Yakima Valley’s ace right-hander, who had been dominant in his three prior starts, authored yet another gem in the form of a seven-hitter with 12 strikeouts Thursday as the Yaks blanked Chemeketa 2-0 in the first round of the NWAACC Tournament at David Story Field.

The victory advances eighth-ranked YVCC (34-14) into a quarterfinal game Saturday against a late Thursday showdown between top-ranked Bellevue and second-ranked Pierce. Saturday’s game time has not been determined.

Fife, in his fourth straight dominant outing, did not allow an extra base hit and walked four. Over his last four starts he’s gone 36 innings and allowed only one run.

“I just tried to keep the ball in the zone and mix speeds,” the sophomore right-hander from Selah said, having improved to 8-2 while lowering his ERA to 1.71. “I didn’t quite have the location I’ve had in my last few starts.”

Yakima Valley didn’t exactly light up Chemeketa’s pitching, but Reid Martinez scored J.R. Weigel with a third-inning single and one of four Storm errors allowed another run.

Fife, meanwhile, was the beneficiary of some standout defense, including a highlight-film catch by second baseman Breckan Hunckle.

With runners at second and third and one out in the eighth, Hunckle made a diving, backhanded stab of Zach Close’s soft liner.

“He hasn’t played there every game,” Fife said. “That was huge.

Said YVCC coach Ken Wilson, “Great play. It’s nice to see a freshman playing with confidence. That’s the first time all year I’ve seen him really enjoying himself.”

Of Fife, Wilson said, “He just threw the way he throws. His last three games have been very impressive. Hitting-wise, we were not as consistent tonight as I would have liked.”

The Yaks coach also had substantial praise for catcher Will Chavarria, who blocked several pitches in the dirt with runners on base.

“That comes from two years of working together,” Wilson said.

Last year, YVCC went two-and-out in its first NWAACC appearance since 2000. Weather, which delayed Thursday’s game, was a factor in that tournament also.

“It was nice to finally play with no downpour,” Wilson said. “Last year we had two eight-hour games because of the rain.”

Chemeketa 000 000 000 — 0 7 4

Yakima Valley 002 000 00x — 2 7 0

Smith and Koenig; Fife and Chavarria.

YVCC highlights: J.R. Weigel 1-3, run; Kyle Thompson 1-2; Cameron Padron 2b; Will Chavarria 1-3; Reid Martinez RBI.

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. — Yakima Valley’s J.R. Weigel has been named the East Region’s MVP while two of his teammates have received first-team all-star recognition.

Weigel, a sophomore from Naches Valley, also received Gold Glove recognition for his play at shortstop.

Weigel is hitting .360 for the NWAACC Tournament-bound Yaks with one homer, 16 RBI and 10 stolen bases.

Joining him on the first team were outfielder Reid Martinez and starting pitcher Jake Fife.

Fife made the second team as an infielder, while outfielder Kyle Thompson, designated hitter Ryan King and relief pitcher Jake Vetsch were similarly honored.

Fife was also given a gold glove for his defensive play at first.

YVCC, 33-14 under third-year head coach Ken Wilson, will open NWAACC play at 9:35 a.m. Thursday against Chemeketa.

YAKIMA, Wash. — Despite having their backs to the wall the last two days of the East Region playoffs, the Yakima Valley baseball team’s confidence never wavered.

And they needed just one word to explain that unflinching conviction.

Pitching.

The Yaks knew they had plenty of it and despite playing their fifth game in just three days, there was a belief that their hurlers would come through one final time in Sunday’s elimination game against Walla Walla.

And Carson Miller delivered big time — with a little late help from Jacob Vetsch — in leading Yakima Valley to a 4-1 victory and the East Region’s No. 1 seed into the NWAACC Tournament that begins Thursday in Longview.

“It starts with pitching,” Yaks head coach Ken Wilson said. “Anybody on our staff can get the job done and the last two days was a testament to that.

