Freeman softball qualifies for 1A tournament

Freeman’s softball team completed its appointed round by qualifying for the State 1A high school tournament.

The Scotties (13-9) overcame maddening inconsistency to go from third place in league to district champions in delivering their eighth state berth in nine years.

They rallied for a 3-2 victory over Kettle Falls on Monday and beat Colfax 5-1 on Tuesday in a rain-delayed title match.

But, said coach Scott Carolan, the early part of the season was no predictor of Freeman’s postseason success.

“Last year everything was easy. It just happened. When you looked up we won,” Carolan said of a team that came within a game of its third state trophy. “This year we had high expectations, but when you looked up, we lost.”

Although relatively experienced with eight returnees, Freeman would play well and win the first game of a doubleheader with contenders Colfax and Kettle Falls, he said, then would play poorly and lose the second game.

Hitting was a seasonlong weakness for a team that finished third in the NEA. Sophomore first baseman Kelsey Raines, senior catcher Kristin Nooner and junior third baseman Nichole Oakshott were the only consistent offensive threats. At that, said Carolan, they often didn’t bunch their hits. Lately, things have improved.

“I can’t put my finger on it,” he said. “It’s taken time to finally come around.”

Sophomore pitchers Casey Olson and Lauren Nooner and Freeman’s defense were team strengths. Nooner threw harder, Olson with more finesse, mixing slider, change-up and screwball.

“Lauren didn’t have the year she wanted, but a lot of it was not her fault. We’d come out flat,” said Carolan. “Casey was phenomenal.”

Freeman finished third in 2A in 1999 and again the following year in Class 1A. This weekend’s tournament in Moses Lake began Friday with a noon game against Cascade Christian that could have led to a matchup against defending champion Onalaska.

What were the Scotties chances?

“In the past, with our records of success, the kids expected to trophy,” said Carolan. “This year it was not in the scenario. We’ll have fun and play more relaxed than in past years.”

Early track medals

Freeman senior multisport star Jessie DePell pole-vaulted for the last time. And though the competitor in her didn’t finish as high as she’d wanted, it marked her fourth straight top-four state finish in a near personal record.

DePell finished third Thursday night behind a pair of meet record setters in the State 1A track meet at Eastern Washington University in Cheney. Her 10-foot height was only an inch from her career best.

“It’s my last time ever,” said DePell, who finished third as a freshman, second as a sophomore and fourth last year. “It wasn’t too bad, but it’s always fun to win.”

Today, DePell will compete in her final triple jump and perhaps a relay or two (they ran preliminaries on Friday) to cap a four-year, three-sport Freeman career that included state trophies in volleyball, basketball and track.

The last high school basketball game for the two-time State 1A Associated Press Player of the Year will be the Jack Blair Memorial All-Star game June 7 at University. Then it’s time to think about a college basketball career that begins next season at Montana Tech.

Also during Thursday’s preliminaries, Scotties teammate freshman Carly Heinen lopped three seconds off her season best, timing 48.06 in the 300 meter hurdles to assure a state medal in today’s finals.

Valley Christian juniors Justin McNamara and Erica Hattamer will medal in State B 400 meters in today’s finals. McNamara timed 51.4 for third in his heat, and Hattamer had the second-fastest qualifying time for girls in 59.48.

Going unplaced were 1,600 runners Chad Monson, a Freeman sophomore, and Valley Christian freshman Jeff Pope.

Scotties hurdler Luke Heinen missed the cut in the 300 hurdles preliminaries after his heat was forced to be rerun when another hurdler was disqualified for impeding an opponent.

Golfers place at state

Four local golfers made the cut to place in their respective state golf tournaments.

Highest finish was by East Valley golfer Josh White, whose back-to-back rounds of 74 and 73 at Indian Canyon left him in 15th place overall in the 3A tourney.

University freshman Hank Frame shot 73-77 at The Creek at Qualchan to finish 19th in his 4A state debut.

During girls competition, Knight junior Ashley Saffle had a two-round total 167, including a first-day 81 at MeadowWood, and finished 20th in the 3A tournament.

Central Valley junior Katie Sorenson shot 169 and was 35th in the girls 4A competition at Hangman Valley Golf Course.

President’s Cup begins

Liberty Lake 18-Hole Women’s Club golfers began play for the President’s Cup.

Competition will continue next week, then skip a week before concluding.

First round leaders were Patsy Lynn and Jean Hatcher, who tied with net 74s in first flight. Carol Schultz also netted 74 in second flight. Louise Newtson with 71 in third flight and Maggie Steffy with 67 in fourth were other first week leaders.

Putting winners were Elsa Metting with 31 in second flight, Marie Nelson with 29 in third and Marilyn McCanna with 31 in fourth.

Painted Hills results

Flight A golfer Jeanne Allemand continued her command of Painted Hills Ladies League competition.

Allemand shot 43 in A flight for low gross score of the week.

Other flight winners were Lisa Ward with 52 in B, Lynne Markeson with 59 in C, Emma Long with 64 in D and Judee Fowler with 60 in no-handicap.

Both Long and Ward had chip-ins.

Net winners, all with 37s were Darlene Hurliman in A flight, Debbie Paullin in B and Sue Matsui in D. Flight C net leader was Edie Foedisch with 38.

Rowley lead Trailhead

During the weekly Trailhead Ladies Golf Club gathering, Marcia Rowley prevailed.

Rowley shot 48 in A flight for low gross score of the day. Patty Haskins shot 53 in B flight, Caroline Michielli shot 60, including a chip-in, in C, and Marge Hutchinson led no-handicap golfers with 58.

Net leaders were Sharron Collins in A flight with 30, Wilma Capaul with 31 in B and Eileen Couper with 33 in C.

Strauss makes a splash

Liberty Lake Ladies Nine Hole Club golfer Karen Strauss made a splash with her week’s winning scoring effort.

The only flight winner to break 60, Strauss won first flight competition with 47. Included was a birdie on the fifth hole.

Sheryl Baumker had 63 in second flight, Ethel Rankin and Kathy Camyn each shot 62 in third and Jean Skredsvig had 77 in fourth.

No-handicap winner was Pam McIntyre with 60.

Net best was recorded by Arla Beck, who finished with 30 in first flight. She chipped in for a birdie on No. 16.

Pat Thompson netted 35 in second flight, Emma Long had 33 in third and Sandy Maxwell had 51 in fourth.

Nellie Auckerman chipped in on both No. 5 and No. 6. Janis Smith had a chip-in on No. 16.