Sports and Outdoors

EAST WENATCHEE – Nine Oroville track athletes will be heading to the Class 2B state track and field finals this weekend in 11 events.

It was very nearly a lot more than that.

The Hornets had four individuals and one relay that came one place away from qualifying for state in an additional eight events. Fortunately, most actually did qualify in other events.

OMAK – Tonasket’s Anthony Verhasselt overcame a semifinal loss to win out through the consolation bracket and earn a return trip to the state 1B/2B/1A state finals next weekend.

Verhasselt, seeded fourth entering the two-weekend district tournament, lost his semifinal match to Manuel Perez of Liberty Bell, but bounced back to defeat Omak’s Greg Sklar in straight sets in loser-out, winner-to-state match.

CASHMERE – It wasn’t a great day for the Caribou Trail League at Friday’s Bi-District 6/7 regional meet.

But don’t tell that to Damon Halvorsen or Tonasket’s 4×100 boys relay team.

Halvorsen was one of just five CTL boys or girls to win a regional title in 35 events, and the sprint relay sped to a runner-up finish behind Riverside to clinch the Tigers two spots at next weekend’s 1A state championships.

OROVILLE – Chris Corey and Jerrod Gibbons were the big winners in this year’s May Festival Bass Tournament with a team total of five fish weighing 26.74 pounds.

OROVILLE – Oroville’s track and field teams are peaking at just the right time.

The Hornets, competing against schools their own size after spending much of the regular season going against larger schools at big invitationals, showed they were ready for the post-season Thursday, May 10, with the girls team winning the Central Washington League North Sub-district meet by more than 50 points. The boys were edged by Liberty Bell in a two-way race for the team title.

“The boys and girls really stepped up with 12 PRs,” said Oroville coach Harold Jensen. “We got 19 of our 23 athletes through to the district meet.”

NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON – Baseball, fastpitch softball and boys soccer playoffs are underway, and while neither Tonasket nor Oroville are involved, the Tigers’ soccer squad can at least take some satisfaction in knowing they made their mark against a couple of state tournament-bound squads.

OMAK – Tonasket had four tennis players survive the opening round of 1A/2B district tournament play at Omak on Saturday, May 12, and coach Dave Buchheim said that most of them are in good position to advance past the second weekend to the state finals.

TONASKET – Tonasket’s boys and girls track teams combined to send 24 athletes to next week’s District 6/7 regional meet, giving coach Bob Thornton high hopes at putting together a solid contingent for the state finals.

The Tiger boys finished second to Cashmere in the team scoring, while the girls finished fourth.

CENTRALIA – Four Tonasket freestyle wrestlers hit the road again Saturday, May 12, competing in Centralia at the state freestyle finals.

Two earned top-eight finishes.

OKANOGAN – Tonasket’s baseball team had what looked like a chance to scrape out a Caribou Trail League victory in their final weekend doubleheader of the season.

Resurgent Okanogan would have none of it, though the Tigers gave them their best shot in the first game of their Saturday, May 5, twin bill.