Hillmen tennis takes control of SFL over Granite Bay

Told that every fan they recruited for the trip would be like a point in its favor, the Placer boys tennis squad enjoyed near-homecourt advantage at Granite Bay on Thursday.It seemed to help the Sierra Foothill League-leading Hillmen as many played their best matches in a 6-3 victory over the second-place Grizzlies. Placer (8-0, 16-6) won its 139th straight league match, clearing its last big hurdle toward a 13th consecutive SFL title. With Hillmen even talking to each other on the courts to help keep focused, Placer got great performances from No. 2 Andy Sugg in a 6-0, 6-0 romp and No. 3 Nate McCallister in a 6-0, 6-1 rout, and even from No. 4 Dan Curtain, who was almost too ill to finish in a 6-3, 6-4 loss.Also winning were No. 5 Kit Kershner 6-2, 6-0; No. 6 Sam Nichols 6-4, 6-1; No. 1 doubles Aaron Barnett and Evan Bradley 7-5, 6-3; and No. 2 doubles Tristan Nichols and Ryan Coakley 6-2, 6-0.Placer Softball 4, Natomas 1 at Sacramento - Angela Linarez gave up a home run in the first inning, got stung by a bee in the second, stopping the game for stinger extraction, and had trouble at the plate, but all along stayed focused and held Natomas to seven hits to keep the door open for Placer (3-5, 7-10-1).In the sixth, Haley Carp tripled and scored on a Jenith Johnson single. Brittney Lowry then capped a great at-bat with a two-run double to right field, went to third base on the late throw home, and scored on a single by Sarah Roskelley (4-for-4). Julianna Pugliese and Lucy Nemeth added singles.Granite Bay Boys Golf 192, Placer 205 at Granite Bay - The Hillmen (7-3 SFL) fell to the Grizzlies (8-2 SFL) in the battle for sole possession of second place despite a 39 from Blake Rosendahl. Ante Krsolovic added a 40, Ian Glass a 41, Eric Sanchez a 42, Matt Kraynik a 43 and Chad Huck a 46.Del Oro Girls Soccer 6, Placer 0 - Randi Anderson, normally Del Oro's goalkeeper, switched positions with Elise Garvey and scored three goals as the Lady Eagles (5-3-1, 6-4-1) won the SFL match over a shorthanded, 11-player Placer squad. Summer Dales, Rachel Bates and Courtney McCollum added one goal apiece. Placer got inspired games from Jennifer Joyner, Lynzey Walton, Jessica Nelway and goalie Rhonda Mancebo, who played through injury.Del Oro's JV also won, behind goals from Erica Chambers and Megan Schmidt. Emily Havener scored for Placer's JV, and Jillian Souza and Nicole Barnum also played well.Other scores (see Sunday's Journal for more details):Forest Lake Tennis 8, Golden Sierra 1; Forest Lake Golf 217, Country Day 318; Del Oro Golf 215, Woodcreek 234; Colfax Tennis 5, Johnson West 0; Johnson West Softball 5, Colfax 4; Rocklin Softball 1, Del Oro 0 (8 inn.); Bear River Softball 8, Lincoln 0; Colfax Golf 200, Mira Loma 226; Forest Lake Baseball 10, Victory 2; Forest Lake Soccer 9, Faith 0.