Come-from-behind win shows Titan confidence

Nothing seems to faze University High School’s young baseball team.

The Titans, whose roster includes four juniors and five sophomores, entered Friday’s home game against Mead in second place in the Greater Spokane League, two games ahead of the Panthers.

They did so by rallying from a 5-0 deficit with nine runs from the fourth inning on for a 9-7 victory.

“We really did not have any doubts we could come back and score runs,” said coach Scott Sutherland. “We just didn’t know how many we were going to score.”

Sophomore Jacob Olsufka‘s grand slam home run in the sixth did the major damage, and he explained the team’s mindset.

“Just keep chipping away and eventually get the lead if we hold them,” Olsufka said. “We just did a good job of that.”

Victory over Mead came on the heels of a split with Gonzaga Prep and two wins over North Central, the first 9-5 in eight innings.

“Our kids are so confident,” said Sutherland. “They’re loose as a goose.”

Danny Jordan and Jacob Schnibbe hit two-run singles in the 9-5 NC win. On Tuesday U-Hi broke a 2-2 tie with the Indians on Aaron LaPlante‘s two-run home run in the sixth inning. The Titans suffered a blow Thursday when Schnibbe injured his hip running out a hit.

Central Valley (7-8) swept Rogers, split with East Valley and lost to Shadle Park in recent games. The Bears are fifth in league with five games left to play. East Valley (4-9), split with the Bears and Lewis and Clark and lost to Gonzaga Prep on Thursday.

“West Valley (10-4 overall, 6-2 in league) is tied for first in the Great Northern League with six games remaining. Most recent win was an 11-inning 4-1 win over Riverside. Bryan Peterson allowed just three hits in his route-going pitching performance and had two himself. Camron Bowman and Andrew McLeod had run-scoring hits in the top of the 11th.

Knights chase title

First place was at stake Friday when Greater Spokane League soccer leader East Valley traveled to Mead.

The Knights ran their record to 7-1 and a league-best 21 points with two matches remaining, while the Panthers (6-1) were right behind.

EV’s most recent two victories came 2-0 over Ferris last Friday and 3-0 over North Central on Wedndesday.

Cole Abramson and Josh Polello continue to be a force for the league leaders. Abramson scored three of EV’s five goals during the week and added an assist, giving him six and five respectively for the year. Polello had three assists to share the team lead.

Abramson’s two goals against Shadle Park were headers off assists from Polello. The first was from a long ball, the second from a throw-in.

University’s title hopes took a hit Wednesday following a 1-0 loss to Ferris at Albi Stadium. The Saxons scored the game’s lone goal late in the first half.

U-Hi (6-2) had shared the league lead following a 2-1 win over Gonzaga Prep last Friday. Billy McElroy had two goals.

Next up is Wednesday’s home match against Mead in a game with 4A district seeding implications.

Central Valley (4-3) beat Rogers 4-0 on Friday which kept the Bears tied for fifth place with the Saxons. Kevin Cameron scored his first goal this year and added an assist as they built a 3-0 lead 26 minutes into the match.

CV hosted fourth-place Lewis and Clark in a key match Friday.

EV girls track upended

East Valley’s dream of a girls league championship ended Thursday. The Knights lost twice, 90-60 to Shadle Park and 77-73 to North Central. The Knights won only three individual events.

Central Valley’s boys, however, remained perfect heading into next week’s title showdown with Mead and Lewis and Clark at LC.

The Bears whipped Mt. Spokane 108-37 and Gonzaga Prep 122-23.

Among Thursday highlights: CV won 12 of 17 events, sweeping the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 distances races the latter two won by Sean Coyle. The Bears also ran 44.5 and 3:26.1 400 and 1,600 relay times… Case Parker ran 22.9 and 51.5 in the 200 and 400 for EV boys during its split with Shadle and NC. Tim Armstrong ran 39.7 in the 300 hurdles, but was edged 14.8 to 15.0 in the highs…Matt Bogyo won the 100 and 200 for University boys who were beaten by Mead. U-Hi’s Elise Thatcher ran 2:25.1 for 800 meters and Madeline Fuchs ran 46.2 in the 300 hurdles…West Valley opened Great Northern League meets with 103.5-41.5 boys and 90-58 girls wins over Riverside. Alex Allison, a sophomore, ran 11.2 in the 100 and Tim Pring 22.7 in the 200. Justin Degenhardt won both the 1,600 and 3,200, the latter in 10:09. Bri Almy won three events, the 100, 200 and long jump and Krystal Hughes both the 1,600 and 3,200 races for the girls. Alyssa and Bailey Wold were double winners in the field.

Titans beat Bears

University topped Central Valley 8-3 with Michelle Wells and Ali Warren combining for four hits and eight runs batted in. Alexa Morales hit a two-run homer and double for the Bears.

The Titans (10-3) remain third in league, a game ahead of Mead. CV (7-6) is fifth. East Valley (4-8) lost 5-1 to the Panthers despite two hits by Danica Hanley.

Rowley leads Trailhead

Trailhead Ladies Golf Club member Marcia Rowley was in midseason form during weekly competition.

She shot 43 to lead all participants and won A flight low gross golfers.

Sandi Hatcher shot 50 in B flight, Penny Jones had 59 in C and Ro Lisk was no-handicap winner with 64.

Net winners were Iness Walth in A flight and Bev Townsend in B, both with 28. Marilyn Collins, who had a chip-in, netted 29 in C.

Allemand right on

Painted Hills Ladies League golfer Jeanne Allemand turned in a sterling effort in winning weekly competition.

She shot 43 for the week’s lowest score to lead A flight golfers. Betty Grassl had net 39.

Joyce Jacobs in B flight and Gloria Knauss in C each shot 54. Respective net winners were Pat Gore with 37 and Judee Fowler with 36.

D flight winners were Shelby Cutter with 62 and Cleo Workland with 40. Wilma Capaul had a no-handicap 68 and Margaret Tirk chipped in on the fourth hole.

Liberty Cup day

Liberty Lake 18-Hole Women’s golf club conducted monthly Liberty Cup competition.

Carol Blume netted 68 to win the April leg of the competition.

During concurrent putting competition, Jean Hatcher won A flight with fewest putts of 29, Connie Hatfield won B with 32, Raouleen Grimes had 31 in C flight, while Myrna Neubauer and Coleen Wisenor tied in D flight with 32.

Nine Holers play

The Liberty Lake Ladies Nine Holers golf club held weekly medal play.

Karen Strauss shot 48 in first flight and Nancy Lampe shot 54 in second flight with a birdie on the third hole.

Darlene Reilly and Carol Gerdts were the other flight leaders.

Low net scores included 37s by Arla Beck and Audrey Vanos in first flight, 31 by Carol Dahl in second and 37 by Bette Devine in third.