S PORTS
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Hood River News, Wednesday, May 20, 2015
A7
Scottie Ziegner to represent HRV boys tennis at state championships
Eagles place third of seven teams at district tournament in Bend; girls season comes to an end at districts
By BEN MITCHELL
shutting out Hermiston’s Skyler Grigg in the
second round and then defeating Summit’s
Capping off the team’s first-ever Columbia Nick Berning, 6-1, 6-0. Ziegner lost to Sum-
River Conference title earlier this month, the mit’s Carter Quigley in the semifinals (1-6, 4-
HRV boys tennis team had a good showing 6), who would end up winning the entire sin-
gles bracket. Ziegner then bat-
during last week’s 5A Special Dis-
tled to defeat another Summit
trict No. 1 Championships in Bend,
netter, Cole Younger, whom he
which saw the Eagles take third
shut out in both sets.
overall and No. 1 singles standout
Ziegner got revenge for his
Scottie Ziegner finishing high
teammate, Cooper Holzman,
enough to represent the team at the
who had been defeated in the
state championships.
second round by Younger, 6-1, 6-
Coach Jon Hiatt has heaped much
2. Holzman, however, who was
deserving praise on his athletes
unseeded, got the upset in first
after matches this season, and the
round when he defeated The
district tournament was no excep-
Dalles’ Will Coy (6-1, 6-3), who
tion.
was seeded fifth. HRV’s Will Fer-
“We had three doubles and two
SCOTTIE ZIEGNER rick, whom Hiatt said played
singles players playing (in the
“awesome” during the tourna-
championship rounds) on Saturday;
this is where we always want to be,” he said. ment, also had a tough match, losing to even-
tual champion Quigley in the quarterfinals
“Overall, I am pleased with how we did.”
In singles competition, Ziegner, who re- (0-6, 1-6).
In doubles, Victor Garibo and Patrick Hu-
ceived a third seed, cruised through his first
two matches in the championship round, mann, who were seeded seventh, ended up
News staff writer
finishing sixth overall in the tournament,
losing to Hermiston’s WadeKemper/Snell
(no first names given) in the fifth-place
match.
Also competing for HRV at districts were
Alden Sova in singles competition and the
duos of Brandon Campos/Miguel De La
Rosa, Jorge Calderon/Hugo Sandoval, and
Cole Shepherd/Sawyer Bogard.
Ziegner will travel to Portland Thursday
for the state championship tourney, which
will be held at the West Hills Racquet Club,
starting at noon.
Girls tennis season ends at districts
The girls team has struggled to win match-
es throughout the season, and the district
tourney was no different, with the Eagles’
five points resulting in a seventh-place finish
out of seven teams.
“Our goal all season long was to become
the best team we could possibly be going into
districts,” explained coach Jaime Rivera.
“While there were certainly hurdles we had
to jump over, in my opinion we accomplished
our goal as evidenced by our improved team
culture and the respect we showed each
other, win or lose.”
No one qualified for state, although in sin-
gles, Olivia Newcomb was one win away
from fifth place, which would have earned
her a spot as an alternate. Team leader
Maddy Graham came away the victor in two
matches, and then lost to Pendleton’s Matilde
Cianci in the championship quarterfinals.
Graham and Newcomb faced off in the con-
solation semifinals, with Newcomb coming
away the winner, who then lost in the next
round to No. 1 seed Autumn Layden of Sum-
mit.
In doubles, Madison Mooney and Vanessa
Olivas also won two matches overall, then
lost in the first round of the championships
but advanced to the consolation semifinals.
Other athletes competing for HRV includ-
ed Ann Evans and Annelise Acosta in singles
and the pairs of Camaryn Chambers/Tia
Semmes, Bianca Badillo/America Flores,
and Nikki Paulus/Crystal Flores in doubles.
HRV track and field wins first-ever
CRC title at District Championships
Photos by Mike Weber
HRV TRACK AND FIELD dominated the Columbia River Conference Track and Field District Championships last week, with both the boys and the girls team taking first overall thanks to numer-
ous great performances from athletes. At left, junior Lauren Robinson competes in the 1500-meter run on Friday on the way to a second-place finish; at right, senior Mason McDowell clears the
last of the high hurdles during the Friday finals to take first place in the event.
By MIKE WEBER
won district titles in four events (100, 200, two relays), but this year I switched to high
jump instead of being in the 4x400. It’s super exciting to be going to state again for the
The final day of the Columbia River Conference Track and Field District Champi- fourth straight year. The state meet is always my most favorite meet of the year. I’m
onships turned out to be an historic day for the Hood River Valley Eagles, who won their ready to go and I hope to repeat as state champ in the 100 and 200 and I would like to win
first ever CRC title. The Eagles, guided by coach Donnie Herneisen, won the boys and a state title in the high jump too, so that’s my goal this year.”
Eight Eagle girls qualified for state, including juniors Lauren Robinson
girls district championships Friday at The Dalles High School.
(1500, 3000), Marlie Bloomster (300 hurdles), as well as freshman Audrey
“It was very special to win the district titles this year,” said Herneisen.
