NOTES AND QUOTES for a Saturday in the Napa Valley:

University of Vermont freshman Becki Heimbigner, who batted .241, was named to the America East All-Rookie Team for softball.

Heimbigner, a Napa High School graduate, was one of only two players to start all 46 games this past season for the Catamounts (8-38 overall, 4-17  America East). She finished tied for the team lead in doubles (8) and runs scored (11), as well as having the second-most hits on the squad (33).

Heimbigner’s 33 hits were the most by a Vermont freshman since the 2004 season.

A shortstop-outfielder, she was named America East Rookie of the Week on April 6.

Heimbigner was the Defensive Player of the Year on the All-Napa County team last year as a shortstop for the Indians.

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Max Bryant, Peter Olney and Clint Mason each scored two goals as the Napa Force concluded its varsity lacrosse season with a 6-5 win in sudden death overtime over the Rancho Cotati Cougars last week at Justin-Siena’s Dodd Stadium.

Mak Kirmse had four assists and Matt Goetz stopped 19 shots on goal for the Force, part of the Napa Junior Lacrosse Club, which finished with a 7-10 record in its first year as a varsity team.

Aaron Rubin and Mason each had an assist. Greg Spinelli, Guido Murnig, Ryan Juchau and Max Kampton keyed the defense.

The win was particularly sweet for the Force because Rancho had defeated Napa earlier in the season, 10-2.

Dave Spinelli coached the Force’s last four games, going 3-1.

The NJLC receives financial support from the Napa Sheriff’s Activities League and is part of the Northern California Junior Lacrosse Association.

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Terra Smith, a 2008 St. Helena High School graduate, won the 19-and-under women’s division of the Eugene (Ore.) Marathon last week with an excellent time of 3 hours, 27 minutes, 2 seconds for the 26.2-mile race.

Smith attends the University of Oregon.

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A mandatory minicamp for the Oakland Raiders continues today and Sunday at the team’s permanent facility in Alameda.

Head coach Tom Cable will lead the Raiders through two practices today (10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 4:10 to 6:10 p.m.) and a single practice on Sunday (11:45 a.m.).

The Raiders return to Napa in July for training camp. They are headquartered at the Napa Valley Marriott and practice at the adjacent Redwood Middle School complex.

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As an original American Football League member, the Oakland Raiders will play four Legacy Games during the 2009 season.

The Raiders will face San Diego (Sept. 14), the New York Jets (Oct. 25), Kansas City (Nov. 15) and Dallas (Nov. 26) in Legacy Games.

This season marks the 50th year for the eight original American Football League teams. As part of the celebration, the eight original AFL teams will wear historic uniforms during Legacy Games.

The American Football League, which merged with the NFL in 1970, played its first season in 1960 with eight teams. The original eight AFL teams were the Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs (played as the Dallas Texans), New England Patriots (played as the Boston Patriots), New York Jets (played as the Titans of New York), Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers and Tennessee Titans (played as the Houston Oilers).

The Miami Dolphins became the ninth AFL franchise and played their first game in 1966. The Cincinnati Bengals followed as the 10th AFL team, playing their first game during the 1968 season.

E-mail Executive Sports Editor Marty James at mjames@ napanews.com or call 256-2223.