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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (April 27, 2016)
Polk County Sports CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL SCHEDULE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27 Baseball: South Albany at Central, 4:30 p.m. Dallas at Corvallis, 4:30 p.m. Per- rydale at Country Chris- tian, 4:30 p.m. Montana State, Billings at Western Oregon, 2 p.m. Boys tennis: Lebanon at Central, 4 p.m. Corvallis at Dallas, 4 p.m. Girls tennis: Central at Lebanon, 4 p.m. Dallas at Corvallis, 4 p.m. Softball: Dayton at Central, 4 p.m. Silverton at Dallas, 4:30 p.m. Delphian at Perrydale, 4:30 p.m. Track and field: Central at Crescent Valley, 3:45 p.m. Falls City, Perrydale at Southwest Christian Invita- tional, 4 p.m. Polk County Itemizer-Observer • April 27, 2016 12A Central warns against possible phone scam By Lukas Eggen The Itemizer-Observer IN- DEPENDENCE — Cen- tral High School is warn- ing businesses and resi- dences against a possible phone scam occurring in Polk County. CHS Athlet- ics Director Shane Hedrick said he received word from local businesses who received a call from a company stating that they are securing ads for a school calendar on behalf of Central athletics. SATURDAY, APRIL 30 Baseball: Montana State, Billings at Western Oregon (DH), 1 p.m. Softball: GNAC Cham- pionships: TBA vs. TBA, noon. Track and field: Central at Dick Baker Invitational (Gladstone High School), 11:15 a.m. Western Oregon at Raider Invitational (Ash- land), all day. Western Ore- gon at Oregon State High Performance meet, all day. MONDAY, MAY 2 Baseball: Perrydale at St. Paul, 4:30 p.m. Boys tennis: Corvallis at Central, 4 p.m. Lebanon at Dallas, 4 p.m. Girls tennis: Central at Corvallis, 4 p.m. Softball: Perrydale at St. Paul, 4:30 p.m. TUESDAY, MAY 3 Baseball: Dallas at Cen- tral, 4:30 p.m. Girls golf: Central, Dal- las at MWC Regionals (at Quail Valley, Banks), 10 a.m. Girls tennis: Dallas at Lebanon, 4 p.m. Softball: Central at Dal- las, 4:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY, MAY 4 Baseball: Central at Dal- las, 4:30 p.m. Perrydale at Kennedy, 2:30 p.m. Boys tennis: Central at Woodburn, 4 p.m. Silver- ton at Dallas, 4 p.m. Girls golf: Central, Dal- las at MWC Regionals (at Quail Valley, Banks), 10 a.m. Girls tennis: Woodburn at Central, 4 p.m. Dallas at Silverton, 4 p.m. Softball: Crescent Val- ley at Central, 4:30 p.m. South Albany at Dallas, 4:30 p.m. Perrydale at Kennedy, 3 p.m. Track and field: Dallas at Corvallis, 3:45 p.m. — Kessler embraces multiple roles Freshman becomes essential piece to Dragons’ success this spring By Lukas Eggen LUKAS EGGEN/ Itemizer-Observer Dallas freshman Eric Kessler has played in the infield, outfield, catcher and pitcher. DALLAS — Freshman Eric Kessler was confident he could make a strong case for earning a spot on Dallas’ varsity baseball squad. The only thing that made him nervous was being the lone freshman on a roster largely filled with juniors and seniors. “There was definitely a worry about being the youngest guy on a team full of juniors or seniors and a couple of sophomores,” Kessler said. “But this is a great group of guys. They treat me at the same level as them. They don’t call me a freshman.” Kessler has proven his worth to teammates and coaches, quickly becoming one of the Dragons’ most versatile weapons. “He’s played multiple po- sitions, hits in the top of our lineup and has im- proved a ton,” coach Scot • Dallas’ baseball team took two of three games from Silverton last week. The Dragons won 5-2 on April 19 before falling 4-2 on April 20. Dallas closed out the three-game series with a 13-6 win on Friday. • Pitcher Tucker Weaver earned the win on April 19, throwing nine strikeouts. Eric Kessler had two RBIs. • Tanner Earhart, Eric Kessler, Everett Minahan and Clay Coxen each recorded two hits on Friday. • Kessler and Coxen per- formed strongly on the pitcher’s mound, combin- ing to give up two runs over five innings. McDonald said. There aren’t many posi- tions Kessler hasn’t tried so far this