LEAGUE CHAMPIONS - 1980,1990,1991,1992,1994,1996,1997,1998,1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005
(above) #14 Robyn Lemos pitching against Redwoods
VALENZUELA HITS 3 RUN WALKOFF IN GAME 2
(5/10/09-Sacramento) Even though a couple more runs on Sunday would have been nice, Shasta College head softball coach Sonny Stupek had no complaints about how the season went. The Knights lost the first game of the best-of-three series on Saturday against Sacramento City, but came back to force a deciding game with a 5-4 victory on Sunday. However, the Panthers scored the go-ahead run on a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth inning in the second game Sunday to pull out a 2-1 victory and eliminate Shasta from the playoffs, just short of another trip to the state tournament. "I was really, really proud," Stupek said. "Our team did very well on Sunday. The kids played with great intensity and great heart." Stupek was more than happy with a 32-13 season that also saw the Knights set a school record for most homers in a season. It was a homer that briefly extended Shasta's season Sunday. Shasta went up 2-0 on a Brooke Downs sacrifice squeeze in the third inning and a Karma Rice solo homer in the fourth inning. However the Panthers (45-8), ranked third in the state entering the playoffs, scored twice in the fifth inning and twice more in the top of the seventh when Rice gave up two walks with the bases loaded. However, Becky Louber singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning since the Knights were considered the home team for the game due to a coin flip. Kaitlyn Patterson singled and two batters later, Becca Valenzuela hit a three-run, walk-off homer to force a deciding third game. "It was up and down all the way," Stupek said. "It was probably one of the better games I can remember playing them." Shasta had lost to Sac City 10-1 and 8-0 in two earlier encounters, so the Sunday victory was very satisfying. In the second game, the Panthers went up 1-0 before Shasta tied it in the third inning. Valenzuela doubled and scored on Jasmine McIntosh's RBI single. But Caly Lawson hit a solo homer off Rice in the bottom of the sixth and the Panthers all-state pitcher Kelli Reynolds bottled up Shasta to send Sac City into the state Elite Eight tournament this weekend. "You always want to win all of your games and be conference champions," Stupek said. "But every year, we want to play solid ball and field a good team." Stupek believed he did so this year with a group consisting mostly of local players. Shasta hit 48 home runs in 45 games, easily bettering the previous school record of 37. Normally, a Knights team under Stupek relies on pitching, defense and speed on the base paths. But the makeup of the team changed that this year. "We didn't have great foot speed," Stupek said. "We had to center things on a team that would slug it. Two or three times, we've led the state in stolen bases, but we were not that kind of team this year." There will be holes for Stupek and his coaching staff to fill next year. All-Northern California players Brooke Downs and pitcher/first baseman Cierra Rovera can possibly return for a sophomore season. Downs, a second baseman, led the league with a .476 batting average and also hit six homers with 43 RBI. Rovera batted .349 with 13 homers and 37 RBI while going 19-8 with a 1.72 ERA on the rubber. Another starter back is outfielder Patterson (.365) Valenzuela, a shortstop, batted .360 and with six homers and 27 RBI and led Shasta with 47 runs scored and 17 steals. She heads a group of two-year starters who are getting looks at four-year schools. Others include third baseman McIntosh (.308, 2 HR, 20 RBI), catcher Toni Barnes (.336, 5 HR, 27 RBI), outfielder Louber (.270, 2 HR, 15 RBI) and Rice (.274, 8 HR, 22 RBI). "This is going to be a hard group to replace," Stupek said. "But we're having a good recruiting year so far." However, Stupek is confident that the pieces will be found for potentially another successful season. "Anytime you can walk away knowing your team put it all out on the field, you can feel good about it," Stupek said about having the season come to an end.
FALL 5-2 DESPITE HOMERUNS FROM MCINTOSH AND DOWNS
(5/9/09-Sacramento) The Shasta College softball team lost 5-2 to Sacramento City in the opening game of a Northern California second-round playoff best-of-three series on Saturday. The Knights started out well with a first-inning solo home run by Jasmine McIntosh. Brooke Downs added a solo homer in the third inning. However, those homers and a double by Becca Valenzuela were the only hits Shasta (31-12) got against Panthers pitcher Kelli Reynolds, who struck out nine. Cierra Rovera struck out six but took the loss after Sac City got two runs after a Shasta error in the bottom of the fourth inning and tacked on three more an inning later. The two teams play at noon today. Shasta needs to win that game to force a deciding third game at 2 p.m. today. The winner of the series advances to the state softball tournament in Salinas starting Friday.
