Polk County Itemizer-Observer • April 22, 2015 11A
Polk County Sports
WESTERN OREGON ROUNDUP
Softball closes in on postseason berth
Wolves sweep Central Washington in key conference showdown Saturday
Itemizer-Observer staff report
MONMOUTH — Western
Oregon senior Amanda
Evola knew playing her final
home games would be a bit-
tersweet moment. But she
wasn’t about to let it affect
her mindset, or her team.
“I tried to not think of it as
my last home games,” Evola
said. “I tried to think of it as
we really needed to get those
two wins.”
WOU remained in posi-
tion to qualify for the Great
Northwest Athletic Confer-
ence softball tournament
after sweeping Central
Washington on Sunday.
The Wolves opened their
weekend by falling to Saint
Martin’s 9-7 and 12-8. WOU
responded by defeating the
Wildcats 2-1 and 4-3 in the
team’s final home games.
Senior pitcher Jourdan
Williams earned a complete
game victory in the first
game, while Evola added five
hits and three RBIs.
Western Oregon (20-25
overall, 12-8 GNAC) re-
mained in fourth place in
the conference standings,
three games ahead of Cen-
tral Washington.
The top four teams ad-
vance to the conference
tournament in May.
The Wolves close out the
regular season at Montana
State Billings for a pair of
doubleheaders on Friday
and Saturday.
As WOU hopes to lock up
a spot in the GNAC softball
tournament, Evola said she
knows it isn’t time yet to
think back on her collegiate
career, but she does know
Western Oregon affected her
life far greater than she ever
imagined.
“I didn’t expect Western to
impact my life outside of
softball,” Evola said. “I will
carry that with me forever.
… The people here, the
coaches, teammates and
everyone contributes to the
environment, and I’m hon-
ored to be a part of it.”
BASEBALL CLINCHES
POSTSEASON BERTH: West-
ern Oregon’s baseball team
won the
fi n a l t w o
games of a
fi v e - g a m e
s e r i e s
against
Montana
State Billings
to punch its
postseason
ticket. The
Alvarez
Wolves lost
to the Yellowjackets 8-5 and 8-
4 on Friday before splitting a
doubleheader on Saturday,
falling 4-3 and winning 5-0.
WOU won the final game 8-3
on Sunday. Junior pitcher Gar-
rett Alvarez threw a three-hit
shutout in Saturday’s finale.
WOU (23-22 overall, 18-10
Great Northwest Athletic Con-
ference) clinched a berth in the
GNAC tournament in May.
Western Oregon returns home
to host Northwest Nazarene for
a pair of doubleheaders on
May 1 and 2 in the Wolves’ reg-
ular season finale.
TRACK AND FIELD EXCELS:
Western Oregon saw several
athletes perform strongly for
the track and field team across
four meets. Rachel Crawford
and Sam Naffziger set personal
records in the women’s and
men’s 1,500-meter runs, re-
spectively, at the Mount Sac
Relays on Friday and Saturday.
Crawford finished in 4 minutes,
34.93 seconds, while Naffziger
recorded a 3:51.76. Junior Bai-
ley Beeson and freshman
Kenny Klippel also set new per-
sonal marks at the Brian Clay
Invitational on Friday in Azusa,
Calif. Beeson finished the
women’s 800 in 2:14.07, while
Klippel recorded a throw of 45
feet, 11¾ inches in the men’s
shot put. The Wolves saw 23
athletes set new personal
records on Saturday at the
Lewis & Clark Open in Portland
and the Beach Track and Field
Invitational in Norwalk, Calif.
WOU will compete at the Titan
Twilight meet at Lane Commu-
nity College in Eugene on
Thursday.
LUKAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer
Western Oregon senior Amanda Evola swings at a pitch against Saint Martin’s on Friday.
Evola came up big against Central Washington on Sunday, recording five hits.
Senior: Schwanke having fun
Continued from Page 10A
“I felt like I had some
c a t c h i n g u p t o d o,”
Schwanke said. “I didn’t real-
ly have the practice that
everyone else had. Everyone
wants to make it to state, but
coming into the season, I
just wanted to give it my all
every time out.”
While he lacked the expe-
rience in track and field, he
did have one thing working
in his favor.
