Spring Sports Preview

2014 Spring Sports Preview

SHHS track & field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3 SHHS baseball. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 SHHS softball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 SHHS golf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 SHHS tennis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Schedules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9 SHS track & field. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11 SHS baseball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 SHS softball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 SHS golf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 a special section of

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The Chronicle – Spring Sports Preview

SHHS Track & Field L

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Tinkle hopes more sprinters will lead to more success

ast year the throwing events provided the most depth for the St. Helens High School track and field team. For much of the prior decade, that role belonged to distance runners. This year, it’s the sprints.

Head coach Gerry Tinkle said this year’s squad has much more depth in the sprinting events than at any point in recent history. With as many as nine of track and field’s 17 events fitting into the sprint category, Tinkle said this development should bode well for the Lions.

“The sprinters are going to do a lot better. We had a miserable year last year in the sprints.

I think we’re gonna do a whole lot better this year. We’ve got a lot more depth, more speed,” he said.

The return of senior Nicole Harcourt will help. Harcourt was the girls’ top sprinter as a freshman and sophomore. She did not run last year, but is back on the track this season.

The Lions return senior Kylie Reinholdt, a three-time state meet qualifier. Senior Alyna Habel adds more speed and ability in the hurdles. Sophomore Genesis Hansen is new to the team this year, but has demonstrated her speed on the soccer pitch.

“We have so many girl sprinters this year. We didn’t have that last year. We’re hoping for big improvement,” Tinkle said. That depth should greatly improve the team’s relays.

The high jump should be another strong suit for the Lion girls, with both Reinholdt and senior Alyssa Holz capable of clearing five feet.

Senior hurdler Thomas Hughes leads the returning boys. Hughes is a returning district champion in the high hurdles and was runner-up in the intermediates. He was in the top seven in both events at state.

The SHHS boys lack the depth of last year in the throwing events, but seniors Jacob Zartman and Corey West should pack some punch at the top of the lineup. Tinkle said Zartman should break 50 feet in the shot put, which could leave him atop the conference.

Tinkle said sophomore Bryce Bumgardner is getting better in the high jump, as is junior Josh Green. Green and senior Chris Gray came on strong in the pole vault near the end of last season. They will look to improve in We have so many girl that event under the tutelage of a new coach. sprinters this year. We Neil Ford replaces longtime pole vault coach Bob Williams, who is now coaching at Clark didn’t have that last year.

College in Vancouver.

– Gerry Tinkle Senior Bryan Strang leads a solid pack of distance runners. Strang just missed a trip SHHS track coach (32nd year) to the state meet a season ago, finishing third. With a pair of seniors taking the top two spots, Strang has a strong shot at winning that event this season. Tinkle said there’s quite a bit of depth in the distances with fellow returners junior Casey Cooke, senior Tanner Boyle and senior Tanner Matlock.

In the sprints, the Lions have an influx of new talent. Senior Jesse James is new to the team this year. Tinkle said James has looked quick early in practices, as has a group of underclassmen.

“We have a bunch of freshmen out, a bunch of guys with speed,” Tinkle said. “We’ll see how far those guys come along.”

“

Seniors Tanner Long and Gage Bumgardner will look to add depth to the3x3Lions’ group of 1sprinters this AM spring.

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The Chronicle – Spring Sports Preview

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Returning NWOC place-winners

NWOC outlook

Chris Gray sr 4th, PV Alyssa Holz sr 4th, HJ (2013, 11) Thomas Hughes sr 1st, 110H; 2nd 300H (13) 3rd, 300H; 4th 110H (12) Patience Marshall sr 2nd, 800 Kylie Reinholdt sr 1st, HJ; 1st, LJ; 2nd, TJ (13) 1st, TJ; 4th, HJ (12) 2nd, TJ; 4th, LJ (11) Bryan Strang sr 3rd, 3,000

O

Senior Alyna Habel will help St. Helens in the sprints and hurdles.

2013 NWOC Meet (Boys) (Girls) Wilsonville 156 Sherwood 107 Milwaukie 105 St. Helens 85 Liberty 80 Sandy 69 Putnam 33 Parkrose 23

Senior Thomas Hughes will look to repeat as NWOC champion in the 110meter high hurdles this season.

Sherwood 148.5 Liberty 125.5 Wilsonville 122.5 Milwaukie 83.5 Sandy 77 St. Helens 51 Putnam 38 Parkrose 9

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n the girls side of the league, the top three teams at last year’s district meet return most of their firepower. That will make it tough for St. Helens to crack into one of the top three spots.

With the added speed and depth in the sprint events, however, the Lions could improve on their sixthplace finish at last year’s meet and move into the upper half of the eightteam Northwest Oregon Conference.

At the district meet, there should be a quality battle between Sherwood, Liberty and Wilsonville to decide the 2014 NWOC champions.

