Isherwood Gets Big Hits - One On The Head

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.

The game was delayed while Isherwood recovered from the glancing blow that occurred in the fifth inning of the first game. He didn’t leave the game.

Isherwood opened the game with a two-run homer, one of three during West Valley’s 8-5 first-game win. Imada and Riley Allen had the others during a five-run third.

In game two, Isherwood pitched an 8-6 win and drove in three more runs, including another home run, to complete the sweep.

His five hits helped WV create a four-team championship tie and a piece of its third straight Frontier League title with the sweep.

“I hate playing catchup,” said Eagle coach Ray Riggin. “One of these days our bats will fail us. They’ve been bailing us out all year long.”

Riggin proved prophetic when West Valley and East Valley met again in the Frontier League playoffs Tuesday in Colville.

The Eagles managed just three hits off Steve Pipkin and were ousted 8-1.

The Knights then lost 2-0 to Colville and their season ended as well, haunted by last Saturday’s double loss.

During the year West Valley batted nearly .400 as a team with 189 hits in 18 league games. Of those, 49 went for extra bases, including 18 home runs.

Isherwood, who also hit five doubles, and Brian Lawler had five homers each. James Eklund and Riley Allen had three.

“I still say, on paper, we have the best team,” said Riggin.

The Eagles, however, were deficient early on defense. Needing to win seven of its last eight games to make the playoffs, including five last week alone, took its toll at playoff time.

Valley flavor about Strandberg

There was a decided Valley flavor about the ninth annual Strandberg Invitational.

The meet is hosted by Central Valley High School and named after the late district teacher, coach and adminstrator Marty Strandberg.

It was dedicated to the memory of Ryan Cross, the University High graduate and Montana distance runner who drowned earlier this year.

Boys champions were University, with 116 points, to beat out CV and West Valley. Girls champions were the Eagles, with CV third and U-Hi fourth.

Of the 34 event titles, 17 were won by Valley athletes.

Winners included CV’s Whitney Schmaljohn, who now holds five meet records. She lowered the 100 meters to 12.33 and was part of the Bear record-setting 400 (49.79) and 1,600 (4:02.78) relay teams.

Schmaljohn also defended her 400 meter title, in which she set the record last year. She also holds the 200 meter record set last year.

CV’s boys lowered the 400 meter relay record to 42.98 and University’s girls lowered the 800 meter relay record to 1:46.85.

The other record was a 1:57.10 in the 800 by Cheney’s Trace Dotson.

Now the GSL athletes turn their attention to state qualifying, beginning today with the first round of districts.

Reaching the round of eight is the goal of University and Central Valley track and field athletes and a number of them should advance to next weekend’s regional competition in Richland. There the top three in every event, plus any who meet pre-established event standards, advance to state.

In addition to Schmaljohn and the Bear and Titan relay teams, other girls in particular to watch are CV middle distance runner Sandra White and University state placing jumper Adrienne Wilson and Titan thrower Syd Perno.

East Valley’s Star Olson upset Wilson by 1/4 inch at 35-1/2 in the triple jump.

Boys athletes include members of CV’s two relay teams, including 200-400 runners Ryan Strickland and Andy Whipple, pole vaulters Ryon Triplett of CV and Cody Hirschi of University, Titan high jumper Craig Allen and throwers Jeff Hollenbach and Jason Wilson.

Frontier League teams have another meet to go before their districts, but at the Strandberg Vinnie Pecht added another 4 inches to his school discus record with a 175-3 win.

Teammate and two-time state placer Mike Schroder uncorked a 181-2 javelin toss.

Eagle Staci Adams recorded superb times in the 100 and 300 hurdles. Teammates Jessica Riehle won the 3,200 and Stacey Roberts the discus.

Baseball, softball playoffs next

The season is over and playoffs begin this week for CV and U-Hi baseball and softball teams.

U-Hi’s girls won their second championship in three years and are assured a berth in the regionals.

Enigmatic Central Valley, which beat runnerup Mead twice and the Titans once but finished fourth, opens first-round competition today against Gonzaga Prep at Franklin Park, 6 p.m. with the winner advancing against U-Hi for seeding.

CV’s baseball team finished second for the sixth time in coach Ed Garcia’s league tenure and need only one win for a regional berth.

University, which faltered following its upset win over league champion Ferris, plays Mead at 1 p.m. Friday and must win twice more on Saturday to reach state.

West Valley hosts East Valley in softball Friday needing one win to clinch a league title.

From around the leagues

Four golfers from Central Valley’s third-place team finished among the top 15 in Greater Spokane League scoring average.

Sophomore Brandon Smith averaged 74.8 strokes per round, to finish fourth. Others were junior Shawn Pattison, 78.6, sophomore Kyle Schwahn 79.1 and senior Marty Woolf, 79.6.

They, along with teammate Jeremy Saty and University’s Jeremy Decker and Jeremy Knutson advanced to the second stage of state qualifying today at Wandermere.

University tennis star Leslie Whitten begins pursuit of her third state berth this week after placing third in the Inland Empire Tennis Tournament.

Teammates Emily Stuenkel and Nicole Destefano won the doubles.

, DataTimes