CV baseball wins first four games, shares GSL lead

When a coach returns to a sport, attempting to put his stamp on it after a long absence, there are always revelations.

For new Central Valley baseball coach Barry Poffenroth, that revelation has come in the form of outfielder Ryan Maynes.

“He’s been a pleasant surprise,” Poffenroth said. “He’s been solid in center and he can run!”

The new-look Bears, with only three returning varsity players, have also pounded the baseball offensively and received solid enough pitching while winning their first four games.

They cranked out 24 hits and scored 26 runs in a nonleague doubleheader sweep of Hanford in Richland.

They scored another 14 runs in dispatching Cheney and edged East Valley 5-4 to share the Greater Spokane League lead after Thursday.

Kris Henderson hit a three-run triple and three-run home run while going 4-for-4 and driving in half of CV’s runs against Cheney. He hit another homer, good for two runs and a fifth-inning sacrifice fly to beat the Knights.

Kyle Renz drove in three runs and scored four times while going 3-for-4 against Cheney and added a hit against EV. The duo also combined for nine hits in the doubleheader triumph against Hanford.

And the team got route-going pitching efforts by Dane Knudson and Jake Swantko in the wins.

“Our pitching shows signs of being OK,” said Poffenroth, “But we still need to get ahead of hitters and play solid defense.”

EV was unbeaten until CV; Bret Riggin blanking Clarkston on four hits while striking out 12. George Hamilton hit two doubles against CV and Jye Lanphere hit safely in both league games.

West Valley opened the GSL season with a 10-0 shutout over Rogers in a game that featured six walks and two hit batters during a seven-run seventh inning. Freshman Brian Peterson and sophomore Casey Sherrill each had two hits.

University was bitten by a pair of narrow losses, 8-6 to North Central and 4-3 to Shadle Park. The Titans led NC 5-1 before making costly errors, particularly one in the Indians five-run fourth inning. Mike Conrad, Brandon Kelley and Adam Smith each had two hits during the week.

Scant softball separation

No Valley softball teams have gone unscathed in the Greater Spokane League, but none are particularly hurting after two weeks of play.

Only one team remains unbeaten heading into Friday’s competition. And it isn’t one of the expected title contenders.

Central Valley, University and East Valley got untracked after tough starts by winning their last two games each to move back into the mix of what bodes to be an interesting season.

U-Hi, figured to chase Shadle Park and Mead for the title, finds itself tied with the pair at 2-1.

After losing to Mead 4-2 in their opener the Titans bounced back with 1-0 and 9-1 wins over Mt. Spokane and Gonzaga Prep.

The bats finally came alive against the Bullpups. U-Hi hit three triples, a double and got a home run from Tonya Schnibbe, who finished 3-for-3 with two RBIs. She also drove in the first-inning run against Mt. Spokane and has hit safely in all three games as have Angie Boardman and Theresa Tveit.

Pitcher Linse Vlahovich has allowed nine hits while striking out 41 in the three games.

The Bears (2-2), lost to Shadle Park in their opener and 1-0 to Mt. Spokane (3-1), which on Thursday upset the Highlanders.

They bounced back with 6-1 and 2-0 wins over Gonzaga and Cheney. Bears pitcher Whitney McDaniel was the tough-luck loser in her first two games, but helped settle their offensive drought with a three-run triple during the win over Gonzaga.

Following losses to Gonzaga and Mead, East Valley beat Cheney 5-1 and Clarkston 3-2 and was to face currently unbeaten North Central, weather permitting, on Friday.

West Valley (1-1) scored 10 seventh-inning runs to beat Ferris 17-8. Lindsey Hood and Gabi Lobello both were 3-for-4. Lobello tied the game with a bases loaded triple in the sixth. WV had seven hits in the seventh.

Soccer teams keep pace

Central Valley’s soccer team approached spring break atop the Greater Spokane League with a pair of wins this past week and a match to count on Friday.

Following the week off the Bears face a pair of rugged foes, both on the road at Cheney and at co-leader Mt. Spokane.

Last week’s wins came easily over North Central and West Valley, improving the team to 3-0 in the GSL and 4-1 overall.

Jay Vela has now scored five times in league and has seven goals overall. Zach Chesher has five total goals and Jesse Dunbar has six assists.

Back-to-back shootouts, one a win and the other a loss, were as good as one total victory for University which is now 3-1 for the season and part of a four-team tie for fourth place in league.

But the team faced a stern challenge Friday against Cheney and after the break must travel to Ferris.

The Titans beat Lewis and Clark and lost to Shadle Park, even though they dominated the match, by identical 2-1 scores. Kyle Realing scored both of U-Hi’s goals.

East Valley is also part of the four-way tie for fourth after losing to Ferris and shutting out Rogers. The Knights scored nine goals last week. For the year sophomore Cole Abramson has four goals and two assists and three other players have scored twice.

West Valley was shut out twice.

Golf notes

The weather hasn’t been conducive for golf of late, punishing those who failed to take advantage during February and earlier last month.

Liberty Lake Ladies 18-Hole golf had its season-opening continental breakfast last Tuesday but it was too cold and rainy to break out the clubs.

So they try again next Tuesday with an 8 a.m. meeting followed by shotgun start. There is lots of room for new members. For information, call 928-5543 or 928-2763.

Also, Liberty Lake Ladies 9-Hole club golf will begin Thursday with tee times at 9 a.m. New members are welcome. Call 926-4768 for information.