Greg Lee

For the second straight night, the Spokane Indians fell into an early hole only to succumb by the same score, 6-4, Saturday to the Everett AquaSox in a Northwest League baseball game before a standing-room-only crowd of 6,991 at Avista Stadium. Poor pitching and defense were the prime reasons the Indians found themselves trailing 6-0 through five innings. Everett had just one run-scoring hit. The AquaSox brought in four more runs via a sacrifice fly, ground out, hit batter and walk. They left 16 on base.

Andrew Gardner is taking another step toward returning to his homeland on a more permanent basis. One of the top long-distance runners in the nation for his age, the Mead senior, along with his brother and three other Mead students, will fly to south-central Ethiopia in early June for a 16-day journey they hope brings relief and hope to those struggling in the developing nation.

TACOMA – Mead senior Andrew Gardner completed the “Triple Crown” in impressive fashion Saturday at the State 4A track and field meet. Gardner, who captured the state cross country championship last fall and followed it up with a title in the 1,600 meters on Thursday, appeared as if he would be challenged in the final lap of the 3,200 on the final day of Star Track XXXI at Mt. Tahoma High School.

TACOMA – Courtney Bray had an idea she’d find rarified air at the State 3A track meet. After all, the Mt. Spokane senior had finished second the past two years and sixth as a freshman. This was her time.

TACOMA – Damon Unland knows how to hold an audience until the end. The Ferris senior threw 185 feet, 5 inches on his final attempt to pull off a three-peat as the State 4A discus champion Friday during the second day of Star Track XXXI at Mt. Tahoma High School.

TACOMA – Colville senior Joellee Buckner had never thrown a javelin until this year. She set a modest goal coming into the season.

The Mead boys had no difficulty defending their 4A Regional track championship Saturday afternoon at Spokane Falls Community College. The challenge will be contending for a trophy next week at state.

It was a bittersweet day for the North Central boys and girls track teams Saturday afternoon as the 3A Regional track meet concluded at Spokane Falls Community College. The top two in each event advance to state, which begins a three-day run Thursday at Mt. Tahoma High School in Tacoma.

The fact that Blasé Neumann won the 4A pole vault Friday was secondary to the fact his season teetered on the brink with a final jump at a lower height. The Mead senior prevailed with a vault of 14 feet, 6 inches. But he had to clear 14-0 on his third and final attempt to even finish in the top two and qualify for state.

This was the easy week for Greater Spokane League track teams at Spokane Falls Community College. Things will be dramatically different next week when the 4A and 3A regionals return to SFCC.