Never was such a convincing victory so rewarding for Central Valley's slowpitch softball team.

"We won our first league championship (this year) and our second district championship in nine years," coach Joe Stanton said. "This is pretty special. Today we put the exclamation point on it."

His Bears had just throttled rival University 15-2 in five innings, something he couldn't envision since the Titans shared its ninth GSL title and had won seven district championships.

Shayla Vegas hit two home runs and a double to drive in six runs. Makenna Wasteney smacked three doubles and pitched the victory. Ten of CV's 16 hits went for extra bases. Eight of the 10 starters had hits in the stunning rout.

Vegas, a star on the fastpitch team last spring after transferring from Texas, had to adapt in her first try at slowpitch.

"I think the hardest part was the ball coming in a lot slower. It was really hard to hit," she said.

Right. Her first three games she was batting .970 with 19 runs batted in, Stanton said. "It was just ridiculous."

He said she "slumped" after that and ended up hitting .650 with 10 home runs and 41 RBI. During post-season, Vegas added four more hits and three more home runs.

Overall, the CV juggernaut hit 34 home runs - Vegas with 13, Wasteney, 7, Ceylenna Cobbs, 5, and Kelsey Gumm, 4. The team averaged 15 runs and 17 hits per game and totaled some 92 extra base hits.

"We've got so much speed in the outfield and our infield is rock solid," Stanton said. "That's the name of the game."

Other than the potent bats, that is.

Tanner Sloan is in his first starting season as Central Valley quarterback, but the Bears junior already benefited from the Bears' new-look offense.

Traditionally a run-first team, CV put most of its eggs in the passing basket as Sloan had the second most yards in the Greater Spokane League with 1,248 and nine touchdowns heading into the season's final two games. Receivers Tucker Stout, P.J. Bowden and Rhett Foley ranked third, fifth and sixth in receptions yards with 366, 307 and 290, respectively. Bowden was averaging nearly 44 yards per catch, with four touchdowns on seven catches.

Depending upon the outcome of its final two games, including a Greasy Pig rivalry game with University, the Bears were still in the postseason mix at press time. Early victories came over Lewis and Clark and Mead. 

Overall the Bears were 3-4 entering its last two games, a record that might have been expected given they'd started as many as 10 sophomores plus an untested junior.

"We're improving all the time," coach Rick Giampietri said, prior to the team's last three Greater Spokane League games. "We'll know how we're doing by the end of the year."

Central Valley played for the GSL championship when it hosted rival University on Oct. 28, a game that took place after press time. 

The Bears reached the final match undefeated in league at 8-0, including pivotal wins over Mead early in the season and a five-set thriller over Gonzaga Prep in the third-to-last contest.

CV had dominated the Bullpups in the first two sets and appeared on its way to a rout. The visitors, however, stormed back to tie that contest at 2-2 before the Bears took the 15-9 decider.

Season-long scoring leader, outside hitter Kazlyn Roullier, pounded Prep with 18 kills, which was par for the course. She had as many as 21 in a match during what could be a league MVP season. 

Postseason is up for grabs among the four teams when they begin tournament play beginning with district Nov. 11. All four had five-set outcomes against each other at some point during the regular season.

There was no stopping Kelsey Turnbow in GSL soccer this year. The CV sophomore and national U-17 team member scored 16 goals and added four assists.

The Bears got other major contributions from Megan Dimmler and Kasey Ames, who each scored three goals, Alaina Bates with six assists and Kaelyn Barnes with five.

The 12-1 Bears haven't lost since the league season opener against Mt. Spokane, and with a victory over Mead would share the GSL title, the first goal met as they seek to defend their state title.

Central Valley's girls cross country team never raced with its full team. Injuries to a trio that were part of last year's state fourth-placers, left the Bears a tad short-handed. What did they do? Go undefeated in the GSL anyway.

Their top two state finishers a year ago, Sarah White and Briegan Bester, plus fifth runner Kayla Bower missed most of the league season.

Newcomer Gabrielle Ford, a sophomore track find, was the No. 1 runner all season, ahead of state veterans Kearan Nelson and Brielle Crump.

The boys didn't have the year they envisioned, suffering three losses, including by a point to rival University, in their quest for a third state trophy, Nov. 8 in Pasco.