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• 20 years later, Acampo man remembers the fall of the Berlin Wall

• With song and speech, veterans are recognized in Lodi

• Will Lodi adopt a program that will allow volunteers to work at parks?

• Liberty Ranch construction at standstill as state pulls funds

• City of Lodi begins annual leaf removal program Monday

• Robotics team at Jim Elliot invited to compete in Israel

• Correction

February 9th, 2010

• Middle College High School rated one of the best — and a bargain, to boot

• Lodi decathlon boasts top team in county

• Man who sparked counterfeit case pleads guilty

• Local businessman will visit Haiti to look for family

• Man who claimed to be Yosemite Sam pleads guilty to meth charge

• David Harmer seeks Republican congressional nod

• Lack of evidence in case against suspect in 'drug deal' stabbing

• Regional Roundup

February 8th, 2010

• Public Meetings

• Locals pick best, most memorable Super Bowl commercials

• Regional Roundup

February 6th, 2010

• The Home Depot hopes to join Costco at Reynolds Ranch

• Meet Larry, Curly and Moe

• Baboon business

• Regional Roundup

• Several Lodi venues let you watch the Super Bowl in style

• Lodi Library celebrates 100 years of serving the community

• Culinary craft

February 5th, 2010

• Kids, teachers help Haiti by collecting pennies for Learning Link

• Lodi, Galt students reach out to help Haiti earthquake survivors

• Tasered suspect claims he is Yosemite Sam

• Hours of sweat and work go into putting on crab feeds

• Things looking up for state's real estate

• Correction

• Regional Roundup

• Stray bullet strikes Lodi home; police suspect gang activity may be factor

February 4th, 2010

• Managers at Geweke Toyota answer questions about recall

• Lodi City Council votes to replace play structure at Century Park

• Lodi extends ban on pot shops for another year

• Mokelumne River triathlon set for June

• Family, friends to run half-marathon in memory of Galt family

February 3rd, 2010

• Correction

• Delta College trustees again collide over stipend committee

• Bad bugs, weeds are hot topics at Grape Day

• Lodi-area senators Dave Cox, Lois Wolk admit to gifts; Tom Berryhill case pending

• Lodi Unified School District president issues warning to speakers over cuts

• Galt City Council avoids budget cuts — for now

• New Lodi Memorial Hospital emergency room opens to the public without a hitch

• Regional Roundup

February 2nd, 2010

• Local business leaders say tourism, Costco, Home Depot may play roles in city's future

• Correction

• Former Lodian Erica Davis is first paraplegic woman to summit Kilimanjaro

• Regional Roundup

• No snow leopards, otters for Micke Grove

• McNerney leads in campaign cash

• Police: Train victim was a Lodi teen

• Big rig plows 7 cars

• Jumpers across California

The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.

• Will terrorists be given Miranda warnings? (75)
• Lodi Unified School District president issues warning to speakers over cuts (64)
• President Obama's first year (45)
• Many reject the politics of 'no' (45)
• Islamic symbol in mosaic — what is all the fuss? (44)
• Writer comments on Neely column (42)
• The Home Depot hopes to join Costco at Reynolds Ranch (41)
• Time to shed the convenient sham of 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy (34)
• We need to conduct respectful conversations (30)
• Tasered suspect claims he is Yosemite Sam (25)

ADVERTISEMENT

Local athletes sign, seal and deliver

All across the country, student athletes will be signing letters of intent today and officially confirming their decisions to continue their athletic careers in the collegiate ranks.

Here in Lodi, a handful of athletes will be sending off their letters, including some of the area's top softball players, a rower, a gymnast and a basketball player.

Tori Shepard, Pacific, Softball

Tori Shepard

Tori Shepard's right arm is responsible for 609 strikeouts, an ERA less than .50 and a 37-12 record.

And that's only in three years as a starting pitcher for Lodi High's softball team.

Today, the Lodi senior will make another mark with that arm, signing a letter of intent to play for the University of the Pacific next year.

Shepard, who also pitches for the Runnin' Rebels club team and helped the Lodi Extreme to their only Babe Ruth World Series Championship in 2008, made the decision to play for the Tigers earlier this year.

Shepard said she was also being recruited by Stanford, but her SAT score came up a little short. She said she is looking forward to joining the Tigers, a team that went 18-34 last season.

In her three years at Lodi, the Flames have been San Joaquin Athletic Association champions. As a sophomore, she was voted as the SJAA's Most Valuable Pitcher. Now she'll try to bring her winning ways to the Tigers.

"I am so excited," she said. "It is going to be fun."

Lodi High head softball coach Michelle Guardado is happy Shepard is going to be taking the mound so close to home.

"UOP is getting a very good pitcher. She belongs there," Guardado said. "At UOP, everyone can still go watch Tori play. It's good for the community."

Brooke Ortiz, Fresno State, Softball

Brooke Ortiz

As soon as Brooke Ortiz saw the way Margie Wright coached the Fresno State softball team, the Lodi High senior knew she wanted to play for her.

Today, Ortiz will make it official when she inks with the Bulldogs, taking them up on their offer of a full-ride scholarship. Ortiz, a shortstop and skilled leadoff hitter, said she's always wanted to play collegiate softball.

When Wright saw her at a tournament in Colorado, she was just as sold on Ortiz as Ortiz was on her.

