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--> --> Sept. 26: A pair of Grizz for the ages By Bobby Heiken Ashland Daily Tidings "Coaches usually say when you are up front that you need to talk a lot. There's no need to when we are up there together. We can just read each others minds." That's how Ashland High senior Jesse Hodges describes the magical connection between him and fellow senior Scott Beaver. The two have been playing together since youth soccer leagues and are in the middle of their fourth year on the Ashland High varsity soccer team. "We have a special connection," Beaver said. "I can be all the way on the other side of the field and know where he is and where he's going to be. And vice-versa." The pair have led the Grizzlies to a perfect 5-0 overall record and they are off to a 1-0 mark in Southern Oregon Conference play with a huge matchup scheduled for Saturday vs. South Medford at the Ashland Middle School. "Their experience is invaluable," Grizz head coach Eisa Tiaa Toutou said. "They've played together for so many years and they compliment each other so well." The pair of strikers have led the Grizzlies in scoring so far in the 2001 season. Beaver has registered six goals and two assists, while Hodges has chipped in with four goals and six assists. Not bad for a pair whose varsity career started off on the practice field as freshmen. Playing with a rough-and-tumble group brought some new challenges to the youngsters. "I didn't know what to expect," Beaver said. "All we ever did was practice and that was great, but I was too small. They (the upperclassmen) were pretty physical with us." "Mentally we were ready," Hodges said. "But physically we were held back a little bit. Size was a really big issue." That has been resolved over as both have come into their own. "As a coach you can see if someone has a lot of potential, and I could see that in both of them," Tiaa Toutou said. "They are both well-skilled and hard-core players. All they needed was a chance to develop their games." Both of the athletes play year-round on various club teams. Beaver made a splash this past year by playing on McKenzie United out of Eugene and in the Olympic Development Program. The more games they play the more their skills have improved. "Beaver is very strong," Tiaa Toutou said. "And he's learned how to improve his ball control. As a freshman he was very strong but had no direction. Now he's more rounded. "As a freshman Jesse could read the game. Now he's using the whole field and is a great team player." Hodges has also seen the changes over the years. "Size is a big plus," he said. "Now it's much easier to hold my ground against defenders." In this year's preseason coaches poll the team was picked to finish third behind Klamath Union and South Medford. "We've got a great group of seniors," Beaver said. "We are trying to be supportive of the underclassmen and be good leaders." And after playing together for so many years, it's not that easy when one is gone. "It's really tough when he's not out there," Hodges said. "You lose that bond." Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing