Sports
A9
Saturday, April 30, 2022
ON THE SLATE
April 26 results
PREP BASEBALL
La Grande 12, College Place 0
PREP SOFTBALL
Joseph/Enterprise/Wallowa 17,
Echo/Stanfi eld 15
Joseph/Enterprise/Wallowa 7,
Echo/Stanfi eld 5
Aiming for success
Union High School Clay
Target team focuses on
teamwork, gun safety during
spring season
Friday, April 29
(Games completed after
print deadline)
PREP BASEBALL
Riverside at Joseph/Enterprise/
Wallowa (2), 1 p.m.
La Grande at Ontario (2), 2 p.m.
By DAVIS CARBAUGH • The Observer
U
NION — The spring clay target season
PREP SOFTBALL
is underway and the student athletes in
Riverside at Joseph/Enterprise/
Wallowa (2), 1 p.m.
La Grande at Ontario (2), 2 p.m.
Union/Cove at Grant Union/
Prairie City (2), 2 p.m.
Elgin/Imbler at Weston-
McEwen (2), 2 p.m.
Union are hoping for a strong conclusion.
PREP TRACK & FIELD
Elgin, Imbler at Don Walker
Invite, 2 p.m.
Enterprise at Nike/Jesuit
Twilight Relays, Portland, 2 p.m.
PREP BOYS GOLF
La Grande, Pendleton, Baker at
La Grande Invite, 1 p.m.
PREP GIRLS GOLF
La Grande at Wildhorse, noon
Saturday, April 30
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Corban at Eastern Oregon (2),
noon
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Eastern Oregon at Carroll
College (2), 10 a.m.
PREP BASEBALL
Union/Cove at Grant Union/
Prairie City (2), 11 a.m.
PREP TRACK & FIELD
Davis Carbaugh/The Observer
Union High School clay target team head coach Dan Martens looks on as Charleen
Pepper fi res a round at the Union Gun Club on Tuesday, April 26, 2022. The team
will compete at the state championship in Hillsboro in late June.
La Grande at Legends Invite,
Walla Walla, Washington,
10:30 a.m.
Cove, Elgin, Imbler, La Grande,
Union, Enterprise, Joseph at
Union Relays, 11 a.m.
Powder Valley at Saint
Alphonsus Invitational, noon
The Union High School
clay target team is midway
through the 2022 season,
serving as one of the local
teams aiming for success in
the state this year. In addi-
tion to skill training, the clay
target team teaches partici-
pants gun safety and team-
work outside of the more
standard sports programs.
“It’s a great activity for
kids and a great opportu-
nity to learn a practical skill
they can take with them after
high school,” Union Athletic
Director Chris Dunlap said.
Union’s team consists of
eight members, ranging from
underclass newcomers to
more experienced shooters.
The program is in its fourth
season, but is not an offi -
cial activity associated with
Union High School.
The Union program is
spearheaded by head coach
Dan Martens, who has expe-
rience running clay target
shooting with 4H for more
than 10 years. The team has
had a bit of turnover from
recent years when roughly
20 students would com-
pete, but Martens is aiming
to continue building up the
program and teaching safe
gun habits to high school
students.
“It’s been popular and it’s
really growing in the state,”
he said of clay target compe-
titions. “The state has really
grown some good teams.”
Union is ranked fourth
out of six teams in the 1A
Conference 2 standings
after week one of the spring
season with 115 total points.
The team records weekly
scores at its home base, the
Union Gun Club on Medical
See, Target/Page A10
Sunday, May 1
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Corban at Eastern Oregon (2),
11 a.m.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Eastern Oregon at Carroll
College (2), 10 a.m.
Tuesday, May 3
PREP BASEBALL
McLoughlin at La Grande (2),
2 p.m.
Union/Cove at Weston-McEwen,
3 p.m.
PREP SOFTBALL
McLoughlin at La Grande (2), 2 p.m.
PREP TENNIS
Davis Carbaugh/The Observer
The Union High School clay target team stops for a photo after a competition at the Union Gun Club on Tuesday, April 26, 2022. The student athletes range
from underclassmen learning the sport to more experienced upperclassmen.
Nyssa at La Grande, 4 p.m.
SPORTS SHORT
Trails club hosting spring short track races, MERA cleanup workday
By DAVIS CARBAUGH
MERA SHORT-TRACK RACES
The Observer
LA GRANDE — With spring in the
air, the Blue Mountain Singletrack Trails
Club is starting up its annual outdoor
events at Mount Emily Recreation Area.
The club is set to host short-track races
at MERA starting on Monday, May 2,
with riders of all ages and skill levels
encouraged to join. The Blue Mountain
Singletrack Trails Club will host short-
track races starting at the Owsley Canyon
Trailhead every Monday night through
June 25. Classifi cations are broken down
by age and include 5 and younger, 7 and
younger, 8-11, 12-17 years, adult class and
a 50 and over group.
The races are free to the public, but
donations are welcome. Interested com-
Where: Owsley Canyon Trailhead
When: May 2, check in at 5:30 p.m., races at
6 p.m.
When: Every Monday through June 25
Cost: Free
Age/Skill: All ages and skill levels welcome to
participate
petitors should check in at the Owsley
Canyon Trailhead at 5:30 p.m., before
races start at 6 p.m. The track is roughly a
half mile in length, combining gravel road
and dirt single track.
The Blue Mountain Singletrack Trails
Club saw approximately 30 participants
per event last year, many of whom were
youth participants. The club tracks a sea-
sonal score over the spring months, with
awards and raffl es at the conclusion of
the season.
MERA cleanup day
In addition to the start of short-track
races, the club will host an annual spring
MERA cleanup event on Sunday, May
15. The cleanup eff orts will include a
variety of projects to benefi t the users of
the recreation area.
Volunteers are asked to meet at the
Owlsey Trailhead at 9 a.m., and free
donuts and coff ee will be available.
Those looking to attend are encour-
aged to bring supplies, work gloves and
weather-appropriate clothing.
Following the event, Blue Mountain
Singletrack Trails Club will host an after
party at the Anderson Cottage next to the
trailhead.
Dick Mason/The Observer, File
Children participate in a short-track race at the Owsley
Trailhead at the Mount Emily Recreation Area, near La
Grande, on Monday, June 21, 2021. Several dozen kids took
part in the event hosted by Blue Mountain Singletrack Trails
Club, whose volunteers maintain the mountain bike trails at
MERA. Beginning May 2 in 2022, the races will be held every
Monday at 6 p.m.
Find up-to-date scores and additional game coverage
for your local high school, available 24/7 at
www.lagrandeobserver.com.