Quick hits

LOOKING AHEAD

It’s showdown time in the Greater Spokane League, in softball at least.

By this time next week, the league fastpitch race may have been decided – or could be more muddled.

In other sports, boys soccer’s schedule winds down with a tight race for the top spot, and track athletes look forward to some traditional weekend meets.

GSL games of interest

Baseball

Today, East Valley at Mt. Spokane, 4 p.m.

First of back-to-back games between the EV Knights and league leaders. Knights need split to remain part of a seven-team pack hovering around .500. Wildcats have lost pitcher-outfielder Mark Purser for the season with an arm injury.

Softball

Today, University at Mead, 4 p.m.

Fastpitch is about pitching and the second meeting between two of the GSL favorites will feature two of the league’s best, Mead’s Kim Watson and U-Hi’s Linse Vlahovich.

Tuesday, University at Shadle Park, 4 p.m.

The Titans’ three-game march through the top of the GSL (they host G-Prep on Friday) ends with what could be a showdown for first. This is the only meeting between the teams currently tied atop the GSL’s loss column.

Boys soccer

Monday, Central Valley at U-Hi, 7 p.m.

Next-to-last day of GSL regular season and the rivalry match is always huge, even more so if the CV-Ferris outcome Wednesday resulted in a four-way tie for first place.

Track

Today, Mt. Spokane and Shadle Park at Central Valley, 4 p.m.

Both the Wildcats and the Highlanders enter the meet undefeated, in boys and girls. They won’t leave that way. Most area teams will be in action this weekend at the Mooberry Relays at Rogers or the Riverside Invitational. Mooberry, which begins at 10 a.m., is making a comeback as a quality meet with 12 of the 14 GSL teams entered along with 1A power Freeman, the best athletes from Springdale, plus outsiders Othello and the boys from Glenwood. Riverside’s meet will also include a group of wheelchair athletes competing in the 100 and 200 meters.

LOOKING AROUND

The East-West All-Star high school football game returns to Spokane for the first time in five years. The game, featuring the best seniors from throughout Washington playing for the final time as high schoolers, is Friday, July 1, 7 p.m. at Central Valley. Clarkston’s Dave Curtis will coach the East team and Skyline coach Steve Gervais heads the West. Local players on the East team are Derek Brown from North Central; Jason Curtis, Clarkston; Brett Igbinoba, Cheney; Tommy Kadoya, Central Valley; Brandon Kennedy, Gonzaga Prep; Andy Largent, Shadle Park; Peter Leonard, Clarkston and Josh Shaw, Lewis and Clark. Players will arrive June 26 and practice during the week at CV (East) and East Valley (West) at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. CV and EV coaches Rick Giampietri and Adam Fisher are the All-Star game coordinators. …When she began playing basketball, Ferris’ Stacey Cox said she knew she would one day play in college. It took a fortuitous set of circumstances to find the right fit. Cox will attend Division II Metropolitan State College of Denver. Metro State plays in the 14-school Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, last year going 24-7 and winning the conference tournament. “I’m so excited,” said Cox. She said Metro State coach Dave Murphy had attended a high school tournament in New York, was disappointed in what he saw there and contacted Spokane Stars coach Ron Adams. “He asked if Ron had anything left over,” said Cox. Murphy came to the Spokane Stars Shootout in mid-March and liked what he saw in Cox. She visited Metro State and liked the atmosphere. Metro State is in the same division of the RMAC as Regis University whom the Roadrunners beat for the conference title. University’s Emily Kuipers already announced she will attend Regis. …Bill Bender, who coached two State B girls basketball championship teams at St. George’s, has resigned after four years. Bender accumulated an 89-25 record and reached the state finals each year except this past one. “With the injuries we had this year, Pat Riley wouldn’t have won state,” said Dragons athletic director Ryan Peplinski. “Bill will be missed. The girls were sad to see him go.” Bender’s decision was based upon increased work responsibilities within the Lakeside School District where he is employed.