Speed on defense the key for West

YAKIMA, Wash. — If the East team in the 15th annual Earl Barden All-Star Classic has trouble moving the ball against the West’s defense during Saturday’s 1 p.m. showcase of the top graduating seniors in the state’s smaller schools, there’s a simple reason why.

“Our speed on defense is absolutely unbelievable,” said West head coach John Schultz of Centralia. “Even the big guys are fast. We have a really hard time running against our first team defense in practice.”

The West team is loaded with talent, boasting at least 18 future collegiate football players, including three prospective Division I players — Kyle Hoffmann of Orcas going to Montana, Tumwater’s Joe Cameron headed for Montana State and Hockinson’s Justin Green bound for Idaho.

Their roster also includes no fewer than four future Eastern Washington Eagles — Castle Rock’s Zach Gehring, Adna’s Jered Rodgers, Cameron Homan of Eaton and Lynden’s David Gaylord and two Central Washington recruits, Burlington-Edison’s Stetson Shearer and J.J. Quinlan of Archbishop Murphy.

The West will also have a size advantage, with the starting offensive line expected to have three players in the 300-pound range. “The smallest guy in our offensive line is my son, and he’s the center,” Schultz said. Bradley Schultz, who will play at Willamette, weighs in at 250 pounds.

To counter that, the East will play to its strength and perhaps its only advantage — the explosiveness and speed of its skill-position players.

East coach Brian Dunn will have his team employ the same offense his Lakeside Eagles run — what he calls “our Pistol offense. It’s a short shotgun, kind of like running the I (formation) out of the shotgun. It’s what they made pretty famous at Nevada.”

The East team includes a half-dozen players who played in the Yakima and Kittitas Valleys.

Toppenish running back Oscar Ramirez is one of the team’s fastest players, as is Granger quarterback Mychal Lopez, who will move to wide receiver for this game in light of the fact that the East’s two primary quarterbacks are Cashmere’s Derek Todd, the Class 1A player of the year, and Brady Blankevoort, who played for Dunn at Lakeside.

East Valley’s Jonathan Buchanan, Ellensburg’s Blake Nichols, Matt Paul of Granger and Ethan Bersing of Selah are also on the East squad.

Roybal helps Beetles slam Hanford

RICHLAND, Wash. — Travis Roybal blasted two grand slams to power the Yakima Pepsi Beetles to a 17-6 second-game victory over Hanford, completing a sweep of the Central Washington League Senior Legion doubleheader Wednesday.

Yakima (6-4, 15-14) got two-run home runs from Will Scott, Gibby Briones and Nick Lombardi in cruising to a 14-3 victory in the opener.

Also in the opener, Tyler Berman and Robbie Alter had three hits and two RBI apiece for the Beetles to back the five-hit pitching of Michael Calderon.

Scott, Berman and Alter also had three hits each in the second game, with Scott driving in five runs, and Alter blasting a three-run homer.

Game 1
Yakima          125    006    —    14    13    2
Hanford        101    001    —    3    5    2
Calderon and Lombardi; Suaressie, Wagner (4) and Beebe.
Highlights: Will Scott (Y) 2-run HR; Tyler Berman (Y) 3-4, 2 RBI; Gibby Briones (Y) 2-run HR; Nick Lombardi (Y) 2-run HR; Robbie Alter (Y) 3-3, 2 RBI.
Game 2
Yakima           010    79    —    17    15    2
Hanford        001    05    —    6    5    1
Summers and Lombardi; Burk, Betzsold (4), Elizie (5) and Elizie, Beebe (4).
Highlights: Travis Roybal (Y) 2-4, 2 GS, 8 RBI; Will Scott (Y) 3-5, 5 RBI; Robbie Alter (Y) 3-4, 3-run HR; Tyler Berman (Y) 3-5; Max Kovatch (Y) 2-3.

NON-LEAGUE

DANVILLE 13, YAKIMA VALLEY 1: At Reno, Nevada, Danville pounded out 15 hits to earn the victory in the Reno Tournament.

Yakima Valley got an RBI double from Tucker Leppa for its lone highlight.

The Pak fell to 1-1 in the tournament and face Santa Clara today.

No other details on Wednesday’s game were reported.

