Pigskin Picks contest one of new items on our Website||

So, you think you can do better than us?

Here’s your chance to prove it.

If you’ve ever wondered how those numbskulls down at the paper could pick So-and-so to beat Such-and-such in prep football, show us that you know better.

And snatch some prizes along the way.

The Yakima Herald-Republic sports department is opening up its Pigskin Picks to its readers online. After quckliy logging in and creating an account, each week entrants will enter their picks and go against the Herald-Republic sports staff and other entrants.

The top picker of the week will not only earn invaluable bragging rights, but also a prize from Ron’s Coin & Book. The season winner will get an Xbox 360, also courtesy of Ron’s.

Log on to sportsyakima.com, click on the Pigskins Pick, sign up and start picking.

But that’s not all the winning we’re offering our readers.

We also will be debuting Prep Insider this week on sportsyakima.com. It will feature a short video giving you an inside look at the YH-R Sports department and what coverage will be coming in the upcoming week.

Insider will also feature Yakima Valley sports trivia. Viewers can log on to answer the question.

Of all the correct answers, one will be randomly picked to receive a gift card from the 2nd Street Grill in downtown Yakima.

It’s our hope that these contests as well as our online feature help supplement your reading experience.

Speaking of which, be sure to check out Kickoff 2010, our annual prep football preview in today’s newspaper.

And good luck picking.

YAKIMA, Wash. — After 16 consecutive years in the West Valley baseball program, the last nine of which were as head coach, Klayton Wyckoff is making a “bittersweet” move away from the sport.

Wyckoff, previously a teacher in the district, is moving into administration, accepting the position of athletic director and student activities coordinator at West Valley Junior High. The time commitments of that job led him to resign as the Rams’ head baseball coach.

“This is an opportunity that I always wanted to pursue, and the timing feels right in my career,” Wyckoff said. “But at the same time it’s bittersweet to walk away from something I absolutely love.”

Wyckoff compiled a 155-64 record in his nine seasons, with two state trophies — second in 2003 and third in ’09 — and was the Class 3A coach of the year in ’03.

“We’ve have had such massive support out here from parents, the community, staff and administrators — that made my experience very positive,” added Wyckoff, a 1987 West Valley graduate. “It was a great situation to be in as a head coach and I would have liked to continue on, but this move is better for me in the long run.”

Kevin VanDeBrake would be a strong candidate to replace Wyckoff. Not only was he an assistant throughout Wyckoff’s nine seasons but he preceded him as head coach.

Siebol leaves RC for Highland

Bruce Siebol, who directed Riverside Christian’s boys basketball program to 170 wins in 10 seasons, has left the Crusaders’ program to take the head boys job at Highland.

In those 10 seasons at RC, Siebol posted a 170-69 record and led the Crusaders to three Class 2B state trophies.

“I had 10 great years at Riverside with great kids and wonderful parents,” he said. “I accomplished what I set out to, building up the program, and I guess now I was ready for a new challenge.”

Siebol will replace Josh Borland, who resigned after six seasons.

“I’m excited to coach in the SCAC,” he added. “The Riverside program is in good shape (all starters return), so this was a good time to pursue another challenge.”

COLLEGES

CWU ranked 5th by D2 website

Central Washington has been ranked fifth by D2Football.com in a preseason poll released Tuesday.

The Wildcats, who were 12-1 last season and lost 21-20 to eventual national champion Northwest Missouri in a playoff quarterfinal, followed, in order, Northwest Missouri, Grand Valley State, North Alabama and Abilene Christian.

Minnesota Duluth, Central’s season-opening opponent at home on Saturday, is ranked sixth.

While in a fog of working on our annual preseason prep football section, there’s big news to report on other fronts. The preseason cross country coaches poll is out and Eisenhower appears poised for a double dose of dominance. The Cadets are ranked No. 1 in 4A boys and No. 2 in girls. The boys, in fact, are ranked 22nd in the Harrier Magazine’s national poll. Here’s the state poll:

BOYS
Class 4A: 1, Eisenhower; 2, Jackson; 3, Lewis & Clark; 4, Mead; 5, Ferris; 6, Auburn Riverside; 7, Walla Walla; 8, Issaquah; 9, Gig Harbor; 10, Skyline. Others: Wenatchee, Olympia, Redmond.
Class 3A: 1, North Central; 2, University; 3, Kamiakin; 4, Seattle Prep; 5, Mt. Spokane; 6, Blanchet; 7, Everett; 8, Bellevue; 9, Shorecrest; 10, Peninsula. Others: Columbia River, Camas.
Class 2A: 1, Sehome; 2, Mark Morris; 3, Lindbergh; 4, Ellensburg; 5, Bellingham; 6, Interlake; 7, Cheney; 8, Chehalis; 9, Lakewood; 10, Cedarcrest. Others: Selah, Kingston, North Kitsap, Squalicum.
Class 1A: 1, Port Townsend; 2, Nooksack Valley; 3, Lakeside; 4, La Center; 5, Riverside; 6, Lynden Christian; 7, Charles Wright; 8, Meridian; 9, Cashmere; 10, Seattle Christian. Others: Royal, Toledo, Freeman.
Class 2B-1B: 1, Northwest Christian (Lacey); 2, Republic; 3, Mossyrock; 4, Mt. Rainier Lutheran; 5, Tri-Cities Prep; 6, North Beach; 7, Northwest Christian (Spokane); 8, White Pass; 9, Waitsburg-Prescott; 10, St. John-Endicott. Others: Bear Creek, St. George’s, Davenport.

GIRLS
Class 4A: 1, Stanwood; 2, Eisenhower; 3, Bellarmine; 4, Eastlake; 5, Gig Harbor; 6, Tahoma; 7, Central Valley; 8, Redmond; 9, Richland; 10, Lewis & Clark. Others: Davis, Stadium, Arlington, Auburn Riverside.
Class 3A: 1, Glacier Peak; 2, Shadle Park; 3, Kamiakin; 4, Peninsula; 5, Lakeside; 6, Mt. Spokane; 7, Prairie; 8, Enumclaw; 9, Camas; 10, Columbia River. Others: Bainbridge, Seattle Prep, Capital.
Class 2A: 1, Sehome; 2, Kingston; 3, Lindbergh; 4, Cedarcrest; 5, Cheney; 6, Ephrata; 7, Bellingham; 8, Interlake; 9, Lakewood; 10, Deer Park. Others: North Kitsap, Squalicum.
Class 1A: 1, Northwest; 2, Riverside; 3, Lakeside; 4, Omak; 5, La Center; 6, Nooksack Valley; 7, King’s; 8, Chelan; 9, Meridian; 10, Cashmere. Others: Seattle Academy, Bellevue Christian, Ilwaco.

Class 2B-1B: 1, Northwest Christian (Lacey); 2, White Pass; 3, Northwest Christian (Spokane); 4, St. George’s; 5, Crosspoint Academy. Others: Asotin, Waitsburg-Prescott.

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — The first Kittitas County Roundup, a football exhibition involving Cle Elum, Ellensburg and Kittitas high schools and Central Washington University, will be held Saturday at CWU’s Tomlinson Stadium.

Each team will stage a 30-minute scrimmage, starting with Cle Elum from 11-11:30 a.m. Kittitas will follow from 11:40 to noon, Ellensburg will go from noon to 12:30 p.m. and the Wildcats will take the field from 12:30-1 p.m.

Admission is free. Also, all participating high school players will be admitted to Central’s season opener against Minnesota Duluth on Aug. 28 at no charge.

“We’re hoping this will become an annual event,” said Central coach Blaine Bennett. “We’ll feed all the kids, and hopefully the players from the different schools will get to know each other and watch our scrimmage.

“It’s less of a recruiting thing for us than it is just to provide people in the area with exposure to our program. Some of them, whether they’re players or parents or whatever, might be coming to Tomlinson Stadium for the first time.”

YAKIMA, Wash. — The thermometer still says summer, but activity on the fields Wednesday signaled fall is around the corner.
Football practice began statewide on Wednesday. Monday the rest of the fall sports — cross country, volleyball, girls soccer and girls swimming — get under way.
The Yakima Herald-Republic sports staff is busy putting together Kickoff 2010, this year’s edition of its annual prep football preview. The 48-page section is due to hit doorsteps Thursday, Sept. 2, the eve of the first Friday night of football.
Following Labor Day, previews of the rest of the fall sports will be featured.

Davis High School's Nick Rodriguez leads the team in a cheer following a water break during the first football practice of the 2010 season Aug. 18, 2010. (Gordon King/Yakima Herald-Republic)

YAKIMA, Wash. — The thermometer still says summer, but activity on the fields Wednesday signaled fall is around the corner.

Football practice began statewide on Wednesday. Monday the rest of the fall sports — cross country, volleyball, girls soccer and girls swimming — get under way.

