College basketball: Rinta lands on his feet

Ex-YVCC, CWU standout hired at Lewis-Clark State after Nazarene snub ||

YAKIMA, Wash. — Coming from Dean Nicholson, the words said more about Brandon Rinta than anything Rinta had done on a basketball court.

In his final season of coaching, Nicholson was discussing the cabalistic elbow ailment that had forced Rinta to shoot the ball left-handed as a high school junior after years of being a deadeye with his right.

Days before Rinta’s final Yakima Valley game at Sherar Gym in 1998 — it would be Nicholson’s farewell, too — the coach said, “All I know is, whatever happened to his elbow never got to his heart.”

Or his head.

Barely more than two weeks after having his hopes shattered and his faith in humanity perhaps shaken, Rinta sounded at once exhausted and elated as he settled in as head men’s basketball coach at Lewis-Clark State.

“I drove up Wednesday,” Rinta said during a phone interview from his Lewiston, Idaho, office. “My wife (Deanna) is going to stick around Nampa (Idaho) for awhile with our 41?2-month-old daughter (Kendall). It’s been a whirlwind. Transitions are exciting, but definitely a little chaotic.”

Especially this one, given the distasteful events that preceded it.

For much of his four-year tenure as Tim Hills’ top assistant at Northwest Nazarene, Rinta had planned on succeeding the longtime coach. Eventually he was named associate head coach, and when Hills announced his retirement during this past season, Rinta and NNU athletic director Rich Sanders expected a seamless transition.

Then on April 13, university president David Alexander introduced Dave Daniels of Colorado Christian as the new Crusaders coach.

Reaction ranged from confusion to outrage, the latter coming from some at Central Washington where Rinta had excelled after leaving YVCC.

For his part, Rinta on Thursday calmly said, “The athletic director told me two years ago, after I’d been contacted by other schools, that I would become associate head coach, and that when coach Hills retired the job would not even be opened up.

“He said I was his man as long as he was there. The president did not honor those words.”

Whitworth, meanwhile, made Rinta a finalist in its search to replace Jim Hayford, who had moved on to Eastern Washington. But then Rinta’s coach at Central, Greg Sparling, advised his former standout to sound out L-C State on its job.

“I faxed them my application,” Rinta said, “and two hours later I get a phone call. The next thing I know I’m in Lewiston meeting with the A.D.”

Officially named the Warriors’ coach Tuesday, Rinta has since busied himself with the typical duties one assumes when taking over a program.

“The first thing,” he said, “is to get to know the players who are already here. You start building that relationship, then a quick second is to hit the recruiting trail at a sprint. I’m getting a little bit of a late start, and we’ve got some holes to fill (from last season’s 16-12 L-C team), but one thing I feel good about is that within 24 hours after I took the job we had four commitments.”

Nicholson, meanwhile, was elated to learn of Rinta’s belated good fortune.

“That’s great news,” the legendary CWU and YVCC mentor said from his home in Concord, Calif., east of Oakland. “I coached a lot of players, and I coached a lot of players who were better than Brandon. But I never coached a better person.”

Baseball: Rangers double-up Zillah

ZILLAH, Wash. — Carson Kass’ five RBI in the second game capped Naches Valley’s 11-2, 13-2 sweep over Zillah in a SCAC West baseball doubleheader on Friday.

The second-ranked Rangers improved to 10-0 in league and 17-1 overall heading into Tuesday’s West finale at home against No. 6 Goldendale (8-0, 15-1).

Naches Valley did most of its damage in the opener during a seven-run second inning, and plated six runs in the first frame of the second contest.

Game 1

Naches Valley 270 000 2 — 11 9 1
Zillah 000 010 1 — 2 6 5
C. Johns, Putas (6) Gilman (7) and Kass; Calhoon, Fink (3) and Salinas.
Highlights: Chris Walker (NV) 2-4; Jake Frazier (NV) 2-3, RBI; Brayden Delp (Z) 1-2, 2b, RBI.

Game 2

Naches Valley 640 21 — 13 7 1
Zillah 001 01 — 2 3 4
Walker, K. Johns (4) and Wells; Messmore, Ziegler (2) and Salinas.
Highlights: Cody Johns (NV) 2-2, RBI; Carson Kass (NV) 2-3, 2b, 3b, 5 RBI.

CLE ELUM 13-13, GRANGER 2-9: At Cle Elum, Cody Nelson had five RBI in the opener, while Andrew Darling had a two-run double in the second game to lead the Warriors to the sweep. Darling also had a home run in the first game.

Game 1

Granger 000 20 — 2 1 8
Cle Elum 035 5x — 13 10 2
Oswalt and Mendoza; Wagsholm, Peppin (5) and Wolfe.
Highlights: Cooper Filleau (CE) 2b, Andrew Darling (CE) HR, 3 RBI; RJ Adams (CE) 3b, Cody Nelson (CE) 5 RBI.

Game 2

Granger 040 230 0 — 9 6 10
Cle Elum 435 001 x — 13 12 4
Mendoza and Equihua; Cameron, Filleau (3), Allen (5) and Wolfe.
Highlights: Mendoza (G) HR, Oswalt (G) 2b; Darling (CE) 2-run 2b.

CBBN 4A

RICHLAND 8-13, DAVIS 7-3: At Richland, in the opener, Jarrod Turner led of the bottom of the seventh with a solo homer, and Richland took advantage of five Davis errors in the second game to earn the sweep.

For Davis, Jens Jensen had a three-run homer and Markus McClurken a two-run double in the opener, and Josh White Elk drove in two runs in the second game.

The Pirates (6-6, 11-9) will take the No. 3 seed to district and play the No. 6 seed in a loser-out game Tuesday at Richland.

Game 1

Davis 060 010 0 — 7 10 3
Richland 130 210 1 — 8 9 1
Mottey, Sanders (3), Klingele (6) and White Elk; Hilty, Hall (5) and Turner.
Highlights: Jens Jensen (D) 3-run HR; Markus McClurken (D) 2-run 2b; Levonte Allen (D) 2-3, 2 runs; Carlos Vijarro (D) 2-4, run; Jarrod Turner (R) solo HR in 7th.

Game 2

Davis 000 03 — 3 4 5
Richland 004 81 — 13 16 3
Alexander, White Elk (4), Vijarro (5) and White Elk, Alexander (4); Rapacz and Turner.
Highlights: Jackson Marquis (D) 2-3, 3b; McClurken (D) 2b; Josh White Elk (D) 1-3, 2 RBI.

CBBN 3A

KENNEWICK 6-8, WEST VALLEY 2-1: At Kennewick, Trek Stemp led the Lions with four RBI in the first game, while Rylan Darby and Troy Fulton each had an RBI in the second game to complete the sweep.

Jacob Nell had a home run for West Valley in the opener and a double in the second game. Steven Wagar had an RBI double in the second game for the Rams (3-9, 9-9).

