Titans baseball win heats up GSL race

First place was on the line for University in Tuesday’s Greater Spokane League baseball and softball games.

A stirring rally lifted Titan baseball (11-2) to an 11-7 win over Ferris for a share of first place with the Saxons and Mead.

Softball wasn’t as fortunate, losing 11-0 to powerhouse Shadle Park to drop two games behind the unbeaten Highlanders.

GSL baseball was already close before the Titans made it even closer. Trailing Ferris 4-1 after four innings, they clawed back with a six-run fifth.

Nick Burger opened the inning with an infield hit and Dan Jordan singled behind him. Following a walk, Tyler Olson‘s infield ground plated a run and a walk, the second of Connor Brooks‘ three hits, force out, wild pitch and single by Mike Conrad completed the rally.

A walk and grounder to the right side by Jordan scored another run in the sixth and back-to-back doubles by Brooks and Aaron LaPlante and a single by Conrad produced three more runs in the seventh.

Pitchers Travis Lewis and Billy Moon held Ferris at bay.

It was like Conrad told him earlier, said coach Don Ressa. The baseball gods were aligned in U-Hi’s favor.

“The best catcher in the GSL (U-Hi’s Kenny VanSickle) is out with pneumonia,” said Ressa. “Last year when we played Ferris he was out with an injury and we won 3-2.”

LaPlante, an Oregon transfer, has only recently found his way in the lineup. He drove in three runs with two hits and a ground out.

“He makes contact so you gotta give him a chance,” said Ressa. “He’s solid in there.”

With U-Hi’s win, West Valley (10-3), which won a pivotal 3A game in Clarkston, 8-1, moved to within a game of the leaders.

Last week West Valley completed a sweep of one-run games against the Bears, 5-4, getting five shutout pitching innings by Matt Peterson and winning on Mitch Phillips‘ fifth-inning RBI single. Tuesday Greg Bradley pitched the victory and hit a home run among three hits. Justin Marlow had two homers and Casey Sherrill two hits.

Next up for Central Valley (7-8), a 3-2 winner over Lewis and Clark, is two games against the Titans, beginning today. The Bears are seventh in league and fifth among 4A district hopefuls.

East Valley (5-10), despite a continuing hot bat by Tanner Hamilton who went 2-for-3, lost 4-3 to Mt. Spokane and 6-5 to Gonzaga Prep despite Brady Brunelle‘s 3-run home run. The Knights need to win their three remaining games to overhaul Clarkston for a 3A district playoff berth.

After its softball loss to Shadle, only one game separates second-place U-Hi (11-2) from Central Valley (10-3). The two meet the last game of the season.

The Bears are on a tear. They defeated Mead 14-4 on Mickenzie Alden‘s 4-for-4, two triple, six RBI day and 3-for-3 by Kati Bronson, and have won 10 of their last 11 games.

East Valley (3-11) and West Valley (2-11) are among three teams vying for two district 3A spots. Both lost on Tuesday.

Division track near end

The last of Greater Spokane League divisional track meets is today with overall placing meets scheduled for next Wednesday and Thursday.

East Valley and Central Valley boys are in the championship quadrangular meet for the second straight year.

The Knights and Mead (both 4-0) square off in Clarkston today for the National Division title. The Bears have been a top four league finisher every year since 2000.

They improved to 4-1 last week, storming past Shadle Park 103-42 to secure second in the National Division behind Lewis and Clark. The Tigers had edged the Bears by a point when they met to open the year.

Last weekend the Knights nipped the Bears 78-77 to win the Mooberry Relays at Rogers. EV’s girls finished second.

Anthony Laborin continues among the GSL’s top sprinters for the Knights, winning the 100 and 200 during last week’s dual win over Rogers. Sam Hale won the intermediate hurdles and Scott Bunkelman won the long jump. They were joined by Bryce Fisher in winning the 400 relay in 43.6 at the Mooberry.

EV long jumpers Eleaya Schuerch and Morgan Dunning, discus throwers McKenzie Carter and Lyndzie Johnson combined for their respective two-person titles. So too did U-Hi shot putters Dana McClendon and Evelyn Baker.

Carter and Johnson were both over 120-feet during last week’s dual competition.

In U-Hi’s meet against North Central and Clarkston, Katie Hawkins tied the GSL record with an 11-6 pole vault and McClendon put the shot 42-6.

Other efforts of note were by a pair of freshmen. Alyssa Wold high jumped 5-3 for West Valley and Madeline Fuchs ran 47.0 in the 300 low hurdles.

Soccer taut to the end

The fact that Greater Spokane League soccer outcome is going down to the final day of the season is no surprise.

Before league started it was generally acknowledged that any number of teams could win the GSL title, and seven were in the hunt, including defending co-champions East and Central Valley.

This year’s Bears faltered the past couple weeks, but they will have a say Friday at EV in who does win the league.

The Knights, who negotiated a tough four-game stretch, losing once and winning in a shootout, held a one-point lead over Ferris and were up by two points entering the final two matches of the season.

“It’s a big game,” said Ben Funkhouser of the season-ender. “Especially after how close it was last year.”

Close describes this season. It has to date included 10 games decided by shootouts and three more in overtime, with 27 of 77 matches decided by a goal.

Central Valley won one match and lost two by shootout, and by 2-1 scores in its last two outings, including to rival University. The Titans lost two of three shootouts as well.

East Valley’s only loss came in overtime 3-2 to Cheney followed by a 3-2 shootout win over Lewis and Clark, the Tigers third such shootout setback.

Mead won three times in shootouts and a couple more in OT. And its only loss, to EV, was by a goal.

There was the possibility of more of the same this week, including Friday’s CV at EV final, which could affect the final standings.

Then it’s on to the district playoffs next week with all four Valley teams involved, East Valley (10-1) and West Valley (2-9) in 3A, Central Valley (6-5) and University (5-6) in 4A.

Christian Holloway scored twice a little over two minutes apart for a second-half comeback by U-Hi over the Bears. Earlier in the week the Titans lost 3-0 to North Central.

EV had scored twice in the first five minutes for a 2-1 lead over Cheney, but lost in OT, then rallied behind Cole Abramson‘s two goals to force the shootout and eventual win at LC.

WV beat Clarkston 3-0 in a 3A position match, Neil Bachman with a first-half hat trick.

Painted Hills clinic

The first of four golf clinics, free for Painted Hills Ladies League members will be conducted Monday from 12:30 to 1 p.m. and again from 7 to 7:30.

New owner, head golf pro Tim McElhinny, will offer instruction on putting and pitching.

Members of the Ladies League receive a special golf and 10 percent off pro shop purchases as well. To join, call 954-7329.