Cannons, Bandits Rivalry Carries Into Legion Aaa Playoffs

The Valley Cannons and Browne Mountain Bandits continued their season rivalry in the first round of American Legion AAA baseball playoffs.

They play the second game of a best-of-three series 6 p.m. tonight at Shadle Park’s Al K. Jackson Field, followed by a third game if necessary.

Winner will advance to another best-of-three series to determine Spokane’s entrant in the Senior State Legion tournament in Selah, Wash.

The Cannons - made up of players from East Valley, West Valley and Central Valley high schools - and Bandits - from University and Freeman high schools- shared second place in league during the regular season.

Last week U-Hi’s Chris McMurtrey won both ends of an 8-7 and 6-0 Bandit sweep of the Royals.

McMurtrey came on in relief in the first game which the Bandits won with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning. He then pitched a no-hitter in the second game.

East Valley’s Bill Tincup continues to lead league batters with a .537 average over U-Hi’s Aaron Fryer who was at .445 in latest reports.

Others in the top 10 are CV’s Raif Jochim and Ben Miller with .443 and .400 averages respectively, Freeman’s Chris Beeler at .400, U-Hi’s Andy Dunham and Brett Haiar at .397 and .393.

Valley resident Sean Thacker of the Royals, also was hitting .400.

U-Hi’s Sean Ruscio remained second in pitching with an earned run average of 3.05. CV’s Nate Bartlett at 4.63 and WV’s Tyler Hall at 4.89 were among the top nine.

Fast finish nets playoff spot

Fast-finishing Spokane Athletic Supply qualified for the end-of-season American Legion baseball AA playoffs.

Winners of 11 of its last 12 league games and 18 of 22 overall, SAS, from Central Valley, tied Spokane Olympic Sports, from University, for third place in the South Division.

By winning two of three games from Olympic during the regular season, SAS earned the final tournament berth.

SAS got help when Olympic lost a doubleheader to seventh-place Spokane Federal Credit Union.

The teams finished a game ahead of another hot late-season team, Future Shop, from East Valley.

Spokane Athletic played South runnerup Eagle Hardware/Pepsi in the loser-out portion of the tournament.

Survivor plays North champion Hess/Wheeler tonight at 8 p.m. at CV in the first game of a best of three series.

The tournament continues with two more games Friday at CV and, if necessary, games will be played Saturday at Gonzaga University.

Series winners then advance to another best-of-three playoff July 27 and 28 at Shadle Park’s Al K. Jackson Field.

That champion qualifies for the Junior state tournament in Mount Vernon, Wash.

Boys Baseball title games at WV

During a day-long event Saturday at West Valley High School varsity field, Spokane Valley Baseball will determine three league champions.

Pee Wee finals begin at 9:30 a.m., the Midget title game is at noon and the Giants finale at 3 p.m.

League director Mike Asan said that concessions will be available and that officials from the Spokane Indians will be present to hand out prizes from this year’s fund-raiser.

Valley Electric reached the Giant’s League finals with an 10-inning 4-3 win over Perfection Tire.

The game was called after nine innings Monday because of darkness and completed on Tuesday.

Perfection played again Wednesday against Broadway Eye Care, an 8-7 winner over Autocraft, for the other finals berth.

Midget finalists will be determined tonight. Teams in the final four are Tom’s Barber Shop, Happy Hatter, Olympic Sports and Illustrated Air.

Pee Wee finalists were decided Wednesday. Still alive were Medicine Shoppe, Bert Shields Auto Supply, Pavillion Park, CXT and Dave’s Grill.

On Monday, CXT and Dave’s played to a tie and were to determine a winner prior to the semifinal game with Medicine Shoppe.

Coach here for gymnastics camp

UCLA gymnastics coach Anton Calderon will be a part of Spokane Elite Gymnastics competitive camp July 28-Aug. 1 at the SEG gym, 1030 N. Lake, in the Spokane Valley.

Calderon’s team won this year’s NCAA women’s championships.

He will be joined by Oregon’s Tina Welle and the SEG coaching team of Bob and Nancy Ito, Steve Von Ebers, Jenne Kissell, Adriane Leithauser and Theresa Murphy.

The camp is for levels 4-10 and area high school gymnasts.

Bob Ito was gymnastics coach at the University of Washington from 1980-90. Welle has coached national champion athletes. Von Ebers came to Spokane recently from the Seattle Gymnastics Academy.

The camp will run from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at a cost of $175. For information call 533-9646.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL

(Final Standings) W L T AAA League Blue Devils 16 8 0 Bandits 13 8 0 Cannons 13 8 0 Royals 7 13 0 North Stars 6 18 0

AA League South PAC of Clarkston 18 2 0 Eagle Hardware (Shadle) 15 5 0 Olympic Sports (U-Hi) 12 8 0 Spokane Athletic (CV) 12 8 0 Future Shop (EV) 11 9 0 Kimmel Athletic (Ferris) 10 10 0 Spokane Fed CU (Cheney) 8 12 0 LC Boosters 7 13 0 Grocery Outlet (Freeman) 4 16 0 Strike Zone (WV) 3 17 0

AA League North Hess/Wheeler (Mead) 16 4 0 Panorama Twins 15 4 0 B&C Tel/Dix (Lakeside) 13 6 0 Deer Park Eagles 12 8 0 Downtown Toyota (NC) 11 9 0 Washington Trust (G-Prep) 8 12 0 Granny’s Buffet (Mt. Spo) 6 14 0 Rogers 4 16 0 Riverside 3 15 0

A League South Tony Roma (Shadle) 14 2 0 Groc/Carstens (CV 1) 14 2 0 Wycoff Hydraulics (EV) 13 3 0 Ferris A 10 6 0 McDonald’s (Cheney) 8 8 0 Dimensions (U-Hi) 7 8 0 Doc’s Muffler (LC) 5 10 0 Grocery Outlet (Freeman) 5 11 0 Raven Roofing (WV) 3 13 0 Spokane Insulation (CV 2) 0 16 0

A League North McDonald’s (Mt. Spo. 2) 10 4 0 Panorama Twins 10 4 0 Deer Park Eagles 9 5 0 Arby’s (G-Prep) 8 6 0 Diamond Sports (Mt. Spo. 1) 8 6 0 Houk Chiropractic (Mead) 6 8 0 Quantum Financial (NWC) 4 10 0 Imperial Data Supply (NC) 2 12 0