Into the Vault: Year-old Silhouette

Woodland High School's Miriam Leon lofts into the sky in the pole vaulting event at last year's Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Meet at the Elk Grove-Laguna Creek Stadium on May 29, 2014.

When Leon, at left below, first met Wolves pole vaulting coach Scott Strohmeyer, at right below, as a freshman she thought he was "pretty intimidating. But with time Leon, who is now at UC Berkeley, felt otherwise: "He's the best," she told me for my story in the Woodland Daily Democrat. "I love him so much. He's just such a great coach."

Pioneer girls soccer program's first playoff win

Pioneer girls soccer celebrates goals in the program's first playoff win, a 3-2 defeat of host Christian Brothers on Tuesday in the first round of the Division III Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs. Patriots Tanya Rodriguez (12, scored twice) and Nicole Sanchez (9, scored), Julia Quintero (10), Ally Martin (4), Rachel May (19) and Hawai'i-bound goalkeeper Alexis Mata are featured.

First professional addition, many more to come

Taking this shot makes me want to get my photo portfolio in order.

So, I shall. It may take a bit of time, but it will definitely happen.

Here's the story behind the shot, which required someone's help:

While at a high school baseball game, I approached an elderly gentleman holding a nice digital camera and discussed its specs. After hearing I was covering the game for the Woodland Daily Democrat but didn't have a company camera, Paul Jones handed me his and said he could email me whatever I took with it. How gracious, I thought, so I thanked him profusely and used it to snap this. Turns out, Mr. Jones is the grandfather of Davis freshman Tyler Mortenson, who I caught at right stretching before an at-bat while the Pioneer battery Carson Jones, left, and Easton Vidales chat.