Mike Vlahovich

Two weeks into American Legion baseball's AAA experiment, the balance of power lies on the North Side. The Spokane Legion league combined teams this year to form a six-team AAA division in an effort to put Spokane on a par with other leagues statewide. "The baseball is bound to be better and there's more professionalism," said Legion commissioner Tom Halvorson. "It's a better opportunity for the kids because other teams wouldn't play us."

Chris Vogel has video tapes of his racing, but he wants much more. He would like to bring a velodrome track to Spokane to build interest in the sport. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Sasha Jackowich will use the stipend at Duke University, where she plans to enroll this fall. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Mike Welch found himself and University High School found him. Welch, 27, is the new Titan volleyball coach, replacing Rik Austing who resigned last fall after nine years as head coach. Welch is an English teacher and, said activities coordinator Bill Ames, a candidate for a position at U-Hi. It is the first head coaching job for Welch, who for four years has directed the Specs USVBA program. He also has assisted at Lewis and Clark and helped Linda Sheridan at Shadle Park while student teaching last year. He came by his vocation naturally but it took Welch a while to discover his calling.

East Valley graduate and instructor Mark Miller has been hired to teach and coach wrestling at Shadle Park High School. Miller, 26, graduated from EV in 1988 and is son of former Knight coach Chuck Miller. He was hired at Shadle last week to replace interim coach Bill Saye and fill the need for an in-building coach.

1. A long-ball hitter, Don O'Neal also takes special pride in bunting. The former U-Hi three-sport athlete is waiting to play for a Detroit Tigers farm team. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review 2. Souvenir ball: A reminder of O'Neal's first hit in the pros.

1. Jeff Hollenbach is awarded the Superintendent's Medal from University High School Principal Eric Ohlund during graduation ceremonies. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review 2. Mike Hollenbach admires the medals his brother Jeff was presented with during graduation. 3. Two generations of Hollenbachs, all graduates of U-Hi. Paul, left, recruits for the Naval Academy in Bellevue. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

The Donovan family is knee-deep in racquets. From left are Peggy, and her kids Eric, Jenny and Jeff at the community tennis court near their Five Mile home. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

New Shadle Park High wrestling coach Mark Miller is following in the family business. New Rogers High wrestling coach Walt Arnold is following a legend.

1. West Valley All-Frontier athletes: Melanie LaRoque, golf. Staci Adams, Mara Kjeldgaard, Cindy Simpson, Erica Frampton, Rhonda Barney, Jill Nihoul, Joe Bonner and Vinnie Pecht, track. Rani Johnson, boys coach of the year Wallie Heidenson, Keli Heidenson, Seth Mork, Bryan Foss, tennis. Quinn Sharpe, Lenny Peterson, soccer. Track coach of the year Jim McLachlan, softball coach of the year Steve Kent. Carie Koker, Jolie Jensen, Gabby McClintock, Darcy Sohns, softball. Justin Tichy, Brian Lawler, Jason Phillipe, James Eklund, Jeremy Isherwood, baseball. Not present, Aimee Aldendorf, Heather Harmon and Clayton Holmes, track, Shane Downie and Shaun Noggle, soccer, Shaun Murray, golf. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review 2. East Valley All-Frontier selections: Raymond Hansen and Chris Skidmore, soccer. Albert Ruperd, Brandon Blize, Jerry Claridge, Pat Ferguson, Chris Henderson, Jesse Ewell, track. Dennis Winters, girls coach of the year Aaron Alteneder, Sharon Wentz, tennis. Tricia Stookey, Angela Overdorff, Angie Stroh, softball. Not present, Kyle LeGrant, Steve Pipkin, baseball and Brian Miacolo, golf. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

It was business as usual for Spokane Valley ladies club golfers last week. Billie Etter won the Hangman Valley Golf Course 18-Hole Club handicap tournament with a threeround total of 224 in flight one. First flight winner was Freda Beckman with 224. Fran Nord was second and Janet Lange third.

Cross country runners may have won a reprieve in their bid to continue having district and regional races at Hangman Valley Golf Course. Spokane County commissioners were in accord in a joint statement reaffirming a policy that makes county golf courses available for a variety of recreational pursuits.

Hangman Valley Golf Course, which once echoed the footsteps of distance running legends, is tightening the noose on Spokane-area cross country runners. After 18 years of state-qualifying meets, economic factors figured in a golf advisory board decision to close the course to future AAA East Regional and District 7 cross country meets, said Spokane County Parks, Recreation and Fair golf manager Mike Kingsley. Last year the meet moved from a typical Wednesday date the last week in October to Saturday to accommodate the first regional contest between Greater Spokane and Big Nine Conference runners.

A state power when the Frontier League played slowpitch softball, it took West Valley until now to arrive as a fastpitch force. "This is the fourth time in five years we've been there (to state in fastpitch)," said coach Steve Kent. "This is the first time, I think, that we really belonged." Last weekend the Eagles shared fifth place in state with Colville, a team they beat three times in league.

1. With her powerful arm, eight-grader Megan Owen would likely be a varsity softball player next year if allowed. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review 2. Never mind the rain or puddles of water on the field, Megan Owen gets her practice in with her dad, Don, catching. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review 3. Chris Clark, Casey Lektorich and Shaun King of North Pines Junior High are ready for varsity sports. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Jenny Hutchens and Vilay Vue of Rogers High School are among those scholars who also excel at sports. Photo by Kristy MacDonald/The Spokesman-Review

Playing for the Billings Bulls, Brian Moon attended most of his senior year of high school in Billings, returning to West Valley High for baseball and graduation. Family photo

Mead's boys soccer team has advanced to the state semifinals for the first time since 1990 in what could be Dick Cullen's last season as coach. Cullen, who will become activities coordinator at Mead for the 1997-98 school year, is not sure he will have another season directing one of the school's best success stories. Following last weekend's 3-0 win over Pasco, however, Cullen was delighted that this year's team advanced.

There was little doubt which team would play in next week's State AAA soccer semifinals, but it took a late first-half goal for Mead to get its point across. In a game with much pushing and shoving, when push came to shove, the Panthers wound up with a 3-0 victory over Pasco. Mark Lupton's header past Kyle Vierck with just over 1 minute remaining gave Mead a 2-0 lead at intermission.

Known for her wizardry at first base, Jolie Jensen always keeps her eyes on the ball. Her glove work was instrumental in WV's Frontier League championship. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Until two years ago, Brett Jordan hadn't lifted a shot. Last year he wasn't particularly good at putting it. This year, North Central's 280-pound junior is very good indeed.

The final tally was 75 athletes from Central Valley and University's boys and girls track teams who will participate in this weekend's regional track meet at Richland. The CV Bears have 23 boys participating in 14 events, including sophomore Will Beck who won the discus at 155-6, two feet farther than U-Hi's Jason Wilson. Another winner was 800 meter runner Rob Warnock, who was slowed this year by mononucleosis, and the 4x400 relay team.

Autumn Wood of Mead broke 15-year-old district hurdles record. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

Long after the other George Gee Pontiac District 8 high school tennis championships had been determined, Amy Fong of Mead and Leslie Whitten of University were jousting for girls singles supremacy. "Between the two of us, we tend to constantly slug out ground strokes," Fong said following her exhausting 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 victory. "It's a consistency battle." The two engaged in long rallies that went to deuce and beyond in duplicating last year's district final result.