Polk County Sports
12A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • April 12, 2017
Peffley: Senior one of Dallas’ top singles players
Continued from Page 11A
Peffley was a track and
field athlete in middle
school, but the sport
caused her more stress
than enjoyment.
“It gave me a lot of anxi-
ety, and I wasn’t very good
at it,” she said. “… There
were a lot of nerves and a
lot of pressure. I wasn’t
having fun with it.”
She decided to turn to
tennis.
The main obstacle? She
had never even picked up a
racket.
With a large number of
girls participating and only
a few coaches to help both
junior varsity and varsity,
there were few chances for
coaches to give the girls a
lot of individualized focus
on JV.
Peffley was left to pick
up a large portion of the
sport on her own — learn-
ing everything from a fore-
hand swinging motion to
working on her toss for a
serve.
Practice time with her
teammates became the
only chances she had to
learn proper technique and
rules — not an easy task for
a beginner.
“Someone would hit me
a ball, and I would try and
hit it back,” she said. “I’d
look at where it landed and
think, what can I do to fix
it? A lot of my technique
was self-taught.”
The results were mixed,
at best.
“It was hard learning
how to control the ball so it
didn’t lob over every time,”
Peffley said.
That changed when
coach Julie Hertel first
joined the Dragons coach-
ing staff.
“She’s helped me with
my form,” Peffley said. “I’ve
PREP TRACK AND FIELD
Hendrickson takes first
Itemizer-Observer staff report
AMITY — Falls City jun-
ior Madelyn Hendrickson
won the girls 200-meter run
in Amity on Thursday with a
time of 29.53 seconds. Brit-
tney Potts took second in
the 400 in 1:10.92; Gonzales
placed second in the 3,000
(15:57.44), and Hendrickson
added a pair of second-
place finishes in the 100
hurdles (18.90) and long
jump (14 feet, 2 inches).
The girls team placed
second in the team stand-
ings.
The boys were led by
D y l a n
Yo u n g ,
who took
second in
the 110
hurdles in
19.39.
Z a c h
Va r n e y
Hendrickson placed sec-
ond in the discus with a
throw of 101-1 and Jeremy
Labrado finished second in
the high jump with a mark
of 5-8.
The boys finished fourth
in the team standings.
Falls City will compete at
the North Marion JV Invite
Thursday at 4 p.m.
Perrydale also competed
at Amity. Amity Deters took
second in the girls 300 hur-
dles (51.70) and Abigail
Bibler took second in the
shot put (29-1).
Jacob Pope led the boys
with a fourth-place finish
in the javelin with a throw
of 136-3.
Perrydale’s boys and girls
teams took seventh.
Perrydale will compete at
the Rob Frank Invitational
in Banks Saturday at 10
a.m.
made huge progress since
(coach Hertel has) been
here.”
Every part of Peffley’s
game, from her serve to her
backhand, began to im-
prove rapidly, and her shot
placement went from a lia-
bility to a strength.
“I never realized how
much strategy there is,”
Peffley said. “I always kind
of played where all I want-
ed to do was hit it over the
net. Hertel came in and
showed me strategies like
when to approach the net. I
would have never learned
those things without her.
Now, I can slow things
down, see where my oppo-
nent’s weaknesses are and
try and take advantage of
them.”
To see Peffley play this
spring would be to see an
experienced player moving
quickly around the court
— without a hint that the
sport was entirely new to
her just a few years ago.
“Tennis has taught me
how to be independent
while still being on a
team,” she said. “I don’t
think I’d be as mentally
strong if I never played ten-
nis. You have to be able to
catch yourself when you’re
starting to get frustrated
and be able to turn yourself
around.”
Peffley isn’t setting any
expectations for her final
season as a Dragon. In-
stead, she’s focused on one
thing – making tennis fun
for herself and her team-
mates.
“I want to have a lot of
fun and enjoy my last sea-
son,” she said. “I want to do
the best I can do. I’m not
too picky where I’m seeded
as long as I do the best I
can in the place that I’m
put.”
