Spokane blows past Bears

YAKIMA, Wash. — On a wildly windy night, the Yakima Bears’ chance to extend their winning streak over Spokane was blown away by their starter’s wildness.

Capitalizing on five walks by Andrew Berger, Spokane built a big lead in the first two innings and then pulled away to topple Yakima 13-3 before 1,746 bundled-up fans Thursday night at Yakima County Stadium.

Spokane (15-13 second half, 37-29 overall) trimmed Yakima’s second-half lead in the East to three games, although Yakima (18-10, 36-30) inched closer to a postseason berth. Boise’s loss at Tri-City dropped Yakima’s magic number to four — the Bears lead the Hawks (29-37 overall) by seven games with 10 remaining in the race for best overall record, the tiebreaker if Yakima doesn’t win the second-half title.

Yakima was seeking its fifth straight victory over the Indians — all at County Stadium — but Berger’s wildness put the Bears in a 5-1 hole after two innings.

In addition to the five walks, the right-hander hit a batter in his 12/3 innings of work. He allowed five runs — four earned — and dodged even more trouble as Spokane left the bases loaded in both frames.

After Yakima chipped away and got within 6-3, Spokane broke things open with a six -run seventh, helped by three more walks, a two-run double by Mike Olt, and a two-run single by Santiago Chirino.

Berger’s outing set the tone for Yakima’s pitchers, who issued a season-high 13 walks, contributing to a season-worst 13 runs allowed.

Spokane starter Tim Stanford had his own control problems out of the gate, walking two in the first inning as the Bears scored once, cutting the deficit to 3-1, but, they also missed a chance for more, leaving the bases loaded.

But Stanford, unlike Berger, settled in after that initial wildness, allowing just two baserunners in the next three innings before exiting after one hitter in the fifth because of a high pitch count.

Five Spokane relievers went one inning each in an effort resembling Yakima’s bullpen this season. The Indians allowed just three hits and no earned runs over the final five frames to hand the Bears just their 10th home loss in 34 games.

Spokane’s top three hitters led the offense, scoring three runs each, with No. 3 hitter Olt going 3-for-6 with three RBI in addition to his three runs.

Chirino and Brett Nicholas both added two hits and three RBI apiece, and every Spokane hitter had at least one hit in its 15-hit attack.

Yakima managed eight hits, but just six of them came in the first and fifth innings — three in each — when the Bears tallied all their runs. They were 2-for-23 with two walks in the other eight innings, and were retired in order in four of those frames, contributing to their largest margin of defeat this season.

Yakima and Spokane meet for the final time in the regular season tonight, with the first 500 fans receiving Mel Stottlemyre bobbleheads. Game time is 7 p.m.

8/27/10 Yakima Bears update

Next game

Opponent: Spokane Indians.

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

Radio: KUTI (1460).

Website: www.yakimabears.com

Probable starters: Yakima RHP Miguel Pena (4-5, 3.43) vs. Spokane RHP Ben Henry (3-3, 5.52).

Notes

AT LEAST HE WAS RIGHT: Bears manager Bob Didier admitted that he can’t remember being ejected from a game despite being right — but as Wednesday proved, there’s a first time for everything.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Michael Weber scored on a sacrifice fly but was then called out for leaving early when Spokane appealed.

That brought out Didier, wielding a rule book, which earned him an ejection. But Didier was simply trying to point out the rule that says a runner can leave the base as soon as the ball makes contact with the fielder, not when he secures the catch. Spokane’s Kevin Rodland bobbled the ball before securing it, leading to the original overturn.

After Didier left the field, the umpires got together again and restored the original decision, allowing the run to stand.

“I knew he was crossed up,” Didier said of the umpire. “I knew that was a big run for us. Spokane’s a good-hitting team and having a two-run lead in the ninth was a big factor for us.”

NOT LOOKING AHEAD: Even though Yakima is on the brink of clinching a playoff berth, Didier is not looking any further ahead than the next game.

“We’re focusing all our energy on clinching,” Didier said prior to Thursday’s middle game against Spokane, the team Yakima would face in the East Division playoffs.

