Quick hits

Looking ahead

This is it. The state tournaments. The end of the sports year in preps. And once again the Greater Spokane League will be well represented.

There may not be a GSL baseball team still playing, but there are two softball teams in the hunt, including defending champion University and regular-season titlist Mead.

And there are two soccer teams at the state semifinals with both having thoughts of two more wins. Add that to the multiple athletes at the state 4A/3A track meet in Pasco and at the tennis tournaments in Spokane (4A) and UW (3A).

Then the year is done.

Greater Spokane League events of interest

Boys soccer

State 4A semifinal

Juanita (11-4-4) vs. Lewis and Clark (18-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Doc Harris Stadium in Camas

LC defeated Kentwood 1-0 in a 2002 semifinal before losing to Decatur in the title match. The Tigers, ranked No. 8 by national coaches, boast a 51-5 record during the last three seasons. LC’s scoring leaders are C.J. Moe (19 goals, eight assists), Stefan Andersson (12, four), Brandon Darnell (nine, seven), Skye Henderson (seven, nine) and Matt Harnetiaux (seven, seven). LC has outscored rivals 63-15 and is 5-0 in overtime. … The other semifinal will match fourth-ranked Bellarmine Prep (16-0-2) against Snohomish (13-1-2).

State 3A semifinal

Mt. Rainier (15-4-1) vs. Cheney (17-5), 3 p.m. Friday at Doc Harris

Cheney qualified for its first semifinal by avenging an earlier loss to Sunnyside. Seniors Chad Thornton (18 goals, 15 assists) and Patrick Folsom (nine, eight) lead the Blackhawks. Four of Cheney’s losses were to Class 4A teams, including LC and District 8 champion Ferris. Mt. Rainier has posted 13 consecutive wins since putting Dustin Epler in goal. Steve Pirotte and Ruben Orosco lead the team with 16 goals apiece. Three of Mt. Rainier’s losses were forfeits for using an ineligible player. … The other semifinal will match Wesco South Division rivals Shorecrest (11-3-4) and Meadowdale (16-1-1).

For more on the soccer teams, see Friday’s edition.

Softball

State 4A tournament

University (21-4) vs. Skyview (20-3); Mead (22-2-1) vs. Sumner (21-7), both 9 a.m. Friday at SERA Fields in Tacoma

The Titans are making their ninth consecutive appearance at the 16-team state tournament but the Storm may be one of their toughest first-round opponents, especially considering they faced off in the semifinals last year, won 3-1 by U-Hi on its way to a state title. Skyview’s three losses this year have all been by a 1-0 score. The Panthers probably will not have ace pitcher Kim Watson available after she suffered a broken thumb in regionals. The Spartans finished third in the South Puget Sound League’s North Division with a 12-5 record, then won the league playoffs before going 2-2 in districts.

Looking around

Irish offer one more hurdle

The big, bad DeSales Irish are standing in Davenport’s way again.

DeSales defeated Davenport 5-3 in last year’s State B baseball championship game. This time around, the teams are matched up for Friday night’s state semifinal at Yakima Valley Community College’s Parker Field.

“We’ve taken our lumps from those guys over the years,” said Gorillas coach Daryl Parsons. “I think we’re 0-6 against them at state.”

Join the crowd, coach. DeSales has won four consecutive state titles and 11 of the last 12. The Walla Walla private school has an 88-9 record in state play.

Davenport finished 22-3 last year with a young team and is 22-4 this season. Parsons said the team picked up steam when pitchers Marty Villa (10-2) and Tyson Linstrum (9-1) cut their walks from one per inning to three per game.

Villa is scheduled to start against DeSales (20-3).

Catcher Ryan Janke (.465, 38 runs batted in), Linstrum (.456) and shortstop Andy Semprimoznik (.429) lead the offense.

The Gorillas are making their 10th appearance at state, with five semifinals in the last nine seasons.

Friday’s other semifinal will feature Mossyrock and Lake Quinault. The title game is set for 1 p.m. Saturday at Yakima County Stadium.

New coach in Bellevue

Former Medical Lake head basketball coach Dave Olzendam was hired by Newport High in Bellevue as its boys basketball coach.

Olzendam compiled a 365-220 record in 24 years of coaching at Coulee-Hartline, Rochester and Medical Lake, where he resigned following the 2002 season. He will replace Jason Marr, who resigned after one season. The Knights were 8-12 overall, 6-7 in KingCo 3A and did not make the conference postseason tournament.

Record-breaking results

At the recent District 7 2A track meet, eight district marks were set by Greater Northern League athletes. Kara Pein of Colville set a record in the girls 400 at 59.7 seconds and teammate Caitlin McGrane added her name to the record book with a 15.2 in the 100 hurdles. Charley Brinkman of Lakeside ran a 45.9 in the 300 hurdles. Phil Hinrichs of Pullman helped the Greyhounds to the team title with two record-breaking runs, a 1:56.8 in the 800 and a 4:21.9 in the 1,600. Teammate Brendon Casselman added a 49.9 in the 400. JD Kottwitz of Medical Lake ran a 14.9 in the 110 hurdles while the Cardinals’ 4x400 relay team posted a 3:27.0. In the team battles, Pullman’s girls romped with 199 points, 83 better than runner-up Lakeside. The Greyhound boys’ margin was tighter, 167-126 over Medical Lake.

Going for four straight

Richland’s Amanda Taylor will try to become the second girl in state history to win four consecutive tennis singles titles this weekend at University High. With a win, Taylor would join Sonja Olejar of Bellarmine Prep, who won between 1989 and 1992. The girls championship match is scheduled for Saturday at noon.

Looking back

This month in 1979: Gonzaga Prep’s Bob Brasch and Lewis and Clark’s Jay Hunt each pitched the distance in the Tigers’ 7-6 victory, clinching LC’s third baseball league title in eight years.