One of the key components of the new format for state basketball tournaments is that it limited the overlap between the winter and spring seasons.
Here in Clark County, unless you were a girl playing basketball at Prairie or a boy playing basketball at Columbia Adventist, you were able to show up last Monday for the first day of spring practices.
In past years, that wasn’t the case, meaning that when most spring athletes were ready for their first regular-season events, many winter athletes were not yet eligible to participate in spring sports. The WIAA requires that athletes in most sports participate in 10 practices before playing in their first regular-season event.
In fact, in past seasons, there were some spring teams playing regular-season games while some winter state tournaments were still being contested.
That won’t happen this year.
The winter sports season officially ended on Saturday with state champions being crowned in basketball for all classifications.
Most spring sports teams will not open their regular seasons until next week. However, a select few teams are getting the early jump on their seasons with games this week. And it’s those games we’ll highlight here.
GIRLS GOLF: Golf is one of those sports that does not have a minimum amount of practices before allowing a player to take part in competition. Because of that, several area teams will be participating in one of two preseason jamboree events on Tuesday at either Green Mountain Golf Course or Three Rivers Golf Course in Kelso.
On Thursday, the spring sports season officially kicks off with a pair three-way golf matches involving Clark County schools. Prairie, Battle Ground and Heritage will have a match at Club Green Meadows, while Hudson’s Bay, Skyview and Evergreen will meet at Green Mountain.
BASEBALL: If teams practiced six days last week and four more this week, they could be eligible to start their regular seasons on Friday. That’s what four county baseball teams are planning to do. Columbia River will play at Battle Ground and Prairie will play at Mountain View. Although Prairie and Mountain View are Class 3A Greater St. Helens League rivals, Friday’s opener will be a non-league game.
Baseball games continue Saturday with Skyview at Mountain View, Prairie at Heritage and Union at Kelso.
SOFTBALL: And some local softball teams will be participating in a preseason jamboree on Saturday. The Fort Vancouver Trappers will open their season by traveling to White Salmon for a game Saturday.
Of course, baseball and softball games are dependent on the often fickle springtime weather in Southwest Washington. The forecast for Friday and Saturday calls for showers with high temperatures right around 50 degrees.
WINTER REVISIT: WIAA executive director Mike Colbrese told the Seattle Times that the WIAA will begin to take input on Monday from members schools, both from those who did and did not advance to the basketball state tournaments, about this year’s format change.
Member schools are directed to leave their opinions at www.wiaa.com.
Colbrese said future formats for the state tournament won’t be driven purely by finances. Other issues being considered is the overlap with spring sports, reduction in loss of school time and reduction in travel and costs.
Tim Martinez is the assistant sports editor/prep coordinator for The Columbian. He can be reached by phone at (360) 735-4538 or e-mail at tim.martinez@columbian.com