That effort is nearly complete as Yakima entered Thursday’s game four up on the Indians in the second-half standings, but, more importantly, seven ahead on Boise with 11 games left in the race for overall record, the tiebreaker should Spokane overtake the Bears for the second-half title.

But until Yakima does clinch, Didier said they won’t worry about their postseason plans.

“I’ve been in baseball a long time and I’m superstitious,” Didier said. “Right now, we just want to get into the playoffs. There’ll be plenty of time to talk later.”

Box score

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NWL standings

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Bears have all the makings

Yakima gets contributions in all facets of the game in victory ||

YAKIMA, Wash. — There hasn’t been, as manager Bob Didier points out, any one thing driving the Yakima Bears success this season.

Strong pitching, solid defense and timely hitting have all had equal roles, and that was the recipe Yakima cooked up once again Saturday night at Yakima County Stadium.

With the pitching holding Salem-Keizer to five hits, the defense preventing a bigger fifth-inning Volcanoes rally, and a four-run sixth, punctuated by a clutch two-run double, the Bears prevailed 5-2 before an announced crowd of 2,172.

“We’re playing good baseball and doing everything right,” said second baseman Mike Freeman, who had the big defensive play in the fifth and the pivotal double in the sixth.

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“The key is to find a way to win — good teams do that,” Didier said after Yakima won its fourth straight overall and seventh in a row at home to stretch its second-half lead over Spokane to three games. “If you believe you can do something, good things happen.”

That don’t-quit mentality Yakima (15-8, 33-28) has developed paid off Saturday as the Bears overcame a 2-1 deficit midway through the game.

That deficit could have been larger had it not been for Freeman.

With the bases loaded and no outs, John Eshleman grounded a ball between first and second that seemed destined to be a hit. But at the last moment, Freeman dove, caught the ball on the edge of the grass and threw Eshleman out at first.

A run scored but the out proved important. Starter Andrew Berger capitalized on his new life, getting the next two hitters to ground out, the first scoring another run, to escape with minimal damage.

“We were lucky we didn’t get burned for a three- or four-run inning,” Didier said.

“My philosophy is to try and get to everything,” Freeman said. “In that situation, we’ll trade runs for outs. Even though we gave up a couple of runs, we knew that with our offense, we’d get him (Berger) off the hook later in the game.”

Yakima did just that an inning later.

After having no luck with Volcanoes starter Edward Concepcion, the Bears jumped on relievers Devan Kline and Kaohi Downing.

Yazy Arbelo drew a leadoff walk, and after Raywilly Gomez sacrificed him to second, Roberto Ortiz singled to left, putting runners at the corner. Justin Hilt walked to load the bases, and Kawika Emsley-Pai singled up the middle to tie the game at 2-2.

Westley Moss’ sacrifice fly to center gave Yakima the lead, and Freeman followed with a double into the left-center gap, scoring Hilt and Emsley-Pai.

“Hitting is contagious. When we see one guy have a good at-bat, everyone wants to keep that approach,” Freeman said of an approach that produced nine hits and five walks Saturday. “We wanted to stay steady. If we got a good pitch to hit, take a swing. If not, let it go.”

Once Yakima got the lead, the Bears’ biggest strength on a team full of them took over as the bullpen was dominant once again.

While Berger was good, allowing three hits and two walks in his five innings, Greg Robinson, Miles Reagan and Eury De La Rosa were better, with four innings of two-hit relief, retiring eight straight and 11 of 12 in one stretch.

“Reagan stands out for me tonight,” Didier said of the converted starter who allowed just one hit in two innings of work. “That’s as good as I’ve seen him throw. And then De La Rosa came in and closed the door.”

Robinson (6-3) earned the win after pitching the top of the sixth, and De La Rosa closed for his sixth save as the Bears improved to 25-1 when leading after seven innings and a perfect 28-0 when leading after eight.

“Our bullpen has been awesome,” Freeman said. “The defense likes playing behind them because they pound the strike zone and pitch to contact.

“They’ve shut everyone down.”

8/22/10 Yakima Bears update

Next game

Opponent: Salem-Keizer Volcanoes.

When, where: 5:35 p.m. today, Yakima County Stadium.

