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JeffChiu—TheAssoCiATedPressfilePhoTo in this April 29, 2011, file photo, Aldon smith (center), the first-round dra pick of the san francisco 49ers, holds up a jersey next to coach Jim harbaugh (le ) and general manager Trent Baalke at a news conference at the team's training facility in santa Clara. ByJanieMcCauley TheAssociatedPress SANTA CLARA SanFrancisco49ers general manager Trent Baalke is com- mitted to supporting linebacker Al- don Smith like a family member in the wake of his latest legal trouble — and keeping Smith around for the long haul, too. "You continue to work as you would with any family member, you continue to work until they leave you no choice," Baalke said Friday in his annual sit - downwithmedialeadinguptothedraft. "Does character matter? It does." Baalke repeatedly referenced the word "disappointed" during his 59-minute session when discussing a recent list of off-the-field problems for his 49ers, who lost in the NFC cham - pionship game to eventual Super Bowl winner Seattle. Regarding a May 3 deadline whether to exercise Smith's 2015 con - tract option, Baalke gave all indica- tions he hopes to have the menacing pass rusher in a Niners uniform well into the future. Baalke said for 2015, "and '16, and '17 and '18." Smith was arrested April 13 at Los Angeles International Airport. Police say the 24-year-old NFL star was ran - domly selected for a secondary screen- ing and became uncooperative with the process, telling a TSA agent that he had a bomb. The district attorney has referred the case for misdemeanor consideration. Baalke said Smith is "growing, starting to understand, starting to realize the importance of his own ac - countability." Yet this follows Smith's five-game absence last season to undergo treat- ment after his September DUI arrest. In November, Smith pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of illegal posses- sion of an assault weapon, stemming from a June 2012 party at his home. Investigators say several shots were fired, two partygoers were injured and Smith was stabbed. In the subsequent investigation, prosecutors say detec - tives found five unregistered, illegal weapons in Smith's house, including 49eRS Baalke:TeamsupportsSmith San Francisco also hopes to reach extension with Kaepernick for long term Staff Reports HiLMAR The Red Bluff Spartans rolled their winning streak to eight games Thursday, knocking off Mariposa County 5-4 at the Hil - mar Tournament in eight innings. Lane Pritchard homered in the win for Red Bluff, driving in two runs. Kyle Martin pitched two innings of relief to earn the win. The Spartans led 3-1 after the third inning, but Mariposa County re sp on de d wi th a t hr ee -r un i nn in g in the fifth. The Spartans tied the game in the sixth inning, then got the win - ning run in the extra inning. Will Macdonald went 3 for 4 at the plate. Jared Poore and Sam Hendricks each drove in a run for Red Bluff. Hendricks also had two hits. Carson Ellis doubled. Walker Dodero got the start for Red Bluff. He went four innings, str ik in g ou t nin e ba tte rs , bu t h e also allowed six walks. Red Bluff (17-4) is scheduled to play Gustine (6-7) at 12:30 p.m. to - day at the tournament. pRep BASeBALL Spartans win eighth in a row in 8 innings athletics12,astros5 Up next: Today, A's at houston Astros, 4:10p.m., TV on CsN. THESCORE By Kristie Rieken The Associated Press HOUSTON Daric Barton and Josh Donaldson had two RBIs apiece in a seven-run ninth inning to help the Oakland Athletics to a 12-5 win over the Houston Astros on Friday night. The game was tied at 5 when Josh Fields (0-2) plunked Bran - don Moss before back-to-back sin- gles by Alberto Callaspo and Craig Gentry loaded the bases. Barton's sharply hit grounder bounced off Jose Altuve's glove and into right field to send two home. Rookie George Springer's error on that play allowed a third run to score, sending the few fans left fil - ing to the exits. Donaldson, who homered twice on Thursday night, connected again on Friday with a shot off An - thony Bass to the Crawford Boxes in left field to make it 12-5. BASeBALL A's score seven in ninth to down Astros Joe Johnson scored 29points, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett brought a charge to their first playoff game in Brooklyn, and the Nets held off the Toronto raptors 102-98on friday night for a 2-1series lead. NBA pLAyOffS Netstake2-1series lead over Raptors FUll storY oN PaGe b2 A May 10golf tournament at sevillano links is being hosted by the Corning elementary ed- ucation foundation to benefit the city's elementary school children. for more information call 824-7701, ext. 