U-Hi reworks batting order in win over WV

Sat., April 15, 2006

By Mike Vlahovich mikev@spokesman.com (509) 927-2180

Coming up

Today

Baseball: Freeman is at Kettle Falls (2), 11 a.m.

Softball: Freeman is at Kettle Falls, noon.

Track: Valley teams are at the Pasco Invitational, 10 a.m. Freeman hosts its Invitational, Central Valley, 10:30 a.m.

Tennis: Freeman hosts Wilbur-Creston, noon.

Monday

Softball: West Valley hosts Mt. Spokane, 4 p.m.

Soccer: University is at Lewis and Clark, East Valley hosts Ferris, West Valley is at Mead, 4 p.m. and Central Valley is at North Central, 5 p.m.

Golf: CV, EV, U-Hi and WV boys are at Downriver, 1 p.m.

Tuesday

Baseball: WV hosts Cheney, EV hosts NC, U-Hi hosts Clarkston, CV hosts Gonzaga Prep and Freeman hosts Liberty, 4 p.m.

Softball: U-Hi is at Rogers, WV hosts Mead, CV hosts LC and EV is at Ferris, 4 p.m.

Boys Tennis: EV hosts Shadle Park, U-Hi is at Clarkston, WV hosts NC and CV is at Cheney, 3:45 p.m. Freeman hosts Sprague-Harrington 3:30 p.m.

Girls Tennis: EV is at Shadle, U-Hi hosts Clarkston, WV is at NC and CV hosts Cheney, 3:45 p.m. Freeman hosts Sprague-Harrington, 3:30 p.m.

Golf: CV, EV, U-Hi and WV girls are at Hangman Valley, 1 p.m. Freeman is at Kettle Falls, TBA.

Wednesday

Soccer: WV is at Clarkston, 4 p.m. U-Hi is at NC 5 p.m. EV is at Cheney, 5:30 p.m., and CV hosts Ferris, 7 p.m.

Girls Golf: CV, EV, U-Hi and WV are at Liberty Lake, 1 p.m. Freeman boys and girls are at Hangman Valley, noon.

There was quite a bit at stake for all concerned when University traveled to West Valley Thursday for a Greater Spokane League high school baseball game. Both teams are vying for a league title. Scouts were scoping out potential recruits. And it is, said Titan catcher Kenny VanSickle, something of a rivalry.

“West Valley, Ferris and us are senior dominated,” he said. “We consider them rivals. Along with Central Valley, these are our big games.”

Playing in that fishbowl and on the road, the Titans (8-2) prevailed 6-4 with a revamped batting order and fewer mistakes. It was their second win of the week, the other 18-1 over Cheney.

“We’ve been tinkering with it for three games,” said coach Don Ressa. “The lineup you saw today is just a couple of days old.”

Compared to the batting order two weeks ago at Mt. Spokane, it’s a dramatic difference. Every starter was in a different spot.

Among the biggest switches were Nick Burger to leadoff from sixth, sophomores Dan Jordan from ninth to second and Tyler Olson from eighth to fifth. Others correspondingly dropped down in the lineup to fill the vacancies.

“I thing we’re finally settling in getting guys in the right places,” Ressa said.

Burger scored twice. VanSickle, up a couple spots, went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs. Jordan had a hit and scored. Olson had two hits and two first-inning runs batted in.

For all that, and a 6-1 deficit, the Eagles (6-2) had a chance to win after capitalizing on mistakes for three runs in the sixth inning. They had Phil Gannon, who had doubled and scored, leading off the seventh followed by the top of the order.

But Titan pitcher Adam Smith, who was masterful, got three successive outs, including his 10th and 11th strikeouts in the game.

“I think our guys were guessing a little bit rather than being hitters,” said WV coach Don O’Neal. “They were saying I’m going to swing at this pitch no matter what, or I’m not going to swing at it.”

It also didn’t help that left-handed pitcher Greg Bradley, who had allowed only three runs in three previous wins, was not on his game.

“I guess you have a day like that, and I feel bad for him,” said O’Neal. “A lot of guys were looking at him. I don’t expect him to do that again.”