The Sherwood boys were second in the league last year and return the majority of its team intact.

The reigning NWOC champion Wilsonville Wildcats graduated a lot of talent, but St. Helens coach Gerry Tinkle said WHS was very deep last year and could reload.

“I think they’ll still be the team to beat,” Tinkle said.

It’s possible those two teams will finish atop the league again this year.

Tinkle isn’t certain where his team will fit in because of the number of new student-athletes he has on the roster.

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The Chronicle – Spring Sports Preview

B4

SHHS Baseball 2013 Standings T

Sherwood Sandy Wilsonville Liberty Putnam Milwaukie St. Helens Parkrose

25-6, 15-2 18-9, 14-3 17-13, 11-6 16-12, 9-8 12-13, 9-8 8-16, 6-11 7-17, 4-13 0-24, 0-17

NWOC outlook

T

he Northwest Oregon Conference doesn’t lack quality arms. St. Helens coach Jeff Timmons said just about every team in the NWOC has quality pitching staffs with multiple good pitchers.

“Everyone’s pitching staff is really good, so it’s hard to score runs. It’s not easy to put a big number on the board,” Timmons said.

That means in order to finish in the top half of the league, St. Helens will need to avoid errors on defense and figure out ways to push a few runs across the plate each game.

Entering the season, the team to beat appears to be the Sherwood Bowmen. The 2013 state champs return a pair of first-team All-State players from last year’s team, including pitcher Riley Moore.

Bryce Sanford jr HM NWOC P (2012) Adam Spencer sr HM NWOC OF Brody Takemoto jr HM NWOC 1B

In addition to the outfield, senior Noah Weitzel will see some time on the mound.

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Lions will again focus on manufacturing runs

he majority of last year’s team returns to the diamond at St. Helens High School this spring. Second-year head coach Jeff Timmons believes the key to the squad’s success this year will be its ability to bunt the baseball and move runners around the bases.

“It’s manufacturing runs. We gotta be smart on the basepaths, limit our silly mistakes and the big innings on defense,” Timmons said.

While the Lions’ lineup may not be flush with home run hitters, there are plenty of guys who can drive the ball. Timmons said Brody Takemoto is probably the team’s best all-around hitter and can send the ball deep into the gaps. Tyler Stangland and Bryce Mulcahy both have live bats as well, Timmons said.

The coach is hopeful that his team will be able to limit opponents to only a few runs a game.

St. Helens has a deep, talented pitching anchored by Bryce Sanford.

“He was lights-out last year,” Timmons said. Joining him on the pitching staff will be Mulcahy, Stangland, Noah Weitzel, Jake Shirley and Quintin Galvin.

Returning All-Stars

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The Chronicle – Spring Sports Preview

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

SHHS Softball W

ith 10 varsity returners – seven who were All-State or All-League – back on the diamond this spring, the St. Helens Lions put together one of the most imposing lineups on paper of any team in the state. If that group can stay on the field, the Lions should make a run deep into the postseason. So far, that’s been the challenge.

“We’re somewhat of a MASH unit right now,” St. Helens coach Jeff Edwards said during the week leading up to the team’s first game. “A lot of sore arms.”

St. Helens won’t have a ton of time to ease its way into the season. The Lions assembled one of the toughest non-conference schedules Edwards has seen. St. Helens started the season with West Albany – who lost to Sandy in the 2013 state semifinals.

“Our goal was to put together the toughest preseason Our goal was to put schedule we could,” Edwards said. The schedule was made together the toughest prewith the OSAA Power Rankseason schedule we could. ings in mind. As the season goes on and the Lions get – Jeff Edwards healthy, they should climb SHHS softball coach (9th year) those rankings.

Offensively, the team has a lethal combination of speed and power. Sophomore Ashley Giesbers, senior Stevie Strawn, sophomore Michelle Sass and senior Karli Edwards are all threats to steal bases. Senior Kali Moore, junior Hailee Fischer and sophomore Taylor Leal add some power at the plate.

But pitching and defense is the team’s backbone. St. Helens has one of the state’s top pitchers in junior Mariah Mulcahy. She is one of eight returning starters when the Lions are in the field. If the offense can score three or four runs a game, they should rack up a lot of wins.

“

Senior Karli Edwards returns to the middle of the Lions’ infield this season.

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St. Helens aims to dethrone state champion Sandy Returning All-Stars Karli Edwards sr 2nd team NWOC IF (2013, 11) Alyssa Giesbers jr HM NWOC DP (13) HM NWOC IF (12) Ashley Giesbers so 1st team NWOC OF HM All State Taylor Leal so HM NWOC IF

T

he Sandy Pioneers lost their first game last season, then didn’t drop another one the rest of the way. The state champs return three first-team All-State players, including the Pitcher of the Year.

