Spring training for hydroplane racing is canceled. Is HAPO Columbia Cup still on?
Kathy Powell of the Tri-Cities Water Follies confirmed Tuesday that the H1 Unlimited spring training event for hydroplanes has indeed been canceled for this year because of the coronavirus outbreak.
It was set for June 6 in Columbia Park,
“Testing was never meant to be a public event,” Powell said. “But we’d always make the course available for the teams.”
In what has become an annual event, the Columbia River is opened up for unlimited hydroplane race teams, as well as Grand Prix teams, to work the kinks out of their boats before the actual season gets under way.
Now, this doesn’t mean the HAPO Columbia Cup is dead in the water. That’s set for the last weekend of July.
And if everything stays on course with Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s phased plan of reopening the state, that could mean the region could be in Phase 4 — which would allow large group gatherings.
Powell is hopeful, and is forging ahead with her event director duties.
“We’re keeping in touch with HAPO,” said Powell, who has also been talking with race teams.
“I’ve talked to Rob Graham (owner of the Graham Trucking boats), and he is eager to race,” said Powell. “Charlie Grooms called me and wanted to know our status. He’s ordered propellers for his team.”
Powell also said race director Aaron Stephens has reached out to Dave Bartush, who could at least have two boats compete this year.
“They would like to race,” Powell said.
Powell added a big draw could be the Grand Prix race.
The Hydro Racing League — the Grand Prix-style boats that race on the East Coast — has canceled its 2020 season. But if the Columbia Cup is held, Powell says at least four of those boats have committed to racing in the Tri-Cities against the Grand Prix West teams.
H1 Unlimited has already lost its first two events of the season because of COVID-19 — the opener in Guntersville, Ala., June 24-26; and the APBA Gold Cup that was set for July 3-5 in Madison, Ind.
Still on the schedule is the Tri-Cities race on July 24-26; the HomeStreet Bank Cup in Seattle from July 31 to Aug. 2; and the HomeStreet Bank San Diego Bayfair on Sept. 18-20.
Powell says the Water Follies board of directors will likely make a decision on the Tri-Cities event at its June meeting.
Notes
• Chiawana senior Kobe Singleton, who was hurt early in the football season last fall, has received a scholarship offer from Southern Utah.
• Since there are no live sports events to watch, I actually took in part of the South Korean baseball opener late Monday night on ESPN. Hey, it’s baseball.
And although I didn’t really know anyone in the game, I’m going to follow it for a while.
ESPN is expected to televise 4-5 games a week for the next month or two months.
And I’m throwing my allegiance to the LG Twins. No reason, just drew them out of the hat.
• I was looking at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference website this week, and I decided to check on the latest list of letter-of-intent signings.
Here is what we have so far:
Central Washington — Bridger Feldmann (Chiawana) for football, Trenton Love (Richland) for baseball, and Kyson Rose (Kamiakin) for men’s basketball.
Montana State University-Billings — Jason Cortes (Kennewick/CBC) for men’s soccer.
Northwest Nazarene University — Shane Martin (Hanford/CBC) and Spencer Schwehr (Walla Walla CC) for baseball.
Saint Martin’s University — Elisabeth Cole (Tri-Cities Prep) for women’s soccer.
Seattle Pacific University — Hannah Hair (Walla Walla) for volleyball.
Western Oregon University — Chase Bradshaw (Hermiston) and Dustyn Coughlin (Hermiston) for football; Keanu Daos (Southridge) for men’s track and field.
Daos just signed after spending his first two college seasons at Spokane Community College.
• In addition, Chiawana senior Kylie Thorne said she’s headed to CWU to play volleyball.
Thorne had originally signed with Concordia University of Portland last fall.
But the university’s board decided to close the school in early February because of financial problems.
That freed up all current Concordia athletes and commits.
• Two local baseball players from Spokane Community College are headed to four-year schools: Chase Grillo (Kamiakin) is going to Gonzaga University, while Caden Kaelber (Chiawana) will play at Washington State University.
• Columbia Basin College sophomore Mikey Hernandez (Utah) has signed a letter of intent to play men’s basketball next season at The Evergreen State College.
Hernandez spent most of the season coming off of the bench for the 8-20 Hawks, but he put up decent numbers. He was CBC’s second-leading scorer at 11.9 points a game, averaged 4.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists.
• Two more signings to four-year schools after spending two seasons at Spokane CC: Monica Kaylor (Kennewick) is headed to Whitworth University for women’s track; while David Uribe (Pasco) will play men’s soccer at Warner Pacific University in Oregon. Uribe is one of five SCC athletes headed to WPU for men’s soccer.
• A few more community college signings from the high school ranks: Tyler Buck (Wahluke) is headed to Everett CC for men’s cross country; Morgan Lowe (Kiona-Benton) will play volleyball for Blue Mountain CC in Pendleton; Jessica Macias (Wahluke) will play women’s soccer at Blue Mountain CC; Cesar Ortiz (Hermiston) is headed to Blue Mountain CC for men’s basketball; and Paige Savage (Kamiakin) will play women’s soccer at Walla Walla CC.
It’s especially heartening to see Ortiz play. He graduated from Hermiston in 2019, but he didn’t go anywhere this past season. Great 3-point shooter.
• There hasn’t been any spring high school sports this year, but that hasn’t stopped Lem Elway from releasing his weekly poll for prep baseball, through his Washingtonbaseballpoll.com.
In Class 3A, Elway has Southridge ranked No. 1 in the state, with Kamiakin right behind at No. 2.
Which makes it sadder that we couldn’t see them play this spring.
Other area teams in the polls included Chiawana, ranked No. 10 in the Class 4A poll; and College Place, ranked sixth in the Class 1A poll.
Other top-ranked teams are Bellarmine Prep (4A), W.F. West of Chehalis (2A) and Montesano (1A).