SPORTS
4A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2016
Richardson wins sudden-death in Invite
By GARY HENLEY
The Daily Astorian
WARRENTON — Seaside boys
golf coach Jim Poetsch called it “the
most exciting Seaside Invitational in
years.” And who could argue?
Monday’s annual tournament at
the Astoria Golf & Country Club
featured a back-and-forth battle for
the team title, a sudden death for
medalist and even a hole-in-one.
The team winner was The Dalles,
which inished 10 strokes ahead of
the two-time defending state cham-
pions from Seaside.
“This was an exciting day for
Seaside golf,” Poetsch said. “We
battled head-to-head with a pretty
good 5A team from The Dalles, and
(Seaside’s) Aaron Richardson got to
experience a sudden death playoff
for the individual title.”
Richardson eventually got his
medalist award, but The Dalles ral-
lied for the team title, inishing with
a 328 to Seaside’s 338.
The Gulls will still be a major
player for a third straight Class 4A
state championship next month.
Meanwhile, Scappoose golfer
Jack Eggers aced the 17th hole
for what is believed to be the irst
hole-in-one ever in the Seaside
Invitational.
The Gulls held an early team lead,
as Richardson inished with a sev-
en-stroke lead over the No. 1 golfer
for The Dalles.
The Dalles quickly came back
and led by one after two scores were
in. Seaside took the lead right back
as Josef Barbic bested The Dalles’
third golfer, then the Indians gained
Submitted Photo
Seaside’s Aaron Richardson tees off on the par 3 10th hole Monday,
in a sudden death playoff with Ilwaco’s Blake Kukula. Richardson won
the playoff and medalist honors in the annual Seaside Invitational golf
tournament.
back the lead for good with Darsh
Patel’s 82 out of the No. 4 position.
After The Dalles and Seaside,
Scappoose took third with a 351, fol-
lowed by Taft (380), Tillamook (384),
North Valley (397), Astoria (403),
Cottage Grove (407), Banks (413),
Ilwaco (417) and Kennedy (462).
As exciting as the ight for the
team title was, Poetsch said, “the
individual action was even better.”
Richardson shot 2-under par on
the back nine in what looked like a
good enough score to defend the title
he won last year.
But Ilwaco’s Blake Kukula, an
eighth-grader, matched Richardson’s
score to force a playoff, and the two
golfers played a sudden death playoff
on the par 3 10th hole.
Both players’ tee shots were
straight at the lag, with Kukula’s
long and Richardson’s short. Kukula
chipped wide right, leaving him with
a 10-foot putt, and Richardson blasted
his putt six feet past the hole. Kukula
missed his 10-footer, and Richardson
drained his putt for the win and med-
alist honors.
“While Aaron would probably
trade his individual title for a team
title, I’m glad he got the experience,
and am proud that he was able to han-
dle the pressure to come away with
the title for the second time in as
many years,” Poetsch said.
Richardson’s 18-hole score was a
72 (38-34), while Kukala also carded
a 38-34—72.
Carter Lee of Tillamook was third
with a 77.
Seaside had three players in the
top 10. Jackson Kunde shot 86 to in-
ish eighth and Josef Barbic was ninth
with an 88. Berkley Posalski shot 92
to round out the scoring for Seaside.
Colby Lupfer shot 111 for the Gulls.
Kirk Fausett was Astoria’s top
golfer, 21st overall, with a 95, fol-
lowed by Brian Wilder with a 99.
Seaside hosts Tillamook to end the
regular season Wednesday.
Walker has
career high
as Mariners
beat Astros
By TIM BOOTH
AP Sports Writer
SEATTLE — The restric-
tions that once hung over young
Seattle starter Taijuan Walker
are being removed. And the
results that follow are becoming
increasingly more impressive.
“He is kind of coming into
his own with the kind of pitcher
he can be,” Seattle manager
Scott Servais said. “It’s some
kind of fun to watch.”
Walker was dominant on
Monday night, matching his
career high with 11 strikeouts
over seven innings in the Mari-
ners’ 3-2 win over the Houston
Astros.
