Lesko pinch hit punches ticket to State for Timberwolves
ANDREW CHRISTIANSEN
Reporter
The Goldendale Timberwolves showed they can win a baseball game with either hitting or pitching, and most of all they showed they have character, fighting back from the verge of elimination to claim a spot in the State 1A tournament. A dramatic homerun from Aaron Cochran, a gritty pitching performance from Nick Dohrman, and a clutch hit from an unlikely hero, salvaged the season with back-to-back wins.
Post season play was off to a depressing start, last week, as the Wolves lost the opening round game to Warden, 7-1. The Cougars may have been only fourth among the SCAC east teams, but they proved to be a difficult opponent, ultimately earning a trip to State as the SCAC number three team.
Goldendale batters had trouble getting around on Warden’s Artie Reyes, who allowed just two hits.
Dohrman, the pitcher of record for Goldendale, wasn’t sharp, as Cougar batters hit the ball hard. The loss put Goldendale in a must win situation to keep alive their dream of going to State.
The game was off to a better start against Columbia-Burbank on Friday, as the Wolves led 3-1 after four innings. But starter, Aaron Brandt, was tagged for four runs in the fifth inning, and replaced by Austin Ross. Goldendale got one run back on a Dohrman homerun in the sixth. Ross set the side down in the seventh, but Goldendale needed a run or they would be finished for the year.
The run came on a balk that sent John Bartkowski home, and Trevor Field to second base. Dohrman drew an intentional walk to load the bases. Aaron Cochran wasted no time, blasting the first pitch for a grand-slam home run to keep Goldendale alive.
There was little time to celebrate, as the Wolves still faced elimination and needed a win over the highly regarded Ki-Be Bears on Saturday.
The game turned into a pitching duel, as Dohrman was back on his game, giving up just five hits. Ki-Be’s ace, Cody Brundage, matched the shutout performance, before giving way to Anthony pace in the sixth.
The Wolves missed an opportunity, letting Pace wiggle out of a bases-loaded situation in the seventh inning, but got back at him in the eighth.
Cochran doubled and Kyle Hamilton and Ross walked to load the bases with two out.
In came pinch-hitter, Blake Lesko, a part-time player as a freshman. He rewarded the coach’s confidence, drilling a 2-2 pitch to the wall, clinching the trip to State.
An anti-climatic rematch against Warden ended with the Cougars winning 12-5, but fourth place was good enough to send Goldendale to the State tournament for the first time in four years.
The first round of the State tournament is played among 16 teams at four regions. Goldendale, Lakeside, Naches Valley and Brewster will play in Wenatchee on Saturday, in three, single elimination games. It begins at 10 a.m. with Goldendale playing Lakeside followed by Naches Valley versus Brewster. The winners will play for the right to be among the final four who will play the following weekend in Yakima’s County Stadium.
Last year, Naches Valley defeated Brewster and Riverview in regionals, eventually placing second behind Chimacum.
Burbank 100 040 0 5 5 3
Goldendale 003 001 5 9 6 3
Ki-Be 000 000 00 0 4 1
Goldendale 000 000 01 1 9 3
Warden 140 115 0 12 7 1
Goldendale 201 100 1 5 5 5
Goldendale sends 17 to District meet at Connell
ANDREW CHRISTIANSEN
Reporter
Friday’s SCAC sub-district track meet in Goldendale was a tune-up for Asa Israel, as he prepares to win another trip to the State 1A track meet. Israel swept the distance events, winning the 3200, 1600 and 800 meter races and he qualified for district in a fourth event, the 4x400 relay. Israel has a good shot at making it to State in all four events.
The District meet is at Connell, this Friday. The top four boys and top three girls in each event at District, will advance to State.
Sixteen other athletes from Goldendale qualified for District. Mollie Barthlow added eight inches to her personal best in the triple jump, soaring 33-2.5 for second place. Barthlow is also qualified in the long jump and two relays (4x400 and 4x200).
Hannah Swigart tied her best pole vault of 8-feet, to win the event, which is one of four she will compete in at District. Swigart also qualified in the two hurdle events and the 4x200 relay.
The meet brought out the best 3200 for Addie Christensen, who finished second in 13:45.5. She will also run the 1600, 4x400 relay and compete in the triple jump at District.
Nikki Williams, is still chasing the elusive 100-foot marks in javelin and discus, but her 93-3 was enough to win the discus and she qualified in the javelin (97-10) and shot put, matching her PR at 28-2.5.