Pirates: Perrydale
faces critical stretch
Continued from Page 11A
The Pirates enter a criti-
cal part of the season.
“I think the rest of league
it will come down to who-
ever plays well that week,”
Mabry said. “That puts us
in a decent spot, because
we have three good pitch-
ers who we can depend on
to give us solid innings of
work.”
For the Pirates, earning
one of the league’s three
spots to the state playoffs
will come down to timely
hitting and reducing errors.
“We have to have more
confidence when we’re hit-
ting and have less mental
errors out in the field,”
Moore said.
Success at the plate has
to come from more than
the experienced players,
Mabry said.
“With the older guys, we
talk about having a plan at
the plate,” Mabry said. “If
you see something you can
drive, you are free to swing
at it. The younger guys will
get up there and start to
overthink and maybe get a
little overwhelmed with the
moment.”
There is hope and excite-
ment in Perrydale’s dugout.
Turning that into a trip to
the postseason is possible ,
but won’t be without chal-
lenges.
“Ask me in two weeks,
and I’ll tell you how we’re
looking,” Mabry said.
WESTERN OREGON ROUNDUP
Whitaker, Holmberg leads track and field at home meet
Itemizer-Observer staff report
MONMOUTH — Western
Oregon’s men’s track and
field team placed second at
the John Knight Twilight
meet on Friday. The women
placed fourth.
Aaron Whitaker took first
in the men’s 400-meter run
with a time of 49.41 seconds;
AJ Holmberg took first in the
800 in 1:54.52, just ahead of
teammate Dustin Nading,
who took second in 1:54.60.
On the women’s side,
Olivia Woods took first in the
400 in 57.06, ahead of team-
mates Megan Rose, who
took second in 58.16, and
Suzanne Van De Grift, who
finished third in 58.32.
Nicole Maurmann won
the 1,500 in 4:43.79.
Other top finishes includ-
ed a second-place showing
from Codi Blodgett in the
men’s 100 hurdles (11.27)
and a third-place result from
Alan Ekanger in the men’s
3,000 steeplechase in
9:51.03.
Western Oregon will com-
pete at the Mt. Sac Relays
Wednesday (today) and
Thursday in Azusa, Calif.,
before sending athletes to
the Beach Invitational in
Long Beach, Calif., on Friday
and Saturday, and the Bryan
Clay Invitational in Azusa on
Friday.
SOFTBALL SPLITS NORTH-
WEST NAZARENE: Western
Oregon’s softball team split a
pair of doubleheaders with
Northwest Nazarene. WOU
won 5-1 and 2-1 on Friday be-
fore losing 6-4 and 6-3 on Sat-
urday. The games were moved
to Nampa, Idaho, due to
weather.
Pitcher Haley Fabian threw a
complete game in the first
game on Friday.
The Wolves took the lead in
the first inning when Ryanne
Huffman stole second and
Kelsie Gardner stole home
from third base.
The Wolves broke a 1-1 tie in
the second game in the eighth
inning off an RBI single from
Zoe Clark.
A doubleheader against
Saint Martin’s was canceled
due to weather.
Western Oregon plays at
Concordia for a doubleheader
Friday at 2 p.m. and hosts Con-
cordia for a doubleheader Sat-
urday at noon. The Wolves also
host Simon Fraser for a double-
header Monday at 2 p.m.
BASEBALL DEFEATS CON-
CORDIA: Western Oregon’s
baseball team defeated Con-
cordia 6-2 on April 5. Brock
Pradere, Connor McCord, Jacob
Martinez and Nyles Nygaard
each had two hits to lead the
Wolves.
Pitcher Elias Bedolla earned
the win after throwing five in-
nings with two strikeouts.
W O U ’s d o u b l e h e a d e r s
against Saint Martin’s on Satur-
day and Sunday were post-
poned due to weather.
Western Oregon defeated
Saint Martin’s 4-3 and 3-2 on
Monday.
