Sports

The Lassen High School varsity softball team stands together after winning the first game of its three-game series against Yreka High School. The Lady Grizzlies went on to beat Yreka in away game Thursday, May 9, clinching the league championship. Photo by Scott Nordstrom

May 10 — The Lassen High School Lady Grizzlies softball team has taken the Northern Athletic League title and, after an incredible season, can celebrate a hard-earned championship. The team played Yreka High School in a three-game series Tuesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 9. Lassen needed to win two of the three games to take the Northern Athletic League championship.

The first two games were played as a doubleheader on Tuesday, which the Lady Grizzlies split, winning the first game, 10-0, but losing the second, 8-4. The third game of the series was played at Yreka on Thursday and the Lady Grizzlies came away with a solid 9-2 victory, earning themselves the league title.

Shelby Campa was the winning pitcher in the first game on Tuesday. Campa pitched all six innings and threw a two-hit game, striking out eight batters and walking four. Laken Cagle came through at the plate for the Lady Grizzlies, going 2 for 3, hitting a triple and getting an RBI. Taylor Knecht got two RBIs for Lassen. Sara Sella and Lindsay Northrop each had one RBI.

The second game didn’t go as well for the Lady Grizzlies, despite the team playing competitively. Kelsey Pinneo pitched 4.1 innings for Lassen and got six strikeouts, no walks and allowed seven hits and two earned runs. Lauren Cagle took the pitcher’s mound for 2.2 innings, striking out two batters, walking one and giving up two hits and no earned runs. Northrop went 2 for 4 at the plate and hit an RBI. Knecht went 3 for 4 and scored a run.

The Lady Grizzlies had no problem recovering from the loss on Tuesday, as they went on to beat Yreka in an away game Thursday, clinching the league championship.

Northrop dominated at bat for Lassen, hitting three RBIs and a two-run double in the fourth inning. Laken Cagle and Jacqui Smith each hit an RBI. Campa was the winning pitcher, working the mound for all seven innings. She struck out four batters, walked two and gave up six hits and two earned runs.

The Lady Grizzlies ended their regular season with a league record of 10-2.

This is the 14th time in the school’s history the Lady Grizzlies softball team has taken the league title. The last time the team won the championship was in 2009.

“We’re really proud … I’m really happy that these kids got to be a part of our tradition,” said head coach Paul Moore. Moore also said one of the reasons he was so glad this group of girls got to win a championship is because it has been one of the few times in his many years of coaching that a team has had no issues, arguments or complaints. According to Moore, everyone on the team came together, accepted their role and worked hard to win.

“They were a true joy to coach,” he said.

The Lady Grizzlies will host the first round of playoffs at Lassen Community College at 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 14.

Colby Chavez rockets the ball to first base in one of the Grizzlies’ home games. The Lassen High School varsity baseball team beat the Anderson Cubs in a doubleheader Tuesday, April 30, securing them the league championship.  Photo by Maddie Musante

May 7 — The Lassen High School Grizzlies played the Anderson High School Cubs in an away doubleheader Tuesday, April 30. The Grizzlies won both games, 16-4 and 13-8, securing themselves the league championship.

Ryan Sharpe pitched four innings in the first game against the Cubs, striking out one batter, walking two and giving up nine hits and four earned runs. Nate Freeman pitched one inning, getting one strikeout and one walk, while allowing one hit and no earned runs. Joey Beck went 3-4 at the plate for Lassen, hitting two homeruns and getting three RBIs. Sharpe hit a double and had two RBIs. Colby Chavez went 3-5 and hit a double and three RBIs. Freeman hit a double and got an RBI. Jarrell Cunningham and Logan Loflin each hit two RBIs.

Cunningham took the pitcher’s mound for three innings in the second game of the doubleheader, getting three strikeouts, one walk and allowing no hits and no runs. Garrison Collier pitched four innings, striking out four batters, walking none and giving up eight hits and five earned runs. Sharpe went 3-5 at the plate, hitting a double and getting two RBIs. Cunningham hit two doubles. Collier went 3-3 and got three RBIs. Loflin, Perry and Chavez each had one RBI.

This is the third year in a row the Grizzlies baseball team has won the Northern Athletic League championship, a feat that has not been accomplished since the 1997 through 1999 baseball seasons. After the games against Anderson, the Grizzlies boasted an overall record of 20-6 and a league record of 10-1. The team’s record over the past three years is 54-21.

“It feels good. It feels like we’ve accomplished something that hasn’t been accomplished in a long time,” said head coach Scott Foreman, “These guys have done an excellent job. There’s no real big superstars out here. There’s just a bunch of guys who came together and want to win.”

Although happy about winning the league, Foreman and the Grizzlies are already looking ahead and preparing for the section playoffs and semi-finals. “(We’re) just trying to win one game at a time. Every game is just so important. As soon as you lose, you’re gone. We just have to get it done. We have to play up to our ability and then we should be able to do it,” Foreman said.

Lassen is the number two seed for the Northern Athletic League section playoffs and will host the first round at 4 p.m. Friday, May 10 at Memorial Park.