Local Baseball

With the end of the regular season rapidly approaching, several teams we’ve been following are looking forward to post-season playoffs; one has already clinched their conference’s title.

Bear River Bruins: Over the past week, the Bruins beat the Wheatland Pirates 2-1 behind the strong pitching of juniors Kaden Nichols and Seamus McKeown on 4/23, tied the Pirates (5-5) on 4/25, and lost to the Colfax Falcons (0-3) on 4/29. Today, 5/1, the team will play the Falcon again in their final game of the regular season. The contest’s victor will win third place in the Pioneer Valley League (PVL).

Chester Volcanos: Since our last edition, the Volcanos traveled to play the Burney Pirates and beat them, 10-7, for the second time this season. Yesterday, 4/30, after our deadline, the Volcanos hosted the Plumas Charter Warriors in a friendly, nonconference game. Today’s game against the Redding Christian Lions, however, is a must-win in the Volcanos’ battle for second place in their Five Star League and a berth in post-season playoffs.

Colfax Falcons: In the only game played by the Falcons this past week, sophomore J. Rawlins tossed seven scoreless innings, senior Garrett Lewis drove in two runs, and the team committed no errors while beating the Bear River Bruins 3-0. Today, 5/1, the teams will play their last regular season game at Bear River with third place in the PVL and a post-season playoff berth on the line .

Lassen Grizzlies: Having swept their series with the Yreka Miners with a close, 4-3, victory on 4/23 and outscoring the Central Valley Falcons, 9-3, on 4/29, the Grizzlies can cement a spot in post-season play with another win against Central Valley tomorrow.

Loyalton Grizzlies: Since our last report, the team extended their current win streak to seven games by sweeping the Happy Camp Indians, 10-0 and 12-2, on 4/28. Tomorrow, 5/2, the team will be traveling to play the Plumas Charter Warriors in Greenville to defend their first-place position in the Evergreen League.

Modoc Braves: Since our last edition, on 4/25, the Braves split a doubleheader, 12-13 and 9-3, against the Weed Cougars and are now tied for first place in the Shasta Cascade League with the Mt. Shasta Bears, the team they will host tomorrow, 5/2, in a doubleheader.

Nevada Union Miners: Having a 5-11 won-loss record in conference games this spring, the Miners are currently next to last in the Foothill Valley League (FVL). With only two games left to play in the regular season and three games behind the fifth-place team, the team is destined to remain sixth at the end of the FVL season.

Placer Hillmen: Unfortunately, while the Hillmen have an excellent opportunity to win their final two games of the season, on 4/30 and 5/2, against the very weak River Valley Falcons, the team has no chance to move into third place within the FVL and make it into the post-season playoffs.

Plumas Charter Warriors: With a 6-4 victory over the Portola Tigers on 4/24, the Warriors carried a nine-game winning streak into their nonconference game yesterday afternoon (after our deadline) against the Chester Volcanos. Whatever the outcome of yesterday’s game, their doubleheader with the Loyalton Grizzlies tomorrow will be more significant since firstplace in the Evergreen League will be at stake on 5/2.

Portola Tigers: The Tigers were outscored by the Plumas Charter Warriors (4-6) and the Quincy Trojans (1-17) since our last report. Tomorrow, tied with the Williams Yellowjackets for last place in the Mid-Valley League, the Tigers will host them in a battle to avoid placing last in their conference.

Quincy Trojans: This week, the Trojans continued their dominance over the Tigers by outscoring them 17-1. Once again, senior Jake Thackeray’s performance in the batter’s box (4-for-5, with three runs scored and two RBIs) was impressive. Unfortunately, the Trojans, now 2-4 and standing fourth in the Mid-Valley League will not qualify for post-season

Truckee Wolverines: With a 10-0 triumph over the Hug Hawks on 4/23 and two victories (10-7 and 9-8) over the North Valley Panthers on 4/28, the Wolverines clinched the 3A North-West League championship. Thus, the Wolverines are slated to start post-season play on 5/8.