SAN FRANCISCO - Leo Durocher once said nice guys finish last. Someone later amended that and said nice guys finish last, good guys finish first.
A five-run fourth inning put the University of Nevada ahead for good on its way to a 7-5 Western Athletic Conference win against Louisiana Tech on Friday night in Ruston, La.
Jamie Engan took second in the 100-yard freestyle and Kevin Dyer was third in the 1,650 free to lead another solid effort by the Carson Tigersharks swim club at the Far Western Championships on Friday in Morgan Hill, Calif.
Last week, college basketball fans again were overcome with March Madness.
Nevada broke open a 2-2 game with seven runs in the middle three innings en route to an 11-5 Western Athletic Conference victory against Louisiana Tech Thursday night at J.C. Love Field inRuston, La.
Jamie Engan of the Carson Tigersharks gave a strong opening-day performance at the Far Western Short Course Championships as she swam to gold medals in the 17-18 girls age group 200- and 1,650-yard freestyle races on Thursday in Morgan Hill, Calif.
First-year coach Steve Cook admitted he is surprised at Carson High's quick start, especially when you consider the plethora of young players and a new coaching staff.
It's the best kept secret in Northern Nevada. There will be no national television coverage. But there will be a shot at winning a national title.
Carson High baseball coach Steve Cook has used a type of aggressive, hit and run baseball so far this season. But this isn't what he had in mind.
It would be hard to find a club - on any level in any sport - that has never lost. That's what the Carson bowling team can claim.
For just a few minutes last Saturday, you had to feel sorry for Douglas High softball coach Jim Puzey.
Carson High graduate Dusty Bergman may have seen his last action with the Los Angeles Angels in spring training on Tuesday.
Any true baseball fan has heard of Lou Gehrig ... knows he was a Hall of Fame first baseman for the New York Yankees ... and that the "Iron Horse" set a record of playing in 2,130 consecutive games between 1925 and 1939 that stood for some six decades before Cal Ripken Jr. broke it in 1995.
Carson High graduate Lauren Costella will compete this week in the World Championship trials in swimming.
It has been less than two weeks since Nevada ended its basketball season with a disappointing 71-59 loss to top-ranked Illinois in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Was the finish of last Sunday's race at Atlanta Motor Speedway a microcosm of the entire Nextel Cup season?
Matt Moore ran to fourth-place in the boys 400-meter intermediate hurdles and Kayla Sanchez placed sixth in the girls finals on Saturday to provide the best finishes for Carson High School during the 31st annual Stanford Invitational track and field meet.
The Dayton High softball team looked like it was on the way to splitting a doubleheader with Sparks, but ended up suffering a heartbreaking sweep.
The Galena High baseball team came within a lost flyball in the sun of sweeping Spanish Springs on Saturday.
The University of Nevada baseball team (11-10, 0-2 in the Western Athletic Conference) dropped its second game in a row to 14th ranked Rice (18-8, 2-3 in the WAC), falling 14-6.
SPARKS - You'll have to forgive the Douglas High Softball team if it looked as though it had fallen victim to some horribly cruel prank Saturday at the Shadow Mountain Sports Complex in Sparks.
SPARKS - Carson High's softball team split its two games at the annual Reed Easter Tournament Saturday afternoon at the Shadow Mountain Softball Complex.
The Carson High baseball team gutted out a 6-2 win on Friday at Bishop in preparation for a high-powered tournament in San Jose next week.
The Douglas softball team began its defense of the Reed Easter Tournament title in style Friday afternoon, defeating Central Linn, Ore., 14-0 in the opener and avenging its only loss during last year's tournament with a 5-0 victory over rival McQueen in the afternoon.
RENO - Nevada football coach Chris Ault gave his team a thumbs up after the Wolf Pack concluded their spring practice with the annual Silver-Blue scrimmage.
Carson High's Matt Moore turned a top-10 time in the boys 110-meter prelims and Galena's Dan Geib ran to third-place in the boys 3,000-meter finals to provide local highlights on the opening day of the 31st annual Stanford Track and Field Invitational on Friday.
SPARKS - The Carson High softball team showed on Friday afternoon that it does have playoff potential by defeating Wooster 5-0 during the 21st annual Reed Easter Tournament at Shadow Mountain Sports Complex.
It took a little while to get the bats warmed up, but after three innings the Douglas baseball team was looking a whole lot like last year's big-bopping Tigers.
Fernley High looks to be well on its way to earning an NIAA 3A State Tournament berth in boys golf and Dayton may join the Vaqueros.
Revenge is a good way to motivate any team at any time and in any sport.
