Titans Need Hitting And Wins

With only a month remaining to play 10 or 11 regular season games, the Valley’s Greater Spokane League baseball teams have little margin for error if they are to reach the district playoffs.

The GSL season ends May 8 and at present eight teams are vying for six district berths.

Among them are Central Valley (3-2) and East Valley (3-3) and who have a schedule that can solidify their spots over the next five days.

University (1-5) needs multiple wins this week if the Titans are to join the other two as a playoff hopeful.

The Titans have twice led 3-2 in the seventh inning only to lose, and were beaten 6-5 on three second-inning unearned runs at Lewis and Clark. They are hitting just .206 as a team.

Hits haven’t been a problem for the Knights or Bears. EV’s Shae Lanphere has had four multiple hit games and a total of 11 including two doubles, a triple and two home runs. Four players have had two or more hits in one game.

Central Valley has had 13 multiple hit performances, three by Kyle Boast and two each from Tyson Fitterer and Kevin Reed.

The Bears play only one title contender over the next three games, at Mead on Friday.

The Knights, who are at U-Hi today, play league leader North Central at Avista Stadium on Friday.

Titans chase another title

University High, winners of the last four GSL softball championships, put itself in the title picture again.

The Titans (7-1) moved into a tie for the lead on Tuesday with a 4-3 nine-inning victory at Lewis and Clark.

LC was unbeaten heading into the game.

U-Hi’s offense, which struggled early, has had better success of late.

Vanessa Shelton has hit safely in every game, including three 3-hit efforts among her 14 total.

Varsity newcomers Jenny Shollenberger, Jill Oglesbee and Kalli McGilley have made welcome contributions.

Central Valley, which had a 4-hit game by transfer Carina Ebat during its 6-1 victory over East Valley and three 2-hit games by Jamie Danelo, is tied for third one game behind prior to today’s rematch against LC.

EV, which dropped to 2-6, lost 2-1 Tuesday to third-place Shadle Park and today is at U-Hi. Cyndie Hulett has led the Knights with eight hits.

Mixed bag for Eagles

West Valley baseball and softball teams play Idaho Border League members once each, but it’s the Washington teams that matter.

The Eagles play each three times in their quest for the playoffs.

Tuesday’s 6-5 loss to Cheney by the girls in a pivotal softball game didn’t help. The boys played Wednesday.

Previously the baseball team lost twice to Clarkston and the softball team split with the Bantams.

The two schools have upcoming games again next Tuesday. Both trail Colville, unbeaten in three games against Washington teams.

Brandle to national gymnastics

Valley club gymnast Amy Brandle has qualified for the Western National Gymnastics meet in Oklahoma later this month.

The 12-year-old Chester Elementary student finished fifth during Level 9 Junior A division of the Region 2 meet in Olympia to advance.

She finished second during floor exercise, third on balance beam, eighth on vault and had a 35.475 all around score.

Central Valley sophomore April Mims scored 35.25 all around in the Senior B division, missing nationals by a mere .1 point.

Level 9 Western Nationals are in Bartlesville, Okla., April 27-30.

School records for Panthers

Valley Christian boys track athletes set two school records during a recent meet.

Nate Isaac tied the school pole vault record with a height of 11-feet. He was part of the 400 relay team, which also included Jared Evans, Jeremy Hopson and Joel Knigge, that ran a school record 45.6 and tied it Tuesday.

Valley View golf begins

First outing for Valley View ladies club golfers produced good early scores.

Low gross leaders were Peg Harshbarger with 48 in A flight, Lu Benjamin with 52 in B and Angie Schauer with 62 in C. Joan Guell had a no-handicap 55.

Net leaders were Deanna Hauser with 32 in A, Genevra Barrett in B and Joanne Moore in C with 33s.