Soccer teams begin anew

YAKIMA, Wash. — Changes are the one thing you can count on in high school sports, and boys soccer in the Yakima Valley is no different.

One program has gone away (Goldendale), and two others (Prosser and Mabton) have new coaches guiding the way.

Goldendale has decided not to compete this season, leaving just four teams, Highland, Naches Valley, Granger and Mabton in the SCAC West division.

Meanwhile, changes are happening on the sidelines as well.

Rich Zoller, who coached Prosser to the state semifinals last season, left the Mustangs to start a program at the new Chiawana High School in Pasco.

Replacing Zoller is Marcelino Rodriguez, who also coaches Prosser’s girls team.

In Mabton, a familiar face on the field will now be running the show for the Vikings.

Former Sunnyside standout Junior Garcia takes over the second-year program. Garcia, who scored 120 goals in his prep career, has been playing with the Yakima Reds and was a finalist for a roster spot with Seattle Sounders FC last season.

Elsewhere, West Valley, Granger and Highland will be looking to replace first-team all-state players from a year ago.

West Valley needs to fill the scoring void left by Junior Ayala, who helped lead the Rams to the Class 3A championship game last season.

“People need to step up,” coach Jake Sagare said of his 1-4 Rams. “We’ve started the year off slow. But we’re close, we’re organized and doing a lot of things right.”

Sagare will be counting on an experienced group, including returning all-leaguers Forrest Chapin, Cristian Gonzales and Aparicio Fischer, along with midfielders Matt Longee, Connor Nathe and forward Jesse Esquivel.

Granger will go the opposite direction trying to fill the shoes of forward Jose Zuniga: a youth movement.

“This is a rebuilding year for us, coach Alejandro Ortiz said. “We have a lot of good kids, about four or five freshmen on varsity, so it’s a developing year.”

Among those Ortiz is looking to will be Ulyses Hernandez, Adrian Sandoval and Lisandro Arceo.

Highland, meanwhile, has a very solid core of returning attackers to replace all-state forward Jesus Silva.

Diego Silva and Diddiel Flores will anchor the offense until all-leaguer Luis Silva recovers from an injury.

“Once (Luis) comes back, that should solidify the middle for us,” coach Greg Wagner said.

2010 Prep Boys Soccer Preview capsules

CBBN

FAVORITES

SOUTHRIDGE didn’t lose much off of a team that finished third in the conference last season. PASCO wasn’t hurt as badly by the creation of Chiawana as one might have expected. Don’t count out WEST VALLEY; the Rams have a tendency to get hot at the right time each year. If Davis and EISENHOWER can find consistent goal-scoring, they should make some noise.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

DAVIS is keeping things in the family this season. Twins Alexio and Alexes Garcia (who were the subjects of a January feature story while they were wrestling for the Pirates) are joined on the field by their cousin Jorge Sanchez and their uncle Rudy Sanchez. Elsewhere on the field, Pirates coach Armando Garcia is expecting big things from midfielder Walter Manriquez and defender Adolfo Mora who have been playing together since they were five-years-old, Garcia said. … EISENHOWER loses first-team all-CBBN midfielder Albert Anabtawi to track and field, but welcomes back Jonathan Hererra, Chris Beehler and Billy Tinajero. Coach Tyler Suhm said that he likes what he sees from youngsters Guillermo Silva and Edgar Camacho, along with Adrian Tinajero, Marco Marmolejo and Gustavo Razo. … SUNNYSIDE has second-team all-CBBN defender Jordan Esqueda back from last year, but must fill the voids left by departed all-leaguers Jesus Solis, Humberto Bermudez, Nick Steckler and Brian Galvan. So far, coach Juan Pineda’s Grizzlies have been led by the scoring of Alfredo Gomez and Sergio Licona. … In addition to all-state forward Junior Ayala, WEST VALLEY will need to fill the shoes of Kyle Boyle, A.J. Vargas, and Phil Lopez, all graduated all-conference selections. Coach Jake Sagare cited the passing ability of midfielder Connor Nathe and the big-goal-scoring knack of sophomore Jesse Esquivel.

