Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Juliana Ortega-Miranda

By Ray Hamill — College of the Redwoods will celebrate their players past and present this weekend with three alumni games scheduled for Saturday.

First up, at noon, CR softball will hold an alumni game at the Bear River Sports Complex, and then later in the day both basketball teams will also host games against some of their former players at the college gymnasium.

The women tip off at 4 p.m., followed by the men at 6.

And as always at alumni games, you can expect to see several familiar faces on hand, including Juliana Ortega-Miranda, who will be a busy woman while playing in both the softball and basketball games.

Several players have signed up to play in the softball game, but head coach Megan Valente says that anybody else who wants to play is welcome to join.

Warm-ups begin at 11 a.m.

“It’s going to be a light fun day playing our 2023 team with a home run derby,” the coach said. 

This will be the team’s only home fall game.

The 2023 team will feature nine local players, including returners Sadie Hampton (Eureka), Ashley Pierce (Eureka), Ashley Ballew (McKinleyville) and Nas Hunsucker (Hoopa).

Joining them are newcomers Jaycee Morais (McKinleyville), Renee Metz (Fortuna), Allie Egbert (McKinleyville) Madison Farley (Del Norte) and Gabby Riley (Ferndale), meaning six of the nine local high school programs will be represented on the team.

In addition to Ortega-Miranda, the alumni team will feature Lindsey Scott, Karyn Jensen, Paige Johnson, Grace Rosebrook, Karlie Reed, Shanna McCracken, Kellie Shaner, Kel Stockdale, Mary Grounds, Samantha Caughie, Bronwyn Arnold and legendary coach Maggie White.

The men’s basketball alumni team is still being finalized, but will feature a pair of local legends, Bradley and Donald Willis, as well as Justin Claus.

Ortega-Miranda is also scheduled to appear in the women’s basketball game, along with the team’s new assistant coach, Bobbie Purify.

Bree and Sophie Northern will also play, along with Theresia Dickey, Lili Herrera, Allie Wipf, Aurelia Robbins and Crissy Robbins.