Marble, Caitlyn Fick, Kassidy Davidson and Chloe Clark. Marble, Fick, Vi-
Horizon Hawks
“Winning on either side would’ve been a great accomplishment, but it is
uhkola and Mattson combined to lead HRV to the district title in the 4x400
track and field
extra special to have won on both sides this year. In every previous year, we
relay (4:15.88). HRV totaled 93 points in team scoring to take the title, with
always finished second to Hermiston’s boys and girls teams. Last year was a
teams also had a
Pendleton (88 pts.) getting second place.
much closer competition on the girls’ side than in years past, but Hermis-
great showing at
“We challenged the girls on Thursday at practice and told them we were
ton’s depth really helped them pull away from us. The tables flipped a bit this
their district champi-
going to need some heroes to step up,” said Herneisen. “There were plenty
season.”
onships. Turn to
to choose from after Friday’s competition. We had so many kids step up and
HRV has 11 boys and eight girls that will advance to the state meet (May
Page A8 to read
score points in the three, four and five spots such as (Marlie) Bloomster,
22-23 at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field in Eugene), led by senior
the story.
Sophia Marble, Terri Hewitt, and (Caitlyn) Fick just to name a few. Even
Jestena Mattson (100 meters, 200, high jump), junior Sebastian Barajas (dis-
though we won quite a few events, lots of kids earned a whole lot of points
cus, shot put) and junior Parker Kennedy (pole vault). The trio are each
with top-five finishes. Those were the heroes we needed to get the team
ranked No. 1 in their events.
A number of Lady Eagles won individual CRC titles, including three-time district win.”
The Eagle boys contingent of state qualifiers is led by two-time CRC champions Bara-
champion Mattson, who won the 100 (12.36 seconds), high jump (school record of 5 feet,
7 inches), and the 200 (24.59, breaking her own school record). Senior Emily Viuhkola jas (shot put, discus), Kennedy (100, pole vault), juniors Parker Irusta (200, long jump)
was a two-time individual district champ with victories in the 400 (66.77) and 800 and Justin Crosswhite (1500, 3000).
“I’ve had so much fun at districts and after winning the 3K on Wednesday, it felt good
(2:26.68). Mattson is the defending state champ in the 100 and 200.
“It was really super fun for me today,” said Mattson, who has earned an athletic schol-
arship to attend Fresno State University in California in the fall. “In other years, I’ve
See TRACK, Page A8
For the News
RILEY VAN HOOSE
slides into third base
during Friday’s game
against The Dalles.
Van Hoose had a two-
run single and scored
a run himself to help
HRV get a victory over
the Riverhawks.
Photo by Ben Mitchell
Photo by Ben Mitchell
MAKENA ZELLER slides in order to beat a tag at first base during Friday’s game against The Dalles.
Zeller led the team in RBI, with two, thanks to a two-run single she hit.
HRV softball fights to the final inning
against TD, faces St. Helens in play-in
By BEN MITCHELL
News staff writer
As far as making the playoffs were con-
cerned, neither team had anything to play
for during Friday’s HRV and The Dalles
game, but that didn’t stop the two teams from
putting on a show for the packed bleachers at
the Westside Elementary softball fields.
The two teams jockeyed for position at the
outset of the game, which saw five lead
changes, but ultimately resulted with HRV
falling to The Dalles, 9-6, thanks in large part
to a three-run rally by the Riverhawks in the
seventh inning that received no response
from the Eagles.
Going into Friday’s game, neither The
Dalles (7-5 Columbia River Conference, 15-10)
nor HRV (4-8 CRC, 11-15 overall) could move
up or down in the CRC, with The Dalles a
shoo-in for the first play-in spot and HRV
guaranteed the second play-in spot. Pendle-
ton, ranked second in the state, took the
league several games ago, as the Buckaroos
had not lost any of their 12 CRC games this
season.
The Dalles came out of the gate fast in the
top of the first inning, scoring four runs, but
HRV answered equally in the bottom of the
same inning, scoring four runs of its own.
Zoe Munn and Kaylin Winans scored the
first runs for HRV, both off passed balls and
Breanna Weekly and Jenni Packer scored off
a Makena Zeller single, which came from a
line drive hit to right field, to make it 4-4.
The Dalles regained the lead by a run in
the top of the second, then pushed it out
again in the top of the third to go up 6-4. In
the bottom of the same inning, HRV came
within one thanks to a double from Winans
Please see BATTLE, Page A8
HRV baseball’s sweet season gets the
cherry on top with a win over TD
By BEN MITCHELL
News staff writer
With the CRC title firmly in HRV’s hands,
the Eagles were only playing for pride in Fri-
day’s game against The Dalles, who unlike
HRV, had a lot to lose — namely the final
play-in spot in the Columbia River Confer-
ence.
The Riverhawks (4-8 CRC, 10-15 overall),
lost both the game and the chance to edge
Hermiston for the final play-in spot, falling
to HRV (9-3 CRC, 17-8 overall), 5-3, despite ral-
lying in the final innings of the game.
As they’ve done so often this season, the
Eagles grabbed control of the game before
their opponents had a chance to put up any
runs. After a scoreless first inning, Chase
Lariza provided HRV with its first run, scor-
ing on a single from Ryan Ward, who hit a
ground ball down the third-base line in the
bottom of the second. Skyler Hunter scored
as well that inning, making it 2-0, HRV.
Both teams were quiet scoring-wise for the
next two-and-a-half innings until the bottom
of the fifth, when Kellan Duffy and Patrick
Harvey scored off a single from Riley Van
Hoose (line drive to center field) to extend
HRV’s lead to four. Van Hoose would then
score the final run for HRV a couple plays
later, thanks to a ground ball hit by Dallas
Buckley, who was able to reach first base on
an error by The Dalles’ third baseman.
The Dalles pushed back in the final two in-
nings, scoring two runs in the top of the
sixth and another run in the top of the sev-
enth to make things a bit interesting, but re-
lief pitcher Kam Walker stayed composed on
the mound, giving up two hits and a run
(none earned) while striking at one batter in
Please see WIN, Page A8