Justin-Siena High School’s Dodd Stadium, an all-weather turf and track facility built through public/private fundraising partnership, marked its one-year anniversary this month.

The complex is used not only by the Braves, but also youth football, soccer and lacrosse teams throughout the community. In addition, Dodd Stadium has hosted some exhibition games played by semi-pro football and soccer teams from the Bay Area.

Justin-Siena’s student body has fully utilized the facility, as the school’s physical education classes use the field and track for exercise curriculum. Over 70 percent of Justin-Siena’s students play on one or more of the 36 varsity, junior varsity and freshman interscholastic sports teams. Dodd Stadium is also used for practices and conditioning drills for the student-athletes.

The $2 million redevelopment project was supported by funds raised from the school community, non-profit youth organizations, and local community resources. Among the major benefactors were: Palmaz Vineyards, the Gasser Foundation, Lenawee Trust, Ron and Diane Miller, Don Sebastiani and Sons, Dodd Family Trust, Jackson Fund, Richard Long, and the Napa Community Foundation.

Community programs now using Dodd Stadium include: Napa Saints youth football, Napa Force lacrosse, Napa Youth Soccer League, Sonoma State University women’s lacrosse, Napa Track Club, Wild Dog Football, San Francisco Nighthawks women’s soccer, Napa Sport Soccer Club, Trinity Prep, St. Apollinaris track and soccer teams, the NapaFit group, Justin-Siena Alumni Association, Napa Valley Special Olympics and Napa Rotary International’s Cycle for Sight.

“In addition to the use by our own school teams, the new field and track have been booked constantly by various area schools, local leagues, individual teams and charitable organizations,“ said Mike Fisher, Justin-Siena’s athletic director. “It is great to see athletes of all ages enjoying the opportunity to play day-and-night on the state-of-art synthetic turf field or run on the rubber track.

Carmen Policy, honorary chairman of the committee that was so successful in generating the funds needed to embark on the ambitious stadium project, commented recently: “Justin-Siena has always been committed to delivering a first-class educational and character-building experience for its student body. This great institution has also been dedicated to serving the Napa Valley community as a whole with an emphasis on improving the quality of life for its neighbors from every walk of life. The school significantly advanced its dual mission by providing a state-of-the-art athletic facility to its student body and also making it available to various youth and adult groups throughout the region. This wonderful example of community outreach has enabled many to experience a level of organized play and competition that previously were unavailable.”

Policy is a Yountville resident and a former San Francisco 49ers president and chief executive officer.

Justin-Siena is the only Catholic college preparatory high school in Napa County serving students from Napa, Sonoma and Solano counties. It is part of the worldwide network of schools sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers.

After being in the newspaper business for 30-plus years, you think you’ve seen everything -- last-second wins, record-setting personal achievements, individual and team championships.

Last Friday’s Vintage-Clayton Valley nonleague football game in Concord was a first for me.

Play was stopped early in the second half when a gray cat wondered onto the field. When players and officials came near the cat, it rolled over on its back, acting as if it wanted to play or something. Laughter ensued from the crowd.

After a minute or so, the cat ran off the field.

Jan Edwards of Napa and Barbara Hall of Sonoma lost in the finals of the women’s 3.5 doubles division during the PNI Corp Open and NTRP Championships Sept. 18.

Edwards and Hall fell to Melissa Wickenkamp and Laura Stansfield of Petaluma, 6-2, 7-6. Edwards and Hall won their semifinal match to advance in the tennis tournament.

San Francisco Giants right-handed pitcher Matt Cain was elected winner of the 2009 "Willie Mac" Award.

The “Willie McCovey Award” is an annual honor bestowed upon the most inspirational player on the team, as voted upon by Giants players, coaches and the training staff.

The award was established in 1980, in honor of former legend and Hall-of-Famer Willie McCovey.

Cain, who is in just his fourth full season with San Francisco, is now the youngest Giant along with Jack Clark, who won in 1984, to win the award at just 24 years of age. Cain was named to his first ever All-Star team this year.

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