Shellhorn’s pitching performance ‘unbelieveable’

It might have seemed difficult for Rusty Shellhorn to top some of his earlier Greater Spokane League strikeout accomplishments in a year when pitching has been at the forefront.

But the Central Valley senior left-hander accomplished the nearly impossible when he struck out all 21 North Central batters in Tuesday’s seven-inning 5-0 GSL high school baseball victory.

“It was unbelievable,” said Indians coach and longtime baseball man Scott Harmon. “I have never seen this nor heard of it at any level in my life. It will probably never happen again.”

Harmon said the best GSL strikeout performance he had seen since coaching the Indians was by NC left-hander Patrick Donovan, who fanned 17 against Gonzaga Prep in 2002.

Another high strikeout performance included 19 by Lewis and Clark’s Jack Spring during his 1949-51 prep career. Spring, who pitched in eight major league seasons, averaged 13 strikeouts per game and threw five no-hitters in his City League career.

“That belongs in Sports Illustrated doesn’t it?” said CV coach Barry Poffenroth. “He had real good command of his fast ball, was in and out keeping them off balance and got his curveball over in the zone which makes the fastball that much better.”

In four starts, Shellhorn has 61 strikeouts, an average of better than 15 per game.

The Bears (7-3) swept NC during the week, winning Thursday 7-3 in nine innings. They’re tied with Ferris for third in league, two games behind Mead and one behind University (8-2).

Titan Billy Moon pitched a one-hitter and struck 11 in a 4-0 victory over Shadle Park, but the Highlanders (3-7) upset U-Hi, shades of last year 8-7, by scoring five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

East Valley (3-7) lost twice during the week to Rogers.

Softball showdown looms

Central Valley, coming off a big 10-inning victory over Mead on Thursday, positioned itself as the second-best GSL 4A team behind defending champion Shadle Park.

Next week in back-to-back games against rival University Wednesday and Thursday, the Bears will try to secure it.

They are part of a three-team chase for the coveted spot that assures a regional playoff berth. CV (6-2), Mead (6-3) and University (5-3), after Thursday, are separated by a game. The Titans played league second-place team, 3A North Central, on Friday.

CV led the Panthers 6-3 early, but a two-run seventh sent the game into extra innings. Each scored a game in the ninth before the Bears got the winner on a two-out base hit by Brooke Ford.

U-Hi beat East Valley (3-4) 11-2 on Tuesday, Ali Warren with two two-run home runs and five runs batted in. She and Riki Schiermeister each had three hits. The Knights beat Rogers but lost 3-0 to fellow 3A team Mt. Spokane in other games this week.

Bears stay perfect

Central Valley’s boys and girls track teams remained unbeaten with victories over East Valley Thursday when GSL competition resumed.

Greg Barnes led the Bears sweep of the high hurdles and long jump with victories in all three. The Bears also earned 26 of 27 distance race points, Jayson Taylor winning twice in the 105-40 victory. EV won the sprints and throws, Case Parker beating Brad Whitley in a sizzling 48.8 to 50.1 in their 400 showdown.

CV’s girls won 93-57, splitting individual wins. Eden Lake in the distances and and Emilee Deishl in the throws were double winners. Morgan Dunning won three jumping events.

University’s boys and girls split in meets against Mt. Spokane and Rogers. Madeline Fuchs won the 200 and both hurdles in the girls meet, and Evelyn Baker won the shot put and discus.

Soccer taut

GSL soccer remains taut at season’s midpoint. Central Valley is tied for second with 13 points, and University is fifth with 11, both teams sporting 4-1 records. Point differential comes from results in shootout contests.

Three points are awarded for a game won in regulation or overtime. CV gained a point in a shootout loss to Lewis and Clark. U-Hi lost a point by winning a shootout over Mead.

Next week the Bears are at fellow second-place team Mead on Wednesday and U-Hi hosts league-leader Ferris on Friday.

Women’s golf results

Liberty Lake 18 Hole – Patsy Lynn endured rain, hail and snow to shoot a low gross 94 during Tuesday’s outing. Billie Etter netted 82, the pair topping Flight A and B. Jodie Cantrell shot 111 and Idell Jenicek netted 88 in C-D.

Liberty Lake 9 Hole – On Thursday, the weather was better , but the turnout was small. Lorraine Martin and Sadie Rueckert were Flight 1 low gross winners at 60 and Arla Beck netted 42 with a chip-in on the eighth hole. Bette Devine won second flight at 71 and Polly Soderquist third flight with 73 where Wilma Capaul netted 46.

Trailhead Ladies Day – There were a pair of 50s recorded during Wednesday’s competition by A flight winner Marcia Rowley and B flight winner Sandi Hatcher. Renee Begovich had 62 to lead C. Net winners were Betty Grassl in A with 37, Bev Johnson and Deanna Hauser in B with 34s and Marilyn Collins in C with 24. Ethel Schnider had no-handicap 61.