Rancho Cordova, CA (MPG) - This year’s Rancho Cordova Hall of Fame inductees were honored during the 2017 Induction Ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 14 at Rancho Cordova City Hall.  To be elected to the Rancho Cordova Sports Hall of Fame, inductees were judged to have attained significant achievements in or contributions to athletics, as well as exhibiting high standards of character and sportsmanship.

Rancho Cordova Sports luminaries inducted are listed here.

• 1974 American Legion Post 281 Baseball Team: Comprised entirely of Rancho Cordova youth baseball standouts, the team is honored not only for qualifying to play in the California State Championship, but for an outstanding record of accomplishment which followed.  The team eventually finished third in the state, but four team members went on to play professional baseball, four competed for junior colleges and seven for colleges, making it one of the most successful youth baseball teams in Rancho Cordova history.  The team was coached by Rich Rose and included players Gary Stonebrook, Scott Jenner, George Harper, Walt Hill, Jim Noonan, Warren Brown, Doug Land, Mike Anicich, Jim Deane, Steve Finch, John Ingrim, Mike Hoffiditz, Morgan Jones, Bob Beale and the late Mark Abbondola.
• Farynairz Family:  Dominating Rancho Cordova high school sports in the early 1980s, brothers Brett and Tony and sister Deborah are honored for a remarkable legacy left by a single family. After outstanding Cordova High School accomplishments, Tony went on to be a baseball All American at San Diego State, Brett played outside linebacker for seven years in the NFL, and Deborah was an all American Cross Country runner at UC Davis, eventually going on to earn a medical degree from Harvard and become a leading orthopedic surgeon.
•  Robert Arellanes:  A retired Sacramento State professor and dean, for founding the Rancho Cordova Soccer Club and Cordova High School Soccer program.
• Ken Bowles: A longtime coach of football, basketball, softball and track.
• Otis Griffin: A Cordova High School football standout who played for Texas A&M and Arena Football’s Los Angeles Avengers, Griffin went on to a professional boxing career.
• Jeff Hazard:  A 1980s Cordova High School wrestling standout, Hazard went to Stanford on a wrestling scholarship, earning top wrestling honors and a degree in geology.
• Stacy Hom Loftus: A 1985 Cordova High graduate, Hom was a champion in women’s discus at both the high school and college level.  Her 1990 throw of 170-30 still stands as a Women’s Outdoor record at Sacramento State.
• Joe Horgan:  An outstanding Cordova High School baseball player, Horgan played at Sacramento City College before heading to Major League Baseball, where he played 47 games for the Expos in 2004 and the Washington Nationals in 2005.
• Joe Horyza:   A legendary and beloved basketball coach at Mills Jr. High, Horyza went on to statewide leadership in the field of Physical Education and Coaching.
• Chris Johnson:  A high school baseball and basketball player for the Lancers, Johnson evolved as a golfer at UC Davis where he earned Division II All American honors. 
• Jerry Karnow:  An admired Mills Jr. High coach of football and wrestling, Karnow has been inducted into both the Sacramento and National Men’s Senior Baseball League Halls of Fame with a long career which included being an All CIF pitcher in 1959 and a Gold Medal winner in the Nike World Games.
• Kevin Nixon: A Cordova Lancers basketball star, Nixon was Utah State’s MVP in 1988 and its highest scoring guard; a starter for three years and team captain in his junior and senior seasons.  He has continued his basketball stardom into coaching, including an Arizona State Championship team and assisting Bishop Gorman (NV) women’s team to four state championships.
• Walt Phillips:  Beloved football and baseball coach in the early days of Mills Jr. High, Phillips was part of the early training and coaching combine which gave birth to Cordova High School’s legendary football teams.
• Jack Ramsey:  A longtime and admired Mills Jr. High coach whose guidance helped shape the Cordova High School football dynasty of the 1970s.
• Bob Reece:  Cordova High quarterback, basketball player and catcher in the early 70s, Reece who went on to Stanford, then nine seasons in the minors system of the Expos, with nine games in the Majors.  He is recognized as Cordova High’s first MLB player.
• Ray Savorn:  A longtime Rancho Cordova resident, Savorn was an outstanding college athlete and 39-year Cordova High School teacher and coach, and accomplished senior tennis athlete.  His basketball officiating accomplishments landed him in the LaSalle Club’s Officials Hall of Fame in 2016.
• Mike Valentine: A first-team selection on the Sacramento Bee’s 1977 All-Metro defensive team, Valentine was an elite defensive end who was a key member of the Lancers’ section champion football teams in 1976 and 1977. A top hurdler, Valentine established a then-school record 14.4 in the 120 High Hurdles and helped Cordova track teams to back-to-back Metro League titles in 1976-77.MPG Staff

 “Rancho Cordova has a uniquely powerful history of youth sports achievement,” said David Sander, a Rancho Cordova City Councilman and president of the Rancho Cordova Athletic Association.  “Our Hall of Fame memorializes that incredible history and should inspire our current youth athletes as well.” 

The Rancho Cordova Athletic Association was formed in 2013 to foster lifelong values of good sportsmanship, teamwork and healthy active lifestyles through development of excellent youth sports facilities and organizations, positive coaching and access to play for all.

Source: Rancho Cordova Hall of Fame, Shelly Blanchard