Mike Vlahovich

Lack of size on Freeman's volleyball team has caused coach Ken Davis to reassess his team's offensive options. Last year the Scotties tied with Newport for fourth place in the Northeast A League, behind eventual state champion Colfax, state qualifier Deer Park and Lakeside.

1. Leah Borg, at Lilac City Gymnastics center, leaps above the 4-inch wide, 48-inch wide balance beam. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review 2. Lisa and Marcia Pederson of Northwest Gymnastics perform cartwheels. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review 3. Datie Dinsmore keeps a grip on the high bar at Bob Ito's Spokane Elite Gymnastics. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Once again, Bernie Hite, who hasn't coached the sport since 1992, will lead the Central Valley Bears volleyball team on an interim basis. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Shadle Park volleyball players warm up by running through the school hallways to start practice Tuesday. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

The remodeling of East Valley athletic facilities is welcome, but the timing wasn't exactly ideal. The Knight football stadium is currently in disarray, just two weeks before the beginning of the season.

East Valley volleyball coach Jim Dorr watches a team member slam the ball over the net in a drill earlier this week. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Sara Schmedding is undefeated after three kickboxing matches. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

With the start of fall sports practices this week, can school be far behind? High school students participating in football, girls soccer, volleyball, and cross country as well as marching bands, drill teams and cheerleading got a week's head start on their classmates whose schoolwork begins next week. Central Valley's junior-dominated football team began the business of defending its Greater Spokane League title.

A hole-in-one helped Patsy Lynn to the club championship of Liberty Lake Ladies 18-Hole group. She defeated Jean Hatcher 1-up for the title during 36 holes of match play.

Venus Lacy looks forward to a bright future for women's pro basketball in the U.S. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

The competition had ended, but Tom Gage decided to take a few more practice hammer throws. When done, he talked of his career.

As a 50-something person frantically avoiding adulthood, and one who chafes at the latest AARP offering in the mail, seeing taut-bodied 30-year-olds competing at the USATF National Masters Track Meet took getting used to. Weren't these games, at Spokane Falls Community College, for young minds with aging bodies? Masters Track is about octogenarian world record setters, isn't it? As one "youngster" of 64 put it, "usually the games I go to, the media goes for the 90-year-old bloke. They ask him what the secret is and the answer might be drinking a pint of beer a day. I say, pick the right parents, that's all."

Hinton

Debbie Brill flops over the bar at 5 feet, 5 inches during Saturday's competition at the National Masters Track and Field Championships. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review

Kate Schmidt warms up for the javelin competition at the USATF National Masters Track and Field meet that continues through Sunday in Spokane. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review

Dean Sprague puts new marathon course - and himself - through a test run. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

Following a three-year absence, Bernie Hite is back, temporarily, as Central Valley High School volleyball coach. He replaces Laurie Henry, an out-of-building coach who resigned to take a teaching and softball coaching position at Ferris High School.

Kardong

Five North Side athletes are currently enjoying a rare softball experience in Chattanooga, Tenn. The girls - three from North Central High School, and one each from Rogers and Lakeside - are part of the U16 River City Rivals. According to their coach, Ken VanBuskirk, they are Spokane's first high school-aged team to qualify for a national tournament.

A change in leadership for Spokane Regional AAU has resulted in its alliance with a high profile basketball entity. Hoopfest's board of directors voted to join forces with AAU and to provide managerial backing for the leagues' 128-team, non-profit organization. AAU basketball for youth teams runs between November and March each year. The alliance, said new AAU board president Ron Benzel, will be in the best interests of his league.

Jaime Miller plays for the national qualifying River City Rivals softball team. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Olympic Sports Legion baseball team Thursday before a game with Yelm. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Being No. 2 wasn't necessarily a bad thing. It didn't prevent team Maxwell House from qualifying for this week's AA state American Legion baseball tournament in Spokane. Games during the eight-team double-elimination event are at Shadle Park's Al K. Jackson Field. Maxwell House finished second in the North Division of the league and second in the playoffs to earn Spokane's second spot in the event.

Olympic Sports shook off the effects of a 7-error, 8-walk loss to become the first Valley baseball team in eight years to make the American Legion state playoffs. The team opened tournament play at Shadle Park's Al K. Jackson Field, Wednesday. The tournament continues today and through the weekend. After losing 9-5 to Eagle Hardware in the second game of the best-of-three playoffs, Olympic came back for an 8-3 win and state berth.