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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August 16, 2007

Newton cures whatever is bugging Monarchs

Following Wednesday's win over San Antonio, the Monarchs remained jovial inside the locker room until an uninvited guest was spotted.

Next to a pile of dirty jerseys in the middle of the floor was a cricket. Fearing the worst - "Eww! Is it a roach?" - several players backed away. One player went in for a better look, passing her disgusted teammates, who had just spent the past two hours diving for loose balls and jamming elbows into anyone who challenged them.

Chelsea Newton never hesitated in placing the cricket in her hand before pretending to throw it on those around her.

There is something symbolic about that scene. Newton handled that critter when none of her teammates dared to touch it, sort of like some of the defensive assignments the tough third-year guard has taken.

- Melody Gutierrez

Posted by tnegrete, August 16, 2007 05:49 PM

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