Baseball Program At Rogers Takes Hit

Stealing second base is one matter, but the Rogers High baseball team was unprepared for what it encountered at Monday morning’s practice.

A thief or thieves broke into Rogers locker room between Saturday night and Monday morning, making off with close to $1,500 in equipment.

“It looks like neighborhood kids (pulled the caper), but we don’t know for sure,” said coach Jim Wasem.

Wasem spent Tuesday replacing much of the equipment. He said District 81 doesn’t have theft insurance in this situation, so the money must come out of the Rogers baseball budget or out of Wasem’s pockets.

Among the missing items, according to Wasem, are four aluminum bats worth $600; three gloves worth $450; one pair of $100 cleats; five batting gloves also in the $100 range; and four bat bags worth $150.

Wasem is offering a reward for information about the theft.

Spring fling

The first big track meet in the area is the Big Red Invitational at Ferris on Saturday. However, it’s three weeks before the track season heats up.

The Pasco Invitational is April 19, the same day as the Freeman Invitational at Central Valley. The Greater Spokane League and Northeast A dual seasons begin April 17. The Frontier League starts a week later.

Although Mead didn’t make it to the girls State AAA basketball tournament for the first time this decade, the Panthers still maintain a healthy lead in the Tacoma News-Tribune’s all-sports race.

The Panthers have 116 points, 40 ahead of Auburn and Mercer Island. Richland is two points back at 74.

The AA race is close, with Gig Harbor at 115, seven ahead of Blanchet. East Valley is fourth at 88. Omak leads Lakeside 106-82 in A. Chewelah is fourth at 70. Ritzville tops the B with 72, four ahead of Republic.

Cleveland, the smallest school in Seattle’s AA Metro League, is not fielding a boys soccer or girls softball team because of low turnout.

, DataTimes