Game 1

West Valley 110 000 0 — 2 4 1
Kennewick 003 021 x — 6 8 1
Hinton and LaRiviere; Westermeyer and Wilz.
Highlights: Jacob Nell (WV) HR; Trek Stemp (K) 2-4, 2b, HR, 4 RBI.

Game 2

West Valley 000 001 0 — 1 4 1
Kennewick 320 102 x — 8 8 1
Wagar and La Riviere; Pleu, Murillo (7) and Wilz.
Highlights: Steven Wagar (WV) RBI 2b; Jacob Nell (WV) 2b; Rylan Darby (K) 2-3 RBI, run; Troy Fulton (K) 2-3, RBI, run.

SOUTHRIDGE 16-40, SUNNYSIDE 0-0: At Southridge, Chad Bettinson pitched a no-hitter for the Suns in the first game as second-ranked Southridge remained unbeaten in league.

Game 1

Sunnyside 000 00 — 0 0 2
Southridge 690 01 — 16 9 0
Serl and Sandoval; Chad Bettinson and Can, Torres.

Game 2

Sunnyside 000 00 — 0 2 4
Southridge 83(16) (13)0 — 40 35 0
Lee and Sarmiento; Neville and Sanders.

Fastpitch: West Valley takes two from Lions

YAKIMA, Wash. — Senior Tiffany Catron belted two home runs and had five RBI in the first game to spark West Valley to a 15-4, 17-8 sweep over Kennewick in a CBBN 3A fastpitch doubleheader on Friday.

Kaity Ross was 6 for 8 for the day with five runs and five RBI, including a two-run home run in the second game. The third-place Rams (7-3, 9-7) will host Kamiakin on Tuesday and then conclude league play at Sunnyside on Friday.

Game 1

Kennewick 112 000 — 4 7 3
West Valley 320 352 — 15 11 4
Hendrix, DeHart (2) and Shiflet; Kivi and Wetzel.
Highlights: Tiffany Catron (WV) 3-4, 3 runs, 2 HR, 5 RBI; Nicole Schultz (WV) 1-1, 4 runs, sb; Kaity Ross (WV) 3-4, 2 runs, 3 RBI; Whitney Biehl (WV) 1-2, 2b, RBI; Sarah Mannin (WV) 1-1, HR, 4 RBI.

Game 2

Kennewick 000 701 0 — 8 11 7
West Valley 261 503 x — 17 17 4
Clark, Hendrix (2), DeHart (4) and Shiflet; Kivi and Wetzel.
Highlights: Schultz (WV) 2-4, 3b, sb, 2 runs, 3 RBI; Ross (WV) 3-4, 3 runs, 2-run HR; Shae Sunwold (WV) 3-3, 4 runs, sb, 3 RBI; Makenzie McFeeley (WV) 1-3, 2 RBI; Catron (WV) 2-5, 2 runs; Megan Wetzel (WV) 2-4; Mannin (WV) 1-2, 2b, run; Hannah Souers (WV) 1-4, RBI.

CBBN 4A

MOSES LAKE 11-4, EISENHOWER 0-6: At Kiwanis Park, Josee Saldua’s three-run triple in the fourth inning lifted the Cadets to victory in the second game.

Hannah Rumbolz, Gracie Hernandez and Saldua each finished 3 for 4 in the win for the Cadets (4-8, 8-12), who have a bye in the first round of league play and await a district first-round game on May 12.

Game 1

Moses Lake 210 600 2 — 11 10 1
Eisenhower 000 000 0 — 0 7 4
Valaethem and Radach; Rumbolz, Watkins (4) and Saldua.
Highlights: Gracie Hernandez (E) 2-3; Anissa Araiza (E) 2-3.

Game 2

Moses Lake 220 000 0 — 4 10 2
Eisenhower 110 400 x — 6 13 2
Valaethem and Radach; Watkins, Rumbolz (5) and Hernandez.
Highlights: Hannah Rumbolz (E) 3-4, 2 runs; Hernandez (E) 3-4, run, 2 RBI; Josee Saldua (E) 3-4, 2b, 3-run 3b; Faradeh Rehfield (E) 2-3, RBI.

CWAC

PROSSER 7-14, QUINCY 1-3: At Quincy, Kenzie Koch was 3 for 3 with four runs scored and an RBI triple in the opener, and then added a pair of two-run homers in the second game, and Amanda Rodriguez drove in two runs in each game for Prosser (8-6 league, 10-6 overall).

Game 1

Prosser 301 010 2 — 7 10 3
Quincy 000 000 1 — 1 11 3
Meza and Alefteras; Zamarron and Fregoso.
Highlights: Kenzie Koch (P) 3-3, 3b, 4 runs, RBI, 2 sb; Amanda Rodriguez (P) 2 RBI; Lauren Ledesma (P) 2-3, 2 RBI; Gabby Meza (P) 5 Ks.

Game 2

Prosser 401 243 — 14 18 2
Quincy 000 300 — 3 7 1
Meza and Alefteras; Zamarron and Fregoso.
Highlights: Elle Ferry (P) 5-5, 3 runs; Koch (P) 2 2-run HR; Rodriguez (P) 3-3, 2-run 2b; Hanna Beckwith (P) 4-4, 3 RBI.

SCAC

CLE ELUM 20-25, GRANGER 0-0: At Cle Elum, Laura Potts had two homers, both in the second game, three doubles and seven RBI for the day, and she threw a no-hitter with nine strikeouts in the second game to key the sweep for Cle Elum (6-0 league, 7-5 overall).

Hailey Bator threw a one-hitter with 11 strikeouts, and Carlee Creager was 3 for 4 with four RBI in the opener for the Warriors.

Game 1

Granger 000 00 — 0 1 7
Cle Elum 10(16) 3x — 20 9 0
Oswalt and Caballero; Bator and Morehouse.
Highlights: Carlee Creager (CE) 3-4, 2 2b, 4 RBI; Laura Potts (CE) 2 2b, 4 RBI; Danielle Sweigard (CE) 2-run 2b; Hailey Bator (CE) 11 Ks.

Game 2

Granger 000 00 — 0 0 7
Cle Elum 3(11)8 3x — 25 17 0
Salgado and Caballero; Potts and Morehouse.
Highlights: Potts (CE) 9 Ks, 5-5, 2 HR, 2b, 3 RBI; Ashley Morehouse (CE) 2b, 3b, 3 RBI; Lindsey Vertefvuille (CE) 2-run 2b.

Local report: YVCC fastpitch sweeps

YAKIMA, Wash. — Pitching and defense were in abundance for Yakima Valley Community College’s fastpitch team on Friday.

Hannah Kranz pitched a one-hitter in the opener, Monica Stout followed with six shutout innings in the second game and the Yaks didn’t commit an error in an 8-0, 6-1 sweep over Blue Mountain in an East Region doubleheader at Dunbar Field.