CWAC

FAVORITES

In the North Division, SELAH, ELLENSBURG and QUINCY should duke it out for top honors, while in the South, it appears to be between EAST VALLEY and TOPPENISH.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

EAST VALLEY has all-CWAC defender Caleb Buck back, and has been led on the offensive end by Jonathan Molina and Alex Escalera. … ELLENSBURG will build around a strong defense keyed by junior goalkeeper Andrew Yoder and senior defender Max Zentner. Freshman defender Zach Cadman will also help stifle opponents’ attacks. On offense, senior forward Andrew Bishop returns. … GRANDVIEW loses all-conference players Bonifacio Cuevas and Euladio Lua to graduation, but hangs on to offensive catalyst Sami Villa. … PROSSER builds its offense around senior forwards Memo Correa and Alex Cortez. New coach Marcelino Rodriguez also has back Mario Cervantez an honorable mention all-conference defender. Goalkeeper Amado Torres will be the last line of defense for the Mustangs. First-team all-CWAC midfielder Alberto Quinones is out for the season with an injury. … SELAH will have six freshmen on the varsity squad, and coach Todd Martin is still tinkering with his lineup to maximize its potential. In addition to all-CWAC defender Austin Radebaugh, Martin has Paul Summerville, Mark Valencourt, Juan Vasquez and Danny Hernandez back from last year’s team. Among the group of freshmen, Martin singled out Eliseo Montiel and Rafael Sanchez as having a lot of potential. … The time is now for TOPPENISH, which has six seniors in its starting lineup and a total of nine on the team. Luis Alcala leads the way and is among the most talented players in the league, coach Uriel Gonzalez said. Other players Gonzalez singled out include Jesus Cueva (midfielder), Faustino Teran (forward) and Leo Fuentes (goalkeeper) and all-CWAC honorable mention forward Abraham Martinez. … WAPATO has back all-league honorees Sergio Sanchez (a senior midfielder) and Fredy Rodriguez (a sophomore forward). The Wolves have had offensive contributions so far this year by Jesse Chavez and Jeff Ruiz.

SCAC West

FAVORITES

HIGHLAND looks like the team to beat in the division. This year, most of the power teams reside on the east side of the conference. CONNELL and WAHLUKE were co-champs last year and are likely to be right back on top again this year.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

GRANGER is in a rebuilding year, coach Alejandro Ortiz said. The Spartans graduated SCAC co-MVP Jose Zuniga, but have first-team all-SCAC halfback Nathan Trevino back. Ortiz says he’s expecting growth from his freshmen. … HIGHLAND is also short a conference co-MVP this season after Jesus Silva’s graduation. New goalkeeper Antonio Gonzalez has played well so far this season, coach Greg Wagner said. Gonzalez, a sophomore, played JV last season. … MABTON will be without senior forward Hector Brambila, who was a conference MVP honorable mention and first-team all-SCAC selection last season. If there’s anyone who can find some goal-scorers on this team, it would be new coach Junior Garcia, who is the Valley’s all-time leading goal scorer with 120 in his prep career at Sunnyside. … NACHES VALLEY loses three second-team all-SCAC honorees from last year.

3/30/10 Sunnyside-Davis photo gallery

Photos from Tuesday afternoon’s boys soccer game between Sunnyside and Davis at Davis High School in Yakima, Wash. All photos by Sara Gettys of the Yakima Herald-Republic.

Prep Roundup — Davis soccer nets fourth straight shutout

YAKIMA, Wash. — Each time out, Davis’ defense simply picks up where it left off. And thanks to that the Pirates’ boys soccer team is on a roll.

Scoring both its goals in the final 10 minutes, Davis earned its fourth straight shutout victory with a 2-0 win over Sunnyside in CBBN play Tuesday at Davis Field.

Rudy Sanchez and Oscar Martinez scored in the 71st and 79th minutes, respectively, and goalkeeper Alexes Garcia made four saves as the Pirates improved to 4-1 in conference and 5-2 overall.

Davis will travel to Richland on Saturday while Sunnyside (1-3, 2-3) hosts West Valley.

First half: No scoring.

Second half: 1, Davis, Rudy Sanchez (Alexio Garcia), 71:00; 2, Davis, Oscar Martinez (Salvador Navarro), 79:00.

Saves: Alexes Garcia (D) 4, Luis Garcia (S) 7.

WEST VALLEY 3, EISENHOWER 1: At West Valley, Forrest Chapin’s penalty-kick goal in the 48th minute ignited a 3-0 second-half surge that carried the Rams to their first league win against three losses.

