Polk County Itemizer-Observer • August 12, 2015 13A
Polk County Sports
Rolling on the River
Top left: One of the entrants relaxes while in the water
during the Great Willamette River Raft Race on Saturday
morning. Competitors took part in the 11.5-mile route
from Independence to West Salem.
Top right: One of the participants gets ready to start the
river raft race on Saturday morning in Independence.
Bottom left: A group begins preparation before the Great
Willamette River Raft Race on Saturday.
Bottom right: One of the many river rafts awaits the be-
ginning of the Great Willamette River Raft Race on Satur-
day.
The Great Willamette River Raft Race is an annual tradi-
tion. Proceeds from the event benefit the Networking ex-
change Club of Salem/Keizer. Homebuilt rafts, inner
tubes, canoes and kayaks took part in the event.
For more information: www.exchangeclubsofsalemor.-
org/greatwillametteraftrace/.
TRACIE RABAGO/for the Itemizer-Observer
AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL
Dirtbags fall short at state tournament
Itemizer-Observer staff report
SALEM — The Demarini
Dirtbags fell short in their
quest for an American Le-
gion state title, losing to Eu-
gene 6-5 in 12 innings on
Aug. 2 in a semifinals
matchup.
The Dirtbags led 5-4 with
two outs in the bottom of
the 12th inning, when Chal-
lengers third baseman Mar-
cus Lydon hit a two-run sin-
gle for the walk-off win.
“It was one of the greatest
games,” Dallas High coach
Scot McDonald said. “Guys
were doing great things of-
fensively and had good de-
fense behind it to shut it
down. Everyone was fo-
cused knowing the winner
was going to the champi-
onship (game).”
The Dirtbags advanced to
the state tournament’s final
day after going 3-1, defeat-
ing the Northwest Star Acad-
e m y K n i g h t s, Wi t h n e l l
Dodgers and Portland Bar-
bers and losing to eventual
champion Medford.
“We created this program
and this team for these types
of circumstances,” McDon-
ald said. “We want the kids
to get to play and compete
at high levels. It’s more of an
all-star type concept. There’s
a lot more pressure to per-
form and they learn how to
play with that pressure,
which is huge.”
With the Dirtbags’ sea-
son coming to a close and
a new school year rapidly
approaching, for many of
t h e Dra g o n s’ b a s e b a l l
players, their attention will
turn toward new sports —
a fact that McDonald said
can help strengthen the
squad.
“Whatever you do, just go
compete,” McDonald said.
“Learn how to play with
pressure, compete and be-
come more athletic. … Real-
ly work on getting bigger,
faster and stronger.”
The Dirtbags may have
fallen just short of their ulti-
mate goal of a state title, but
McDonald said that his
team is already chomping at
the bit.
“The kids are excited
about wanting to have the
opportunity to do some-
thing (great) next year,” Mc-
Donald said. “It’s good to see
they’re excited.”
Splash: Dressel eyeing state Tourney: Rue
hopes for 50
Continued from Page 12A
Dressel’s fastest time in the
50 freestyle is 30.93 seconds,
but Dressel is confident he
can achieve his dream.
“I like the practices,” Dres-
sel said. “Coach Mark
(Maxwell) really pushes us
and he makes us better every
time we start a new practice.”
Dressel’s willingness to
work and his desire to im-
prove his times across the
board has made Dressel one
of the easiest kids to coach,
Maxwell said.
Go For A Swim
• The Blue Dolphins
Swim Team is a non-profit
competitive youth squad.
• For more information:
Mark Maxwell, family-
maxwell4@yahoo.com.
LUKAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer
Isaiah Dressel trains during
a swim practice.
“Isaiah is a great worker,”
Maxwell said. “He’s show-
ing leadership as he is
growing up and is the type
of kid the community can
rally behind.”
Although swimming can
have challenges, Dressel is
more than excited for the
chance to face them.
“Practices are really hard,”
Dressel said. “I feel like
swimming is a lot harder
than other sports, but I just
really enjoy it.”
As Dressel hopes to earn a
state berth, he’s also learned
not to get caught up in com-
paring himself.
“I’m just trying to beat my
own time,” Dressel said. “I’m
not focusing on other peo-
ple and trying to beat them.
