THIS RUNNER was tagged out at home. John Hughes photo.

Modoc splits with SCL champs Etna

Modoc's varsity girl's softball team split a double header Friday with Shasta Cascade League winner Etna, losing the first 5-4 and winning the second 3-1.

The split places the Braves in fourth place in the SCL, with Fall River second, but they still have to play Weed this Friday to complete their schedule. Weed is dwelling in the cellar so Fall River is expected to win both. That would make the league standings as follows: Etna 10-2, Fall River 8-4, Mt. Shasta 7-5, Modoc 7-5, Burney 6-6, Trinity 3-11 and Weed 2-10.

Modoc lost in the first playoff round May 6, to Etna 5-4.

In the opening game against Etna, the Braves fell behind 1-0, but went ahead 3-1 in the fourth. The Lions tied it at 3-3 in the fifth and Modoc added a run in the sixth to lead 4-3. Etna tied it at 4-4 in the seventh to send the game into extra innings. The Lions scored the winning run in the bottom of the 10th.

Emily Conner went the distance for Modoc, getting the loss. She allowed five runs on 15 hits, walked a pair and fanned 10. Nicole Hall led the hitting, going 2-for-3. Sarah Catania, Conner and Sami Schmidt each had a hit.

The Braves went up 2-0 in the third inning of the second game and added a final run in the sixth. Etna scored its only run in the sixth.

Conner got the win, giving up one run on seven hits, walking two and striking out seven.

Schmidt went 3-for-4, Amy Cruse was 2-for-3, while Brynn Juanarena, Sarah Mason, Catania ad Corrie Clark each added a hit.

Etna proves too much for Braves

Etna's Lions proved to be more than the Modoc's Braves baseball team could handle last Friday, trouncing Modoc 16-1 in the first game and 9-2 in the second, ending the Braves season.

Modoc fielded a young team this year and struggled through a tough season, finished at 4-9 in the Shasta Cascade League, with only Weed at 0-13 below them. Trinity won the SCL at 10-2, followed by Etna 9-4, Fall River 9-4, Burney 7-5 and Mt. Shasta 5-7.

In got ugly quick in the first game against Etna, with the Lions scoring nine in the first inning and seven in the second. Modoc scored one run in the third.

Trent Schmidt got the loss, going two innings, allowing 6 runs and 11 hits, walked six and had two strike outs. He also gave up a pair of home runs. He was relieved by John Hughes who allowed no runs on three hits and struck out two. Hughes also had the only hit for the Braves in the game.

Etna started the second game with a 1-0 first inning lead and added two in the third, two in the fourth and four in the fifth for nine. Modoc scored its two runs in the seventh.

Schmidt went 3-for-4 at the late, Justin Estes and Hughes each had a hit. Estes was on the mound and got the loss, going six innings, allowing nine runs on eight hits, walked four and fanned four.

Modoc tracksters head to SCL meet

Modoc's track teams will be at College of the Siskiyous in Weed Friday for the Shasta Cascade League Championships.

Leading the way for the Braves' varsity girls will be junior distance runner Michel Funk and thrower Rachel Field.

The varsity boy's team leaders are hurdler Cam Hall, sprinter David Holloway, distance runner Cain Madrigal, and thrower Newmie Wilson.

There will be some solid performance turned in by a number of sophomore and freshmen athletes in both divisions, including Matt Mayes, Ulysses Gonzales, Gustavo Chavez, Austin How, Scott Stillinger, Jordan Nolan, Maddie Halvorson, Danielle Grier and Rebecca Field.

Last weekend at the Mt. Shasta Invitationals, Funk took a second in the 1600 meters in 5:07.64. Rachel Field was fourth in the discus at 83-1 and sixth in the shot at 26-11.

Cain Madrigal led the boy's varsity with a third in the 800 at 2:13.18 and fourth in the 1600 meters at 4:58.21. Cam Hall was third in the 300 meters at 45.8 and fourth in the 110 hurdles at 18.46.

Gustavo Chavez took a third in the 800 for the junior varsity boys at 2:22.37 and Austin Hoy was third in the triple jump at 33-05.75. Scott Stillinger was fifth in the high jump at 4-8.

For the junior varsity girls, Danielle Grier was 5th in the 100 hurdles at 21.39, Jordan Nolan was sixth in the 400 meters at 1:12.90, Celeste Yamagiwa was sixth in the 300 hurdles in 1:01.64. Jenelle Stillinger was sixth in the 100 hurdles in 21.81 and Rachel Bratton was sixth in the 3200 at 15:30.31