Kranz and Stout did not walk a batter over 12 innings.

Sarah Moquin was 4 for 6 for the day with three runs, and Samantha Boelter 4 for 7 with three RBI.

YVCC (7-13, 17-18-1) hosts Treasure Valley today starting at noon.

Game 1

Blue Mountain 000 00 — 0 1 2
Yakima Valley 500 3x — 8 9 0
Bennett and Weber; Kranz and Ganuelas.
YV highlights: Hannah Kranz 1-hitter, 5 K, 0 BB, 1-2, run, 2 RBI; Sarah Moquin 2-2, 2 runs, sb; Danielle Porter 1-3, run, RBI, 2b; Samantha Boelter 2-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI, 2b; Tori Slobig 1-3, run, 2 RBI; Hannah Hester 1-3; Chelsey Ganuelas 1-2, RBI.

Game 2

Blue Mountain 100 000 0 — 1 6 5
Yakima Valley 100 104 x — 6 9 0
Gregorson and Weber; Stout and Kely.
YV highlights: Monica Stout 3 K, 0 BB, 1-2, RBI; Moquin 2-4, run, 2b; Porter 1-4, run, 2 RBI, 2b; Boelter 2-4, RBI; Hester 1-3, run; Ganuelas 1-1, run; Rachel Aimone 1-3, run, RBI.

PREP TENNIS

Davis teams reach semis

SPOKANE, Wash. — Davis’ girls doubles team of Erica and Megumi DeMond, and the mixed doubles team of Ben Chang and Hannah Besso both reached today’s semifinals in their respective divisions in the Inland Empire tennis tournament.

The DeMonds, twin sisters, won three times in girls No. 1 doubles, with Chang and Besso advancing to the semifinals in No. 1 mixed doubles.

Davis’ Alexa Farley reached today’s consolation semifinals in girls No. 2 singles.

FRIDAY’S RESULTS
Davis results

Boys No. 1 doubles: Martin Roger-Reyes-William Coleman (D) d. Alex Ruiz-Alex Farnsworth (West Valley-Spokane) 8-1; Roger-Reyes-Coleman lost to Clint Vidano-Nick Mandelis (Wenatchee) 8-1 (Roger-Reyes-Coleman eliminated).

Boys No. 2 doubles: Seth Dufault-Jose Mesa (D) won by default in first round; Dufault-Mesa (D) lost to Nick Colby-Zach Fisher (Richland) 8-3; Dufault-Mesa (D) lost to Nathan Furbeyre-Peter Worrall (St. George’s) 8-7 (Dufault-Mesa eliminated).

Girls No. 1 singles: Catherine Maier (D) d. Allison Phillips (East Valley-Spokane) 8-3; Maier (D) lost to Stephanie Buckingham (Kennewick) 8-1 (Maier eliminated).

Girls No. 2 singles: Alexa Farley (D) lost to Brooke Riddle (Freeman) 8-7; Farley (D) d. Olivia Hagel (Medical Lake) 8-6; Farley (D) won by default in consolation quarterfinals (Farley advances to today’s consolation semifinals).

Girls No. 1 doubles: Erica DeMond-Megumi DeMond (D) d. Jessica Homesley-Courtney Kunjara (Moses Lake) 6-2, 6-2; E. DeMond-M. DeMond (D) d. Sofia Morrison-Priscilla Cancado (Southridge) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4; E. DeMond-M. DeMond d. Athena Bourbor-Sierra Keener (Colville) 6-3, 6-1 (E. DeMond-M. DeMond in today’s semifinals).

No. 1 mixed doubles: Ben Chang-Hannah Besso (D) d. Macey Haddorff-Adam Sedgwick (Post Falls) 8-2; Chang-Besso (D) d. Chelsea Montenguise-Nick Sweeney (EV-S) 8-0; Chang-Besso (D) d. Sarah Letsch-Michael Leech (Shadle Park) 6-0, 6-0 (Chang-Besso in today’s semfinals).

No. 2 mixed doubles: Sandia Kim-Kyle Miller (D) d. team from Lake City 8-2; Kim-Miller (D) d. Bethany Vargas-Andrew Logan (Othello) 8-5; Kim-Miller lost to Sam Block-Tate Murphy (Central Valley) 6-0, 6-0 (Kim-Miller eliminated).

CBBN 4A
Thursday’s results
Walla Walla boys 7, Eisenhower 0

Singles: Cam Davis (WW) d. Logan Patterson 6-0, 6-2; Blake Rowley (WW) d. Jordon Chen 6-1, 6-1; Kevin Leier (WW) d. Oscar Martinez 6-0, 6-0; Jack Crouter (WW) d. Angel Lara 6-0, 6-0.

Doubles: Ruben Kuznetson-Drew Swenson (WW) d. Kyle Linker-Carlos Martinez 7-5, 6-0; Josh Kuznetson-James Tupper (WW) d. Felipe Monter-Cristian Velasco 6-1, 6-2; John Meliah-Brendan McKinney (WW) d. Martin Guillen-Austin Briggs 6-0, 6-1.

Eisenhower girls 4, Walla Walla 3

Singles: Claire Bohoskey (E) d. Tianna Cummings 7-5, 4-6, 6-3; Claire Konen (WW) d. Ali Sellstead 6-2, 7-6; Kacie Cross (E) d. Rachel Schueller 6-2, 6-1; Tori Klein (E) d. Mary Felt 6-3, 6-1.

Doubles: Kristine Leier-Chantel Desjarlais (WW) d. Sarah Lopez-Sophia Pedemonte 6-0, 6-4; Ashley Steffens-Nikki Samano (E) d. Allison Mehn-Rosa Tobin 7-6, 6-4; Jaime Quaresma-Mari Arceo (WW) d. Maritza Alejo-Rachel Lopez 6-3, 7-5.

MEETINGS

QB Club luncheon Monday

YAKIMA, Wash. — The Yakima Monday Morning Quarterback Club will hold its monthly luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Monday at the Clarion Hotel, 1507 North First Street.

Lunch service will be available, and the public is invited.

4/29/11 Prep Insider video and trivia quiz

Yakima’s Kevin Lamb correctly answered Selah as the area school with the most trips to the baseball state semifinals. The Vikings have been to the state semis 11 times, the same number as Naches Valley.

Lamb wins a $10 gift card to the Second Street Grill in downtown Yakima.

This week’s question

What was the last Yakima Valley team to win a softball state championship? Hint: The question says softball, not necessarily fastpitch.

QUIZ HAS EXPIRED. THANKS FOR PLAYING.

Baseball coaches: Like father, like son

Second-generation coaches following in winning footsteps ||

YAKIMA, Wash. — Having taken nine teams to the state’s final four, Selah baseball coach Mike Archer has built a program beyond reproach. Except to one uninhibited member of his staff.

His father, Bob.