Sandy beat St. Helens twice last year – 2-1 and 2-0 – and the Lions would like nothing

27-1, 14-0 20-6, 11-3 18-9, 10-4 16-12, 8-6 7-17, 5-9 6-18, 4-10 6-20, 4-10 2-23, 0-14

more than to spoil the Pioneers’ quest to repeat as state champs.

“Our goal is to win league. Sandy’s gonna be a roadblock – they’re defending state champs,” said St. Helens coach Jeff Edwards. “I think if we stay healthy, that we can play with anyone and beat anyone.”

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Mariah Mulcahy jr NWOC Pitcher of the Year (12, 13) 2nd team All State (12, 13) Michelle Sass jr 1st team NWOC C (12) 2nd team All State (12) 2nd team NWOC (13) Stevie Strawn sr 1st team NWOC OF (12) HM All State (12) 2nd team NWOC (13)

NWOC outlook

2013 Standings

Sandy St. Helens Wilsonville Liberty Putnam Parkrose Sherwood Milwaukie

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The Chronicle – Spring Sports Preview

B6

SHHS Golf F

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Lion boys looking to earn a trip to the state tournament our St. Helens High School boys have cracked 40 in a nine-hole practice round at Wildwood Golf Course this spring, creating one of the deepest lineups the Lions have had in Dave Lawrence’s NWOC outlook 11 years as coach. So far this spring senior Eric Aldridge, senior Cody Teyema, junior Michael

Hewlett and junior Jacob Roxey have been under 40 strokes on nine holes. If the Lions can translate those scores to 18 holes, they will likely be in contention for the No. 2 spot in the Northwest Oregon Conference at the end of the season.

Because golf teams use the best four scores from a five-man team, consistency will be key for those top four golfers. However, if one should falter in a match, Lawrence is confident the No. 5 man on the team will be capable of putting up a good score. The only trouble thus far is figuring out who the fifth golfer will be. Lawrence said the team will stage weekly playoffs for the fifth spot. So far, he thinks those battles will be between senior Wyatt Keller, sophomore Jordan Roark, junior Drake Laughlin and junior Brady Beckham, with a few freshman players having an outside shot.

Whichever of those golfers is able to cut down on his strokes near the green should have the best chance.

“The biggest fault of all those guys – and they’ve all been working on it – around the green they take a big back swing and decelerate when they go to hit the ball. That’s the opposite of what you want to do. They’re all working on that becuase that’s where you score,” Lawrence said.

The Lions girls won’t have enough players for a full team. Seventh-year coach Jen Johnston has three players out this spring: returning junior Leah Cave and freshman newcomers Ashley Perry and Alexis Kooyman.

Johnston said Cave came on strong at the end of last season, so she is hoping the junior will build on that going forward this year. Johnston said Perry’s older sister played for her a few years ago, and thinks that her family background in golf should help her score on the course.

Have a Great SeaSon SprinG atHleteS!

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Freshman Alexis Kooyman is one of two newcomers.

herwood returns its top five golfers from the Bowmen’s 2013 Northwest Oregon Conference championship team. Included in that quintet are the three top finishers at last year’s district meet.

“They should win. One through three they’re pretty good. Four and five we can make up some ground,” said St. Helens boys coach Dave Lawrence.

Lawrence thinks his squad will be fighting it out all season with Wilsonville and Liberty for the second spot in the conference. The top two teams in the league earn a berth to the state tournament at Quail Valley Golf Course in Banks.

Unless a couple more girls decide to join the girls squad, the Lions will be ineligible to compete for any any team competitions in the NWOC. With only three players, the Lions cannot field a full team. However, that won’t stop those three for vying for any of the five individual spots available for a trip to the state tournament in Creswell.

2013 NWOC Meet (Boys) (Girls)

Junior Michael Hewlett should be one of the Lions’ top four golfers.

Sherwood 614 Wilsonville 648 St. Helens 661 Parkrose 671 Liberty 682 Milwaukie 728 Sandy 733

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The Chronicle – Spring Sports Preview

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

SHHS Tennis

Ryan Jensen will be one of the senior leaders on this year’s tennis squad.

2013 NWOC Meet (Boys) (Girls) Sherwood 29.5 Liberty 25 Sandy 23.5 Wilsonville 20.5 St. Helens 15 Milwaukie 13 Parkrose 5 Putnam 0

Sophomore Hannah Spears will try to help the Lions move up from their fourth-place finish last season.

Sherwood 42 Wilsonville 25 Sandy 25 St. Helens 16.5 Parkrose 12 Liberty 11.5 Putnam 5 Milwaukie 0.5

B7

New coaches take over both St. Helens squads this spring

B

oth the boys and girls tennis teams at St. Helens High School have new head coaches this year. SHHS graduate Thomas Noelcke heads up the boys’ program after Don Courtain’s five-year run. Dave Geiger, who played tennis at Grambling State University in the late1970s, will lead the girls’ team. He takes over for Mike Gregor, who was the coach for six years.

