Game of the week
In what has become a somewhat heated rivalry over the last few years, the Douglas High School football team will take on the Reno Huskies Friday night at 7:30 p.m. in Reno for the Sierra League title.
The teams have met in a series of decisive league and regional title games in the last five years and this one promises to be a good one.
Douglas brings in the region's top-rated defense and Reno comes in with one of the state's most potent offenses. Something will have to give, right?
The Tigers have been making steady strides offensively through the last three weeks and appear to have put it all together with two standout backs in Tyler Tinstman and Reese Kizer and quarterback David Laird opening the field up with the occasional pass.
The most intriguing matchup of the night may be the playmaking Douglas defensive line against the big and physical Reno offensive line.
Douglas enters the day 6-2 overall and 5-0 in league play while Reno comes in 6-1 overall and 4-1 in league. Reno's only loss came against Hug, the team Douglas beat 34-7 last week.
The Tigers have yet to play a home game this season as artificial turf is still being installed on their field, and could certainly benefit from a strong showing from the community at Reno.
Take me out to the ballgame
Former Douglas High standout and current San Diedo Padres pitcher Shawn Estes, along with a number of other current and former major leaguers will make an appearance Saturday at a fundraiser for the coalition for a Boys & Girls Club in Carson Valley.
A family autograph session is scheduled for Saturday afternoon from noon to 2 p.m. at the CVIC Hall in Minden.
A Go to Bat World Series party will be at the Carson Valley Inn's Shannon Ballroom at 5:15 p.m. The opening game of the World Series will be on big screen televisions and dinner will include hot dogs, popcorn and other ballpark fare.
Tickets for the adults only event are $40.
Other stars scheduled to appear are Royce Clayton, Brad Lesley and Rich Aurilia of the Cincinnati Reds, San Diego's Jeff Fassero and Bill Mueller of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Former Oakland A's star Bill North and former Cleveland Indian Gary Bell will also be in attendance.
Tickets will be available for purchase at the door.
Soccer shootout
The Douglas Tigers play their last boys' and girls' home soccer games of the season this weekend and each squad has a player aiming for school, region and state records.
Mike Gransbery, with 59 career goals - the Northern 4A and Douglas High School record - is seeking to break the school and regional 4A record for goals in a season. He needs 31 to top former Tiger Jeremy Louthan (1999) and has 28 so far this season. He can break the state 4A record if he can top the 34 goals Bishop Gorman's Zachary Adams scored in 2002.
The boys kick off against Reno at 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
On the girls' side, Morgan LeFever has 22 goals on the year, good enough for the school record, but she is one short of tying the Northern 4A record of 23. She has 52 career goals and needs three to tie the state 4A record of 55 (Julia Spaulding, 1997-99).
The girls' host Reno at 3 p.m. Saturday.
Field update
Douglas High School officials will know Monday whether or not the Tigers will be able to host Wooster next week.
Crews from Sportexe have been working away at finishing up the field, but so far, things look promising.
