael ChowThe Arizona Republic FOOTBALL PREViEW AT A GLANCE Chandler Wolves Coach: Richard Gray. Region: Class 5A Fiesta. 1998 record: 2-8. Returning lettermen: 20. Returning offensive starters: Seven.

Returning defensive starters: Six. Schedule: (Home games In CAPS) Sept. 10 Tucson Sabino Sept. 17 GLENDALE IRONWOOD Sept. 24 Phoenix North Oct.

1 Red Mountain Oct. 8 McCLINTOCK Oct. 15 Yuma Kofa Oct. 22 HIGHLAND Oct. 29 Mesquite Nov.

5 Gilbert Nov. 12 HAMILTON foundation. "It's not a bad place to start," Gray said. "We've gofsome experience back and hope we can bring some success. That means winning football games." No one has the nod at quarterback, where four players are vying for the starting spot.

Senior Paul Johnson, juniors Justin Wilson and Kevin Krieger and sophomore Dallas Bates are all working to impress Gray. "It's easy to look good in shorts," Gray said. "They're all trying to get in there and win it." As for goals for this season, Gray isn't about to make predictions. What he does expect, though, is a tightly-contested battle for first place and bragging rights. "All you have to do is move up," Gray said.

"There's no way you can't finish in the top of this conference. You like to get the respect from your conference. "Everybody's talking a good game now." Chandler hopes to seize chance Wolves to challenge in Fiesta Wrestling officials sought Anyone interested in officiating high school wrestling can contact the Arizona Interscholastic Association, (602) 257-0280, or Charlie Jones, (602) 381-9425, for more information. Training is provided by the High School Wrestling Official Association. Soccer tryouts The Gilbert Stampede U-14 girls competitive soccer team is looking for a few more players to round out their team, which has a licensed staff.

Information: Bill Clerke, (480) 545-9435, or wcplaysocaol.com via e-mail. The Tempe Southbank Soccer Club will hold registrations for girls 14 and 15 years for both its competitive and recreational teams." Information: (480) 730-5851. The Tempe Soccer Club 89 Galaxy U-ll girls are holding tryouts for the 1999-2000 season. Information: Mike Valente, (480) 893-7735, or Rick Clark, (480) 820-3384. The Ahwatukee Foothills Soccer Club U-15 Assault boys soccer team is looking for competitive players to complete its roster.

Information: (480) 706-0752 or (480) 283-0987. The '86 BRUSA Select, a competitive U-14 boys soccer team, is holding tryouts for the 1999-2000 season. Players must be born after July 31, 1985. The team specializes in Brazlian soccer methods. Information: (480) 961-7485.

Softball tryouts 'i Tryouts will be held today for the Desert Freeze 14- and 16-and-undef. girls softball teams at Marcos de Niza High School from 8 to 11 a.ml Information: (480) 491-4032. -Phoenix Gold, a 16-and-undef ASA Junior Olympic travel team, ijj having tryouts at 9 a.m. today and Sunday at Desert Vista High School. ,1.1 The coaching staff consists "of experienced hitting, pitching, field; ing and catching coaches.

Information: (602) 284-890 l.bt (480)704-9761. The Killer Bees 14-U girls softball travel team is conducting tryouts for this season for experienced Amateur Softball Association players only. Information: (480)831-7077. East Valley Pride 16-Teal girls fast-pitch softball team is moving up to form an 18-U team. Tryouts will be held on the varsity softball field at Red Mountain High School on Aug.

28-221 Registration will be held at 8:30 a.m. those days, with tryouts from 9 a.m. to noon. Information: Chris, (480) 98 6506. The Hotshots fast-pitch softball organization will hold tryouts for 10U, 11U, 12U, 13U 14U and 16tJ today and Sunday.

Tryouts for the 18 Gold team will be held Sunday. Registration will begin each day; at a.m. Tryouts will be -at Kiwanis Park in Tempe. Information: Rick, (480) 831; 2253, or Greg, (480) 961-4003. BOS JAC03SEN Republic correspondent TimRattay a 'cool guy' with hot stats The numbers boggle the mind.

The nation's leader in total offense last season with 4,865 yards. Fourth in passing efficiency, hitting on 380 passes in 559 attempts for a 68 percent completion average, 4,953 yards and an astounding 46 touchdowns. A school-record 590 yards passing in Louisiana Tech's 1998 opener at Nebraska, completing 46 passes in 68 attempts for four touchdowns. And tossing seven TD passes in a game, not once but twice. So if Tim Rattay, whose dad, Jim, coaches state champion Desert Vista and whose brother, John, quarterbacks the Thunder, would like to stick his chest out a little, we all could understand.

But he won't. "Last year was last year," said Rattay, whose Bulldogs open today at Florida State (2 p.m., ESPN2). "We just have to play the game, and see what happens." What will happen is the Seminoles will more than likely win, and Coach Bobby Bowden, who already compares Rattay to Joe Montana and Brett Favre, will have high praise for this Valley youngster. One NFL scout told Sport magazine, "Yeah, his numbers are a result of the system he runs. He doesn't have great arm strength or mobility but, man, is this guy cool in the pocket.

He can read the defense and hit the receiver." The receiver he hit most last year was Troy Edwards, the first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers. But Troy, who caught over 400 yards worth of Rattay's passes against the Cornhuskers, is gone. "We'll miss him," said Rattay, "but we've got four or five guys who caught 40 or more balls last year. I think we'll be more balanced." Rattajfrsays he is 6 feet, Vi inches and weighs 21 0 pounds. Good size, but not the 6-4 or 6-5 range some scouts look for.

No matter. As the NFL is finding out (i.e. Jake Plummer), if you can play, you can play. "It's all about finding windows anyway," Rattay said. "That's the key.

