WRHS’s Smith signs with CWU

White River High graduate Dan Smith has signed a letter of intent to play baseball with Central Washington University. The pitcher, who was a South Puget Sound League 3A all-league honorable mention, helped the Hornets finish with an 11-5 league record, 15-8 overall.

The Wildcats, under the direction of coach Desi Storey, finished the year with a 14-36 overall record and tied for fourth place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

Panthers win tournament

The Puget Sound Panthers, summer baseball program’s Pony League, recently won the USSSA Summer Celebration 12U tournament in Lacey, Wash. The Panthers went 5-0 for the tournament and defeated the Seattle Stars 13-3 in the championship game.

Tapps area junior golfers play well

Brandon Barlow and Brooks Solberg, both of Lake Tapps, finished just shy of making the state cut during boys 16- and 17-year-old division at the Washington Junior Golf Association District Six tournament July 19 and 20 at Riverbend Golf Course in Kent.

Kahne scores near-win in truck

Pocono Raceway proved to be a better fit for Enumclaw NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne Saturday night behind the wheel of a truck then Sunday during Sprint Cup racing.

Kahne finished second behind Richard Petty Racing teammate Elliott Sadler Saturday during the Camping World Truck Series inaugural event at the 2.5-mile Pennsylvania track. Kahne, driving a Toyota for Kyle Bush, was leading in the closing laps before a caution. Sadler would take the lead and eventually the win. Kahne has raced in the truck series twice before, winning both starts in 2004.

Sunday, Kahne finished 19th in the Sprint Cup Series, moving him up one spot in drivers standings to 16th. Kevin Harvick maintains the series lead. The top 12 drivers with 10 races to go in the season are eligible to compete for the Sprint Cup title. There are five races remaining to that point.

Sprint Cup racing continues Sunday from the road course at Watkins Glen in upstate New York.