Legion Pitching Silences Lumber

The American Legion Fourth of July Tournament features sole use of wooden bats, but there’s little difference between wood and aluminum if the ball isn’t put in play.

Matt Schwarzer of Spokane’s Blue Devils pitched a no-hitter, Prairie’s Bobby Jenks pitched a five-inning no-hitter and El Segundo defeated Coeur d’Alene in a pitcher’s duel to highlight Saturday’s play in the senior division.

The Blue Devils defeated Ganco Construction of Gresham, Ore., 3-0. Schwarzer’s no-hitter was backed by RBIs from Eric Bell, Chris Eggleston and Nick Froscheiser.

Prairie, from Post Falls, Idaho, routed Vancouver, Wash., 20-0 at Shadle Park. Jenks’ 12 strikeouts accounted for all but three of Vancouver’s outs. Prairie’s Brian Phelps went 3 for 3.

El Segundo and Coeur d’Alene played 5-1/2 scoreless innings before El Segundo’s Matt Tigani scored the game’s only run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Each team was held to two hits.

Spokane’s North Stars won their only game of the day, defeating Federal Way 4-3. The North Stars’ Kent Hibbard allowed three runs in the first inning but followed with six scoreless innings for the complete-game victory.

Both Brian Schutz and Andy Bayne had two hits and an RBI for the North Stars.

Great Falls, Mont., won two games, first dumping Vancouver 15-1 as nine players accounted for Great Falls’ nine hits. Sam McDonald doubled in two runs, Justin Laforrest had two RBIs and Beau Johnson added three RBIs.

Great Falls also defeated the Spokane Valley Cannons 9-7. Ian Harty’s bases-loaded triple helped the Cannons take a 6-5 lead with a four-run fourth inning, but Great Falls scored two runs in the fifth and again in the sixth.

The Cannons lost a second game, 5-2 to Federal Way. Andy Zimmerman pitched five scoreless innings before allowing single runs in the sixth and seventh in a complete-game seven-hitter for Federal Way.

El Segundo pitchers threw another gem in a morning game at Gonzaga. Chas Palanoa and Brett Randall combined to hold Spokane’s Royals to one hit in a 9-1 victory.

Idaho Falls defeated the Royals 3-2, getting the game-winner on a seventh-inning RBI single by Josh Clifford.

Idaho Falls received a huge break in its final game. With Idaho Falls trailing Spokane’s Blue Devils 5-4 in the seventh inning, the Blue Devils forfeited when a player who was ejected refused to leave the field.

Great Falls, the champion of the Blue Division, plays Red Division champion Idaho Falls in the championship game at 2 p.m. today at Gonzaga University.

Blue Division No. 2 Federal Way and Red Division No. 2 El Segundo play for third and fourth places at 11 a.m.

In the junior division tournament, Central Division winner Lakeside Recovery plays University Division champ Prairie (Cardinals) for the championship at 2 p.m. at Shadle Park.

The 11 a.m. game pairs Spokane Athletic Supply and Yakima Peppers vying for third and fourth.

In the Milton-Freewater tournament, the Pullman Patriots defeated the Milton-Freewater Black Sox 12-2 and lost to Pendleton 13-3.

Volleyball

Spokane teams completed their strong showing at the National Volleyball Festival in Sacramento, Calif., which featured 880 teams.

The Splash/Prime Cut/Icon under-18 team won its final pool and playoff game against Zuma Bay, Calif. The Spokane team won the Challenge Division and finished 35th overall.

The Splash Addidas under-17 team won its final pool and playoff game to win the Confederate Division and finish 125th overall.

The Splash Addidas U-16s won their pool but lost in the playoffs, finishing 24th.

The Splash Addidas U-14s won their pool but lost in the playoffs, placing 42nd.