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Sufka’s season in jeopardy

Steve Yingling, Tribune Sports Editor

Injuries have started to weaken a promising Whittell High track and field team.

Defending state 800-meter champion Sarah Sufka’s admirable four-year athletic career may be over after tearing an upper thigh muscle prior to Saturday’s meet at Lovelock.

Obviously, the senior three-sport athlete who has a partial track scholarship to Azusa Pacific in Southern California won’t compete in the second annual Battle of the Lake on Tuesday.



“We’re just hoping she has a chance to get back for zone,” said Whittell coach Dan Makley. “We shouldn’t have let her run a Reed (last week). By overdoing it there, she made it a lot worse.”

Makley also held sophomore Luke Forvilly out of several events Saturday because of a sore hamstring. Forvilly was third in the long jump at 19 feet and third in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 17.9 seconds.



Sophomore Chauncey Lane gave the Warriors the biggest lift at Lovelock, according to Makley. Lane’s personal bests included a long jump improvement of seven inches with his leap of 17-9, a sixth-place triple jump of 36-1 and a role in the fifth-place relay team. Joel Warnick, Adrian Norman and Jonathon Nunnally also contributed to the 48.6 relay time.

Whittell’s 3,200-meter relay team was also fifth as Nathan Porter, Eric VanClemput, Brian Sigal and Ben Johnson clocked in at 10:05.

Also, Bob Linkul was second in the discus (145-5) and Mike DeLeon fifth in the 110 hurdles (19.4) and 300 hurdles (46.8).

Karin Kaleta carried the girls team with her fourth-place effort of 31-1 in the triple and fifth spot in the high jump (4-8).

Jake Hurwitz showed off the fastest wheels in Northern Nevada and Dawn Hock gave the South Tahoe High girls its first event victory of the season at the Carson Invitational track and field meet Saturday.

Hock released some emotion after reaching the five-foot barrier to win the high jump. She tracked down coach Rick Brown and gave him a high five.

She was fifth in the triple jump with a hop, skip and jump of 31-1 3/4.

Meanwhile, Hurwitz continued to make the 100 meters his personal playground. The sophomore ran the season’s best electronically kept time of 11.17 to win the 100.

“They all know him as Jake now. If coaches know your first name, you’ve made it,” Brown said.

But that was the easy part of Hurwitz’s day. He also placed second in the long jump with a season-best 21-2 1/4, fifth in his first triple jump competition at 41-5 and ran a leg on the Vikings’ third-place 400 relay team. When Hurwitz grabbed the baton the Vikings were submerged in sixth place, but he overhauled three competitiors.

The 3,200 relay team of Matt Arzio, Jeff Cosmi, Grant Carter and Manuel Lomeli are closing on the school record. Their third-place clocking of 8:40.95 was only seven seconds off the school mark.

“When I told them after the race how close they were to the school record, the first thing out of each their mouths was “‘I can knock four seconds off my time.’ They’re going to destroy that record,” Brown said.

STHS will meet crosstown rival Whittell in the Battle of the Lake at 3 p.m. Tuesday at South Tahoe Middle School.

South Tahoe High demonstrated all of the qualities – solid pitching, home runs and surehanded fielding – that produce winning baseball against Hug on Saturday at Todd Fields.

Chris Hannum pitched a complete-game five-hitter and Tim Sprinkles and Thrace Ramsey cracked homers as the Vikings won the first game of a Northern Nevada 4A League doubleheader, 12-2.

However, momentum from STHS’s second victory of the season didn’t carry over into game two as the Hawks turned the tables, 15-4, in six innings.

“We’ll live with a split, but since we played so strong in the first game I thought we should have won the second game,” said Viking manager Doug Russell.

In the opener, Sprinkles socked a solo homer during the Vikings’ four-run third inning. Ramsey cranked a two-run homer to highlight a five-run fourth inning.

“As the No. 4 hitter in our lineup he sees maybe one to two fastballs per bat. To his credit he’s capitalizing on them,” Russell said.

The Hawks nearly extended the game to its entirety, but reserve Jory Mendes triggered a fifth-inning rally. Leading 11-2, Mendes singled and was replaced by pinch-runner Chris Seals. Seals got into scoring position and scored on a passed ball to end the game because of the league’s 10-run rule.

“We didn’t want to go seven innings. After blowing that big lead in Sparks, we didn’t want to give Hug a chance,” Russell said.

Other big hits came off the bats of Austin Merritt, a single, double and triple; and Jeff Jensen, a triple.

Lefty Dave Roeder quieted the Viking bats to five hits in game two. Sprinkles and Merritt belted homers, but the bases were empty on each drive.

