State Preps Report

Ferndale faces life after Jake
Defending state champs open spring practice without Jake Locker
FERNDALE - The After Jake Era officially began on Tuesday in Ferndale.

Kitsap's Minor Leaguers Top Area Prospects Battle Injuries
Central Kitsap's Todd Linden and South Kitsap's Aaron Cunningham have both missed playing time.

Manglona New Mat Coach at Olympic
Bobby Manglona has been a familiar face in the Olympic High mat room over the years.

Sunnyside High School recognizes spring athletes
Jessica Gudino receives an inspirational award in tennis from her coach, Troy Whittle, at Tuesday's spring sports awards ceremony.

Grandview to host first ever alumni game
GRANDVIEW - The Grandview High School stadium will be the site of the first ever Grandview alumni soccer game Saturday, June 10, at noon.

Changes proposed for Girls swimming agreement
Sunnyside High School is proposing a change in the girls swimming program, which would have the girls in a cooperative agreement with 3A West Valley High School instead of 4A Davis, as has been the case in the past.

Elma wins state equestrian title
WENATCHEE - Elma captured the team championship and three East County riders took individual honors in the State High School Equestrian Meet that concluded May 21 at Wenatchee.

Three Wildcats named baseball all-league

Quite a racket
Olympia duo stands out as South Sound's best in high school tennis
When the subject of high school boys and girls tennis around South Sound during the 2005-06 school year comes up, it begins and ends with a pair of juniors from Olympia.

Elma's Nordahl named league MVP
Scott Nordahl, the Elma Eagles' prolific goal-scorer, has been named the MVP of the Southwest Washington League Evergreen Division.

All-league soccer team

Coming soon
The all-league teams from around the Inland Northwest will appear in Thursday's paper.

Also, the list of the spring GSL scholar athletes is scheduled to appear in next Tuesday's paper

PROGRAMMING NOTE (as they say on TV): I also want you to know the Prep Report will become more hit-and-miss over the summer. I'm taking some time off soon, and, though I'll probably write even while I'm on vacation, it won't be on a daily, or near-daily, basis like now.

Scoring the Mid-Columbia honor roll as a track meet
The state track meet is over, and after a few days off to recharge my batteries, one thing is certain...

Doubleheader honors softball all-stars
BATTLE GROUND - The Les Schwab Softball Challenge, a showcase for the region's top senior high school players, opened Tuesday to rave reviews from the athletes.

Prairie, Camas find strength in numbers
A state championship team can have a single superstar, but it is not required. It is, however, imperative for a team to have a number of players who understand their roles. That is the key ingredi...

Class 3A Greater St. Helens League All-League Teams
Baseball Player of the year: Austin Brown, Mark Morris First team Ian Dahl P Jr. Mark Morris Mike Peck P Sr. R.A. Long Zach Gallagher P Jr. Camas Kaden Donovan C Sr. Camas Jordan Goss 1B Jr.

Sports awards set for today
The final games, meets and matches ended this past weekend. Now it's time for the awards.

Local Report: Rosters announced for All-State feeder games
Eighteen of the Valley's top big-school players will comprise the Class 4A-3A Upper Valley team in today's All-State Region V feeder games at Davis Field.

Mazama spoils Pioneers' day
Mazama's bats are more than Mac-Hi can handle in a 9-3 Class 3A state softball semifinal game in Klamath Falls.
KLAMATH FALLS - Mac-Hi's 2006 softball team has written an enviable record of achievement: Twenty-two wins against six losses and a third-place finish in the Oregon State Class 3A Softball Championships.

Camas edges Cubs in tourney finale
MOSES LAKE - The Walla Walla Cubs 15-16 youth baseball team lost to Camas 10-9 here Monday on the final day of tournament play as their season record slipped to 3-6.

Briefs: Young Is Ninth in Javelin at NCAAs
University of California freshman Ryan Young took ninth place in the javelin at the NCAA West Regional Saturday.

Young, a two-time Class 4A state champ at North Kitsap, threw 214 feet, 2 inches.

All-Evergreen League lists 15 locals
Fifteen Grays Harbor players were named to the all-Evergreen League softball team, chosen from coaches' all-opponent teams.

Trio of local baseballers make first-team All-State
Mark Morris teammates Austin Brown and Matt Argyropoulos, and R.A. Long's Karlis Liepa were selected first-team members of the Class 3A/4A All-State baseball squad in a vote of the Washington State Baseball Coaches Association last weekend in Seattle.

Roundup: Dahl finishes 36th at golf tourney
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - Mark Morris High School junior Ian Dahl shot an even-par 72 here Monday at PGA National Golf Club to finish in 36th place out of 170 competitors (age 16-18 division) in the Future Collegiates World Tour National Championships.

Net positive for Bearcats
Affable Chehalis keeper leads with defense, heart
When the time comes to hang up his soccer cleats, Chehalis senior goalie Bryce Gardin might have a future as a self-help guru.

Looking back
As the high school sports seasons come to an end, it is an appropriate time to look back. But either I'm just too old to remember, or I'm just too old to see anything, or I'm just too old to have the energy, or, forget it, you get the picture. So instead of rehashing the minutiae of the past sports year, I'll let the Seattle Times' Craig Smith do it for me. It's amazing how often Spokane schools and athletes do something memorable, when you consider we have about 20 percent of the state's high school athletes in the Inland Northwest.

Local Report - Bears open season 2-1 at tourney
LONGVIEW - Despite many of the players weary from their respective high school state fastpitch tournaments, the Yakima Pepsi Bears opened the season with a 2-1 showing Monday at the Northwest Outlaws Invite.

Away at school - Local rowers strong at nationals
JENNIFER COPELAND (Grandview), a senior member of the Washington State women's crew team, helped the squad to a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Women's Rowing Championships this past weekend in West Windsor, N.J.

All goes well for O'Flaherty in AA debut
SAN ANTONIO - Walla Walla's Eric O'Flaherty made his Class AA professional baseball debut here Sunday in perfect form.

Sehome setting sights higher at state tournament

Inexperience no worry for area tennis players

Pioneers hoping to make long run

Meridian's Burke takes seventh in boys' 1,600

NWL teams expect more champions

Salute the Captain
Cade Mossman's senior season has been about as close to perfect as anyone could have expected. The midfielder put up some big numbers (11 goals and 18 assists), earned Narrows League Bridge Division MVP honors and is captain of a team that made it to the Class 4A state semifinals for the first time in school history.

Duo Hopes Familiarity Breeds Success
After placing fifth in doubles at last year's Class 4A state tennis championships, North Kitsap's Kearney Bangs had to say goodbye to playing partner Erin Gallagher.

PT's Decker Split-Second From Title
Quinton Decker, the freshman running sensation of Port Townsend High School, prefers to win his distance races with minimal drama.

High School Notebook: Gray, Trent Wow 'Em in the Desert
Some of the top basketball talent in the West Coast played in the Cactus Classic at Tucson, Ariz., earlier this month. Among the top performers, according to Rivals.com, was Bainbridge's Steven Gray, who plays for Bremerton-based Total Package.

State tournament inequities
There has been some talk around the office and in the community about the state allocation of entries in the State 4A/3A track meet. This is a subject (three berths vs. four as in past years) that has been on the front burner since the fall, but is bubbling over now because our region is so successful in track.

Breaking down the 4A state track meet

Long-distance runs start state
CHENEY - An overcast sky greeted the athletes at the WIAA State 2A/1A/B track & field at Eastern Washington University on Thursday with an abbreviated event card, including finals of two long-distance runs.

Local sports briefs
AHS honors boys soccer team in awards

Ducks' Schilter cruises to 3200-meter title
CHENEY - Ever since the seventh grade, Toutle Lake senior Chelsea Schilter has followed an unwritten rule of distance running: Never look back.

Roundup: Kalama's Younce makes hurdles final
CHENEY - Kalama's D.J. Younce won his preliminary heat and had the fifth-best qualifying time in the 300-meter hurdles after the opening day of the Class 1A state track and field championships at Eastern Washington University on Thursday.

Local high school athletes shine at state track and field meet
Sara Klein of Olympia High School has taken second place in the 4A girls' high jump event, clearing 5 feet and 5 inches.

Yelm High School's Ashley Gagner has taken eight place in the 3A girls' shot put.

Olympia girls in thick of 4A race
Klein, Gedde and depth make Bears state title contenders in track
As his team has continued to win, as the Bears have won invitation, league and district championships, Olympia girls track coach Cris Violette's focus never changed.

Camas faces challenge in goal
SUMNER -- When a team gets as far as the Camas boys soccer team, it can expect to find a big challenge awaiting it. For the Papermakers, the biggest challenge in today's Class 3A state semifinal...

Evergreen grad's Indy dreams come true
The career path of an auto mechanic usually starts with oil changes, and can lead to foreman, or maybe shop ownership. But Indianapolis Motor Speedway? Pat Jordan says he'd have guessed...