Both coaches have so far been happy with what they’ve seen from their teams.

Noelcke put his team through a tournament to determine which players will take on which roles within the team. He said it was a competitive bunch of matches.

“I was surprised at the quality of play in the tournament. They had 10-15 ball rallies – and not just one or two of them. There were quite a few,” Noelcke said.

The Lion boys return a large sophomore group, with 15 of them back this season. Included in that group of sophomores is the doubles team of twins Jarrett and Miles Boynton. Sophomore Ryan Ward returns to the courts after winning a couple of matches at last year’s district tournament.

Senior Ryan Jensen is one of the most experienced returners to the fold. Junior Matthew Galizia has been a two-year varsity player for the Lions as well.

The girls team has plenty of returners with experience at the district tournament. Senior Madison Kaplan won the consolation bracket a season ago. Geiger indicated Kaplan will start the season switching from singles to playing doubles this year.

St. Helens also returns one-half of the doubles consolation championship team from last year in senior Lexi Normine. Sophomore Hannah Spears, junior Taylor Albertson, senior Lauren Chambers and senior JoCee Giroski all have NWOC Tournament experience as well.

Geiger said the doubles teams appear to be a strength early on in practices.

“We’ll have strong doubles teams and see how the singles handle the pressure,” he said.

Like the boys squad, Geiger’s players were also in the midst of a seeding tournament during the second week of practices. And like Noelcke, Geiger was impressed with what he saw during those matches.

“I expect a pretty exciting year. We have had some good battles,” he said. “They’re working extremely hard.”

Part of that hard work has come through what Geiger said is an extensive physical fitness program. In addition to practicing serves, receives and volleys, the Lions have been running and doing circuit training.

That conditioning has the coach hoping that his returning group of 16 seniors can improve on last year’s fourth-place finish in the conference.

“The seniors have seen how far they’ve come already. Now this year can be even better than last year,” he said.

NWOC outlook

B

etween the returning talent and the improvement of some new players already this season, SHHS boys coach Thomas Noelcke is excited about the outlook for the season.

“Definitely in the top half of the year,” he said when asked the team’s expectations. “We’ll be competitive.”

Sherwood, Noelcke said, should be the team to beat in the conference.

On the girls side, Sandy returns four All-Conference players from a season ago, and Wilsonville returns the Northwest Oregon Conference’s singles champion.

St. Helens has the majority of its team returning from last year’s fourth-place finish and will look to improve upon that mark.

The Lions will need to replace All-League singles player Haley MannMiller – one of just five players lost to graduation from a season ago.

Senior Lexi Normine has been successful in each of the last two NWOC Championship Tournaments.

The Chronicle – Spring Sports Preview

B8

SHHS Schedules SOFTBALL

3/17 vs. W. Albany 4:30pm 3/18 vs. Canby 4:30pm 3/21 at Glencoe 5pm 3/24-25 at North Medford Invitational TBA

4/22 vs. Sandy 4/23 at Wilsonville 4/25 at Milwaukie 4/29 vs. Putnam 4/30 at Parkrose

5pm 5pm 5pm 5pm 5pm

4/1 at McNary 4:30pm 4/2 vs. McMinnville 5pm 4/4 at Gresham 4:30pm 4/8 vs. D. Douglas 5pm 4/10 at Jesuit 5pm 4/15 vs. Sherwood 5pm 4/18 at Liberty 5pm

5/2 at Sherwood 5/6 vs. Liberty 5/8 at Sandy 5/9 vs. Wilsonville 5/13 vs. Milwaukie 5/14 at Putnam 5/16 vs. Parkrose

5pm 5pm 5pm 5pm 5pm 5pm 5pm

BASEBALL

3/18 at Canby 4:30pm 3/19 at Reynolds 4:30pm 3/21 at West Linn 4:30pm 3/24-26 at Glencoe Tourn. TBA 4/1 vs. Hillsboro 4/2 at Century 4/8 at Sandy 4/9 vs. Sandy 4/11 vs. Parkrose 4/15 at Parkrose 4/16 at Putnam 4/18 vs. Putnam

4:30pm 5pm 4:30pm 4:30pm 4:30pm 4:30pm 4:30pm 4:30pm

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

TRACK

3/20 at Scappoose

3pm

4/2 at Sherwood 4pm 4/9 vs. Wilsonville 4pm 4/12 Lower Columbia Invitational 12:30pm 4/16 at Parkrose 4pm 4/19 at Wilsonville Invite 10am 4/23 vs. Putnam 4pm 4/25 at McMinnville Invite4pm 4/30 at Milwaukie 4pm 5/7 at Liberty 4pm 5/15-16 at Districts (Sandy)3pm 5/23-24 State at UO TBA

