DISTRICT 11 AREA 2 MAJOR ALL STAR RESULTS

On Sunday night at Pioneer Park the Nevada City Little League Majors All-Stars won the Area 2 Championship over Grass Valley by a score of 9-1.

Click here for The Union's game story written by Walter Ford.

Nevada City will travel to Rocklin tomorrow night where they will take on the Area 1 champion Lincoln at 7 p.m.

Lincoln out scored their opponents 25-7 and did not drop a game.

Click here for the Area 1 Championship game story.

COACHING YOUR CHILD

The balancing act of being a coach for your child as well as a parent can be very difficult unless both participants understand their respective rolls. I have coached my kids for many years in various sports and we have had our share of emotional struggles due to our undefined rolls.


The coach's roll is one who delivers constructive criticism with the emphasis on improvement while a parent's roll is to instill having a good time and being positive. When one attempts to be both at the same time it can often send confusing mixed signals. 


Many young athletes who are coached by their parent, do not know where the coach's voice stops and the parent's begins. This lack of clarity can caused undo stress to a player. The coach and parent have two very different roles to play. Communicating your goals as a coach and then separately as a parent need to be communicated or the player will not have an idea who is talking. 


The player's roll is to give the coach and the team their best effort. When a player leaves the field after the game, he or she rides home with the coach or is it the parent? They hear about the game in the car, then over dinner and then again right before bed. This does not give the player any time away from the game or the coach. Leave the game at the field unless the player brings it up and don't be afraid to ask, "do you want me to answer you as your coach or your parent?" Clearly defined rolls will help keep you away from tears.


While it's not impossible to be coach and parent, it can be difficult to be effective at both at the same time. My emphasis as a parent is "did you have fun and did you learn anything?" Where as a coach you are always looking for very specific things like effort, mental toughness and being prepared for every situation. 


One area that both coach, player and parent can surly agree upon is fun. If a player is not having fun, they will not want to practice and without practice the player might not become very good. The coach as well as the parent wants to see improvement and a love for the game. The player wants to run around, play with friends and have some one cheer from the bleachers.

TRAVEL BASEBALL RESEMBLES LIFE

While travel baseball can be expensive and  time consuming, it does offer a player many life benefits. 


We could not find a travel team for our son to play for in Nevada County, so he plays for a team in Lincoln. His team is filled with really great players, supportive families and knowledgeable coaches. Many of which come from different ethnic backgrounds, cities, as well as socioeconomic environments. Therefore travel ball could be said to resembles life.


My son is required to work hard to earn a spot on the roster. He is required to learning how to make friends with other players he does not go to school with and is asked to fit in with the team. Again this is life.


Something playing travel ball does not guarantee is a career in the big leagues, nor does it assure the reward of a college scholarship, and not even a spot in a high school dugout for that matter. 

There's no denying that travel ball is the main vehicle to get to the college level. Weekend travel tournaments at times do resemble college showcases. However, a player’s participation and a college coach’s appearance doesn't guarantee a scholarship. It does give a player the opportunity to be seen, therefore having a chance if the player has what it takes.

There are two guarantees when your child plays travel ball. The first, you will have very little time on the weekends and holidays as well as you may need to take on a second job to pay for it. In turn, parents often demand a return on this investment, namely, a Division I college scholarship. But there are only so many ways 11.7 full scholarships (the allotment the NCAA gives baseball programs) can be cut up and passed out. That equates to 46 percent scholarship players on a 25-man college roster. 

If the travel baseball experience does not produces an opportunity to play high school, college and/or professional baseball, families should regard the experience as more than just about baseball and not be disappointed if their child doesn't receive a college scholarship. The ability to develop their child as an athlete and especially as a person, should not be minimized.


The travel ball experience can help prepare kids for life's challenges.

LITTLE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL ADDS 50/70 DIVISION

The Little League International Board of Directors approved a measure to create a new division of Little League Baseball.

Featuring a pitching distance of 50 feet and base paths of 70 feet, the new baseball division for players who are league-age 11-13 will be offered for the 2013 regular season. It will include postseason tournament opportunities, including a World Series.

The new baseball division will serve as a bridge between the current “Little League” size field (46-foot pitching distance, 60-foot base paths) and a standard baseball diamond with 60.5-foot pitching and 90-foot base paths.

Little League International is now preparing rules and regulations for regular season and tournament play. More information on this new division, including the site for its first World Series in August 2013, will be released in coming months.

Click here for the full story.

