By Ray Hamill — Larry Tracy wasn’t backing down from the challenge on Saturday. As one of just two seniors on a very young Hoopa team, Tracy set the example for his […]
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.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS — Branstetter and the Cats pull away in the second quarter
By Ray Hamill — Ferndale’s Lane Branstetter scored three touchdowns in the second quarter of Saturday’s game against Hoopa, as the Wildcats closed out the season with a 40-6 win. Branstetter, who […]
Wildcats overcome early scare to beat Hoopa in season finale
By Ray Hamill — The Ferndale Wildcats had to overcome some early adversity in Saturday’s season-ending showdown at home to Hoopa, but they took control of the game in the second quarter […]
Fortuna girls score four late goals to pull away at Mack
The Fortuna Huskies closed out the H-DNL girls soccer season with a 5-1 victory at McKinleyville on Saturday, with five different players getting on the scoresheet. The Panthers matched them stride for […]
Huskies extend their unbeaten run in league to seven years
The Fortuna Huskies began the season as the team to beat on the North Coast, and they ended it as the team to beat on the North Coast. Much as they have […]
Loggers end 11-year drought against their rivals in season finale
The Eureka Loggers ended a long drought on Saturday, defeating Arcata 1-0 in H-DNL boys soccer for the first time in 11 years. Jesus Parra capped a brilliant season with the winning […]
South Fork girls complete season sweep of St. Bernard’s
The South Fork Cubs closed out the H-DNL girls soccer season with a 2-0 victory at St. Bernard’s on Saturday, their second over the Crusaders in two games this year. Kalina Paine […]
Physical Warriors win big at St. Bernard’s in season finale
By Ray Hamill — After suffering tough back-to-back losses to conference opponents the last two weeks, the Del Norte Warriors responded with their most impressive performance of the season at St. Bernard’s […]
Loggers edge the Tigers in classic girls soccer matchup
It took a long time, but the Eureka Loggers’ defense was finally breached in girls soccer on Saturday afternoon. The real story of the day, however, was how they responded. Playing arch […]
Corsairs get first win in softball; bats continue to struggle in baseball
The College of the Redwoods softball team got its first win of the season on Saturday, defeating Butte 10-3 in the second game of a doubleheader. The CR women lost game one […]
Hamm leads the way in big final week for Del Norte girls
Senior Caroline Hamm closed out her high school volleyball career with one of her best games on Thursday, as the Del Norte Warriors beat St. Bernard’s 25-16, 25-23, 20-25, 25-10. Hamm finished […]
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS — Perfect Loggers close out in style
By Ray Hamill — The Eureka Loggers made a habit of playing overtime games this year. And they’ve made a habit of winning them too. On Friday night, they capped an undefeated […]
Loggers win a thriller at Fortuna, close out unbeaten
By Ray Hamill — It was a fitting ending to what has been a highly entertaining season, with the top two teams in the H-DNL this spring slugging it out and going […]
Tigers top the Panthers, appear headed in the right direction
Junior quarterback Shane Purcell threw for six touchdowns on Friday night, as the Arcata Tigers closed out their season with a 42-6 win over McKinleyville. With the win, the Tigers finished the […]
Avary Henry named NACC Athlete of the Week after big showing in Illinois
Former Arcata Tiger Avary Henry is enjoying an outstanding debut season at the collegiate level in women’s golf. The 2019 H-DNL champion is playing for Division-III Aurora University in Illinois and on […]
Exciting finish for Del Norte, Ferndale in H-DNL soccer
Del Norte’s Jadence Clifton might be better known for her basketball skills, but she closed out her high school soccer career with a bang on Thursday. Clifton, one of three seniors on […]
POLL RESULTS — North Coast fans have spoken before Friday’s big game
By Ray Hamill — The results of this week’s poll are in and North Coast football fans have spoken. They believe Fortuna will win tonight’s big H-DNL showdown, but not by a […]
Redwoods softball opens the season against Butte in Redding
The College of the Redwoods bats were held without a hit in game two of their season-opening softball doubleheader against Butte in Redding on Thursday. The Corsairs dropped both games, falling 12-3 […]
Corsairs struggle to back solid pitching against Butte
The Corsairs managed just four hits in each game of a baseball doubleheader against Butte in Redding on Thursday, while committing 10 errors on the day. The Corsairs dropped both games, 9-1 […]
‘It’s going to be a good night for Humboldt County’
By Ray Hamill — It doesn’t get much better than this for H-DNL football. On Friday night, the top two teams on the North Coast will face off in Fortuna in the […]