Cannons, Blue Devils Are Going The Distance

Chad Mathison pitched his way out of several jams and Kevin Reed belted a home run, leading the Cannons to a 6-4 victory over the Northwest Athletic Blue Devils on Sunday at August-A.R.T. Stadium.

The victory evens the best-of-3 Senior Legion baseball championship series at a game apiece, after the Blue Devils had won Saturday’s opener 8-7.

The deciding game is tonight at 5 at Gonzaga.

The Cannons erased a 3-1 deficit with a three-run fifth inning, while Mathison scattered 12 hits - stranding 10 Blue Devils runners.

Steve Hare, who suffered Sunday’s loss for the Blue Devils, went 4 for 5 with a pair of RBIs in Saturday’s victory, in which Northwest was aided by four unearned runs.

Chris Gregory tossed a five-hitter as Northwest Athletics won its Junior American Legion baseball playoff opener 7-3 over the Spokane Storm on Sunday at Mead High School.

Game two of the best-of-3 semifinal series is today at 5:30 p.m. at North Central.

Gregory struck out seven in going the distance for Northwest Athletics, which erased the Storm’s 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning with six runs - Nick Lunzer’s two-run single being the big blow. Lunzer had three RBIs on the game.

In the other semifinal opener, Tim Sloot struck out nine Kimmel Athletic batters to lead Whitman County to a 10-4 victory at Ferris.

John White had three hits, drove in a run and scored twice for the Cougars, whose key inning was the third. Helped by four errors, they scored seven runs for an 8-1 lead.

The best-of-3 series continues today at Colfax at 5:30 p.m.

The Spokane Heat 18 and under team finished fifth at the Bill Taylor Wood Bat Tournament in Everett.

The Heat won twice Sunday to finish with a 4-1 record.

Shae Lanphere’s two-run single in the 10th inning gave the Heat a 4-3 win over Chaffey Baseball in the early game. In the second game, a 4-3 victory over Everett, Joe Spears struck out the last two batters with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh. Spears’ save preserved a lead the Heat had taken in the top of the seventh when Nick Scott scored on a throwing error by the Everett catcher.

Motorsports

Todd Witham closed ground on Interstate Superstock Series points leader Brad Rhoads by winning Saturday night’s 75 lap late model feature race at Stateline Speedway.

Veradale’s Witham, took the lead from Dave Garber of Mead just after the half-way point with the two ending one-two. Rhoads of Kennewick was third with Rick Kellogg and Luke Ledgerwood rounding out the top-five.

Pat Lewis scored his third win in the last four races in Grand American Sportsman while Mike Behar was a first-time winner in Street Stocks.

Terry Allen of Tacoma won in the touring Mini-Cup class leading the all-Western Washington field of competitors.

Golf

Nesby Glasgow, Sam Adkins, John Yarno and Manny Tuiasosopo are among 16 former Seattle Seahawks scheduled to participate in the 3rd annual Pushie Grandmas vs. MS Golf Tournament on Saturday at The Fairways at West Terrace Golf Course.

Entry fee for the scramble event, which starts at 8 a.m., is $50 and includes greens fees and lunch. Entry forms can be obtained at The Fairways, or by calling 325-8853.

Proceeds from the tournament will benefit various projects aimed at helping local residents with multiple sclerosis.