Sports...briefly

KGW-TV Channel 8 News reported over the weekend that Pacific County health officials confirmed the first case last Thursday. Three other players were hospitalized on Saturday for treatment of viral meningitis and later released.

Ilwaco school officials decided to cancel the game and all other weekend sports activities as a precaution against spreading the virus, according to the Longview Daily News.

By Monday, health officials had confirmed an additional 34 cases. Also Monday, 160 of Ilwaco High School's 295 students were absent from school Monday out of fear of contracting the illness.

Viral meningitis, which causes inflammation of the tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord, differs from the more serious bacterial meningitis in that it can be treated with bed rest and is rarely fatal.

Symptoms are fever, severe headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to bright lights, drowsiness, nausea and vomiting, and usually last 7-10 days, according to the national Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Viruses that cause viral meningitis are contagious, and are most prevalent during the summer and early fall. Infection commonly is spread through direct contact with an infected person's saliva, sputum or nasal mucus, according to the CDC, which also states that fewer than 1 in 1,000 infected actually develop meningitis.

On Monday, only half of Ilwaco's football team showed up for practice. However, the Fishermen's home game this Friday against Woodland is scheduled to be played. Still to be announced is a make-up date for the Stevenson game.

In addition, Ilwaco's volleyball match with Castle Rock, scheduled for Tuesday, has been postponed until Oct. 27.

Goldendale fell to 0-3 last Friday, losing a non-league Class 1A game to Wahluke, 46-7, in Mattawa.

The Timberwolves scored on a 52-yard run by Brock Warrener in the fourth quarter to avoid being shut out. Warrener finished with 72 yards, while Brandon Chipman gained 96 yards in 23 carries to lead Goldendale.

Golf:

Steve Leek of White Salmon made a hole in one at Husum Hills Golf Course Sept. 10.

Leek scored his ace with a 7-iron on Husum Hills' par-3, 150-yard fifth hole.

Cycling:

Spencer Paxson of Trout Lake placed 53rd among 92 riders during his first professional mountain bike race Aug. 16 in Durango, Colo.

Competing in the Cross Country Pro Men division, Paxson completed the 10-mile race in 2 hours, 12 minutes, 26.23 seconds.

The race was the fifth and final of the 2003 National Off-Road Bicycle Association's National Championship Series.

Emma Pfister of White Salmon took seventh in a field of 10 riders, in the NORBA Cross Country Women Expert Senior 19-24 race on Aug. 15 in Durango. She finished in 2:27:32.69.