Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Sports at a Glance

All stories by Jean Schurman

Valley teams look tough at Frenchtown

Busy weekend for track

Bitterroot Invitational Tennis

Stevi student takes fourth at national free-throw contest

The Frenchtown Invitational Softball tournament gives teams an idea where the competition is at the midpoint of the season. After this weekend’s games, the "X" is squarely on the Bitterroot Valley. Hamilton, Corvallis and Florence all came away with wins in the two-day event.

Hamilton defeated Libby on Friday, 3-1. The two teams were scoreless until the fourth inning when Kelly Lokken had an RBI double to score two and take the lead. Although Libby got one run home, it would be all they would score. Terry Bryan made it to home plate after a wild throw by Libby.

Hamilton’s first game on Saturday was against the always tough Thompson Falls Blue Hawks. The two teams each scored in the second inning. Hamilton’s Sarah Callaghan hit a double to put herself in scoring position. After a strike out on Koning, Lokken hit an RBI single to put the Broncs on the board. Thompson Falls came right back and scored in the bottom of the second on a wild pitch.

Then the two teams settled down into a defensive battle. Although each team made some nice hits, the fielding by both were outstanding and no runs were made. Until the top of the sixth inning. Callaghan again singled as the lead off batter. Then Koning stepped up and knocked the ball over the fence for an RBI home run.

The bats were still hot for the Broncs in the seventh inning – smokin’ hot that is. Hamilton scored eight runs on seven hits in that inning to take the game, 11-1. Koning and Jessica Huseby each had home runs. Huseby also had a double and three RBIs.

Next up for the Broncs were the Eureka Lions. Hamilton came out strong and had three runs in the third inning. They went on to win, 6-1.

Corvallis defeated Libby, 7-1, on Saturday morning. Pitcher Kasie Conder had 14 'K’s' against Libby, allowing only 3 hits. Megan Auch, Angie Henderson, Amber Bradshaw and Bri Brawley had RBIs.

Conder was in control again for Corvallis against Columbia Falls. She had 15 strikeouts this time and hit a home run as well. Auch had a home run as well in the 5-2 victory over the WildKats.

Florence defeated Libby, 3-0. Kate Street struck 14 batters out for the win Saturday, Florence defeated Ronan 15-0 and Butte Central, 3-2.

Lynleigh Nichols had two RBIs and teammates Alyssa Sadowski, Kayla Schmid, Kaitlynn Rolshoven and Shelby Meuchels each had an RBI against Ronan. Florence scored 15 runs on 13 hits.

Butte Central is always a tough game and this game was no different. Rolshoven was 1-for-3 and had two RBIs to lead the Lady Falcons. Street struck out 11 in the 3-2 victory. Erin Greenberg knocked a triple as well.

Usually, the CTA-Stone Container Invitational track meet in Frenchtown draws teams from across Western Montana and beyond. Not this year. Only nine teams competed in the event but that was okay for Corvallis, Stevensville and Victor. Corvallis came away with the team titles in both the boys and girls events, outdistancing Stevi by five and a half points in the boys scoring and topping Polson by three points in the girls.

Corvallis’ Slater Powell was a double winner, taking first in both the 110 hurdles and the 300 hurdles. The Blue Devil relay teams also took first in both relays. Other Blue Devils who took first were Matt Jessop in the 100, Dalton Sybrant in the shot put, and Chris Jessop in the discus.

Ashlee DellaSilva clocked a blistering 12.57 to take the 100 meter race on the girls’ side. She then set a meet record in the 200 with a time of 25.60, beating her own record from last year. Other winners from Corvallis were Whitney Henderson in the 400, Sunni Bleibtrey in the 100 hurdles and Melissa Cousins in the pole vault.

Stevensville picked up wins from Jesse Potter in the 200, 400 and triple jump. He was second in the 800. Brekka Johnson won the triple jump and was second in the 200 and long jump.

Darby’s Paul Abrahamsen continued to eat up the track, taking both the 1,600 and 3,200. Teammate Heather Demorest won the 3,200 and Missy DeWalt took the long jump. Mariah Cress won the discus for the Tigers as well.

Victor’s Chris Mai won the 800 and Michael Wemple took second in the javelin.

Hamilton took part in the Whitefish ARM meet and won the girls team scoring. The 1,600 relay team of Misha trotter, Ali Mildenberger, Alicia Toews and Michelle Jones took the race and set a new meet record of 4:06.20, nine seconds faster than the old record. It is also the fastest relay this year in the state.

Trotter also won the 400 and 800 and was second in the 100. Jess Hill continued to win in the shot put ring, making a put of 36-05. Alicia Toews won the triple jump as well.

