Polk County Itemizer-Observer • May 6, 2015 13A
Polk County Sports
PREP BASEBALL ROUNDUP
Dallas defeats Corvallis
Dragons win two of three against the Spartans
Itemizer-Observer staff report
DALLAS — The Dallas
baseball team handed Cor-
vallis its first Mid-
Willamette Conference loss-
es of the season. After drop-
ping the series opener 1-0
on April 28, the Dragons de-
feated the Spartans 10-0 on
April 29 and 3-2 on Friday.
“We had to get this series
in case we end up in any
tiebreakers,” Dallas coach
Scot McDonald said.
Pitchers Logan Hatley,
Tucker Weaver and Everett
Minahan started for the
Dragons. The team has
given up the fewest total
runs in the MWC.
Dallas entered the week
tied with Crescent Valley for
second place at 11-4 in
league play.
The Dragons were sched-
uled to begin a key series
against Central Tuesday
after press time. The foes
play again Wednesday at
Central and Friday at Dallas.
“The kids can’t think that
since we beat Corvallis we
can roll over Central, be-
LUKAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer
Dallas pitcher Logan Hatley prepares to throw against
Corvallis. The Dragons won two of three games.
cause that’s not going to be
the case at all,” McDonald
said. “They are playing really
well and are extremely ath-
letic. They’re right there next
to us (in the standings).”
CENTRAL EARNS SWEEP:
The Central baseball team
kept pace with the Mid-
Willamette Conference’s top
t e a m s ,
earning a
sweep over
S outh Al-
bany. The
Panthers
defeated
the Rebels
12-5 on
April 28, 10-
Fleming
7 April 29
and 14-0 on
Friday. Senior Kyler Fleming
had a big series, hitting a dou-
ble in the first game and a
grand slam in the final contest.
The Panthers host Dallas
Wednesday (today) at 4:30
p.m. before playing at Dallas
on Friday.
PERRYDALE DROPS TWO:
Perrydale’s baseball team
dropped a Special District 2
contest to Country Christian
11-4 on Friday before falling to
Western Mennonite 10-3 on
Monday. The Pirates host St.
Paul Wednesday (today) at
4:30 p.m. before playing at
East Linn Christian on Friday.
Perrydale returns home to
host Regis Monday.
SPORTS BRIEFS
City softball sign-ups now open
DALLAS — Sign-ups are open for the city of Dallas’ co-ed soft-
ball league. Games will run from June 16 to July 30 on Tuesdays
and/or Thursdays.
Game times will be at 6 or 7:15 p.m. each week.
All teams must have a minimum of nine players.
Cost is $170 per team. Mail fees to city of Dallas, 187 SE Court
St., Dallas, 97338. Registration is due June 11.
For more information: David Brautigam, 503-831-3559.
Registration open for basketball
DALLAS — Registration is open for the city of Dallas’ men’s bas-
ketball league. Play begins June 1 and runs Monday nights through
July 13 at LaCreole Middle School.
Games run from 6 to 10 p.m.
Cost is $300 per team with eight players required on a squad.
Registration forms are available online at
www.dallasor.gov/index.aspx?NID=758. All forms must be turned
in by May 30.
Fees can be mailed to city of Dallas, 187 SE Court St., Dallas,
97338.
Youth football sign-ups Thursday
DALLAS — Pop Warner and Kids, Inc. will hold registration for
the 2015 tackle football season Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at LaCre-
ole Middle School.
Registration for Dallas Dragons Cheer will also be taken on
Thursday.
Please bring a copy of each player’s birth certificate as well as a
current wallet-sized photo of the player.
A child’s full-year report card can be provided after the school
year is completed. Physical forms must be filled out by a licensed
state examiner and must be provided prior to player certification
on July 13.
Registration forms can be downloaded at www.mv-
popwarner.com. Forms will also be available on site during registra-
tion on Thursday.
Cost is $160. There will be on-site registration on May 17 from 5
to 7 p.m. Online sign-ups close on May 31.
For more information: Jeff Hevener, Jeff.Hevener@mvpopwarn-
er.com.
NFL: Williams ready to chase life’s opportunities
Continued from Page 10A
It was when Williams was
in fifth grade that it dawned
on him – football was more
than just a game to him. It
was a way of life.
“I tore my ACL and I had
to sit out for a year,”
Williams said. “It was unreal
how much I missed playing,
being in practices and
games. Football was one of
the main things that kept
me going. I started really
hoping football would be a
big part of my life.”
Growing up, Williams
watched the likes of Michael
Irvin and Deon Sanders.
When he arrived at Western
Oregon, he started making a
name for himself.
“Going into my junior
year, I talked with (San
Diego’s) scout,” Williams
said. “I’ve been talking to
their receivers coach for a
few years now.”
That, coupled with an im-
pressive performance at
Oregon State’s pro day, and
Williams began turning
heads on a national scale.
“It was pretty cool,”
Williams said. “I talked to
teams and met head coach-
es and receiver coaches. It
was a lot of fun going
through it all.”
