Quick hits

Is baseball juiced?

A recent Sports Illustrated article charted evidence of how major league home run numbers are down this year. But there’s no dead-ball theory in the Greater Spokane League.

On Monday 11 home runs were hit, five in a game at University and four at East Valley, bringing by rough count to 73 the number that have “gone yard” so far this year in the GSL.

Mt. Spokane’s Mark Purser hit a pair at U-Hi to tie Ferris’ Beau Brett with eight apiece with two games remaining. They joined three former players in second place all time behind Ferris’ Eric Sandberg.

Sandberg hit 11 in 1998, a lively year when U-Hi’s Josh Sheffield added eight and Mead’s Sam Hess hit six (others with eight are Gonzaga Prep’s Steve Gleason in 1995 and Lewis and Clark’s Richie Long in 1986). There have been years since ‘98 when three home runs led the league.

Coaches have seen nothing like it and Shadle Park coach Ron Brooks calls it a combination of three things – pitching, increased strength and high-tech bats.

Unusual injury

Two weeks ago at Mead, Jacob Schnibbe hit a ball into the hole between shortstop and third base, sprinted toward first – and collapsed in a heap midway between home and the bag.

The U-Hi designated hitter reached first base safely before being carried off the field.

The injury was diagnosed as a hip fracture. A piece of bone attached to a tendon that holds a group of muscles had broken away.

Schnibbe said he may have hurt himself diving for a ball during practice, but didn’t think anything of it.

“My first at-bat I felt fine,” he said. “The second at-bat I had a little sting in the hip and the third at-bat I felt it lock up and couldn’t move, so I fell and crawled the rest of the way.”

No surgery was required and after two weeks on crutches he’s walking without aid. But the diagnosis is that it will be six to eight weeks before he plays again.

“Jacob is a big loss for us,” said coach Scott Sutherland. “He was our best contact hitter, batting second and hitting .350 when he went down. Needless to say, he is sorely missed.”

There have been other injuries this year in league, but Schnibbe’s was the most unusual.

“My doctor said it was one of the first times he had seen it and never heard of it happening to someone so young,” Schnibbe said.

Soccer playoffs

Greater Spokane League 3A soccer teams are set to play in the eight-team GSL-Columbia Basin League beginning Saturday.

League champion and No. 1 3A seeded East Valley will play West Valley (Yakima), 11 a.m. at Gonzaga Prep. Mt. Spokane travels to CBL No. 3 Sunnyside

“Great Northern League soccer, split into divisions as was the girls league last fall, begins district playoffs on Saturday.

Nationally ranked South winner Cheney (16-0) will play North champ Deer Park (8-7) at 11 a.m. at Central Valley for first and second seeding and a bye.

Second-place teams Pullman (12-4) and Riverside (8-6) play for third and fourth seeds at 1 p.m.

West Valley (5-11), third in the North, hosts South fourth-place finisher Clarkston (2-12) at 11 a.m. South third-placer Medical Lake (8-8) hosts Colville (2-12) at 11 a.m. Losers are out, winners advance Tuesday to either Pullman or Riverside at 4 p.m.

The tournament continues Thursday at Cheney and Deer Park and ends May 12, at 11 a.m. at Gonzaga Prep for the district title and state seeding.

This afternoon at 4, Lakeside (12-4) hosts Chewelah (2-13) at Nine Mile Falls for a 1A regional playoff berth, winner to play on Saturday.