Still striving

Blindness doesn’t stop man from running marathons, climbing mountains ||

YAKIMA, Wash. — Some first-time runners in the Yakima River Canyon Marathon come around the bend, see the long uphill grade to the Roza cut at the 22-mile mark and groan.

Not Bruce Stobie. He won’t see it coming.

That won’t bother him quite as much as not being able to see the crevasses, rock formations or steep dropoffs along the Disappointment Cleaver route on Mount Rainier when he attempts to climb the state’s highest mountain in July.

But for Stobie, simply being blind isn’t a good enough reason to stopping doing things he enjoys — though he’d dearly love to be able to see the beauty of the high country.

“It’s one thing I miss being able to see, being in the mountains and being able to see scenery,” says Stobie, a 46-year-old computer whiz living in Maple Valley. “It’s kind of hard to be there and not be able to experience that part of it, but the exercise and the challenge of it kind of make it for me.”

Stobie remembers what those mountains look like. His blindness came when he was 20, a college student at Central Washington with friends doing some off-roading in a crowded, open-top vehicle. The driver lost control above a steep embankment, and when the vehicle rolled, Stobie was ejected, slamming into the roll bar as he flew out.

The serious head trauma robbed him of sight — and ended absolutely nothing else.

All he’s done since then is develop the computer expertise that enables him to analyze and design computer systems; get married and father two children; run a marathon; and get into rock climbing and mountaineering. He does the latter much the same way he’ll run Saturday’s race — holding a strap connected to a sighted friend who serves as his eyes to keep him apprised of obstacles.

And that’s not always easy, says his sister and his running partner for Saturday’s marathon, Melissa Dunning.

“We forget he’s blind. It’s terrible when I’m running with him because I forget to tell him things. Oops, there’s a fence, stop!” laughs Dunning, who lives in Silverdale. “He gets around so well. It’s almost like a non-issue, really, the blindness. To me, he’s just a regular guy.”

He’s also a good enough distance runner — he’s shooting for a sub-four-hour finish Saturday — that Dunning actually prefers running with him than with her husband, Ed, who is also entered.

“I love running with my brother,” she says. “I sometimes run with my husband; he’s a little slower than me, but my husband doesn’t like to talk when we’re running, because he’s usually feeling bad and I love talking when I’m running. So I love running with my brother, because he loves to talk.

“On the long runs, we’re usually suffering at different times. That part of it is kind of hard, but it kind of helps, too — because if I was running by myself, I’d be running a lot slower. He’s a lot stronger than me.”

Stobie laughs about the thought of a lot of late-race conversation. “I notice when I’m the pain zone, the talking doesn’t really happen as much,” he says. “But I’m looking forward to meeting other people at the race, and talk with them.”

Because Stobie can’t see what’s around him, focus and concentration is critical — and not always enough. He has taken falls, twisted ankles, suffered a few bruises. “It’s just part of the overhead, basically,” he says. “I just kind of expect it.”

Stobie ran his last marathon in 1990, seven years after the accident that blinded him. He’d been a good track and cross country runner at Mount Rainier High School, so he came in hoping for a fast time — and, after starting out too fast, hit the wall. Recalls Stobie, “It was ugly.”

But it wasn’t that experience that deterred him from more marathons. A few years later, he fell into an open manhole — he was walking with a cane and missed the traffic warning cone — and injured his back. That ended his running career, at least for a while.

Over several relatively inactive years, he began to put on weight.

So three or four years ago, Stobie began working at getting back into shape — hiking, mostly, but also training on an elyptical stepper and a treadmill. Over that span, he has dropped more than 30 pounds, averages an hour of cardiovascular training every day and says training “two to three to four or five hours is not a problem.”

He’s done 20-mile runs in training, and with that one marathon under his belt — albeit nearly two decades ago — he knows what to expect. He also knows the Yakima Canyon by memory, having gotten to know it well while he was a CWU student.

His sister has done two canyon races, 2005 and 2007 — the 2005 run, in fact, was her first marathon — and the Yakima River Canyon holds a special history for her.

“My husband and I got married in Ellensburg, and we spent the first night of our marriage in Yakima — and we drove the canyon road to get there,” Melissa Dunning says. “It’s kind of cool to run it and think about how I was feeling then.”

Now, of course, she also has to think about how her brother is feeling. She doesn’t want to forget even momentarily the one thing that, because her brother’s obvious capabilities, becomes all too too easy to forget.

“Usually around 16 miles I pretty much check out, so I’m really going to have to stay alert for this one,” she says. “It’s going to be interesting.”

For Stobie, it’ll just mean four hours — less than that, hopefully — of easy terrain. A paved road is a breeze compared to some of the rutted, root-gnarled trails he has hiked. Or, worse, the boulder fields — like the one he had to traverse last year on Silver Peak, near Snoqualmie Pass.

“That was really challenging,” he recalls. “I experienced some fear and frustration. I kind of got stuck in a situation where, boy, this would be so damn easy if I could see where to put my feet.”

But he persevered and got through it — as he has done in so many ways since that accident on Manastash Ridge more than a quarter-century ago.

“One person sitting next to me died,” Stobie says. “The alternative, yeah, it’s blindness and it sucks. But considering what could have happened to me, I came out pretty OK.”

New coaches, alignments kick start soccer year

YAKIMA, Wash. — Two new coaches, league reorganizations and a new team mean there are a lot of unknowns early in the boys soccer season.

New Highland coach Greg Wagner begins his first varsity coaching job with as good a situation as one could wish for.

The Scotties, state finalists a year ago, return nine starters from last season, including state Class 1A player of the year Jesus Silva and two other all-SCAC players in defender Luis Silva and midfielder Anthony Naranjo.

