UW makes return trip to Selah

YAKIMA -- Last fall, Bill Harris felt fortunate to lure the University of Washington's nationally ranked fastpitch team to Yakima for a pair of games against Yakima Valley Community College and a clinic for young players.

As it turns out, that visit turned out so well that Harris had almost no trouble getting the Huskies to come back this year.

This weekend, the Huskies return to Selah's Carlon Park fastpitch fields for a doubleheader against Boise State University's first-year program Saturday, and clinics for players ages
8 to 18 on Sunday.

"I talked to Heather (Tarr, the Washington coach) last year and it was kind of a fluke deal," Harris said of the arrangement. "But they came over and it was a positive experience for them. They were excited to come back. And we're so fortunate to pull two NCAA Division I schools, and also provide a quality clinic for girls in the Yakima Valley."

Saturday's doubleheader has games at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Admission is free.

The games feature two former Valley standouts, one on each team. Dru Hester, a West Valley High graduate, plays for the Huskies, while Ellensburg's Laurel Wyatt plays for the Broncos after spending the past two seasons at Wenatchee Valley Community College.

In addition to that local flavor, the game will also offer spectators an added bonus -- a chance to watch an Olympian in action.

Washington is led by pitcher Danielle Lawrie, who missed last year's games here because she had left the team to join the Canadian national team to prepare for the Beijing Olympics.

While the game will feature top-flight college softball, what's more important, in Harris' view, is the clinics the Washington players will conduct Sunday.

For ages 8 to 12, there is an all-skills clinic from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., and a pitching clinic from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For ages 13 to 18, the pitching clinic is from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., with the all-skills clinic from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cost is $30 for one clinic or $55 for both, with the fee including a T-shirt. Checks should be made payable to UW softball.

Pre-registration begins at 7:45 a.m.

"Usually a UW clinic (in Seattle) costs $50 to $100, so this is really a nice value and an opportunity for girls from the Yakima Valley to come out and get some good instruction," Harris said.

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