Sports

Town Crier file photo
Mountain View High’s Race Modderman is among eight local players on the North.

On the first day of practice for the 43rd annual Charlie Wedemeyer High School All-Star Football Game, the coaches for the North offered their players two ways to approach Saturday’s contest. They could treat it like an exhibition game or more like one that counts.

“They’re leaving it up to the kids, which is great,” said Mountain View High linebacker Race Modderman, one of eight local players on the squad. “We can go out and have fun or try to stick it to the South and beat them.”

Town Crier file photo
Mountain View’s Eugene Liao is set to play in an all-star game featuring the region’s best Asian-American players.

Although he graduated in June, Mountain View High’s Eugene Liao still has one more high school basketball game to play.

He has been invited to participate in the inaugural NorCal Asian-American All-Star Game, scheduled Thursday at Cal State East Bay in Hayward. Liao is a member of the 12-player Senior All-Stars, who will take on the Undergrad All-Stars in a game slated to tip off at 7:30 p.m.

Courtesy of Diane Ramelli
Kelly McConnell, middle, crosses the finish line in the finals of the 400-meter hurdles. He won the race in a personal-best 52.75 seconds.

Kelly McConnell’s win in the 400-meter hurdles came at a cost – he injured his foot after already suffering from shin splits at the California Collegiate Athletic Association championship meet – yet the junior was determined to anchor Chico State’s 4x400 relay team later that day.

After all, the Los Altos native wasn’t the only member of his relay running hurt.

St. Francis graduates drafted by MLB teams

Two St. Francis High graduates were selected in the eighth round of last week’s Major League Baseball Draft. Catcher Tim Susnara was chosen 232nd overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks, and pitcher John Gavin was taken 246th by the San Francisco Giants. Susnara and Gavin played collegiately at the University of Oregon and Cal State Fullerton, respectively, and both graduated from St. Francis in 2014.

GreenTown plans summer solstice ride

GreenTown Los Altos has scheduled an 18-mile summer solstice bike ride 7:30 p.m. today, starting in front of the Starbucks at Blossom Valley Shopping Center in Mountain View. The family-friendly route includes the Stevens Creek Trail and Baylands to view the sunset before heading back to Blossom Valley. Sign-in starts at 7 p.m.; make sure your bike lights work. For more information, visit greentownlosaltos.org.