Cougars preparing for move to Pacific South football league
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
Nobody likes to see shrinking numbers of students in a school system, but there may be some benefits, particularly in sports and Lyle-Wishram is hoping to make the best of their new opportunity.
The realignment of schools beginning with the 2010-11 school year shows Lyle-Wishram had 77.38 students during the counting period, a drop of 19.5 students since the previous two-year classification. With the upper limit for class 1B schools set at 92 students, Lyle-Wishram will be the 14th largest in 1B out of 62 schools, a very different situation from being a small school playing against much larger teams in a 2B league.
Three years ago, Lyle-Wishram switched to eight-man football as they found it difficult to field an 11 man team. Since 2B schools play 11 man football, the Cougars had to play against 1B teams and small Oregon schools. As a 2B school, they were not eligible for post season play.
The past two years the Cougars were aligned with District 9 in southeast Washington and they played some of the best eight-man teams in Oregon and Washington. Each of those teams knew they were in for a tough game against the Cougars, including Tri-City Prep who would go on to win the 1B State title. Prep was down by 14 points in the fourth quarter before saving the game against the Cougars. It was just one of two losses for the 7-2 Cougars and it added to the frustration of knowing they could play with the best, but were going nowhere. There are big expectations for change, now that the Cougars are a legitimate 1B team.
Lyle-Wishram’s first 1B football team held its first spring practices with excitement about a new era as the big kids on the block in the Pacific South League. The league includes Oakville (73 students), Lake Quinault (60.13), Kingsway Christian (57.5), Wishkah Valley (57.25), Tahola (50), Washington School for the Deaf (46.13) and Mary M. Knight (32.13). Wishkah Valley was 8-3 last year, falling out in the first round of State playoffs along with 7-3 Lake Quinault. Head Coach of the Cougars, Don Smith is confident that Lyle-Wishram can be a playoff team this fall and looks to the thrill of playing in the Tacoma Dome as an added incentive for his team.
The Cougars will have to replace their starting quarterback from last year, Keale Wiseman, and half of their 3,307 yard running back tandem of Allen and Henry Matai. Henry will be back and is capable of carrying a bigger load. Sophomore Dustin Mutch was working at quarterback in spring drills.
The Cougars hosted the second annual Wildcat Football Camp in Lyle last week. It was a full contact camp for grades two through six with proceeds going to the Lyle-Wishram football booster club. They hope to build future Cougars and with 31 campers enrolled, they are well under way with their second annual camp. Proceeds will also help the varsity team attend football camp at Whitworth College. According to assistant coach, Dave Barthlow, 14 or 15 players are expected to attend camp.
Most of the other sports programs for Lyle-Wishram will be played in the Columbia Gorge League against Klickitat (33.5 students), Trout Lake-Glenwood (54.63), Bickleton (22.88) and Sunnyside Christian (52.13). Where the baseball team will play has not been decided. Nobody is likely to miss former league rivals Riverside Christian and LaSalle. The private schools from Yakima and Union Gap had more than a size advantage over the Cougars. Less travel is expected to be another bonus with the move.
While the Cougars played non-league games against Gorge League teams and are well acquainted with their neighbors, inclusion in the same league is likely to energize some natural rivalries. But size isn’t everything. After all, it was the smallest, Bickleton, who played in the State basketball tournament this year.
Heid gets a shot at baseball dream
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
Drew Heid became an Angel last week. The son of Goldendale residents Mark and Cora Heid was the ninth round pick of the Los Angeles Angels baseball team during the Major League baseball draft. According to Drew, “it was a little later than I expected, but it is perfectly fine with me. I am glad to be in the top 10 rounds.” Perhaps more surprising to Heid was the team. “They [the Angels] contacted me two or three times while the other teams contacted me eight to 10 times.” Heid said prior to the draft that he had no preference. After hearing it was Los Angeles, he said he was happy to hear that, as the Angels are a team that he likes and is impressed with their way of handling and developing players.
Heid played the past three years as an outfielder at Gonzaga University where he improved his stock as a baseball prospect to fulfill his dream of becoming a Major League ball player. Heid majored in sports management with a minor in psychology. He grew up in small towns in southeast Washington, going from third through 10th grades in Touchet and finishing high school at Waterville. He played short stop, second base and outfield on teams while growing up.
