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Friday Track — NSCIF Championships at West Valley, 4 p.m. American Legion — Oroville at Bulls, 7:45 p.m. NBAPlayoffs — Magic at Celtics, 5:30 p.m., ESPN Tennis — French Open, 9 a.m., ESPN2 MLB — Athletics at Tigers, 4 p.m., CSNCA MLB— Diamondbacks at Giants, 7 p.m., MNT-21 Sports 1B Friday May 28, 2010 McColpin, McEnaney, Harris, Fletcher named All-EAL By RICHGREENE DN Sports Editor Far from a shocker — Lady Spartans were well represented on the 2010 Eastern Athletic League Softball All- League team. The back-to-back section champions placed the first four hitters in their lineup and core of their infield on the all-league team with junior shortstop Emily McEnaney, sophomore pitcher Megan McColpin, freshman second baseman Haley Harris and sopho- more catcher Brittany Fletcher earning nods. Freshman third baseman Bryce Etzler earned an honorable mention. The All-League team was filled with underclassmen, with only four of the 16 spots going to seniors. Red Bluff coach J Howell said the individual achievements for his players came about because all five have a team first mentality. That was the case with McColpin. “We just count- ed on her every sin- gle game to keep us in the ball game from the pitching rubber,” Howell said. She was one of the best pitch- ers in the league, posting a 1.25 ERA in 151-plus innings. She struck out 152 batters and com- piled an 18-5 record with three saves, but it was another aspect of her game Howell singled out. “Her unselfishness at the plate. She was instrumental in a lot of our runs,” he said. Although she batted .311, Howell said it was important not to overlook her 16 sacrifice bunts and five sacrifice flies. Despite being a junior, McE- naney was one of the elder states- man of the Lady Spartans. “She provided a lot of leader- ship, a lot of composure, both offensively and defensively,” Howell said. She also delivered with the bat. McEnaney hit .407 with six homers, eight triples and seven doubles to go along with 20 RBIs and 45 runs scored. She walked 25 times and had a .526 on base percentage and a .787 slugging percentage. “She was one of those rare players that seemed to have her best games when we needed it the most,” Howell said. As good as McEnaney was, it was freshman Haley Harris that led the Spartans in batting average with a .430. Harris homered five times, had nine doubles and a triple on her way to 46 hits. She only struck out five times. “An amazing freshman — I shouldn’t even say freshman — an amazing player,” Howell said. “She can make a team real good just because of her ability.” Fletcher provided solid play both behind the plate and at it and battled through injuries late in the season. She had 32 hits on the season and a team-high 31 RBIs. “She always comes through in the clutch,” Howell said. Fletcher batted .314, homered twice and had nine doubles. “It’s so nice just to pencil her in and know what kind of leader- ship you’re going to get behind the plate,” Howell said. Etzler’s honorable mention also came well deserved for a player who contributed every- where for Red Bluff. “For a freshman to come in and have such an impact on a var- sity team is a real tribute to her athleticism and skills,” Howell said. Etzler batted .272, drove in 12 runs and also held down a 0.92 ERA in 60-plus innings pitched, compiling an 8-1 record. The seniors who made the All- League team were Chico infielder Kerri Piluso, and Foothill infield- ers Tonya Walker , Kat Becker and Taylor Ray. Pleasant Valley freshman infielder Brittany Younan made the team as did sophomore Oroville pitcher Alex Andoe. The remaining juniors to make the team were Pleasant Valley outfielder Kiley Mansfield, Par- adise pitcher Jessica Sharp and infielders Jolene Koons (Chico), Racie