YOUTH BASEBALL

Yakima Valley Peppers 9, West Valley Baseball Club 6 (YV: Stephan Schmidt 1-2, 2 R, RBI; Trent Douglass 3-4, 2 RBI; Tanner Fife 2 RBI; Chris Walker 1-3, 2 R. WV:  Casey Groshaw 2-5, RBI, R; Ty Galloway 2-3, R; Steven Wagar 2-3, 3 RBI.
West Valley Baseball Club 7, Yakima Valley Peppers 2 (WV: Steven Wagar 3-4, 3 RBI; Casey Growshaw 2-3, 3 R. YV: Kyle Fickes 2-3).

EDITOR’S NOTE: THIS STORY HAS BEEN CHANGED FROM WHAT APPEARED IN PRINT

Selah U-12s win two tournaments

YAKIMA, Wash. — Selah’s U-12 baseball team has won back-to-back tournament titles this past two weekends.

This past weekend, Selah went undefeated in the Rodeo City Father’s Day Tournament in Ellensburg, routing the Seattle Pilots 23-0 in the final. Selah defeated Richland 14-6, Ellensburg 5-0, and Bothell 7-1 in pool play, and then reached the final with a 3-0 win over the Pilots.

Selah was coming off a victory in the Moses Lake Desert Classic on June 12-14, beating Othello 8-2 in the final. Selah got to the final by beating Kennewick 10-1, Moses Lake 11-0, the Warriors Baseball Club 12-2, Pullman 9-3, and North Idaho 15-0.

Team members are Travis Turner, Ryker Zier, Elliot Ergeson, Blake Reeves, Garrhett Petrea, Jackson Lewis, Cameron Brader, Devan Brader, Fabian Gutierrez, Taylor Newquist, Jacob Amos, Max Jones, and Braden Hussey. The coaches are Jeff Turner, Dave Zier and Leif Ergeson.

West Valley U-11’s go undefeated

The West Valley baseball team went 6-0 to win the Selah Summer Bash U-11 division this past weekend, capped by an 11-1 victory over the Upper Valley All-Stars in the championship game.

In pool play they defeated Graham, Lower Valley, Upper Valley, Selah, and Yakima.

Team members are Kyle Chauvin, Jake King, Wyatt Martz, Jim McDonald, Noah Morrow, Zach Rubidoux, Brian Stein, Justin VanDeBrake, Brett Williams, and Kasey Wyckoff. The coaches are Eric Stein, Jim Williams, and Klayton Wyckoff.

AAU Basketball

Navarro to National Championships

Nick Navarro has been selected to play with the Seattle Pro Club Hoop Stars, a fifth-grade basketball team, in the AAU National Championships in Orlando, Fla., next month.
Navarro, 12, will attend Wilson Middle School this fall.

6/25/09 Yakima Valley scorecard

Apple Tree
MEN’S DIVISION
Beat the Pro, June 21
Spike Adams, Randy Ammerman, Ron Ball, Lance Barber, John Borton, Doug Brown, Mike Cingle, Jim Cline, Bob Conroy, Matt Crocker, Mark Donahue, Glen Durall, Kirk Galloway, Ron Hicks, Stan Hixon, Butch Lenberg, Joe Lenberg, Greg Lenhart, Chris Morton, Larry Oliver, Pete Pitzer, Alex Podruzny, Ron Randall, Ray Ridenour, Shane Snell, Don Snipes, Mike Sutton, Rick Sawyers.

