Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009

Soccer notebook: Kamiakin, Richland decide district for 11th time

By Jack Millikin, Herald staff writer

Saturday's CBBN district championship between Kamiakin and Richland certainly won't be the first time the two teams have met to decide a district title.

This will be the 11th time since 1991 that the Bombers and Braves have played in the district championship. Of Kamiakin coach Chris Erikson's 10 district titles, seven have come against Richland -- the last in 2000.

"The thing that impresses me is, I'm looking at the district playoffs, and we have 17 appearances in 24 years," Erikson said. "We're a program that consistently rises to the playoffs, a team that developed a winning tradition."

It has been five years since the teams have faced each other for a championship, but the rivalry has certainly not been lost on either coach.

Erikson won her 321st game Tuesday, 2-1 over Pasco, to give Kamiakin (13-2) its 10th straight win. Sara Elfering is in her first season as Bombers coach, but the former Richland player made an impressive debut at 14-1.

But the records won't mean much at 1 p.m. at Bomber Field.

"I don't know if there's a typical Chris Erikson or Kamiakin team. They're always well-prepared," Elfering said. "There are no big names as far as individuals. Just two great, complete teams playing each other."

There will be three other CBBN 4A district matchups Saturday, all loser-out contests: Moses Lake at Eisenhower (3 p.m.), Wenatchee at Southridge (1 p.m.) and Chiawana at Pasco (1 p.m.).

Other Saturday action: In the 3A regional tournament, Shadle Park travels to Hanford at noon, and North Central takes on East Valley in Spokane at 1 p.m.

The CWAC districts feature Othello and Prosser hosting at 1 p.m. the winners of two play-in matchups contested today.

Finally, the SCAC district tournament will feature three games in Royal City: Naches Valley vs. Wahluke at 11 a.m., Kiona-Benton vs. Royal at 1 p.m. -- both of them winner-to-state matches -- and then the district championship of Connell vs. Highland at 3 p.m.