Sports

Spectators lining the racetrack cheer on Jesse White as he competes in the 65cc Mini-Bike race Saturday, April 6. White took third place in the race.  Photo by Maddie Musante

April 16 — The Motorcycle Racing Association of Northern Nevada and the Lassen Diamondbacks Motorcycle Club of Susanville held the 46th annual Diamond Back Hare Scrambles Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7 at the Fort Sage OHV area in Doyle.

Saturday’s races featured a six and under Pee Wee race over a two mile course, a seven and older Pee Wee race over a two mile course, a Mini’s race over a 17-mile course and a Women’s race over a 17-mile course. The Big Bike race took place on Sunday and had riders complete three 33-mile loops to finish.

Approximately 39 riders traveled to Doyle to participate in the races on Saturday and 124 on Sunday. According to KC Pasero of the Lassen Diamondbacks Motorcycle Club, participation was good with riders representing many of the clubs in northern Nevada.

The Diamond Back 100 was the third round of the Motorcycle Racing Association of Northern Nevada’s 2013 race series.

The racecourse at the Fort Sage OHV area is known for its sand, whoops, single-track, uphill sections and a notorious downhill section known as “the widow maker.”

In the six and under Pee Wee race, Payton Daughhetee came in first place. Ava Delaney got second and Jordan Mass took third.

In the seven to nine Pee Wee race, Camie Ingram won first place. Blair Rankin came in second. Lawson Williams got third and Tristan Morrice got fourth.

In the four-stroke Pee Wee race, Andrew Anderson won first. Anthony Braun got second. Miranda Schlefstein took third.

Ezra Belingeri took first place in the 65cc Mini-Bike race. Mikey Majors came in second. Jesse White came in third.

In the 100cc Mini-Bike race, Austin Serpa took first, Austin Wilson took second and Jonas Thissen came in third.

Katie Rosenquist won first place in the novice women’s race. Devynn Muhlenberg came in second and Jessica Machutta took third.

According to Jeff Fontana of the local BLM office there were no issues or injuries, making the event a success from the BLM’s standpoint.

The Lassen Diamondbacks Motorcycle Club was founded in the 1970s in Susanville and has sponsored many races throughout the years. The club originally sponsored Enduros, which were races between Wendel and Fort Sage, then began hosting races at the Fort Sage OHV and Dry Valley areas as Hare Scrambles. The local club as been affiliated with the Motorcycle Racing Association of Northern Nevada for the past 15 years.

According to Pasero, the club had a membership of about 20 riders for several years and frequently recruited young riders, but has seen membership decline as riders moved away or stopped riding. Pasero pointed out that current club president, Nick Alosi, has succeeded in recruiting members from the Reno area who want to belong to a smaller, more relaxed club. However, the Lassen Diamondbacks still boast some longtime local riders including Russell Hewitt, Steve Pasero, Justin Pasero, Della Alosi and Scott Maas.

For more information on the Diamond Back Hare Scrambles, visit racemrann.com.

Becky McConnell gets a runner out at first base.  Photo by Maddie Musante

April 8 — The Lassen Community College softball team faced the Shasta College Lady Knights in a doubleheader played at home Wednesday, April 3. Shasta managed to shut out the Lady Cougars in both games, winning the first with a final score of 10-0 and the second 9-0.

The game was originally scheduled to take place at Shasta College on Friday, April 5, but was changed due to the rainy weather forecast.

Fans and students filled the stands of the Lassen Community College softball field to watch the Lady Cougars take on Shasta and enjoy the sunny spring weather. Unfortunately for the Lady Cougars, the doubleheader resulted in two losses.

Ivette Garcia pitched five innings for the Lady Cougars in the first game. Garcia struck out six, walked two and allowed three hits and one earned run. Natasha McCullough came in for relief, pitching two innings with one walk and one earned run. Brittaney Bloom went one for one at bat. Valeria Talamantez stole a base.

In the second game, Erica Estrada and Bloom each went one for two at bat. Siera Barton stole a base. Garcia pitched four innings and got four strikeouts and one walk. She allowed eight hits and four earned runs. Talamantez pitched one inning and allowed three hits and three earned runs.

The Lady Cougars are scheduled to take on Feather River College in Quincy at 12 p.m. Saturday, April 13.

April 5 — Growing up in Lassen County provides youth with endless opportunities to be active outdoors and participate in a variety of outdoor sports such as hunting, archery, fishing, hiking and paintball (just to name a few). Each year the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation partners with other local organizations and businesses to put on Spike Camp so the youth of Lassen County can learn about the outdoors and how to enjoy outdoor activities safely.

This year is no different, as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is gearing up for this year’s Spike Camp. The event will be held Saturday, April 13 at the National Guard Armory at the Lassen County Fairgrounds and will feature a wide range of classes and activities for children to enjoy, including archery, BB gun shooting, laser shooting, hunter safety and first aid training.

Spike Camp is geared toward children between the ages of 4 and 17. However, adults may attend as well.

This year’s Spike Camp will also feature a raffle of multiple outdoor items, including BB guns and bows.

The doors open at 9 a.m., but attendees are welcome to come throughout the day. There are minimal entry fees for children and adults, which go toward providing raffle prizes.

Curtis Cox and the staff of the Frosty Mill will provide lunch for children around 12:30 p.m. Adults are also welcome to attend and can enjoy donuts, hot chocolate and coffee.

Spike Camp began more than 10 years ago when the local Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation decided they wanted to do something for local youth. Since then, the foundation has put on Spike Camp every year in Lassen County and has inspired other chapters to put on similar camps and events. In fact, at one point Spike Camp in Lassen County was the largest event of its type in the country.

“We want to do this for the kids in the community,” said Gordon Ponting, of the local Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Ponting explained Lassen County has so many outdoor activities and sports available to children that the foundation wants to give youth the knowledge, skills and resources to enjoy the outdoors and to do it safely.

“These kids are in an area where they ought to be fishing and hunting and doing photography, hiking, all of that,” he said.

Spike Camp was named after the spike a young bull elk typically grows when he is young. The bull will grow single spikes in the first year, then shed those and begin developing side branches on his antlers the following year. The spike on a young elk or deer is a symbol of youth, making it the perfect name for a camp centered on youth.

Ponting also mentioned that archery and paintball clubs might be forming in Lassen County soon and Spike Camp is a way for kids to get in contact with the people forming these types of clubs and hosting other outdoor events.

“The two main points are: turn off the TV. Get outside and appreciate the many things you can do outside. The second is, try to do it safely,” he added.

Another main focus of Spike Camp is safety. Events at this year’s camp will educate children on handling weapons safely and first aid. Mountain Lifeflight will be hosting an event called “environmental emergencies,” which will teach children how to handle medical and other emergencies that can happen in the outdoors. “If you break your ankle fishing up the river, have an idea of what to do,” Ponting explained.

While looking forward to the event and discussing logistics, Ponting was overwhelmed with gratitude for the support the event has received from the community and local businesses.

“The business community deserves more than a pat on the back … we really mean it,” he said when discussing the logistics of hosting the camp each year.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, as well as the organizations they partner with, is excited and ready to enjoy another fun Spike Camp with the youth of Lassen County.

 If you have not yet registered to attend Spike Camp by mail or if you have questions about the event, call Ron Hollingsworth at 310-3735 or Gordon Ponting at 262-2768.