KARMA RICE LEADS KNIGHTS IN SWEEP
(5/4/09-Shasta College-Jeffrey Jen) The rain let up enough Monday to allow the Knights softball team to charge into the next round of the Northern California playoffs. Shasta College swept past San Joaquin Delta 7-6 and 12-0, the latter in five innings, to reach the second round in two wildly different games. Now the Knights (31-11), seeded eighth in NorCal, are headed to No. 2 Sacramento City for a best-of-three series with a chance to return to the state Elite Eight tournament. The two games were wildly different. In the first game, Shasta blew an early 4-0 lead and had to score two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning before finally winning on Karma Rice’s two-out RBI single. A coin flip allowed the ninth-seeded Mustangs to be the home team for the second game. But the Knights scored nine runs, highlighted by Jasmine McIntosh’s three-run homer, in the top of the first inning to run away with it. Backed by a strong defense, Rice then scattered four hits to complete a five-inning shutout and send Shasta on to the next round. The series originally was supposed to start on Saturday, but both teams decided to move it back a day to Sunday in an attempt to avoid the wet conditions. However, even Sunday’s start was rained out leading to a 9 a.m. Monday start and permission from the state’s Commission on Athletics to play the first two games of the best-of-three series on the same day.
KNIGHTS FAVORED
(5/4/09-Shasta College) Moving the playoff series back a day didn't help. The first game of the best-of-three series between the Shasta College softball team and San Joaquin Delta was rained out after officials from both schools decided to move the start from Saturday to Sunday to avoid wet conditions. But at 3 p.m. Sunday, the tarp was again covering the diamond at Shasta College's softball field. Now the first game between the eighth-seeded Knights the No. 9 Mustangs is scheduled for 9 a.m. today at Shasta College. Knights head coach Sonny Stupek is hopeful that the teams can play two games today. Usually only one game is played on the first day of a series, with the second on the second day and third, if necessary, later on the second day. However, the teams are facing a Tuesday deadline for completing the Northern California playoff series. If the teams can't get the series in before the deadline, usually the higher-seeded team advances. In that scenario, the Knights would move on. But Stupek wants to avoid backing into the next round. "We're going to do all we can to get these games in," Stupek said shortly after the game was postponed Sunday. School officials thought on Thursday that 3 p.m. Sunday would be the time when the weather would clear up enough for a game. While the field was drier about 1 p.m., the rain came in shortly after and never really let up until game time, forcing another postponement.
HOST DELTA
(4/23/09-Redding) The Shasta College softball team earned the Northern California junior college eighth seed as the playoff seeds were released Friday. The Knights (29-11) host San Joaquin Delta (34-13) in a best-of-3 series next weekend. The first game is at 2 p.m. next Saturday followed by a second game at noon may 3 and a third game, if necessary, at 2 p.m. May 3. College of the Siskiyous (41-3) earned the No. 1 seed and hosts No. 16 Yuba (14-26) next week. Should Siskiyous and Shasta win their first-round series then the Knights travel to face the Eagles in the second round the following week with a trip to the state tournament on the line. Siskiyous swept Shasta in all four Golden Valley Conference games for the past two seasons.
ROVERA, DOWNS, BARNES & RICE
(4/24/09-Shasta College) Four Shasta College softball players were chosen for the all-Golden Valley Conference team. The Knights had four selections led by freshmen Cierra Rovera and Brooke Downs. Rovera went 18-8 with a 1.57 ERA while striking out 185 batters in 155 2/3 innings, making the team as a pitcher even though she also smacked a school-record 13 homers. Rovera hit .367 with 37 RBI. Downs won the conference batting title, hitting .471. She also hit six homers with 40 RBI and 39 runs scored. Joining them are sophomore catcher Toni Barnes and sophomore utility player Karma Rice. Barnes converted from third base to catcher and batted .331 with four homers and 24 RBI while Rice pitched and played first base for the Knights. She went 9-2 with a 1.94 ERA and also batted .271 with eight homers and 21 RBI. Four other Knights made honorable mention: sophomore shortstop Becca Valenzuela, sophomore third baseman Jasmine McIntosh, sophomore outfielder Becky Louber and freshman outfielder Katelyn Patterson.
