Lacrosse team ends astonishing season

The Outlaws lacrosse team's dream season was brought to an end when they lost 6-12 to the Sunset Apollos at home on Monday, May 21.

Sisters fought hard and tied the game at 3-3 in the third quarter. The Outlaws and Apollos scored back and forth, but then Sunset pulled away and never looked back.

Norman Emberton scored twice for the Outlaws, and Nick Pepperling, Nate Emberton, Marcus Gaboni and Ashton Simms each had one goal.

"We could have won this game," said Coach Bill Rexford. "The boys fought hard until the end, but Sunset just had the ball much more than we did. We didn't clear the ball well, and we dropped a lot of passes. You can't do that against a team like Sunset.

"When we did have the ball, we scored and that bodes well for us for next year because Sunset is a top eight team and was the most skilled team we played this year. They zinged the ball around, made three or four passes, made our defense move and then got off a rocket shot. In comparison, our goals were gutsy, bodies flying around, defenders hanging all over us and a mad rush to the cage."

Rexford told The Nugget he knew the season had to come to an end sometime but now that it's here he is a bit sad.

"This is a special group of guys, and I could not have hand-picked my team any better," said Rexford.

Rexford is already looking ahead to next season and is pleased with what he sees. Up and coming players to look for are Davis Rapp, Lucas Reitman and Jordan Kolb.

"These guys would have started on any other team in the High Desert, but with our depth this year they had to settle for JV stardom," said Rexford.

Nate Emberton, Thad Anderson and Emery Myer have already been selected as next year's team captains and will be practicing with their team one night a week throughout the summer at the high school.

Rexford said the goal will be to continue to grow the program and with that in mind a K-8 program will be offered next fall.

Many volunteers helped make the lacrosse season a success, and Rexford had a word of thanks for each one.

"I want to thank Gary Pepperling and Cailen McNair for the help coaching. They made it so enjoyable and were great with the kids. Sisters School District did everything they could to help us in our first varsity season. After one year our program is the envy of many throughout the state who wished they had a school district as supportive as this one. Denise Cristiano and Michele Hammer were also there for the boys when needed," said Rexford.