West Valley had beaten Gonzaga Prep 14-0 earlier in the week. Central Valley (5-5) split games, beating Shadle Park 7-4 and East Valley (4-6) lost by a run for the second time during the week, 6-5 to first-place Ferris and 9-8 to Mead.

Knights share lead

East Valley’s boys track team remained unbeaten to share the lead with Mead midway through the Greater Spokane League National Division season.

Central Valley positioned itself for a next week’s American Division second-place showdown with Shadle Park.

The Knights (3-0) beat North Central 85-59, piling up 24 of 27 points in the throwing events with two firsts and a second by Tyler Jolley, and getting a double victory from Anthony Laborin in the sprints.

The Bears (2-1) beat Mt. Spokane 93-52 thanks in part to three double winners.

Sean Coyle won the 1,600 in a personal record 4 minutes, 23.9 seconds and 3,200-meter runs. Derek Schuh handled the sprints including 10.7 in the 100. And C.E. Kaiser swept the shot put and discus.

University and West Valley (both 0-3) remained winless, although Titan Kevin Martin (both hurdles, 200 and 1,600 relay) was involved in four wins. They lost to Mead 100-45.

The Eagles lost 85-60 to Shadle Park, with Marc Smith (200-400) and Arton Toussaint (long and triple jumps) both double victors.

All four girls teams were beaten in the Thursday meets, Central Valley to Mt. Spokane 93-57. The loss dropped the Bears (2-1) from a share of first place. Anna Layman won the 100, 400 and long jump.

East Valley (1-2) was nipped 76-74 at North Central. Eleaya Schuerch won both long and triple jumps, the latter at 35-9 ½.

University and West Valley (both 0-3) also lost, the Titans at Mead, the Eagles at Shadle.

Dana McClendon popped a 41-8 shot put for U-Hi. WV sophomore Ashley Kenney won shot put and discus at 34-8 and 109-11.

Big week coming up

Next week will go a long way to determining whether East Valley can repeat its Greater Spokane League soccer championship.

The Knights play second-place Ferris and fourth place Cheney on Monday and Wednesday. They were the league’s lone unbeaten after seven matches entering yesterday’s Friday match against sixth-place North Central.

EV beat winless West Valley 6-1 this past week, Cole Abramson with two goals. Ben Funkhouser had a goal and an assist.

Central Valley’s Jesse Dunbar scored early in the second half as the third-place Bears (6-1) escaped Shadle Park 1-0. The short-handed Bears began a tough four-match run Friday that includes Ferris on Wednesday and rival University on Friday.

The Titans (3-5) lost 4-1 to Cheney on Wednesday and in a shootout, and 2-1 to Gonzaga Prep on Thursday.

Golfers move up

University and Central Valley’s boys golfers moved up in Greater Spokane League standings following the second of five weeks of play.

The Titans finished third at Liberty Lake and moved past the Bears into third place in the standings. First-week leader Clarkston dropped into fifth.

CV’s Nick Grigsby edged the individual field by a stroke to medal at 71. Three U-Hi golfers, juniors Wes Millard, Jack Hluboky and freshman Hank Frame finished in the top 10 with a pair of 75s and a 76.

East Valley’s Josh White shared 10th, also with 76. The Knights are seventh in league.

Central Valley girls remain fourth in league. They were led by Katie Sorenson‘s 76, which placed her third overall. Nicole Barham was ninth at 82.

Tennis to finish round

First phase of the GSL tennis season will end on Tuesday with completion of divisional play.

University girls (4-1) should finish second in the American Division, and EV (3-2) can earn the third seed with a win at Shadle Park.

Titan Kamin Alteneder and Knight Jessica Casebier have lost just once in league. Alteneder beat Casebier 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 when the two met.

West Valley girls face North Central for third place in the National Division.

Although U-Hi boys are winless in the GSL, Josh Steele has won all five of his American Division matches. Central Valley boys have gone 2-3, WV and EV are both 1-4.

Small turnout at Trailhead

The weather medaled during weekly Trailhead Ladies Golf Club competition, keeping the numbers down to eight brave souls. Shirley Rodman, who shot 48, and Sharron Collins, with a net 32, led the way. New member Jeanne Kelly shot 60.

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