CV baseball hopes to advance

The Greater Spokane League high school baseball season ended for the Central Valley Bears on Monday, but they’re keeping their playoff fingers crossed.

CV (8-10) is a game up on two teams, Gonzaga Prep and Lewis and Clark (both 7-9 with two games remaining).

They played Wednesday and complete their seasons today. Two of the three will advance to district beginning Wednesday.

“If it comes to a tiebreaker, we might get a shot,” said coach Barry Poffenroth.

CV was beaten 9-3 by GSL-leader Ferris, a five-run sixth inning, a product of five walks and three hits putting the game out of reach.

The Saxons had broken a 1-1 tie in the top half of the fourth with two home runs, and thereafter CV stranded five runners over the final four innings.

It was a continuing trend for a team that split eight one-run decisions, twice losing in the seventh, and a couple of two-run outcomes.

“When you drop that many,” Poffenroth said of the narrow losses, “I don’t know. Our maximum is three or four runs (per game), so if the pitchers don’t go out and throw strikes, we’re in trouble.”

Pitching had been as good as any in the league until Monday’s loss, he said, but without the offensive support necessary to win.

Against Ferris, the Bears put their first three base runners on, and later Ryan Simmelink singled in a run. But the rally died by double play.

Meanwhile, University (13-3) kept its title hopes alive with a 7-1 win over Lewis and Clark. Travis Lewis pitched the win, shutting out the Tigers after the first inning, and had two hits. The Titans faced Mead (12-4) Wednesday and again today, needing one win to ensure a first-round district bye.

West Valley (12-4) lost 13-3 to North Central, but needs one win in two games with Mt. Spokane or an NC loss to Ferris to ensure home status in next week’s 3A regional tournament against teams from the Mid-Valley League. Michael Hauschild was 3-for-4 with a run scored and RBI, but the Eagles allowed seven unearned runs by committing eight errors.

NC broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth with a pair of runs and scored nine times in the seventh to blow things open.

East Valley (6-10) jumped on Rogers for five runs in the first two innings, including Tanner Hamilton‘s home run in the second, and put the 10-1 victory away with four runs in the seventh.

Winning pitcher Mark Lengyel went 3-for-3, scoring three times and driving in three more. Hamilton and Jye Lanphere each had two hits.

EV finishes today against Shadle Park and needed help from LC to overhaul Clarkston for the third 3A regional playoff berth.

Knights on the road

For the second straight year East Valley finds itself on the road for the Greater Spokane League/Mid-Valley League regional soccer tournament.

The Knights lost 4-1 to Cheney, their second loss this year to the Blackhawks in the District 8 3A championship match and will play at Hanford Saturday in a winner-to-state match.

EV’s only goal came at the end of the match and was scored by Josh Pollelo.

In another 3A contest, West Valley’s season ended in a 3-2 loss to North Central. Bidding for an upset, the Eagles were tied 1-1 midway through the first half.

But NC scored at the 32 and 39 minutes for the win. Neil Bachman had both WV scores, his second coming with five minutes remaining in the contest.

Tuesday’s matches helped to clear up the regional and state picture for local 4A and 3A teams.

On Wednesday, Central Valley played Lewis and Clark for the right to face either Ferris or Mead Friday and move on in the 4A postseason.

The Bears defeated Mt. Spokane 4-1 on Monday in loser-out district competition.

The Bears fell behind the Wildcats 1-0 on a penalty kick.

But Sam Busby‘s run past the defense three-quarters of the length of the field, led to a cross and easy goal by Josh Antles that tied the match five minutes before halftime.

The Bears scored three times in the second half on goals by Kevin Cameron, Jay Vela and Stephen Grinalds. Antles had an assist.

Softball showdown looms

University’s one-two offensive punch continues to carry the Titans as GSL softball enters the final three games of its season, including an impending showdown between U-Hi and Central Valley.

In a league with only one truly dominant pitcher, Titan sophomore Riki Schiermeister and junior Ashley Fargher are the third and fourth leading hitters entering the final week of the season with .510 and .500 batting averages, respectively.

Schiermeister leads the league in runs scored with 28 and is second in home runs with three for the 13-2 Titans. Fargher leads the league in doubles with eight and is third in runs batted in with 21.

Two other Titans, Alex Marquard (.444) and Mandy Mikelson (.405) are batting over .400.

Second-place U-Hi (14-2) beat West Valley (2-14) on Tuesday, faces Lewis and Clark today, is at North Central on Friday and ends the season at CV on Monday.

Second earns a first-round district playoff bye and automatic bid to regionals.

The Bears (13-3) have half a dozen batters at .385 and higher. Junior catcher Mickenzie Alden is fifth in the GSL with a .489 average, leads the league in RBIs with 27, has scored 21 runs and is fourth in stolen bases with 17.

Stefani Siddoway is batting .475, Breeann Snow .405 and Rian Stiles .400.

The Bears beat NC Tuesday for their 13th win in 14 games, are at last-place Ferris today and host Rogers on Friday before the biggie against the Titans.

East Valley (3-14) is in position for a district playoff berth, but WV has its work cut out to get there.

The Knights have been led offensively by freshman infielder Allie Burger who is hitting .452 with 19 runs scored and 17 stolen bases. Tiffany Bittner is batting .340. WV’s Kim Loberg is hitting .368.