STHS (2-21 overall and 2-18 in league) plays host to Lowry at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Viking rookie JV manager Matt Tillson looked pretty smart after a seventh-inning move against Hug on Saturday in Reno.

With Hug in the midst of a dramatic four-run rally in its last at-bat, Tillson inserted projected game-two starting pitcher Ryan Cullen. Cullen responded by coaxing the final out – a groundout – and preserving STHS’s 14-13 win.

Hug rebounded for a split, winnning game two 13-6.

The Vikings did most of their damage in the fourth inning, scoring nine runs on eight hits. South Tahoe’s top five hitters combined for five doubles. Mike Hennessy was 3 for 5 with a double; Toby O’Brien swatted two doubles, Mike Tillson and Jake Bobman drilled a double and single; and Cody Koffman cracked a pair of singles.

Cullen fanned 10 batters in 4 2/3 innings in game two, but the Vikings struggled at the plate. Cory Poulen and Leo Rodelo led the way with two hits.

STHS (7-11) plays host to Lowry at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Ryan Theilemann and Jeff Koeck each won two events as the South Tahoe High boys swim team remained unbeaten against Sierra League competition with a 117-39 rout of Truckee on Friday in Truckee.

Despite two first places from Denise Bogard and Kristi Collins, the Viking girls were beaten by Truckee, 94-76.

Theilemann won the 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley, while Koeck captured the 50 and 100 freestyle races. Valuable second-place points came from the strokes of Alex Romagnolo in the 100 butterfly, Jon McKean in the 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke and David Quandt in the 100 backstroke.

Bogard touched first in the 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke and Collins did so in the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly. Second-place performances were turned in by Jessica Tinlin in the 100 butterfly, Lisa Borges in the 100 backstroke and Nichole Fruitman in the 500 freestyle.

The Vikings will host the first of consecutive home meets on Friday when Fallon visits the Recreation Center at 2 p.m.

Missy Johnson and Megan Humphreys upped their batting averages, otherwise South Tahoe High offense was virtually nonexistent in a twinbill softball setback to McQueen on Saturday in Reno.

Johnson and Humphreys each connected for two hits in a 7-1 defeat in game one, while Johnson lashed two more hits in a 4-0 loss in game two. Humphreys came out of the doubleheader hitting .380 compared to Johnson’s team-leading .441 average.

“Overall we were pleased with the effort. We played much better,” said Viking manager Jan Johnson. “The kids came away thinking they made improvement. If we can keep doing this, these games will be ours.”

The Vikings scored their only run in the first inning as Corrine Edwards’ single set up STHS’s two toughest outs. Johnson’s single put Edwards in scoring position, and Humphreys’ long single to the fence plated the only run off Serene Hunter.

The Lancers only needed five hits off Johnson because of the Vikings’ fielding miscues, which totalled five.

Edwards stymied McQueen for four innings in game two, but two hits and several errors led to a three-run Lancer fifth. McQueen added a run in the sixth, and Erin Amestoy completed the shutout.

“This kid’s changeup was driving us nuts. A lot of kids came away shaking their heads thinking they could have hit here,” coach Johnson said.

STHS (2-18) will finally see its home field when Hug comes to town on Tuesday.

Following a 57-run barrage, including two grand slams and four other homers, and two pitching gems, Whittell High baseball coach Doyle Wilson became a believer in the Manogue Miners juggernaut program.

“They’re a powerhouse and then some. But we didn’t help our own cause,” Wilson said.

Manogue improved its gaudy record to 25-1 with 32-0 and 28-1 pummelings of the Warriors on Saturday at Lampe Park in Gardnerville.

Brandon Lee’s first-inning single accounted for Whittell’s total offense in the first game.

Trent Gordon started the opener for Whittell but didn’t receive much fielding support, according to Wilson.

Whittell found a little more offense in game two and marked the scoring column in the second inning on a Bryce Schussel single, a steal of second base and Kyle Spingola’s RBI single. Spingola collected two of Whittell’s four hits.

Schussel, who will start Tuesday’s division game against Yerington, pitched a scorless fifth inning – one of only two against the Miners on Saturday.

“They just hit the ball very well. Their homers were true homers, and one guy even hit one 400 feet to dead center,” Wilson said.

Whittell slipped to 4-9 overall and 1-5 in division play.

“Our goal now is to not end up in the cellar like they have the couple of years, and I think we have a good shot at that,” Wilson said.

Whittell High softball coach Lindsay Wines hadn’t seen a perfect game – until Saturday.

Manogue’s Kristina Dulcey retired 15 straight Warriors as the Miners swept a Nevada 3A Division II softball doubleheader, 23-0 and 19-0, Saturday at Lampe Park in Gardnerville.

