Football coaches pick CWU No. 1 in GNAC

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — For Central Washington’s football team, the predection from GNAC coaches is for business as usual.

That’s a good thing for the Wildcats, since Central has won six conference championships, including the last three, and have been picked to win another this season in a preseason coaches poll.

The Wildcats, who scrimmage at 3 p.m. today on the CWU practice field, were followed in the poll by, in order, Humboldt State, Western Oregon, Dixie State and Simon Fraser.

Azusa Pacific is scheduled to join the conference for football in 2012.

Central, ranked 22nd in the first national NCAA Division II poll, will open its season at home on Sept. 2 against No. 7 Texas A&M-Kingsville.

SOCCER

Poll pegs Wildcats 5th in GNAC

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Central Washington’s women’s soccer team, with 13 returning letter winners and numerous true freshmen, has been picked to finish fifth in the GNAC in a preseason coaches poll.

Among the returning starters for CWU, which were 4-12-2 and finished sixth last year, are senior sisters Brittany and Hillary Franks of West Valley.

True freshman Hadli Farrand, from Ellensburg, will play for her father, Central coach Michael Farrand.

Seattle Pacific has been picked to win the championship, followed in order by Western Washington, Simon Fraser, Montana State Billings, Central, Saint Martin’s, Western Oregon and Northwest Nazarene.

VOLLEYBALL

Central 5th in conference poll

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Central Washington, with only two seniors, has been projected to finish fifth in the GNAC volleyball race this season.

In a preseason coaches poll, the Wildcats were picked behind Seattle Pacific, Western Washington, Alaska Anchorage and Western Oregon. Pegged behind CWU are Northwest Nazarene, Montana State Billings, Alaska Fairbanks, Simon Fraser and Saint Martin’s.

The Wildcats, fifth in each of the past two seasons, will build around senior co-captains Carlee Marble and Meg Ryan, who play setter and outside hitter, respectively.

RUGBY

Zier tabbed D-II All-American

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Christina Zier, a Central Washington women’s rugby player from Yakima, has been named an NCAA Division II All-American by USA Rugby.

Zier graduated from CWU last June with an exercise science degree and plans to continue her rugby career with the Emerald City Mudhens of Seattle, according to a university release.

Rugby is a club sport at Central, meaning it is not a school-sanctioned varsity sport.

8/25/11 Valley Sports Weekly results

Softball

Yakima Parks and Recreation

MEN’S SUMMER LEAGUE

Standings, Aug. 22

A Division: Longmire T&T/Tequila’s 5-1, Shield’s Bombers 3-1, G-Hawks 2-2, OTP Saloon/Beer Nutz 1-3, Bombers 1-5.

B Division: Outlaws 4-2, Pain Killers 4-2, Desperate Athletes 4-2, Shockers 3-3, Financial Management 3-3, Foursquare Fungos 0-6.

C Division: Michael’s Mudsharks 6-0, Sports Center 3-3, Hooligans 3-3, 601 Esquires 3-3, Herbie’s Hornets 3-3, Juggernauts 0-6.

D Division: The Bench Warmers 5-1, Chinook 5-1, The Styx 3-3, The Dutch 2-4, Spikes 2-4, Hop Union/CH Robinson 1-5.

E Division: Farwest Fabricators 3-3, Desperado’s 1-1, IFP/All Seasons 2-4, Swamp Donkey’s 2-4, Morning Star Misfits 1-3, Moss Adams LLP 1-3.

F Division: Off Constantly 4-0, Gifted 2-0, Going Home 3-1, Slow Rollers 0-2, Gladiators 0-4.

WOMEN’S SUMMER LEAGUE

Standings, Aug. 22

Platinum Division: Lady Outlaws 4-2, Hazardous 4-2, Planned Parenthood/Pastime 0-4, Peak Performance 0-6.

Gold Division: T&T Lounge/Mickey’s Misfits 5-1, Pixie’s 3-3, No Glove No Love 2-4, Over & Under 2-4.

Silver Division: Munsters 5-1, Little Dutch Inn 5-1, Knockouts 0-6, Ball Busters 0-6.

8/25/11 VSW bulletin board

BASEBALL: The Dirt Dawgs will have tryouts for 9- to 13-year-olds from noon-4 p.m. Sept. 11 and 18 at Lewis & Clark Middle School in Yakima. For more information, contact Jay Gainer at 509-961-6559 or Rod Greggs at 509-910-9333.

