Mike Vlahovich

How tight is the race for the Greater Spokane League girls track title? "The league is amazingly close this year," said Central Valley coach Dennis McGuire. I can't remember it ever being like this." Last week his Bears tied University. This week CV lost by just three points, 72-69, to unbeaten Shadle Park and the Titans lost by a mere point, 71-70, to Lewis and Clark.

EV goaltender Gabe Escobar is a four-year starter and keeps shutting out the opposition. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

CV pitcher Nat Bartlett fires on eat his cousin, Robert Bartlett, who plays for U-Hi. Nate got his cousin out but U-Hi won the game 3-2. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Evan Thomas talks with friends during the Mead/Ferris baseball game at Indians Stadium Tuesday. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

North Central's baseball team died with every one-run loss. Now the Indians are living by and relishing one-run wins. NC won twice last week by a run, enabling the team to leapfrog from ninth place into a tie for fourth in the taut and ever-changing Greater Spokane League. At one point, the team was 2-4 in league, having been involved in four one-run games and losing three. Hard-luck player in all this was pitcher Andy Grigsby, who went 0-3 despite a 1.89 earned run average. He also is batting .450.

Aaron Fryer

Favored to win Frontier League soccer, so far East Valley hasn't disappointed. The Knights swept through the first half of the season undefeated, outscoring its opponents 23 goals to 4 while compiling a 7-0 record. Last week EV won 4-2 and 1-0 victories over Cheney and Riverside/Deer Park, it's two closest challengers. Both the Knights and Blackhawks had been undefeated going into their match, but Tony Pass's three-goal hat-trick broke the deadlock.

1. Anthony Buchanan streaks to victory in the 100-meter race. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review 2. Garrett Graham watches his shotput effort sail past 50 feet. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review

No matter what type of season West Valley's baseball team has had in recent years, the Eagles have maintained a hex on rival East Valley. Over the past six seasons, WV has won two-thirds of the time against the Knights. Last Friday's sweep put a team that had won two of its previous seven Frontier League games back in the playoff picture.

Jeremy Isherwood plays third base for the West Valley Eagles. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

In what was supposed to be a pitchers league, Greater Spokane League baseball has turned into a hitter's paradise. In the first 20 games of the GSL season, teams are averaging 8 runs per game apiece. During one day's games, seven of the eight teams each scored more than 10 runs.

Riverside High's track program has tripled its turnout from a year ago, but may not improve on last year's Frontier League records. "We're pretty young," said coach Cory NeVille. "Out of 64 kids we have nine seniors. I don't think we'll be very competitive this year."

Track There's reason for optimism over Freeman's track program that goes beyond last weekend's third-place effort by the boys team at the Rizville Invitational. "We have a chance to finish in the upper half of league, maybe among the top three," said coach John Hays.

Ladies golf Ladies golf clubs at local courses are beginning another season. Can spring be far behind? During two weeks at Valley View Golf Course, Anne Meyers and Gladys Alden led A flight with 43 and 44 low gross scores. B flight was led by Charlotte Greene with 55, and Pat Lacroix and Cathy Mileson with 56s.

Long-distance runners for West Valley practice through Millwood. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Valley Christian School's track program is starting anew. Only two competitors from last year's girls team have returned and five athletes from the boys team are back.

GSL boys tennis Getting the excitement back into boys tennis is a goal of both Patty Aunan at Central Valley and new coach Mark Hein at University. The Bears, who have been a title contender under Aunan in years past, were 4-4 in league last year. The Titans were 2-6.

Tennis tends to be a have and have-not sport among Greater Spokane League high schools. Players either have or don't have club experience. And teams with club players have more success. Ferris, Gonzaga Prep and Mead are considered league favorites this year. Other teams have a good time and hope for a few wins.

East Valley sprinters work out on the track between rain showers. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Darcy O'Neill practices the discus at North Central's track. Photo by Kristy MacDonald/The Spokesman-Review

Greater Spokane League tennis begins anew next Tuesday, but the results will likely be familiar. Mead, Lewis and Clark and Ferris were comfortably the top three teams in last year's boys league and nothing suggests much change - unless Gonzaga Prep intrudes.

GSL girls tennis Last year's Greater Spokane League girls tennis third-place finisher, University High, is starting over. Central Valley could move up and take its place. The Titans graduated seven players instrumental in their showing last year, including a state-placing singles player and state-qualifying doubles team.

Frontier golf A pair of state-experienced golfers, East Valley sophomore Brian Miacolo and West Valley junior Melanie Laroque, are also hoping to shoot their respective teams into Frontier League title contention. East Valley's veteran boys should have their best team in years, said coach Ken Stacy.

Robby Warnock is a state-placing runner for Central Valley. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review