“I have confidence in our pitching, our pitchers have confidence in themselves, and the team has confidence in them.”

For Miller, Sunday’s outing was redemption after the right-hander lasted just two innings in Friday’s 5-1 loss to Walla Walla that dropped the Yaks into the consolation bracket, forcing them to win three games Saturday and Sunday in order to advance.

Miller was brilliant Sunday, allowing eight hits, walking just one and striking out four in his 71?3 innings of work. He threw an even 100 pitches, 68 for strikes.

“His location was working today,” Wilson said. “(Friday) he didn’t have the control he had today.”

Vetsch, a West Valley High graduate, came on to get out of a jam in the eighth, and then was nicked for an unearned run in the ninth before wrapping things up.

Yakima Valley gave Miller some early offense, taking some of the pressure off.

The Yaks scored twice in the first inning, and then added their other two runs in the fourth, and that was enough of a cushion for Miller and Vetsch.

J.R. Weigel went 3 for 4 with a run, Kyle Thompson and Will Chavarria both had two hits and scored a run, and Reid Martinez and Tyler VonDracek each had an RBI.

“It’s about momentum,” Wilson said. “Our pitchers are throwing well and our defense was playing well so we needed to keep building on that. Today, we continued building momentum.”

After routing Walla Walla 11-1 on Saturday to force today’s deciding contest, Wilson said his players didn’t come into Sunday’s game expecting another romp.

“They were pretty focused,” he said. “They knew what the prize was and talked Saturday night about finishing things (Sunday).”

Yakima Valley (33-14) earns the East Region’s No. 1 seed and will open the NWAACC Tournament against Chemeketa.

Walla Walla 000 000 001 — 1 9 2

Yakima Valley 200 200 00x — 4 10 2

Lawhead, Knigge (8) and Turner; Miller, Vetsch (9) and Chavarria.

Highlights: Neal Schuck (WWCC) 3-4; Cody Pozanski (WWCC) 2-5, RBI; Michael Kilpatrick (WWCC) 2-4; J.R. Weigel (YVCC) 3-4, run; Kyle Thompson (YVCC) 2-4, run; Jake Fife (YCCC) 2-4; Will Chavarria (YVCC) 2-3, 2b, run; Reid Martinez (YVCC) 1-3, RBI; Tyler VonDracek (YVCC) 1-4, run, RBI.

After dispatching Treasure Valley 6-1 in a loser-out East Region playoff game earlier at Parker Field, the Yaks faced Walla Walla, needing to not only win Saturday but again today to advance to the NWAACC Tournament.

But things didn’t look good out of the gate as Walla Walla loaded the bases with just one out, forcing Yaks coach Ken Wilson to make a pitching change.

Joe Valley dodged the bullet with a strikeout and fielder’s choice groundout, and the Yaks quickly seized on that momentum-shifting escape, scoring twice in the bottom of the frame and 11 times in the first four innings en route to an 11-1 victory.

That sets up a loser-out game between the teams at noon today at Parker Field, with the winner earning the region’s No. 1 seed. The winner will open the NWAACC Tournament against Chemeketa on Thursday in Longview.

“They were confident that we can play with them,” Wilson said of Saturday’s victory. “And what helps build that is to have some quality pitching.”

That pitching depth showed against Walla Walla, with the bullpen working out of two bases-loaded threats in the first three innings.

The second came in the third, with the Yaks up 5-0, as Walla Walla’s first three hitters reached. Wilson called on Seth Darling, who struck out Jarrod Turner, who was also the first-inning strikeout victim, and then got Shane Dixon to fly out to left fielder Kyle Thompson, who then gunned down Neal Schuck at the plate for the inning-ending double play.

That was also Walla Walla’s last meaningful scoring threat, not that it mattered much as Yakima Valley’s offense didn’t slow down until it reached double digits in runs.

