Bandits’ U-Hi players earn coach’s praise

Spokane Valley baseball players are in the midst of tournaments to determine state qualifying American Legion teams.

The Bandits – including University players Michael Holmes, Danny Jordan, Billy Moon, Tyler Olson and Jacob Olsufka – are hosting a four-team weekend Senior Legion regional at Shadle Park that qualifies two teams to state.

Last year the Bandits finished fourth in the state tournament. This year’s route to state, including teams from Wenatchee, Vancouver and Centralia, is a bit more difficult.

Jordan, said coach Steve Hertz, has been an offensive catalyst as well as one of the team’s pitchers.

“He bats leadoff and is one of the finest competitors I’ve been around,” said the former Gonzaga University head coach.

Olson, Hertz continued, has been another pitching, first base and offensive key.

“He has been outstanding (on the mound) from the get-go,” said Hertz. “His first outing was a one-hitter. And he’s a four-hole power guy. Everyone was thinking of him as a pitcher (at GU next year). Now they’re thinking of him as a two-way guy.”

Moon, batting third, “dedicated the summer learning how to pull the ball with authority,” said Hertz. He is a centerfield stalwart and has recently returned to pitching after a layoff the first part of the season.

Olsufka and Holmes have been steady at shortstop and second base and hit well, he said.

The Bandits were regular season AAA league champions and automatically seeded into the regional. They opened play Friday night and double-elimination qualifying resumes today at 4:30 p.m.

•Meanwhile, both Central Valley and University are playing for the South Division championship in a best-of-three Junior AA Legion series and an automatic berth to state in Yakima and Kennewick.

University won the regular season of the division then swept Shadle Park 6-5 and 6-1 in the first round of playoffs. Tony Tabish doubled and tripled in game one and Justin Liu had five hits in the doubleheader, three in game two to back Jon Rapose’s four-hitter.

Central Valley swept division runnerup Lewis and Clark 5-4 and 5-3 to advance. David Borgman had four hits, Scott Simon three and Cory Mack and Dane Berg each doubled twice.

Four teams are seeking three state berths. Gonzaga Prep and Mt. Spokane from the North Division are the other teams involved.

University and CV A Legion teams are also playing off with state the goal.

SVGSA titles on line

Tournament champions will be crowned this weekend in four Spokane Valley Girls Softball Association age groups.

The week-long double-elimination tourney concludes today and Sunday at East Valley Middle School complex.

In early returns Dairy Queen edged Farrell Spray 7-6 and Home Run Construction whipped Tri Diamond 15-1 to reach the 16U league semifinals.

Semifinalists in the 14U tournament are top-seed Spokane Transfer, a 19-8 winner over Kim Hotstart, No. 2 Einstein’s Car Wash which edged Jewell Excavating 11-9; No. 3 Old Country Buffet, a 14-7 winner over Commercial Battery and No. 4 Legends Photography, 11-8 winner over BNSF.

There were upsets aplenty in the 12U tournament where Old Country Buffet beat top seed Baker Construction 20-18 to move opposite Sir Speedy, a 20-16 victor over Jewell Excavating. Marz Mountain beat No. 2 seed Dana Graphics 22-14 for its second win of the tournament and Arby’s beat No. 3 Standard Brothers Lumber 20-15.

In the 10U tournament, semifinalists are top seed BNSF, 11-7 winner over Bridgestone Tires and No. 2 Mega Wash, 19-5 victor over Evergreen Heating. Summit Electric advanced as expected, 13-9 over Greenacres Gypsum, but No. 3 Sir Speedy was upset 14-13 by F&F Foundation.

Home Run Construction (9-1) wrapped up the 16U regular season title with a 4-2 over BNSF, Ynasia Van Komen hitting a two-run double in the top of the eighth, and 11-10 wins over BNSF and runner-up Dairy Queen, the latter on Allie Riggin’s game-winning home run.

There was a three-way tie to end the 14U regular season, Spokane Transfer, Old Country Buffet and Einstein’s Car Wash all with 8-2 records. Spokane Transfer beat Legend’s Photography (7-3) 6-5 to earn its share. Pitcher Julia Rambo allowed one run and struck out six, while Hailey Wesselman went 3-for-4, scored twice and drove in two other runs.

Einstein’s Jocelyn Barron-Robles hit two triples in one win and a grand slam homer in another.

Baker Construction (9-1) finished a game ahead of Dana Graphics (8-2) in the 12U League. Dana’s Emille Farrell went 2-for-3, and Joslyn Strent pitched two no-hit innings in a pair of wins.

BNSF, Mega Wash and Sir Speedy were separated by a game in the 10U League. Among regular season-ending highlights: Madison Bastin hit a grand slam home run for BNSF as did Lori Michielli of Greenacres Gypsum; Lydia Martinez and Kendyll Rockom of Bridgestone Tire each hit two home runs, and Emily Hawley hit a three-run triple in one victory. She also hit two home runs in another triumph.

Baseball tourneys begin

A pair of three-day, eight-team single-elimination Spokane Valley Baseball tournaments will be contested next week.

There was a potential three-way tie for first in the Midget League where Summit and Brad DeCounter DDS (Pasadena Park) completed 9-3 seasons and Intermountain Fabricators was 8-3 with a game remaining.

One playoff team that finished with a flourish was Spokane Recycling (Skyview) which beat both Summit, 7-5 and Pasadena 12-9 to finish 6-6. Noah Sherwood pitched in both wins and Matt Bueckers went 3-for-3 in one game and turned a double play in the other.

Spokane Athletic Supply capped a 12-0 Pee Wee season with three pitchers combining for 18 strikeouts in one six-inning win, including Ross Vermillion who homered. He also hit two home runs and drove in six runs during a 3-for-4 day in the season finale.

Women’s golf

MeadowWood 18-Hole – During medal play on July 16 Susan Oberlink shot 79 in first flight for low-gross honors. Suzie Stone shot 81 to win second flight, Carol Schultz and Patsy Lynn tied with 90s in third. Net winners in the respective flights were Kitty Duval with 73, Pam Tomkins and Jan Krogseth with 76, and Sandy McLaughlin with 79.

Painted Hills – Jean Allemand birdied and shot a 42 to lead weekly play. Gloria Knauss shot 52 in B flight, Judee Fowler 58 in C and Carol Chevalier 65 in D. Net winners were Linda Church with 37 in A, Melody Chesnut with 36 in B, Edie Foedisch with 34 in C and Bev Johnson with 38 in D. Fowler, Virginia Lemmer and Kathy Perry all had chip-ins.

Liberty Lake 9-Hole – Two weeks of medal play produced these results. Janis Smith with 54 and Elizabeth Driscoll with 52 had low-gross scores in first flight. Nancy Lampe shot 63 and 64 in flight two. She shared second-week honors with Ethel Rankin and Pat Thompson. Linda Barry shot 66 and 73 in third flight. Net winners in the respective flights were Arla Beck and Darlene Reilly with 40, Betty Devine, Shirley Schoenberger and Emma Long with 41, and Jan Tisthammer with 44. Long, Beck, Sadie Rueckert and Joanne Ruddell all had chip-ins.

Trailhead at Liberty Lake – It was Allemand again, shooting a 46, to earn A flight honors on a second course. Gail Peters shot 53 in B flight and Shirley Mildes 66 in C. Net winners were Joyce Jacobs with 40 in A and Penny Jones with 36 in B.