Radio: KUTI (1460).

Website: www.yakimabears.com

Probable pitchers: Yakima RHP Miguel Pena (3-5, 3.77) vs. Salem-Keizer RHP Shawn Sanford (2-3, 2.33).

Notes

FLEET AFOOT: The Bears continue to run wild on the bases this season, with Friday’s four thefts running their league-best total to 120, nearly double the next closest teams, Spokane and Everett, who have 70 apiece.

While that’s a dramatic change from recent teams, manager Bob Didier said there hasn’t been a conscious effort to open things up, just a combination of factors that Yakima has been able to capitalize on.

“We’re a National League team,” he said. “We’re not a big-inning team. We try to move runners and play situation baseball.

“We try to push it and take what teams give you.”

To that end, Didier hasn’t been shy about sending runners.

“You can’t get caught up in failure,” he said. “If you’re aggressive, more good things than bad things happen.”

That’s always been Didier’s philosophy, but the difference this summer is that the team’s success has allowed him to stay aggressive.

“In years past, we’ve been down 8-2 in the fifth inning,” he said, “so it doesn’t do much for you to steal a base.”

TOUCHING BASE: Arizona Diamondbacks minor league field coordinator Mike Bell and pitching coordinator Jeff Pico arrived in Yakima on Saturday to get their second first-hand look at the Bears and will stay through the remainder of the homestand, which ends Friday.

Although he hadn’t gotten a good look at the team on this trip yet, he’s quite familiar with how they’re doing.

“We read the reports every day,” said Bell, who managed Yakima in 2007. “I’m just going to try and stay out of the way.”

Bell also indicated that the organization will likely stand pat regarding player movement with the Bears, good news for fans as the team continues its playoff push.

“Part of (player) development is playing important games late in the year,” he said. “At this point, it’d be good to keep them playing here and let them make a run at a championship.

Box score

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NWL standings

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Frontis earns Yakima Am three-peat

YAKIMA, Wash. — Dusty Frontis sure knows how to seal the deal.

Even with Corey DeGrood nipping at his heels all around SunTides Golf Course on Sunday, Frontis remained unflappable, converting one big shot after another until he finally secured his place in local golfing history.

Unfazed by a bogey on the 16th hole that trimmed his advantage over DeGrood to a single stroke, Frontis parred the final two holes to become the first player to win three consecutive Yakima Amateur Invitational titles.

“I just kept it together and tried to make others shoot a low score,” Frontis said after a closing round of 1-under par 69, giving him a 206 total and a two-shot victory over DeGrood. “I played safe golf all day.”

“That was a good little battle,” said DeGrood, who got as low as 4-under for the round before finishing at 3-under 67 after a crushing bogey at 17.

Frontis met DeGrood’s stern challenge with his usual calm, a trait that’s served him well in this three-peat quest, with this latest win providing the added bonus of tying the all-time mark for victories.

“That was a little extra incentive,” said a smiling Frontis, who joins Joe McAuley and Denny Colvin as the only players with four titles in what began as the Yakima City Tournament in 1944.

“That’s a pretty good accomplishment because there have been some great players who have won this tournament,” DeGrood said. “For DF to go back to back to back is epic.”

Sunday was a perfect snapshot of Frontis’ past three Yakima Ams as he played steady, virtually error-free golf.

Frontis scored in the 60s for all three rounds this week, and has not had a round worse than 70 (three times) since he started the win streak.

In those eight rounds (the 2008 event was two rounds), Frontis is 25-under par, including rounds of 8-under (’09, final round), 6-under (’08, first), 4-under (’10, first), and 3-under (’10, second).

“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve kind of figured it out,” Frontis said. “I’ve learned how to get around a golf course, give myself opportunities for birdies, and I don’t press things.”

“Dusty doesn’t make bogeys. You have to make birdies and hope he makes pars,” said Zach Wandersheid, who started the day in second, two shots off the lead, but finished tied for third with Jeff Larkin at 213 after a closing 74. “Trying to keep up with Dusty, I tried shots I normally wouldn’t attempt.”

Even with that steady play, Frontis couldn’t shake DeGrood.