BOYS

GOLF

BOYS

3/19 Wildwood 11:30 4/9 at Glendoveer Noon 4/14 at C. Glenn Noon 4/23 at Quail Valley 11:00 4/28 at Waverly Club Noon 5/5 at Resort at Mtn. Noon 5/12-13 Districts at The Reserve TBA

GIRLS

3/17 at Sah-Hah-Lee 11:30 4/1 at Broadmoor 10:00 4/15 at C. Glenn Noon 4/22 at Quail Valley 11:00 4/29 at Charbonneau Noon 5/6 at Mtn. View Noon 5/12-13 Districts at The Reserve TBA

TENNIS

3/18 vs. Centennial 3:30pm 4/22 vs. Sherwood 4:30pm 3/20 vs. N. Marion 4pm 4/23 at Sherwood 4:30pm 4/25 vs. Sherwood 4:30pm 4/1 at Sandy 4 p.m.

4/29 vs. Wilsonville 4:30pm 4/3 vs. Parkrose 4 p.m.

4/30 at Wilsonville 4:30pm 4/9 at Milwaukie 4 p.m.

4/11 vs. Liberty 4 p.m.

5/2 vs. Wilsonville 4:30pm 4/14 at Sherwood 4pm 5/6 at Liberty 4:30pm 4/16 at Wilsonville 4pm 5/7 vs. Liberty 4:30pm 4/22 vs. Sandy 4pm 5/9 at Liberty 4:30pm 4/24 at Parkrose 4pm 5/13 vs. Milwaukie 4:30pm 4/29 at Hood River 3:30pm 5/16 at Milwaukie 4:30pm 4/30 vs. Milwaukie 4pm 5/2 at Liberty 4pm 5/6 vs. Sherwood 4pm 5/8 vs. Wilsonville 4pm 5/15-17 Districts at Portland Tennis Center 5/22-24 State at Tualatin Hills Tennis Center

GIRLS

3/18 at Centennial

3:30pm

4/1 vs. Sandy 4pm 4/3 at Parkrose 4pm 4/9 at Milwaukie 4pm 4/11 at Liberty 4pm 4/14 vs. Sherwood 4pm 4/16 vs. Wilsonville 4pm 4/22 at Sandy 4pm 4/24 vs. Parkrose 4pm 4/25 at Hood River 3:30pm 4/28 vs. Putnam 4pm 4/30 vs. Milwaukie 4pm 5/2 vs. Liberty 4pm 5/6 at Sherwood 4pm 5/8 at Wilsonville 4pm 5/15-17 Districts at Portland Tennis Center 5/22-24 State at Tualatin Hills Tennis Center

The Chronicle – Spring Sports Preview

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

SHS Schedules TRACK

3/20 vs. St. Helens & Cascade 3:30pm

4/2 vs. Tillamook & Seaside 3:30pm 4/12 at Lower Columbia Invitational 12:30pm 4/19 at Wilsonville Invite 3:30pm 4/23 at Banks 3:30pm

BOYS

4/26 at Centennial Invite TBA

B9

SOFTBALL

3/17 at North Marion 5pm 3/18 vs. Molalla 4:30pm 3/28-29 at Mac Hi Tourn. TBA

5/2 at Jesuit Twilight 4pm 5/7 vs. Tillamook & Astoria 3:30pm 4/1 at Clatskanie 4:30pm 5/9 at Cottage Grove TBA 4/2 vs. Central 4:30pm 5/15-16 at Districts (Y-C)2pm 4/11 at Roosevelt TBA 5/23-24 at State (UO) TBA 4/15 vs. Tillamook 4:15pm 4/18 DH at Banks 4pm

GOLF

GIRLS

3/21 at The Dalles Country Club 3/18 at The Dalles Country Club TBA 10am 3/20 at Wildwood 11am 4/1 at Arrowhead Country Club TBA 4/3 at Quail Valley 1:30pm 4/3 at Quail Valley 1pm 4/4 at Alderbrook 12:30pm 4/7 at Astoria Country Club 4/7 at Quail Valley 12:30pm 11am 4/14 at Gearhart TBA 4/8 at Alderbrook 1pm 4/17 at Gearhart TBA 4/17 at Quail Valley 1pm 4/21 at St. Helens TBA 4/28 at Gearhart TBA 5/1 at Astoria Country Club 5/1 at Quail Valley 1:30pm TBA 5/12-13 at Districts (Astoria 5/5 at Astoria Country Club Country Club, Quail Valley) TBA 5/19-20 at State (Eagle Crest) 5/12-13 at Districts (Alderbrook, Gearhart) TBA 5/19-20 at State (Trysting Tree) TBA

4/22 at Seaside 4/25 DH vs. Y-C 4/29 vs. Astoria

4:15pm 4pm 4:15pm

5/2 DH at Tillamook 5/6 vs. Banks 5/9 DH vs. Seaside 5/13 at Y-C 5/16 DH at Astoria