The Yakima Herald-Republic sports staff is busy putting together Kickoff 2010, this year’s edition of its annual prep football preview. The 48-page section is due to hit doorsteps Thursday, Sept. 2, the eve of the first Friday night of football.

Following Labor Day, previews of the rest of the fall sports will be featured.

YAKIMA, Wash. — Seeking to bring stability to a program that has seen five head coaches since 2004, Cris Willmarth has been hired as Eisenhower’s girls basketball coach.

Willmarth, who replaces Dennis Richardson after a one-year stint as head coach, has also been hired as a social studies teacher at Eisenhower.

“It is a program that needs some stability and for that to happen it’s important to be in the building,” said Willmarth, who previously taught and coached at Naches Valley. “There are some challenges but I like these kinds of challenges.”

Namely, bringing a cohesion and consistency to the program. And then building a winner.

At Naches Valley, Willmarth in 2002-03 took over a program that was winless in the previous season and he directed the Rangers to state-tournament appearances in 2006 and ‘07. Having coached as many as three sports in a school year at NV, Willmarth resigned as coach after the 08-09 season.

“That got tiring, and I decided some time off was important,” he explained. “After a year away, I figured to play it by ear. When this opened up, I was very excited about it.”

The Cadets graduated eight seniors off the 09-10 squad so there’s rebuilding to do.

“I hope to bring everybody together and get us all on the same page,” Willmarth said. “It’s a challenge I look forward to.”

Cadets seeking new AD

Eisenhower’s John Gonzales, the school’s athletic director for the last five years, is switching his vice principal emphasis to student services director for the coming school year.

Gonzales is taking over for Jim Wright, who is moving to the Yakima School District office to help oversee the upcoming construction projects in the district.

Eisenhower is currently interviewing to fill its athletic director position.

GOLF

Anderson bags Mount Adams ace

Randy Anderson scored his second career hole-in-one last Thursday, acing the 139-yard 16th hole at Mount Adams Country Club.

Anderson used a 6-iron for the shot, which was witnessed by Ron Eakin, Mark Malland and Tony Whitley.

YAKIMA, Wash. — Eisenhower did not venture far to find its new boys basketball coach.

After eight years as the Cadets’ junior varsity coach, Brad Schultz will take over for Hall of Fame coach Pat Fitterer in the upcoming 2010-2011 season.

“It’s my dream job,” said the 36-year-old Schultz. “I know the expectations will be high coming off what Pat Fitterer was able to accomplish here, but I thrive off that. I couldn’t be more excited.”

Schultz, a first-grade teacher at Nob Hill Elementary, has not previously been a head coach but he’s banking on eight years in the program as being an ideal internship. And seven of those seasons were spent under Fitterer, who directed the Cadets to 141 of his 664 career victories.

“I’ve been very fortunate to coach along with Pat and pick up on his philosophy,” said Schultz, who is Fitterer’s son-in-law. “He is so good with the power of positive thinking and instilling a mental toughness. He also reminds me: Keep it simple.”

Two other CBBN boys basketball positions were filled this summer — Ron Stone at Wenatchee and Charlie Villanueva at Pasco. Stone was the Panthers’ girls coach for the last 10 years.

YVCC inks Ike’s Bonser

YAKIMA, Wash. — Eisenhower’s Robert Bonser, a first-team CBBN Cascade forward-post, has signed a NWAACC letter of intent with Yakima Valley Community College.

The 6-foot-5 Bonser averaged 15.7 points for the Cadets during his senior season. He earned second-team CBBN honors as a junior.

YVCC’s women’s basketball program has signed Alex Brewster of Alaska’s South Anchorage High (5-10 post) and Sade Elliott of Oregon’s Century High (5-7 wing).

SANTA ROSA, Calif. — Granger’s Russell Baze has ridden the 11,000th winner of his career.

The 52-year-old jockey won the fourth race at the Sonoma County Fair aboard Separate Forest on Saturday to reach the milestone.

Baze was already North America’s winningest thoroughbred jockey, having surpassed Laffit Pincay Jr.’s record of 9,530 winners in December 2006.

Baze rode his 10,000th winner in February 2008 at Golden Gate Fields in the San Francisco Bay area, where he has spent most of his career.

VOLLEYBALL

Officials meeting Monday

The Central Washington Volleyball Board of Officials will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 16 in the Parker Room of the Deccio Building at Yakima Valley Community College.

Anyone interested in officiating school volleyball this fall should attend. New officials are always needed.

