7/30/11 Yakima Bears update
July 30, 2011 by YH-R Sports
Next game
Opponent: Salem-Keizer Volcanoes.
When, where: 7:05 p.m. today, Volcanoes Stadium, Keizer, Ore.
Radio/Internet: KUTI (1460)/yakimabears.com.
Probable pitchers: Yakima RHP Yiomar Camacho (0-0, 0.00) vs. Salem-Keizer RHP Brandon Allen (1-6, 5-65).
Gilmore wins state first-flight crown
July 30, 2011 by YH-R Sports
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — Betty Gilmore captured the First Flight championship, but Nancy Eglin came up short in the Championship Flight as the Washington State Women’s Golf Association State Championship concluded Friday.
Gilmore, from the Yakima Country Club, scored a convincing 5 and 3 victory over Sharon Falkner in the final at Twin Lakes Golf and Country Club.
Eglin, from the Yakima Elks, lost 4 and 3 to Leslie Folsom in their 36-hole final. Folsom is a familiar face to area golfers, having captured the Yakima Country Club’s annual Blossom Invitational title last year and winding up second this year.
Rutter gets ace at Fisher Park
John Rutter recorded his first hole-in-one during a round at Fisher Park Golf Course on Friday. He aced the 126-yard second hole using a 6-iron.
Neal Rutter witnessed the shot.
SOFTBALL
Selah wins twice in tourney
NEWBERG, Ore. — Ashley Wilkey was 5 for 5 with four runs scored for the day, and Sarah Bersing was 5 for 6 with four runs and an RBI in leading Selah to a pair of victories Friday in the U-18 Summer Select softball tournament.
Selah opened play with an 8-6 victory over the Willamette Valley Rebels, and it finished the day with an 18-5 win over the Kent Bulldogs.
Tournament play continues today.
SELAH 8, WILLAMETTE VALLEY REBELS 6. Selah highlights: Ashley Wilkey 3-3, run; Mary Graf 1-3, 2 runs, RBI; Sarah Bersing 2-2, 2 runs, RBI 3b; Bailey Turner 1-2, run; Kylee Morse 2-2, solo HR; Taylor Rath 1-2.
SELAH 18, KENT BULLDOGS 5. Selah highlights: A. Wilkey 2-2, 3 runs; Cheyenne Fletcher 1-3, run 2 RBI; Graf 3-4, 2-run HR, 3 runs, 4 RBI; Bersing 3-4, 2 runs; Turner 2-4, run, RBI 2b; Morse 2-3, 3-run HR, 2 runs, 4 RBI; Rath 2-3; Carly Minnick 2-3; Shelby Wilkey 2-3, 2 runs, RBI; Kari Grow 1-3, run.
7/29 State Legion update
July 29, 2011 by Scott Spruill
AMERICAN LEGION STATE TOURNAMENT
STATE FINALS, July 26-30
At Selah, Carlon Park
Tuesday
Game 1: Spokane Bandits 6, Twin City Titans 4.
Game 2: Bellingham 14, Kennewick Bandits 4.
Game 3: Hanford Flames 12, Spokane Blue Devils 6.
Game 4: Yakima Valley Pepsi Pak 6, Pacific Tech 3.
Wednesday
Game 5: Spokane Blue Devils 11, Twin City Titans 7, loser out.
Game 6: Kennewick Bandits 12, Pacific Tech 10, loser out.
Game 7: Spokane Bandits 7, Hanford Flames 6.
Game 8: Bellingham 11, Yakima Valley Pepsi Pak 3.
Thursday
Game 9: Hanford Flames 12, Kennewick Bandits 6, loser out.
Game 10: Yakima Valley Pepsi Pak 5, Spokane Blue Devils 4, loser out.
Game 11: Bellingham 9, Spokane Bandits 5.
Friday
Game 12: Bellingham (3-0) vs. Hanford Flames (2-1), 3 p.m.
Game 13: Spokane Bandits (2-1) vs. Yakima Valley Pepsi Pak (2-1), loser out, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Games 14-15: Bellingham has clinched a spot. If three teams are left Bellingham gets a bye into the second and deciding game.
REGIONALS, July 20-21
* — qualified for finals
At Bellevue, Bannerwood Park
Game 1: Spokane Blue Devils 10, Kennewick Bandits 5.
Game 2: Lakeside Recovery 12, Cobras Baseball 0.
