Kevin Blocker

Tennis/softball Josh Greene of Medical Lake lives kind of like Harrison Ford in "The Fugitive." He's not running from the law, but the young man is definitely on the move. And no one seems to be able to slow him down. The Northeast A League's best boys tennis player can't be stopped on the court by his opponents, and off it, trying to get him to sit still for a few minutes is almost impossible.

It's a good time to be on the Central Valley bandwagon. For the third time in five years, the CV softball team has earned a berth to the regional playoffs. Within that same time frame, the baseball team is going to regionals for the second time. The softball team starts play at Franklin Park on Friday as the No. 2 seed out of the GSL. CV will play Walla Walla on Field One at 6 p.m.

The 1996 George Gee Pontiac GSL District 8 Tournament at Seafirst Stadium starts on Friday with third-seeded Mead (10-6) scheduled to play sixth-seeded University (8-8) at 1 p.m. That game will be followed by No. 4 Gonzaga Prep (10-6) against No. 5 Shadle Park (9-7) at 3:45 p.m.

Colleen De Reuck turns into the homestretch. Photo by Sandra Bancroft-Billings/The Spokesman-Review

(From Replay, Monday, May 6, 1996): In Saturday's edition, it was incorrectly reported that the Greater Spokane League district soccer championship game would be played on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Mead Junior High. The game will actually be played Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Mead High. The winner of the game will host the second-seeded team from the Big Nine on Saturday in the opening round of the state playoffs. (From Replay, Tuesday, May 7, 1996): The headline Sunday reported the wrong score in Saturday's Gonzaga Prep-Shadle Park boys' high school soccer game. Gonzaga won 2-0. Dave Schafer (6) and Jeff Dixson, arm raised, congratulate G-Prep teammate Jed Druffel after Druffel's game-winning goal. Ryne Vane (11) joins the party. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review

In host Gonzaga Prep's 2-0 boys soccer triumph over Shadle Park Saturday, a hockey game nearly erupted. G-Prep's Joe Ascolese was given a yellow card, Shadle's Matt Kennedy yapped it up a little with the Bullpups' Jed Druffel, and referee Ernesto Leveque threatened to give a card to G-Prep's Tim Bishop. "I'll give you a yellow card," Leveque told Bishop. "This is not Hollywood."

Michelle Morgan, second from left, concentrated on the future. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

Now it can be said that Mead's Amy Fong is the girls singles champion of Inland Empire Tennis Tournament. These pages erroneously reported during the week that Fong was the defending champ. The title actually belonged to University's Leslie Whitten. But in the tourney's 51st edition on Saturday at Central Valley, there was nothing erroneous about the way the Mead senior defeated Kamiakin's Katherine Martin, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4.

1. When he's not on the mound, Eric Sandberg takes his spot at first base. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review 2. Sandberg has taken off on offense. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

Former California resident Ryan Moran has warmed up to cold-weather tennis. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

Quinn Sharpe, who made two trips to state as a wrestler, has emerged as the leading scorer in Frontier League soccer. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

Lakeside's George Petticrew is 5-0 in the Northeast A. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review

1. Cheney's Tucker Urdahl has delivered four victories, no defeats and two saves for the Blackhawks this season. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review 2. Urdahl

Shanelle Test is part of formidable NC rotation. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

Mead pinch runner Jarrett Robbins beats the tag of Shadle Park's Kyle Heuett in the Panthers' 5-2 win on Tuesday. Photo by Kristy MacDonald/The Spokesman-Review

Last year's GSL most valuable player, Holly Vanwert, winds up her prep career this season. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

John Barneson can laugh at a rare fielding mistake. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

How does this sound for a league race? One of last year's co-defending champions is gunning for a third conference league title. The other co-defending champ wants its second consecutive title. The team that finished in third place is the one of the three that went to the state's regional playoffs. By all accounts, the 1996 Frontier League baseball season ought to be a doozy. Co-defending league champions East Valley and West Valley are loaded with talent, and at Cheney, coach Terry Regnier is saying that this is the best team he's had in his nearly two decades as that school's coach. This season, the race for the top spot should be intense from start to finish. Even though Cheney won't have the services of pitching ace Rick DeMulling, who suffered a dislocated ankle at the end of basketball season, the Blackhawks do have first-team all-league pitchers in righty Doug Clark and lefty Tucker Urdahl. The Blackhawks' No. 3 pitcher is right-hander Brian Woodard, and Regnier is platooning various players to determine who will be No. 4 and 5 in the pitching rotation. "You don't get that very often in high school," Regnier said. "We've got a lot of depth." The Blackhawks are so deep that 18 players have seen action in early wins over Pasco and Riverside. EV lost some heavy hitters from last year, but returns several talented players. Center fielder Kyle LeGrant, second baseman Pat Stookey and left fielder Bill Tincup are at the top of a potent batting lineup. The Knights will also get solid pitching from two-time all-league performer Steve Pipkin. Pitcher Brian Lamarche closes when Pipkin is on the mound. As for WV, six of last year's nine starters are back for their senior season. Shortstop Justin Tichy, second baseman Joe Andrews, utility man Andy Imada, center fielder Riley Allen and the Eklund brothers, Tim and James at first base and left field, head up a lineup that can has some punch at the plate. In an 8-5 win against Shadle Park Tuesday night, WV pounded out 11 hits. As for the rest of the rest of the league, Colville, Pullman, Clarkston and Riverside will probably fight for the other positions. That edge would appear to go to Colville. The new head coach for the Indians is Randy Russell, formerly the head coach for the Whitworth College Pirates. For the past three years, Russell has been Colville's activities coordinator. The Indians have just three seniors on their roster and are still a year or two away from challenging for the rights to upper-echelon status in the league. Second baseman Andy Hardison, shortstop Justin Fox, pitcher Jason Spears and catcher-first baseman Bradey Noble are expected to make key contributions for Colville. Unlike previous years, when only three teams went to the league's district playoffs, four teams will now compete for a regional playoff berth.

There were a lot of radio and television announcers at this tournament covering Whitworth's run to the championship game. Hopefully none made unflattering remarks about the Pirates on the air.

Albertson's Taylor Ebright slides past Whitworth's Roman Wickers for two of his seven points in Coyotes' win. Photo by Associated Press

Nate Dunham (21) helps Whitworth elevate its game in 87-83 semifinal win over William Jewell on Monday night. Special to The Spokesman-Review

If Whitworth defeats William Jewell College in the semifinals of the NAIA Division II men's basketball tournament tonight, the Pirates will play in the championship game televised live by Prime Sports Network Tuesday night. PSN's title-game coverage is scheduled for a 6:30 start.

Nate Dunham (21) weaves through defenders on way to 22 points in Whitworth's 88-70 victory. Photo by Associated Press

The success the Whitworth Pirates have experienced on the basketball court this season can be attributed to many players. One of those players is junior transfer Nate Williams. Williams came to Whitworth College after two seasons at Clackamas Community College. In his first season as a Pirate, he has made an impact beyond what many expected.