Billy Tinajero’s goal gave Eisenhower (2-2) the lead at the break.

On Saturday, Eisenhower hosts Pasco while West Valley visits Sunnyside.

First half: 1, Eisenhower, Billy Tinajero (Gerardo Mendoza), 31:00.

Second half: 2, West Valley, Forrest Chapin (penalty kick), 48:00; 3, West Valley, Jessie Esquivel (Cristian Gonzalez), 57:00; 4, West Valley, Trevor Novobielski, 70:00.

Saves: Adrian Tinajero (E) 2, Cesar Aparicio (E) 1; Kevin Madson (WV) 1.

BASEBALL

Rivera sparks Grizzlies

SUNNYSIDE, Wash. — Julian Rivera hit a two-run home run and finished with three RBI to lead Sunnyside to a 9-4 win over Chiawana in non-league play Tuesday.

Jaime Sarmiento pitched a complete game for the Grizzlies (2-4), and also had a double and two RBI.

Chiawana    000    102    1    —    4    9    1

Sunnyside    402    201    x    —    9    8    4

Thornhill, Burgess (4), Graff (5) and West. Sarmiento and Rodriguez.

Highlights: Julian Rivera (S) 2-run HR, 3 RBI; Jaime Sarmiento (S) 2b, 2 RBI.

CLE ELUM 16, KITTITAS 10: At Kittitas, Seth Darling went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple, home run and five RBI and teammate Kraygen Craft homered with three RBI for the Warriors.

Cle Elum (3-2) hosts River View next Monday, and Kittitas (0-2) hosts Riverside Christian on Saturday.

Cle Elum    106    323    1    —    16    12    3

KIttitas    121    240    0    —    10    9    4

J. Zapel, Reynolds (4), Darling (5) and C. Zapel; Slyfield, Brooks (4), Sorenson (5), Johnson (6) and Studer.

Highlights: Seth Darling (CE) 4-5, 2 2b, 3b, HR, 5 RBI; Jason Zapel (CE) 2-4, 3b, 2 RBI; Kraygen Craft (CE) 3-5, 2b, HR, 3 RBI;  Laker Brooks (K) 2-4; Tom Studer (K) 2-5, RBI; Spencer Slyfield (K) 2-5, 2b, 2 RBI; Issac Johnson (K) 1-3, 2b.

Local report — Pair of CWU fastpitch players honored

ELLENSBURG, Wash.  — Central Washington’s Lauren Hadenfeld and Danielle Monson have been named co-pitcher of the week and co-hitter of the week by the GNAC, the conference announced Tuesday.

Hadenfeld, a junior pitcher from Vancouver, and Monson, a senior outfielder from Marysville, helped the Wildcats finish second in the 22-team Tournament of Champions last weekend at Turlock, Calif.

It was the third pitcher of the month honor this season, for Hadenfeld, who shared the award with Joselyn Eugenio of Saint Martin’s. Monson shared her honor with Western Oregon’s Amanda Fleer.

All four were named to the all-tournament team.

Hadenfeld went 3-1 in the tourney with a 0.97 earned run average and 37 strikeouts in 29 innings. Monson batted .586 –17-for-29 — raising her season average to .527, which ranks fifth nationally among NCAA Division II hitters.

Central, 13-3 in GNAC play and 18-8 overall, will play a four-game series at Northwest Nazarene on Friday and Saturday.

 

RODEO

Rodeo queen banquet set April 10

Kelsey Gunnier of Toppenish, this year’s Miss Teen Rodeo Washington, will have her coronation banquet April 10 at Eagles Hall in Toppenish.

Gunnier, 18, is a 2009 Granger graduate now attending Walla Walla Community College, where she competes on the rodeo team as a barrel racer. She won her title last September during a statewide competition in Ellensburg.

The April 10 banquet, which will include live and silent auctions, is intended to raise money for Gunnier’s travels associated with her year as Miss Teen Rodeo Washington, during which she will appear at events around the state.

Call 509-307-6350 to purchase tickets ($15 per person) for the banquet. Social hour will be at 5 p.m., with dinner to follow.

GOLF

Barnsley aces 8th at Elks

SELAH — Rudy Barnsley scored a hole in one last week at the Yakima Elks Golf & Country Club, acing the 119-yard eighth hole with a pitching wedge.

George Chin, Mark Littleton, Tom Williams and Don Williams witnessed the shot.

