Northwest Notes May 29, 2011
Ex-Lake City standout Coyle comes up short in NCAA bid
EUGENE, Ore. - John Coyle, a junior from Lake City High, finished the third heat of the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase in 9 minutes, 53.72 seconds for Weber State, failing to advance past the NCAA Track and Field West preliminary round of the NCAA championships Friday at Hayward Field.
Justin Tyner, a senior from Air Force, won the event in 8:44.86. The top three from each heat advanced to the NCAA outdoor track and field championships at Drake University June 8-11 in Des Moines, Iowa.
Coyle earned All-Big Sky Conference honors by placing second in the steeplechase in 8:50:83 on May 1 in Sacramento, Calif., which qualified him for the NCAA preliminary round. He also placed fourth in the 1,500 at the conference meet in 3.47:99.
Fastpitch tourney set for Ramsey, Finucane
The Lakeland Junior Olympic Softball Association and the DryIce softball teams of North Idaho are putting on the eighth annual Northwest Earlybird fastpitch softball tournament today and Sunday at Ramsey Park in Coeur d'Alene and Finucane Park in Hayden.
A total of 38 teams, including 13 local squads, are expected.
Each team will play three pool-play games today. Sunday consists of single-elimination play with a consolation bracket.
Idaho assistant coach takes prep football coaching job
SAMMAMISH, Wash. - Former Sandpoint High football star and University of Idaho assistant coach Jeremy Thielbahr has been named head football coach and assistant athletic director at Eastside Catholic.
Thielbahr also played at Washington State, and was an assistant at Montana State before coming to Idaho.
"High school football coaching is what every coach wants to do," Thielbahr said in a news release. "I've been looking for the right opportunity and recruited all over the country. EC's leadership in coach (Scott) Garvis and Sr. Mary, with their vision for the school overall, was the ultimate reason for my decision."
Asked about his plans for directing the EC football team, he said, "It'll be a cross between the best high school programs in the country and the best college programs, steering the young men into championships while coaching them as individual people pursuing a common goal."
Previous head football coach and associate athletic director Jason Gesser was recently awarded an offensive graduate assistant position at WSU. In this role he will assist with football coaching operations while pursuing a master's degree.
Local pitchers compete in horseshoe tournament
The Kootenai County Horseshoe Pitchers Association (KCHPA) completed its first of four nationally sanctioned tournaments this season.
The North Idaho Jamboree was entered by 31 pitchers from Montana, Oregon, Washington and Idaho.
KCHPA will host the Idaho state championships on Aug. 27-28 to conclude the season.
Winners of the local tournament were:
A CLASS (Handicapped class) - 1, Otto Brenneke, Rathdrum, 44.40 percent. 2, Butch White, Great Falls, 52.40. 3, Kay Keskinen, Moscow, 48.40.
B CLASS - 1, Waylon Thomas, Coeur d'Alene, 35.42. 2, Glenn Wessel, Coeur d'Alene, 36.25. 3, Mike Watcher, Spokane, 29.58.
C CLASS - 1, Mike Feist, Spokane, 30.5. 2, Jerry Smith, Nampa, 26.0. 3, Rusty Butterfield, Coeur d'Alene, 22.0.
D CLASS - 1, Dave Cazel, Coeur d'Alene, 23.50. 2, Dave Ferbee, Coeur d'Alene, 18.00. 3, Todd Walt, Hayden Lake, 15.0.
E CLASS - 1, Cory Sturgis, Coeur d'Alene, 19.50. 2, Shirley Madson, Coeur d'Alene, 13.0. 3, Gary Brenneke, Coeur d'Alene, 7.5.
Indians' individual game tickets go on sale Wednesday
SPOKANE - Individual game tickets for Spokane Indians short-season class A baseball home games at Avista Stadium will go on sale Wednesday.
The Indians play 38 home games, beginning on June 17 against the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, as they look to defend their NWL Eastern Division title.
Individual game tickets will be available for purchase at the Indians ticket office located at Avista Stadium, 602 North Havana Street, or by calling 509-343-OTTO (6886) with a Visa, Mastercard, or American Express. The office is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets can also be purchased at any TicketsWest outlet or by calling 1-800-325-SEAT during regular business hours. Additionally, fans can buy tickets anytime by visiting ticketswest.com or spokaneindians.com.
Information: www.spokaneindians.com
WSU set to host Cougar Legends Weekend
COEUR d'ALENE -Washington State University's Cougar Athletic Fund will be hosting Cougar Legends Weekend, presented by Sterling Savings Bank, June 17-18 at the Coeur d'Alene Resort.
"Last year I asked my staff to create a signature event that would fall within my three pillars, 'Honor the Past, Live the Present and Create the Future.' The Cougar Legends Weekend hits the mark on all three," WSU athletic director Bill Moos said.
The weekend kicks off on Friday, June 17, with a dinner and auction. All proceeds go toward student-athlete support at WSU. Participants begin Saturday with a breakfast, followed by a golf tournament with the Cougar Legends. At the auction on Friday evening, each group has a chance to bid on a Cougar Legend to join its team for the golf tournament. The weekend closes with a Saturday evening dinner.
Among those confirmed to be in attendance for the weekend include Drew Bledsoe, Hugh Campbell, Erik Coleman, Will Derting, James Donaldson, Jason Gesser, Rueben Mayes, Mark Rypien, Jack Thompson, Jim Walden and hall of fame Cougar baseball coach Bobo Brayton. For a listing of all Cougar Legends, please go to https://www.athletics.wsu.edu/foundation/SpringEventsCougarLegends1.asp
For more information on the Cougar Legends Weekend and how you can be a part of the event, please go to https://www.athletics.wsu.edu/foundation/SpringEventsCougarLegends.asp or contact Lori Olson at (509) 358-7541 or [email protected].