With a record of 21-3, Mt. Shasta Lady Bear pitcher Kayla Spini and her teammates are currently tied for the most wins in the North Section. Her ERA of 0.57 is the best in the Shasta Cascade League, where Mt. Shasta is tied for first place at 7-1, and her ERA is fourth in the section. Spini is second in the league in strikeouts (277), and third in the section. But, Spini isn’t just about shutting down her opponents’ bats. She can light up the opposing pitcher, as well.

Spini leads the Lady Bears in batting average (.549), RBI (29), and doubles (13). She’s second in the league in average and RBI (section 5^th & 6^th).

Spini is a sophomore.

Add up the numbers and the result is an Impact Player Award for Kayla Spini.

The Impact Player Award is given on a monthly basis and goes to Siskiyou County high school athletes, male or female, that have had a significant impact on the success of their team. I select the players based on my own observations, sometimes in consultation with the player’s coaches. (more…)

Kenyon caught it, while being pressured by Robert Gonzalez. He would be the man to shoot it….

‘No one in this gym works harder than Gene shooting the basketball,’ said (Bear Coach Kirk) Andrus. ‘He shoots over and over – he shoots that shot over and over. It was fitting that he had the ball in his hands. No one deserves it more.’

Kenyon stepped back, he stepped forward, he let it fly…GOOD!

That’s how SiskiyouYouth.com contributor and KCWH radio station owner/broadcaster Rick Martin described the final seconds of regulation in the Mt. Shasta Bears’ win over the Weed Cougars to secure a share of the Shasta Cascade League championship. Martin would go on to write about Kenyon also making the lay up that gave the Bears the lead for good in overtime.

I rarely base my Impact Award selections on statistics. Usually, I’m aware that the player has good stats, but I don’t really know them until I look them up. The funny thing is that the stats almost always are good enough to say,” Hey, this is one of the best players.”

And so it is with Kenyon. He was second in scoring on the Bears (9.5 ppg). First in field goal percentage, including 3-pointers (54%). And, first in free throw percentage (64%) among the starters. You could say he’s a sharpshooter. He also had the second lowest number of turnovers among the starters. A low amount of turnovers is a good thing because, in basketball, no one likes a baker.

I had texted Coach Andrus sometime after the game against Weed, and about 12:30 in the morning (or night, if you prefer), I received a text back “Are you still awake?”

“For about 10 more minutes,” was the reply.

Fifteen minutes later, Andrus called. Forty-five minutes later, we said good night. About 40 of those minutes were spent on Kenyon hitting the shot to send the game to OT. (more…)

Mt. Shasta Lady Bear Amanda Amesbury is an Impact Player. Why?

There are a few reasons. First, Amesbury was the Lady Bears’ top scorer (11.5 ppg) and 3-point shooter this season. She also had the best free throw shooting percentage among the starters. Coach Danny Hansen doesn’t post rebound stats, but rest assured that she was among the best at that as well.

Even more telling than her presence on the team this year, was her absence from the team at the end of last season.

The Lady Bears were 5-1 in the SCL last season, just a game behind eventual champ Etna, when Amesbury suffered a severe knee injury. Although she attempted a comeback, it quickly ended. Without Amesbury, Mt. Shasta went 2-4 the remainder of the season, finishing 7-5. With Amesbury back this year, the Lady Bears went 10-2 in the SCL and shared the title with Etna and Fall River.

I’d say that makes Amanda Amesbury an Impact Player Award Winner.

The Impact Player Award is given on a monthly basis and goes to Siskiyou County high school athletes, male or female, that have had a significant impact on the success of their team. I select the players based on my own observations, often in consultation with the player’s coaches. (more…)

Mt. Shasta Bear Mark Maumasi makes an impact every time he steps on the field. Often, it’s in the form of a bone crushing hit, and it can be from either side of the ball.

Earlier this season, Maumasi was instrumental in the Bears’ game winning drive against Yreka, pounding out chunks of yardage, before finally breaking a tackle to score the game-winning TD with nine seconds on the clock.

Last week, in the Bears 23-0 romp over Willows, Maumasi rushed for two TDs and around 150 yards. He also recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown. Stats aren’t available yet for the game, but rest assured that Maumasi had his share of tackles as well.

On the season, Maumasi leads Mt. Shasta in rushing, scoring, and tackles, leaving little doubt that he deserves an Impact Player Award.

The Impact Player Award is given on a monthly basis and goes to Siskiyou County high school athletes, male or female, that have had a significant impact on the success of their team. I select the players based on my own observations, often in consultation with the player’s coaches.

A total of four awards may be given each month and are not school specific; they can go to a player at any school that Siskiyou Youth covers. Winners receive Impact T-shirts that were designed by Golden Grotto. The T-shirts and award are cosponsored by SiskiyouYouth.com and NorCal Classic Hits radio, KCWH, 102.3/101.7

MOUNT SHASTA – Jennifer Mckinnon is the new principal at Mt. Shasta High School. McKinnon, who was the principal at Yreka High School for four years before migrating south, took a few minutes on Monday to talk to SiskiyouYouth.com about her new school.

Asked what she likes best about Mt. Shasta High, McKinnon was quick to answer.

