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Opinion by Ray Wolf

As I was setting up my video equipment in the orchard above the Etna softball field on Tuesday, I took a moment to watch and listen to the Lady Lion player introductions before their playoff game against Quincy. I had been aware of it all season, yet I was still struck by just how young the Etna team is.

The pitcher and catcher, Izzy Duerr and Sage Gomes are sophomores. At third base, Molly Schaefer is a freshman, as is Dani Eiler at shortstop. At second base is sophomore Renee Finley. In right field, frosh Kortni Bennett, and in left is junior Kelsey Eastlick. Designated hitter? Sophomore Mariya Whittaker. Even the coach, Harold Bennett, is only in his second varsity season.

Of the 10 players to start the game, only two are seniors. Jessie Eiler at first base, and Jasmine Bigham in center field.

The youth of the team isn’t a big surprise. It often happens in small school softball. What is pretty special is that this team of mainly freshman and sophomores are the Shasta Cascade League co-champions at 11-1. And, they were the three-seed in the NSCIF D-V playoffs–one win from being the two-seed. Even more impressive is that the young players more than did their part.

Stats for the team aren’t completely up to date, but if you went to MaxPreps you would see Gomes led the team in batting at .545 with 31 runs, 31 RBIs and 2 home runs. Schaefer .471, 30 runs, 21 RBIs and a dinger. Kortni Bennett .471, 19 runs, 22 RBIs. I’m not going to list ever player, but suffice it to say that the team batted .403, with 11 out of the 14 players on the roster batting .353 or better. Five players hit at least one home run. Four hit two or more. (more…)

Etna baseball coach Collin Krueger’s pick for the Scott Valley Real Estate Baseball Player of the Week is Tyler Murphy.

Murphy was 6/9 with 5 runs scored, 4 RBIs, and a pair of doubles in Etna’s double header sweep of Mt. Shasta last Friday.

Tyler, “hit the ‘doo doo’ out of the ball last week,” said Krueger (more…)

Etna varsity softball coach Harold Bennett has selected Kortni Bennett for the Happy Toes Etna Lady Lions Softball Player of the Week.

In the double header against Mt. Shasta last week, Bennett went 2/3, was hit by a pitch 3 times, walked twice, scored, and drove in a pair of runs. She also robbed a batter of a base hit by throwing her out at first base from right field. (more…)

Etna varsity softball coach Harold Bennett has selected Mariya Whittaker for the Happy Toes Etna Lady Lions Softball Player of the Week.

Whittaker went 9/16 last week from the plate, with a grand slam, 8 runs scored, 5 RBIs, and a pair of steals. (more…)

The Pepsi of Mt. Shasta Siskiyou County Track Athlete of the Week is Etna’s John Whelan.

Whelan won the 1600m and 3200m races at the West Valley Invitational last Friday in Oroville. He has the fastest 1600m (4:22.79) and 3200m (9:32.63) in the North Section this season. (more…)

Etna baseball coach Collin Krueger’s pick for the Scott Valley Real Estate Baseball Player of the Week is Zack Fleener.

Zack, “has been working very hard behind the plate and his defense has been great,” said Krueger (more…)

Etna varsity softball coach Harold Bennett has selected Dani Eiler for the Happy Toes Etna Lady Lions Softball Player of the Week.

After returning from an injury that sidelined her for two weeks, Eiler went 4/6 in a double header against Modoc last week, with a run scored, 2 RBIs, 3 triples, and a double. (more…)

Etna baseball coach Collin Krueger’s pick for the Scott Valley Real Estate Baseball Player of the Week is Trevor Stacher.

Stacher went 3/4 with a walk against Fall River last week (more…)

Etna varsity softball coach Harold Bennett has selected Sage Gomes for the Happy Toes Etna Lady Lions Softball Player of the Week.

Gomes went 12/22 last week, with 7 runs, 7 RBIs, 2 doubles, and a home run. (more…)

Etna varsity softball coach Harold Bennett has selected Molly Schaefer for the Happy Toes Etna Lady Lions Softball Player of the Week.

Schaefer went 8/12 at the plate at the Yreka tourney last weekend . (more…)

Etna baseball coach Collin Krueger’s pick for the Scott Valley Real Estate Baseball Player of the Week is Ricky Reynolds.

“Ricky Reynolds pitched two great games in Redding (CV tourney),” said Krueger.

Reynolds hit .300 at the tourney with 3 RBIs, and 2 runs scored (more…)

Etna varsity softball coach Harold Bennett has selected Izzy Duerr for the Happy Toes Etna Lady Lions Softball Player of the Week.

Duerr notched a pair of wins in Etna’s SCL opening double header at Trinity (Ya, we know that was a while ago). (more…)

Etna baseball coach Collin Krueger’s pick for the Scott Valley Real Estate Baseball Player of the Week is Preston Munson.

Asked who his player of the week was and why, Etna Coach Collin Krueger said, “P-Money. No hitter.” Pretty simple.

Munson tossed a no-hitter against Trinity last week. Two batters reached base. One on an error and another on a walk. Munson struck out 13. (more…)

Etna varsity softball coach Harold Bennett has selected Sage Gomes for the Happy Toes Etna Lady Lions Softball Player of the Week.

Gomes scored three times, drove in a pair of runs, and went 4/6 in Etna’s win over Yreka last week . (more…)

Etna baseball coach Collin Krueger’s pick for the Scott Valley Real Estate Baseball Player of the Week is Alex Berry.

Alex Berry’s, “defense was great. I had to move him to shortstop in one game and he proved himself,” said Krueger.

Berry also went 5/12 at the plate in three games last week, with 2 runs and 2 RBI. (more…)

Etna baseball coach Collin Krueger’s pick for the Scott Valley Real Estate Baseball Player of the Week is Tyler Murphy.

Murphy went 6/9 in the Marble Mountain Tourney last weekend, and played with, “great intensity,” said Krueger. (more…)

Etna varsity softball coach Harold Bennett has selected Jessie Eiler for the Happy Toes Etna Lady Lions Softball Player of the Week. Eiler went 6/13 with 8 RBI and 4 doubles at the Anderson Small Schools Tourney. (more…)