Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current, March 22, 2017, Image 11

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Newspaper Page TextPolk County Sports Polk County Itemizer-Observer • March 22, 2017 11A 2016-17 ITEMIZER-OBSERVER ALL-REGION PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM GUARD ELIZABETH CHAVEZ GUARD OLIVIA NELSON Central Dallas Chavez, a sophomore, took a big step forward after a strong freshman cam- paign. “She was a threat both on the offen- sive and defensive side of the ball,” McDonald said. On offense, Chavez helped run point, guiding the of- fense to 44.6 Chavez points per game. She was second on the team in scoring, averaging 12.4 points per game. The sophomore was also one of the Panthers’ top de- fenders. She made life difficult for opposing guards and gave Central critical possessions by averaging 3.0 steals per game. Chavez received all- league honorable mention — miss- ing second team all-MWC by one vote. The senior point guard helped di- rect a potent Dal- Nelson las offense. Nelson led the team in scoring (229 points) and assists (71) and was third in re- bounds (91). She played a critical role in helping Dallas advance to the first round of the state playoffs, including a stretch where the Dragons won seven of eight games, including going 3-1 at the Nike Interstate Shootout. Nelson earned first team all-MWC recognition for her efforts. Panthers. Menda- zona ranked first or second on the team in nearly all categories, averag- ing 12.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. “She was one of our go-to players and didn’t Mendazona mind that responsi- bility,” coach Julie McDonald said. Men- dazona was a dependable scorer and defender. The future is bright for her and the Panthers’ basketball program. Mendazona earned first team all-Mid- Willamette Conference honors. ting down many team’s best offen- sive threats. It may have been a lot for some, but Lawrence excelled. “I knew Sydney would be an im- portant piece to the team,” coach Lawrence Terry Newton said. “She shot the ball, handled the ball and played defense on a lot of teams’ best players. She was the glue for us on everything.” Lawrence earned first team all-Casco League recognition for her performance during the season. GUARD SYDNEY LAWRENCE GUARD STEFANI TALLON Perrydale WING/GUARD MEAGAN MENDAZONA Central The freshman guard came in and made her presence felt quickly for the The 2016-17 season saw Perrydale rely on a number of inexperienced players. Lawrence helped the Pirates rise to the occasion and earn a trip to the state playoffs. The freshman was a focal point for the offense, averaging nine points and five assists per game. On defense, she was tasked with shut- Dallas The senior guard/wing had a big impact for the Tallon Dragons during the 2016-17 campaign. On offense, Tallon ranked second on the team in scoring (215 points) and had a knack for driving to the rim and finishing. On defense, she was always a threat to create turnovers, tying for the team lead in steals with 56 and ranked fourth on the team in rebounds with 88. Tallon earned second team all- MWC honors. COACH TERRY NEWTON Perrydale Newton helped guide an inexperi- enced Perrydale squad to the state playoffs, despite having seven under- classmen on the roster. Newton saw to it that the Pirates learned quickly on the court and, though there were growing pains along the way, Perry- dale developed into a strong, danger- ous team under Newton’s tutelage. With a young core intact, Newton has set up Perrydale for years of success. — The 2016-17 Itemizer-Observer all-region girls basketball team was selected by Sports Editor Lukas Eggen, along with heavy input from area coaches. Mendazona: Future looks bright for freshman Continued from Page 10A “I always watched Ore- gon State’s women’s basket- ball team,” Mendazona said. “My dad takes me to some of their games. I looked up to those girls and they were inspiration for me to