1256. GOLf fUNdRAiSeR Tournament to benefit Corning Elementary Wrestling Prep is holding a clinic May 4in Corning open to wrestlers of all ages. The $20cost includes five hours of instruction and lunch. for more information and to rsVP call (916) 616-3097. WReSTLiNG CLiNiC Top-flight instruction coming to Corning By Josh dubow The Associated Press SAN JOSe The San Jose Sharks have far too much respect for the Los Angeles Kings and all they have accomplished the past few years to think that knocking them out of the playoffs would be easy. After missing out on their first chance to eliminate the Kings, the task for the Sharks now is to finish the job at home in Game 5 tonight and avoid getting into a long, grueling series that could take a toll later in the playoffs. "We shouldn't be comfortable," coach Todd McLellan said Friday. "We should feel good about what we've accomplished to this point, but we shouldn't feel comfortable. Last night should push us a little bit more." After controlling the play for much of the first three games of the series, the Sharks found themselves on the short end in Game 4 and lost 6-3. They let Los Angeles control the area around both goals and committed a few needless penalties, including one by Raffi Torres that led to a power-play goal. But there is no sense of panic around the Sharks, especially with the series returning to San Jose where they have won 12 of the past 13 meetings against Los Angeles, including five in the past two postseasons. "I don't know why we would be nervous or be like, 'Oh boy, we need to win,'" defenseman Marc- Edouard Vlasic said. "We're up 3-1, and we can close it out at home tomorrow. So we're in a great situation and guys will be ready to play tomorrow." The home team has won 19 of the past 21 games between these two heated rivals although the Sharks did mange to break through in Game 3 when Patrick Marleau's overtime goal gave them a 4-3 victory. But the Kings responded Thursday night with help from a better performance from goalie Jonathan Quick, who allowed 16 goals in the first three games, and some juggled lines. "They played a good game," McLellan said. "You have to give them credit and tip your hat to them. They were better than we were in areas, and we have get back to being the better team if we want to be successful." Captain Dustin Brown moved up to the top line with Anze Kopi - tar and Marian Gaborik. Gaborik responded with two goals and Brown got his first two points of the series with an assist on the first goal and an empty-net goal to cap the game. Justin Williams dropped down to play alongside Jarret Stoll and Dw ig ht K in g an d sc or ed t wi ce , giving the Kings the lead for good in the third period. "I just think our whole level of play has gotten better since the first two games, but we've dug ourselves a big hole here to try and get out of," Williams said. "We'll see if we can." Now McLellan must decide whether to make any changes to his lines, such as moving Joe Pav - elski back from first-line wing to third-line center like he did for long stretches in Games 2 and 3, or just rely on having the last change on home ice to counter Los Angeles' moves. The series has been physical from the start but things started to turn nasty late in Game 4 with a number of post-whistle scrums, including a fight after the final horn between San Jose's Brent Burns and Los Angeles' Robyn Regehr. "Things were ugly there," Los Angeles forward Kyle Clif - ford said. "We're both big teams, physical teams, so it's definitely going to get a little wound up at times." That intensity will also likely carry over into the crowd, where the Shark Tank should be at its loudest with the opportunity to see the home team possibly knock out it's most hated rival. "We've got to be ready, espe - cially for the start of that game, the first 10 minutes," Stoll said. NHL pLAyOffS SHARKS LOOK TO CLOSE OUT KINGS San Jose hopes to wrap up series tonight in Game 5 at Shark Tank with 3-1 advantage Chris CArlsoN — The AssoCiATed Press san Jose sharks le wing James sheppard (right) celebrates his goal past los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick during the first period Thursday in Game 4of a first-round playoff series in los Angeles. President obama's itinerary in south Korea is aimed at show- casing the u.s. military's deep ties to the region at a time when Asia is warily watching China's growing military prow- ess as well as North Korea. WORLd Obama visits war memorial in Korea FUll storY oN PaGe b4 49eRS pAGe 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Saturday, April 26, 2014 More AT FacebooK.coM/rbDailYNeWs ANd tWitter.coM/reDblUFFNeWs B1