Quick hits
Athletes win scholarships
Central Valley soccer player Annie Weisbeck has received a $5,000 scholarship from the Seattle Seahawks and Qwest for recognition of outstanding achievement in the Qwest Leadership Challenge volunteerism program.
Another $5,000 winner is Erik Hille, a Ritzville football player.
Four athletes from among 114 football and soccer players throughout the state received scholarships.
Cross country Saturday
Saturday’s state cross country extravaganza at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco has expanded by a race to 11 this year. Local runners will be in the mix in most if not all of them.
The day begins at 9:30 a.m. with wheelchair competition, well-represented by area athletes who took four of five places last year.
It concludes at 2:30 p.m. with the anticipated 4A boys showdown between Mead, with 13 state titles, and three-time defending champion Ferris.
North Central will chase Seattle Prep for a 3A title, Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) is the 1A boys favorite, and St. George’s and defending champion Reardan boys are in the B hunt.
West Valley’s boys and Mt. Spokane’s girls are seeking trophies and individuals will chase title glory, including two freshmen, Andrea Nelson from Shadle Park and Lisa Vandenburg from Northwest Christian.
Deciphering 2B and 1B
If you are one of those confused about the new 2B and 1B volleyball playoff system, here is how it works: 2B and 1B teams from the Panorama, Bi-County and Whitman County leagues played against each other all season in regular fashion. All their league matches against teams from the other division still counted in their records. Come playoffs, the teams split into their own divisions. For example, 1B Odessa finished fifth overall in the Bi-County regular-season standings. The four teams ahead of them are 2B, so for playoff purposes, Odessa was the top seed for the Bi-County 1B teams.
Football games of the week
Football gets its 4A and 1A state preliminaries out of the way Friday and Saturday. Winners advance to their respective 16-team state events.
“It’ll be Columbia Basin offense against Greater Spokane League defense in 4A playoffs. For the third straight year, East Valley faces West Valley-Yakima in a 3A prelim game.
LC vs. Pasco, 7 p.m. Friday, Edgar Brown Stadium: Tall order for LC’s Tigers, who face a team that has been to four state finals, winning three, since 1998.
Eisenhower at Gonzaga Prep, 1 p.m. Saturday: Something has to give. Ike Cadets led Columbia Basin League in total offense with 368.4 yards per game, Bullpups allowed but 162.1.
Moses Lake vs. Ferris, 1 p.m. Saturday, Albi Stadium: ML Chiefs average 286 yards rushing per game. Saxons, quick on defense, can beat you through the air.
WV-Yakima at East Valley, 1 p.m., Saturday: WV’s Rams lost last three regular-season games, but won three-team tiebreaker Tuesday. EV has won last two meetings.
“With all those Bulldogs, what’s a Scotty to do in the Northeast A League/Caribou Trail preliminaries, all Friday at 7 p.m.?
Cashmere at Kettle Falls: Bulldogs versus Bulldogs in game between NEA No. 2 and CTL No. 3. Colfax at Okanogan: Bulldogs versus Bulldogs in this one, also. Colfax has won last three between them. Omak at Freeman: Scotties are NEA No. 1; Omak’s Pioneers were fourth in Caribou Trail. Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) at Cascade (Leavenworth): No. 4 Eagles travel against the CTL champion Kodiaks, who lost to Okanogan 14-0 in finale.