On the boys’ side, Hamilton came in fourth, behind the hometown Bulldogs, Columbia Falls, and Libby. Ryan Turley won the 400 and was second in the 100 and 200. Nigel Neaves won the 800 and was fourth in the 1,600. Hamilton’s 1,600 relay team of Will Buzzell, Kyle Crowley, Tyler Holley and Turley won that race by almost five seconds.

CTA Stone Container

Boys

Team Scores: Corvallis 102, Stevensville 96-1/2; Polson 91-1/2; Thompson Falls 77, Frenchtown 64, Bigfork 31, Darby 25, Valley Christian 22, Victor 18.

100 - M. Jessop, Cor, 11.57; 5. (tie) T. Gibbs, Ste, and B. Hoyle, Pol, 11.84.

200 - 1. Jesse Potter, Ste, 22.87. 5. T. Gibbs, Ste, 23.78.

400 - 1. Jesse Potter, Ste, 52.62; 3. M. Jessop, Co, 53.57; 4. T. Gibbs, Ste, 55.33;

800 - 1. Chris Mai, Vic, 2:04.62; 2. J. Potter, Ste, 2.04.84: 4. Logan Bloom, Ste, 2:10.94.

1,600 - 1. Paul Abrahamsen, Dar, 4:38.75; 5. Drew Zeiler, Ste, 4:54.6; 6. S. Garbet. Dar, 4:55.69.

3,200 - 1. Paul Abrahamsen, Dar, 10:27.53; 4. S. Garbet, Dar, 10:41.0; 5. Drew Zeiler, Ste, 11:02.88; 6. S. Allred, Cor, 11:20.29.

110 hurdles - 1. Slater Powell, Cor, 15.81; 4. J. Chicot, Ste, 16.47; 6. Bongard, Cor, 17.72.

300 hurdles - 1. Slater Powell, Cor, 42.41; 4. J. Chilcott, Ste, 43,97; 6. Burt, Cor, 45.34;

400 relay - 1. Corvallis 45.54; 2. Bigfork 45.8; 3. Polson 46.12; 4. Stevensville 45.22;

1600 relay - 1. Corvallis 3:37.81; 2. Stevensville 3:41.38;

Javelin - 1. Kevin Ng, TF, 184-0; 2. Michael Wemple, Vic, 168-0; 3. J. Flemmer, TF, 164-04; 6. D. Jessop, Cor, 141-2.

Shot put - 1. Dalton Sybrant, Cor, 46-9

Discus - 1. Chris Jessop, Cor, 149-9-1/2; 3. D. Sybrant, Cor, 149-1;

High jump - James Allred, Cor, 5-10; 3. J. Chilcott, Ste, 5-8; 5. (Tie) J. Stoker, Cor, and Clay Pape, Ste, 5-6

Long jump - 1. Greg Fister, VC, 18-8; 4. I Hunter, Ste, 18-4; 5. Clay Pape, Ste, 18-2-1/2

Triple jump - 1. Jesse Potter, Ste, 41-11; 2. I Hunter, Ste, 40-10-1/2 5. Clay Pape, Ste, 37-6-1/2.

Pole vault - 1. J. Waldo, Cor, 10-0

Girls

Team scores: Corvallis 114, Polson 111, Frenchtown 84, Darby 53, Bigfork 50, Thompson Falls 39, Stevensville 37, Valley Christian 27, St. Regis 8, Victor 0.

100 - 1. Ashlee DellaSilva, Cor, 12.57; 2. Whitney Henderson, Cor, 13.01; 4. Brekka Johnson, Ste, 13.24;

200 - 1. DellaSilva, Cor, 25.60 (meet record; old record 26.09 DellaSillva, Corvallis, 2006); 2. Johnson, Ste, 26.05;

400 - 1. Whitney Henderson, Cor, 60.12; 6. J. Brunett, Ste, 67.15;

800 - Zimmer Dar, 2:32.66

3200 - 1. Heather Demorest, Dar, 12:21; 3. White, Cor, 13.49

100 hurdles - 1. Sunni Bleibtrey, Cor, 16.88; 2. Kim Gilder, Cor, 17.27; 3. Johnson, Ste, 17.55

400 relay - 1. Corvallis 51.72; 2. Polson 52.33

1600 relay - 1. Polson 4:13.88, 2. Corvallis 4:18.28.

Shot put - 1. Galayda, Ftn, 35-10; 2. Paige Lennis, Cor, 35-7.

Discus - 1. Mariah Cress, Dar, 106-5; 4. Lennis, Cor, 100-5.

Long jump - 1. Missy DeWalt, Dar, 15-7; 2. Johnson, Ste, 15-6 ‡; 4. Christina Bender, Dar, 15-1.

Triple jump - 1. Brekka Johnson, Ste, 35-1; 2. Rachel Wetzsteon, Dar, 32-2-1/2; 3. (tie) Sunni Bleibtrey, Cor, and Padden, TF, 30-11-1/2;

Pole Vault - 1. Melissa Cousins, 8-6.