4A Tennis State Championship Preview

3A, 2A tennis tournaments loaded with local talent
While the Class 4A state tennis tournament is in Clark County this season, it's in the lower classifications where local athletes could really find some success this weekend. The Class 3A state...

Shannon Porter runs to second in 3,200
CHENEY -- Shannon Porter swears she packs 85 pounds somewhere on her 5-foot frame, but most of that weight must be her heart. Porter, the tiny freshman running sensation from Hockinson High School...

East Valley's sticking around
Sitting on a bus for three hours isn't usually a baseball player's idea of fun. Especially a bus that's not moving, that is sitting perfectly still in a parking lot while waiting for Mother Nature to determine when his team will play.

Intriguing storylines abound in baseball semifinals
A high school baseball legend in his final state tournament, pitting his team against one coached by a former player.

Class B Fastpitch Rosters

Paige keeps moving up at NCAA championships
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Paige Mackenzie keeps improving on the golf course, which has coincided with her improved place in the standings at the NCAA Women's Golf Championships.

Highline CC standout signs with C. Washington
ELLENSBURG - Nate Jackson, a 6-foot guard from Seattle's Cleveland High School and Highline Community College, has signed to play at Central Washington.

Local Tennis Tournament Schedule

2A Baseball Capsules

Class B Fastpitch Capsules

Sanchey dashes to second in 1,600
CHENEY - In the first 100 meters, Klickitat's Herschel Sanchey sent a clear message to the state Class B 1,600 field: Catch me if you can.

Grandview's Floyd hopes to break through
For three years, the road to a state tennis championship match has had to go through Kevin Floyd. This weekend, Floyd wants to be the guy following that same road - through everybody else.

Tale of two teams at B fastpitch tournament
Two completely different teams will head in the same direction when the Class B state fastpitch tournament starts this Friday at the Gateway Sports Complex at Kiwanis Park.

Bellingham ties record by winning its fifth straight girls' golf title

Bellingham's dynasty could just be starting

Meridian boys have a shot

Lynden finishes tied for 5th

Blaine's Bukowski improves to fifth

Grande Time in Belfair
North Mason's fastpitch success starts with head coach Paula Grande as she leads the Bulldogs to their seventh straight 3A state tournament.
As North Mason fastpitch coach Paula Grande takes the Bulldogs into their seventh consecutive Class 3A state tournament Friday, she finds herself reminiscing about her first few seasons coaching at her alma mater.

Surprising Eagles Fly to State Meet
Track and Field | Sam Rucker and Sierra Cook could have big performances this week.
The Klahowya Eagles squad that starts competition today at the Class 2A state track and field meet is any interesting mix. On one hand you have the favorites, who are expected to compete for state titles. On the other hand you have the surprises.

Hurt Second at State Golf
Austin Hurt is headed to Arizona State to study golf course management, and he hopes to make the golf team as a walk-on.

Wolves Ranked 13th in Nation
South Kitsap has already gone where no Class 4A boys soccer team from this area has gone before. And now the Final Four-bound Wolves are nationally ranked to boot.

High School Report: Senior All-Star Games June 2 at Legion
The 40th annual Senior High School All-Star Games will be June 2 at Legion Field.

Viking looks to vault field at state

Runge sixth at state
SPOKANE - Raymond senior Chance Runge closed out her stellar prep golf career with a sixth-place finish in the State 1A/B Tournament on Wednesday at Spokane.

Ten Harborites named baseball all-league

Harborites dominate all-league soccer

Sports Briefs: Warne named Bobcat baseball MVP

Monarchs' Burns, Waite take hard-nosed approach to state tennis tourney
Rachel Burns and Simon Waite don't wear shoulder pads. They don't sweat like a burly 320-pound offensive lineman.

It's deja vu all over again for Chinooks
If the baseball gods were truly "ticked off" at the Kalama baseball program last June, as head coach Dave Orzel publically lamented, then why, one year later, have they granted the Chinooks such a marvelous shot at redemption?

Class B contenders 'gunning for' Ducks
Toutle Lake fastpitch coach Krystal Kennard is no Joe Namath. When she makes a guarantee, Kennard begins it with a humble "if."

Roundup: Beavers bring home state golf title
SPOKANE - A year removed from taking second in the state Class 2A girls golf tournament with a star-studded lineup, the Woodland Beavers expected to be successful in their return trip Tuesday and Wednesday at Downriver Golf Course.

Thunderbirds find groove
Tumwater players accept roles, roll off 20 wins in a row heading into state tournament
The fastpitch season started with a thud. All the expectations the Tumwater Thunderbirds had of themselves were questioned immediately when they lost to Capital 4-3 on March 14.

Evans 3rd in 4A; Peck 5th in 3A
SPOKANE - Chris Evans, who says he's landed a "real small" golf scholarship at Washington, came up real big Wednesday on the final day of his high school career.

Rochester climber summits Everest
Julie Smith of Rochester reached the summit of Mount Everest on Tuesday in her third attempt to reach the summit.

Ex-Capital tennis player Blackner wins big
To assume a new persona on the tennis court this spring, Adam Blackner assumed a new nickname -- "Blackjack."

Scoreboard

Hockinson's De La Torre claims 2A state golf title
SPOKANE - Hockinson sophomore Gaston De La Torre walked off the 18th green, the newly crowned champion of the Class 2A boys golf state tournament, and immediately declared himself a failure...

Prairie goes from scare to state
At first, Robyn Mask said they weren't scared. The members of the Prairie softball team weren't worried when they trailed by four runs in the seventh inning in a loser-out game at the district to...

Woodland girls prove they belong atop 2A standings
SPOKANE - Don Wendt has coached high school sports for more than 30 years, but he was hours removed from Wednesday's awards ceremony at Downriver Golf Course before Wendt suddenly realized that the...

Scoreboard

West Valley's Smith is clearing all hurdles
As the video rolls by and the analysis grid pops up, West Valley hurdles coach Bob Balderston can't find much wrong in either of Jarom Smith's races. A tweak here or there, maybe a small point to discuss.

Scotties seeking reprisal on state's biggest stage
For the Highland boys soccer team, a final measure of revenge will be theirs for the taking this week in the Class 2A state final four.

Plesha courting singles feat
With all respect due his Mid-Valley League opponents, this is what Sunnyside's Danny Plesha has been playing for this season.

Yakima Valley track and field leaders

STATE TRACK AND FIELD SNAPSHOT
IF YOU GO
Class 4A and 3A
Where: Edgar Brown Stadium, Pasco.
When: Friday and Saturday.

Away at school: Rogers wins Ashe Award
DEREK ROGERS (Davis), a recent graduate of California Lutheran (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), was named to the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award first team on May 11th. Rogers, a men's soccer player at the school who earned a 4.0 GPA in the fall...

Local report: Ellensburg's Crimp in top 25 of Washington Open
GIG HARBOR - Keith Crimp shot a closing-round 74 to finished in a tie for 22nd in the 80th Washington Open, which concluded Wednesday at Canterwood Golf and Country Club.

Title eludes Park in playoff
Highland senior loses in playoff

Pioneers cruise past Knights
Mac-Hi's softball team hits on all cylinders in a 10-3 state playoff victory over North Valley.
MILTON-FREEWATER - Nobody can tell the coaches of the Greater Oregon League they can't judge talent.

White Buffaloes outrun Mac-Hi
Madras' offense gets the best of the Pioneers in a Class 3A state baseball playoff game, 9-3, Wednesday.
MADRAS - A two-out, run-scoring triple by Miguel Ruvalcaba and an RBI single by Ferman Garcia tied the score at 3-3 in the second inning against Madras here in a second-round Class 3A state baseball playoff game on Wednesday .

Pomeroy's Barr ties for 14th at state; DeSale's Roach 21st
SPOKANE - Pomeroy's Shannon Barr shot a 179 and DeSales' Madeleine Roach shot a 188 at the two-day Class 1A/B girls golf tournament that concluded on Wednesday at the par-72 Esmeralda Golf Course.

State track meets begin
With the Class 2A/1A/B state track and field meet kicking off at Eastern Washington University in Cheney today, plenty of area athletes will be competing.

Bellingham in position for 5th straight title

Rawitzer has top local score on Day 1

Three advance at state

Meridian places five on all-Whatcom baseball team

Locals hope to vault to state track medals
With state track and field championships due to be settled this weekend in ten divisions (five boys' and five girls' divisions for a total of 175 events) it figures that at least a few individual titles ought to be coming our way.

2A Softball: Unbeaten Grizzlies, Bulldogs open state Friday

Gulls' Runge in sixth, five strokes off lead

Three Cats earn all-Pac-Nine softball
Three Aberdeen players were named to the all-Pac-Nine League softball team, chosen from coaches' all-opponent teams.

Chelsea's last stand: Toutle senior takes final shot at state title
TOUTLE - Lots of things rumble through Chelsea Schilter's mind as she gallops around the track, each stride bringing her closer to fulfilling a teenage sports fantasy.

