U-Hi Football Team Having ‘Fun,’ Beats Nc

University High School’s football team was picked to finish last this season in the Greater Spokane League.

Thursday night’s 23-14 win over North Central would appear to assure that won’t happen.

“We’re doing better than anyone expected,” said quarterback Chris Short. “Football has been a lot of fun this year.”

Short completed 9 of 10 passes for 122 yards and two second-quarter scores, both to Jake Roberts, after the Titans fell behind 6-3.

On the drive that put U-Hi up 16-6 less than a minute before halftime, Short hit Chris McMurtrey for 37 yards on third down.

An opportunistic defense thwarted NC’s comeback try in the fourth quarter. Defensive back Damon Foreman forced one fumble with a hard hit and McMurtrey intercepted another following fourth-quarter pass completions for first downs.

University is 2-2 midway through the GSL season and has been close in the games it has lost.

Next Friday in a non-leaguer, the Titans host Pasco for Homecoming.

Running ahead of the pack

University’s boys, the state’s top-ranked team, and East Valley’s second-ranked girls continue to be the scourge of big cross country meets.

And they’ll get another chance this morning against the state’s best at the Yakima Sunfair Invitational.

Last Saturday, the Titan boys had four finishers among the top seven during a victory at the Curtis Invitational.

They also defeated Gonzaga Prep on Wednesday in a prelude to their Oct. 15 GSL showdown with Mead Oct. 15.

EV girls were easy victors at the Couer d’Alene Invitational at Farragut State Park in Idaho, placing six runners in the top 20.

Seth Mott was beaten in his league race with Mt. Spokane’s Tommy Becker but was the Curtis race winner four days earlier, timing 15:50 over 5,000 meters (3.1 miles).

Dan Chavez, seventh behind teammates Kris Martin and Matt Davis at Curtis, had a huge race to finish third in the GSL meet. He and Mott finished in front of Gonzaga’s first placer, Jim Rucker.

EV’s girls are probably Spokane’s best team based on invitational meet performances to date. Melanie Frostad ran fourth at Farragut, followed by teammates Ann Marie Adams, seventh, Cara Smith, 11th, Melissa Frostad 13th, Crystal Gerky, 16th, and Korinda Godwin, 20th.

U-Hi’s girls, like the boys, are unbeaten after four GSL matches. They, too, will race against Mead and Shadle for first place in league.

The Titans finished behind the Panthers in Curtis, although Jaime Miller was the girls race winner and Michelle Cesal placed fourth.

Here comes the Frontier

Frontier League volleyball, soccer and cross country begins next week.

Next Thursday at 4 p.m. the West Valley and East Valley soccer and cross country teams will gather at EV for their openers.

The EV-WV cross country meet will likely determine the league’s boys champion.

EV’s Jim Marlow continues to run well, last weekend taking third in the A Division race at Farragut.

Gray shades Painted Hills field

During medal competition at Painted Hills, Lori Gray was A flight leader with a low-gross score of 47.

She finished ahead of other flight leaders, including Betty Snow in B and Pam Baynes in C with 52s and ReNae Younker in D with 64.

Net winners were Kathy Perry at 47 in A flight, and Pat Angove, Idell Choate and Annie Bainter with 33s in the other three flights.

Margaret Bainter chipped in for a birdie on the second hole. Mary Allen had a chip-in on the third hole.

Medal play for 9-Holers

Last week’s turnout was light for the Liberty Lake Ladies 9-Holers.

Leaders were Joanne Ruddell in A flight and Shirley Schoenberger in B with 59s. Janice Mahoney had 62 in C flight and Jean Skredsvig 64 in D.

Marty Liebelt in A flight shot net 44, Joan Rassley in C had 37 and Elberta Walker in D had 40.

Yellow Ball tourney at Hangman

Members of the Hangman Valley Ladies Club brought guests for a Yellow Ball tournament last week.

The winning team included Phyllis Triesch, Mary Lou Walter, Betty Blackburn and Sue Henley with 104.

In flight competition, Alice Hamilton shot 99 in B, Kathy Thieson had 95 in C and Marion Pearson had 109 in D.

Marie Nelson and Margaret Brashears with 72s in B and C, and Pat Coon with 77 in D were net winners.

, DataTimes