Fundraisers planned for Gawlik

YAKIMA, Wash. — The Davis baseball program has scheduled several activities to help one of its own.

Devon Gawlik, 16, is presently fighting cancer and the Pirates will have a special day at their spring break camp in his honor. The special session, called Practice with the Pirates, will be held Thursday at Davis Field from 9 a.m. until noon. Charge will be by donation only, with proceeds going to the Gawlik family to assist Devon.

At 2 p.m., Davis will host Walla Walla in a non-league game and donations will be asked for at the game. All campers will be given a free hot dog, and will also be allowed to take the field and stand next to their favorite Davis player while the national anthem is being played.

CWAC softball is armed and dangerous

For a preview of the critical showdown in this year’s CWAC fastpitch campaign, get the rerun. With a few minor character changes, this show has already been aired.

 

On May 2, 2009, Ellensburg outlasted Selah 3-1 in the second game of a doubleheader that was not only a stepping stone in the Bulldogs’ drive to the league title but also a precursor to this season’s most anticipated matchup.

 

The starting pitchers in that game — Jessica Harris of Ellensburg and the Vikings’ Monica Stout — are both back, owners of the league’s best arms at what is inarguably the most critical position in fastpitch.

But with the rather prominent exception of 2009 Class 2A player of the year Sarah McNamee, almost everybody else who played in that 3-1 thriller is back.

McNamee was one of only three seniors in that Ellensburg lineup. Selah had only two. Barring injuries, everybody else who played in that game will be back on the Carlon Park field when Selah hosts the Bulldogs for a May 1 doubleheader that may well decide the CWAC’s regular-season champions.

Heavy-hitting, perennial power Othello may have something to say about that as well, but the Huskies’ pitchers — while far better than adequate — haven’t yet demonstrated the consistent power and placement of Stout and Harris.

“Monica and Harris should be the top pitchers in the league this year,” Selah coach Bill Harris said. “I think we’re evenly matched. We just need to hit the ball a little better this year. Harris will be tough; I know she’s worked real hard in the offseason. And they’re the defending champions until someone knocks them off.”

Ellensburg (25-2 last year and the 2A state runner-up) returns four members off the all-CWAC team, and that doesn’t even include leadoff hitter Ellie Layman, whose uncanny bunting ability and baserunning speed are indicative of the very small-ball, aggressive offense Bulldogs coach Dave Kopczynski wants to foist upon its opponents this year — even though they can also play long-ball as well as anybody around.

 

“We can hit with power all the way up and down our lineup,” he said. “But I want to put the game in motion a little more, and hit with power when we need to.”

 

The Bulldogs were never able to unveil any of that power against

Selah, which won 18 of 22 games coming into state but then dropped two straight in the state tournament.

“We underachieved at state,” Bill Harris said. “But, well, we finished 18-6, and three of our losses were to the team that took second in state, and all of them were good games. That 3-1 game, that was basically (decided by) one base hit; we had a chance early and squandered it. Hey, 3-1, that’s a great softball game. That’s what you practice, coach and prepare for, to be in games just like that one.”
Expect two more just like it come May 1.

2010 Prep Fastpitch Preview

COLUMBIA BASIN BIG NINE

FAVORITES

In the Columbia Division, the return of five all-conference players should help MOSES LAKE overcome the loss of graduated division MVP Shelby Gonzales, while SOUTHRIDGE returns the nucleus that allowed the Suns to keep pace with the Chiefs. Over in the Cascade, the graduation of division MVP and star pitcher Alexis Bobadilla will make it a bit challenging for WALLA WALLA to stay at the top, though scoring plenty of runs won’t be a problem for the Blue Devils.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

WEST VALLEY graduated a pair of all-leaguers, but returns a solid 1-2 pitching tandem in Molly Rubidoux and Emily Harpel (each of whom can also wield a mean bat) and one of the league’s premier sluggers in Emily Shepard. That group may well help West Valley close in on the three teams atop the Cascade Division — WALLA WALLA, led by first baseman Hope Klicker, the division’s 2009 offensive MVP, KAMIAKIN, which will ride the arm of sophomore pitching standout Lindsey Kamphuis, and EASTMONT, which returns three all-leaguers from last year’s third-place club. Hannah Rumbolz and Allie McClain give EISENHOWER a legitimate 1-2 pitching combo and there’s enough offensive support to give the Cadets a chance at passing Hanford in the standings. Over in the Columbia Division, Hannah Kirk’s pitching and Kaylie Winston’s hitting should help PASCO close in on KENNEWICK and perhaps even on the big two, SOUTHRIDGE and MOSES LAKE. SUNNYSIDE, led by seniors Sarasa Partida and Stephanie Sanchez, is improving but will still have a hard time closing in on WENATCHEE, considering the Panthers’ four returning all-leaguers. Heidi Ceja and sophomore catcher Daphne Fisher are proven offensive commodities for DAVIS, which is battling to escape the division cellar.