“Corey was playing great; he was really pushing me,” Frontis said. “It was nerve-racking coming down the stretch. If I didn’t have a short game, I’d have been in trouble.”

DeGrood made things really interesting with a two-putt par from about 40 feet on the par 3 16th, while Frontis missed a 5-footer for par, cutting the lead to one.

But on the par 3 17th, DeGrood’s tee shot sailed right of the green, while Frontis was on the left apron, about 10 feet from the hole.

DeGrood chipped to five feet but missed the par putt, while Frontis got down in two for par to re-establish his two-shot cushion and effectively seal the victory.

“When you play against Dusty, you have to seize the moment,” DeGrood said. “You hope to get on a run because he’s not coming back to the field. If you can’t, you just tip your cap to him.

“He’s one of the best players to ever come from around here.”

FINAL-ROUND SCORES

(Friday at Apple Tree, par 72; Saturday at Mount Adams, par 72; Sunday at SunTides, par 70)

Low gross of the field: Dusty Frontis 68-69-69—206.

Low net of the field: Michael Dubrule 61-70-67—198.

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT

Gross: 1, Corey DeGrood 69-72-67—208; 2, Carey Weedman 69-76-67—212; 3, (tie) Zach Wanderscheid 71-68-74—213, Jeff Larkin 71-73-69—213; 5, Gary Hutchins 70-76-70—216; 6, Aaron Adams 71-77-72—220; 7, Brad Donahue 72-77-72—221; 8, Doug Hearron 74-78-70—222; 9, Kody McDonnell 74-74-76—224; 10, Russ Arbuckle 77-76-74—227.

Net: 1, Jeff Larkin 207; 2, Aaron Adams 211; 3, Carey Weedman 212; 4, Corey DeGrood 214; 5, (tie) Dusty Frontis 215, Kody McDonnell 215; 7, (tie) Brad Donahue 218, Russ Arbuckle 218; 9, (tie) Gary Hutchins 219, Doug Hearron 219.

FIRST FLIGHT

Gross: 1, Ray Gallipo 78-76-71—225; 2, Gary Gredvig 75-80-76—231; 3, (tie) Willie Edwards 81-79-77—237, Doug Darwood 81-80-76—237; 5, Tim Fortier 77-83-82—242; 6, (tie) Jeff Stevens 80-84-79—243, Ron McClain 80-82-81—243; 8, Dan Gavic 88-77-83—248; 9, Heath Reeves 86-78-85—249; 10, Andrew Eakin 85-84-82—251.

Net: 1, Doug Darwood 201; 2, Ray Gallipo 210; 3, (tie) Tim Fortier 212, Ron Eakin 212; 5, Andrew Eakin 215; 6, (tie) Gary Gredvig 216, Willie Edwards 216; 8, (tie) Ron McClain 219, Lewis Bassell 219; 10, Heath Reeves 222.

SECOND FLIGHT

Gross: 1, James Rogers 82-79-79—240; 2, Tony Whitley 82-78-84—244; 3, David Fast 87-79-81—247; 4, Rod Johnston 89-84-81—254; 5, Michael Dubrule 80-89-86—255; 6, (tie) Ed Parkins 89-87-80—256, Jerry Besel 90-81-85—256; 8, Tommy Dang 93-85-85—263; 9, David Barnes 93-85-86—264; 10, Bob Bergeron 95-79-92—266.

Net: 1, James Rogers 201, 2, Tony Whitley 205; 3, Tommy Dang 206; 4, David Barnes 207, 5, David Fast 208; 6, Rod Johnston 212; 7, Rod Knoepfle 216; 8, (tie) Ed Parkins 217, Jerry Besel 217; 10, Jerry Ward 221.

Frontis is back for thirds at Yakima Amateur

YAKIMA, Wash. — Dusty Frontis says one of the toughest things about playing in tournaments these days is that “there always seems to be another 18-year-old coming up.”

This weekend, however, Frontis will have to worry about more than just one or two of those young guns, with a host of golfers of all ages trying to deny Frontis’ run at history in the Yakima Amateur Invitational.

