CSM, Colts playing well

It's still early and it would take a lot of factors to make this happen, but the CSM and Canada College baseball teams both have legitimate shots to advance to the State Final Four in late May. Both teams are on a roll; Canada entered Thursday's play at 4-0 and in sole possession of first place in the Coast Conference Pacific Division and 12-2 overall. CSM, meanwhile, also was in sole possession of first place in the Coast Conference Golden Gate Division with a 4-0 mark and 11-2-1 overall record. Six players for Canada -- David DiPaola, Tony Cooper, Evan Warner, Bobby Scott, Daniel Johnston and Zack Turner -- are doing the bulk of the work offensively, while Anthony Armanino and Brandt Norlander have been the two pitching workhorses. DiPaola is batting .500 and slugging .800, and Cooper, Warner and Scott are all batting .400 or over. Armanino (0-1) has only one decision, but sports a 3.63 ERA -- downright solid by junior college standards. Norlander is a perfect 4-0. Like Canada, CSM has received a number of strong performances from a number of players. Offensively, Justin Maffei, Joey Wallace, Ryan Allgrove, Pat Burford, Thomas Wood and O'Koyea Dickson have led the way, while the pitching staff has been led by Justin Burns, Glenn Wallace and Devin Bradley. Maffei is hitting .531, Joey Wallace is slugging .860 and Dickson has team-high marks of three home runs and 15 RBI. Burns has been downright filthy; he's pitched 16 inning while allowing just one run, none earned. Baseball fans should circle March 20 on your calendar, because that's the only regular-season meeting between the teams this season, at CSM. Barring a collapse or a series of injuries from either team, Canada and CSM are both capable of making deep playoff runs. *** At Aragon High he was referred to as "Big Play Eddie." Now Eddie Williams is just one of several hundred players who will be looking to make an NFL roster in the fall. Something says that suits Williams just fine. The 2005 Aragon graduate signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears on Wednesday. The 6-foot-1, 249-pound Williams spent last year with the Washington Redskins, spending most of the season on the practice squad before being elevated to the active roster Nov. 2. He was inactive for three games before suffering a broken leg, ending his season. Williams had a solid four-year career at Idaho playing fullback/tight end, where the Vandals used him in their passing game. He finished his college career with 100 receptions for 1,205 yards and 11 touchdowns. At Aragon, Williams was at his best in the biggest moments. In one amazing four-week stretch during his senior year, Williams hauled in a last-minute 45-yard TD pass to beat San Mateo in one of the greatest games in county history, forced a fumble in a Central Coast Section playoff win over Mitty and then recovered a fumble at his own 2-yard line to seal the Dons' 27-21 playoff win over Serra. *** The Notre Dame de Namur University women's basketball team recently completed its best season in school history. The Argonauts finished 12-4 in the tough Pacific West Conference and 16-11 overall. Led by former Aragon High and Skyline College standouts Katie and Laura Zasly, NDNU won five of its final six conference games to finish the season with a flourish, capped by a 62-58 win over BYU-Hawaii last Saturday. Mills High graduate Pilar Mullins scored 12 points and finished with a school single-game record 23 rebounds. Katie Zasly had a game-high 16 points, Natellie Saia 13 and Laura Zasly had another stellar all-around game, finishing with eight points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals. Laura Zasly finished the season with 78 steals, establishing a school record. Katie had 72, which ranks No. 2 all time. *** Burlingame High senior Alex Maricic has earned a scholarship to play soccer at Menlo College. Maricic was recently named the Peninsula Athletic League's Bay Division Goalkeeper of the Year. Maricic had a number of standout performances during a standout four-year varsity career, often making the routine as well as the highlight-reel save -- a sign of all good keepers. *** Five basketball players from Alpha Beacon Christian School in San Mateo were named to the all-Bay Area Christian Athletic League team. Among the girls, Victoria Rehn, Patricia Rehn, Sarah Chu, Lauren Rankin and Rachel Fobelli were all-league selections, while Sergey Moreno and Phon Uacherdkul were the picks on the boys' side.