Game 3: Kennewick Bandits 10, Cobras Baseball 0.
Game 4: *Spokane Blue Devils 3, Lakeside Recovery 2.
Game 5: *Kennewick Bandits 8, Lakeside Recovery 5.
At Chehalis, W.F. West Field
Game 1: Bellingham 6, Hanford Flames 2.
Game 2: Centralia Sobe-Toyota Lizards 10, Spokane Cannons 9.
Game 3: Hanford Flames 16, Spokane Cannons 8.
Game 4: *Bellingham 10, Centralia Sobe-Toyota Lizards 0.
Game 5: *Hanford Flames 8, Centralia Sobe-Toyota Lizards 6.
At Colfax, McDonald Field
Game 1: Pacific Tech 20, Bellevue 10.
Game 2: Twin City Titans 3, Pullman Patriots 0.
Game 3: Pullman Patriots 13, Bellevue 12.
Game 4: *Twin City Titans 11, Pacific Tech 9.
Game 5: *Pacific Tech 16, Pullman Patriots 5.
At Selah, Carlon Park
Game 1: Spokane Bandits 8, Franklin Pierce 2.
Game 2: Yakima Valley Pepsi Pak 9, Skagit Sox 4.
Game 3: Skagit Sox 10, Franklin Pierce 4.
Game 4: *Yakima Valley Pepsi Pak 8, Spokane Bandits 6.
Game 5: *Spokane Bandits 4, Skagit Sox 2.
FINAL LEAGUE STANDINGS
Northwest: Bellingham 13-3, Lakeside Recovery 10-6, Bellevue 8-8, Skagit Sox 8-8, Garfield Senadores 1-15.
Southwest: Poulsbo 13-2, Centralia Sobe-Toyota Lizards 11-4, Pacific Tech 9-6, Franklin Pierce 8-7, Cobras Baseball 2-13, Rainiers 2-13.
Northeast: Spokane Bandits 16-4, Spokane Blue Devils 13-7, Spokane Cannons 13-7, Pullman Patriots 8-12, Spokane Northstars 7-13, Northeast 49ers 3-17.
Central Washington: Twin City Titans 17-3, Kennewick Bandits 15-5, Yakima Valley Pepsi Pak 11-9, Hanford Flames 9-11, Yakima Pepsi Beetles 5-15, Wenatchee Apple Packers 3-17.
Pak pitcher comes through in the clutch
July 29, 2011 by Scott Spruill
Wagar’s big day at bat, on mound lifts Pak to final 4 ||
SELAH, Wash. — For two weeks and through four long games, Steve Wagar tried as hard as he could to make a contribution to the postseason fortunes of the Yakima Valley Pepsi Pak.
And most of the time he came away frustrated, struggling mightily at the plate and getting knocked around in one of his two short-relief appearances.
But on Thursday night, with the Pak’s season on the brink and the elimination collar growing tighter with each inning, Wagar came through huge.
Twice.
Yakima Valley Pepsi Pak's Steve Wagar celebrates after his home run in the second inning against the Spokane Blue Devils Thursday, July 28, 2011. (Andy Sawyer/Yakima Herald-Republic)
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The 6-foot-4 West Valley grad not only broke out of a recent slump with an early two-run home run, but he pitched a tough-as-nails complete game to lift Yakima Valley to a 5-4 victory over the Spokane Blue Devils in the Senior Legion state tournament at Carlon Park.
“That was real nice,” Wagar said after getting the final out when Spokane had the tying run at third in the bottom of the ninth inning. “We’re a team that grinds out wins and that’s what we did. Sometimes we got frustrated but we picked each other up and got it done.”
With the Kennewick Bandits and Spokane Blue Devils eliminated Thursday, the Pak has reached the final four for the fifth year in a row and will face the Spokane Bandits in another loser-out game today at 7 p.m.
Bellingham, the tournament’s lone unbeaten team, will play the Hanford Flames at 3 p.m.
Yakima Valley stayed alive by putting up three quick runs in the second inning and then holding off two rallies by Spokane, which pulled within 3-2 in the fourth and 5-4 in the seventh.
Wagar struck out five, walked only one and let his infield do most of the work. Shortstop Michael Wyatt was especially sharp with seven putouts and second baseman Tyler Gallaway had five.
Wyatt was glad to be busy.