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CWAC

FAVORITES

It’s strictly a three-team race, with 2009 state runner-up ELLENSBURG, fellow state-tourney qualifier SELAH and perennial juggernaut OTHELLO way out in front of the rest. On paper, at least, the Bulldogs and Vikings would seem to have the edge on Othello, simply because pitching makes an enormous difference in fastpitch and Ellensburg’s Jessica Harris and Selah’s Monica Stout are the top flamethrowers in the league. But while Othello’s ace, lefty Eden Garza, an erstwhile all-CWAC outfielder, may not be quite at their level, the Huskies can give her quite the supporting cast.

All five of Othello’s 2009 all-CWAC players (three first-teamers, two second) were underclassmen, and Alyssa Martinez and Kylie Mollotte provide plenty of power at the plate. But Selah graduated only two seniors off last year’s team and Ellensburg lost three, so they should be both have enough offensive power to keep pace with the Huskies and keep ahead of everybody else. The hard part for these three teams will be keeping focused until they play each other, since they will be 10-running a lot their remaining CWAC opponents. And none of the three has a real edge with the scheduling either — Ellensburg plays at Selah but hosts Othello, while Selah hosts Ellensburg but plays at Othello.

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AROUND THE LEAGUE

There figures to be quite a drop from third to fourth, and that may come as a surprise to anybody who followed EAST VALLEY’s storybook ride into the state tournament last season. But the Red Devils lost seven seniors off that squad, including workhorse hurler Kendra Killingsworth, leaving sophomore Tracy Martin trying to fill the large hole left by Killingsworth’s graduation, and Holly Thierolf and Ashlee Betancourth are among the few proven players in the Red Devils’ rebuilt lineup. PROSSER figures to battle East Valley for the honor of being the best of the teams pursuing the big three, with pitcher Gabby Meza — only a sophomore, but already with a year as a starter under her belt — getting lots of run support from speedy Nicole Ledesma and power-hitting Tawnee Bynum.

The rest of the league race could end up looking like a rugby scrum, with GRANDVIEW (with multitalented sophomore Ashley Van Tress on the mound) trying to keep ahead of EPHRATA and QUINCY. WAPATO will get yeoman work on the mound and at the plate from Dominique Weaver and Breanna Cordova, and that may be enough to keep the Wolves ahead of TOPPENISH, led by DJ Aguilar, as each team in that final quintet tries to escape the bottom of the standings.

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SCAC WEST

FAVORITES

Not since 2005 has ZILLAH not finished without at least a tie for the SCAC West regular-season title — that year was a second-place finish — and not even the graduation of league MVP Korie Duce should derail the Leopards’ hopes for more hardware this year. The Leopards reached the state tourney only to be dispatched in three games, with its two losses coming by a cumulative three runs. Sophomore Alexa Krueger leads a solid offensive hitting lineup and the Leopards also have a solid 1-2 pitching duo in junior Kelsie Salverda and sophomore Samantha Robillard.

But NACHES VALLEY, which has shared each of the last two division titles with Zillah, may be right there nipping at the Leopards’ heels. Like Zillah, the Rangers also have proven pitching with Katelin Heidi, and it’s just possible they have the edge in offensive firepower with six returners who earned all-SCAC West postseason honors, including heavy hitter Lyndsie Wright.

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AROUND THE LEAGUE

If anybody’s going to make a run at the big two, it will probably be CLE ELUM, which had only two seniors on its state-tourney team last year. The Warriors are led by gifted hurlers Hailey Bator and Virginia Soderstrom and power-hitting senior (and standout catcher) Kodi Jones, with Bator and Jones each garnering first-team all-league honors last year. Amber Rogers and Laura Potts also have plenty of power, while Kassi Meier — after years of playing baseball — is just now starting to get into the groove of hitting a softball. She’s only going to get better and better.