4pm 5pm 4pm 5pm 4pm

BASEBALL

3/17 at North Marion 5pm 3/18 vs. Molalla 4:30pm 3/21 at TVCC InvitationalTBA

4/23 vs. Tillamook 4/29 vs. Seaside 4/30 at Seaside

5pm 5pm 5pm

4/1 vs. Clatskanie 4/4 vs. Roosevelt 4/5 at Central 4/8 at Banks 4/10 vs. Banks 4/15 vs. Y-C 4/16 at Y-C 4/22 at Tillamook

5/2 at Astoria 5/6 vs. Astoria 5/7 at Banks 5/9 vs. Y-C 5/13 at Tillamook 5/14 vs. Seaside 5/16 at Astoria

5pm 5pm 5pm 5pm 5pm 5pm 5pm

4:30pm 4:30pm 1pm 5pm 5pm 5pm 5pm 5pm

The Chronicle – Spring Sports Preview

B10

SHS Track & Field

Sprinters will come in waves for the Scappoose High School boys track and field team this season. The Indians have no shortage of speed. Among the returning sprinters are all four members of the school’s record-holding 4x400 relay team: Mychal Hortert, Nick Rust, Matt Shoun and Justice Oman. That group – all seniors – will take aim on resetting the school record... and possibly even more.

“I think they’ve really bought into the fact that ... they have a legitimate they have a legitimate chance to maybe set a chance to maybe set a couple of state records and win those [relays],” said Scappoose coach David Harley. “That’d be a couple of state records. good way to go out.”

– David Harley That group will be aided in the sprints by sophomores Braden Clark and Jarrett White, as well SHS track coach (19th year) as seniors Carson Davison and Kyle Nickel.

Oman and Clark took two of the top three spots at the Cowapa League Championships in the long jump as well.

Harley said the biggest challenge in the sprint events will be figuring out how to turn the team’s talent into the maximum number of points possible.

“It’s a real nice problem to have. If we can figure out where we can maximize those guys and figure out, ‘OK, who’s long-jumping?’” Harley said. “That’s gonna be fun. Sean [McNabb, Harley’s assistant coach] and I have been looking forward to that all winter.”

The Indians should be just fine in the distance events as well, as they return their top runners from last year’s district meet in both the 1,500 and 3,000 in juniors Dan Carrier, Stephen Gift and Jacob Harley.

Seniors Kenny Klippel and Blake Wills should lead Scappoose in the throwing events.

Klippel holds the SHS record in the javelin.

Harley said the team will need to develop a few athletes to fill in the hurdles, triple jump and high jump, but thinks this team has a very good shot at winning a fourth straight Cowapa League title.

Senior Charlie Davidson will look to cap an impressive four-year run for the Tribe girls.

Davidson has won league titles in both the 800 and 1,500 meters in each of her first three years. She has a state title in the 1,500 to her credit, as well as two second-place finishes in that event. She’s been third twice and fourth once in the 800 at the state meet. She holds Scappoose records in those two events and the 400 meters.

Harley expects her to be one of the state’s best runners again this season and has been trying to develop a plan to maximize the amount of rest she can get between those events at this year’s state meet.

“I think she’s going to be a little faster [this year],” Harley said. “I’m digging to find anything I can to make that recovery time feel like a little bit more.”

Senior Abby Kessi provides depth behind Davidson in those two events. She has qualified for the state meet in the 800 each of the last two years.

Harley expects a breakout season from sophomore hurdler Eleanor Jones, who was third in both hurdle races last year.

Harley said those three should anchor the team, but anticipates quality production from Olivia McDaniel in multiple events and from throwers Emily Scherdnik and Hailee Holmason.

“

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Depth in sprints has boys eyeing 4th straight title

Returning Cowapa place-winners

Braden Clark so 3rd, LJ; 4th, 400 Charlie Davidson sr 1st, 800; 1st, 1,500 (2013) 1st, 800; 1st, 1,500 (12) 1st, 800; 1st, 1,500 (11) Mychal Hortert sr 1st, 800 (12) 4th, 800 (11) Eleanor Jones so 3rd, 100H; 3rd, 300H Abby Kessi sr 2nd, 800 (13) 2nd, 800 (12) 4th, 800 (11) Kenny Klippel sr 1st, jav; 3rd, disc; 4th, shot Joey Krupsky jr 2nd, TJ Kyle Nickel sr 4th, 100; 4th, PV Justice Oman sr 1st, 400; 2nd, LJ (13) 4th, 400 (12) Nick Rust sr 4th, 200 Jarrett White so 1st, 200; 2nd, 100

Have A Great Spring Season!

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The Chronicle – Spring Sports Preview

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

B11

2013 Cowapa Meet (Boys)

Scappoose 257 Banks 165 Tillamook 149 Seaside 121 Astoria 83 Y-C 33

(Girls) Juniors Jacob Harley, left, and Dan Carrier will help anchor the Tribe’s distance events.