I’m focused on what I’m
doing.”
SCOREBOARD
CLUB
SWIMMING
BLUE DOLPHINS
Seahorse Invitational
Newport
July 31-Aug. 2 Results
(BDST finishers)
GIRLS
500 freestyle (11-12) — 10, Made-
line Altenburg, 7:45.61; 12, Savannah
King, 7:54.73. 500 freestyle (13-14) —
4, Isabel Diaz, 7:04.67. 1,650 freestyle
(15 and over) — 1, Emily Beasley,
27:32.74. 100 individual medley (10
and under) — 9, Jaden Irwin, 1:30.74;
19, Lonny Stork, 1:36.87; 23, Sydney
Alamein, 1:43.28. 100 individual med-
ley (13-14) — 5, Isabel Diaz, 1:29.14.
200 individual medley (9-10) — 8,
Kaitlyn Landis, 3:48.01. 200 individual
medley (11-12) — 22, Savannah King,
3:28.53. 200 individual medley (15
and over) — 20, Emily Beasley, 3:24.59.
50 breaststroke (9-10) — 17, Jaden
Irwin, 50.76; 20, Lonny Stork, 52.29. 100
breaststroke (9-10) — 10, Sydney
Alamein, 1:53.61; 12, Kaitlyn Landis,
2:06.73; 13, Madison Hanson, 2:15.16.
100 breaststroke (11-12) — 21, Savan-
nah King, 1:47.23; 24, Madeline Al-
tenburg, 2:00.30. 100 breaststroke (13-
14) — 22, Isabel Diaz, 1:40.56. 100
breaststroke (15 and over) — 19,
Emily Beasley, 1:50.86. 25 freestyle (8
and under) — 24, Emma Irwin, 31.51.
50 freestyle (9-10) — 11, Jaden Irwin,
35.88; 21, Lonny Stork, 38.31; 31, Kaitlyn
Landis, 42.65; 35, Sydney Alamein,
44.85; 39, Madison Hanson, 48.33. 50
freestyle (11-12) — 36, Savannah King,
36.63; 39, Madison Altenburg, 37.13. 50
freestyle (13-14) — 21, Isabel Diaz,
34.13; 27, Rhylee Pendley, 42.6.3. 50
freestyle (15 and over) — 23, Emily
Beasley, 40.48. 50 butterfly (9-10) —
16, Lonny Stork, 43.89; 40, Madison Han-
son, 1:06.32. 50 butterfly (13-14) — 8,
Isabel Diaz, 42.36; 9, Rhylee Pendley,
57.89. 1000 butterfly (9-10) — 5, Kait-
lyn Landis, 1:55.17. 100 butterfly (11-
12) — 21, Madison Altenburg, 1:49.58;
22, Savannah King, 1:51.87. 50 butterfly
(15 and over) — 16, Emily Beasley,
1:40.88. 25 backstroke (8 and under)
— 22, Emma Irwin, 35.27. 50 back-
stroke (9-10) — 14, Jaden Irwin, 43.61;
17, Lonny Stork, 45.31; 29, Kaitlyn Lan-
dis, 52.69; 40, Madison Hanson, 1:02.16.
50 backstroke (13-14) — 3, Isabel Diaz,
39.26. 100 backstroke (11-12) — 23,
Savannah King, 1:40.96. 100 back-
stroke (15 and over) — 19, Emily
Beasley, 1:38.28. 100 freestyle (9-10) —
11, Jaden Irwin, 1:18.27; 18, Lonny Stork,
1:24.45; 32, Kaitlyn Landis, 1:33.72; 43,
Madison Hanson, 1:52.32. 100 freestyle
(11-12) — 36, Madison Altenburg,
1:23.77; 37, Savannah King, 1:23.79. 100
freestyle (13-14) — 20, Isabel Diaz,
1:14.91; 23, Rhylee Pendley, 1:38.22. 100
freestyle (15 and over) — 18, Emily
Beasley, 1:26.22.