BEAR RIVER LITTLE LEAGUE 5/17/12

Majors

BR Angels vs GV Angels

The Bear River Angels used the long ball in their win over the Grass Valley Angels by a score of 19-4 which adds to their 13 game win streak. BR manager Sean Solomon called on Ryan Solomon to start on the hill, who picked up the win throwing two and a third innings with six strike outs and giving up no runs.
Jake Leonard got the first hit of game top of the first, Solomon walked and proceeded to get picked off at first before Scotty Sandstadt hit a fast ball off the scoreboard in right field which moved the score to 2-0.
The Angels went back to work at the plate in the third with Dylan Sinclair, Porter Elliott and Leonard walking to load the bases to start the innings action. Solomon singled which scored two. Sandstadt also picked up an RBI single and David Fenton drove a ball over the center field fence. The two RBI home run moved the score to 7~0. Owen Dalbon singled and stole second base but was left stranded.
Leonard was called to pitch with one out in the bottom of the third where he was able to get two GV batters to hit ground ball which got the BR Angels out of the inning.
Ryan Bradford led off the fourth for Bear River with a double to the gap in right center but the Angels failed to score him.
Leonard delivered a strike out, strike out and fly out in the back half of the inning.
Porter Elliott led off with a double in the top of the fifth, Leonard made it aboard on an error by the GV Angel short stop. Solomon hit a two RBI double that made the mery rule look inevidable at 10~0. Sandstadt kept the rally alive with a two RBI home run, his second of the game. Which resulted in a 12-0 lead. Dalbon singled. Hopper doubled off the left center field fence but the rally stalled.
In the bottom of the fifth Leonard strikes out the first batter, but gives up a double followed by a BR fielding error and a double which scored a Grass Valley Angel run. With the score 12-1 with one out in bottom of the fifth, Bear River manager Sean Solomon goes to Jordan Elliott to pitch. GV put a rally of their own together with a single, followed by a double which scores two. The next batter hit a ground ball to short stop and the runners were safe. Jordan Elliott got the next batter to ground out, getting out of the inning.
Bradford walked to start the sixth as did Sinclair and Anthony Crawford walk load bases. The Angels scored a total of seven runs in the inning
good for a 19~3 lead.
Sandstadt came in relief to close the game out. He did give up one run on a lead off walk, strikeout, fielding error and the run came across home on a dropped third strike strike out and he stuck the final batter of the game out in the 19-4 win.
The Bear River Angels travel to the Applegate Ball field on Saturday to take on the SF Orioles at 3 p.m.

BR Giants at PV White Sox

The Giants came into Wednesday night's game against the Penn Valley Whites Sox on a three game win streak, their longest of the season. BR moved it to four consecutive strong pitching proformance by Clay Corippo and Justin Kilgore in the 1-0 win on the road at Western Gateway Park in Penn Valley. The game was 0-0 through 5. In the top of the sixth, Tyler Rodriguez bunted safely, he advanced to third on a White Sox error and scored on a wild pitch for the only run of the game. 

The Giants stay on the road and travel to Condon Park to do battle with the Grass Valley Angeles at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Minors

BR Royals vs BR Blue Jays

The Bear River Royals dropped the Bear River Blue Jays by a score of 14-4 in a complete game. Pitching for the Jays were Mathew Sandstadt,  Sean Cullers, Connor and Aiden Black in the loss.

The Blue Jays play the SF Yankees and the Royals take on the SF Athletics both games are on Saturday.

BR Cards vs SF Brewers

The Bear River Cardinals hosted the Sierra Foothill Brewers also on Wednesday afternoon in what was a rematch game that went the same as the first contest. BR won with a final score of 11-10. The Cardinals called on first time pitcher Max Osorio to the hill, who gave up three runs with a strike out. Zachary Hurst came in relief and gave up four runs. and Adam Malic struck out three in the saving effort although the Brewers did give the home team a scare as they pulled within one in the fourth and final inning.

Leading the way at the plate for Cards manager Ralph Hurst were Caleb Hurst, Luke Barrieu, Osorio and Brennan Schad in the win.

Cards catcher, Sydny "Back Stop" Bishop put in a solid defensive effort.

On Saturday BR travels to Sierra Foothill for a contest with the SF Giants.

