Napa High School gained sole possession of second place in the Monticello Empire League softball race Friday, defeating Vacaville, 1-0.

Napa (11-3-3 overall, 8-2-1 Monticello Empire League) scored three first-half goals in Thursday’s win.

Sean Ryan pitched well in relief Friday for Trinity Prep (5-5 overall, 2-4 Sacramento Metropolitan Athletic League) at the Veterans Home of California in Yountville. Ryan struck out three in 3 1/3 innings.

Napa (10-7 overall, 5-4 MEL) was led by Adam Lustig, went four innings for the win, allowing one run on three hits, one walk, and striking out three.

Napa is now 4-0 in the MEL, 17-3 overall.

Twenty-two swimmers from the Napa Valley Swim Team recently qualified for and competed at the Pacific Short Course Swimming Junior Olympics, which were held March 20-22. The meet was held at the San Ramon Olympic Pool, in the East Bay. There were 102 teams competing and over 1,300 swimmers.

Many college teams ask incoming athletes to redshirt their first year at the next level, giving them time to adjust to their class load.

Have you ever wondered what swims in the waters of our Napa River? I had the opportunity this week to observe a sampling of fish, amphibians, and even some crustaceans that call the river home.

NOTES AND QUOTES for a Saturday in the Napa Valley:

Rockstar Makita Suzuki and top rider Mat Mladin will highlight more than seven AMA Pro Road Racing Series teams expected at a two-day test session at Infineon Raceway, April 20-21. The test is part of the 4th annual Two-Wheel Thunder bike week in Sonoma.

As a recovering Seattle Supersonics fan, one might think I couldn’t care less about the NBA or its looming postseason.

Lakers v. Utah and Cleveland v. Detroit.

Matthew Silverman shot this turkey on the second Saturday of the season. He weighed 20 pounds, 7 ounces. The spurs were one inch and it had a beard of 101⁄2 inches.

Here’s a look at all of the angling action on our local waterways:

The Wine Valley Cycle For Sight, one of the Bay Area’ s most popular events, is returning April 18 in a joint effort to help returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Man, I thought we made it out of the woods when Terrell Owens signed with Buffalo.

The Oakland Raiders begin the 2009 NFL regular season at home on Monday night, Sept. 14, against the San Diego Chargers in a game that will be carried by ESPN. The San Francisco 49ers kick off the year with a game at Arizona on Sept. 13.