“Arlin is a natural athlete,”
Falls City coach Emily Ke-
nagy said. “That allowed
him to be successful so far
this season, and he contin-
ues to become a better ath-
lete.”
In his first meet on March
17, Schwanke recorded a
throw of 39 feet, 8 inches in
the shot put, a mark that
ranks first among all Class
1A District 1 competitors.
“I was pretty shocked,”
Schwanke said. “I’m not the
strongest out of everyone I
know. I just wanted to try my
hardest, like I always do.”
While Schwanke is finding
success in throwing events,
he’s also giving track events
a try when he has the
chance. He has competed in
the 100-meter run and plans
to try other running events,
as well.
“It’s different,” Schwanke
Up Next
• Falls City senior Arlin
Schwanke is ranked first in
the Class 1A District 1 shot
put.
• The Mountaineers will
compete at the St. Paul
Buckaroo Thursday after-
noon.
LUKAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer
Falls City senior Arlin Schwanke is ranked first in the shot
put among all Class 1A District 1 competitors.
said. “When I run the 100, I
zone out and clear my mind.
When I hear the starting
gun, I take off running as
fast and as hard as I can. In
shot put, I try to get into the
right mindset. There are a lot
more variables like not
crossing over the line, what
you’re aiming for, things like
that.”
While Schwanke is finding
Jourdan Williams
Western Oregon
Williams, a senior, came up big when
the Western Oregon softball team need-
ed her the most. Starting her final home
game with WOU, Williams threw a com-
plete game against Central Washington
on Sunday, earning a 2-1 victory in eight innings. The win,
Williams’ seventh, helped WOU stay in fourth place in the
Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings. The top
four teams advance to the conference tournament.
Kayley Sayer
Dallas High
Sayer, a sophomore, had a big day for
Dallas’ girls track and field team on April
14. Sayer finished first in the long jump
with a leap of 15 feet, 9 inches during the
Dragons’ home four-way meet. But Sayer
wasn’t finished yet, taking first in the triple jump with a
mark of 32-1. Sayer ranks fifth in the long jump and sixth in
the triple jump in the Mid-Willamette Conference so far this
season.
To submit nominations for the Itemizer-Observer Athlete of
the Week, contact Sports Editor Lukas Eggen at 503-623-2373
or leggen@polkio.com by 9 a.m. on Monday.
Dallas takes sixth
Itemizer-Observer staff report
WOODBURN — Dallas’
boys golf team finished
sixth out of seven teams at
the Mid-Willamette Con-
ference tournament at Tuk-
willa.
Central did not compete.
The Dragons shot a com-
bined score of 418, ahead
of seventh-place finisher
South Albany, which fin-
ished with a 495.
Senior Nolan Miller shot
a team-low 98 to lead Dal-
las, while Mosier Locke
(103), Dylan Cackler (104),
Tyler Kunz (113) and
Hu n t e r L i n d s a y ( 1 1 9 )
rounded out the Dragons’
finishers. Dallas and Cen-
tral will compete at
Springhill in Albany on
Tuesday in the teams’ final
regular season tournament.
Dallas’ girls golf squad
will compete at Cross Creek
Golf Course on Monday.
SPORTS BRIEFS
DHS basketball to host fundraiser
DALLAS — The Dallas High boys basketball team will host its
annual scrap metal drive on May 16. The team will pick up metal
at your residence from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit www.cherrycitymet-
als.com/recycling for a full list of acceptable materials.
All proceeds go to fund the Dallas boys basketball team.
For more information: Trent Schwartz, 503-623-8336 ext. 3105
or email trent.schwartz@dsd2.org.
Tickets available for Hall of Fame
INDEPENDENCE — Tickets are on sale for Central High’s Hall of
Fame Dessert on Saturday. Cost is $5 per person. A walk through
of the school will take place at 5 p.m. with the dessert beginning
at 6 p.m. in the CHS Auditorium.
The 2015 Hall of Fame class includes the 1967 state champion
football team, 1968 state champion track and field team and 1975
state champion boys basketball team. Individuals being inducted
include boys basketball coach Glen Clark (1974-87), football, bas-
ketball and baseball player Dick Wiese (Class of 1961), football,
basketball and track athlete Steve McArthur (1969) and volleyball,
basketball and tennis athlete Lea Allan (1979).