Among Yakima Valley’s key hits in those early frames were infield RBI singles by Shawn Wardian in the first and Kyle Thompson in a three-run second, and a two-run single by Jake Fife and an RBI double by Will Chavarria in a four-run fourth that essentially settled matters.

“We had some very solid, clutch hitting,” Wilson said.

The Yaks (32-14) could’ve rolled up even more runs, but Walla Walla managed to turn four double plays in the first four innings.

Thompson and Chavarria both finished 3 for 4, with Thompson scoring twice and Chavarria driving in two, and Fife, Reid Martinez, Tyler Von Dracek and Shawn Wardian each collected two of the Yaks’ 16 hits.

• Against Treasure Valley, Kyle Garvin, Brett Druffel and Jacob Vetsch combined to scatter eight hits.

Cameron Padron led the offense, going 3 for 4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Wardian added a two-run single, and Martinez and J.R. Weigel were both 2 for 4 and combined to score three runs.

YAKIMA VALLEY 6, TREASURE VALLEY 1

Treasure Valley 010 000 000 — 1 8 3
Yakima Valley 202 020 00x — 6 11 0

Olson, Johnson (6) and Reay; Garvin, Druffel (6), Vetsch (7) and Chavarria.

YVCC highlights: Reed Martinez 2-4, 2 runs; Cameron Padron 3-4, 2 RBI, 2 runs; Shawn Wardian 2-run single; J.R. Weigel 2-4, run.

YVCC 11, WALLA WALLA 1

Walla Walla 000 001 0 — 1 7 4
Yakima Valley 232 400 x — 11 16 0

Dixon, Campeau (2), Brockman (4), Gillespie (6) and Turner; Askvig, Valley (1), Darling (3), Eck (6) and Chavarria.

Highlights: Kyle Thompson 3-4, 2 run, RBI; Reid Martinez 2-3; Jake Fife 2-3, 2-run single, 2b; Will Chavarria 3-4, RBI 2b, 2 RBI; Tyler Von Dracek 2-4, 2 RBI; Shawn Wardian 2-4, 2 RBI, run.

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.

Click here for more information on purchasing these photos.

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.

Click here for information on purchasing any of these photos.

YVCC (19-9 region, 29-13 overall) tied for the championship with Columbia Basin. The Hawks had carried a two-game lead into Saturday’s play but were swept at Spokane.

CBC, however, will be the No. 1 region playoff seed, thereby getting an NWAACC Tournament bid by virtue of a tiebreaker. Since the Yaks and Hawks split their regular-season series, the next tiebreaker of head-to-head play against the third-place team, Treasure Valley, came into play. Columbia Basin was 4-0 against the Chukars while YVCC was 2-2.

The Yaks will nonetheless host the East Region playoffs Friday, Saturday and possibly Sunday at Parker Field (see schedule below) because CBC’s fields are being used for high school playoffs. Yakima Valley will compete with Treasure Valley and Walla Walla for the region’s remaining tourney spot.

In Saturday’s opener against Walla Walla, J.R. Weigel singled, doubled and scored twice while Kyle Thompson had three RBI.

Fife, in his last two starts, has allowed one run and five hits in 18 innings. The Selah right-hander is 6-2 with a 2.17 ERA.

In the second game, Kyle Garvin and Seth Darling combined on a three-hitter while Thompson had two hits and Martinez drove in two runs.

Game 1

Walla Walla 000 000 000 — 0 2 4
Yakima Valley 103 000 00x — 4 8 2

Arlt and Turner; Fife and Chavarria.

YVCC highlights: Jake Fife 9 Ks, 1 BB; J.R. Weigel 2-4, 2b, 2 runs; Kyle Thompson 2-4, 3 RBI; Reid Martinez 2-4; Cameron Padron 2-4, RBI.

Game 2

Walla Walla 000 000 100 — 1 3 1
Yakima Valley 310 020 00x — 6 11 1

Christina, Campeau (5) and Turner; Garvin, Darling (9) and Smith.

