Coach, Team Really Hit It Off At East Valley
The timing, and apparently the fit, was right for East Valley baseball and new coach Kurt Krauth.
A year after failing to reach the Frontier League playoffs, the Knights are league champions for the first time in more than a decade.
East Valley and West Valley shared this year’s crown with identical 11-4 records. It was WV’s second straight title.
“We had a better record than last year,” said Eagle coach Ray Riggin, “and only tie for the title.”
Krauth, the former Mead High School and Whitworth College star who coached at Northwest Christian School, takes little credit for EV’s success. The Knights did it with a veteran defense, young pitching and potent hitting.
Going into their last four games of the year the Knights were batting .416 as a team. They had 47 more hits during the league season-ending quartet quartet.
Keith Osso, batting nearly .600 had a team-high 35 hits. He was followed by .525 hitter Brock Rogers, sophomore Bill Tincup who was hitting .500 and pitching ace Steve Pipkin who had two or more hits in the team’s last five games.
“He’s the scariest guy right now,” said Krauth. “He’s been hitting line drive after line drive.”
Krauth said it was the result of lots of live hitting.
“We throw to them live every day,” he said. “Although sometimes it looks like the defense hasn’t taken enough ground balls.”
Since a 10-run first inning to open the season during a doubleheader sweep of West Valley, which ultimately determined top seed in the Frontier League playoffs, things just snowballed, said Krauth of the offense.
“It’s nice to have senior kids who knew what they were supposed to do,” said Krauth. “They’ve worked hard and set high goals that few believed were attainable.”
West Valley hosts the winner of the Cheney-Colville playoff today at 2 p.m. The winner travels to East Valley Tuesday for the start of a bestof-three series to determine the Frontier League’s regional representative.
Valley Shrimp Softball signup
Valley Shrimp Softball, a developmental league for boys and girls ages 7-9, is taking registration until May 11. The $25 cost includes T-shirts and hats plus games beginning June 12. For information or to sign up contact Kenneth and Chrysta Sevey, S721 Century Court, Veradale, Wash. 99037.
Banner year for gymnasts
Northwest Gymnastics Academy competitors had a banner spring season.
Class IV, 12-13 year old boys competitors Nick Antich, Bryan Velategui, Ryan Brewer and Glen Hannibal all scored high in regional competition.
Antich won parallel bars, was sixth on rings and placed third all-around. Velategui won pommel horse, rings and was third on floor exercise while placing fifth overall.
Brewer won vault and Hannibal was third on floor exercise and fifth on pommel horse.
Six girls competed at the USAG Level I Gymnastics Championships last weekend helping NWGA finish seventh out of 16 teams.
Placers included Elizabeth Dahl seventh all-around in 34.65, finishing fourth during floor exercise and ninth on balance beam.
Rachelle Brady was fifth and Haley Henry sixth on vault. All three are in the 12-13 age group.
Jennifer Miller finished sixth on bars in the 8-11 age group.
Harshbarger leads Valley View
During last week’s regular outing of the Valley View Ladies Golf Club, Peg Harshbarger shot a low gross 48 to win the day.
Net leaders were Min Arnold with 30 in A flight, Dot Hedman in B flight and Laura Odette in C, both at 28.
No-handicap winner was Barb Eppling with a 56.
Deckard on target at Painted Hills
Shooting a birdie on the sixth hole, Danice Deckard was on her game with a low gross 42 during last week’s Painted Hills Ladies Golf Club competition.
Hers wasn’t the only good score. Margaret Bainter in B flight and no-handicap golfer Karen Hunt both shot 48 and C flight golfer Betty Hennessey had 49.
Marion McLellan won D flight at 55, including a chip-in on the fifth hole.
Net winners were Connie Hatfield, who birdied the fourth hole, and Cheryl Hull with 34s in A, Lolly Neff and Virginia Lemmer with 35s in B.
Jane Dashiell led C flight with 30 and Lu Trimborn and Elaine Isherwood had 33s in D.
Ellen Spalding also birded the fourth hole and Sonja Momb chipped in on five.
Etter wins again
Hangman Valley Ladies Club golfer Billie Etter won Captain’s Cup competition for the second straight time.
She netted 71 during the round and subsequent putting competition went to Gloria Cash with 30.
During flight play, Janet Lang and Etter each shot low gross 88 and Etter netted 69 to lead A golfers.
Fran Nord shot 100 in B and shared net honors with Donna Oglivie at 75.
Margaret Brashears led C with low gross 105 and net 73. Marion Pearson led D flight with 116 and 79.