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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

State baseball

The Spokesman-Review

4A/3A

Where/When: Cheney Stadium, Tacoma, today and Saturday

4A semifinals: Cascade (Everett) vs. Richland, 4 p.m. Skyline vs. Henry M. Jackson, 7 p.m. Championship: Saturday, 7 p.m.

3A semifinals: Mark Morris vs. O’Dea, 10 a.m. Kelso vs. Columbia River, 1 p.m. Championship: Saturday, 4 p.m.

2A/1A/B

Where/When: Yakima County Stadium and Parker Field, today and Saturday

2A semifinals: Pullman (22-2) vs. Blaine (14-7-1), 4 p.m. Chewelah (19-6) vs. Lakewood (19-5), 7 p.m., Parker Field. Championship: Saturday, 4 p.m. Yakima County Stadium.

Fast Facts: Rare double appearance by the Great Northern League. The Greyhounds were state champions in 2001 and overall are making their 13th state trip. Chewelah is making its third state appearance, the last in 1997. Blaine, in its 14th tourney, was fourth in 1998. Lakewood was last year’s state runner-up, its third second-place finish in four previous trips.

1A semifinals: University Prep (13-5) vs. Brewster (18-0-2), 4 p.m. Newport (24-0) vs. Kalama (15-5), 7 p.m., Yakima County Stadium. Championship: Saturday, 1 p.m., Yakima County Stadium.

Fast Facts: It’s been 30 years since Newport’s other state appearance. Compare that to Brewster, making its 23rd state trip with a dozen top-three finishes. The Bears have placed third the past three years, have won four state titles in B and 1A classifications and have been in the finals three other times. University Prep is in its first tourney and final four and Kalama its 11th tournament, including appearances as a B school.

B semifinals: Lind-Ritzville (22-2) vs. DeSales (20-3), 10 a.m., Yakima County Stadium. Northport (19-3) vs. Wahkiakum (16-5), 1 p.m., Yakima County Stadium. Championship: Saturday, 10 a.m., Yakima County Stadium.

Fast facts: The Broncos are in tough. DeSales is in a league of its own when it comes to baseball. The Irish are 63-6 and have won 12 of the last 13 state titles and 13 overall, with 17 top-three finishes in 25 tournament appearances. Lind-Ritzville is its 13th different District 7 state opponent. DeSales has not lost to a District 7 foe in 28 previous meetings. The Broncos are in their third state tourney, finishing fourth in 1993 and losing in the second round of the 1A last year to eventual champion Okanogan. Northport, fourth in 2002, is making its seventh state baseball appearance as is opponent Wahkiakum, a team that reached last year’s quarterfinals.