YAKIMA, Wash. — Bill Walker admitted to having the shakes, sort of, when he spoke to his Naches Valley baseball team Friday.

And no, the weather wasn’t that cool or blustery at Yakima County Stadium.

The veteran Rangers coach had merely congratulated NV on its 4-0 conquest of Meridian in a Class 2A state semifinal, and its accompanying berth in today’s title game.

Naches Valley High School pitcher Noel Gonzalez, left, and Nathan Giles celebrate the Rangers' won over Meridian High School Friday, May 25, 2012. (Andy Sawyer/Yakima Herald-Republic)

Naches Valley, 22-2, will meet unbeaten Cashmere at 4 p.m. for the crown with Cole Gilman, newly named SCAC West MVP, starting for the Rangers.

“Now you guys get to play in a state championship game,” Walker said. “I get chills just saying that.”

And why not? Just three years ago the Rangers had not only participated in a state title game, they’d won it, as the Bulldogs did in 2010.

If the prospect of the program’s third such championship (the first came in 1991) was not in itself goose-bump inducing, how about Noel Gonzalez’s one-hit pitching in Friday’s triumph?

That’s right — a second-inning infield single, on a bang-bang play at first that could have gone either way — was all Naches Valley’s senior right-hander surrendered in a performance for the ages.

“We’ll give ‘em that one,” Walker said of the hit. “Actually, Noel pitched five innings against Zillah earlier this season that were just as dominant.”

But not quite as meaningful. Again, this victory meant a state title game berth for the Rangers.

“No, never,” Gonzalez responded quietly when asked if he’d ever pitched a one-hitter, a no-hitter or a better game with such profound ramifications. “My stuff was pretty good, and I had a really good fastball. The curve was there sometimes, and sometimes not.”

But often enough to keep the Trojans (14-12) off balance, if not completely off base, for the game’s duration.

Gonzalez (11-0) struck out four, hit two, walked one and didn’t allow a baserunner past second. He retired 13 of his last 15 hitters.

NV’s offense, meanwhile, maximized its four hits — all singles — thanks in large part to textbook sacrifice bunts that led to the Rangers’ first two runs. Errors aided Naches Valley’s final tallies.

In the top of the first inning, Austin Molner’s leadoff walk was followed by a Gonzalez sacrifice. Molner then scored on Cole Gilman’s base hit to right.

In the third, Jake Frazier singled and was bunted to second by Molner. He took third on a wild pitch and came home on Gilman’s sacrifice fly to center.

“Just very good fundamental baseball,” Walker said. “The way we played today is how we’ve played all year. And I’ll expect to see that again tomorrow.”

Cashmere, 25-0, beat Chimacum for the title here in 2010. NV, which downed Kalama for its most recent championship, also reached the title game 1999 and 2007.

Naches Valley 101 001 1 — 4 4 2
Meridian 000 000 0 — 0 1 3

Gonzalez and Wells; Heslep and Murphy.

Highlights: Noel Gonzalez (NV) 4 Ks, 1 BB, 2 HBP; Cole Gilman (NV) 1-3, 2 RBI; Nathan Giles (NV) 1-3, run; Koleman Johns (NV) 1-3, RBI; Jake Frazier (NV) 1-1, 2 BB, run.

CASHMERE 3, KALAMA 2: Mitchell Darlington sliced a 2-2 pitch just inside the right-field line for an RBI double as Cashmere slipped past Kalama.

The victory lifted the Bulldogs (25-0) into today’s 4 p.m. state championship game.

With one out in the seventh, Mason Elliott started Cashmere’s game-winning rally with a single to right and advanced to second on a groundout. Leadoff batter Alex Chipman was intentionally walked, setting up Darlington’s game-winner.

Darlington finished 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles. Kyle Weiler plated Cashmere’s first-inning run on a sacrifice fly, and Cooper Elliott added an RBI single in the fourth.

Cashmere led 2-0 through five innings, but Kalama knotted the game at 2-2 in the sixth on back-to-back RBI singles by Lars Rider and Austin Lien.

The Bulldogs had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the sixth, when an intentional walk to Weiler loaded the bases with no outs. But Lien, Kalama’s starter, got back-to-back grounders that forced runners out at home and then ended the inning with a strikeout.

Colton Loomis struck out eight and walked four to earn the complete-game victory. Cashmere’s defense turned two double plays to help keep Loomis out of major trouble.

Kalama 000 002 0 — 2 7 0
Cashmere 100 100 1 — 3 6 0

Rider and Vossen; Loomis and Weiler.

But when East Valley’s Class 2A semifinal with the Wildcats concluded at Yakima County Stadium, Murphy’s broad-shouldered Levi MaVorhis was still standing.

If the Red Devils hadn’t given AM and MaVorhis their best shot they’d provided a mighty good one, albeit not quite enough to avoid a 5-4 loss.

East Valley High School's Zach Janis makes a catch in the outfield against Archbishop Murphy High School on Friday, May 25, 2012. (Andy Sawyer/Yakima Herald-Republic)

EV, 20-7, will oppose Sumner at 1 p.m. today for third and fourth places while the Wildcats, 25-2, meet Lynden at 7 o’clock for the title.

