Calistoga’s Macella O’Neill rode her horse, Murkas Rockstar, to a first-place finish at the $50,000 Grand Prix of Los Angeles held recently at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center’s Equidome indoor stadium.

Last week: Calistoga rallied for 20 fourth-quarter points to defeat Valley Christian (Roseville) 35-24. RVC hammered Point Arena 38-8.

Last week: St. Helena lost to Kelseyville 37-21 while Fort Bragg fell to St. Vincent (Petaluma) 12-7.

The Vintage High volleyball team beat Vacaville in five games Wednesday, 16-25, 25-18, 21-25, 25-23, 15-10, in a dual match.

The Indians improved to 12-0 overall in non-tournament play and 8-0 in the MEL with a 25-13, 25-11, 25-11 home victory on Wednesday night. Rachel Swanson, Rachel Barbos and Cassidy Wallace combined for 30 assists.

Justin-Siena lost its Marin County Athletic League dual match Wednesday, 25-19, 25-23, 17-25, 27-25.

After winning Game 1, the Storm gave up a 12-4 lead in the second game and a 20-16 lead in Game 3 as the hosts rallied for a 22-25, 25-22, 26-24, 25-22 nonconference victory on Wednesday night in Cupertino.

Claire Troussieux shot a 46 to share medalist honors with two Wood golfers, but the Indians — missing two key players due to illness — dropped the clash of MEL co-leaders at Cypress Lakes Golf Course in Vacaville on Tuesday.

Janae Bassignani and Taylor Cabalse pulled out the Braves’ only victory in Wednesday’s match with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-6 win at No. 2 doubles, as their opponent retired in the final set because of a knee injury.

Arturo Hernandez scored on a free kick from 20 yards at 1:17 into the game, but Vacaville tied it seven minutes later.

Running against a couple of large and powerful Redwood squads, the Justin-Siena boys lost by a score of 16-43 and the girls lost 16-45.

Fairfield won Wednesday’s Monticello Empire League Center Meet at Lagoon Valley in Vacaville with 30 points. Napa (45), Vacaville (67), Vintage (101), Wood (107) and Armijo followed. There were 50 runners in the race.

Alyssa Howell-Moxie led the Indians to victory Tuesday with five goals, while Ashley Amey chipped in three goals and six blocks. Megan Jessell and Holly Cloud played well and scored two goals apiece.

Vacaville (15) and Fairfield (50) were the top scoring teams at Wednesday’s MEL Center Meet at Lagoon Valley in Vacaville.

Vintage was second and Napa fourth at the Monticello Empire League Center Meet Wednesday at Lagoon Valley in Vacaville.

Fairfield (29), Vacaville (50), Napa (68) and Armijo     (80) were the top placers at Wednesday’s MEL Center Meet at Lagoon Valley in Vacaville.

James LaBerge scored Napa’s first goal. Raul Torres scored off an assist from Tyler Brown. LaBerge then scored off an assist from Torres. Sergio Hurtado scored the last two goals for Napa.

The Napa Valley Baseball Club under-11 team took first place in last weekend’s Harvest Classic at the Twin Creeks Sports Complex in Sunnyvalley.

Last meeting: The teams have never met in Casa Grande’s 36-year history, 12th-year Gauchos head coach Rick O’Brien said — and it’s Napa’s Homecoming.

Last year: Vintage was intercepted five times and also turned the ball over on a fumble in a 28-14 nonleague loss to Rocklin on Homecoming at Napa Memorial Stadium.

Justin-Siena High School defensive coordinator Steve Vargus makes it sound a lot easier than it is to virtually shut down opposing offenses week after week.

Last week: Justin-Siena opened the Marin County Athletic League season by stopping Redwood on a scorching hot afternoon in Larkspur, 28-13. San Marin lost to Marin Catholic (1-0 MCAL, 2-1) on the road, 31-10.

Anglers may fish for free on Saturday, when the Department of Fish and Game will waive the license requirement for citizens 16 or older.

September 6, 2008 is a date I will remember for the rest of my life.  It is the day I won my first race as a professional cyclist.

NOTES AND QUOTES for a Thursday in the Napa Valley:

Was it the coach's fault?

ALAMEDA — Early in Tom Cable’s first practice as Oakland Raiders interim head coach, the special teams players gathered at midfield in a huddle before they realized someone was missing.