be more like them. They made me want to improve my game to be like theirs.” There was something about being out on the court that she became ad- dicted to, and she became d r i v e n t o i m p r ov e — whether that meant play- ing for a traveling club team during the summers or working in the gym and watching game film at home with her brother, Peter. Meagan wants to make sure each time she steps onto the court, she can play with anyone. “Watching Meagan play since she was in preschool, I knew she had some spe- cial qualities,” Central coach Julie McDonald said. “She has never been intimi- dated by playing with older girls or, even boys for that matter. She is a competitor and eager to learn. … She is a head above most girls her age and has a lot more room to grow as a player.” There was one thing bothering her — she lacked the chances to play the po- sitions she truly loved. “Before high school, I was always put at the post because I was taller than everyone else,” Mendazona said. “I never really liked it. I’m not necessarily more comfortable outside, but I always liked playing the point or the wing.” That changed once she arrived at Central, though Mendazona quickly discov- ered she couldn’t get by purely on her physical skills. “She couldn’t just rely on her speed and strength be- cause the girls she was playing with were two to three years older than her,” McDonald said. “She devel- oped a nice pull up jumper and learned how to be crafty with the ball down the lane.” On any given possession, she was a threat to take the outside shot, take it to the hoop or dish it to a team- mate. She also showed she could be a steady hand in late-game situations. Often, with games coming down to the wire, it was Me n d a z o n a Mc D o n a l d called upon to make some- thing happen. “She wants the ball in late-game situations,” Mc- Donald said earlier this season. “The girls trust her. I trust her. That’s a good trait for a player to have.” Mendazona should only improve going forward. Mendazona suffered a shoulder injury during vol- leyball season in the fall and required surgery to re- pair. She was able to return in time for basketball but with a big caveat. “My shooting form got kind of screwed up a little bit,” she said. Returning her form to where it was pre-injury will be a major focus during the offseason — and make her even more of a threat on the offensive end. “I want my shooting to improve,” Mendazona said. “I want to increase my range and get my form back to where it used to be.” Mendazona entered high school hoping to con- tribute to the Panthers as best she could. She left the season being one of the team’s unquestioned lead- ers, and McDonald expects her to only get better. “She is fun to watch play any sport,” McDonald said. “She has been gifted with talent, and she continues to push herself to be the best she can be.” Huerte: Switched Softball wins shootout over Yellowjackets from doubles WESTERN OREGON ROUNDUP Itemizer-Observer staff report BILLINGS, Mont. — For three of Western Oregon’s softball team’s four games against Montana State Billings, the Wolves’ of- fense struggled. WOU lost to the Yellowjackets 7-3 and 10-2 on Saturday and dropped the first game of a doubleheader on Sunday 5-3. The offense came alive in the series finale as Western Oregon won a high-scoring affair 19-18. The two teams combined for 35 hits and six home runs in the final game. Destiny Kuehl and Jenna Kelly each hit one for the Wolves. An RBI single from Kelly scored Ryanne Huffman for the game-winner in the top of the eighth inning. Kelly had four hits and four RBIs during the game. Western Oregon (9-10 overall, 1-3 GNAC) will play a doubleheader at Central Washington Saturday at 1 p.m. and at Saint Martin’s Sunday at noon. TRACK AND FIELD WINS 11 EVENTS: Western Oregon track and ﬁeld athletes took ﬁrst in 11 events at the Titan Classic in Eugene on Saturday. Brandon Bowen won the men’s shot put with a throw of 49 feet, 6¼ inches and