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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (April 17, 2015)
PAGE A8, KEIZERTIMES, APRIL 17, 2015 The Athlete’s Best Friend Come see how we can improve your level of peformance! …is their Chiropractor. Meet Dr. Andrew Isaksen Quality Chiropractic for the Whole Family CALL TODAY 503 -391- 9112 1797 Lansing Ave NE, Salem • www.nwfamilychiro.net Fore! KEIZERTIMES.COM KEIZERTIMES/Dee Moore The McNary 2015 girls golf team pictured from left to right: Kate Lester, sophomore, Cammie Decker, junior, Mike McDowell, coach, Hannah Elliott, freshman and Felicia Elmore, senior. Lady Celts return to links after taking district title By DEE MOORE For the Keizertimes The four young women on the McNary High School girls golf team have one thing in common; they learned the game from their fa- thers. Each one began playing in middle school, spending time on the links with their dads, learning the basics. Senior Felicia Elmore learned the game from her dad who used to play pro golf. With coach Mike McDowell’s help she built on that knowledge and used it to help take the team to district and state last year. “It was my fi rst time going to district with a team that was big enough to play with,” Elmore said. “We were pretty proud.” A team must have four or more members to compete; the McNary team had fi ve girls last year. This is Elmore’s second year on the team. She played for Regis Catholic High School in Stayton during her freshman and sophomore years. The Regis team was too small to go to competition. Her experience at McNary has been completely different, thanks in part to the relationship the school has with the McNary Golf Club, where the girls get practice fi ve days a week. “We’re lucky,” McDowell said. “McNary treats us like royalty.” But it takes more than practice, it takes skill and knowledge of the game. Elmore attributes the team’s success to good coaching. “It’s great,” she said. “He’s a wonderful coach.” Freshman Hannah Elliott agrees. “He’s an amazing coach. He’s always so relaxed.” KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald That is part of the appeal for Elliott, how at McNary’s Evan Alger loads up a pitch in the game with West Albany High School Friday, April 10. ease she feels when she is on the links. “My dad is a big golfer. He started getting me into it really young. I’ve always really en- joyed how relaxed you are out there,” she said. For her, McDowell’s easy going approach to coaching them and teaching the game is dead on. Kate Lester chose golf over track. The soph- Please see GOLF, Page A9 Boys 5th in state with long season yet to play By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes While still early in the season, the McNary High School varsity baseball team can boast be- ing the fi fth-ranked team in the state after a 3-0 start in Greater Valley Conference competition. “It’s a lot of confi dence and exciting for McNary baseball, but we have to keep playing well,” said Celt Trevor Gilbert. “Coach (Larry) Keeker is helping us focus on the pre-game prep from the moment we get on the fi eld, that’s helping a lot.” Rankings are based not only on the team’s record, but the strength of its schedule. Tak- ing on tough competition in Arizona during spring break has likely boosted the team’s rank. It’s also where the Celts saw the extraordinary teams drilling down during game prep. “We’ve talked about not paying attention to rankings because it doesn’t matter, but the real- ity is the boys are going to look, but nothing beyond the next game matters at this point,” Keeker, McNary head coach, said. The biggest feather in the Celtic cap since the start of league play was traveling to West Youth players get lessons from elders McNary High School’s youth baseball clinic brought out about two dozen players Saturday, April 11. McNary players took on the role of coaches for the boys currently in youth leagues. Above: Southpaw Ty Borde practices short throws. Right: Landon Gerig scoops up a grounder. KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald Salem High School and taking an 8-3 win Wednesday, April 8. “We got a little more production, which is good because we have not played well at West Salem the past couple of seasons and they are the two-time defending league champs,” Keek- er said. Nick LaFountaine pitched a complete game against the Titans while Matt Aguilar was 2-for-3 and Jacob Vasas was 2-for-2 at the plate. “They thought they were going to come in and beat us, and we surprised them,” said ju- nior Evan Alger. “Staying positive through the whole game helped.” McNary’s other two games last week were with North Salem and West Albany high schools. The Celts routed the Vikings 6-1 Tuesday, April 7. McNary pitcher Mickey Walker had the mound the entire game, allowing only four hits, one earned run and three walks with nine strikeouts. Tim Hays and Vasas had two hits each. The defense played without an error. Please see FIFTH, Page A9 Lady Celts start 2-1 Oliver swats grand slam By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes McNary High School’s varsity softball team is off to a 2-1 start in the Greater Valley Conference. Head Coach Kevin Wise said lack of consistency be- tween games with West Salem and West Albany high schools was a bit perplexing. “Against West Salem the hitting and defense were awe- some, we had one error and it didn’t cost us anything. Then, two days later, we go West Albany, and we have three er- rors that cost us three runs,” he said. “We have to get the defense up to the level of our offense.” The girls cruised past North Salem High School 22-5 in its fi rst league contest Tuesday, April 7. Three of the Lady Celts – Madison Oli- ver, Nicole Duran and Kiana Villarreal – hit home runs in the outing. Kelsi Christen- son, Hannah Carr and Megan Ulrey all hit doubles. Oliver’s homer was a grand slam and she ended the day with fi ve RBIs. Duran, in particular, is be- coming a force to be reck- oned with at the dish. She has a few home runs already this season. “I fi xed my swing this sea- son and Brad (Ulrey) has been helping me with my steps. Right now, I’m focusing on keeping my hands up to drive the ball,” Duran said. McNary had a 22-0 lead before the Scots made it to the board in the bottom of the third inning. The Celts scored Please see START, Page A9