Mount Adams
MEN’S DIVISION
Pick U.S. Open Partner, June 18
1, Earl Greene-Geoff Olgivy 135; 2, (tie) Mike Pollock-Tiger Woods 139, Rick Sifuentes-Phil Mickelson 139, Keith Fowler-David Toms 139; 5, (tie) Greg Luther-Kenny Perry 140, Mike Chambers-Tiger Woods 140, Gary Hyatt-Jim Furyk 140; 8, (tie) Al Luther-Jm Furyk 141, Robert Bergeron-Tiger Woods 141, Peter Barstad-Phil Mickelson 141, Joe Champoux-Tiger Woods 141.
Shriners Tourney, June 19
1, Dick Irons-Gene Miles-Sue Branch-Bob Thomson 49; 2, Floyd Blinsky-Mike Blinsky-Dave Hardy-Lane Martin 51; 3, (tie) Jerry Besel-Connie Besel-Troy Wilmoth-Bob Frontis 52, Rick Catlin-Bryan Vosburgh-Wayne McMeans-Dale Jergens 52.
Tuesday Night League, June 23
1, R.E. Powell 42, 2, Family Affair 41, 3, SS&J 391/2, 4, Savage OG’s 381/2, 5, Bitin’ Sows 36, 6, Louis Boys 311/2, 7, Renegades 26, 8, NADS 25, 9, Fore Skins 211/2, 10, Cowboy Snowmen 19.
WOMEN’S DIVISION
Beat the Pro, June 17
1, Carlisle Ibatuan 71; 2, Connie Rogers 78; 3, Sharon Hedden 80; 4, Sheila Whitaker 82; 5, Betty Carl 83; 6, Melba Brooks 84.
COUPLES DIVISION
Chapman, June 19
Gross: 1, Mike Chambers-Debbie Anderson 37. Net: 1, Randy Anderson-Maria Frank 29; 2, (tie) Ron Smith-Gloria Campbell 293/4, Denver Campbell-Valerie Smith 293/4; 4, Kim Parker-Sharon Hedden 31.
Bestball, June 21
Gross: 1, Mike Chambers-Maria Frank 74. Net: 1, Denver & Gloria Campbell 59; 2, James & Connie Rogers 60; 3, Don & Carlisle Ibatuan 62.

SunTides
WOMEN’S DIVISON
T&F, June 23
A Division — Gross: 1, Kristy Little 41; 2, (tie) Karen Cooper 48, Carol Finney 48. Net: 1, (tie) Judy Pozarich 371/2, Karin Kohls 371/2; 3, Linda Plummer 40.
B Division — Gross: 1, (tie) Sherrie Stevenson 46, Anne Fortier 46, Grace Wagoner 46. Net: 1, Bev Morgan 311/2; 2, Becky McCloud 331/2; 3, Helen Wendt 341/2.
C Division — Gross: 1, Kristi Turner 49; 2, Cindy Judkins 52; 3, Florence Graham 53. Net: 1, Lois Smidt 33; 2, Betty Schmelzer 34; 3, Dianne Monter 341/2.
Buckskin qualifier: Betty Schmelzer 65.
MEN’S DIVISION
Tuesday League, June 23
1, Pepsi Cola 53; 2, Highlanders 461/2; 3 (tie), 1st American Realty 441/2 and DOT 441/2; 5, PLSA 44; 6, Pond Strikers 411/2; 7 (tie), Kwik-Lok 39 and PSE 39; 9, Legal Couriers 37; 10, Bill’s Produce 36; 11, Ron’s Coin & Collectibles 331/2; 12, Reeves Financial Services 32; 13, Get a Grip 311/2; 14 (tie), Arctic Circle 291/2 and Edge Construction Supply 291/2; 16, Mortons Supply 251/12; 17, YTC 231/2; 18, Jacksons Sports Bar 17.
COUPLES DIVISION
June 21
Gross: 1, Ken Hawkins-Nancy Slinkard 79; 2, Don Brown-Fern Hart 83; 3, Will Curley-Mary Egan 85; 4, (tie) Tony & Lori Thomas 86, Larry Cramer-Karen Cooper 86. Net: 1, Tom Glass-Helen Wendt 62; 2, Don & Harriet Clark 63; 3, Lou & Sally Anderson 631/2; 4, Kim & Susann Lowary 65.

