Sports

The Lassen High School varsity softball team and its coaches pose together outside of the Susanville Pizza Factory after celebrating the season with an awards ceremony Wednesday, May 29. Photo by Maddie Musante

June 5 — The Lassen High School varsity softball team came together for a fun night of pizza, awards and reminiscing over memories from this year’s championship season on Wednesday, May 29 at the Susanville Pizza Factory.

The Lady Grizzlies won the league title this year, for the first time since 2009, and ended their season with an impressive 10-2 league record.

The evening began with pizza and drinks, as the Lady Grizzlies softball team and their parents laughed and talked about the softball season and plans for the summer ahead.

Head coach Paul Moore soon began the awards part of the evening by announcing and honoring his assistant coaches and those who have supported the Lassen High School softball program. Moore, along with coaches Kase Camacho and Greg Dickerson, then presented the players with awards, each sharing personal stories from the season and introducing each player with praise and admiration.

Kelsey Pinneo was given the coaches’ award. As she was called up to receive the award, Dickerson explained, “there isn’t anyone on this team who works harder.” Lindsay Northrop also received a coaches’ award.

Abbi Scheff was then called up to receive the Lady Grizz award. Laken Cagle was awarded best offensive player. The award for most outstanding player was a tie between Taylor Knecht and Kennedy Ford.

Cagle also received all-league honorable mention and was elected player of the year by MaxPreps.com. Jacqui Smith was awarded all league and Moore described her as a player who, “put in the time and did the extra things.” Northrop was also awarded with an all-league honor. Knect and Ford got all-league awards by a unanimous decision, meaning that every coach in the league, except for Moore who wasn’t allowed to vote for his own players, voted for them.

The Lady Grizzlies then took the opportunity to say thank you to their coaches by presenting each coach with a signed card from the team and a framed photo collage. The team also made Moore a purple, black and gold canvas printed with memories and slogans from the softball season.

Moore and the team are already looking forward to next year’s season and are planning to raise funds to attend an elite softball tournament in Orange County next spring.

Despite low lake levels, boats are still able to launch at Eagle Lake. Forest Service personnel were at the lake over Memorial Day weekend to help boaters launch in the deep water and Eagle Lake staff used an electric car to drive people between the parking lot and boat launch area. Photo submitted

June 4 — For the first time in three years, Eagle Lake has not seen snow on Memorial Day weekend and campers, anglers and boaters took full advantage of the spring-like weather. Eagle Lake opened its fishing season Saturday, May 28, much to the delight of local and traveling fishermen. Despite the lake level being substantially low, boats were still able to launch from the ramp at Eagle Lake’s marina, allowing them the opportunity to reel in fish and enjoy sunny days on the water.

According to Scott McCullough, manager at the Eagle Lake campgrounds, the campgrounds were mostly full all weekend. Reservation campgrounds were 90 percent full before the start of the weekend and still saw walk-ins.

A weather system appeared to be moving in later in the weekend, making conditions windy, but that didn’t stop boats from launching or fish from being caught. People were catching fish on the lake all weekend, regardless of what fishing method they chose to use. “Fish are all over in the water,” McCullough said.

Forest Service personnel were at Eagle Lake all weekend helping people find parking and assisting with boating launches, as well as helping boaters coming back in to the marina. “They stayed most of the day, until the parking lot was almost empty,” McCullough said. “They did a great job out here helping us help the fishermen.”

The marina also used an electric car to shuttle boaters to their cars from the boat ramp. Since the parking lots were so full, McCullough said they didn’t want people to have to walk so far after launching a boat.

Due to the low water level, boaters could not use the marina’s slips. However, according to McCullough, the majority of campers just tied up their boats to the shore.

Overall, opening weekend was a huge success. The Eagle Lake Recreation Area is looking forward to seeing and serving campers, boaters and fishermen until the season ends.

The Eagle Lake Recreation Area is managed by the Lassen College Foundation under a special use permit from the U.S. Forest Service, Lassen National Forest.

For more information on Eagle Lake, visit eaglelakerecreationarea.com.

May 30 — The Susanville American Legion baseball team is gearing up to begin the summer season.

According to head coach Steve Robertson, the Renegades will return 14 players. Leading the way are all-league players Colby Chavez, Jarrell Cunningham and Daniel Perry from Lassen High School. Other Grizzlies returning on the squad in include Ryan Sharpe, Garrison Collier, Travis Fuller, Logan Loflin, Jaylin Ford, Tyler Winn and Jacob Thomas. Jake Hatzell and Adrik Yacelga, from Quincy, will also return to the team, along with Hunter Morris, of Chester.

