Dave Trimmer

Kris Kallem's best shot of the day was actually two down the heart of the 18th fairway. Long after he scraped out a 79 in the biting wind Thursday afternoon, Kallem was on the course at The Fairways, shining his headlights so the last wet and cold golfers could finish the first round of the 38th annual Downtown Holiday Inn Express Lilac Invitational. "We don't like to turn people away," said Kallem, an assistant pro at The Fairways. "We're going to accommodate them, even if it means bringing them in with headlights."

He's back. Mike Booth, proud of being described as flamboyant and controversial, has returned to Spokane for the 38th annual Lilac Invitational golf tournament, which begins today at The Fairways. Ask the gregarious Californian where he was last year and he answers by whipping out an identification card - from the federal penitentiary in Lompoc, Calif. Booth was released April 15 with his confidence intact but his swagger toned down. "I'm glad I went. I lived too much by the seat of my pants," Booth, 35, said. "Family and friends didn't mean much. I lived for the money and I spent it." The federal government figured he had too much to spend and an investigation brought an indictment against him and his accountant for tax evasion. The accountant "rolled over" and Booth took a 16-month sentence for wire fraud instead of gambling on losing a trial on the tax evasion charge, which carries a minimum 5-year sentence.

Calf roper Mike Phillips practices at his home near Deer Park for the National High School Finals Rodeo. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

With the aid of his dad (back), Todd Pence (front) has had success at Lilac City. File Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

Chris Waibel's versatility is key for the Northwest Division champion Spokane Shadow. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

Dan Ryan, the District 81 activities coordinator and Greater Spokane League secretary the past nine years, has resigned to become activities coordinator at Port Angeles, Wash. "I just decided it was time to get back a little closer to kids," Ryan said. "It's like watching the games, either you're involved or back on the sidelines. I decided I wanted to get back in the game.

The spoils of winning continue to go to the Spokane Shadow. The Shadow announced Monday the USISL picked Spokane for the Premier League Northwest Division tournament. The four-team event will be at Albi Stadium July 26-27. It is the second straight year Spokane has held a four-team Premier League postseason tournament.

1. East defenders Brad Phillips and Al Cotton, right, apply pressure to the West team's quarterback, Marques Tuiasosopo. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review 2. Former Mead High star Scott McGlocklin fights for extra yardage. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

There is one thing everyone connected with the East-West All-Star Football Classic agrees on tonight's game at Albi Stadium is going to be fun. "That's the goal," East coach Mike McLaughlin of Mead said. "The goal was to work on fundamentals, have fun and create memories. It's always more fun to win. If your goal is to have fun, then that's the most fun." Actually, the whole week has been fun, according to the players, but now they're ready for action.

Although the Spokane Shadow have a title in hand, the USISL Premier League Northwest Division champions face two crucial road games this weekend. The Shadow, 11-2 in division soccer games and 12-3 overall, play the Puget Sound Hammers in Bellevue tonight and are at Bellingham to play the Orcas Saturday night.

Pullman's Forest Hurlbert is one of the smallest players in the East-West game. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

Marcus Tuiaososopo, son of ex-Seattle Seahawks lineman Manu Tuiaososopo, will play for the West in the East-West game at Albi Stadium. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

Of three coaches inducted into the Washington State Football Coaches Hall of Fame on Monday, the one with the fewest victories is the only one with a field named after him. Fran Rish, who coached at Richland for two decades, was honored at the Hall of Fame luncheon with Bob Colleran of Clover Park and Gary Moore of Issaquah. The ceremony was held at Cavanaugh's River Inn and helped kick off a week of activities that culminates with the East-West Summer Classic at Albi Stadium Friday night at 7:30.

Ron Adams is in his element amid girls basketball players, whether he's helping 8 year olds improve their skills or coaching the area's top all-star program, the Spokane Stars. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

When the Spokane Shadow have their game faces on, their soccer game is a thing of beauty. Saturday night the Shadow had their game faces on and the results were beautiful. The Shadow clinched their second consecutive USISL Premier League Northwest Division title with a 5-1 drubbing of the Yakima Reds before 1,616 fans at Albi Stadium. Each goal was picture-perfect, with two coming off corner kicks, two on short breakaways and the other on a rocket off the right foot of Craig Waibel.

When Spokane Shadow coach Sean Bushey looks at the USISL Premier League soccer standings, he doesn't focus on the Northwest Division. That's probably a good thing because his soccer team already has clinched a tie for its second straight division championship. "Our standards are that we're not just concerned about our division, we're concerned with region and national," Bushey said.

Gilman

Rikki Jackson, left, will represent Washington team in tonight's All-Star Classic. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

With the largest crowd in franchise history helping carry the weight, the Spokane Shadow ignored the giant bull's e ye on its back. The Shadow played their best game of the season for 2,011 fans Saturday night, destroying Yakima 4-0 at Albi Stadium just one night after their worst game in two years.

History is repeating itself, which is good for Kieran Barton and bad for the Spokane Shadow soccer team. Barton agreed to play for the Seattle Sounders on Thursday, leaving a hole in the Shadow lineup. "I played with the coach (Neil Megson) for two years," Barton said. "They're struggling in a couple of positions. He knew what I can do and I've gotten better. I'm very excited." Rio Three Stars will step into Barton's spot this weekend. The Shadow play against the Cascade Surge in Salem, Ore., tonight before meeting the Yakima Reds at Albi Stadium on Saturday at 7 p.m. Barton, 26, played for the Sounders for two seasons prior to last year and had a tryout in an exhibition game in Seattle Wednesday night. An outside midfielder, Barton was on the Sounders team that won the championship in 1995 when that was the highest level of play in the country.

AA/A fastpitch The State AA/A high school fastpitch softball marathon has become a one-day sprint. The 16 teams that expected to play in Tacoma last Friday and Saturday are gathering in Yakima today to play a one-day tournament. "It's kind of a disadvantage for everybody," West Valley coach Steve Kent said. "If you have two good pitchers, like East Valley (Rebecca Triplett and Tara DaCorte), you're in better shape."

West Valley's Vinnie Pecht just missed a state record but won the AA discus event. Photo by Karie Hamilton/Special to The Spokesman-Review

Tyler Byers of Ferris got the Greater Spokane League off to a good start Saturday morning at Star Track XV. The Ferris student won the wheelchair 1,600 meters. "It's just a lot of fun competing and fun to be out here with my friends," Byers said. "This track is really nice, really fast."

Missy Blackshire added gold to her blue. And Mead had its gold taken away. The superstitious Blackshire, who paints her fingernails blue to match the color of a first-place ribbon, defended her title in the State AAA 800 meters Saturday and her Ferris teammates Isaac Hawkins and Jennifer Smith completed their distance doubles.