“The people,” said McKinnon. “The students and the staff I’ve worked with so far are good. In education the things that you like best are the people. A lot of times it’s the students. But in my position, very often it’s the staff.” (more…)

So, what are you doing this summer? Sitting around eating nachos and playing video games? Maybe you’re doing something to prepare for next year’s sports seasons, like a little running, or playing hoops once a week. Or, maybe you’re truly dedicated and making a serious commitment to excel. For Mt. Shasta High School football player Tim Jaegel, it’s all about commitment and dedication.

Jaegel, a junior, said his goal after high school is to land a division-I football scholarship, and he knows that to even come close will require a tremendous amount of work—work he is willing to do.

“My long term goal after high school would be, of course, to get a scholarship to play division-I football, but I understand that to achieve a far fetched goal such as this I have to put in my share of hours in the weight room, track and the football field,” said Jaegel. “Right now, I’m going through a summer program that includes lifting and running three days a week. I run with Shannon Maas the track coach at COS to get my 40-yard-dash time down to a 4.7, and I lift with my step dad to also get me faster and stronger.”

In addition to the informal workouts this summer, Jaegel attended the University of California Full Contact Football Camp, held at UC Berkeley’s Memorial Stadium. The camp is run by Cal Head Coach Jeff Tedford and his staff. Jaegel said that he spent most of the three day camp working with tightends coach Pete Alamar. (more…)

Mt. Shasta Lady Bear freshman Kayla Spini is known for two types of impact—the impact of her pitches hitting catcher Tori Weatherford’s glove, and the impact of her bat hitting the ball.

Spini helped lead her Lady Bear team to the Shasta Cascade League championship and NSCIF D-IV runner up. Her record in the circle was 24-5, with an SCL leading ERA of 1.14. Her strikeout total of 278 was second in the SCL.

At the plate, Spini hit .408 with 40 RBI. She hit five homeruns, including a walk off in the bottom of the eighth inning in the first round of the playoffs against Yreka. Her home run total was tied for the best in the SCL, and she was second in RBI.

Spini’s other claim to fame at the plate was breaking pitcher Jessica Moore’s three-plus game no-hit streak, when Mt. Shasta played the Sutter “sports factory” in the section championship game. It was the only hit given up by Moore in the playoffs.

From the circle and the plate, Kayla Spini has earned an Impact Player Award.

The Impact Player Award is given on a monthly basis and goes to Siskiyou County high school athletes, male or female, that have had a significant impact on the success of their team. I select the players based on my own observations, often in consultation with the player’s coaches.

A total of four awards may be given each month and are not school specific; they can go to a player at any school that Siskiyou Youth covers. Winners receive Impact T-shirts that were designed by Golden Grotto. The T-shirts and award are cosponsored by Siskiyou Youth and NorCal Classic Hits radio 102.3/101.7.

Some players make an impact on offense, and some on defense. A few players make an impact on both offense and defense. Mt. Shasta Lady Bear catcher Tori Weatherford is one of those “few.”

The Lady Bears had a solid showing in the Lady Miner Softball Tourney last weekend, finishing third. Tori was one of their standout players, especially in the first two games.

In game-one against Corning, Tori did well with the bat, going 1/3 with a double, but her biggest impact on her team’s success came in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Mt. Shasta went into the inning up 3-1. Corning scored to make it 3-2, and had a runner on first with two outs. The runner attempted to steal second, but Tori came up firing to shortstop Donnetta Young for the tag to end the game. The play wasn’t even close.

In game-two, an 11-6 win over Yreka, Tori pulverized the ball. She went 3/3 with two homeruns and a double, driving in five runs and scoring a pair herself. (more…)

Exactly how do you determine if a player is having an impact on the success of his team? One way is to take a look at the statistics.

Forward Eric Thelander leads the Mt. Shasta Bears varsity basketball team in scoring, rebounding, and blocks. And in case you think the points come from being a ball hog, think again. Thelander also leads the team in assists, as well being second in steals.

Then there’s the Thelander “Thunder Dunk.”

The truth is that I’m not all that impressed by dunks. Most high school dunks are on breakaways, and they still just count as two points—same as a lay up.

However, when a player drives the lane and dunks over the defender, that’s impressive. Thelander can do it. Most other players around these parts can’t.

There’s no doubt that Thelander is making an impact, and has earned an Impact Player Award. Congratulations. (more…)

The third Impact Player Award for October goes to running back and linebacker Miguel Rodriguez of the Mt. Shasta Bears football team.

Early in the season I noticed Rodriguez in the back field, which was something new. Then, I noticed Rodriguez running over people and gaining big chunks of yardage. As the season has progressed, he’s shown more and more signs of being an Impact Player, on both offense and defense.

I began to think, “This guy deserves the award.”

One problem though, Miguel is my wife’s nephew, and I’ve always been a little uneasy about giving awards to family members. I’d never give one that wasn’t earned, but sometimes people are weird with their perceptions.

So, I explained the award to Mt. Shasta Bears football coach Mike Davis on the phone, and asked him to pick an Impact Player from his team. Davis thought for a few seconds.

“At this point, I would have to say Miguel Rodriguez. Overall, he’s played very, very well. He had four touchdowns against Pierce and 125 yards rushing. He also had 11 tackles and an interception. With the loss of Corben Brooks, he’s had to step up more on defense,” said Davis. “Miguel was going to play soccer this year. Thank goodness that he chose football.” (more…)