Sports Digest

Gorge United played positive and attractive soccer from the opening whistle, according to coach Pero Lovrin. "The home team dominated and created many opportunities in the first half but was unable to convert them into a score."

However, the second half started with an offensive explosion by United. Alexis Gomez scored in the first and third minutes after some exceptional passing combinations.

Mark Lovrin converted a penalty kick in the 13th minute to build the lead to 3-0 and put the home team in firm control.

Even then, Gorge United kept up the pressure and continued creating opportunities for itself. It added two more goals in the closing minutes.

"It was truly an impressive team performance," Lovrin said. "Although we played summer tournaments, I did not expect that we would perform at this level this early in the season. After all, we just had a five-week break from soccer."

Nonetheless, United players impressed their coach with sharp passing, outstanding player movement, solid defense and resourceful second-half goal finishing. "Usually, I don't see this high level of performance this early in the season," Lovrin noted. "It's a good base to build on."

Gorge United will travel to Longview this Saturday, Sept. 20, for its second match and to Vancouver on Sunday for its third. United's next home match is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27, at 3 p.m.

Prep Cross Country:

Neola Putnam of Glenwood was the runner-up in the girls race, in a time of 15 minutes flat, last Saturday at the Ellensburg Invitational meet.

Putnam, a senior, ran second to Danielle Friend of Ephrata. Friend finished 12 seconds ahead of Putnam, who herself crossed the finish line 12 seconds in front of third-place Audrey Urlacher of West Valley (Yakima).

Prep Volleyball:

Lyle/Wishram dropped its Sept. 9 season-opening match--a non-league affair--to Bickleton in five sets. The Pirates prevailed 25-23, 19-25, 25-19, 19-25, 15-11.

7th-Grade Football:

Ryan Earls returned a kickoff for a touchdown and Ben Childs scored on a quarterback keeper in Henkle Middle School's 26-12 season-opening loss to Wind River here last Thursday.

"The guys played a good game for their first one," noted Grizzlies Coach Dan Smith.

The key to a better showing in their next game? "Defensively we need to tackle better and keep containment," said Smith.

8th-Grade Football:

Jake Kitchen scored a pair of touchdowns, Zack Irwin added one and Juan Mendoza converted 2-of-3 PAT kicks to account for Henkle Middle School's 22 points in its shutout of visiting Wind River last Thursday.

Defensive standouts for the Grizzlies included Irwin, Kitchen, Mendoza, Taylor Feller, Austin Rabinowitz and Spencer Story, who had an interception.

Grizzlies Coach Dan Smith is hoping the solid play of Henkle's defensive unit will be a staple this season. "We went to a 3-5 defense this year and our linebacking corps is going to be tough."

Overall, Smith said he was pleased with the team's performance, though he spotted areas where Henkle has room for improvement.

"We need to clean up some mental mistakes and penalties that allowed Wind River to keep some drives alive," he noted, "but we will learn and get better."

Swimming:

Did Michael Phelps or Dara Torres get you inspired to swim when you watched the Olympics this summer? Come check out the Hood River Valley Swim and the Columbia Gorge Masters this fall.

The local swim teams for youths and adults got back in the Hood River Aquatics Center pool on Monday, Sept. 15.

For more information, call coach Shelly Rawding at (509) 493-4679 or visit the teams' Web site, hrvst.org.