Heid comes across as a player who is confident, not cocky. He is listed at 5-10 and 175 pounds in the Gonzaga media guide. “I’ve always been considered on the short side but had the will, strength and competitiveness to show I am willing to fight to succeed,” says Heid. “The way I have handled being regarded as too small is to work harder than anyone else.”
He says he never made it to State in any sport, but it is clear he had the winning attitude. His hitting prowess was first developed while in middle school and Heid could see that he needed to use it to “give momentum to my team.” He describes his hitting style as “Japanese slash.” He says he studied great hitters (one of his baseball heroes is Roger Maris) and learned from his coaches. He did have success in Babe Ruth baseball, where his team won it all when he was 13.
Heid’s skills put him in a leadership position with his high school teams. He says he could see his “teammates had skills but lacked the courage to show it.” He felt it was his responsibility to lead and encourage them and was proud of them for the progress they made. “I felt if they saw how hard I worked to be a good player they would see they could do it too.”
Heid wasn’t recruited by major colleges, although they were aware of him. He went to Walla Walla Community College out of high school where he set the single season record of 68 hits. Heid transferred to Gonzaga because he felt the University was respected for its academics. In one of his first games at Gonzaga, Heid says he encountered one of Washington State University’s coaches who had talked to him during high school. “He was surprised to see me on the opposite side of the field against them in a Gonzaga uniform. He said they lost track of me and thought I left the state.” Coaches wouldn’t lose track of him again.
In his first year at Gonzaga, Heid made first team all conference climbing from last in the batting order to the number three slot and he moved to center field. For the rest of his career at Gonzaga, Heid was their lead-off hitter. During his junior year, Gonzaga had a great record and went to the College World Series regionals. He expected some notice in the major league draft, last year, but was not drafted. Six of his Gonzaga teammates were drafted, however.
Heid played in Alaska last summer and was the league MVP and winner of the Silver Slugger award with his record setting .427 batting average. His senior year at Gonzaga improved his stock for the draft. “I tried to improve myself from last year and I think they noticed.”
Heid set a single season hit record at Gonzaga in 2010 with 92. He batted .390 with an on-base percentage of .467 and slugging percentage of .602. He had 173 put outs and 13 assists. He played errorless ball in center field during conference play and had a .989 fielding percentage for the season. Heid led the Bulldogs in runs scored (54), doubles (18), triples (4) and walks (29).
Heid’s next assignment will be a one-week minicamp then it is off to Orem, Ut., where he will play for the Orem Owlz of the Pioneer League. Orem is a rookie league team affiliated with the Angels. Their manager is Tom Tom Kotchman, father of Seattle Mariner first baseman, Casey Kotchman. Heid hopes to play well and be assigned to a “showcase” league this fall where major league managers get a closer look at players. Heid says he will give it about five years to make it to the major leagues. He knows he still has to overcome the perennial size issue, but it clearly doesn’t diminish his confidence because he has been there before and believes he will succeed because he will work harder than anyone else around him.
The Dalles swim team to work on times at fun meet in Goldendale
Saturday’s swim meet in Goldendale is expected to attract members of The Dalles swim team and other area swimmers looking to sharpen their skills as they chase State qualifying performances. Several of those swimmers are from Goldendale.
There are 15 Goldendale residents on The Dalles team. Most are expected to compete on Saturday. Competitive swimmers compete under rules established by USA Swimming, the national association that sanctions the events. Swimmers compete year-round at various levels, including State, and Regional meets which have qualifying standards for entry. Swimmers meet those standards at any of the local, sanctioned meets. The meet at Goldendale is not a qualifying meet, but is intended to help novice swimmers improve their techniques and times.
The Goldendale swimmers belong to The Dalles team for practical reasons. Klickitat County is assigned to Oregon by USA Swimming. Being part of a larger team gives swimmers access to coaching that wasn’t available and allows more chances to be involved in relay teams. Team sanctioning fees are also expensive. However, with more members joining and with the pool cover extending the season, Goldendale swimmers are spending more time at home. They also have a local coach with Lori Hoctor signing on this year. Hoctor is experienced as a stroke instructor and works with the team several mornings during the week.
Spectators are welcome to the meet which has entries open to members of the USA National Swimming Association. Competition will begin at 9 a.m. and should conclude before noon. Saturday’s meet is a good place to learn more about the program. |
