Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/297066
Staff Reports ChiCo » Corning High's baseball team edged Chico 4-2 in a nonleague road game Tuesday off a strong performance from the mound by Chance Nelson. Nelson pitched five innings in the win, striking out four batters and allowing no earned runs. Tristan McIntyre went 1 for 4 batting with a double and a run scored. Tony Carillo, Isaiah Jones and Bryce MacLachlan each scored a run. Corning (6-8, 3-2 Northern Athletic League) travels to Willows at 4 p.m. today. Soball Corning 9, orland 0 (Tuesday) » The Lady Cardinals (14-6, 3-0 NAL) defeated Orland at home with the help of Sophia Oliverez's two RBIs off 2-for-3 batting. Oliverez notched a triple and a double and also scored two runs. Madeline Caputo went 2 for 3 with a run batted in. Baylie Fryar and Marrissa Hop - kins also recorded an RBI apiece. Cheyenne Boles, who tallied an RBI as well, got the win on the mound, pitching seven in- nings and striking out two batters. The Cards are back in action at 4 p.m. to- day, when they travel to Willows. Golf The Wilcox Oaks Golf Club hosted its an- nual Spring Fling couples tournament over the weekend, when 144 from throughout the north state competed in the two-day tour- nament. Horse race winners included Jim and Janet Jennings (first place), Bill and Gwen Barker (second place) and Glen and Tammy Gallegos (third place). Low gross winners were Dwain Barfuss and Teresa Conner, 135, and low net winners were Matt Hobbs and Amanda Mackey, 127. loCal sporTs roundup Corning ball teams both win Cardinals' Nelson allows no earned runs in baseball, Boles notches win from mound in Cards' so\ball team's victory corning 4, chico 2 Up next: The Corning High base- ball team plays at 4 p.m. today at Willows. THE SCORE corning 9, orland 0 Up next: The Corning High so- ball team plays at 4 p.m. today at Willows. THE SCORE By paul newberry The Associated Press pnewberry1963 on Twitter aTlanTa » Major League Soccer announced its newest franchise Wednesday, unveiling an expan- sion team for Atlanta that will be- gin play in 2017 at the city's new re- tractable roof stadium. The team will be owned by Ar- thur Blank, who also owns the NFL's Atlanta Falcons. He donned a traditional soccer scarf and was serenaded by a burgeoning fan group that calls itself "Terminus Legion," a reference to the city's former name. "We've been working on soc - cer for over 10 years now," Blank said. "This has been a dream of ours." The team's name has not been determined. Blank said he will get input from the fans before decid - ing on the new moniker. The franchise will play at the new $1 billion stadium to be built next to the Georgia Dome. While primarily designed for the Falcons, Blank was eager to line up an addi - tional revenue source for the new facility and stressed that it will be soccer-friendly, with stands that are designed to retract to accomo - date the larger pitch and new tech- nology that will close off the upper sections to create an intimate at- mosphere. While the new facility is de- signed to seat 71,000 for the NFL, it will be reduced to about 29,000 for soccer using only the lower bowl. "There will never be an MLS game in Atlanta where NFL lines are shown on the field," Blank said, drawing a big cheer. MLS, which has 19 teams this season, is expanding rapidly with a goal of having 24 franchises. Orlando and New York City are scheduled to begin play next sea - son, and the league has awarded a provisional franchise in Miami to a group led by David Beckham, con- tingent on a new stadium deal. The league went all out to tout its newest franchise. Blank and MLS Commissioner Don Garber arrived by helicopter for the intro - ductory news conference, touching down on the roof of a downtown ho- tel. Garber said the Atlanta market, the largest in the country without an MLS franchise, was vital to the league's growth. "This is something that will help elevate our league," Garber said. "It will also elevate our sport in the entire Southeast, which is something that is very important to us strategically." soCCer Atlanta lands MLS expansion franchise Falcons owner Blank will own team; Mascot name will include input by fans Pro-Russian insurgents commandeered six Ukrainian armored vehicles and their crews Wednesday, dampen- ing the central government's hopes of re-establishing con- trol over eastern Ukraine. ukraine Pro-Russian insurgents seize armored vehicles FUll STorY on PagE b4 A brochure regarding the Angie Weir Miller Fundamental Basketball Camp scheduled for first to 12th graders in June in Dairyville can be ob- tained by sending an email to amillertime25@hotmail.com. around Town Angie Weir Miller basketball camp info Corning High's baseball and soball teams are scheduled to visit Willows at 4 p.m. today. Red Bluff High's baseball team continues tournament play at Central Valley. spring sporTs Corning baseball, soball teams travel By Josh dubow The Associated Press san Jose » For more than a decade there have been no questions about who will start in goal for the San Jose Sharks come playoff time. Whether it was Evgeni Nabo - kov or Antti Niemi, the Sharks have had a clear-cut No. 1 goalie and stuck with him through good and bad. That could change this year as coach Todd McLellan has yet to commit publicly to either Niemi or Alex Stalock for Game 1 of the first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings tonight. While Niemi started 64 games in the regular season, Stalock put up better numbers, especially down the stretch. That led to questions about whether Niemi will start the opener and whether McLellan will stick with him if he struggles at all against the Kings. "Either way you've got to pre - pare yourself to be ready to play," Niemi said. Niemi has started all 34 play- off games since joining San Jose in 2010-11, including 13 against the Kings. But with Niemi struggling late in the season (3.11 goals-against average in his final six games) and the emergence of Stalock (12-5-2, 1.87 goals-against average, .932 save percentage) McLellan has a tougher choice than usual. "It's more about what we do than what they do," Kings defenseman Drew Doughty said. "We know it's going to be a challenge to score on either guy." There are no questions about who will start for Los Angeles as Jonathan Quick leads the NHL in playoff wins (25), shutouts (6), goals-against average (1.62) and has a .940 save percentage the past two postseasons. Quick won the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP after lead - ing the Kings to the Stanley Cup in 2012 and was outstanding in nhl playoffs SHARKS TACKLE GOALIE QUESTIONS McLellan hasn't committed to Niemi or Stalock for Game 1 of first-round series against Kings Ross D. FRAnklin — THe AssoCiATeD PRess The san Jose sharks' Antti niemi (31) makes a save on a shot by the Phoenix Coyotes' Radim Vrbata during the third period saturday in Glendale, Ariz. niemi has started all 34 playoff games since joining the sharks in 2010-11, including 13 against the los Angeles kings. MARCio Jose sAnCHez — THe AssoCiATeD PRess san Jose sharks goalie Alex stalock (right) stops a shot from the Colorado Avalanche's erik Johnson (6) during the second period Friday in san Jose. Tonight: The sharks host the los Angeles kings in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series, 7:30 p.m., TV on Csn, nBCsP THE SERiES The man arrested near the Boston Marathon finish line carrying a backpack contain- ing a rice cooker was sent to a state psychiatric facility for an evaluation Wednesday aer an initial court appearance. BosTon Man charged with marathon hoax held FUll STorY on PagE b3 sharks » page 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Thursday, april 17, 2014 » MoRe AT FacEbooK.coM/rbdailYnEWS AnD TWiTTEr.coM/rEdblUFFnEWS B1