Former Rainier HS wrestling champ dies in rafting accident
Rollin Schimmel was more than a wrestling champion, even to those who closely followed his meteoric career.

Roundup: RAL's Holway tied for 8th in state golf tourney
SPOKANE - R.A. Long senior Chris Holway had the best first-day score among local participants in the Class 3A boys state golf tournament here Tuesday at Indian Canyon Golf Course, shooting a 1-under par 71 to tie for eighth place individually heading into today's final round.

Honest Stonecypher DQ'd for mistake
Incorrect scorecard ends Yelm golfer's high school career; Timberline freshman Cameron Peck tied for 3A boys lead
SPOKANE -- Beth Stonecypher's glorious high school golf career ended in disaster Tuesday, but not in disgrace.

Stonecypher, one of the favorites to win the state 3A girls tournament, disqualified herself after the first round by self-reporting that she had violated one of golf's sacred rules by accidentally signing an incorrect scorecard.

T-Birds pitcher MVP of Pac-9
Lindsey Vander Lugt, a senior left-handed pitcher who led the Tumwater Thunderbirds to the Southwest District fastpitch championship last weekend, has been named the most valuable player of the Pacific-9 League.

Area all-league teams

Living the dream
Natalia Agarycheva is living the American dream.
The daughter of immigrants from Kazakhstan takes up tennis at the age of 9 and grows into one of the best players in Washington.

Two Hockinson golfers lead field at 2A state tournament
SPOKANE -- The Hockinson High School boys golf team is primed to take home the school's first state sports championship today, and the Hawks might double their fun by taking medalist honors, too....more

Lots of things to cover in final weekend of prep sports

Class 4A Greater St. Helens League All-League Teams

On Further Review
A pair of Camas high school athletes have made plans to continue their athletic careers in college.

Alexis Bell, an all-league girls basketball player for the Papermakers, has agreed to attend Whitworth College in Spokane, where she'll play basketball.

Scoreboard

Jumping at the chance: Local fastpitch teams set for state
There were two different themes driving the five local fastpitch teams through their respective seasons â€" two wanted return trips to the state tournament, three didn't want to miss out on state for another season.

Leader in Park's sights
SPOKANE - Minhee Park's quest for a state title got off to a good start Tuesday, and several other area players advanced to today's final rounds of the state high school golf championships.

Indians, Irish to state
A little rain can't stop Touchet and DeSales from taking two of the three SEB District softball state slots.
KENNEWICK - An hour-and-a-half rain delay couldn't prevent the DeSales Irish and Touchet Indians from punching their tickets to the Class B state softball tournament here Tuesday evening at Lawrence Scott Park.

Taubenheim reaches major leagues
Lynden graduate to make first start for Blue Jays Saturday at Colorado
Ty Taubenheim was back on the phone seconds after getting the call. For the next couple of hours Wednesday evening, his cell phone burned through its battery.
The 2001 Lynden High graduate had big news: he was a Toronto Blue Jay for the first time.

Blaine sends four golfers to state

Meridian's Needham tops at district meet

Squalicum starts strong at district
The first day of the Class 3A Northwest District track meet at Shoreline Stadium is in the books, but there is still much to be decided before the meet concludes on Friday.

Pioneers play it conservative
At the risk of sounding clic'e, the Nooksack Valley High School softball team is taking the Class 2A Northwest District Tournament one game at a time.

Bosman looks to join brother
With a couple victories, Lynden sophomore Erica Bosman can join her brother at the Class 3A state tennis tournament.

Registration required

High School Report: Four From Kitsap Qualify for State Tennis Tourney
Four tennis players from Kitsap County were still standing after the first day of the Class 4A West Central/Southwest district tournament Wednesday night at Sprinker Recreation Center.

Kitsap Sports Briefs: NK's Prince Leads Pac-10 in Hitting
Records are incomplete, but Pacific-10 Conference officials said they believe Jared Prince would be the first freshman to win the conference batting championship if he maintains his lead through the end of the season.

Hyaks still alive in tourney

Harbor teams start Friday
Dist. IV 2A Softball

Eagles begin regionals Saturday
Region II 2A Baseball

District track meets scheduled for Friday
State berths will be on the line in district track meets scheduled for Friday at three locations.

Montesano earns academic state title
Montesano High School's girls tennis team has won the 2A academic state championship. Earning the honor are, seated from left, Megan Rosenbach, Alyssa Harwick and Hillary Lawrence, and in back, Nicole Monroe, Christa Perkins, Katie Peterson, Katie Schuh and Sara Lawr. Absent from the photo is Alicia Snyder.

Radcliffe, Lassies soar into district meet
Call her Queen Leap.

Roundup: Ducks coast into softball district semifinals
CENTRALIA -- Thanks to a impressive power display, the Toutle Lake Ducks secured the opportunity to defend their state fastpitch title with a pair of wins in the Southwest Washington Class B District tournament at Fort Borst Park here Wednesday.

Zorn's speech tonight is free
Jim Zorn, the Seattle Seahawks' first starting quarterback and now the team's quarterback coach, will speak tonight at the Northwest Christian High School.

Stonecypher wins Pac-9 golf honor
Yelm High School golfer Beth Stonecypher was named the Pac-9 League's most valuable player.

Rainier rebounds from opening loss at fastpitch district
At the 1A District fastpitch playoffs Wednesday, Rainier lost its first game 15-0 to Toledo before bouncing back for a 6-4 win over Napavine.

Scoreboard

College notebook: Six local players on rosters for NCAA D-I softball tournament
The NCAA Division I softball tournament opens today, and six Clark County products will have a say in who becomes national champion. Alabama, the sixth seed in the field of 64, features...

Scoreboard

Triplett moving to YVCC
Two years ago it was the lure of something completely new that drew John Triplett to the Eisenhower girls basketball coaching job.

EV fastpitch standout Bigby signs with Yaks
Brooke Bigby of East Valley has become Yakima Valley softball coach Chuck Bodeen's first signee.

A Blue Devil stands alone
Wa-Hi's Krista Morasch is the lone Blue Devil representative at Friday's regional tennis tournament at Central Valley High School in Spokane. Morasch plays Elise Otto of Lewis & Clark, the No. 1 seed out of the Greater Spokane League, in the first round at noon.

Base runners key for Wa-Hi
Improved pitching puts value on every run as the Blue Devils open regional softball action in Spokane Friday.
When Wa-Hi takes the field at Franklin Park in Spokane against University High at the regional softball tournament Friday, a key to its success will be putting runners on base.

Big Nine to change name to CBL
School principals voted on Wednesday to change the name of the Big Nine Conference to the Columbia Basin League.

Lynden, Bellingham ready for trip to state

Ramstead no-hits Meridian

Lions continue strong season

Eagles keep streak alive
CHEHALIS - Quite a bit of patience, a little luck and a lot of pluck maintained a regional tradition for Elma's baseball team.

One bad hop aids Monarchs vs. Bobcats
KELSO - Whether it was the full moon or just plain luck, the singular moment between Aberdeen and Mark Morris during their District IV 3A baseball semifinal involved a sprinkler head at a brand-spanking new ballpark.

Bobcats clinch district berth by lassoing Tornados, 7-2
YELM - Striking quickly with a four-run first inning, Aberdeen nailed down a postseason softball berth with a 7-2 victory over Yelm on a Pac-Nine League contest Thursday at Yelm.

Split decision on HHS hoop appeal
Hoquiam High School has won a portion of its appeal with the Washington State Interscholastic Activities Association over district sanctions levied against its boys basketball program, HHS athletic director Mark Maxfield said Thursday.

Locals advance to second day of tourney
KELSO - Five Grays Harbor players advanced to the final day of the District IV 2A Girls Golf Tournament that opened Thursday at the Three Rivers Golf Course in Kelso.

Zimmermann, Runge lead at 1A/B district golf
North Beach's Drew Zimmermann and Raymond's Chance Runge grabbed the first-round lead in the District IV Class 1A/B Golf Tournament on Thursday at Highland Golf Course in Cosmopolis.

Hyaks, Wildcats downed in respective softball tiffs
PE ELL - The Pe Ell Trojans bashed out ten hits and routed North Beach, 11-1, in a non-league softball tiff Thursday on the winners' home field.

Sports Briefs: Hoquiam hosts subdistrict track

Top seed within reach for MM
Tony Polis had four hits against Aberdeen on Thursday in a Southwest Washington 3A District semifinal.

Alvord: On balks, Bair, Bonds and Babe
Notes on a napkin as we contemplate whether ol' rubber-armed Randy Johnson is the biggest miscreant to hit New York City since Son of Sam ...

Spudders' late surge halts Beavers' season
CHEHALIS - John Karns belted a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning to cap a two-run rally by Ridgefield as the Spudders rallied to stun Woodland 4-3 in the Southwest Washington 2A District baseball tournament Thursday at Bearcat Stadium.

Roundup: Kilkelly tops regular season with one-hitter for Chinooks
KALAMA - Stephanie Kilkelly flirted with a no-hitter into the final frame and settled for a one-hit masterpiece here Thursday during Kalama's 6-1 softball victory over Winlock in the Southwest Washington 1A League regular-season finale for both teams.