The Eisenhower High graduate, one of just five back-to-back winners in what was originally called the Yakima City Tournament, will be seeking to become the first player to win three consecutive titles, and just the third to win four overall.

“It’s pretty cool because we’ve had some pretty good players come through here,” Frontis said of the pending challenge that begins today at Apple Tree Resort.

Saturday’s second round is at Mount Adams Country Club, with the final round Sunday at SunTides Golf Course.

Although keenly aware of the stakes, Frontis wasn’t obsessing over it.

“I try not to think about it,” he said. “I just want to go out and play like it’s another round.”

There will be plenty of worthy adversaries chasing Frontis, a plus-3 handicapper, starting with one of those young talents he referred to, Goldendale’s Zach Wanderscheid, a two-time state high school champion with a plus-4 handicap.

Another plus-4 is Ellensburg’s Zach Mayer.

Others in the field are veteran Troy Wilmoth, who won the Yakima Valley Seniors Invitational earlier this year, and Corey DeGrood, who paired with Frontis to win the Central Washington Bestball championship in May and who was third in this event last summer.

The deep field also includes Brad Donahue, Doug Hearron, Ward Jackson, Carey Weedman, Jeff Larkin, Reidar Nettleship, Ivan Porcayo, Kenny Leadon, Matt Crockett, Gary Hutchins, and Perry Page.

“It’ll be tough, but I kind of like the pressure,” Frontis said. “I always seem to play a little better with the pressure on.”

Being in this position wasn’t something the 26-year-old really expected when he returned to the Valley after graduating from the University of Washington in 2006.

“I lost my game in college, but after I came back here and settled in, I regained it,” he said. “I’ve finally started playing well again.”

Frontis’ game started slipping when he got out of his “comfort zone” playing in the often wet conditions on the west side. In particular, he changed his swing trying to hit the ball higher and that “messed me up.”

Back home and on the familiar layout of his home course, Yakima Elks, Frontis rediscovered his stroke.

“I’m doing everything fairly well, and my short game has always been pretty good,” said Frontis, who plays a couple hours in the evening about three times a week, and then turns in a couple of rounds on weekends, when not competing in tournaments.

“I’m busy with work but I still get to play more than most people,” said Frontis, who is service manager at Burrows Tractor.

And with his game in top form again, Frontis looks forward to any opportunity to test it against those youngsters and others — especially in the Yakima Amateur.

“I definitely have to come back and keep playing (in that one),” he said.

And, as of late, quite successfully at that.

A wait at state for Pak, Beetles

Yakima Valley stumbles early but rallies past Yakima ||

SELAH, Wash. — Just as the thunderstorms slowly faded away from Carlon Park, the gloomy clouds above the Yakima Valley Pepsi Pak dugout eventually parted, giving way to a sunny finish.

Steadily chipping away after falling into a four-run hole after a sloppy sixth inning, the Pak completed the comeback when Gil Plath’s hustle helped force a Yakima throwing error that allowed the winning run to score in a 9-8 victory to cap the first day of the Senior Legion State Tournament at Carlon Park.

“We were out of synch in every aspect, but as we told the kids, sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good,” Yakima Valley coach Mike Archer said after the weather-delayed 3-hour, 15-minute marathon ended close to midnight. “We were lucky, but we made our luck.”

Particularly in the ninth.

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With two outs and runners as first and second, the right-handed hitting Plath skewed a slow roller wide of first. First baseman Jens Jensen got to the ball, but with Plath hustling down the line, the first baseman’s hurried throw to pitcher Guy Hartwig was off line, allowing not only Plath to reach safely, but also sending Cory Urquhart home from second with the winning run.

“That was a hustle play by Plath,” Archer said. “I knew as soon as it came off his bat, it was spinning like crazy, and as hard as Gil was running, I knew it was going to be a close play.”

And by that thin margin, Yakima Valley (38-14) beat the Beetles for the sixth time this season and earned a shot at another Central Washington League foe, the Twin City Titans, tonight at 7 p.m.

Yakima (25-33-1) falls into an elimination game at noon against fellow CWL member the Kennewick Bandits.