At GOLDENDALE, juniors Alex Counts and Taylor Gaston will provide plenty of runs, but the big issue figures to be preventing them. The Timberwolves lost two first-team all-league pitchers to graduation and pitching is the hardest thing in fastpitch to replace. MABTON has virtually an all-underclassmen lineup, with junior pitcher Mela Alcala surrounded by a lot of sophomores and freshmen led by stellar sophs Jacque Cruz and Jazzi Susaita. They’ll try to help Vikings move up on Goldendale while holding off GRANGER, for whom Jackiy Roedel yields a big bat. Over in the SCAC East, Connell earned a third-place state trophy last year and the Eagles should be the class of the league once again, led by ace Ashley Thompson and power-hitting catcher Shanika Sawyer.

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CLASS 2B AND 1B
Hard as it may be to believe, considering the fact that they won 23 straight games — including their state-tournament opener — before losing two straight and falling short of the state title they so coveted, the KITTITAS Coyotes had only three seniors on their 2010 roster. LA SALLE, which finished 15-7 and also played three games at state, was even young; the Lightning lost just two seniors, and the returners include hitters like Tori Gonzalez, who hit over .500 last year, and others like Kassidy Quesnell and Lauren DeGooyer, who might well accomplish that feat this year. A one-run loss to Pateros in district play kept SUNNYSIDE CHRISTIAN from a chance at making a return trip to state last year, but productive hitter Julie Long and pitching-hitting double-threat senior Ashley Haak will be out to help the Knights go that extra step this season.

A smorgasbord of outdoor info, including tips on fishing, hunting

Today’s column: random stuff. Here is some useful information, along with a few thoughts on a variety of outdoor subjects.

Yakima River Bass: April is a great time to fish the lower Yakima River for smallmouth bass. And with spring arriving a couple of weeks early, the bass should be migrating up the lower Yakima to their spawning areas. And with virtually no spring run-off happening now, the river is in perfect shape to fish.

This is typically the very best time to catch the biggest bass of the year on the Yakima between Kiona-Benton and the mouth near Richland. I’ve had great luck in early spring floating down the Yakima and pitching Rooster Tails or plastic grubs to the banks. On many spring days we have caught literally dozens of bass of all sizes by working the lower Yakima.

Of course, bank anglers can get in on the action, too, but because much of the lower Yakima is flanked by private land, you need to hit the areas where the river flows along the roadways, or get permission to cross private land to get to the river.

Spring Turkey Season Nears: Turkey hunting in Washington state opens on

April 15, which means there is only a couple of weeks to get ready for the hunt. Turkey populations in Washington continue to be very healthy in several parts of the state, and with the very mild winter, the birds should be coming into spring in great shape.

The early mild temperatures may bump up the spring mating schedule for the birds, but hunters who do their homework now by finding places to hunt should still be able to fill a tag or two. In most parts of Eastern Washington, turkey hunters are allowed two spring gobblers. In Yakima and Kittitas counties, where birds are still fairly scarce, hunters are allowed only one tom.

The best places in Washington to hunt continue to be in the northeast corner of the state, east of the Columbia and north of Spokane; in the southeast part of the state in the foothills of the Blue Mountains; and in Klickitat and Skamania County.

A Bad Year for Ticks? Our abnormally warm winter means this could be a bad year for the little blood suckers that are such a pain for turkey hunters, hikers and anglers. I have a friend who has already found a tick on one of his dogs.

Some types of outdoor clothing will help keep ticks from the skin, and there are bug sprays to help deter them from climbing aboard. But in my experience there is no total solution to beating these creepy crawlers.

The Yakima River corridor in the Lower Valley has been especially bad in recent years. Pay particular attention this year to yourself and your pets if you get into tall grasses and the brushy portions just about anywhere throughout our the region.

News from the Springer Front: Sounds like spring chinook salmon fishing is beginning to pick up in the lower Columbia around Longview and Portland. Reports from WDFW last week showed about one salmon caught for every eight anglers. That’s not red-hot fishing, but it is better than it was a week ago. Some 87 percent of the fish being caught are hatchery-origin, which bodes well for the future if the fish ever start making their way upstream.

As of late last week, not even 200 spring chinook total had climbed the fish ladders at Bonneville.

