Local High School Baseball – 4/2

The results of last week’s games for the northeastern California teams we’re following, along with outlooks for upcoming games, are posted below:

Bear River Bruins: Surprisingly, the Bruins’ eight-game win streak ended last week when the Wheatland Pirates outscored Bear River by 5-2 and 6-2 on 3/25 and 3/27, respectively. Today and tomorrow, the Bruins face the Lincoln Fighting Zebras, another strong team, and Bear River needs to sweep this series if it is to regain first place in the Pioneer Valley League.

Chester Volcanoes: Unfortunately, as we go to press, the results of the Volcanoes' opening game of Five Star League play against the Burney Raiders have not been received. However, we do know the Volcanoes are scheduled to play two non-conference games against Trinity County’s Hayfork Timberjacks team today. Given the Timberjacks' weakness, the Volcanos have a good chance of winning both games.

Colfax Falcons: So far this week, in a tournament against teams from Southern California and Utah, the Falcons lost to theSan Diego Academy Mustangs, 3-11, and edged out the Chula Vista, 6-5. Today, the team takes on the Mountain Crest Mustangs (Hyrum, Utah) and, tomorrow, the Falcons will play the Oceanside Pirates.

Lassen Grizzlies: In the only game the Grizzlies played over the last week, the team took an early 5-0 lead against the Orland Trojans. Unfortunately, this advantage was lost when the Trojans scored four runs in the third inning and five runs in the sixth. Today, the Grizzlies will take their overall season record of 7 wins and 7 losses into their first Northern League game of the seasonagainst Redding’s 3-7 University Prep Panthers.

Loyalton Grizzlies: Since our last report, Loyalton beat both the Quincy Trojans (12-1) and the Portola Tigers (13-2). Thus, the Grizzlies will be riding a three-game win streak when they take the field next Thursday, 4/9,in a tournament with games against Merrill, Oregon’s Lost River Raiders, and Alturas’s Modoc Braves.

Modoc Braves: With last week’s games against the winless Bonanza Antlers of Bonanza, Oregon, canceled, this small (only 10 players) and young (6 sophomores) team will start Shasta Cascade League play with a doubleheader tomorrow against the relatively strong Mt. Shasta Bears.

Nevada Union Miners: Over the past week, the Miners suffered heartbreaking one-run losses for the third and fourth times this season. Last Friday, the Placer Hillmen, who scored one run in the last (seventh) inning this season, beat the Miners, 11-10. Then, on Monday of this week, Lincoln’s Twelve Bridges Raging Rhinos beat the Miners, 2-1, in the eighth (extra) inning. Yesterday, after our deadline, the Miners had a return engagement against the Raging Rhinos. We will report on this game and the one they also play against Lincoln’s team tomorrow in next week’s edition.

Placer Hillmen: With victories over the Nevada Union Miners (11-10), Fresno’s Edison Tigers (12-2), Sacramento’s Bradshaw Christian Pride (8-4), and Atwater’s Buhach Tigers between 3/27 and 3/31, the Hillmen have won their last six games and have a 12-4 overall record this season. Yesterday (after the paper’s deadline), the team had a non-league contest with Palo Cedro’s Foothill Cougars. We will report on this game in next week’s edition.

Plumas Charter Warriors: With a 2-win and 6-loss overall record this season, the Warriors are taking a break from competition until 4/13, when they host the Tulelake Honkers to open their Evergreen League season.

Portola Tigers: After losing 4-14 to the East Nicolaus Spartans and 2-13 to the Loyalton Grizzlies since our last report, the Tigers begin their Mid-Valley League (MVL) season today, 4/2, with a doubleheader against the Maxwell Panthers. Given their 5-win, 8-loss season record, and the Panthers’ 8-win, 4-loss record, the Tigers are looking for a couple of upsets to begin MVL play.

Quincy Trojans: Following road losses to the Loyalton Grizzlies (1-12) and Durham Trojans (1-6) over the last week, the Trojans will be at home today against the Hamilton Braves. While both teams have 7-win, 7-loss overall records, according to their MaxPreps.com rankings, the Trojans will also be looking for upsets in their first MVL games of this season.

Truckee Wolverines: By outscoring the winless Sparks Railroaders 49-1 during the three games these teams played last week, the Wolverines will take an 8-7 win-loss record to Elko tomorrow. Once again, it will be an upset if the Wolverines win any of the three games they play against the 11-6 Elko Indians on Friday and Saturday.