Blue Devils Open State Sr. Legion

Sat., Aug. 1, 1998

Patience paid off for the Blue Devils, the Spokane Senior American Legion baseball team with the biggest welcome mat.

The Blue Devils qualified for the Senior state tournament by sweeping the league-champion Bandits in last weekend’s best-of-3 district championship series. The Bandits won the regularseason series 3-1.

The Blue Devils also played for the district title in 1996 and ‘97, but lost both times.

Third-year coach Lance Rickman, the league’s veteran, said the team’s diverse makeup provided a major boost. The Blue Devils carry players from Shadle Park, North Central, Deer Park, Chewelah, St. George’s, Northwest Christian and Cusick. No other Spokane team drew from as many schools.

“The biggest thing has been playing for a goal, and seeing the reality in front of us,” said Rickman, a Rogers grad who finished his college pitching career at Whitworth.

The Blue Devils (23-19) open state play at 12:30 p.m. today in Vancouver against Seattle Food Giant. The team also plays Sunday night against Longview and Monday afternoon against Richland.

The eight-team tournament format has switched from double elimination to pool play. The top two from each pool will advance beyond Monday.

Blue Devils offensive leaders are: Eric Bell, .496 average, 13 home runs, 51 runs batted in; Chris Eggleston, .403, 28 RBIs; Aaron Farr, .419, 28 RBIs; Nick Froscheiser, .355, 29 RBIs; Levi Penick, .333, 23 RBIs; and Ray Bowser, .323, 30 for 31 in stolenbase attempts.

Pitching leaders are: Eggleston (5-1), 0.91 earned-run average, 47 strikeouts; Matt Schwarzer, 2.61 ERA, 53 strikeouts; and Sean Hughes, 3.59 ERA, 61 strikeouts. Eggleston is scheduled to start the state opener, with Schwarzer set for Sunday.

The Junior state tournament begins Wednesday at Yakima.

The Spokane-area’s entry will be the Panorama Twins.

Track

Mead’s Janelle Edington placed third in the young women’s (17-18) javelin competition at the USATF Junior Olympics Championships at Husky Stadium in Seattle on Friday.

Edington’s mark was 121 feet, 6 inches. The winner was Sarah Malone of Newberg, Ore., at 150-3.

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Blue Devils Open State Sr. Legion

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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