Sports
Blue Mountain Eagle
FUNDRAISER
SOFTBALL
Continued from Page B1
Continued from Page B1
friendship shared on the
court.
“I loved everything about
the whole thing,” said Special
Olympian Elizabeth Swarth-
out. “Basketball is fun, and
we share the ball all the time.”
John Day Police Chief
Richard Gray was on the
law enforcement team,
which included athletes
from all the local agencies .
“I enjoy the camaraderie
— that we’re able to come
together and visit and play
a fun game of basketball,”
Gray said. “The guys enjoy
doing that, and I’m glad the
departments can come to-
gether for it.”
Kimberly Neault, vic-
tims intervention specialist
at the district attorney’s of-
fi ce, said the event was “an
absolute blast.”
“Their athletic ability is
outstanding, and the com-
munity support was great,”
she said.
Special Olympics coach
and co-coordinator Deron-
da Lallatin said it was a fun
evening.
“I really appreciate the
police offi cers, taking all the
grief from the emcee and
refs,” she said, referring to
antics that played out on the
court.
David Gill, a Special
Olympics volunteer, said he
appreciates the cooperation
of school offi cials and law
enforcement with Special
Olympics.
“The event is a group
effort, or you’d never get all
this done,” he said.
To learn more about
Grant County Special
Olympics, call Deronda
Lallatin at 541-620-4295.
“We have a ton of expe-
rience,” Nash said. “Overall,
this is probably our hardest
working group. They have a
great work ethic and tremen-
dous attitude. Several stay af-
ter practice and are working
hard. A lot of kids are push-
ing hard for positions, which
makes them all better.”
Although they are a 2A
level size, the Prospectors will
again play 3A.
Their opponents in the
3A Special District 2 include
Burns, Elgin/Imbler, Enter-
prise/Joseph/Wallowa, Nyssa
and Vale.
“Softball on the east side
of the state is always compet-
itive,” Nash said. “Vale is al-
ways at the top of the league.
We get (a game with) them at
home, so that’s nice.”
She said the 3A level is a
better fi t for them, since they
know the coaches, teams and
fi elds.
“We were making sure we
could go 15 deep with varsity,”
she said. “It’s going to be com-
petitive, and they enjoy it.”
She said right now the
coaches are focusing on team
unity and making sure the ath-
letes are being pushed hard
enough.
“We really don’t have to
GOLF
Continued from Page B1
Friday was the team’s fi rst
day on the course after eight
days on the range.
“We’ll be out on the
course next week, learning
the rules,” he said. “I see
some potential. I like to see
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
push them,” she said. “They
want to work hard. They’re re-
ally a fun group to be around
every day.”
Among their goals, Nash
said: “Obviously, we’re look-
ing to win league, and our goal
in every game is to be compet-
itive, working hard every day.”
Nash has led the team since
it began in 2006, and this
year, her assistant coaches are
Monty Nash, Les DeHaven,
Kennedy Nash and Dominic
DeHaven.
Three of the six seniors
have several years of experi-
ence playing softball, includ-
ing Natalie Stearns, Dauna
Bishop and Ravyn Walker.
“Even though it’s early
in the season, we work well
together,” Stearns said. “We
have lots of potential, so I’m
excited to see what our team
brings.”
Bishop said she likes the
amount of experience there is
on the team.
“We all bond really well to-
gether,” she said.
Walker said, “One of our
goals is being league champi-
ons this year. I think it’s going
to be really fun.”
Hailey Carter, who’s played
softball for four years now,
said she’s looking forward to
the season.
“There are a lot of expe-
rience levels, but that’s what
makes it fun,” she said.
Third-year player Jessica
Carter said that even though
they’ve only been at practice
for a couple weeks, the team is
like a family.
“I’m really looking forward
to how close we’ll get,” she
said, adding they have oppor-
tunities to spend time together
on road trips.
This is Myckee Coalwell’s
fi rst year playing, and she said
she’s enjoyed the fi rst week of
practice.
“I feel accepted as part of
the team,” she said.
their friendship and their
competitiveness.”
He welcomes the com-
munity to watch the teams
compete when they host the
Grant Union High School In-
vite Friday, April 14.
Lundbom noted there
were over 50 competitors
last year, and there will be a
golf scramble for locals that
weekend for a team fundrais-
er.
Courtney Allen is the
team’s sole senior, and it is
her fi rst year playing golf.
“It’s very lax, and you can
laugh with everyone, even if
you get a bad shot,” she said.
“It’s nice to just walk around
the course. I’m learning
that you can do your best
and still mess up, and that’s
OK.”
“It takes a lot of patience,”
she added. “There’s some-
thing about golf — it gives
you a good feeling inside.
Stokes said he’s glad to be
back out on the course this
year.
“I think we have a good
chance at a great season,” he
said.
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Grant Union Prospector
Cody Jo Madden pitches
the ball during practice.
