It should be billed as the biggest weekend for spring sports in Fallon.
The Greenwave baseball and softball teams begin a two-day stretch of sports galore at the Edward Arciniega Athletic Complex when they begin a three-game series against Truckee this afternoon. Both teams return to the field Saturday for a double-header when, at the same time, the track and field program hosts the annual Elks Invitational, which draws between 30 and 40 teams from all four of the state’s divisions. And across Sheckler Road will be the Oasis Academy Bighorns lacrosse team.
Both the baseball and softball teams play today at 3 p.m. and resume their series against Truckee on Saturday for a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. The Elks Invitational gets a head start on Saturday when it opens with the field events at 8:30 a.m. followed by the preliminary rounds of the running events at 9 a.m. Oasis Academy faces North Tahoe at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
Both the boys and girls track and field teams, led by longtime coaches Steve Heck and Paul Orong, are poised to have breakout years despite their youth and inexperience.
Orong’s Lady Wave won the Yerington Relays last weekend when teams from Divisions I-A, III and IV competed in Mason Valley before they will all reunite this weekend in Fallon. The core of this year’s group is with the field events as Leann Stands has been a force in the shot put and discus while Whitney Skabelund could be one of the best jumpers in the state, regardless of division.
One thing you can always count on with Fallon, both boys and girls, is the jumps group. Along with Skabelund, Misaki Claire, Brynlee Shuts, Sierra Hickox and Emily Evett add charge to this young group that could sweep the regional meet in May for both long and triple jumps. Claire, Lillie Wohle and Gracy Lisanti look promising in the throwing events, as well.
For Heck’s boys team, several are starting to emerge as contenders to go along with Tristen Thomson and TJ Mauga. Thomson is one of the best distance runners in school history, while Mauga is chasing older brother Josh’s record in the discus.
Colton Peterson, Cade Vercelotti, Conner Nelson, Broder Thurston, Mario Ugalde, Reid Clyburn and Byran Duenas looked strong in the Yerington Relays, the team’s second meet of the young season. Vercelotti, who surprised everyone during the football season, is doing the same this spring in both the running and jumping events, along with Nelson. Thurston, Ugalde and Clyburn placed in Yerington in the running events, and Duenas had a good outing in the long jump.
On the west side of the athletic complex are the defending state baseball and softball champs, who swept the opening three-game series against South Tahoe last week. Both teams welcome Truckee this weekend after the Wolverines were shut down by Fernley in their opening series. Fernley’s softball team outscored Truckee 68-0 in the series, while the baseball squad was also dominant, invoking the mercy rule in two of the three games.
Kayla Buckmaster threw a no-hitter in the first game and on the other diamond, Kendall Johnson threw a one-hitter as both Fallon teams shut out South Tahoe. Megan McCormick continues to flash her leadership and poise for first-year coach Tammie Shemenski’s Greenwave as she blasted another home run over the weekend. Marshall Coverston and Cameron Beyer have been steady at the plate for Lester de Braga’s baseball squad.
If you’re looking for something different then head over to lacrosse at the regional park. While still a club sport, the Bighorns qualified for state last year and are looking to repeat that magic once again.
It doesn’t get better than this weekend as track, softball, and baseball and lacrosse headline the campus.
Thomas Ranson can be contacted at lvnsports@yahoo.com.