Conboy-Wilkins undefeated in Wolf doubles
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
Goldendale’s number two doubles team of Seth Conboy and Kurt Wilkins broke strong from the gate to lead the boys’ tennis team to a 3-1 record on the young season. A 7-6, 6-4 match against Ki-Be is the closest anyone has come to winning a set against the duo, who polished off Highland 6-1, 6-1 and Naches Valley 6-3, 6-1, last week.
The pair have matched up well in their first year as a doubles team. Conboy is a junior who sat out last year and Wilkins is a sophomore who played tennis as a freshman. As important as their 4-0 record is the fact the pair appear to have a good time during the matches.
Conboy and Wilkins aren’t the only boys off to a good start. Goldendale’s number one singles player, Tom Kussmann lost just one game in straight set wins over Ryan Martin, of Highland, and Terrance Kleeschulte, of Naches Valley. The junior is 3-1 on the year.
The Timberwolves’ number two singles player isn’t too shabby, either. Newcomer Keith Bighorn ground out a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 win over Sam Tuesley, of Highland, to run his record to 3-0. The Wolves’ number one doubles team of Adrian Sanchez and Zack Shattuck has also contributed with a 6-3, 6-3 win against Naches Valley and 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 win over Highland. The fifth win in the shut-out of Naches Valley came from the pair of Dillion Beierle and Bobby Koffler.
Things haven’t been as smooth for the girls’ team in the early going. Losses of 0-5 to Naches Valley and 3-2 at Highland leave the ladies searching for their first victory. There is reason for optimism, as aside from the Naches Valley match, all losses have been by 3-2 scores. The Wolves scored singles wins by Stacy Thompson and Kelsey Walker against Highland.
Molina, Hernandez, Ross post meet wins
Six Timberwolves set new personal records at the Grandview track and field invitational on March 23, and three area athletes posted wins. Most notable of the records was the new personal mark set by Sadie Shattuck, who threw the discus 84-11, giving her personal bests in the shot put and discus in the span of three days. The Timberwolf junior is on a tear compared to most athletes who are still easing into the season.
In addition to Shattuck, several younger members of the Goldendale team set personal bests in Grandview. Andrea Keffeler is closing in on 30 feet in the triple jump with a 29-6.5 performance and Brady Conway was fourth in the long jump at 17-7. Nathan Bischoff, a junior, had a PR 36-10 in the triple jump and Lindsey Lemos, a freshman, was timed at 15.14 in the 100 meters.
The only winner from the area was Braydon Ross, who didn’t throw his best in the discus, but his 114 foot toss beat the runner up by two feet.
Liz Vogt, of TLG was in only her second appearance of the year at Grandview. The defending State champion in the 400 meters placed second in the 100 at Grandview. In her only other meet at Mullen-Leavitt, Vogt ran a 1:03.64 in the 400, about two seconds off her winning time at State.
In other action last week at the Cashmere invitational, Bickleton’s boys placed second behind winning performances by Edgar Molina and Junior Hernandez. Molina won the shot put and was second in the discus. Hernandez won the 1600 and was second in the 3200.
Bickleton’s girls were led to a sixth place finish with third place finishes for Jenna Mount in the 400, Katelynn Clinton in the high jump and Bickleton’s third place relay teams of: Clinton, Mount, Johanna Jensen and Haley Goodnight in the 4x200, and Goodnight, Jensen, Amanda McBride and Christina Wilson in the 4x400.
Bickleton and TLG are off until April 9 and Goldendale is on break until April 10.
Lady Timberwolves welcome spring break to nurse wounds
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
Spring break couldn’t have come at a better time for the Goldendale Timberwolf girls’ fastpitch team. A double header loss to River View on Saturday left a couple more girls on ice.
The girls were hanging in against Haley Hess’s tough pitching during game one. The Panthers were up 5-1 in the top of the sixth when the Timberwolves got to Hess for four runs to tie the game. But, they couldn’t keep the Panthers from scoring in the bottom of the inning, and game one was lost 10-6. Brenna Ashcraft drove in three runs and Haley Hoffman doubled and scored two runs in the losing effort.
Game two got away from the Timberwolves on a six- run fifth inning by the Panthers who finished a 13-3 win with two runs in the sixth inning. Crysta Counts was banged up sliding into third, but managed to continue at catcher and was 2-3 with an RBI. Her sister, Alex had a more serious leg injury while sliding into home. She also stayed in the game, in spite of being noticeaby hobbled.
The Wolves have until April 6 to recover, when they host Riverside of Boardman. The first league game for Goldendale will be on April 20, at Zillah.
Wolves vs Cougars
Goldendale’s JV team played host to the Lyle-Wishram Cougars on March 25. It was a typical spring day in Goldendale, a little chilly with off and on rain and wind. At one point, Cougar Manager, Dave Barthlow said he could feel hail as he was being pelted in the third base coaching box.
The Cougars wasted no time getting on the board with a 10 run first inning. Goldendale pitchers had trouble finding the strike zone and yielded 20 runs through four innings.
For her part, Cougar pitcher, Karlee Roth, dealt with the cool weather by cooling the Timberwolf bats. Lyle-Wishram led 20-2 when the Wolves came to bat in the bottom of the fourth. The weather was beginning to show its teeth, and Goldendale began to get to Roth, whose hands were getting numb. As coaches debated stopping the non-league game after four innings, the Timberwolves scored eight times and the weather eased up, just a bit.
The Cougars responded with six runs in the fifth inning, and Goldendale ran out of come-backs. The final score was 26-10. Just a typical day for spring softball in Goldendale. The Cougars play next in White Salmon on April 6. |