PREP TRACK AND FIELD ROUNDUP
Itemizer-Observer
Athlete of the Week
more success than he ever
thought possible, he’s also
not losing sight of having
fun.
“I do like watching the
other competitors, but I
don’t really let it get to me if
they throw it really far,”
Schwanke said. “Try my
best, that’s all I can do be-
cause there’s always some-
body better than you.”
Schwanke may not have
the experience that many of
his competitors have, but he
isn’t letting that fact intimi-
date him. Instead, he’s en-
joying the ride.
“It’s been pretty awe-
some,” Schwanke said. “(If I
wasn’t doing track and field),
I’d probably be trying to find
a job. I’m glad I spent my
senior year doing what I
could. When you know
everybody on the team, you
don’t feel like you’re on your
own and you feel like you
have more support.”
PREP GOLF ROUNDUP
Dallas excels at home meet
Dragons have strong showing at home meet on April 14
Itemizer-Observer staff report
DALLAS — The Dallas
track and field team took
first in 11 events during the
Dragons’ meet against Cres-
cent Val-
ley, South
Albany
a
n
d
Wo o d -
burn on
April 14.
The no-
nscoring
meet saw
Tichenor
I s a a k
Tichenor win the 200-meter
run in 24.05 seconds; Cody
Webb take the 110 hurdles
in 16.95; Brett Rowden win
the shot put with a throw of
44 feet, 7 inches; Jacob
Deming place first in the
pole vault with a mark of
10-0; and Isaac Short took
first in the triple jump with
a leap of 39-8 to lead the
boys.
Stefani Tallon won the
100 in 13.60 for the girls.
Kyleen Benz won both the
shot put and discus with
marks of 36-3 and 111-4, re-
spectively. Danielle Rem-
ington placed first in the
javelin with a throw of 119-
4, and Kayley Sayer took
first in the long jump and
triple jump with marks of
15-9 and 32-1, respectively.
Dallas will compete at the
Dave Snook Frosh/Soph In-
vitational at McNary High
Friday at 4 p.m. and the 51st
Annual Centennial Invita-
tional Saturday at 11 a.m.
CENTRAL TAKES FOURTH:
Central’s boys and girls track
and field squads placed fourth
out of four teams during a
home meet on April 15. The
Panthers faced Lebanon, Sil-
verton and Corvallis. Kaj
Bansen led the boys team, fin-
ishing first in the high jump
with a mark of 6 feet and triple
jump with a leap of 40-7. Jas-
mine Meraz helped lead the
girls squad by placing second
in the pole vault with a mark of
6-0. The Panthers saw senior
M
a x
Lydum fin-
ish first in
the boys
hammer at
the Oregon
Relays with
a throw of
60.05 me-
ters, while
Bansen
junior Nick
Burgett won the 400 in 52.72.
Bethanie Altamirano led the
girls, placing third in the 400 in
1:04.09, while Sai Tapasa fin-
ished fourth in the shot put
with a throw of 10.39 meters.
Central will host the John Oliv-
er Invitational on Friday. The
first event begins at 4 p.m.
PIRATES SHINE: Despite
small numbers, Perrydale’s girls
track and field team placed
fifth out of seven teams at Ger-
vais on Thursday. Senior Alysia
Vergin placed second in the
100-meter hurdles, finishing in
17.70 seconds, while team-
mate Taylor Price took second
in the 300 hurdles in 51.90.
Price also finished second in
the high jump with a mark of
4-6. The Pirates’ boys squad fin-
ished eighth out of eight
teams. Junior Logan Shamblin
led the boys after placing third
in the 3,000 in 11:06.10, while
Kirk Fairchild took third in the
high jump in 5-8. Perrydale will
take part in the St. Paul Bucka-
roo on Thursday.
VA R N E Y L E A D S FA L L S
CITY: Bo Beauchamp and Brit-
tany Varney helped lead Falls
City’s boys and girls track
teams at
the Great
White Invite
on April 14.
Beauchamp
fi n i s h e d
second in
the javelin
with
a
throw of
134 feet, 8
Varney
inches be-
fore taking eighth in the shot
put (36-11) and discus (103-6).
Varney finished first in the
shot put with a throw of 30-4.
The boys finished 12th out of
13 schools, while the girls took
10th.