Capital, Olympia stay alive in fastpitch
Cougars, Bears win loser-out games, face each other today for district seeds
TACOMA -- They used different routes Thursday to reach the same end: the district fastpitch playoffs.

Hawks reach state
River Ridge holds off Camas in baseball
With an 8-1 lead going into the sixth inning, the River Ridge Hawks were not about to ease up in their Southwest 3A District baseball playoff matchup as they held on for an 8-6 win over Camas on Thursday.

Scoreboard

Ridgefield gets on right side of seventh-inning rally
CHEHALIS -- John Karns felt like he let his team down last week. Thursday night, he lifted his teammates to the Class 2A regional baseball playoffs. Karns drove in the game-winning run with

Loss puts Camas baseball team back up against the wall
KELSO -- The Camas baseball team really would like to do things the easy way. But that doesn't seem to be the Papermakers' way. A win Thursday would have landed Camas in the state baseball pla...

Moilanen advances to 2A district meet
Hockinson's Keith Moilanen was the only athlete to advance to the Class 2A district track and field meet in two events as the Trico League sub-district meet opened Thursday at Woodland High School....

Scoreboard

Prairie grad Feldt serves as PSU assistant coach
Mandy Hill isn't the Portland State softball team's only connection to Clark County. Traci Feldt, a 1998 Prairie graduate who lives in Vancouver, is a Vikings assistant coach. "She mostly...

Ike's Foi Malaki is on Fast Forward
Watching how the world's top 100-meter dashmen swagger and huff and puff their way into the starting blocks, it's obvious intimidation is a big part of the sprinter's mentality.

Bigby, Cuillier key Red Devils' sweep
NACHES - Brooke Bigby and Renee Cuillier threw back-to-back shutouts as East Valley earned a share of the CWAC South fastpitch title with a 10-0, 2-0 sweep over Naches Valley on Thursday.

Prep Spotlight - Meghan Kopczynski Ellensburg fastpitch
The Buzz ...
After leading the Mid-Valley League in RBI as a freshman to earn second-team honors, Kopczynski continued her success this year. She batted 30 of 57 for a .526 average and 29 RBI to lead the league in hitting this year as well. Besides...

Fast time turns to big pain for La Salle sprinter
Mike Vetter is too fast and too determined, apparently, for his own good. The La Salle junior, an undefeated sprinter who appeared to be a lock for a Class B state title or two later this month, blazed through 100 meters in 10.4 seconds at last...

Highland answers Quincy's challenge
COWICHE - Quincy tried to stun Highland's soccer team twice on Thursday, but the Scotties had a quick answer both times.

Wa-Hi steps closer
The Blue Devils are a game closer to the regional tourney with a 9-0 shutout of Moses Lake Thursday.
The Wa-Hi softball team moved a step closer to advancing to regionals, thanks to a solid pitching performance and some timely hitting, as the Blue Devils blanked Moses Lake 9-0 Thursday at Murr Field in the first round of the Big Nine district tournament.

Bobcats shut down Rams
Solid pitching and defense have been the cornerstones of Aberdeen baseball's success this season and Wednesday's District IV 3A contest against North Thurston was no exception.

Wildcats split in district openers vs. Rainier, White Pass
WINLOCK - A potential district repeat was quickly quashed, but a second successive regional baseball appearance remains within Ocosta's grasp.

Records snapped at meet
SOUTH BEND - Two meet records and one disaster marked the opening day of the Subdistrict B Track Meet on Wednesday at South Bend's Millam Field.

Elma, Monte both blanked on road
CAMAS - A long bus ride turned into an even longer trip back home for both Elma and Montesano's boys soccer teams on Wednesday as Trico League teams blanked the two Evergreen League squads in a District IV 2A boys soccer doubleheader at Doc Harris Stadium in Camas.

Sports Briefs: Monte wins tennis academic title

Hyaks' bats erupt in 18-3 non-league win
OYEHUT - Blasting out 16 hits in four innings, North Beach crushed the Hoquiam junior varsity, 18-3, in a non-league softball game Wednesday at Oyehut.

Three Cats on Pac-Nine soccer
Three players from Aberdeen's Pac-Nine League championship team were named to the all-Pac-Nine League boys soccer team.

Roundup: River jolts Lumberjills
Columbia River pushed across six runs in the seventh inning and posted a 10-1 win over R.A. Long at Seventh Avenue Park on Wednesday in the Greater St. Helens 3A League fastpitch finale for the Lumberjills.

Kalama coasts to regional semifinals
ONALASKA - Spenser Gwynne will have surgery on his left knee once his high school baseball career at Kalama is over. He's comfortable repeating a familiar pattern of pain management to delay both inevitabilities.

Teeing it up with Monica Brown
River Ridge ace teaches lessons in humility, focus and consistency
FORT LEWIS -- Two kinds of people enjoy the game of golf: Those who can actually play and the rest of us.

Turning tragedy into inspiration
When Connor Lambert turned 18 Tuesday, he did with a heavy heart. Three years ago, the River Ridge baseball star and Pacific-9 League MVP celebrated his birthday with one of his best friends who tragically died only a month later.

T-Birds, Rams eliminated in baseball playoffs
CAMAS -- The Tumwater Thunderbirds built a 6-0 lead in their Southwest 3A District baseball playoff game Wednesday afternoon, but Camas came roarding back to eliminate the T-Birds 7-6.

Bossio, Evans tied at district
Capital's Jarred Bossio shot a 1-under-par 70 and was tied for second after the first round of the Narrows League golf championships Wednesday at the Lake Spanaway Golf Course.

Baker thankful of Skyview's team effort in district final
Whitney Baker put on another pitching display Wednesday, leading the Skyview softball team to the Class 4A district championship. But even after striking out 14 batters and giving up one hit in a...

Talking Points
A curlytail grub by Mister Twister got the nod as America's No. 1 fishing lure in the April issue of Field & Stream. They are cheap, easy to use and will catch almost anything that swims in freshwater...

Commentary: There's no offseason for NFL players like Pierce
This isn't an important time for pro football fans, except for the few so into the sport they have NFL.com as their Internet home page. The majority save their interest for the games, injury repor...more

College notebook: Host of local softball products reach postseason
It isn't much of a surprise given Clark County's status as a breeding ground for elite softball players, but the area is well represented as the NCAA Division II and III and NAIA regional championship...

Heritage defies odds by beating Skyview in boys soccer, 2-0
A few factors were working against the Heritage boys soccer team in the Class 4A district playoffs Wednesday night at Kiggins Bowl. One: The program's all-time leading scorer, forward Brandon Thom...

Victory provides big relief for Beard in district track meet
No pain, no gain? Not for Hudson's Bay's Ashleigh Beard. The Eagles senior, plagued by a sore shoulder all season, had a medical observation about her personal best and Class 4A district track and...

Prep highlights: Ridgefield soccer routs Elma for title
Tyler Salvey and Spencer Shipp each scored two goals as the Ridgefield boys soccer team rolled to the Class 2A District 4 championship by beating Elma 6-0 on Wednesday at Doc Harris Stadium in Camas....

Rally saves Prairie's softball season
Kristine Bechtoldt had a hard time coming up with the right words. Emily Robertson wouldn't stop talking. Both of them, though, were experiencing the same emotion -- absolute joy -- after leading...

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West Valley girls win district golf
RICHLAND - The West Valley girls added another title to its collection.
Fresh off capturing the Mid-Valley League championship for the fifth straight season, the Rams made it back-to-back district titles Wednesday at Horn Rapids.

Thompson qualifies for wrestling regionals
EDMONDS - Scott Thompson's title at 143 pounds in the open division led the parade of 21 Yakima Freestyle Club wrestlers that qualified for June's Western Regional in Klamath Falls, Ore.

Irish boys, Pirate girls win Class B sub-district
Class B track and field athletes qualify for the district meet at the competition at Martin Field Wednesday.
Top performances and high temperatures marked the Class B sub-district track and field competition at Martin Field Wednesday afternoon.

Golden Eagles make first trip to state baseball tournament

NWL's Young Guns: Casey Locker and Jared Vera

Borderites fall in another heartbreaker

Lions to play Scots for title

NWL tournament opens to form

Hatch to coach USA team

Sehome rallies in seventh for win

Longtime Ferndale supporter dies at 81

Grizzlies clinch Evergreen League title
TENINO - Katriina Reime pitched a three-hitter as unbeaten Hoquiam wrapped up the undisputed Evergreen League softball championship with a 6-0 victory over Tenino on Tuesday at Tenino.

A state lesson for Bobcats
CAMAS - It was only a seeding match for the Class 3A state boys soccer tournament, but Aberdeen got a taste Tuesday of what life in the tournament will be like.

Elma begins run in 2A district baseball Thursday
CHEHALIS - Elma's Eagles face a straightforward assignment in their opening test in the District IV 2A Baseball Tournament.