“He has no problem blasting me from time to time,” says Mike, who took over his father’s program in 1996. “When it comes to expressing his opinion, I guarantee he’ll let it fly.”

Dads can get away with that. Especially dads with heavy resumes.

Mike Archer takes it like a good son should, respectfully and with a firm spine. So does Naches Valley’s Bill Walker and so does East Valley’s Jesse Benedetti.

They give it right back, too. And what a grand feeling that is to share.

Selah, East Valley and Naches Valley are poised at the top of their leagues, among the elite in the state baseball poll and geared up for yet another deep postseason run.

And underscoring the records and rankings that bind these powerhouse programs is that Archer, Walker and Benedetti — all teachers educated at Central Washington University — have enormously successful fathers who helped form and direct the lofty accomplishments for their sons.

“My dad is always asking what my reasoning is behind things,” said Bill Walker, whose father, also Bill, won over 500 games at Connell and is a member of the Washington state coaches Hall of Fame. “He always wants me paying attention to details and when he thinks I missed something, I hear about it.”

Benedetti gets Hall of Fame input from his family, too, having watched his dad, George, get inducted last year. Like the Archers, East Valley’s program was handed father-to-son in 2002.

“My dad was a business teacher who coached middle school basketball and high school baseball. Before I knew it, I was doing the same thing and wondering, wow, when did I become my father?” Benedetti said with a humor well-known in George. “I needed some more time for my family so I dropped the basketball, but really it was just to break the cycle.”

Within each of these programs is an ingrained confidence — both in what’s being done and the style of its execution — that only a legacy could build.

And it’s there for all to see.

Spanning the Arch

Bob Archer’s coaching career included as much football as baseball, giving him a broad experience that Mike absorbed along the way.

Baseball was Bob’s first love, though, and in 1990 and 1994 he steered the Vikings to state runner-up finishes in Class AA. That’s quite a standard to leave your young son, but Mike had already coached 1,000 summer games with the Yakima Valley Pepsi Pak so the transition was fairly smooth.

There’s one overriding link between their programs and it would surprise no one.

“My dad always had a good old-school philosophy when it comes to hard work and fundamentals,” Mike says. “There was always a mental toughness with doing something right, and we’ll do it over and over until we get it right. When you do that, the expectation isn’t built around winning as much as playing the best you can. The wins and losses take care of themselves.”

Mike also holds closely his father’s lessons on competing. Even against a team with superior physical talent, there is always something you can find to exploit, some way to beat that team.

And that’s one of the reasons Bob has always been on Mike’s staff at Selah, which also includes Mike’s brother, Rob. Egos don’t get in the way here.

“He has so much wisdom dealing with all sorts of situations,” explains Mike, a 1979 Selah grad. “There’s so much experience to draw upon, and often a perspective no one else has. So it’s comfortable for us together, but it’s not like we just sit around talking baseball. He’s extremely competitive and we have our share of heated discussions.”

The results speak for themselves: Mike’s 16 seasons have produced 331 wins and a clutter of state trophies. The Vikings are currently ranked second with a 17-1 record in Class 2A.

Practice makes perfect

Jesse Benedetti got an in-depth look at the Archer style, playing for the Pak and coaching the Juniors team two seasons. Much of the work ethic and attention to details were affirmations of what he’d learned from his father.

“My dad is an infield guru, and he also loves coaching hitters,” Jesse says of George, who is an assistant for Pete Orgill at Davis. “He loves practice — he’d hold five-hour practices if he could. If he had a choice between a game and practice he’d probably pick practice. He loves to work, work, work.”

George put in 13 years at West Valley, leading the Rams to state trophies in 1977 and 1979, and after an eight-year hitch as Bob Garretson’s assistant at Yakima Valley he took the job at East Valley.

Three solid seasons later George stepped aside and the job was Jesse’s.

“His goal was to get things turned around and he did that,” recalls Jesse, who assisted during those three years. “I think he was afraid if I jumped right in I might be eaten alive by parents or something. In my first season we had freshmen at shortstop and second base and I was thinking, ‘Thanks, dad.’”

Except that season East Valley reached the state playoffs for the first time in 17 years.

In his 10th season now, Jesse’s Red Devils are 15-3, ranked sixth and tied for first in the CWAC after splitting his league series with Archer’s Vikings.

In all the years prior to Jesse’s arrival, East Valley had been to state three times. In his 10 years, EV has made it six times.

Those credentials get Jesse busy talking about staff, team, school and community. In all that there’s a balance to be found between nose-to-the-grindstone work and having the time of your life.

That came from George.

“My dad has such an infectious personality — so generous with his time and a lot of fun to share a laugh with,” Jesse says. “But he’s intense about teaching and coaching. One minute he’s giving you the personality, the next minute he’s dropping the hammer. He’s so good at both.”

Following a legend

Let’s face it: When your dad puts up 538 career wins, maybe you should pick another line of work.

Not Bill Walker.

He not only pursued coaching baseball but stayed in his dad’s league. After two seasons as head coach at Cle Elum, Walker came to Naches Valley as an assistant and then took over in 1997.

Now those 538 wins don’t look so daunting.

“My dad’s last year was 2004 (in Connell) and he says it was because I was getting too close,” says Bill, who trailed his father in head-to-head games 16-14. “It was time to get out.”

Those games were obviously a source of family pride, but nobody was pulling punches either. Bill’s first win against his dad came when he got a suicide squeeze to trigger the 10-run rule.

Ouch.

“Hey, it was my first opportunity to beat him and I didn’t want to miss it,” Bill smiles. “He put a whippin’ on us in the second game, though. Plus, when he got his 500th win it was against us. I still hear about that.”

Walker is now over halfway to reaching his dad’s remarkable number, which ranks fourth in state history. His Rangers have reached the state’s final four in each of the last four years, including winning the 2009 title in Class 1A, and are currently ranked second with a 15-1 record.

Since moving into the SCAC West in 2007, Naches Valley is 54-0.

“My dad’s teams were always known for productive hitting and scoring a lot of runs, and we’ve tried to put pressure on teams the same way,” Bill says. “I’ve been fortunate to see both sides of that.”

Meaning that Bill also benefited from working with another Hall of Famer, former NV coach Del Cruzen, who much preferred a 1-0 game and led the Rangers to a state title in 1991.

“My dad obviously had plenty of success, and he enjoys a very aggressive way of playing,” Bill points out. “But with Del, I learned a lot about pitching and defense and ways to win a one-run game. I got the best of both perspectives.”

Another generation

After nurturing and mentoring their son’s baseball lives, each of these dads has been able to sit back and enjoying watching their grandsons play the game.

Brooks Archer was a standout infielder and MVP of the CWAC in 2007 when Selah was the 2A state runner-up and he’s now coaching in the Pak’s junior program.

Chris Walker is a senior leader this season for Naches Valley with a freshman brother in the program. Chris was a sophomore when NV won its ’09 state title, and Bill played for his dad in 1984 when Connell won the title.

