Another big weekend

Last Wednesday and Saturday Lind Ritzville High School hosted the state regional track meet at Jimmie Snider Field and our wonderful track. 1B and 2B teams from Districts 7 and 9 were at the event with top individuals and relay teams heading to the state meet at Eisenhower High School in Yakima this Friday and Saturday. Adam Dirks and I were at the triple jump on Wednesday and the long jump on Saturday. We manned the pit with the help of several high school track team members Fredy, Cam, Bridger and Brody when they weren't involved with competition. Their help was greatly appreciated.

Having good volunteers is essential to running a successful meet. The difference between a meet like this one and the Undeberg Invitational is that at this meet the top individuals compete. At the Invite there are many kids still working on trying to improve a time or height or distance. You won't have anyone at a regional competing for the first time. They have to have a time or distance recorded.

Most of the kids that are competing have been to Ritzville before and are great kids. The competition is fierce and since it is a state qualifier only the athletes, coaches, workers and media can be out near the competition. Family, friends and fans need to be in the stands or outside the fenced area. I do enjoy the family and fans watching at the Undeberg meet, but it is nice to only need to answer questions from the coaches and participants.

The Broncos will be sending six boys in three individual events and two relays. The girls will send four and two alternates in two individual events and one relay. The competition will begin with several field events starting at 10:00 A.M. and preliminary races beginning at 11:30.

Last Friday the Bronco girls' softball team rallied in the 7th inning to defeat Kettle Falls 12-10. They followed that victory up in a loser out game against Asotin. LRS defeated the Panthers 16-2 with a 13 run 4th inning. The game ended after the 5th inning with the 10 run mercy rule. Now the 11th seeded Broncos need to travel to Yakima to play 6th seeded Warden in a 10:00 loser out game on Friday. The game will be played at the Gateway Sports Complex. The winner of this game will move on to the double elimination quarterfinal round at 2:00 P.M.

Lance Williamson and competed in the golf state tournament Monday and Tuesday in Tumwater. It was a great senior year for Lance. Beau Fode was an alternate.

For all of our local athletes we wish you all the best and we are proud of the hard work and dedication. This work has paid off to reach state at this time of year. Good luck to all of you!

Besides these events this weekend there will also be a few things going on in Ritzville. This is RHS/LRHS Alumni weekend and it is always a fun time.

Be sure to go downtown on Saturday for a parade, car show, Corn Hole tournament at the Burroughs' Home Museum which will also be open to tour. The Railroad Depot Museum will be open for the summer starting Saturday at noon.

If you like art Pop Up at the Park will again will be at the city park on Saturday and Sunday. There will be plenty of artists and vendors on hand. I've often heard that there is nothing to do in a small town but between last weekend and this weekend there will be a lot of things to do along with visiting with alums that are back in town this weekend.

On Monday the annual fireman's breakfast will be at the fire station on First Street. Great pancakes and German sausage is hard to beat especially when some awesome volunteer firefighters are doing the cooking.

At noon at the cemetery be sure to attend the Memorial Day service which is very thoughtful and inspiring. If you want to be a part of something special then on Friday afternoon at five the flags will be put up at around the cemetery. On Monday afternoon at five the flags will be taken down and help will be needed then as well. This is a very important community need and if you can give 30-40 minutes to help out it would be much appreciated.

This is another big weekend and it will be a fun time for all and plenty of things to do for most everybody.

- Dale Anderson is a sports columnist from Ritzville. To contact him, email [email protected].