“I made a couple errors yesterday (in a loss to Bellingham) and I wasn’t happy about that at all,” said Wyatt, who also had a triple, stolen base and run. “Today I just had to forget about that and focus on my job. Getting over those mistakes worked because I felt real confident tonight.”
To Yakima Valley’s credit, frustration didn’t take hold when two golden middle-inning opportunities were missed while clinging to a 3-2 lead. Wyatt’s triple came with one out in the fifth but he was stranded, and the Pak didn’t get anything after loading the bases with no outs in the sixth.
But the breakthrough finally came in the seventh with Hugo Lemus’ RBI single and Wyatt’s two-out dash to the plate on a double steal.
“We’ve always been a team that battles, so we just try to keep adding on,” Wyatt said. “Sometimes we didn’t cash in, but we always keep battling.”
Wagar cashed in big with his two-run shot over the left-center fence in the second for a 2-0 lead. It was his fourth long ball of the season and snapped him out of a 1-for-15 skid in the postseason.
“The way things have been going, when I first hit it, I figured it would get caught at the wall,” he said. “I’ve seen a ton of off-speed stuff lately and that was a fastball, so I was a little out in front of it. It was a great feeling to see it go out.”
Yakima Valley 030 000 200 — 5 9 0
Spokane 001 100 200 — 4 8 2
Wagar and Finn; Shoemaker, Scholer (7) and Franklin.
Highlights: Tyler Gallaway (YV) 2-4, SB, run, RBI; Michael Wyatt (YV) 1-3, 3b, SB, run; Cody McDonald (YV) 2-4, run; Steve Wagar (YV) CG, 5 K, 1 BB, 1-4, HR, 2 RBI; Tommy Townsend (Spo) 2-5, SB, 2 RBI; Nick Pacheco (Spo) 2-4, SB, run, RBI; Josh Harbolt (Spo) 1-3, 2b, run.
7/29/11 Yakima Valley-Spokane Blue Devils photo gallery
July 29, 2011 by Andy Sawyer
Photos from Thursday’s Senior Legion state tournament game between the Yakima Valley Pepsi Pak and Spokane Blue Devils at Carlon Park in Selah, Wash.
Click here for information on purchasing any of these photos.
Legion roundup: Pitsch powers Bellingham to win
July 29, 2011 by YH-R Sports
SELAH, Wash. — Anthony Pitsch provided the big blow early, and Bellingham’s bats came alive late to help the team become the lone unbeaten team remaining in the Senior Legion state baseball tournament at Carlon Park.
After tying the game with a run in the bottom of the seventh, Bellingham erupted for four more in the bottom of the eighth, breaking the tie and sparking a 9-5 victory over the Spokane Bandits.
Pitsch hit a three-run homer in the third inning for a 3-2 Bellingham lead, but Spokane used a three-run fifth to open a 5-4 advantage.
Also for Bellingham, Logan Locker was 2 for 3 with three runs and two RBI, and Travis Boyd and Zach Slesk both had two hits and a run scored.
Joshua Martin had three hits for Spokane.
Spokane Bandits 200 030 000 — 5 7 3
Bellingham 003 100 14x — 9 10 2
Bozett and Muelheims; Tripp, Wilson (7) and Boyd.
Highlights: Joshua Martin (S) 3-5, 2b, 2 runs; Gerhard Muelheims (S) 1-3, 2b, 2 runs; Anthony Pitsch (B) 1-3, 3-run HR; Logan Locker (B) 2-3, 2b, 3 runs, 2 RBI; Travis Boyd (B) 2-3, run; Zach Slesk (B) 2-5, run.
HANFORD FLAMES 12, KENNEWICK BANDITS 6 (loser out): Rallying from a 6-0 deficit, the Flames ousted their league rival with a seven-run eighth inning.
Riley Shintaffer homered for Hanford (24-23) and teammates Ryan Neal and Colin Serkowski both contributed two hits, a double and two RBI.
Kennewick 401 100 000 — 6 8 2
Hanford 000 041 07x — 12 10 1
Leatherwood and Wilz; Eastman, Becker (8) and Synoground.
Highlights: A.J. Henderson (K) 2-3, 2 runs; Austin Bartleson (K) 1-3, 3 RBI; Garrett Wilz (K) 2 RBI; Ryan Neal (H) 2-3, 2b, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Colin Serkowski (H) 2-5, 2b, 2 RBI; Riley Shintaffer (H) 2-4, HR, 2 RBI.