BOYS
200 freestyle (11-12) — 11, David
Beasley, 3:14.97. 100 individual med-
ley (13-14) — 2, Gabe Applegate,
1:22.72. 50 freestyle (9-10) — 25,
Kason Utz, 1:04.65. 50 freestyle (11-
12) — 23, David Beasley, 39.01. 50
freestyle (13-14) — 12, Gabe Apple-
gate, 30.53. 100 butterfly (13-14) — 8,
Gabe Applegate, 1:25.71. 50 back-
stroke (9-10) — 20, Kason Utz, 1:16.76.
50 backstroke (11-12) — 13, David
Beasley, 49.77. 100 backstroke (11-
12) — 13, David Beasley, 1:47.06. 100
backstroke (13-14) — 12, Gabe Apple-
gate, 1:28.02. 100 freestyle (11-12) —
16, David Beasley, 1:27.03. 100
freestyle (13-14) — 14, Gabe Apple-
gate, 1:13.29.
CLUB GOLF
CROSS CREEK GOLF
COURSE
CROSS CREEK MEN’S CLUB
Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 8-9 Results
Club Championship Tournament
Low gross: Flight A - 1, Bill Karjala,
156. Flight B - 1, Brian Halin, 173.
Low net: Flight A - 1, Lee Taylor, 141;
2, Bob McCleery, 142. Flight B - 1, Jack
Duncan, 146; 2, Bob Sprinkle, 147.
Tuesday, Aug. 4 Results
Three Man Best Ball
Low gross: 1 (tie), Lee Taylor-Dennis
Bergman-Henry Suderman and Mike
Largent-Dave Watson-Darrel Smedstad,
35.
Low net: 1, Greg Fisher-Dave Day-
Warren Richards, 28; 2, Bob Sprinkle-Rich
Dominik-Eldon Rivers, 29; 3 (tie), Larry
Burger-Jim Cain-Dave Voves, Brian Halin-
Lynn Hurt-David Karr and Rocky Kygar-
Bob Bennett-Bob Mason, 30.
RODEO
HELL ON HOOVES
Rodeo
Thursday, Aug. 6 Results
Bareback —1, Kyle Bounds; 2, Zakk
Earp; 3, Orrin Ouska.
Saddle Bronc —1, Bryan Matiinat; 2,
Tucker Hill; 3, Kade McLean.
Bull Riding —1, Allen Helmuth; 2,
Bryan Carter; 3, Charlie Scolari.
Barrel Racing —1, Jessica McMa-
hon; 2, Darcie Himmelspach; 3, Karman
Lawless; 4, Jennifer Jenkinson.
Continued from Page 12A
Rue’s objective with Sun-
day’s tournament is, in
part, to boost the reputa-
tion of the course for peo-
ple who wouldn’t normally
travel to Independence.
He’s expecting more than
50 people to compete and
will add three temporary
holes to make it an 18-hole
course.
The event, hosted by
Mecanico, is sanctioned,
therefore offering cash
prizes to players. This year,
the Summer Fling will be
two rounds of 18 both
played on Sunday. Rue said
he wants to expand it in the
future.
“Capital City Disc Golf
and the city of Independ-
ence are interested in mak-
ing this an annual thing,”
Rue said. “I’m hoping to ex-
pand it to three rounds
(over two days) and having
camping available in the
park to make it a real
event.”
Shawn Irvine, Indepen-
dence’s community devel-
opment director, said he’s
seen quite a few people
using the course and would
like to see the tournament
build on that.
“It’s just another fun
thing to do in Independ-
ence,” Irvine said. “These
kinds of things, it seems
small, but it’s going to bring
people in from out of town,
and that is what we are
looking to have happen.”
SPORTS BRIEFS
WOU lands Oregon State transfer
MONMOUTH — Western Oregon’s men’s basketball team
landed former Oregon State player Alex Roth on Aug. 4.
Roth, a 6-foot-4 guard, walked on as a freshman for the
Beavers during the 2013-14 season. He missed the 2014-15 cam-
paign due to injury. Roth is a 2013 graduate from West Salem
High School.
Roth will have all four years of eligibility remaining with the
Wolves.
"Alex is an outstanding addition," Wolves coach Jim Shaw
said. "He is an excellent student and a talented player who is an
extremely versatile scorer and deceptive athlete. I am excited
about adding him to our program. Recruiting quality student
athletes from Polk County is very important, and Alex represents
everything we are looking for in a student athlete."