BEAR RIVER LITTLE LEAGUE 5/16/12

Majors

BR Angels vs BR Athletics

The Bear River Angels squared off against the Athletics in a BRLL match up that went in favor of the Angels 11-1 in five innings on Wednesday. Dean Hopper got his first start of the season for the Angels who earned the win, where Jacob Anderson started for the A's took the loss. Hopper went three and two thirds innings giving up two hits with five strike outs and no runs allowed. Angels manager Sean Solomon relieved Hopper of his duty with Scott Sandstadt who gave up an RBI single to Nathan Van Patten to move the score to 3-1, for the only A's run in the contest. Athletics' manager Dave Aldrich replaced Anderson with Trevor Hennig,


Hopper started the game with a strikeout and the Angels committed two errors placing pressure on the first time stater, he proceeded to strike out the next batter. The following batter grounded out to end the top of the first, getting his team out of an early jam.


The Angels jumped on Athletics starting pitcher in the first, good for two runs and the lead which they never gave up.

Bradford singled with two outs for the Angels but failed to score in the second.

In the Bottom of the third, Anthony Crawford walked to lead off, Jordan Elliott was hit by the pitch and Leonard singled to load bases. The Athletics third baseman made a throwing error which scored another Angels run. Sandstedt hit into a fielders choice which scored a run to move the score to 5~1 with two outs. Leonard scored from third on an A's wild pitch for a 6-1 lead. Fenton singled scoring Solomon, pushing the lead to 7~1. Owen Dalbon also hit safely but the Angels rally stalled to end the third.

In the bottom of the fourth Trevor Hennig was called to pitch for the A's, where he gave up a lead off single to Mason Giordano and Dylan Sinclair followed up with an RBI double to score Giordano. The Angels lead was 8~1.

Fenton ended the game with a walk off double in the fifth with a final score of 11~1.

Fenton closed the game for the Angels where Van Patten and Caleb Edwards also pitched for the A's.

The teams played once earlier in the season that ended in a 14-3 victory for the Angels. The game was closer than the final score stated. Henning gave up no hits through five innings of work for a 0-0 score. The Athletics manager made a pitching change and the Angels' posted 14 runs in the sixth.

BR Dodgers at SF Orioles

The Bear River Dodgers were hosted by the Sierra Foothill Orioles at Applegate Ball Park on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Dodgers won by a score of 19-4. The visiting team was led by Austin Baze who hit his first home run of the season and starting pitcher Harry Zea.

Dodger's manager John Dzioba also called on Elliot Bouchier, Joe Cregar, Bradley Dzioba and Seth Robinson to pitch in relief.


Bear River was led at the plate by Cregar who went 2-3 including a two RBI double, Dzioba 2-4 and Mason Riffey, Noah Gravatt, Jaden Gravatt and Robinson also hit RBI singles in the win.

The Dodgers will host the SF Nationals on Saturday at 7 p.m.

BEAR RIVER TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS OUTLOOK

As the weather heats up so is the Bear River Little League major playoff race. The battle for the second and final Tournament of Champions bid could very well be played out this Saturday at 7 p.m. on the major field,  between the Dodgers and Giants. B.R.L.L. will send only it's top two teams to compete in the District 11 area one tournament. Where they will compete with the likes of power-house organizations such as Tri-Cities, Rocklin and Lincoln. But in order to get that opportunity to represent the local league, the Giants (3-5) will have to go through the Dodgers (5-4). Earlier this year season the Dodgers dropped the Giants in a 10 inning game by a score of 3-2.  A win for the Giants would bring their loss record even with that of the Dodgers. Both teams would have defeated each other one time. That will bring about a debate if neither team lost another contest. Both teams could possible end the season with five losses along with a 1-1 head to head record. It could come down to, who did you lose to and who did you beat or by adding total score of both games together to decide who is the better team and most deserving of that final bid.

The BR Angels (8-1) have a clear handle on the first place spot and should be a lock for the TOC bid if they continue to play consistent baseball.

BEAR RIVER A's OVER BR GIANTS

The Bear River Giants jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second frame. Clay Corripo started on the mound for the Giants while Trevor Hennig started for the A's. Peyton McGovern, first baseman for the A's hit a two out two RBI double in the 6th to take the lead at 4-3. Jacob Anderson pitched the last two innings for the A's giving up only one Giant hit earning the win. Corripo was thrown out at third with Logan Jenkins at the plate to finish the game with the final score of 4-3. A's over the Giants.

The Giants will host the Sierra Foothill Angels on Friday night at 7 while the A's will travel to Colfax where they will play the Sierra Foothill Giants at 6 p.m.

