Rodeo notebook: Baize makes it in bull riding

BY DARRELL MOODY

Appeal Sports Writer

RENO " It's been feast or famine for bull riders at the 89th annual Reno Rodeo.

Very few riders have managed to stay upright. None of the nine bull riders were successful on Wednesday night, and only one of nine, Casey Baize, made it on Thursday night.

Baize, the 2006 Reno Rodeo champion, scored an 81 aboard 514 FU to move into the top 12. Fred Boettcher, Sonny Murphy and Clayton Foltyn, all of whom scored 90 earlier this week, maintained their lead.

"This is the most prestigious rodeo; right up there with Cheyenne and Pendleton," Baize said. "I don't know what it is, but I seem to do well at the big ones. I've been coming here a long time. I still get just as excited as I did when I was 18."

Back in 2006, Baize successfully rode Troubadour in the first round. Troubadour is the top-ranked bull in the world, which Baize didn't know. "I got my PBR magazine last year and he was on the front cover," Baize said. "I thought that I had a picture of that same bull."

Sure enough he did. He is one of a handful that have ridden Troubadour.

Baize said he didn't know anything about his bull on Thursday.

"I didn't know a thing," Baize said. "He was just a baby. Bulls that young you don't know what they are going to do. The Lord was great tonight."

Baize spent several minutes in prayer when he arrived at the arena last night, using a tattered Bible that he keeps in his travel bag.

It's been a tough two years for Baize, who has had surgery on his jaw and shoulder.

He's hopeful Reno might help him finish the season strong.

MOTE SCORES WELL

It's been a good week for Bobby Mote, the former world champion bareback rider.

He scored an 86 aboard Fred, and he said he had a good draw for tonight. Earlier in the week, Mote scored an 87 in Pecos, which is a one-head event. He will be aboard Classic Times tonight.

'It's an awesome start," Mote said. "The horse is a great ride. It doesn't allow for any mistakes.

"It's a good horse. They have been over 80 consistently on it."

Mote has won two world titles, but has yet to win a pair of Reno Rodeo spurs.

It was a good night for bareback riders, as four of the six riders scored 80 or above. Will Lowe scored an 82, followed by Royce Ford and Cody DeMers at 80 apiece. Jake Hayworth is the overall leader at 169.

ETC...

Stan Branca had the night's best time in steer wrestling at 4.7. Jason Miller still leads the way at 7.7 on two attempts. Two Fallon cowboys, Ross Eickoff, 10.1, and Sterling Lambert, 10.4, are ranked 10th and 12th, respectively. The top 12 make the finals... Fallon's Chad Edgmon and Darrell Dudley were timed in 11.4 in team roping, which was the second-lowest time of the night ... Jill Moody's second-go 17.27 in barrel racing moved her into second place behind Mary Burger ... Jesse Kruse and Rusty Allen scored an 82 in saddle bronc riding.