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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Mustang stars win regional

Local 10U team earns trip to West Zone Tournament

Bill Jennings Staff writer

The Spokane Pony League Mustang 10U All-Star team won the Northwest Regional Tournament in Enumclaw, Wash., July 25-27. The title earns Spokane a berth at the Mustang West Zone Tournament in Chino Hills, Calif., starting Thursday, where they open play against host Chino Hills. The West Zone champion will move on to the Mustang World Series held in Irving, Texas, the following week.

After finishing Pool A play with a 2-1 record, Spokane advanced to the semifinals as the number 1 seed and beat North Seattle 15-0. In the title game against Mountlake Terrace, Spokane jumped out to an early 8-0 lead and held on for a 12-7 win and the region’s spot in Chino Hills.

The Mustang roster includes Aaron Beaulaurier, Camden Bendickson, Blake Bonham, Jermaine Ducham, Alek Jacob, Hunter Liberg, Jacob Phipps, Jordan Summers, Johnny Sage, Cal Webb, Cole Beemer, and Adam Asan. The team is coached by Steve Webb, Dennis Beemer, Geoff Asan and Joe Sage.

•The Spokane South West Little League sent three all star teams representing Spokane for the first time to the Washington State Little League Tournament in Auburn, Wash., July 19-23. The teams were made up of 9-10-year-olds, 10-11-year-olds and 12-year olds.

The Spokane 10-11-year-olds finished with a 2-2 record to take 5th place. After an opening 13-0 loss to defending champion Eastlake, they notched wins in their second and third games against Fort Vancouver (5-2) and West Seattle (8-4). Spokane lost to Lake Stevens 10-7 in their final game of the tournament. The roster includes Connor Cherry, Brody Asbury, Ethan LaValley, David Mickey, Zeke Amstader, Griffin Davis, Jack LaLonde, Jake Hufnagel, Buddy Slater, Braedon Weber, Tyrus LaRocca and Ryan Cote.

In their first game, the Spokane 12-year-olds lost to the Greater Richland Little League 13-3. They finished the tournament losing 5-0 to Larch Mountain Little League. The 12-year-old roster includes Jack Burke, Joe Mouser, Ryan Byrd, Karver Pate, Anthony Coballes, Timmy Rubertt, Andre Gadau, Ryan Schulte, Cory Gieffers, Patrick Smith, Anthony Gosline and Chris Szambelan.

Results and rosters for the Spokane South West Little League 9-10-year-olds were not available.

Locals ready for state WJGA

Several local players qualified for the Washington Junior Golf Championship in Spokane Wednesday through Friday with top scores at the Washington Junior Golf Association District tournament held at the University of Idaho golf course in Moscow July 21-22.

Qualifiers for boys 15-17 include winner Hank Frame (Painted Hills), Matt Penny in second (Wandermere) and Jared Descoteaux third (Esmarelda). Boys 14-15 who qualified include Robert McKee (Manito) second and Peter Gullickson (Manito) third. Boys 12-13 qualifiers include Ryan Newcome (Sundance) who finished third. Tanner Comes (Manito) won the Boys 8 to 11 and Michael Brutocao (Manito) finished second.

In girls 16-17, Genavive Dodge (Prairie Falls) finished second and Kaitlen Parsons (MeadowWood) qualified by finishing third. Savana Bezdicek (Wandermere) won girls 14-15 and Megan Haase (Manito) took second. In girls 12-13 Sierra Bezdicek finished first and Sierra Kersten topped girls 8-11.

The Washington Junior Golf Championship will be held at Spokane Country Club Wednesday through Friday, Manito Golf and Country Club Wednesday and Thursday and Wandermere Golf Course Wednesday and Thursday.

Track and field

Central Valley senior Brad Whitley finished fifth in the young men’s (ages 17-18) 800 meters with a time of 1 minute, 54.72 seconds at the 2008 USATF National Junior Olympics Track and Field Championships at Burke High School in Omaha, Neb., last week.

Central Valley teammate Greg Barnes, also a senior, finished 32nd in the 110-meter hurdles (16.67 seconds) and 25th in the long jump (20 feet, 103/4 inches).