Elks eliminated from district
MONTESANO - A long day in Montesano assuredly did not represent quality time for Quinault's baseball team.

District IV B tournament - Tuesday's results

Shorthanded teams finish regular season on the track
ROCHESTER - Elma's Kris Easton won three events to highlight an Evergreen League track meet also involving Hoquiam and Rochester on Tuesday at Rochester.

Rockets, Seidl scorch 'Cats
CASTLE ROCK - Freshman leadoff hitter Lacey Seidl went 8-for-8 on the day with a double and triple, and fellow freshman Lindsay Melton went 6-for-9 with two doubles, a triple and a home run here Tuesday as Castle Rock bombed La Center 13-1 and 11-4 in a Southwest Washington 2A Trico League softball doubleheader.

Opinions vary on crucial RAL balk
Was it or wasn't it?

Johns: Renton site offers Seahawks a chance to spread their wings
KIRKLAND - So what exactly does it mean, this sparkling new Seahawks training facility slated to open in Renton on the shores of Lake Washington in 2008?

Roundup: Mark Morris soccer squad opens playoffs with win
CHEHALIS - Mark Morris went on the road Tuesday night and flexed its muscle with a big second half, blanking W.F. West 2-0 in the opening round of the Southwest Washington 3A District playoffs.

Bears blast Bellarmine to clinch tourney berth
Olympia used a blistering offensive assault Tuesday to crush Bellarmine 12-2 in a Narrows League Bay Division fastpitch game and clinch a spot in the league tournament.

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Deliberate success
Golf is not a game of speed.
Lindsay Aho takes her time in her pre-shot routine, refusing to start her swing until she is ready.

Prep highlights: Ridgefield leads Trico in softball
The Ridgefield softball improved to 9-1 to assume the top spot of the Trico League standings by sweeping Stevenson in a doubleheader Tuesday, 12-0 and 8-2. Michaela Nehring pitched five innings i...more

Faced with elimination, Camas knows exactly what to do
CAMAS -- It's been a few years since a boys soccer team from Camas has faced an elimination game prior to the state tournament. That was the scenario Tuesday, as the Papermakers entertained North...more

Quilici's offense makes for good defense
CAMAS -- A defense that provided the foundation for Columbia River's run to a boys soccer league championship wasn't at full strength Tuesday, but the Chieftains' Brendan Quilici made sure that was ha...more

On Further Review: the week in prep sports
McAllister signs to play for Western Washington Mountain View senior Harold McAllister has signed to play college basketball at NCAA Division II Western Washington. McAllister, a 6-foot, 165-p...more

Mountain View scores big upset of Prairie
Mountain View stunned the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League softball community Tuesday afternoon, knocking off previously unbeaten Prairie in the semifinals of the district tournament. With their...more

Region's Girls Track and Field Bests

A bolt from the blue lifts La Salle
Jeff Massong was only halfway through his senior night on Tuesday when he got the opportunity to do something he's never done before in his baseball career.

It's a rough start at regionals for West Valley
Klayton Wyckoff had seen enough postseason prep baseball to be as wary as he was certain going into West Valley's Class 3A regional playoff game against North Central of Spokane.

Prep fastpitch: Hanford sweeps Rams
RICHLAND - Hanford pitcher Lauren Carlson put in 16 innings of work on Tuesday and the reward was a league title.

Prep baseball: Red Devils hold off upset bid
An easy day turned into a thriller for East Valley's top-ranked baseball team, but the Red Devils remain in the championship bracket of the CWAC district tournament.

Prep roundup: West Valley, Sunnyside move on in regional
West Valley and Sunnyside both survived elimination day in the Class 3A regional boys soccer tournament on Tuesday, and now they will face each other in another loser-out test.

Key hit eludes Indians in playoff loss
Touchet's baseball season comes to an end with a 5-1 loss to Colton in a Southeast District B playoff game.
COLTON - The Touchet Indians saw their baseball season end here Tuesday afternoon as they dropped a loser-out contest to the Colton Wildcats in the Southeast District B playoffs, 5-1.

Class B golfers qualify for district
DeSales, Pomeroy and Dayton all send boys to the next round after sub-district play Tuesday.
DeSales, Pomeroy and Dayton all send boys to the next round after sub-district play Tuesday.
While placing third among nine teams in the team scores at Tuesday's Class B sub-district tournament at Veterans Memorial Golf Course, DeSales will send four qualifiers and an alternate to next Tuesday's district tournament.

Wa-Hi squads prep for playoffs
Wa-Hi's softball team opens the postseason at home Thursday and the Blue Devils' baseball team does the same on the road Friday.

What Are We Doing to Our Coaches?
Two bright spots in the state of Washington - Chris Bown of Lakeside and Colin Cushman of Sehome - are the latest casualties of the stupidity that too often takes hold in high-school girl's basketball.

New Lead Dawg
Washington continues its run of in-state commitments and land an elite-level point guard. The Huskies now hope the have the attention of other top state recruits.

Prospect Watch
HoopGurlz checks in on prospects throughout the country, including Stephanie Wilber of Auburn Riverside in Auburn, Wash.

Dudley places at gymnastic nationals

Red Raiders win another NWL title

Borderites barely miss trip to championship

Field set at NWL tennis tourney

Oly Finds Way to Playoffs
The Trojans crush South Kitsap 16-1 to earn their first Narrows League fastpitch tournament berth.
All season long the Olympic High Trojans have been knocking on the door to get into the Narrows League fastpitch tournament.

Briefs: NK boys get new hoops coach
Tony Chisholm has been named the boys basketball coach at North Kitsap High School, the school district announced in a press release on Monday. He replaces Derek Anderson, who resigned after one season.

Roundup: North Wins 1-0 Thriller Over Central

Derting hangs up cleats for cowboy's life
Will Derting, a standout athlete at Okanogan High School and Washington State University, announced two days before the NFL draft that he was retiring.

Montesano one win from state
TUMWATER - Doing all its scoring in the second half, Montesano moved one win away from a state soccer berth with a 3-0 victory over Hockinson in a District IV 2A tournament contest Monday night at Tumwater.

Bulldog baseball ousted at district
CASTLE ROCK - A four-run sixth inning lifted Castle Rock to a 5-1 victory over Montesano on Monday at Castle Rock, eliminating the Bulldogs from the District IV 2A Baseball Tournament.

Pocklington resigns post
MONTESANO - Brad Pocklington, who won more than 250 games in a 21-year coaching career, is stepping down as Montesano High School's head baseball coach.

Aberdeen, Ocosta open playoffs on Wednesday
Aberdeen's and Ocosta's baseball teams will attempt to maintain their late-season momentum when they open district competition Wednesday.

Cats place four on all-league team
Four Aberdeen players were named to the all-Pac-Nine League baseball team.

Aberdeen golfers close out dual season with win
FORT LEWIS - With all six players scoring in double figures under the Stableford Scoring System, Aberdeen closed out its dual girls golf season with a 93-61 rout of River Ridge in a Pac-Nine League match Monday at the Fort Lewis Golf Club.

Sports Briefs: South Bend boys win track title

MM among title favorites
Sooner or later, River Ridge senior Connor Lambert will wow baseball fans in Cowlitz County.

Rockets' star Deyo cleared for subdistricts
Castle Rock senior Krystal Deyo has been cleared by doctors to compete in the Southwest Washington 2A subdistrict track meet this week, Rockets coach Scott Spencer said.

Athletes of the Week: Johnson, Kordenat, Palaita, Whealdon, Chavez

Roundup: Lumberjacks' season ends at hands of Rams
LACEY -- R.A. Long never got comfortable in the role of frontrunner.

Rams push through pigtail in 3A baseball tournament
Ventura helps North Thurston advance
LACEY -- The North Thurston Rams had been in pigtail playoff games before.

Scoreboard

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West Valley in a good spot
Two years ago West Valley qualified for state in baseball as the third regional seed. The Eagles were third again last year, losing 2-1 to East Valley, but only two teams advanced to the 3A tournament.

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Big Nine baseball, softball
Here are 10 things you need to know about this week in the world of sports:

1. SCAC baseball
There are some talented 1A players this season, and they get together at one site today and Saturday at Larson Park in Moses Lake. River View is the top seed, led by Jordan Dallas, Ronnie Noel and Stevie Woods. But Warden has OSU-bound Jorge Reyes and stud Edward Rodriguez. Columbia-Burbank and Royal also have strong squads. Games today are 10 a.m., 1, 4 and 7 p.m.

2. Prep soccer
Pasco plays host to Mead at 7 p.m. today in a match to determine the region's third berth to the state 4A playoffs. Kamiakin and Ferris play in Spokane today for the No. 1 and 2 berths. Hanford plays Saturday at Bomber Field in Richland for the 3A Eastern Regional title.

5. Big Nine baseball
OK. The preliminaries are over. It's time for the main course. The toughest baseball conference in the state holds its two-day district tournament at Southridge and Davis on Friday, with games starting at 1 p.m. Everything moves to Davis on Saturday, starting at 10 a.m. Southridge, Richland, Kamiakin and Walla Walla join Davis and Wenatchee for this tourney.

