Mike Vlahovich

Thanks to a couple of no-shows and two narrow wins, the National Division of Spokane Valley Baseball Pony League split eight games against American Division opponents to start the league's first post-season tournament. Valley Electric and Nordec won their openers by forfeit. Regular-season champion Mountain View II beat American Division last-place finisher Autocraft 7-6. Runner-up Perfection Tire won 8-7 over American seventh-placer County Sheriff's Association on Chris Carroll's ninth-inning RBI single.

Gary Klawitter competes in the Autosports Northwest circuit in his Nissan Sentra. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review

North Side American Legion baseball league leaders have all but assured themselves of post-season playoff berths. Chapter 11/Longhorn Barbecue (Shadle Park) and M&L; Construction (Mead) have compiled the league's best records and lead the North Division by six games over third-place Olympic Sports. The top three finishers in the league's two divisions will play for the league's state berth.

Three Valley American Legion baseball teams remain in the hunt for post-season playoffs. Spokane Athletic Supply from Central Valley shares the lead in a three-way National Division race. In the American Division, Olympic Sports of University and Job Quest of West Valley are vying for the third playoff berth with a week remaining in the season.

Manager Bud Nameck checks on construction at Birdies Golf Center, a new target-golf site near Northpointe. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

Pee Wee Leaguer Kyle Taylor, of Chester, takes a swipe at the ball during the championship game against Greenacres Monday. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

1. Mountain bike racer Brad Bonnett, 18, wants to go professional. His recent race performance at Mount Spokane has given him a No. 4 ranking in the nation. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review, 2. Brad Bonnett's recent race performance at Mount Spokane has given him a No. 4 ranking in the nation. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

The North Side's Spokane Athletic Supply Panthers took the long route to qualify for this weekend's Pony Baseball state tournament for 13-14-year-olds in Seattle. After losing a 12-0 opening game, the Panthers won five straight games during the district tournament in Pullman, including twice on Sunday over the unbeaten Spokane Valley Americans. "I certainly wouldn't have bet on us coming back, especially after the first game," said Coach Dave Vaughn. "We just got on a roll."

Spokane Valley girls softball teams are entering the final stages of their season with two weeks of games still to be reported. Close races continue with ties for first place in the 16-Under league, both divisions of the 14-Under and in the 10-Under National Division. Only one game separates the top teams in each of the other divisions.

The annual Hanging Tree Tournament for Hangman Valley Ladies Club members concluded its three-week run. This year's winner, based on the best two of three net scores, was Marlene Thies with a 141 total.

Former East Valley track coach Howard Dolphin assists his son-in-law coaching at West Valley. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

Spokane Valley Baseball is entering the home stretch. Pony League champions have been determined and the district all-star tournament is Friday and Saturday in Pullman beginning at noon.

Tom Loucks with his sons Adam, left, and Matt. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

Brandon Deyarmin meets with summer soccer camp participants at University High. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

Spokane Athletic Supply scored runs in every inning of a five-inning 10-2 win over Global Federal Credit Union to take over first place in the South Division of American Legion baseball. Monte Morgan pitched a two-hitter to beat the previous leaders. The Central Valley-based team entered this week with a 7-1 record, one-half game ahead of GFCU.

Seven months after they played their last high school football games, three North Side football players are scheduled to don the pads again. The three players will be part of the East/West All-Star Football Summer Classic Friday at Joe Albi Stadium. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Bryan Bernstein takes a practice shot on goal at Roller Valley Skate Center. Teams are forming and players are getting ready for competition this summer. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

Valley residents won nine divisions of last weekend's Spokane River Canoe Classic and several others placed among the top three. In the marathon, which covered 12 miles from Post Falls to Plantes Ferry Park, Gene Black won the men's downriver kayak race in 1:41.14. Danny Gard, in men's sea kayak, finished first at 1:53.19.

Spokane Heat, a hand-picked allstar baseball team of 14-year-olds, is making its second bid to qualify for national competition. The Heat will host a six-team AAU Junior Olympics World Series qualifier Friday through Sunday at Central Valley High School in the Spokane Valley. The winner can advance to the JO event in Orlando, Fla., Aug. 4-11.

The long distance phone bill got to be too much. So East Valley teacher and wrestling coach Mark Perry is headed back from where he came.

West Valley's Jerry Jameson loads up a pitch against Greenacres in Pony League action. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review

Three-week President's Cup competition ended for Liberty Lake Ladies 18-Hole golfers with a playoff to break a first-place tie. After scoring a net total 224, Gloria Cash won the tiebreaker with Billie Etter to win the Cup.

Peggy Palmer, front, was named West Valley MVP in solfball this year, following her sister Tanya, who was MVP two years ago. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

Multiple winners and record setters sparked their respective teams during last week's Vern Fox All-League Track Meet. The meet for Valley junior high athletes was named this year in the memory of the late Evergreen Junior High teacher, administrator and successful track coach. Unbeaten Mountain View's Sean McLachlan won the hurdles, 1,600- and 800-meter runs and finished fourth in the long jump for the Class A boys champions.