Polk County Sports
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • April 26, 2017 11A
WESTERN OREGON ROUNDUP
WOU to host NCAA Division II West Regional in 2019
Itemizer-Observer staff report
MONMOUTH — Western
Oregon will host the NCAA
Division II West Regional in
cross-country in 2019 and
2021.
The races will be held at
the Ash Creek Preserve.
“We are thrilled to be
awarded the 2019 and 2021
West Regional Cross-Coun-
try Championships,” WOU
Director of Compliance
Randi Lydum said. “We have
an amazing course and look
forward to bringing the best
runners in the west region to
Monmouth for these
events.”
WOU also hosted the
2015 west regional.
The NCAA received more
than 3,000 bid submissions
vying to host predetermined
rounds for 84 of the NCAA’s
90 championships. A total of
613 sites were awarded for
this cycle.
“Over the past several
years, Ash Creek Preserve
has brought thousands of
cross-country athletes and
their supporters, who would
have otherwise not had the
opportunity to visit our
beautiful campus,” Western
Oregon cross-country coach
Mike Johnson said. “The
participants range from
middle school to profession-
al athletes. The unique char-
acteristics of our course
allow us to host races that
meet the needs of all levels
of the cross-country popula-
tion.”
S O F T BA L L S P L I TS S I X
GAMES: Western Oregon’s
softball team split six games
over the weekend.
The Wolves lost to Western
Washington 13-1 before win-
ning 6-1 on Friday, and lost 6-5
and won 1-0 on Saturday. WOU
lost to Simon Fraser 4-0 before
defeating the Clan 8-7 on Sun-
day.
Pitcher Haley Fabian threw a
complete game in the second
game on Friday, throwing six
strikeouts over seven innings
while allow-
ing only
three hits.
T h e
Wolves saw
three play-
ers hit home
runs during
its vic tor y
over Simon
Fabian
F r a s e r.
Cheyanne Rimer, Jenna Kelly
and Mercedes Green each hit
one as WOU built up an 8-0
lead before holding on for the
one-run victory.
Western Oregon entered the
week with a 24-19 record over-
all and an 11-11 mark in Great
Northwest Athletic Conference
play, good for fifth place. The
Wolves close out the regular
season at S aint M ar tin’s
Wednesday (today) before
hosting Saint Martin’s for a
doubleheader Saturday at 11
a.m. and Central Washington
Sunday at noon. The top four
teams in the conference ad-
vance to the softball champi-
onships.
BASEBALL WINS T WO
AGAINST CONCORDIA: West-
ern Oregon’s baseball team
earned a split against Concor-
dia. The Wolves lost to Concor-
dia 9-2 and 5-3 on Friday be-
fore winning 5-1 and 6-0 on
Saturday.
WOU’s pitchers combined to
throw 10 strikeouts during the
first game on Saturday and
pitcher Trey
S m i t h
earned a
complete
game victo-
ry in the sec-
ond contest.
Nyles Ny-
g a a r d
recorded
Smith
three hits, in-
cluding a triple, and drove in
two runs.
The Wolves entered the
week in first place in the GNAC.
WOU played Saint Martin’s
Tuesday after press time. The
Wolves play at Central Wash-
ington for a pair of double-
headers Friday and Saturday at
noon.
Track: Girls squad takes
Lux takes first at Sheridan second at Sheridan
PERRYDALE ROUNDUP
Itemizer-Observer staff report
SHERIDAN — Perrydale’s
girls track and field team
placed fifth at Sheridan on
Thursday. The boys finished
seventh.
Alyssa Lux won the girls
high jump with a mark of 4
feet, 6½ inches. She also fin-
ished fourth in the triple
jump with a leap of 29-11.
Amity Deters took second
in the 300-meter hurdles
with a time of 53.85 seconds,
and Jessica Cruickshank
took third in the 200 (29.05).
