Mike Vlahovich

GSL golf A fter finishing among the lower four teams in the nine-team Greater Spokane League, things are looking up for the Central Valley and University High girls golf teams. The CV boys golf team tied for third in the GSL last year and is expected to finish at least as high this year. Like CV, University returns most of its boys lineup, but coach Dale Bouge is thinking longer term.

Girls golf Mead coach Eleen Northcutt and her daughter Sara will have to make the most of this girls golf season. It will be their last together. Sara, a state veteran, will remain at Mead next year for her senior year. Mom will become coach of the girls team at the district's new high school.

Jon Caballero practices the 800-meter run at North Central High School. Photo by Kristy MacDonald/The Spokesman-Review

Boys golf When Greater Spokane League golf begins on the Monday following spring break, Mead will once again be in the title hunt. The Panthers, under coach Paul Peters, have won eight of the last 10 league titles.

Mary Caruso hopes to toss the shot and throw the discus to victory for Central Valley. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

Led by Whitney Schmaljohn, the sprinter named athlete of the meet, Central Valley's girls track team won last weekend's Lewiston Invitational. The Bears scored 99 points to runner-up Walla Walla's 76.

Frontier girls tennis Last year was supposedly a rebuilding year for East Valley's girls tennis team. This year they're after a third straight league championship.

Dennis Winters returns a serve as brother Ben backs him up. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

Freeman's softball and baseball programs are at different ends of the experience spectrum. The Scotties softball team returns all but one starter from last year's fourth-place finishing team, while the baseball squad graduated six starters from its third-place finisher.

Lingering snow north of Spokane has hindered early season practices for Riverside's soccer and tennis teams. But, ready or not, the Frontier League season is under way for the teams. Many of Riverside/Deer Park's boys soccer players are experienced, easing the fact the team didn't hire a new coach until right before the start of the season.

1. Mike Hollis with his son Mason. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review 2. Top, Hollis celebrates with his Jacksonville Jaguars teammates after kicking a game-winner. 3. Mike Hollis as an all-GSL kicker for CV. File photo

A year ago, the Northeast A League baseball race was between Colfax and Lakeside. Then the Eagles were upset by Medical Lake in a playoff game that qualified teams to regionals.

Rogers softball catcher Angie Vulcano warms up with teammates Monday. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

A year ago both University and Central Valley represented the Greater Spokane League in the State AAA softball tournament. Both teams have new, youthful lineups, but coaches expect to be in the tourney picture again. "I'm hoping to be in the top two," said ever-optimistic Titan coach Ken Van Sickle. "We're a real young, but talented group."

Eagles' catcher Jennifer Robinson is a hitter, too. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

Pitching is the key to winning baseball and most Greater Spokane League coaches think they hold the keys to success. "Everybody's got kids who can throw strikes," said University High coach Don Ressa. "This might be the best pitching in league in the last five years." Central Valley coach Ed Garcia concurs. "Last year there were three pretty good pitchers," he said. "It will be better throughout the whole league." CV returns one of those three, Erik Eigenhuis, who pitched the Bears into the regional finals last year.

Close races and multiple first-place ties seem to be the order of Frontier League baseball. Two years ago East Valley and West Valley shared the league title. Last year there was a four-way tie for the championship.

U-Hi's Seth Mott, far left, beat the rest of the 1600-meter field as University christened its new track. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

The Central Valley girls' second-place finish in the State AAA basketball tournament offers a classic opportunity to view the cup as either half-filled or half-empty. CV has the winningest basketball program in 21 years of Greater Spokane League girls play. Coach Dale Poffenroth's Bears have earned five trophies, including one state championship, in six trips to Seattle during the 1990s. Two weeks ago it appeared the GSL co-champions wouldn't even qualify for Seattle after losing three successive playoff games.

Five North Side Greater Spokane League baseball teams are hoping improved team chemistry will help them improve on last year's efforts. But none of the coaches can predict for certain how they'll finish. Three of the teams, Mead, Shadle Park and Gonzaga Prep, made last year's district playoffs. "We're going to give it our best shot again," said Mead coach Dave Vaughn. "But I expect the league to be very tough."

1. From left, Keisha Sowers, Angela Kallas, Stacey Roberts (back) and Sherry Shollenberger count down the clock in the title game. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review 2. WV team members hold the AA basketball trophy. 3. At right, WV coach Mark Kuipers sweeps senior Stacey Roberts off her feet after she leaves the AA championship game in the final seconds. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review 4. Top, band members Malinda Fouquette and Tabitha Hood painted their faces and raised their voices to urge the team on.

East Valley all-leaguer Randy Pratt bundles up against the cold during practice to get ready for today's start of soccer season. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

If University and Central Valley's soccer teams joined forces, they'd be a team to reckon with. The Titans should have a better than average offense this year, the Bears will remain defensively strong. Understanding the importance of teamwork, said Titan coach Brandon Deyarmin, is the key if this year's team is to improve. U-Hi's do-or-die finish earned the Titans a share of third place in the Greater Spokane League soccer last year. It also left them unfulfilled.

Andrea Kallas of Central Valley and her sister Angela of West Valley on the eve of state tournament appearances in Seattle and Tacoma. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review