Marauders maul Jaguars in playoff opener
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CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) – The Jesuit varsity football team outscored Gregori of Modesto 31-0 in the second and third quarters combined to earn a lopsided victory in the first round of the 2022 Division II CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Football Playoffs on Saturday afternoon.
The No. 5 seed Marauders defeated the No. 12 seed Jaguars 38-10. Gregori (4-7) outscored Jesuit (9-2) 10-7 in the first and fourth quarters combined. However, the disparity in scoring from the middle quarters proved to be too much for the Jaguars to overcome.
An early fumble by the Marauders was the difference in the game early. Gregori got a 25-yard field goal from junior kicker Jace Guzman midway through the first quarter. Jesuit drove into Jaguars territory towards the end of the first 12 minutes of play, but the first period ended with Gregori ahead 3-0.
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The Marauders got on the scoreboard shortly into the second quarter as junior quarterback CJ Lee completed a 10-yard pass to senior running back Tatum Pappas for the touchdown. Following a Jaguars punt, Jesuit senior running back Anthony Seibles got into the action with a 15-yard rushing touchdown.
Senior middle linebacker Jagger Shaddix shut down Gregori’s next drive with a tackle for loss, leading to another punt. The Marauders added three points before the half with a 27-yard field goal from junior tight end and defensive end George Hemmen. Jesuit led 17-3 at halftime racking up 228 yards of offense compared to 37 for the Jaguars.
The Marauders’ star quarterback scored the first point of the second half with his legs, rushing 58 yards into the end zone. Both teams then traded punts. Jesuit’s next touchdown was set up by another Gregori punt. Shaddix, who also plays running back, rushed 49 yards to the end zone to put his team up by four scores. The third period ended with the Marauders up 31-3.
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Jesuit scored its final points of the afternoon following a turnover on downs by the Jaguars. Seibles scored his second touchdown of the day in the fourth, rushing in from five yards out. Hemmen successfully converted the point after try, as he did in all five attempts Saturday. Gregori scored its lone touchdown of the day on a seven-yard pass from junior quarterback Conner Bailey to junior wide receiver Jaxx Baroda. Guzman nailed the PAT.
The big lead allowed Jesuit to empty its bench and let other players gain playoff experience. Junior quarterback Jack Payant connected with junior wide receiver Maximus Diepenbrock late in the game for a big gain. The Marauders ultimately defeated the Jaguars 38-10.
Jesuit will play at No. 4 seed Rocklin in the quarterfinals on Friday night at 7 p.m.
Opening Night, Mother’s Day, Independence Eve Fireworks Extravaganza highlight 2023 home slate
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) — The Sacramento River Cats, proud Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, are excited to announce their full 150-game schedule for the upcoming 2023 season, the first under the Sacramento Kings’ umbrella.
The River Cats will host their first of 75 home games starting with Opening Night on April 4 vs the PCL East Champion El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego Padres). They open their season on the road March 31 at Salt Lake.
Honor mom at the ballpark on Mother’s Day, May 14, as the River Cats welcome the Salt Lake Bees for a six-game series, the only trip to West Sacramento for the Los Angeles Angels-affiliated foes.
Can’t wait for Fourth of July? Celebrate the holiday a day early by attending the River Cats’ Independence Eve Fireworks Extravaganza on Monday, July 3 vs the Reno Aces (Arizona Diamondbacks). It is sure to be a party, as the memorable event was the most attended game from the 2022 season.
Other highlights include nine games vs the affiliate-rival Oklahoma City Dodgers, including a six-game series May 23-28, and 12 games vs the PCL West Champion Aces.
In total, Sutter Health Park will host 12 games in April, 18 in May, nine in June, 12 in July, 15 in August, and nine in September, with the final home series set for Sept. 12-17 vs the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Houston Astros).
Season ticket memberships and packages are available now by calling the River Cats ticket hotline at (916) 371-HITS (4487), emailing tickets@rivercats.com, or visiting rivercats.com.
About the Sacramento River Cats
Sutter Health Park is the West Sacramento home of the three-time Triple-A Champion Sacramento River Cats, and a proud affiliate of the three-time World Series Champion San Francisco Giants. Sutter Health Park is consistently voted one of the top ballparks in America. Memberships, Mini-Plans, hospitality rentals, and other ways to join the fun for the 2023 season may be purchased now by calling the River Cats Ticket Hotline at (916) 371-HITS (4487) or visiting www.rivercats.com. For information on other events at Sutter Health Park, visit www.sutterhealthpark.com.
Using Lived Experience for Positive Change
SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA (MPG) - Nita Webb prints out an application for a housing voucher through Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA). She has a client that qualifies for housing but has no way to fill out the application needed to get the process started. Providing these simple services for her clients is just part of the job Nita does as a Peer Counselor to help out people experiencing homelessness in Sacramento County.