Westwood West
WOMEN’S DIVISION
Low Gross Front 9, June 17
A Division: 1, Trudy Ledwich 48; 2, (tie) Adrienne Quinnell 49, Elaine Donahue 49. B Division: 1, Marcie Snyder 52; 2, Paula Redd 53. C Division: 1, Dorothy Cooke 56; 2, (tie) Elsie Gamache 57, Judy Ann Vetsch 57.
Flag Tournament, June 17
1, Marcie Snyder; 2, Elaine Donahue; 3, Adrienne Quinnell; 4, Bernice Snyder; 5, Trudy Ledwich; 6, Dorothy Cooke.
COUPLES DIVISION
Chapman, June 18
Gross: 1, Don & Geneva Nelson 41; 2, Merl & Merilee Brothers 43; 3, (tie) Dave & Elaine Donahue 44, Larry & Waldene Benoit 44; 5, Dave Edgerton-Jan Stohr 47; 6, (tie) Gary & Pam Kingsboro 49, Al & Shirley Rogstad 49.
Yakima Country Club
MEN’S DIVISION
Shamble, June 18
First Flight — Gross: 1, (tie) Jeff Louman-Paul Battle 66, Bryan Riel-Dusty Frontis 66; 3, Rob O’Brien-Jeff Baldwin 67. Net: 1, Scott Dragoo-Brian Raschco 63; 2, (tie) Duane Monick-Erik Monick 65, Dave Hargreaves-Russ Arbuckle 65, Jim Case-Pete Gilmartin 65.
Second Flight — Gross: 1, John Kabrich-Pat Gallagher 73; 2, Doug Barduhn-Ryan Barduhn 75; 3, (tie) Terry Cook-Paul Cook 76, Charlie Eglin-Scott Henyan 76. Net: 1, Phil Souder-Eric Souder 65; 2, Bob Price-Charlie Ballard 67; 3, (tie) Ken Leingang-Jerry Slinkard 68, Brian Harris-Bruce Lawrence 68, Everett Daty-Ron Capps 68.
Appleknocker Invitational, June 19-20
Gross: Jeff Louman-Paul Battle 213. Net: Doug Barduhn-Ryan Barduhn 201.
First Flight — Gross: 1, Gabe Runge-Jason Runge 214; 2, Bryan Riel-Dusty Frontis 218; 3, Ward Jackson-Doug Hearron 221. Net: 1, Rob O’Brien-Jeff Baldwin 202; 2, (tie) Dave Connell-Bob Byrd 204, Terry Harrington-Sean Harrington 204; 4, Bruce Allen-John Onstad Jr. 207.
Second Flight — Gross: 1, Mike Hailfinger-Steve Gregg 233; 2, Scott Burd-Monte Tweten 238; 3, Marc Zirkle-Rod Kendall 244. Net: 1, Marv Swainson-Dirk Peterson 206; 2, (tie) Terry Cook-Paul Cook 211, Bob Price-Charlie Ballard 211, Charlie Eglin-Scott Henyan 211.
Third Flight — Gross: 1, John Kabrich-Pat Gallagher 247; 2, Harley Hansen-John Slater 252; 3, Steve Korn-Bob Lindeman 254. Net: 1, Brian Harris-Bruce Lawrence 208; 2, Dennis Kelly-Ryan Kelly 209; 3, Kailan Elder-Chaun Birks 210; 4, (tie) John Gavin-Pat Gavin 212, Julio Gomez-Scott Cowper 212.
Horse Race: 1, David Douglas-Bob Lindeman-Bill Galbraith; 2, Pete Gilmartin-Doug Barduhn-Bruce Allen; 3, Jerry Runge-Jeff Fowler-Aaron Clark; 4, Ward Jackson-Bob DiPietro Sr.-Tom Martin.
WOMEN’S DIVISION
Gross & Net, June 23
Gross: Mardi Hackett 91. Net: (tie) Kathy Adkison 73, Dona Thompson 73.
First Flight — Gross: Patty Anderson 96. Net: Linda DePew 77. Second Flight — Gross: Priscilla Forney 104. Net: (tie) Pat Temple 80, Judy Gilmore 80. Third Flight — Gross: Judy Kauzlarich 110. Net: Ellen Gibson 75.