BASKETBALL: The Yakima Valley Sports Authority and AAU are offering an early fall youth league, on Sundays from Sept. 25 to Nov. 6 for boys and girls in second grade through high school varsity. Early registration deadline is Sept. 9 and the cost is $220. Late registration deadline is Sept. 14 and the cost is $250. Entry forms and more information are available online at www.ieaau.org or by calling the AAU office at 509-453-2696.

Golf notes: Gravbrot wins in Arizona

YAKIMA, Wash. — Eric Gravbrot’s successful summer continued Sunday in Scottsdale, Ariz., when he won the Pinnacle Championship at the North Troon Golf Club.

The Yakima golfer had a round of even par 71, winning by six shots over Carl Johnson.

Gravbrot, who will attending Montana State Billings this fall, has also won a pair of events on the Golfweek Junior Golf Tour this summer.

Whitaker 2nd in Northwest Open

WALLA WALLA, Wash. — Dan Whitaker fired a three-round total of 5 under par to finish in a tie for second in the Northwest Open Invitational that concluded Wednesday at Wine Valley Golf Club.

Whitaker’s best effort came in Tuesday’s second round when he shot 7 under 65. The Ellensburg Golf and Country Club member closed with an even par 72 for 211 total, which was matched by Brian Thornton of Meridian Valley Country Club in Kent.

They finished five shots behind Corey Prugh of Manito Golf and Country Club in Spokane, who opened with back-to-back rounds of 68 before finishing with a 70 for a 10-under 206 total.

Several other area golfers also took part.

Kevin Anderson from Apple Tree Golf Course tied for 41st at 223 (71-72-80), Justin Bos from Black Rock Creek in Sunnyside was 51st at 225 (73-76-76), and Ellensburg’s Keith Crimp was 58th at 226 (77-72-77).

Hillberry gets SunTides ace

YAKIMA, Wash. — Steve Hillberry scored his first hole-in-one during his round Friday at SunTides Golf Course. He aced the 140-yard 16th hole using a 6-iron. Paul Cherry and Tony Magana witnessed the shot.

Hall scores ace at YCC

YAKIMA, Wash. — Ann Hall recorded a hole-in-one last Friday on the 11th hole at Yakima Country Club. Hall used a hybrid club on the 165-yard hole. It was witnessed by Judy Rozelle.

8/25/11 Yakima Valley scorecard

Apple Tree

MEN’S DIVISION

Club Championship, Aug. 20-21

Low gross: Mark Donahue 144. Low net: Fred Thysell 133.

First Flight — Gross: 1, Joel Elder 144; 2, Mike Schlosser 145. Net: 1, Mike Sutton 133; 2, Paul Neidhardt 138.

Second Flight — Gross: 1, Mark Turnquist 156; 2, Matt Hargreaves 159. Net: 1, Don Snipes 139; 2, Mike Cingle 146.

Third Flight — Gross: 1, Andrew Eakin 164; 2, (tie) Lance Barber 168, Rick Weibler 168. Net: 1, Larry Oliver 138; 2, Scott Williamson 139.

Fourth Flight — Gross: 1, Ray Ridenour 178; 2, Robert Vickers 183. Net: 1, Tim O’Conner 138; 2, Gary Pericich 146.

Gross & Net Tournament, Aug. 21

First Flight — Gross: 1, Mark Donahue 71; 2, Mike Schlosser 72. Net: 1, Mike Sutton 66; 2, Joel Elder 69.

Second Flight — Gross: 1, Fred Thysell 73; 2, Matt Hargreaves 80. Net: 1, Mark Turnquist 67; 2, Don Snipes 69.

Third Flight — Gross: 1, Larry Oliver 81; 2, Ed Parkins 83. Net: 1, Scott Williamson 67; 2, Rick Weibler 71.

Fourth Flight — Gross: 1, Ray Ridenour 85; 2, Ron Hicks 88. Net: 1, Tim O’Conner 67; 2, Gary Pericich 70.

WOMEN’S DIVISION

Best Nine, Aug. 17

Low gross: Nancy Eglin 80. Low net: Linda Plummer 72.

Helen Wendt 251/2; Carol Hammermeister 33.

Club Championship, Aug. 17-18

Low gross: Betty Gilmore 163. Low net: Carolyn Henyan 130.