As the draft approached,
he went from a little-known
Division II receiver to a po-
tential late-round draft pick.
And although he didn’t get
picked, Williams knew his
dream of playing in the NFL
was close.
“It was pretty surreal,”
Williams said. “It was kind of
crazy. I chose them to be the
team I wanted to go to. The
receivers coach said they are
excited for me to come out
here. It’s a weird feeling. It
hasn’t hit me yet. I don’t
think it truly will until I get
the pads on.”
Now, Williams is turning
his attention toward secur-
ing a spot on the Chargers’
final 53-man roster this
summer. Williams will con-
tinue to work out at Western
Oregon to stay in shape until
he goes to
San Diego
for the
r o o k i e
mini-camp.
“I know
that they
like big,
fast re-
Williams
c e i v e r s ,”
Williams
said. “They like the West
Coast offense, which is
good for my game.”
Williams knows his jour-
ney to the final roster won’t
be easy.
But Williams took the first
step in his NFL journey, one
that he has been dreaming
about for more than a
decade.
And that opportunity, no
matter what happens, is one
that could be the culmina-
tion of a lifelong dream.
“To go out and potentially
play in front of thousands of
people, that would be awe-
some,” Williams said. “Just
to be in the NFL with its fans
would be amazing.”
PREP TRACK AND FIELD ROUNDUP
PREP SOFTBALL ROUNDUP
Central remains Dallas shines at Invitational
in second place
Itemizer-Observer staff report
INDEPENDENCE —
Central’s softball team
earned three dominating
league wins last week to re-
main in second place in the
Mid-Willamette Confer-
ence. The Panthers defeat-
ed Corvallis 4-0 on April 28,
Woodburn 18-0 on April 29
and South Albany 11-1 on
Friday.
Central entered the week
after winning six of its last
seven games and has
outscored opponents 164-
39 this season. That mark is
the second fewest given up
in all of Class 5A so far this
season. The Panthers have
scored 10 or more runs
nine times and have
recorded six shutouts.
Central plays at Crescent
Valley Wednesday (today)
before hosting Lebanon
Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
The Panthers faced Dal-
las Tuesday after press
time. Central plays at Sil-
verton on Tuesday to finish
a postponed game before
facing off in the regularly
scheduled game.
DALLAS THROWS PER-
FECT GAME: Dallas’ softball
team erased the memory of
two losses by throwing a per-
fect game against Woodburn
on Friday. Pitchers Erin Taylor
and Keisha Sickles combined
to shut down the Bulldogs
during the Dragons’ 17-0 vic-
tory. Dallas entered Tuesday’s
game at Central with a 10-5
record in league play. The
Dragons host South Albany
Wednesday (today) and Cor-
vallis Friday at 4:30 p.m.
PERRYDALE LOSES THREE:
The Perrydale softball team
lost a trio of games, falling to
Central Linn 10-3 on April 29
before losing to Gaston 6-5 on
Friday and Western Mennonite
8-2 on Monday. The Pirates
host Regis Wednesday (today)
and Monday at 4:30 p.m. be-
fore hosting Dayton JV on May
13 at 4:30 p.m.
Itemizer-Observer staff report
LEBANON — Led by a
first-place finish by Kyleen
Benz in the discus, Dallas’
girls track and field team fin-
ished fifth out of nine teams
at the Rob Allen Twilight In-
vitational in Lebanon on Fri-
day.
Benz won the discus with
a throw of 118 feet, 6 inches.
She also
p l a c e d
fourth in
the shot
put with a
mark of 36-
3½.
Danielle
Remington
took third
Benz
in
the
javelin with a throw of 116-3.
The boys team finished in
a tie for seventh at the invi-
tational. Sophomore Aaron
White won the triple jump
with a leap of 42-5 to lead
the boys. Brett Rowden took
second in the shot put with
a throw of 43-8½, while Tan-
ner Hlavinka took fourth in
the 200 in 24.16 seconds.
T h e
Dragons
opened
their week
against
Corvallis in
a nonscor-
ing meet.
Dallas
White
travels to
Central Wednesday (today)
at 4 p.m. in the team’s final
regular season meet. The
Mid-Willamette Conference
districts begin March 13 and
14 at Western Oregon Uni-
versity.
McBETH WINS 1,500: Cen-
tral sophomore Abby McBeth
won the
girls 1,500-
meter run
Saturday at
the Dick
Baker Invita-
tional. Mc-
B e t h fi n -
ished with a
time of 4
minutes,
McBeth
53.63 sec-
onds as the Panthers took sev-
enth out of 12 teams. Bethanie
Altamirano finished second in
the 200 in 27.98. The boys
squad placed fifth at the invita-
t i o n a l. S o p h o m o re Pe te r
Mason finished second in the
long jump with a mark of 19
feet, 8¾ inches, while Max
Lydum took second in the shot
put with a throw of 47-6. The 4
x 100 relay team of Casey
Brown, Nick Burgett, Gabe
Dickson and Thomas Peterson
also finished second in 44.85.
