Polk County
Sports
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • April 22, 2015 10A
CLASS 5A PREP TRACK AND FIELD
SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22
Baseball: Silverton at
Dallas, 4:30 p.m. Crescent
Valley at Central, 4:30 p.m.
Santiam at Perrydale, 4:30
p.m.
Softball: Dallas at Cor-
vallis, 4:30 p.m. Central at
Lebanon, 4:30 p.m. Perry-
dale at Central Linn, 4:30
p.m.
Boys Tennis: Dallas at
Woodburn, 4 p.m. South
Albany at Central, 4 p.m.
Girls Tennis: Woodburn
at Dallas, 4 p.m. Central at
South Albany, 4 p.m.
THURSDAY, APRIL 23
Track and Field: Perry-
dale, Falls City at St. Paul
Buckaroo, 3 p.m. Western
Oregon at Titan Twilight in
Eugene, 4 p.m.
FRIDAY, APRIL 24
Baseball: Dallas at Silver-
ton, 4:30 p.m. Central at
Crescent Valley, 4:30 p.m.
Siletz Valley at Perrydale, 4
p.m.
Softball: Western Ore-
gon at Montana State
Billings (DH), noon. Cres-
cent Valley at Dallas, 4:30
p.m. Silverton at Central
(DH), 4 p.m. Siletz Valley at
Perrydale, 4:30 p.m.
Boys Tennis: Central at
Dallas, 4 p.m.
Girls Tennis: Dallas at
Central, 4 p.m.
Track and Field: Dallas
at Dave Snook Frost/Soph
Invitational, 4 p.m. John
Oliver Invitational at Cen-
tral, TBA.
SATURDAY, APRIL 25
Softball: Western Oregon
at Montana State Billings
(DH), 11 a.m.
Track and Field: Falls
City at Portland Christian
Invitational, 11 a.m. Dallas
at 51st Annual Centennial
Invitational at Centennial
High School, Gresham, 11
a.m.
MONDAY, APRIL 27
Baseball: Kennedy at
Perrydale, 4:30 p.m.
Softball: Kennedy at
Perrydale, 4:30 p.m.
Girls Golf: Dallas at
Mid-Willamette Confer-
ence Tournament, Cross
Creek Golf Course, Dallas,
noon.
Boys Tennis: South Al-
bany at Dallas, 4 p.m. Cres-
cent Valley at Central, 4
p.m.
Girls Tennis: Dallas at
South Albany, 4 p.m. Cen-
tral at Crescent Valley, 4
p.m.
Track and Field: Western
Oregon at GNAC Multi
Championships, Lacey,
Wash., TBA.
TUESDAY, APRIL 28
Baseball: Dallas at Cor-
vallis, 4:30 p.m. South Al-
bany at Central, 4:30 p.m.
Softball: Dallas at
Lebanon, 4:30 p.m. Corvallis
at Central, 4:30 p.m.
Boys Golf: Dallas, Cen-
tral at Mid-Willamette Con-
ference Tournament, Al-
bany Golf and Event Cen-
ter, 1 p.m.
Girls Tennis: Dallas Cres-
cent Valley, 4 p.m.
Track and Field: Western
Oregon at GNAC Multi
Championships, Lacey,
Wash., TBA.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29
Baseball: Corvallis at
Dallas, 4:30 p.m. Central at
South Albany, 4:30 p.m.
Softball: Dallas at Sil-
verton, 4:30 p.m. Wood-
burn at Central, 4:30 p.m.
Perrydale at Central Linn,
4:30 p.m.
Boys Tennis: Dallas at
Corvallis, 4 p.m. Central at
Lebanon, 4 p.m.
Girls Tennis: Corvallis at
Dallas, 4 p.m. Lebanon at
Central, 4 p.m.
Track and Field: Corval-
lis at Dallas, TBA. Central at
Crescent Valley, TBA.
—
Schedules Subject to Change
Remington vaulting up the ranks
Senior eyeing first state berth in pole vault and javelin
By Lukas Eggen
The Itemizer-Observer
Up Next
DALLAS — It’s a moment
that only lasts a few seconds.
The moment when a pole
vaulter launches himself or
herself through the air.
It’s a moment Dallas sen-
ior Danielle Remington lives
for during the track and field
season.
“It’s a rush,” Remington
said.
“When
y o u’re
com-
pletely
upside-
down and
(the pole)
swings thro-
ugh the air, it’s so much fun.
It’s addicting.”
Now in her third season
with the Dragons, Reming-
ton is one of Dallas’ most ex-
• Dallas’ track and field
team will compete at the
Dave Snook Frosh/Soph
Invitational on Friday and
the 51st Annual Centen-
nial Invitational in Gre-
sham on Saturday.
perienced athletes.
