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Sports Tehama Tracker Tuesday's results 1B Thursday November 29, 2012 GIRLS HOOPS Corning 85 Willows 49ERS 63 Today's games BOYS HOOPS Los Molinos Block Tourney Sutter Mercy 6 p.m. Follow @TehamaSports on Twitter for live game coverage today ACA American Christian Los Molinos 7 p.m. Red Bluff At Argonaut tournament Corning At Pierce tournament GIRLS HOOPS Anderson Tournament Trinity Red Bluff 5:30 p.m. Corning At Live Oak tournament Mercy At Biggs tournament MCT photo San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, right, will start over Alex Smith on Sunday against the St. Louis Rams. SOCCER Corning Oroville 4:30 p.m. NBA Denver Warriors TNT 7:30 p.m. On the tube COLLEGE FOOTBALL 4:30 p.m. ESPN — Louisville at Rutgers GOLF 6:30 a.m. TGC — Sunshine Tour, Nedbank Challenge, first round, at Sun City, South Africa (same-day tape) Noon TGC — World Challenge, first round, at Thousand Oaks, Calif. MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL 4 p.m. ESPN2 — Kentucky at Notre Dame 6 p.m. ESPN2 — Marquette at Florida NBA 5 p.m. TNT — San Antonio at Miami 7:30 p.m. TNT — Denver at Golden State NFL 5 p.m. NFL — New Orleans at Atlanta Kaepernick gets starting job vs. Rams SANTA CLARA (AP) — Tight end Delanie Walker arrives at work at 6 a.m. each day, and Colin Kaepernick always beats him to 49ers headquarters. The quarterback clocks in before most of his teammates for that matter. With that work ethic and standout performances, Kaepernick has earned himself a third straight start at quarterback for San Francisco on Sunday at St. Louis. ''Kap's here before me, he's here lifting weights,'' Walker said. Coach Jim Harbaugh made the announcement Wednesday that Kaepernick got the nod over Alex Smith after the second-year pro led the NFC West-leading Niners (8-2-1) to victories in the past two games, his first two NFL starts. ''The rationale is we have two quarterbacks that we feel great about as a starting quarterback,'' Harbaugh said. ''Both have earned it, both deserve it — Alex over a long period of time, Colin by virtue of the last three games. It tips the scales. Colin we believe has the hot hand. We'll go with Colin. And we'll go with Alex. They're both our guys.'' Yes, Harbaugh is still leaving open every possibility, saying it still could be a week-to-week decision. All Kaepernick knows is he will begin Sunday's game under center. Harbaugh warned, ''I wouldn't assume anything.'' ''To start talking about speculation or every permutation you could get into, we're not going to speculate on it,'' Harbaugh said. ''We're worried about everything RAIDERS Follow us on Twitter for live game coverage, exclusive online articles and more. @TehamaSports See 49ERS, page 2B GOLF Officials aim to eradicate long putters A's acquire BoSox RH Rosario OAKLAND (AP) — The Oakland Athletics have acquired right-hander Sandy Rosario from the Boston Red Sox for a player to be named later or cash considerations. The AL West champion A's cleared room on the 40-man roster by designating outfielder Jermaine Mitchell for assignment. Boston claimed Rosario off waivers from Miami on Oct. 17 after he spent the year in the Marlins organization. He began the season with a 1.04 ERA in 25 outings at Triple-A New Orleans while converting all 16 of his save opportunities. The 27-year-old right-hander joined the Marlins on June 8, posting an 18.00 ERA in four relief appearances before going on the disabled list June 16 with a strained right quadriceps. He wasn't back in the majors after that. and we fear nothing.'' The reigning NFL Coach of the Year told his players on the field at some point during Wednesday morning's walkthrough practice. Kaepernick has completed 48 of 74 passes for 680 yards and three touchdowns with one interception and was sacked six times. He has a 102.3 passer rating. ''I don't know if it's a hot hand. Whatever you want to call it. I'm just happy I get to go back out there,'' Kaepernick said. ''It's more than adequate fill-in after moving into the halfback role for the first time in his career. The former college wide receiver has rushed for 225 yards and caught 15 passes for 175 yards the past three weeks. His 4.8 yards per carry in those three games is significantly higher than McFadden's 3.3 before he got hurt and Reece has six runs of at least 10 yards — one fewer than McFadden in 91 fewer carries. ''Marcel has earned the right to carry the ball some,'' Allen said. ''We'll still use him in that capacity.'' Reece had 19 touches in the seven full games before McFadden got hurt, compared to 62 in the three weeks as the featured back in Oakland's offense. Now the Raiders will need to figure out a way to get Reece the ball more even if McFadden is back in the lineup. ''Marcel is a beast,'' Goodson said. ''''We need to give him the ball all the time the way he makes plays. It helps us out a lot overall for him to be making plays like that. You guys see what he THOUSAND OAKS (AP) — Brace yourself — just not your putter. In a proposal that would affect every golfer from major champions to amateurs at their local clubs, the guardians of the 600-year-old sport want to write a new rule that would outlaw a putting stroke they fear is taking too much skill out of the game. The U.S. Golf Association and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club said Wednesday they are not banning the belly putter or the longer ''broom-handle'' putters — only the way they are used. The proposed rule would prohibit golfers at all levels from anchoring a club against their bodies while making a stroke. The rule would not take effect until 2016. ''We believe a player should hold the club away from his body and swing it freely,'' USGA executive director Mike Davis said. ''Golf is a game of skill and challenge, and we think that's an important part of it.'' Three of the last five major champions, starting with Keegan Bradley at the 2011 PGA Championship, used a belly putter. What concerned the governing bodies, however, was an increasing number of players who were turning to the long putters because they saw it as an advantage, not as a last resort to cure their putting woes. ''Anchored strokes have very rapidly become the preferred option for a growing number of players, and this has caused us to review these strokes and their impact on the game,'' R&A chief executive Peter Dawson said. ''Our conclusion is that anchored strokes threaten to supplant traditional strokes, which with all their frailties are integral to the longstanding character of our sport.'' Players could still use a broom-handle or belly putter — as long as it not pressed against their body to create the effect of a hinge. The R&A and USGA now offer a three-month period for open comment on the proposal before they approve it. But this already is shaping up to be a divisive issue, from industry leaders worried about the growth of golf to players who have been using these putters for years. ''Any competitive player likes to have an extra advantage,'' Matt Kuchar said. ''I think you're going find anyone using the short putter is glad, and anyone using the belly putter or long putter is not happy.'' Kuchar used a mid-length putter that rested against his left arm when he won The Players Championship. That style is OK. See BOOST, page 2B See PUTTER, page 2B MCT photo Oakland's Darren McFadden, center, returned to practice Wednesday. McFadden, Gooden return to practice, provide boost ALAMEDA (AP) — The slumping Oakland Raiders got a jolt Wednesday when running backs Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson returned to practice for the first time since missing three games with sprained right ankles. Both backs got hurt in Oakland's 4232 loss to Tampa Bay on Nov. 4 and were finally cleared to return to practice this week. That loss started the Raiders (3-8) on a four-game losing streak that is the team's longest in four years. ''It's great just to see them in the huddle,'' quarterback Carson Palmer said. ''''It feels like it's been a lot longer than it actually has. But just good to see them in the huddle and see them get reps and see Darren smiling and hitting the hole hard, and same thing with Goody. Good for the team but also good for the offense to have those guys back.'' Coach Dennis Allen said both backs took snaps with the first team at practice and would be evaluated as the week goes on before a decision is made on whether they will play Sunday against Cleveland (3-8). While Oakland has missed its top two backs, fullback Marcel Reece has been a