Beating The Best Helps Push U-Hi Baseball To Regionals

Beating Ferris pitching ace Eric Sandberg was as much a mental lift as a physical one for the Region IV-bound University High baseball team.

“Sandberg is probably one of the best in state, no question,” said coach Don Ressa. “Anytime you beat him, it does a lot for your mental game.”

It didn’t hurt, either, that the 6-5 victory, one of three district playoff triumphs in two days, propelled the upstart Titans into regionals for the third time in seven years.

The Titans play Kennewick at 1 p.m. Saturday in Pasco.

U-Hi finished in a three-way tie for fourth place in the Greater Spokane League, won a fortuitous coin flip for playoff seeding, then proceeded to make the most of it on the field.

The team opened with an 8-5 decision over Gonzaga Prep on Friday and took successive one-run decisions on Saturday, including 10-9 over rival Central Valley.

“Our kids had high expectations to begin the season,” said Ressa. “When they didn’t reach their goals, I think they dug deeper (in the playoffs).”

One of he things that helped was that starting pitchers did well.

“They got us deep into games with leads so we could use very short relief,” said Ressa. “Even though we played three games in two days, our pitchers were fairly fresh.”

Chris McMurtrey made it to the seventh inning against Prep before Brad Valkenaar got the last two outs. Valkenaar pitched into the fifth inning against CV.

Despite allowing 14 hits, walking four and hitting two others, U-Hi outlasted the Bears.

“We dodged a bullet there,” admitted Ressa. “We knew it would be an emotional game, especially when it was loser out.”

Valkenaar got out of a bases-loaded first-inning jam and led thanks to a six-run second inning.

Bill Conant and Sean Ruscio finished up. Ruscio then went the distance against Ferris.

Additionally, the Titans played nearly flawless defense, committing just two errors during the series.

“This is one of the best team’s I’ve coached as far as work ethic,” said Ressa. “Regionals is kind of an end-of-season reward.”

Hot Eagle baseball wins it all

Different players turned up the heat, sending torrid West Valley’s baseball team to the District championship and a Saturday, 10 a.m. Region IV tournament game Saturday at Seafirst Stadium.

Beau Macarty and Brian Lawler hit home runs on Saturday. Pitchers Jason Phillipe and Tyler Hall won for a combined 12th straight time as the Eagles won for the 12th time in 14 games, including the last nine.

They beat Colville 10-6 Saturday and regular season champion Cheney 6-5 on Tuesday to complete a sweep of the Frontier playoffs.

CV girls relay tough

Resting their tournament hopes on three relay teams, while agonizing, ultimately proved sound for Central Valley’s girls track team.

“I hate relays, because of baton passing,” said coach Dennis McGuire. “My stomach hurts for a week.”

But the Bears swept all three during last week’s District 8 track meet, setting a pair of records.

It wasn’t a decision that came easily for McGuire because it involved Whitney Schmaljohn.

The league’s best sprinter and former state placer in the 200 and 400 meters, CV’s relay success was predicated on her participation.

“She would have liked another open event,” said McGuire on Thursday. “But right now we’re second in the 400 relay, third in the 800 and fifth in the 1,600. We can run faster so I had to do this.”

Thus said, CV’s team of speedsters Schmaljohn, Leslie Merideth and Stephanie Crace improved its 400 time and obliterated the other two.

On Friday, the 400 quartet, including Amy Nickerson, ran 48.9. The 800 foursome, with Rebecca Kochendorfer cut its previous best time by 3 seconds down to 1:42.7.

The 1,600 crew, including Wendy Wagar, dropped 8 seconds to 3:56.2.

CV’s relay runners are among 53 Valley athletes involved in this weekend’s regional meet with schools from the Big Nine.

Friday night district champions were University 100 and 200 meter sprinter Jason Berger, 300 hurdler Tim Buchanan, two Titan boys relay teams and triple jumper Julie Schroeder.

For CV, 400 runner Josh Hemenway and high jumper Marie Cox were individual titlists.

Clean sweep for softball teams

Five Valley softball teams have advanced in post-season play.

Unbeaten University and third-place Central Valley play Friday and Saturday in the Region IV AAA tournament at Moses Lake.

Top three finishers in the eight-team event qualify for state.

Frontier League co-champion West Valley, third-place East Valley and Northeast A League top seed Freeman are currently involved in AA-A playoffs at Medical Lake.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: TRACK QUALIFIERS

GSL boys regional qualifiers Central Valley Josh Hemenway, 200, 400, 1,600 relay; Hoa Duong, 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 400 relay; Rob Warnock, 800, 1,600 relay; Gavin Tucker, 400 relay, 1,600 relay; Zac Scott, 400 relay, 1,600 relay; Preston Crossman, shot put; Garrett Graham, shot put, 400 relay, 1,600 relay; Will Beck, discus; Brandon Bouge, discus; Keith Carpenter, javelin; Tyree Clowe, long jump; Marc Hinckley, high jump; Cameron Summers, triple jump, high jump; Joel Gordon, high jump; Josh Kruse, pole vault; Ty Dempsey, pole vault; Norm Tollefson, pole vault.

University Jason Berger, 100, 200, 400 relay, 1,600 relay; Anthony Buchanan, 100, 200, 400 relay; Tim Buchanan, 100, 300 hurdles, 400 relay, 1,600 relay; Paul Salcido, 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 1,600 relay; Mike Turner, 100, 200, 400 relay; Jake Roberts, 110 hurdles, 400, 1,600 relay; Damon Foreman, 300 hurdles; Kris Martin, 800; Seth Mott, 1,600; James Berry, 3,200; Cody Hirschi, pole vault; Brad Walker, pole vault; Jeff Wineinger, pole vault.

GSL girls regional qualifiers

Central Valley Whitney Schmaljohn, 200, 400 relay, 800 relay, 1,600 relay; Mary Caruso, shot put; Heather Harding, shot put; Annie Moseanko, javelin; Jill Nepean, long jump, triple jump; Loni Knigge, long jump, triple jump; Marie Cox, high jump; Leslie Merideth, 400, 800 and 1,600 relays; Stephanie Crace, 400, 800 and 1,600 relay; Wendy Wagar, 1,600 relay; Amy Nickerson, 400, 800 relays; Rebecca Kochendorfer, 800 relay.

University Kalie Cossette, 100, 200, long jump, 400 relay; Vanessa Shelton, 100, 200, 400 relay; Julie Schroeder, long jump, triple jump, 200, 400 relay; Megan Black, 400 relay; Betsy Walter, 400; Jaime Miller, 800; Jenny Hanna, 800; Darcy Jones, discus; Casey Lektorich, javelin; Sara Streufert, javelin; Tanya Walker, high jump.