Sports

Coach Mo Suarez, left, Jake Thiels, Hiawatha Miles, Nick Hibbitts, Kenny Jones, Alex McConnell and Coach Errin Montgomery pose together after the NAL finals.  Photo submitted

Feb. 12 — The Lassen High School wrestling team hosted the Northern Athletic League (NAL) finals in The Cave Saturday, Feb. 9. Lassen placed third as a team and had five wrestlers win their championship matches.

Senior Jake Thiels won the league championship in the 182-pound division. Senior Nick Hibbits won the league championship in the 152-pound division. In the 145-pound class, senior Alex McConnell won the league championship. Sophomore Hiawatha Miles is the league champion for the 106-pound weight class. Freshman Kenny Jones is the league champion for the 113-pound division.

Included in the NAL are Lassen, Central Valley, Corning, Anderson and Yreka.

Danica Guillen goes up for a basket in the Lady Grizzlies non-league game against the Westwood Lady Jacks. Lassen won the game, 69-53.  Photo by Maddie Musante

Feb. 12 — The Lassen High School (LHS) and Westwood High School (WHS) girl’s basketball teams went up against one another in a non-league game Wednesday, Feb. 6 in the Westwood gym. The game was intensely close in the first half, but the Lady Grizzlies came out on top, winning 69-53.

The WHS gym was packed with fans ready to watch the rival teams face one another, and they were not disappointed. It was a competitive game, with the Lady Grizzlies coming out of the gate with a lead, but Westwood picking up speed and coming within two points of Lassen by the end of the first quarter. Within the first minute of the second quarter, the Lady Jacks tied it up, 20-20. The lead went back and forth throughout the majority of the second half, with both teams never more than a couple points away from one another. However, as halftime approached, Lassen gained a seven-point lead and a timeout was called. The score at halftime was 38-31.

The Lady Grizzlies kept up the momentum in the second half and managed to keep the Lady Jacks at a safe distance, ultimately earning them a win.

Lassen's Mikailia McClure-Bustamante earned a double-double with 20 points and 15 rebounds. Sara Carson scored 16 points and had six steals.  Emily Terwilliger had 12 points and eight rebounds. Jacqui Smith scored seven poinrts and had six rebounds. Calli Oxford and Gracie Radey each put six points on the board for the Lady Grizzlies.  Danica Guillen scored two points and had four assists.

Lassen High School senior Joey Beck poses with his parents, Ed and Lucy Beck at his scholarship-signing event Sunday, Jan. 27. Beck has accepted a scholarship to play baseball for Western Nevada College next spring.  Photo by Maddie Musante

Feb. 7 — Lassen High School (LHS) senior Joey Beck has signed a scholarship to attend and play baseball for Western Nevada College (WNC) in Carson City, Nev. Beck signed a letter of intent earlier this month and held a special signing event at KSUE/JDX radio station Sunday, Jan. 27.

WNC is a Division I member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and is currently ranked number eight in the country. The WNC Wildcats have been to the Junior College World Series three times in the past six years. According to WNC’s head baseball coach, DJ Whittamore, Beck is one of six incoming players who have signed a scholarship to play for the Wildcats next spring.

Beck was born and raised in Susanville and began playing baseball when he was four years old as a little leaguer. He advanced to play for the Susanville Renegades when he was 13. For the past three years, Beck has pitched left-handed and played first base for the LHS varsity baseball team. He is known for pitching an 88-mph four-seam fastball, a two-seam fastball, a circle changer, slider and curveball. In 2012 Beck led the Northern Section with 104 strikeouts, was named top pitcher at LHS, won the Eastern Athletic League All-Conference award and was named All-Northern Section first team pitcher.

After graduation, Beck will travel to Seattle, Wash. to play for the EnFuego Elite 18U Connie Mack baseball team for six weeks. During this time, he will travel to Boston, Mass. and Canada with the team.

Beck’s biggest fans were all in attendance at the signing event Sunday, Jan. 27, namely his parents, Ed and Lucy Beck, and his coach and mentor, Eric Perry. The KSUE/JDX studio was a buzz of excitement for Beck, as those in attendance discussed his hard work ethic, impressive accomplishments in baseball and how much fun he will have traveling across the country this summer with the EnFuego baseball team. Beck showed attendees pictures he had taken on this phone of the WNC dorms and baseball field before posing for pictures with his parents and friends.

“I’m very proud and anxious for him to start. I think it’s going to be a good beginning for him. It’s a good stepping-stone for what he wants in his future,” said Beck’s mother. Beck’s parents say they plan to attend every game at WNC next spring to support their son.

Beck said he feels like this is the culmination of a lot of hard work and his supporters agreed. Before enjoying some celebratory cake, Beck said, “I’m pretty excited and ready to go. It feels good to know where I’m going. It feels good to have something to look forward to, you know. I know I’m playing next year; that’s always nice.”

Beck will report to WNC on August 9, 2013, after playing with the EnFuego Elite for the summer.

Junior Kelcie Mendonca prepares to pass the ball to a teammate at Riverside Park Tuesday, Feb. 5.  Photo by Maddie Musante

Feb. 6 — The Lassen High School (LHS) soccer team played its first and last home game at Riverside Park Tuesday, Feb. 5 against Corning High School.

The boy’s soccer team fell to Corning, 7-0. The girl’s team tied, 2-2.

Portia Martin and Kylee Kehler each scored goals for the Lady Grizzlies. Goalie Amanda Cook had 15 saves.

The LHS soccer team had been unable to play on their home field prior to the game against Corning, due to snow and icy conditions at Riverside Park.