Ferris Squad Liking Cross-State Rivalry

Thu., Sept. 24, 1998

By Janie McCauley janiem@spokesman.com

The Ferris High volleyball team has established a “friendly rivalry” with two Auburn high schools, says Saxon coach Stacey Ward.

It sounds like a matchup Ferris can’t help but like so far.

The Saxons have defeated Auburn-Riverside four times in the past two years, all at the Kentwood Invitational in Kent, Wash. The Saxons have won the invitational twice in a row now after earning their second title last weekend.

Ferris defeated Auburn in the semifinals of this year’s Kentwood tournament and for the state 4A title in 1997, which included a win in pool play at state.

“That was really fun to get to play each other,” Ward said of Auburn-Riverside. “There was some bad blood last year, but some of our kids graduated and some of their kids graduated.

“It was a great match and really competitive. It was a positive match.

“There was no trash talking, and the kids appreciated having a team that could push them,” Ward said.

The Saxons overcame 9-3 and 14-12 deficits in the second game in the championship against AuburnRiverside.

“The kids were great,” Ward said. “They had some heart. They were determined to fight back.

“You could see it in their faces; they were not going to let it go.”

Ferris football wants another try

Saxon football coach Clarence Hough believes his team might get another shot at Mead this season - in the state playoffs.

The Panthers shocked the league favorite 23-16 Friday night at Albi Stadium.

“Hopefully we will improve and get the opportunity to play them again,” Hough said Friday. “We’ve got another game next week. It’s only one loss.”

Affeldt pitching for Royals affiliate

Left-handed pitcher Jeremy Affeldt, a 1997 graduate of Northwest Christian who’s from Medical Lake, was 4-3 with a 2.89 earned run average for the Kansas City Royals’ Gulf Coast League team this summer in Fort Meyers, Fla.

He appeared in 12 games, starting nine of them, and pitched 56 innings. The 6-foot-4, 185 pounder allowed 50 hits, 24 runs - 10 earned - and one home run with 67 strikeouts and 24 walks.

Affeldt was a third-round pick by Kansas City last year.

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