the dis- cus with a mark of 131-9. Kee- gan Allen placed ﬁrst in the hammer with a throw of 153- 11. Connor Reinke ﬁnished ﬁrst in the high jump (6-0). Kathryn Pitts took ﬁrst in the women’s triple jump with a mark of 35-7¼ and Rachel Huﬀman won the shot put (42- 0½) and discus (135-1). In the track events, Codi Blodgett won the men’s 100- meter run in 11.13 seconds. Laura Patrick placed ﬁrst in the women’s 400 (1:01.52), Nicole Maurmann ﬁnished ﬁrst in the 3,000 (10:04.72) and Sara Madden won the 400 hurdles (1:07.35). Western Oregon will com- pete at the Willamette Invita- tional on Saturday. BASEBALL EARNS SPLIT WITH CENTRAL WASHING- TON: Western Oregon’s base- ball team dropped a pair of games to Central Washington on Sunday, losing 6-3 and 4-0. Western Oregon defeated Central Washington 1-0 and 5- 4 on Monday. Pitcher Craig Grubbe threw six strikeouts in the ﬁrst game on Monday and Jacob Martinez hit a sacriﬁce ﬂy to score the winning run in the bottom of the ninth. Western Oregon will play at Saint Martin’s for a pair of dou- bleheaders Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at noon. The Wolves host Lewis-Clark State on March 29 at 2 p.m. Continued from Page 10A “I’ve fallen in love with singles,” she said. “I love how it’s all on you. In doubles, it’s a 50-50 type of thing. I think it’d be hard going back to dou- bles.” O n T h u r s d a y, s h e proved how effective she can be, showing strong mobility on the court and a knack for placing shots exactly where they needed to be. It was a big contrast to those who saw her during her first practices her fresh- man year. “I tended to try and hit the ball way too high,” she said. “Now, I’m really com- fortable with my forehand.” Huerte played in the No. 2 singles spot on Thursday. The junior knows the Mid- Willamette Conference will offer stiff competition — especially from perennial powers Crescent Valley and Corvallis — but Huerte looks forward to seeing how she stacks up. “I’ve been waiting all year for tennis,” Huerte said. “I can’t wait for the season. This is just the be- ginning.” CENTRAL ROUNDUP Baseball opens season with 5-1 victory over Stayton Itemizer-Observer staff report STAYTON — Central’s baseball team earned a 5-1 victory over Stayton on Thursday. Pitchers Humberto Alar- con and Peter Mendazona combined to throw 17 strikeouts. Jackson Holstad and Luis Amador each had three hits to lead the Pan- thers at the plate. “Offensively, we struggled dearly but came to life in the sixth inning, scoring all five of our runs,” Central coach Reed Rainey said. Central played Corvallis Tuesday after press time. The Panthers play at Cor- vallis Wednesday (today) at 4:30 p.m. before hosting the Spartans Friday at 4:30 p.m. S O F T B A L L S H U TS O U T NORTH MARION: Central’s softball team opened the 2017 season with a 17-0 win over North Marion on Thursday. Sydney Nash went two for three with three RBIs to lead the Panthers. Peyton Shi- manek had two hits and four RBIs. The Panthers played Silver- ton Tuesday after press time. Central hosts South Albany Wednesday (today) at 4:30 p.m. and Crescent Valley Friday at 4:30 p.m. The Panthers will compete at the Battle at the Beach tour- nament at Newport on Mon- day and Tuesday. TENNIS FALLS TO DALLAS: Central’s boys tennis team lost to Dallas 7-1 on Thursday. Joel Robison defeated Hyrum John- son 7-5-6-4 to earn the Pan- thers’ lone victory. Central played Woodburn Tuesday after press time. The Panthers host South Albany Thursday at 4 p.m. TRACK AND FIELD OPENS SEASON: Central’s track and ﬁeld team hosted Crescent Val- ley on March 15. Team scores weren’t available. Sterling Hutchinson helped lead the boys with a ﬁrst-place ﬁnish in the 200-meter run in 24.12 seconds. Isaac Burgett took ﬁrst in the 400 in 53.92, Jaydon Aydelotte won the 110 hurdles in 17.63 and Josh Dick- son took ﬁrst in the 300 hur- dles in 42.58. In the ﬁeld events, Alec Barba won the high jump with a mark of 5 feet, 8 inches. James Rand took