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ByJosephShufelberger jshufelberger@chicoer.com @JShufelberger on Twitter CHICO The Chico State soft- ball team has power, speed and a veteran group used to the rigors of the California Col- legiate Athletic Association. Now, the Wildcats just need a playoff berth. Chico State has come ago- nizingly close to CCAA tourna- ment postseason berth, getting eliminated on the final week- end of the regular season the past two years. But with eight of nine start- ers returning, the Wildcats have their sights set toward extending their season before it even begins. "We have a lot of girls who have missed the postseason by one game the past two years, a lot of juniors that haven't been a part of that," Wildcats coach Angel Shamblin said. "I definitely think it makes them more hungry for this season." Entering her sixth year as head coach, Shamblin has a 147-108 record with the Wild- cats in five seasons that in- cluded a 24-26 mark last year and a 17-19 record in the CCAA as they finished sixth. But 13 players return, in- cluding eight of nine start- ers, to go with two transfers from junior colleges and three freshmen for a team that is in search of its first postseason trip since 2012. All those re- turners and those near-misses leave the Wildcats experienced — and motivated for a better season. "Coming so close last year and leaving it in other teams' hands, that gave us motiva- tion for this year of having our own fate, and being able to go the extra mile to get there and to work harder," ju- nior outfielder Alli Cook said. "We had a glimpse of it, but we just couldn't get there." Leading this year's team is a core of hitters who can beat foes with power or speed. Ju- nior first baseman Desiree' Gonzalez hit 11 home runs last year, tying the program's sin- gle-season record while amass- ing 41 RBIs. Emily McEnaney, a senior infielder from Red Bluff, was another big bat, adding six homers and 32 RBIs COLLEGE SOFTBALL Wildcatswantmore thanjustclosecalls ExperiencedChicoStategroupseeksplayoffberthwithpowerandspeed CHICOSTATESPORTSINFORMATION Infielder Emily McEnaney, now a senior, led Chico State in doubles, triples, extra-base hits, walks and on- base percentage last season. By Antonio Gonzalez The Associated Press OAKLAND Steve Kerr is smiling a lot these days. He can drive 15 minutes to watch his daughter, Maddy, play volleyball at the University of California. He can take a short flight to see his son, Nick, com- pete on the University of San Diego's basketball team. And he can summon his wife, Mar- got, and their youngest son, Mat- thew, for weekend trips to the Bay Area from their Southern California home. As if being surrounded by fam- ily wasn't sweet enough, Kerr's career has never been better. The rookie coach has guided the Golden State Warriors (41-9) to the NBA's best record, earned the right to lead the Western Conference in the All-Star game and built a strong case for NBA Coach of the Year honors. "Life's good. I don't have any stress right now," Kerr said. This is exactly the balance Kerr envisioned last May when he reversed course 3,000 miles west. Back then, Kerr verbally com- mitted to coach the New York Knicks and help mentor Phil Jackson rebuild the fallen fran- chise, which has been a disas- ter so far. Instead, the Warriors NBA Kerr goes to New York as All-Star coach Warriors head coach's career never better a er guiding team to league's best record FRANK FRANKLIN II — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr (center) laughs during the first half Saturday against the New York Knicks in New York. Fighting intensified Tuesday in eastern Ukraine ahead of much-anticipated peace talks, with both sides claiming sig- nificant advances. The rebels shell a town, killing 12people and wounding 64others. SUMMIT Ukrainebattlesworsen prior to peace talks FULLSTORYONPAGEB6 NBC said that it is suspend- ing Brian Williams as "Nightly News" anchor and managing editor for six months without pay for misleading the public about his experiences cover- ing the Iraq War. 'NIGHTLY NEWS' ANCHOR NBC suspends Williams for 6 months, no pay FULL STORY ON PAGE B7 By John Jackson The Associated Press CHICAGO A lack of consistent playing time can send a young player into a funk, but Tony Snell claims not to care how much he's on the floor. "All that matters is that I've got to stay ready," Snell said. "If I go in, just try to do the best I can. If not, cheer my team on." The second-year guard was ready Tuesday night, pumping in a career-high 24 points on 9-for- 11 shooting to help the Chicago Bulls to a 104-86 rout of the Sac- ramento Kings. "I've been through it last year. It's nothing new," Snell said about playing time. "You never know when your name gets called. I've got to make sure I'm ready when my name gets called." Pau Gasol continued his strong play with 26 points and 16 re- bounds — his NBA-best 34th double-double of the season and 13th straight — and Derrick Rose added 23 points in a turnover-free NBA Snell sets career best as Bulls rout Kings Gay leads Sacramento with 24 points in defeat CHARLES ARBOGAST — ASSOCIATED PRESS Sacramento's DeMarcus Cousins (15) drives on Chicago's Joakim Noah (le ) and Tony Snell. By Doug Ferguson The Associated Press PEBBLE BEACH Five weeks into the new year, all five winners on the PGA Tour were among the top 50 in the world. Jason Day didn't need numbers to illustrate what is becoming in- creasingly clear. "The game is kind of chang- ing," Day said after winning a four-man playoff at Torrey Pines. "It's evolving into very young, tall, big, strong-looking guys out here that hit it a mile and have fantas- tic touch. It's getting tougher. It's really tough to win out here." That's easy for him to say with only three PGA Tour wins in eight years. For all his talent, the 27-year-old Australian has been cursed by nagging injuries. His hope is to stay healthy all year and finally achieve, or at least make significant progress, toward his lifelong goal of being No. 1 in the world. The road to the top, however, is starting to look like a California freeway at rush hour. Day was 18 when he first started playing on the PGA Tour in 2006, the year that Tiger Woods won multiple majors for the second straight year and ended the sea- GOLF Harder than ever to win on the PGA Tour these days BULLS 104, KINGS 86 Up next: Sacramento Kings at Milwaukee Bucks, 5p.m. Wednes- day, TV on CSN-CA. THESCORE The head of the Massachu- setts Bay Transportation Authority staunchly defended her decision to suspend rail service for more than 24hours as crews struggled to clear tracks of snow and ice. RIDERS 'FRUSTRATED' Boston-area public transit tested in storms FULL STORY ON PAGE B10 The Red Bluff Lady Spartans soccer team hosts Enterprise tonight at 6p.m. in an Eastern Athletic League game. The Red Bluff boys are travelling to Redding to play Enterprise also at 6p.m. SOCCER Lady Spartans host Enterprise tonight WILDCATS PAGE 2 KERR PAGE 2 GOLF PAGE 2 KINGS PAGE 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Wednesday, February 11, 2015 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1