Sports

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.

Colby Chavez runs through first base after getting a hit for the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies won both games of their doubleheader against the Yreka Miners, making their league record 5-0.  Photos by Maddie Musante

Joey Beck winds up for a pitch in the Grizzlies’ first game of a doubleheader against the Yreka Miners Tuesday, March 26. Beck pitched seven innings and struck out 13. The Grizzlies won, 3-1.

April 3 — The Lassen High School Grizzlies baseball team is on a roll this season. The Grizzlies took on the Yreka Miners in a doubleheader at home Tuesday, March 26 and won both games, making them undefeated in league play. The Grizzlies beat the Miners, 3-1, in the first game and 8-9 in the second game, bringing their league record to 5-0.

Lassen High School senior Joey Beck was the winning pitcher in the first game on Tuesday. Beck pitched seven innings and got 13 strikeouts and one walk. He allowed only five hits and one earned run throughout the game. Beck also went two for three at bat, hitting a double and getting two RBIs. Colby Chavez went two for two at bat and hit a double. Daniel Perry got an RBI.

In the second game, Ryan Sharpe pitched five innings with five strikeouts and three walks. He gave up 10 hits and four earned runs. Beck went one for two at bat and hit a double. Perry hit a double and got two RBIs. Logan Loflin and Garrison Collier each had RBIs.

The Grizzlies will travel to compete in the Central Valley tournament Wednesday, April 3 through Friday, April 5.

Lassen Hoops All tourney selections from the 5/6 boys division are Cooper Walsh, left, Dominic Sullivan, Jacob McCart, Brand Satica, Cole Dyer, Zayne Slater, Hayden Chittock, Brock Wolf, Neil Growden and Derek Goni (not pictured).  Photos courtesy of Scott Nordstrom

All Tourney selections from the 5/6 girls division Emma Newton, left, Jamie Larson, Becky Struthers, Dani Nevis, Arianna Miranda, Regan Mitchell and Kaitlyn Williams pose together. Not pictured are Grace Memott, Shelby Anderson, Denise Andrade, Zoee Miller and Kayla Downs.

Lassen Hoops All Tourney selections from the 7/8 girls division are Myrissa Geer, top left, Holly Fortin, Grace Surian, Brynn Winters, Maddie Camacho, Jazlyn Brussatoi, bottom left, Gabby Geoia, Gracie McCoy, Makenna Busse. Makenzie Gray, Misty Glenn, Teresa Miller and Cassidy Sylvester are not pictured.

April 2 — Lassen Hoops youth basketball ended its season with a March Madness-style championship tournament that saw 60 games played in five days. The championship games were played Sunday, March 24 in the Lassen High School gym.

In the 3/4 boys division, Paul Davianis MD took on The Mark. The game was close, but Paul Davianis took the lead in the final moments of the game and won, 43-42.

Morgan Rausch was the high scorer for Paul Davianis MD with 14 points. Zane Osborn scored 12 and Connor Davianis scored 11. For The Mark, Zackery Leach led scoring with 21 points. Evan Ormachea scored 20.

In the 5/6 girls championship game, High Country Inn took on FFF Conditioning Club. High Country Inn won the game, 34-31.

Denise Andrade put 15 points on the board for High Country Inn. Sydney Amrein scored 10. Jamie Larson led FFF Conditioning Club with 12 points. Lainey Nevis had 11 points.

The 5/6 boys championship game was played between Chittock Law and Diamond Mountain Mini Mart. Chittock Law won, 47-29.

Cole Dyer was the high scorer for Chittock Law with 19 points. Hayden Chittock had 12 points and Brand Satica had 11. Ryan DelCarlo scored 14 points for Diamond Mountain Mini Mart.

The 7/8 girls championship game came down to three points in the final seconds. The Mark beat Sierra Cascade Nursery, 30-27.

Brynn Winters put 16 points on the board for The Mark. Makenzie Gray scored seven. Maddie Camacho had eight points for Sierra Cascade nursery. Myrissa Geer scored six.

All Tournament selections were also announced. In the 5/6 girls division, Jamie Larson, Emma Newton, Lainey Nevis, Grace Memott, Shelby Anderson, Arianna Miranda, Reegan Mitchell, Kaitlyn Williams, Denise Andrade, Zoee Miller, Kayla Downs and Becky Struthers were awarded All Tourney.

Jacob McCart, Cooper Walsh, Dominic Sullivan, Broc Wolf, Neil Growden, Brand Satica, Hayden Chittock, Cole Dyer, Zayne Slater, Ryan DelCarlo, Derek Goni and Dominic Bias won All Tourney in the 5/6 boys division.

All Tourney selections for the 7/8 girls division were Misty Glenn, Gabby Geoia, Teresa Miller, Cassidy Sylvester, Makenna Busse, Jazlyn Brussatoi, Maddie Camacho, Holly Fortin, Myrissa Geer, Mackenzie Gray, Gracie McCoy and Brynn Winters.

Lassen Hoops would like to thank all the team and tournament sponsors and all the young athletes who competed this year. 

Kelsey Pinneo pitches for the Lady Grizzlies. The team traveled to compete in the Redding Tournament Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23.  Photo courtesy of Scott Nordstrom

March 29 — The Lady Grizzlies softball team traveled to Redding, Calif. to compete in the Anderson tournament Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23. The Lady Grizzlies went 2-3 in the tournament, making their overall record 8-5.

In their first game against Aracata High School on Friday, the Lady Grizzlies earned an 8-0 victory. Taylor Knecht went three for three at bat, hitting a double, a triple and getting two RBIs. Laken Cagle also went three for three, getting a double and two RBIs. Lesandra Rodriguez was the wining pitcher with five strikeouts and one walk.

Lassen went on to play West Valley High School and lost 5-1. Kelsey Pinneo pitched two innings for Lassen, getting one strikeout and two walks and allowing four hits and one earned run. Knecht had an RBI.

In their next game against Paradise High School, the Lady Grizzlies lost 4-2. Jessica Richards went one for two, getting an RBI. Kennedy Ford also had an RBI. Shelby Campa pitched seven innings for the Lady Grizzlies, striking out four and walking one. She gave up 10 hits and three earned runs.

After two losses on Friday, Lassen came back Saturday and swept Del Norte High School 7-0. Lauren Cagle was the winning pitcher with five strikeouts. Abbi Scheff had two RBIs. Laken Cagle also had two RBIs.

In their final game of the tournament, the Lady Grizzlies faced East Nicolaus High School. Lassen narrowly lost by one point, ending the game with a final score of 5-4. Campa pitched six innings for the Lady Grizzlies with three strikeouts and two walks. She allowed three hits and no earned runs. Danica Guillen went three for four at bat and hit a triple. Lindsay Northrop got an RBI. Laken Cagle had two RBIs and hit a double.

After the tournament, the Lady Grizzlies held an overall record of 8-5.