Mike Vlahovich

More than 40 track and field athletes from Valley schools advanced to regional competition as the Greater Spokane League completed the first stage of state qualifying. In district competition Thursday and Friday at Spokane Falls Community College, University and Central Valley combined to send 26 boys and 15 girls to regionals after the first night of competition. Some athletes advanced in more than one event, and, with 10 of 34 events still to be determined, as many as 15 more Valley athletes may join those early qualifiers.

Brandy Rowles works the net in practice. She and her partner, Tanya Phillips, have lost just two matches in their high school tennis careers. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Getting beaned at third base by a baseball thrown from his catcher didn't keep West Valley's Jeremy Isherwood from putting the hurt to East Valley, Saturday in a season-ending doubleheader. By losing twice, EV was denied an outright league championship and favored playoff status. Isherwood was hit on the head and knocked groggy when both baseball, thrown by Andy Imada and EV baserunner Mike Wall arrived at virtually the same time.

Matt Sturm looks up to check his time after winning the 100 meter dash during a wet and windy day at Mead. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

Central Valley's Ryan Butner, designated hitter, watches a high fastball in the fourth inning of his team's 2-1 loss to Ferris Thursday. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Call them upstarts or surprises. Call them anything you like. But be sure to call them champions. West Valley's boys tennis team won the Frontier League title for the first time since 1988, one year after finishing last. The team finished 9-1 in league and 13-2 overall.

1. Alone in the Central Park Racquet Club at 7 a.m., "Mustang"Gonzales pursues his weightlifting regimen, preparing to assault a national record for his age group. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review 2. Alfred and Matilda with her painting of a cherry tree in bloom. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

West Valley's Vinnie Pecht polished off his month-old school discus record. Then the Eagles polished off East Valley during a cold and rainy Frontier League track meet between unbeaten boys and girls teams. The weather didn't seem to bother WV, which turned in numerous stellar efforts during the surprisingly easy 85-1/2-59-1/2 boys win and 89-52 girls triumph.

Mead's Beau Chandler apparently doesn't like the looks of his javelin throw last Thursday at Rogers High School, but his 190-foot-plus throws are something for him to smile about. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

Six teams are but two wins away from securing the available berths in the Greater Spokane League baseball playoffs. All six, however, still aspire to much more. As of this week, a league championship for all six is realistic. Only 1-1/2 games separated them with six remaining dates on the GSL schedule. Included are North Side schools Shadle Park and Mead.

With weather outside too cold and wet, the Freeman High track team warms up inside. Becky Brown is in middle foreground. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

A year ago track coaches from East and West Valley boys teams expected a close meet. The Knights smoked the Eagles by 59 points. This year when they say the meet will be close, they're not just blowing smoke. In a rivalry that spans 29-years, WV has a narrow 16-12 advantage. Today's meet is too close to call.

Sloan

For three years West Valley pitching has kept the Eagles in front of their Frontier League softball opposition. Junior Darcy Sohns is 24-2 in league, and has pitched the Eagles to two regional championships. This year she's 5-0 and had 31 strikeouts in her first three starts. Teammate Carie Koker is 10-1 over four years.

Track and field's national popularity at the highest levels is in decline. It's difficult to understand why after seeing the quality of effort by area high school performers. Last Thursday's Greater Spokane League debut in frigid conditions and the Pasco Invitational on an ideal day produced state-placing-caliber efforts worthy of attention. Of note was the stunning 9:14.52 3,200 victory by Mead junior Jason Fayant over state cross country champion Isaac Hawkins of Ferris.

Peter Raber moves the ball against a Shadle teammate during practice at Albi. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

Valley Christian School's girls track team finished seventh with 42 points during last week's Wilbur-Creston Invitational. Conspicuously absent was Danielle Swift, whose presence might have nearly doubled the Panther point output and placed Valley Christian among the top four. Swift instead was pitting her talents in three events against the best in state at the concurrent Pasco Invitational.

A three-sport athlete at University High, Sally Jamison warms up for softball. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Senior East Valley baseball player Paul McDavid has overcome cancer to win a starting position on the varsity team. Photo by Steve Thompson/The Spokesman-Review

Ah, the wild and wacky springtime, when more things are happening in high school sports than can possibly be kept track of. But we'll try. Central Valley's Whitney Schmaljohn established herself as this year's Greater Spokane League sprint star with three sterling times, including a 12.2 100 that edged University standout Adrienne Wilson in a virtual deadheat.

Freeman's boys and girls track team week opened the Northeast A League season Thursday against Colfax and Medical Lake. The boys lost twice, including to Colfax by four points. A relay disqualification cost them victory. Despite leading comfortably, the 4x100 relay team was guilty of passing the baton out of the exchange zone, a 10-point swing in the meet.

Last year, three girls from Valley Frontier League golf teams qualified for state. Two of them, West Valley senior Angela Cline and sophomore Melanie LaRouque, return.

Today's first Frontier League boys golf match at MeadowWood Golf Course will determine where West Valley and East Valley stand. "The way I look at it, the season begins, and could possibly end Thursday," said Eagle coach Tom Struthers. He said Pullman, Cheney and Clarkston rank as favorites.

Little could anyone have anticipated the impact of Tuesday's Greater Spokane League baseball game between Shadle Park and Mead. The Highlanders had graduated the bulk of last year's regional qualifying lineup and were not necessarily expected to contend this year. But here they were, unbeaten after coming from behind for the fourth time in as many games, and facing of the preseason favorites.