Yakima Elks
MEN’S DIVISION
June 17
4-Man bestball: 1, Jack Carey-Ted Stone-Darwin Nelson-Jack Lovell 118; 2, (tie) Dick Dreher-Rich Vanhorn-Jim Russi-Alcid Roy 122, Ron Donaldson-Norm Kuhlmann-Larry Lenz-Chuck Dunlop 122, Les Webster-Terry Matthews-John Mills-Mark Mochel 122.
2-Man bestball — Gross: 1, Mark Mochel-Terry Matthews 69; 2, Les Webster-Mark Mochel 72; 3, (tie) Dave Betzing-Ron Donaldson 75, Norm Kuhlmann-Ron Donaldson 75; 5, (tie) Merl Brothers-Ron Donaldson 76, Les Webster-Terry Matthews 76. Net: 1, Jim Russi-Dick Dreher 57; 2, Larry Lenz-Norm Kuhlmann 59; 3, Alcid Roy-Dick Dreher 60; 4, (tie) Jm Russi-Alcid Roy 61, Jack Carey-Ted Stone 61; 6, (tie) Norm Kuhlmann-Dave Betzing 62, Ron Donaldson-Larry Lenz 62, Jack Carey-Darwin Nelson 62, Jack Lovell-Darwin Nelson 62, Rich Vanhorn-Dick Dreher 62, Kurt Schlect-Chris Schlect 62, Mark Cuneo-Bob Dahlin 62.
Back 9, 0-10 HCP — Gross: Mark Mochel 34. Net: Ron Donaldson 33. 11-17 HCP — Gross: Terry Matthews 37. Net: Bob Lindeman 33. 18&O HCP — Gross: Merl Brothers 43. Net: Jim Russi 331/2.
June 20
4-Man, 1-Net: 1, Robert Weiss-Merl Brothers-Norm Kuhlmann-Ron Donaldson 54; 2, Gary Pero-Tim Speer-Denny Stone-Ted Stone 56; 3, Jack Lee- Robert Sewell-Bill Poulin-Dave Uhlman 57.
2-Man Bestball — Gross: 1, Perry Page-Gary Hutchins 69; 2, Perry Page-Jim Page 70; 3, Jim Page-Gary Hutchins 72; 4, (tie) Terry Matthews-John Mills 73, Jack Van Vleck-John Jamieson 73, Mike Nelson-Scott Tweten 73. Net: 1, (tie) Ron Donaldson-Merl Brothers 59, Gary Pero-Ted Stone 59; 3, (tie) Ron Donaldson-Robert Weiss 60, Ron Donaldson-Norm Kuhlmnn 60, Denny Stone-Ted Stone 60.
Front 9, 0-10 HCP — Gross Perry Page. Net: Ron Donaldson 31. 11-17 HCP — Gross: (tie) Joe Folk 40, Jack Lee 40. Net: Norm Kuhlmann 321/2. 18&O HCP — Gross: Merl Brothers 41. Net: Bob Sewell 32.
COUPLES DIVISION
Friday night, June 19
Gross: 1, Gary Pero-Susie Carlos 34; 2, Warren & Nancy Pollock 35; 3, Don & Sandy Capps 37; 4, (tie) Denny & Judy Stone 38, Doug & Freida Gray 38, Ron & Lo Donaldson 38, Ron & Angelsa Galbreath 38. Net: 1, Tim & Barb Fortier 271/4; 2, Dale & Christie Fordyce 271/2; 3; Don Hugdahl-Lois Schaap 273/4; 4, Norm & Joyce Kuhlmann 281/4.

6/25/09 VSW bulletin board

BASEBALL: Registration for Yakima National Little League’s summer league will be July 20, starting at 6 p.m. at the Little League complex at Elks Park on Hathaway Street. Fee is $45 with all games Monday through Thursday. Age divisions are Minors (8-10) and Majors (11-12), with the age cutoff based on your age as of April 30, 2010. Entire teams can pre-register. For more information, call Erika at 509-388-9712 or Hutch at 509-969-0852.

FOOTBALL: La Salle High School will be holding a football camp for players in grades 2-8 from July 20-22, from 6 to 8 p.m. each day. Cost is $50 and players can register starting at 5:30 p.m. on July 20. For more information, contact Jack McMillan at 509-225-2929 or jmcmillan@lasalleyakima.org.

• The Yakima Valley Grid Kids Association is starting early signups for the upcoming season. For more information about teams in your area, visit the league website at www.yakimavalleygridkids.blogspot.com or contact Adrian R. Johnson at 509-823-1091.

• Northwest Community College Football League will be conducting a second Yakima Club tryout at 9 a.m. this Saturday at Wilson Middle School. The fee is $40 and players must plan to enroll at Yakima Valley Community College this fall, taking a minimum of five credits. The Yakima Team is not affiliated with YVCC. For more information, visit www.mountainnorthwestfootball.com or contact Kory Hill at 253-797-8392 or Adrian R. Johnson at 509-910-5942.

Eric B. is on a serious roll now

YAKIMA, Wash. — It’s amazing to realize that on Sunday night, Eric Bruntjen sprained his ankle so badly while trying to walk and carry his bike up and down long miles of a muddy trail far too mucky to consider riding on. He was in so much pain he didn’t think he could walk into the motel lobby, much less continue the race.

