Monarchs Blog and Q&A

Bee staff writer Melody Gutierrez grew up in Twentynine Palms. At 14-years-old, she decided to combine her two passions -- sports and writing -- when she became a special assignments reporter for the Desert Trail, her hometown weekly newspaper. Melody headed to Northern California in 2000 to attend Chico State and has remained in the region ever since. She earned an internship with The Bee and subsequently became a staff writer in 2004 and has covered virtually every sport, starting with high schools, up through college and then the pros. Melody took over coverage of the Monarchs last season and chronicled the team's pursuit of a second straight league championship -- a quest that fell just short.

Melody welcomes your questions and will answer as many as she can as the season progresses.

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May 04, 2007

Monarchs waive Dubois

As expected, the Monarchs waived Leslie Dubois, who was signed to a training camp contract last Sunday in order to participate in the team's Las Vegas scrimmages. Dubois and Erin Batth have been utilized as practice players with the Monarchs to help the depleted post position.

Monarchs coach Jenny Boucek said Batth may travel with the team to Seattle for their preseason matchup against the Storm on May 11. That decision will be based on which Monarchs players return from their international competition.

Nicole Powell and Adrian Williams will play their final game on Sunday in Spain. Rebekkah Brunson, DeMya Walker and Ticha Penicheiro are still playing in Russia and will finish sometime before Thursday.

With their return, Batth will be waived along with two other players currently at training camp.

In other training camp news, La'Tangela Atkinson sprained her right toe during practice on Friday, said head athletic trainer Jill Jackson. Atkinson was acquired from Indiana in March for the Monarchs 2008 second-round draft pick. It's a setback for "Tangy," who said she was getting used to the Monarchs' system and felt she would bringing strong defense and rebounding skills to the floor during camp.

Atkinson graduated from North Carolina in 2006 and averaged three points with the Fever.

A little fun fact about Atkinson: The 23-year-old wears a clear tongue ring that she doesn't take out, even for games and practices.

-- Melody Gutierrez

Posted by rprice, May 4, 2007 10:48 PM

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