Kelso running back Lane Sari, who rushed for 21 touchdowns as the Hilanders narrowly missed advancing to the postseason, is one of five Kelso football players who have been named to the all-Greater St. Helens 4A League first team by the league’s coaches.

Hilanders coach Pat Hymes, who led his team to a 6-3 record which included three league victories, was named the league’s Coach of the Year.

Sari, a 190-pound senior, was joined on the first team by offensive linemen Justin O’Neil and Tim Davison, defensive lineman Gage Townsend and linebacker Jared O’Neil.

League champion Skyview placed seven players on the first team, including receiver Karl Graves, tight end Dallin Shirley, offensive lineman Cody Fields, linebacker Johnny Barrett, defensive back Ian Zarosinski and defensive back, receiver and kick returner Ellis Henderson.

Also named to the first team were: Mountain View defensive backs Andrew White and Lucas Swanson, and defensive lineman Zach Chapman; Battle Ground running back/linebacker Komivi Akengue and offensive lineman Zane Shaut; Heritage receiver C.J. Hatchett and defensive lineman Dean Rogers; and Evergreen offensive lineman Jason Tia Tia.

Second-team picks included Kelso defensive lineman Jarod Nickerson, linebacker Ben Warthen and defensive back Aaron Hightower.

A pair of quarterbacks — Skyview’s Austin Dodge and Garrett Grayson of Heritage — shared the league’s Offensive Player of the Year award. Lineman Dallin Shirley of Skyview was the Defensive Player of the Year.

Naselle places six on all-Pacific League team

A half-dozen student-athletes from Naselle were named to the all-Pacific 2B League first team in football after a recent vote of the league’s coaches.

Running back Logan Scrabeck and lineman Seth Scrabeck were selected from the Comets’ offense, and linemen Robert Eaton and Ryley Queener, linebacker Alan Erickson and defensive back Austin Burkhalter were selected on defense.

Also named to the league’s first team were Willapa Valley quarterback/defensive back Matt Friese, offensive/defensive lineman Will Rockett, offensive lineman J.J. Carney, offensive lineman/linebacker Jake Gerow and running back/punter /kicker Jon Nissell; South Bend receiver/defensive back Terrell Boyes, offensive lineman/linebacker Myron Smith, running back Zach Boyes, defensive lineman Kristian Burger and defensive back David Lorton; Ocosta running back/linebacker Shane Titherington; Raymond receiver Dillon Adair; and North Beach receiver Jason Fry.

Rob Friese, who guided Willapa Valley to the league title, was named Coach of the Year. Naselle and Ocosta were co-winners of the Sportsmanship Award.

Toutle’s Malakoff named Central 2B volleyball MVP

Toutle Lake senior libero Brandi Malakoff, who led the Ducks to a third-place finish at the Class 2B state volleyball tournament, has been selected Most Valuable Player of the Central 2B League.

Don Merzoian, who guided the Ducks to their sixth consecutive district title, was named the league’s Coach of the Year by his peers.

Joining Malakoff on the league’s first team were TL setters Hayley Gorton and Caitlin Perrin; Wahkiakum outside hitter Jordyn Wirkkala; Adna middle blocker Jessika-Jo Sandrini and setter Taylor Hoke; and Mossyrock libero Rodina Jones and outside hitter Staci Jacobson.

Second-team picks included TL outside hitter Tiffany Wend and middle blocker Payton Hoff, and Wahkiakum outside hitter Blaine Land.

Honorable mention selections included Ducks middle hitter Jamie Wall and setter Abby Gorton, and Wahkiakum setter Halie Boyce.

Kelso’s Paytyn Wheeler is GSHL 4A soccer POY

Kelso junior Paytyn Wheeler was named the Offensive Player of the Year for the Greater St. Helens 4A League in girls soccer after a vote of the league’s coaches.

Heritage goalkeeper Natalie Harold was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year, and Battle Ground’s J.J. Klaus was the Coach of the Year.

Also named to the league’s first team were Skyview forwards Sheaffer Skadsen and Brittany Wilson, midfielders Ileanna Zaballa and Rebecca Sikora, and defender Madison Stumpf; Battle Ground forwards Aubri Squires and Cassie Black, defenders Liz Smarr and Lindsey Watson, and midfielder Haley Grossman; Evergreen forward Nicole Mattson; and Mountain View midfielder Rachel Wilmoth.

Kelso’s Cassy Teig was named to the second team, and honorable mention picks included Kelso’s Jena Bloomfeldt and Leilani Barker.

Three Kelso runners on GSHL cross country team

Kelso has placed two girls and a boy on the all-Greater St. Helens 4A League cross country team.

Katie Wood and Kelly Swanson of Kelso were named to the girls’ first team, joining Skyview’s Elise Yoshioka and Julie Yoshioka, Battle Ground’s Nicole Tester, and Abby Knight of Heritage.

Kelso’s Garrett McDaniel was joined on the boys’ first team by Skyview’s Ryan Cavola and Colby Gilbert, Mountain View’s Bryan Eastes and Chadd Wish, and Jorge Torres of Heritage.

Skyview runners Chase Horrocks and Priscilla Timmons were selected the boys’ and girls’ Runners of the Year, respectively. Skyview also had both Coaches of the Year, with Chris Erdman for the boys and Ron Heidenrich for the girls.

WIAA moves softball pitching distance back

In a vote that gained overwhelming approval from the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Executive Board, prep and middle school softball pitchers will have their pitching distance to home plate moved to 43 feet beginning this spring.

Through last season, prep and middle school pitchers in Washington threw from 40 feet. Oregon moved its pitching slabs back to 43 feet at the beginning of last season, the same distance as gold-level club teams and college programs.

Pitchers who toil from 43 feet concur that although fastballs may be a little easier to hit, it gives their breaking pitches more distance to react.