Locally

Shelton receives All-America honor

Vanessa Shelton, Eastern Oregon University center fielder from Spokane, has been named to the NAIA All-America first team in softball.

The former University High School and Community Colleges of Spokane star, the player of the year in the Cascade Conference, led the league with a .402 batting average, .730 slugging percentage and 51 fielding chances without an error.

In 37 games, the leadoff hitter belted seven home runs, four triples (including an NAIA record-tying three in one game) and 11 doubles. She drove in 25 runs and stole 15 bases without being caught.

Administration

Former Gonzaga University baseball player Bob Finn has been hired as director of alumni relations for his alma mater.

Finn, a West Valley graduate who was captain of the 1988 Bulldogs, the year he graduated from GU, is a biology and health and fitness teacher at University High and also serves as the school’s head boys golf coach.

He replaces Marty Pujolar on the fund-raising arm at GU. Pujolar held the position for 25 years.

Baseball

Two players from the Great Northern League and one from Lake City in Coeur d’Alene are among four who have signed letters of intent with Community Colleges of Spokane.

CCS coach Dave Keller announced the signing of middle infielder Justin Krieger from Pullman, right-handed pitcher AJ Proszek from Chewelah and All-Inland Empire League infielder Tom Barlow from Lake City.

Also signing was Mark Serino, a right-handed pitcher and utility player from Bozeman, Mont.

“The Major League Scouting Bureau will hold an open tryout camp for players 16 and older June 23 beginning at 8:30 a.m. at LaPierre Field in Kennewick.

Players should bring their equipment and pay their expenses, although there is no fee to participate. American Legion players need permission from their coach, manager or post commander. For those younger than 21, a liability waiver and parent’s signature are required and are available at MLB.com or at registration.

Info: Carl Moesche at Carl.Moesche@mlb.com.

Bowling

Whitney Mason, a senior at Shadle Park, and Ryon Cline, a senior at Ferris, have been named to receive $1,000 Jarvis Memorial Scholarships for the 2004-05 school year.

The scholarship fund was created by the Jarvis family to benefit youth bowlers in Spokane County. Recipients are selected for both bowling and academic achievement.

Mason has a 3.8 grade-point average and plans to attend the Art Institute of Seattle with a major in photography. She has been active in student government, school clubs and is a member of the National Honor Society.

Cline has a GPA of 3.8 and plans to attend Spokane Falls Community College. He is also a member of the National Honor Society and has participated on two mission trips.

Both also have won numerous bowling honors and were officers in the programs in which they compete.

College scene

Danielle Ayers-Stamper, a Seattle Pacific junior from LaCrosse, was named the school’s Female Athlete of the Year for 2004-05.

Ayers-Stamper became the 17th female track athlete player to win the university’s top annual award. A four-time NCAA Division II All-American this school year, she won the division’s indoor high jump title and finished second in the heptathlon outdoors.

Jessica Henson, a senior soccer player from University High, received the Falcon Award for Excellence, the school’s highest honor for career achievement in athletics, academics and leadership.

“Cheyanne Stalwick, an Eastern Oregon senior left fielder from Central Valley and Big Bend Community College, won the coaches award for inspiration and devotion to softball at the school.

Also in EOU softball, Hannah Shelley, a junior infielder-designated hitter from Community Colleges of Spokane, finished third in the Cascade Conference with a .380 batting average; senior right fielder Kalli McGilley, University and North Idaho College, hit .307; and junior pitcher Kate Sinnott, CCS, had an 11-5 record and was sixth in the league with a 2.52 earned run average.

“Jody Thomas, a Washington State senior from New Zealand, was named to the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association All-America second team.

The third Cougar in the program’s history to receive a CRCA All-America award, Thomas was a member of the varsity 8.

“Four athletes with Spokane ties have been named to 2004-05 ESPN The Magazine Academic all-district teams.

Rachel Bertholf, a Washington State senior javelin thrower from Mt. Spokane, was named to the District VIII University Division first team for track and field. She graduated last month with a degree in marketing and a 3.74 grade-point average.

Marta Soden, a recent graduate of Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts from Lewis and Clark, was named to the District I College Division at-large team. A rower who received a degree in neuroscience and behavior, she had a 3.98 GPA. She was also a recipient of a 2005 Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association scholar-athlete award and was named to the women’s crew all-conference and academic all-conference teams.

Whitworth landed Aaron Coe and Elaine Heinemann on the District VIII College Division track and field/cross country teams. Both are first-time selections. Coe, from Salinas, Calif., graduated in May with a 4.0 GPA in history, earning Whitworth’s President’s Cup award. Heinemann, from West St. Paul, Minn., is a senior nursing major with a 3.878 GPA.

Fishing

Scott Hodgkinson, 17, of Spokane, and Joey Nania, 14, of Liberty Lake, won their age divisions in the Washington State Junior Bassmasters Tournament last weekend at Banks Lake.

The two will represent the state in the Junior Bassmaster Classic World Championships July 23-25 near Pittsburgh. Each junior will be paired with a professional for the event, which will be held just before the Citgo Bassmaster Classic, the World Series of bass fishing.

Football

Tickets for the Sept. 17 Washington State-Grambling game at Qwest Field in Seattle will go on sale through Ticketmaster outlets beginning Monday at 10 a.m.

Tickets may be purchased by calling (206) 628-0888 or online through www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices range from $17 to $47.

The WSU ticket office has been taking pre-orders for the game and will continue processing orders in conjunction with Ticketmaster until Sept. 9. Tickets purchased the week of the game must be purchased through Ticketmaster.

Single-game tickets for Cougars home games in Pullman will be available starting Aug. 1.

Lawn bowling

Gladys Elmquist of Spokane was on the second-place team in the Northwest Mixed Triples tournament that was dominated by competitors from British Columbia during Memorial Day weekend at the Spokane Lawn Bowling green.

Elmquist teamed with Sandie and Bill Barnes from Vernon, B.C., to finish behind Earl Bloom, John Prier and Diane Pearson from Penticton, B.C. Deni Perry and Bob Miller, both from Spokane, were on the fourth-place team.

Tennis

Kasie King, a three-time All-Greater Spokane League choice from Lewis and Clark, is one of three players who have signed letters of intent with the University of Idaho.

King, who represented LC in the State 4A tournament as a junior, has a 3.8 grade-point average.

Idaho also signed two for its men’s team, Joel Trudel from Bremerton, Wash., a four-time all-league selection and state competitor, and Timothy Huynh from Canberra, Australia, a 2004 high school graduate.