Sports

May 23 — The Susanville Area Bicycle Association is inviting bikers, hikers, runners and walkers of all ages and skill levels to the Bizz Johnson Trail at 6 p.m. Tuesday evenings.

The weekly event is part of an outdoor series the association will be putting on through October. The event will begin at the kiosk on the west side of Richmond Road by the caboose, across the street from the Historic Railroad Depot. However, participants can join anywhere along the way.

Everyone is welcome to get active on the trail in whichever way they choose, whether it is running, biking, walking or jogging. Families, children, dogs and strollers are all welcome. After getting active on the trail, participants are also welcome to gather at the Pioneer Saloon.

Many active walkers, runners and bikers are weary of heading outdoors alone at this time of year because of the threat of mountain lions. However, the Susanville Area Bicycle Association says the Tuesday night event is a way for people to get out and be active without worrying about such threats because having so many people on the trail will deter predators.

“I feel strongly that local trails are not getting used more extensively because people are afraid of mountain lions,” said Dan Brown, who is helping organize the weekly event. “My solution is to attempt to have people just go with other people or in groups so they feel safer. Hopefully too, once they are familiar with being out they will not be as concerned and can get to know others."

According to a press release from the Susanville Area Bicycle Association, the goal is to have enough people so there are at least two people going a similar pace. With lots of people on the trail at once it should be safer and more enjoyable. You won’t be worried about mountain lions.

Participants are encouraged to go their own pace and cover as much distance as they would like. If there are people going faster than you want to, just wave goodbye and say, “Have a nice time. See you later.” Do only what you would like to at any speed and don’t be pressured into an exertion level greater than what you’re comfortable with.

The distance and amount of time is up to each individual, however, the Susanville Area Bicycle Association said most people will probably go one to two hours, but any amount of time is OK, from 20 minutes to three hours.

The Tuesday night event will also cover the new South Side Trail, which goes from Hobo Camp to the bypass trail around the big tunnel, about five miles up the Susan River Canyon.

Participants can ride the bus to the trail from Historic Uptown Susanville.

It is strongly recommended that each person bring water, identification, a snack, cell phone and a light if you plan to be out after dark. Bicycle riders should bring a helmet, a bike in safe, working condition, a spare tube, patch kit, tire levers and a valve adapter. Any person younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Dog owners are asked to bring a leash and bags for their dogs.

For more information, email Brown at dan@bicyclebananas.com.

Justin McBride takes a shot for the Lassen Community College Cougars. McBride was on the 2013 Golden Valley Conference men’s basketball championship team and recently accepted a scholarship to attend and play basketball for Grace University in Omaha, Neb.  Photo submitted

May 22 — Lassen Community College basketball star Justin McBride has accepted a scholarship to attend and play basketball for Grace University in Omaha, Neb.

McBride is a native to Sydney, Australia and has been playing basketball since he was 12 years old. He has enjoyed his stay in Lassen County and said it’s been an amazing experience, albeit very different from Sydney, which has a population close to five million. “Every new experience is a good experience,” McBride said, “it’s been a good change.”

McBride was a starter on the Lassen Community College basketball team and averaged 5.2 points a game while shooting 40 percent from the three-point line.

McBride was contacted by several schools throughout the season looking to make him part of their team, however, he says they were mostly rural schools and he was looking for something in an urban setting. When Grace University offered him a scholarship, McBride was happy to accept.

The Grace University Royals compete in Division II of the NCCAA and finished the 2012-13 season with a 17-17 overall record. 

McBride will major in business with an emphasis in marketing and will live in downtown Omaha while attending Grace University. He says he will go wherever the best opportunity is when he graduates with his degree, whether it be in the U.S. or back in Australia.

According to Lassen Community College head basketball coach, Devin Aye, McBride is the first of an expected four players from the 2013 Golden Valley Conference men’s basketball championship team to accept a scholarship in the coming weeks.

“Congrats to Justin McBride on a great accomplishment and the opportunity to have his degree paid for while playing basketball at the university level,” Aye said.

The Herlong Lady Vikings eighth-grade volleyball team won the championship at the annual Play Day tournament Friday, May 3. The team poses with its championship trophy in the Westwood High School gym.  Photo submitted

May 21 — The Herlong Lady Vikings eighth-grade volleyball team competed in the Play Day tournament Friday, May 3 and came away as champions.

Play Day is an annual tournament for junior high school volleyball teams in the area. This year teams from Westwood, Diamond View, Richmond, Janesville, Johnstonville, Shaffer, Herlong and Greenville schools participated. A different school hosts the tournament each year. Whichever team wins the tournament gets its team name and the year it won engraved on the trophy. This is the first year Herlong has won the championship since the tournament began.

“It was an exciting day for us,” said coach Penny Thiels.

In addition to winning the Play Day championship, the team also had a winning season, losing only one game to Greenville. Thiels was out sick for the game against Greenville and the team attributes the loss to her absence. “They were determined to beat Greenville the next time we met,” Thiels said. The Lady Vikings’ determination paid off, as they beat the Greenville Lady Indians the next time they faced them and again at Play Day.

“I am very proud of my girls … and would like to commend their ability to play as a team.  The main reason for our success is the team's ability to consistently serve at a high level getting multiple serves over with each rotation.  This was an amazing team to coach both in talent and attitude,” said Thiels.

Ryan Sharpe stands ready to get a runner out at first. The Grizzlies won their last game of the regular season against Anderson High School, 15-5.  Photo by Maddie Musante

May 21 — The Lassen High School Grizzlies faced off against the Anderson High School Cubs in a home game Friday, May 3. The game was the last of Lassen’s regular season league games and the third of a three-game series against Anderson. The Grizzlies traveled to Anderson to play the Cubs in a doubleheader earlier in the week and won both games, making them the champions of the Northern Athletic League. Lassen also won Friday’s home game, 15-5.

Spirits were high among Grizzlies fans who were still elated about the team winning the league championship earlier in the week. Prior to the start of the game, the team honored seniors Jarrell Cunningham, Colby Chavez, Nate Freeman, Joey Beck and their parents by giving them flowers and announcing them to the crowd. The boys wrote thank you letters to their families, friends and supporters, which were read to the crowd by the announcer.

Sophomore Daniel Perry dominated at the plate for the Grizzlies, going 4 for 4, hitting a triple, a double and getting four RBIs. Nate Freeman, Jarrell Cunningham and Garrison Collier each had two RBIs for Lassen. Joey Beck had one RBI.

Beck pitched four innings and stuck out 10 batters, walked one and gave up only one hit and no runs. Cunningham pitched .2 innings and Freeman pitched .1.

The Grizzlies ended their regular season with a record of 11-1 and a league championship. They were the number two seed for the Northern Athletic League section playoffs and hosted the first round at Friday, May 10 at Memorial Park.