Carrel (Enterprise), Alex Sobrero (Paradise) and Taylor Gerhardt (Shasta). Earning honorable mentions were seniors Kathyn Diaz (Foothill), Caty Iverson (Oroville) and Tori Urrutia (Pleasant Val- ley); junior Katie Phelps (Enter- prise) and freshmen Lindsey Davis (Foothill) and Alex Silva (Shasta). SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco’s Freddy Sanchez got hit in the face by a spiked cleat from Washington’s Justin Maxwell, then got up to deliver a bigger blow to the Nationals. Sanchez, Giants rally to beat Nationals 5-4 Red Bluff Bulls host holiday tournament to open up season Sanchez, who missed all of spring training and the first 38 games of the regular season recovering from shoulder surgery, hit a tiebreaking, two-run single with two outs in the seventh inning to cap a three-run rally and lift San Francisco to a 5-4 win over Washing- ton on Thursday. ‘‘Those are the situations that you want to be in as a player,’’ Sanchez said after emerging from a nearly hour-long post-game work- out. ‘‘You’re not always going to get it done but when you do it feels good. Hopefully we can get some- thing going here and build off this.’’ Before going 2 for 2 with two walks and providing the game-winning hit against the Nationals, Sanchez had been hitting only .192 since being reinstated from the disabled list on May 19 while San Francisco had lost six of seven. But the second baseman obtained in a trade from Pittsburgh last July broke out both offensively and defensively, helping turn a pair of double plays. ‘‘We needed somebody to pick us up and he certain- ly did today,’’ Giants man- ager Bruce Bochy said. ‘‘He MCT photo The San Francisco Giants’ infield celebrates Thursday’s victory. did miss a lot of time but he came back with a lot of energy and picked us up. When he’s out there, he can do a lot of things. His track record shows it.’’ Sanchez also shook off a frightening moment when Maxwell, attempting to steal second, slid in head first See GIANTS, page 2B The Red Bluff Bulls American Legion baseball team opens up its 2010 season this weekend by hosting the Red Bluff Memorial Day Weekend Tournament. The tournament is comprised of six teams, who will play every team once in a round robin-style format at Red Bluff High School. Joining the Bulls will be the Chico Nuts, Oroville Post 95, Redding Rattlers, Trinity River Rapids and Westside Warriors. The tournament opens at 5:15 p.m. today with Westside playing Chico, followed at 7:45 p.m. with Red Bluff hosting Oroville. There will be five games each on Saturday and Sunday with play beginning at 9 a.m. Red Bluff will play a doubleheader beginning at 4:30 p.m. Saturday when they take on Westside and then follow with Trinity River. The Bulls will wrap up Sunday play at 7 p.m. when they play Redding. Memorial Day Monday will feature three games, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and ending with Chico versus Red Bluff at 2:30 p.m. Athletics rally to defeat skidding Orioles 7-5 BALTIMORE (AP) — The Oakland Athletics needed a bit of luck to put Kevin Kouzmanoff in position to finish off an eighth-inning uprising. Kouzmanoff made sure all that good fortune didn’t go to waste. Kouzmanoff doubled in three runs to cap a five-run eighth, and the Athletics defeated the Baltimore Orioles 7-5 Thursday night for their second road series win. Baltimore starter Brad Bergesen took a two-hitter and a 5-2 lead into the eighth. The right-hander retired 14 straight before allowing two straight singles to start the inning and end his night. Jason Berken got one out and Mark Hendrickson (1-3) got another before Ryan Sweeney hit an RBI single. An infield hit by Kurt Suzuki off Hendrickson’s leg loaded the bases for pinch-hitter Jake Fox, whose bad-hop grounder See A's, page 2B Today’s