ROVERA HITS HR #13 FOR NEW SCHOOL RECORD!
(4/22/09-Susanville) Shasta 8-5, Lassen 0-0 - Cierra Rovera pitched a three-hit shutout over six innings in the first game and capped it off with a grand slam in the third inning. The homer is Rovera's 13th of the season, setting a new school record. Sephora Scoubes hit 12 homers in 2002. It was also the Knights' 41st homer of the season, a team record. In the second game, Karma Rice struck out five and allowed one hit to get the win. Toni Barnes was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI and Broke Downs went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI as Shasta finished its regular season 15-5 in the Golden Valley Conference and 29-11 overall.
KNIGHTS DROP PAIR
(4/18/09-Weed) Siskiyous 2-4, Shasta 0-3 - The Eagles' mastery over the Knights continued. Siskiyous scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth in Weed on a Shasta throwing error and took the victory after allowing just two hits to Shasta (13-5 Golden Valley Conference, 27-11). Toni Barnes and Kaitlyn Patterson earned those two hits. Shasta outhit Siskiyous 8-6 in the second game but still lost. Barnes finished 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI, Karma Rice hit a double with an RBI and Cierra Rovera chipped in a pair of hits.
NEXT UP COS
(4/17/09-Shasta College) With the playoffs on the horizon, the Knights took care of business at home on Friday. The Shasta College softball team delivered a workmanlike performance in sweeping visiting Feather River 5-2 and 5-0. Now the question is whether the Knights (13-3 Golden Valley Conference, 27-9) can finally break the College of the Siskiyous jinx. The Eagles host Shasta in a noon doubleheader today. Siskiyous hasn't lost a GVC game in a couple of years and swept the Knights on Shasta's turf on March 25. But Shasta wasn't worried about the Eagles on Friday. The Knights were busy trying to avenge their only other conference loss of the season against the Golden Eagles (7-11 GVC, 18-20-1) and improving their chances for playoff seeding. They did that, though Knights head coach Sonny Stupek had mixed feelings about his team's performance. "We played soft," Stupek said. "We didn't seem real into it. We were taking care of business and we did. "You want to play with high energy and sometimes, we don't have that intensity. We're going to have to need a lot of intensity (against Siskiyous)." Most of Stupek's disappointment came from his team's hitting. Despite a couple of homers over the two games, the Knights couldn't quite put together a big inning. Instead, it was a run here and a couple more there. But, the end result was still a couple of wins for the Knights. "It was a fun game," Knights sophomore catcher Toni Barnes said. "It felt like good practice for us." Shasta's top pitcher and cleanup hitter Cierra Rovera also was under the weather and didn't seem 100 percent. It didn't show until later in the afternoon as Rovera had more than enough stuff to pick up the win in the first game and improve her record to 17-6 on the season. Rovera struck out nine and allowed two hits and one walk in the first game. Feather River's only runs of the afternoon came on a two-run double by Heather Kelley in the bottom of the fifth. That hit still only made it 4-2 Shasta at the time. The Knights got the early lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning when shortstop Becca Valenzuela led off with a double and came home off a wild pitch. Karma Rice then provided the big Knights blow of the game with a three-run homer to right-center field in the bottom of the fourth. It was Rice's eighth homer of the season. Rice added a fourth RBI on a groundout, scoring Brooke Downs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Downs went 2-for-3 with two runs scored in the first game. The freshman from Liberty Christian got the Knights off to a fast start in the second game. After Valenzuela led off with a walk and advanced on a sacrifice bunt, she scored on Downs' triple to right. Two batters later, Toni Barnes doubled to right-center, scoring Downs and giving Shasta an early 2-0 lead. Barnes, who converted from third base to catcher this season, made it 3-0 in the bottom of the third inning