Ashley Berns prevented the Warriors from the embarrassment of back-to-back noh-hitters as she slashed a second-inning single in game two.

“They are just a far superior team. We are getting better as the season progresses, but we’re still learning game in and game out,” Wines said.

Barker allowed a walk to Stephanie Evans in the fourth inning as Manogue pitching allowed only two baserunners all day. Whittell had 28 errors in the two games.

The Warriors (0-10) oppose Yerington at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Lampe Park.

South Tahoe High’s swimming teams ran the Wooster Colts right out of pool Friday in Incline Village.

The Lady Vikings throttled Wooster 128-25, while the boys cruised to a 121-31 Sierra League triumph.

“The girls and boys had some races with improved times,” said Viking coach Dale Bogard.

Adrian Hankoff, Denise Bogard and Kristi Collins each won two events for the Vikings. Hankoff won the 100 and 50 freestyles, Bogard claimed the 100 backstroke and 200 individual medley and Collins captured first in the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke. The trio also combined with Lisa Anton to win the 200 medley relay and Jessica Tinlin to place first in the 200 free relay.

Other Lady Viking winners were: Tilin, 200 freestyle; Nichole Fruitman, 500 free; and the 400 relay team of Anton, Fruitman, Kim Hunt and Shaina Willen.

Second-place honors went to Alexis Rudd, 500 free; Willen, 100 backstroke and 200 individual medley; Fruitman, 200 free; Hunt, 50 and 100 free; Tinlin, 100 butterfly; and the 400 relay team of Katy Howitt, Lindsay Parker, Shauna Hixenbaugh and Katy Orr.

In the Viking boys romp, Russell Grant and Ryan Theilemann won two events and three relay teams were victorious.

Grant captured the 200 and 500 freestyles, while Theilemann won the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly.

Also delivering valuable first-place points were Tom Luerken in the 100 backstroke and Jon McKean in the 100 breaststroke.

Winning relay teams were the 200 medley squad of Luerken, McKean, Theilemann and Grant; the 200 free quartet of Alex Romagnolo, David Quandt, Jordan Hardy and Scott Miller; and the 400 free grouping of Theilemann, Romagnolo, Grant and Jeff Koeck.

Second-place efforts were turned in by Luerken, 500 free; Koeck, 100 backstroke; Romagnolo, 100 breaststroke and 100 butterfly; McKean, 200 freestyle; Lucas Gallanty, 200 individual medley; Quandt, 50 free; and Scott Miller, 100 freestyle.

South Tahoe will compete against lake rivals Truckee and Incline on Friday in Truckee.

“The competition will be hard. We hope to have some fast swims with more swimmers achieving zone qualifying times,” Bogard said.

Although the zone meet is a month away, the Vikings already know they’ll need a bus to transport their qualifiers. Nine boys and eight girls have already qualified for the May 14-15 meet in Reno.

Home

STHS vs. Hug

Vikngs 12, Hug 2, 5 innings

we came out swinging

Chris Hannum, had cotnrol working and had couple diff pitches wokrng and def just played fab behind hjm, was in command.

5-hitter

Offensively, Austin Merritt, single, double, triple, 2 RBIs; Thrace Ramsey 2-homer , he’s capit on the fast ball, he sees only 1-2 fastballs per bat, he’s getting ahold of the good pitches, which is a credit to him, as No. 4 hitter in our lineup; Jeff Jensen triple; Tim Sprinkles solo homer , third inning.

Thrace in the fourth; 11-1 in fifth, so we had to get three outs, we wanted to get it done then, hug came back to socre run in ffht.

Jory Mendes led foff fifth with single, really nice to see jory come through, we didnt’ want to go 7 innings, we had big lead blew in sparks, didn’t want to give hug a chance.

hasn’t had lot of playig time.

Chris Seals scored on a passed ball.

STHS 2045

second win of season

game 2

Thrace Ramsey, it was just like tems switched uniforms, they came out swining, got thrace early, gave up 1 in first, 2 in second, 2 in third,

Austin Merritt first homer, crafty lefthander really neuuxtralied our lefties, one of better games, he had it going, he just kept our bats quiet.

Roeder, Dave

Hug 15-4 in six innings

Tim Sprinkles hit solom homer in second inning.Five hits,

Austin scored two runs

“we’ll live with split, we played so strong in first game we thought we shold ahve won second game.

the split is something pleased with we got a win, cople more games, swinging well, we seem to playing hard, everyone seems to end season up on a good note

JV Split a doubleheader against Hug

Hit lot of warnng track shots.

First game, STHS 14-13, up 14-9 going into bottom of seventh and they

brought second-game starter in Ryan Cullen to get last out.

groundout on second pitch flipped to second.

