There’s a new sport in town: Outlaws hit the field for lacrosse

Lacrosse appears to be a wildly contagious passion and it’s infected Sisters High School athletes thanks to Coach Bill Rexford.

Dozens of players from across the state were here last weekend to play in a tournament hosted by Sisters’ fledgling club. The players charged up and down the field with their sticks with a netting basket at the top, passing a hard rubber ball back and forth and maneuvering for shots on their opponent’s goal.

It’s not a sight Sisters is accustomed to.

Rexford said that occasionally he’ll tell a Sisters local about his grass roots endeavor in the sport and the response that comes back is a puzzled “Larosse?”

Rexford has played this exotic sport most of his life.

“Some of my earliest memories are watching my dad’s club games. It is like little league baseball back in Connecticut,” he said.

Despite the unfamiliarity with the sport in this area, the team has taken on 15 enthusiastic players and will take as many students that want to play. According to Rexford, middle school youth have been playing a version of the game in physical education classes; that has helped generate interest.

“When you start a new team, it is more work for everybody. It’s a really special kind of kid who comes out in the beginning because they don’t have any clue of what they’re getting into,” said Rexford.

By the time a beginner is on the field, $224 has been spent on a helmet, shoulder pads, arm pads and a stick. A team is fully fielded with 10 players: six offensive players, three defensive and one goalie. Teams will carry anywhere from 15 to 30 players in this fast-paced sport.

The six-by-six-foot goals stand at opposite ends of the field, where players can maneuver inbounds behind the “cage” as in hockey.

The Outlaws had a 10-3 victory over the Redmond High School team in Saturday’s jamboree.

The four other teams — Lake Ridge, Lake Oswego, Churchill, and Roseburg — donated money and equipment to help get the Sisters players started.

For more information on lacrosse call Coach Bill Rexford 549-8079.