with a solo homer that just stayed right of the left foul pole. It was Barnes' fourth homer of 2009. Rice made that stand, never allowing the Golden Eagles to get much offense going. Rice, a sophomore from Lassen High School, didn't record a strikeout but nonetheless scattered a mere two hits over five scoreless innings. Robyn Lemos came in and tossed two more scoreless innings to complete the shutout. "We didn't hit well today," said Golden Eagles centerfielder Codi Kaiser, who attended Anderson High School. "We have our ups and downs when it comes to that." Shasta left a few runners on base throughout the game, but added two insurance runs in the sixth inning on Jasmine McIntosh's sacrifice fly and Downs' RBI single. Downs finished 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs. Barnes was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Valenzuela went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. With Feather River out of the way, Shasta can turn its attention to its rival from up north. "We weren't thinking about Siskiyous today," Barnes said. "At least not until tonight." Shasta is also thinking about where it could go for the upcoming playoffs. Stupek figures his team is around a No. 5 to a No. 8 seed, which would give Knights home games for the best-of-3 first-round series, but not the second. The Knights also have a makeup doubleheader at Lassen that must be completed by Wednesday to count in the team records in time for playoff seeding. Victories in three of Shasta's last four regular-season games would give Stupek an 11th 30-win season in his 23rd season manning the Knights. However, it comes back to finally beating Siskiyous, which has had Shasta's number in recent years. That also means trying to solve Siskiyous ace Jackie Imhof (24-2, 0.42 ERA). Stupek is hopeful that his ace, Rovera, is healthy enough to go today. Imhof and Rovera battled to a 1-0 duel in the first game of the March 25 doubleheader at Shasta College. Both teams hit the ball well. The Knights entered the week hitting .335 as a team on the season. Siskiyous is hitting .334. Both teams also have a lot of pop with Shasta hitting their 39th and 40th homers of the season against Feather River. The Eagles have hit 27 homers entering the week. "I think we need to win at least one game to make sure we get a home series for the playoffs," Stupek said. Jeffrey Jen can be reached at 225-8228 or at jjen@redding.com.
Knights Win 10-1 & 3-0
(4/5/09-Eureka) Robyn Lemos, a freshman pitcher from Yreka, tossed a no-hitter as the Shasta College softball team swept host College of the Redwoods on Saturday. After the Knights won the first game 10-1, Lemos struck out seven in a 3-0 Shasta victory in the nightcap. Karma Rice and Becky Louber both went 3-for-4 for Shasta (11-3 Golden Valley Conference, 24-8) in the second game. However, the Knights left 16 runners on base. It didn't matter as Lemos, who is the No. 3 pitcher on the team behind Cierra Rovera and Rice, continued to blank the Corsairs. Rovera took the win in the first game, scattering two hits and striking out seven. She also went 3-for-3 with two homers and five RBI.
ROVERA WITH COMPLETE GAME AND TWO HOME RUNS
(4/3/09-Oroville) Cierra Rovera hit a two-run homer in each game of a double-header sweep of the Buttte College Roadrunners. Becky Louber hit a solo homer and Brooke Downs was 2-for-4 with two RBIs in the first game for Shasta (9-3 GVC, 22-8). In the second game, Karma Rice tossed a four-hit shutout over six innings with eight strikeouts. Downs and Rovera both went 3-for-4 with three RBIs apiece. Jamine McIntosh hit two doubles. Shasta is at Redwoods for a noon doubleheader today, 4/4/09.
OFFENSE EXPLODES WITH 17 HITS IN GAME ONE
(3/28/09) Shasta 12, Napa 2 - The Knights had 17 hits in five innings to earn the win. Karma Rice was the winning pitcher while Becca Valenzuela went 4-for-4 with four runs scored. Cierra Rovera drove in four runs while Jasmine McIntosh and Brooke Downs had three hits apiece for Shasta
(19-7). Shasta 4, Solano 3 - The Knights hung on for another win. Rovera got the win while Valenzuela was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. McIntosh was 2-for-4 with two RBI and Downs also had two hits.
