Spokane Man Wins World Handball Title

Jim Slavin Sr. of Spokane is “walking a little taller” after returning from Winnipeg, Manitoba, with a second consecutive Waterford Crystal World Handball Championship.

Slavin, who turns 74 next month, won the 70-and-over Diamond Division doubles title with Bob Nedd of Los Altos, Calif. They defeated Joe Joiner and Don Fase of the United States 21-3, 21-9 in the finals.

In the 1994 World Championships in Ireland, Slavin teamed with Frank Yohannon of Spokane to win.

Slavin and Nedd also have combined for five national doubles titles.

In the Diamond singles in Winnipeg, Slavin finished second, losing the final 21-18, 20-21, 11-8 to Bill Heaston of the U.S. Slavin was a losing singles semifinalist in 1994.

Basketball

Pullman’s AAU program will hold an informational meeting on Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. at the Senior Center in Pullman City Hall for parents of boys and girls interested in playing during the 1997-98 season.

Info: Keith Petersen, (509) 332-3457 or Tim Marsh, (509) 332-0309.

Hockey

An old-timers hockey jamboree is being organized in Vernon, British Columbia, for Oct. 7-9 to coincide with the Okanagan Wine Festival.

The event is for players ages 55 and older. Spokesman Mike Todd said it would be a no-contact, no-slapshot tournament. Players are to register individually and will be placed on teams by age and ability as organizers try for balanced, competitive teams.

Cost is $35 a player with a three-game minimum if enough players register.

Info: Todd, (250) 549-2311.

Racquetball

Erin Brannigan of Sagle, Idaho, the reigning United States High School champion, has been selected for a second consecutive year to the U.S. Racquetball Association’s Junior National Team.

Brannigan, a 1997 graduate of Sandpoint High School, is one of 10 repeaters on the 16-member Junior National Team.

Softball

A new select girls fastpitch team that is forming at the 16-U or 18-U level will hold a tryout today at 9 a.m. at Gonzaga Prep.

Info: Coach Jose Cervantes, (509) 484-7289.

The Spokane Storm, which will be competing at the 14-U level in 1998, is scheduling tryouts for next year’s team. In 1997, the team won the Spokane Girls Fastpitch Association 12-U title and placed seventh in the Region 15 Class A championships.

Info: Coach Gary Blake, (509) 328-1921.

The Washington Heat 18-U select girls fastpitch team will hold a tryout for its 1998 team at noon Saturday at Larson Park in Moses Lake.

Info: Wayne Hardy, (360) 459-1101.

, DataTimes