Titan softball climbing out of hole
A tough early schedule found University High School softball looking up in the Greater Spokane League standings.
“We put ourselves in a hole early,” said coach Jon Schuh of losses to North Central, favored Shadle Park and 4A playoff contender Mead. “We were up on NC and led Mead 8-0 before I pulled the pitcher because Shelby (Bethel) was on a pitch count.”
The Indians rallied in the seventh inning from three runs down to win the season opener. After Bethel, who had just returned from injury, left the game the Panthers came back for a 13-12 win.
Since then, the Titans (9-3) have righted things, winning at NC and last week sweeping two games against rival Central Valley, with who they were tied, along with Mead, as part of a three-way knot for third place in league.
“NC the second time was a have-to-win if we were going to give ourselves any breathing room,” said Schuh.
On Thursday, they host Mead. A victory would go a long way toward earning second seed in the 4A District playoffs, beginning May 10, and an automatic berth in the school’s 15th straight regional tournament.
U-Hi beat CV 8-3 on Wednesday, breaking a 2-2 tie with five runs in the fourth inning. On Thursday, in a nailbiter, the Titans hung on for a 5-4 victory. Bethel pitched both wins.
“She did not have her stuff at all today,” said Schuh, “but she pitched good enough to keep us in the ball game.”
Bethel agreed.
“I think my stuff was OK, but it could have been a lot better,” she said. “I was just trying to stay focused.”
The Titans took a 4-1 lead, and while CV had runners in scoring position with fewer than two outs in every inning but the fifth, she limited the damage to solo runs four times.
Top two batters in U-Hi’s order, Riki Schiermeister and Alyssa Crowley, combined for 11 hits and scored eight of 13 runs in the series.
“When the top two have huge games it’s always in the back of the opposing teams’ mind,” said Schuh. “Speed typically kills.”
CV’s Alexa Morales had four hits and pitcher Alyssa Erickson three in the two games. Gen Aman tripled and doubled in the second contest.
•West Valley stood second in the Great Northern League entering Friday’s doubleheader with Medical Lake. In recent games the Eagles swept Riverside and lost a nonleague game to Lakeland. Brittany Anderson had six hits in the three games, Hannah Begley had five hits including a home run in the Rams doubleheader.
Bears on track
Central Valley (5-0), the defending champion boys track team, remained unbeaten with a sweep of Gonzaga Prep and Mt. Spokane on Thursday. The girls suffered their first loss of the season, to the Wildcats.
East Valley’s boys lost twice, and girls split, in meets with North Central and Shadle Park, and both U-Hi teams lost to Mead.
James Theodorson of the Bears won the 200 and 400 and Kyle Brown cleared 14-1 in the pole vault. Lori Bourgeous captured the 200 and two hurdles for the Knights girls, and Morgan Dunning triple jumped 35-2 and pole vaulted 10-6. Wes Nolen threw 189-feet in the javelin, and Matt Bogyo was a double winner for U-Hi boys. Madeline Fuchs won both hurdles for the girls.
•West Valley’s boys track team nearly swept Riverside to open its GNL season, outscoring Riverside 125-20. The girls also were victorious.
Eagles boys won all but two events, Justin Degenhardt a double distance winner. Melissa Mauro and Bri Almy were triple winners among girls.
Titans in tangle
Baseball is approaching the final two weeks of its regular season and there’s a three-way rumble in the GSL.
University (11-2) is second, a game behind Mead and a game ahead of Ferris following easy wins last week over Rogers and Mt. Spokane. Central Valley (7-6) has fallen off the pace following three straight losses.
The Titans split with the Saxons and still have two games remaining against the Panthers on Friday and April 29 among its final seven.
Soccer stays close
Going into the final three matches of the GSL soccer season five teams, including University and Central Valley, remained mathematically alive for a league championship.
The Bears’ (5-2) chances were slim following Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to Mead. It was a match that in many ways they dominated with their speed. But CV couldn’t find the net.
The Titans (6-1) hosted Ferris on Friday, needing a win to remain in the hunt. Evan Frobe scored twice in Wednesday’s win over Mt. Spokane and leads the league with 10 goals.
East Valley (3-4) moved into sixth place with its third straight victory. The Knights’ Andrew Mastronardi now has scored six times in league.
•West Valley remains among the top teams in the GNL following Craig Norman‘s three-goal game in a 4-1 win over Colville. Norman leads the Eagles with nine.
Women’s golf
Trail at Liberty Lake: Marcia Rowley repeated her first week win during Ladies Day play. Rowley shot 52 in A flight, while Iness Walth had a 57 in B and Cleo Workland 67 in C. Shirley Mildes shot 69 in no-handicap. Net winners were Harriet Carbon with a 37 in A, Bev Johnson with 34 in B and Penny Jones with 34 in C.
Liberty Lake Nine Hole: During weekly medal play Arla Beck shot a 57 for low-gross win over the field and in first flight. She had chip-ins on No. 2 and No. 7 en route. Mary Gehrman had 65 in second flight and Emma Long 70 in third flight. Net winners were Sadie Rueckert with 41 in first flight, including a chip-in on No. 1, Bette Devine with 39 in second and Wilma Capaul with 44 in third.
Liberty Lake 18 Hole: Jody Cantrell was winner of the monthly Liberty Cup competition which is awarded to the low net of the field. Idell Jenicek also won competition for fewest putts with 36.