“Anthony Naranjo is our emotional leader,” Wagner said. “He really gets the guys going and wears his heart on his sleeve.”

So far this season, Highland has been led by Eric Perez, who has scored five goals in the team’s first five games.

Also welcoming a new coach is Eisenhower.

Tyler Suhm, who has coached the Ike girls team for the past two seasons, takes over for Alberto Daniel.

Helping Suhm make the transition is a core of veteran players, including Sabdi Palma, Chris Beehler and Albert Anabtawi.

Palma, a senior midfielder, “will be a key guy for us on both sides of the ball,” Suhm said.

Suhm said he’s expecting Beehler, a junior center defender, to help organize the defense and use his strength to close down opposing attacks.

Anabtawi a forward and outside midfielder will be paired up front with sophomore Gustavo Razo, a left-footed forward.

For soccer, the Columbia Basin Big Nine will do away with the division format most other sports use. This means the teams will face each other once during the regular season.

Going the other direction is the SCAC.

The conference will split into two divisions, similar to the setup for basketball. Wahluke, Connell, Royal, Warden and Kiona-Benton will play in the East division. Highland, Naches Valley, Goldendale, Granger and Mabton will play in the West.

Mabton joins the conference after a student effort to start a team was approved by the school board.

Coach Andy Dyer helped the students start their push.

“There was a couple of students who I helped write a letter,” Dyer said. “They wanted to start a team, it went to the student reps up to the school board.”

The first-year program has 36 players between the varsity and junior varsity teams, but a lot of the players don’t have much experience playing organized soccer.

“We’re having a fun time,” Dyer said. “I have had a lot of kids in class who are passionate about the sport. On the JV, we have lots of kids who haven’t played.”

Dyer said he expects big things from junior forward Hector Brambila.

“He’s very fast, good ball control,” Dyer said. “One touch and it goes where he wants it to go.”

Spring Prep Preview capsules: Soccer

Columbia Basin Big Nine

FAVORITE

PASCO has three all-CBL 4A players back in goalie Emmanuel Martinez, defender Brady Espinoza and league player of the year Marco Acevedo. The Bulldogs went 11-1 a year ago and should dominate this 4A/3A megaleague.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

SUNNYSIDE is replacing its entire defensive line, including two primary defensive substitutes, but coach Juan Pineda says the scheduled return of all-league goalie Joaquin Perez should help bring more confidence to a young crew of stoppers. Pineda says he’s counting heavily on seniors Brian Galvan and Nick Stecker and sophomore Humberto Bermudez. … So far this season, DAVIS has been led by the goal scoring of Jose Gaoma, Walter Manriquez and Andres Ruiz. Ruiz is among four non-graduated all-leaguers from last year’s team that went 7-5 and finished third in the CBL 4A division. Antonio Ruiz returns as one of the league’s best defenders. … WEST VALLEY welcomes back Junior Ayala after a year away from the team. His return is already paying dividends in the form of seven goals in the early going. Second-year coach Jake Sagare is looking for big things from A.J. Vargas, Connor Nathe, Forrest Chapin and Chris Gonzales. For the future, Sagare expects big things from Jesse Esquivel and Aparicio Fisher. … New EISENHOWER coach Tyler Suhm has a mix of youth and experience to work with. Senior midfielder Sabdi Palma, junior defender Chris Beehler and junior forward Albert Anabtawi are surrounded by youngsters Gustavo Razo (a left-footed forward) and Edgar Camacho an all-arounder who will mostly play on the back line.

CWAC

FAVORITES

One of the toughest leagues in the state might also be one of the toughest to handicap. QUINCY lost three first-team all-CWAC players from last season’s team that went 13-0 in the regular season and reached the state semifinals. Conference coaches seem to think the Jackrabbits will regroup and make another run into the playoffs. In the south, GRANDVIEW looks just as tough as they were last season. Despite losing four players who earned some sort of all-CWAC honors, coach Anne Holden has two returning from last year’s 11-2 team.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

After having the youngest team in the conference last year, ELLENSBURG will return 10 starters, including all-CWAC first teamer Jarrick Farrand. Coach Michael Farrand is also counting on contributions from defenders Max Zenter and Eddie Amequeza-Rios, midfielder Dayton Abbott and forwards Josh Aubol and Andrew Bishop. … EAST VALLEY will look to fill the boots of departed CWAC player of the year Cameron Mugleston and first-teamers Michael Rogstad and Kurt Russell. So far this season, the Red Devils have been led by Caleb Buck, Gustavo Guerrero and Andre Rodriguez. Goalie Morin Partida has made 33 saves through last weekend.  … Sammy Villa leads the way for GRANDVIEW with three goals so far this campaign. Rodolfo Barriga gives Holden some flexibility with his knack for scoring and stopping goals. He has scored twice so far and is also the Greyhounds’ backup goalkeeper. Teclo Perez is the first option in goal and looks to build on his honorable mention honors from last season. … PROSSER got a big win early with a 2-1 victory against West Valley. Coach Rich Zoller credits midfielders Anthony Cervantez, Alberto Quinones and Gustavo Madrigal with the team’s fast start. He also talks up his junior forwards Victor Corona and Memo Correa. … SELAH will have a lot of holes to fill this season, as the Vikings lost 10 players to graduation. Coach Todd Martin is counting on Chris Lion, Anthony Hemphill, Danny Hernandez, Nate Lynch and Christo Montiel. Newcomers include Hernandez, a freshman, and Quincy Davis who turned out for soccer after running track in the past. … Forwards Cesar Sabalza and Luis Alcala are off to a hot start for TOPPENISH, Sabalza scored five goals in the team’s first five games, while Alcala scored three. Three-time all-leaguer Preciliano Martinez returns after missing last season with a torn ligament in his knee. Coach Uriel Gonzalez had a lot of players to pick from, 80 turned out at the start of the season. … Diego Hernandez and Sergio Sanchez are WAPATO’s top scoring threats, while Francisco Padilla is the Wolves’ shut-down defender. Coach Aaron Gillespie thinks his team has improved from last year’s 8-5 record and expects them to be among the top teams in the CWAC South.

