Workman Mead’S Head Baseball Coach

Kevin Workman has been selected to succeed Dave Vaughn as Mead High School’s baseball coach. Vaughn resigned after 13 years at Mead, including six as head coach.

Workman, a 1994 North Central graduate, served as a volunteer assistant coach working with the pitchers at Mead this spring.

At 24, Workman becomes the school’s youngest head coach. His wife, Amanda, the gymnastics coach, is six months older.

At NC, he was a three-time all-Greater Spokane League first-team pick, he was named to Baseball America’s top-20 list, he was a second-team USA Today All-American and twice was featured on ESPN’s Scholastic Sports America.

Workman was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 51st round after high school but chose to attend Pepperdine University. He played one season there, then three at Gonzaga University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history and secondary education. He teaches social studies at Mead.

“He’s young but just on fire,” said Mead activities coordinator Dick Cullen. “We’re really excited to have him. Obviously, he’s been there, done that. He has helped coach clinics and camps at GU. We felt that with his enthusiasm and character, his skill and knowledge of the game that he was a great candidate.”

Workman, who was an infielder and a pitcher, is excited about the opportunity.

“It’s amazing, there’s no other way to put it,” he said. “I am incredibly blessed to come in and try to fill the shoes of men who have coached in the past. I look at them as mentors.

“Growing up in Spokane, I know Mead has a tradition of winning. So quickly out of college to step into a head coaching position with the chance to try to continue that tradition is nothing short of an honor.”

Mariners tryout

The Seattle Mariners have scheduled a tryout camp at the Spokane Falls Community College baseball field for Thursday at 4 p.m.

The camp will last approximately 3 hours and is open to players between the ages of 16-23. Legion players must have signed consent from their coach in order to participate in the tryout.

WSU track and field

Two-time State 3A champion discus and shot put thrower Shannon Rance and distance runner Kurt Hicks have signed letters of intent to compete for Washington State University, Cougars coach Rick Sloan announced Tuesday.

Rance comes to WSU from Renton High School. Her state championship throws at the 2000 meet were 145 feet, 10 inches in the discus and 45-6-3/4 in the shot.

Hicks will enter WSU after a distance career at Glide High School in Oregon. Hicks has earned all-district and all-state honors for his cross country racing. He claimed fifth and 10th places at the past two state cross country meets, and won the district championships in both the 1,500 meters and 3,000 meters this past spring. Hicks’ best time in the 3,000 is 9:07.01.

Golf

David Fern of Spokane shot a two-round total of 140 to win medalist honors on Monday at Quail Ridge Golf Course in Clarkston and qualify for the USGA Junior Amateur Championship. Peter Sisich of Cheney was second at 142 and qualified as first alternate.

Lani Elston qualified for the girls tournament by shooting a 76 at Canterwood Golf and Country Club in Gig Harbor, Wash. It was the third-best score of the field.

The championship will be at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in Cornelius, Ore., July 31-Aug. 5.