Rogers’ Loss, Newport’s Gain

Notebook

Just think what the Rogers Pirates softball team would be like with Kendra Eneroth on the pitching staff.

As a freshman, Eneroth was Paul Cooley’s No. 2 pitcher. Then she moved to Newport. Since then, Eneroth has terrorized the Northeast A league.

In two seasons, Eneroth, a junior, has compiled a 33-2 record. She is 15-1 this season. Newport coach Blaine Bauer called Eneroth “undauntable.” She’s tough, too.

Just before the NEA district playoffs, Eneroth stepped on a picture frame at home and opened a gash on the bottom of her left foot, requiring seven stitches.

In her first game after the incident, Eneroth mowed down Kettle Falls, striking out eight batters in a row and 12 out 13 at one point.

Eneroth and the Pirates’ Traci Moore in the same bullpen? Scary.

AAA regional: At the Big Nine/Greater Spokane League softball tournament at Moses Lake Friday, University plays Richland and Rogers faces Moses Lake, both at 6 p.m. At 7:30, North Central plays Eisenhower and Mead faces Wenatchee.

AA/A fastpitch: Three state berths are on the line in the District 7 tournament at Franklin Park on Saturday. In the 10 a.m. first-round games, NEA champ Riverside faces East Valley, third in the Frontier; Hanford, of the Mid-Valley, faces Kettle Falls, second in the NEA; Newport tackles FL runner-up Cheney and FL champ West Valley meets NEA No. 3 Lakeside.

B slowpitch: Four teams move on to state from today’s Northeast B tournament at Franklin Park. Davenport of the Bi-County League and Republic of the Panorama League are favored.

Not forgotten in baseball

Class AA: Cheney baseball coach Terry Regnier has good things to say about his team as it enters regionals this weekend at Yakima (the Blackhawks play Hanford on Saturday at 10 a.m.)

With so many sophomores in the starting lineup, Cheney has grown up in a hurry. Regnier attributes much of that to the presence of senior Lance Hattemer, even though he hasn’t played an inning for Cheney this season.

Hattemer, once the starting catcher, broke his foot during basketball season and has missed baseball season. But that hasn’t kept him away from the practice field.

“He’s been an impact for us this year,” Regnier said. “He shows up, he gives instruction and advice to the younger players, and no one asked him to do it. He’s just a great kid.”

Hattemer, who has caught attention of majorleague scouts, plans to play baseball and football at Walla Walla Community College.

Class AAA: GSL regular-season and district champion University will play Big Nine regular season champion Kennewick at 11 a.m. and Shadle Park will face Wenatchee, winner of the Big Nine tournament, at 2 p.m. in Saturday games in Wenatchee.

The championship game will be played at 5 p.m., with the winner going to state in Spokane.

Class A: Northeast A champion Chewelah faces Okanogan, second out of the Caribou League at 1 p.m. Saturday in the regional tournament at Moses Lake. The first game, at 10 a.m. pits Colfax, third in the NEA against Kiona-Benton, second out of the Yakima Valley.

Class B: Davenport meets DeSales at 10 a.m. and Brewster takes on Reardan at 1 p.m. in the firstround games of the Region II tournament at Spokane Falls Saturday.

In Region III at DeSales, Rosalia meets Kittitas at 11 a.m. and Dayton plays Curlew at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Northwest Christian is at the Region I tournament in Marysville.

How does your garden grow?

Medical Lake tennis coach Leroy LeMaster’s tennis garden continues to grow.

The Cardinals boys team won the Northeast A tournament for the fourth straight year and should be represented well for the state playoffs.

Medical Lake seniors Matt John and Robert Haugen have records of 16-1, while sophomore Josh Greene has a 12-2 record. The four losses the trio suffered were all at the hands of AAA competition. Haugen sports a career record of 27-1.

The road to the state playoffs continues Friday and Saturday at the District 7 and 9 A/B Tennis Tournament at Whitworth College Friday and Saturday. Medical Lake has been the district champion the past two seasons.

Medical Lake’s girls team is almost as strong. The Cardinals have been the NEA second-place regular-season finisher the past two seasons.

Medical Lake’s doubles tandem of Crystal Jett and Katy Angermeier are the No. 1 doubles team for the girls, and they are favored to earn a state berth as well.

Much of the Cardinals’ success can be attributed to LeMaster. He has made it a point to target potential players in the community at an early age.

A group of seventh and eighth graders were invited to bring their rackets and balls to the school for an informal camp Wednesday night.

Formal camps are held for children ages seven and up in the summer. “I just want them to have fun with the game at an early age,” LeMaster said. “And the ones that want to go on, I want them to have fun. I’ve always looked at tennis as a fun sport.”

Class AAA: The Eastern Regional, which qualifies three for state in Spokane, has been moved to Kamiakin High School in Kennewick.

Top seeds for Big Nine and GSL district meets are Haroon Ullah of Richland and Spencer Piston of Lewis and Clark; in boys singles; Oudone Voraphaychith-Roland Rint of Kennewick and John Wrigley and Eric Donovan of Mead in boys doubles; Theresa Madson of Moses Lake and Amy Fong of University in girls singles; and Tami Zielinski and Seana Parsons of Wenatchee and Darcy Ruemping and K.C. Richards of Ferris in girls doubles.

In the GSL, the Ferris girls and Mead boys finished league play at 8-0, the third-straight unbeaten season for both teams.

Return trip in soccer

Class AAA: Gonzaga Prep takes its 17-3 record to Hanford Stadium in Richland Saturday afternoon to face Big Nine champion Kamiakin at 1 p.m.

The Bullpups are one win away from advancing to the Final Four for the second straight year. Last year Prep finished third in the state tournament.

Last weekend the Bullpups opened the state playoffs with a 2-0 win over Pasco and Kamiakin beat Mead 1-0 in a shootout.

Class AA: East Valley edged East Valley-Yakima 1-0 last weekend and can make the state finals in Tacoma next weekend by winning the Yakima city title. The Eagles face West Valley-Yakima on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Mead Junior High.