Jacob Pope took fifth in
the boys javelin with a throw
of 132-11. Joshua Crawford
finished seventh in the long
jump (15-10¾) and the triple
jump (33-6).
Perrydale will compete at
the Portland Christian Invi-
tational Saturday at 11 a.m.
BASEBALL FALLS TO ST.
PAUL: Perrydale’s baseball
team lost a shoot out to St.
Paul, falling 14-13 on Saturday.
The Pirates fell to 1-4 overall
and 1-3 in Special District 2
play.
Perrydale played Regis Tues-
day after press time. The Pirates
host Santiam Christian Thurs-
day at 4:30 p.m.; Kennedy Fri-
day at 4:30 p.m.; and Western
Mennonite Saturday at 1 p.m.
Perrydale plays at Country
Christian Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
Continued from Page 10A
“It’s very difficult to bal-
ance, as kids have driver’s
ed, roller coaster physics,
work, etc.,” Simmons said.
“We should be further
progressed in our events if
it weren’t for all the other
things going on, but I am
not trying to take away
from those other things by
any means.”
Despite the schedule
challenges, Simmons ex-
pects the Mountaineers to
send a large contingent to
state.
Prior to the season Sim-
mons made a bet that if
Falls City sent four or more
kids to Eugene, they would
get to shave his head.
Labrado said they’re con-
fident that bet is a lock.
Simmons also likes their
chances.
“Any of the kids have a
great chance (to make it to
state),” Simmons said. “I
have been telling them I
don’t want your best now. I
want your best at districts
and state.”
Dallas: Dragons enter week on seven-game win streak
Continued from Page 10A
On defense, pitcher Kae-
lynn Simmons threw eight
strikeouts while giving up
one hit over five innings.
“ We’re being consis-
tent,” Jackson said. “We’re
working hard day in and
day out and focusing on
the little things and the
mental side of the game.
At this level, they all have
the physical ability. The
mental side is the difficult
part to understand at this
age, so we try and put
them in different situa-
tions in practice so when
it’s in a game, the pressure
is off a little bit.”
Dallas also defeated Sil-
verton 9-2 on April 19.
The Dragons improved
to 8-0 in Mid-Willamette
Conference play and have
outscored league oppo-
nents by an 84-17 margin.
They have a three-game
lead over Silverton for first
place.
“I think we’ve seen that
we are always going to be
able to compete with any
team out there,” Wallace
said. “There’s no team that
can beat us when we’re play-
ing our game. We under-
stand that we have a target
on our backs.”
Polanco: Senior uses
tennis to honor family
Continued from Page 10A
As Polanco got settled, it
was clear he found a place
he could call home.
“I’m still in the foster care
system, I just decided that
I’d like to stay with this
family because I really like
them and the community,”
he said. “I really didn’t want
to move again and leave a
perfect family.”
Both of his parents are
Central High graduates,
and when Polanco entered
high school, they wanted
him to find an athletic out-
let.
“(Chris) was new here
and his mother, my daugh-
ter, said he needed to be in
a sport his freshman year,”
Youngren said. “I was asked
to coach tennis that year so
(tennis) was an easy pick.”
Since that moment,
Yo u n g r e n h a s h e l p e d
Polanco grow by leaps and
bounds on the tennis court.
“The hardest thing to
learn is serving,” Polanco
said. “It’s very hard to get a
precise serve every single
time. With her help, I’ve
gotten to the point where I
feel com-
petent at
that.”
Polanco
has also
developed
good an-
ticipation
and has
Polanco
become
more aggressive in ending
points.
“Chris reads the ball well
and he is quick to get to the
shot and get it back,” Youn-
gren said. “He is becoming
more consistent, and he is
learning to place the ball
more offensively.”
One of Polanco’s biggest
strengths may be his ability
to not get rattled. No matter
what is happening on the
court, he can adapt. That is,
in part, due to adapting on
the fly in the foster care sys-
tem.