BEAR RIVER LITTLE LEAGUE 4/28/2012

Cards and Giants score 55

On Saturday, The Bear River minor Giants hosted and fell to the BR Cardinals with a final score of 30-25 (the game ran 4 hours 20 min). The score was more in line with a football score than baseball. The Cards manager Ralph Hurst handed the ball to his stopper Sydney Bishop, who closed out the game with two strikeouts and a come back ground ball to end the sixth and final inning to earn the win.

Powell leads Yankees

Also in minors, the Bear River Little League Yankees traveled to Applegate ball park and defeated the Sierra Foothill Brewers 11-0 in four innings. The visiting Yankees manager Dave Rogers called on right handed starting pitcher Justin Powell, who recorded 10 strikeouts of a possible 12 outs and earned the win. Bear River was led at the plate by Ray Holcomb who hit a triple. The Yankees will take on the Sierra Foothill Giants Wednesday at 4:45 p.m. on the Bear River major field.

Dodger get out early

The marquee match up in the majors division on Saturday was the Bear River Dodgers vs the Bear River A's. The Dodgers jumped out early with eight runs in the first and the A's chipped away at the lead, but were unable over come the early set back. Pitcher Harry Zea held off the surging A's with the bases loaded in the last inning for the 8-6 win. Also pitching for the Dodgers was starter Bradley Dzioba who gave up one run, Josiah Cregar also gave up one and Elliot Bouchier went one and two thirds giving up three. Leading hitters for the Dodgers were Noah Gravatt who went two for three and Dzioba hit a double. A's starter Trevor Hennig took the loss for the A's while Caleb Edwards and Jacob Anderson pitched well in relief. Both relievers helded the Dodgers scoreless after the first. The Dodgers will look look to take their momentum into their Monday game where they will be taking on the league leading Angels at 7 p.m. While the A's will look to rebound on Tuesday when they square off against the BR Giants at 7 p.m.

THREE LEGS OF EDUCATION

Teaching and or coaching is a very demanding position in any community. Teachers have Star tests with very public numbers, and coaches have win loss records displayed in the sports section every day. My father was an educator and coach in Jackson, Michigan where I grew up, so other than my involvement as a school board member and as the father of two school aged children, I have a long history as to the demands of education. Teachers have a responsibility to teach every child to the best of their abilities, regardless of who walks through the door. Some children read or run faster than others, while many are engaged and others are not. Nevada County has some of the best schools in the state as well as the country. Many local schools have achieved Blue Ribbon status and a large number of Bear River and Nevada Union High School graduates attend college. This is due to teacher dedication, student commitment and parent support. Think of a stool. There must be three strong legs for it to stand. The educator, the student and the parents create a partnership for student success. If there is a failure by one of the three legs, the stool will not stand. If there is failure, the teacher or coach is usually the first to receive the blame. But instead of casting blame, it would be best for the sake of the student to find another way to motivate the learner if and when they struggle. A parent can take an active role by being involved as well as being inquisitive as to what their child is learning. They can ask questions, help with study/practice habits and volunteer in the classroom, field or court. Statistics show that children with parents who are involved in the classroom or coaching on some level, have a higher achievement rate. Parental actions speak louder than words to children. Teachers are paid to teach, students by law have to attend school, the parent is the only leg of the stool which is by choice and it takes three legs to make the educational stool stand.

Bruins hold Hillman scoreless for six innings

Bear River's varsity baseball team came into Tuesday nights contest looking to continue to move up in the PVL standings as the dropped the league leading Lincoln Fighting Zebras 7-1 on Monday. But on Tuesday they squared off against another team looking for a playoff spot and fell to the Hillmen of Placer High school by a score of 2-1. The Bruins scored in the bottom of the third to take the lead and held the cross-county rival scoreless until the top of the seventh when the they gave up two runs. Bear River falls to 4-6 while Placer moves to 6-4. The two team play again on Thursday at Placer High school at 4 p.m.

Bear River Little League 4/23/2012

The Bear River Angles were led by Ryan Solomon and Scott Sandstedt who combined threw a no hitter in a 6-1 victory over The Bear River Giants. The Angles broke the game open with a two RBI single to right field by outfielder Mason Giordano in the top of the fifth inning to break the 1-1 tie. Clay Corripo pitched a very solid game for the Giants but took the loss.

The Bear River Dodgers dropped the Penn Valley Padres in a shortened game with a score of 16-3.

In Minors action The Bear River Yankees defeated the Sierra Foothill A's 5-1. Brekyn Vasquez picked up the win.

Also in minors, The Bear River Royals fell for the first time this spring to SF Brewers 8-7.