U-Hi freshman collects ace in district golf

University freshman Kaitlen Parsons, with her parents in the gallery, highlighted the first day of the 4A District 8 girls golf tournament at Esmeralda on Monday when she knocked her pitching wedge tee shot into the cup on the 12th hole for a hole-in-one.

It helped her shoot a 4-over-par 76 and remain solidly in the hunt for the district title when the tournament wraps up Wednesday at The Creek at Qualchan.

Thirty-two golfers advanced out of Monday’s play, led by senior Katrina Bech of Lewis and Clark, who shot a 1-under 71 for a one-shot margin over freshman teammate Chessey Thomas and junior Lauren Howell of Mead.

•East Valley senior Ashley Saffle was medalist with a 1-over-par 73 in the 3A District 8 tournament at Esmeralda to lead a contingent of 12 who qualified for regional action in the Tri-Cities.

Jenni White, an EV freshman, was second with an 84.

•Corey Meyers of Deer Park is the Great Northern League boys league MVP after a three-stroke victory over a pair of Pullman competitors, Dillion Williams and Creighton Vance, 78-81, in the GNL Championship Tournament at Chewelah.

Pullman won the boys title by four strokes over Colville, 429-433, and also was first in the season-long competition, edging Clarkston, 8-9. Colville was third with 14 points.

In the girls event, Kaylin Carlson of Clarkston is league MVP after claiming medalist honors by two strokes over teammate Jordan Knapp, 85-87. Colville claimed team honors, 506-517 over Pullman, and shared the season-long title with Pullman.

•The Freeman boys and Lakeside girls won Northeast A League championships at Hangman Valley.

Freeman beat Lakeside 409-428 for the boys title. Ryan England of Lakeside was medalist with a 73. Dylan Maine of Freeman was second at 76.

Lakeside was the only girls team with a full team. Gracie Shory of Chewelah bested Darby Moberg of Freeman 88-92 for medalist honors.

NEA teams are in district play Friday at Chewelah. The top 18 boys and eight girls advance to regionals.

•Northwest Christian went 1-2-3 in the boys Sub-District 7 1B/2B tournament at MeadowWood, where the top 28 advanced to district.

John Graham led the Crusaders’ trio with a 76, followed by Jared Descoteaux (77) and Travis McConahy (82).

In the 1B/2B girls Sub-Region 7/9 tournament at Liberty Lake, 22 qualified to move on to the next round, led by KyLee Schmunk of Lind-Ritzville with a 100. Roni Jo Mielke of Sprague-Harrington was second at 102 with Madeleine Roach of DeSales third at 107.

Baseball

St. Michael’s turned the tables on regular-season champion Northport and won the Panorama League 1B tournament championship Monday and the No. 1 seeding from the league into sub-district play Thursday on its campus.

Ryan Cysewski scattered 11 hits and contributed two doubles to St. Michael’s 11-hit attack in an 11-8 win at Northport.

Cusick defeated Curlew 9-3 in the game for third and fourth seeding.

Bi-County League second-seed Almira/Coulee-Hartline will play Panorama No. 3 Cusick Thursday at 1 p.m. St. Michael’s in a loser-out game. The winner will play St. Michael’s for seeding to district play Monday at Avista Stadium.

At Odessa on Thursday, Northport plays Curlew at 1, with that winner facing Bi-County No. 1 Odessa for seeding to Monday’s District 7B tournament at Avista Stadium.