Sas, Twins Triumph

Spokane Athletic and the Panorama Twins wrapped up their best-of-3 series Wednesday in Junior American Legion baseball playoffs.

Andrew Bower’s two-run homer in the first inning, his fifth overall, launched Spokane Athletic to an 18-9 win over Whitman County at Central Valley High.

Joe Spears had a three-run double in the sixth, RBI double in the first, and RBI single in the fourth to lead Panorama to an 18-9 win over Hallmark Automotive at Whitworth College.

Jeremy Nichols, Kyle Boast and Bailey Wolff combined on a 7-for-14 night for Spokane Athletic, which advances to the best-of-3 South Division championship series at 5:30 p.m. Friday at CV.

Andrew Gylling was 2 for 2, and Scott Parrish was 2 for 3 with an RBI for Whitman County.

Panorama’s Jo Jo Powers added two hits and two RBIs. Panorama will open the best-of-3 North Division championship series at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Jackson Field.

Derrick Wilson and Adam Ingraham had two hits apiece for Hallmark.

Granny’s Buffet and Kimmel Athletic forced third games in their best-of-3 series.

Nik Pringle’s one-out, two-run single capped a three-run seventh as Kimmel edged Olympic Sports 5-4 at CV.

Kimmel’s Shawn O’Brien went 3 for 4, with a double. Jade Webley of Olympic Sports had two hits, including a double.

Kimmel and Olympic Sports meet at 8 tonight at CV.

Jeremy Smith struck out seven and allowed two earned runs in six innings, helping Granny’s Buffet defeat Northwest Athletics 13-6 at Gonzaga University.

Adam Franks of Granny’s went 3 for 5 with two runs and one RBI. Granny’s had six hits during its six-run fourth. Northwest Athletics’ Luke Rabel went 3 for 4 with an RBI.

Granny’s and Northwest Athletics play at 5:30 tonight at Whitworth.

Craig King’s RBI single in the eighth gave the Bandits (14-6) a 7-6 win over the Blue Devils (11-8) at Jackson Field, clearing up the matchups for best-of-3 league-playoff opening series.

The No. 2-seeded Bandits will open with a doubleheader against the No. 5 Pullman Patriots (6-13), starting at 5 p.m. Saturday at Jackson. The No. 3 Blue Devils (11-8) and No. 4 Cannons (9-10) open with a single game, at 5 p.m. Saturday at Gonzaga University.

The league-champion North Stars (15-4) have qualified for the state tournament in Spokane, and will play for seeding on July 31 against the survivor from the field of four.

Brandon Florence homered and had three RBIs in the Bandits’ Wednesday win. Josh Taylor was 3 for 4, with a homer, for the Blue Devils.

Also at Jackson, Dan Thigpen pitched a complete-game, five-hit shutout, striking out five, as the North Stars topped the Cannons 2-0.

Todd Schutz and Danny Crowley drove in the North Stars’ runs with second-inning singles. Shawn Johnson and Joey Binder of the Cannons were both 1 for 1.

Nick Paulson had four RBIs, including a two-run triple in the third, and Tyler Brown added a two-run homer as Pullman defeated the visiting Royals 20-2 to split a double-header.

Jesse Altizer went 2 for 5 with three RBIs, and Richard Schram added two RBIs as the Royals (2-16) won the opener 9-7.

Pullman’s Kevin Myers went 3 for 3 with three RBIs in the second game.

Tournament scheduled

Spokane’s 8th annual Spike & Dig Volleyball Tournament presented by Action Sportswear is scheduled for Aug. 7-8 at Spokane Falls Community College.

The six-on-six event expects more than 190 teams in various skill divisions on 58 grass courts.

The tournament is the nation’s second-largest six-on-six tournament.

The cost is $95 for junior high and high school teams and $120 for the adult coed teams. Entry deadline is Monday to avoid a $20 late fee. For information on how to sign up call 499-PLAY or 499-1556.

Youth baseball

Beau Brett, whose uncle George Brett, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sunday, took his own first small step toward fame on Wednesday.

The son of Spokane sports impresario Bobby Brett pitched a no-hitter in Salt Lake City as the Spokane South All-Stars defeated Kearns, Utah, 14-0 in the first round of the Mustang regional tournament (ages 8-10).