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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (March 8, 2017)
A10 Sports Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, March 8, 2017 Five junior high Pros advance to state wrestling tournament BASEBALL Continued from Page A9 Williams said the team’s varsity and junior varsity spots and positions will be lined out this week. As part of the 2A/1A Spe- cial District 6, Grant Union will face league opponents: Culver, Dufur/South Was- co County, Elgin, Heppner/ Ione, Pilot Rock/Nixyaawii, Sherman/Arlington/Condon, Union/Cove, Weston-McE- wen and Wheeler. Williams said they don’t know a lot about the teams they’ll face, but he antici- pates Dufur, Pilot Rock and Sherman will be tough. There are 16 league games scheduled with dou- bleheaders on Tuesdays and Saturdays. A new OSAA rule this year restricts pitchers to a 110 pitch count with four days of rest. “It should hopefully protect the kids, but it’s definitely going to be a chal- lenge,” he said, adding, “We have 14 kids working in the bull pen, working on their pitching skills on rotation every other day.” Zack Deiter and Wade Reimers were among the starting pitchers last year. Reimers, who is recover- ing from a shoulder injury, said he’ll miss playing de- fense. He’s returning as a des- ignated hitter, and can still play middle infielder, taking grounders. “I’m looking forward to the season,” he said, adding the team is excited about the coaching staff. “They seem really good in their knowledge of base- ball,” he said. “I hope for a great season.” Williams said he’s look- ing to his two seniors, Billy Copenhaver and Brogan McKrola, for leadership. “I look for them to lead by example and teach the younger kids how to hustle and how to act on the field and in the classroom,” he said. “I’m excited to get back into playing baseball with these guys,” Copenhaver said. “I missed most of last season due to injury, and I’m ready to go and super excited.” McKrola said he likes the group they have out for this year’s team. “I’m really looking for- ward to the season,” he said. “With this new coaching staff, it’s going really good. I can’t wait to see what hap- pens.” Williams said the team is young, but “everything is going good so far.” “We’re working on all aspects of the game, includ- ing fielding, hitting and ba- sic knowledge of the game,” he said. “We’d like to win league and go to district and win state, but, one step at a time,” he said. “You’ve got to win the first game and get better every game.” Justin Hodge is a champion, wrestling at 125 Blue Mountain Eagle Contributed photo The Prairie City Junior High Lady Panthers basketball team placed second at the Huntington tournament Feb. 24-25. The boys team also placed second. Grant Union sent 17 wres- tlers to the middle school district tournament March 4 at Boardman’s Riverside High School, where five of the grapplers placed in the top three in their weight class. These qualifiers advance to the Saturday, March 11, Oregon Middle School Wrestling Championships in Woodburn with action start- ing at 9 a.m. The team is coached by Jake Batease and assistant Kyle Erickson. The advancing five in- clude: Justin Hodge (125), grade 7, champion Tanner Way (195), grade 8, second place Kevin Duvall (275), grade 8, second place Bladen Burril (275), grade 8, third place Ethan Moore (85), grade 8, third place Prairie City junior high hoops teams place second Blue Mountain Eagle The Prairie City Junior High boys and girls basketball teams each placed second at the Huntington tournament Feb. 24-25. Eight teams competed, and the North Pow- der boys and girls both placed first. Prairie City girls Katie Hire and Abby Pfefferkorn and boys Jojari Field and Declan Zweygardt were named all stars. END Contributed photo/Cindy Dougharity-Spencer Led by coach Jake Batease, back, five Grant Union junior high wrestlers are advancing to the Saturday, March 11, state championships, including, from left, Tanner Way, Bladen Burril, Justin Hodge, Kevin Duvall and Ethan Moore. There were 17 Prospector wrestlers competing at the March 4 event. Continued from Page A9 was “another game where we could just not get going offen- sively. We were able to make a small run in the third quarter but not enough to sustain the comeback.” Grant Union finished the regular season ranked 10th with a 15-8 season record. East Linn was ranked seventh with a 17-11 record. In the game, Grant Union’s Mariah Moulton led the Pros- pectors in points, gaining five in the first half and nine in the second. Madi McKrola scored four in the first half and four in the second. McKrola grabbed six of- fensive rebounds and four de- fensive