High school football season starts Aug. 30

Summer is not yet officially over, but high school sports are right around the corner.

Football teams have already begun practicing and will don pads today for the first contact drills of the season.

First Greater Spokane League games are Aug. 30, Central Valley getting the jump with a 4:30 p.m. game that Thursday against Lewis and Clark at Joe Albi Stadium. East Valley hosts Rogers the next night, while University is home against Coeur d’Alene in a nonleague game.

Also that Friday, West Valley will host East Valley-Yakima in nonleague and Freeman will be at Kettle Falls in its Northeast A opener.

There is reason for optimism at all schools.

Last year both CV and U-Hi were among a three-way fourth-place GSL tie, the teams missing by a game of the 4A postseason. Both are veteran teams, including returning All-GSL linebacker Tyler Cochran for the Bears, Titan running back Tyler Carlson and defensive back Danny Jordan, also U-Hi’s quarterback.

EV is replacing a bunch of players, but has tradition. The Knights have been to the 3A playoffs three successive years.

West Valley, with its move to 2A, went 5-5 overall and finished fifth in the Great Northern League. This year the top four finishers will advance to a play-in series – like the GSL and Northeast A League do – against teams from the CWAC League for three state berths. The Eagles, with a veteran team that features All-GNL linebacker Tim Pring and receiver Parker Flynn, will be in the mix.

Freeman, a state perennial and last year’s NEA champion, should likewise advance to postseason.

“Girls soccer practices have begun, volleyball and cross country begin workouts on Monday and slowpitch softball begins with the start of school.

Offense is reason why

There was little question about why University’s AA Junior Legion baseball team went 37-5 and finished tied for third in the state tournament.

“Our offense carried us this summer,” said coach Scott Sutherland.

Collectively the team averaged .375 at bat. Brandon Shryock and Craig Keeton averaged .466 and .460 respectively, two of four who hit .400 or better during the summer. They shared the lead of 58 runs scored with Travis Clark and Keeton was tops with 64 hits, had 15 doubles and three home runs.

“Craig had a breakout year for us at the plate as did Brandon,” said Sutherland

Jacob Olsufka (.410) provided power with a team leading eight triples, was tied with Keeton with three home runs and drove in 55 base runners. They were among seven players on the team who played on U-Hi’s varsity last spring and will return.

Newcomer David Landrus hit .400 on the nose and six others batted higher than .300, including Clark (.385). He had a team high 16 doubles.

The young Titans were solid defensively and Sutherland pointed out that next spring’s pitching staff will come from other sources.

“With senior Danny Jordan and junior Billy Moon, our rotation should be very respectable,” said Sutherland, who indicated that Tyler Olson, who played as a sophomore before spending last year in California, also will re-join the Titans.

“Danny and Billy were also the No. 1 and 2 hitters for the (Legion AAA) Bandits,” said Sutherland. “Olson is going to really bolster our rotation and add pop to our already potent lineup.”

Coupled with this summer’s state champion A team, U-Hi baseball is four classes deep.

“The (sophomore) class worked harder in the off-season than any young class we have ever had,” said Sutherland. “Obviously the future looks bright, but I caution the kids that we will have huge bulls-eyes on our backs. The challenge is to work even harder.”

Two weeks at Trailhead

It’s catch up week following two outings by Trailhead Ladies golfers.

On Aug. 1, Marcia Rowley turned in low gross score, winning A flight with 48. Mary Anne Evans won B flight with 50, and Penny Jones C flight with 61. Net winners were Sharron Collins and Sandi Hatcher with 33 in A flight, Joy Russell with 27 in B, and Marilyn Collins with 17 in C.

Sharron Collins had low gross on Aug. 8 with a snazzy 44. Deanna Hauser in B shot 51, and Marjo Coy in C shot 55. Net winners were Dee Elder with 29 in A flight, Iness Walth and Bev Johnson each with 32 in B, and Marilyn Collins again in C with 22.

Caroline Michielli, Hatcher and Walth all had chip-ins.

Painted Hills action

During most recent competition in the Painted Hills Ladies League, Arlene Koth led the way.

Koth shot low gross 48 competing in A flight. Sheryl Roshdy netted 37.

In B flight the leaders were Carol Grebe with low gross 53, and Melody Chesnut who netted 37.

Julie Harbison shot 56 to win C flight, and Penny Lancaster shot 34 for low gross.

D Flight was won by Pat Reiter with 59, and Jill Cobb had net 38.

Marion Pillsbury and Kathy Walker both had chip-ins on the same hole, No. 12.

Nine Hole group competes

Liberty Lake Ladies Nine Hole Golf Club conducted weekly medal play.

Janis Smith won first flight with 56, Darlene Reilly shot 58 in second flight, and Linda Barry had 68 in third flight.

Net winners respectively were Arla Beck with 38, Kathy Camyn with 38, and Pat Reiter and Bette Devine, tied at 40.