“Just a tough ballgame,” said Red Devils coach Jesse Benedetti, whose squad had won 14 of its last 15 games before encountering MaVorhis, a burly right-hander who held them to five hits. “Their guy was pretty much what we thought he’d be — threw a heavy fastball and was very good.

“We knew they’d hit and score, but Ryker (Ford) pitched well. He gave us a chance, but we couldn’t quite get it done.”

After Archbishop Murphy had taken a quick 1-0 lead on Trever Morrison’s first-inning triple and Eric Lawson’s following single, then added a run via Alexander Clouse’s RBI single in the top of the third, the Devils responded.

Justin Juarez’s infield single was followed by a single to center by Hanson, and when Hugo Lemus bounced into a potential around-the-horn double play, AM third baseman Lawson threw the ball into right field.

One run scored on a fielder’s choice, another plated on another Wildcats error and, when Jarett Martin drew a bases-loaded walk, East Valley had a 3-2 lead and MaVorhis, seemingly, on the ropes.

The senior right-hander would finish the frame without further damage, however, and after Murphy got its final run in the seventh off Hanson, MaVorhis yielded a leadoff two-bagger to Hanson in the bottom of the frame and an RBI groundout by Ford, then ended the game with his eighth strikeout.

Hanson doubled, singled and scored twice for EV while Clouse had a pair of RBI singles for Murphy.

MaVorhis, a 6-foot-3, 210-pounder, had been named to The Seattle Times all-area team after going 9-0 with 67 strikeouts and a 1.81 ERA, and hitting .453 with 10 doubles, a triple, a home run and 30 RBI.

Benedetti, asked how difficult it would be to prepare for today’s game, said, “Emotionally, it’s tough for the kids. But only two teams get to finish their seasons with wins tomorrow, and we’d like to be one of them.”

Archbishop Murphy 101 020 1 — 5 10 4
East Valley 003 000 1 — 4 5 1

MaVohris and Galgano; Ford, Hanson (7) and Martin.

Highlights: Trever Morrison (AM) 2-3, 3b, 2 runs; Eric Lawson (AM) 2-4, RBI; Alex Galgano (AM) 1-2, 2b, RBI, 2 runs; Alexander Clouse (AM) 2-4, 2 RBI; Justin Juarez (EV) 1-3; Hunter Hanson (EV) 2-4, 2b, 2 runs; Ryker Ford (EV) 2 RBI; Zach Janis (EV) 2b, RBI; Jarett Martin (EV) RBI.

LYNDEN 5, SUMNER 1: Jordan Kreider tossed a five-hitter to lead Lynden.

The victory sends the Lions (22-4) into Saturday’s 7 p.m. championship game against Archbishop Murphy.

Kreider struck out eight and walked four in the complete-game effort, allowing Sumner’s lone run on a wild pitch with two outs in the seventh inning.

The Lions’ offense was sparce, collecting only two hits — including just one through the first six innings. Lynden also stranded five baserunners in the first two innings.

But that changed in the third, when two Sumner errors opened the door to a three-run Lynden rally. An error, a bases-loaded walk to Tanner Olson and a grounder by Matt Boulette plated those runs, which were more than enough to back Kreider’s mound performance.

The semifinal victory puts the Lions in position to capture a rare feat: winning a state football, boys basketball and baseball title for the school in the same school year.

Lynden 003 000 2 — 5 2 0
Sumner 000 000 1 — 1 5 4

Kreider and Kraght; L. Christensen, Parsons (7) and Adkins.

YAKIMA, Wash. — Variations on themes are always necessary in prep baseball, even for the most successful coaches and the most successful programs.

And for the East Valley Red Devils and Naches Valley Rangers this season, ascending to the Class 2A and 1A final fours, respectively, has involved substantial on-the-fly adjustment.

East Valley, for example, found itself in an injury-induced slump that necessitated an after-game practice. And Naches Valley has been able to rely less on simply hammering its foes into submission and more on the subtleties of pitching and defense.

Naches Valley's Austin Molner, left, congratulates Jake Frazier on scoring a run in a game against Connell earlier this month at Naches. (Sara Gettys/Yakima Herald-Republic file)

And here they are — the Red Devils at 20-6 and slotted opposite Archbishop Murphy for a 4 p.m. 2A semifinal today at Yakima County Stadium, and the Rangers at 21-2, awaiting a 1 p.m. 1A matchup with Meridian.

While EV will appear in its third final four in the past seven years, NV has made the big dance for the fifth time in six years.

Junior Ryker Ford (8-3) will start today for East Valley while senior Noel Gonzalez (10-0) will get the ball for Naches Valley. Both are right-handers.

“Ryker has been one of our brightest spots,” EV coach Jesse Benedetti said, noting Ford’s able absorption of innings that would otherwise have gone to Hugo Lemus. “He’s really held us together with his pitching and hitting, and just his overall play.”