ﬁrst in the pole vault with a throw of 11-0, Peter Mason won the long jump with a leap of 19-9 and Xander Bailey took ﬁrst in the triple jump with a mark of 38-6. Launi Brent won the girls shot put with a throw of 29-1½. Lexy Anderson took ﬁrst in the DALLAS ROUNDUP Boys track and field defeats South Albany Itemizer-Observer staff report DALLAS — Dallas’ boys track and field team defeat- ed South Albany 66-33 on March 15. The girls team fell 53-37. Cody Webb won the boys 100- and 200-meter runs in 11.48 and 24.33 seconds, re- spectively, to help lead the Dragons. Webb also won the 110 hurdles in 16.37. Trevor Cross took first in the 1,500 (4:21.71) and 3,000 (9:17.86). Jacob Ronco took first in the javelin (148 feet, 8 inches), and Aaron White won the long jump (20-2½). Stefani Tallon helped lead the girls, placing first in the 100 (13.87) and 100 hurdles (17.11). Alyssa Garner won the 800 (2:41.41) and 3,000 (12:18.98). In the field events, Ellie Osborn took first in the shot put (28-10); Amber Beattie won the javelin (92-0); and Kayley Sayer took first in the long jump (14-11). Dallas will travel to Silver- ton on Thursday at 4:15 p.m. and at Canby on March 29. B OYS T E N N I S D E F E AT S CENTRAL: Dallas’ boys tennis team defeated Central 7-1 on Thursday. C a e d m o n B l a i r, J a c o b Gillette and Michael Davison earned victories in singles, while Josh Dudley and Zac Price, Ryan Bibler and Trenton Ensz, Travis Wilson and Michael Friesen, and Samuel Noack and Boe Bray swept the doubles matches. Dallas played Crescent Val- ley Tuesday after press time. The Dragons will host Wood- burn Wednesday (today) at 4 p.m., Corvallis Thursday at 4 p.m. and Sandy Friday at 4 p.m. before traveling to Silverton Tuesday at 4 p.m. Dallas’ girls tennis team de- feated Central 6-2 on Thursday afternoon. Addie Gillette and Molly Pef- ﬂey earned singles victories for the Dragons. The doubles pairs of Amanda Schafer and Megan Ronco, Lynn Gumpinger and Julia Del Olmo, Kloe Totten and Emma Cromwell, and Morgan Bateman and Payton Fast won in doubles play. Dallas played Crescent Val- ley Tuesday after press time. The Dragons will play at Wood- burn Wednesday (today) at 4 p.m. and at Corvallis Thursday at 4 p.m. before hosting Silver- ton Tuesday at 4 p.m. BASEBALL DROPS T WO: Dallas’ baseball team fell to South Eugene 10-9 in its sea- son-opener on Thursday after- noon. The Dragons also lost to Gladstone 9-6 on Friday. Stats weren’t available as of press time. The Dragons will host Wood- burn Wednesday (today) at 4:30 p.m. before playing at Woodburn on Friday. Dallas will take part in the Newport Spring Break Tournament on Monday and Tuesday. S O F T B A L L FA L L S TO PHILOMATH: Dallas’ softball team lost its season-opener to Philomath 5-4 on Thursday. Stats weren’t available as of press time. GIRLS GOLF PLACES FOURTH: Dallas’ girls golf team placed fourth at the ﬁrst Mid- Willamette Conference golf tournament at Mallard Creek. Kailee Curtis ﬁnished in a tie for second with a 45. The boys team ﬁnished sixth at Trysting Tree in Corvallis. David Jones shot the team’s low round with a 99. Both golf teams are oﬀ until April 3. javelin (85-9) and Sophia Henke won the long jump (15-8¼). Central will compete at Woodburn Wednesday (today) at 3:45 p.m. GOLF TEAMS PLACE SEV- ENTH: Central’s girls golf team ﬁnished seventh at a Mid- Willamette Conference golf tournament at Mallard Creek on Monday. Abby Lovrien shot a 74 to lead the Panthers. The boys took seventh at Trysting Tree in Corvallis. An- drew Love shot a team-low 89 to lead the Panthers. Pirates fall to Kennedy Itemizer-Observer staff report MT. ANGEL — Perry- dale’s baseball team lost its season-opener to Kennedy 5-3 on Monday afternoon. Dustin Silver had two hits to lead the Pirates. Colten Moore drove in two runs. Pitcher Noah Amador threw three shutout innings. The Pirates will host Wa l d p o r t We d n e s d a y (today) at 4:30 p.m. before playing at Amity on Friday at 4:30 p.m.