Mike Hennessy 3 for 5, double; Toby O’Brien 2 doubles; Mike tillson double and single; Jake Bobman, double and single; Cody Koffman, two singles.

15 hits

fourth inning, we got on a roll, it was amazging nine runs, even our thre outs wee line drives, 8 hits. we lit up their pitcher.

Game 2, Hug 13-6

Ryan Cullen pitched well struck out 10 batters in 4 2/3 innings, lot of errors, walked couple of guys

Cory Poulen went 2 for 2, Leo Rodelo 2 for 2.

STHS 7-11

play Lowry on Tuesday.

Whittell track

few injuries that have set us back some. (Sarah Sufka, torn muscle in upper thigh, I’d say so, we’re just hoping she has a chance to get back to zone; happened before reed, we shouldn’t let her run at reed, by overdoing it there she made it lot worse). whole new world f injury far my experience goes

Luke Forvilly sore hamtring, did couple events and held him out of a coupe, third long jump 19-0, third in 110 hurdles 17.9.

our athlete of meet was chauncey Lane, sophomore, he pr’d in 17-9 long jump best by 7 inches, sixth in triple jump 36-1, ran fantastic league on 4 by 100 relay gave us nice lead that ended up fifth. 48.6 time (Joel Warnick, Adrian Norman and Jonathon Nunnally);

Karin Kaleta 5th in high jump (4-8) and fourth in triple jump (31-1); boys 4 by 800 relay, fifth (Nathan Porter, Eric VanClemput, Brian Sigal and Ben Johnson), 10:05; Ben ran real strong leg, he’s really starting to round into shape.

Bob Linkul second in the discus (145-5); Mike DeLeon, fifth in both hurdle races, 110, 19.4; 300s, 46.8, drama student, he’s been busy

what gonn to say tring out for presti college like, have to say toim. Go for it.

Lovelock, dozen small schools.

We’re trying to hang on with

Battle on Lake on Tuesday, on Saturday compete at Bear Creek INv in stockton.

“I can’ tbe too optmist we wont’ risk anybody that’s hurt, that’s for sure. still be some int and ex ting race, poeple will enjoy it.

“THEY KDIS are looking foraward to it, they are excited about being in front of the home fans and with the meet being south tahoe and us.

Carson Invitational

Hurwitz becoming one man how as far as coring points.

won 100 11.17, fastest in Northern Nevada this year.

He’s right there, funny thing as sophomore

now know him as Jake, all know by his first name, suddenly man is getting respect hre. know y first name you’ve made it.

21-2 1/4 season best, second place,

21-9 school record.

21-8 winning jump

18 points for him, and anchored 4 by 100 relay finished third, were in sixth plce when he got the baton, kind of belw some poeple away on the anchor leg.

fifth in the triple jump, 41-5 1/2 firt time in competition, further than elliot and jeff jumping when they were sophomores.

only wokred on twtice in practice,

4 by 800 relay team (Matt Arzio, Jeff Cosmi, Grant Carter and Manuel Lomeli) finished third, 8:40.95, seven seconds off the school record, .01 of second place, 27 second iprovement over best time this year, what diff being outside makes.

hug finished first, so theyr’e going to start worrying for us.

after finished race, first ting out of their moou;s I can knock four seconds off my time. that’s how much confidence they have. they’re going to destroy the record.

Girls,

Dawn Hock first in high jump, 5-0, she was thrilled, aan finished fifth in triple jump 31 feet, 1 3/4 inches.

Stockton meet 9 a.m.

We’re knocking o the door, it’s matter of who wants to walk in now. two weeks been outside, 10 days, full week last week, and it’s made a real big impact, start have kids throw up practice because they started to work.

B relay team ran prs.

they are coming around just in time.

It doesnt have toe 60-65, as long wind . I’ happy to ahve the opp to showcase our kids locally, to let people see jake that don’t get to see jake.

The kids on s.t. side havent’ said much abou it, whittel coming out to work on track to work out, geez talking batle of lake serious, even letting them practice wit hus.

I dont’ want to say they dont’ care, that atomphoshere, ome of have indiv battles, karin vs. Hock; distance guys vs. Ben and anthony.

no idea what going on nevada side, form what here dan’ team falling aprt of seams. HOpefuly this mee twill stil be fun for comm to come out and watch.

This meet on tuesday is not something mean antying to anyboyd but the community who get to see these kids compete. not mean antyng for qualifying for zone or divisioans. All is good old crosstown rivlary meet, hate to see anybyd comepting for that fact and being jipped out of the canche of competing in Las Vegas next month. I thin the kids are looking running againt whittel becau simple fact dont’ get to do it all the time.


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