The Beetles seemed in control after cashing in on Pak mistakes to take an 8-4 lead, the last four coming in the sixth after a two-out throwing error with the bases loaded plated the first two of those tiebreaking runs.

At that point, seven of Yakima’s runs had come with two outs, and only two of them wound up being earned.

But the Pak didn’t panic, getting a run back in the sixth on Thomas Wilcox’s second sacrifice fly of the game, and another in the seventh on J.R. Weigel’s groundout.

Then, after misfiring in the clutch all night, Yakima Valley finally got a key two-out hit when Tyler Gallaway laced a two-run double down into the right-field corner to tie the game in the eighth.

Prior to Gallaway’s hit, the Pak failed to capitalize fully on 10 walks, a hit batter and five wild pitches by Yakima starter Bobby Clements, stranding 12 runners, including eight in scoring position.

“With these guys … they really believe we’ll eventually put up a crooked number,” Archer said. “There wasn’t any panic. Some frustration, but then Tyler got that big hit.”

Yakima Valley got a big lift from the last two hitters in the order as No. 9 hitter Gallaway and No. 8 man Ethan Flory were a combined 4-for-6 with two doubles, a triple, four runs scored and three RBI.

The reverse was true for Yakima, with its top three hitters, in order, Jackson Marquis, Max Kovatch and Will Scott, combining to go 4-for-9 with five runs and four RBI.

Yakima                  101    204    000    —    8    9    3
Yakima Valley    110    111    121    —    9    10    3
Clements, Hartwig (8) and Reyes; Hinton, Vetsch (6) and Snider.
Highlights: Will Scott (Y) 2-3, run, 3 RBI; Max Kovatch (Y) 1-3, 2 runs, RBI; Jackson Marquis (Y) 1-3, 2 runs; Jens Jensen (Y) 2-5, RBI; Damon Lybeck (Y) 2-5; Tyler Gallaway (YV) 2-3, 3b, 2b, run, 3 RBI; Ethan Flory (YV) 2-3, 2b, 3 runs; Thomas Wilcox (YV) 2-3, run, 2 RBI; Cory Urquhart (YV) 2 runs; J.R. Wiegel (YV) 1-4, run, RBI.

Warriors look for second effort

Warriors brass happy with first year, looking to build on success ||

YAKIMA, Wash. — By almost every account, the Yakima Valley Warriors inaugural season was a success.

There is, however, plenty of room for improvement.

The return of indoor football to Yakima produced a team that finished at .500 and was in the playoff hunt until its final game of the season, and also had respectable attendance, drawing between 2,000 and 2,200 fans per game despite a short run-up to the season.

Solid building blocks for what co-owner Michael Mink believes is the first of many seasons to come in Yakima.

But to achieve that long-term goal, the Warriors need to find ways to increase attendance, and improve their corporate support, Mink noted.

“I think we’re two-thirds there,” he said this week from his Palm Harbor, Fla., home. “We averaged about 2,200 fans and we’d like to average about 3,200.

“We were short on corporate sponsorships. It was about what we expected starting in such a short time frame. We really need corporate support to succeed. We have to do a better job getting out and letting people know about Warriors football.”

Mink and his staff made good headway this season despite having just 41/2 months between the early November announcement that the team was coming to Yakima and its first game on March 20.

There was also some hesitation from the community about this franchise given the abrupt departure of Yakima’s first indoor football team, the Shockwave, prior to the start of its second season in 2002, and, to a smaller extent, the demise of the CBA’s Yakima Sun Kings two years ago.

“It’s a growing process,” Mink said of building the Warriors. “There was a lot of doubt, I found out, because of the team (the Shockwave) that was here before. There was a lot of doubt that we’d even open the season.

“Dealing with the skepticism was the hardest part, but we overcame that with hard work, and ultimately doing what we said we’d do, and completing what we started.”

Now, the key is to figuring out how to build on these initial inroads, especially at the gate where the fans who did attend showed strong loyalty and growing enthusiasm.

“We had a great fan base and that base grew and grew as the season went on,” Mink said. “They learned the game and they were enthusiastic. By the last game, they had really adopted us as their team.

“It was nice to see. It was a good transition.”