YVCC highlights: Thompson 2-3; Martinez 1-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Dyllon Smith 2-4, 2b; Fife 2b, RBI.

FINAL EAST REGION STANDINGS

*Columbia Basin (19-9, 25-19), Yakima Valley (19-9, 29-13), Treasure Valley (18-10, 25-18), Walla Walla (16-12, 27-17), Big Bend (13-15, 24-16), Spokane (12-16, 20-25), Wenatchee Valley (11-17, 19-21), Blue Mountain (4-24, 9-35).

* — Won NWAACC Tournament berth on tiebreaker.

EAST REGION PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

Friday at Parker Field

Yakima Valley vs. Treasure Valley, 10 a.m.; Columbia Basin vs. Walla Walla, 1 p.m.; YVCC-TVCC loser vs. CBC-WWCC loser, 4 p.m.; YVCC-TVCC winner vs. CBC-WWCC winner, 7 p.m.

Losses end Central’s season

NAMPA, Idaho — Brady Kincannon homered in each game, but Central Washington nonetheless ended its season with a pair of GNAC losses to Northwest Nazarene on Saturday, 13-7 and 5-1.

Kincannon and David Leid both went deep in the opener while Ethan Sterkel had three hits. Kincannon’s long ball in the second game was one of only three CWU hits.

The Wildcats finished 11-21 in conference play and 19-31 overall. NNU finished 16-16 and 27-22.

Game 1

Central Wash. 100 001 131 — 7 15 1
NW Nazarene 140 022 04x — 13 18 1

Lotzer, Hastings (5) and Sani; Sneed, McDonald (8) and Mitchell.

CWU highlights: Brandon Wang 3-5, 2 2b; Derrick Webb 2-5, 2 2b, 2 RBI; Brady Kincannon 2-5, HR, 2 RBI; David Leid 3-4, HR, RBI; Ethan Sterkel 3-4, 2b, RBI.

Game 2

Central Wash. 010 000 0 — 1 3 1
NW Nazarene 000 050 x — 5 7 0

Long and Sani; Brown and Mitchell.

CWU highlights: Kincannon 1-3, HR, RBI.

TRACK AND FIELD

Mack, Boyes win GNAC titles

MONMOUTH, Ore. — Bryan Mack caputured the triple jump on Saturday and Brennan Boyes won the high jump on Friday to help the Central Washington men finish fourth in the GNAC outdoor track and field championships.

Mack, a senior had a winning leap of 49 feeet, 3/4 inches, the fourth-best mark in school history.

Boyes successfully defended his title in the high jump with a winning height of 6-9, the best performance in the GNAC this season.

Other Central men earning all-conference honors (a top-three finish) were Mike Jensen, second in the shot put (51-3), Andrew Venema, second in the 110-meter hurdles (15.01 seconds) and Quinton Agosta, second in the hammer (179-7).

Central’s women were led by the second-place showings of Katharine Lotze in the triple jump (39-73/4 ) on Saturday, and Kati Davis in the pole vault (12-23/4) on Friday.

Annie Martinez, from East Valley, took seventh in the shot (39-51/4) for the Wildcats, who finished sixth.

Riverside Christian graduate Natalie Nobbs, running for Seattle Pacific, took second in the women’s 400 hurdles (1:04.37).

MEN

Team scores: 1, Western Washington 205; 2, Western Oregon 1261/2; 3, Alaska Anchorage 123; 4, Central Washington 120; 5, Northwest Nazarene 110; 6, Saint Martin’s 631/2; 7, Seattle Pacific 34; 8, Simon Fraser 27; 9. Montana State Billings 7.