Net: Ann Hall 144, Barb Kinloch 144, Marlene O’Halloran 145, Bev Morgan 145, Connie Wilson 146, Pene James 148, Judy Rozelle 153, Claudette Haubner 154, Linda Lenseigne 154, Debbie Holbrook 163, Helen Tweedy 165.

Fisher Park

Nine-hole Scramble

Aug. 21

1, Carol & Karl Vanevenhoven 27; 2, Dylan Bissell-Max Turnquist 31; 3, Tony Gerardi-Alan Knight 31.

Mount Adams

MEN’S DIVISION

PGA Tourney, Aug. 11

1, Hank Besel-Lee Westwood 134; 2, Jim Whitaker-Phil Mickelson 136; 3, Keith Fowler-Ricky Fowler 138; 4, (tie) Jim Whitaker-Rory McIlroy 139, Aaron Louis-Adam Scott 139; 6, Jerry Besel-Adam Scott 140; 7, (tie) Tony Washines-Dustin Johnson 141, Gary Hyatt-Nick Watney 141, Jerry Besel-Phil Mickelson 141; 10, (tie) Jim Whitaker-Darren Clarke 142, Aaron Louis-Dustin Johnson 142, Tony Washines-Rory McIlroy 142, Tony Washines-Tiger Woods 142, Jerry Besel-Nick Watney 142.

Best Ball, Aug. 18

Gross: 1, Eric Inions-Mike VanWingerden 70; 2, (tie) Tony Washines-Turk Holford 72, Aaron Louis-Turk Holford 72, Tye Barrett-Eric Inions 72. Net: 1, (tie) Len Rabanal-Turk Holford 61, Denver Campbell-Ron Smith 61; 3, (tie) Jim Whitaker-Denver Campbell 63, Jim Fulcher-Chon Torres 63; 5, (tie) Connie Besel-Mike Chambers 64, Ron Storkel-Denver Campbell 64.

WOMEN’S DIVISION

Gross & Net, Aug. 10

A Division — Gross: Carlisle Ibatuan 107. Net: Gloria Campbell 78.

B Division — Gross: Sharon Hedden 114. Net: Elsie Pearson 79.

Match play winners, Aug. 24

Gloria Campbell, Gloria Hintze, Carlisle Ibatuan, Elsie Pearson, Connie Rogers.

COUPLES DIVISION

Chapman, Aug. 12

Gross: 1, James & Connie Rogers 42. Net: 1, Denver & Gloria Campbell 331/2; 2, Mike Chambers-Maria Frank 35; 3, Louis & Shelly Alcala 351/2.

Selective Drive, Aug. 14

Gross: 1, Denver & Gloria Campbell 87. Net: 1, Randy & Debbie Anderson 671/2; 2, Doug & Gloria Hintze 68; 3, Ron & Val Smith 73; 4, Todd & Lorene Lenseigne 801/2; 5, Louis & Shelly Alcala 811/2; 6, Chad & Kathy Cameron 841/2.

Selective Drive, Aug. 19

Gross: 1, Gary Sweeney-Lori McNett 38; 2, Par & Vernie Dar 40; 3, Dave & Kelli Mannon 42. Net: 1, Homer & Teresa Dalgliesh 291/2; 2, Jay Cruise-Elsie Pearson 301/2; 3, Ron & Val Smith 311/2.

2011 Round Up

Low gross: Dusty Frontis-Chelsea Lowary 140. Low net: Norm & Linda Metzger 121.

First Flight — Gross: 1, Troy Wilmoth-Chris Scacco 144; 2, Ward & Terri Jackson 153; 3, (tie) Dan Marples-Janet Hall 155, Pat Martin-Lynn Dasso 155, Gary Pero-Susie DeShaw 155. Net: 1, (tie) John Garcia-Karen Cooper 129, Denny & Judy Stone 129; 3, Par & Vernie Dar 130; 4, Mark & Cathy Blore 131; 5, (tie) Ron & Sandy Capps 132, Tony Whitley-Jean Nitz 132.

