By Ray Hamill — It’s been a long time coming, but the Eureka girls finally returned to competitive basketball on Thursday night and rolled to a comprehensive win over South Fork at […]
barstoolfanatics
At the age of 10, having failed in his lifelong ambition to become a vigilante vampire werewolf – otherwise known as a vamp-wolf – Ray Hamill finally admitted defeat and turned his attention full-time to daydreaming instead.
A mere few decades later, the world of crime fighting’s loss is now the literary world’s gain.
Born in Dublin, Ireland, Ray moved to the United States after graduating college, spending time in Boston and San Francisco before settling among the redwoods in Northern California, where he has worked as a journalist for the past 20 years.
In that time he has published three books, including his most recent, Help, My Horse is Drowning!, a humorous look at the world of sports and the life of the enthusiastically delusional athlete in us all.
He previously published the outrageously satirical Free the Leprechauns! as well as the semi-autobiographical Help Me, Im Irish! - a book about the non-meaning of life.
Ray is also the host of a weekly sports talk radio show broadcast locally in Northern California on Blue Ox Community Radio, and a sports blog at barstoolfanatics.com.
Crusaders bounce back with big fourth quarter
The St. Bernard’s girls responded to Wednesday’s season-opening loss to Fortuna in H-DNL basketball with a clutch performance on Thursday in a 47-39 win over McKinleyville. Trailing by two points going into […]
Pabalate scores 30 to lead St. Bernard’s in opener
Lito Pabalate’s St. Bernard’s debut is one he won’t easily forget. The senior transfer scored a game-high 30 points to lead the Crusaders to a 73-65 win over McKinleyville on Tuesday, as […]
New-look Warriors impress early in season opener
By Ray Hamill — A very new-look Hoopa Warriors boys basketball team came storming out of the gate in their season opener at Del Norte on Wednesday night, before eventually falling 81-51. […]
Del Norte boys continue their fast start to new season
The Del Norte boys withstood an early onslaught by the visiting Hoopa Warriors in H-DNL basketball on Wednesday night, running out to a comfortable 81-51 win. Edwin Zepeda led the way offensively […]
Del Norte girls top Hoopa to go to 2-0
Despite missing their senior leader for much of the first half, the Del Norte Warriors comfortably took care of business at home to Hoopa in H-DNL girls basketball on Wednesday night, winning […]
Big fourth quarter lifts Huskies past the Crusaders
By Ray Hamill — The Fortuna Huskies pulled away late at St. Bernard’s in H-DNL girls basketball on Wednesday night, outscoring the Crusaders 23-14 in the final quarter on the way to a […]
ATHLETES AND TEAM OF THE WEEK — Loggers set the standard this week
By Ray Hamill — As one coach mentioned to me earlier this week, Kira Morris could be athlete of the week any week. As it turns out, she’s one of this week’s […]
This week’s CR softball games canceled; baseball prepares for home finale
By Ray Hamill — A softball doubleheader between College of the Redwoods and Shasta College scheduled for Thursday has been canceled after two of the Knights players suffered season ending injuries. The […]
McKinleyville girls, Fortuna boys cleared to play again
By Ray Hamill — A couple of H-DNL basketball teams got some good news today when they were cleared for an immediate return to the basketball court. The McKinleyville girls and Fortuna […]
Experienced Tigers too strong for Loggers in boys opener
By Ray Hamill — The Arcata Tigers outscored the visiting Eureka Loggers in each of the final three quarters of Tuesday night’s boys basketball opener on the way to a 59-39 win. […]
Young Eureka boys team learning on the go
By Ray Hamill — The Eureka boys will be tough to stop on the basketball courts, in a year or two. For now, however, this group of upcoming players will have to […]
Starr named All-American after standout spring for the Jacks
The accolades continue for Humboldt State softball standout Izzy Starr, who was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American Team, it was announced on Tuesday. Starr becomes the 47th player from […]
Southern Humboldt 76ers to field 19U team this summer
By Ray Hamill — After being forced to cancel last summer’s American Legion baseball season because of the pandemic, the Southern Humboldt 76ers are coming back stronger than ever this year. The […]
Warriors wear down the Wildcats in season opener
The Del Norte boys tipped off the new H-DNL basketball season on a winning note on Tuesday, getting the better of Ferndale 54-28. Judson Pincombe scored a game-high 15 points to lead […]
Multiple basketball games canceled on opening two nights
By Ray Hamill — A short spring basketball season is getting shorter for a whole lot of teams. The H-DNL season tipped off on Monday, but two of four varsity girls games […]
Young St. Bernard’s team prepares to open new season against Fortuna
By Ray Hamill — A familiar face returns to coach the St. Bernard’s girls basketball team this year, in what will be a quick three-week season. Head coach Matt Tomlin is back […]
VIDEO — H-DNL track and field video highlights and gallery
By Ray Hamill — A highly-competitive H-DNL track and field season concluded with the league championships at Fortuna on Saturday. It may have been a shortened season, but that didn’t take from […]
All the H-DNL track and field championship medalists
By Ray Hamill — The Fortuna boys and Eureka girls each comfortably won their respective team competitions at the H-DNL track and field championships at Fortuna on Saturday. The Fortuna boys scored […]
Crusaders set themselves up for big NCS run next spring
By Ray Hamill — It was a phenomenal season on the mound for St. Bernard’s, and it should only get better. And that means the Crusaders are setting themselves up for a […]