Sports
A7
Tuesday, April 5, 2022
USMNT
success
productive
for youth
soccer
DAVIS
CARBAUGH
CARBAUGH’S CORNER
T
he World Cup frenzy
has arrived. Soccer
has continued to
slowly grow in popularity
as a sport and viewing event
in the U.S., highlighted by
one of the strongest national
teams the country has pro-
duced in recent history.
The national team’s major
increase in talent and pro-
duction, with most players
still in their early 20s, is a
good sign of turning tides.
The U.S. Men’s National
Team secured enough points
in the qualifying rounds in
a match against Costa Rica
on Wednesday, March 30,
to earn a spot in the 2022
World Cup in Qatar this
November. Later this past
week, the team was drawn
into a group with England,
Iran and the winner of Scot-
land/Ukraine versus Wales.
The qualifi cation comes
in the wake of the team not
qualifying in 2018, a devas-
tating blow to the progress
of the sport in the U.S. Four
years later, this year’s team
was poised and expecting
nothing less than a World
Cup qualifi cation — the atti-
tude toward the sport has
shifted on a national scale,
impacting how youth view
the sport from an early age.
The success of the young
players on a world scale
is garnering attention in
a country that has histori-
cally focused more on foot-
ball, baseball, basketball and
other sports. From big cities
to rural towns, high school
and youth athletes are taking
the fi elds and looking up to
national heroes like Chris-
tian Pulisic and Gio Reyna.
Top homegrown players
are no longer putting
together a miraculous push
at making the World Cup,
but instead entering as
quality competitors after
joining the team from top
international club teams. As
the sport continues to grow
on a national scale, local
schools and youth programs
will feel the dividends of
a shifting emphasis on the
sport. What was once a
niche activity and an object
of ridicule on the national
stage is now one of the
fastest growing sports for
young athletes.
Alex Wittwer/EO Media Group, File
Union’s Tee Ledbetter (3) drives down center court at Imbler High School on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. The Bobcats defeated Imbler 55-27 in their season
opener. The sophomore had a standout year and was named 2A second team all-state.
TOP OF HIS GAME
Union sophomore
Tee Ledbetter leads
the way for Bobcats,
looks to build on
season’s success
next year
By DAVIS CARBAUGH
The Observer
NION — It
U
was a strong
year of
basketball in Union,
topped off with all-state
team honorees on both
Alex Wittwer/EO Media Group, File
Tee Ledbetter keeps his eye on the basket during a Union practice on Monday, Nov. 22, 2021. Ledbetter, a transfer
from Cove, helped fi ll the void left by seven graduating seniors from last year’s Bobcats boys basketball team.
“It felt pretty good. I felt like I accomplished
a lot this year. For a sophomore, I thought I
had a pretty good year. It just felt awesome
to have that experience.”
— Tee Ledbetter, Union post player
the boys and girls sides.
At the conclusion of the
season, Union sophomore
Tee Ledbetter was named 2A
second team all-state. The
forward led the scoring and
rebounding eff orts for the Bob-
cats, helping the team fi nish
15-10 overall and 8-4 in league
play.
“It felt pretty good. I felt
like I accomplished a lot this
year,” Ledbetter said. “For a
See, Ledbetter/Page A8
SPORTS SHORT
Devin Bell named OSAA athlete of the week
side Hallee Hughes, a track
athlete for Willamina High
School.
LA GRANDE —
Bell was a crucial
Recent performances
part of La Grande’s
on the diamond from
road trip to Arizona
one of La Grande’s
last month, helping the
standout baseball
Tigers go 3-1 through
players was recognized
four consecutive days of
by the Oregon School
competition. The senior
Bell
Activities Association.
hit a combined .385 and
OSAA named La Grande
totaled fi ve runs and 11 RBIs.
senior infi elder Devin Bell
Bell also took the mound for
the Toyota athlete of the
La Grande, striking out eight
week on Thursday, March
batters over four scoreless
31. Bell was honored along-
innings.
By DAVIS CARBAUGH
The Observer
The award is given out
every week to varsity athletes
in Oregon who performed at
the top of their sport in the
previous week. Athletes of
the week receive a letter of
recognition from OSAA, a
sling bag, Nike prize pack
from Toyota and recogni-
tion on OSAA’s social media
platforms.
The Tigers are 8-1 on the
season, following weekend
road wins over Seaside/
Jewell, North Marion and
Astoria.
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La Grande’s
Devin Bell (5)
slides into
second as
Chase Elliot,
of Hermiston,
waits for the
throw on
Thursday,
March 17,
2022, at
Hermiston’s
Weber Field.
Kathy Aney/East Oregonian, File
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