That was nearly 300 trail miles ago.

Since the Tour Divide mountain bike race began 12 days ago, 14 of the 42 original starters — a third of the field — have already dropped out. Yet despite the pain from a sprained ankle, the disgust from mouthfuls of accidentally inhaled mosquitos and the solitary craziness that grows from long hours and days alone in the boonies on a mountain bike, Eric remains undaunted. He is driven by his focus and desire to complete the full 2,780-mile distance and thus maximize the per-mile pledge dollars that have come in toward the purchase of an all-terrain wheelchair for injured Iraq war veteran Evan Mettie.

When he called in late Tuesday night, having gone upwards of 140 miles that day and crossed Wyoming’s Great Basin all the way to Rawlins — and a blessed night in a motel bed — he sounded as upbeat as if he had just come in from a pleasant walk on the Yakima Greenway.

Here’s what Eric had to say:

Hi, Eric Bruntjen calling from Rawlins, Wy. Had a pretty good day today. It’s the 23rd. Had about a 140-mile day. I camped near the rest area north of South Pass City, made it through the Great Basin today in one shot. That was a real nice experience for me; I know that’s a tough spot, but today the weather was nice and I really had a nice time. I used to come out there with my dad, not far from there, when he was doing work with some of the Indian tribes. And it was just nice to ride along and think about him.

It was a pretty easy day, I think. Went through quite a bit of water. If any of Tour riders are getting these messages, I can give you a little tip that the [not sure about this name] Well is flowing and Arapaho Creek is, also. But the Alkali Creek — there’s water there but there’s also about 1,000 sheep and they’re using it, but they’re not using it as a drinking fountain, so I wouldn’t get water there.

Ended up in Rawlins, got lost looking for the campground. It’s a pretty tough town, Rawlins, so I just went ahead and got a hotel. Tomorrow I’m going to have one big climb and hopefully drop into Steamboat (Springs) for tomorrow. Other than that, things are going really well. Every restaurant I stop out, the waitress tells me about the Petervarys [tandem riders Tracey and Jay Petervary], and they always say … “That guy … that guy, he’s crazy. He just eats so much food and then he buys all of our candy and then they’re gone.” So I’m hearing all about the leaders; it’s real fun.

I’ll check in tomorrow. Thanks. Bye.

I think it’s funny, Eric hearing all about how much Jay Petervary eats, after giving us his breakdown of how much he’s been eating on a daily basis in an earlier call. I’m guessing those waitresses are saying the same thing about Eric after he leaves as well.

If you want to pat Eric on the back for how well he’s doing, you can do it by making a pledge (two cents per mile, for example) by e-mail to tourdechair@gmail.com. All pledge dollars will go to the “Evan Mettie Donation” fund at any U.S. Bank. You can follow Eric’s progress each day by periodically checking in on his leaderboard page on the Tour Divide site.

– Scott Sandsberry

Bears start home slate with victory

YAKIMA, Wash. — Sometimes it sounds like a rifle shot. Other times, when a bat and baseball collide with momentous force, the noise is more like a thud.

That Matt Davidson’s first professional home run created the latter sound was hardly disappointing to him, to the Bears or the announced overflow crowd of 3,047 that jammed Yakima County Stadium on Tuesday night.

Because the Bears’ home-opening story, highlighted by the aforementioned blast by their 18-year-old third baseman, had a happy ending.

“When I hit it, I thought it was just a pop fly,” Davidson said  after his two-run, fifth-inning homer helped Yakima to a 6-5 victory over Eugene. “But it got up in the air and just kept going. It’s something I’ll definitely remember.”

Said manager Bob Didier, with his team at 2-2, “It was a well-played game. Our left-handed pitcher (Dan Taylor, who went 22/3 innings for the win) was outstanding, and that was a key.

“And then our third baseman put some life into us with that big fly That was definitely a crucial part of the game.”

Down 4-1 through four and a half, and having produced only two hits off three Emeralds pitchers, the Bears broke through with four runs off Australian right-hander Alessio Angelucci.

After Dan Kaczrowski’s one-out double, Davidson, 13 days removed from his Yucaipa (Calif.) High School graduation, launched a blast that carried perhaps 400 feet and cleared the wall just to the left of dead-center.

