With 7 Sophomores, Pitcher With Cast, Yelm Upsets White River

Having seven sophomores in the starting lineup, including a right-handed pitcher with a cast on his left arm, didn't hamper Yelm High School yesterday in a Pierce County League baseball game.

After all, the Tornados were playing rival White River High School in Buckley. The Hornets are ranked seventh in this week's Class AA state baseball poll.

Yelm upset state-ranked White River 4-2.

"We've won six years in a row up there," Yelm Coach Gary Walker said. "I don't know what it is, but things just happen. They (White River) are a good, solid club, and well-coached. We just had some gutsy performances today."

One of those gutsy performances was turned in by sophomore pitcher Shane Savage. Because of a broken hand, Savage wears a hard cast from elbow to wrist on his left hand. After delivering the ball, the right-hander shifts his glove to his pitching hand.

Savage wiggled out of a couple of jams and went the distance for yesterday's victory. He struck out eight batters and allowed six hits along the way. In the fourth with the bases loaded and only one out, Savage survived without yielding a run. In the bottom of the seventh with the score tied, he fanned White River's No. 3 and No. 4 batters.

Yelm dissolved the tie with two runs in the top of the eighth. Sophomore Tim Beaudin delivered a run-scoring single and sophomore Andy Dolman had a two-out RBI double.

Dolman is on a hot streak. Last week, he went 7 for 9 at the

plate. In two games so far this week, he is 3 for 6 with four RBI.

Walker had to boot four starters off the baseball team for chewing tobacco - a violation of Washington Interscholastic Activities Association rules. Yelm has a 5-7 league record, 8-7 mark overall.

White River held on to first place but fell to 9-2 in the league, 12-2 overall.

SPSL BASEBALL

-- Kentridge can clinch at least a tie for the South Puget Sound League's North Division baseball title today with a victory at Kentwood. The fourth-ranked Chargers have an 8-1 division record, while Kent-Meridian held down second place with a 7-3 mark.

Kentridge and K-M each has two games remaining after today. The Royals have a bye today.

Next week, Kentridge plays Decatur and Federal Way while Kent-Meridian closes with Auburn and Jefferson. The SPSL North Division and South Division winners earn automatic berths in the state playoffs.

The top three finishers in each division will play in the SPSL tournament on May 14-15 at Kent Memorial Field. The league will send three representatives to the state playoffs.

BASEBALL CLINIC

-- A baseball clinic for youngsters age 8 to 15 will be held Saturday at Yelm Middle School from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost is $5.

Clinic speakers include Pregener, Washington High coach; Tom Hatch, Steilacoom coach; and Ken Waite, Aberdeen coach.