7. 4A, 3A softball
On Saturday at Columbia Playfield, softball fans get a chance to see two tournaments: the Big Nine districts and the Mid-Valley League districts. Richland, Kamiakin and Hanford are some of the top teams.

Kamiakin, Richland dominate All-Big Nine softball squad
Richland senior pitcher Stacey Ellingsworth was named MVP, teammate Natalie Leyland was the top offensive player, and Kamiakin placed five members on the first-team -- including coach of the year Tammy Hutchison -- as the Big Nine announced its 2006 all-conference squads.

Roundup: Hanford boys get six in top 9 at MVL districts
SELAH - Alex Moore shot a 2-under 69 to lead six Hanford golfers in the top nine as the Falcons won the Mid-Valley League district tournament Monday at Yakima Elks Country Club.

Area stats and standings

Bay walks home with title
Greg Peavey of Hudson's Bay threw 10 innings and was not the pitcher of record. Skyview's Sean Santschi tossed six innings of scoreless relief, and did not get a win to show for it.

Commentary: District strikes out with flawed policy
We live in a land of laws and rules and policies and regulations and procedures. And sometimes common sense gets lost in the muck.

Witness the chain of events that led to Ezra Dickerson's appearance Monday for the Hudson's Bay baseball team. Witness the cavalcade of poor judgment that landed the 18-year-old senior in the district tournament, and you will see a story of good intentions resulting in bad policy.

Scoreboard

Prep Highlights: Thomas leads Heritage to win over Prairie
Brandon Thomas scored three goals, one unassisted, helping the Heritage Timberwolves to a 4-2 win over Prairie in a 4A Greater St. Helens League boys soccer playoff match.

It's win or go-home time for area prep teams
The high school spring sports postseason hits full stride this week.
Now is the time when scribes who write about what's coming up in high school sports really earn their keep.

Local Report: WV girls finish year undefeated
SUNNYSIDE - The West Valley girls tennis team closed out its second straight undefeated season to clinch the top spot in...

Irish girls nab district golf tickets
SPOKANE - DeSales, with three players advancing to next week's district tournament, placed third at the 14-school girls Class A/B Eastern Washington sub-district golf tournament at Meadow Wood golf course on Monday.

Wa-Hi boys blown away in Wenatchee
High winds lead to high scores as the Blue Devils drop two spots in the final Big Nine golf standings.| Wa-Hi girls collect second Big Nine dual victory
WENATCHEE - Wa-Hi's boys golf team slipped a couple notches in the Big Nine Conference standings during the the league's final pod match of the season here Monday at Three Lakes.

Trojans baseball hope hot streak continues

Lynden rallies for softball victory
The Lynden softball team overcame an early 2-0 deficit by scoring two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to come back and defeat Bellingham 4-2 in a Northwest League game at Lynden on Thursday.

Ferndale to start with ace on mound
There's a bit of strategy when choosing a starting pitcher for the first game of a district tournament.
Some coaches go with their big gun. Other risk their No. 2 guy, hoping to use the ace in the winner-to-state second round.

Records set at city track meet
The Squalicum, Bellingham and Sehome track and field teams met at Squalicum for the annual city meet between Bellingham's three high schools on Thursday - with record results.

Seniors' Moments
An experienced CK squad is poised to advance deep in the playoffs.
Nothing can replace experience - that feeling of having been there before. The Central Kitsap baseball team's three senior captains are a bit longer in the tooth after last season's postseason run, and have been the impetus behind the Cougars' successful campaign this year.

Playoffs Are Upon Us; Here's Who to Watch
Faster than South Kitsap sprinter Cedric Carter can run the 100-meter dash, the spring sports season has nearly run its course.

High School Notebook: Narrows Soccer Tourney Set to Kick Off Saturday
Narrows League soccer fans can take an entire day to indulge Saturday.

Athlete spotlights
Brett Bielec, Junior, North Mason baseball
Storm Fanua, Senior, Olympic Track and Field

High School Report: Tides Claim Bridge Division Golf Title
South Kitsap's Joel Schenfeld shot a two-over par 73, but Gig Harbor captured the Narrows League Bridge Division title with a 156-143 win over the Wolves on Thursday at McCormick Woods.

Bobcats claim first league title
Aberdeen held its first-ever Pac-Nine League boys soccer championship in its hands on Wednesday and never allowed North Thurston to take it away.

AHS clinches district berth
YELM - Taking care of business with a six-run first inning, Aberdeen closed out its Pac-Nine League baseball season with an 8-3 victory over Yelm on Thursday at Yelm.

Monte throttles Tenino

Eagles rout Spartans: Local Sports Roundup

North Beach overpowers Naselle
OYEHUT - Dusty Sturgeon concluded his home career with a two-run homer as North Beach outslugged Naselle, 12-9, in a Pacific League baseball game Thursday at Oyehut.

Parker, Klein co-medalists for Hoquiam golf: Local Golf Roundup

Wrong winner
Due to a reporting error in the Aberdeen track meet story on page B1 on Thursday, the names of the winners of the girls 400 meters and high jump were incorrect. The winner in those two events was Alex Akerlund.

Depth helps Valley girls capture track meet at Toutle: Local Track & field Roundup

Roundup: RAL tennis knocks down MM
R.A. Long's Amy Higginson won her first singles match to propel the Lumberjills to a 3-2 victory over Mark Morris in the Greater St. Helens 3A League finale for both teams at MM on Thursday.

Ruling sends Jacks to second-place tiebreaker
The Camas and R.A. Long baseball teams will tangle at Kelso's Stan Rister Stadium at 4 p.m. today to break a tie for second place and determine the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds from the Greater St. Helens 3A League for next week's district playoffs.

Jills' slugger Wilson opts to play for Rhode Island
Melissa Wilson has built her impressive fastpitch portfolio on going long.

Rough and rugged
Thompson adapts to new sport, becomes a standout in rugby
Three years ago, Megan Thompson learned a new language.
She learned to speak - and play - rugby.
During her freshman year at Olympia High School, Thompson was looking for a spring sport, choosing between fastpitch, track or rugby.

River Ridge wraps up Pac-9 baseball championship
Lambert helps Hawks top Tumwater 12-4
TUMWATER - In numbers-obsessed baseball, one-out-of-three isn't too shabby, and two-out-of-three is all but unthinkable.

Timberline notches sweep of Wolves
Blazers rally in nightcap, finish 7-9 in Pac-9
LACEY - Danny Camus scattered eight hits over seven innings and went 4-for-5 at the plate, helping Timberline win the opener 13-4, and the improving Blazers took the nightcap 4-2 to sweep a doubleheader with Black Hills on Thursday.

Scoreboard

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Knights have their day
Jolley's massive discus caps East Valley's title effort
East Valley track coach Dave McCarty was starting to receive congratulatory handshakes as Tyler Jolley stepped into the discus ring one last time.

Rogers throws curve at G-Prep
Give away enough extra outs in baseball and it prolongs innings. In Gonzaga Prep's case it prolonged the regular Greater Spokane League season. Misplayed balls cost the Bullpups' (8-10) a 2-1 loss to Rogers' "Kiddie Corps", dropping them into a tie for sixth place and Saturday playoff game against Central Valley for the final District 8 4A tourney berth.

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Mid-Columbia leaders

Playoff seedings up for grabs this weekend
In the Big Nine Conference, Davis can clinch the No. 1 seed to the district tournament - which begins May 12 - by sweeping Eisenhower today.

Track & field honor role

Prep highlights: Heritage soccer advances to playoffs thanks to Storm
It was a clutch tying goal in a 1-1 tie Thursday between the Skyview and Hudson's Bay boys soccer teams. But oh, did Mike Hiller's score for the Storm mean so much more.

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Bergman hands Barbosa first loss in two years
PROSSER - This time, Isak Bergman saw more than Nectaly Barbosa's back.
And it came at the perfect moment in their friendly 800-meter showdown Thursday afternoon at Fiker Stadium.

West Valley outlasts Grizzlies in soccer tiebreaker
WAPATO - It took penalty kicks to decide a tiebreaker and West Valley's boys were perfect on Thursday.

Principals to make decision on new name for Big Nine
Such a simple thing, a name. But such a difficult thing, changing one.
Principals from the 14 schools which will form the new Class 4a/3A league next fall will meet on May 17 to select a name for the conference.

Prep spotlight: Zillah senior, tennis
The Buzz ...
A year ago the Zillah tennis team was in its infancy, but that hardly stopped the Leopards from making some noise. Zillah's boys tied for the district title with Royal and Mark Winters grabbed the...

Wa-Hi boys control meet
The Blue Devil boys track team steam-rolls Big Nine foes in Wenatchee, while the girls split.
WENATCHEE - The Wa-Hi boys steam-rolled to a pair of victories and the Blue Devil girls split a pair of matchups at a Big Nine Conference triple-dual track and field meet here on Thursday.