Second Flight — Gross: 1, (tie) Conrad Besel-Kim Wangler 167, Bob & Jessica Duda 167, Dale & Christy Fordyce 167; 4, Mike & Torrie Melton 170; 5, (tie) Kim & Susann Lowary 172, Dale & Nancy Graf 172. Net: 1, Mike Chambers-Maria Frank 126; 2, Dave & Kelli Mannon 129; 3, (tie) Russ & Marla Arbuckle 131, Ray & Terri Gallipo 131; 5, Denver & Gloria Campbell 132.

Third Flight — Gross: 1, Homer & Teresa Dalgliesh 172; 2, (tie) Don & Harriet Clark 173, Randy & Debbie Anderson 173; 4, Jim & Connie Rogers 183; 5, (tie) Rick & Tara Catlin 184, Steve & Elena Gonzales 184. Net: 1, (tie) Bob & Maxine Brandolini 127, Don Ruff-Julie Thompson 127; 3, Kevin & Carlisle Ibatuan 131; 4, (tie) Wally & Hazel Gilman 132, Stan & Connie Davis 132.

SunTides

MEN’S DIVISION

Final Thursday League

1, 429 Goldsworthy 81; 2, The Culls 80; 3, Weapons of Grass Destruction 781/2; 4, KWL Brokerage 70; 5, RJ’s Tire Factory 691/2; 6, Curly’s Bar and Grill 69; 7, Rocc’s 621/2; 8, Northwest Autobody 61; 9, Fore Players 56; 10, Country Rock Cafe 161/2.

WOMEN’S DIVISION

T&F Holes, Aug. 23

A Division — Gross: 1, Lynda Matthews 40; 2, Karen Cooper 44. Net: 1, (tie) Karin Kohls 351/2, Val Thompson 351/2.

B Division — Gross: 1, Grace Wagoner 44; 2, Sharon Anderson 49; 3, (tie) Julie Thompson 50, Susann Lowary 50. Net: 1, Sue Morgenthaler 34; 2, Pat Mosley 371/2; 3, (tie) Lynne Willard 38, Connie Carr 38.

C Division — Gross: 1, Vi Bond 53; 2, Kathy Thomas 54; 3, Carol Hammermeister 57; 4, Helen Wendt 58. Net: 1, Harriet Clark 38; 2, Pat Eckroat 40; 3, Dianne Oeltjen 42; 4, Karen Garrison 441/2.

Buckskin qualifier: Val Thompson 72.

Westwood West

MEN’S DIVISION

Wednesday League

Tim Troy 145, Footwedges 144, Fatz 142, 3-B’s 138, Helliesen Lumber 135, Green Attack 114, Baughman Saw 111, 3-HC 97, Shuels Lumber 62.

Thursday League

AB Transmission 184, No Name 184, Auto Care 153, Valley Lab 153, Westwood Wanna Bees 148, Semo 147, Team Foreplay 125, All-Seasons 110, CH Robinson 74, Advance 58.

WOMEN’S DIVISION

Match vs Par, Aug. 17

A Division: 1, (tie) Trudy Ledwich +3, Bernice Snyder +3; 3, (tie) Marci Snyder +2, Adrienne Quinnell +2.

B Division: 1, Dorothy Cooke +3; 2, Marnie Finney +2.

C Division: 1, Kathy DeMoss +3; 2, (tie) Shirley Rogstad +2, Jill Perry +2.

COUPLES DIVISION

Step Aside, Aug. 18

1, John & Vicki Balmer-Gary & Pam Kinsboro 35; 2, (tie) Al & Shirley Rogstad-Jim & Janie Richartz 37, Don & Sylvia Brule-Lee & Paula Bush 37.

Yakima Country Club

WOMEN’S DIVISION

O-N-E-S, Aug. 23

Low gross: (tie) Cricket Callarman 92, Terri Schaake 92. Low net: Brenda Batali 69.

First Flight: Bonnie Prediletto 311/2.

Second Flight: Renee Kabrich 32.

COUPLES DIVISION

Crazy 3’s, Aug. 19

1, Zeb & Jan Lilth-Ken & Joan Wheeler 30; 2, (tie) Terry & Kay Cook-Phil & Kathy Souver 35, Charlie & Leslie Eglin-Don & Ellen Gibson 35; 4, Steve & Priscilla Forney-Randy & Kyle Leeland 36.

Yakima Elks

MEN’S DIVISION

Aug. 20

4-Man bestball: Larry Lenz-Ron Donaldson-Robert Weiss-Steve Jacobsen 56, John Crimin-Allan Gohl-Rodney Lewis-Joe Folk 56.