SCAC WEST

FAVORITES

High-octane Highland is back. With four players with multiple goals  so far this season, including five by Eric Perez, the Scotties look like a good bet to return to the state semis for the fourth consecutive year. In the SCAC East, Connell and Wahluke should duke it out for the top spot.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

HIGHLAND has a new coach but a lot of postseason experience on the field. State 1A player of the year Jesus Silva is back along with All-SCAC players Luis Silva and Anthony Naranjo. Perez leads the way with five goals in the team’s first six games, while Juan Aguilar, Diego Silva and Naranjo have each notched three. … GRANGER’s attack centers around returning all-leaguer Jose Zuniga who has three goals so far this season for the Spartans. Carlos Hernandez has scored two while Uriel Gee and Juan Rodriguez have also appeared on the scoring sheet. … GOLDENDALE goes into the program’s second season with all-SCAC player Kyle Cairns returning. Coach Jimmy Dick said he’s especially pleased with the play of goaltender Alejandro Armenta, who made 21 saves in a loss to Connell. … MABTON coach Andy Dyer is looking to junior forward Hector Brambila and senior goalie Luis Aviles to help the first-year program to its goal of reaching the district tournament. Juan Aguilar has provided a scoring threat for the Vikings. … NACHES VALLEY’s main scoring threat this season has been fullback Jonathan Whitmore, who has notched three goals so far this season. Coach Steve Davidson is looking to replace nine seniors from last year’s squad, including his entire midfield. Davidson said he’s counting on freshman Porfi Navarro and sophomore Matt Huck.

— Marcus Michelson

Flory, Wilcox help NV stay perfect

NACHES, Wash. — Ethan Flory and Thomas Wilcox led a Naches Valley hit parade that helped the Rangers remain perfect this season.

Flory was 7-for-8 for the day, and Wilcox had a two-run double in the opener and a two-run homer in the second game as the Rangers routed Connell 10-3 and 15-6 in a non-league baseball doubleheader Tuesday.

Naches Valley improved to 6-0 with the sweep.

Wilcox’s double highlighted a five-run first inning that got the Rangers out to a quick start in the opener. He added a homer and finished with three RBI in the second game.

Cody Johns and Joe Mills both added three hits in the second game for the winners.

Game 1

Connell                002    010    0    —    3    6    5
Naches Valley    500    014    x    —    10    11    0
Heiman, Berry (6) and Dillon; Johns, Flory (5), Walker (6), Wilcox (7) and Gillespie.
Highlights: Ethan Flory (NV) 3-4; Joe Mills (NV) 2-3; Thomas Wilcox (NV) 2-run 2b.

Game 2

Connell                200    130    0    —    6    6    3
Naches Valley    624    201    x    —    15    12    2
Eppich, Berry (1), VanHollenback (3), Salisbury (6) and Dillon; Ranger, Gillespie (5), Walker (6) and Wilcox (7) and Gilespie, Ring (5).
Highlights: Cody Johns (NV) 3-3; Carson Kass (NV) 2-3; Wilcox (NV) 2-4, 2-run HR, 3 RBI; J.R. Weigel (NV) 2-4; Mills (NV) 3-5; Flory (NV) 4-4.

PASCO 9-8, EISENHOWER 4-16: At Eisenhower, Tyler Berman hit a grand slam in the Cadets’ eight-run second inning of the second game, then added an RBI double in the third as the Cadets out-slugged Pasco for the split.

Berman, who also drove in two runs in the opener, pitched the first four innings of the nightcap. Nick Lombardi homered in the first game while Seth Kline and Travis Roybal went deep in the second for Ike (3-5).

Game 1

Pasco               301    110    3    —    9    15    0
Eisenhower    002    200    0    —    4    7    2
Garza and Davenport; Roybal, Lombardi (4) and Kline.
Highlights: Rick Davenport (P) 3-4, 2b, 2 RBI; Nick Hernandez (P) 2-4; Matt Garcia (E) 3-3; Stephen Palachuk (E) 2-3, 3b; Nick Lombardi (E) 1-3, HR; Tyler Berman 1-3, 2b, 2 RBI; Max Kovatch (E) 1-4, RBI.

Game 2

Pasco               013    040    0    —    8    13    3
Eisenhower    181    330    x    —    16    12    2
Clarke, Taboada (2), Briggs (3), Graff (4), Weiss (5) and Davenport; Berman, Palachuk (5) and Kline.
Highlights: Trevor Brain (P) 1-3, HR, 3 RBI; Daniel Weiss (P) 2-5, HR, RBI; G. Martinez (P) HR, RBI; Berman (E) 2-4, 2b, HR, 5 RBI; Seth Kline (E) 2-4, 2b, HR, 4 RBI; Travis Roybal (E) HR, RBI; Andre Arcand (E) 2-4, 2 RBI; Will Scott (E) 2-3, 3 runs; Lombardi (E) 2b; Thomas Garza (E) 1-3, 2b, RBI.

ZILLAH 20, TOPPENISH 0: At Toppenish, Blake Dasso struck out eight over four two-hit innings, and Trevor Fink and Trevor Oswalt combined to go 6-for-7 with six runs-batted-in for the Leopards (4-3).