Lemus’ early-season loss to arm issues was just one of a series of health-related personnel losses that at various times included Hunter Hanson, Jarett Martin, Tony Saiz and James Himes.

It didn’t take long for all of this, plus the schedule, to catch up with the Devils. On March 31 at Prosser, East Valley was twice shut out — 10-0 and 5-0 — producing only eight total hits.

On returning to their facility, the Red Devils hit the practice field.

“We played a game called 21 outs,” Benedetti said. “Boot a ball and you basically start over. I expected it to take a couple of hours, but they did it on the first try.”

EV would again get swept in its next twinbill, by eventual league champion Ellensburg, but the tide had been turned.

And by the time the first rounds of state arrived last Saturday, Lemus had returned to form in a dominant 9-0 defeat of Cheney for a final four bid. Earlier in the day, Ford had fired a three-hitter in a 5-3 win over Selah.

East Valley's Wyatt Delquadri slides home with a run against Cheney on Saturday at Davis High School. (Andy Sawyer/Yakima Herald-Republic file)

“We’re starting to get kids back and we’ve got all kinds of kids coming through for us now,” Benedetti said.

East Valley has won 14 of its last 15 games.

For Naches Valley, its season was void of conspicuous speed bumps unless one considers the end of NV’s 68-game SCAC West winning streak. It should be noted, for example, that on the same day the Rangers split a doubleheader at Goldendale, they won their fifth consecutive league title.

“Our pitching and defense have been keys for us all year,” said coach Bill Walker, “and we’ve had some good clutch hitting. It’s not like our defense has been flashy, but we’ve made the plays we’ve needed to make.”

And while NV victories have more often come by scores like 4-0 — the final tally of their second-round state win last Saturday over Colville — wins have come nonetheless.

“We knew at the start of the season we’d have to pitch and play defense,” Walker said, “and we also knew we could do those things well. From an offensive standpoint, our numbers might have been affected by the new bats we’re using now, but we’ve just played solid baseball all year.”

The defensive stability, Walker said, starts with junior catcher Ben Wells who has controlled opponents’ running games and whose pitch-blocking acumen has allowed pitchers to throw breaking balls in the dirt with runners on base. Second baseman Austin Molner, a regular on NV’s 2009 state title team, has also been stellar.

“We have seven seniors on our team,” Walker said, “and we’re a lot like our 2009 team. There’s always something to be said for senior leadership. And I’m sure the close games we’ve had have helped us.

“You get in a close game and you don’t have that sense of panic. You just keep working at it and staying within yourself. We try to stress to our kids to not try to do more than you’re capable of doing.”

Cole Gilman figures to be the Rangers’ other starter with Koleman Johns available for relief in either or both games. Johns closed both of NV’s victories last Saturday at Moses Lake.

Multiple titles mean multiple celebrations, and a truly special sports year.

But three crowns?

Now we’re talking a really, really big deal, and something the Lynden Lions are hoping to accomplish at the Class 2A level.

Already Lynden has won football and boys basketball state titles this school year, and the Lions are hoping to add a baseball championship this weekend at Yakima County Stadium.

To get a shot at the third crown, Lynden must beat Sumner, a first-time baseball semifinalist, at 7 p.m. today at Yakima County Stadium.

Last Saturday at Yelm, the Lions got a five-hitter from Fraser Shindruk and a homer from Jordan Kreider to beat Chehalis 1-0. Lynden (21-4) had beaten Kingston 4-3 earlier in the day.

The Lions’ final four berth is their first in baseball since 1998.

Archbishop Murphy (24-2) rode Levi MaVorhis’ two-hitter with 10 strikeouts to a 6-0 win over Interlake, then rallied past Burlington-Edison 4-2 to reach Yakima.

In the Class 1A ranks, familiar names abound as Cashmere, Kalama and Meridian join Naches Valley among the semifinalists.

The unbeaten Bulldogs (24-0) won it all in 2010 before losing a first-round contest last year. Kalama (17-4) was the 2009 runner-up to NV, which has qualified for five of the last six final fours.

Meridian (14-11) made it three successive final fours last weekend with victories over Montesano (3-0) and Hoquiam (5-2). The Trojans graduated 18 seniors the previous two seasons.

The Class 2B and 1B events have moved to Ellensburg Rotary Park, with 16-time champion DeSales heading the 2B semifinalists. The Irish (21-2) were fourth last year.

Asotin (20-3), Mossyrock (18-6) and Toutle Lake (16-6) round out the field, with the Ducks making their first final four appearance since 1991.

In the Class 1B title game, Almira/Coulee-Hartline (14-4) will oppose Colton (14-8). ACH was second last year while the Wildcats were runners-up in 2010.

YAKIMA, Wash. — Ken Wilson has faced some difficult decisions during his two-plus seasons as Yakima Valley’s baseball coach. Choosing who to give the ball to for the Yaks’ NWAACC Tournament opener today in Longview wasn’t one of them.

