SAS, Kimmel take first, third in Legion tourney

It’s been awhile since Valley teams had an impact on the American Legion Fourth of July Junior baseball tournament, but this year both Spokane Athletic Supply (Central Valley) and Kimmel Athletic (University) came up big.

SAS finished first and Kimmel third last weekend during the 12-team tournament. The Central Valley team won its second tournament title, the last in 1996 when it beat University for the crown.

Both teams were finalists another time, CV in 1997 and U-Hi in 2001.

Spokane Athletic won four of five games in its six-team pool to reach the finals. Kris Henderson three-hit Puyallup 3-0 in its opener.

The next day the team beat Mt. Spokane 4-3 with a two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh before losing 7-5 to Walla Walla in the second game of the day after giving up five first-inning runs.

On Sunday, SAS beat Black Hills 7-3 and Prairie 2-1, the latter by scoring twice in the first inning and despite finishing with just one hit. Nick Lallier scattered six hits in the route-going pitching effort.

Kyle Renz hit in four of the five games, leading the team with 10 total, including a triple. Eric Smith had two doubles among his four hits.

Kimmel Athletic finished second in its division with 11-0 and 9-1 victories over Ferris and Medical Lake on the final day of pool play.

Cody Brincken pitched the one-hit shutout and had three hits against Ferris. Travis Lewis scattered six hits in the win over Medical Lake.

Fred Barker, Scott Conrad, Adam Smith and Seth Englebert were among the team’s batting leaders.

Earlier in the tourney, pool host West Valley beat Kimmel 5-3, Phil Gannon with a home run, Bryan Peterson and Mitch Phillips with a pair of hits each.

In Monday’s title game, Spokane Athletic beat Coeur d’Alene 4-2 despite managing just two hits. Brad Johnson, with help from Dale Beach scattered three hits.

The CV squad scored three times in the first inning and scratched out an insurance run in the fourth.

Kimmel whipped Black Hills 9-3, Barker and Nick Burger, who had homered earlier in the tournament, and winning pitcher Smith all with two hits.

League play resumed this week and ends July 14, followed by postseason playoffs. Spokane Athletic at 12-2, East Valley at 9-2 and Kimmel Athletic at 12-4 entered play with the South Division’s top three records.

University’s 16U Colt League team has a 15-1 record to lead the East Division of the Legion’s youngest league.

Valley Girls Softball continues

Two weeks remain in the regular Spokane Valley Girls Softball League season.

Conley’s continues atop the 16U Division with a 6-0 record, after an 8-7 win over Old Country Buffet and 9-3 victory over Action Mortgage.

Conley’s is a game ahead of Burlington Northern.

In the 14U Division, Old Country Buffet and Spokane Tire are both 5-1. Old Country Buffet beat Yogi Bear Camp Resort 12-4 and Sir Speedy 11-1. In the latter game, Jackie Helm pitched three innings of no-hit ball and Amanda Williams hit a triple against a team which had lost only once prior to the game.

Spokane Tire beat Rent Rite 18-12 to remain tied for the lead. Peyton Boone‘s pitching helped Burlington Northern rally for a 15-14 win over Panther Printing.

Four teams — White Elephant, Awardmasters, Action Mortgage and Farrell Spray Service — have single losses in the 12U Division, and two other teams have but two defeats.

And beware of one of them, Epivot. The team won its third and fourth successive games, handing White Elephant and Action Mortgage their first losses, 23-12 and 22-13. Allison Moon hit a home run during the win over Action Mortgage.

Home Run Construction has won three out of its last four games, also for a 4-2 record and last week got two home runs from Breanna Marlow and a home run and double by Allie Riggin during one of last week’s two wins.

Arby’s in the 10U Division improved to 6-0. Bank of Fairfield is 3-0 in its reported games and three others have one loss.

During last week’s games, Arby’s won 25-9, 24-3 and 19-4.

Other highlights included a home run by Molly McIntyre and triples by Bree Baslington and Julie Schmedding in a win by Old Country Buffet.

Shayna Pesch hit a grand slam home run and Alyssa Rothmund also homered for Eljay Oil.