Nelson Back but Is Home Alone

Richard Nelson returned home last week and was actually recognized by his parents.

Nelson, who graduated from Alemany High and is headed to UCLA on a volleyball scholarship, had a whirlwind summer. He competed in upper-echelon tournaments in New Orleans and Montreal and trained for three weeks in Lake Placid, N.Y., with the U.S. national youth team.

He even managed to wedge in a three-day visit to UCLA for orientation.

Busy? He didn’t think so.

“I love doing it,” said Nelson, a 6-foot-4 setter. “Anything for volleyball.”

Nelson began his volleyball voyage early in July, helping take the Los Angeles Athletic Club to the gold medal at the junior national championships in New Orleans.

He was selected the most valuable player of the tournament, an accolade he didn’t expect.

“When they started announcing everybody [for all-tournament honors], I was like, ‘OK, I didn’t make it,’ ” Nelson said.

“Then they called my name for MVP and I didn’t know what to do. I was shocked.”

Nelson came home for six days--three of which were spent at UCLA--before going to Lake Placid, where he survived two cuts and was selected captain of the national youth team.

The team flew to Montreal on Aug. 11 for the National Team Challenge Cup and came away with the gold medal, sweeping Alberta, Canada, in the championship three days later.

Nelson returned Friday, reintroduced himself to his parents and is relaxing before school starts.

Only one small problem . . . his friends are the ones on the road.

“I have a month off, but everybody else is starting [college] already,” Nelson said. “I’m kind of by myself.”

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With little fanfare, the California Commotion, a Valley-based women’s softball team, won the national fastpitch tournament last Wednesday in Stratford, Conn.

With nine former Olympians on the team, the Commotion caused few ripples with a 1-0 championship victory over the Phoenix Storm.

“Pretty much everybody expected us to win it,” said Nicole Victoria, a catcher and outfielder from Camarillo High who played at UCLA. “It would have been a surprise if we didn’t win it.”

The Commotion allowed one run in six games, thanks to quality pitching by Lisa Fernandez and Lori Harrigan, who each had a perfect game.

The Commotion’s fourth consecutive national championship is already being used for inspiration by Victoria, second-year softball coach at Hueneme High.

On Monday, the first day of school, Victoria told several players about the championship run.

“I hope I fired them up for the season,” she said. “I think they’re in awe of the players I was with.”

Commotion players included Sheila Cornell-Douty, from Taft High, and Amy Chellevold, from Thousand Oaks.

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Playing its fourth game in 24 hours, the Southern California United girls’ soccer team lost to Marin County, 2-0, in the 14-and-under championship game of the Crown City Classic in Coronado.

Lauren Murray had two game-winners among her four goals and Jennifer Stadheim had two goals for the United, coached by Jeff Blumkin, who played at Cal State Northridge.

Raquel Gonzales had two shutouts, including a 1-0 over San Diego NADO in the semifinals.