It could be referred to the shot heard 'round the Northern 4A.
Kevin Costa rolled his second perfect 300 game in bowling on Tuesday at the Carson Lanes.
Michelle Drury hit a dramatic, walk-off grand slam home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to propel the Galena softball team to a 6-4 win over Elko on Thursday.
Perfection was a goal the Carson High School softball team tried to achieve on Wednesday.
College basketball's national championship tournament always lives up to its billing of March Madness
The Fallon High golf team appears to be the team to beat in the Northern 4A after the first league tournaments were held on Tuesday.
When Jeff Mark turned 40 a couple of years back, he decided to start running and try a marathon. The Gardnerville resident accomplished his mission last October when he completed the Biz Johnson Trail Marathon near Susanville, Calif., covering the 26.2-mile distance in 4 hours, 35 minutes, 57 seconds.
RENO - For the past two years, Nevada's Tony Moll has been laboring in relative obscurity at tight end.
Heather Matthew had an excellent outing on the mound to lead the Fernley softball team to a 6-1 win over Dayton on Tuesday.
The Carson High golf team overcame a tough start in brutal conditions to take second in its opening Sierra League tournament of the season on Tuesday at Sierra Sage at Stead.
Two spots. It may not seem like much, but it appears to have made a world of difference to Kevin Schlange.
The alpine skii season makes its final stop at Mammoth Mountain, March 31-April 5 for the Oroweat 2005 U.S. Alpine Championships.
Abby Niehoff and Kevin Dyer were both triple winners for the Carson Tigersharks Swim Club on Saturday and Sunday at the Reno Aquatic Spring Fling.
There were tears, and you expect that.
The Judicial Branch of the NASCAR Nation was busy last week, levying fines and suspensions, and docking points in the wake of the Las Vegas Nextel Cup race.
The Carson boys and girls track teams made a statement on Saturday in a meet with several teams at Damonte Ranch.
Carson High graduate Lauren Costella capped off her time at the NCAA Women's Swimming Championships with an All-American performance.
INDIANAPOLIS - When you play a team as talented offensively as Illinois, you have to pick your poison in terms of what you want to stop and what you are willing to give up.
INDIANAPOLIS - A late 9-1 run carried Kentucky to the Sweet 16 for the 41st time in school history.
INDIANAPOLIS - Kevinn Pinkney has always been a favorite of coach Mark Fox, and his play in Nevada's 71-59 loss to Illinois Saturday capped off a tremendous career.
The Carson High boys and girls swim teams had many impressive efforts in sweeping past Douglas High on Saturday.
The Galena High softball team swept a doubleheader from Manogue on Saturday in High Desert League action, winning the opener 177-1 and the nightcap 18-9.
RENO - University of Nevada heavyweight John Lorman entered Saturday's National Collegiate Boxing Association (NCBA) Western Regional Championships with his back against the wall.
Under the circumstances it could be somewhat understandable that the Carson High baseball team didn't come out like gangbusters.
RENO - There's a reason why old school boxing coaches feel that left-handed fighters should be drowned at birth and for the better part of two rounds Friday, Nevada 165-pounder Ryan Healy found out why.
INDIANAPOLIS - Once in a lifetime opportunity.
SQUAW CREEK - Mike Nolan doesn't believe in quick fixes. But he doesn't believe the San Francisco 49ers can't return to their glory days quickly, either.
INDIANAPOLIS - Only 85 miles separate Kentucky and Cincinnati, two of the most storied programs in NCAA history. However, the two powers haven't met since the 1990-91 season.
Carson High graduate Lauren Costella appears to be peaking at the right time heading into her best event at the NCAA Women's Swimming Championships.
Douglas High graduate Shawn Estes and Carson High graduate Dusty Bergman both saw action on Friday in Major League Baseball Spring Training games.
INDIANAPOLIS - Kyle Shiloh has been the forgotten man during Nevada's run to the WAC regular-season title and the NCAA Tournament.
March Madness is upon us and Bobby Andreasen almost wrote his own Cinderella story as an assistant coach with the Chico State men's basketball team.
INDIANAPOLIS - Mo Charlo came to Nevada with a lot of notoriety, and during the last month he's lived up to all the hoopla.
INDIANAPOLIS - Only four times in NCAA history has a No. 2 seed upset a No. 15 seed. The Eastern Kentucky coaching staff made sure its players knew all about that.
Carson High graduate Lauren Costella tuned up for the next two days in the NCAA Women's Swimming Championships by taking 52nd place in the 500-yard freestyle on Thursday.
