Look-Alike Legion Finalists Square Off In Tonight’s Opener

On Sunday, Darren Case and Keith Ward will work together as North Division coaches and try to beat a South Division all-star team.

Before then, however, Case and Ward will attempt to conjure up ways to defeat one another.

Ward’s M&L Construction and Case’s Chapter 11/Longhorn Barbecue square off at 7 tonight in the opening game of the best-of-three Spokane American Legion baseball championship series. At stake is the league’s lone berth to the Aug. 9-13 double-elimination state tournament in Yakima.

Today’s opener will be at Shadle Park’s Al K. Jackson Field, the same site as Sunday’s 7 p.m. all-star game.

A good share of the North’s all-stars come from M&L and Chapter 11/Longhorn, which dominated their division, then swept South Division teams in playoff-opening series last week.

M&L (24-3) and Chapter 11 (24-4) split two games this year. Ward, for one, was not surprised.

“It should be really close,” Ward said of the series. “Either team could win in two, but both teams are similar.”

Meaning, Ward said, that both tear the cover off the ball.

Shortstop Ray Hattenburg hit .476 and catcher Sam Chimienti batted .462 for M&L during the regular season. Both are on the all-star team, as is outfielder Matt Armitage.

Chapter 11/Longhorn’s all-stars are pitchers Chris Wilson and Aaron Hancock, and catcher Joe Dunsmoor. Wilson hit .515 to edge Garrett Wideman (.480) for the team lead.

“Defense is going to be the key, because you have two offensive teams,” Case said.

Ward will use a rotation of Jeff Rinck (8-0), Pat Wise (6-0) and Rob Elmer (4-1). Case will use Wilson (5-1), Hancock (6-1) and Tim Amann (4-1), although he hasn’t decided an order.

The second game of the series is scheduled at 6 Saturday night. A third and deciding game, if necessary, would follow at 8.

No team comprised of Mead players (M&L) has ever won the title. Shadle players (Chapter 11/Longhorn) won in 1990 and ‘91 before a three-year streak by North Central players.

Golf

Led by individual champion Dustin Brett of Tacoma, Washington won the 16-team Junior America’s Cup in Boise.

Washington’s top three players shot a closing-round 3-over-par 216 for a three-day total of 647 and a seven-stroke win over Nevada. Brett shot a 1-under 70 to finish at 5-under 208.

Spokane’s Andy Hastings shot a 2-over 73 to finish at 223.

Bob Christensen of Hayden Lake shot a 1-under 71 and is in fourth place halfway through the Washington State Men’s Amateur tournament at Yakima.

Christensen is at 141, five shots behind leader Ken Rizvi of Redmond. Spokane’s Jared Jeffries, at 143, and Darren Slackman, at 148, made the cut.

, DataTimes