Irish golfers end with win
RICHLAND - DeSales outstroked the competition in a regular-season-ending, three-team boys golf match at the par-72 Columbia Pointe course here on Thursday.

Sehome coach Cushman resigns
Two months after taking third place at the Class 3A girls' basketball state tournament, Sehome coach Colin Cushman resigned his post because of pressure from parents.

Trojans grab league title
Sorenson's ninth-inning home run lifts Meridian past Blaine for WCL crown.

Opposing teams respect Meridian slugger
First baseman Duece Black has 6 HR, 17 RBI.

Sehome honors Dember
On the nine-month anniversary of his death, Stephen A. Dember was memorialized at Sehome High School.
The 2003 Sehome graduate, who died in a swimming pool accident in August at Vicenza, Italy, had his No. 13 jersey retired in a ceremony that drew the largest crowd this season at Sehome.

Mountaineers put up big numbers
The Mount Baker softball team wasted no time in getting its offense rolling as the Mountaineers scored all 13 runs in the first two innings and went on to a 13-0 Whatcom County League win over visiting Meridian on Tuesday.

Sharpe is NWL medalist
Bellingham's Katie Sharpe shot a 4-over par 74 to score 68 stableford points, making her the medalist and helping the Red Raiders to the Northwest League girls' golf win at Similk Golf Course on Tuesday.

Vera leads Sehome

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SK Finishes Strong, Grabs No. 2 Seed
South avoids a loser-out game by pounding North Kitsap 10-1 in its regular-season finale.

High School Report: Oly Fastpitch Wins Two By Forfeit
The Bremerton Knights were forced to forfeit their next two Narrows League Bridge Division fastpitch games, which only intensifies the playoff chase between Olympic and South Kitsap.

EHS tennis girls sweep Selah; boys lose
The Ellensburg High School girls' tennis team took care of usual business Tuesday afternoon as it swept the Selah Vikings 5-0 in a Mid Valley League matchup. The boys, however, were swept 5-0.

Danica Weiner and Katie Kelleher settled to win a tie-breaker in the first set and went on to easily win the second to claim the victory as the rest of the girls swept in two sets.

A Bulldog day for Monte
MONTESANO - Both Montesano and Elma had big innings at the plate Tuesday, but since timing is everything, the innings benefited the Bulldogs more than the Eagles.

Eagles, Bulldogs split
ELMA - Elma's only lead in 14 innings of baseball against rival Montesano was sufficient to secure the Eagles a coveted district berth.

Grizzlies overpower Spartans
Unbeaten Hoquiam turned on the power to sweep Forks, 10-0 and 15-1, in a pair of five-inning Evergreen League softball games Tuesday at John Gable Park.

Bobcats clinch district berth
YELM - One mission accomplished. Another big one lies ahead for Aberdeen's boys soccer team.

Record-setting Bobcat golfers win match going away
TUMWATER - Setting a team record for the second time in a week, Aberdeen downed Tumwater, 104-87, in a Pac-Nine League girls golf match Tuesday at Tumwater Valley Golf Course.

Grizzlies split at Forks
FORKS - Pounding out 29 hits in two games, Hoquiam split with Forks in an Evergreen League baseball doubleheader Tuesday at Forks.

Monte secures No. 2 berth in district playoffs with 4-0 win
MONTESANO - Taking over the match in the second half, Montesano got a pair of goals from Javier Moreno and Adam Bighill to secure the No. 2 berth in the district playoffs with a 4-0 victory over Hoquiam in an Evergreen League boys soccer match on Tuesday.

Wildcats lose on single in bottom of the 10th inning
TOLEDO - A two-out single by Jeff Durham plated the winning run for Toledo in the bottom of the 10th inning Tuesday as the Indians nipped Ocosta, 5-4, in Southwest Washington A League baseball.

'Nooks nail down title
KALAMA - Kalama fans hoping to see a dogpile on the pitcher's mound, a Gatorade shower for head coach Dave Orzel or any semblance of celebration, for that matter, will just have to sit tight.

River will appeal ruling on forfeiture
Columbia River High School will appeal a Greater St. Helens 3A League ruling that its baseball team must forfeit a game against Camas to the Washington State Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Executive Board today or Thursday, according to GSHL baseball commissioner John Griffin.

Roundup: Kelso track teams claim league titles
VANCOUVER - It came down to the final event here Tuesday before the Kelso boys claimed an undefeated Greater St. Helens 3A League title by edging two-time defending league champ Columbia River 76-69 in a track and field dual meet.

Tuesday's prep scoreboard

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CV Bears continue charge
Defense in fastpitch doesn't just mean not making errors. It also means making plays. That's what the Central Valley Bears have been doing this season.

Cheney wins district with 2nd win over EV
There wasn't a particular surprise in Cheney beating East Valley for the District 8 3A boys soccer title, because the Blackhawks handed EV its only previous loss.

Prep Roundup
Inland Empire League: Alex Capaul went 3 for 3 with two RBIs and pitched five innings for the win in Lake City's 15-5 victory over visiting Lakeland (3-15, 1-14).

Cheney selects Fitzgerald
Ryan Fitzgerald, Liberty's boys basketball coach for the past two seasons, is the new head coach at Cheney. He replaces Dave Baird, also an ex-Lancers coach, who resigned from the Blackhawks post after the 2005-06 season.

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Nebraska reinstates Jackson
Pasco High graduate Leon Jackson, who left the University of Nebraska football team last week, has been reinstated to the Cornhuskers after meeting with head coach Bill Callahan.

"He indicated to me that he wants to be here at Nebraska and contribute to our football team," said Callahan in a prepared statement. "We are giving Leon another opportunity to flourish as a student-athlete. One of the reasons I chose to come back to college football was the opportunity to help young men like Leon realize their full potential on and off the field. We believe Leon's best days are ahead of him and we look forward to helping him reach his goals."

Southridge sweeps Richland
Richland baseball coach Ben Jacobs may have gotten the save Tuesday, but Tim Sanders and his Southridge Suns walked away with the wins.

Braves write new chapter
For the last few weeks, the Kamiakin boys soccer team has been chasing the past.

German, Woods passionate about girls' teams
When Southridge girls golf coach Ken Muhlbeier moved on to coach other sports at Kennewick, and wife Kathy retired from girls golf duties at Kennewick, the duo opened the door for new faces Jason Woods (Kennewick) and Mark German (Southridge).

Notebook: Knox loses, but Hanford boys remain undefeated at 11-0 in MVL
The Hanford boys continued their unbeaten streak Tuesday as the Falcons clinched the Mid-Valley League dual-meet crown with an 11-0 record after handing defending champion Sunnyside a 4-1 loss.

Scoring history
Scoring goals requires the ability to make the most of an opportunity.
Heritage senior Brandon Thomas, perhaps the Class 4A Greater St. Helen's League's premier goal-scorer, has proved plenty able in amassing a program-record 44 goals in his three seasons on the Timberwolves boys soccer team.

Prep highlights: Ridgefield earns share of sixth straight title
It took a rally for one win and some help at another place, but the Ridgefield baseball team became a league champion for the sixth consecutive season on Tuesday.

The week in prep sports: Columbia River's forfeit loss is upheld
District 4 authorities upheld the ruling by the Class 3A Greater St. Helens League, which voted last week to give the Camas baseball team a forfeit victory over Columbia River.

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Bat would've done writer no good
I never saw the first pitch. Oh, I knew Whitney Baker threw the ball ... because I heard it. I turned to my right, watched the catcher take the ball out of her glove and then asked, "Was that a st...

Hockinson settles for share of league title
On the verge of ending Ridgefield's five-year run as Trico League baseball champions, Hockinson suffered a seventh-inning meltdown Tuesday against White Salmon. The Bruins' three-run rally for a 5...

Heritage's soccer playoff hopes are held at Bay
Despite completing its league schedule Tuesday, the Heritage boys soccer team will have to wait until Thursday to find out its postseason fate. The host Timberwolves lost to Prairie 4-2 on Tuesday...

Region's Boys Track and Field Bests

Eisenhower's VanDeBrake headed to Washington St.
Eisenhower senior Chelsea VanDeBrake, currently the Big Nine Conference's top-ranked runner in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200, has given a verbal commitment to attend Washington State University on a track and cross country scholarship.

Rams get a grip on MVL title, top seed to regional
Kevin Walkenhauer's mantra might well have been, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."

Prep fastpitch: Bigby's pitching keys EV's sweep of Connell
Brooke Bigby pitched two complete games, scattering seven total hits and walking one, as East Valley swept Connell 4-2 and 1-0 in a CWAC fastpitch doubleheader Tuesday on the Red Devils' field.

Prep soccer: Rams push Hanford to shootout
West Valley forced first-place Hanford into a shootout in their final Mid-Valley League soccer match Tuesday at Cottonwood Field, but the Rams' 3-2 defeat dropped them into a tie with Sunnyside for second place.

