Spring sports take the stage
Spring sports pack a lot of action into a little time. In the Greater Spokane League alone there are nine venues, half of the league’s entire offering, playing their regular seasons in just over a month and a half.
Competition for some begins this week. Softball starts today, 4 p.m., weather and fields permitting, including two important early games.
Veteran teams meet right off the bat. Defending state champion Shadle Park and pitching star Sam Skillingstad opens at last year’s fourth-place finisher and regional qualifier Central Valley.
North Central, fourth in State 3A last year, is at University in a game between last year’s co-second place finishers. Coach Herm Marshall said Indians starting pitcher Kelsey Vallies is expected to start. She’s been nursing a foot injury. The Titans, with practically everyone back, were a 4A regional competitor.
Soccer debuts Wednesday, including matches that pit Lewis and Clark at defending champion East Valley, Mead at Gonzaga Prep and rivals University at Central Valley.
Baseball begins Thursday.
But before we switch seasons, here’s one last look at three-plus months of basketball:
NWC ties mark
Nearly two weeks after Northwest Christian tied a Class 2B tournament record of three straight state titles, the fact still hasn’t sunk in for coach Ray Ricks.
“I don’t know if it will for 15 or 20 years,” said Ricks in discussing the historical implications. “It was just exciting to win state in that manner at the end of a game (that went) down to the wire.”
The Crusaders join Brewster, which had a state record 82-game winning streak, as the only boys teams to win three in a row. Senior John Graham, who sank the winning basket in a 42-41 win over Toutle Lake, Chase Ramey, Jared Descoteaux and Paul Huffman have been members of all three. The latter three are juniors.
“To be honest, it’s hard to (compare) with the Brewster teams of old, not only the talent level but the legacy level as well,” said Ricks. “The records they accomplished and things they did are pretty phenomenal. Our championships were more hard fought.”
With all but two players coming back, the Crusaders have a chance to explore uncharted territory next year.
“The last game could have gone either way and we’re thankful,” said Ricks. “We’re not looking back or far ahead, but I’m proud of the kids and their accomplishments. (State championships are) a fragile thing and to do it three times, it just worked.”
Fitting end for Thomas
Jessica Thomas was averaging a team-high 15.8 points per game for Pullman before she injured her back early in the season and sat out until the final three games of the Great Northern League season.
She only played about 12 minutes total due to illness during last week’s State 2A girls tournament. Over half of that came in Saturday’s fourth-place finish in Tacoma.
Pullman trailed 34-32 when Thomas scored seven straight points in the game’s final 2 1/2 minutes for a 39-35 win.
The Greyhounds beat Anacortes in the tournament opener, a game pitting Pullman’s Shelby Cheslek against her cousin, Monica Malcolm. Anacortes ultimately placed fifth, both teams finishing with 3-1 records.
Cheney, the GNL’s third boys entry to state, finished seventh.
Wildcats foes place
Last week boys basketball coach Bill Ayers said he thought Mt. Spokane acquitted itself well at the State 3A tournament.
The tourney bore him out. Mount Rainier, which beat Mt. Spokane 53-48 in the opener, went on to finish fourth with a 3-1 record.
Renton, which beat the Wildcats 50-44 in game two, sending the Wildcats packing, wound up fifth, also at 3-1.
“We didn’t get embarrassed,” Ayers said. “The younger kids got a taste and want to get back.”