2-Man bestball — Gross: Jeff Baldwin-Joe Plaisance 67, Jeff Baldwin-Gary Gredvig 68, Jeff Baldwin-Aaron Adams 68, Joe Plaisance-Aaron Adams 69. Net: Al Rouse-Lee Scrimgeour 60, Larry Lenz-Ron Donaldson 60, Jack VanVleck-Lee White 61, Terry Matthews-Lee White 61.

Best 17, First Flight — Gross: Gary Gredvig 68, Aaron Adams 68. Net: Jeff Baldwin 60.

Second Flight — Gross: Gary Erb 73. Net: Ron Donaldson 63.

Third Flight — Gross: Lee White 79. Net: Robert Wiess 62.

WOMEN’S DIVISION

Blind 9, Aug. 4

A Flight: 1, Chris Scacco 35; 2, Dorothy Brink 321/2; 3, Judy Jones 331/2.

B Flight: 1, (tie) Patty Gustin 43, Kim Wangler 43; 3, Kris Sterns 33; 4, Judy Gano 331/2.

C Flight: 1, June Wilkes 52; 2, Evva Lange 35; 3, Flo Holm 38.

Mutt & Jeff, Aug. 18

A Flight: 1, Christy Fordyce 301/2; 2, Dorothy Brink 331/2.

B Flight: 1, (tie) Judy Gano 37, Marge Oberlander 37.

C Flight: 1, (tie) Flo Holm 32, Evva Lange 32; 3, Helen Wendt 321/2.

Eclectic Tournament, Aug. 18

Low gross: Nancy Eglin 72. Low net: Evva Lange 60.

First Flight — Gross: 1, (tie) Olive Ruff 82, Barb Fortier 82; 3, Dorothy Brink 88. Net: 1, Christy Fordyce 63; 2, Marge Oberlander 67; 3, Judy Gano 70.

Second Flight — Gross: 1, Bernie Lancaster 101; 2, (tie) Shirley Markland 103, June Wilkes 103. Net: 1, Lois Schaap 64; 2, Flo Holm 66; 3, (tie) Nyda Damaskas 67, Becky Besel 67.

Ike football get new opening-week opponent

Eisenhower’s opening-week football opponent has been changed from West Seattle to Rainier Beach, athletic director Paul Stephens reported on Wednesday. The Cadets will host the Vikings at Zaepfel Stadium on Sept. 2 at 5 p.m.
This switch represents quite a bump up in caliber and size. Rainier Beach was 5-1 in its division of the Metro League and 5-5 overall last year, compared with West Seattle’s 3-4 and 3-6 records.
RB was also highlighted recently in the Seattle Times for three huge linemen that measure 6-5, 357 and 6-6, 330 and 6-8, 355. Think a running game is in order?
West Seattle, which lost to Ike last season 54-13 in the first year of a home-and-away deal, had to back out because of low turnout and a district furlough day that cancels practice on Aug. 31. RB will be effected by the furlough day as well.

Here’s a list of all the area season openers next week:

SEPT. 2, FRIDAY
Rainier Beach at Eisenhower, 5 p.m.
Davis at Eastmont, 7:30 p.m.
West Valley at Selah, 7 p.m.
East Valley at Naches Valley, 7 p.m.
Grandview at Sunnyside, 7:30 p.m.
Ellensburg at Archbishop Murphy, 7 p.m.
Kamiakin at Prosser, 7:30 p.m.
River View at Toppenish, 7 p.m.
Wapato at Zillah, 7 p.m.
Mabton at White Swan, 7 p.m.
La Salle at DeSales, 7 p.m.
Kittitas at Cle Elum, 7 p.m.
Goldendale at White Salmon, 7 p.m.
Burbank at Granger, 7 p.m.
Kiona-Benton at Highland, 7 p.m.
King’s Way Christian vs. Sunnyside Christian at Lyle, 7 p.m.
- – - – -
Richland at Pasco, 7:30 p.m.
Southridge at Wenatchee, 7:30 p.m.
Hermiston at Walla Walla, 7:30 p.m.
Pendleton at Kennewick, 7 p.m.
Othello at Connell, 7 p.m.
Chiawana at Hanford, 7:30 p.m.
Ephrata at Quincy, 7 p.m.
Royal at Cashmere, 7 p.m.
Wahluke at Warden, 7 p.m.