Tennis was the name of the game here in the valley with Hamilton and Corvallis hosting the Bitterroot Invitational tournament. Geoff Fehr was the boys singles champion by virtue of his opponent, Caleb Gueldenhaar, withdrew due to illness. Megin Madruga of Corvallis won the girls championship.

Bitterroot Invitational

Boys

Nos. 1-2 singles

Semi finals - Geoff Fehr, Cor, def. Erick Johnson, Ham, 6-2, 6-2; Caleb Gueldenhaar, Ham, def. Kyle Orr, Ron, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4

Championship - Fehr wins by illness default.

Nos. 3-4 singles

Semi finals - Tyler Engebretson, Pol, def. Paul Jessop, Cor; John Powell, Cor, def Levi Gueldenhaar, Ham.

Championship - Engrebretson, def. Powell, 6-3.

Consolation final- Jason Jessop, Ham def. Justin Stockdale, Ste, 600.

Nos. 1-2 doubles

Semi Finals - Karson Erickson/Jake Grebetz, Pol, def. Evan Caughey/Evan Hanson, Ham, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5; Jake Sangster/Levi Pauly, Corv, def. Grant Getts/Cody Maynard, Columbia Falls, 6-4, 6-4;

Championship - Erickson/Grebetz def. Sangster/Pauly 3-6, 6-1, 6-1

Consolation final -Taylor Nagel/Erick Spencer/Corv, def. Ryan Splatt/Alex Ridgeway, Ham, 6-1, 6-1.

Nos. 3-4 doubles

Semi finals - Ben Kerner/Delane Jessop, Corv, def. Steven Roberts/Joe Alik, Pol; Tyler Roberts/Dillon Murray, Cor, def. Ryan Dufresne/James Stockdale/Ste.

Championship - Kerner/Jessop def Roberts/Murray 6-2.

Girls

Nos. 1-2 singles

Semi finals - Megin Madruga, Cor, def. Laura Moran, Ham, 6-1, 6-2, Stacy Velasco, Dill, def. Mattea York, Polson, 6-4, 6-1;.

Championship - Madruga def. Valasco 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 (0).

Nos. 3-4 singles

Semi final - Nadine Dietrich, Dill, def. Jordynn Cheeney, Cor. Emily Keegan, Cor, def. Becky Weidow, Ste.

Championship - Dietrick def. Keegan 7-5.

Consolation finals - Katie Andre, Ham, def. Shelby Hobbs, Columbia Falls, 6-0.

Nos. 1-2 doubles

Semi finals - Katherin Bonnie/Shannon Judge, Dill, def. Courtney Quinlan/Kaitlin Baldridge, Ham, 6-3, 6-4; Kirstin Bull/Arielle Perkins, Cor, def. Malike Erickson/Cali Hislop, Pol, 7-06 (5), 4–6, 6-4.

Championship Bonnie/Judge, def. Bull/Perkins 8-7

Nos. 3-4 doubles

Semi finals - Anna Brammer/Kelsi Nordahl, Dill, def. Kelsey Jura/Rebecca Hankel, Ham; Anna Adolphson/Katie Kerner, Cor, def. Jan Probst/Kayla Rochin, Pol.

Championship - Brammer/Nordahl, def. Adolphoson/Kerner 6-4.

Consolation final - Ali Bierer/Jessica Gerig, Cro, def. Sarah Allred/Courtney Liston, Stevi, 6-4.

Blaire Brookshire, 13, of Stevensville, stepped up to the free-throw line at Western New England College and sank 22 of 25 and 4 of 5 free throws, to finish fourth in the nation in the Girls 12-13 division at the Elks "Hoop Shoot" National Free Throw Contest. Facing stiff competition from the 11 other finalists in the Girls 12-13 division, Blaire, the daughter of Valerie and John Clawson, did remarkably well in a competition that began last fall with more than 3 million participants from across the nation.

An eighth grader at Stevensville Junior High School Blaire represented Hamilton Elks Lodge #1651 at the competition on April 21. That evening she participated in a special banquet celebrating the 72 participants in the national finals.

Now in its 35th year, the Elks "Hoop Shoot" Free Throw Contest has seen more than 101 million participants since its inception, making it the largest coeducational youth sports program in the nation. Funded entirely by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the contest has served as a testing ground for sports legends like Cleveland Cavaliers' Trajan Langton, WNBA 2001 Rookie of the Year Jackie Stiles of the former Portland Fire, Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Steve Alford, Olympic gold medallist and former Golden State Warrior Chris Mullin, former North Carolina State star Jennfier Howard, Utah Starzz Stacy Frese, and former Chicago White Sox third-baseman Chris Snopek.

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is a patriotic and philanthropic fraternal organization with nearly 1.2 million members in more than 2100 communities.