Central results

Saturday’s finals

400: 4, Scott Morrison, 49.14. 110 hurdles: 2, Andrew Venema, 15.01. 400 hurdles: 8, Colin Alexander, 56.57. 400 relay: 4, Central Washington (Mack, Nichols, Caryl, Morrison) 42.57. 1,600 relay: 4, Central Washington (Fremd, Alexander, Johnson, Morrison) 3:19.12. Triple jump: 1, Bryan Mack, 49-3/4; 5, Will Hallberg, 45-81/2; 7, Devin Bennett, 44-111/2; 8, Sakae Kamagata, 44-9. Javelin: 3, Braden Keller, 198-10; 7, Manny Melo, 183-6. Hammer: 2, Quinton Agosta, 179-7; 4, Mike Jensen, 164-11; 7, Braden Keller, 149-6; 8, Eric Holmstrom, 147-1.

Friday’s Central results

High jump: 1, Brennan Boyes, 6-9; 4, (tie) 4. Ethan Meikle, 6-31/4; 6. Lewis Meyers, 6-31/4; 8, Brandon Roddewig, 6-31/4. Long jump: 5, Manny Melo, 22-8; 6, Will Hallberg, 22-61/4; 7, Devin Bennett, 22-33/4. Shot: 2, Mike Jensen, 51-3. Discus: 7, Mike Jensen, 145-4.

WOMEN

Team scores: 1, Seattle Pacific 188; 2, Alaska Anchorage 183; 3, Western Washington 1371/2 4, Western Oregon 77; 5, Northwest Nazarene 74; 5, Simon Fraser 63; 6, Central Washington 57; 7, Montana State Billings 33; 8, Saint Martin’s 61/2.

Central results

Saturday’s finals

400: 7, Seanna Pitassi, 58.71. 100 hurdles: 8, Chelsea Genther, 15.45. 400 relay: 6, Central Washington (Swanson, Takayoshi, Pitassi, Genther) 49.85. 1,600 relay: 7, Central Washington (Forgey, Morgan, Genther, Pitassi) 4:05.82. High jump: 4, Tayler Fettig, 5-41/2. Triple jump: 2, Katharine Lotze, 39-73/4. Shot: 4, Kaylee Baumstark, 41-5; 7, Annie Martinez, 39-51/4. Hammer: 4, Kaylee Baumstark, 148-8.

Friday’s results

Steeplechase: 6, Kelsey Kreft, 11:23.06. Pole vault: 2, Kati Davis, 12-23/4; 4, Jamie Larsen, 11-7. Discus: 6, Kaylee Baumstark, 124-8.

FASTPITCH

YVCC swept in season finales

WENATCHEE, Wash. — Hailey Bator threw a one-hitter in the opener, and Devin McMellis drove in four runs in the second game as Wenatchee Valley swept Yakima Valley 8-0 and 10-0 in an East Region softball doubleheader Saturday.

With the losses, Yakima Valley finishes the season at 5-24 in the region and 14-26-1 overall.

Bator, a former Cle Elum standout, struck out seven.

Game 1

Yakima Valley 000 00 — 0 1 2
Wenatchee Valley 161 0x — 8 9 1

McKinley and Reeves; Bator and Cullip.

YVCC highlights: Tori Slobig 1-2.

Game 2

Yakima Valley 000 00 — 0 2 2
Wenatchee Valley 023 5x — 10 9 0

Marbet, Slobig (3) and Reeves; Thomas and Cullip.

YVCC highlights: Jessie Ihly 1-2, 2b; Whitney Biehl 1-2; Devin McMellis 4 RBI.

CWU (11-19 conference, 19-29 overall) won the first game 10-8.

Rohde improved his record to 6-3 and finished his CWU career with a flourish. Over his last two starts, the left-hander from Gig Harbor allowed only one run over 14 innings, striking out 28 and walking six.

Rohde’s strikeout total Friday was the most by a CWU pitcher in seven years.

Brady Kincannon had two hits and Glen Reser homered for Central.

