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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels May 5, 2004 Writing the Pine Grizzlies entertain, even when they lose Joe Zavala I have to say something here and if you're a fan or a parent or a coach of the Ashland High baseball team, please don't take this wrong (which is to say, don't read it; just put your paper down and think happy thoughts, if you have any left). The Grizzlies have become my favorite team to watch because they find very entertaining ways to lose. I know that sounds bad, but please understand, I have total confidence that they will pull out of it in a nick of time and make the Class 4A state playoffs. OK, here's what that prediction is based on: I've seen the other teams battling Ashland for the third or fourth playoff spots, and I'm quite certain Crater, Grants Pass and Klamath Union have nothing on the Grizzlies when it comes to sheer ability. In the end, the Grizzlies will make more plays. They'll split with North Medford this weekend, throttle Eagle Point then sweep Grants Pass on the last day of the regular season to sneak in. Then again But back to my original thought, the Grizzlies seem to be determined to find new and more innovative ways to lose. Tuesday, Roseburg had one runner on base with two outs in the second inning, but went on to score five runs to break the game open (is it just me, or does it seem like Ashland never puts together massive, game-breaking rallies like that). On Saturday, South Medford scored four runs in the seventh to beat Grizz ace Chad Hegdahl in the second game of a doubleheader - and this after the Grizzlies shocked the conference-leading Panthers in the opener. Tuesday's loss prompted Ashland coach Jason Robustelli to say what Grizz fans everywhere must be thinking. "Some of the guys, you get the feeling that they just kind of sit back," he said. "They aren't lazy out there, giving up or anything like that, but they just kind of get on their heels and the ball starts playing them and we start kicking it around and throwing it around. It's like a circus." Yes, but their tightrope routine sure is fun to watch. And here's the thing, if the Grizzlies somehow, some way can just sneak into the playoffs, all their previous disappointments will mean zilch - to their first-round playoff opponent, they'll appear to be just another .500 team that's just happy to be there. I'd like to see this team in a playoff situation. Quarterback controversy? While the Grizzlies are playing North Medford on Saturday, the Southern Oregon University football team will be unveiling its 2004 squad in the team's third annual spring Intrasquad game at Raider Stadium. It's being billed as a "game" instead of a "scrimmage" this time because players will be drafted onto two separate teams, which will then compete against each other. The big story here is the competition at quarterback, where redshirt freshman Boomer Marshall, senior Brandon Griffith, redshirt freshman Dan Downey and junior Justin Despotakis are competing for the starting job. The battle that will determine the Raiders' next QB starts Saturday. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams