DW Spring Sports-this week

D/W golf on Wednesday, track on Friday and softball and baseball on Saturday, DW young athletes are competing with intensity; some for the first time since seventh grade.

Golf

The golf team traveled to Milton-Freewater to compete on a 9 hole par-30 course. Top DW players, Caleb Barron and Garrett Palmer are the only two returning golfers from the 2021 shortened season. Coach McGhan stated that though the team is inexperienced, he saw a lot of good things from the kids, especially around the greens.

"I was very happy with all of them as far as etiquette and composure", said McGhan.

Other Wolfpack golfers were Theo Anderson, Lucas VanHoose, Will Ahler and Claudia Benavides. The team will be tested on Wednesday, March 23 at a tournament at Wine Valley Golf Course in Walla Walla, said McGhan.

Track & Field

Twenty teams competed at the Windbreaker Invite track meet in Wahluke on Friday, March 18. It was the first full day invite for the DW track athletes and there was a lot to learn about managing their temperature, hydration, equipment, and warm-up status for a long time outside, said Coach Nechodom.

It was good to see Vaughn Walter keep a clear perspective even though he felt he could have cleared the next height in the high jump. He'd not been able to jump since his 7th grade year, and he paused after his first few jumps to go run the 400-meter dash. It's hard enough to stand after that race, so even attempting to high jump is a win in my mind, added Nechodom.

Hudson Reser said about his 200m run (which was late into the evening), "I felt really good about my acceleration. I didn't go out too fast and felt good pretty much until the end."

Reser, Walter, Tristan Rennaker, and Alex Dahlby participated on the men's team while Cedar Stegall, Marion Duncan, Julia Brooks and Addison Crenshaw competed on the women's team. The teams will be in Clarkston on Wednesday to face eight other small schools in the Southern 2B invite

Softball

Both the softball and baseball teams competed in doubleheaders at DeSales on Saturday, March 19. Although they lost both games, Coach Crenshaw was extremely proud of how the young men continued to compete throughout both games; even when things weren't going their way. The team had an inning in each game where they struggled, but they will learn from that, the coach said.

"There are a lot of positives to take out of our first outing and I look forward to watching the team grow throughout the season", said Crenshaw.

DW lost the first game 21-0 with Jasper Morrow and Levi Bourdieau sharing pitching duties. Coach said a highlight in the first game was when Cyson Morris made a spectacular catch in center for a key out.

In the second game, the Wolfpack lost 24-6.  Klint Kuykendall, Zachary Durham, Keon Lindley and Cyson Morris all pitched. Klint Kuykendall had 2 hits and 2 RBIs in the game while Levi Bourdieau scored twice. DW led 6-1 going into the 3rd inning. DW will travel to Cle-Elum on Saturday, March 26, for a doubleheader. The Wolfpack's first home game will be Tuesday, March 29, in Waitsburg starting at 3 pm.

 In their first outing of the season, the softball team lost both games to DeSales, 11-1 and 19-9.  The team will next play at Cle-Elum on Saturday, March 26. Their first home game will be Tuesday, March 29, in Dayton.  First pitch at 3 pm.