State events wrap up preps
State competition this week will bring an end to the 2006-07 high school sports calendar and area golfers get a jump on things Tuesday and Wednesday.
Ninety-five boys and girls will be among the fields for this year’s competition on eight golf courses in Bellingham.
And a number of schools, including defending B champion Northwest Christian, have the numbers necessary to make a team title run.
Highest returning 4A boys finisher is Ferris’ Dustin Poe who finished 16th last year and led a one-two-three Saxons finish at district with two identical rounds of 70 at Hangman Valley Golf Course. Teammates Ryan Jones and Sean Bulger each finished six strokes back. University’s Hank Frame, 19th last year, also returns.
Mead and Lewis and Clark were third and fourth a year ago. The Tigers have four state entrants this year and the Panthers two, led by district medalist Lauren Howe, who finished ninth last year. Teammate Brittany Wilcox, 20th a year ago, also returns.
The Tigers Katrina Bech was 18th and is joined by newcomer Chessy Thomas in providing a solid one-two punch.
Ashley Saffle, 20th last year, is one of four GSL girls golfers in the 3A meet and making her fourth straight state appearance. The 3A boys were shut out.
The 12-golfer Great Northern League State 2A boys contingent is led by Pullman’s Dillon Williams, fourth a year ago, and Corey Meyers of Deer Park who was 12th. Clarkston has four qualifiers and Colville three. Clarkston’s Kaylin Carlson and Jordan Knapp went 1-2 in district. They were 25th and 28th at last year’s 3A girls state tourney.
Six Lakeside golfers and five from Freeman are in the State 1A boys tourney. Chewelah’s Gracie Schory and Kelsey Harting were sixth and 12th respectively last year in 2A.
In Class B, John Graham was second at state a year ago and Jared Descoteaux finished third. They headed a 1-2-3 Northwest Christian district finish as part of a five-golfer team seeking to repeat.
Lakeside still standing
When University rallied Saturday from a nine-run deficit to defeat Moses Lake in the first round of State 4A baseball, Lakeside coach Matt Sullivan had a topper.
It was back in 2000 and the Eagles fell behind Naches 12-0 in the top of the fifth inning and were on the verge of going home. But they scored eight times in the fifth to prolong the game, then, trailing 13-8, scored five in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings where they won 14-13.
One of three local teams still alive in this year’s state baseball semifinals, Lakeside faces (drum roll please) – Naches.
The Eagles (23-1) beat Kiona-Benton and avenged their only loss by topping Chewelah in Class A Region IV final.
Lakeside qualified for its third state semi since 2002, the other two as a 2A team. State 1A semifinals and finals are at Paul Thomas Field in Wenatchee beginning Friday.
Odessa and Northport have reached the 1B semifinals at Parker Field in Yakima.
Softball pairings
Shadle Park plays Jackson in the 4A second game and North Central plays Everett in 3A game four of Friday’s state softball tournaments at SERA Fields in Tacoma.
Clarkston plays W.F. West in game four and Colville plays Cedarcrest in game six of the 2A tourney at Walla Walla Point Park in Wenatchee.
In 1A at Paul Lauzier Athletic Complex in Moses Lake, Lakeside opens the tournament against Nooksack Valley. Game three pits Colfax against LaCenter and Kettle Falls closes the first round in game eight against Chimacum.
The B tourneys are at Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima. Davenport (Game No. 1 against Liberty Bell, Lind-Ritzville Game 4 against Adna), Springdale (Game 5 against Mossyrock) and Liberty (Game 8 against Toutle Lake) are in the 2B field.
Garfield-Palouse opens the eight-team 1B against Tahola and Curlew follows against Touchet. Then it’s Inchelium versus Colton and Northport against Entiat.