Cattolico to Coach At Franklin? Plus, Quick Hits ....

Don't be surprised if very soon Franklin High School announces that Joe Cattolico will be their next varsity football coach. It would make sense to replace one quality coach,  Mike Johnson, with another proven man who already has ties to the Elk Grove community.

The reason it likely hasn't already happened is that as with most high school coaches, an on-campus teaching job needs to be attached to the assignment. Cattolico is a social science teacher (and a good tough one, I hear) and that position at Franklin would need to be available.

Teaching at one school, a Delta League rival at that, and coaching at another just wouldn't work.

Cattolico was the successful coach at Pleasant Grove in its first nine years. That span included a Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship and a couple runner-ups. He coached numerous players who have gone onto good college and even pro careers. They include the New Orleans Saints' Jalen Saunders, retired Toronto Argonaut defensive lineman Armond Amstead and his brother, Arik, who recently announced his plans to enter the NFL Draft this spring.

Johnson retired from coaching two weeks ago yet will remain on the faculty at Franklin.

Now, some Quick Hits:

 - In the long line of excellent Franklin basketball players, Chimdem Mez is right there. He graduated in 2010, but in college he took on his other beloved sport, soccer. The last four years he has been a key part of Sacramento State's soccer team.

He had ten goals over that span, seven this past fall and was named to the All-Big West team. On Tuesday he was selected in the fourth round of the MLS Draft by the San Jose Earthquakes. Mez was the 66th selection overall.

- The "interim" label has been removed from Derick Milgrim's coaching title at Cosumnes Oaks. Principal Patrick McDougall has decided Milgrim will now be the permanent football coach following a 8-3 season and a Capital Valley Conference title.

Cosumnes Oaks football coach Derick Milgrim

- Pleasant Grove is now atop the Delta League with a 6-0 record after Friday's 65-61 win over Sheldon. Johan Tate scored 21 points and Marquese Chriss added 17 as the Eagles outscored the Huskies, 18-9, in the opening quarter.

The Eagles have now won 10 games in a row. The Huskies are in second place in the Delta with a 5-1 mark. In third place are Franklin and Jesuit, both with 4-2 records.

-The 2015 field of teams for the Boras Baseball Classic has been announced. Three Delta League teams will compete in the 32-team field, divided into a Northern California and a Southern California pair of brackets. Host club, Elk Grove, along with Pleasant Grove and Davis will join Granite Bay and Oak Ridge from the Sierra Foothills League in the Northern bracket.

Other schools competing in the March 30-April 3 event are St. Francis (Mountain View) , Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), Junipero Serra (San Mateo), Bellarmine (San Jose), Maria Carrillo (Santa Rosa), Turlock, Clovis West, Pacific Grove, Yuba City, Liberty (Bakersfied) and Stockdale (Bakersfield).

All games will be played at McAuliffe Fields near the Sacramento State campus. Elk Grove won the Boras championship in 2014.

The Northern winner will take on the Southern bracket winner for the Boras State Championship May 2 at Cal State - Fullerton.