Another good transition came on the field as the team showed steady progress after starting with a fairly inexperienced group of players before eventually finishing with a 7-7 record.

“We kept adjusting every week … and we kept bringing guys in trying to teach them the game,” Mink said. “We had a lot of young talent that really developed as the season progressed.”

That included several strong individual efforts, starting with defensive back Jerome Williams, who joined the team midway through the season and led the league in interceptions per game, collecting 10 in five games. His 10 picks ranked third, trailing two players who played full seasons and finished with 13 and 11.

Defensive tackle Wilson Afoa tied for second in the league with three fumble recoveries.

On offense, quarterback Ben Running ranked third in passing, averaging 227.0 yards per game despite not joining the team until after the season started.

Running’s favorite target was Gabe Hatchett, who was third in the league in receiving yards per game (90.3), and fourth in catches per game (6.36). He had a team-best 70 receptions for 993 yards and 22 touchdowns in 11 games, one of just six players in the league with at least 70 grabs.

The Warriors offensive line was exceptional, ranking second in the league in sacks allowed with just nine in 14 games.

The question will be how many of them can Yakima Valley lure back, as a strong returning core could help Yakima Valley get off to a better start than last season when it lost five of its first eight games.

“I’d like to see half of the roster back,” said Mink, adding that teams can’t start signing players until Aug. 15. “A lot of the guys enjoyed their experience here, and I hope we have a lot of guys come back.”

With quite a few positives to build on, Yakima Valley has quickly shifted its focus to next season, with season ticket packages already available online (www.yakimavalleywarriors.com) — and ticket prices remaining the same.

The team also plans to stay active in the community during the offseason, continuing its work with Habitat for Humanity, and getting involved in reading programs with area schools, among the highlights, Mink said.

“We’re going to get out there and meet with more people,” Mink said, “and try to continue our growth in Yakima.”

Uncertainty surrounds other West franchises

YAKIMA, Wash. — Although the Yakima Valley Warriors had a solid season, the same can’t be said for a couple of other teams in the American Indoor Football Association’s West Division.

That created uncertainty and hardships for the other four teams, but is, in the words of AIFA co-founder Michael Mink, just part of doing business in some minor league sports.

“The goal of the league is to find good programs,” Mink said. “But you’re going to find struggling franchises in almost every minor league.”

Both the Ogden Knights and Wasilla Arctic Predators were unable to play any or all of their home games, Ogden because it couldn’t secure an arena and Wasilla because it couldn’t pay the high travel costs for teams coming to Alaska.

Yakima Valley, Wenatchee Valley, Wyoming, and San Jose had successful seasons, to varying degrees, and are expected to return, Mink said.

Ogden and Wasilla will have to “re-present themselves” at the league meeting in August before they will be allowed to play in 2011.

The league is also looking at “two or three towns” as possible 2011 additions in the West.

“Either way,” Mink said, “we’ll continue to grow.”

But that was part of the problem this season, with four of the West’s six franchises — Yakima Valley, Wenatchee Valley, San Jose and Wasilla — all making their league debuts.

“Three of the four did well, and that’s a pretty good ratio for minor league sports,” Mink said. “We want 4-for-4, but the  truth is, not every team is going to make it, for whatever reason.

“The league is in its fifth season, and the West is in its fourth. It just takes time to develop a league. You’re going to have fallout until you get to the point where the league is mature.”

Eglin at the four-front

Eglin joins exclusive club with 4th straight City championship ||

YAKIMA, Wash. — Having been agonizingly close for so many years, Nancy Eglin could have been considered a local version of the “best player to have never won a major,” in this case the Women’s City Tournament.

That seems so long ago now.

Eglin finally broke her City drought in 2004 and hasn’t slowed down a bit since.

PHOTO GALLERY

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Following a typically steady tour of the Yakima Country Club on Thursday, Eglin claimed her fifth City title to also firmly secure her place among the best women’s golfers in the history of the Yakima Valley.

“Nancy’s just an excellent player,” runner-up and eight-time City champion Pat Martin said. “Nancy did a great job today.”

Eglin fired a closing-round 79 for a 229 total and a three-shot victory over Martin to become just the fourth woman to win at least four straight City titles, and also tie Trudi Inslee for fifth-most City crowns.