Nita understands that every small bit of help can lead to big changes in someone’s life. She has been there – desperately in need of a helping hand to better her situation. Nita grew up in Sacramento with her father and sister. They were poor, but always had a roof over their head and enough food to eat. Nita remembers how her father always did what he could to give back to people who were less fortunate than them. “Never look down on anyone – never treat people like they are less than you, because they aren’t,” she recalls him saying. Perhaps that is where her love of helping others came from.
After having a baby at a young age and dropping out of high school, Nita found work at a group home for girls that both paid her bills and satisfied her deep desire to help others in need. In 2009, when the recession hit, she was laid off from her job. Unemployment benefits were delayed for months and the money Nita received from welfare was not enough money to pay her rent. As her eviction loomed closer, she desperately searched for accommodations that would be safe for her and her five-year-old daughter.
She was offered a space in a congregate shelter, but she was worried about her safety. However, she knew that if she was in a shelter with her daughter, they’d be prioritized for help faster than if she looked on her own. As she was being locked out of her apartment for the last time, she received a call from St. John’s Shelter for Women and Children – they had a space for Nita and her daughter.
Living in a shelter with other homeless women and children provided her with a fresh view of her situation – all the women there had stories. Stories about domestic violence or a job loss or a major medical emergency that drained their savings. They were all alike, all struggling. St. John’s set her up with classes on parenting, women empowerment and job training. She earned her GED and started working at St. John’s non-profit, Plates, which not only provided her with critical job training, but earned her a housing subsidy in a transitional living program for her and her daughter.
Having that rental subsidy allowed Nita to start taking college courses, while still working at Plates. But the pull to help others in her situation was strong. She got a job working for Volunteers of America (VOA) – a job that allowed her to work directly with persons experiencing homelessness. While with VOA, she worked with clients that were sheltering at the Capitol Motel on L Street. Mixed in among those that lived there, her clients had drastically different needs and barriers to exiting homelessness, but one thing remained the same – whether people were sheltering or paying rent, homeless or housed – everyone had a story, everyone had a life before they found themselves in their current circumstance. Everyone deserved love and respect and a helping hand.
Nita got a job as a Housing Specialist with Next Move at Mather Community Campus, yet another connection directly to persons experiencing homelessness that allowed her to make a tangible difference. She saw herself in every client – she was just one blessing in front of literal homelessness. Even as she connected clients to housing, she knew that housing doesn’t equal final security when people need continued help and services to remain stabilized.
Today, Nita works for the Sacramento County Department of Health Services as a Peer Counselor, a person with lived experience that can identify with clients. She is part of the new Homeless Encampment And Response Team (HEART) - teams that go directly into encampments and connect people living unsheltered with benefits, shelter connections, clinical evaluations and referrals. She carries prepaid phones with her to provide to clients to remain in direct contact with them. She knows that she cannot personally help people with everything they need – but she can help them with one thing at a time, one thing that might be exactly what they need to alter their life course, stabilize and exit homelessness for good. She explains to her clients the work that she can do, and the work they need to do to help themselves – a vital piece of the puzzle to ending their homelessness.
Nita and her daughter still go to therapy together to work through the trauma of their unhoused experience. Though stabilized now, the ease of slipping into homelessness is always on her mind. As is her father – who instilled in her the heart to help the homeless – a job he never got to see her do, but one she honors him through every day. Her clients are blessings to her, as she is to them – a reminder that you can change your circumstances, you can accept help, and together – they can end one person’s homelessness at a time.
American Pickers to Film in California
SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - The American Pickers are excited to return to California! They plan to film episodes of The History Channel hit television series throughout your area in January 2023.
American Pickers is a documentary series that explores the fascinating world of antique “picking” on The History Channel. The hit show follows skilled pickers in the business, as they hunt for America’s most valuable antiques. They are always excited to find sizeable, unique collections and learn the interesting stories behind them.
As they hit the back roads from coast to coast, the Pickers are on a mission to recycle and rescue forgotten relics. Along the way, they want to meet characters with remarkable and exceptional items. They hope to give historically significant objects a new lease on life while learning a thing or two about America’s past along the way. The Pickers have seen a lot of rusty gold over the years and are always looking to discover something they’ve never seen before. They are ready to find extraordinary items and hear fascinating tales about them
We at American Pickers continue to take the pandemic very seriously and will be following all guidelines and protocols for safe filming outlined by the state and CDC. Nevertheless, we are excited to continue reaching the many collectors in the area to discuss their years of picking and are eager to hear their memorable stories!