For more information, contact Dick Brown at 509-952-7357 or Liz Gilbert at 509-945-6391.

FASTPITCH

UW returning to Selah

The University of Washington fastpitch team will be making its annual trek to Selah’s Carlon Park Sept. 25-26. The Huskies will play Central Washington at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, before a dinner and auction at Selah Civic Center Starting at 6. Two camps will be held Sunday.

For more information about the dinner and auction or to purchase tickets, call Bill Harris at 509-961-1588. The phone number was incorrect in Page 1B of Saturday’s Sports section.

YAKIMA — Fall sports meetings for parents and athletes at Davis and Eisenhower high schools will be Thursday at the respective schools.

Davis’ meeting starts at 6 p.m. and will be in the cafeteria.

Ike’s meeting begins at 6:30, also in the cafeteria.

Selah fall meeting Monday

Selah High’s fall sports meeting will be Monday, starting at 6 p.m. in the high school commons.

The meeting is for parents and athletes turning out for football, volleyball, cross country, girls soccer, and girls swimming and diving.

YAKIMA — Kameron Lamb closed with a 2-over-par 72 at SunTides Golf Course to win the Boys 16-17 Division of the inaugural Yakima Junior Amateur on Tuesday.

Lamb, a recent West Valley graduate, carded a two-day score of 143 to best runner-up Eric Gravbrot by four strokes.

Goldendale’s Bree Wanderscheid shot a 74 at SunTides and won the 14-15 girls division with a 157 total.

FINAL RESULTS

Boys

8-9: 1. Jackson Nettleship 101, 2. Ethan Breymeyer 113, 3. Reid Donaldson 114.

10-11: 1. Holden Backes 78, 2. Travis Kay 84, 3. Jaime Campos 87, 4. Dylan Apodaca 91, 5. Dylan Bissell 92, 6. Kaelan Nettleship 93, 7. Adam Raab 100, 8. Tyler Fitchett 103.

12-13: 1. Nathan Nulliner 180, 2. Andy Mellotte 200, 3. Colton Dally 209, 4. Michael Smith 213, 5. Caleb Belton 235.

14-15: 1. Andrew Raab 154, 2. Beau Wangler 165, 3. Dustin DiBenedetto 175, 4. Logan Helgeland 196, 5. Wesley Powers 200.

16-17: 1. Kameron Lamb 143, 2. Eric Gravbrot 147, 3. Matthew Mickelson 166, 4. Chad Cameron 175, 5. Alex Wilson 181.

Girls

12-13: 1. Bailey Wangler 203.

14-15: 1. Bree Wanderscheid 157.

16-17: 1. Brianna Nelson 187.

HIGH SCHOOLS

Wapato fall meeting slated

Wapato’s fall sports meeting is set for Aug. 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the high school cafeteria. All parents and prospective athletes should attend.

Sports physicals are available at the high school on Aug. 11 from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

YAKIMA, Wash. — The Yakima Monday Morning Quarterback Club will hold its monthly luncheon Monday at 11:30 a.m. at Shari’s restaurant at 40th and Fruitvale.

Lunch service will be available, and the public is invited.

East Valley fall meeting set

East Valley High School will hold fall eligibility and informational meetings on Aug. 11 for football and cheer and Aug. 12 for cross country, girls soccer and volleyball.

Sports physicals will be available on Tuesday at East Valley HS from 5 p.m. to 6:30. The cost is $25. For more information, contact EVHS at 573-7400.

ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Central Washington will host the Kittitas County Football Roundup on Aug. 21.

The Wildcats, who will open their season on Aug. 28 at home against Minnesota Duluth in a game to be televised on SWX, have invited Ellensburg, Cle Elum and Kittitas high schools to a scrimmage event at Tomlinson Stadium.

The Warriors will scrimmage from 11-11:30 a.m., Kittitas will go from 11:30 to noon, Ellensburg will follow from noon to 12:30 p.m. and Central will take the field from 12:30 to 1 p.m.

CWU coach Blaine Bennett said admission to the event is free, and that any high school player who participates will then be admitted to the Central-Duluth game without charge.

GOLF

Graf gets ace at Country Club

Dick Graf recorded a hole-in-one on the 11th hole at Yakima Country Club on Wednesday.

Graf used a 9-iron on the 141-yard hole. It was witnessed by Jim Gilbert, Dave Lewis, Brian Harris and Steve Mercy.

