Titans continue decade of championship runs

Three coaches, eight different pitchers and a host of position players have passed through University High’s softball program. But the end result for the past decade has been the same.

By attending to detail and fundamentals, the Titans, for the 10th straight year, will conclude their season at the State 4A tournament.

“Maybe there’s an expectation that the girls have about where we want to be,” said Jon Schuh, U-Hi’s coach since 2000, who is making his sixth state trip in as many years. “And with veteran teams and newbies, each one has found a way to get there.”

U-Hi has won or shared eight league softball championships since 1992 and not finished lower than second place in the 14 years of Greater Spokane League fastpitch softball.

There have been some high profile programs competing in the state tournament. Seven, including three-time placer Prairie, are returning from last year. But none have been there as many times as U-Hi.

The Titans have compiled a 15-16 overall record with a state title in 2003. Although, said Schuh, it would be nice to have won more than just that one trophy, the Titans have longevity going for them.

“One thing is, we’ve had pretty good athletes come out,” said Schuh. “Where other teams are blessed with maybe more pure softball players, we don’t necessarily have that. We’ve had a good mix.”

In her third state tournament, Angie Boardman leads the team in hitting with a .554 average and in power, sophomore transfer Ashley Fargher hit .418, second-year starter Tonya Schnibbe .413 and freshman Riki Schiermeister .403

Since losing leadoff hitter Schiermeister to a knee injury, the offense sputtered in postseason. But the Titans won three 1-0 playoff victories to maintain tradition and nearly won a fourth before finishing second last weekend in the Region IV tournament.

They led Shadle Park 1-0 with two outs in the seventh of the title game before losing 2-1 in its sixth finals appearance.

“We had luck on our side all the way through until that game,” said Schuh. “(In district) we had a girl hit in the helmet on a botched hit and run to score against Mead. We botched another hit and run, get a delayed steal and true base hit against Shadle,” said Schuh. “(At regional) of our 13 hits against Pasco, probably seven were absolute bleeders. We only had one hit against Southridge.”

But defense and pitching proved to be enough in weathering taut games. Linse Vlahovich, the GSL strikeout leader, came within two outs of a perfect game in beating Southridge.

Schnibbe, Schiermeister’s replacement at first base, made some big plays in that game and U-Hi recorded a triple play against Shadle.

The Titans open state play against first-time qualifier Decatur, 1 p.m. at SERA fields in Tacoma on Friday in a tournament where low scoring games are the norm.

“The nice thing about it is we’ve played in tight games,” said Schuh. “We’ve been in pressure situations and had to make plays. More than any team I’ve had, we’ve done that.”

Track athletes carry on

West Valley sprinter Marc Smith set a school record, Central Valley distance runner Sean Coyle and University freshman shot putter Dana McLendon approached them en route to qualifying for their respective state track meets.

The athletes, among a host of local performers, will be in Pasco, and for smaller schools in Cheney, Friday and Saturday as the spring sports season winds down.

Smith wiped out a 400-meters school record that stood for over three decades with a 49.61 time in the 3A regional meet last weekend. He also helped the Eagles 1,600 relay team to state.

CV sophomore Coyle ran 9:22.52 for 3,200 meters in the 4A meet, .3 off a school record that has stood for 38 years.

McLendon put the shot 41-feet to finish second, 11 feet farther than her second-place finishing middle school throw a year ago. She’s a foot away from U-Hi’s school record.

Other Titan state qualifiers are 300 hurdler Kellen Lewis, second by less than .1 second in regional at 38.72, shot put/discus thrower Michael Kelley, the discus champion with a 160-2 throw, and Victoria Benson, who timed 15.55 in the 100 hurdles.

Besides Coyle, CV 400 runner Derrick Schuh, discus thrower Steve Walsh and 5-4 high jumper Hailey Ficklin advanced.

West Valley state qualifiers are long and triple jump champion Rashad Toussaint, discus winner Kevin Lemieux, late-surging 100 sprinter Megan Price and 3,200 runner Larsen Agee.

East Valley’s boys finished first and the girls were second during 3A regional competition. Between them they advance three relay teams to state, plus six individuals.

Chris Shearer won the high jump and, with teammate Cody Irby, qualified in the javelin. Dave Howard, who won the shot put at 53-6, Anthony Laborin in the 200 and Keith Holt in the 400 also advanced. Holt is part of the team’s state 1,600 relay qualifier.

Eleaya Schuerch in the long jump and the Knights girls 400 and 800 relays teams go on.

EV just missed state berths in eight events because only the top two qualified. Another near miss was West Valley shot putter Emily Sasse, who finished third despite a 40-foot throw.

Freeman advances Malcolm Soelberg and Kevin Hatch in three events each to the 1A state meet. Bryan Riggs in the 400, Jake Hamilton and Michael Wittwer in the javelin and discus, Maeve Sayres in the 800 and 1,600, Jenessa Miller in 100 hurdles, Jesse DePell in the long jump and pole vault and three relay teams also will be there.

Valley Christian’s Erica Hattamer qualified for State B in the 400 and pole vault as did the boys 1,600 relay team of Justin McNamara, Vitaliy Kozubenko, Vitaliy Zubkov and Will Hattamer.

CV soccer season ends

It was a bittersweet ending to the best season in Central Valley boys soccer history.

The Bears were beaten 2-0 in Pasco in a physical state playoff contest on Saturday. Both goals came following free kicks because of fouls.

“We had trouble all season when we gave away stupid fouls and gave (teams) chances,” said coach Brandon Deyarmin.

But there were enough fouls to go around by both sides in the Bears’ first appearance in the State 4A quarterfinals.

“I went into this thinking either way (win or lose) I’m happy where we’ve been,” said Deyarmin. “There’s no getting our heads down. You want to get to the next level and play in the final four, but it’s all right. There’s always another day.”

Lilac Soccer Classic

Sixty teams, including 600 athletes competed in the recent Lilac Festival Soccer Classic, hosted at Plante’s Ferry Park complex by the Express Soccer Club.

Galaxy beat Spitfire 8-2 in the Boys U-10 Division, Spitfires beat the Mustangs 3-1 in U-12.

In the Girls U-10 Division, Steelers beat the Tornadoes 5-2 and in a two-overtime contest, the Flames beat the Jelly Beans 3-2.