Unbeaten Rivals Compete For Probable Frontier Track Title
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.
What is certain is that when unbeaten Knight and Eagle boys and girls teams compete, a league championship is the probable result.
The two schools have combined to win 16 boys league championships (eight apiece, including a tie for the 1988 title, WV’s last).
West Valley’s girls have won eight Frontier titles and the Knights have won three others in the last 14 years.
EV’s girls are attempting to prevent a fifth straight Eagle championship. The Knight boys are out to defend their championship.
“I figured it would be close last year and we swallowed ‘em,” said EV boys co-coach Nick Lazanis. “This year it’s just dead even.”
Critical events, he said, are the 100 meter dash, shot put, javelin, hurdles and Chris Henderson’s distance races. The distances, said WV coach Jim McLachlan, are where the Eagles must prevail.
“For us to win, we have to beat him. We have to wear him out,” said WV coach Jim McLachlan. “If he’s dominant enough to win three events, they deserve the meet. But I have too much confidence in my kids.”
The races should be hot. Henderson will be challenged by Eagles Clayton Holmes, Levi Lounder and Sean McLachlan. Among the four, they have run below 4:30 and 9:50 in the 1,600 and 3,200 and are under 2:06 for 800 meters.
High hurdlers Brandon Blize of EV and Joel Baldwin have nearly identical times at 110 and 300 meters.
“Obviously those races are a big key,” said Lazanis.
Eagle sprinter Gavin Tucker will be challenged by Knights Jesse Ewell and Don Snyder.
East Valley could have a decided advantage in the pole vault and horizontal jumps, although Pat Ferguson has a knee injury and is questionable. As a result, the high jump could swing to WV.
West Valley has the edge in the throws, although the shot put will be interesting.
The relays could factor in the team title.
“Realistically, it will be a close meet,” said McLachlan.
On paper, it appears he’s right.
The girls meet may depend on whether East Valley can carve a niche in traditionally strong WV sprints and relays.
The throws and hurdles are close, although WV is much improved in the latter and injured Christal Nicholson of EV is doubtful.
Like the boys meet, the distances will be tightly contested and the jumps favor the Knights.
Schedule makers hit it right in GSL
University and Ferris gang up on Mead today in an attempt to end the Panther boys’ 16-year stranglehold and girls’ three-year reign over Greater Spokane League track.
The three unbeaten schools in both leagues made schedule makers look prophetic by pitting them together at the same time.
U-Hi’s boys appear to have a slight advantage in the throws, high jump, pole vault and hurdles. They need to hold their own in the sprints and relays and not be swept in the distances to have a chance.
Titan girls look solid in all running events and are strong in the throws and jumps. A good showing in the relays is a must to take their meet to the wire.
CV ball teams sweep leaders
Central Valley baseball and softball teams each had a three-game sweep of teams in front of them to close in on the Greater Spokane League leaders.
“We became contenders and not pretenders,” said CV baseball coach Ed Garcia.
In succession they defeated league co-leaders Mead, University and contending Gonzaga Prep to position themselves within a couple games of first place.
“It sounds like a corny cliche but there’s some truth to it when Brady Nelson said we were playing to win and not to lose,” Garcia said about the week.
Nelson, called on for his second pitching appearance, threw five-plus innings and hit a second-inning grand slam home run during an 8-6 win over University.
“Brady hadn’t started, but he did a great job in relief earlier against Ferris,” said Garcia. “And he helped himself with the bat.”
Erik Eigenhuis whose earned run average is a superb 1.90, despite a 2-2 record, beat the Panthers 3-2. Nate Bartlett closed the door on Gonzaga Prep after the Bullpups took a 3-1 third-inning lead, and CV rallied in the seventh for a 7-3 win.
Continued clutch hitting by seniors Drew Larson and Nate Lynch and junior Raif Jochim helped. They are batting between .475 and .484 after 10 games.
Sophomore Ben Miller hit his fourth homer of the GSL season against Prep.
“We’ve got to (continue to) play with a sense of urgency,” said Garcia. “If we’re looking for somebody to help us, it won’t happen. We have to beat them.”
The softball team debuted pitcher Jodi Stavenjord who pitched the Bears past previously unbeaten Mead 4-2 and who worked much of the team’s 10-inning 3-2 victory over rival University to move within a game of the second-place Titans.
Battery-mate Crystal Lee provided offensive punch during the team’s one-run wins over U-Hi and Gonzaga with two doubles and a triple.
, DataTimes