Northern Section Track and Field Finals Preview NSCIFTrack & Field Masters West Valley High School 4 p.m. Last year: Red Bluff’s Justin Has- sel won the shot put. Erynn Rebol finished second in the 800 meters and teamed with Kayla Anna Cough- lan, Jessie Slade and Erin Eicholtz to give the Lady Spartans a second place fin- ish in the 4x400 relay. The boys 4x400 relay team of Grant Blaser, Jourdan Trevino, Colter Hedden and Zack Schwabauer was third. Hedden also placed third in the 400 meters and long jump. Devin Shoop was third in the 1600 meters and Robert Schatz was third in the high jump. Directions: Take I-5 north to Exit 664 for Gas Point Road. Turn left at 4th Street and continue onto Gas Point Road for about six and-a- half miles. Turn right at Happy Valley Road. watch: Male athletes to 100 meters: Jeffrey Foster, Red Bluff; Marcial Lawson, Foothill; Derick Seward, Wheatland; Colton Silveria, Central Valley 200 meters: Marcial Lawson, Foothill; Derick Seward, Wheatland; Colton Silveria, Central Valley 400 meters:Kyle Fales, Durham; Daniel Hodge, Durham; Brett Patheal, Durham 800 meters: Chas Bur- ton, Chico; Kevin Jor- gensen, Yreka; Daniel Parker, Chico; Devin Shoop, Red Bluff; Jose Torres, Corning 1600 meters: Domenic D’Acquisto, Enterprise; Zach Kaylor, Enterprise; Daniel Parker, Chico 3200 meters: Tom Dowdin, Chico; Zach Kaylor, Enterprise; Anthony Moore, Shasta 110-meter hurdles: Taylor Hickson, Red Bluff; Chris Nichols, Wheatland; Bryston Potillor, Enterprise; Anthony Williams, Enterprise 300-meter hurdles: D Booth, Pleasant Val- ley; Corrie Emmons, Chico; Anthony Williams, Enterprise 4x100 relay: Chico, Durham, Enterprise, Red Bluff 4x400 relay: Chico, West Valley, Wheatland High jump: Jovon Cunningham, Enterprise; Scott Harrison, Hayfork; Taylor Hickson, Red Bluff; Anthony Williams, Enterprise Long jump: Jovon Cunningham, Enterprise; Taylor Hickson, Red Bluff; Nick Sloggy, Chico; James Williams, Enterprise Triple jump: Javone Bradford, Orland; Jovon Cunningham, Enterprise; James Williams, Enter- prise Pole vault: Mario Gomez, Wheatland; Chris Watanabe, Trinity; Dylan Weddle, Yreka Shot put: Zach Miller, West Valley; Dal- las Wilson, Central Val- ley; Tyler Wolf, Yreka Discus: Kevin Garni- ca, Los Molinos; Europa Mataia, Anderson; Cody Ramage, Shasta; Dallas Wilson, Central Valley Female athletes to watch: 100 meters: Kasey Barnett, Chico; Gabrielle Finley, Pleasant Valley; Miya Wilson, Wheatland 200 meters: Dalanne Bartlett, Enterprise; Cassie DeBonis, West Valley; Gabrielle Finley, Pleasant Valley; Miya Wilson, Wheatland 400 meters: Kody Atkins, Chico; Cassie DeBonis, West Valley; Michelle Osuna, Shasta 800 meters: Kody Atkins, Chico; Sarah Brandt, Oroville; Lora James, Shasta 1600 meters: Hannah Dorman, West Valley; Tiffany Heflin, Lassen; Annie Stratton, Paradise 3200 meters: Hannah Dorman, West Valley; Tiffany Heflin, Lassen; Corissa Storms, West Valley 100-meter hurdles: Carolyn Kurnizki, Chico; Taylor Lambert, West Valley; Amanda Men- schel, Wheatland, Car- olyna Salazar, Los Molinos 300-meter hurdles: Taylor Lambert, West Valley; Emily Loogman, Etna; Heather Waldorf, Chico 4x100 relay: Chico, West Valley, Wheatland 4x400 relay: Chico, Red Bluff, Shasta, West Valley High jump: Daniela Dumitras, Live Oak; Karle Fitzhugh, Shasta; Bre Mackie, Central Val- ley Long jump: Kasey Barnett, Chico; Kathryn Cummings, Foothill; Brooke Whitburn, Pleas- ant Valley Triple jump: Kasey Barnett, Chico; Michelle Bradford, Orland; Kelsey Bradley, Sutter Pole vault: Kelsey Bradley, Sutter; Caitlin Clark, West Valley; Mat- tie Maloney, Corning; Kelsey Moynahan, Enterprise Shot put: Paige Adkins, West Valley; Layla Ealy, Orland; Jazmin Porter, Shasta Discus: Layla Ealy, Orland; Hanna Person, Shasta; Jazmin Porter; Carolyna Salazar, Los Molinos