Central Valley Duo Among 10 Flaherty Scholarship Finalists

The players who started and finished most plays for Central Valley’s Greater Spokane League champion football team are finalists for the Ray Flaherty scholarship.

Center Mike Van Houten and running back Giorgio Usai join eight other senior football players for the Inland Northwest Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame awards banquet Jan. 15.

Seven of the finalists receive a $1,000 scholarship, the top lineman and back each receive a $1,500 scholarship and the Ray Flaherty winner gets $2,500.

High schools in Eastern Washington and North Idaho were able to nominate one lineman and one back for the awards. Applicants were judged on academics (40 percent), football ability (40 percent) and campus leadership and citizenship (20 percent).

Besides Van Houten and Usai, other finalists are Adam Morris of Mead, Jon MacKay of Liberty, Paul Mencke and Kyle Powers of Lewis and Clark, Fletcher Barkdull of Ferris, Jeff Hollenbach of University, Rex Mangiarcina of Gonzaga Prep and Matthew Elven of Nezperce, Idaho.

Last year’s winner was Brian Smith of Sandpoint.

The banquet is at the Red Lion Hotels & Inns Spokane City Center (formerly the Sheraton), beginning at 7 p.m. Guest speaker is former Lewis and Clark standout Bob Minnix, who played at Notre Dame and is now an associate athletic director at Florida State after working many years for the NCAA.

Tickets are $25 and can be reserved by calling Paul Sorensen, president of the local committee, at (509) 924-7750.

Baseball

Spokane’s revamped summer American Legion program is looking for candidates to coach the five teams that will make up the top division.

League president Tom Halvorson said anyone interested in coaching the combined teams should send an application or resume to American Legion Baseball, 8605 N. Division, Suite A, Spokane, WA 99208.

In a related matter, Halvorson said a series of meetings for prospective players and their parents to explain the program and foster support will be held this month.

The Ferris-University-Freeman team will meet Jan. 15 at U-Hi; North Central-Shadle Park at Shadle and Central Valley-West Valley-East Valley at WV, both Jan. 16; Gonzaga Prep-Lewis and Clark-Cheney at G-Prep Jan. 17; and Mead-Rogers at Rogers Jan. 18. All five meetings will be at 7 p.m.

“We want the kids to come and to bring their parents,” Halvorson said. “We want to explain the program and the importance of forming booster clubs.”

Centralia (Wash.) High will be the site of a Golden State Umpire Camp for amateur umpires Feb. 9-11.

The camp features seven major league umpires, including retired 31-year National League veteran Doug Harvey. Cost is $200.

Info: Mike Winters (619) 486-6267 or Ron Barnes, (520) 797-4293.

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