Sports

Joey Beck works the pitcher’s mound for the Lassen High School Grizzlies during one of their home games this season. Beck has been selected to play for the North high school all-star baseball team in the Chico Breakfast Lions Club Bob Busch Classic.  Photo by Maddie Musante

May 28 — Joey Beck, a senior at Lassen High School, has been chosen to play for the North high school all-star baseball team in the Chico Breakfast Lions Club Bob Busch Classic in Chico Saturday, June 1.

The North-South game will be played at 6 p.m. at Doryland Field in the Hooker Oak Recreation Area in east Chico.

Beck is one of 18 graduating seniors chosen from schools located from Red Bluff to the Oregon line.

Beck is a left-handed pitcher who posted a .414 batting average this year along with seven doubles and three home runs. On the mound he was 6-1 with a 2.26 earned run average, according to statistics on MaxPreps.com. Earlier this year, Beck accepted a scholarship to attend and play baseball for the Western Nevada College Wildcats.

The North team is coached by Todd Buck of Foothill High School.

On the same day the Lions will host a North-South high school all-star softball game at 2 p.m. on a field in the same complex. North coach is Karen Fifield of Shasta High School. Both games feature 18-player senior rosters and are nine innings.

Net proceeds go to a Lions charity.

May 23 — The Susanville Area Bicycle Association is inviting bikers, hikers, runners and walkers of all ages and skill levels to the Bizz Johnson Trail at 6 p.m. Tuesday evenings.

The weekly event is part of an outdoor series the association will be putting on through October. The event will begin at the kiosk on the west side of Richmond Road by the caboose, across the street from the Historic Railroad Depot. However, participants can join anywhere along the way.

Everyone is welcome to get active on the trail in whichever way they choose, whether it is running, biking, walking or jogging. Families, children, dogs and strollers are all welcome. After getting active on the trail, participants are also welcome to gather at the Pioneer Saloon.

Many active walkers, runners and bikers are weary of heading outdoors alone at this time of year because of the threat of mountain lions. However, the Susanville Area Bicycle Association says the Tuesday night event is a way for people to get out and be active without worrying about such threats because having so many people on the trail will deter predators.

“I feel strongly that local trails are not getting used more extensively because people are afraid of mountain lions,” said Dan Brown, who is helping organize the weekly event. “My solution is to attempt to have people just go with other people or in groups so they feel safer. Hopefully too, once they are familiar with being out they will not be as concerned and can get to know others."

According to a press release from the Susanville Area Bicycle Association, the goal is to have enough people so there are at least two people going a similar pace. With lots of people on the trail at once it should be safer and more enjoyable. You won’t be worried about mountain lions.

Participants are encouraged to go their own pace and cover as much distance as they would like. If there are people going faster than you want to, just wave goodbye and say, “Have a nice time. See you later.” Do only what you would like to at any speed and don’t be pressured into an exertion level greater than what you’re comfortable with.

The distance and amount of time is up to each individual, however, the Susanville Area Bicycle Association said most people will probably go one to two hours, but any amount of time is OK, from 20 minutes to three hours.

The Tuesday night event will also cover the new South Side Trail, which goes from Hobo Camp to the bypass trail around the big tunnel, about five miles up the Susan River Canyon.

Participants can ride the bus to the trail from Historic Uptown Susanville.

It is strongly recommended that each person bring water, identification, a snack, cell phone and a light if you plan to be out after dark. Bicycle riders should bring a helmet, a bike in safe, working condition, a spare tube, patch kit, tire levers and a valve adapter. Any person younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Dog owners are asked to bring a leash and bags for their dogs.

For more information, email Brown at dan@bicyclebananas.com.

Justin McBride takes a shot for the Lassen Community College Cougars. McBride was on the 2013 Golden Valley Conference men’s basketball championship team and recently accepted a scholarship to attend and play basketball for Grace University in Omaha, Neb.  Photo submitted

May 22 — Lassen Community College basketball star Justin McBride has accepted a scholarship to attend and play basketball for Grace University in Omaha, Neb.

McBride is a native to Sydney, Australia and has been playing basketball since he was 12 years old. He has enjoyed his stay in Lassen County and said it’s been an amazing experience, albeit very different from Sydney, which has a population close to five million. “Every new experience is a good experience,” McBride said, “it’s been a good change.”

McBride was a starter on the Lassen Community College basketball team and averaged 5.2 points a game while shooting 40 percent from the three-point line.

McBride was contacted by several schools throughout the season looking to make him part of their team, however, he says they were mostly rural schools and he was looking for something in an urban setting. When Grace University offered him a scholarship, McBride was happy to accept.

The Grace University Royals compete in Division II of the NCCAA and finished the 2012-13 season with a 17-17 overall record. 

McBride will major in business with an emphasis in marketing and will live in downtown Omaha while attending Grace University. He says he will go wherever the best opportunity is when he graduates with his degree, whether it be in the U.S. or back in Australia.

According to Lassen Community College head basketball coach, Devin Aye, McBride is the first of an expected four players from the 2013 Golden Valley Conference men’s basketball championship team to accept a scholarship in the coming weeks.

“Congrats to Justin McBride on a great accomplishment and the opportunity to have his degree paid for while playing basketball at the university level,” Aye said.