Fisher A Hit At Nc

Outfielder Stacey Fisher rescued North Central from three no-hitters within a span of four days.

Fisher had the lone hits, all singles, as Greater Spokane League softball pitchers threw one-hitters against NC on March 31, April 2 and April 3.

Pitchers have dominated the GSL as it nears the one-third mark of its season. Teams have been held to two hits or less in 14 of the 25 games.

Out standing in his field

Lou Musso feels right at home at Lou Musso Field.

Musso, second-year baseball coach at Priest River, Idaho, notched a 13-7 non-league win over neighbor Newport last Thursday.

Musso taught at Newport for 22 years and left behind something special. Newport’s baseball field bears his name.

Baseball factory takes hit

DeSales baseball players Joe Levens and Matt Heinzman have been suspended for 60 days for disciplinary reasons, according to a report in the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin.

The players could be reinstated in time for the regional tournament, if coach Kim Cox so chooses.

Both players were instrumental when DeSales outlasted Northwest Christian and ace left-hander Jeremy Affeldt in last year’s State B semifinal.

Levens, recruited as a wide receiver by the Eastern Washington University football team, struck out 14 that day. Heinzman was hit by an Affeldt pitch with the bases loaded in the ninth to break a scoreless tie.

Less than a week later, Affeldt was selected by Kansas City in the third round of the major league amateur draft.

DeSales has won the last six state championships.

Toledo player survives scare

A freak accident jeopardized the life of a Toledo, Wash., baseball player last week.

Brandon Redfearn, 17, a home-schooler who plays right field for the Indians, was struck in the neck by a thrown ball during a pickoff drill on March 31.

The blow apparently blocked the blood flow to Redfearn’s brain. He was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, and his prognosis was grave until surgery relieved pressure on his brain.

Redfearn started responding to commands within 24 hours. His condition was upgraded to serious, then additional surgery was required Sunday when doctors detected an aneurysm.

Doctors expect a full recovery.

Nice job; you’re fired

Southwest Washington lost a pair of Class B boys basketball coaches in late March, but one vows he won’t go quietly.

Frank Petrino was fired at Mossyrock, and Bill Lemke resigned from Wishkah Valley.

“I want my job back,” said Petrino, whose Vikings finished 19-4 in 1997-98 and are 114-56 in the last six years.

Petrino was named Central B coach of the year, and his players earned an award for sportsmanship. Nevertheless, Petrino was called into superintendent John Stencil’s office on March 30 and fired.

Petrino, who claims he hasn’t had an evaluation since 1992, plans to take his case to the school board April 20.

Lemke, a familiar face at the State B tournament from 1995-97 while coaching Tacoma Baptist, was ready for a change. Lemke still lives in the Tacoma area and found the long commute to Aberdeen took away from his business dealings.

Taking the heat

Trout Lake fired athletic director Bob Whitefield in the wake of the school’s debacle during last boys basketball season.

The Class B school forfeited 17 wins for never clearing 6-foot-10 transfer Mark Gottschalk through an eligibility committee.