Mike Teixeira took a perfect game into the fifth inning and settled for a one-hitter as the Carson high baseball team opened Sierra League play with a 14-0 win at Hug on Thursday.
Sam Armstrong and Travis Wade were triple threats for the Dayton Heat Wrestling Club at the Nevada Greco-Roman/Freestyle State Tournament last weekend in Spring Creek.
While no official state champion could be determined, the Carson Bulldogs youth wrestling club could make the arguement that it's the best in Nevada.
INDIANAPOLIS - A year ago, Nevada was one of the Cinderella stories of the NCAA Tournament after posting upset wins over Michigan State and Gonzaga, and barely losing to Final Four participant Georgia Tech.
When making point spread wagers or filling out brackets for college basketball's NCAA tournament, handicappers should first weigh some important factors.
INDIANAPLOIS - Though just freshmen, Nevada's Ramon Sessions and Texas' Daniel Gibson have meant a great deal to their basketball teams.
RENO - Timing is everything in boxing and with the regular season now out of the way the University of Nevada boxing team is hoping it's their time to peak.
The Washington Nationals Major League Baseball team optioned Carson High graduate Darrell Rasner to their Double A affiliate in Harrisburg, Pa., of the Eastern League on Wednesday.
Carson High graduate Terah Laack helped Oregon's George Fox University's women's track team to a third place finish in the 1,600-meter relay during the Northwest Conference South Meet last Saturday at Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore.
It's as about a tough of a way to open a season against one's arch rival who has aspirations of winning a state title.
The Galena softball team swept a doubleheader from Elko, winning 5-2 and 18-2. In the opener, Danelle Moropolous hit a two-run home run in the top of the first inning to give the Grizzlies a 2-0 lead.
Jason Knowles drove in two runs, and three pitchers combined on a four-hitter to lead the Carson High baseball team to a 4-1 triumph over Fallon Monday night in the final game of the Carson Preseason Tournament at Ron McNutt Field.
Rick Barnes has now taken the Texas Longhorns to seven straight NCAA Tournaments, and on Monday he showed his comedic side.
Not the best ski and snowboard conditions this weekend, but at worst snowsporting in the Sierra Nevada is better than watching television. Lots of things going on and while it may be a bit rainy Friday and Saturday, that's what slickers are for.
RENO - For the second straight year, Nevada is going dancing.
Murph Gardner came to the plate in the fourth inning simply looking to hit the ball to the outfield, but he managed to do better than that.
RENO - UTEP got help from the expected and unexpected in beating Boise State for the WAC Tournament championship and a second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Bub Madrid isn't the likeliest of power hitters for the University of Nevada baseball team.
RENO - D.J. Brady was right on the spot twice Saturday for the Douglas baseball team as the Tigers took an 8-7 victory at Galena.
Carson High graduate Darrell Rasner had another solid outing for the Washington Nationals on Saturday in a 6-3 win over the Florida Marlins in a Spring Training baseball game.
The Douglas Tiger softball team wrapped a successful opening weekend with a win at the Best of the West Tournament in Bullhead City, Ariz.
Carson High graduate Ryan Henry pitched five shutout innings for Lassen Community College in a 10-1 win over College of Redwoods on Saturday in a Golden Valley Conference game.
When Nevada lost to Boise State, I admit that I wasn't sure if the Wolf Pack would make their second straight appearance.
Jack Jacquet pitched a pretty good game for the Carson High baseball team on Friday night. Joe Gustin of Lassen (Susanville, Calif.) was just a little better, as he pitched a complete game shutout to beat the Senators 3-0 during the Carson Preseason Tournament.
Jed Soto always likes to come back to Reno. His homecoming has been especially nice so far.
Aside from some first-inning jitters, the Douglas baseball team couldn't have asked for a much better way to open the season.
RENO - The eyes of Texas are upon the Miners.
RENO - It was a game for the ages.
It didn't take long for the Douglas softball team to work out some the frustration it has been dealing with since last May.
RENO - Rice broke its semifinal basketball game open midway through the second half Friday and then withstood a barrage of 3-point shots to defeat San Jose State, 76-68, in the WAC Women's Basketball Tournament at Lawlor Events Center.
Carson High graduate Terah Laack has qualified for the Northwest Conference Championships in women's track for Oregon's George Fox University.
Don't expect the Carson High baseball team to hit a lot of home runs this season. Instead, the Senators will be banking on small ball and smart ball to achieve success.
Ja'Vance Coleman lit up the scoreboard throughout the second half Thursday to give his Fresno State Bulldogs a second chance against Louisiana Tech.