Successive singles by Ryan Wheeler, Andrew Fie and Tim Sherlock loaded the bases, and with two out Tyson Van Winkle dropped a flair into right field that scored Wheeler and Fie.

Yakima made it 6-4 in the sixth when Kaczrowski and Davidson were hit by pitches, Wheeler was walked to load the bases and Fie scored Kaczrowski with a fielder’s choice.

The Emeralds got one back in the eighth when Bears right-fielder Tyrell Worthington overran Bo Davis’ towering pop down the right-field line and it fell behind him just inside the line for a two-out triple. Davis later scored on a wild pitch.

Davidson, who had two hits including the game-winner in Monday night’s 5-3, 10-inning triumph at Spokane, was 2-for-2 this time and reached base five times. He added an eighth-inning single after walking once and being hit twice — once each before and after his round-tripper.

“I’m used to that,” Davidson smiled. “The best part was winning the game. We want to make the playoffs with this team.”

Ryan Wheeler also had two hits, and eight of Yakima’s nine starters had at least one.

Bo Davis had two hits and Vincent Belnome hit a two-run homer for Eugene (1-3).

Early in the game, the left-field foul line loomed large as Wheeler’s slicing, two-out, first-inning drive kicked up chalk en route to the corner. Davidson, who had walked, took third on the double, then scored on a wild pitch.

In the Eugene third, following a two-out infield single and two walks, Griffin Benedict slapped an opposite-field shot that skipped over third base and hugged the line for a double that scored two and gave the Emeralds a 2-1 lead.

Eugene added two more in the fifth and finished the night for Yakima starter Chris Odegaard, who was making his professional debut.

After a leadoff walk and then a strikeout, Belnome crushed a drive over the 365-foot mark in left to make it 4-1.

Didier then summoned Taylor to finish the inning. Brian Budrow worked the final two innings, allowing no hits while striking out three, to get the save.

Getting ready means long hours for Bears staff

YAKIMA, Wash. — K.L. Wombacher’s life would be so much easier if Yakima County Stadium were simply placed beneath a tarp after the final game of each season, and then be ready for 38 more Northwest League games on having the wrapping removed on opening day.

But of course the life of the Bears general manager is not nearly that simple.

“We start prepping during the high school tournaments (in late May),” Wombacher said Tuesday, while Yakima County Stadium was bustling with pre-opening night activity. “That sort of gives us a dry run as far as concessions and the rest rooms are concerned.

“After  that, for the whole month of June leading up to opening night, we’re down here every weekend. We’re working seven days a week to get ready.”

Getting ready means renovations such as new paper towel dispensers in the rest rooms, installing new advertising signs on the outfield fence and cleaning everything from the souvenir booth to the seats.

A ballpark estimate — pun intended — would be 50 hours spent by Wombacher and his staff readying the 16-year-old facility for opening night.

“Every September we spend a week here taking things apart and putting things away. When we start to get ready for a new season, we have to clean everything and put everything back, plus there’s dealing with all the new stuff we have.”

This year that means a board that tracks Bears alumni through the Arizona Diamondbacks minor league system, provides information on the parent team’s other affiliates and contains a stadium map plus starting lineups for that night’s  game.

New equipment will enable the Bears to use their video board “in more of a big-league manner,” Wombacher said, a state-of-the-art sound system has been installed and, near the barbecue pit, there are not only new picnic tables but more of them.

The reward, Wombacher said, is worth the long, glamourless hours.

“Every opening night has a magical feeling,” he said, smiling and scanning the ballpark. “We always try to do some new things that will appeal to our fans.

“We’ll have a big crowd tonight, and our hope is that what we provide them and the whole experience of being here will make them want to come back.”

6/24/09 Yakima Bears update

Next game

Opponent: Eugene Emeralds.

When, where: 7:05 p.m. today, Yakima County Stadium.

Radio: KUTI (1460).

Probable pitchers: Yakima RHP Brad Gemberling vs. Eugene LHP Nick Greenwood.