“It has helped me deal
with adversity better,”
Polanco said.
The senior also has
watched matches on
Youtube to study players
like Raphael Nadal.
A s Po l a n c o h a s i m -
proved, he’s become a regu-
lar part of the Panthers’ var-
sity lineup — but he knows
earning a trip to state will
be difficult given the talent
on other teams.
“I see myself sort of in
the middle right now, but
having something to
prove,” he said. “There are a
lot of points in every match
that can go either way.”
This season has also
been special because of
p l a y i n g f o r Yo u n g re n .
Though her time is split
among all the athletes,
Polanco likely never would
have picked up a tennis
racket if Youngren didn’t
suggest it.
That’s something he’ll be
forever grateful for.
Polanco has high hopes
for his senior season — but
it’s not personal glory that
he is chasing, instead it’s a
way to show gratitude for
Youngren and all she has
done for him.
“I started playing tennis
because of her,” Polanco
said. “I’ve enjoyed it and
ever since, I’ve played for
her.”
But players are ready to
handle the challenge, Jack-
son said.
“We don’t really focus on
the other team,” she said.
“We focus on us. We’ve been
pretty successful doing that
so far. We just show up and
work.”
Dallas, which played a
nonleague game against
Woodburn Tuesday after
press time, enters a chal-
lenging part of its schedule.
The Dragons play at
South Albany on Wednesday
(today) before hosting
Lebanon Thursday at 5 p.m.
and Friday at 4 p.m., and
Corvallis Saturday at noon.
Dallas also plays Crescent
Valley Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
and at Corvallis on May 3.
“We might be tired, but
we have to be able to
bounce back with the same
amount of energy each
time,” Wallace said.
Players know their hot
start means other teams will
be gunning to knock them
off.
“We know teams are
scared to play us because
we’re 8-0,” Nelson said. “We
know we have to pounce on
that. We have to play our
game and bring that focus
every time.”
DALLAS ROUNDUP
Boys track and field takes first
Itemizer-Observer staff report
FLORENCE — Dallas’
boys track and field team
took first at the Central
Coast Invitational on Fri-
day. The girls finished sec-
ond.
Cody Webb won the boys
100-meter run in 11.30 sec-
onds and the 110 hurdles
(15.66). Jacob Deming took
first in the 200 (23.07) and
the triple jump (43 feet, 6
1/2 inches); Trevor Cross
placed first in the 1,500
(4:11.99); Jack Anderson
won the high jump (5-6);
and Jacob Collins took first
in the long jump (19-9) and
tied for first in the pole
vault (14-0).
Hailey Van Well won the
girls high jump (4-6) and
triple jump (33-11 1/2).
Dallas will compete at
Central Wednesday (today)
at 3:45 p.m. and at the Rob
Allen Twilight Invitational
Friday at 4:30 p.m.
BASEBALL SWEEPS
SOUTH ALBANY: Dallas’ base-
ball team won three games
against South Albany last
week. The Dragons won 8-7
on April 18 and 4-1 and 7-4 on
Friday.
Dallas also defeated Central
1-0 in a make up game on Sat-
urday afternoon.
The wins improved the
Dragons’ record to 12-5 overall
and 9-3 in Mid-Willamette
Conference play, good for
third place.
Dallas played Silverton
Tuesday after press time. The
Dragons host Silver ton
Wednesday (today) at 4:30
p.m. before playing at Silver-
ton on Friday. Dallas will host
Crescent Valley Tuesday at
4:30 p.m.
CURTIS PLACES FOURTH:
Dallas senior Kailee Curtis fin-
ished fourth overall to lead
Dallas’ girls golf team at Tuk-
wila on Monday. The Dragons
finished fourth in the team
standings. Dallas will compete
at the Astoria Invitational
Thursday at noon and the
Emerald Valley Invite Monday
at 10 a.m.
