Quick hits
LOOKING AHEAD
The GSL schedules over the next seven days display a mixed bag. Softball features matchups between the top teams and teams lower in the standings. Baseball highlights some must-win games for playoff contenders. Boys soccer has a showdown for first place.
GSL games of interest
Softball
Friday, Central Valley at Shadle Park, 4 p.m.
The CV Bears are on a six-game winning streak (going into today’s game vs. Rogers) after losing their first two games. But one of those was 6-2 to the Shadle Highlanders in a game CV led 2-1 after four innings. Both teams should make the 4A district playoffs, so another game could be in the offing.
Baseball
Tuesday, Shadle Park vs. Ferris, 7 p.m. Avista Stadium
East Valley’s 6-1 win over Ferris on Tuesday threw any preconceived notions about the GSL into a cocked hat. So the Shadle-Ferris game looms big for both, but they must first get past this week’s twin games first. Shadle plays a desperate Central Valley today and Friday, and Ferris hosts Clarkston in a doubleheader tomorrow.
Boys soccer
Wednesday, Central Valley at Ferris, 5 p.m.
First place will be on the line when the unbeaten Bears travel against the Saxons. Ferris, which played at Shadle Park on Wednesday, was on a six-match winning streak since its season-opening loss to Mt. Spokane. The Bears put their perfect GSL record on the line Friday night at home against dangerous East Valley.
Track
It’s the second week of GSL track meets, with the Ferris girls at Mead and the North Central girls at East Valley probably the most interesting matchups. But the real focus this week is the 44th Pasco Invitational. For the most part, Pasco features the best of the best, although the 10-time champion Mead boys are making their annual trek to Centennial in Portland, which conflicts this year.
LOOKING AROUND
The GSL will honor its Scholar/Athlete award winners during a luncheon today at the Ridpath Hotel. Each year the GSL recognizes a male and female from each of its 14-member schools who excel in the classroom, in the community and in athletics. This year’s winners are: Cheney – Conrad Martin, 3.936 GPA, track, football and basketball, and Rebecca DeCoria, 4.0 GPA, valedictorian, basketball, soccer and cheerleading; Central Valley – Tommy Kadoya, 3.63 GPA football, basketball, track, soccer, and Katee Nauert, 3.988 GPA basketball, softball and cross country; Clarkston – Jason Curtis, 3.9 GPA, football, basketball and tennis, and Kathryn DeVleming, 4.0 GPA, class valedictorian, soccer, basketball and softball; East Valley – George Hamilton, 3.6 GPA, football, basketball, baseball and band, and Lauren Conard, 4.0 GPA and class valedictorian, volleyball, basketball and track; Ferris – Kyle Yonago, 3.9 GPA, wrestling, soccer and football, and Tori Crain, 3.9 GPA, four-year soccer player; Gonzaga Prep – Michael Skansgaard, 3.987 GPA, cross country and track, and Jessica Miller, 3.855 GPA, basketball and soccer; Lewis and Clark – Chad Bemis, 3.93 GPA, football and basketball, and Whitney Porter, 4.0 GPA and valedictorian, cross country and track; Mead – Michael Hoover, 4.0 GPA, basketball and soccer, and Michele Hegg, 3.929 GPA, soccer and track; Mt. Spokane – Edwin Miller, 3.88 GPA, football, basketball, tennis, and Shiloh Deitz, 4.0 GPA and valedictorian, track and cross country; North Central – Jacob Aspenleiter, 3.979 GPA, football, basketball, baseball, and Stephanie Whitaker, 4.0 GPA and valedictorian, track and cross country; Rogers – Brad Steinmetz, 3.89 GPA, football, wrestling, track and sports medicine, and Whitney Parker, 4.0 GPA, basketball, softball, soccer; Shadle Park – Andrew Largent, 3.8 GPA, football, wrestling, basketball, soccer, and Stephanie Underhill, 4.0 GPA, cross country and track; University – Joey Korn, 3.92 GPA, wrestling, and Jami Bjorklund, 3.97 GPA, basketball; West Valley – Chris Vennum, 4.0 GPA, and valedictorian, cross country and track, and Megan Stantus, 3.479 GPA, basketball and soccer. … Rashad Toussaint, fresh off his state-record 50-8 3/4 triple jump last week, won the triple and long jumps at the 25-team Missoula Invite last weekend, shattering records in both, including a PR and state best 23-11 in the long jump. WV teammate Kevin Lemieux won the discus at 157-8. … Yes, the wind probably helped, but maybe the wind also blew in 1916 when Evan Pearson ran a NC-record 10.7 in the 100. Shane Thomas of NC ran a 10.6 last Thursday… . Speaking of school records, Newport’s Tony Yeaw broke a 40-year-old record with an electronic 10.94 at last Saturday’s Freeman Invite.