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BENMARGOT—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS Warriors coach Steve Kerr gestures during a news conference Tuesday in Oakland. Kerr was introduced as the Warriors new head coach a er inking a $25million deal with the team. ByAntonioGonzalez TheAssociatedPress OAKLAND TheGoldenStateWar- riors wanted Steve Kerr from the start but still wondered about his ability to coach. Kerr had his own questions for the Warriors before being convinced to take the job, notably what led to the bitter di- vorce between the team and Mark Jackson. Both got the answers that they had hoped for. Now each is counting on even better results to follow. The Warriors introduced Kerr as their new coach Tuesday at a packed news conference at the team's downtown Oakland head- quarters. Kerr signed with the Warriors for five years and about $25 million after rejecting an offer from mentor Phil Jackson to coach the New York Knicks. "I'm convinced Phil is going to make it work in New York, but when I sat down with the Warriors, it just clicked," Kerr said. "I think it's the right fit for me." Kerr plans to finish his duties broadcasting the Western Confer- ence finals for TNT before starting with the Warriors. The former NBA guard cited Golden State's rapid rise the past three seasons and his family in California as his main reasons for taking the job. He replaces Mark WARRIORS SteveKerrintroducedasnewcoach Californiaroots,teamsuccesswerebigfactors "I'm convinced Phil is going to make it work in New York, but when I sat down with the Warriors, it just clicked. I think it's the right fit for me." – Steve Kerr, new Golden State Warriors head coach By By Mark Didtler The Associated Press ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. Drew Pomeranz won his third consec- utive start since moving from the bullpen into the rotation, Coco Crisp drove in two runs before departing with an injury, and the surging Oakland Athletics beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-0 on Tues- day night. Pomeranz (4-1) allowed three hits, two walks and had three strikeouts over five innings. He has not given up a run in his three starts, all of which lasted five in- nings. Crisp hit a two-run double and John Jaso had an RBI single off Jake Odorizzi (2-4) as Oakland took a 3-0 lead in the second. The AL West-leading Athletics have won 10 of 11, outscoring their opponents 74-18 over the stretch. Crisp was replaced defensively by Craig Gentry in the bottom of the sixth because of neck sore- ness. He had started four straight games after missing seven with a neck strain. AMERICAN LEAGUE Po me ra nz wins 3rd straight start By Josh Dubow The Associated Press ALAMEDA When George At- kinson III's name went uncalled through seven rounds of the NFL draft, there was no doubt where he would end up signing as an un- drafted free agent. Despite offers from several teams, Atkinson ultimately signed with the team he was always des- tined to join, following his famous father's footsteps to the Oakland Raiders. Now more than a quarter cen- tury after George Atkinson Jr. ter- rorized Lynn Swann and dozens of other NFL wide receivers as a hard-hitting safety with the Raid- ers, his son is trying to make the team as a backup running back and special teams contributor. "I had to turn a lot of teams down," the younger Atkinson said. NFL George Atkinson III follows dad's path to Raiders The Cleveland Cavaliers con- tinued their remarkable lottery luck Tuesday, winning the No. 1pick in the NBA dra for the second straight year. NBA DRAFT Cavscontinueluck,get No. 1 pick again FULLSTORYONPAGEB2 The Corning Lady Cardinals beat West Valley 6-3Tuesday at home to advance to the Northern Section Division-IV semifinals Thursday against either top seed Lassen or No. 9Anderson. SOFTBALL Lady Cardinals beat West Valley in quarters Top-seed Pleasant Valley beat Foothill and Chico defeated Shasta to set up an all-Chico championship for the Northern Section's Division 1title. The game will be played 4p.m. Saturday at Butte College. BASEBALL All-Chico final set for Division 1 championship By Rich Greene rgreene@redbluffdailynews.com @richgreenenews on Twitter RED BLUFF The 2014 Lady Spar- tans kept their own streak alive to continue Red Bluff High School's streak. The Lady Spartans won their 22nd consecutive game Tuesday, beating Foothill 8-4 in a North- ern Section Division-III semifinal game. The win puts Red Bluff into a section title game for the seventh consecutive season. They've won three of those, the last coming in 2012. If they want to make it four titles in eight years, they'll have to beat the team that last handed them a defeat all the way back on April 4 - Enterprise. The Lady Hornets beat Paradise Tuesday to set up the showdown in Redding scheduled for Saturday. Meanwhile Red Bluff was in a nail-biter against Foothill despite the 8-4 score. The Lady Cougars battled back all afternoon and attempted to do so again in the bottom of the fourth when their cleanup hitter Emily Harvey came to the plate as the tying run with the bases loaded and one out. Harvey got under a Hailee Nichols pitch enough to scare the Red Bluff faithful, but Cheyanne Grannes cradled it into her glove in left field for the second out. The game ended a batter later when Madeline Bush grounded out to Bailey Akins at third. Red Bluff's lead was just 5-4 en- tering their own last at bats in the bottom of the sixth inning. They got one insurance run when Akins hit a 2-out blast to left field for a homer. The Lady Spartans kept the rally going with an Alyssa Heth- coat single and back-to-back walks SOFTBALL LADY SPARTANS BEAT FOOTHILL Red Bluff to go to section finals, making a 7th consecutive title game appearance The Lady Spartans rush out of the dugout in the sixth inning Tuesday a er Bailey Akins hit a home run. The Lady Spartans celebrate their 8-4victory over Foothill on Tuesday in the Northern Section Division-III semifinals. Get your puzzles fix with the NEA Crossword, 7Little Words and Celebrity Cipher, start your day off right with your horoscope, and read the latest advice dolled out by Carolyn Hax. YOUR DAILY BREAK Fun and games inside today PAGE B5 KERR PAGE 2 ATKINSON PAGE 2 FINALS PAGE 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Wednesday, May 21, 2014 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1