Jesse Benedetti is the youngster in this trio, but his son will be a freshman at East Valley next season.

“I don’t think my dad has missed a game yet this season,” says Walker, whose father still lives in Connell. “He loves keeping up on the grandkids. And I’m sure he likes to keep an eye on me to see if I’m messing anything up.”

In these families, hardly.

Preps: Molina, Escalera lift Devils

GRANDVIEW, Wash. — Goals by Jonathan Molina and Alex Escalera within a minute of each other in the second half enabled East Valley to hold off Grandview for a 3-2 victory in CWAC boys soccer on Thursday.

Escalera also had an assist for the Red Devils (10-3-1), who moved into a second-place tie with Ellensburg at 5-2 league.

First half: No scoring.
Second half: 1, East Valley, Tyler Thorndike (Alex Escalera), 43:00; 2, Grandview, Alex Guzman, 51:00; 3, East Valley, Jonathan Molina (Christian Molina), 72:00; 4, East Valley, Escalera, 73:00; 5, Grandview, Jesus Silva (PK), 78:00.
Saves: Juan Alvarez (EV) 2; Jose Rodriguez (G) 8.

PROSSER 2, WAPATO 1: At Prosser, the Mustangs rallied with two second-half goals by Gustavo Madrigal and Martin Rodriguez. The Mustangs who edged ahead of Wapato into fifth place, visit East Valley on Saturday.

First half: 1. Wapato, Fredy Rodriguez, 20:00.
Second half: 2. Prosser, Gustavo Madrigal, 53:00; 3. Prosser, Martin Rodriguez, 70:00.
Saves: Not available.

OTHELLO 3, SELAH 2: At Othello, Jorge Campos assisted on all three of Othello’s goals, including two in a one-minute span in the second half to rally the Huskies from a 2-1 halftime deficit.

First half: 1, Othello, Carlos Ramos (Jorge Campos), 20:00; 2, Selah, Rafael Sanchez, 21:00; 3, Selah, Eliseo Montiel, 40:00.
Second half: 4, Oth, Ivan Lopez (Campos), 48:00; 5, Oth, Ociel Romero (Campos), 49:00.
Saves: Avery Miller (S) 7, Martel Salcedo (O) 10.

SCAC

HIGHLAND 3, GRANGER 1: At Granger, the Scotties improved their fourth-place record to 7-5. Goal scorers were unavailable. Jovany Andrade scored for Granger in the second half.

BASEBALL

Goldendale sweeps La Salle

GOLDENDALE, Wash. — Lucas Denney hit a pair of two-run homers and drove in five runs in the opener, and J.D. Moss drove in four runs, and Reed Lindhe homered and drove in three in the second game as Goldendale swept La Salle 20-1, 14-2 in SCAC West play on Thursday.

Goldendale (10-0, 15-3) will be at second-ranked Naches Valley for a doubleheader next Tuesday.

Game 1

La Salle 001 00 — 1 2 5
Goldendale 2(10)3 5x — 20 16 1
Rodriguez, Brusic (3) and Bonneville; Cronin, Briseno (3), Milliren (5) and Denney.
Highlights: Sam Glazier (L) 1-3, RBI; Lucas Denney (G) 3-3, 2 HR, 5 RBI; Reed Lindhe (G) 2-3; J.D. Moss (G) 2-4, 3 RBI; Ethan Emstad (G) 2-2.

Game 2

La Salle 001 01 — 2 3 4
Goldendale 434 3x — 14 12 0
Stewart and Bonneville; Lindhe, Bare (4) and Gaston.
Highlights: Aaron Stewart (L) 2b; Dan Brusic (L) solo HR; Lindhe (G) 2-3, 2b, 2-run HR, 3 RBI; J.D. Moss (G) 2-3, 2 2b, 4 RBI; Lucas Denney (G) 2-3, 2-run 2b; Jose Briseno (G) 2-2, 3 runs; Wade Gaston (G) 2-3.

FASTPITCH

Goldendale takes 2 from Lightning

GOLDENDALE, Wash. — Taylor Swift was 4 for 5 with three runs and eight RBI for the day, and Karissa Ihrig added four runs and five RBI in powering Goldendale to the 14-3, 18-0 sweep of La Salle in a SCAC fastpitch doubleheader Saturday.

Game 1

La Salle 010 02 — 3 3 4
Goldendale 451 4x — 14 13 3
Sattler and Saxton; Hoffman and Kartes, Laulile (5).
Highlights: Breanna Rosencrance (L) 1-2, run, RBI; Daria Cooper (L) 1-2, run; Melissa Manjarrez (L) run; Taylor Swift (G) 2-3, 2b, run, 4 RBI; Crysta Counts (G) 2-4, 2b, 3b, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Taylor Gaston (G) 2-3, 4 runs, RBI; Haley Hoffman (G) 2-3, 2 runs, RBI; Karissa Ihrig (G) 2-4, run, 3 RBI.

Game 2

La Salle 000 00 — 0 3 4
Goldendale 12(10) 5 — 18 9 1
Rosencrance, Sattler (4) and Saxton; Counts and Kartes, Laulile (5).
Highlights: Rosencrance (L) 3b; Crysta Counts (G) 3-4, 2b, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Taylor Swift (G) 2-2, 2 runs, 4 RBI; Karissa Ihrig (G) 2 runs, 3 RBI; Taylor Gaston (G) 2 runs, RBI; Johna Kartes (G) 1-2, 3 runs, 2 RBI.

TRACK AND FIELD
CBBN 4A
AT MOSES LAKE
BOYS

Team scores: Eisenhower 98, Chiawana 47; Chiawana 87, Moses Lake 54.

Eisenhower highlights

100: 1, Dimitri Mandapat 11.42. 200: 1, Mandapat 22.97; 2, Mike Esparza 23.75. 400: 1, Drew Schreiber 52.23 (school freshman record). 800: 1, Timothy Cummings 1:59.22; 2, Santos Vargas 2:05.09. 1600: 1, Vargas 4:38.69; 2, Jaziel Rodriguez 4:38.70. 3200: 1, Kyle Chapman 10:57.50. 300: 1, Michael Sadaddin 44.33. 4×100: 1, Eisenhower (Hino, Schreiber, Esparza, Mandapat) 44.55. 4×400: 1, Eisenhower (Schreiber, Urlacher, Mora, Troianello) 3:42.96.

Jav: 1, Jason Easter 163-11. HJ: 1, Tanner Urlacher 5-8. PV: 1, Jacob Hino 13-0; 2, Joseph Keeton 12-6.

GIRLS

Team scores: Eisenhower 86, Chiawana 64; Chiawana 93, Moses Lake 56.

