EV Stays Alive For State Soccer Berth

East Valley has had two shots at Cheney and wouldn’t mind two more.

Nikko Gibson had one goal and one assist as host EV eliminated West Valley with Thursday’s 2-1 decision in a District 7-3A boys soccer playoff.

EV (9-6-2) will meet Frontier League champion Cheney (12-2-1) at 1 p.m. Saturday. EV must defeat the Blackhawks twice to advance to the state tournament. Cheney swept EV in Frontier League play, 3-1 and 2-0.

Gibson’s goal, at 29 minutes, came from 10 yards after Robbie Christensen’s assist. Ty Roberts scored early in the second half for WV (7-5-3), then both defenses held tough.

Greater Spokane League officials met to discuss a protest filed by North Central after its 2-1 shootout loss to Gonzaga Prep in Wednesday’s district tourney opening round.

NC said G-Prep’s goalkeeper violated rules by moving while awaiting shootout kicks.

The matter will be settled this morning. The second round of district is Saturday at Ferris.

Softball

Kristy Alberts had two triples and four RBIs on the day and Tamara Sherrill (8-1) won twice as visiting WV (16-2, 11-2) swept EV 5-0, 6-2 to clinch the Frontier title.

Angie Burtzoff added a two-run triple in the second game for the Eagles, who lead by four games with two left. WV has won eight straight since an April 17 doubleheader loss to EV. Becky Musgrave had three hits in the second game for the Knights (11-5, 6-5).

The chase for third place in the GSL became tighter when Courtney Davis had two RBIs and Jamie Merrill scattered six hits as Rogers (9-7, 9-6) registered a 3-2 win at Shadle Park (10-7, 10-6).

Jessica Murray tripled twice for Shadle, which suffered a blow when RBI and stolen bases leader Dorthea Gooch left the game after a collision at home plate.

Ferris (9-8, 9-6) also moved within one-half game of third-place Shadle when Jenny Lytle hit a three-run homer in the first and Kylee Curry went 3 for 3, with a triple, during a 7-0 win over visiting Central Valley (5-13, 4-12).

Shadle’s two remaining games include one today with second-place Mead. Rogers must play first-place University on Monday and Ferris on Tuesday.

The six-team district field is set, with U-Hi and Mead securing opening-round byes and four teams, including Lewis and Clark, jockeying for Nos. 3-6.

LC (8-9, 8-8) took a step backward as Cheryl Andrizzi pitched a two-hitter to lead visiting U-Hi (17-1, 16-0) to a 4-0 win at Hart Field.

Megan Mertens doubled and Kelly Pierce made several diving catches in right field for the Titans, who have won 16 consecutive games and 33 straight in league. LC meets Ferris today.

Mead (15-3, 13-3) sealed second place as Janessa Karstens pitched a three-hitter and hit her league-leading sixth homer during an 8-0 win at G-Prep (3-15, 2-14).

Karstens struck out 13 and walked none. The Panthers’ Sarah Bowman and Keri Wagner were a combined 5 for 8.

NC (4-13, 4-12) scored seven unearned runs to defeat host Mt. Spokane 8-3 and sweep the season series from the Wildcats (4-13, 4-12). Mt. Spokane’s Jodi Hultquist fanned eight.

Aubri Azzarito and Vonda Holland were both 3 for 4, combining for three runs and three RBIs, as visiting Kettle Falls (6-8) defeated Deer Park 7-5 to complete a Great Northern League sweep.

The Bulldogs won the opener 8-2. KF’s Rachael Kinservik struck out 14 in two games, while Jenna Krieger of the Stags (9-7) fanned 10. DP started the year 6-0.

Baseball

LC and NC made their moves, G-Prep slipped slightly and Shadle was eliminated as GSL teams attempted to secure three remaining district berths.

Kurtis Broderson hit a grand slam in the fourth and added an RBI triple as host LC (10-8, 8-8) defeated third-place U-Hi 14-7 at Hart Field to tie NC and G-Prep for fifth place.

Jared Strasser pitched a five-hitter, striking out seven, and Garth Haskins added a solo homer for LC, which plays first-place Ferris today and G-Prep Tuesday to end the season. Josh Sheffield had three RBIs for U-Hi (10-8, 10-6), which maintained its one-game edge over CV for third place.

John Forness pitched a two-hitter and Nick Froscheiser had a two-run double in the first as visiting NC (9-8, 8-8) defeated Mt. Spokane 6-2 for its sixth win in seven games.

GSL batting leader Aaron Farr went 2 for 2 with two runs for the Indians, who play U-Hi today and Ferris on Tuesday. The Wildcats are 2-16, 2-14.

Josh Mills (8-0) pitched a one-hitter, striking out seven, and Brian Munhall went 5 for 5 as Ferris (16-2, 15-1) defeated visiting CV 13-3 to clinch the league title outright.

Eric Sandberg set a league record with his ninth homer for the Saxons, who had already secured at least at tie for first. Three others share the former record, including Sheffield this year.

Munhall cleared the bases with a double during an eight-run sixth. The league champion automatically clinches a regional berth. Ryan Nelson’s single kept the Bears (10-8, 9-7) from the no-hitter.

Mead (13-5, 12-4) clinched at least a tie for second place, which brings a district bye, by collecting six extra-base hits in a 13-5 win at G-Prep (8-10, 8-8).

Brandon Muzatko was 3 for 3 with two RBIs and Dan Thigpen improved to 4-0 for the Panthers, who have Shadle and CV left. Joe Gumaer had two hits, including a double, for G-Prep.

Taylor West scattered six hits and hit a two-run double in the second as visiting Rogers (4-14, 3-13) defeated Shadle Park 10-6 to end a 12-game losing streak.

Justin Cox’s suicide squeeze in the fifth led to two Rogers runs. The Pirates last won on March 31. Kurk Cerenzia had two hits, including a double, but the Highlanders (6-12, 5-11) had their slim playoff hopes ended.