Wv Must Beat Colville Again
West Valley’s doubleheader softball sweep of Colville last weekend wasn’t enough to overtake the Indians for top seed in the Frontier League, but it did send a message.
Coach Steve Kent wanted his girls to realize that they could play with the district favorites.
He also wanted to keep a 15-year streak going.
“If we don’t sweep,” said Kent before the second game of the twinbill, “it will be the first time since 1984 we haven’t had a winning season.”
The record remained intact during an afternoon filled with more than its share of oddities.
WV won 6-4 and 1-0 and took two of three games against every Washington Border League school as a result.
But it left the 9-8-1 Eagles one game behind Colville in league and sends WV to Colville on Saturday seeking one of two berths to regionals.
In game one, WV was ahead 3-0 in the sixth when a bases-loaded line drive eluded WV first baseman Megan Sherrill, ricocheted off a Colville base-runner and cleared the bases.
Sherrill, however, launched the second of her three doubles during the day, driving in three sixth-inning runs to win the game.
“She’s started to come around the last couple of games,” said Kent of his sophomore first sacker. “I was lamenting the fact we gave them a few runs, then their third baseman kicks a couple and we’re back in the game.”
In game two WV pitcher Leigh Williams was perfect through three innings and allowed just two hits in a game that was decided on an eighth-inning tiebreaker.
During the fourth inning outfielders Atasha Skillingstad and Andrea Graham collided chasing a fly ball and had to leave the game to ice injured left knees.
Skillingstad somehow held onto the ball for the out. But it left Kent scrambling.
“I’ve got to find me some subs,” said Kent after getting his players back to the bench. “It was a helluva catch, though.”
Junior varsity infielder Alli Clark was pressed into service, Williams completed her shutout and singled home the deciding run to boot.
Heidi Lyman and Michelle Thielmann had four hits each during the twin bill, Thielmann’s all coming in game two.
Title streak remains intact
University’s softball team made the most of its opportunities to win its fifth straight Greater Spokane League championship.
The team parlayed four errors and hesitant Lewis and Clark fielding for four runs and a 4-1 victory.
“Frankly,” said coach Jon Schuh, “you’ve got to play defense, put the ball on the ground and good things will happen.”
The Titans did all that, the Tigers didn’t and U-Hi finished in undisputed first once more.
Dropped fly balls led to two runs by Vanessa Shelton. LC fielders couldn’t get a sure handle on infield hits by Ahnee Wagner and Kara Jordan that produced two more during the decisive second inning.
Opportunism joined virtually flawless U-Hi defense and a dominant pitching performance by Megan Owen. She had 10 strikeouts in six innings and allowed only one hit, a seventh-inning home run after leaving briefly to tend to a stitch-requiring cut over her right eyebrow.
“LC made defensive mistakes and we capitalized,” said Schuh. “It kind of helps when your pitchers throw a one-hitter.”
U-Hi’s title probably shouldn’t have been unexpected, but with only two seniors, Shelton and Owen, and three returning starters, it was a new-look team that got the job done.
Schuh liked the clutch batting from the bottom part of his order. He liked the play of his newcomers, including three sophomores.
Most of all, he liked the fact he could rely on his senior duo.
“We’ve got a good group of girls, great senior leadership and good assistant coaches,” said Schuh, U-Hi’s third coach during its title run. “My job was not to mess it up.”
District track meets today
It’s been a frustrating year for Central Valley’s Tye Scott, who missed football and basketball because of a knee injury and life-threatening infection.
But with the first stage of state qualifying impending this week for area track athletes, the Bear javelin and discus thrower appears on his way back.
A personal record was made by Scott, who went 193-7 in the javelin, using just a three-step approach because of his injured left knee.
“I think I can get 200 with a three-step,” said Scott, who was second in the state last year at 192-7. “It’s reassuring because last year my three-step was 165. I might increase to a five-step for district. Now I know as I put my steps together I can add feet. I think I still have to potential to go 215 if I get it together.”
Scott orginally hurt his knee in football and reinjured it three weeks ago, possibly just tearing adhesions.
“It may have been a good thing, I’ve got more mobility,” he said, though he still wears a brace. “I use it for extra protection. It does’t slow me down. It’s kind of a security blanket.”
GSL meet is at Central Valley and Frontier League is at West Valley on Thursday and Friday. Freeman is at the Northeast A League meet in Colfax on Saturday. Valley Christian ran in the Bi-County meet Wednesday.
Softball for boys?
Spokane Valley Girls Softball Association will conduct a meeting tonight to gauge interest in forming a boys fastpitch softball league for ages 6-18.
The meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. in the North Pines Junior High gym.
“We at SVGSA are concerned that due to changes in other Valley leagues, some boys won’t have an opportunity to play ball this year,” said president Allen Johnson.
League co-founder Sally Jackson, citing the interest in recreational adult softball, suggested the SVGSA become involved.
Johnson said the initial thinking is that boys age 9 and older would play in their own league. Boys age 8 and under (Tee-ball and coach pitch) would be integrated with the girls.
Interested parties can call the league at 922-3979.