"When they offered it to me, it was the greatest feeling in the world," Ortiz said.

Ortiz, who has spent time playing for the Runnin' Rebels and the Lodi Extreme, has spent much of her softball career playing under her dad, Joe Ortiz. When she met Wright, she saw a lot of similarities to her dad's coaching style.

"She reminded me a lot of my dad and how he's coached me and it made me comfortable," Ortiz said.

Last season, Ortiz had a .295 batting average for the Flames and scored 19 runs while driving in another nine. Her Lodi coach, Guardado, expects great things from Ortiz not only in her upcoming senior season, but as a Bulldog as well.

"I have always enjoyed watching her play," Guardado said. "She has got some skill and as she gets older, she is only going to get better."

Hannah Merrill, Alabama, Rowing

Hannah Merrill

Hannah Merrill was looking to test some new waters and the Lodi High senior found a new Tide to ride.

Merrill will be signing a letter of intent to continue her rowing career on a scholarship at the University of Alabama next year. Merrill rows competitively for the University of the Pacific's Deep Water Junior Crew.

"I wanted a school in the South. I wanted something different, out of California with a different culture and a lot of school spirit," Merrill said. "And they showed immediate interest and that interested me."

The University of Texas also showed interest in Merrill and she made trips to both schools. After meeting the Alabama team, practicing with them and even staying with some of the other rowers in the Alabama dorms, Merrill knew she wanted to be part of the Crimson Tide.

Merrill said it's been her main goal to land a scholarship since she took up rowing her sophomore year. She trains year-round, with weekday practices, and competes in both the fall and spring seasons.

"We are extraordinarily proud of her and know she will make a fine addition to a strong rowing program at Alabama," said Pacific head coach and director of rowing Eric Weir.

After narrowly missing a trip to the rowing national championships last year, Merrill is poised to make another run at it in the spring of 2010 before she joins Alabama.

Katelyne Herrington, UNLV, Swimming

Katelyne Herrington

All of her life, Katelyne Herrington dreamed of swimming for UCLA.

That is until she went on her recruiting trip to UNLV.

The Tokay High senior, who has recorded multiple All-American times in her career, will sign on to become a swimming Rebel today.

As one of the top 100 butterfly swimmers in the nation, Herrington was being recruited by many Division I schools. She made trips to UCLA, Arizona State, Minnesota and UNLV.

"In the end, it was the team at UNLV that made my decision," Herrington said. "I really clicked with the team. I wanted to go somewhere where I fit in because that's your family away from home."

Herrington's speed in the water, which has merited invitations to national junior championships around the U.S., is also responsible for dozens of broken records. At last year's Sac-Joaquin Section meet, Herrington broke the section's 100 fly record with a time of 54.29 seconds for a section championship.

Tokay head swimming coach Courtney Porter always knew Herrington had what it took to continue her swimming career at the collegiate level.

"From the get-go, she always had it — the athletic talent, but most importantly the drive to succeed at Division I," Porter said. "From a high school standpoint, I always knew she was something special and would be the greatest swimmer to come out of Tokay High School."

Michele Poteet, SW Oregon, Softball

Michele Poteet

Since she was a freshman, Tokay's Michele Poteet has known what she wants.

She knew she wanted to study culinary arts and play softball in college. While it took some searching to find a school that offered both, the Tigers' senior catcher found Southwest Oregon Community College.

Now she's headed there on a softball scholarship and to get her degree in baking and pastries. Poteet made a trip up to the school, which is located in Coos Bay, Ore., in October and instantly knew it was the place for her. "I loved the coach and loved the team," she said of her visit. "It was the only school that I could find that had both and I fell in love with it. I've been playing softball since T-ball and known I wanted to go to culinary school since freshman year so it is the best of both worlds for me."

Last year, as a junior, Poteet hit .348, drove in 20 runs, scored 14 runs and helped the Tigers win the Tri-City Athletic League.

Poteet plans on getting a bachelor's degree and someday owning her own cake business.

Madeline Kennedy, UC Davis, Gymnastics

Madeline Kennedy

Madeline Kennedy will now be able to compete in gymnastics for the school she is attending.

The Lodi resident and St. Mary's High senior is headed to the University of Davis on a gymnastics scholarship.

"I looked at a lot of different schools, but the coaches at Davis and my new teammates made me feel really welcome," Kennedy said. "And I like that it's close so my family and friends can come and watch, but also that it is not too close."

Kennedy, who attended St. Anne's in Lodi before becoming a Ram, currently trains with Byers Gymnastics in Elk Grove. While she's been with Byers since she was 12, Kennedy began her gymnastics career in Lodi at Impact Sports Center.

In March, Kennedy won the Level 10 vault competition at the Nor-Cal State Gymnastics Championships with a score of 9.625. Kennedy said she specializes in the vault, but is hoping to compete in every event for the Aggies.

Alle Moreno, Sac State, Basketball

Alle Moreno

Alle Moreno won't be traveling far to continue her basketball career in college.

The St. Mary's senior and Lodi resident will be playing for Sacramento State next year.

As a junior, the guard helped the Rams win the Division III state championship last season.

Moreno is as dangerous on defense as she is on offense. Going into her senior season, she's already recorded 212 career steals and 182 3-pointers.