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ByRichGreene rgreene@redbluffdailynews.com @richgreenenews on Twitter REDBLUFF TheSpartansregular season finale ended much as their dreams of an outright league did - tantalizingly close. Red Bluff's seventh inning two- out rally ended abruptly Friday night when Will Macdonald was picked off between first and sec- ond base. The game tying run was 90 feet away at the time standing on third base. Shasta's 3-2 win completed a three-game sweep of the Spar- tans, who needed to win just one of those games to claim an outright Sac River League title. Instead Red Bluff and Shasta finish with identical 8-4 league re- cords and will share the title. They may even share it with a third team as 7-4 Foothill has one game remaining. Shasta's 4-2 record against the other two teams would give them top seeding priority for the North- ern Section's upcoming Division 1 playoffs. For Red Bluff it was a league ti- tle that felt like a letdown. The Spartans trailed through- out the game as Shasta's Wade Gul- den held the Spartans at bay for most of the game. He struck out 11 and had allowed just two hits and one walk entering the seventh inning as Shasta held a 3-1 lead. Gulden retired the first two bat- ters and had two strikes on Carson Ellis, before losing him to a walk. Eric Schreter followed with a single and Macdonald followed by knocking in Ellis to close the game 3-2. Shasta then turned to Eric Lex to get the final out with runners on first and second base. Chase Root was facing a 1-2 count when Macdonald broke for second. Lex came off the mound and through a loud sense of confusion wandered over and tagged Mac- donald. Red Bluff coach Ryland Sanders said there was some botched con- fusion on the Spartans part. Sanders said facing two strikes against one of the section's top pitchers he had called a delay steal hoping to draw an errant throw, a balk or a pickle that would have al- lowed Schreter to score the typing run. Unfortunately for the Spartans it didn't work out that way. "Their defense outwitted our of- fense there," Sanders said. Red Bluff had found itself trying to crawl back into the game from the very start when Richie Carel ripped a double off of Kyle Martin to open up play. A trio of Spartan errors in the first inning sandwiched around a Gulden sacrifice fly allowed Shasta to score two early runs. It would be all the scoring the game would see for awhile. Martin, who didn't seem to have his best stuff, still managed to battle Gulden scoreless frame for frame. "He showed what a competitor he is," Sanders said of Martin. BASEBALL Leaguechampssharetitle Shasta completes 3-game sweep of Spartans, preventing outright claim Staff report REDDING The Lady Spartans completed a three-game sweep of Shasta Friday to extend their win streak to 18 games. Tayler Zazueta and Alyssa Het- hcoat both homered during Red Bluff's 3-2 win. Stefanie Brunello had a dou- ble and drove in the other run for Red Bluff, which improved to 26-6 overall and 6-3 in Sac River League play. Zazueta, who has four home runs in her last three games, also had a double Friday. Hailee Nicholls, Hethcoat and Brunello also had two-hit perfor- mances. Nicholls went the distance on SPARTAN SOFTBALL Women run win streak to 18 games Staff report WILLOWS Mercy High School freshman Connor Rooney won the Sacramento Valley League individ- ual title Friday. Rooney, who had lost only one league match all season beat Wil- lows' Willem Poldervaart 6-2, 6-4 in the semifinals. That set up a re- match against Live Oak's Michael Cat- bagan, the player who had beat Rooney in his final league match. Rooney got his revenge Friday with a 6-0, 6-2 win. Rooney has been playing tennis for about five years and is a member of Redding's Sun Oaks Country Club. The honor student was team captain for the Warriors. "(Rooney) not only is an excep- tional tennis player for his age, he is one of the most kind and respect- ful individuals I have ever coached in my 27-year career," Mercy coach Al Santos said. "We are extremely proud of his accomplishments and look forward to his success in the future." TENNIS Mercy High's Rooney wins league title TheBruinstookontheCana- diens in Montreal in Game 6 of the second playoff round, beating them a solid 4-0to keep their playoff hopes alive. NHL Canadiensbeatout Bruins 4-0 on ice FULLSTORYONPAGEB2 Special to the DN RED BLUFF The Red Bluff Derby Girls