season. He’s seen time in the out- field, second base, third base, catcher and pitcher. See KESSLER, Page 13A COLLEGE SOFTBALL WOU clinches spot in championships By Lukas Eggen The Itemizer-Observer PORTLAND — With a spot in the Great Northwest Ath- letic Conference softball tourna- ment on the line, We s t e r n Oregon re- sponded in a big way, winning three of f o u r Boytz against Concordia. The Wolves won a doubleheader on April 20, winning 4-3 and 2-1 in the team’s home finale. The Wolves split with Concordia on Thursday, winning 4-2 before falling 5-0. “For whatever reason, this team just never gets down Conference championships What: Great Northwest Athletic Conference Softball Championships. Who: No. 1 Central Washington, No. 2 Western Oregon, No. 3 Concordia, No. 4 Saint Martin’s. When: Games begin Thursday at noon. Where: Lacey, Wash. What’s at stake: The conference champion gains an au- tomatic berth in the NCAA Division II Regionals. on itself,” c o a c h L o n n y Sargeant s a i d . “ T h e y ’r e very re- silient. They know Huffman the game’s not over until the final in- ning and the final out.” Both of WOU’s wins on April 20 came in dramatic fashion. The first game saw pitcher Alyson Boytz earn her 10th win of the season, throwing four strikeouts and recovering after a solo home run by Concordia cut WOU’s lead to one in the top of the seventh inning. The second game fea- tured Central High graduate Ryanne Huffman scoring the winning run in extra in- nings. See WOU, Page 13A LUKAS EGGEN/ Itemizer-Observer file Western Oregon coach Lonny Sargeant checks his notes during a game on April 9. CENTRAL GIRLS TENNIS Smith struggles to conquer doubts Junior shows progress on court By Lukas Eggen The Itemizer-Observer INDEPENDENCE — It seemed like smooth sailing for Central junior Kylie Smith. She cruised to a 4-1 lead in the first set of her girls tennis match against South Albany’s Lacey McLellan on April 20. Then, a lost point turned into a lost game and, before long, Smith dropped the first set 6-4. “It’s definitely a mental thing,” Smith said. “I see that I start losing, and it frustrates me. Then I start rushing points and it gets worse.” Smith seemed to put those demons to rest in the second set, racing out to a 5-1 lead. See SMITH, Page 14A STAT SHEET 6 www.polkio.com Baseball The Itemizer-Observer Schedules Subject to Change The number of true home games West- ern Oregon softball team was able to play during the 2016 regu- lar season. WOU advanced to the GNAC Champi- onships this weekend. represent them to ask for money for the high school. If you receive a phone call like this, do not give money or information and contact local police. DALLAS BASEBALL THURSDAY, APRIL 28 Girls tennis: Central at Dallas, 4 p.m. Softball: Dallas at Cres- cent Valley, 4:30 p.m. GNAC Championships: Concordia vs. Western Oregon (at Lacey, Wash.), noon. Track and field: West- ern Oregon at Titan Twi- light (Eugene), all day. FRIDAY, APRIL 29 Baseball: Central at South Albany, 4:30 p.m. Corvallis at Dallas, 4:30 p.m. Regis at Perrydale, 4:30 p.m. Montana State, Billings at Western Oregon (DH), 1 p.m. Boys tennis: Silverton at Central, 4 p.m. Dallas at Crescent Valley, 4 p.m. Girls tennis: Central at Silverton, 4 p.m. Crescent Valley at Dallas, 4 p.m. Softball: South Albany at Central, 4 p.m. Regis at Perrydale, 4:30 p.m. GNAC Championships: Conco- rdia/Western Oregon vs. Saint M ar tin’s/Central Washington, TBA. Track and field: Dallas at Rob Allen Twilight (Lebanon), 4 p.m. Falls City at Waldport Small School meet, 4 p.m. Western Ore- gon at Raider Invitational (Ashland), all day. Western Oregon at Oregon State High Performance meet, all day. Most recently, Hedrick said a business brought in an invoice on Tuesday, which he turned over to the police. The high school has not requested any company to LUKAS EGGEN/ Itemizer-Observer Central junior Kylie Smith led at one point in both sets of her 6-4, 7-5 loss to South Albany’s Lacey McLellan on April 20. www.facebook.com/pages/Polk-County-Itemizer-Observer/205062686252209 www.twitter.com/PolkIOSports