SEPT. 3, SATURDAY
Moses Lake vs. Coeur d’Alene at Century Link Field (Qwest), 5:30 p.m.
Lyle-Wishram at Dufur, 7:30 p.m.

Source: Danica Patrick to run 2012 Daytona 500

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Danica Patrick will make her debut in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series in the 2012 Daytona 500, the Charlotte Observer and ThatsRacin.com have learned.

Patrick is scheduled to make an announcement at noon Thursday in Phoenix, where she will formally announce a fulltime move to NASCAR beginning next season, multiple sources have confirmed.

Patrick’s fulltime move to NASCAR in 2012 has been widely reported over the last several weeks, but her Cup debut has so far remained unknown.

While Patrick does not plan to run a full Cup schedule until 2013, she will do eight to 10 Cup races next year with Stewart-Haas Racing, beginning with the Daytona 500, a source familiar with the announcement said Wednesday night.

Patrick, a fan favorite in the IndyCar Series, has made three starts at Daytona in the Nationwide series, with a best finish of 10th coming last month. She also 13 laps in that race.

Patrick will run her Nationwide schedule, as she has the past two seasons, with JR Motorsports and all Cup races will be run out of SHR. GoDaddy.com will sponsor all of Patrick’s NASCAR races, sources said.

— Jim Utter/Charlotte (N.C.) Observer

An extra effort

Bears overcome bad hop in 9th to earn 2nd straight win in 10||

YAKIMA, Wash. — It’s not like the game ever seemed a lost cause for the Bears, but on the other hand it had in fact bounced temporarily away from them.

But Yakima, after being victimized by a bad hop on what would have been the final out of the ninth inning, went on to subdue Boise 7-6 in 10 on Tuesday night for their third straight defeat of the Hawks and their first series sweep of the season.

With an announced 1,652 watching in Yakima County Stadium, the Bears prevailed on Kerry Jenkins’ one-out double into the left-field corner that scored Justin Hilt with the game-winner.

The inning started with Garrett Weber’s leadoff double, and Hawks manager Mark Johnson was ejected after vehemently disputing base umpire J.J. Johnson’s safe call on a close play.

After Hilt walked, Weber was called out at third after Tyler Bream’s attempted sacrifice. This time, Bears skipper Audo Vicente was given the heave-ho for disagreeing with the Johnson’s ruling.

Then up came Jenkins, a night after producing three hits and scoring the winning run in Yakima’s 9-8, 10-inning triumph. Already 2 for 4, the left-fielder hammered his second two-bagger of the night to end it.

Greg Robinson, the fourth Yakima pitcher, worked the final inning for his second win against five losses.

The victory improved the Bears (13-15 second half, 26-40 overall) to 4-7 in extra-inning games and left them alone in second place, four games behind first-place Tri-City in the second-half divisional race.

Only 10 contests remain, however, starting tonight with Yakima visiting Everett for the first of five with the AquaSox.

The Hawks (12-16, 29-37), down 6-3 through seven innings, tied it 6-6 in the ninth thanks to a bad-hop single by pinch-hitter Pin-Chieh Chen. The otherwise routine grounder would have resulted in either a force at second base or an out at first, either of which would have ended the game.

But the ball bounced off second sacker Weber and allowed pinch-runner Dustin Harrington to reach second.

Harrington had replaced Paul Hoilman, who had drawn a two-out walk off Victor Acosta, Yakima’s third pitcher and who was issued closing duty because Justin Albert worked two innings Monday night and Sammy De Los Santos is being rested due to a tender arm.

The next hitter, Rafael Lopez, singled to right scoring Harrington, after which Acosta hit Wes Darvill to load the bases before Brad Zapenas grounded into a force out.

The Hawks, who totaled six hits in the first three innings off Yakima starter John Pedrotty, took a 1-0 lead in the third on successive singles by Zeke DeVoss, Oliver Zapata and Willson Contreras, with Contreras’ hit scoring DeVoss.

In the bottom of the fifth, Yakima broke through against 18-year-old right-hander Ben Wells, using Bream’s RBI double off the glove of a sprinting center fielder Zapata to tie the score.

Bream’s hit was the first ball off a Bears bat to leave the infield after Wells had retired his first nine hitters and 11 of 12.

