Battle Mountain has a local state champion in trap, skeet, and sporting clays. Lezli Baird, recently graduated from Battle Mountain High School class of 2016.
Baird, who has been competing for only three years, has won in trap, skeet, and sporting clay for the last two years. She won high overall which makes her a two-time reigning champion for ladies. Second place this year also belongs to a Battle Mountain local, Patti Smith.
Baird learned to shoot on the 25 Ranch where she grew up. She has been shooting since she was big enough to hold a shotgun, she says.
Her grandfather, Monte Price, taught her. She began competing three years ago in Spring Creek since Battle Mountain does not have a local team organized.
She joined the Ruby Mountain Clay Breakers (RMCB), a non-profit organization that is dedicated to coaching young athletes in a safe environment under adult supervision.
Baird feels that by joining a team that is not local, she got the opportunity to meet and make new friends. “It helped me get out of my comfort zone,” Baird said.
RMCB awarded Baird with a scholarship at Senior Recognition Night last week. Baird plans to continue to compete at a collegiate level now that she has graduated high school. Rose Ackley, secretary for RMCB said Baird is a great shooter and will be missed.
RMCB shoots every Saturday in Spring Creek, and they also travel to neighboring states. In late June, 10 shooters in Nevada get to go to Nationals in San Antonio, Texas. Baird is one of the lucky ones that will be competing there.
Ackley says, this is a great organization for the youth to do a sport they enjoy in a safe way. The group shoots trap, skeet, sporting clays and five-stand shooting. They group the students into three divisions based on their grade level.
RMCB puts on a yearly fundraiser to help with entry fees at shows and the students’ shells. At this year’s fundraiser first place gets a four-wheeler; second and third place get a shotgun, and the other places receive other great prizes. The deadline for this raffle ends June 10, if interested, contact RMCB.
RMCB is seeking for people to take on the position of head coach in Battle Mountain, Winnemucca and Lovelock. The head coaches would take on a team in their area and promote shooting sports for kids of different ages, usually 4th — 12th grade.
If you are interested or would like more information, call Scott Ackley, president of RMCB at (775) 397-5704, you can also visit their website at ssyss.org and go under the “Ruby Mountain Clay Breakers” tab.