Zillah              682    22    —    20    15    0
Toppenish      000    00    —    0    2    3
Dasso, Seaman (5) and Olivas; Valdez, Thomson (2), Maldonado (5) and Maldonado, Thomson (5).
Highlights: Trevor Fink (Z) 2-3, 2b, 4 RBI; Trevor Oswalt (Z) 4-4, 3b, 2 RBI; Jared Olivas (Z) 3-4, RBI; Blake Dasso (Z) 2-3, RBI, 4 IP, 8 K, 2 H, 0 BB.

Davis edges Sunnyside in shootout

SUNNYSIDE, Wash. — Davis managed six goals to Sunnyside’s five in a shootout Tuesday night as the Pirates downed the Grizzlies 3-2 in CBBN soccer action.

Davis continues league play at home Saturday against Richland.

First half: 1, Davis, Salvador Navarro (Jorge Sanchez), 12:00; 2, Davis, Andrez Ruiz (Alexio Garcia), 25:00; 3, Sunnyside, Jesse Solis, 39:00.

Second half: 4, Sunnyside, Jordan Esqueda, 79:00.

First overtime: No scoring.

Second overtime: No scoring.

Shootout — Davis: Walt Ammiquez, Andrez Ruiz, Rudy Sanchez, Johnny Mendoza, Jorge Sanchez, Justavo Arrelano. Sunnyside: Not available.

EISENHOWER 3, WEST VALLEY 2 (SO): At Marquette Stadium, the Cadets prevailed 4-2 in the shootout to improve to 2-3 going into a Saturday match at Pasco.

First half: 1, West Valley, Cristian Gonzales, 5:00; 2, Eisenhower, Guillermo Silva (Albert Anabtawi), 13:00; 3, Eisenhower, Gustavo Razo (Sabdi Palma), 20:00.

Second half: 4, West Valley, Trevor Novobielski, 78:00.

First overtime: No scoring.

Second overtime: No scoring.

Shootout — West Valley: Connor Nathe, Joel Heiser; Eisenhower: Billy Tinajero, Albert Anabtawi, Carlos Moran, Josh Fowler.

Connell sweeps Naches Valley

NACHES, Wash. — Connell pitchers combined to allow just three hits for the day as the Eagles swept the non-league fastpitch doubleheader Tuesday.

Connell won the opener 10-0 in five innings, and the second game 8-0.

Game 1

Connell                044    11        —    10    12    0
Naches Valley    000    00        —    0    2    2
Grassl and Sawyer; Walker and Charlet.
Highlights: Wright (NV) 1-2; Nelson (NV) 1-2; Borge (C) 2-4, run; Vergara (C) 2-4; Sawyer (C) 2b, run; Grassl (C) 2b, run; Hawk (C) 2 runs.

Game 2

Connell                002    113    1    —    8    10    0
Naches Valley    000    000    0    —    0    1    3
Molsbarger and Sawyer; Heide, Walker (6) and Remley, Charlet (2).
Highlights: Molsbarger (C) 12 Ks, 2-3, 3 runs; Vergara (C) 2-4, 2 runs, RBI; Sawyer (C) 3-4, 2b, 2 runs, RBI; Bernsen (C) 2-3; Walker (NV) 1-3.

College of Idaho beats up on Central

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — The wind was blowing out toward right field Tuesday, but it didn’t help host Central Washington in its non-conference doubleheader with College of Idaho.

The Coyotes, ranked 25th nationally among NAIA schools, hammered seven home runs among 42 hits en route to a 27-7, 13-2 sweep at Tomlinson Field.

Jake Miller and Diego Robles went deep twice each in the first game, which saw the Wildcats fall behind 18-0.  Miller homered again and was joined by teammate Bryan Champ in the Game 2 long-ball derby, which saw CWU trail 9-0.

Kevin Schneider hit Central’s lone homer in the second game.

College of Idaho improved to 20-8 while CWU moves to 7-19.

Game 1

College of Idaho           028    620    153    —    27    27    0
Central Washington    000    023    011    —    7    13    2
Yeggy, Garsez (6), Blood (8), Sinsel (9) and McGrady; Snowdon, Warne (3), Burnett (4), Reed (9) and Santiago, Schuster (8).
Highlights: Jared Arehart (COI) 3-3; Brad Carlsen (COI) 2-3, HR, 3 RBI; Matt Mejia (COI) 3-4, 2b, 4 RBI; Jake Miller (COI) 2-2, 2 HR, 2 RBI; Diego Robles (COI) 2-6, 2 HR, 5 RBI; Ricky McKinny (CWU) 2-4, 2 RBI.

Game 2

College of Idaho           810    120    1    —    13    15    0
Central Washington    010    010    0    —    2    5    4
Rodwell, Larsen (3), Thiry (5), Bottari (6), Rosen (7) and Lanman; Crowe, Millbauer (2), Wirkkala (5) and Snowdon.
Highlights: Miller (COI) 4-5, HR, RBI; Bryan Champ (COI) 2-4, HR, 4 RBI; Kevin Schneider (CWU) 1-3, HR, RBI.

Local report: Central baseball splits with Western Oregon

MONMOUTH, Ore. — Central Washington sent Western Oregon to their first loss in GNAC play this season while splitting Monday’s doubleheader, winning the first game 5-1 in 10 innings, but falling 9-4 in the second.

Michael McCanna (2-2) pitched a complete game for the Wildcats, giving up one earned run on eight hits while striking out three and walking seven.

A.C. Gosney went 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI for Central (3-9 GNAC, 7-17 overall), and Andrew Snowdon had a two-run double in the first game.

