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StaffReports This past weekend Sun Oaks Aquatics competed in two swim meets, one in Woodland and the other in Red Bluff. In Woodland, Jaxon Balken (age 12) set three team records and captured four gold metals. In the 50- and 100-meter back- stroke, Balken reached new AAAA times with 32.13 in the 50 back and 1:09.41 in the 100 back, both team records. In the 50 butterfly, Balken went 30.77 (AAA and team record), and his fourth first place was in the 200 individual medley, 2:36.28 AAA. Balken suffered an ear infection and was unable to compete on Sunday. Zinnia Balken (17) placed sec- ond in the 400 IM with a time of 5:56.57. Julia Brandt (15) placed 12th in the 100 freestyle (1:05.94). Jayne Brandt achieved two new AA times in the 100 breast- stroke at 1:22.23, second place, and in the 200 breast at 3:00.03, fourth place. Jordan Brandt (9) swam the 100 fly in 1:49.85 and made a Ju- nior Olympic cut in the event. At the Red Bluff meet, two SOAR swimmers won every event they entered. Emery Plemons (5) won the 25 free, 50 free, 25 breast, 50 breast and 25 fly. She took home the high point trophy for 6-Un- der girls. Noah Caylor (16), earned blue ribbons in the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 500 free, 100 back, 200 back and 200 IM. Caylor also SUNOAKS Swimmersshineat2 meetsoverweekend Balken captures 4 gold medals, sets 3 team records in times at swim meet in Woodland COURTESYPHOTOS Emery Plemons won five events at the Red Bluff meet and took the 6-Under girls high point trophy. Jordan Brandt made a Junior Olympic cut in the 100-meter butterfly at the Woodland meet. By Ben Walker The Associated Press The Cardinals are really good, the Phillies are really bad, and then there's everyone else. Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Ja- cob deGrom and a bevy of stars bunched near the top. Giancarlo Stanton, Miguel Cabrera and more big names coming back from injuries. Plus wily Joe Mad- don and those Chicago Cubs poised to make a playoff run. Sure is shaping up as a fun scramble in the second half of the season. As the All-Star break ends and play resumes Friday, a whopping 22 teams find themselves within six games of a postseason spot. And the clubs currently out of contention — the A's, Padres and Phils, among them — could pro- vide the most interesting pieces before the July 31 trading dead- line. A look at what to watch as baseball heads toward the stretch: TheChase Somehow, St. Louis has fig- ured out the formula. Despite losing ace Adam Wainwright to a season-ending left Achilles in- jury in April and counting on fill-ins, Carlos Martinez and the Cards own the best record in the BASEBALL Playoffraces,tradetalkskeyto2ndhalf Play resumes Friday with whopping 22 teams within 6 games of earning postseason berth JEFF ROBERSON — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS As the All-Star break ends and play resumes Friday, a whopping 22teams find themselves within six games of a postseason spot, including Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants. By Doug Ferguson The Associated Press ST. ANDREWS, SCOTLAND With a chance to match history at the home of golf, Jordan Spieth is try- ing to make the British Open feel like just another event. And that might be as tough as any challenge at St. Andrews. The press room was at capac- ity and spilled out the door when he spoke to the media Wednesday for the first time this week, creat- ing an atmosphere normally re- served for Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy. Fans gathered around a board that listed the practice round schedule, scanning up and down until they found Spieth. "Please hold the cameras until after the shot," caddie Michael Greller told the gallery. The sound of shutters began at the top of his swing, and Spieth could only laugh when he launched his tee shot. "It's like this on every hole," he said. The 21-year-old Texan does not have the aura of Woods. He does not have the accom- plishments of McIlroy. He still is the main attraction at this British Open, and would be even if McIlroy — the defending champion and No. 1 in the world — were not out with an ankle injury. BRITISH OPEN Spieth has to look at major as any event Masters, US Open winner looks to extend his streak PETER MORRISON — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Jordan Spieth drives from the fourth tee during a practice round Wednesday at the British Open. By Jamey Keaten The Associated Press CAUTERETS, FRANCE Tour de France leader Chris Froome un- derstands those who harbor doubts about his dominant per- formances in a sport long marred by doping. Maybe, he says, it's time to bring in an independent specialist to test his body and help prove that he's riding clean. The 30-year-old Briton cruised through a second day in the Pyr- enees mountains on Wednesday, finishing more than five min- utes behind Stage 11 winner Ra- fal Majka of Poland but keeping his main rivals in check. The bumpy, grueling ride under a hot sun came a day after Froome blew away the pack, prompt- ing new suspicions about dop- ing. Ironically, it came as Lance Armstrong — who was stripped of seven consecutive Tour titles — was to return to French roads nearby, even though he's persona non grata at the Tour de France. Armstrong was to take part in charity rides Thursday and Fri- day to raise money to fight leuke- mia, taking the same route that Tour riders will cover a day later. Froome brushed off Arm- strong's visit as a "non-event", TOUR DE FRANCE Sky protects Froome's lead as Majka wins 11th stage The sky will be filled with color at the 23rd annual Southern Oregon Kite Festival, July 18-19. The action will begin on Saturday at 10a.m. at the kite field at the Port of Brookings- Harbor. 23RD ANNUAL EVENT Kite festival flies into southern Oregon FULLSTORYONPAGEB3 California extended its drought-inspired purge of idyl- lic emerald lawns from new developments, with officials voting Wednesday to adopt more stringent water limits for homes and businesses. DROUGHT State agency sets low-water lawn rules FULL STORY ON PAGE B4 The Red Bluff Bulls 15U squad seized victory Tuesday over the Paradise Nuggets, 12-7. The team faces the Chico Suns Red at Chico High School today in a doublehead- er starting at 3p.m. AMERICAN LEGION Red Bluff Bulls 15U beats Paradise Nuggets A San Francisco bar has filed a lawsuit against the NFL and DirecTV saying the latter's exclusive right to broadcast certain NFL games is an illegal monopoly that raises costs for bars and restaurants. NFL SF bar calls Sunday Ticket a monopoly SWIMMERS PAGE 6 CYCLING PAGE 6 BASEBALL PAGE 6 GOLF PAGE 6 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Thursday, July 16, 2015 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1