CV, EV qualify for State AA championships

One day, current Central Valley and East Valley AA American Legion baseball team players may join forces and help the Senior League Cannons play in a state tournament.

As of now both teams can be content in that knowledge that they will do so separately next week. The two teams are among four league qualifiers to the 16-team State AA championships in Spokane.

Spokane Athletic Supply (CV) and East Valley played each other this week in the four-team district championships, along with Shadle Park and Colville, for division and overall league championships.

Spokane Athletic was already in as a host team, but coach Jerod Crowley said it was important for the team to reach district.

“We didn’t want to walk our way into state,” he said. “We wanted to earn our way even though we’re the host team. It’s been on our minds since day one.”

SAS led the South Division from the outset before faltering at season’s end and sharing the title with Kimmel Athletic (University) and Lewis and Clark with 16-4 records.

Relegated to third seed by tiebreaker criteria, SAS eliminated Pullman 9-4, Scott Froelich with four hits, two of them doubles, and Kris Henderson with three and also with a double.

The CV group then ousted U-Hi in two straight, 10-8 and 6-2. Henderson pitched the first win and had two more hits, both doubles. Pitcher Jake Swantko improved to 8-2 with the second-game win.

East Valley had a similar late-season swoon, losing four straight games to finish 12-8 and fourth, but knocked out Medical Lake 14-9 and swept top-seeded LC, 10-5 and 5-0, to earn a state berth.

Eric Johnson had three hits, including a double and home run, in leading the way over Medical Lake.

Brice Parker had three hits, including a double and drove in three runs during the first win over LC. Gerry Kelley pitched a two-hit shutout in the second win, and Spencer Shaw had three hits, including a double.

Crowley’s CV team went 34-8 for the year, winning the league’s July 4th tournament, taking third in the Cranston Tournament in Coeur d’Alene and winning four games on a trip to the Puyallup area.

Froelich, he said, was “lights out” offensively and on the mound. Brady Black played and hit well at second base and leadership by multi-sport veterans Kyle Renz and Henderson was key.

“If not for deep pitching staff we wouldn’t have been as successful,” said Crowley. “We feel it was one of our strengths all year.”

Central Valley will be the site of one of the two eight-team double elimination brackets for the AA tourney, which begins July 31. Mead will host the other tourney and join the Valley teams and either Shadle or Colville at state.

It is the second year for the expanded tournament.

“We’ve got 120 teams in the state,” said senior commissioner Dennis Thompson. “Everybody wanted more opportunity to participate.”

Cannons finish with flourish

Spokane Valley Cannons finished with a flourish to earn second seed in the American Legion Senior (AAA) League playoffs.

The CV-EV-WV combine, with a player each from Freeman and St. Michael’s, won its final five league games and seven of last nine for an 11-9 record, four games behind the league champion Bandits.

Among the Cannons’ victories were a 14-7 win over the Bandits, three wins over the Blue Devils, including 8-7. Twelve of the team’s 16 hits against the Bandits were divided evenly among Stewart Davis (CV), Mike Marlow and Kyle Arnold (both WV) and Travis Henderson. Davis homered.

Trailing 5-2 against the Blue Devils, the Cannons scored five times in the fifth inning and scored the winner in the bottom of the seventh. Davis had two more hits.

The division playoffs began Tuesday and continue tonight through Sunday. Winner of the five-team tournament qualifies for American Legion Senior State in Yakima next weekend.

Youth served for U-Hi

Not far removed from their playing days, a trio of former University High baseball players has a team of current and future Titans in the State Colt tournament.

Brett Neste, class of 2002, Nate Schroeder, ‘03 and Chase Earling, who ceased playing with his graduation in June, coached the Colt team to a 24-4 record and one of three Spokane teams headed to Mt. Vernon for state the weekend of July 31.

U-Hi won its division of the youngest American Legion affiliated league, beat West Valley in the opening playoff and after a 6-4 loss against Lewis and Clark in their best-of-three series, finished with 11-1 and 12-2 wins to earn a state berth.

On Monday the team lost to Gonzaga Prep for top seed to state. LC, said Neste, is the third qualifier.

“We had Blaine Waldrop on the hill and he two-hit G-Prep,” said Neste. “But they also two-hit us, and it came down to who made the most errors.”

Pitching and hitting by freshmen-to-be Dan Jordan, Tyler Olson and Tom Peterson have been a team strength, as have been the offensive contributions of Chris Sothen and Tyler Ford, Neste said.

“Those are guys you can count on for big hits,” he said. “Tommy Peterson is just a power hitter, flat-out. He’s hit seven or eight home runs over fences. Chris has had clutch hits in key situations all year.”

So what’s it like coaching players just three-to-five years younger than you?

“It’s both an advantage and disadvantage,” Neste said. “It’s cool you can relate to those kids, but they also tend to test you more. They know you’re young and maybe a little more lenient.”

But, he added, a relaxed atmosphere resulted in an outstanding season.

Qualchan ladies go for title

Ladies club golfers from The Creek at Qualchan recently completed three weeks of 18-hole club championship competition.

Winners were determined by compiling the best two of three low gross scores.

Diane Joss was overall winner with a 169 total. Donna Hanke had low net of the field with 140.

Flight winners included Lita Karsten with 178 and D’Lee Dilliner with 179 in championship flight. Low net was Joan Rogers with 145.

In first flight, Cathy Garber took low gross with 198, two shots better than Debbe Adams. Low net went to Aiko Minata with 157.

Second flight low gross winner was Joyce Stout with 206. Jean Carrier and Priscilla Morrison tied for first low net with a 154.