KNIGHTS FALL 1-0 & 6-2
(3/25/09-Shasta College) There are several reasons the Eagles are the top-ranked junior college softball program in the state. Solid hitting up and down the lineup. Excellent defense around the field. And a tall pitcher named Jaclyn Imhof that dominates from the circle.The Shasta College softball team gave College of the Siskiyous its best shot, but the Eagles swept Wednesday's doubleheader 1-0 and 6-2. In the opener, one hit and one great fielding play was the difference in a pitching duel between Imhof, a sophomore, and Knights freshman Cierra Rovera. In the second game, the Eagles showed they could manufacture runs and wore down rival Shasta (6-2 Golden Valley Conference, 17-7). And like that, Siskiyous (10-0 GVC, 28-2) managed another sweep on Shasta's home field. "You never get much sleep the night before traveling to Shasta," Eagles head coach Doug Eastman said. "They always are good and they always play hard." Luckily for Eastman, he is able to hand the ball to Imhof. He also has sophomore shortstop Ali Paz, who broke up Imhof-Rovera duel in the first game when she hit a fourth-inning solo home run. "We tried to get her on an inside screwball," Knights head coach Sonny Stupek said. "But she stepped back before the pitch, so the ball came into the middle of her strike zone and she got all of it." Shasta second baseman Brooke Downs looked like she had an answer the bottom half of the frame. The freshman got a hold of an Imhof pitch that cleared the left-field fence. Only Eagles left fielder Shawna Mayo reached over the fence and brought it back. "I thought that the game was going to be tied," Eastman said. "But our freshman didn't panic. She found the fence and reached over and pulled it back in." That was the difference of the first game. The Eagles hit one out against Rovera and saved one for Imhof. Rovera struck out 12 and allowed three hits, while Imhof, who already has a full scholarship to San Jose State next season, scattered two hits and struck out eight. "Cierra pitched really well today," Stupek said. "Imhof is probably the best pitcher in the history of the Golden Valley Conference. She throws about 4-5 miles per hour harder and her balls have life on them. She doesn't have much off-speed stuff, but she doesn't need to. Plus, she's so tall, she's so imposing out there." Both coaches threw out their aces for the start of the second game. However, Eastman said Imhof has thrown more innings than Rovera and that may have prepared his pitcher to be more effective in the second game. "Rovera may gotten tired," Eastman said. "She didn't have as much velocity and she started missing her location a little bit." That allowed the Siskiyous lineup to catch up a little easier. Paz again got things going with a first-inning, solo homer to center. Rovera then got the first two outs in the second inning, but walked Angelina Cruz after getting ahead with a 1-2 count. Rovera plunked Crissy Watts next, which proved crucial when Nikki Kemper blooped a single into shallow left-center. Catherine Schorn then added another RBI single for a 3-0 Eagles lead. Siskiyous extended things to 4-0 when Carleen Morgan led off with a double and scored on Shasta shortstop Becca Valenzuela's throwing error. Karma Rice came in for the Knights in the fifth inning and allowed an RBI single by Cheyanna Ohlrich to make it 5-0 Eagles. Meanwhile, Imhof got great defensive support. Ohlrich robbed Rovera of a hit in the fourth inning on a bloop shot to shallow right. Eagles center fielder Katie Zauner then make a diving catch on a Toni Barnes line-drive. Rice led off the fifth with a screamer that Watts caught with a quick stab of her glove hand at third base. Valenzuela led off the bottom of the sixth with a homer to center off Imhoff, which set the Shasta record for most runs scored with 85 in her career. Wendy Layton had 84 runs over two years in 2000-2001. Jasmine McIntosh got on due to a Watts throwing error. But, Shasta couldn't push her across. Ohlrich got the run back with an RBI double in the seventh, finishing 2-for-4 with two RBI for the game. Candance Sannadan went 2-for-2 against Imhof in second game. But the sophomore allowed four hits over six innings and struck out six. Jordyn Brown then tossed a scoreless seventh for Siskiyous to complete the sweep.
300th GVC WIN FOR STUPEK
(3/21/09-Shasta College) The Shasta College softball team swept Butte in a Friday home doubleheader, giving head coach Sonny Stupek his 300th career conference win. The Knights won the first game 5-1 as Cierra Rovera hit a solo homer and struck out 10. Becky Louber was 2-for-2 with an RBI for Shasta. Shasta (6-0 Golden Valley Conference, 17-5) then edged the Roadrunners 5-4 in nine innings. The two teams tied 3-3 after seven innings. The Roadrunners scored a run in the top of the run when teams used international rules of starting with a runner on second base. However, Shasta's Kaitlyn Patterson had an RBI single before Rovera hit a game-winning single up the middle with two outs.
CIERRA ROVERA PITCHES ONE HITTER
(3/18/09-Shasta College) The Shasta Lady Knight softball team continues to ride to ride the strong right arm of their ace, freshman Cierra Rovera. The Knights swept Lassen College in a double header winning 8-0 & 9-0. Rovera pitched a one hitter in the first game while striking out 13 Cougars. Becca Valenzuela, Brooke Downs, Toni Barnes and Candace Sannydan all had two run singles. In game two Karma Rice kept the Cougars scoreless and picked up the win. Rovera and Valenzuela powed the Knights at the plate both hitting home runs in the 9-0 Knight win.
