Blue Devils Edge Cannons In Legion Championship
The final game of the Spokane Senior American Legion Fourth of July Baseball Tournament may have been a portent of things to come.
The Spokane Valley Cannons played the Northwest Athletic Blue Devils in an all-Spokane final.
It was the third time in as many weekends that the Cannons reached the finals of Legion tourney.
Earlier they finished first in Kalispell, Mont., and second in Coeur d’Alene. This time they were second to the Blue Devils in a dandy 2-0 championship game.
Matt Risley, who will be a senior at West Valley, continued to lead the team offensively with support from CV seniors-to-be Chris Rodgers and Kevin Brown.
Seth Gemar pitched two of the Cannon games, blanking the Silver Lanes Bandits on four hits, and losing a four-hitter to the Blue Devils in the title game.
Senior Legion League is scheduled for completion next week. League playoffs run July 18 through 24 to determine the league’s state qualifier, and a meeting between the first-place Blue Devils and thirdplace Cannons is not out of the question.
Finishing among the league’s top two Junior Legion teams is within reach for Spokane Olympic Sports (University) and Spokane Athletic Supply (West Valley).
Both entered Friday night’s AA League games within striking distance of runnerup Cheney, a team both must play before the season ends June 15.
Olympic Sports, at 8-4, is even with Cheney in the loss column. SAS-WV, 9-5, is one game behind in the South Division.
Both won Thursday, Mike Koentopp pitching Olympic Sports past East Valley 5-4. WV, behind the four-hit effort of Chris Bemis, beat Medical Lake 11-3.
Six teams make the playoffs, beginning July 19, but only the top two automatically make the doubleelmination portion.
Final week for Valley Baseball
Spokane Valley Baseball regular season will conclude next week.
First round of the tournaments is Monday, July 17 for Giants and PeeWees with Midgets beginning the next day.
Skipper Bill’s from East Valley maintained its half-game lead in the Giants League with a 10-6 victory over Autocraft.
Matt Johnston went 3-for-4 to drive in four runs and J.D. Edlund was 3-for-3 for the winners.
Only two games separate five of the league’s seven teams. The Hornets are second, Norm’s Burger Barn won twice easily to move up and Valley Firefighters completed a suspended game with Autocraft, winning 6-5 in 10 innings.
The Firefighters scored twice in the decisive inning, Kevin Johnson bunting home the tying run and scoring the winner on A.J. Gosney’s fly out.
In the taut Midgets, 1st Choice Health Care from Trentwood moved into first place with an 8-1 record, a game ahead of a quartet of teams with three games remaining.
During a recent win, Caleb Alvarado hit a triple and double to drive in three runs.
Dr. James Psomas from University moved into contention with five straight wins. Three players, Brandon Montang, Brian Lallier and Wayne McDonald had two hits to key two of the wins.
Two games remain for Pee Wee teams with Yogi Bear Campground maintaining its game lead over Jim Frazier Pro Shop and four other teams with 8-2 records.
Included are Spokane Recycling and Olympic Sports after Recycling edged Olympic 4-3 in a pitcher’s battle. Lucas Clift and Nik Rademaker combined for 14 strikeouts and Damon Trinkle had two hits, scoring one and driving in another during the win.
Jim Frazier edged Banner Fuel 5-4 in another game between contenders. Isaac Hamilton, who had two hits, singled in the winning run in the bottom of the sixth. Wade Rockstrom tripled to drive in three runs.
National Color Graphics improved to 8-2 by twice scoring runs in the final inning to rally. First it was with three runs to beat Jim Frazier on Chris Mullins’ sixth-inning double. Then with four runs in the sixth for a 5-3 comeback against Tom’s Barber Shop, whose Brandon Shryock had a two-run homer for a 3-1 lead.
Yogi Bear got dominant pitching from Tyler Olson and Josh Henderson who fashioned a 17-strikeout no- hitter. Olson had two hits and three RBIs. C.J. Thorpe had two hits, scored twice and drove in two others.
Nine-hole golfers brave rain
It may be July, but that doesn’t mean Liberty Lake Ladies 9-Hole Golf Club members were immune from the rain.
They weren’t deterred from competing Thursday either.
Audrey Vanos, in fact, was in good form with a 49 low gross score for A flight. Included was a chip-in on the 16th hole for a birdie.
Sadie Rueckert shot 60 in B, Alice Vaughn had 63 in C and Betty Trembly shot 62 in D. Net leaders in A through D were Deanna Hauser with 33, Joan Rassley with 39, Sue Matsui with 37 and Joan Wheeling with 49.
No break for holidays
It was business as usual for Painted Hills Ladies Club golfers the day before July 4.
Carol Blume’s fireworks included a 46 in A flight, while B-flight golfer Patt Scholsstein and no-handicapper Leann Dunning, who chipped in for a birdie on No. 2, both shot 49.
Marg Downing had 51 in C and Kathie Nellermoe shot 63 in D. Net winners were Lynne Kemmish in B and Cindy Baracco in D. Both had 32. Lori Gray in A and Lynn Knight in C, both netted 34.
Hangman tourney continues Second round of the Hangman Valley Ladies Club Hanging Tree tournament was contested this week. During the outing Margaret Sims, Kathy Thiesen and Marion Pearson had net 73s. Fran Nord had a net 74 and Joyce Mohler had a net 79.
Best gross scores in A flight were 87s by Jackie Shea and Tammy Jensen. B leader was Alice Hamilton with 94. Ellen Boudewyns led C with 100 and Christy Querna shot 111 in D. June eclectic for A flight were a 72 gross by Linda Begler and 58 net by Fran Nord. Donna Ogilvie shot 85 and Thiesen 60 in B. Louise Robeson with 90 and Boudewyns with 62 led C. Sue Crosby with 89 and Jan Pownell with 58 led D.