Look for the holes your offensive line opens." Maybe the scary part about Rattay's game is he says he's better this season. He's faster, stronger and has better arm strength. That thought should give defensive coordinators a lot of sleepless nights. "Working out all winter and spring helped," Rattay said, "and so did a couple of camps I worked (including one with brother John). Those were productive and fun." While it's a tad like pulling teeth to get Tim to talk about himself, he has no problem talking about dad's team.

He knows all the stuff. "I saw the state championship game last year, and they played an awesome game," Tim said. "I was home about a week, and I wasn't going to miss that game. "It was very special what with the first graduating senior class at the school and all. They had a super team.

"This year they're ranked No. 7 in the nation by USA Today, and I don't see them going anywhere but up from there. John is a stud. Physically, he has all the tools. He's so athletic.

"He throws the ball well, and he's so smart. He sees all the reads. They even run five plays we run." Rattay knows he likely will be a hot commodity come next April and the NFL draft, but that's far from his mind. "I don't want the pressure of even thinking about it," he said. "I want to concentrate this year on playing for Tech, have fun and take this program as far as I can.

"I think we have a good team, and when winning begins it starts to snowball. We went 6-6 last year, and that was real disappointing." Rattay lost his coach of last season, Gary Croton, who left to become the Chicago Bears' offensive coordinator. Jack Bicknell III assumed the reins last winter. "I don't think we'll do much different," Rattay said. "Coach Bicknell was our offensive line coach last year, so he's familiar with the offense.

The transition has been real easy. "I knew Coach Croton was getting some offers, and the Bears' job is a super opportunity for him. He calls now and then to say hi." While Tim was raised in the Valley, he has come to love Ruston, La. "The people, the culture and the food are all awesome," he said. A little advice, Tim.

I know you love the Valley, and you've said you love Ruston, but I wouldn't contain my residential desires to just those two spots. I'd be ready to add another next fall. Like an NFL city. of to Chandler running back Dewin Richardson is among seniors who will provide leadership this year. By Cara LaBrie The Arizona Republic Richard Gray hopes 1999 isn't a season of missed opportunities.

"It was the same old shoulda, woulda, coulda," said Gray, Chandler High School football coach. "You have to win when the game's on the line. We didn't." The Wolves finished 1998 with a 2-8 record, a low mark which Gray says doesn't reflect his team's competitiveness. "It was good competition last year," Gray said. "We have a competitive schedule, so we should be able to compete with them.

We had some games early last year mat we were ahead in. We just didn't bring back the win." The Wolves have been in a transitional period for two years, much like the newly-opened Hamilton High School. "All of Hamilton's varsity players are our old JV players," Gray said. "So last year, we played a lot of young kids. There's still a hole to fill here." Gray sees this year as a fresh one for the entire Fiesta Region.

With two new schools derived from existing programs, Chandler may be in as good a position as anyone else. "In this region, you don't see anyone who's been a perennial champion," Gray said. "There are a lot of schools like us with like problems, Mesquite and Hamil- the ton, and Gilbert and Highland." This year provides the opportunity for some change in high school football as well, according to Gray! "Football is getting like major league baseball," Gray said. "The same teams keep on winning. There's not real balance.

But this year, everyone's talking who's going to be best in the league. You have to like that opportunity." Gray has a dominant senior class, which he hopes will take up the slack for the team's youth. Linemen Dan Rogers, Ben Hippa and Tom Lombardo, running back Devvin Richardson, wide receiverdefensive back Shaunz Bass and center Brian Lester make up Gray's VOLLEYDll Hesta Region is in flux, there for the taldng By Cara LaBrie Th Arizona Republic A giant question mark surrounds the Fiesta Region this season. A mix of settled volleyball teams now is joined by spanking-new Hamilton and Mesquite. All of the coaches agree: The region's up for grabs.

Only two of the region's teams, Gilbert and Chandler, had winning records last season. At Gilbert, Coach Joe Hesse returns half his varsity team and a strong hitting core. A summer of 5 a.m. conditioning sessions has the Tigers in good shape. Left side attackers McKell Toolson and Jessica McGlashon hope to add an offensive threat a team that's coached on fundamentals.

"We're not the biggest team," Hesse said, "But we'll hang in there." Simply hanging in with the region may be the biggest worry for Kathy Narmont and her Chandler Wolves. A troubled off-season filled with injuries has left Narmont wondering where her team went "I lost all my middles, I lost my setters," Narmont said. "We're in limbo." Two starters, middle blockers Jennifer Stanhope and Darcy Drain, weren't available for preseason practice because of injuries. The reamaining members of last year's varsity team have shifted positions to compensate for lost bodies. Narmonts hope is to manage a stable start to the season until her middle blockers return.

Until thenIhe Wolves starting lineup is a the task for the Hamilton Huskies. First-year Coach Robyn Nowlin has a new; relatively untested team. "Everything's falling into place for us, Nowlin said. The Huskies, though small, have decent passing and serving skills that should keejl competition even. Most of the team postseason volleyball, so Nowlin remains hopeful for the team's long-term potential Its the same situation at Mesquit.

where Tricia Melfy has a new, young team. With no seniors, Mesquite is taking 1999, the first year of varsity competition for the school, slowly. "This is definitely a building year? Melfy said. "I want to keep kids coming back, next year." guessing game. Worries at Highland are the opposite of Chandler's.

The problem isn't too few players, but too many. Coach Amy Nelson entered the preseason with an entirely new team. Transfers from other high schools, mixed with better-caliber returning players, left the Hawks with an optimistic outlook. "It's kind of nice to not know what to expect," Nelson said. "As far as commitment and interest, this is a new program." Though Nelson won't call 1999 a building year, she will say that this season poses the chance for the Hawks to earn some respect and gain some composure in 5A play.

Just getting accustomed to the region is.