Locally

Shadow U-16 girls 2nd in national final

The Spokane Shadow U-16 girls team allowed just one goal in five matches, but had to settle for second in the U-15 division of the Super Y-League North American Finals in Tampa, Fla., last week.

Playing in a division in which most of the teams were U-16 because of age-group breakdowns, the Shadow lost a dramatic championship match to the Chicago Magic on penalty kicks after a scoreless 100 minutes – regulation and two overtime periods.

The Shadow won its group with a 2-1 record to qualify for the semifinals, but suffered a 1-0 loss to Chicago in the first round. Spokane then defeated the Edmonton (Alberta) Force 2-0, Santa Rosa (Calif.) United 1-0 and used a late second-half goal to defeat the Pennsylvania state champions, Penn’s Forest, 1-0 to earn a rematch with the Chicago Magic.

Shadow goalkeeper Elizabeth Boyden (Ferris) twice denied Chicago in the first half. The second half was all Shadow as Spokane applied the pressure, but couldn’t beat Magic keeper Vicki Traven. Forward Tiara Pittman (Mt. Spokane) came close twice and midfielder Jaimey Etten (Mead) saw a last-minute shot glance off the post. Late in the second overtime, Pittman was again denied from close range.

In the shootout, Traven stopped three straight penalty kicks to seal the victory for Chicago.

Spokane, which qualified for the finals by winning the Northwest Division with a 14-0 record, had just two subs – 13 players – because of injuries.

Other Shadow players: Ali Fenter (Shadle Park), Kaitlyn Whitfield (Cheney), Jackie Hakes (Mead), Katy Sloyer (University), Chelsea Jones (Mt. Spokane, injured), Aubrey Bot (Lewis and Clark), Rachel Lowe (Richland, injured), Marissa Mykines (Mead, injured), Danny Raczykowski (Ferris), Angie Hughes (Mead), Abby Goss (U-Hi), Sophi Johnson (Gonzaga Prep) and Nicole Ervin (Shadle Park, injured).

Jeff Robbins is the coach.

Baseball

Luke Farden, a freshman pitcher at Community Colleges of Spokane, has signed a national letter of intent to play for Dayton University next fall, CCS coach Dave Keller announced.

Farden was an All-Eastern Region first-team selection and NWAACC All-Conference second team after compiling a 9-1 record with a 2.19 ERA in 86 innings. He struck out 68 and walked 18 with three complete games. Teammate Shawn Gyzinski earlier also signed with Dayton.

Basketball

West Valley High School will conduct its first boys alumni game and honor three former successful coaches Dec. 28 at 5 p.m. at the school.

Jud Heathcote, Duane Ranniger and Joe Feist will be honorary coaches. All alumni players are encouraged to participate.

Heathcote, who won an NCAA national championship at Michigan State, was at WV from 1951-64 and had four state qualifiers; Ranniger coached from 1973-82 with two state placers; and Feist from 1987-98 with three state tournament teams, including a third, highest finish in school history.

Current coach Jamie Nilles asks former Eagles wishing to participate to contact him at 922-5488, 998-8433 or by e-mail at Jamie.nilles@wvsd.com.

Former Gonzaga University coach Dan Fitzgerald will be the announcer and master of ceremonies.

College scene

University of Maine junior Shelly Seipp from Rogers, who was second in the conference in assists (944) and aces per game (0.57), was an All-America East first-team selection in volleyball. It was Seipp’s first postseason honor.

Amy Lawson from Coeur d’Alene (Lake City), a Maine freshman, was named to the conference All-Rookie team. She was third in the league in blocks per game (0.97).

•Former North Idaho College players Kara Kiefer from Rathdrum (Lakeland) and Tiana Maua from Spokane (Lewis and Clark) helped Tennessee State to the best volleyball season in the program’s 18-year history and earned second-team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors.

TSU finished 22-11 overall, 14-2 as OVC co-champions, the first title in program history.

Maua, who also made the All-OVC newcomer team, had 188 kills, 223 digs and team highs with 1,046 assists and 64 aces. Kiefer was second on the team with 277 kills and 299 digs and also had 36 aces and 52 blocks.

•Heidi Horoboiwski, an Eastern Oregon senior from Mt. Spokane, was named most valuable player of the Martin Group Judson College women’s basketball tournament in Elgin, Ill., last weekend after leading the Mountaineers to the title.

The 5-foot-7 guard, who led EOU with 19 points in the title-game win, shot 60 percent (19 of 32) in two wins, including 3 for 3 from 3-point range.

EOU sophomore reserve Sheena Henderson from Coulee City shared team rebounding honors in the championship game with 11 and added seven points.

Golf

Highlights from the inaugural Sterling Savings Bank Shoot-Out, held earlier this fall at Stoneridge Golf Club in Blanchard, Idaho, will be televised today from noon-12:30 p.m. on KXLY, Channel 4.

The Shoot-Out featured a field of 36 local competitors who qualified through various amateur club tournaments held during the summer in conjunction with the Toyota Series of Golf.

Highlights from the Sterling Savings Bank Shoot-Out also will air again on KXLY-TV on Dec. 4 at 4:30 p.m.

Softball

Roger Peterson, a 36-year veteran who has umpired in eight Amateur Softball Association national tournaments, received the F. Bruce Campbell Award at the Spokane Softball Umpires Association banquet.

Named for the late former Spokane umpire in chief, the award recognizes longevity, dedication and service to softball umpiring in Spokane and excellence.

Other award winners: Terry Daly (Umpire of the Year-Adult), Dave Berghammer and Dallas Williams (Umpire of the Year-Youth), Mike Yellin (Rookie of the Year-Adult), Krista Osterwyk and Kayla Reilly (Rookie of the Year-Youth), Gale Hart (Most Improved-Adult), Joe Horner (Most Improved-Youth) and Clint Nelson (Presidential Pride).