The Wolves played Saint
Martin’s in Newberg on Mon-
day. WOU hits the road to play
at Montana State Billings for a
pair of doubleheaders on Fri-
day and Saturday before play-
ing at Saint Martin’s on Tues-
day
DALLAS ROUNDUP
Dallas: Dragons
Curtis paces girls golf team in Corvallis
rally for victories
Continued from Page 11A
If there was an area of
concern against the Pan-
thers it was this: The Drag-
ons left runners on base and
in scoring position multiple
t i m e s. L e t t i n g s c o r i n g
chances go by is a luxury
Jackson knows the team
won’t have going forward.
“We talked about how we
left way too many runners
on base,” Jackson said. “We
have to make sure we are
making adjustments at bat
to at bat. We have to put the
ball in play. We had too
many balls go by with us
looking and let too many
scoring opportunities go
by.”
Overall, starting 4-0 in
league play is a solid start
and shows opponents that
the Dragons are ready to
contend for a league title.
“We just have to come
out and play hard and play
our game, not who is across
the dugout,” Jackson said.
“This conference is a tough
one, but if we play like we
know we can, I think we’ll
be alright.”
Itemizer-Observer staff report
CORVALLIS — Dallas’
girls golf team finished sixth
at Trysting Tree in Corvallis
on Monday.
Kailee Curtis shot a 94
over 18 holes to lead the
Dragons. Natalie Crabtree
recorded a 101; Missie Davis
added a 151; and Emma
May Johnson had a 156.
The girls will host a home
tournament at Cross Creek
Monday at 11 a.m.
The boys finished in a tie
for sixth at Spring Hill in Al-
bany. Xavier White shot a 99
to lead Dallas. Adam Nichol-
son recorded a 103; Ben
Courtney added a 104 ;and
David Jones scored a 108.
Dallas will compete at Tuk-
wila in Woodburn Monday
at 10 a.m.
BASEBALL DROPS T WO
OF THREE: Dallas’ baseball
team lost two of three games
to Lebanon. The Dragons de-
feated the Warriors 11-4 on
April 4 before falling 4-1 on
April 5 and 11-5 on Friday.
During Dallas’ victory, the
Dragons scored five runs in
the third inning to grab the
lead for good.
The Dragons (4-2 Mid-
Willamette Conference) played
Central Tuesday after press
time. Dallas travels to Central
Wednesday (today) at 4:30
p.m.
BOYS TENNIS DEFEATS
SOUTH ALBANY: Dallas’ boys
tennis team defeated South
Albany in a tiebreaker on
Thursday.
The two teams were tied 4-
4, but the Dragons earned the
win due to sets won. Individ-
ual match results were not
available. Dallas lost to Cres-
cent Valley 8-0 on Monday.
The Dragons played
Lebanon Tuesday after press
time. Dallas plays at Wood-
burn Thursday at 4 p.m. before
hosting Central Tuesday at 4
p.m.
TRACK AND FIELD COM-
PETES AT CRESCENT VAL-
LEY: Dallas’ track and field
teams competed at Crescent
Valley on April 5. Team scores
weren’t available.
Stefani Tallon won the girls
100-meter hurdles in 16.43
seconds, just ahead of team-
mate Jenifer Webb, who fin-
ished in 16.45.
Ellie Osborn took second in
the discus with a throw of 87
feet, 1 inch.
Jacob Ronco led the boys
with a first-place finish in the
javelin with a mark of 140-8.
Dallas will compete at the
Viking Relays at North Salem
High School Friday at 4 p.m.
CENTRAL ROUNDUP
Baseball earns a pair of victories over Silverton
Itemizer-Observer staff report
INDEPENDENCE — Cen-
tral’s baseball team defeat-
ed Silverton 5-2 on April 4
and 4-3 on April 5 before
falling to Corvallis 4-2 on
Monday.
The Panthers played Dal-
las Tuesday after press time.