Wind River Launch Troubles: Because of some work being done at Bonneville, the pool there is lower than normal and that affects places like the mouth of the Wind River. The low salmon run early has most likely kept anglers from wanting to fish at the popular springer hole, but any anglers who are thinking about fishing at the Wind now or for the next week might want to adjust their plans. The low water at the Wind makes it difficult to launch and get out under the bridge to fish. Work is supposed to be done on April 3 but it is worth a check before heading down that way.

Trout Fishing Continues: According to WDFW stocking plans for our region, trout have and will continue to be planted off and on in several area lakes and ponds. Those set to get more trout in the near future, if they haven’t already, include I-82 ponds 2, 3, 4 and 6, along with Mud Lake, Rotary Lake, Tims Pond, and the youth pond at Sarg Hubbard Park.

• Rob Phillips is a freelance outdoor writer and partner in the advertising firm of Smith, Phillips & DiPietro. He can be reached at rwphillips@spdadvertising.com.

3-30 What’s Happening

$5 vehicle fee OK’d at Little Naches sites

The $5-per-vehicle-per-night fee for campers at popular Little Naches camping areas that the Forest Service began looking into last summer was approved at the last meeting of the Pacific Northwest Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) and, for most of them, will go into effect this year.

Campers at Ponderosa Camp, Longmire and Long Meadows will be subject to the $5-per-vehicle fee (which doesn’t apply to towed vehicles) this year; Lost Meadows was also approved at the RAC meeting in Portland, but the fee won’t be in effect there this year.

Users can expect the fees to go into effect once fee tubes — those infamous “Iron Rangers” — and bulletin boards have been installed. People with Interagency Senior or Golden Age or Golden Access passes will have a 50 percent discount ($2.50 per vehicle per night).

The Forest Service says revenues generated by the vehicle fee will be used to cover the cost and maintenance of the existing facilities and garbage services; any surplus fee money may be available for maintenance of the surrounding motorized trails.

*******
No midnight start for shed hunters in May

The once-traditional midnight opener on May 1 at local wildlife areas allowing shed hunters on foot to get the jump on those on ATVs, motorcycles and four-wheel-drives is a thing of the past.

Throughout the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Region 3 (which includes Yakima, Kittitas and Benton counties, plus a portion of Grant as well), wilderness areas that have been closed during the winter and early spring will open at 6 a.m. on May 1 for everybody. That means walk-ins, horseback riders, motorcyclists, ATV riders and four-wheelers will all be heading in at the same time — and, since May 1 happens to fall on a Saturday this year, it figures to be very busy.

Last year was the first year the Oak Creek Wildlife Area dropped its midnight walk-in start; that year it had a 6 a.m. opener for on-foot searchers and an 8 a.m. start for motorized. This year, it will be a straight 6 a.m. opener for everybody.

It’ll be that way on May 1 at all locked gates and closed areas on the Oak Creek Wildlife Area, the closed area of the Wenas Wildlife Area accessed through the Mellotte gate, the areas behind the gates at Joe Watt and Robinson Canyon on the L.T. Murray, and the motorized closure area on the Whisky Dick Wildlife Area.

The winter/early spring closures are to protect wildlife, primarily elk, from being harassed or chased when they are at their most vulnerable.

*******
White dominates Spring Yak again

For the second straight year, Richard S. White of Yakima was a big winner at last weekend’s annual Spring Yak, a two-day registered Pacific International Trap Association shoot hosted by the Yakima Valley Sportsmen trap club at the Pomona range.

White took Saturday’s Class B 16-yard event with a 97×100, the best score on a day, and then won Class B doubles on Sunday and finished as the high overall target shooter with 500. In the 2009 Spring Yak, White had won two Saturday classes and one on Sunday.

Other Saturday winners were, in the 16-yard event, Dennis Dale in the C class with 96 and Kyle Malesich in the juniors with 90; and Jim Turnbull in the long-yardage handicap with 90. On Sunday, Ken Sanden of Ellensburg took the D class at 94, Tom Schmitt had 98 to take the Veterans class, Sara Phipps’ 96 topped the ladies and Malesich again captured the juniors with 83. Wenatchee shooter John  Simmons took the handicap championship buckle with 92.

