EV faces Sunnyside in state tourney today

Everything, it seems, is going East Valley soccer’s way.

The Knights reached the state high school playoffs for the first time since 1999, with Wednesday’s 3-1 victory over Kamiakin.

Not only that, but Columbia Basin No. 3 seed Sunnyside defeated league champion Eisenhower, meaning EV hosts until the semifinals in Tacoma.

Today at 2 p.m., East Valley plays Sunnyside at Gonzaga Prep in the first state tournament match.

“We’re heading in the right direction,” said Jeff Rose, who is in his first state action as EV coach despite the team’s three straight Greater Spokane League championships.

In beating Kamiakin, last year’s 4A regional champion, EV got past a formidable foe.

“We’d always been knocked out at this point,” said Rose. “Hopefully we’re just starting.”

EV had lost to the Braves 2-1 in a nonleague match earlier in the year.

Both Rose and Jeremy Jacobs, a senior forward who assisted on the first of two Cole Abramson goals, said this is a different team than earlier in the season.

“Everyone’s come so far and developed so much,” said Jacobs. “We’re playing so much better than we were in the beginning of the season when we played Kamiakin before.”

Rose added that at that time both Jacobs and Abramson were playing injured.

“We’re finishing now,” he said. “We had as many if not more shots the first time.”

And EV’s coach said that the defense of junior Jordan Selland was instrumental in helping turn the tide.

“I can’t say enough about him,” said Rose. “Jordan marked No. 1 (Jacob Ellig), their best player, all game. He shut him down and that had a huge impact on the game.”

Eagles seek state

A State 3A baseball tournament qualifier last year, West Valley needs one win in two tries today to make the trip again as a 2A team.

The Eagles, one of the state’s top-ranked 2A teams, finished tied with Pullman for first in the Great Northern League with an 11-3 record (15-5 overall).

Both teams were victorious in District 7 playoff games on Wednesday, the Eagles 11-1 over Cheney in five innings. Tom Peterson doubled and homered and Jeremy Fernandez had three hits.

WV and Pullman meet at 1 p.m. at Central Valley for a state berth. The loser gets another chance afterward, most likely against Clarkston.

Coach Don O’Neal said he likes his chances both in district and if they qualify for the state tournament.

“Our numbers two and three pitchers are better than most,” he said. “Hopefully that will count for more.”

The Eagles hit .384 as a team in the GNL, with five batters over .400. Bryan Peterson hit .583 with six home runs and 33 runs batted in. His cousin, Tom, hit .426 with four homers and 21 RBIs. Both hit six doubles.

Camron Bowman hit .449, DJ Mackie .447 and Andrew McCleod .400. Bowman and McCleod each had 15 RBIs.

Andy Vennum is staff ace with a 7-2 record, striking out 51 batters in 38 2/3 innings. Anthony Salazar, Trevor Bieber and Bryan Peterson back him.

“University returns to District 4A competition at Avista Stadium. The Titans played Ferris yesterday. If they won, they play at 11 a.m. for the championship and a state berth. If they lost, they play at 2 p.m. needing two wins to advance.

Central Valley’s season was ended by Gonzaga Prep for the second straight year. On Wednesday the Bullpups scored three seventh inning runs and beat the Bears 4-2 in a loser-out first-round district game.

CV ace Rusty Shellhorn struck out 13, but gave up a two-out, two-run single in the final inning. Sophomore Blake Bledsoe had two hits and Geoff Davis tripled.

“Freeman is a win away from the State 1A tournament. The Scotties play today, at 4:30 p.m. in Moses Lake. Freeman beat Omak 11-1 but lost to Brewster 13-1 in the double-elimination tournament on Tuesday.

CV softball advances

Central Valley’s softball team, with a 4-1 victory over Gonzaga Prep, returns to the regional tournament, which will be in Richland next weekend.

The Bears join University, which had also qualified by virtue of its second-place GSL finish.

They played Friday, the Titans against Mead and the Bears against unbeaten Shadle Park, and will conclude district competition Tuesday at Whitworth.

“Fourth-seed West Valley hosts Medical Lake in a loser-out District 7 playoff game at noon today. A win would send the Eagles to second-place Pullman on Wednesday with the tournament concluding Saturday in Medical Lake.

“Freeman is playing in District 7 tournament today. If the Scotties finish third they qualify for next week’s regional outright. If fourth, they will face a play-in against the Caribou Trail No. 5 team.

Golfers to state

University freshman Kaitlen Parsons, whose older twin sisters starred as Titans golfers, is following in their footsteps.

She qualified for the State 4A meet with a sixth-place finish at 164 aided by a hole-in-one on the 12th hole at Esmeralda the first day of the tournament.

Joining her at state are Katie Sorenson from Central Valley (165) and boys Hank Frame from U-Hi (fourth at 148) and CV’s Tanner Robb (tied for fifth at 151).

Eagles lose meets

West Valley’s boys track team finished second and the girls are part of a three-way tie for first in the GNL following Thursday losses to Cheney.

The boys were nudged 74-71 in a meet determined by scant inches, misses and tenths of a second.

Tim Pring won the 400 and was second in the 100 and 200 sprints. WV had a big advantage in the distances, paced by Richard Keroack (800-1,600 wins) and Justin Degenhardt, who won the 3,200.

The girls lost 91-59. Alyssa Wold won the high jump at 5-4 and Bailey Wold the triple jump at 34-4 ½ and pole vault. Bri Almy was second in the 100, won the 200 in a personal best 25.7 and long jump at 16-8.

“The District 8 4A and 3A meets began Thursday and concluded Friday, advancing athletes to next week’s regional.

In four boys finals on Thursday, Central Valley placed six boys among the top eight, three of them – Sean Coyle, Jayson Taylor and Tylor Thatcher – in the 3,200. Greg Barnes won the long jump at 21-feet and the 400-relay team was victorious in 43.78. U-Hi moved on four to regional.

CV’s Eden Lake was second in the 3,200 and Hailey Ficklin advanced in both high and long jump. The Bears had eight girls athletes qualify for regionals and U-Hi six.

Little League signup

East Side Little League is rostering players for its Junior (age 13-15) League through May 14. Cost is $85 and season runs through mid-July.

Birth Certificate and proof of residency are required. For information call 927-Ball.

Two weeks at Trailhead

Trailhead Ladies Golf Club reported on its last two weeks of competition.

Dee Elder won two weeks ago with a low gross 46 in A flight and Betty Grassl shot 43 the following week.

Joy Russell, in B flight, was a double winner with rounds of 51 and 52 and Leta Klutz, won twice in no-handicap with scores of 63 and 67.

In C flight, Peg Nadvornick shot 61 and Marjo Coy had 64.

Net winners were Sharron Collins, who chipped in for a birdie, a 25 and Deana Hauser with 29 in A flight.

Also, Bev Townsend with 34 and Marge Hutchison with 29 led B. Marilyn Collins with 29 and Penny Jones with 30 and a chip-in led C.

Other chip-ins were by Shirley Rodman and Iness Walth.

Liberty Lake Nines

Liberty Lake Ladies Nine-Hole Golf Club determined its flight winners during weekly play.

Low gross scores included Karen Strauss with 46 in first flight, Sadie Rueckert and Joanne Ruddell with 56s in second and Linda Barry with 67 in third. Elaine Fulton had no-handicap 62.

Low net winners were Joyce Jacobs with 36 in first flight, Nellie Auckerman with 37 in second and Darlene Reilly with 38 in third. Linda Sahnow had a chip-in on the 18th hole.