SUTTER – The Yreka Miners accomplished much more this season than just about anyone expected—except, maybe the Miners themselves. Yreka, after starting the season 6-13 and 0-2 in the Northern Athletic League, won seven of its last eight league games to win the NAL, and earn a three-seed in the NSCIF D-II playoffs.

The Miners also won their first round playoff game against West Valley to reach the semi-finals for the second year in a row. In the semi-finals they fell to Sutter, 9-0. While the loss likely stings, the league championship and the way the players fought this season is a point of pride for Yreka Coach Jason Freitas.

“The way we started, we could have easily just cashed it in, but we did what hasn’t been done in 40 years (in Yreka). We won back-to-back league championships,” said Freitas. “We proved a lot of people wrong. You like to have the kind of kids that want to prove people wrong, and will work hard to do it.”