Fl Finish May Go Down To Last Out

Deciding which four teams qualify for the Frontier League baseball playoffs won’t be accomplished until the last out is recorded on Saturday.

East Valley hosts Colville in one of two doubleheaders critical to the outcome of the standings.

Six of seven league teams were still eligible for the end-of-season playoffs going into the final week of the season and the Knights need a sweep to make them.

West Valley, meanwhile, did its part after winning for the ninth time in 11 games, including Saturday’s doubleheader sweep of Clarkston.

The Eagles completed the season Tuesday with a 14-4 win over East Valley that assured them a playoff spot and a chance to host the playoffs as the league’s second-place team if the Knights at least split with Colville.

West Valley started 2-5 in league before finishing on a six-win tear. Included was Saturday’s 12-1 and 5-3 road sweep of the Bantams in which Tyler Hall went 5-1 with his two-hitter and Jason Phillipe pitched a four-hitter.

“With all first-year seniors, all year long we did 45 minutes of daily fundamental work,” said Eagle coach Ray Riggin. “I think it finally paid off.”

After getting spanked in Pullman, WV was in a tenuous position last week, staring at games against league leader Cheney, the twin bill in Clarkston and EV. The Eagles won them all.

Last week Beau Macarty went 7 for 10. Kevin Risley drove in a critical run against Cheney. In both Clarkston games the Eagles led by four runs after three innings, Brian Lawler with two doubles in the opener, Macarty with a double in the first game and a home run in the second.

Hall won again against the Knights, Jason Brown hit a three-run homer and like Phillipe had three hits.

“The hitting was always there,” said Riggin of a team that’s batting .353 overall. “We erased mistakes and are now playing better baseball.”

Freeman track enjoying fine year

When Freeman’s track team completed the season Tuesday against league leader Lakeside, coach John Hays could only wonder, what if?

The absence of two of his best athletes in narrow earlier losses kept the meet from being a title showdown.

“We didn’t have Andy Schmidt at Medical Lake because of a science honors thing,” said Hays.

Freeman lost the meet by five points. During a 10-point loss to Chewelah, the Scotties were without Jason Harless because of an ankle injury.

“They are worth 15 points per meet easy,” said Hays.

Schmidt is the league’s second-best pole vaulter and 200 runner. Harless is among the league hurdles leaders.

After close losses to Lakeside, the Freeman boys finished at 4-3 and girls 2-5 in this, their final Northeast A League meet season.

“Both the boys and girls are having more success,” said Hays. “It’s been kind of a turnaround year.”

Another title for EV tennis team

With Monday’s 5-2 win over Clarkston, East Valley’s girls tennis team has assured itself a third-straight Frontier League championship.

Central Valley, meanwhile, split in matches among Greater Spokane League girls tennis unbeatens, winning 4-3 over Ferris and losing 6-1 to Gonzaga Prep.

Titans, Bears at it again

University’s girls softball team travel to Central Valley Friday, secure in the knowledge they’ve won another GSL championship.

Boys teams will be jockeying for playoff position when the third-place Bears host the Titans.

The U-Hi softball team remains unbeaten in 13 games with three remaining and leads the the Bears and Mead by four.

CV’s baseball team upset league leader Mead to move a game ahead of the Titans in the taut GSL playoff race.

Liberty Lake best ball

During Liberty Lake Ladies 18 Hole golf competition last week, the group conducted a mixed flight best ball tournament.

Winners were the team of Patty Aunan, Alice Hamilton, Margaret Brashears and Ethel Rankin, who had a net 59.

Aunan led A flight with low gross 80, while Carol Bettinger and Betty Blackburn shot 99s in B and C flights. Barb Midkiff and Kitty Duval had 108 in D.

Net winners were Jean Hatcher in A flight with 76, Mabel Watkins in B flight with 75, Marie Nelson in C flight with 74 and Barb Hafner in D flight with 76.

Eclectic winners for April were Aunan with low gross 74 in A and Diane Hicks with net 60. Bettinger shot 82 in B and Marion Jordan netted 60.

In C, Shirley Branson had 88 and Brashears netted 56. Midkiff shot 96 in D and Carol Schultz netted 58.

Valley View medal play

During medal play among Valley View Ladies 9-Hole golfers last week, Joyce Jacobs in A flight shot low gross 47.

B leaders were Edith Rains and Cathy Mileson at 53, C leader was Laura Odette with 58 and no handicap leader was Shirley James with 63.

Net winners included Dee Elder in A with 32, Charlotte Greene in B with 30, and Melba Farrar and Jane Clark in C with 33.

Painted Hills competition

Danice Deckard led the way last week during Painted Hills Ladies Club golf action.

She shot a low gross 46 for the day in A flight. Other flight leaders were Sheryl VanDinter in B with a 53, Pat Reiter in C with 57, Cindee Corrick in D with 63 and no handicap golfer JoAnn Sletner with 52.

Net leaders were Connie Hatfield who had 35 in A, Susan Crosby who had 36 in B, Gina Behrens with 39 in C and Cathy Diehl with 37 in D.

Penne Parsons birded the 14th hole, while Cheryl McCarthy on 12 and Donna Steinmetz on 10 recorded chip-ins.

, DataTimes