ADULT FASTPITCH

Action Towing, Eagles win

Sean McCauley’s two-run homer and three RBI helped Action Towing defeat Old Town Pump-Peak Performance 12-6 in Summer League play at Gateway Complex on Wednesday.

The Yakima Eagles won the second game, beating Craft Brewing 11-4.

Old Town-PP       040    200    0    —    6    5    8
Action Towing    202    602    x    —    12    8    6
Harris, Parham (7) and Cawley-Murphee; George and Rousseau.
Highlights: Bobby Harris (OTP) 2-run 2b; Cory Worrell (AT) 2-4, 2 RBI; Sean McCauley (AT) 1-3, 2-run HR, 3 RBI; Jonathan Ripplinger (AT) 2-run 2b.
Craft Brewing          040    000    —    4    5    5
Yakima Eagles        352    001    —    11    10    8
Seward and Call, Gonzalez (5); L. McCauley and Ward.
Highlights: John Jensen (YE) 2-4, 2 RBI; Tyler Berman (YE) 2-4, 2 2b, RBI; Kevin Root (YE) 2-4, 2 2b, 2 RBI.

YOUTH FASTPITCH

Selah 16-U

NEWBERG SUMMER CLASSIC

At Newberg, Ore.

Selah 10, Oregon Warriors 4 (Selah: Ashley Wilkey 2-3, 2 runs; Mary Graf 2-2, run, 2 RBI; Morgan McCallister 1-3, run, RBI, 3b; Sarah Bersing 2-3, 2 runs, RBI; Bailey Turner 3-3, run, RBI; Kylee Morse 2-2, run; Carly Minnick 1-2, 2 runs, RBI;
Selah 10, Southview 0 (Selah: Wilkey 2-2, 2 runs, RBI; Graf 1-1, 2 RBI; McCallister 1-2, 2 RBI, 3b; Bersing 1-1, RBI, run; Turner 1-2, run, RBI; Taylor Rath 1-2, run, RBI; Sierra Weedin 1-2, run, RBI; Morse and Minnick combined for a no-hitter).

YOUTH BASEBALL

Little League

JUNIORS STATE TOURNAMENT

At Medical Lake

Thursday’s result

West Valley 23, Federal Way 10 (WV: Kanay Soderstrom 4 hits, 2 runs; Corey Hill 3 hits, 3 runs; Wyatt Peckman 2 hits, 4 runs, HR; Dillon Burlingame 3 hits, 4 runs; Nolan Cookson 3 hits, 2 runs; Jason Mains 4 hits, run; Zach Remsberg 2 hits, 2 runs; Sean McCormick 2 hits, 3 runs; Justin Bailey hit, run).

YAKIMA, Wash. — A meeting for new football officials will be held at the Yakima Police Department classrooms tonight at 6 p.m.

The classrooms are located at 207 S. 3rd Street, across the street from the police station.

Officials are needed throughout the Valley.

For more information, contact Brad Cramer at 945-5555 or Will Caethle at 895-2600.

YAKIMA, Wash. — Senior Luis Alcala, who led Toppenish’s boys soccer team to the state semifinals, was named the Class 2A co-player of the year on Wednesday.

Alcala, a four-year varsity player who scored 20 goals in his final season, shared the 2A honor with Matt Sanchez of state-champion Bell-ingham.

A statewide panel of sports-writers voted on all-state teams for baseball, fastpitch and boys soccer and the Tri-City Herald compiled the results, which include first team, second team and honorable mention picks.

For complete all-state teams in all three sports, see sportsyakima.com

Selah defender Austin Radebaugh, who shared CWAC player of the year honors with Alcala, was a 2A first-team pick. Highland’s Luis Silva made first team in 1A a year after earning second-team honors.

In baseball, Ellensburg’s Ethan Sterkel, the CWAC’s MVP, made the Class 2A first team as an infielder for the second year in a row. Selah catcher Matt Snider elevated from honorable mention last year to the first team this season.

J.R. Weigel of state semifinalist Naches Valley was a first-team infield pick in 1A, and Kittitas pitcher Spencer Slyfield made the 2B first team.

In fastpitch, West Valley’s Emily Shepard was a first-team infield pick in 3A for the Rams, who placed third at state and also had two other second-team picks.

Ellensburg pitcher Jessica Harris, the CWAC’s player of the year, made the 2A first team.

State runner-up Cle Elum put two players of the 1A all-state first team — pitcher Hailey Bator and infielder Kassi Meier — and Sunnyside Christian’s Julie Long and Analisa Van Oostrum were first-team picks in 1B.