Central hosts Dallas
Wednesday (today) at 4:30
p.m. before hosting Cres-
cent Valley Tuesday at 4:30
p.m.
SOFTBALL DROPS T WO:
Central’s softball team lost to
Lebanon 12-6 on April 4 and
Dallas 2-1 on April 5.
Central held a 1-0 lead over
the Dragons headed into the
seventh inning, but Dallas
scored a pair of runs to earn
the win. Central hosts Silver-
ton Wednesday (today) at 4:30
p.m. before playing at South
Albany on Thursday and Fri-
day.
GIRLS TENNIS FALLS TO
CORVALLIS, CV: Central’s girls
tennis team lost to Crescent
Valley 8-0 on April 4 and Cor-
vallis 8-0 on Thursday.
The boys team lost to Cres-
cent Valley 8-0 and Corvallis 7-
1.
Jorge Hernandez-Soto
earned the Panthers’ lone vic-
tory.
Central’s girls will play at
Lebanon on Thursday before
hosting Dallas Tuesday at 4
p.m.
The boys host Lebanon
Thursday at 4 p.m. before play-
ing at Dallas on Tuesday.
BOYS GOLF FINISHES
SIXTH: Central’s boys golf team
tied for sixth at Spring Hill in
Albany on Monday.
Andrew Love scored a team-
low 93. Girls results were not
available as of press time.
The boys will compete at
Tukwila Monday at 10 a.m.
B OYS T R AC K F I N I S H E S
THIRD AT SANDY: Central’s
boys track and field team took
third at the Sandy Invitational
on Saturday.
Sterling Hutchinson won the
200-meter run in 23.29 sec-
onds. Isaac Burgett took first in
the 400 in 51.44.
Josh Dickson won the 300
hurdles in 42.83 and the 4 x
400 relay team of Hutchinson,
Zach Meyer, Jose Herrera and
Burgett and the 4 x 800 relay
team of Aaron Padilla, Matt
Raines, Jonathan Brown and
Meyer also took first.
Bethanie Altamirano led the
girls with a first-place finish in
the 400 in 1:00.58.
Central will compete at the
Viking Relays Friday at 4 p.m. at
North Salem High School.
Rec: Co-ed volleyball league begins on Tuesday
Continued from Page 11A
“People told us they want
this to continue,” Bready
said. “We thought, we have
enough experience and
know-how and desire to
keep adult rec going on in
the city.”
It’s been a whirlwind
since then, but DORI is
ready to make its debut with
co-ed volleyball this month.
The group will hold an
open gym Thursday from 6
to 8 p.m. at LaCreole Middle
School.
“This will let people come
in and hit the ball and talk to
and meet us,” Bready said.
“We’re looking for people to
come out and get a glimpse
that adult rec isn’t going
anywhere.”
Registration for co-ed vol-
leyball is open with matches
beginning on Tuesday. Cost
is $25 per person or $200 for
a team.
Leagues are only open to
those 18 and older because
of insurance reasons.
“The cost was one of the
surprising parts,” Bready
said. “We know how much it
would cost to rent a gym,
but the cost of liability insur-
ance and filing the right
documentation was hard.
Until we’re running well and
collecting fees, all the costs
will be coming out of our
own pockets. … We’d need a
different form of insurance
to cover everyone, but we do
hope to broaden our reach
to encompass everybody.”
For those involved, the
out-of-pocket cost is an ex-
pense that is well worth it.
“The end goal is for all of
the profits, after we pay ex-
penses, to be put back into
the community,” Bready
said. “That will mean sup-
porting all the club and
youth sports. We’ve all had
kids go through programs,
and we believe sports is a
great way to grow our young
people in our town.”
After volleyball finishes, a
co-ed softball league will fol-
low this summer.
Bready said volleyball and
softball are just the begin-
ning. The group has plans to
get involved with the Glow
Run, basketball and other
projects.
“We want Dallas to be a
place that everyone wants to
live,” Bready said.