The Bluffer - Red Bluff, CA
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/114196
S ports Page 6 March 8, 2013 JV baseball changes coach line-up Mitch Fox Staff Writer This is a new year at Red Bluff High for junior varsity boy's baseball team. Not only is it a new season but also there is a new head coach, Bobby Hassel. Hassel is a great candidate for the job according to freshman, Lane Pritchard, center field, "Hassel is a good coach, he knows a lot about the game." Hassel has coached for five years as assistant varsity coach, and what makes him love his job is the fact that this is his home stadium and his home fans. Once he was a student at Red Bluff High he did four years dedicated to the baseball team. Now he is taking everything his coaches taught him which is the game of baseball, the love of baseball and all the is a mental sport, you have to know what's going to happen next," say's Pritchard. According to Coach Hassel a great baseball player is someone who doesn't do something for the credit but only does it for his team. "Unselfishness and someone willing to give Sahvannah Rice/BLUFFER all he's got not Harrison Dobson hits while the rest of the JV team looks on during a drill in practice on Wednesday night at the high school. only for himself strategies of baseball and ability out there on that field, contact and can make the but to his team is someone teaching his players. to do their best and have fun plays. This year for the who makes a great baseball Besides winning, Hassel while doing it. boy's baseball team they are player." expects his team to have fun. A great baseball player working not only on their Before every game the He wants his team to take is someone who has speed, physical skills with baseball catcher, freshman, Ryan the strategies they learn and power, can hit good, someone but also their mental skills. Gamboa, gives his team the use them to the best of their who can field, has good "I would definitely say this confidence they need to play the game of baseball. "To win league and all of the pep talk's Ryan Gamboa gives us is how we get pumped," said Pritchard. Junior varsity has been practicing on a few sragities for this upcoming weekend's Oroville tournament, playing hard defense and to hit good. The Oroville tournament is this upcoming weekend and according to Coach Hassel, there is some of Red Bluff Spartans best competition such as Pleasant Valley and Oroville. This tournament they plan on taking home the first place trophy. The JV Boys Baseball team plays tonight against the Corning Cardinals in Oroville at 9 A.M. Varsity baseball has long time assistant coach move up to head coach position Owen Ritter Staff Writer The 2013 Red Bluff High school varsity baseball team has just started their season, but is already anxious and confident towards taking league and winning sections. Most of the players have been playing for over ten years, which gives them a lot of experience in the sport. This will no doubt give the team a distinct advantage over other baseball teams less familiar with the game. Even though they have just begun the season and only played a few games, these varsity players can determine what areas they need to improve as players. Some players think they need better hitting and defense. These are things the teammates can work on as a whole group during practice. Kyle Martin, Junior, said, "Practice is good, not too hard, but we still get a lot out of it." Practice is an important part of any team, and bonds friendships, thus enhancing Varsity boys basketball ends at second play-off Ceighlee Fennel Staff Writer After a season of ups and down for the Varsity Boys Basketball team, their season has come to an end. They made it to the playoffs and even secured a place as a semifinalist. The team was seated high enough in the playoffs to host their own home playoff game. They played Orville at home and beat them for their first win in the playoffs. That win moved them up to where they got to play the top seed, Enterprise, but they lost. The head Varsity coach, Stan Twitchell, said, "It was really neat to have a playoff game at home and win it." The team's goals for the season were to come together as a team and to become more competitive. They met all of their goals except for one. They wanted to knock off any of the stronger teams in the league, but they did not accomplish that goal. Sean Freeny, junior, said, "When you are an underdog it is always a goal to knock off a top team. We didn't do it, but we had our moments." Some of the players had more specific goals that included not losing the first playoff game, slam dunks, and to gain more confidence as the year went on. According to Coach Twitchell, he is looking forward to working with this year's sophomores and juniors, but also preparing for next year. This year the team had 13 people and is going to be losing six seniors. communication within the team. Chase Root, Junior, said practice is, "high tempo, and intense," and with a Coach like Rylan Sanders, no one would expect any less. Head Coach Sanders is respected throughout his team and liked all around. "He's a good coach and knows what he's talking about," said Chase. Good coaching is a big piece ofthe puzzle in any team or sport. Coach Sanders, "knows when to be serious, and when [Coach Sanders] is a " coach and knows whatgood he's talking about." -Chase Root to be relaxed," according to Kyle. The coach helps motivate, give constructive criticism, gets players to focus their individual strengths, and helps the team get too cocky from wins, or too faithless from losses. Friendship is the key that unlocks the door to the full potential in any sport, and the red bluff high school varsity baseball team has got it. "[We] play and get along well," said Chase. Being varsity players the teammates have gotten to know each other over the years. Friendship is the best thing to have on a team, players need to help each other get better and perform at their peak. Each player contributes to the team in different ways and with specific skills. Kyle says, "I'm a needed pitcher, and I fill outfield positions." Kyle's goal for this season is, "to have a couple no hitters." These are high hopes, but with enough practice and determination, anything is possible.