Eisenhower highlights

400: 2, Rachel Freeman 1:03.50. 800: 1, Mayra Chavez 2:36.73. 1600: 1, Berenice Penaloza 5:45.99. 3200: 1, Chavez 11:31.91; 2, Elise Tello 12:18.56. 300H: 1, Katherine Bravo 47.55. 4×400: 1, Eisenhower (Freeman, Tello, Penaloza, Bravo) 4:24.86.

Shot: 1, Ewieona Williams 36-91/2. Disc: 1, Williams 113-5; 2, Carrie Johnston 108-11. Jav: 2, Brooke Brown 116-7. PV: 1, Maria Suarez 9-0; 2, Cicily Wilson 8-6.

AT RICHLAND

Teams: Wenatchee, Richland, Walla Walla, Davis.

BOYS

Davis highlights — 200: 3, Austin Wagner 23.17. 800: 4, Alberto Melchor 2:01.25. 1600: 4, Melchor 4:23.06. 300H: 5, Austin Lynn 42.14. 4×400: 3, Davis 3:38.98. PV: 1, Marcus Schooley 14-0.

GIRLS

Davis highlights — 100: 3, Tracey Bautista 12.97. 1600: 4, Kaitlin Kaluzny 5:22.16. 4×100: 3, Davis 52.04.

CBBN 3A
AT WEST VALLEY
BOYS

Team scores: Southridge 94, West Valley 50; Kamiakin 111, West Valley 34.

West Valley highlights — 300H: 1, Jeremy Oram 42.49. 4×400: 2, West Valley 3:41.80. Disc: 1, Ryan Clark 125-8. LJ: 1, Justin Ferrari 19-71/2. TJ: 1, Kevin Blair 39-2. PV: 2, Zane Irvine 12-0.

GIRLS

Team scores: Southridge 106, West Valley 34; Kamiakin 116, West Valley 29.

West Valley highlights — 100: 1, Chantel Jaeger 12.75. 200: 1, Jaeger 25.76. 800: 3, Jaden Gjestrum 2:28.46. Disc: 1, Emily Murphy 87-9.

AT SUNNYSIDE

Teams: Eastmont, Pasco, Sunnyside.

BOYS
Sunnyside highlights

100: 1, Jorge Ramirez 11.72. 200: 2, Ramirez 23.82. 1600: 1, Juan Reynoso 4:47.62; 2, Nathan Gonzalez 4:48.56. 3200: 2, Gonzalez 10:27.36. 300H: 2, Ramirez 42.58. 4×100: 2, Sunnyside 46.71. 4×400: 2, Sunnyside 3:44.26. Jav: 1, Eric Amaro 167-7; 2, Miguel Guzman 156-11. TJ: 1, Eduardo Salmeron 40-3; 2, Sergio Lugo 39-6. PV: 3, Ryan Rice 12-0.

GIRLS
Sunnyside highlights

100: 1, Marisa Broersma 13.71. 200: 1, Broersma 28.65. 400: 1, Broersma 1:04.20. 1600: 2, Celia Vargas 5:47.15. 300H: 1, Brittney Broersma 54.03. 4×100: 2, Sunnyside 54.26. 4×200: Sunnyside 2:05.74. 4×400: 2, Sunnyside 4:33.55. Jav: 1, Mellissa Amaro 97-6. HJ: 1, Kendall Platsman 4-10. PV: 3, Geordan Skyles 8-0.

CWAC
AT EAST VALLEY

Teams: Ellensburg, Wapato, East Valley, Grandview.

BOYS

100: Sungyoung Lee (Ell) 11.12. 200: Lee (Ell) 23.06. 400: Ignacio Ibarra (W) 53.49. 800: Jeffrey Ott (Ell) 2:03.36. 1600: Zach Walker (Ell). 3200: Ott (Ell) 10:20.46. 110H: Jaime De La Torre (W) 17.20. 300H: Roberto Martinez (EV) 44.14. 4×100: East Valley (Godfrey, Martinez, Olivas, Reyna) 45.79. 4×400: Ellensburg (McClary, Walker, Carolan, Lee) 3:39.99.

Shot: James Shumate (W) 45-6. Disc: Felipe Rangel (W) 137-10. Jav: Jacobe Valenzuela (EV) 146-4. HJ: Cody Allen Russell (Ell) 5-10. LJ: Matt Bennett (Ell) 19-6. TJ: Valenzuela (EV) 39-21/2. PV: Josh McClary (Ell) 12-0.

GIRLS

100: Shannon Bland (Ell) 13.00. 200: McKenzie Graf (Ell) 28.58. 400: Graf (Ell) 1:02.97. 800: Tiffany Tate (Ell) 2:32.60. 1600: Yasi Mohsenian (EV) 5:34.80. 3200: Mohsenian (EV) 12:22.90. 100H: Akaisha Charlton (Ell) 16.86. 300H: Leticia Campos (W) 49.41. 4×100: Ellensburg (Graf, Kjelland, Granado, Bland) 52.98. 4×200: Ellensburg (Kjelland, Bramstedt, Montgomery, Hentges) 1:56.97. 4×400: Ellensburg (Tate, Granado, Hall, Stockdale) 4:16.15.

Shot: Kaitlin Quirk (Ell) 33-5. Disc: K. Quirk (Ell) 100-10. Jav: Greta Ehinger (Ell) 104-3. HJ: Carly Quirk (Ell) and Kelcie Russell (Ell) 5-0. LJ: Samantha Herzog (EV) 15-103/4. TJ: Campos (W) 32-0. PV: Guadalupe Martinez (W) 8-0.

AT EPHRATA

Teams: Selah, Toppenish, Ephrata.

BOYS

100: Micah Ohl (E) 11.36. 200: Ohl (E) 22.94. 400: Francisco Villegas (T) 52.29. 800: Steven Monda (E) 1:59.61. 1600: Kyle Charles (E) 4:45.62. 3200: Brad Kahn (S) 10:36.53. 110H: Omar Manzo (T) 16.50. 300H: Josh Hill (E) 44.41. 4×100: Ephrata 43.85. 4×400: Ephrata 3:31.69.

Shot: Ivan Macias (T) 43-11. Disc: Chris Maybee (S) 125-2. Jav: Brad Christensen (E) 157-7. HJ: Cameron Rath (S) 5-8. LJ: Colton Bennett (E) 19-2. TJ: Layton Lange (E) 41-8. PV: Tyler Purcell (E) 12-0.

GIRLS

100: Taylor Wicht (S) 13.26. 200: Amber Reiber (S) 27.72. 400: Taylor Barnes (E) 1:05.03. 800: Hannah Gunderson (E) 2:32.86. 1600: Danielle Friend (E) 5:35.07. 3200: Morgan Sisson (E) 13:02.11. 100H: Brittany Harris (E) 17.74. 300H: Erin Monda (E) 52.42. 4×100: Toppenish (Walle, Zuniga, Montiel, Chavez) 50.93. 4×200: Toppenish (Montiel, Guel, Walle, Chavez) 1:53.77. 4×400: Ephrata 4:24.84.

