Brandon Wood at center stage as Spring Training opens. That and more for Friday, brought to you by the Arcadia Tavern.

1. The spotlight: Former Horizon star Brandon Wood stepped to the plate for the first time in the Angels’ Cactus League opener Thursday, and TV announcer Terry Smith got to the point: This is the big story of spring training. “Has been since the day Chone Figgins signed with the Mariners,’’ analyst Jose Mota added.

2. Power plus: In seven pro seasons, Wood has 167 homers. Of that, 160 are in the minors. That’s still an impressive total.

3. Powerful pipes: Larry Kentera, a longtime football coach who will be honored Saturday at the National Football Foundation banquet in Scottsdale, had one of greatest voices I’ve ever heard. I mean in terms of volume.

I remember him as the ASU defensive coordinator at practices when I was a student reporter. He would sit up in the stands —25 or 30 rows up — at Sun Devils Stadium and direct his defense. He didn’t need a megaphone. No one had trouble hearing him. The offensive coordinator, Don Baker, would sit on the other side stadium, also 25 rows up. They’d needle each other.

Baker was no slouch in the volume department. But he had to cup his hands around his mouth and shout. For Kentera, it was like he was just talking to someone across the room.

4. Old school: We mentioned last week that four coaches on his staff when Kentera was at NAU went onto become NFL coaches. He also coached against John Madden when they were in the junior college ranks. And, one of Kentera’s assistant coaches in his early days was Amos Alonzo Stagg, legendary coach who built a powerhouse with the University of Chicago from 1892 to 1932.

The List for Thursday:

1. Desert Golf Tour: Steven Porter of Glendale shot a 75 on the final day to edge Ben Goodlander of Phoenix by a shot for the boys 16-18 division title in the Desert Junior Golf Tour event at the Wigwam Golf Club Gold Course. Porter finished with a 151 total. Goodlander led after the first round with a 75 on the par-72 course.

2. Add Desert Golf: Henry Cunningham of Litchfield Park shot a 153 to finish third overall and first in the 13-15 division. Jake Chanen of Phoenix won the 10-11 division by 10 shots with a 149.

3. JGAA: Michael Willet of Mesa ran away with the boys 15-18 division in the JGAA Southern Arizona Junior Championship. Willet shot a 72 and an 80 at Santa Rita Golf Club to win by 10 shots.

4. Playoffs: The Phoenix Polar Bears open their WSHL Junior A playoff series at 7 p.m. Sunday against the Fresno Monsters at Selland Arena in Fresno. The best of three series for the Western Division title continues through Tuesday if needed. All the three games are scheduled for Selland.

The List for Wednesday:

1. Fast Start: Jeff Smith of Corona del Sol started off the lacrosse season right, scoring four goals and adding three assists as the Aztecs opened with a 12-5 victory over the Horizon Huskies.

2. The Cup: The Cactus Cup, one of the big events of the lacrosse season, is Friday and Saturday at the Red Mountain Soccer Complex in Mesa. The event includes high school and junior high school teams.

3. Honor Roll: Here’s a list of the 41 scholar-athletes who will be honored Saturday at the National Football Foundation Valley of the Sun Chapter banquet at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort.

College Scholar-Athlete is Michael G. Nixon, Arizona State

First Team High School includes Brandon M. Bialkowski, Gilbert High School; Troy D.Coleman, Estrella Foothills; Justin M. Gardner, Basha; Ty J. Hancock, Winslow; Beau Z. Hilgemann, Fountain Hills; Tevin R.K. Hood, Hamilton; Maxwell A. Leonesio, Brophy; Dillon T. Luther: Pinnacle; Dustin Jake Sagg, Red Mesa; Ammon K. Samia, Chandler; Zachary Tyler Simington, Agua Fria.

Second Team High School includes Benjamin P. Michel, Jr., Basha; Jacom W. Brimhall, Mesa Mountain View; Cord E. Deal, Moon Valley; Mychael Justin Eikenberry, Bradshaw Mountain; John R. Elliott, Casa Grande; Joshua I. Ganados. Thunderbird; Kyle P. Homewood, Corona del Sol; Matthew Koch. Williams Field; Aaron B. Skousen, Antelope Union Tyler Joseph Tassinari. Cactus; Joseph W. Zurek, Chaparral High School.

Shaw Courage Award winner is Darius D. Leopaul, Phoenix Central High School.

Honorable Mention High School includes Spencer C. Cahalan, Gilbert; Vincent F. Colaianni, Prescott; John S. Dillon, Basha; Troy Cameron Drouin, Coconino; Steven A. Hansen, Mesquite; Bobby E. Hodge III, Ironwood; Kody A. Innes. Saguaro; Logan A. Islas, Mingus; Dakota P. Karjala, Buckeye; Matthew G. Medonich, Willow Canyon; Brendan J. Murphy, Chaparral; Brady A. Nittmann, Coconino; Tyler L. Peoples, Independence; William D. Ratdke, Cortez; Osej N. Serratos, Trevor Browne; Andrew D. Smith, Shadow Mountain; Cyrus D. Way, Paradise Valley; Victor I. White, Independence.

Three stars of the week, brought to you by the Arcadia Tavern.

1.  Lexi Kresl scored 25 points last weekend to lift Shadow Mountain to the 4A-I girls state basketball title.

2. Ryan Garcia pitched masterful relief to lead the Arizona Blaze to the 14u AAA USSSA Icebreaker baseball championship.

3. Marcus Mitchell scored a short-handed goal for the Polar Bears that turned their playoff series in Idaho  around. Mitchell's goal sent the game into overtime. The Bears won in OT and won the series the next day.

(Previous Lists, click here!)