Irene Goble, will be a four-event runner, competing in the 400, 800, and 4x400 and 4x200 relays. Goble has been a top four finisher in the 800 in every meet this year.
Other qualifiers were Wade Plumlee, in discus, shot put and 110 hurdles; Eric Dohrman, in shot put and discus; Krystal Giese, in the 100, 4x200 and 200, where she set a new PR of 28 flat; Dalton Jaekel, in the 1600; Shane Crawford, in the 3200; Torey Spaulding-Jimenez, in the 400 and 4x400 relay; Hannah Brokaw, in the pole vault, javelin, and 4x400 relay; Cody Herbeholuz, in the triple jump and 4x400 relay; JimJack Davenport, in the 4x400 relay; Moriah Clark, in the long jump; and Jacob McElravy, who used his best ever javelin throw, to jump into the top eight and qualify for District. McElravy’s previous best was 101-5, but he shattered that PR with a toss of 107-9.
Coach David Stelljes was pleased with his young squad, qualifying five freshmen, two sophomores, five juniors and five seniors. “I also want to thank all the volunteers who made it possible to hold the sub-district in Goldendale,” said Stelljes.
The State 1A meet is at Mt. Tahoma High School, in Tacoma on May 23-24.
Incredible vista inspires record performances in B league meet
ANDREW CHRISTIANSEN
Reporter
They did it again! Just two weeks after tying their school pole vault records, Kristian Rubesh and Star Kibby rewrote the record books, and sit all alone on top at Trout Lake and Bickleton high schools, respectively.
Rubesh wiped out an eight year old record when he cleared 13-3 at the B league meet in Glenwood. The jump establishes Rubesh as a favorite at this weekend’s District meet at Eisenhower High School, in Yakima. He previously was tied with Tobin Rummel at 12-6.
Rubesh’s teammate, Luke Larson, who has also been flirting with the record, tied Rubesh and Rummel, earlier in the day, only to see the record climb another seven inches.
Kibby upset Kindra VanLaar in the Friday meet, clearing 9-1.24, a Bickleton record. It broke the log jam at 8-6 where Kibby had joined Kynzie Arlt and Corryn Raschko as previous record holders. The freshman will test VanLaar, the 2007 State champion, who has cleared 9-3, when the two meet at District for the single berth to State. It is possible for both girls to advance, if they exceed the state standard of 8-9. Both girls have done so, just once this year.
Neola Putnam and Hershel Sanchey swept the distance races. TLG’s Putnam fought off minor challenges from LaSalle’s Siena Noe in the 800 and 1600, and just edged the Lightning’s Megan Bonny in the 400. Sanchey, the Klickitat star, won the 800 and 1600 comfortably. He was followed by Bickleton’s Junior Hernandez in the 3200, with Lyle-Wishram’s Brian Neifert finishing third.
Mike Murphy unleashed a 44-11 shot put, 16 inches better than his previous best, to beat Lyle-Wishram teammate, Jim Price. Murphy doubled up on wins by getting the better of Bickleton’s Eric Hess in the discus. Ty Scoggins was third, for TLG.
It was all Bickleton in the boys high jump. Andrew Venema was first at 5-8, followed by Cody Loomis and Hess.
Mikael Dick shaved more than a second off his PR, to win the 400 for TLG.
Natalie Nobbs, of Riverside Christian and Bonny, dominated the sprints, going one-two in the 100 and 200. Teaera Churchwll, of Lyle-Wishram was third in the 100, and TLG’s Liz Vogt was third in the 200.
Klickitat County girls dominated the throwing events. TLG’s Dave’y Lumley won the discus, ahead of Bickleton’s Katelynn Clinton, and third place Zoe Lindner, of Klickitat. Lumley also won the javelin, where Lindner again settled for third.
The shot put was won by Riverside Christian’s Madison Hahn, throwing 34-9. Lumley was second and Bickleton’s Nakai Kibby set a PR of 29-2.5 for third.
The high jump was won by Samantha Brewer, of Klickitat, with Clinton finishing second. Brewer was second in the 100 hurdles and fell to third in the triple jump when Lyle-Wishram’s Lisa Donath, got off her best leap ever at 30-8.
Anna Schmid ran her best time in the 300 hurdles and finished second to Nobbs.
The B league District meet will be held this Friday at Kumler Field, in Yakima. The top finishers in each event for 1B and 2B schools will advance to their respective State meet, which will also be held jointly, May 23-24 at Eastern Washington University. |
