Top sports stories of 2008

The Monarchs' Jeremy Wolf (9) leaps up on teammate Jake Welch after scoring a touchdown during this year's controversial Civil War football game. Greg Ebersole / Daily News file

Saturday, January 3, 2009 9:59 AM PST

By Rick McCorkle

A female wrestler becomes the state’s first two-time state champion. A girls basketball team caps an undefeated season with a state title. And a community college softball team adds to its legacy with another conference crown.

Those are the storylines that make up some of the top local sports stories of 2008. The Daily News sports staff voted on this year’s Top 10, and today we’re focusing on Nos. 1-5. On Tuesday, Nos. 6-10 were featured.

Here’s a glance at the stories, counting down from No. 5 to No. 1.

NUMBER 5

Beach wins second state title

At the beginning of last season, Kelso High sophomore Alisha Beach stated it was her goal to capture four consecutive state wrestling championships to duplicate the feat of former Hilander grappling great Brandon Sitch.

Wrestling in the girls’ 160-plus weight division, Beach pinned all four of her opponents during Mat Classic XX in February at the Tacoma Dome to move halfway to her goal. The title also made her the state’s first female two-time champion.

Beach pinned Dimishia Harris of Yelm in her opening match, and backed it with fall victories over Cloe Grafwallner of Mount Baker in the quarterfinals, Deidra Starrett of Colfax in the semifinals and Lisa Tinney of Clover Park.

Beach pinned Tinney in 40 seconds.

NUMBER 3 (tie)

Civil War football game ends in double-forfeit

The latest edition of the Civil War football game between Mark Morris and R.A. Long contested on Halloween night resulted in the most bizarre result in the 62-game history of the cross-town rivalry.

The final scoreboard read Mark Morris 53, R.A. Long 20, but in the end neither team was credited with a victory.

MM appeared to have clinched the second playoff berth from the Greater St. Helens 2A League with the win, but it was discovered that the Monarchs had used an ineligible player and would have to forfeit to the Lumberjacks. The forfeit would’ve resulted in a three-way tie for second place and a coin flip to break the tie.

A day later, RAL coach Erik Bertram discovered that he also used an ineligible player in the game and also violated eligibility rules.

Both teams had violated rule 57.4.0 of the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association handbook, which covers specific eligibility requirements for high school football. It states that “a football participant shall be eligible to compete in up to four quarters of play during any three-day period of the season.”

In each case, players who had participated in all four quarters of the freshman game between both schools earlier in the week were also used in the closing minutes of the Civil War matchup.

Both teams still advanced to the postseason. MM topped W.F. West 23-14 in the district crossover game before losing to Blaine in the first round of the state playoffs, and RAL fell to Centralia 34-21 in the district crossover game.

NUMBER 3 (tie)

May inks contract with the Philadelphia Phillies

After leading the Kelso Hilanders to a second-place finish in the Class 3A State Baseball Championships and earning Class 3A State Player of the Year honors, Trevor May kicked off his summer by inking a professional baseball contract with the Philadelphia Phillies in June.

May was drafted on June 5 by the Phillies in the fourth round of the Major League Baseball Draft, the 136th overall pick. He inked a five-year contract that included a $375,000 signing bonus and a $150,000 education fund to be held in escrow until May decides to attend college.

“We got the best arm out of the Northwest, for sure,” Phillies scout Dave Ryles said at the time of May’s signing. “Trevor is one of the top pitchers in the United States, with the best upside and projection in the country. The Phillies are very pleased. This is a good day for Philadelphia.”

May, who skipped over a baseball scholarship to the University of Washington, reported to the Phillies’ Gulf Coast League rookie team, where he compiled a 1-1 record with a 3.75 earned run average in five games, including two starts.

During his final campaign with Kelso, the 6-foot-5 May went 11-1 with a 1.02 earned run average and 128 strikeouts. In the Hilanders’ victory over Meadowdale in the state semifinals — his final start at Kelso — the right-hander pitched a three-hitter and struck out 12.

NUMBER 2

Undefeated Rainier girls win state basketball title

After rolling through the regular season with relative ease, the Rainier High School girls basketball team continued its domination in the postseason, culminating with a 35-31 victory over Myrtle Point to finish with a 29-0 record and the Oregon Class 3A championship in March.

The title was the school’s first in basketball. The Columbians were led by junior guard Mollee Schwegler, who was unanimously voted to the all-tournament team and named Oregon’s Class 3A Player of the Year.

The 5-foot-5 Schwegler averaged 18.6 points per game for the Columbians, and had 22 points, three steals, three assists and five rebounds in the title game.

Rainier coach Doug Knox was selected the 3A state Coach of the Year. Brittany Wright was a third-team all-state pick, and Kayla Nagunst was honorable mention.

NUMBER 1

LCC softball nab third straight NWAACC crown

Some things never change, particularly when it comes to the Lower Columbia College women’s softball team winning the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges softball tournament held each May at Portland’s Delta Park.

The Lady Devils won their third straight conference crown and ninth in the past 10 years when they topped division rival Mount Hood 7-5 in a nine-inning thriller in the title game, capped by a two-out, walk-off grand slam from sophomore third baseman Hayley Ridout.

The grand slam put the finishing touches on a 45-8 season by LCC, and brought the school its conference-record 10th championship since 1994.

Carri O’Neil scattered seven hits and struck out four in the title game to earn tournament Most Valuable Player honors. She finished her LCC career with a postseason record of 10-0.

Related article:

Top sports stories of 2008: No. 6 to No. 10