Spring Sports A to Z

Last week, the local newspaper published this article. I thought it was cute ... I guess I am a little partial to the letter "C" though! D, S & V were our other FAVORITES!!

It’s time to stir from winter hibernation and reemerge from musty gymnasiums into the sunlight of the spring sports season. To prepare you for what awaits at the diamonds, tracks, courts and fairways, we’ve got you covered from A to Z.

A is for almanac, which lists mid-50s as Magic Valley’s average March temperature.

B is for Bruins golf. Twin Falls’ girls have won eight Class 5A state team titles this decade, while the boys have won three.

C is for Casey Christiansen. The anchor of Minico’s pitching staff during last year’s state title run with a 2.18 ERA, Christiansen is back for his junior season.

D is for doubleheaders, worth ditching work early for.

E is for eye black smeared on faces.

F is for food from ballpark concession stands.

G is for Great Basin Conference. Adding Twin Falls and Canyon Ridge changes the dynamics of the GBC across the board in all spring sports.

I is for inches, 36 inches to be exact. Moving the softball pitching rubber back three feet will change the game.

J is for jumpers, soaring high and long.

K is for Kimberly. Can the Bulldogs match last year’s stellar spring season, in which they won state in softball and boys track, along with a runner-up finish in girls track?

L is for Leckenby. Buhl baseball took third at state in 2009 and should be solid again with Washington State-bound J.D.

M is for Makings. Kimberly ace Nellie Makings is back for her junior season after recording 200 strikeouts and 0.44 ERA for the state champion Bulldogs last year.

N is for Nolan Stouder. On the mound and at the plate, the Wendell star is a clutch performer.

O is for old school. Moving to Class 4A has been kind to Twin Falls, which has earned District IV championships in football, volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys basketball. The Bruins are positioned to carry that dominance into the spring.

P is for Pilots from Glenns Ferry, who are tired of runner-up and third-place state finishes in just about every boys sport for the past few years. Can G.F. finally break the spell with all but two players returning from last year’s runner-up baseball club?

Q is for quickness, out of the blocks and off the bags.

R is for rivalries, not the least of which is Buhl-Kimberly softball. The Indians and Bulldogs have combined to win the past three 3A state titles.

S is for sunflower seeds, whether they be David or Spitz, packed in your cheeks, the ground littered with shells.

T is for tennis, and it’s all about the Wood River Valley, with perennial powers Wood River in Class 4A and Community School in 3A.

U is for underclassmen, which Buhl’s state champion girls track team luckily had a lot of last season.

V is for vision tests that should be required for all umpires.

W is for weather, causing havoc on Idaho’s spring sports schedules.

X is for the X-factor, which every team hopes to have.

Y is for yardage markers, “Your honor,” and “You’re away.”

Z is for the zone. Get in it.

1 nice notes:

Camille said...

I'm a little partial to the C as well. Ok, maybe a lot partial. :)