This coming Saturday the club will host its second Lucky Dog 50, to be held ever first Saturday of every month with competition available in 16-yard, handicap and doubles and cash prizes will be paid out on the Lewis system. This shoot is designed for new shooters. Sign-up starts at 9 and shooting at 10.

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‘Nature’s compass’ class returns in April

“Nature’s Compass and Survival Psychology,” a class Don Witke has been teaching for several years after his 22 years of experience with Yakima County Search-and-Rescue, will be held again this next month in East Selah.

The class is limited to 20 students — and is already more just from word-of-mouth — so prospective attendees should call Witke at 509-607-0915 or 509-654-9705 to reserve a spot. There will no day-or-class signup.

The class will be two 21/2-hour sessions, April 5 and 8, at the Raptor Rehab Center, 40 Wise Acre Road. The sessions run the gamut from navigation using one’s surroundings to the psychological aspects of survival, including overcoming fear and stress.

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BIRD ALERT

A Eurasian green-winged teal, a subspecies of duck that may become full species in the near future, was spotted at the corner of Pumphouse and Old Goldendale roads south of Toppenish. The area also held several loggerhead shrike, and at least 10 greater yellowlegs were noted along Lateral C south of the Toppenish creek.

Things started to heat up around the Yakima Valley this week. Reports of new arrivals along Satus Creek near Granger included a pair of redheads, eight American white pelicans, two American bittern, 38 sandhill crane, and a turkey vulture.

In the Wenas drainage, birders had great looks at a male and female white-headed woodpecker and both pygmy and white-breasted nuthatch. Along North Wenas Road heading toward Observatory Road they heard a sooty grouse booming in the trees quite close to the road. This area also held golden-crowned kinglets and several mountain chickadees, western bluebirds, Townsend’s solitaire, hairy woodpeckers, gobbling wild turkeys, and Cassin’s finch.

From the Wenas Campground came the first drums and mewing calls of a red-naped sapsucker to be heard this year along Wenas Creek  and a northern pygmy owl was perched on top of a big cottonwood in the creek. Ruffed grouse drummed along the creek and the rattle call of a belted kingfisher was also noted. Along Hog Ranch Road a golden eagle flew over and further back in the woods they heard a calling pileated woodpecker.

Please call your bird sightings into the Yakima Valley Audubon phone line at 509-248-1963.

— Kerry L. Turley

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AROUND AND ABOUT

TWIG BACK ON THE SCHEDULE: The first 2010 meeting of the Naches Ranger District’s Trails and Wilderness Interest Group (TWIG) is set for 7 p.m. next Tuesday (April 6)

at the ranger station. District recreation planner Sue Ranger, resources assistant Mike Rowan and information officer Doug Jenkins will host the meeting.

KIDS’ FISH-IN: That’s officially the new name for the annual Fishing Kids event at Sarg Hubbard Park, this year set for May 8. You remember this one — for $5, kids ages

8 to 14 can get a rod-and-reel they can keep, fishing tips and bait and, then, help with the cleaning and bagging of the first two trout they catch in. Sign-up deadline at the Yakima Greenway office is April 30.

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ON THE CALENDAR

TODAY: The Cascadians’ “Tuesdays” will meet at 8 a.m.

to head out on whatever hike/XC ski/snowshoe trek the group leader has planned out. (Probably a hike at this point, but there’s some new snow in the high country, so you never know. Come prepared for anything.)

WEDNESDAY (March 31): The Mount Adams Cycling Club will host the first of its weekly Wednesday night Naches Loop rides, departing the Fred Meyer/Key Bank parking area at 5:30 p.m. for the 24-mile ride. Typically the group breaks into smaller groups to accommodate different paces (between 12 and 16 mph), then regroups again at the top of Rowe Hill and again at the Shell station in Naches. Bring headlights and tail lights, since the finish will be at about dusk.

THURSDAY: The Cascadians’ Pokies will do a hike in Cowiche Canyon. For meeting time and place, call hike leader Eleanor Hungate at 509-972-3427.

APRIL 15: New Zealand native and world explorer Helen Thayer, whose world travels have made her a best-selling author, a public-television/radio icon and a sought-after inspirational speaker — among other exploits, she was the first woman to walk and ski to the North Pole without a dog sled — will give a presentation at the Capitol Theatre as a fundraiser for the Cascadians and the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy. Tickets ($15) are available at the Capitol Theatre box office or Tickets Northwest.

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