In the second game, Kevin Schneider went 2-for-3 with two RBI, and Sheldon Santiago went 2-for-4 with an RBI for Central. Kevin Walkenhauer

(0-2) took the loss after giving up six runs, five earned, on nine hits in four innings.

Western Oregon’s Jacob Pettit impoved to 4-0 with the win.Travis Fox went 3-for-4 with two RBI and Thomas McCarthy went 2-for-2 with two RBI for Wolves (7-1-1, 14-7-1).
Game 1

Central    100    000    000    4    —    5    10    2

W. Oregon    000    000    100    0    —    1    8    3

McCanna and Snowdon; Eisenhauer, Lind (9) and Mieras, Breda (10).

Game 2

Central    000    004    0    —    4    8    2

W. Oregon    041    130    x    —    9    13    0

Walkenhauer, Wirkkala (5) and Santiago; Pettit, Rose (7) and Breda.

********
College Softball

Wallace named co-hitter of the week

SPOKANE — Central Washington senior shortstop Liz Wallace has been named the GNAC Co-Hitter of the Week for softball, the conference office announced Monday.

Wallace, who came into the week hitting .213 for the season, went 11-for-28 with three doubles, two triples and a home run while driving in 13 over the eight-game stretch. Her batting average now sits at .280 and she leads the Wildcats with three triples and 27 RBI for the season. Her RBI total is already seven more than her previous career-high for a single season.

Wallace’s selection as Hitter of the Week marks the third straight week that Central has had the league’s top hitter. Senior catcher Holly Rossman won the award each of the previous two weeks.

Central Washington is currently 16-9 overall and in second place in the GNAC with a 14-6 league record. The Wildcats, who were ranked ninth in last week’s NCAA Division II West Region poll, travel to California this weekend to participate in the eighth annual Tournament of Champions.

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Baseball

CWAC

SELAH 6, OTHELLO 0: At Othello, Justin Windsor pitched a complete game shutout, giving up four hits, striking out six and walking two to lead the Vikings (5-0 league, 7-0 overall) past the Huskies.

Kurt Lindemann went

2-for-4 with a two-run double, Stephan Schmidt went 2-for-4 with a run-scoring single, and Matt Snider drove in a run for Selah.

The Vikings will host Ephrata for a league doubleheader on Saturday at 11 a.m.
Selah    000        110    4    —    6    7    2

Othello    000        000    0    —    0    4    1

Windsor and Snider; M. Garza, Brunette (7) and Valdez.

Highlights: Justin Windsor (S) 6 k’s, 2 walks; Stephan Schmidt (S) 2-4, RBI; Kurt Lindemann (S) 2-4, 2b, 2 RBI; Matt Snider (S) RBI.

Golf: Solo standouts seek to raise the bar this spring

YAKIMA, Wash. — Last spring, there was strength in numbers for Valley golfers, as several programs had strong team showings at state.

This year, it’s more about the power of one.

Five players — four boys and one girl — all have the skills to not only dominate in their respective leagues, but also pose serious threats at the state tournaments, which return to the Tri-Cities and Yakima.

The reputations of Eisenhower’s Christine Cook and Brad Donahue, West Valley’s Eric Gravbrot, Goldendale’s Zach Wanderscheid, and Highland’s Minwoo Park were well-known before the season began, and they’ve backed it up early this spring.

For pure competition, the SCAC battle between Wanderscheid and Park, both juniors, should be highly entertaining as they will go head to head at least four times before the postseason.

They’ve laid the groundwork for that duel in early-season invites, with Wanderscheid, who was sixth at state last spring, taking medalist honors in the Lee Dolquist Invitational last Thursday. Meanwhile, Park, 14th at state in ’08, just missed medalist honors in the Grandview Invitational a day later.

For Wanderscheid, this season is about fine tuning an already strong all-around game, coach Dick Patzer said.

“His mechanics are good. We want it to be more of a feel situation for him,” Patzer said, adding the focal point, as is the case for most golfers, is honing the short game.

“Any golfer that gets to the level where he’s at, any more improvement will be in chipping and putting; around the greens,” Patzer said. “Mechanics-wise, he’s pretty solid in all aspects.”

Park also takes his game seriously and is continually working to improve his skills, according to coach Dennis Richardson.

“

What’s really improved is knowing what to fix in his swing,” Richardson said, adding that Park also spent the winter improving his conditioning. “He’s spent a lot of time on the range working on his swing. The other day, he asked for help on his swing. He likes to be coached.”

At Ike, Cook and Donahue have already staked their claims as two of the top golfers in the CBBN.

Cook, who was third in last spring’s district meet and 25th in the 4A state meet, is the top returning girls player in the league.

“We talked about that,” said Annette Cook, Christine’s mother and coach, “and I said, ‘You have the most experience in this league. You should be MVP. What are you going to do to step up and achieve that?’ That comes through practice.”

Specifically, the younger Cook is working on her short game as she tries to take the next step in lowering her scores.

“Her ball striking is much more consistent but she knows she needs to work on her short game,” Annette Cook said. “From 40 to 50 yards in, that’s where she really has to focus.”

The effort seems to be paying off as she posted a second-place finish in last week’s Lee Dolquist, and was second in the first league match.

Donahue is also looking to close out his prep career on a high note and is off to a strong start, taking third in the Kennewick Invitational, shooting 67 at the par 65 Tri-City Country Club.

“Mainly, he’s very accurate,” Ike coach Chris Cook said. “He’s not great at any one thing but really solid at everything he does. He hits the ball straight. Drives straight. He’s accurate with his short game as far as getting on in two and will two-putt greens.”

West Valley’s Gravbrot is another steady player on a strong team.

