Great Catch, Bounces Take Eagles To State
The moon and stars were aligned for West Valley, which parlayed good fortune into its 12th state softball trip in 14 years.
“We were both lucky and good,” said coach Steve Kent of his team’s second-place finish in the six-team regional tournament.
The Eagles managed just 15 hits in three games. But a miraculous saving catch by centerfielder Rachelle Watson and two lucky bounces of batted balls that hit pitcher Tamara Sherrill enabled the Eagles to defeat Moses Lake for the state berth.
“Honest to gosh, Rachelle’s catch was the best I’ve ever seen,” said Kent.
The Chiefs, who until a semifinal loss to Hanford were unbeaten this year, trailed the Eagles 3-2 in the fifth inning. They opened with a base hit. Following a fly out, the Moses Lake batter lined one into the gap between left and center field.
“Rachelle is moving to her right and has to reach across her body,” said Kent. “The ball falls into her glove and it takes four more steps for her to stop.”
Meanwhile, Moses Lake runners were almost to third and second when they realized the catch was made. The lead runner made it back to first, but failed to re-touch second base and was called out to end the inning.
In subsequent innings, line drives off Sherrill’s leg and glove bounced to shortstop Gabby McClintock who made the throwouts.
“We couldn’t manufacture much offense, but defensively we made the plays,” said Kent. “It was unreal.”
WV lost its opener to eventual champion Hanford 5-2 and East Valley beat WV-Yakima 6-1 before losing 9-1 to Moses Lake.
Those outcomes pitted the Valley schools against each other for the seventh time this year.
“I told my wife, ‘How many times can we go to the well?’ “, said Kent.
The Eagles broke a 1-1 tie that had him envisioning another 11-inning marathon, with four seventh-inning runs.
Knight Malea Schumacher hit a two-run double to cut the gap to 5-4, but the Eagles held on.
Moses Lake sent eight runners to the plate in the first inning of its game with WV, yet scored just twice.
The Eagles got three in the bottom of the inning with two hits and assorted good fortune. Monica Hilsabeck scored the winner a grounder back to the pitcher.
“I still say for a team to survive a tournament you have to face adversity somewhere else in the season,” said Kent, recalling WV’s early-season doubleheader loss to EV. “And if the moon and stars are aligned, so be it.”
Eagles, Knights dominate
West Valley and East Valley’s boys track teams provided a stunning one-two punch during the first regional track meet between Frontier and Mid-Valley League schools.
WV outscored the Knights 116 to 104 with everyone else finishing well behind.
In the process, the Eagles advanced athletes to state in eight events and EV did so in seven.
The Eagles, a top four finisher at state last year, will try to improve on that at Star Track XVI this weekend in Tacoma. They have the horses to do so.
Rick Collins, the state leader in the pole vault, became only the second Spokane athlete ever to clear 16-0. Teammate Josh Rieger reached a personal best 14-0 for second place.
Unphased by pressure, Ryan Schroder won the high jump at 6-6 over state leader Kurt Kraemer of Hanford and brought teammate Eric Deno with him to second place.
Joining them are horizontal jumper Devion Tensley and hurdler Brad Groh who were second in two events each. Sean McLachlan qualified in the 3,200 and Chris Sorenson in the discus.
Among the pleasant surprises was Knight Bryan McCarty, son of EV coach Dave. Plagued by allergies that have hampered his career, the younger McCarty ran a personal best 1:57.0 800 to earn one of the team’s berths.
Brandon Blize won both hurdles and Nick Hansen the shot put as expected. James Moss made it in the 100 and Andrew Burgess in the high jump. Additionally, EV’s two relay teams were victorious.
East Valley’s girls also won the team title during last Friday’s meet in Prosser and advanced most of its state cross country championship team to state as well.
Korinda Godwin won the 1,600 to complement the one-two finish of twins Melissa and Melanie Frostad in the 3,200. AnnMarie Adams qualified in the 800 and Crystal Gerky in the high jump.
In an upset, freshman Brittany Hauser threw 126-2 for second in the javelin and the Knights advanced their 400 and 1,600 relay teams.
West Valley’s nonpareil junior sprinter-hurdler Staci Adams was a three-event qualifier, winning the 100 and 200 dashes and the 300 hurdles, the latter in a brilliant 44.2 time. In an exhibition event, teammate Jenny Gregorak reached 10-feet in the pole vault.
Titans regain the touch
University, which had struggled offensively late in the year, rediscovered some of that magic for its second regional softball championship in three years.
The Titans had 19 hits in three victories, leading an unprecedented Greater Spokane League sweep of four state berths.
Prior to this tournament, Big Nine teams had earned 8 of 13 state berths since the regional format’s inception five years ago.
But the GSL now has the edge and University is making its third straight appearance, this weekend in Vancouver.
Critical was a first game 2-1 victory over Richland, the team with the Big Nine’s best record, although the district number three seed.
“I think we all went into it relaxed,” said third baseman Nicki Meyer, who played superb defense and had two hits, scoring twice on number eight hitter Megan Mertens’ single and double.
There followed a 4-1 triumph over GSL fourth-place finishing Ferris that clinched a state berth.
Tennis athletes to state
A pair of girls singles tennis players from the Valley advanced through regional competition this weekend’s state tennis tournaments.
Central Valley’s No. 1 player, junior Aaryn Volkmann, finished fourth in the 4A event to earn the final berth to Vancouver.
East Valley senior Sharon Wentz defeated teammate Daphne Willmschen for the second singles berth to the 3A tournament in Tacoma.