BOYS GOLF TAKES SIXTH:
Dallas’ boys golf team placed
fifth at Mallard Creek on Mon-
day. The Dragons finished the
regular season tied for sixth
with Central in the team
standings and will not ad-
vance to regionals. David
Jones shot a team-low 92 over
18 holes.
GIRLS TENNIS DEFEATS
CENTRAL, LEBANON: Dallas’
girls tennis team defeated
Central 6-2 on April 18 and
Lebanon 7-1 on Friday.
Addie Gillette and Molly
Peffley earned singles victo-
ries. Lynn Gumpinger and
Julia Del Olmo, Megan Ronco
and Amanda Schafer, Kloe Tot-
ten and Makayli Laizure, and
Morgan Bateman and Peyton
Fast won doubles matches
against Central.
Gillette, Kinzi Boer and Car-
lotta Sulzbach won singles
matches against Lebanon.
Gumpinger and Del Olmo,
Ronco and Totten, Bateman
and Fast, and Maddie Kennedy
and Rebekah Rocak won dou-
bles matches.
Dallas played Corvallis Tues-
day after press time. The Drag-
ons play at Silverton Wednes-
day (today) at 4 p.m. before
hosting South Albany Tuesday
at 4 p.m.
Dallas’ boys tennis team de-
feated Central 6-2 on April 18.
Caedmon Blair and Michael
Davison won singles matches.
Josh Dudley and Zac Price,
Ryan Bibler and Michael
Friesen, Trenton Ensz and
Caleb Jones, and EK Koons
and Boe Bray won in doubles.
Crescent Valley defeated
Dallas 8-0 on Thursday.
The Dragons host Silverton
Wednesday (today) at 4 p.m. in
the team’s final home match
of the season. The Dragons
play at South Albany Tuesday
at 4 p.m.
CENTRAL ROUNDUP
Softball wins three of four league games
Itemizer-Observer staff report
INDEPENDENCE — Cen-
tral’s softball team defeated
Crescent Valley 22-1 on April
18 and Silverton 6-4 on
Thursday before falling to
Dallas 13-0 on Friday. The
Panthers also beat Lebanon
8-7 on Monday.
Stats were not available as
of press time.
Central played Corvallis
Tuesday after press time.
The Panthers host Silverton
Friday at 4 p.m. and South
Albany Tuesday at 4 p.m.
BASEBALL DROPS FOUR:
Central’s baseball team lost to
Crescent Valley 6-0 on April 18
and 6-1 and 8-2 on Friday. The
Panthers also lost to Dallas 1-0
on Saturday. Central played
Woodburn Tuesday after press
time. The Panthers play at
Woodburn Wednesday (today)
and Friday at 3:30 p.m. Central
hosts South Albany Tuesday at
4:30 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS DEFEATS
WOODBURN: Central’s girls
tennis team defeated Wood-
burn 8-0 and 6-2 on Thursday.
Diana Huerta, Julia Hamar, Ana
Martinez and Kylie Smith swept
the singles matches.
Lauran Martinez and Olivia
Teague, Lexy Barba and Reann
Kelley, Annika Riddell and Kate-
lyn Trevino, and Mattie Barry
and Dalila Negrete won dou-
bles matches in the first match.
Central lost to Dallas 6-2 on
April 18. Central played South
Albany Tuesday after press
time. The Panthers play at Cres-
cent Valley on Thursday and at
Corvallis on Tuesday.
BOYS GOLF FINISHES
FOURTH: Central’s boys golf
team placed fourth at Mallard
Creek on Monday. Andrew
Love shot a team-low 87 over
18 holes. The Panthers finished
the season tied for sixth. Love
advanced and will compete at
regionals May 3-4 at Quail Val-
ley in Banks.
The girls golf team placed
sixth at Tukwila. Abby Lovrien
shot a team-low 155 over 18
holes.
LUKAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer
Central outfielder Jori Kerr dives to catch a fly ball against Dallas on Friday.