Mike Vlahovich

Everyone knows what Ben Goodwin can do when he’s behind center. But Ferris’s senior quarterback made his biggest impact with his foot. Goodwin’s 64-yard punt with less than 2 minutes remaining pinned Lewis and Clark back on its 12 yard line and preserved the Saxons’ 24-21 victory Friday night at Albi Stadium. The win by Ferris (7-1) assures the defending state champions a return to the 4A postseason.

Everyone knows what Ben Goodwin can do when he’s behind center. But Ferris’s senior quarterback made his biggest impact with his foot.

Central Valley’s football team accomplished what it aimed for, a date with Lewis and Clark next week in a Greater Spokane League playoff showdown, by dominating North Central 54-10 Thursday night at Joe Albi Stadium. “It’s set up now,” Bears coach Rick Giampietri said of next week’s game. “The Tigers are solid both offensively and defensively. Both teams have good quarterbacks. It will be a block-and-tackle game and who does the best wins.’

When Joe Custer arrived in the Spokane Valley with his young family in 1954, the community was in the early stages of its transformation from a primarily agrarian economy into a post-World War II suburban success story. The Valley has lost a man who, along with other business leaders, had the vision and energy to usher in an era of growth that ultimately led to today’s incorporated city.

Hall of Fame Spokane Valley high school track and field coach Howard Dolphin is officially calling it quits. To commemorate the nearly 60 years of devotion and success, his family is hosting an open house for friends and former student athletes next weekend at his home at Sandy Beach on Liberty Lake.

Earlier this season, Lewis and Clark golfer Megan Haase lamented the state of her game a year after sharing 10th place in state. She determined to do something about it. “I just wanted it really bad,” Haase said. “I wasn’t happy with my play and wanted to change it.”

All season long Greater Spokane League golf coaches said it was anybody’s game during weekly matches. Mead’s Aaron Henderson proved a case in point. He is one of three from the league’s third-place Panthers who came through as 4A GSL boys state qualifiers.

The addition of a precocious freshman has Clarkston thinking big. Michael Baldeck has joined returning top-10 State 2A finisher Tyler Carlson in giving the Bantams a legitimate shot at a state team title two weeks from now.

Wrestling’s Sam Indorf, who guided Cheney to some of its greatest successes, died at age 69 Tuesday under home hospice care, four months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The funeral service for the 1994 Washington State Coaches Association Hall of Famer will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at Hamblen Presbyterian Church, 4102 S. Crestline St.

The hair – whatever was left of it – is grayer now, but faces were unmistakable. Numerous ex-ballplayers from his first team to his last and recreational basketball and softball teammates of Ron Jackson gathered at Avista Stadium on Thursday to pay tribute to their departed coach.

An ominous cloud roiled past Mead High School, bringing with it a touch of lightning that threatened to postpone the No. 1 mixed doubles final with Central Valley siblings Leslie and Peter Ho at match point. Peter promptly double-faulted.

The defending state-champion Lewis and Clark boys golf team was replacing most everyone and the runner-up girls were without graduated two-time state champion Chessey Thomas. But there was little doubt in the minds of returning Tigers state veterans Robby McKee and Megan Haase that their teams could still factor in the Greater Spokane League.

For more than half a century Ron and Sally Jackson have been synonymous with the Spokane Valley, touching the lives of thousands of youth in numerous ways. They were involved in scouting and swimming lessons and all manner of sports (and politics).