Mike Vlahovich

West Valley discus thrower Kaci Stansbury makes a throw during a Frontier League meet. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

Entering its second season in Spokane, the National Junior Tennis League is seeking to expand. "Numbers-wise we had 80 kids," said spokeswoman Ellen Nessen, who is helping Mary Ryerse coordinate the league. "We're aiming for 125." Kickoff party for the program is at 7 p.m. June 15 at Mission Park.

1. Multiyear starters for the Rogers High School softball team are, from left, Gena Greenside, Shannon Zahrowski and Traci Moore. They were all smiles after a victory over Woodinville in the state tournament. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review 2. The Rogers High softball team dances through high and low fives as they are introduced at the start of the state softball championship game at Franklin Field on Saturday. The Pirates fell to South Kitsap, 1-0. Photo by Sandra Bancroft-Billings/The Spokesman-Review

University High School's girls track team did what it had hoped to do, finishing second in the State AAA girls track meet during Star Track XIII. "You go over with high expectations and sometimes they don't come to pass," said Titan coach Steve Llewellyn. "Sure enough, this time they did." The Titans 400 and 800 relay teams of Katharine Hough, Adrienne Wilson, Lora Auch and Heather Silvey finished first and second, Hough placed fourth in the sprints and Wilson was fourth in the horizontal jumps to give them 38 points, one point better than third-place Mead.

His coaches say T.J. Horgan, 14, could win at nationals some day. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

1. At Harvard Road and Interstate 90, Rob Lewis is realizing his dreams of a new sports complex. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review 2. Rob Lewis inspects one remaining building on the site of the proposed sports complex near Harvard Road and Interstate 90. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

For the first time in school history, a University High School baseball team won a district championship and reached the Region IV finals. Ed Furlott was a major reason.

East Valley's Gabe Escobar cannot head ball past West Valley goaltender Chris Williams. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

Two Valley schools will be busy during this weekend's regional track meet at Spokane Falls Community College. The meet, which qualifies individuals to the State Star Track event in Tacoma, will feature a combined 53 entries from University and Central Valley's boys and girls teams.

Curtiss Bergheim has proven his ability in two years as a high jumper for Mead High School. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

1. Ruth Gerber of the West Valley track team practices with a resistance belt. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review 2. Stretching is all-important for the Eagle sprinter. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Shadle Park's baseball team couldn't catch a break, but the players didn't need one. After an 18-4 loss denied them a league championship, after a tie-breaker loss denied them second place, all the Highlanders did was win three straight games to qualify for the Region IV tournament this weekend in Wenatchee, where they will play the host Panthers.

Tucker Urdahl (7) lends a hand in Cheney's sweep over East Valley by scoring in the third inning - and lends an even bigger hand in the celebration. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review

For new Central Valley High School volleyball coach Laurie (Putnam) Henry, the job is a goal realized. Henry has returned to her alma mater, something she told herself she would one day do. "For me, it's nice being home. I love being back at the school I graduated from," she said. "It gave everything to me."

Molly MacPhee, right, congratulates her sister Marcy, who won the second heat of the 300 meter hurdles for Central Valley at SFCC Thursday. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

The stage had been set to resolve the possibility of multiple ties in Greater Spokane League baseball, down to a coin flip for a playoff won by Central Valley. "I'd never won a flip before," said coach Ed Garcia.

Frontier League A pair of East Valley athletic teams took full advantage of their home fields with Frontier League playoff victories on a sunny, balmy Tuesday afternoon. The Knight soccer team claimed the No. 1 seed in the State AA playoffs with a 1-0 victory over Riverside/Deer Park. EV's baseball team won 7-2 over Cheney to move within a win of the State AA regionals.

The timing, and apparently the fit, was right for East Valley baseball and new coach Kurt Krauth. A year after failing to reach the Frontier League playoffs, the Knights are league champions for the first time in more than a decade. East Valley and West Valley shared this year's crown with identical 11-4 records. It was WV's second straight title.

The league championship is at stake today when East Valley's boys track team travels to Clarkston. To date, the Knights (3-0) are averaging 105 (out of a possible 145) points per meet while Clarkston (2-0-1) has not only tied once, but won another meet by a mere point. "The only thing we have to be careful of," said co-coach Nick Lazanis, "is the long trip to Clarkston."

Liberty Lake Ladies 9-Hole Golf Club was paced last week by Elaine Tai during its regular meet. Tai shot a 52 in A flight during last week's competition. In other flights, Sadie Rueckert shot 54 to lead B golfers, Thelda Moen had 55 in C flight and Pat Thompson 68 in D flight. Net leaders were Charlotte Stiller and Ellan Bohannan with 38s in A flight. Bohannan had a birdie on seven.

During a season when Frontier League baseball teams can't score too many runs, West Valley's Tyson Sohns pitched a dandy. His four-hit, 12-strikeout 5-2 victory that evened WV's record was an aberration in a league where teams have scored in double figures 13 times. "Just when we talked about scores, this happens," said Eagle coach Ray Riggin. "It's amazing how well you can play when a pitcher gets ahead in the count and there are no errors."

For the past few years, a Frontier League championship has eluded Valley boys track teams. Last year West Valley finished second and East Valley was third behind Cheney. The year before, Clarkston and Cheney finished ahead of the two Valley teams.

West Valley High junior Bryan Foss has his sights set on a winning season as a singles players for the Eagles. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Because track and field is an individual as well as team sport, North Side coaches are approaching the Greater Spokane League girls season differently. Mead and Shadle Park have the numbers to chase a team championship. Lacking depth to compete against the two schools, Rogers and North Central are pointing toward end-ofseason state qualifying meets.