Sandberg Throws Third No-Hitter

Prep baseball

North Central needed a win Tuesday to clinch a district berth and avoid a tiebreaker.

The Indians didn’t draw the best opponent for that goal.

Eric Sandberg pitched a five-inning no-hitter, his third of the year, and visiting Ferris (18-2, 17-1) defeated North Central 14-0 to complete its Greater Spokane League championship season with its 17th consecutive victory.

Sandberg struck out 12 of the 17 batters he faced. K.C. McVey had a two-run double and Josh Shelton added three hits for the Saxons, who have a bye to the District 8-4A tournament until Tuesday.

NC (9-10, 8-10) tied Lewis and Clark for sixth, the final district berth. The teams will break the tie at 4:30 p.m. today at Seafirst Stadium. They split their season series.

District begins Friday at Seafirst with loser-out games. No. 6 plays No. 3 University at 1 p.m., followed by No. 5 Gonzaga Prep vs. No. 4 Central Valley.

Friday’s winners meet at 11 a.m. Saturday in another loser-out at Seafirst. The winner plays No. 2 Mead at 2 p.m. for a regional berth. That survivor plays Ferris for regional seeding.

Elsewhere Tuesday in the GSL, Sam Hess had four RBIs on two doubles and his sixth homer, and Neil Logue (6-0) struck out six as visiting Mead (15-5, 14-4) defeated Central Valley 14-2 to avenge one of its losses.

Dan Stucky and Kyle Ellenz also homered for the second-place Panthers, who had eight doubles, six of which came in the second. CV (11-9, 10-8) had seven singles.

University (12-8, 12-6) clinched the No. 3 berth with a 13-11 win over visiting Rogers (5-15, 4-14), snapping an 11-all tie in the sixth with a fielder’s choice and passed ball.

Brandon Florence had a three-run homer, Jon Spear a two-run triple and Kyle Sale a two-run single for the Titans. Danny Crowley had four RBIs on a single and homer, and Nick Scott hit a two-run homer for Rogers.

Kurk Cerenzia had three RBIs and pitched a four-hitter to help Shadle Park (7-13, 6-12) to a 9-2 win over visiting Mt. Spokane (2-18, 2-16).

District 7-3A playoffs

Joe Cahalan struck out five, went 2 for 2 and drove in a run as West Valley (6-15) eliminated visiting Clarkston (8-13) with a 6-5 decision.

Ryan Box was also 2 for 2 for third-seeded West Valley, which travels to second-seeded Cheney at noon Saturday for another loser-out.

West Valley had runners on first and third with no out in the fifth when rain halted play. The game counts as a completed contest.

District 7-2A playoffs

Craig McQuain pitched a two-hitter and Ryan Gray had a two-run double as third-seeded Chewelah (14-7) eliminated sixth-seeded Newport 7-0 at Chewelah.

Sam Dollar and Chris Eggleston added two hits apiece for the Cougars, who travel to No. 2 Medical Lake (15-5) at 4 p.m. today to begin the double-elimination part of the tourney. Eli Marsh of the Grizzlies (4-16) allowed one earned run and struck out four.

Jason Christen scored three runs and added three RBIs as No. 4 Lakeside (10-9) eliminated No. 5 Pullman (8-13) 12-2 at Nine Mile Falls.

Iain Ashley went 2 for 2, with two runs and two RBIs, to support Kris Granlund’s six-hitter. Lakeside plays at Colville against the GNL champion Indians (19-1) at 4 p.m. today.

District 7-1A playoffs

Matt Smith’s two-run double in the sixth completed a comeback from an 8-0 deficit as second-seeded Freeman (13-7) eliminated No. 3 Kettle Falls 9-8 at Rockford.

The Bulldogs (6-15) scored eight unearned runs in the first two innings. Freeman had a five-run fifth, as Jeremy Roche, Chris Miller, Matt Smith and Bill Morphy all doubled.

Freeman plays at Northeast A champion Colfax (17-3) Saturday and must win twice to qualify for regional.