T-Wolves win track regionals

LEWISTON – One stranglehold continued, one was snapped and perhaps two others were birthed on a gorgeous afternoon Friday during the final day of the 5A and 4A Region I track meets at Volmer Bowl.

Lake City’s girls captured a seventh consecutive 5A regional title, lapping the field not once, not twice, but essentially three times. The two-time defending state champion Timberwolves piled up 115 points, well ahead of Lewiston (38.5) and Coeur d’Alene (28.5).

Lake City’s boys ended Lewiston’s string of five straight 5A regional titles, as the Timberwolves tripped the Bengals 76-75. CdA finished with 34.

Moscow’s boys and girls made statements in the 4A meets. The Bears boys tallied 97 points, Sandpoint took second with 78.5, followed by Post Falls (63) and Lakeland (33.5).

The Bears girls defended their regional title, finishing with 105 points, 10 ahead of Post Falls. Sandpoint (45) and Lakeland (22) finished well back.

The top three individuals and winning relays in the 5A meets and the top two individuals and winning relays in the 4A meets advance to state, which will be held Thursday and Friday at Boise State University. A handful of athletes who didn’t earn an automatic state berth did meet qualifying standards. Still, some area teams also will learn Sunday of landing at-large berths.

All the titles in the field events were decided Thursday along with finals in the 3,200 meters and medley relays. So Friday was a day for the spotlight – or in this case, the intense sunshine – to shine on the balance of the running finals.

LC’s girls were truly dominant again Friday. But how can one say this as politically correct as possible? There wasn’t much competition.

Take, for example, the 100- and 300-meter hurdles. Just T-Wolves took to the starting blocks in both races.

LC won all eight events on Thursday and the pattern continued much the same on Friday.

Leading the way – as she has the past four years – was senior long-distance ace Breanna Sande, who capped her stellar regional career in track with three more individual titles. She also ran a leg on the winning medley relay the day before.

After winning the 3,200 on Thursday, Sande added titles in the 1,600 (5 minutes, 15.1 seconds) and 800 (2:23.7).

Sande, who is headed to BSU, will leave her feet print on the 5A region in both track and cross country. She finishes with 15 regional titles in track out of 15 events and four regional titles in cross country.

Sande said she knew in the back of her mind that she had a string of success at regionals going, but she hadn’t given it much thought prior to Friday.

“It couldn’t happen to a nicer kid,” LC coach Kelly Reed said. “She handles all the success extremely well. She’s humble – probably to a fault.”

LC’s boys relied on depth to knock off the speedy Bengals. While Lewiston won 10 events to the T-Wolves’ five, LC prevailed by the slimmest of margins as it scored points in 17 of 18 events. The T-Wolves were shut out in the pole vault.

LC’s regional title was its first since 1999 – the year before Lewiston started its streak.

Lewiston coach Wade Hillman, who announced his retirement from teaching and coaching before the season, took the outcome in stride.

“We just didn’t have the depth that we’ve had in the past,” said the 18-year head coach who has been coaching track since 1969. “I’m not disappointed at all. We’re going to go to state and do well. We had (personal bests) everywhere. All good things must come to an end.”

In 4A, Moscow coach Dean Walker has a lofty goal next week – a state title for the girls.

The Bears’ Allix Lee-Painter captured the 800 (2:18.9) and 1,600 (5:16.8) and Meredith Dolny added victories in 100 (16.57) and 300 (48.48) hurdles.

Other top performances on a sun-kissed day were: Reny Follett of Lewiston in the 400 (49.34); Michael Armon of CdA in the 1,600 (4:26.3), LC’s foursome of Steve Novotny, Garrett Arnold, Kyle Ferebee and Chris Delport in the 400 relay (43.64); and Lewiston’s foursome of Dom Schmidt, David Blinn, Matt Grogan and Follett in the 1,600 relay (3:24.46).

•In the 3A District I meets at Spirit Lake, the defending district champs got out fast.

Timberlake’s boys, behind a pair of one-two finishes in the 3,200 and long jump, posted 34 points for a lead over Kellogg (26) after the first day.

Bonners Ferry’s girls used depth in the 3,200 and a win by Katie Poston in the discus for 41 points and a sizeable lead over Kellogg (24.5) and Priest River (17).

Timberlake’s boys and Bonners Ferry’s girls captured state titles last year.

Frank Lagrimanta (10:06) and Tyler Zwiers (10:15.5) of Timberlake finished one-two in the 3,200 while teammates Eric Lambert and Josh Malloy were one-two in the long jump.

The meet concludes today. The balance of the field events begin at 10, followed by running finals at 11.

The top three individuals and winning relays advance to state.

•In the Idaho 1A Region I meets at Harrison, the defending district champs lead after the first day.

Kootenai’s girls, behind Darcy Collins‘ win in the high and Nikita Amy’s win in the discus, posted 33 points. Troy is in second with 26.

Nezperce’s boys, meanwhile, hold a slim lead with 34 points. Close behind are Troy (32) and Deary (29).

Tony Kraack led Kootenai by winning the pole vault with a leap of 12-0.

The meet concludes today, beginning with the balance of the field events at 10. Running finals will follow at noon.

The top four individuals and top two relays advance to state.

Softball

No. 1 seed Timberlake set the tone early in their 3A District I semifinal game at Spirit Lake, scoring nine runs in the first inning on their way to a 14-0 win over fourth-seeded Kellogg (6-17) in five innings. Kala Allred threw a two-hitter for the Tigers (21-3) with eight strikeouts, while Shanda Masterson hit 4 for 4 and scored three runs. Timberlake will meet St. Maries (20-3) in the 3A District I championship at noon at Timberlake … The second-seeded Lumberjacks earned their spot with a barrage of their own, scoring 10 in the second in a 17-5 victory over Priest River (8-16) in five innings. Rachelle Solom led St. Maries with three hits, while four others added two apiece … In the opening game of the tournament, Kellogg defeated Bonners Ferry 17-0 in five innings. The Wildcats, who scored 11 in the fourth, were led by Sam Pickering‘s two triples and four RBIs. The Badgers finish the season 1-12.

•Lakeland (12-12) will play Skyview (13-12) in a 4A play-in game today at 11:30 a.m. in Fruitland, followed by Lake City (18-9) against Mountain View of Meridian (12-16) in a 5A play-in game at 1:30. The winners of each game will earn berths to next weekend’s state tournaments.

Baseball

Moscow (12-14) earned a 4A play-in spot with a 7-0 win at home Friday over Sandpoint (9-17). The Bears will play Kuna (17-11) today at 4 at Church Field in Lewiston for a state berth. Preceding the 4A game will be a 5A play-in game between Coeur d’Alene (18-7) and Timberline (20-8) at 1.