In the opener, Brett Gray went deep and drove in three runs while Kyle Sani added three RBI as the Wildcats took advantage of six errors by the Crusaders (14-16, 25-22).

The teams conclude their seasons today with another doubleheader.

Game 1

Central Wash. 000 403 300 — 10 13 0

NW Nazarene 011 001 050 — 8 13 6

Button, Bushman (7), Davidson (8), Knutson (9) and Sani; Patterson, Nielsen (6), Forseth (7) and Mitchell.

CWU highlights: Brett Bielec 2-4; Derrick Webb 3-4, RBI; Kyle Sani 3-6, 2b, 3 RBI; Brett Gray 2-4, HR, 3 RBI.

Game 2

Central Wash. 010 020 1 — 4 6 1

NW Nazarene 000 000 0 — 0 8 3

Rohde and Leid; Vaughn and Glasgow, Mitchell (7).

CWU highlights: Brady Kincannon 2-2, 3b; Webb 1-3, 2b, RBI; Glen Reser 1-3, HR, RBI.

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.

Columbia Basin, with a sweep of Blue Mountain, took a two-game lead on YVCC with two games remaining. The Yaks host Walla Walla on Saturday while CBC visits Spokane.

The Yaks (17-9 region, 27-13 overall), who had won six straight, were unable to hold leads in both games.

Reid Martinez’s two-run double in the seventh inning of the opener gave YVCC a 3-1 lead, and after the Vikings scored twice in their half of the inning to tie Yakima Valley scored again in the eighth.

Big Bend, however, plated a run in the eighth and another in the ninth to win it.

In the second game, YVCC led 3-0, 5-3 and 8-4 but couldn’t hang on.

Martinez was a combined 6 for 9, J.R. Weigel was 5 for 10, Kyle Thompson was 5 for 10 and Jake Fife was 4 for 10.

For Big Bend, freshman third baseman Chris Walker from Naches Valley had two hits in each game.

Game 1

Yakima Valley 000 100 210 — 4 12 1

Big Bend 010 000 211 — 5 11 2

Miller, Vetsch (7), Druffel (8) and Chavarria; Vandever, Hall (8) and Noyola.

YVCC highlights: Kyle Thompson 2-5; J.R. Weigel 3-5; Reid Martinez 2-4; Jake Fife 2-5. Also: Chris Walker (Big Bend freshman from Naches Valley) 2-3, RBI.

Game 2

Yakima Valley 300 020 200 — 8 17 0

Big Bend 120 021 21x — 9 15 4

Askvig, King (3), Eck (7) and Chavarria; Greenway, Johns (5), Barton (7), Shaffer (8), Hall (9) and Schmedding

YVCC highlights: Thompson 3-5; Weigel 2-5; Martinez 4-5, 3 runs; Fife 2-5; Cameron Padron 2-4. Also: Walker 2-4.

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).

CWU trio on all-academic team

ELLENSBURG — Three Central Washington seniors have made the GNAC’s baseball academic all-conference team, the university announced Wednesday.

Utility infielder Derrick Webb of Ephrata has posted a 3.83 grade point average — highest among the 14 players on the team — in clinical psychology. Pitcher Ryan Hastings of Lynden has a 3.76 in special education and outfielder Brett Bielec has a 3.24 in elementary education.

BASEBALL

1975 Beetles to be honored

The 1975 American Legion World Series champion Yakima Beetles will be honored at the program’s annual banquet May 18 in the Modern Living Building at State Fair Park.

Doors will open for the event at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 7. There also will be live and silent auctions with everything from baseball memorabilia, sporting events tickets to vacations up for bidding.

Tickets are $35 and can be purchased from Scott Wilson. He can be reached at 509-966-6666 or 509-307-1746.

GOLF

Hendrix gets first ace

Yakima’s Charles Hendrix recorded his first hole-in-one Tuesday at Fisher Park Golf Course.

Hendrix used a 6-iron to ace the 149-yard No. 7 hole. The shot was witnessed by Anthony East.