rebounds in the game, and Prospector Kaylee Wright had two offensive rebounds and five defensive rebounds. Hailie Wright and McKro- la each had two steals in the match. Moda Health Players of the Game were Grant Union’s Mariah Moulton and East Linn’s Sydney Nicol. Moulton said, win or lose, competing at state was a great experience. “Having the same team come back next year is a plus,” she said. “We’re ready to win it next year. We’re hun- gry for a win.” McKrola said she’s proud of their team. “We had a really young team and stepped into some big roles,” she said. “We got a lot farther than people expect- ed and that was fun.” Coach Mosley said the team’s goal from the begin- ning of the season was to be league champions, district Lady Prospector receives All-State Tournament honor Blue Mountain Eagle Grant Union Lady Prospector Mariah Moul- ton, a junior, was selected for the 2A All-Tournament Second Team at the March 2-4 OSAA Basketball State Championships in Pendleton. LADY PROS Continued from Page A9 EO Media Group/Kathy Aney Grant Union’s Madi McKrola concentrates as she prepares to make a free throw attempt Thursday night during a OSAA 2A state basketball championship quarterfinal game against Kennedy at the Pendleton Convention Center. champions and to return to Pendleton to the Final 8. “All these goals were reached, except the district ti- tle,” he said. “Losing our only senior to a season-ending injury caused our younger girls to step up and fill some big roles The girls did an amazing job. They stayed focused, and we were able to reach our end goal.” Highlights include win- ning the preseason Umatilla Tournament and the win on the road in the first round of state at Pilot Rock. “This is a tremendous group of kids, and the amaz- ing thing is, they all return next year,” he said. “They need to be proud of their ac- complishments. “I would like to thank the community for their support and my coaching staff for hours of hard work.” March 8 - The Face of Peace March 15 - The Face of Gratitude March 22 - The Face of Provision April 5 - The Face of Obedience www.eomediagroup.com corner’s SH T EEK OF THE W SARAH ENNIS The overall theme this year for Lent and Easter is “The Gift of Resurrection Life”. These Lenten services are specially designed for meditation, prayer and experiencing the presence of the Divine. The meditative music and beautiful slides are especially created for individual worship. Here are insights into the individual topics: School: Prairie City Grade: 12 Parents: Glenn & Andrea Ennis Sport: Basketball Position: Point guard What I like best about my sport: “It’s a team sport, and you get closer to your teammates and become like family. I also like being able to help the younger kids and watch them grow in their talents.” • The Face of Peace: Three ways to bring the power of peace in your life. • The Face of Gratitude: How to flood your life with joy and happiness with one habit. • The Face of Provision: Learn how to be an anxiety annihilator. • The Face of Obedience: Learn why obedience is not a dirty word or a destroyer of personal freedom. Coach’s Comment: “She’s been a good leader and team captain. She has a good on and off the court presence and has had a good attitude all season and is fun to be around.” -Coach Bo Workman 05327 05352 some better looks at the rim.” The Prospectors outshot Kennedy 13-12 in the quar- ter, and Kennedy led 32-23 going into the fourth. With 1:37 left in the game, McKrola was fouled and sank 2-2 at the free- throw line. When Kennedy turned over the ball, McKrola scored off an inbound pass from Moulton, bringing Grant Union within six points of their opponents, 39-33, with 1:30 to go. As the clock wound down, the Trojans hit 5-7 at the free-throw line to hold on for the win. HOT Wednesday 6:30 PM 627 S.E. Hillcrest, John Day 541-575-5840 Mariah Moulton The most valuable and respected source of local news, advertising and information for our communities. the You are cordially invited to attend special meditation services for Lent at Redeemer Lutheran Church. The theme for the 5 week series is “Experiencing the Face of Love.” Redeemer Lutheran Church Kennedy had a 12-8 lead going into the second and held Grant Union to two points at the half, the Trojans leading 20-10. Kennedy out-rebounded Grant Union by 10 in the first half. At the break, Grant Union head coach Mark Mosley en- couraged his team. “I challenged them to start being more aggressive,” he said after the game. “In the third quarter, we came out and made a little run and got Contributed photo/ Tanni Wenger Photography Studio PROUD SPONSOR OF GRANT COUNTY ATHLETES 100 E. Main • Stoplight in John Day 541-792-0425 05365