RENO - In two previous games this season Rice edged in-state rival Southern Methodist University in overtime.
RENO - A high bounce proved fatal for Nevada, and cost the Pack a chance to defend their WAC Tournament crown.
Did Boise State's stunning upset of Nevada ruin the Wolf Pack's chances of making the NCAA Tournament.
Yerington's Jesse Brinkley is still a contender.
RENO - The much-ballyhooed showdown between Hawai'i and UTEP wasn't much of a game.
It's hard to believe, but college basketball's Selection Sunday is already just two days away. March Madness is in full swing with numerous conference tourneys helping to determine which schools will make it to the 65-team NCAA tournament. These tourneys are always extremely difficult to predict, as upsets are certain but not easy to pinpoint.
RENO - Nevada puts its 10-game winning streak on the line tonight when it faces eighth-seed Boise State in a quarterfinal game at the WAC Tournament.
RENO - It was almost over before it started.
Now is when the snowsporting really gets good. Sunny days, light crowds, resort decks where the cheese and baugette tastes best.
RENO - The Nevada women hung tough for a half, but in the end Rice was too athletic and too strong.
RENO - San Jose State used defense and the inside scoring of Amber Jackson and Lamisha Augustine to knock off Tulsa 63-60 in a WAC Tournament quarterfinal game Wednesday night at Lawlor Events Center.
RENO - Erica Taylor is starting to round into shape, and that's bad news for the rest of the WAC teams and anybody else that Louisiana Tech might see in the NCAA Tournament.
RENO - Sometimes change is good for a basketball team. Fresno State's women's basketball team can attest to that.
Donovan Osborne is at it again.
It wasn't too long ago that Carson High won the state title in boys basketball. At least it seems that way.
RENO - The Nevada women know they have their hands full tonight against Rice.
Perhaps boxing promoter Don King's catchphrase should be amended from "Only in America" to "Only in the IBF."
RENO - Jason Ellis enjoyed a record-setting night, and was a huge reason why Boise State remained alive in the WAC Tournament.
RENO - One would think after giving Nevada its toughest game of the season three days ago that San Jose State would be ready to make some noise at the WAC Tournament.
RENO - For the first time since the 1999-2000 season, Nevada finally won a post-season game.
Douglas High's Keston Denny captured fourth-place in bull riding on Saturday during the Pahrump Valley High School Rodeo.
Carson High's open gym for volleyball will begin today at Morse Burley Gym. The open gym will be held every Monday and Wednesday through June 1.
Nine-year-old Dominik Freeman of Carson City led the Desert Dogs squirt ice hockey team over the weekend as it went 1-1 against the Vacaville North Stars in Reno.
Life is good for Darrell Rasner. He's a new father. And he's still pitching at the Major League Baseball level.
RENO - The focus was to take care of the basketball and keep UTEP off the offensive glass.
When Billy McHenry first took over as head coach of the Carson Senators roller hockey club in 2003, one of the first things he did was remember the words of his own high school football coach.
The rise to the upper echelon of the college basketball world has been meteoric for Nevada's Nick Fazekas.
Two Northern Nevada boxers will help usher in a new era of boxing coverage with tonight's premier episode of "The Contender," which begins at 8:30 p.m. on NBC.
RENO - As expected, Nevada swept the men's major postseason basketball awards voted on by the Western Athletic Conference head coaches.
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Nick Fazekas wore a hockey-type mask to protect his broken nose, and said he would probably wear it the rest of the season.
NEVADA (23-5, 15-2) at SAN JOSE STATE (6-21, 3-14)
Winning is the objective of the Carson Senators coming into the Northern Nevada Roller Hockey Tournament which begins Saturday morning in Sparks. But it's not the first objective.
The Nevada Appeal debuts a new feature in today's sports section, the all-Sierra Nevada boys and girls basketball teams.
Douglas High's Keith Olson, Erin Brinkmeyer and Brittany Puzey were all recognized for their efforts during the 2004-05 season as the Sierra Nevada Sports Media All-Northern Region awards were released Wednesday.
RENO - Nevada coach Kim Gervasoni knows her team very well.
Steve Cook must have been like a kid waiting for Christmas to arrive during the past few months.
RENO - Nevada may be labeled as the team to beat as the annual WAC Basketball Tournament kicks off a five-day run at Lawlor Events Center today, but first-year coach Mark Fox said it's too early to stamp any tickets for the NCAAs.
Unlike Marlin Brando who lamented about how he "coulda been a contender" in "On the Waterfront," Yerington's Jess Brinkley and Reno's Joey Gilbert are actually contenders.