GOOD START TO GVC PLAY
(3/11/09-Shasta College) The Lady Knights start GVC competition on the right foot with a double header sweep of College of the Redwoods, winning 10-0 & 4-1. Freshman pitching sensation Cierra Rovera got the win in game one. Cierra had seven strike outs in her complete game victory. Shasta broke the game open with a nine run third inning. Karma Rice led the Knights at the plate going 3-3 and scored 2 runs. Becky Louber was 2-2 with a homerun, Becca Valenzuela was 2-2 with 2 runs scored and Brooke Downs continued her great start going 2-3 with a run scored and 2 RBI’s. Game Two saw freshman Robyn Lemos get the start against COR. Robyn held the Corsairs to one run in 4 2/3 innings. Brooke Downs did most of the damage at the plate with two home runs. In a 1-1 game the Knights broke open the game with two outs in the bottom of the 4th inning. Jasmine McIntosh got things started with a single down the left field line. Brooke then stepped to the plate and put the Knights ahead for good with her second homer of the game. Karma Rice added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning with another Knight home run. Karma’s blast made the final score 4-1, Shasta.
The Lady Knights start GVC competition on the right foot with a double header sweep of College of the Redwoods, winning 10-0 & 4-1. Freshman pitching sensation Cierra Rovera got the win in game one. Cierra had seven strike outs in her complete game victory. Shasta broke the game open with a nine run third inning. Karma Rice led the Knights at the plate going 3-3 and scored 2 runs. Becky Louber was 2-2 with a homerun, Becca Valenzuela was 2-2 with 2 runs scored and Brooke Downs continued her great start going 2-3 with a run scored and 2 RBI’s. Game Two saw freshman Robyn Lemos get the start against COR. Robyn held the Corsairs to one run in 4 2/3 innings. Brooke Downs did most of the damage at the plate with two home runs. In a 1-1 game the Knights broke open the game with two outs in the bottom of the 4th inning. Jasmine McIntosh got things started with a single down the left field line. Brooke then stepped to the plate and put the Knights ahead for good with her second homer of the game. Karma Rice added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning with another Knight home run. Karma’s blast made the final score 4-1, Shasta.
LADY KNIGHTS SCORE 26 RUNS IN SWEEP
(3/1/09-Ukiah) The Knights swept host Mendocino 13-0 in five innings and 13-3.Robyn Lemos allowed one hit over five innings with four strikeouts in the first game. Jasmine McIntosh and Toni Barnes both went 2-for-3 and both hit two-run homers in the top of the fourth. Karma Rice was 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in the fifth and Brooke Downs went 4-for-4 with a triple and three RBI. In the second game, Rice struck out seven for the win and also went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer in the first inning. Barnes was 3-for-5 with three RBI, McIntosh was 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI and Downs went 3-for-5 with a double.
VENTURA, AMERICAN RIVER AND FRESNO ALL FALL
(3/7/09-Bash at Buchanan) The Knights had a good weekend at the Bash at Buchanan going 3-1 for the two day event. The Knights topped Ventura 3-1, Fresno 9-3 and America River 12-1. Shasta ended the event with a 10-1 loss to Sacramento City College on Sunday.
Shasta 3-1 Ventura - Winning pitcher was Cierra Rovera, eight innings pitched and only two hits allowed. Jasmine McIntosh had a triple for the Knights.
Shasta 9-3 Fresno - Winning pitcher was Cierra Rovera, seven innings, seven hits allowed and she struck out six Fresno hitters. As a team the Knights had eight hits, two a piece by Brooke Downs and Cierra Rovera, double and homer by Rovera.
Shasta 12-1 ARC - Pitchers Karma Rice and Robyn Lemos combine for a three hitter with Rice getting the win. As a team the Knights broke the game open with four runs in each of the first three innings. Becca Valenzuela lead the way at the plate going 3-3. Kim Davis was 2-2 and she scored a run. Shasta had three home runs, Barnes, Rovera and Brenner each connecting for a big fly.
