Leo R. Croce PTA

Altamont Creek Dads Triumph In Super Saturday Flag Football Game

The Independent, FEBRUARY 4, 2012 (For Patricia Koning's full story, see The Independent's print edition). Earlier this week, the Super Saturday trophy crossed from the east side of Vasco Road over to Altamont Creek Elementary School. After two years of defeat, Altamont Creek dads found themselves on the winning side once again in the fourth annual Super Saturday Flag Football game against fathers from Croce Elementary School. Altamont Creek beat Croce by a score of 47-12.... The PTA-sponsored flag football game for dads and other “father figures” on the Saturday before the Super Bowl has become a tradition for North Livermore families. Phil Baucke, coach for Croce’s team, came up with the idea four years ago in response to a need to connect with dads on campus (Click on the picture or here to see the entire photo series by Doug Jorgensen).

Croce Dads Win Super Saturday Football

The Independent. FEBRUARY 5, 2011 - Dads from Croce Elementary and Altamont Creek elementary schools in Livermore played in the third annual Super Saturday Flag Football Game last Saturday. Action was fast and furious in the annual game. (Click for entire photo series--many WEB ONLY--by Doug Jorgensen.)

Dads Take the Field at the 2nd Annual Super Saturday Flag Football Game

The Independent, FEBRUARY 11, 2010 - PAGE 7

By Patricia Koning

Despite predictions of thunderstorms, about 50 dads from Altamont Creek and Croce Elementary Schools took to the field at Livermore High School on Saturday afternoon for the second annual Super Saturday flag football game.

This is a really great community event, said Rick Guttierrez, coach of the Altamont Creek team. A lot of people are really excited about this game today. Phil Baucke, coach of Croces team, agreed. Weve been talking about this since last years game, he said. Of course, were looking to even the score." At the first annual Super Saturday flag football game, Altamont Creek defeated Croce by a score of 14 to 12 and took possession of the Super Saturday Champions trophy. That trophy crossed Vasco Road on Monday, from Altamont Creek to Croce, as the Croce dads emerged victorious, topping Altamont Creek 13-12.

The real point of the game, said Baucke, is for the kids. His wife, Monica Baucke, and the Croce Parent Teacher Association (PTA) started the flag football game as a way to get fathers more involved in school and to build camaraderie with Altamont Creek. Students from Croce and Altamont Creek come together at Christensen Middle School. Since last years game, I see a lot of guys I recognize at school and all over town, said Guttierrez. Since that first game, Monica added, more dads have been involved in events at Croce, like the Halloween party.

Players were recruited through PTA outreach and word of mouth. After Croce issued the challenge, someone had to step up to lead the team, says Guttierrez, who coaches and umpires Little League. It wound up being me. At the game on Saturday, both teams and their supporters came dressed in game-day T-shirts, made especially for the event.

The parents and kids in the audience kept the game lively with horns and thunder sticks. Eight members of the Livermore High School varsity cheerleading squad came out to pump up the crowd. We cheer for both teams, said co-captain Amanda Morana. This game is really a lot of fun.

The cheerleaders also taught a few cheers to kids in the audience and performed a half-time show. During the game, they divided into two groups to provide each school with its own set of cheerleaders.

Among the crowd was Altamont Creek principal Beverly Tom, Croce principal Shari Johnston, Croce office clerk Patty Hara, and numerous teachers and staff members from both sites. Andrew Lockhart, a fifth-grade teacher at Croce, kept time for the game. Christensen physical education teacher David Hill led the refereeing.



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