This season, she’s taking
aim at the one thing that’s
eluded her — a trip to the
OSAA Class 5A state track
and field championships.
Remington set a personal
record in the javelin on April
1 with a throw of 120 feet, 5
inches, a mark that ranks
fourth among Class 5A com-
petitors.
In the pole vault, Reming-
ton has a season best mark
of 8-0.
“I’ve been pretty happy
with my javelin perform-
ance,” she said. “I’ve been
improving a lot in pole vault.
In the next couple of weeks,
I should (set a new personal
record) by a couple feet (in
the pole vault). I’m still try-
ing to get better at the
javelin, as well, to secure
that spot at state.”
Since then, she’s become
one of the conference’s top
throwers.
“Danielle is one of our
state hopefuls as she is
currently near the top in
the state in javelin,” Drag-
ons coach Bill Masei said.
“She has the potential to
throw 130 feet. She is com-
ing off some leg injuries
that have slowed her down.
Danielle, being a senior
and returning district plac-
er, I expect her to shine at
districts.”
See VAULT, Page 12A
LUKAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer
Danielle Remington hopes to qualify for the state track
and field meet in the pole vault and javelin.
CLASS 5A PREP BASEBALL
Sophomore rising
Panthers in a close race for league’s top seeds
By Lukas Eggen
The Itemizer-Observer
INDEPENDENCE —
Since third grade, Central
sophomore Luis Amador
has felt at home on the
baseball diamond.
When he arrived at Cen-
tral as a freshman, he had
big expectations.
“Last year, I pictured my-
self being on varsity,” he
said.
Amador’s grand vision
didn’t go according to
plan.
“I ended up not making
it, which disappointed me,
but it gave
me more
motiva-
tion to
improve
myself
and helped
me become
the player I am becoming
right now,” Amador said.
This season, he is no
longer the new kid on the
b l o c k t r y i n g t o b re a k
through to varsity. He’s be-
come a cornerstone for the
Panthers.
“My expectations coming
in was to just (focus on me),
really, ” Amador said. “I just
wanted to do what I am ca-
pable of and not try and do
too much.”
Those capabilities have
made him into one Central’s
most diverse players going
forward.
On the pitcher’s mound,
Amador has worked his
way into the team’s starting
rotation, providing a steady
arm.
“It’s been pretty tough,”
he said. “The pressure is on
you. You have to be able to
handle the pressure, but I
just stay relaxed, remember
to have fun and smile.”
At the plate, Amador
made improvements in one
www.polkio.com/ns/sports
CLASS 2A-1A PREP
TRACK AND FIELD
Senior
exceeds
goals
Transfer looks to
enjoy the ride
By Lukas Eggen
The Itemizer-Observer
LUKAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer
Central sophomore Luis Amador prepares for a new play at first base during Central’s
game against Silverton on Friday afternoon.
major area, one that’s al-
lowed him to find much
greater success with his bat.
“Last year, I noticed I was
up in front of the ball and
not keeping my weight
back,” he said. “I’ve focused
on keeping my weight back
and waiting for the ball to
come to me.”
Amador went five for
eight with a double and two
RBIs in a doubleheader
against Silverton on Friday.
His emergence is part of
the reason Central started
9-3 overall and 7-2 in Mid-
Willamette Conference play.
“It’s been pretty easy
(transitioning to varsity),”
Amador said. “I just love the
experience. I love my team.
Every time I go out and play,
I have a great time.”
Perhaps the biggest im-
provement wasn’t anything
an individual team member
did.
“We’re definitely more fo-
cused on our defense,”
Amador said. “Last year, the
errors cost us some runs
against other teams. We’ve
tried to improve the defense
to limit those errors.”
See RISING, Page 12A
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FA L L S C I T Y — A r l i n
Schwanke always yearned
for the chance to try out
track and field.
Prior to transferring to
Falls City for his senior year,
Schwanke was enrolled at
Kings Valley
Charter
School,
with no
way to take
part in the
sport.
Upon his
arrival, he
quickly
Schwanke
gravitated
toward field events, such as
the shot put and discus.
Schwanke wanted to keep
his expectations in check.
Then, the season began.
The results have been sur-
prising to everyone, most of
all to Schwanke.
Coming into the season,
Schwanke’s goal was simple
— try as many events as he
could and work his hardest
at improving at them.
See SENIOR, Page 11A
Schwanke file
• Falls City senior Arlin
Schwanke
transferred
from Kings Valley Charter
School this year.
• Schwanke’s throw of
39 feet, 8 inches in the shot
put ranks first among Class
1A Special District 1 com-
petitors.
• This is Schwanke’s first
year of track and field.
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