IAN BIVONA
Ian Bivona serves as the Columbia Basin Herald’s sports reporter and is a graduate of Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. He enjoys the behind-the-scenes stories that lead up to the wins and losses of the various sports teams in the Basin. Football is his favorite sport, though he likes them all, and his favorite team is the Jets. He lives in Soap Lake with his cat, Honey.
Recent Stories
Basin golfers swing strong at state
COLUMBIA BASIN – Four golfers finished in the top 10 of their respective state golf tournaments last week, including a state champion and a runner-up from Almira/Coulee-Hartline and Ephrata.
State track and field results
Ephrata’s Roberts, Belino win state titles
MOSES LAKE – Five state championships were won by local track and field athletes at last week’s State Track and Field Championships, hosted in Tacoma for 4A-2A teams and Yakima for 1A-1B teams.
Title secured: Knights win 1A softball championship
RICHLAND — The Royal offense exploded to put up 16 runs on the board in Saturday’s 1A state championship game against No. 6 seed Seton Catholic, as the No. 8 Knights defeated the Cougars 16-4 in six innings to take home their first state championship in fastpitch softball.
Huskies go 3-2 at state tournament
SELAH – No. 9 seed Othello went 3-2 at last week’s 2A State Softball Tournament in Selah, picking up wins against No. 8 Olympic, No. 14 Enumclaw, No. 12 Lynden but suffering losses to No. 1 Sedro-Woolley and No. 2 North Kitsap. The Huskies’ opening game of the tournament was a rematch of last season’s state opening round, facing off against the Olympic Trojans. Othello lost 11-3 a year ago.
Cougars take second in 2B softball tournament
YAKIMA — Reaching their first state championship game in program history, the No. 6 seed Warden Cougars fell 13-5 to No. 1 Adna, placing second in the 2B State Softball Tournament.
Cougars defeat Broncos in 2B softball first round
Friday matches push Warden to 2B state championship game
YAKIMA – The first round of the 2B State Softball Tournament saw a matchup of teams from the Columbia Basin, with the No. 6 seed Warden Cougars mounting a comeback to defeat the No. 11 seed Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos 6-4 on Friday. LRS led the game 2-0 through the fourth inning.
Royal bests Cedar Park Christian in 1A semifinals
Knights make second straight state championship game
RICHLAND – The No. 8 seed Royal Knights got back to the 1A State Softball Tournament’s championship game after defeating No. 4 Cedar Park Christian 6-4 in the semifinal on Saturday morning, capitalizing on a four-run bottom of the first to take an early lead. Royal bested No. 1 seed Montesano, who the Knights played in last season’s state title game, 6-4 in the state quarterfinals on Friday.
Knights fall to Overlake in 1A title match
RENTON – A late goal allowed No. 4 seed Overlake to defeat No. 3 Royal in Saturday’s 1A boys soccer state title game in Renton, with the Owls saving a Royal penalty kick in second-half stoppage time to seal the 1-0 victory.
Knights open state playoffs with win over Klahowya
RICHLAND – No. 8 seed Royal opened up the 1A State Softball Tournament with a win against No. 9 Klahowya on Thursday, defeating the Eagles 10-0 at Columbia Playfields in Richland. “I think the girls were confident and really meshing well after four games on Saturday at districts,” Royal Head Coach Lisa Lawrence said. “They came in aggressive and ready to play.” The Knights picked up 11 hits in the win, led by senior Raegan Wardenaar, junior Lily Delarosa, sophomore Taylor Webb and junior Adalynn Andersen, who all had two hits.
Track and field state begins
Local track and field teams began state competition on Thursday, with 4A, 3A and 2A teams competing at Mt. Tahoma High School in Tacoma and 1A, 2B and 1B teams traveling to Yakima to compete at Eisenhower High School. Results from the meets will be included in the Columbia Basin Herald next week.