Shot: Abby Smith (E) 35-3. Disc: Rene Belles (E) 94-1. Jav: Kristen McDonnell (E) 108-10. HJ: Michelle Weeks (S) 5-0. LJ: Nikki Pope (E) 15-31/4. TJ: Pope (E) 31-7. PV: Kendahl Hintz (E) 9-6.

AT QUINCY

Teams: Prosser, Othello, Quincy.

BOYS

Prosser winners — 100: Isaac Anderson 11.73. 200: James Wildman 24.34. 4×100: Prosser (Anderson, Wildman, Clark, Burleson) 46.25. Jav: Greg Moore 158-2. HJ: Riley Haringa 5-4. LJ: Colton Burleson 18-10. TJ: Wildman 39-10.

GIRLS

Prosser winners — 100: Marlee Rees 12.73. 200: Becca Niemeyer 27.92. 1600: Rylee Suhadolnik 6:03.96. 300H: Madison Moore 48.24. 4×100: Prosser (Cherry, Childers, Niemeyer, Rees) 51.69. 4×200: Prosser (Cherry, Childers, Niemeyer, Rees) 1:51.40. Shot: Tamara Jones 37-9. LJ: Rees 16-8.

NON-LEAGUE
AT CASHMERE
BOYS

Team scores: Cashmere 198, Riverside Christian 130, Okanogan 48, Cascade 46, Wenatchee JV 44, Eastmont JV 29, White Swan 21.

Local highlights — 100: 1, Derek Byrne (RC) 11.41; 2, Lawrence Fiander (WS) 11.61. 200: 2, Fiander (WS) 23.76. 800: 1, Nate Nobbs (RC) 2:12.61. 1600: 1, Dusty Bender (RC) 4:57.20. 3200: 2, Bender (RC) 10:56.27. 110H: 1, Byrne (RC) 15.66. 300H: 1, Byrne (RC) 40.49. 4×400: 2, RC 3:47.30. Jav: 2, Fernando Valencia (RC) 151-9. LJ: 1, Kyle Gartrell (RC) 20-6. TJ: Gartrell (RC) 40-7. PV: Gartrell (RC) 13-0.

GIRLS

Team scores: Cashmere 171, Okanogan 107, Cascade 103, Wenatchee JV 69, Riverside Christian 56, White Swan 26, Eastmont JV 13.

Local highlights — 300H: 1, Bethany Imperial (RC) 48.49. Disc: 2, Felicia Tilleqouts (WS) 89-2. Jav: 2, Breezy Byrne (RC) 96-9. LJ: 1, Imperial (RC) 16-31/2.

TENNIS
CWAC
Ephrata boys 5, Prosser 0

Singles: Michael Bosner (E) d. Vaunce Solis 6-2, 6-3; Jordan Brzezny (E) d. Rodrigo Bonilla 6-3, 6-0.

Doubles: Connor Sears-Hunter Sears (E) d. Ben Zocher-Brandon Cromar 6-1, 6-0; Thomas Pheasant-Micheal McDonnell (E) d. Brent Keller-Kevin Munck 5-7, 6-3, 6-1; Mauricio Contreras-Calvin Callahan (E) d. Harley Hall-Alex Hurtado 7-5, 2-6, 6-4.

Prosser girls 4, Ephrata 1

Singles: Haily Larson (P) d. Naomi Kooistra 6-0, 6-0; Tabitha Reilly (P) d. Aubrey Denley 6-0, 6-1.

Doubles: Karley Crawford-Helen Petersen (P) d. Kim Beck-Allison Pheasant 6-2, 6-3; Giang Bui-Whitney Miller (E) d. Pamela Serrano-Samantha Reilly 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5); Kasandra Acosta-Kaeli Johnny (P) d. Tiana Schmitz-Tessa Ratigan 6-3, 6-3.

SCAC
Highland boys 3, Goldendale 2

Singles: Colton Wise (H) d. Bobby Koffler 6-0, 6-1; Sam Tuesley (H) d. Brandon Cline 6-2, 6-0.

Doubles: Casey Wilhite-Kurt Wilkins (G) d. Dakota Clark-Anthony Solorio 7-6 (7-1 tiebreaker), 7-6 (9-7 breaker); Reese Gee-Rivard-Kelly Welsh (H) d. Dillion Beierle-Riley Kaufman 6-3, 6-0; Kyle Wilkins-Patrick Golding (G) d. Forrest Seward-Christian Gonzales 6-1, 6-3. Record: Goldendale 3-6 in league.

Goldendale girls 3, Highland 2

Singles: Amanda Stelter (G) d. Karina Angel 6-4, 6-1; Kendall Bloom (G) d. Olivia Newman 6-0, 6-2.

Doubles: Dallas Smith-Kelsey Walker (G) d. Josie Velazquez-Emily Sorenson 6-1, 6-4; Jessica Pellicer-Lisa Sorenson (H) d. Crystal Ball-Madison Holbrook 6-1, 6-3; Kendra Lopez-Taylor Ollie (H) d. Nellie Bilderback-Krista Allen 7-6 (7-1 tiebreaker), 6-4. Record: Goldendale 4-5 in league.

GOLF
Non-League
BOYS
At Leavenworth Golf Club, par 35

Team scores: Cascade 170, La Salle 172, Cle Elum 188

Medalist: Tyler Harrod (Cas) 38

La Salle: Beau Wangler 40, Ty Lighty 44, Steve Stiekema 44, Jack Sutton 44. Cle Elum: Rylee Iocolucci 39, Chase Suker 47, Ryan Selzler 49, Trevor Clifton 53.

GIRLS

Team scores: La Salle 208, Cle Elum 234, Cascade 235

Medalist: Grace Martin (L) 50.

La Salle: Martin 50, Cassie Voelker 52, Clare Moorer 53, Elena Holbrook 53. Cle Elum: Not available.

Prep report: Postseason looms for Davis

YAKIMA, Wash. — With snow still falling, you may not be able to feel May yet. But for high school athletes, it arrives next week — warm sun or not — and along with it comes the postseason.

To be decided first are the district fortunes of Davis’ baseball team, which will have its seeding finalized today with a big doubleheader at 10th-ranked Richland.

The Pirates (6-4, 11-7) sit in third place two games back of Richland, so a sweep today could pull them into second and, with the head-to-head wins over the Bombers, earn them a bye for Tuesday’s loser-out round and homefield for the semifinal to follow later in the day.

Should Davis drop one game today, it would secure the No. 3 seed and prepare to take on the No. 6 team Tuesday in a loser-out game at Richland.

Walla Walla (10-0, 14-4), ranked eighth and already with sweeps over Richland and Davis to its credit, will host the final four teams on Saturday to determine seeding into the CBBN-Spokane sub-regional the following week.

The 4-5-6 seeds are up for grabs heading into today’s finales with Wenatchee, Moses Lake and Chiawana tied at 3-7 and Eisenhower not out of it at 3-9.

