Sports Briefs: Marin athletes competing for world championships in rowing, volleyball

Two Marin rowers will be on the water Friday trying to keep their world championship hopes alive at the 2023 World Rowing Under 19 Championships at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, site of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic rowing events.

Marin native Edward Achtner powers the U.S. men’s quadruple scull with Cole Bruen, Henry Cooper and Charles Boldt. The crew came up on the short end of a three-way race for the two qualifying spots, missing the semifinals by a bowball. But the U.S. will race in the repechages for a second chance to advance to the semifinals.

The American crew got off the line in second position behind New Zealand and continued to sit just a few feet behind at the midway point. The U.S. then inched ahead as the crews hit 500 meters to go. However, a hard-charging Czech Republic crew was able to overtake the two leaders in the final sprint, with New Zealand rebounding to edge the Americans for second by 0.02 seconds. The Czech crew won the race in a 5:59.08, with New Zealand crossing in a 5:59.88. The U.S. finished with a time of 5:59.90.

The U.S. women’s eight crew with coxswain finished third  in its heat and will race in Friday’s repechages. The American crew, with Marin Rowing Association’s Joely Cherniss in action, sat in second position for much of the race but couldn’t get back on terms with Romania.The Romanian crew took the early lead and was never really challenged, winning the race by open water in a 6:21.90. Great Britain caught the U.S. at the line to finish second in a 6:24.63, with the U.S. crossing in a 6:25.14.

Volleyball

San Rafael High grad Mary Healy put up a team-best eight points on the scoreboard Thursday, but it was not enough to lift Canada past Bulgaria in the FIVB Girls Under-19 World Championships. Bulgaria’s 25-14, 27-25, 15-14 win continues the frustration for Canada, which lost in straight sets to Brazil and Italy the first two days of pool play in the tournament, hosted by Hungary. Canada is scheduled to face Peru on Friday.

Golf

The Branson School’s Ryan Herbst birdied five holes through the first two rounds at the Junior PGA Championships, but was haunted by four double-bogeys as he did not advance. Herbst stood at 16-over-par after two days as he failed to make the cut.

Herbst was 4-over in the first round. at Hot Springs Country Club in Arkansas. Miles Russell holds a commanding five-shot lead at 14-under par after three rounds. The tournaments wraps up Friday.

Baseball

The top two teams from the regular season will duel for the Pecos League Pacific Division championship this week.

The San Rafael Pacifics will host the Bakersfield Train Robbers in a best-of-three series for the championship. The series begins Thursday, 6 p.m., at Albert Park. The Train Robbers defeated Monterey, 13-4, Wednesday to win their semifinal series 2-1 and advance to the championships.

San Rafael won two of three games against Bakersfield in the regular season.

Bocce

The Marin Bocce Federation will host the annual Dolly Nave Tournament on Saturday, August 12. Registration for four-player teams is availabe in the office or via email at jessica@marinbocce.org. The cost is $385 per team.

All proceeds are donated to San Rafael High School Alumni Association to purchase new helmets for high school football players.