Steve Christilaw

All Stories

News >  Spokane

University High fastpitch softball player Apodaca relishes facing unfamiliar pitchers in playoffs

Wed., May 10, 2017

A crafty lefthander from back in the days before the designated hitter once quipped that ““Good pitching will beat good hitting any time, and vice versa.” The University girls fastpitch softball team is banking on the vice versa.

News >  Spokane

Kaitlyn Scoble and Shadle Park’s softball team at the top of their league

UPDATED: Wed., May 10, 2017

Kaitlyn Scoble starts the engine for the Shadle Park fastpitch softball team. Lead-off hitters are supposed to be.

News >  Spokane

Batter in the box will be swinging for sweet spot, Christilaw writes

UPDATED: Wed., May 10, 2017

Thinking can be overrated. Not everywhere. In most places, more thinking – not less – is definitely required.

Sports >  High school sports

Mead boys, University girls bring undefeated records into District 8 4A tennis

Mon., May 8, 2017

The Mead boys and University girls roll into the District 8 4A boys and girls tennis tournaments after each posted an undefeated record during their respective regular season.

News >  Spokane

Freeman pitcher says team confidence is high for playoffs

Wed., May 3, 2017

McKabe Cottrell has pitched in his share of big baseball games.

News >  Spokane

Shadle Park’s Justin Solt is one of few players to achieve baseball’s holy grail

UPDATED: Wed., May 3, 2017

There are rare events in the world of sport. Bowling’s 300 game. Golf’s hole-in-one. And then there’s baseball’s holy grail: the Perfect Game.

News >  Spokane

Steve Christilaw: Rules to protect young pitchers a good idea

UPDATED: Wed., May 3, 2017

When you’re a kid it seems that every little thing you pick up just begs you to throw it.

Sports >  High school sports

Prep tennis: Lewis and Clark siblings top seeds for 72nd Inland Empire Tennis Tournament

UPDATED: Fri., April 28, 2017

By the time the area’s biggest high school tennis tournament crowns its champions on Saturday afternoon, Lewis and Clark High is expected to have sibling singles champions.

News >  Spokane

University High’s new track coach Ernie Aguilar – a product of coaching legacy

Wed., April 26, 2017

It took a while to convince Ernie Aguilar that he wanted to be the head boys track coach at University High.

News >  Spokane

East Valley athlete Rodrick Fisher experiences breakout year

UPDATED: Wed., April 26, 2017

Finding feel-good news stories is a lifeline that helps keep me sane. Because puppy videos on Facebook aren’t always strong enough to do the job.

News >  Spokane

Three-sport Ferris athlete Max Thompson flows with the seasons

UPDATED: Wed., April 26, 2017

When it came time to pick a sport, Max Thompson couldn’t choose. Pick a sport? No. He picked three sports.

News >  Spokane

EV’s Fisher continues strong season at Pasco invite

Wed., April 19, 2017

We are coming into the time of the spring track season where numbers begin to pop.

News >  Spokane

Steve Christilaw: Prep athletes persevere in precipitation

Wed., April 19, 2017

You know the dreary weather has piled up over too many days when you let your dog out to do her business and she gives you a dirty look when she sees that the skies are dumping yet another day’s worth of water on the landscape. “You now this is redundant, right?” she seemed to say.

Sports >  High school sports

Mother Nature wreaking havoc on prep tennis season

Mon., April 17, 2017

Lewis and Clark boys tennis coach Tobin Phelps put it succinctly. “If I ever see another squeegee again it will be too soon,” he said.

News >  Spokane

Early track season sees promising times

Wed., April 12, 2017

Early season track times are like watching a competitive auction. The opening bid rarely wins the prize. But there have been some interesting opening bids.

News >  Spokane

Steve Christilaw: We can all learn from Zags’ success

Wed., April 12, 2017

When you’ve experienced those early days when Gonzaga basketball was a quaint diversion from everyday campus life, it will never get old to watch the fervor of today’s Zag Nation, a fever than has never turned jaded, even after 19 years of unbroken success.

News >  Spokane

Empowered by Title IX, inspired by Wilma Rudolph

Wed., April 5, 2017

Female athletes refused to recognize limits placed on them and instead pushed the only boundaries that really matter: the boundaries of their own ability.

News >  Spokane

Liberty Lake’s HUB hosts all kinds of sports

Wed., April 5, 2017

The HUB Sports Center in Liberty Lake is abuzz with activity any day of the week.

Sports >  Spokane Shock

Spokane Empire lose to Nebraska, fall into first-place tie

Sat., April 1, 2017

The Nebraska Danger posted a 42-36 victory over the Spokane Empire to move into a first-place tie with the Empire atop the Intense Division standings at 4-2.

News >  Spokane

With strong returning lineup, CV baseball off to a good start

Wed., March 22, 2017

Central Valley’s baseball team likely to be in the race for the GSL title.

News >  Spokane

East Valley choir joined Eric Church on stage during Spokane concert

Wed., March 22, 2017

On “Holdin’ My Own” tour stops, Eric Church has had a high school choir on the stage with him for one song. For Spokane, it was East Valley that got the call.

Sports >  High school sports

East Valley boys soccer has chemistry now

Wed., March 15, 2017

Knights have strong returning lineup, and will next year, too.

News >  Spokane

Steve Christilaw: The best basketball is gritty, tough – and usually wearing a ponytail

Wed., March 8, 2017

In basketball, the women’s game is a team game. Where the men’s game can give way to personal ego, the women’s game, more often than not, is predicated on team chemistry.

News >  Education

Long lasting snow makes spring sports practices tricky

Wed., March 8, 2017

It’s been a running joke around these parts for a good, long time. The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association sets the date for the start of spring sports season as the Monday of state basketball tournament week. And then Mother Nature laughs.

Sports >  High school sports

State 1B boys: Lummi Nation boys knock off ACH, will face Sunnyside Christian for title

UPDATED: Fri., March 3, 2017

Lummi Nation had enough offense to earn a 47-41 victory over Almira/Coulee-Hartline and win a spot in Saturday’s State 1B boys championship game against Kittitas.