Banks 204 Y-C 199.5 Seaside 170 Scappoose 129.5 Astoria 82 Tillamook 25

Senior Lyndsay Huff returns to the Tribe lineup in the throwing events this year.

Cowapa outlook

P

ut simply, Scappoose head coach David Harley expects his boys to win a fourth consecutive Cowapa League title.

“I think our boys are pretty clearly the favorite. We’re just not going to give up a lot of points anywhere,” Harley said. Seaside, he thinks, will pose the biggest challenge to Scappoose.

In the girls race, things could be much more interesting. The Indians have talent in just about every event, but there is not a whole lot of depth rounding out the Scappoose roster.

“We’ll have kids at the top, but we won’t be able to pick up those fifth- and seventh-place finishes,” Harley said. “Maybe the girls are wide open – I don’t know.”

From what he saw last year, he thinks Yamhill-Carlton and Banks could both field solid girls squads.

The Cowapa League has changed its schedule a bit this season. Rather than having five league meets, the league’s coaches decided to have three meets this year. Some of the meets will feature as many as four teams and be scored as triple-dual meets. Last year the league had a lot of double-dual meets. The meets will also take place on Wednesdays this year rather than Thursdays.

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Senior Nick Rust is one of the many talented sprinters on the SHS boys squad this season.

The Chronicle – Spring Sports Preview

B12

SHS Baseball T

he majority of spring practices have taken place indoors so far for the Scappoose High School baseball team. Drainage issues have left the field too wet to spend much time on.

Tribe coach Robert Medley said that while it’s tough to judge a player’s hitting inside the batting cage, he’s liked what he’s seen We have three or four guys thus far. that can really drive the “I think we’re gonna compete at the plate ball gap to gap. well. We’ve got some – Robert Medley kids that swing it well,” Medley said. “Timing is SHS baseball coach (15th year) going to be tough early in the season.”

In the middle of the lineup, the Indians should pack plenty of punch at the plate.

“Our three through seven hitters are gonna have some pop, which we haven’t had in a while,” Medley said. “We have three or four guys that can really drive the ball gap to gap.”

Medley said senior Will Sprute, senior Anthony Bernal, junior Steven Johnson, junior Blake Millar and junior Robby Backus can all swing the bat pretty well.

“There’s some good-sized hitters in there we’re pretty excited about,” he said.

Sprute returns as the team’s ace pitcher for a third straight season.

Junior Owen Fortney provides a quality second starter for the Tribe as well. Medley said those two formed a potent tandem during the summer season. Senior shortstop Hunter Hoyt will also be called on for some innings on the mound. Millar, Backus and senior Sam Margheim give the pitching staff added depth.

“We’ve got some good arms, I’m excited about that,” Medley said.

The Indians won’t be short on numbers: 41 players turned out for baseball this spring. Scappoose will have a varsity, JV and freshman team. On the varsity team, the Tribe has 10 seniors, including five or six who return with varsity experience.

On a team that only lost one everyday starter – outfielder and pitcher Kyle Durvin – there are plenty of experienced players back. Juniors Jake Ford and Justin Hering saw some action at the varsity level as sophomores as well.

Tribe packs punch in its lineup and has a deep pitching staff Cowapa outlook

S

“

Returning All-Stars Anthony Bernal sr All League C Hunter Hoyt sr All League IF Steven Johnson jr All League IF Will Sprute sr All League P (2013, 12)

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Senior catcher Anthony Bernal and his teammates have been stuck indoors much of the spring, but will be ready to swing away outdoors soon.

Juniors Jake Ford, left, and Robby Backus work on their fundamentals at the plate doing tee drills during an indoor practice.

Both played varsity as sophomores last season.

cappoose coach Robert Medley thinks parity will be the best descriptor for the Cowapa League baseball season.

“The league will be a lot like the boys basketball league,” Medley predicted.

Tillamook pulled away from the rest of the league to go a perfect 10-0 against Cowapa League opponents, but the Cheesemakers had a handful of close games along the way. The next four teams in the league finished with records of 6-4, 5-5, 5-5 and 3-7.

“Will someone step up and run away like Tillamook? Hard to tell,” Medley said.

Tillamook returns a first-team All-State player in senior pitcher Matt Strang.

“When he’s on the bump, they can beat anybody,” Medley said.

Going down the list of teams in the league, Medley found positives in each squad: Astoria will be fundamentally sound, Seaside and Yamhill-Carlton both return all of their key players, Banks has some powerful bats sprinkled throughout their lineup.

“It’s gonna be a battle every game,” Medley said. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see one of four or five teams on top at the end.

I’d like to think we’ll be one of them. I like to think we put a quality product on the field and have kids that play the game the right way.”

The Cowapa League altered its schedule this season and will play on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the first half of league, then Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday in the second half.