“He’s just a solid kid,” coach Ron Galbreath said of the sophomore who placed 23rd in last spring’s 3A state tournament.

One thing that will help Gravbrot this season is that he’ll be pushed by his teammates every time out, with senior Corey King and junior Cameron Lamb close to Gravbrot in ability.

*******

COLUMBIA BASIN 4A

BOYS

ONES TO WATCH: Brad Donahue*, sr., Eisenhower; Brock Munson, sr., Ike; Brok Duffield, so., Ike; Drew Winckler, jr., Davis; Brady Parsons*, Spencer Ellis* and Sam Marney*, Eastmont; Ryan Goude*, Drew Reinland* and Greg Prins*, Walla Walla; Max Dreisbach* and Justin Sprengel, Southridge; Rick Gleed* and Riley Hayfield, Kamiakin; Kyle Campbell, Richland; Saul Martinez and Samson Martinez, Pasco.

AROUND THE LEAGUE: Ike’s Donahue should be one of the league’s top players, consistently shooting in the 70s. After the senior, however, the Cadets are a young team, although they have numbers with 18 players out. Among those with extensive varsity experience are seniors Munson, Tyler Callaway and Ed Curtin, junior Dustin Hopfinger, and sophomore Duffield. … Davis has a small turnout, with Winckler the top returner, and sophomore David Epperson having some experience. Another to watch is junior B.J. Pina. … In addition to Donahue, eight other league returners qualified for state in ’08. … Eastmont and Walla Walla are the cream of that crop with three state-experienced golfers back. … Southridge will also contend with state qualifier Dreisbach and ’09 Pasco Invite winner Sprengel. … The state tournament will be a Canyon Lakes in Kennewick.

GIRLS

ONES TO WATCH: Christine Cook, sr, Eisenhower; Caitlin Malone*, sr., Davis; Shannon Bedell*, sr, Davis; Hannah Naughton**, jr., Davis; Alexa David*, Mary McDonald* and Kristien Strankman, Richland; Whitney Welch* and Tia Snyder*, Eastmont; Karissa Pizzarella*, Lauren Goetz and Destiny Brito, Southridge; Jordan Taksugi, Wenatchee; Paige Blackburn, Walla Walla.

AROUND THE LEAGUE: Davis was the surprise team last spring, but shouldn’t sneak up on anyone this time with the return of Malone and Bedell, who qualified for state, and Naughton, a state alternate. “We have great possibilities to be better than last year,” said Don Knight, who shares coaching duties with Arnie Mackey. Senior Sara Pittman returns after playing as a sophomore. … Ike’s Cook could be the league’s top golfer. The senior is the league’s top returning state placer after finishing 25th last spring. The Cadets return six other players, led by Cortney Munson, and Jessica Walters, a transfer from Sunnyside, will add depth. … Richland is deep and talented, led by David and McDonald. … Eastmont and Southridge could pose the biggest challenges to the Bombers. … The state tournament will be at Sun Willows in Pasco.

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COLUMBIA BASIN 3A

BOYS

ONES TO WATCH: Corey King, sr., West Valley; Eric Gravbrot*, so., WV; Nate Bostrum, sr., WV; Reece Hunter, sr., WV: Chris Schultz, sr., WV; Cameron Lamb, jr., WV; Steven Snipes, jr., WV; Nathan Espinoza, so., Sunnyside; Nick Navarro, jr., Sunnyside; Alex Cantu*, Josh Harvey* and Scott Kim, Hanford.

AROUND THE LEAGUE: West Valley has the envious combination of depth and top-end talent as they battle Hanford for 3A supremacy in the CBBN. Gravbrot, who was 23rd at state last spring, and King lead the way, but  they’re not alone, with coach Ron Galbreath saying he believes he could have as many as seven or eight players eventually shooting in the 70s. “I really like this team,” he said, “but with golf, you just never know.” The Rams will also get some good competiton when they travel to a tournament in Myrtle Beach, S.C. … Sunnyside has a young team with returners Espinoza, Navarro and P.J. Garcia joined by six new golfers, including Jacob Bos, the younger brother of state qualifier Justin. … Hanford, which has won the first two league matches, which includes 4A schools, return Harvey and Cantu, who finished 28th and 35th, respectively, at state last spring. … The state tournament is at Meadow Springs in Richland.

GIRLS

ONES TO WATCH: Liz Tikriti*, sr., West Valley; Jessica Page, sr., WV; Adrienne Biglow, sr., WV; Anna Elofson, jr., WV; Taylor Chadwick, jr., WV; Kayla Rothenbuhler, so., WV; Erin Fardell, Hanford.

AROUND THE LEAGUE: West Valley is not only the class of the 3A ranks, but the Rams are among the best teams in the entire CBBN, as evidenced by their runner-up finishes to Richland in each of the first two league meets. “I’m just thrilled. I have just the best girls and we’re really looking forward to the season,” WV coach Laurie Miller said. Tikriti is the best of a group that is tightly bunched talentwise. … Sunnyside has just two girls out. … The state tournament is at Horn Rapids in Richland.

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CWAC

BOYS

ONES TO WATCH: Tyler Jensen*, jr., East Valley; Alex Aiken, jr., EV; Corin Perrault, jr., EV; Ben Assink, so., EV: Kyle Cameron, sr., EV; Andrew Burr*, sr., Ellensburg; Alan Keith, jr., Ellensburg; Carl Bender, so., Ellensburg; Tanner Savage, jr., Ellensburg; Josh Jardine, jr., Grandview; Ryan Contreras, jr., Grandview; Chad Hancock*, so., Prosser; Devin Bender, fr., Prosser; Wade French, fr., Prosser; R.J. Gunner, sr., Selah; Jimmy Wood*, jr., Selah; Tyler Sugden*, jr., Selah; Brett Dodeward, sr., Selah; Seth Blackeagle, jr., Toppenish; Greg Klutts, jr., Wapato; Sam Para*, Jared Kummer* and Dylan Jahns, Othello; Cameron Allen*, Steven Lund* and Andrew Whalen, Ephrata.

