G-Prep’s Hopkins selects Stanford
Charlie Hopkins didn’t have to make more than a couple of visits to know which school he wants to play football at in a year.
The Gonzaga Prep senior-to-be has given Stanford University an oral commitment.
The 6-foot-6, 260-pound All-Greater Spokane League selection started at defensive end for the Bullpups. He said he was recruited by Stanford to play on the defensive line.
“The academics impressed me along with their whole football program,” Hopkins said.
Hopkins visited Stanford with his family during spring break and made a second visit on his own two weeks ago. He chose the Palo Alto, Calif., school over Washington, Washington State, Oregon, Oregon State, UCLA, Arizona State, Boise State and Idaho. All of the schools offered him a scholarship, he said.
“I think it’s a wonderful fit for him,” Gonzaga Prep coach Dave McKenna said.
Hopkins carries a 3.5 grade-point average. He plans to study engineering.
He said the schools that he was seriously considering included WSU and UW.
“I’m glad to have the decision made,” he said last week. “It’s finals week so I’ve been stressing a little. But other than that I feel relieved to have my decision made.”
Stealth wins tourney
The Spokane Stealth softball team defeated Heat of Great Falls, Mont., 9-3 in the championship game of the U16 Missoula Lady Osprey Walk-Off Classic two weeks ago in Missoula.
The Stealth entered the final day seeded sixth, but defeated second-seeded Calgary Rockies before knocking off the top-seeded Heat. Pitcher Katelyn Bauman went the distance for the Stealth in the final, allowing eight hits, three runs and walking two in seven innings in her third pitching performance of the day.
“She settled in,” Stealth coach Carl Adams told the Missoulian newspaper. “She was strong the whole day. Not many kids can throw three games in a day and finish as strong as she started.”
Kaileene Krauth led the Stealth offense, knocking in three runs and scoring one.
Other signings
A pair of Coeur d’Alene football players have decided to continue playing in college.
Wide receiver/placekicker Connor Williams is headed to Whitworth University and Alex Kastens is going to Carroll College in Helena. Kastens will play either linebacker of defensive line.
•A pair of Sandpoint players are headed to the University of Montana Western.
Wide receiver Mike Hubbard and defensive lineman A.J. Smith were among nine recent signees.
• Dalton Vander Pol of Post Falls has signed to play soccer at Community Colleges of Spokane.
NC impressive
A handful of North Central athletes fared well at the Portland Track Festival last Saturday.
In the girls two mile, freshman Katie Knight took first in a time of 10 minutes, 31.32 seconds – breaking the freshman state record. It’s the 10th best time all time, NC coach Kelly Walters said.
In the boys mile, Ben Johnston finished third (4:08.97).
In the unseeded boys mile, Keith Williams was fifth (4:22.75), the fifth fastest time for a freshman in state history.
In the boys 1,500 meters, Austen Frostad took first (4:18.4).
In the men’s open 5,000, Vince Hamilton took 19th (14:56.21), the 11th best time all-time and sixth best in the nation this year.
In the boys distance medley, the foursome of Casey Adams, Andrew Wordell, JT Mellgren and Johnston was second (10:07.08). It’s the third best all time in Washington.
Legion highlights
Nick Sagendorf and Seth Montgomery combined to throw a no-hitter for Mead against Kettle Falls last week in a AA game.
•The Spokane Dodgers 18U team went 6-0 at the Wilkinson Cardinal Classic in Bellevue, a wood bat tourney featuring 14 teams.
The Dodgers downed Baden Baseball 9-1 in the championship game.
Although no most valuable player award was given, Dodgers coach Jeff Simmelink said Ryan Krustangel of Ferris was the Dodgers’ top player at the tourney. Carson Blumenthal of Mt. Spokane threw a three-hit shutout, Derek Peterson of Ferris had a four hitter in the semifinal and Jordan Osborn of Eastmont had a three-hitter in the title game.
This ‘n that
Former Shadle Park boys basketball coach Darcy Weisner, most recently the principal at Walla Walla, has been hired as superintendent of the Clarkston School District.
That means his multi-talented daughter, Jamie, who just won a 4A state title in the javelin, will be moving to Clarkston. In basketball, Weisner was the Columbia Basin Big Nine Cascade Division most valuable player. She also played volleyball.
• Allen Green, athletic director since 1999 at Anaconda, Mont., will take over as A.D. at Moscow in the fall, replacing the retiring Jerry Jacques.