Tuesday’s box score

Bears 6, Emeralds 5

EUGENE                               YAKIMA

ab    r    h    bi                    ab    r    h    bi

Codiroli cf          4    1    0    0        Greer ss    4    0    0    0

Davis rf               3    2    2    0        Kaczrski 2b    3    2    1    0

Belnome dh        2    2    1    2        Davidson 1b    2    2    2    2

Rincon 3b    2    0    0    0    Fie dh    3    1    1    1

Benedict c    4    0    1    2    Incrte ph    1    0    0    0

Freiman 1b    4    0    0    0    Sherlock lf    4    0    1    0

Loretelli lf    4    0    1    0    Worthton rf    4    0    1    0

Drake 2b    4    0    0    0    Van Winkle c    3    0    1    2

Tremblay ss    4    0    0    0    Rodriguez cf    4    0    1    0

Totals    31    5    5    4    Totals    28    5    8    5

Eugene    002    020    100    —    5

Yakima    100    041    00x    —    6

DP—Eugene 1, Yakima 1. LOB—Eugene 5, Yakima 11. 2B—Benedict, Wheeler, Worthington, Kaczrowski. 3B—Davis. HR—Belnome, Davidson. SB—Davis.

IP    H    R    ER    BB    SO

Eugene

Fetter    2    2    1    1    2    3

Mead    1    0    0    0    1    0

Angelucci L, 0-1    1 2-3    6    4    4    0    2

Ibarra    2 1-3    0    1    1    1    2

Jackson    1    2    0    0    1    0

Yakima

Odegaard    4 1-3    4    4    4    4    6

Taylor W, 1-0    2 2-3    1    1    1    1    3

Budrow S, 1    2    0    0    0    0    3

WP— Fetter, Mead, Taylor. Balk—Mead, Odegaard. HBP—Davis (by Odegaard), Davidson (by Mead), Kaczrowski (by Ibarra), Davidson (by Ibarra). Umpires—Ryan Goodman, Javier Cantu. T—3:00. A—3,047.

Standings

East Division

W    L    Pct.    GB

Tri-City (Rockies)     4    0    1.000    —

Spokane (Rangers)    2    2    .500    2

Yakima (D’backs)       2    2    .500    2

Boise (Cubs)                0    4    .000    4

West Division

W    L    Pct.    GB

Salem-Keizer (Giants)        3    1    .750    —

Everett (Mariners)              2    2    .500    1

Vancouver (Athletics)         2    2    .500    1

Eugene (Padres)                  1    3    .250    2

Tuesday’s results

Yakima 6, Eugene 5

Salem-Keizer 6, Boise 1

Everett 4, Spokane 3, 10 innings

Tri-City 3, Vancouver 2

Today’s Games

Boise at Salem-Keizer, 6:35 p.m.

Eugene at Yakima, 7:05 p.m.

Spokane at Everett, 7:05 p.m.

Vancouver at Tri-City, 7:15 p.m.

Ex-UW QB set to enroll at Central

SEATTLE — The athletic career of former University of Washington quarterback Johnny DuRocher may take yet another turn, this one to Ellensburg.

DuRocher, whose UW career ended after he was found to have a benign brain tumor and who later spent a year in the Mariners’ organ-ization as a pitcher, has applied for enrollment at Central Washington with designs on playing quarterback for the Wildcats this fall.

A CWU spokesman confirmed that DuRocher has applied for enrollment but said he could not comment further until DuRocher is officially enrolled. DuRocher could not be reached for comment.

Eligibility rules are different at Division II schools like Central, and the 25-year-old DuRocher would apparently have one season remaining to play. He would not be eligible any longer to play at Washington.

A graduate of Bethel High School in Graham, he redshirted at Oregon in 2003 and sat out 2004 after deciding to transfer. He played at UW in 2005 and 2006 before the tumor was discovered when he suffered a concussion in a game against Stanford late in the 2006 season.

After surgery, he turned out for the UW baseball team and was later drafted by the Mariners. But his baseball career ended when he suffered an injury that would have required Tommy John surgery.

Due to the nature of the different throwing motions, DuRocher has said in the past that the injury doesn’t impair his ability to throw a football.

He spent last fall at UW as a student assistant with the football team. In the spring, he participated at UW’s Pro Day for NFL Scouts, hoping to attract the attention of a professional team, saying he had been cleared by doctors to return to football.

CWU was recently ranked 10th in the nation in the Sporting News’ 2009 Division II preseason poll. But the Wildcats are looking for a new starting QB after the graduation of All-American Mike Reilly, now a free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

At Central, DuRocher would be reunited with another former Husky, running back J.R. Hasty, who will be a senior this season.

— Bob Condotta

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