Mike Vlahovich

University was clinging to a lead, but Central Valley had the winning runs on base with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning when Titans coach Jon Schuh took a calculated risk. "I called it," said Schuh of catcher Alene Bethel's bullet pickoff throw to first base that ended the game and preserved her sister Shelby's 5-4 Greater Spokane League softball victory.

Scoring opportunities proved difficult to come by Wednesday when Greater Spokane League soccer title contenders Mead and Central Valley squared off. Mead's Panthers (10-1, 7-1) made good on a point-blank indirect free kick for their 1-0 victory at home, keeping them in first place, three points ahead of Ferris with two matches remaining.

Wins have been hard to come by this Greater Spokane League baseball season for a young Lewis and Clark lineup. So the Tigers didn't mind sticking around awhile longer Tuesday in order to pick up victory No. 2. Sophomore Donnie Santos walked with two outs and the bases loaded in the 10th inning as resilient LC (2-12) outlasted Gonzaga Prep (8-6) 8-7.

Like father, like son. When Central Valley junior Evander Cobbs was named the outstanding boys athlete during last weekend's 45th Jack Mooberry track meet he was simply following in the footsteps of his dad.

It might have seemed difficult for Rusty Shellhorn to top some of his earlier Greater Spokane League strikeout accomplishments in a year when pitching has been at the forefront. But the Central Valley senior left-hander accomplished the nearly impossible when he struck out all 21 North Central batters in Tuesday's seven-inning 5-0 GSL high school baseball victory.

Ferris' Jesse Taff was opposite a familiar face when he lined up for a sudden-death attempt in Wednesday's soccer shootout between his unbeaten Saxons and fellow South Hill title contender Lewis and Clark. Players from both teams had previously missed five straight tries.

There was nothing secretive about Jen Schwartz's big day hitting in Shadle Park's 5-2 Greater Spokane League softball victory at Mead on Tuesday. "Better bat," said Highlanders coach George Lynn.

The unusually poor spring weather that has prevented area baseball teams from a consistent practice and play regimen, didn't prevent Mead – without the high-profile pitching names of other league teams – from overcoming the odds and winning seven straight games during a 12-day period, including during last week's spring break. "It's been nearly two weeks since we've had a normal practice outside," said coach Jason Reich, via e-mail.

A year ago, University's baseball team came within a win of making its first state semifinal trip. The loss to eventual state champion Richland in the high school regional finals has apparently only whetted Titan appetites for more. They parlayed experience at every possession, a wealth of pitching and defense and timely hitting into a 7-0 start before faltering on Thursday, prompting veteran junior Billy Moon to say, "This is a special team. Not only is the talent there, but our cohesiveness is amazing."

For every run Ferris' Andrew Kittredge allowed in his second outing this year against University, the Saxons pitcher got an equal number back with his bat. Kittredge slugged two home runs, including a grand slam in the sixth inning, to drive in five runs of Thursday's home 12-5 victory over the Greater Spokane League baseball leading and previously unbeaten Titans.

University proved superior when the lone Greater Spokane League baseball unbeatens and district rival Titans and Central Valley faced off in a Wednesday doubleheader. U-Hi (7-0) owned every phase of the game during the 10-0 and 9-0 sweep.

The cold and wet has delayed bringing out the best in Shadle Park's offense. With Sam Skillingstad on the mound, however, any runs will do. In a showdown between Greater Spokane League unbeaten softball teams, Skillingstad led off the second inning with a triple to set up the winning score, then completed a two-hit shutout, striking out 17 in the host Highlanders' 3-0 win Tuesday over North Central.

Central Valley didn't get a base hit until the fifth inning of its Monday makeup Greater Spokane League baseball game against Rogers, but that first one proved huge. Stephano Pau met a high fast ball from Jacob Partridge and laced it into the left field corner to break a 1-1 tie as the Bears (4-0) went on to a 4-1 victory.

Central Valley and University have been quick out of the chute during weather challenged Greater Spokane League baseball. The Bears (3-0) shared the league lead heading into Friday's game against Rogers following a sweep of Gonzaga Prep and a win over Mead.

A volleyball tournament that essentially began through conversations about ways to reduce travel costs for teams has grown beyond the wildest dreams of its founders. "Basically, in 1997, the region had teams that were starting to become pretty good," said Evergreen Region Volleyball office manager and tournament coordinator April Stark. "Splash (club teams) and others talked about how expensive it was to get to national qualifiers. What could we do?"

The way Rusty Shellhorn was pitching, Central Valley needed only the smallest window of run-scoring opportunity. Four runs in the fifth inning proved more than enough. The left-hander painted a masterpiece during the unbeaten Bears' 4-0 Greater Spokane League baseball victory Tuesday afternoon at Mead.