Sports

Daniel Gonzales takes a swing. Gonzales hit an RBI and stole a base during the Cougars’ doubleheader against the Eagles.  Photo by Maddie Musante

April 23 — The Lassen Community College baseball team went up against the College of the Siskiyous Eagles in a doubleheader played at home Wednesday, April 17. The Cougars came out on top in the first game, winning 2-0. They went on to lose the second game by only one run, 6-5. After the games against Siskiyous, the Cougars had a conference record of 5-13.

Avery Brandon pitched the entire first game for the Cougars, shutting out the Eagles with three strikeouts and no walks, while allowing only seven hits and no runs. Josh Correa led the Cougars’ offensive, going 2-3 at bat, getting an RBI and hitting a double. Daniel Gonzales stole a base for Lassen.

Weston Caindec pitched the first 3.1 innings for the Cougars. He walked one and allowed six hits and two earned runs. Donald Wanner then came in to pitch 4.2 innings. Wanner struck out one batter and walked two, while giving up six hits and one earned run. Catcher Walker Gemmill went 1-2 at the plate, getting two RBIs. Trevor Anthony hit a double. Gonzales and Chris McGahan each hit RBIs.

Sonya Martinez, left, Kara Hahn, Melanie Gatie and Jodee Lewis line up to practice their serves.  Photo by Maddie Musante

April 17 — Lassen Club Volleyball is in full swing, teaching youth of all ages to play volleyball skillfully and competitively. The club is enjoying both high membership this year and a high level of skill that is placing them in the upper ranks at tournaments.

Lassen Club Volleyball works with volleyball players as young as sixth-graders all the way up to college-level players. According to coach Julie Schmidt, this is the first year the club has had so many participants with 63 total in the class. The club is broken into several age brackets that include two teams in the 18-year-old age division, one team in the 16-year-old division and a younger team of sixthth through eigth grade girls. As part of club volleyball, Schmidt works with players from the freshman, JV and varsity teams of Lassen High School, as well players from Lassen Community College and younger players who attend schools throughout Lassen County. This year she has three Lassen High School seniors who will go on to play volleyball under coach Glen Yonan at Lassen Community College next year.

Schmidt is thrilled to see players from so many different age groups and skill levels participating this year. “It’s nice seeing different levels … we’ve never had so many young girls, so we’re building them younger and getting them ready for the next level,” she said.

Schmidt is also excited to see Lassen Club Volleyball competing at a high level and believes the club and its players are improving every year. Last year was the first time the club won a league title.

The 16-year old age group team recently competed in a tournament and won the silver bracket for the first time. The two 18-year-old teams are also making their mark at tournaments. In its last tournament, one of the 18 age group teams made it the semi-finals of the gold bracket, while the other went to the finals in the silver bracket.

“It’s just exiting to see how far everyone’s come … we’re getting there. We’re improving every year,” Schmidt said about the club’s recent success at tournaments.

Lassen Club Volleyball teams compete against teams from all over California and Oregon at tournaments.

For more information on club volleyball, call Julie Schmidt at 257-5173.

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.