Tyson Van Winkle’s two-out single plated Bream, who took second on the throw home, and Raul Navarro made it 3-1 with an RBI single to right.

Hoilman, the league leader in both homers and strikeouts, added to his total in the former column in the sixth by launching a Pedrotty offering over the wall in left.

It was Hoilman’s 14th long ball, coming after his 88th and 89th whiffs of the year.

The opportunistic Bears, meanwhile, took advantage of Boise largesse in the bottom of the inning for a 5-2 lead.

After Jimmy Comerota led off with a single and was balked to second, he scored when second baseman DeVoss booted Bream’s two-out grounder. Jenkins then slammed a ball to the gap in left center that Zapata should have cut off. He didn’t, though, and Bream scored easily when the ball rolled to the wall.

The Hawks got one back in the seventh off Miles Reagan, using a leadoff double, a single to left and a run-scoring fielder’s choice.

But Yakima made it 6-3 in its half of the frame when Raul Navarro walked, took second on a wild pitch and came home on Carter Bell’s two-out double to left.

The eighth saw the Hawks make it a one-run game via Hoilman’s leadoff double and a following walk, which ended Reagan’s night. Acosta was then greeted by pinch-hitter Rafael Lopez’s single to right-center that scored Hoilman, but the Bears caught the trailing runner, Reggie Golden, between third and home and third baseman Bell tagged him out.

Lopez, meanwhile, took third during the rundown and later scored on a passed ball.

8/24/11 Yakima Bears update

Next game

Opponent: Everett AquaSox.

When, where: 7:05 p.m. today, Memorial Stadium, Everett.

Radio/Internet: KUTI (1460)/yakimabears.com

Probable pitchers: Yakima RHP Blake Perry (0-0, 0.00) vs. TBA.

Notes

LATE-NIGHT LEFTOVERS: Among the salient details from Monday night’s 9-8, 10-inning Yakima win over Boise are these:

The Bears’ four eighth-inning runs, which tied the score, were unearned due to an error on Hawks first baseman Paul Hoilman. Three of Boise’s runs were unearned via two Yakima errors.

Yakima drew eight walks — five in the last three innings — including a bases-loaded free pass to Jimmy Comerota that ended the game.

Comerota’s two RBI for the evening increased his season total to 26, tops on the team, while Garrett Weber, with seven hits in his last 11 at bats, is second with 24.

The win was the Bears’ 11th in their last 15 home games. But Yakima has lost its last seven road games, having not won away from Yakima County Stadium since July 30 at Salem-Keizer.

Overall, the Bears are 18-14 at home (11-5 this half) and 7-26 on the road (1-10 this half).

PROPS FOR ALBERT: Yakima pitching coach Doug Bochtler was understandably pleased with Justin Albert’s two perfect innings Monday night against a Boise lineup that had banged out 14 hits in its first eight frames.

“But what impressed me more than anything,” Bochtler said, “was how he handled the situation of having to pitch again in the 10th. We load the bases in a tie game with no outs in the ninth, and a lot of pitchers would assume the game’s over and shut down.

“But we don’t score, and then Justin keeps his focus and goes out there and shuts them down for another inning. That was special.”

Bochtler said Albert has pretty much been lights out after a dead-arm period in the middle of the season. He also said Sammy De Los Santos has been bothered by a tender arm and has been kept out of recent action as a precautionary measure.

THE REALITY OF THE RACE: The good news for the Bears is that they’re in a three-way tie for second place in the Northwest League’s second-half East Division race, four games behind Tri-City.

The bad news is that, counting Tuesday night’s game, only 11 contests remained and Yakima would have to overtake the Dust Devils, Spokane and Boise to reach the playoffs.

The Bears play their next five at Everett, the West’s second-half leader, and Yakima has the league’s worst road record. Following the season’s final off day, the Bears conclude the campaign with five at home against Eugene, the first-half West champion.

And while Yakima has little chance of claiming the second-half title, which the Bears did last summer for their first playoff berth since 2000, the wild card is an even longer shot.

Should Tri-City, the division’s first-half champion, win the second-half pennant, the other playoff berth would go to the team with the best overall record. And in that competition Yakima trails Spokane by seven games.

 

8/24/11 Yakima Bears-Boise Hawks photo gallery

 

Here is a photo gallery from Tuesday’s Yakima Bears-Boise Hawks Northwest League baseball game at Yakima County Stadium.

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