Gsl Dominates Harrier Poll
The Greater Spokane League, perennially the power in state high school cross country, dominates the preseason Washington 4A poll.
In rankings released today by the Washington State Cross Country Coaches Association, defending State AAA boys champion Mead leads six GSL teams in the first eight in the new big-school division.
University is second, the new Mount Spokane-Mead fourth, Gonzaga Prep sixth, Lewis and Clark seventh and Rogers eighth.
In the 4A girls poll, LC is second behind Snohomish and followed by Mead (fourth), U-Hi (sixth) and Mount Spokane (seventh). Gonzaga Prep is 10th.
East Valley of Spokane, the reigning AA girls champion, leads the new 3A girls poll with West Valley 10th. In 3A boys, East Valley is seventh.
In 2A, Riverside is ranked No. 1 in boys with Lakeside fifth and Colville 10th. The Riverside girls are fourth, Chewelah fifth and Newport sixth.
In the 1A-B boys rankings, St. George’s is third, Pomeroy fourth, Lake Roosevelt fifth and Colfax seventh, In girls, Pomeroy is fifth.
Softball
Clarence “Fuzzy” Buckenberger of Spokane has been named the head coach of the United States team that will participate in the World Games men’s major modified tournament.
The event is being planned for the summer of 1998, likely in Oklahoma City, Buckenberger was told.
“It’s quite an honor. I’m really looking forward to it,” said Buckenberger, who has been involved on two Amateur Softball Association national champions.
Buckenberger, the Spokane ASA commissioner, pitched for the Western Truck Brokers team that won in 1987 and coached Brymile to the 1995 title. His ‘96 Brymile team was fourth and this year’s edition finished ninth this weekend in Burlington, N.C.
After winning its first two games in the 32-team tournament Friday, Brymile lost 10-4 to the Gremlins and 9-6 to Tye Club of Boston.
College men’s soccer
Gonzaga University veterans Jeff McAllister and Brian Ching each scored twice, and McAllister contributed three assists as the Bulldogs opened their season with an 8-0 victory over Whitman College on Monday at GU’s Martin Field.
The Bulldogs had a 7-0 lead by halftime and coasted to their first season-opening victory since 1987.
College women’s soccer
Gonzaga freshman Sara Streufert celebrated her birthday by scoring a school-record four goals as the Bulldogs opened their home season with a 7-0 thrashing of Whitman in front of a sun-basked crowd of 300 at GU.
Several players held the previous school record of two goals in a match.
The Bulldogs, 2-0 losers in their season opener Saturday at Washington State, scored three goals in the first 11:30.
“We knew she could score,” coach Ric Grenell said of Streufert, a product of University High School. “I thought we bounced back from a heartbreaking loss Saturday. We came out and took control early and never let it slip away.”
, DataTimes