Cravy: NVC's All-American

Storm’s freshman standout earns prestigious baseball honor for great season on mound, at plate

NOTES AND QUOTES for a Saturday in the Napa Valley:

Napa Valley College freshman standout Tyler Cravy, who had a record-setting season as a starting pitcher, was named to the Community

College Baseball All-America team.

Cravy, a pitcher-position player, was chosen as the Bay Valley Conference’s Player of the Year earlier this month as the Storm (22-18 overall, 16-11 BVC) took third place, missing out on the

Northern California regional playoffs.

Cravy was 8-3 in 15

appearances with a 2.99 earned-run average. He broke Phil Simpson’s school record, set in 1988, by striking out 110 batters in 901⁄3 innings. Simpson had 108 strikeouts.

Opponents batted .188 off Cravy, a

right-hander, who went to Hogan High School-Vallejo. Cravy also starred as a shortstop, first baseman and hitter,

batting .335 with three home runs, 10 doubles, five triples and 40 RBIs.

Cravy made 12 starts with three complete games. He throws in the 88- to

90-mph range with good control.

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Kelly Hull’s 2009 triathlon season began May 2 with the Wildflower Long Course Triathlon (1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride, and 13.1-mile run). It was Hull’s first time on this Monterey County course.

“I finished two minutes under my goal time, so I was very happy with that result,” said Hull, a member of the Napa High Athletic Hall of Fame.

Next up, Hull goes to Idaho for Ironman Coeur d’Alene on June 21 (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, 26.2 mile run).

“I did this race in 2008 and am looking for a significant improvement over last year’s time,” said Hull. “The swim is in some very cold water and the bike course is hilly — and this year I am ready for it.”

From there, it’s on to Washington for Ironman 70.3 Lake Stevens (half Ironman distance) on Aug. 16.

Hull’s shortest race of the season is on Sept. 12, and is an Olympic distance event at Pacific Grove (1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run).

“October is up in the air, but I will race a half-ironman distance event,” said Hull.

Finally, the 2009 season will end for Hull on Nov. 7 with Ironman Florida in Panama City Beach, Fla. Like Coeur d’Alene, this is the full ironman distance.

The challenges here include the 2.4-mile swim being in the ocean, as well as the potential for wind, heat and humidity during the bike and run.

“This is by far my busiest race schedule that I’ve ever undertaken, but I’m looking forward to it,” said Hull. “I hired a coach, John

Pottebaum, and joined his triathlon group called Total Intensity Sports. With John’s help, my splits are improving dramatically and I am training with fewer injuries.

“I was fortunate enough growing up in Napa and attending Napa High to have some of the best coaches around, so it made sense to me that I really needed a coach’s guidance if I wanted to take my triathlon racing up a notch. You may think you’re

pushing yourself very hard, but a good coach will always push you harder.

“This is my first attempt at two full ironman distance races within the same calendar year. My results so far have exceeded even my own expectations, so I am anxious to get up to Coeur d’Alene, armed with more knowledge and fitness, to see what I can accomplish this year.”

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Mt. San Antonio College-Walnut won the 2008-09

NATYCAA (National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators) Cup. Mt. SAC topped the final standings, beating out Cerritos-Norwalk and Sierra-Rocklin.

Mt. SAC won a state championship in softball, received

second in the state in football and men’s soccer, and placed highly in a number of other state and regional tournaments.

A college is awarded points based on its teams’ final positions in postseason competition.

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Candace Wu from Valencia High School-Placentia and

Malcolm McGregor of Francis Parker School-San Diego have been selected as the 2009 CIF/Farmers Scholar-Athletes of the Year.

The scholarship award, established in 1982, recognizes

student-athletes who not only excel in the classroom and in

athletics, but are also strong contributors to their schools and communities.

Both statewide winners will be honored at the State Capitol and on the Senate and Assembly Floors in

Sacramento on June 11.

Wu has been a four-year member of the varsity tennis team and also spent one year on the soccer team.

McGregor has been a three-year member of both the lacrosse and football teams.

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

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