AROUND THE LEAGUE: Selah will have one of the CWAC’s top teams, with Wood and Sugden coming off state trips, and Gunner just missing. … Jensen heads a solid East Valley team that had a third-place finish in the Othello Invite, which featured most of the area’s top 2A teams. … Prosser has an experienced team (seven returners) led by state qualifier Hancock, but two of its best players may be new faces, freshmen Bender, son of former Black Rock Creek pro Jeff Bender, and French. … Ellensburg has good numbers out and returns Burr, but the Bulldogs are young. … Toppenish’s Blackeagle just missed qualifying for state, and Grandview’s Jardine and Wapato’s Klutts are also state contenders. … Othello has staked an early claim to being the league’s top team, returning 11 players and winning its own invitational, and Ephrata will also contend. … The state tournament is at Apple Tree in Yakima.
GIRLS

ONES TO WATCH: Raechel Chandler*, sr., East Valley; Cheyenne Schrank, sr., EV; Nevada Carraway-Holmes*, sr, Ellensburg; Bailey Hoff, fr., Ellensburg; Adrienne Bousquet, sr., Prosser; Candice Cooper, sr., Prosser; Megan Jones, sr., Selah; Holly Wood, sr., Selah; Taylor Jones, fr., Selah; Briana Nelson, fr., Selah; Sophia Segura, sr., Toppenish; Megan Lopez, so., Wapato; Ashley Amoruso* and Carolina Borba*, Othello; Sable Endicott*, Ephrata.

AROUND THE LEAGUE: Selah graduated its three state qualifiers and four top players, but should still have another solid team, led by Megan Jones and promising freshmen Taylor Jones and Briana Nelson. … EV has just five players out, but one of them is Chandler, who qualified for state last spring. … Prosser’s Cooper and Bousquet are state contenders but the rest of the team is young. … Ellensburg features Carraway-Holmes and seven freshmen, led by Bailey Hoff. … Toppenish features the Seguras, Sophia and Victoria, and also returns Stephanie Leon. … Wapato lost state qualifier Wendy Lopez, but return her younger sister, sophomore Megan Lopez. … Grandview has just two girls out, both new to the sport. … Othello is the defending district champion and will rely on ’08 state qualifiers Amoruso and Borba to repeat. … The state tournament is at Apple Tree in Yakima.

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CLASS 1A, B

BOYS

ONES TO WATCH — Class 1A: Michael Greene*, sr., Cle Elum; Michael Montgomery*, sr., CE; Colton Anderson, sr., CE; Rylee Iacolucci, fr, CE; Zach Wanderscheid*, jr., Goldendale; Ron Lindhe**, sr., Goldendale; Donnie Bellamy, sr., Goldendale; Jace Gunnyon, so., Goldendale; Minwoo Park*, jr., Highland; Kenny Hampton, sr., Highland; Kyle Belton, jr., Highland; Shane Tillett, so., Naches Valley; Tyler Edwards, Naches Valley; Dawson Roeber, Naches Valley; Keith Comer, sr., Zillah; Trevor Perrault, so., Zillah; Matt Hauck, so., Zillah; Caleb Duford, fr., Zillah; Trevor Iverson, and Eric and Kyle Spartveit, Royal; Chris Kalous* and Nate Stott, Warden.

Class B: Sam LaFramboise*, jr., La Salle; Tim Lewis*, so., La Salle; Mike Stiekema, jr., La Salle; Kevin Westbay, jr., Riverside Christian; Loren Button, sr., Riverside Christian; Michael Coffman, jr., Riverside Christian.

AROUND THE LEAGUE — Class 1A: Goldendale’s Wanderscheid will likely battle Highland’s Park for individual supremacy this spring. Wanderscheid is off to a hot start, which includes winning last week’s Lee Dolquist Invite at Apple Tree with a 72. … Highland has three top returners in Park, a scratch golfer, Hampton and Belton. … Cle Elum’s boys will be in the title mix with experience (six returners) and depth (12 total). … Zillah can’t match the front-end talent of Goldendale and Highland, but it has the depth (12 golfers) to be among the top three teams in the league. … The 1A state tournament is at Columbia Pointe in Richland.

Class B: La Salle and Riverside Christian are the only B schools in the league, so they will again have strong representation at state with four berths available for both boys and girls. La Salle returns two state qualifiers in LaFramboise and Lewis, and has a large turnout with 12 players. … Riverside Christian starts over somewhat after graduating four seniors, including three state qualifiers. Westbay is the best of a good, young team. … The B state tournament is at the Tri-City Country Club.

GIRLS

ONES TO WATCH — Class 1A: Taylor Rico*, sr., Cle Elum; Brittnie Ren, sr., CE; Courtney Reed, jr., CE; Amber Ihrig*, jr., Goldendale; Lexi Cameron, fr., Goldendale; Lillian Mitchum*, so., Highland; Kassie Hampton, so., Highland; Mandi Stockton*, sr., Naches Valley; Emily Thompson, sr., Naches Valley; Kim McPartland, Warden; Shelby Forester, Royal.

Class B: Julie Cozzetto*, sr., La Salle; Sarah Marquis**, so., La Salle; Cara McGree, jr., La Salle; Joy Attaway*, so., Riverside Christian; Rebekah Reynolds*, jr., Riverside Christian; Hannah Reynolds, so., Lindsey Fulton, jr., Riverside Christian.

