NOTES AND QUOTES for a Thursday in the Napa Valley:

Jerry Stark, Meadowood Napa Valley’s resident croquet pro, won the 2006 United States Croquet Association National Championship by beating sixth-ranked Rich Lamm of Denver by scores of 26-18 and 26-8 in a best-of-three singles final in West Palm Beach, Fla.

The win makes Stark, a native of Kansas City, Mo., the No. 1-ranked croquet player in the country once again. Stark has participated in virtually every major international and national croquet competition. Since 1999, he has consistently ranked among the top three players in the U.S. Both he and Meadowood have been honored by the U.S. Croquet Association for their contributions to the sport.

“I have been ranked in the top three for quite awhile now,” Stark said in a statement. “With this win, it is my hope that every professional and amateur croquet player strives to be better so that I have new competitors. I like a new challenge.”

Stark fell in love with croquet while playing the familiar backyard version. But it was not until 1983, when he moved to Phoenix, Ariz., that he began to study tournament versions of the game. He excelled at the sport, becoming a member of the U.S. Croquet Association’s national team in 1988, and a professional at Meadowood in 1989.

In 1991 he took over the orchestration of Meadowood’s Croquet Classic, which is still held on the estate each July. This event brings Stark’s peers, the country’s finest players, to Meadowood in St. Helena annually.

Croquet at Meadowood is played on two full-size, world-class courts. The lawns are in a private setting near the golf course, separated by redwoods and firs.

Napa High School was victorious over Vintage, 5-4, with one match ending in a tie, in Wednesday’s Big Game miniature golf IV match on the East Course at Scandia Family Center in Fairfield. Napa was led by low medalist, Alex Cunny, who had a 51.

Ten players each from Napa and Vintage’s leadership clubs participated in a head to head competition for bragging rights.

Napa’s victory evens the event history at two wins each.

Erika Schmid, a 2005 Vintage graduate, is entered in the high jump for Concordia University of Portland, Ore., at the NAIA National Outdoor Track & Field finals on Saturday in Fresno.

Schmid won the title, setting a personal record of 5-6 1/2 and a meet record, at the Cascade Collegiate Conference Track & Field Championships in Gresham, Ore., earlier this month.

As a pre-med major, Schmid is in the Concordia honors program while participating in both women’s basketball and track and field.

Justin-Siena (19-4), which continues its baseball season Friday in a CIF North Coast Section Class A semifinal playoff game at Middletown at 3:30 p.m., is ranked No. 5 in the state’s latest Division IV poll, according to CalHiSports.com.

The Braves are the No. 1 seed, but have to travel because they are not a league champion. Middletown (18-4) is the No. 4 seed.

Kelly Eaton from Menlo-Atherton and Michael Coe of Cabrillo-Lompoc have been selected as the 2006 CIF Scholar-Athletes of the Year. The scholarship award, established in 1982, recognizes student-athletes who excel in the classroom, in athletics and are strong contributors to their schools and communities.

Both students will be honored at the State Capitol and on the Senate and Assembly Floors in Sacramento on June 22. In addition, they will receive a $2,000 scholarship to the college/university of their choice. Nominations for this prestigious award were received from the 1,393 high schools that make up the CIF membership.

E-mail Executive Sports Editor Marty James at mjames@napanews.com or call 256-2223.