SPORTS SCHEDULE
Thursday, March 16
Grant Union track and fi eld @ Breaking the Ice,
Icebreaker in Prineville at 3:30 p.m.
Grant Union dance @ OSAA Dance and Drill State
Championships in Portland at 8:10 a.m.
Friday, March 17
Grant Union dance @ OSAA Dance and Drill State
Championships in Portland, TBD
Dayville and Prairie City track and fi eld @ the
Diana Thurmond Invitational in Harper at 11 a.m.
Grant Union softball @ Union at 12 p.m. (1)
Grant Union golf @ at Echo Hills Country Club in
Echo (hosted by Heppner) at 10 a.m.
Saturday, March 18
Monument track and fi eld @ Mullen-Leavitt Invite
in The Dalles at 11 a.m.
Grant Union baseball vs. Lakeview at 12 p.m. (2)
Grant Union softball vs. Lakeview at 12 p.m. (2)
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Sivanna Hodge jumps to the beat in a hip-hop routine
with Kattie Piazza, left, and Shannon Adair, right.
DANCERS
ADVANTAGE DENTAL CLINICS
Advantage Dental Group PC
Continued from Page B1
Overall Health Starts
with a Healthy Smile.
Schedule Your Dental Appointment
with Advantage Dental Today.
750 West Main John Day, OR 97845 • 888-468-0022 ext. 61863
www.AdvantageDentalClinics.com
Emergencies, most Insurance Plans and Oregon Health Plan Patients are all welcome.
Some level of treatment financing is available to everyone.
Batease, a Grant Union
senior, said the Gemstones
will be “very ready for state
in April.”
Gemstone dancer Halle
Parsons said the team per-
formed well. She also was
a part of the hip-hop perfor-
mance. She said she loves
Let our family of Pharmacists
05327
serve you!
BEAUTY & THE BEAST PG
A young prince, imprisoned in the form
of a beast, can be freed only by true love.
FRIDAY
(12:45) (3:45) 6:45 9:35
SATURDAY (1:00) (3:45) 6:45 9:35
SUNDAY
(1:00) (3:45) 6:45 9:35
MON-THURS (12:45) (4:00) 6:45 9:35
THE SHACK PG-13
A grieving man receives a mysterious,
personal invitation to meet with God at a
place called “The Shack.”
FRIDAY
(12:45) (4:00) 7:00 9:45
SATURDAY (1:10) (4:00) 7:00 9:45
SUNDAY
(1:10) (4:00) 7:00 9:35
MON-THURS (12:45) (4:00) 7:00 9:35
KONG: SKULL ISLAND PG-13
Explorers and soldiers travel to an
uncharted island in the Pacific, unaware
they are crossing into the domain of
monsters, including the mythic Kong.
FRIDAY
(12:45) (4:10) 7:10 9:50
SATURDAY (1:20) (4:10) 7:10 9:50
SUNDAY
(1:20) (4:10) 7:10 9:35
MON-THURS (12:45) (4:00) 7:10 9:35
$9 Adult, $7 Senior (60+), Youth
Give us a call today
05396
Cataract Surgery
541-676-9158 - Heppner
541-384-2801 - Condon
We welcome the opportunity to visit with
you about our services!
Available in John Day
Heppner & & Condon
Heppner
Condon
the opportunity she has to
express emotions through
dance.
“Our team is open-mind-
ed and able to say what’s on
our minds which helps us
improve,” she said.
Senior Reannah Lemons
performed with the varsi-
ty dance team as well as a
solo routine. She said she’s
looking forward to state this
week.
“This team has grown
tremendously this year, and
I’m excited to see how we
place,” she said.
The Grant Union Gold
topped off the showcase
event with their perfor-
mance themed “Revolt.”
A poem at the beginning
of the presentation, reads, in
part: “They said I couldn’t
do it. Be grace. Be power. ...
Prove them wrong.”
Piazza said she was
proud of all the dancers who
performed at the Showcase.
Her team will leave for
state Wednesday, March 15,
and perform at the Veterans
Memorial Coliseum at 8:10
a.m. Thursday, competing
with 1A through 4A teams.
“The high school team
performed the best I’ve
seen them so far this year,
and I’m excited that we
got to perform for our home
town,” she said, adding
she’s encouraged by the size
of the local dance programs.
“I hope it continues to
grow and that we can con-
tinue to serve the commu-
nity.”
ATTENTION
HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
Don’t forget to apply for a
Silvies Valley Ranch Education Scholarship.
Open to Grant & Harney County students.
Postmark deadline is
Blue Mountain Hospital offers Cataract Surgery
each month in our outpatient surgery suite.
Applications are available from your
school’s guidance counselor or online at
www.silviesvalleyranch.com
To be considered for cataract surgery, please make an appointment with
Dr. David Archibald, John Day Optometrist 541-575-1819
Cataract Surgery Close To Home
Hospital District
EST.
1883
05334
B8
05061