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By Andre Byik sports@redbluffdailynews.com @TehamaSports on Twitter CORNING » Next stop, Chico State University. Corning High's girls and boys basketball teams prevailed in a duo of Northern Section CIF Di - vision IV semifinal games they hosted here Wednesday night. For their efforts, the teams will play in a duo of section champi - onship games Saturday at Chico State. It's the second title game ap- pearance in as many years for the top-seeded boys squad, which downed the No. 5 West Valley Eagles, 45-27. The Cardinals in 2013 won a section champion - ship against Orland, which fell in a semifinal game of its own Wednesday night against No. 2 Gridley, 51-36. Corning High's Michael Shoe - maker, who scored a game high 11 points, said the win felt good, but the team's playoff run isn't done yet. "I feel like there is more experi - ence on the team," he said, noting that seven players remain from last year's championship team. "Hopefully we get a 'W.'" The Eagles (12-17), initially buoyed by the quick feet and big presence of their 6-foot-6 center Danny Vietti, kept things close early. Vietti scored eight of West Valley's nine points in the first quarter, and the Eagles went to the second period even with Corning at nine points apiece. But Corning made its adjust - ments and held Vietti to four points the rest of the game, leav- ing the Eagles wanting on offense. "We knew we had to stop Danny. He's a really good player," Shoemaker said. The Cards (23-4) jumped out to a 9-1 run to start the second quar - ter, and outscored the Eagles 14-5 in the period. Corning's Nick Hoag dropped four of his seven points in the frame, while Jesse Bennett added five. Shoemaker drilled a 3-pointer ahead of the buzzer and the Cards went to halftime with a 23-14 advantage. Chayce Maday finished with eight points, Manny Garcia tal - lied six points, Alex Davila and Chance Nelson each notched three points and Brandon Olsen scored two points. The Cards will face Gridley (16-11) for the first time at 4:15 p.m. Saturday in Acker Gym at Chico State. Tickets are avail - able online at http://prepmo.com/ events/3. On the girls side, the No. 2 Lady Cardinals staged a third- quarter surge in their 41-29 win over No. 11 Central Valley. The Lady Cards (21-7) have made a habit of feeling their way through the first two quar - ters and putting teams away in the second half. Against the Fal- cons (8-21), Corning went to the half up 15-10. In the third period, the Cards outscored Central Val- ley 18-6. "It starts with our defense," Corning coach Curt Eller said. "We got a couple steals right off the bat and they turned into la - yups. We just start feeling good about ourselves and shots go in." The Cards' Baylie Fryar fin- ished the night with eight points, which included two 3s. Whitney Armstrong scored seven points and Gates Fears followed with six points. Emerie Eller, Rachel Silva, Avree Mulliner and Grace Mora each scored four points apiece. And Bailey Jennings and Kaylee Shoemaker each scored two points. CORNING hIGh sChOOl BAsKETBAll Cardinals see double in section title games It's on to Chico a\er boys stage second-half rout, girls ride big third quarter ANDRE BYIK — DAILY NEWS Corning High's Chayce Maday attempts a shot against visiting West Valley during a Northern Section CIF Division IV basketball game Wednesday. Pablo Sandoval (right) con- nects for a home run and Tim Hudson throws three more scoreless innings as the San Francisco Giants defeat the Cincinnati Reds 3-2 in Scotts- dale, Ariz. BAsEBAll Sandoval, Hudson shine in spring training victory FULL STORY ON PAGE B2 Eager for some local sports action of the outdoor variety? Check out the 10th annual Outlaw Karts West Coast Nationals at the Tehama County Fairgrounds starting today. OuTlAw KARTs West Coast Nationals return for weekend Oakland A's right-hander Sonny Gray didn't have many games like this last season, lasting just one inning while yielding four runs and five hits to the Arizona Diamondbacks in an 8-8 tie. BAsEBAll A short and rough day for the A's Sonny Gray FULL STORY ON PAGE B2 Corning High's boys and girls basketball teams will both play for Northern Section Division IV championships Saturday at Chico State. The boys team will be look- ing to defend its title, while the girls are back for the first time in five years: BOYS: The Cardinals (23- 4) will face Gridley (16-11) at Acker Gym at 4:15 p.m. Corning beat Orland for the section championship a year ago. GIRLS: The Lady Cards (21-7) will face West Valley at Acker Gym at 2:15 p.m. Corning last appeared in a section title game in 2009, when it beat Central Valley. Tickets: Available online at http://prepmo.com/ events/3. soaring Cardinals ANDRE BYIK — DAILY NEWS Corning High's Whitney Armstrong, le, surveys the floor against the visiting Central Valley Falcons during the second quarter of a Northern Section CIF Division IV semifinal game Wednesday night. By Pat Graham The Associated Press DENVER » Champ Bailey spent a de- cade with the Denver Broncos, mak- ing eight Pro Bowls and picking off 34 passes even with quarterbacks only reluctantly glancing his way. This number was hard to overlook: $10 million. In a salary-cap move Thursday, the Broncos released Bailey, the team's defensive leader who's been a fan favorite since he was acquired in a trade with Washington in 2004. There's simply no room for loy - alty in the NFL, especially with free agency about to start and with holes needing to be filled, something that became apparent to the Broncos after a 43-8 loss to the Seattle Se - ahawks in the Super Bowl last month. Broncos boss John Elway called the decision to release Bailey a "dif- ficult" one given all that the perennial Pro Bowl cornerback has brought to the team over his 10 seasons in the Mile High City. "Without question, he's among the best cornerbacks to ever play the game and one of the finest players in the history of the Broncos," Elway sa id i n a st at em en t. " Yo u co ul d n' t as k for more in a player than what Champ brought to this team. His combina - tion of elite talent, class, leadership and competitiveness made him one of the all-time greats." But age and injuries had begun to catch up with one of the best shut - down cornerbacks to play the game. Bailey, a 12-time Pro Bowler over- all, is scheduled to make around $10 million next season, which is a lot of money for a cornerback who may be asked to switch to safety or possibly inside to the slot position. This was a hard season for the 35-year-old Bailey as he missed 11 games because of a nagging left foot sp ra in o ri gi na ll y su ffe re d in t he pr e - season on Aug. 17 in Seattle. Only later did Bailey reveal he sustained a Lisfranc injury, which usually in- volves a separation of ligaments and joints in the foot and requires an ar- duous rehab. He returned late in the season to help the Broncos advance to the Su- per Bowl, but wasn't back to his old form — the form that had QBs scan- ning everywhere but his direction. In his prime, Bailey wasn't always very busy because opponents simply picked on his counterpart. And yet he still has 52 career in - terceptions, the most among active cornerbacks. "I consider it a privilege to have coached Champ these last three years," Broncos coach John Fox said. "There's no doubt he played an inte - gral role in establishing a culture of winning here. "Aside from his natural ability, Champ set a great example with his hard work and relentless commit - ment to mastering his craft." The 15-year veteran mentored many teammates, teaching them the tricks of the cornerback trade. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, an impending free agent, once said he used to study film of Bailey simply because, "If you're a cornerback, you have to be a fan of Champ Bai - ley. Anytime a guy does that for a pe- riod of time he did it, 14 or 15 years, you've got to watch him." About the only thing that eluded Bailey in his time with Denver was that Super Bowl ring. But Elway said there is a "ring" in Bailey's future because Elway said he's going to have a place in the te am 's R in g of F am e on ce hi s ca re er is finished. "On behalf of everyone with the Broncos, I wish Champ all the best and thank him for everything he did for this franchise," Elway said. "Champ will always be a Bronco." Nfl Br onc os release Ba il ey Economic reality sets in for team still reeling from rout in Super Bowl Don't forget to decorate your business to interpret the theme for this year's Round- Up, "Rodeo Ready." Judging begins at 8 a.m. Tuesday, April 8. RED Bluff ROuND-uP Show the town you are Round-Up ready! sPorTs » redbluffdailynews.com friday, March 7, 2014 » MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1