The Bluffer - Red Bluff, CA
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/134413
S Pre-season workouts start to kick-off ports May 31, 2013 Page 8 Garrett Sandow Sports Editor The 2013-14 varsity football team started spring camp last Monday the 20 t with soon-to-be senior leadership at the front of the line and a whole new group of soon-to-be juniors. The team is taking the field this spring in the second year of Coach Hein's tenure. In Hein's first season as Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator, the team went 6-5 eventually losing to the Foothill Cougars in the first round of playoffs. The Spartans made the playoffs for the first time since 2004 and upset the number one seeded Paradise Bobcats. So far this spring, the team has been working really hard and just starting to warm up for this summer. "Spring ball has been good so far, there is a lot of new faces out there that could really contribute to our success this season," said Andrew Clawson, senior Defensive Middle Linebacker/ Guard. "It's just good to get the team together and start Egan Meagher/BLUFFER Head varsity coach Corey Hein takes notes as veteran and upcoming varsity players run drills in their spring pre-season spring workouts. training." Although the Spartans will take the field in virtually the same uniforms as last year, the base defense and base offense will have a totally different look this year. Last year the Spartan's base defense was a 3-5 and was an attacking defense that blitzed on every single play that primarily played man coverage. The Spartans have turned over the defensive play calling to now Defensive Coordinator Mario Martinez. Martinez will install the 4-3 base defense that primarily blitzes a lot as well but plays zone coverage behind it. Last year the Spartans were barely in cover two, this year the Spartans will be in cover two on almost every play. "This year we are going to simplify things and just play football," said Clawson. The Spartans return four defensive starters this year: Clawson, senior safety Greg Dufour, senior defensive end Denver Gulliford and Sean Freeny. Also seniors Spartans will change to a more spread based offense and almost every play will be out of the Pistol. Out of the Off-set Pistol, the team will look to get the ball to bruising running back Dylan Schiable and also use the speed of Michael Stone to get him in space. In the passing game Greg Dufour will look to get the ball to returning wide receiver Jared Poore. Poore only had 5 catches last season, but he averaged 25 yards/ catch. Poor could be an absolute difference maker this year catching fades and could also run the fly a lot. "Our offense could be really explosive, we should be able to put up a lot of points this year," said Poore. Cody Clinger, Ben Ziegler, and Hayden Hinkle all saw time on the defensive line last year. Senior line backers Dylan Schiable and Logan Levier all saw some time as well. On offense the Varsity softball reflects on a season worth of achievements Ceighlee Fennel Staff Writer Red Bluff Varsity Softball had a dramatic finish to their season by getting all the way to the playoffs and playing in the championship game against Paradise. All in all, the team's record is 29-8 and in league they had 11 wins and 1 loss. In playoffs they won their way to the championship game. At the game against Paradise, they lost 1 to 3. Bryce Etzler, a senior who plays both infield and pitcher said, "It was a bummer to lose. I think we could have won." Haley Harris had an amazing game and she got robbed on her last hit because the fields were not regulation." Haley Harris, also a senior who plays infield and is the captain of the team, said, "Obviously the game was an upset, but not a game to hang our heads on." Every year's team is different and has their own strengths Baseball suffers a painful play-off loss Veronica Smith Staff Writer As the school year is coming to an end, the baseball season is at a stop as of last week and although the Varsity boys we not able to accomplish their goal of winning the play-off game, they were still able to get there. While playing against Shasta, the Red Bluff boys would agree that they didn't play their best at all, with having 10 errors within the game and didn't play very "Red Bluff like" the boys lost the section game 5-1. "It was a very emotional game, we didn't play up to par and there were too many errors both mentally and physically," explains Senior Colin Igarta. The boys aren't very proud of how they played due to the whole team being emotionally down, lack of focus, and nerves of playing this game got the best of them, but the overall season they are proud of what they have done and how far they have come. "My favorite part of this season was watching the players make a play-off run at the end of the season," said Coach Ryland Sanders. Although the Varsity team would say that this game was the worst defensive game played of this season, they still agree that their pitching was good and their preparation was good as well. "If we could have done the game differently I'd say play better defense and get a few more hits at an opportune time, but other than that we wouldn't change the strategy or the preparation," Sanders explains. With the overall season record being 18-14 they boys have had a long journey but they're all glad they got to play with their team they were able to bond a lot and become more than just a baseball team. and weaknesses. According to Harris and Etzler, this year's played all the way to the end and we did not give up when we Obviously (Championships) " was an upset,the not a game to hang but our heads on," team did have talent, but in the spots where they lacked in skill, they made up for it in effort. Harris said, "We always - Haley Harris were down. Although to Emily Larzabal, a senior who plays infield, the team was different this year because of how close they all are. Larzabal said, "I wasn't as close to the team as I am this year. I love my team. They are like my sisters." Red Bluff Varsity softball is going to be losing its seniors including Emily Larzabal, Bryce Etzler, and Haley Harris. Harris got a scholarship to UC Riverside and will continue to play softball there. Etzler is going to continue her softball career at McNeese State University in Louisianna. Also, Larzabal will be going to college at Feather River and hopes to continue softball from there. Even though the seniors are leaving, they are going with fond memories of the season. Harris's faveorite memory was of the Lassen tournament. The Shasta playoff game was a highlight for Etzler, "Our energy was high and we didn't give up. It was just an all around great game."Lazabal's said her fondest memory was of her hitting a homerun on softball senior night which was also her grandma's birthday.