“I haven’t seen anybody to compare Jake (Fife) to in a long time,” Wilson said. “He’s just not going to concede anything to you, and he’ll beat you any way he can — with his arm, with his glove, or with his bat.”

Shortstop J.R. Weigel, the East Region player of the year, is one of the key players for Yakima Valley heading into this week's NWAACC Tournament.||SARA GETTYS/Yakima Herald-Republic

Fife’s right arm has been especially formidable of late, and Wilson hopes its effectiveness will continue in Thursday morning’s 9:30 a.m. tourney opener against Chemeketa at Story Field.

YVCC (33-14) will be making its second straight NWAACC appearance after a 10-year absence. Last year’s squad went two-and-out, but the presence of Fife and other factors make this season’s prospects more positive.

In addition to the sophomore right-hander from Selah, Yakima Valley has gotten standout play from the likes of shortstop J.R. Weigel, a sophomore from Naches Valley and the recent recipient of the East Region’s MVP award (see story at right).

Weigel, who usually bats leadoff but on occasion has moved to the No. 3 spot in Wilson’s batting order, is hitting .360 with one homer, 16 RBI and 10 stolen bases.

He’s also been stellar afield, having earned gold glove status for his defensive play.

Center fielder Reid Martinez has been another bright spot, hitting .352 and driving in 33 runs, and catcher Will Chavarria (Cha-VAR-e-uh).

“Reid has been a real pleasant surprise for us in center field,” Wilson said, “and Will was unable to participate until we were about two weeks into the season because of a fracture in his back. But he calls the games for us back there and has just done an outstanding job.”

Martinez is a freshman from Seattle’s Roosevelt High while Chavarria is a freshman from Emerald Ridge in Puyallup.

Fife, meanwhile, has pitched complete-game masterpieces in each of his last three outings, allowing only 10 hits and one run over 27 innings.

For the year he’s 7-2 with a 1.91 ERA, and has been solid at second base (.338 plus gold glove recognition) when not pitching.

Elsewhere, Wilson is pleased with his players’ resolve after losing their second game in last weekend’s East Region playoffs, then winning three successive elimination games.

“They busted their tails and wouldn’t settle for anything less than getting to the tournament,” he said. “The leadership we’ve gotten from our sophomores has been really good and the experience they gained last year will be helpful as well.”

Regarding Chemeketa (25-19), from Salem, Ore., Wilson said he knew little about the Storm.

“We have control over what we’re bringing to the table,” he said. “So that’s pretty much the approach we’re taking. If we do well what we’re capable of doing, we’ll be fine.”

YAKIMA, Wash. — After a resounding pop echoed throughout Davis Field, the result of another Hugo Lemus fastball finding its mark, Cheney’s first base coach turned toward his dugout and said, “The kid’s throwing hard, OK? So let’s pick it up a notch.”

Which was much easier said than done — especially against this pitcher on this occasion.

East Valley High School's Hugo Lemus celebrates after the last out in the Red Devils' 9-0 win over Cheney High School Saturday, May 19, 2012. Lemus pitched a one-hit game and faced 22 batters. (Andy Sawyer/Yakima Herald-Republic)

Lemus, East Valley’s fireballing right-hander, pitched a one-hitter with 11 strikeouts Saturday as the Red Devils dominated the Blackhawks 9-0 for a berth in the Class 2A state tournament’s final four.

EV, 20-6, will oppose Archbishop Murphy in Friday’s first semifinal, at 4 p.m. in Yakima County Stadium. At 7 p.m., Lynden will meet Sumner.

It will be the Red Devils’ third final four appearance in seven years, all under coach Jesse Benedetti. East Valley went 0-2 in 2006, then reached the 2008 title game where it fell to Sehome.

“Hugo, obviously, was outstanding,” Benedetti said. “But I’m just really proud of the way our guys played today. Pitching, hitting, defense — we were just very solid in all three areas.”

Especially Lemus, who seems completely recovered from what Benedetti termed “arm issues” that plagued him for much of this season. He faced 22 hitters, one over the minimum.

He walked the second hitter he faced, then picked him off. He allowed a two-out single to Cheney’s Austin Harding in the third inning, then retired his last 13 hitters — eight via strikeout.

“I had really good command of my fastball today,” Lemus said. “And my teammates got me a big, early lead. From then on I just cruised.”

Truth be told, Lemus was front and center in EV’s offense, pounding out three of the Red Devils’ 14 hits. He singled and scored in East Valley’s four-run first, had an RBI base hit in the second, doubled and scored in the fourth and launched a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

Kris Janis, EV’s leadoff man, was 3 for 5 with a two-run double in the third, and catcher Jarett Martin singled in each of his first three at bats.

“We hit the ball hard against Selah, too (in a 5-3 win earlier Saturday),” said Janis, “but it seemed like they had a shift on against us. You have to just keep taking good swings and put the ball in play, like we did in this game.”

So with things coming together nicely for the Red Devils — they’ve won 14 of their last 15 games — and with Lemus providing an overpowering mound presence, might this be EV’s year to win it all?

“We’ll just ride the momentum,” Lemus said. “Just ride the mo.”

