Bears Find They’Re Game For Full Week

The Central Valley Bears got a little taste of professional baseball life and discovered they liked it.

CV was among eight Greater Spokane League teams who played games on five successive days this past last week.

That made it easier on coach Ed Garcia, who didn’t throw as much batting practice as usual, if not on the players. But there were no excuses.

“If they play beyond high school, they have to get used to playing a lot,” said Garcia. “I told them if some of them make the minor leagues, they’ll be taking a bus ride every day.”

Responding to the challenge of playing nearly a third of the GSL season in one week, the Bears won their first four games, including 3-2 over Ferris to tie the Saxons for second place.

They finished the arduous week Friday at home against fourth-place Shadle Park.

“I think we played well this week in every aspect of the game,” said Garcia in something of an understatement.

The Bears (7-2) blanked Lewis and Clark 8-0 and beat Gonzaga Prep 12-1 on two hitters by Derek Wohlers and Seth Gemar. They rallied from a 3-0 first-inning deficit to beat Mead 10-5.

“We had a couple boots to give them three runs, but stayed in the game and battled back,” said Garcia.

On Thursday Wohlers pitched six shutout innings, striking out 11 against Ferris.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever done that,” said Garcia of his decision to pitch Wohlers and Gemar twice during the week. “I charted him (against LC) and Derek did not throw a lot of pitches. Seth pitched only five innings.”

Shortstop Chris Rodgers had three two-hit games and a double against the Saxons.

“He had a wonderful week,” said Garcia.

So did the Bears.

East Valley (5-4) won twice after a 12-10 loss to University to solidify its hold on fifth place. Chad Mathison and Adam Stultz pitched wins over Mt. Spokane and Rogers. Stultz and Dave Marlow had four hits each during the week.

University (3-6) won two of three prior to Friday’s game against Mt. Spokane, but its penchant for seventh-inning meltdowns continued.

The Titans led EV 12-6 following a seven-run Titan sixth inning that featured Keith Christensen’s 3-run homer. But the team weathered a last-inning rally, the Knights with the tying runs on base.

Tyler White’s pitching gem almost went for naught during University’s 6-5 win over Rogers two days later.

White retired 16 straight batters after allowing two first-inning base runners and one unearned run.

He was helped by second baseman Tom Owen’s six assists, three of them diving stabs. Christensen tripled and scored in the first inning and hit a two-run single in the sixth.

But the Titans scrambled to hang on after giving up four runs in the final frame.

Big save by Titan keeper

If Gonzaga Prep soccer coach Christian Birrer was in the business of making highlight videos, University goalie Ryan Hite would definitely have a spot.

Hite made “one of the best saves I’ve seen a goalkeeper make,” Birrer said. “It was simply awesome. He tipped it over the cross bar. He threw his whole body up into the air. It was great.”

Hite also helped U-Hi to a shootout win over North Central that kept the Titans in playoff contention following four successive one-goal losses, including to the Bullups.

Monday, the Titans host fourth-place CV in a game important to both to start the league’s final week.

WV field beats Colville track

The West Valley boys track team may be young, but they still figured out a way to win their Frontier League opener in Colville.

The Indians had most of the 3A area track leaders, but the Eagles had too much field.

They scored 54 of their 77 points in the jumps and throws, sweeping the high jump, triple jump, pole vault and discus.

Dan Ferguson won the high jump and triple jump and was second in the long jump and high hurdles. John Frostad, a 3,200 winner at 10:14.6, was the only track winner.

Despite losing to the Indians, WV girls had three 5-foot high jumpers, led by Sara Biesen at 5-2 and a double victory by Shannon Groh in the javelin and discus.

ODP soccer qualifiers

Six girls from the Spokane Valley Junior Soccer Association were selected to the Washington State Dstrict 6 Girls U-14 Olympic Developmental Program team.

They are Ariel Nay, Kaitlin Caudle, Kristen Miller, Alex Allred, Kathleen Blood and Lauren Nay.

SVGSA registration extended

Registration deadline for Spokane Valley Girls Softball Association has been extended through April 30.

A late fee will be assigned for registrations after that date.

Liberty Lake 18s medal play

Liberty Lake 18-Hole Ladies Club conducted medal play with Rose Jones winning A flight at 92.

Flurry Snyder shot 102 in B flight, Kitty Duval had 101 in C and Jan Hussey had 111 in D.

Net winners were Jean Hatcher and Louise Newtson in A and Connie Hatfield in B with 76s, Ellen Boudewyns with 71 in C and Ella Leinwebber with 78 in D.

Hangman ladies beat the pro

Hangman Valley Ladies Club members put their best net scores against the club professionals’ scratch round during Beat the Pro day.

Success came in A flight by Diane Joss with 73, Deanna Smith with 74 and 75s by Gloria Cash and Linda Begler.

B flight winners were Alice Hamilton with 71, Carol Wagner with 72, El Robson with 73, Kathy Snyder with 74, Kitty Duval with 76 and Alice Shattuck with 77.

In C-D flight, Dottie Blosser had 73 and Marion Pearson 75.

Valley View golfers compete

During weekly play among Valley View Ladies Club golfers, Lorraine Martin birdied the ninth hole for A flight low gross 44.

Genevra Barrett had 54 in B flight. Laura Odette and Joanne Moore had 69 in C.

Net leaders were Joyce Jacobs, Dee Leder, Deanna Hauser and Peg Harshbarger with 32 in A, Emma Long with 27 in B and Margie Bratcher with 37 in C.

No-handicap winner remained Joanne Guell with 53.

Liberty Lake 9-Hole action

Mary Gehrman and Cindy Steiner tied for low-gross honors during last week’s Liberty Lake 9-Hole Ladies Club outing.

Gehrman and Steiner shot 57 to lead the A and B flights respectively. Included was chip-in by Steiner on the fourth hole.

Pat Reiter shot 63 and Joan Koppe a 69 to lead C and D flights. Koppe had a chip-in on 15.

Net winners were Nancy Lampe with 41 in A, Audrey Knuttel with 36 in B and Linda Berry with 38 in C.