Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/800208
PHOTOBYJENNIFERSTEWART—GETTYIMAGES Adam Rosales is a .227lifetime hitter who has kept his career alive as an ultra-reliable utility man. ByCarlSteward BayAreaNewsGroup GOODYEAR, ARIZ. Ask A's veteran Adam Rosales where he and his fam- ily's permanent home base is dur- ing the baseball off-season and he pauses like he just got the Russian opera question in Final Jeopardy. "Well, we just kind of travel all over the place," Rosales said. "We're bouncing all over from family to family in the off-season because it's so quick and we don't know where we're going to wind up. But we al- ways come to Arizona in January. One of these years, hopefully we'll settle here." Spoken like a true card-carrying baseball nomad. The 33-year Ro- sales is heading into his 10th ma- jor league campaign and for the last several seasons has not known from one year to the next where his next baseball job would be or if he'd even have one. But he just rolls with the uncer- tainty, along with his wife Callie and two children. If you're a .227 lifetime hitter who's kept your career alive as a ultra-reliable utility man, you may fret about security but you get used to not having it. "I've learned how to get comfort- able with being uncomfortable," Ro- sales said. "It can be nerve-wrack- ing, but I've always said that as long as I'm playing baseball, I'm a lucky kid. I may not be a kid anymore, but I'm still a kid when I'm on that field, I can tell you that much. You have to be a kid, at least at heart. It's like freedom." He has played for four major teams and is now back in Oak- land for his third tour of duty after spending 2015 with Texas and 2016 with San Diego. It almost feels like he never left, even though he had no idea he'd be back with the A's when last season ended. " I just go where there's opportu- nity, really," he said. "Obviously, with the history and experience I've had with Oakland, I was super-excited to get back, because I know the A's al- ways bring in solid people for team chemistry." "It's a good fit," said manager Bob Melvin. "He knows how we do things here, he likes it here, he's kind of a fan favorite the way he plays, so it's nice to have him back. He's one of those guys who leads by exam- ple with his enthusiasm and work A'S SPRING TRAINING Rosales,a10-yearutilitysurvivor The Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY What was he thinking? Northwestern got its first- ever NCAA Tournament victory Thursday, 68-66 over Vanderbilt, after Commodores guard Mat- thew Fisher-Davis inexplicably grabbed Wildcats guard Bryant McIntosh on purpose, sending McIntosh to the free throw line for the go-ahead points with 15 seconds left. Riley LaChance made a la- yup with 18 seconds remaining in Thursday's game to put the ninth-seeded Commodores up by one after trailing by as many as 15. But seconds after the in- bounds pass, Fisher-Davis reached out and grabbed McIn- tosh while he was in the back- court. That put eighth-seeded Northwestern in the double bo- nus, and McIntosh went to the line and calmly swished the free throws with 15 seconds left. LaChance missed a 3 on the next possession and eighth- seeded Northwestern (24-11) got another free throw. NOTRE DAME 60, PRINCETON 58 Bonzie Colson scored 18 points and Notre Dame survived a first- round NCAA Tournament scare by pulling out a win over Princ- eton. The West Region's 12th- seeded Tigers had a chance to pull ahead on their final posses- sion, but Devin Cannady missed an open 3-pointer just before the final horn. Notre Dame's Steve Vasturia pulled down the re- bound and was fouled. The Fighting Irish (26-9) nearly squandered an 11-point second half lead. Guard Matt Farrell scored 16 points, but missed the front end of a one- and-one with Notre Dame up NCAA TOURNAMENT LUCKYNORTHWESTERN PREVAILS OVER VANDY Vanderbilt guard Riley LaChance (13) drives on Northwestern guard Sanjay Lumpkin (34) during the first half of a first-round game in the NCAA Tournament in Salt Lake City. PHOTOS BY GEORGE FREY — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Vanderbilt forward Jeff Roberson (11) drives between Northwestern guard Sanjay Lumpkin (34) and forward Vic Law (4) during the first half of a first-round game in the NCAA Tournament in Salt Lake City. By Jimmy Durkin and Jerry McDonald Bay Area News Group ALAMEDA Latavius Murray wanted to be back with the Raiders. His quarterback Derek Carr certainly wanted him back. But for an organization that knows full well that good run- ning backs can be found almost anywhere, there was never going to an aggressive financial push to keep Murray in Oakland. Murray signed with the Min- nesota Vikings late Wednesday night, with the team announc- ing the news. Murray took to In- stagram Thursday morning to say his goodbyes to Raider fans. "For 4 years I've had the chance to be a part of such a passionate and exciting fan base," Murray wrote. "I appre- ciate the support." He also thanked the Raiders for "giving the 'no combine in- vite, 6th round draft pick' the opportunity to represent such a historic organization." ESPN reports Murray's con- tract is a three-year deal that could be voided after one sea- son and the NFL Network said the total value over three years is about $15 million. Carr didn't mention Murray by name, but on Thursday morn- ing Tweeted, "This business is tough. Some of your best friends in life come and go. But we just have to keep on going! Good luck to my brothers!" Murray, 27, proved to be a valuable back and worth much more than the sixth-round pick the Raiders used on him in the 2013 draft. He was fifth in the league with 12 rushing touch- NFL What's next for the Raiders a er departure of Murray? Staff report LIVE OAK The Mercy Warriors boys tennis team were shut out in two road matches, 9-0 to Live Oak Tuesday and to Willows March 9. In Tuesday's match TJ Frase fell to Christian Eller 6-4, 7-5; Fletcher Bennett lost to John Breining 6-0, 6-0; Raffi Ibara fell to David Topete 6-0, 6-0; Eric Wu lost to David Fregaso 6-0, 6-0 and the two remaining singles matches were forfeited. In doubles, Frase and Ibara lost 8-3 to Eller and Breining and Bennett and Wu lost 8-3 to Topete and Fregaso. The third doubles match was forfeited. Frase lost 6-4, 6-1 to Taylor Osa of Willows in the March 9 match; James McKellar fell 2-4, 6-4, 6-0 to Esteban Palacios; Bennett lost to Collin Sides; Ibarra lost to Gus Brule 6-1, 6-1; Wu lost to Andrew Feeney 6-0, 6-0 and the final sin- gles match was forfeited. In doubles play, Frase and McKellar fell to Feeney and Sides 8-1 and Bennett and Ibarra were edged out 9-7 by Palacios and K. Mova. The third doubles match was forfeited. Mercy hosted Colusa Thursday at Red Bluff High School, but no scores were posted as of 5 p.m. Thursday. TENNIS Warriors still looking for win on courts By Cam Inman Bay Area News Group Defensive tackle Chris Jones, a late-season fill-in for the in- jury-ravaged 49ers, has re- signed with the club on a one- year deal. Jones started the final six games last season after being claimed off waivers from the Miami Dolphins. After totaling nine sacks his first two years with the New England Patri- ots, Jones missed the 2015 sea- son with a calf injury and revi- talized his career with last sea- son's 49ers cameo. Jones (6-foot-1, 293 pounds) returns to a defensive line that added his former Dolphins teammate, Earl Mitchell, last month in free agency. The 49ers still have 18 play- ers from last season who are un- restricted free agents: quarter- backs Colin Kaepernick, Blaine Gabbert, Christian Ponder and Thad Lewis; running backs Shaun Draughn and DuJuan Harris; wide receivers Quinton Patton and Rod Streater; offen- sive lineman Andrew Tiller and Andrew Gardner; tight end Jim Dray; defensive tackles Glenn Dorsey and Tony Jerod-Eddie; linebackers Michael Wilhoite, Gerald Hodges and Nick Bel- lore and defensive backs Mar- cus Cromartie and Chris Davis. NFL 49ers retain Chris Jones fo r DL d ep th Dolphinscastoffstarted final six games last season 2015 Pro Bowler is off to Minnesota; Oakland now needs a new power runner RAIDERS PAGE 2 A'S PAGE 2 NCAA PAGE 2 SPORTS » redbluffdailynews.com Friday, March 17, 2017 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B1