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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (March 14, 2018)
Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, March 14, 2018 B1 WEDNESDAY March 14, 2018 Dancers give ‘Golden’ performance State-bound team showcases ‘Rise’ routine By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle The 2A Grant Union Gold varsity dance team displayed their skills Saturday at the annual Spring Showcase as they prepare for state compe- tition. The team shared a num- ber of upbeat performances, including one set to “Can’t Stop the Feeling” by Justin Timberlake. The Spring Showcase previously included younger dancers involved in the Body, Fitness & Dance programs, but those groups will hold a separate event this year. One younger dancer, sixth-grader Liberty Woe- hlert, joined the soloist per- formers, including freshman Leah Comer, freshman Bri- anna Majors and junior Nikki Jones. The Showcase is the Liberty Woehlert performs a solo at Saturday’s Spring Showcase. dance team’s kickoff to state competition, highlighted by their grand finale perfor- mance set to the Katy Perry song “Rise.” The dancers dressed in camouflage-patterned cos- tumes with military-style hats. Their makeup suggests they’ve been in combat. “The state routine is about hard work, perseverance and coming out victorious,” said head coach Kattie Piazza. Four Grant Union Gold dancers perform a ‘drill down’ following commands given by their head coach Kattie Piazza. From left are Rhea Mead, Andrea Comer, Emilie Updegrave and Shanniyah Hall. “They do their best, and at the end of the day they know they gave everything they had.” The introduction includes the phrase, “We won’t just survive — we will thrive.” Several girls shared their thoughts about their coach, and presented her with a bou- quet of flowers. “I appreciate her for pushing us,” Majors said. “I couldn’t ask for a better coach.” Leah Comer added, “She motivated me to be a better dancer.” After the program, Jones said she felt that night was the best they’d ever performed the state routine. She said returning to the sport, which has one of the longest seasons, has its tests and takes dedication. “If you can stay commit- ted, it shows you have charac- ter,” she said. She added her coach has been helpful to the team members. “She’s shown me the path — how to have a successful future,” Jones said. The Grant Union Gold leave for the OSAA Dance/ Drill State Championships in Portland on Thursday, and Prospector girls open season Friday New softball coach leads many strong returners perform in the 4A/3A/2A/1A division on Friday at the Vet- erans Memorial Coliseum in Portland. Performance times will be announced by OSAA on Thursday. Dance teams finishing in the top 50 percent will advance to Saturday’s fi- nals performances. A LL - STATE TOURNEY HONORS Grant Union Prospectors softball schedule By Richard Hanners Blue Mountain Eagle The Grant Union Prospec- tor softball team has been prac- ticing indoors and elsewhere through winter, and they finally had a chance to play some real ball during a scrimmage game at the Seventh Street Complex in John Day. A number of spectators brought their folding chairs and lined up behind the back- stop to watch the game. This is Zach Williams’ first year as head coach of the Prospectors. As coach of the Grant County Wildfire, he led the team to third place in the Oregon State Little League Softball Tour- nament in Medford last July. “I coached most of these girls in the past,” he said of the Prospec- Head coach Zach tors. “We’ve Williams seen some successes and want to carry forward.” Williams played baseball years ago at Grant Union when the team went to the state semi- finals. He also coached the school’s baseball team. He said he’ll continue to coach Little League softball and the high school summer baseball after the high school softball season ends. Last year, under head coach DeAnna Nash, the Prospectors finished third in the 3A-Spe- cial District 2 playoffs and advanced to the state playoffs ranked in the top 16 among OSAA teams. They were sec- ond in the league with a 7-3 record. The Prospectors fell to Glide 8-6 in the first round of the OSAA 3A Softball State Cham- pionships and ended the season Eagle photos/Angel Carpenter Brianna Majors performs a solo routine at Saturday’s Spring Showcase. The Eagle/Richard Hanners Pitchers warm up for Grant Union softball practice March 9. Reagan Shelley Brianna Zweygardt Mariah Moulton Tressa Ranft Cody Jo Madden Whitney McClellan ranked 10th among OSAA teams with an 18-7 record. Brianna Zweygardt, the se- nior catcher and pitcher from Prairie City, Mariah Moul- ton, the senior third base- man and pitcher from Grant Union, Whitney McClellan, the senior outfielder from Grant Union, and Marissa Smith, the junior third base- man from Grant Union, were named last year to the first team for the 3A All-Oregon and Special District 2 soft- ball selections. Zweygardt was named Player of the Year for the district. “She’s a great hitter,” Wil- liams said. “All our players will be great hitters.” Named to the second team last year were senior pitcher and outfielder Cody Jo Mad- den and junior catcher and out- fielder Hailie Wright. Senior Tressa Ranft received honor- able mention at outfield. The team has enough play- ers to field varsity and junior varsity teams. Williams said he tried to recruit some players from Prairie City and Dayville, but Zweygardt is the only play- er from outside Grant Union. “We have a lot of talent,” Williams said. The Prospectors open the season with a tough game against Union at home on Fri- day, March 16, at noon. “All league games are big,” he said, adding that he didn’t know of any outstanding pitch- ing threats from any other league teams. Union has good pitchers, good defenders, good hitters March 16: vs. Union at noon, beginning with JV March 17: @ Lakeview at noon (2) March 23: vs. Culver at 2 p.m. (2) March 27-28: @ Riv- erside Invitational at 11 a.m./4:30 p.m., 1 p.m./3:30 p.m. April 7: vs. Heppner at 11 a.m. (2) April 10: vs. Pilot Rock at 4 p.m., beginning with JV April 13: vs. Weston-McEwen at noon (2) April 17: @ Nyssa at 2 p.m. MDT (2) April 20: @ Weston-McEwen at 2 p.m. (2) April 20: @ Vale at 1 p.m. MDT (2) April 27: vs. Burns at 1 p.m. (2) May 11: vs. Enterprise at 1 p.m. (2) May 18: District Playoff, TBD May 23: State Playoffs first round, TBD May 25: State Playoffs quarterfinals, TBD May 29: State Playoffs semifinals, TBD June 1: State Playoffs Finals, TBD and a good coach, Williams said. “They have a good softball program,” he said. Assisting Williams will be assistant coaches Lance Zweygardt, Mike Strong, Amy Hittle and Brandon Cul- ley, who served as umpire be- hind the plate for the March 9 scrimmage game. Wade Reimers Grant Union, 2A Senior, second team The Grant Union boys also received the Sportsmanship Award. Kaylee Wright Grant Union, 2A Junior, first team Levi Burke Prairie City, 1A Junior, first team SPORTS SCHEDULE Thursday, March 15 Grant Union track and field @ Crook County Ice Breaker in Prineville at 3:30 p.m. Friday, March 16 Grant Union Gold dance team @ OSAA Dance/Drill State Championships, TBA Prairie City @ Diana Thurmond Invita- tional in Harper at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 17 Grant Union golf @ Heppner Invitational at 10 a.m. Grant Union baseball vs. Vale in John Day at 2 p.m. Grant Union softball vs. Union in John Day, JV at 12 p.m., followed by varsity Grant Union softball @ Lakeview at 12 p.m. (2) Grant Union baseball vs. Kennedy in John Day at 2 p.m. Finals at the OSAA Dance/Drill State Championships, TBA Dorran Wilson Prairie City, 1A Senior, first team The Prairie City boys also tied for the Sportsmanship Award.