Or as Benedetti said, smiling, “Somebody has to win it, right?”

East Valley 412 100 1 — 9 14 0
Cheney 000 000 0 — 0 1 5

Torkelson, Overhoff (3), Maio (4) and Bonilla; Lemus and Martin.

Highlights: Hugo Lemus (EV) 22 hitters faced, 11 Ks, 1 BB, 3-3, 2b, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Kris Janis (EV) 3-5, 2b, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Jarett Martin (EV) 3-4.

EAST VALLEY 5, SELAH 3: Ryker Ford limited the Vikings to three hits and drove in a run for the Red Devils.

Jarett Martin had two hits, including a double, and drove in a run for East Valley, which opened up a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Jacob Monson and Braden Hussey each knocked in a run for the Vikings, who finished the season 19-6.

East Valley 300 100 1 — 5 8 1
Selah 000 200 1 — 3 3 1

Ford, Hanson (7) and Cavanaugh; Monson and Martin.

Highlights: Ryker Ford (EV) RBI, Jarett Martin (EV) RBI single, 2b; Justin Juarez (EV) RBI; Zach Janis (EV) RBI; Jacob Monson (S) RBI; Braden Hussey (S) RBI.

CHENEY 2, ELLENSBURG 1: Michael Wyatt tossed a two-hitter and didn’t allow a baserunner after the second, but a pair errors in that inning helped push across the winning run for Bulldogs.

Ellensburg loaded the bases in the seventh inning and Jake Munguia scored on a wild pitch. But Cheney pitcher Jeremy Alderman, who struck out eight, retired the next two batters to end the game.

The Bulldogs stranded 11 runners in the game.

Ellensburg 000 000 1 — 1 7 2
Cheney 110 000 x — 2 2 1

Wyatt and Campbell; Alderman and Bonilla.

Highlights: Joshua Maio (C) RBI 2b.

CLASS 3A

KAMIAKIN INTO SEMIFINALS: At County Stadium, Kamiakin shut out rival Kennewick to earn a spot in the state semifinals next Friday at Pasco’s Geza Stadium. In the quarterfinals, the Braves beat Mount Spokane 11-2 and the Lions blanked Hazen 4-0.

CLASS 1B

ACH WINS REGIONAL: At West Valley, Almira/Coulee-Hartline hammered Lummi 20-4 and followed that with a 14-4 rout of Oakville to advance to the championship game set for next Saturday at Rotary Field in Ellensburg. Oakville beat Quilcene 10-2 in the other quarterfinal.

YAKIMA, Wash. — For Yakima Valley, it’s deja vu all over again.

At least that’s what the Yaks are hoping for in light of their 5-1 loss to Walla Walla on Friday night in the East Region playoffs at Parker Field.

YVCC, which rode Jake Fife’s five-hit pitching to a 7-0 win over Treasure Valley in the playoffs’ opener Friday morning, must win three consecutive games for a return trip to the NWAACC Tournament.

Yakima Valley Community College's Cameron Padron slides into home during his team's game against Treasure Valley Community College on Friday, May 18, 2012. The Yaks won 7-0. (Sara Gettys/Yakima Herald-Republic)

The Yaks will start with a noon rematch of their game with Treasure Valley, and if they win will meet Walla Walla again at 3 p.m. Should they survive those loser-out contests, they’ll play the Warriors again on Sunday for the region’s No. 1 tournament berth.

“Same scenario exactly as last year,” Yakima Valley coach Ken Wilson said. “Same teams, even. So we’ve been there. We just have to come out tomorrow and take care of business.”

At least YVCC won’t have to again face Drew Christina, a left-hander who didn’t allow a baserunner past second until the ninth inning, when a two-out walk and successive singles by Fife and Will Chavarria cost him a shutout.

When Christina, a Wa-Hi grad, walked No. 9 hitter Shawn Wardian to load the bases with newly crowned region MVP J.R. Weigel due up, Walla Walla head coach Dave Meliah brought in Connor Lawhead to get Weigel on a fly to right.

“We beat him (Christina) just last weekend, in fact,” Wilson said. “But give him credit. He threw well and we could never get any momentum going.”

Last year in Pasco, YVCC lost its second playoff game but won its next three for the program’s first NWAACC berth since 2000.

While Christina was holding the Yaks in check, scattering six hits through the first eight innings and finishing with seven strikeouts and five walks, he controlled their running game with a deft pickoff move with which he erased three baserunners — two in the first inning.

Wilson considered the move to be a balk, and pled his case to the umpires.

“Yeah,” he said, “I think it’s a balk. But when the umpire doesn’t think so and won’t call it, there’s nothing you can do. If that kid’s on my team, it’s a great move. If he isn’t, it’s not a great move.”

The Warriors’ offense, meanwhile, pecked away at YVCC starter Carson Miller and six relievers. No. 9 hitter Ryan James was especially productive with a sacrifice fly in the second, a run-scoring double in the he fourth and an RBI single in the sixth.

