Everything seems to be clicking for the San Diego State softball team. SDSU is off to its best start in school history this season and currently holds a 15-8 record, good for second in the six-team Mountain West Conference. In addition, sophomore pitcher Christina Ross leads the conference in ERA (1.

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Nick Romero keeps his friends close. And his family even closer. Think “Brady Bunch.” Think “Eight is Enough.” Think “The Waltons.” Romero was taught by his mom, Ann, at Eastlake High. Romero was coached by his dad, Ed, for many years. Romero was watched by his maternal grandfather, Dan Wachowiak, who hasn’t missed one of his home games since he started playing baseball at age eight.

The San Diego State baseball team is now traveling on a different road. One that SDSU probably hopes isn’t as hard to navigate as the previous path. So long, non-conference season. Hello: The Mountain West Conference. And the Aztecs won’t be looking in their rear-view mirror at that 6-23 non-conference record, either.

A couple of weeks ago, I headed to McGregor’s Grill and Ale House – a local sports bar that serves as a popular hangout for the few, yet fiercely loyal fanatics of San Diego State basketball – to watch the night’s Aztec game. My friend was on the phone with one of his other buds, and he replied to a question that I couldn’t hear with, “Yeah, I’m on my way to watch the game with a bunch of Aztec fans.

As the spring semester rolls by, so do the students’ complaints and queries regarding why San Diego State holds classes on President’s Day and doesn’t on Cesar Chavez Day. For SDSU students, one of the biggest disappointments is not being able to attend President’s Day barbecues and parties planned for the three-day weekend enjoyed by most other California State Universities.

Two San Diego State students are competing for the title of vice president of external affairs. Political science and English senior Khouloud Elmasri and international security and conflict resolution senior Erin Hogeboom have spent the week campaigning for a spot on Associated Students executive team.

People who have never worn our nation’s uniform often find solidarity with those who volunteer to wear it but balk when they are called to serve their country. In other words, deserters. It’s been said that at least 8,000 servicemen have gone absent without leave or unauthorized absence since 2003, but these statistics can be deceiving.

THIS WEEKEND: ?John Millington Synge’s play “The Playboy of the Western World” will be showing its final performance on Saturday at the New Village Arts Theatre in Carlsbad. The play is a three-act comedy that deals with a man who reaches unexpected infamy after he confesses to murdering his father.

It’s a three-day weekend, and that means one extra day to hang out with friends, party or just relax. An extended weekend also means there’s time to explore areas outside of San Diego and even California. Below are some Web sites and phone numbers that will help in planning the perfect and most spontaneous getaway ever.

During the past year, the hip-hop world has lacked originality and become utterly monotonous. Too many people are shaking their “Laffy Taffy’s” and screaming out “Mike Jones” so much that I couldn’t help smiling ear to ear after learning that Ghostface Killah was coming to the House of Blues to headline and promote his new album “Fishscale.

Children are no doubt the most vulnerable members of our society. One would assume that we would have strict laws to protect them from predators who would attempt to harm them in any way. But today, more than ever, we hear horrific reports of children who are abused by known sex offenders.