“I’ve still been a bridesmaid more times than I’ve won, so I think they still owe me a few more,” said a laughing Eglin, who was pleased with her closing round despite a couple of hiccups.

“I had two bad holes, but other than that, I thought I shot pretty well,” she said. “I knew I could do it if I stayed within myself.”

Eglin did just that, avoiding any additional blowups after a triple-bogey on the fifth hole that briefly allowed Martin to grab a one-shot lead.

Martin, despite playing on her home course, couldn’t capitalize, however, as she bogeyed each of the next six holes to fall back to where she started the round — two shots back of Eglin.

That’s where the lead stayed until the par 5 14th, when Eglin had a two-putt par, while Martin miss-hit a chip from just off the green on her fourth shot and then two-putted to push Eglin’s lead to three with just four holes to play.

“I had lots of opportunities, but I just couldn’t capitalize,” Martin said. “I was ecstatic to shoot the rounds I did the first two days, but I was a little disappointed I didn’t play better on my home course.”

Also in the final foursome was Robin Cole and Christine Cook, who started the day six and seven shots off the pace, respectively.

Cole and Cook were both steady off the tee and with their irons, but simply unable to turn those solid shots into birdies and more pars.

“My putts just didn’t fall,” said Cole, who shot a final round 80 for a 236 total to take third. “I did not putt well.

“You can’t hit birdies if you’re not confident, and I just didn’t feel confident (on the greens).”

That was a similar story for Cook, the former Eisenhower High standout who just completed her freshman year on the Seattle University golf team.

“That was way too many putts,” said Cook, who closed with an 81 to finish fourth at 238. “Usually my putting is fine, but today, I was rolling them way too far past the hole.

“On the back nine, I just lost my feeling on the greens.”

With no one else able to mount a charge, Eglin coasted home with a mostly error-free finish that featured pars on four of the final five holes, including the last two.

That allowed her to join 14-time City champion Dorothy Carratt, seven-time winner Hazel Leland, who passed away in February after playing in more than 50 City tournaments, and six-time champ Pam Hubbard with at least four straight victories in this event (Carratt won the first 11 City titles).

“That’s really special,” Eglin said. “Pam is an old friend, and of course, Hazel was such a good player.

“Nobody’s going to catch (Dorothy).”

Then again, at one time, Eglin didn’t think she was ever going to win even one City title.

FINAL RESULTS

(First round at Apple Tree, second round at SunTides, third round at Yakima Country Club)

Low gross of field: Nancy Eglin 73-77-79—229. Low net of field: Lynda Mathews 205.

First Flight

Gross: Pat Martin 79-73-80—232, Christine Cook 80-77-81—236, Liz Tikriti 81-80-81—242, Chris Scacco 81-82-87—250. Net: Robin Cole 208, Betty Gilmore 219, Terri Schaake 222, Cindi Stewart 226.

Second Flight

Gross: Pat Sugden 258, Nancy Slinkard 259, Shelly Yarbrough 268, Barb Fortier 270. Net: Olive Ruff 208, (tie) Cricket Callarman 216, Judy Rozelle 216, Dorothy Brink 219.

Third Flight

Gross: Judy Jones 287, Judy Cussons 293, Nancy Graf 296, Kris Sterns 297. Net: Linda Lenseigne 229, (tie) Carolyn Henyan 230, Melissa Keeter 230, Carolyn Bowman 230.

Fourth Flight

Gross: Sandi Morris 291, Torrie Melton 295, Pat Mosley 303, Judy Stone 311. Net: Carol Judy 213, Patty Anderson 217, Carol Hammermeister 227, Bev Morgan 229.

Players who have won at least four straight Women’s City Golf Championships:

No.    Player    Years

11    Dorothy Carratt    1944-54

4    Hazel Leland    1956-59

4    Pam Hubbard    1991-94

4    Nancy Eglin    2007-10

NOTE: There are four other players with at least three straight titles — Marie Clark (’66-68), Suzanne Monson (’80-82), Trudi Inslee (’83-85) and Pat (Price) Martin (’86-88).

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