Seattle won for the eighth
time in 11 games and for the
moment moved into irst place
in the AL West behind an out-
ing from Walker that will rank
among the best of his young
career. The 23-year-old went
seven innings and struck out
the side in the sixth and seventh
innings. He got Erik Kratz look-
ing to end the seventh — the inal
batter he faced — on a 97 mph
fastball.
Walker (2-0) has allowed
two earned runs or fewer in each
of his irst four starts this season
and in his last two starts com-
bined has allowed one earned
run with 17 strikeouts and one
walk.
SCOREBOARD
PREP SCHEDULE
TODAY
Baseball — Seaside at Astoria, 5
p.m.; Warrenton at Clatskanie, 4:30
p.m.; Nestucca at Knappa, 4:30 p.m.
Softball — Banks at Astoria, 5
p.m.; Scappoose at Seaside, 5 p.m.;
Warrenton at Clatskanie, 4:30 p.m.;
Nestucca at Knappa, 4:30 p.m.; Il-
waco at Tacoma Baptist, 3 p.m.
Track — Naselle Invitational, 4 p.m.
Girls Golf — Catlin Gabel Invita-
tional, 1 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
Baseball — Astoria at Seaside, 5
p.m.
Boys Golf — Tillamook at Sea-
side, 2 p.m.
THURSDAY
Softball — Astoria at Valley Cath-
olic (2), 3:30 p.m.; Tacoma Baptist at
Ilwaco (2), 3 p.m.
Track — Seaside at Valley Catho-
lic, 3:30 p.m.
Boys Golf — Banks at Astoria, 2
p.m.
STANDINGS
BASEBALL
Cowapa League
League Overall
Banks
6-0
12-3
Valley Catholic 5-1
10-2
Astoria
3-3
8-7
Scappoose
Seaside
Tillamook
2-4
1-5
1-5
9-5
5-12
3-13
Faith Bible
Delphian
Lewis & Clark League
Rainier
6-0
11-3
Catlin Gabel
3-1
8-3
Clatskanie
2-3
6-10
Warrenton
1-4
6-8
Portland Chr 0-4
5-9
3-6
3-11
0-18
0-19
SOFTBALL
Cowapa League
Banks
6-0
10-2
Scappoose
4-2
12-4
Astoria
2-2
8-5
Seaside
2-4
7-8
Tillamook
2-4
6-9
Valley Catholic 0-4
6-7
Northwest League
Knappa
9-0
13-0
Vernonia
9-3
11-4
Neah-Kah-Nie 9-5
10-11
Nestucca
6-5
7-10
Gaston
5-4
6-9
Lewis & Clark League
Rainier
6-0
13-3
Clatskanie
3-3
13-4
Warrenton
2-3
5-12
Portland Adv 1-3
2-5
Portland Chr 0-4
3-11
Northwest League
Vernonia
12-0
15-1
Knappa
7-2
8-10
Gaston
5-4
8-9
Neah-Kah-Nie 3-6
3-10
Nestucca
0-6
2-11
Delphian
0-9
0-10
BOYS GOLF
Seaside Invitational
Team: The Dalles 328, Seaside
338, Scappoose 351, Taft 380, Tilla-
mook 384, North Valley 397, Astoria
403, Cottage Grove 407, Banks 413,
Ilwaco 417, Kennedy 462.
Medalist: Aaron Richardson, Sea-
side, 72 (Won by playoff).
Seaside (338)
Aaron Richardson, 38-34—72
Jackson Kunde, 42-44—86
Josef Barbic, 46-42—88
Berkley Posalski, 43-49—92
Colby Lupfer, 58-53—111
Astoria (403)
Kirk Fausett, 47-48—95
Brian Wilder, 51-58—99
Taylor Palmberg, 52-50—102
Kyle Meisner, 56-51—107
Andy Justo, 62-55—117
Ilwaco (417)
Blake Kukula, 38-34—72
Ethan Bannister, 51-48—99
Tenyson Ramsey, 55-55—110
Jack Marshman, 71-65—136