2013 Standings Astoria Tillamook Banks Scappoose Seaside Y-C

16-9, 11-4 17-10, 10-5 14-12, 10-5 12-13, 8-7 8-16, 3-12 5-17, 3-12

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Wednesday, March 19, 2014

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Wednesday, March 19, 2014

SHS Softball

Mix of veterans and newcomers has coaching staff excited Scappoose has a large contingent of returning varsity players from last year’s squad. Mixed in with the veterans are a handful of youngsters that second-year Cowapa head coach Steve Hoglund said have been impressive so far this spring as well.

The Indians have a pair of experienced pitchers to step into the circle with senior outlook Lacey Updike and sophomore Kendal Bailey. Junior Mary Jane Reser and

T

he Scappoose Indians are ready to interrupt a trend that has taken place the last two years. In each of the past two seasons, Scappoose has finished third in the Cowapa League behind the Banks Braves and Yamhill-Carlton Tigers. Banks has gone on to win each of the last two state titles.

Scappoose coach Steve Hoglund thinks his team can break into one of those top two spots this season.

“Like our assistant coach Kyle [Horness] commented on, if we had 10 more hits last year in key situations, our whole season might have been different,” Hoglund said.

The goal for this year, he said, is getting a home playoff game. To do so, the Indians will need to pass the Braves or Tigers in the standings.

freshman Julia Ferguson add depth to the pitching rotation.

When the Tribe is at the plate, the Indians should have plenty of power. Senior Lexi Courtney is back after hitting 11 home runs as a junior. She’s not the only one who can belt the ball.

“We’ve got some younger girls now that are consistently putting it over the fence,” Hoglund said. “The improvement is in the hitting.”

Scappoose has a relatively young team. Updike, Courtney, Amanda Schlosser and Shelbie Butler are the team’s only seniors. Junior Allison Wedgworth is a key contributor from last season who is back on the squad this year. Sophomores Ashley MacInnis and Jessie Dykes both started as freshmen a season ago. Some other young players could be called upon for big-time contributions this season.

“We’re excited about the season. We’ve got some younger guys filling some slots. Our hitting is more consistent – at least in practice,” Hoglund said a few days prior to the team’s first game.

Hoglund expects freshman Nicole Lukinbeal to be one of those youngsters vying for a starting spot in the infield. Sophomore Sage Harrison will also be in the mix for playing time.

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Senior Shelbie Butler will bring varsity experience to the Scappoose outfield.

Returning All-Stars Lexi Courtney sr HM Cowapa C (2013) 1st team IF (12) Ashley MacInnis so All League OF Lacey Updike sr All League P (13, 12) 03-14-12 3x3D Willemse:Layout

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2013 Standings

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B15

SHS Golf

State tournament trips possible for boys and girls

Wildwood Golf Course

T

he girls golf program at Scappoose High School has been steadily improving. After having only three girls on the squad as recently as 2011, roughly 20 girls turned out for the team this season.

Five of those 20 saw time in varsity matches last season, giving third-year head coach Chris Downie reason to be optimistic for the upcoming season.

“I’m super excited this year,” Downie said.

So far this spring, Downie said senior Lexi Schlosser and sophomore Isabel Jory have been the most consistent players. Once juniors Molly Landin, Syrina Revis and Baylee Maloney are able to return to full health and practice on a consistent basis, Downie thinks his team will put up some impressive scores.

All five of those golfers competed at last year’s state meet, where the Indians finished 11th.

“Those juniors have improved a lot and they have two years of state experience,” Downie said.

The boys team, on the other hand, does not have a ton of returning varsity experience.

Junior Tyler Lukinbeal golfed in last year’s state tournament, but the Tribe will need to find four other golfers to round out the varsity roster. Third-year head coach Steve Hagen said there are a handful of golfers competing for those spots.

Zane Hafeman, Braxton Sue, Johnny Tardif, Avi German, Nathan Mapes, Robert Lohman, Grady Groom and Rowan Miller are the eight that have shown the most promise in early practices, he said.

Hagen said Lukinbeal has shot around 80 in practice rounds, while the others have ranged from around 95-105.

Avi German will try filling one of the four varsity spots vacated by a big senior class last season.

Cowapa outlook

After back-to-back second-place finishes in the Cowapa League, Scappoose coach Chris Downie believes this is the year his squad breaks through into the top spot.

“Our goal is to move up to No. 1,” he said.

Seaside has the top golfer in the league with senior Katie Kawasoe, but not much depth thereafter.

The Seaside boys, on the other hand, enter the year as the odds-on favorite, according to Scappoose coach Steve Hagen. After the Seagulls, Hagen expects a dogfight between Scappoose, Tillamook, Astoria and Banks for the second spot.

Returning All-Stars

Molly Landin jr All League (2013, 12) Baylee Maloney jr All League (13, 12) Syrina Revis jr All League (13, 12)

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Wednesday, March 19, 2014

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