By Ray Hamill — If you want to put the 2018/19 local high school basketball season into perspective, think about it this way — this year we had the most successful Big […]
A year worth celebrating for local basketball
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.
Corsairs end skid with 9-6 win at Shasta
The College of the Redwoods baseball team ended a nine-game losing streak with a 9-6 win at Shasta on Saturday to close out a three-game weekend series. James Garcia capped a big […]
Arcata boys go to 5-0 with weekend sweep
The Tigers are off to an impressive start this season, capping a three-win weekend with a doubleheader sweep at Kelseyville on Saturday. The Tigers, who are now 5-0, won 13-8 and 6-1, […]
Prep Roundup — Busy day of action for local teams
Several local teams were in action in softball and baseball on Friday, taking full advantage of the good weather, both locally and on the road. Softball Fortuna 7, El Molino 2 Senior […]
Arcata Tigers continue to roll in boys tennis
The Arcata boys tennis team improved to 4-0 in the Humboldt-Del Norte League on Thursday afternoon, winning 9-0 at Fortuna. All six Arcata singles players won in straight sets, including No. 1 […]
HSU women fall to Northwest Nazarene in NCAA tourney
The No. 7 seed Humboldt State women’s basketball team lost 85-75 to No. 2 Northwest Nazarene at the NCAA West Region Tournament in San Diego on Friday. The loss ends the season […]
Bisio means business, as excitement builds at CR
By Ray Hamill — What a week it was for local basketball. And, in particular, what a week it was for the College of the Redwoods men’s team, which is good news […]
Loggers win another close one at Shasta tournament
The Eureka Loggers won another close game in baseball on Thursday afternoon, holding on to beat Red Bluff by a score of 3-2 to open the Shasta tournament. Playing their first game […]
Experienced Panthers embrace high expectations this season
By Ray Hamill — The McKinleyville Panthers aren’t shying away from expectations in softball this season. Nor should they. With just about everyone back from last year’s 18-9 squad, the Panthers could […]
Young Crusaders eager to compete for Little 4
By Ray Hamill — With just three seniors and a pair of juniors on hand, the St. Bernard’s Crusaders will feature a young lineup in softball this spring. But that doesn’t mean […]
Eureka bats come out firing at Lower Lake
The Loggers had a big day at the plate in a softball doubleheader at Lower Lake on Tuesday, winning both games by scores of 12-8 and 12-0. Alexa Moorehouse pitched the two […]
Defense will be key for Fortuna girls in 2019
By Ray Hamill — Defense is going to be key for the Fortuna Huskies in softball this spring. The Fortuna girls got the season off to a flying start with a 16-6 […]
Ferndale Mustangs enjoy a season for the ages
By Ray Hamill — It’s been a good year for Ferndale youth sports. In the fall, Ferndale’s AAA team won a Six Rivers Youth Football championship, and the area followed that up […]
Double-double average propels Murphy to all-star team
Former Eureka Logger Kaylee Murphy has been named to the Association of Division III Independents First Team after a stellar freshman campaign playing basketball at UC Santa Cruz. Murphy, who graduated Eureka […]
Arcata boys win again in H-DNL tennis
The Arcata boys tennis team improved to 3-0 in the Humboldt-Del Norte League with another dominating win on Monday. The Tigers won all nine matches at Ferndale, with Leo Janzen defeating Ben […]
Big statement of intent for CR, local stars
By Ray Hamill — Local sports fans are well aware of what a talented basketball player Isaac Puzz is. What they might not know, however, is that he’s apparently a pretty good […]
Hard working Ruiz wins thrilling pitchers’ duel in L4 opener
If opening night in the Little 4 was anything to go by, it could be a very enjoyable spring for the league. In a game that was brought forward a few weeks […]
Former Logger teammates among all-conference GVC selections
By Ray Hamill — Five College of the Redwoods basketball players have been honored on the Golden Valley Conference all-league teams, along with another former H-DNL standout. Logan Thrap, a St. Bernard’s […]
Arcata High sports fields remain a hot topic ahead of board’s vote
By Ray Hamill — Spending $8 million to host one varsity sporting event annually is what the Northern Humboldt Union Board of Trustees is being accused of proposing, and it’s not sitting […]
Humboldt State women get seven seed for NCAA
The Humboldt State women’s basketball team is going dancing. On Sunday night, the Jacks were included in the eight-team West Region field, earning the No. 7 seed for the prestigious tourney, which […]
