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A10 Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, March 21, 2018 WEDNESDAY March 21, 2018 Grant Union Gold rises at state By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle Eagle file photo The Grant Union Gold dancers perform their state competition routine. The Grant Union Gold took a spot- light at the OSAA Dance/Drill State Championships in Portland as the only 2A team. The 13 dancers held their heads high, performing at the Veterans Memo- rial Coliseum, even though they were up against eight 4A teams and one 3A team. “The girls performed amazingly well in one of the toughest divisions,” said Grant Union head coach Kattie Piazza. She said they closed the gap between them and the next closest team from 10 points to 3 points. Sweet Home finished ninth with 59.58 points, and Grant Union was close behind at 56.57. Piazza said it “might not sound like a lot, but in dance it’s huge.” Valley Catholic of Beaverton won the competition with 86.6 points, fol- lowed by Gladstone in second and Crook County of Prineville in third. “State is the toughest judging all season, and most importantly the girls gave it their all and were very pleased with their performance,” Piazza said. “In fact, I could hear their screams of delight from across the Coliseum when they exited the floor after their dance.” She said that with eight freshmen on the team, this year was a time to build on experience. “We all learned a lot, and I’m excited to see what next year brings, with ev- erything from changes to the state lay- out to teams’ classifications changing,” she said. Eagle file photo Rhea Mead leaps as the Grant Union Gold dancers perform their state competition routine for the crowd at their March 9 Spring Showcase, dancing to Katy Perry’s song titled “Rise.” Panthers post sizable track team Strong returners and strong freshmen Prairie City Panthers track schedule By Richard Hanners Blue Mountain Eagle Nate Barber, in his sec- ond year as Prairie City track coach, is optimistic about his team this spring. “It’s the largest in a couple years,” he said. Nine girls and seven boys signed up for the team, mean- ing the Panthers will be able to field players in many more events. Last year, the team had only seven members. “We’ll have both boys and girls 4-by-100 relay teams, three in the 400-meter, quite a few jumpers and a lot of sprint- ers,” Barber said. “We’ll also start developing the pole vault this year.” Megan Camarena and Dan- ner Davis are the two seniors on the team. Camarena qualified for the district track meet in her stron- gest events, shot put, placing fifth, and discus, placing 12th. She also throws javelin. Davis is new to the varsity team with prior experience in various events. Megan Camarena The Eagle/Richard Hanners Panther junior Deja Amsden perfects her long jump during a Prairie City High School track practice March 8. Joining the team this spring are several members of a strong freshman class, including Jojari Field, coming off a great bas- ketball season. He’ll be running the 100- and 200-meter races and participating in the long and triple jumps. “He did well in junior high last year, with good stats for high school,” Barber said. Tristan McMahan, also a freshman, will do the same events as Field. “They were one-two in ju- nior high,” Barber said. Danner Davis The Panthers have a strong thrower in sophomore Jake McHatton, who did well last year in the discus and shot put and wants to improve his jav- elin throw, Barber said. Levi Burke, a junior who starred on the school’s win- April 6: hosts Prairie City Invitational at 11 a.m. April 10: @ Grant Union Small Schools Meet in John Day at 3:30 p.m. April 12: @ Rancher’s Invitational in Crane at 3 p.m. April 14: @ Burns Lions (Arlie Oster Memorial) Invita- tional in Burns at noon April 17: @ Grant Union Small Schools Meet in John Day at 3:30 p.m. April 20: @ Condon/Wheeler Invite in Condon at 11 a.m. April 27: @ Don Walker Invitational in Nyssa at noon April 28: @ Saint Alphonsus Invitational in Ontario at 10 a.m. May 3: hosts High Desert League Twilight Meet in Prairie City at 4 p.m. May 4: @ Grant Union Invitational in John Day at 11 a.m. May 11: District Track Meet at Baker City, TBD May 17-18: OSAA 1A State Championships at Eugene, TBD ning basketball team, took last year off from track but is back for the high hurdles and high jump, Barber said. On the girls side, freshman Samantha Workman, another good basketball player, will be in the triple and long jumps and sprinting in the 100 and the relay. “She’s cool under pressure — very teachable and coach- able,” Barber said. Haley Pfefferkorn, a ju- nior, has returned to throw the javelin and run the mile. “She did well in the javelin last year, but bad weather