Baseball hall honors Shadle’s Brooks

Ron Brooks, head coach at Shadle Park High School for 24 years, was inducted into the Washington State Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame last weekend in Redmond.

Brooks, an assistant at Shadle for three years before assuming the head position, has a 282-221 overall record, including a 210-180 mark in the Greater Spokane League. His Highlanders have won three GSL titles, appeared in the state tournament six times, reaching the final four twice.

He has been GSL coach of the year three times and coached in the state all-star game twice, including last June. Four of his Highlanders have gone on to play professionally.

“It’s an honor that means a lot to me,” said Brooks, who was inducted in a class with retired Warden coach Jerry Powell and Rodger Anderson of Lake Stevens.

“I feel fortunate to be at a school with very special kids,” Brooks added.

College scene

Louis Bland, who played a significant role as a linebacker at Washington State, was named to Phil Steele’s Freshman All-America third team in football.

The 6-foot, 205-pound Bland, who missed the Cougars’ first game with a foot sprain, played in the last 12, starting the last nine. He had 55 tackles, including nine for loss with two quarterback sacks, two pass breakups and an interception, which he returned 16 yards for a touchdown against Oregon State.

In the Cougars’ Pac-10 Conference-ending 16-13 double-overtime win over Washington, Bland had tackles for loss in both overtime periods, the second forcing the Huskies’ final field-goal try that missed.

•Senior H-back Eddie Williams, Idaho’s reception leader, earned the football team’s John Friesz Most Valuable Player Award and was named offensive player of the year at the Vandals’ annual banquet last weekend.

Senior end Josh Shaw was chosen the most valuable defensive player and senior center Adam Korby won the Wayne Walker Ironman Award for the fourth straight year after starting all 47 games of his career.

Other awards went to: Senior punter T.J. Conley, special teams player of the year and the Kathy Clark Scholar-Athlete Award; junior offensive guard Mike Iupati, Wayne Anderson Coaches Award; senior defensive end Taylor Rust, most inspirational; junior running back Devon Sturdivant, Vandal Pride Strong Man Award; and senior linebacker Andrew Blevins, special teams ironman.

Scout team players of the year were DeMaundray Wooldridge (offense), Isaiah Lavea (defense) and Rayce Bird (special teams).

Football

Nine members of the Inland Empire Football Officials Association were selected to work WIAA state playoff games this fall, including two who worked state championship games in the Tacoma Dome.

Tim Davis worked the 2A final, in which Lynden beat Prosser 35-34 in two overtimes, and Bill Turnguist was in the 1A finale, in which Cashmere edged Cascade Christian 10-9.

Semifinal assignments went to Ken Eickerman, Scott Cordell, Bob DeVleming, Bob Guerin, Jim Warrick and Dick B rautigam.