It’s Anybody’s Game In Gsl Baseball Action

Another week, another challenger in Greater Spokane League baseball.

Shadle Park at one point of the season was in last place with a 2-5 record. With five wins in its last six games, the Highlanders have rocketed into a virtual third place tie with Central Valley.

Three games remain, beginning today at home against North Central, and given the nature of this year’s league, coach Ron Brooks isn’t taking anything for granted.

But he admits the team is playing as well as any in league right now.

“Luckily things are falling into place,” he said. “I’m proud of the boys and their efforts. Everyone is getting it done.”

After winning their first two games, the Highlanders went into a five-game skid primarily because they faced the league’s three best pitchers in successive outings, including unbeatens Rob Elmer of Mead and Ferris’s Eric Sandberg.

But it’s also been a wacky league, in which every league team is still eligible for the playoffs.

“It would have been a lot tougher when we were 2-5 if everyone else wasn’t in the same situation,” he said. “And the players realized they just saw three of the better pitchers in league in one week.”

Still, the slow start prompted selfdoubt for a coach accustomed to playing in the district tournament.

“I did a lot of pacing and a lot of self-talking about what I needed to do,” said Brooks.

Since then, Shadle’s only loss was last week to the league-leading Panthers. The team reversed earlier setbacks to runner-up Ferris and CV to continue its late-season surge.

“A lot of kids in their own way have had some key games for us,” said Brooks.

Eric Hayden, the team’s season batting leader, has had seven multiple-hit games, including two three-hit outings last week. He also pitched the win against Ferris.

Jeff Lafferty shut down CV, striking out 10. Sean Hughes pitched a shutout against University the week before and has had four hits in one game this season.

Seven players, including Kyle Heuett and sophomore catcher Chet Womach, have produced offensively and defensively.

“It has been a group effort,” said Brooks, whose varied lineups have regularly included a dozen players.

“I’m real proud of all 15 (on the roster),” he continued. “The kids seemed to find a way to bounce back from adversity and turn it into positives.”

Mead (11-3) leads the league by 1 games with two contests remaining. The Panthers finish up with Rogers today and at Ferris next Tuesday.

In a season where 21 games have been decided by a run, Shadle’s third-place advantage is just two games ahead of seventh-place Gonzaga Prep.

The Highlanders play at Gonzaga Prep Friday and finish the season against University on Tuesday at home.

Rogers (6-7) won over University to share fifth place and finishes with LC and CV at home.

North Central (4-10) lost its sixth of nine one-run decisions to imperil its playoff chances. The team finishes Friday at home against Ferris.

“NC is a very good team, but onerun games wear on you mentally,” said Brooks. “In 13 years of doing this, I can’t recall a season like this.”

Teams after softball berths

Three North Side GSL softball teams have positioned themselves to advance to the district tournament which begins May 15 at Franklin Park.

Mead (10-4) shares second and Rogers (8-5) is fourth in league after a 14-inning loss to champion University. Shadle Park is in fifth place.

The Highlanders are charting unfamiliar waters. It’s been eight years since the team last won this many games, and one more victory would assure its first playoff berth since then.

Mead track teams after titles

During the previous 20 years of GSL track and field, Mead’s boys and girls teams have won 29 of 40 championships.

The unbeaten Panthers teams will be seeking two more titles today in their season finales against the unbeaten University High boys and Shadle Park girls teams at U-Hi.

Both will take similar approaches in their quest, pitting field events athletes and distance runners against teams that have relied on speed.

Not that there won’t be interesting field matchups. Pole vaulter Shawn Gumke faces another 14-foot vaulter in Titan Cody Hirschi.

Girls shot putters Jen Bennett and Leah Merrell will be tested by Shadle freshman Shalonda Tate. And the 400 and 800 relay races, where both teams are separated by scant tenths of a second, will be pivotal.

Still, distance runners Jason Fayant, Morgan Thompson and Ryan Wiser, throwers Scott McGlocklin, Matt Williams, Joe Collier, Cody Ferguson and Callahan and jumper Chris McCullough figures to be too much for the Titans in boys competition.

Former Highlander April Gallagher in the discus, javelin thrower Janelle Edington, jumpers Jamie Wakefield and Ali Bailey and distance runner Katie Pollock likely give Mead the edge over Shadle’s girls.

Free soccer clinic at Rogers

The Spokane Shadow soccer team, in conjunction with Rogers High School, will host a free Northeast Spokane Soccer Clinic.

The clinic for youth players of all ages will be Saturday from noon-1:30 p.m. on the Rogers High soccer field.

Participants will meet Shadow team members who will give instruction on soccer basics.

Coordinator Chris Sande said parents are encouraged to attend and hear about registration and financial aid information for fall Spokane Youth Soccer teams.

For information, call the Pacific Northwest Soccer League, 747-2836.

, DataTimes