In the day’s first game, Fife continued his mound mastery. He struck out five, walked two and lowered his ERA to 1.91.

In Fife’s last three starts, he’s been absolutely lights out. He has pitched complete games each time out, surrendering 10 hits and only one run over 27 innings.

Cameron Padron and Kyle Mall had three hits apiece, with Padron driving in two runs. Leadoff man Weigel scored three times.

In the second game, Columbia Basin outhit Walla Walla 9-6 but the Warriors plated three runs in the fourth and three more in the ninth for a 7-5 victory.

Walla Walla 5, Y?akima Valley 1

Walla Walla 020 102 000 — 5 12 0
Yakima Valley 000 000 001 — 1 8 1

Christina, Lawhead (9) and Turner; Miller, Vetsch (3), Darling (5), Eck (6), Valley (8), Schmit (9), Askvig (9) and Chavarria.

YVCC highlights: Kyle Thompson 2-3; Jake Fife 2-4.

Yakima Valley 7, Treasure Valley 0

Treasure Valley 000 000 000 — 0 5 5
Yakima Valley 200 112 01x — 7 13 0

Lively, Olson (6), Curtis (7) and Reay; Fife and Chavarria.

YVCC highlights: Jake Fife 5 Ks, 2 BB; J.R. Weigel 3 runs, RBI; Kyle Thompson 2-4; Shawn Wardian 1-1, RBI; Cameron Padron 3-4, 2 RBI; Kyle Mall 3-5; Will Chavarria 2b.

And while the Yaks would prefer a shorter, easier route to the NWAACC Tournament, the destination is all-important.

“Bottom line,” assistant coach Marcus McKimmy said Thursday before YVCC’s practice, “is getting to the tournament. We’d obviously prefer winning all our games and doing it that way. But getting to the tournament, no matter how we do it, is the biggest thing.”

At least this time the Yaks will be playing at home, hosting the East Region playoffs that start today at Parker Field.

Yakima Valley (29-13), ranked eighth in the newest NWAACC coaches poll, opens at 10 a.m. against Treasure Valley (25-18). Seventh ranked Columbia Basin (25-19) follows at 1 p.m. against Walla Walla (27-17).

Losers play in at 4 p.m. and the winners square off at 7.

CBC, which tied with Yakima Valley for the East Region championship but won the top playoff seed via tiebreaker, is assured an NWAACC tourney berth with the three remaining teams vying for one spot. The Hawks would ordinarily host the playoffs as the region’s top regular-season seed, but can’t due to conflicts with high school games scheduled for their field.

The Yaks, meanwhile, faced a similar scenario in last year’s playoffs at Columbia Basin, and after losing their second game won three straight — two Saturday and another Sunday — to claim YVCC’s first NWAACC berth since 2000 and the region’s top seed to boot.

Third-year head coach Ken Wilson, who has posted a 95-38 record since succeeding Ken Mortensen, has tabbed sophomore right-hander Jake Fife to start against Treasure Valley.

On May 5 at Parker, Fife fired a three-hitter in a 4-1 YVCC win. The Yaks, swept 6-5 in 11 innings and 6-4 earlier this season at TV, won the second game 9-8 for a split of their season series.

Fife, from Selah, is 6-2 with a 2.17 ERA and has been especially tough of late, allowing only five hits and one run over his last two starts and 18 innings.

Yakima Valley’s top hitters are J.R. Weigel, a sophomore shortstop from Naches Valley who’s hitting .388, and outfielder Cameron Padron, who’s at .365.

Weigel has spent much of the season in the leadoff spot, although Wilson has occasionally dropped him to the No. 3 spot.

The playoffs continue Saturday, and possibly Sunday depending on results of the first two days.

The NWAACC Tournament is scheduled for May 24-28 at Longview.

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Near the top of Blaine Bennett’s wish list for Central Washington’s spring football camp was the emergence of one or more consistent wide receivers.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Greg Logan.

Not to say that the redshirt sophomore will be the next Johnny Spevak or Brian Potucek, or that others among CWU’s receivers will not excel next season.

White team quarterback Ryan Robertson looks to pass during Central Washington University football's spring game in Ellensburg, Wash. Saturday May 12, 2012. (Andy Sawyer/Yakima Herald-Republic)

But Logan, a walk-on from Graham-Kapowsin, was among the most impressive performers Saturday in CWU’s annual Crimson-White game in Tomlinson Stadium.

The 5-foot-10, 175-pounder, playing on the first offensive unit, caught four passes including a 37-yard scoring strike as the White team — consisting primarily of the No. 1 offense and No. 2 defense — prevailed, 13-10.

“We had a lot of receivers make plays today,” Bennett said. “Greg Logan made two or three nice catches, Anthony Spain had a nice day and Leon LaDeaux made some plays.”

But while Spain and LaDeaux were mainstays on last year’s squad, Logan had quite literally been under the radar.

His most prominent play came midway through the second half, when on third and 20 from the Crimson 37 yard line, Ryan Robertson connected with Logan on an over-the-middle route. After catching the ball in traffic at about the 10, he spun through multiple defenders and scored.

