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The Eagles are in their third week of an almost rebuilt-from-scratch lineup after eight two-way starters were suspended for the remainder of the season on Oct. 11 for violating the school’s athletic code of conduct.
But all isn’t lost as the end of the regular season approaches Friday.
The Eagles, 3-3 in 1A Southwest Washington Evergreen Division play, control their own future when it comes to grabbing the fourth and final playoff spot to the 1A District IV playoffs. They can clinch the final playoff berth with a win over Forks (2-4 SWW 1A) at 7 p.m. Friday at Davis Field in Elma.
“We’re asking them to play a little harder and tougher,” Hill said.
Elma won three of its first four league games before dropping games to Montesano (63-7) and Hoquiam (56-7). Those losses came without the Eagles’ regulars following the suspensions.
Despite the losses, the Eagles still know what’s at stake.
“We can’t feel sorry for ourselves,” Hill said. “We weren’t put in this position (by) the players we have out on the field.”
This year, the Southwest Washington 1A League revised its district crossover format because District IV now has four state-playoff berths instead of five.
In past years, the league gave automatic playoff berths to the champions of the Evergreen and Trico divisions, who then played each other in the Week 10 title game for state-seeding purposes.
The new plan has the top team from each division – Montesano from the Evergreen, the Trico still to be determined – play host to the fourth-seeded team from the other division, and the second seeds play host to the other division’s third-place team.
NARROWS VOLLEYBALL
The 4A and 3A Narrows League volleyball tournaments begins today. In 3A, Timberline, the No. 2 seed, plays host to Lincoln, the fifth seed, at 6 p.m. The winner will advance to the 10 a.m. semifinal match Saturday at Mount Tahoma. The semifinal winner will face top-seeded Capital at 2 p.m. for the top two seeds into the West Central District III tournament, beginning Nov. 4. Capital has a bye until the title match.
In 4A, Olympia, which has a first-round bye as the No. 2 seed, plays at noon Saturday at Mount Tahoma against the winner of today’s Gig Harbor/South Kitsap match. That winner will advance to the tournament title match at 4 p.m.
POLL RANKS RAMS
The North Thurston Rams made their debut this week at No. 10 in the Washington State Volleyball Coaches Association’s 2A rankings.
The Rams, who completed their EvCo regular season Wednesday night with a victory over River Ridge, have been on a hot streak lately.
The Rams (9-3) have won seven of their past eight matches.
Among their impressive victories were a 3-2 win over No. 4-ranked Tumwater on Oct. 11 and a 3-1 triumph over No. 7-ranked Black Hills on Oct. 20.
VERSATILE SWIMMER
North Thurston senior swimmer Samantha Anders has qualified for the 2A state swimming and diving championships in not one, not two … but seven different events – 100 free, 200 free, 500 free, 200 IM, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly. She also broke school records in the 100 breaststroke and 100 backstroke.
Swimmers are allowed to swim in only two individual events at state.
The Rams completed their third straight undefeated season Tuesday with a dual-meet win over River Ridge. They were in the EvCo subdistrict swimming meet Wednesday.
The team has 23 swimmers who will compete at the District IV swimming meet Nov. 4-5 at The Evergreen State College.
RECORD RUNNERS
It’s been no secret Northwest Christian’s cross country teams have been a dynasty in the 2B ranks, and the Navigators got more big-time performances from their top runners at last week’s Pacific 2B League championships in Ocosta.
Elizabeth Weber not only won the girls race by more than a minute, but she also broke the league and course records with a time of 18 minutes flat. The former course record was 18:06, set by Ocosta’s Erica Garrison in 1994.
On the boys side, Lucas Graham’s winning time of 15:12 broke the league record set by former teammate Justin Holden last year.
2A SOCCER TO START
The Evergreen Conference’s top five girls soccer teams begin District IV play with first-round games Saturday.
Two matchups have been finalized – North Thurston at Black Hills, the EvCo champion and reigning District IV champion, and Washougal at Chehalis.
The Greater St. Helens League’s top two teams, Hockinson and Mark Morris, are tied for first with games remaining today. Should they remain tied, Hockinson holds the head-to-head tiebreaker.
The No. 1 seed faces Tumwater and the No. 2 seed plays Centralia. Times for Saturday’s games have not been announced.
MORE POSTSEASON
The 1B/2B and 1A and 2A District IV cross country meet is Saturday at Lewisville Regional Park in Battle Ground. The 2A girls race kicks things off at 11 a.m. In 2A, the top three teams and 15 individuals advance to the state meet Nov. 5 in Pasco. In 1A, the top four teams and 20 individuals qualify for state. And in 1B/2B, the top two teams and 10 individuals (girls) and top four teams and 20 individuals (boys) advance to state. …
The 4A and 3A Westside Classic cross country championships begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at American Lake Golf Course. The top eight teams and 40 individuals in 4A and the top six teams and 30 individuals in 3A advance to state. …
The West Central District III swimming championships are Friday and Saturday at Puyallup’s Rogers High School. The meet starts at 3 p.m.
Meg Wochnick: 360-754-5473 mwochnick@theolympian.com www.theolympian.com/southsoundsports Twitter: @MegWochnick