Bears’ bullpen stumble negates Wilson’s solid start, Hilt’s homer
July 29, 2011 by YH-R Sports
KEIZER, Ore. — After turning in a solid all-around effort for 81/2 innings, things suddenly turned sour for the Yakima Bears on Thursday night.
Sent out to protect a one-run lead, reliever Drew Zizinia was greeted by two extra-base hits, the latter a two-run homer by Daniel Burkhart that gave Salem-Keizer a stunning 4-3 victory over the Bears.
Kaohi Downing started the bottom of the ninth with a double to center, and Burkhart followed with his fourth homer of the season to keep Yakima winless three games into the second half of the Northwest League season.
Behind the pitching of starter Brad Wilson and a 10-hit attack that featured Justin Hilt’s third-inning solo home run, the Bears (13-28 overall) seemed poised to break through.
But Salem-Keizer pitchers were able to work out of several jams, ultimately stranding 11 Yakima baserunners, to keep the game close and give Burkhart his shot at victory.
In 62/3 innings, Wilson scattered six hits and did not walk a batter. The lone run he allowed was unearned.
Reliever Miles Reagan didn’t allow a hit in 11/3 innings of work, but he did surrender an unearned run in the eighth, allowing the Volcanoes to pull within 3-2.
Volcanoes starter Lorenzo Mendoza was almost as good as his counterpart, allowing seven hits, three runs — just two earned — with no walks and five strikeouts in seven innings.
Four Yakima players — Hilt, Westley Moss, Raul Navarro, and Garrett Weber — had two hits each.
7/29/11 Yakima Bears update
July 29, 2011 by YH-R Sports
Next game
Opponent: Salem-Keizer Volcanoes.
When, where: 7:05 p.m. today, Volcanoes Stadium, Keizer, Ore.
Radio/Internet: KUTI (1460)/yakimabears.com.
Probable pitchers: Yakima RHP Teo Gutierrez (3-1, 4.15) vs. Salem-Keizer RHP Cameron Lamb (2-4, 4.58).
Local report: Beetles’ Moore resigns
July 29, 2011 by YH-R Sports
YAKIMA, Wash. — For the third time in six years, the Yakima Pepsi Beetles are looking for a new head coach of their Senior American Legion baseball team.
Mike Moore resigned after the recently completed season, his second two-year stint at the head of the program.
“Mike let us know, with the two businesses he operates, the time commitments were getting to be too much,” said Bob DiPietro, president of Yakima Youth Baseball. “It was very amicable, and we hope to still have Mike involved with the program at some level.”
Moore, who also coached two seasons in 1989 and 1990, replaced Mike Bailey, who put in three seasons from 2007 to 2009. Moore won 136 games over his four seasons as head coach.
DiPietro said he hopes to have a new head coach named this fall.
“We’d like to have a coach in place by the end of September,” he said. “It would be great to have a person very familiar with the Beetles, but we may throw the net a little wider. It’s important for the tournaments we host and promote in the summer to have a coach working on those details in the fall.”
DiPietro added he hopes to talk with high school coaches in the area about what’s needed to support a third summer team. Yakima Youth Baseball’s Rookie squad struggled with thin numbers this season.
“We’d like to get their idea on what the real need is there,” he said. “We were generally young with the Senior and Junior teams, but the Rookie turnout was fairly low. That’s an issue that needs some feedback.”
GOLF
Eglin, Gilmore to play for titles
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — Nancy Eglin advanced to today’s final in the Championship Flight, and Betty Gilmore will play for the First Flight title in the Washington State Women’s Golf Association State Championship.
Eglin, from the Yakima Elks, defeated Denise Kieffer 4 and 3 in their semifinal Thursday at Twin Lakes Golf and Country Club. She will face Leslie Folsom in the 36-hole final after Folson defeated Jane Harris 1-up.
Gilmore, from the Yakima Country Club, defeated Gretchen Klein 3 and 2 in her semifinal, and will face Sharon Falkner in the flight final. Falkner advanced with a 3 and 2 victory over Monica Boegl.
In the Fifth Flight, Ann Hall, from the Yakima Country Club, lost her semifinal match 5 and 3 to Frankie Stephens.
BASKETBALL
Yaks vs. Yakamas game on tap
WAPATO, Wash. — Wapato High School is hosting a fundraising basketball game tonight for the Yakama Nation boys team that is headed to Hawaii next week for an international youth tournament.