The American Pickers TV Show is looking for leads and would love to explore your hidden treasure. If you or someone you know has a large, private collection or accumulation of antiques that the Pickers can spend the better part of the day looking through we would love to hear from you! Please note, the Pickers DO NOT pick stores, flea markets, malls, auction businesses, museums, or anything open to the public. If interested, please send us your name, phone number, location, and description of the collection with photos to: americanpickers@cineflix.com or call (646) 493-2184.
American Pickers is produced by Cineflix Productions for The History Channel. New episodes air on Mondays at 9pm EST on History.
Let the Good Times Roll
CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - With a reading from Genesis, Father Eduino from Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church recently blessed Carmichael Park’s new bocce courts. The occasion marked the official opening of a facility built by community partnerships during the pandemic.
A $5000 bequest from the estate of Italian-American bocce booster Shirley Pennington Simi got the ball rolling in 2020. Spearheaded by her children and friends, community fundraising aided the project. A Carmichael Parks Foundation contribution was icing on the tiramisu.
Although the ADA-compliant amenity boasts synthetic surfaces that allow all-weather play, the sun shone on opening day play. Free lessons and brunch were offered to more than 200 visitors. Adjacent to the courts, the Italian Cultural Center threw open doors to share food, music and folkloric dancing.
Carmichael Park is located at 5750 Grant Avenue. The courts are situated near the North Avenue park entrance. Learn more about CRPD amenities at www.carmichaelpark.com.
Community Figure Jerri Pefley Passes at 94
CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - A matriarch of one of Carmichael’s pioneer descendant families, Gertrude (Jerri) Pefley died recently at 94 years old.
She was predeceased by husband Jack Pefley, a former military and community leader and Navy test pilot.
Jerri Kratz was born in Hatboro, PA and met visiting Californian Jack Pefley at her hometown church. Their 1948 marriage lasted almost 74 years and knew many long separations; Jerri also traveled to support Jack’s career and raised their kids on bases in Japan, the Philippines, Berkeley, Monterey, Morocco and France.
Home base was nevertheless Palm Drive, Carmichael. The property they called the ‘Rockin’ KP Ranch’ was originally part of Daniel Carmichael’s earliest colonial subdivision, purchased in 1910 by Jack’s parents.
Jerri was known for energetic support of the arts. Favoring the Sacramento Symphony League and its Music in the Schools Program, she produced and performed puppet shows for young pupils. The activist mom also helped establish Jensen Botanical Gardens’ garden for the blind.
She and her husband served the community through dedication to Carmichael’s Chamber of Commerce, its Park District and Presbyterian Church. In sunset years, the Pefleys moved to Carmichael Eskaton Village; later to Mercy McMahon Terrace, Sacramento. The couple is survived by three children and three grandchildren.
Jerri Pefley’s memorial service will be held at the Dixon National Cemetery on November 11, at 9:15 am. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Carmichael Presbyterian Church and Carmichael Parks Foundation.
Raiders lose in Division II playoff semifinals
VACAVILLE, CA (MPG) – The Rio Americano girls varsity volleyball team’s season came to an end on Tuesday night, suffering a three-set sweep at Vacaville in the semifinals of the 2022 Division II CIF Sac-Joaquin Girls Volleyball Playoffs.
The No. 3 seed Raiders (34-8, 12-0 Capital Athletic League) had a rough opening set against the No. 2 seed Bulldogs (23-6, 14-0 Monticello Empire League), falling 25-12. Rio came back strong in the second set, but ultimately lost 25-22.
Vacaville pulled away with the match victory by winning the final set, 25-20. This is the second time the Raiders were swept by the Bulldogs this season. Vacaville swept Rio in two sets on October 8, winning 25-22 and 25-16.
RELATED: Rio Americano girls volleyball team advances to semifinals of D2 playoffs
The Bulldogs were swept in three sets by No. 1 seed Whitney of Rocklin at Natomas High School in the D2 championship game on Saturday.
The Raiders were led in kills by two senior outside hitters. Lulu Voss had a team-high eight kills and was followed closely by Nikita Rogaski who had seven of her own. Both players also had two serving aces.
Voss led Rio with eight Diggs and junior libero Livia Bacchi recorded five digs. Junior setter Grace Stone tallied 18 assists.
RELATED: Marysville runs over Rio Americano
The loss to Vacaville snapped a seven-match winning streak for the Raiders. Despite the loss, it was still a strong season for Rio, finishing 12-0 in CAL play to earn its eighth league championship.
Only one fourth of the team are seniors and will be graduating. The Raiders graduating in the Class of 2023 are Rogaski, Voss and defensive specialist Mae Hutchinson.
Despite the defeat in the section playoffs, the season is not over yet. Rio qualified for the 2022 CIF State Girls Volleyball Championships as the No. 16 seed. The Raiders play No. 1 seed Clovis North (24-10) in the first round on Tuesday night at 6 p.m.