AROUND THE LEAGUE — Class 1A: Goldendale’s Ihrig is seeking a return to state, but there is little experience behind her. … Mitchum, a state qualifier, and Hampton, a state alternate, give Highland two of the better individual players, but the rest of the team are all new to the sport. … Naches Valley has two solid golfers in Stockton and Thompson, who lost in a playoff to join Stockton at state. … Zillah has no girls out this spring. … The 1A state tournament is at Columbia Pointe in Richland.

Class B: In just the program’s third year, Riverside Christian is poised to match or better last spring’s third-place state finish with all six golfers from that team returning, led by Attaway and Rebekah Reynolds. … La Salle has two state-caliber golfers in Cozzetto and Marquis, although duplicating last spring’s state runner-up finish could be a challenge. … The B state tournament is at the Tri-City Country Club.

*—’08 state qualifier
**—’08 state alternate

Forest Service road maps may cause confusion

YAKIMA, Wash. — The Forest Service’s plan to transition its road management from open-unless-sign-closed to closed-unless-designated-open could be, well, a rocky road.

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest’s proposed version of the new Travel Management Rule will begin its meet-the-public road show next week, with the first open-house meetings set for Monday in Ellensburg and Tuesday in Yakima.

It’s all part of the forest’s draft environmental impact statement process, with the final rule not expected to go into effect until the  summer of 2011.

The overall mileage in available roads and trails designated for motorized users won’t be largely affected by the process. Motorcycle trails will decline from 881 miles to 858, with ATV trails doubling to 27.4 miles and four-wheel-drive trails going up from 264 to 267 miles.

But knowing where those opportunities are will require a travel management map that may not be easy to decipher, since the only roads and trails on the map will be the ones on which it’s legal to drive.

“Basically, they’re going to have a map, the roads you’re allowed to go on. Well, there are other roads up there, too,” said Wade Kabrich, a four-wheel drive enthusiast who serves as safety and education director for the All Wheelers Off Road Club. “But if you’re on those roads, you’re going to be ticketed.

“It’s the most asinine thing (the Forest Service has) come up with. If you’re up in the mountain and you see a nice, well-traveled road, you’re going to want to go up it, and there isn’t going to be a sign telling you you can’t. You’ve got to have that map.

“It’s very easy to look at a map, but if you’re up there looking at a maze of roads, how are you going to know where you’re at 100 percent of the time? They’re going to expect you to know. There’s a lot of people who can’t read a map when they’re driving around town, much less being out in the hills.”

Dan Huff, a vice president with the Dust Dodgers motorcycle and ATV club, said the problem would really show up with the arrival of people from other parts of the state who annually travel to the Cascades west of Yakima to camp or hunt arrive.

“These are people who camp at the same place every year, and they may take their ATV up some little spur road they’ve always taken and think they’re good, only they’ll be illegal,” Huff said. “When you’re talking about every little two-track down to somebody’s campsite, this thing is way bigger than just motorized recreation — it’s everybody who camps or hunts and plays in the forest.

“It’s going to be confusing, and it’s going to be difficult to enforce.”

Many popular, dispersed camping areas, such as those in the Little Naches, will fall within 600-foot-wide corridors (300 feet on either side of the primary road) that are exempt to the rule and would not require specifically defined routes on the travel management map.

In addition, the proposed action also calls for a significant increase in “motorized mixed-use” roads, shared by users of both highway-legal vehicles and non-highway-legal vehicles. Yakima County would have an additional 38 miles of mixed-use roads; Kittitas County would have 20 more miles.

But cross-country travel, once deemed legal as long as the travelers weren’t causing resource damage — i.e., mudding, killing smaller trees, driving through streams with endangered fish — will no longer be allowed. That has been a focal point of the travel management rule since its process began in 2005.

“This policy of unrestricted cross-country travel was no longer able to protect resources or minimize user conflicts,” said Bob Stoehr, the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest’s project team leader on travel management. “The current regulations that we have weren’t sufficient to control the proliferation of routes or environmental damage.”

In addition to eliminating cross-country travel in the National Forest, though, the Forest Service’s proposed action will also end travel on a lot of lower-maintenance-level road systems because they won’t be listed on the travel management map. And what’s not on the map won’t be legal to drive.

For now, what won’t be on that map includes the Nile mill site, a place that has been hugely popular with motorcycle groups — though only local ones, since it’s not on maps — in spring, when the trails out of the Little Naches are still too wet to travel. From the mill site, the Dust Dodgers and other Yakima-area groups have been able to access a 28-mile single-track loop trail, also popular among horseback riders.

“These are user-made trails that have been there for who knows how long — generations, probably,” Huff said. “There’s some really neat opportunities there, and we’ve been riding up there for years.”

But, if the travel management rule passes as written, those riding years out of the Nile mill site will come to an end.

“We’d lose a tremendous bunch of trails,” Huff said. “It would be a tragedy.”

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Open House schedule

A series of five public meetings on the National Forest Service’s proposed action for its Motorized Travel Management Plan with the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest begin next Monday.
Each “open house” runs from 5 to 8:30 p.m., with ranger district staffers and travel management specialists available for questions and discussion, with a 30-minute presentation of the rule and proposed action at 6:30.
The meeting schedule and locations:
Monday, April 6: Hal Holmes Community Center, Ellensburg.
Tuesday, April 7: Howard Johnson Plaza in Yakima.
April 8: Apple Annie’s in Cashmere.
April 9: Agriplex in Okanogan.
April 16: Mercer Island Community Center.
May 7 is the deadline for comments on the proposed action.

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