Netflix documentary to feature Richland grad, soccer Hall of Fame inductee Hope Solo

Richland High graduate Hope Solo has had a rollercoaster ride of a professional women’s soccer career.

But most of it was great, judging by her induction into the United States’ National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2022.

Solo, now 43 and retired, also helped the USA win Olympic Gold Medals in both 2008 and 2012; and in 2015 she was the keeper when the U.S. won the 2015 World Cup title.

But she could also butt heads with her teammates, coaches and U.S. soccer officials.

She was part of the driving force to get women equal pay with the US men.

Now, Netflix has come out with a documentary on her called, Untold: Hope Solo vs. U.S. Soccer.

The release date is Sept. 3.

▪ A look at the Central Washington University’s women’s soccer roster this fall shows four Tri-City area athletes on the team.

Sophomore midfielder Kelsey Fulton (Richland High grad) transferred to Central after one season at Northern Colorado University.

Goalkeeper Danika Galbreath (Southridge) is in her second season at CWU as a sophomore; while midfielder Paige Savage is a senior who played for Kamiakin and then Walla Walla Community College.

Finally, defender Kendal Smith (Richland) has transferred from Sonoma State University to the Ellensburg campus. Smith is a sophomore.

Football

Prep football practice for the 2024 season officially began last Wednesday, while other sports begin this week.

For those interested in the regular-season openers for area high school football teams, here they are:

4A/3A Mid-Columbia Conference (all on Friday, Sept. 6): Chiawana at Rocky Mountain, Idaho, 5 p.m.; Hanford at Kennewick, 7 p.m.; Hermiston at Richland, 7 p.m.; Kamiakin at Walla Walla, Borleske Stadium, 7 p.m.; Southridge at Pasco, Edgar Brown Stadium, 7 p.m.

2A CWAC: Othello at Ellensburg, 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 6; Prosser at Ephrata, 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 6; Toppenish at Grandview, 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 5.

1A SCAC (all Friday, Sept. 6): Royal at Kiona-Benton, 7 p.m.; Wahluke at Naches Valley, 7 p.m.; Weston-McEwan at College Place, 7 p.m.; Zillah at Connell, 7 p.m.

2B SCAC: East Valley-Yakima at River View, 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 5; Northwest Christian-Colbert at Columbia-Burbank, 6 p.m., Friday, Sept. 6; Tri-Cities Prep at Asotin, 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 6; Warden at Medical Lake, 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 6.

Southeast 1B: Dufur, Ore., at Touchet, 2 p.m., Friday, Sept. 6; Liberty Christian at Garfield-Palouse, 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 6; Waitsburg at DeSales, 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 5.

Track and field

Eric Hisaw, the long-time boys and girls head track and field coach at Walla Walla High School, was named the top Washington state high school girls track and field head coach this summer by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Hisaw’s Blue Devils took the 3A girls state team title at the Washington State Interscholastic Activities Association championships in late May.

Hisaw has won the award three times now. He was named state boys coach of the year in both 2019 and 2022.

Signing

Hermiston grad Laura Meyers will continue her wrestling career after she signed a letter of intent to compete for the Eastern Oregon University women.

Baseball

The Tri-City Dust Devils won five out of six games last week against the visiting Eugene Emeralds.

The Dust Devils have a 49-70 record with just two weeks left in the Northwest League regular season.

They play at Spokane all this week (Tuesday through Sunday) before finishing with a six-game homestand against the Hillsboro Hops that runs Sept. 3-8.

All games in the homestand start at 6:30 p.m.

Despite that bad win-loss record, there has been plenty to cheer about this season at the ballpark in Pasco.

Infielder Caleb Ketchup has been fearless on the basepaths, and he’s compiled 55 stolen bases.

First baseman Sonny DiChiara is a big fellow that might look more like an offensive lineman than a baseball player. But the right-handed batter hits the ball, and he hits it hard.

In just 23 games this season (he was a late call up), DiChiara is batting .316, with 4 homers and 17 RBIs.

The Angels thought enough of DiChiara (who played collegiately at Auburn University in the SEC) that they sent him to the Arizona Fall League last year. Usually, an organization’s top prospects play in that league.

Finally, Joel Hurtado has an 8-7 record and has struck out 118 batters in 121 innings pitched.

He might be the best pitcher on this team in an organization that has become known for its pitching.

▪ Noticed the other day that the Atlantic League’s Lancaster Stormers have a few former Tri-City Dust Devils on their current roster.

Infielder Kyle Kasser — who played for Tri-City in the 2021 and 2022 seasons — is hitting .269 with 10 RBIs through 51 games.

First baseman Mason Martin — a Southridge High graduate who spent seven seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirate organization before spending a few months with the Angels organization in Tri-City before being released in June — has a .305 batting average, with 16 home runs and 45 RBIs in 47 games with Lancaster.

And Joe Stewart had spent the past few seasons playing for the Dust Devils at Gesa Stadium. But the outfielder was released last month by the Angels. In 27 games for the independent Stormers, Stewart is hitting .267 with 2 homers, 12 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.

The Pennsylvania team has a 60-47 record through this past weekend.

Sidenote: Former Dust Devils infielder Osmy Gregorio — released by the Angels in 2023 — is also playing in the Atlantic League, spending time with the Lexington Legends and lately, the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars.

Through Sunday night, Gregorio has played in 78 games, hit at a .261 clip, had 8 home runs, 44 RBIs and 14 stolen bases.