The Renegades will open the home season at 11 a.m. Sunday, June 2nd at Memorial Park against the Redding Sun Devils. The team will again host the Thomas Tucker Tournament from Friday, June 21 to Sunday, June 23.

“The Renegades will play what might be their toughest schedule in years and look forward to the challenge,” said Robertson.  

Neil Growdon races to the finish line in the two-mile run and walk event that was held as part of the 20th annual Paiute Meadows trail events Saturday, May 18. Growdon won first place in the event and was awarded as the overall male winner.  Photos by Maddie Musante

May 29 — Runners, walkers and bikers of all ages came out to enjoy spring and get active by participating in the 20th annual Paiute Meadows trail events hosted by Lassen Land and Trails Trust Saturday, May 18.

Participants competed in a one-mile kid’s walk, one-mile senior’s walk, two-mile run and walk, two-mile run, 4.7-mile run, seven-mile bike ride and 14-mile bike ride.

Each of the courses offered varied terrain for participants, most passing along a creek, through a beautiful meadow and ponderosa pine forest. Awards were given out for overall and age groups, as well as randomly drawn raffle prizes for participants. Lunch was available for spectators and participants.

Kids’ one-mile run results

Rhys Cooper came in first place in the one-mile kids’ run with a time of six minutes and 31 seconds. Kieran Dollar came in second with a time of 6:45 and Jesse Sandoval was third with a time of 6:48. Cooper was the overall male winner and Dollar was the overall female winner. In the 1 to 6 age group, Hayes Price, Colby Johnson, Andrew Tim, Autumn Robbins, Jordan Heffner and Addison Dollar won awards. In the 7 through 9 age group, Cooper, Sandoval, Michael Cizin, Kieran Dollar, Ella Maioli and Chalise Robbins were awarded. Aaron Nickey, Shannon Farrell, Charity Richards and Kenna Duncan won awards in the 10 to 12 age division.

Senior one-mile walk results

Barbra Ahrends took first place in the senior one-mile walk with a time of 15:58, Sawyer Ahrens was second with a time of 22:04, Marion Snider was third with a time of 23:24 and Jan Salsbery was fourth with a time of a 25:50. Barbara Ahrends was given the top female award in the event. Snider was given the award for most years participating.

Two-mile run and walk results

Neil Growdon took first place in the two-mile run and walk event, finishing in 13 minutes and six seconds. Ariana Miranda was second with a time of 13:09 and Lawrence Martinez was third with a time of 13:10. Growdon won the award for overall male and Miranda won the award for overall female. Growden, Miranda, Aidan Motheral and Mary Cizin were given awards in the 1 to 19 age group. In the 20-29 age group, Heidi Martinez and Bobbie Kirkpatrick were awarded. Camille Buehler and Pamela Beaujon won awards in the 30-39 age group. In the 40-49 age group, Janet Porter and Kris Szovati received awards. Patty Forero was awarded in the 50-59 age group. Gerald Douglass won an award in the 70 and up age group.

Two-mile walk results

Gabor Szovati won first place in the two-mile walk, finishing in 25 minutes and 42 seconds. Claire Chapple came in second place with a time of 27:05 and Franc Giustino got third with a time of 28:27. The top three male finishers were Szovati, Giustino and Nathan Mortell. Chapple, Codi Mortell and Mimi Rena were the top three female finishers.

4.7-mile run results

Adam Carrillo was the winner of the 4.7-mile run with a time of 28:12. Travis Szostak took second place, finishing with a time of 30:01 and Michael Rivas got third place with a time of 31:52.

Awards in the 1 to 19 age group went to Joseph Dandois, Jesus Torres, Amarisa Miranda and Kennedy Mitchell. Carrillo, Edwin Blaha, Stephanie Johnson and Tiffany Russell won awards in the 20-29 age division. In the 30-39 age group, awards went to Szostak, Jason Farina, Prairie Burt and Heidi Mena. Sean Buehler, James Daniels, Lisa Balestrini and Andrea DeSilva were awarded in the 40-49 age group. Mike Rivas, Ray Bailey and Christi Whitcome won awards in the 50-59 age group. In the 60-69 age group, Harry Hicks and Ed Gann won awards, while Martin Balding was awarded in the 70 and up age group.

Seven-mile bike ride results

Paul Davainis took first place in the seven-mile bike ride with a time of 37:51, while Dean Growdon came in second with a time of 39:41. Davainis was awarded as the overall male winner.

14-mile bike ride results

In the 14-mile bike ride, Frank Winters took first place, finishing with a time of 59:54. Chad Harper got second place with a time of 1:00:13 and Sean Buehler came in third with a time of 1.03.38. Winters was the overall male winner. Shayla Ashmore was the overall female winner.