YVCC men’s coach Ray Funk has assembled an alumni team to play the Yakama Nation squad, which recently won the 19-and-under Native American Basketball Invitational in Phoenix.
Tickets for the 7 p.m. game are $2 with additional donations welcome.
7/29/11 This week on track
July 29, 2011 by YH-R Sports
YAKIMA SPEEDWAY
Next racing: Aug. 6.
Note: Saturday’s originally scheduled races have been canceled. Racing resumes Aug. 6 with the Super Late Model Challenge Series (two 50-lap mains), Sportsman, Pure Stocks, Hornets and Bump To Pass.
Point leaders — Super Late Model: Owen Riddle 337, Tayler Riddle 298, Christopher Kalsch 287. Super Stocks: Chuck Roberts 154, Ben St. Mary 124, Rich Peters 118. Sportsman: Buck Noel Jr. 287, Mike Hill 237, Ron Morton 226. Pure Stocks: Greg Gargett 398, Rob Allen 396, Chris Marang 330. Hornets: Josh Washington 459, Julie Melville 371, Joshua Henne 350. Bump to Pass: Joe Stevens 445, Peppie Rojas 397, Ben Briggs 351.
Where: 1600 Pacific Ave., Yakima.
Track information: 248-0647 or yakimaspeedway.us
RENEGADE RACEWAY
Next racing: Aug. 5-6.
Note: The Vintique’s Hot Rod Nationals make their annual visit on Aug. 5 followed by Summit Series racing the next day.
Track information: 877-4621 or renegaderaceway.com
NASCAR SPRINT CUP
Brickyard 400
Site: Indianapolis.
Schedule: Today, practice (Speed, 10 a.m.1:30 p.m.); Saturday, practice (ESPN2, 7-8:30 a.m.), qualifying (ESPN2, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.); Sunday, race, 10 a.m. (ESPN, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.).
Track: Indianapolis Motor Speedway (oval, 2.5 miles).
Race distance: 400 miles, 160 laps.
2010 winner: Jamie McMurray.
Next race: Pennsylvania 500, Aug. 7, Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pa.
Web site: nascar.com
NASCAR NATIONWIDE
Kroger 200
Site: Clermont, Ind.
Schedule: Saturday, practice (ESPN2, 8:30-10 a.m.), qualifying (ESPN2, 1:30-2:30 p.m.), race, 4:30 p.m. (ESPN, 4-7 p.m.).
Track: Lucas Oil Raceway (oval, 0.686 miles).
Race distance: 137.2 miles, 200 laps.
2010 winner: Kyle Busch.
Next race: U.S. Cellular 250. Aug. 6, Iowa Speedway, Newton, Iowa.
NASCAR TRUCKS
AAA Insurance 200
Site: Clermont, Ind.
Schedule: Today, practice, qualifying (Speed, 1:30-2:30 p.m.), race, 4:30 p.m. (Speed, 4-7 p.m.).
Track: Lucas Oil Raceway
Race distance: 137.2 miles, 200 laps.
2010 winner: Ron Hornaday Jr.
Next race: Pocono Mountains 125, Aug. 6, Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pa.
FORMULA ONE
Hungarian Grand Prix
Site: Budapest, Hungary.
Schedule: Today, practice (Speed, 5-6:30 a.m.), Saturday, practice, qualifying (Speed, 5-6:30 a.m.); Sunday, race, 5 a.m. (Speed, 4:30-7 a.m., 1:30-4 p.m.).
Track: Hungaroring (road course, 2.72 miles).
Race distance: 190.53 miles, 70 laps.
2010 winner: Mark Webber.
Next race: Belgian Grand Prix, Aug. 28, Spa-Francorchamps, Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium.
Web site: formula1.com
NHRA
Fram-Autolite Nationals
Site: Sonoma, Calif.
Schedule: Today, qualifying; Saturday, qualifying (ESPN2, 2:30 p.m.); Sunday, final eliminations (ESPN2, 8 p.m.).
Track: Infineon Raceway.
2010 winners: Ron Capps (Funny Car), Larry Dixon (Top Fuel), Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock), Michael Phillips (Pro Stock Motorcycle).
Next event: O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals, Aug. 5-7, Pacific Raceways, Kent, Wash.
Web site: nhra.com
