Local briefs: Covington rules River City Lanes

On a day of hot hands in the Junior Bowlers Tour stop at River City Lanes in Post Falls last Sunday, Jesse Covington was the hottest when it counted most.

Covington, who had a pair of 900-plus four-game series – 905 and 902 – and a 702 three-game set, defeated Dalton Shears 236-197 for the championship.

Shears put together a 920 four-game series in the first qualifying block.

Bry Tillett, who rolled a 300 game during match play qualifying, finished third; Tony Werley was fourth; and Steven Talbot fifth. Talbot had Tillett’s 300 and a 258 game rolled against him in match play, but nonetheless surged from ninth to land the final spot in the five-player finals.

Karissa Shiflet had a 244 game to lead the girls.

The next JBT is Nov. 21 at North Bowl.

Basketball

The local finals of the annual Elks Lodge Hoop Shoot will be Dec. 11 at Valley Christian High School (the former University High), 10212 E. Ninth, assistant director Doug Holland announced.

The event is for boys and girls ages 8-13, who can qualify through schools or club programs. Only one player can represent a school or club team in each age division.

Info: Holland, 496-5847.

College scene

Mady Dahlstrom, a freshman outside hitter in volleyball from Mead, was named the Chapman University athlete of the week for the week ending Oct. 21 after recording double-digit kills in four matches, adding five service aces and 31 digs, as the Panthers won all four.

Dahlstrom is the first Chapman player since 2006 to compile 300 kills and 300 digs in the same season. She has 314 kills and 303 digs for the 16-11 Panthers, who have one regular-season match remaining next weekend.

Running

Bill Misner of Spokane won the silver medal in the men’s 70-74 division in the USA Masters National Cross Country Championships last weekend in Vancouver, Wash.

Misner timed 24 minutes, 12.80 seconds for 5 kilometers, finishing 1:35 behind defending champion Thom Weddle of Minneapolis, who repeated in the age division.

It was the second age-division silver medal for Misner in a USA Masters event this year. He also was second in the 15K national trail championships in Spokane on July 31.

Softball

Jake Perry, a 20-year umpire whose résumé includes eight Amateur Softball Association national tournaments and four Washington high school state championships, received the Spokane Softball Umpires Association’s most prestigious award, the Campbell-Stewart Award, at the association’s 2010 banquet last weekend.

The award, inaugurated in 1975 and renamed in 2009, is named for two longtime former Spokane ASA umpires-in-chief, the late Bruce Campbell, and Chuck Stewart. It recognizes an individual annually for longevity, dedication, excellence and service to softball umpiring.

Perry, who started umpiring at age 16, yearly is one of the association’s busiest umpires.

Other SSUA awards went to Jerome Duffney and Kent Walker, retiring veterans who received a Presidential Pride award from president Ken Mathia; Marty Boles, umpire of the year for adult programs; Bill Elston, umpire of the year-youth; David Birdsell and Paul Grubbs, most improved-adult/youth combined; Bob Francis, rookie of the year-adult; and Beau Crisp, rookie of the year-youth.

SSUA also honored three non-members with its new Home Run Award for significant contributions to the association, David Bentz, Paul Elston and Chuck Filippini.

• Gary Kuck, the vice president of adult programs, and secretary Mike Yellin were returned to their positions for another two years during the Spokane Softball Umpires Association’s 2010 elections.

Jeff Camp, one of three members-at-large, also was re-elected, while Andy Weiss and Crisp were elected to one-year positions.

President Mathia, vice president-youth Bill Elston and director of ratings Boles are holdover board members.

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