hurt her grip,” Barber said. Overall, Barber was im- pressed with the team. “The kids all know each other. They’re all very coach- able and have a good work eth- ic,” he said. “If you push them, they’ll do what you ask.” Prospector boys get bats cracking at tournaments Pros’ Triangle Oil tourney starts 11 a.m. Thursday By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle The Prospector baseball bats were cracking Friday and Saturday as they hosted several teams for the Ice- breaker Tournament in John Day. The 2A Grant Union-Prai- The Eagle/Angel Carpenter rie City Prospectors defeated Grant Union Prospector Warner Robertson pitches as short stop Zack Deiter (13) the 3A Vale Vikings 11-1 in watches for the ball in Saturday’s game against the Joseph Eagles. Friday’s game, and came up with a 10-7 loss to the 3A Joseph/Enterprise/Wallowa Eagles on Saturday. Grant 11 a.m. (2) March 22: vs. Homedale, Union head coach Dusty Wil- April 24: vs. Weston-McE- Idaho at 11 a.m. (Iron Trian- liams said a few errors on wen at 4 p.m. gle Tournament) Saturday killed them. April 27: @ Weston-McE- March 23: vs. Lost River “We’re young,” he said. wen at 1 p.m. (2) at 2 p.m. (Iron Triangle “We only committed one er- May 1: @ Union at 4 p.m. Tournament) ror yesterday (against Vale). May 5: vs. Union at 11 March 24: vs. Nyssa at 2 We played really good base- a.m. (2) p.m. (Iron Triangle Tourna- ball, defensively and offen- May 11: District Tourna- ment) sively — the whole team.” ment, East No. 3 vs. No. 2, March 31: vs. Oakland at The Culver Bulldogs, in TBA 11 a.m. (Les Schwab Tour- the Wapiti League with Grant May 15: District Tour- nament) Ty McDaniel Union, also lost to the Eagles nament (No. 2 vs. No. 3 March 31: vs. Monroe at 2 6-4 in the tournament. winners), TBA p.m. (Les Schwab Tourna- Grant Union dropped their being able to help the young- May 18: District East No. ment) er kids out so they fare well first game of the season 9-2 1 vs. West No. 1 in Pendle- April 3: @ Burns at 4 p.m. next season and finish this to 3A Burns in the Prospec- ton at 4 p.m. April 7: @ Culver at 11 tors’ home opener on Tues- season off,” he said. May 23: State Playoffs, a.m. (2) day, March 13. “I’m excited to play,” Mc- April 10: @ Elgin at 4 p.m. first round, TBA Daniel said. “It’s always a lot The Prospectors return May 25: State Playoffs, April 14: vs. Elgin at 11 three seniors this year, pitch- of fun. We’re going to get the quarterfinals, TBA a.m. (2) er Zack Deiter, short stop younger kids coached up.” May 29: State Playoffs, April 17: vs. Pilot Rock at Wade Reimers and catcher The coach said he looks semifinals, TBA 4 p.m. Ty McDaniel. forward to the seniors’ lead- June 1: State Finals, TBA April 21: @ Pilot Rock at ership helping the team. Deiter said he’s looking forward to the season. “They know what we’re “Our pitchers are throw- of just 13, he said, players are ited on pitchers, but he thinks trying to do, and I’m seeing ing strikes,” he said. getting “a lot of reps.” the team will do all right. a big improvement already Reimers said they’re lim- “I’m looking forward to from last year,” he said. Because it’s a young team Zack Deiter Grant Union baseball schedule Wade Reimers Rounding out the team are four juniors, three soph- omores and three freshmen. Freshman Declan Zweygardt, from Prairie City School, has joined the team this season. One big change this year is a split in the Wapi- ti League. Grant Union will face Elgin, Weston/McEwen, Pilot Rock/Nixyaawii and Union/Cove. On the other side of the Wapiti will be Dufur, Hep- pner/Ione, Sherman/Arling- ton/Condon and Culver. The No. 1 teams from ei- ther side of the league will face off for the No. 1 and No. 2 positions heading to state. Those in second and third will playoff on their respec- tive sides, and the winners of those games will face each other for the third spot to state. Pilot Rock and Elgin are returning all of last year’s pitchers, and Williams said he expects both those teams to be tough. Williams is joined by as- sistant coach Doug Sharp and pitching coach Russ Reimers. “I expect to do really well in our league,” Williams said. He said the pitch count rule is a challenge his team deals with, but he added it’s a struggle that all the teams face. “We’re not like the big schools with 10 pitchers on the bench,” he said. “Overall we’re good,” he added. “We’ve just got to continue to work hard and look to our juniors and se- niors for leadership. I think it’s going to be an exciting year.” Grant Union will host sev- eral teams for the Thursday through Saturday Iron Trian- gle Tournament. The Prospectors will face Homedale, Idaho, at 11 a.m. Thursday, weather permit- ting. Grant Union will be up against Lost River on Friday and Nyssa on Saturday, with both games scheduled for 2 p.m.