Asked if his outing would mean upward movement on the depth chart, Logan said, “I hope so. We have a lot of receivers who can make plays on this team, but we also have some sets with five wideouts. So I hope I can get on the field and get some chances, because I think our team’s going to be really good.”

Robertson, the incumbent starting quarterback who’s coming off a severe hip injury from last year, hit 9 of 14 passes for 150 yards and two TDs. His first score came on a 53-yard flea-flicker to Dalton Thomas.

“Best I’ve felt in a long time,” the redshirt senior said. “Our O-line is solid, our running backs ran hard and our receivers made plays. I’m just excited about the season.”

Among the newcomers to make an impression was junior quarterback Jeff Nelson, a transfer from Sierra College in California. The 6-3, 220-pounder hit 6 of 8 throws for 91 yards, including a perfect deep-sideline bomb to Stevie Will that covered 66 yards for the game’s final score.

Defensive standouts included Kittitas High graduate Louie Bruketta, a senior linebacker with two tackles, and East Valley’s Cody Nickoloff, a redshirt freshman linebacker who had one stop for a two-yard loss.

The day was marred, however, by a fight between offensive lineman Jon Murbach and defensive lineman Jarrel Johnson. After cooler heads prevailed, with the clock winding down, Bennett decided to call it good.

“You never like to see guys get in little scuffle like that,” Bennett said, “but overall I’m very pleased with today and the way our spring went overall. We got a lot of things done.”

CWU, coming off a 4-6 year, convenes on Aug. 8 for early drills and opens the 2012 season Sept. 1 at Texas A&M-Kingsville.

White 0 7 6 0 — 13
Crimson 0 3 7 0 — 10

White — Dalton Thomas 53 pass from Ryan Robertson (Sean Davis kick).

Crimson — FG, Josef Kistler 35.

White — Greg Logan 37 pass from Robertson (kick blocked).

Crimson — Stevie Will 66 pass from Jeff Nelson (Kistler kick).

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — White: Ishmael Stinson 9-43, Louis Davis 7-31, Colin Walsh 1-5, Sean Davis 1-(minus 11), Robertson 4-(minus 19). Crimson: Randall Gordon 4-16, Bryce Davis 5-15, Devon Davis 2-2, T.J. Early 1-(minus 5), Darius Banks 3-(minus 12).

PASSING — White: Robertson 9-14-0-150, Walsh 3-8-1-26. Crimson: Nelson 6-8-0-91, Banks 1-6-1-8, Early 0-2-0.

RECEIVING — White: Logan 4-68, Anthony Spain 4-30, Dalton Thomas 1-53, Taylor McAllister 1-12, Leon LaDeaux 1-7, Davis 1-6. Crimson: Holden Rethwill 3-12, Jerid Ronquillo 2-14, Will 1-66, Bryce Davis 1-7.

SELAH, Wash. — Kurt Lindemann dug in for a crucial at bat, issuing subtle reminders to himself.

Be patient. Stay back. Work the count.

Like all good hitters Lindemann put his thoughts into action, getting a 3-2 fastball over the heart of the plate and driving it for a two-run double in a 9-6 Selah win over Ellensburg.

Selah High School baseball standout Kurt Lindemann at Carlon Park in Selah, Wash. Thursday May 10, 2012. (Andy Sawyer/Yakima Herald-Republic)

This, however, was not your rudimentary hitting lesson.

For one thing, Lindemann’s predecessor in the Vikings lineup, Justin Windsor, had been intentionally walked.

For another, Lindemann was a freshman.

“Justin’s a great hitter,” he acknowledged afterward before adding with a bit of a smile, “but that did make me a little bit mad.”

And in the grand scheme of things, perhaps a little bit better.

It’s a mentality Lindemann has maintained through a stellar career now in its fourth varsity season, and one coach Mike Archer had noticed early on.

Few freshmen, after all, play regularly in one of the state’s most successful prep baseball programs — Archer said “maybe five” have done so since 1990.

“Kurt could hit,” the coach said. “He was a good hitter even back then, and we knew he could help us as a freshmen. Most of the others who’d played for us as ninth graders had filled in or taken over for someone who’d gotten hurt. Lindy stepped in and took over.”

Lindemann finished second as a freshman to Jake Fife for Selah’s Big Stick Award, which goes to the hitter with the highest batting average. He won it the next two years and this season, as the surging CWAC district champion Viks prepare for Class 2A regional play Saturday at Cheney, and yet another state berth, Lindemann is in a neck-and-neck duel with sophomore Fabian Gutierrez for a third such trophy.

The left-handed hitting outfielder is batting .513 — Gutierrez is at .519 — with a team-high four homers and 27 runs batted in. Lindemann’s RBI total is second on the squad to Gutierrez’s 28, and he also has a team-high 11 doubles and four triples.

Also, in 76 at-bats, Lindemann has struck out just five times.

And while he could be accurately described as a tough out, Lindemann could also be considered as someone who talks softly but swings a productive stick.