The Panthers boys and girls
lost a dual meet to Crescent
Valley on April 29. Central hosts
Dallas Wednesday (today) at 4
p.m. The Mid-Willamette Con-
ference districts begin May 13
at Western Oregon University.
V E R G I N W I N S 1 0 0 AT
SALEM ACADEMY: Perrydale
senior won
the girls
100-meter
run at Salem
Academy as
the Pirates’
girls squad
placed fifth
out of seven
teams. Ver-
gin finished
Vergin
the sprint in
13.15 seconds. She also placed
third in the 100 hurdles in
17.90. Taylor Price finished
third in the 300 hurdles in
52.98, and Sarah Clark took
third in the javelin with a throw
of 95 feet, 0 inches. The boys
finished seventh out of seven
teams. Martin Lopez took
fourth in the 110 hurdles in
19.22 to lead the Pirates. Perry-
dale will compete at the Sweet
Home Last Chance Meet
Wednesday (today) at 4 p.m.
VARNEY LEADS MOUN-
TAINEERS: Falls City junior Brit-
tany Varney placed fourth in
the girls discus to lead the
Mountaineers at the Stayton
Twilight Meet on Friday. Varney
recorded a throw of 97 feet, 1
inch as Falls City placed 16th
out of 17 teams. She finished
15th in the shot put with a
mark of 30-5. Madelyn Hen-
drickson placed 26th in the
200-meter run and 28th in the
100 in 30.08 and 14.28 sec-
onds, respectively. The boys
did not score. Tristan Yeager
led the boys team with a 10th-
place finish in the javelin and
11th in the discus with throws
of 139-6 and 116-8, respective-
ly. The Mountaineers will com-
pete at the Sweet Home Last
Chance meet Wednesday
(today) at 4 p.m. in the team’s
final regular season meet.
Two: Bruning, Chance swing into doubles play
Continued from Page 10A
On Jan. 7 of her freshman
year, Bruning had brain sur-
gery to relieve the pressure
in her head. The migraines
stopped. But Bruning faced
a long recovery process.
“I had the surgery on the
first day back from winter
break,” Bruning said. “I was
out of school for six weeks
because of the surgery.”
Yet, as the weeks rolled by,
Bruning longed to get back
onto the court. Her sopho-
more year, Bruning came
out for the girls tennis team.
“Last year was the first
year I played and I thought I
was really, really good,”
Bruning said.
It didn’t take long for her
to receive a reality check.
“I realized I wasn’t even
holding the racket right,”
Bruning said. “… My first
match was so bad. I played a
Spanish foreign exchange
student. She played in some
really good clubs, so she was
really good. My dad said he
had not seen a person serve
like hers since the 1980s. It
was a wakeup call that oh,
I’m not as cool as I thought I
was.”
By the end of her sopho-
more season, Bruning estab-
lished herself as the team’s
No. 1 singles player.
Throughout the first part
of the 2015 campaign, Brun-
ing remained in her No. 1
singles spot. But that would-
n’t last.
Bruning, along with No. 2
singles player Danielle
Chance, made a big decision
for the rest of the season —
they’re making the switch to
doubles.
“We thought we’d have a
better shot at districts, so we
thought we’d try it,” Chance
said.
At first glance, the move
seems surprising. Neither
Bruning nor Chance have
any previous doubles expe-
rience. But the decision was-
n’t made without the bless-
ing of their coach.
“I did encourage them be-
cause the competition in
singles at districts will be
very tough,” Panthers coach
Dave Eble said. “They
should be more competitive
at doubles than they would
have been at singles.”
Trying to learn the ins and
outs of playing with a part-
ner requires a change in ap-
proach for both players.
“You serve at a different
spot in doubles,” Bruning
said. “In singles, you don’t
play at the net that much. In
LUKAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer
Central’s Danielle Chance (left) and Renee Bruning made
the switch from singles to doubles play this season.
doubles, someone is almost
always at the net. We both
automatically ran backward
and then had to run back up
because one of us has to be
at the net.”
With just three matches
under their belts, the pair
has been on a crash course
in doubles.
“It’s difficult,” Chance
said. “There was a lot of
messing up, but it’s getting
better. Communication on
who is doing what will be
key for us.”
With the Mid-Willamette
Conference district tourna-
ment a week away, the pair
doesn’t have the luxury of
time to develop the chem-
istry and game plan need-
ed.
“They are learning, but
other good doubles teams
have a huge head start,” Eble
said. “They need to hurry up
their learning curve to do
well at districts. They need
to cut down their errors and
improve shot placement
and aggressiveness.”
Making the switch to
doubles may be a daunting
task. But it’s a challenge
Bruning is ready to face
with Chance.
“Knowing that Danielle is
a really good player, if we
could get to districts in dou-
bles, we might be able to go
somewhere,” Bruning said.