1. I'I
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April30,2004 up0ru$
Some
In an age whenprofessional
athletes are worshipped like gods,
sometimes it takes a PatTillman to
remind us what being a hero
-and mortal
-
really means.
A week ago, the 27-year-old
U.S. Arny Ranger was killed in
action during a frefight in
Afghanistan.
Tillman's sacrifice might not
have been any more significant to
those outside ofhis circle of fami-
ly and friends, except that he was a
former professional foo$all player
-
and he played one on televi-
sion, too.
Notwithstanding the hrmdreds
of other U.S. service men and
womenvfio have died defending
their counhy since the War on
Terror was declared, Tillnlan's
story is extraordinary because he
walked away from amultimillion-
dollar contract with the National
Football League's Arizona
Cardinals and volunteered for
active military duty instead.
His salaryphmged from about
$3 millionas adefensivebackto a
soldiefs cornpensation of less than
$20,000 per year.
Furthennore, Tilhnan rmdertook
one ofthe most dangerous assign-
ments intheArmed Forces by
working the front lines during a
time ofwar.
What in&€ worldwould com-
-Peta"glDr$o€baa&n *1re1ap og
luxxv and wlllingly put himseHin
harm's way for a mere pittance?
Obr.ioustv, his love of country
spelseded that of money or mate-
rial wealth-
You cant buypatriotism- or
hearq for that matter. And Tilhnan
hadplenty ofboth.
He made the change within a
year following Sept. 11, 2001.
Brett Fisher
athletes
are heroes
Lady Bulldogs in pla:
By Brett Fisher
A sweep of Eureka in a league
doubleheader at home last Friday
secured Smith Valley softball at
least fourth-place in the Northern
1A and awarded it a playoffberth.
The Lady Bulldogs won in a l7-
13 game one shootout over the
Vandals with four insurance runs
in the sixth in ing.
The home team tallied eight
runs in the second inning to break
the game open.
Molly Christensen connected
on a bases-loaded double that
scored two runs and Melissa
Hatch singled and drove in a pair
during the second-inning volley.
Christensen finished with three
hits in four at-bats and was
responsible for three runs batted
in (RBI). Ivlandy Hardy also col-
lected three RBI, while Tara
Hardy and Kerri Villalobos each
hit twice for the Bulldogs.
Mandy Hardy pitched three
innings in relief of Christensen,
who started the game. Hardy
struck out five batters and walked
four. Villalobos retired the last
three Eureka baffers in the seventh
to preserve the win.
Christensen and Kristina
olos E oALL: Kar i e Rasan, I
"f
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jJ"jl,"j{TffiTJ3i
1[ ] iff
3t loTg p.late during game one against Eureka tast Saturda!
in Smith Valley.
Acciari combined to pitch a two- Christensen recorded seven
hitter in--the late game, which strikeouts through fow innings of
Smith Valley ran away with, l4-4. work.
Vill
two hi
double
RBI.
Kati
the firs
baserur
openit
Bulldo
Smit
coach
that wi
league
playoff
did tha
blehea<
Carlin
The
sweepir
the hos
They
11, in f
The
out aftt
one.
Villa
base il
eventua
passed
a play
bases.
Please
YHS nabs nightcap, forcesBy Brett Fisher
Yerington scored three runs in
the boftom of the seventh inning
to go ahead of visiting Spring
Creek and hold on for a 7-6 gane
two victory in a Northern 3A
doubleheader played at Yerington
High School last Saturday.
The host Lions fell behind
early by as much as 5-0 thror,gh
the first five innings, before tally-
ing four runs in the sixth to trail
by only two entering the final
frame.
Mike Burt was instrumental in
his team's comeback. The YHS
junior swatted a three-run homer
in the sixth in:ring that got
Yerington back into the game.
And an inning later, he drove
home both tbe tying run and
game-winner with a bise hit.
Burt fidshed the game having
delivered a game-high five runs
batted in (RBI).
Matt Richardson belted a triple
and was brought home by a
Mitch Merrell double in the sev-
enth. And Kevin Booth was
wllked to set up the Burt game-
w1lltler.
Brett Fisher/Mason Valley News
9K!P FOfV: Lions' junior Mike Burt, teft, stides safety home
Qs! We$esday in a game against Ferntey at Booth-parr
Field in Yerington.
innins double bv Anron Cnlleffe frqhe
pitched a
home teal
The wi
in league
Rite of Pr
27.Te nt
Yerington
bounce ba
one loss
brought ir
ond inninl
the first tb
Yeringtc
in the bot
Tyler Bro
who had
position o
Burt.
The Lior
hits throug
Bui tha
they had
week, whe
hit the loc
ence matcl
Greig Ja
over sevt
against Yer
I 1 batters.
Kyle Jo
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