ROVER AND RICE LEAD SWEEP
(2/27/09-Santa Rosa) Behind the strong pitching of Cierra Rovera and Karma Rice the Lady Knights swept Santa Rosa in a double header 5-1 & 9-1. Rovera got the win in game one settling down after giving up a run in the first inning and shutting out the BearCubs the rest of the way. Cierra struck out 10 Santa Rosa hitters. Cierra is now 3-0 on the season. The Lady Knights were powered at the plate by Brooke Downs (3-4 with 2 runs scored), Candyce Sannadan (2-3, a home run, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI’s) and Becky Louber (2-3). Karma Rice led Shasta on the base paths stealing 2 bases. In game two, Karma Rice held the BearCubs to 5 hits while striking out 2 in Shasta’s 9-1 rout. As a team, the Knights had a big day at the plate amassing 23 hits on the day (13 in game two). Brooke Downs had a big game going (3-4, with 3 runs scored and 3 RBI’s, 6-8 on the day!), Becca Valenzuela (3-4, 3 RBI’s), Karma Rice (2-3, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI’s) and Cierra Rovera (2-3).
ROVERA GETS SECOND WIN
(2/20/09-Merced) It is not taking the Lady Knights long to find their “ace.” With Cierra Rovera leading the way the Knights took the opener of a double header with Merced winning 6-2. Brooke Downs led the way at the plate getting three hits in four at bats. The Lady Knights put the game away with a three run second inning. The Lady Knights fell 5-2 in the second game as Merced scored all five of their runs in the second inning. Robyn Lemos took the loss. The Lady Knights are 2-2 on the season.
ALSO HITS HOMERUN
(2/19/09-Rocklin) Cierra Rovera started the Lady Knight’s season and her college career in style. The Lady Knights stopped Sierra College 2-0 as Cierra pitched a no hitter and hit a homerun for the 1-0 Lady Knights. Shasta had seven hits in the eight inning game lead by Jasmine McIntosh (2-4) and Rovera (1-3 and a home run). Shasta fell in game two 7-0 to the Wolverines. Karma Rice took the loss pitching 4 2/3 innings. Cierra Rovera again led the way at the plate going (2-3 with a double).
TALENTED GROUP FOR '09
(2/1/09-Shasta College) The staff and players on this year’s Lady Knight squad are excited about the talented group in 2009.There are 7 returners from last year’s State “Elite 8” (41-16) team to be counted on and much will be expected of this group as we look to replace a great graduating class. Departing standouts include 1B Amanda Schuler (Central Valley HS) who became Shasta’s 19th All-America selection (.452) in 2008, following sister Christine’s footsteps (’04-’05). Both starting All-GVC pitchers Michael Eustance (CSU Northridge) and Corrie Nishikida (Metro St. CO) are gone, leaving a huge void on the mound. As we work to fill out another quality team there is much to anticipate in ’09 as Coach Stupek enters his 23rd year needing only five victories to reach a record 300 wins in the Golden Valley Conference and nears 700 total career wins (4th among the 83 current state coaches). Leading this year’s team is All-Nor-Cal SS Becca Valenzuela (Red Bluff HS) who hit .428 and led the entire State in runs scored with a Shasta record 64 in 2008. Behind the plate will be the versatile all-around athlete Jasmine McIntosh (Enterprise HS). Jazzy has starred as one of a handful of three-sport stars (VB,BB,SB) at Shasta College. Power hitting Toni Barnes (Marysville HS) will play 3B and bat in the middle and Academic All-American Becky Louber (Champion Christian HS) will roam all over the outfield and lead us as one of our Captains. Transfers Karma Rice (Lassen HS, SWOCC) has been an early season surprise as she looks strong and athletic at 1B and pitcher. North State standout Brooke Downs (Liberty Christian HS) looks to lead us at 2B and at the plate with an impressive set of skills. Rounding out our talented sophomore group are DH-3B power hitting Candyce Sannadan (Red Bluff HS) and outfielders Tasha Brenner (Twin Falls, ID) and Academic All-American Kim Davis (Foothill HS). Our freshman group is led by pitcher/1B Cierra Rovera (West Valley HS) who has demonstrated amazing power at the plate. Also at pitcher is Yreka HS standout Robyn Lemos who has improved greatly during the fall season. Centerfielder Shelbi Garcia (Palmdale, CA) has shown incredible range and arm strength and should have a fine year. Kaitlyn (KP) Patterson, (Eugene, OR) has been one of our most constant and valuable performers so far this year. Chelsea Meyer (Anderson HS) continues to impress with her raw athletic talents and is Coach Stupek’s 1st second generation player having coached her father Darryl (SC Football’86). Catchers Amber Sinnott (Yreka HS) and catcher/OF Sam Jordan (Happy Camp HS) will compete for positions and round out this year’s Lady Knight squad.