Wenatchee finishes with Walla Walla, so nine losses is likely for the Panthers. Moses Lake and Chiawana play each other, so Eisenhower is hoping for a sweep by either one to force a tiebreaker on Saturday.

La Salle’s Newell steps down

Anne Newell, who started La Salle’s girls soccer program from scratch and built it into a state powerhouse, has stepped down, athletic director Jack McMillan said on Thursday.

Talk about some big shoes to fill.

In eight seasons since launching the program in 2003, the Lightning won a state title in 2008 and finished second three times. Newell’s record at La Salle was 140-16-3.

Newell’s daughter, Colleen, was a senior midfielder and captain last season.

Pirates closing in

With two league matches remaining, including a rivalry rematch with Eisenhower on Saturday, Davis’ boys soccer team is in a tight race for the CBBN 4A title.

The Pirates are tied for the lead with Richland at 7-3 and Walla Walla is a game back at 6-4. After taking on Ike, Davis closes out its regular season Tuesday at Moses Lake.

There’s a mad scramble for the four spots in the one-day district tournament on May 7 and the Cadets, at 5-5, are still in the mix in fifth place. Ike must deal with not only Davis, which won the first encounter 2-1, but also a road trip to Walla Walla on Tuesday.

Weighty issues

Start planning on new weight classes for next wrestling season. Not an added class, just a bumping up of some weights.

The National Federation of State High School Associations last week adopted new weight classes for the 2011-2012 season and the WIAA’s Executive Board is expected to sign off on the changes based on support from Washington’s coaches.

Bumping the lightest boys weight class for the first time in 23 years, the 103 class would become 106. In 1988 that class was raised from 98 pounds to 103. Most of the 14 classes would bump a few pounds with four — 145, 152, 160 and 285 — remaining the same.

The current weights are 103, 112, 119, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 152, 160, 171, 189, 215 and 285.

The new weights would be 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 182, 195, 220 and 285.

The 11 girls weight classes will remain the same but the WIAA has indicated that could change pending a survey of girls coaches.

CWAC district set-up

While Selah and East Valley have locked up the CWAC’s first-round byes in next week’s district baseball tournament, Ellensburg and Prosser are also postseason bound heading into Saturday’s league finales.

The question is what seed will they be?

Ellensburg (10-6) and Prosser (9-7) are in fourth and fifth and finish with lower-half teams Saturday. Wednesday’s first-round, loser-out games will have No. 6 at 3 and No. 5 at 4. The tournament then moves to Ellensburg’s Rotary Field on May 7.

• The Bulldogs have been using two freshman catchers this season — Junior Ledgard and Cameron Campbell. Ledgard, who had seven RBI in a game against Grandview, is also a reliever.

• In East Valley’s eight-inning 8-7 win over Selah on Tuesday, 13 of the 15 runs were scored with two outs.

From the note file

Yakima is hosting three regional sites in the state baseball playoffs next month — 4A at Yakima County Stadium, 2A at Davis and 1B at Eisenhower.

• There’s a new rule this season in boys soccer that would disqualify a team from the postseason if it receives three red cards for violent conduct or abusive language. As of Tuesday, Wapato and Gig Harbor had received two such red cards. The Wolves are currently 4-3 in the CWAC in fifth place with two matches left.

• Landon Cray, a junior southpaw for Chimacum’s top-ranked baseball team, struck out 20 of 21 batters in a seven-inning no-hitter against Orting. Cray walked one but picked him off first base.

• Scott Spruill’s prep blog is at sportsyakima.com He can be reached at 577-7686 or sspruill@yakimaherald.com

 

Local report: Billings sweeps CWU fastpitch

BILLINGS, Mont. — Central Washington’s high-flying fastpitch team came back to earth with a thud Thursday.

The Wildcats, who had won 15 straight games to open a two-game lead in the GNAC, saw their winning streak abruptly halted and their conference lead sliced to a half game via a 3-1, 9-8 doubleheader loss to Montana State Billings. The second game took eight innings.

CWU (19-7 conference, 25-13 overall) leads Western Washington (20-9, 32-12), which beat Northwest Nazarene 1-0 Thursday.

The first game saw Wildcats ace Lauren Hadenfeld lose a pitcher’s duel with MSUB’s Amanda Todd, with the Yellowjackets winning on Jenna VanEykeren’s two-out, two-run homer.

Central managed only two hits off Todd, the first of them Kelsey Haupert’s 14th homer of the year in the sixth inning.

CWU went deep four more times in the second game, including another long ball by Haupert, but Billings pounded out 18 hits off Maria Gau and Hadenfeld.

Kaycee Hoffman had four safeties for the Yellowjackets (20-13, 25-20), with the final being a two-out RBI double in the bottom of the eighth that scored VanEykeren with the game-winner.

Game 1

Central 000 001 0 — 1 2 0
MSU Billings 100 000 2 — 3 8 0
Hadenfeld and Carter; Todd and Parsons.
CWU highlights: Kelsey Haupert 1-3, HR, RBI; Liz Jusko 1-3.

Game 2

Central 222 110 00 — 8 13 0
MSU Billings 202 310 01 — 9 18 3
Gau, Hadenfeld (4) and Carter; Parsley, Conder (2) and Parsons.
CWU highlights: Samantha Petrich HR, RBI; Haupert 2-4, HR, 2 RBI; Jusko 2-4; Carrina Wagner 1-3, RBI; Elena Carter 3-4, 2 RBI; Molly Coppinger 3-4, RBI.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Wildcats to scrimmage Saturday

ELLENSBURG — Central Washington’s football team will hold its first spring scrimmage at 9 a.m. Saturday at Tomlinson Stadium.

The Wildcats, preparing for their fourth season under coach Blaine Bennett, will stage their spring game on May 7.

Admission to both events is free, although fans are asked bring items for donation to the FISH Food Bank of Ellensburg.

Bennett said a free football camp for youth in the first through seventh grades will be offered from 9 a.m. to noon on the day of the spring game, which is scheduled for 1 p.m.

4/29/11 Prep spotlights

Hannah Kivi

West Valley fastpitch, junior

The Rams first-year starting pitcher has kept her earned-run average at 2.14 over 751?3 innings in the tough CBBN 3A and has recorded 69 strikeouts.

Eliseo Montiel

Selah soccer, sophomore

Montiel has scored eight goals during Selah’s last four matches, including four against Quincy, and leads the Valley with 19 goals this season.

Logan Olney

Zillah track, senior

Last year’s state runner-up in the 100 and 200, Olney swept the sprints and ran on two winning relays in a pair of SCAC meets and the Lions Club Invitational.

Matt Shuel

Riverside Christian baseball, senior

An all-league outfielder as a junior, Shuel went 10 for 13 with a two-run home run in North Central 2B doubleheaders against Warden and Manson.

 

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