“Kurt’s not especially vocal — he never says much,” Archer said. “But he does lead by example. He runs everywhere he goes and he practices hard every single day.”

Said Lindemann, “I try to hustle, always, and I don’t talk too much. When I do, I make sure it’s important.”

Leading also includes listening, and in that regard Archer said substantial improvement has been made. As good as Lindemann was as a freshman — he’s made the all-CWAC first team as an outfielder four straight years — he’s better now.

“He did some things that were just natural for a hitter, but also he’s bought into the things we’ve taught him and he’s made a lot of adjustments,” Archer said. “If we’re playing someone who’s throwing 87 (miles an hour), for example, and then they come in with someone throwing 77, Kurt will adjust to that in one at-bat instead of two or three.”

Even though hitting coach Mick Jansen, when asked for his contributions, laughed and said, “I tell him, ‘Go up and hit, Kurt.’ I just stay out of his way.”

There is also he matter of doing what’s best for the team, and Archer said Lindemann has excelled in that realm, too.

“We don’t ask him to bunt much because he’s such a good hitter, but he can and will if the situation calls for it,” Archer said. “Defensively he’s gotten better, too. He gets a good jump on the ball, has a good first step and his arm has gotten progressively better.”

So if the season has been somewhat unusual for Selah — the Vikings were 13-5 and finished as the CWAC’s No. 4 seed before winning district last weekend — it hasn’t for Lindemann.

And his goal of reaching another final four, which Selah did during his freshman and sophomore years, remains intact.

Lindemann’s next stop? Bellevue Community College and a program that’s presently ranked No. 1 in the NWAACC and is 33-8 this season.

“It’s gone by fast,” he said of his Vikings career. “What I’ll remember most is probably just my teammates, a really good group of guys to go out to practice with every day. And we’ve had a lot of fun coaches and teachers.”

All of whom have no doubt had fun coaching and teaching Kurt Lindemann.

• Roger Underwood’s Under the Radar blog is at sportsyakima.com He can be reached at 509-577-7694 or runderwood@yakimaherald.com.

Kurt Lindemann

Height: 6-2

Weight: 180

Bats: Left.

Throws: Right.

Career statistics

Year BA 2Bs HR RBI

2009 .468 12 0 39

2010 .442 8 6 38

2011 .492 10 2 35

2012 .513 11 4 27

YAKIMA, Wash. — It has not been an especially warm spring in the Kittitas Valley, and Blaine Bennett is cool with that.

All the better to evaluate Central Washington’s spring football season, which concludes with Saturday’s noon spring game at Tomlinson Stadium.

The Wildcats will be divided into crimson and white teams, head coach Bennett said, with one squad comprised primarily of the first-team offense and the second-team defense and the other featuring the No. 1 defense and No. 2 offense.

“We always try to have some fun with our spring game,” Bennett said, “but we also try to keep it somewhat competitive. That’s why we don’t have a player draft. And we divide the staff equally, too.”

Among the encouraging news Bennett reported was no serious injuries, and that quarterback Ryan Robertson has shown few ill effects from a dislocated hip suffered last Oct.15.

“Ryan has had a nice spring, and so has Darius Banks,” Bennett said, referring to a junior transfer quarterback from Fullerton (Calif.) College. Robertson, who will be a redshirt senior when CWU convenes Aug. 8 for fall camp, remains the No. 1 QB, Bennett said.

Elsewhere, Bennett said tackle Donnie Johnson, ends Jerod Baker and Gabe Bruno (transfer from Butte, Calif. College) and linebackers Stan Langlow, Riley Wall and John Koopman have excelled on a defense that’s being rebuilt under the tutelage of new coordinator Malik Roberson. True freshman Cedrique Chaney has impressed in the secondary, too.

Offensively, tackle Mike Nelson has played well along with true freshmen Nic Cooper at running back and Taylor McAllister at wide receiver.

“We’re really pleased with a lot of our freshmen and sophomores,” Bennett said, adding that consistent play from Central’s receivers is still being sought.

The game will consist of 30-minute halves with a running clock, and Bennett said a camp for youth 5 to 14 years old will be held from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Cost is $10.

Admission will be donation of a non-perishable item to the FISH Community Food Bank.

Central’s season starts Sept. 1 at Texas A&M-Kingsville.

NWAACC East standings: Columbia Basin 19-7, Yakima Valley 17-9, Treasure Valley 16-10, Walla Walla 16-10, Big Bend 13-13, Spokane 10-16, Wenatchee Valley 9-17, Blue Mountain 4-22.
Saturday’s schedule: Walla Walla at Yakima Valley (2), 1 p.m.; Columbia Basin at Spokane (2); Big Bend at Treasure Valley (2); Wenatchee Valley at Blue Mountain (2) (END REGULAR SEASON).

FROM THE QUOTE FILE
“He hit a baseball. The Dude’s on fire. What do you want me to say?”
— Tommy Hunter, Baltimore right-hander Thursday night, when asked if he’d made a good pitch to Josh Hamilton after Hamilton launched it for a 442-foot homer.