beat Nor Cal Roller Girls of Chico 218-76 May 3 in their 2014 season opener. After coming back from injury just weeks before Zombie Sue Aside domi- nated the game scoring 127 points, including a rare six- point jam. There was no looking back as RBDG took the lead in the first jam, increasing the point spread as the game continued. The crowd was impressed with Smelly Brikhauz' hard hits, some launching the op- ponents across the splash zone (10-foot safety zone be- tween the track and specta- tors), landing at their feet. Team Captain, AmBam Booty Slam showed the re- lentless spirit of the team af- ter taking a horrendous hit through the air, slamming into the wall, causing panic while everyone watched her unmoving body, by pulling it together, and getting up be- fore the jam was called for injury, continuing to score points the reminder of the jam and the rest of the game. "Practicing our power- jam strategies has really paid off, and the girls really played as a team more than ever tonight," coach Necro- thrillya said. The halftime Luminara celebration, led by Cancer Crusher and her mom, Deb- bie O'Conner, was very mov- ing to experience as both teams skated a lap of silence in memory of loved ones af- fected by cancer. This game helped the Red Bluff Derby Girls raise $300 to contribute to the Amer- ican Cancer Society. The fans also donated $24 for the team to contribute to ACS. The league has donated to a non-profit charity with net proceeds from every game they have hosted since their first competitive season in 2013. The crowd enjoyed Round Table Pizza slices, tri-tip sliders by Hung Low Meats, ice cream and other treats by Scoops, and beer and wine provided by Round Up Saloon. Some who had never seen roller derby before are hooked. Another fan, whose daughter plays for the Bos- ton Derby Dames, was de- lighted to have a group photo taken with the team after the game. Another requested auto- graphs on his shirt as a sou- venir. Some fans are so into the game that they plan on gear- ing up and joining. Somenewbiescommented that they didn't expect to have such a great time, and left very impressed with the skating skills. The Red Bluff Roller Derby Girls next home game is 5:30 p.m. June 21 at the Te- hama District Fairgrounds. To learn more about the team visit rbdg.org. You can help by going to their ACS/Relay for Life page and making a tax de- ductible donation at the fol- lowing link: http://main. acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_ id=57705&pg=team&team_ id=1604910 ROLLER DERBY RED BLUFF BEATS NOR CAL IN OPENER Zombie Sue Aside scores 127 points a er returning from injury The Red Bluff Derby Girls opened their season May 3at the Tehama District Fairgrounds. RED BLUFF 218, NOR CAL 76 Up next: The Derby Girls next play June 21at the Tehama District Fairgrounds at 5:30p.m. THESCORE "Practicing our power- jam strategies has really paid off, and the girls really played as a team more than ever tonight." – Necrothrillya, Red Bluff coach Couldn't find the game results you were looking for? Check out our website for additional sports stories, both national and local. ON THE WEB Find late breaking sports online REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM/SPORTS Red Bluff fell to fourth in the Division 1playoff points re- leased Saturday, which would have them hosting a playoff game. Corning was fi h in Di- vision 2. Mercy was clinging to the eighth spot in Division 5. PREP BASEBALL Spartans fall to fourth in playoff points Red Bluff, winners of 18in a row, head to Foothill for a 3p.m. doubleheader today. Corning hosts Central Valley for a doubleheader at 4p.m. and the Mercy Lady Warriors visit Chester at 4p.m. PREP SOFTBALL SCHEDULE Lady Spartans look to extend winning streak Teams: Two teams of five skate coun- terclockwise on the track. One skater is the jammer, or person who scores points, and the other four are blockers. Points: A er a jammer passes all the members of the opposing team initially, every subsequent pass of an opposing team member earns points. Blockers: The team's blockers try to prevent the other team's jammer from passing, while also blocking the other team's blockers to allow their own jam- mer past. ROLLERDERBYBASICS Rooney TITLE PAGE 2 Zazueta homers for third straight game HOMER PAGE 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Tuesday, May 13, 2014 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1