PREP SOCCER

Eastmont clips Sunnyside

EAST WENATCHEE — Mauricio Perez scored the tying goal and assisted on the winner to rally Eastmont to a 2-1 victory over Sunnyside in Tuesday’s semifinals of the CBBN-GSL regional tournament.

The Grizzlies scored in the 11th minute on Javier Contreras’ goal and held a 1-0 lead at halftime over the top-seeded league champs.

Sunnyside (10-8-1) will play at Mt. Spokane on Saturday in a winner-to-state, loser-out match. Mt. Spokane fell to Kennewick 4-1 on Tuesday, sending the Lions to Eastmont on Saturday for the regional title match.

First half: 1, Sunnyside, Javier Contreras (Abel Martinez) 11:00.

Second half: 2, Eastmont, Mauricio Perez (Joel Villa) 62:00; 3, Eastmont, Yonaton Rodriguez (Perez) 69:00.

Saves: Christian Vargas (S) 5, Daniel Romero (E) 5.

PREP GOLF

SCAC

At SunTides

BOYS

Team scores: Naches Valley 340, La Salle 344, Goldendale 365.

Medalist: Jack Sutton (L) 76, Ty Lighty (L) 76.

Naches Valley: Dawson Roeber 81, Nathan Nulliner 82, Hunter Vance 86, Brad Bartley 91, Conner Oliver 91.

La Salle: Beau Wangler 86, Matt Hoon 106.

Goldendale: Andrew Wall 80, Joel Gerchak 85, Riley Ross 100, Justin Fields 100.

GIRLS

Team scores: Goldendale 407, Naches 432, La Salle 436.

Medalist: Bree Wanderscheid (G) 75.

Goldendale: Sawyer Ross 105, Natalie Hurst 113, Hunter Cacy 114.

Naches Valley: Cindy Tapia 96, Brittney Deaton 106, Hannah Cobleigh 112, Andrea Schuler 118.

La Salle: Grace Martin 97, Claire Moorer 97, Cheyenne Taylor 117, Elena Holbrook 125.

North Central 2B

AT SAGE HILLS

BOYS

Team scores: Warden 359, Riverside Christian 369, Manson 468.

Medalists: Gage Neiffer (RC) 83, Trent Bates (W) 83, Caleb Caballero (W) 83.

Riverside Christian: Derrick Phelps 91, Matt Guchee 96, Richie Hochrein 99, Eric Forsee 100, David Whittlesey 100.

GIRLS

Only players: Kiesha Urwin (W) 98, Ashley Borello (RC) 114.

PREP TENNIS

SCAC

Goldendale boys 3, Cle Ellum 2

Singles: Kosuke Mitarai (CE) d. Keith Bighorn 6-0, 6-2; Dillon Shea (CE) won by forfeit.

Doubles: Kurt Wilkins-Zach Shattuck (G) d. Ryan Gregory-Ryan Smart 6-3, 6-2; Dakota McAndie-Spencer Knowlton (G) d. MichaelAnderson-Jordon Puhich 6-3, 6-4; Ethan Hoctor-Brandon Cline (G) d. Nick Browitt-Mitchell McFadden 6-3, 5-7, 6-2. League: Goldendale 4-5.

Goldendale girls 3, Cle Elum 2

Singles: Karissa Boyd (CE) d. Kendall Bloom 6-3, 6-2; Asia Rogers (CE) d. Lauren Brick 6-2, 6-3.

Doubles: Dallas Smith-Madison Holbrook (G) d. Liz Magana-Liz Browitt 6-1, 6-1; Haley Smith-Kaylee Budde (G) d. Madeline Sanders-Brooklyn Simmons 6-2, 6-0; Krista Allen-Nellie Bilderback (G) d. Emily Leswell-Hattie Hatie 6-0, 6-0. League: Goldendale 4-5.