Prep baseball: Komstadius powers top-ranked Devils
OTHELLO â€" Kevin Komstadius racked up seven hits, including a home run and two doubles, as top-ranked East Valley swept Othello in Tuesday's final round of CWAC doubleheaders.

Cadets' Whiteside headed to Nevada
Eisenhower's Kaitlyn Whiteside, the Big Nine's swimmer of the year last fall, has earned a partial academic scholarship and will swim at the University of Nevada-Reno next year.

Wa-Hi plays `great baseball'
The Blue Devils put good pitching together with timely hitting to sweep Moses Lake Tuesday, 5-0 and 1-0.
Rocky Eastman flirted with a perfect game for six-plus inning but settled for a one-hit, 5-0 victory over Moses Lake in the opener of a Big Nine Conference baseball doubleheader at Murr Sports Complex Tuesday afternoon.

Blue Devils jump into third
Wa-Hi's softball team sweeps Moses Lake to leapfrog Kennewick into third in the Big Nine standings.
MOSES LAKE - Wa-Hi's softball team jumped into sole possession of third place in the Big Nine standings with a sweep of Moses Lake here Tuesday, 2-0 and 3-2.

Dayton rallies past Pats for BML victory
RICHLAND - Dayton pushed across five runs in the sixth inning for a 6-4 victory over Liberty Christian in the first game of a Blue Mountain League softball doubleheader here on Monday.

Girl hit by baseball 'doing fine' today
The 10-month-old girl hit by a baseball at a game Monday is in good condition, according to Lynden Christian Schools Superintendent Don Kok.

Ferndale ties Sehome for second in NWL baseball
Jake Locker went 3 for 4 with two triples, a double and three runs scored to lift Ferndale past Sehome 10-5 in Northwest League play on Monday at Ferndale.

Ferndale in position for NWL soccer title
The Ferndale boys' soccer team needed a little luck to get past Squalicum on Monday.
They found it in the form of junior Zack Lucke's foot.

Sehome clinches share of NWL tennis crown
The final doubles match between the Sehome and Bellingham girls' tennis teams wasn't played as a center court event on Monday, but the outcome was certainly worthy of it.

AHS chips past HHS on the course
OCEAN SHORES - Battling difficult wind conditions on a tight course, Aberdeen topped Hoquiam, 218-229, in a non-league girls golf match Monday at Ocean Shores Golf Course.

Bobcats cage Rams
LACEY - Leading 4-2 after five innings, Aberdeen's offense ripped off a six-run sixth inning, highlighted by a three-run home run from Kyel Russell, to keep its hold onto second place in the Pac-Nine League baseball standings with a 10-4 victory over North Thurston on Monday.

Hawks edge out Aberdeen
LACEY - Melissa Catron helped herself out with a two-run single in the fifth inning for Aberdeen, but River Ridge nickled and dimed the Bobcats off the field en route to a 3-2 Pac-Nine League softball win on Monday.

Bobcat netters tumble, 4-1
Junior Kellie Read was a little under the weather on Monday, but she took it out on Tumwater's Susan Ritter in straight sets to register Aberdeen's lone win in a 4-1 Pac-Nine League girls tennis meet loss at the Sam Benn Courts.

Briefs: Aberdeen-Hoquiam track due Wednesday

Local golfers tune up for district
Jenna Buchanan of Columbia River easily claimed medalist honors Monday at the five-team Kelso Invitational girls golf tournament at Three Rivers, shooting a 3-over par 75 to win by 13 strokes.

Prep Notebook: Stan Rister Stadium to host 3A playoffs
Stan Rister Stadium in Kelso will host the Southwest Washington 3A District 4 baseball tournament next week.

Athletes of the Week: Elam, Dahl, Honey, Sturdivan, White

Lassies shifting into high gear for GSHL stretch run
This just in: Kelso is tough in softball.

Roundup: Brekke, O'Neil lead Lassies over Monarchs
Roni Brekke's base hit with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning scored Ashlea Strode from second to give Kelso a 2-1 win over Mark Morris at Lassie Beach on Monday in a Greater St. Helens 3A League fastpitch game.

Tumwater athletics chief best in nation
TUMWATER - Tim Graham's office walls are decorated with all kinds of sports mementos.
Plaques adorn one wall, photos another. One of them is a picture of a Tumwater High School baseball team ...quot; with signatures aplenty - in a prominent position above a couch.

Olympia vs. Capital? There is no conspiracy
Sports editor Ron Newberry: I've been at The Olympian for a little more than a year now and I've been amazed at the number of calls I get, inquiring why we favor either Capital or Olympia based on the space devoted in the section. I just got another one earlier today from a reader wondering why The Olympian devoted so much space to Capital's victory over Olympia in baseball in today's paper as opposed to less space to Olympia's victory over Capital in Sunday's paper.

Postseason intensity
Playoff atmosphere reigns as Capital shuts down red-hot Olympia
OLYMPIA -- Capital's Brian Shannon was in big trouble.

Bears' soccer playoffs in jeopardy
OLYMPIA -- The Olympia Bears' playoff hopes are on life support after a scoreless tie Monday night against Capital at Ingersoll Stadium.

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Reaping the benefits
Years of hard work paying off at Newport.
Newport's baseball team has figured out the key to success. It turned out to be a relatively simple recipe, really. Take a few talented kids, preferably about 11 years old, get a coach with a little foresight, throw in a strong commitment from the parents, and play. And play. And play some more.

Greenslitt powers Saxons
Andy Greenslitt had not hit a home run in his Ferris High School baseball career. His first, hit into a howling cross-wind, picked up the Saxons and led them to a 9-3 victory at Central Valley on Monday.

Former M's pitcher Swan dies
KENNEWICK â€" Russ Swan, a left-handed pitcher who spent parts of six seasons with three major league baseball teams, is dead following a fall in which he hit his head, friends and relatives told the Tri-City Herald.

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Excerpt from the top 10 things to watch out for this week:

Richland-Southridge baseball
The final week of Big Nine baseball pits two of the conference's best -- although neither of them are likely to take the Big Nine regular-season title. That belongs to Davis if the Pirates can sweep Eisenhower on Friday. Still, Southridge (2004) and Richland (2005) are the last two 4A state champions, and both could make a long run through postseason again. First pitch is 4 p.m. today.

Pasco-Kamiakin soccer
This Big Nine district title match is set for 7 p.m. today at Lampson Stadium. Winner gets a state 4A tournament berth.

Saying goodbye to Russ Swan
A memorial service for the Kennewick High graduate, who died last week from injuries stemming from a fall, will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph's in Kennewick. There will be a reception afterwards.

Warden-River View baseball
Great way to end the regular season: The SCAC's top two teams in a season-ending twinbill showdown. First pitch is 2:30 p.m. Friday at River View High School in Finley.

Roundup: Peterson's 3 RBI lifts Liberty Christian to split
Kristen Peterson went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and three RBI to help Liberty Christian salvage a Blue Mountain League doubleheader split against Dayton.

Roundup: Mendoza, Prosser dominate E-burg
ELLENSBURG - Luis Mendoza scored three goals, including two in a row during the second half, to help Prosser defeat Ellensburg.

Big 9 title at stake for Pasco, Kamiakin
It's been 11 years since Pasco faced off with Kamiakin for a Big Nine Conference district championship, but the rivalry between the two teams is as strong as ever.

Roundup: Richland's Cheney ties for 6th at Inland Empire
SPOKANE -- Derek Cheney of Richland shot a 3-over 75 to tie for sixth place at the Inland Empire Invite at Spokane Country Club.

Roundup: Knox helps Hanford boys improve to 10-0
Jake Knox scored a 6-0, 6-0 win over Prosser's Trevor Fox in No. 1 singles Monday, leading Hanford to a 5-0 win over the Mustangs in Richland.

Area standings and stats

Talking Points
What's the buzz from the world of sports? Here are some items that will have people talking: Is time running out for Vancouver's Greg Biffle in trying to qualify for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Chase...

Prep highlights: Camas rallies for four runs in seventh to beat Kelso
Chris Mango singled home the game-winning run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Camas baseball team rallied for four run in the seventh to beat Kelso 9-8. After Kelso built...

Local Report: Boag's strong score leads Ike
SPOKANE - Patrick Boag posted a 1-over-par 73 to lead the Eisenhower boys golf team to a 13th-place finish at the Inland Empire tournament on Monday at the Spokane Country Club.

Tigers exploit Irish
Prescott takes advantage of windy conditions to draw 19 walks in a 16-6 softball victory over DeSales.
PRESCOTT - Prescott took advantage of free passes and a 30-mph wind to defeat DeSales 16-6 in a five-inning Blue Mountain League softball game on Monday.

Tigers put up a fight
DeSales wins the Blue Mountain baseball game 8-0, but it goes the distance.
PRESCOTT - Prescott's baseball team showed significant improvement over last week's 20-1 loss to DeSales, playing the full seven innings before dropping a Blue Mountain League counter, 8-0, on Monday.