Are you sure you want to read this? Well, thanks for your interest. Please feel free to email me with comments. Always sign your real name.
Thanks,
Tom Davenport
(scroll down for commentary)
Ribs, Chicken and Shrimp, Oh My! Stop by Lindy's at Silverwood if you are hungry. they also have some pretty good deserts.
6-1-08 Nature and Wildlife
For all you nature lovers out there, I have revamped my Nature & Wildlife page. Now, you get a clear, concise and more in depth picture of the natural world that I get to see. I love to answer any questions, and all comments are welcome.
I just finished up with a nest of Killdeer. This was a fascinating time. One day last week I was out doing something else and thought I'd check on the eggs in the nest. BAM - 2 chicks. I drove home, got my camera gear and by the time I got back, the third and final chick was hatched. The next day, I spent most of the day watching and learning about the behavior of these little animals.
This year, from January to now, I have seen more waterfowl than ever before, more even than when I used to hunt them. Not talking about numbers here, but different species of ducks. And, I have had the opportunity to photograph many of them.
Toward the end of the softball game, I heard the tell-tale ping of a baseball on an aluminum bat and remembered that the defending state champ Lake City Timberwolves baseball team was playing for their playoff life. The softball game was a fast one so I thought I'd go over to see what was going on.
As I walked over there, I could see people, but it seemed like there was a wake going on. I was concerned that the defending state champs were going down. But they were playing Post Falls and the scoreboard showed the T-Wolves ahead 6-1. OOHHHH, I remember, its the baseball culture. That is, where you sit and watch and don't cheer much and only speak if a player makes an error. Granted there were not as many people at the baseball game as the softball game, but my gosh people! I know, I know, its the baseball culture to sit there and just watch. But these kids deserve something more. I mean, this is the defending state championship team out there. And a very good Post Falls team.
I believe that this lack of enthusiasm, or maybe suppression of enthusiasm, is part of the reason Baseball, which used to be my favorite sport, is dying in America. Its boring. Not necessarily the game, but the culture. Let those kids show some emotion, like at a football, basketball or softball game. Maybe that's why there are more people at softball, because softball is exciting. Same number of innings, similar rules, smaller field. Score one for title nine with softball.
And since I am ranting, what is up with this "take one for the team" BS? Its when you are batting and a pitch is thrown inside, you let it hit you. I know this is coached starting at the little league level. I believe it is a regional thing though. The first time I saw it was at a legion game where a .480 hitter was at bat in the late innings with a go ahead run on second and he "took one for the team". Poor kid. His coaches to that point of his career robbed him of the ability to drive in the winning run. It's BS, I don't understand why they don't coach the kids to hit line drives instead of going up to the plate to get hit. Its such BS! AND it takes excitement away from the game. You know, the baseball culture.
Good luck to the T-Wolves at the state tournament. My opinion is Trent Bridges is the best player in the north, I hope he goes out with another state championship. GO T-WOLVES!
5-10-08 Softball Lewiston Bengals LCHS
What a disappointing day for the T-Wolves! Upon further review though, it was a great game. VERY similar to Thursday's match between the two teams. But this time, Lewiston held on. Down 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth, Lake City was able to get their first two batters on base. In all fairness, this was due to a couple of Lewiston bobbles and great hustle on the T-Wolves part. Then number ten. Lewiston's pitcher, I call her number 10 because I don't know her name, struck out the next four batters, then pitched a pop out, then struck out the last batter for the win. That girl showed some guts. VERY impressive. The game went fast due in part to the pitching of both teams. Can't wait to watch Lela Work again next year. Very impressive young lady.
The T-wolves played well. I think it was the first play of the game, shortstop Jennifer Robertson bare-handed a bad hop and gunned down the runner. Catcher Brittani Waide threw out a base stealer at second, Jennifer Robertson making the tag. From where I stood, I couldn't tell if the runner came off the base or if she was indeed thrown out so I asked the umpire. He said " She was tagged before she got to the base. It took a perfect throw to get her and it was a perfect throw". A perfect throw. Give some credit to Jennifer Robertson, that's not an easy tag to make, but some what easier with a perfect throw. And what about Jessica Ross. She is a player who I have noticed at every game yet never really mentioned here. A very solid outfielder, she is worth the price of admission just to see play.
Good luck to the Coeur d'Alene Vikings at the state tournament. Looks like to me that the T-Wolves peaked a couple of weeks ago whereas the Vikings could be peaking right now! I hope you girls kick some behind down there. Good luck!
The Vikings showed what they are made of avenging their losses to Lake City last week with a 3-0 victory over the T-Wolves. Jessica Kraft smacked a home run in the left-center power alley and played a very nice shortstop. The other half of the middle infield was filled nicely by Amanda Brouillard. I have not seen a ball hit to her all year long, but Thursday she took a bad hop on a hard-hit ball right in the chest to keep it in front of her. The cool thing was that she did not give up on the play and threw the runner out. Nice job. Lauren Horton gunned down another base runner attempting to steal second. The Vikings go to state as state champs, can they threepeat?
Lake City showed a lot of poise coming back from a 2-0 Lewiston lead to beat the Bengals 3-2 in the bottom of the 7th. It was an exciting game! Jordanna Walker had the game winning RBI after the T-Wolves put some ducks on the pond. Walker had a pretty good game making a nice grab in left also.
Wow. You would expect the CHS-LCHS rivalry to be intense but the number 1 seed in the district tourney was at stake today. The first game seemed to drag on and on to me, but the images prove it was a tough, well played game by both schools. Looks like LCHS will be the number 1 seed in the District I tournament, I hope I can make some of the games.
I admit to having a new, additional favorite softball player emerging. Lake City sophomore Jamie Hall is amazing at second base. I saw her a couple of times last year, she was a freshman I think. She's tiny but all guts with a lot of skill added in. She looks and acts like an infielder. Watching her play is worth the price of admission for me. I have my favorites from both teams for sure, but Hall seems to be in the middle of everything. She will make the play to win a game some day.
Fortunately I stayed long enough to see one of my favorites, Amanda Krier, belt a home run in the second game. This is just another amazing player on the LCHS squad. Wow. Finally some nice weather, it was a great afternoon.
4-29-08 Susan G. Komen Softball for the cure
Save second base. What?! The Lake City softball team sported pink jerseys along with dark pink socks Tuesday afternoon in the first game of a double head with Post Falls. The Trojans also wore pink socks, another symbolic gesture to raise breast cancer awareness. As I recall, Post Falls was involved with Volleyball for the Cure over at Coeur d'Alene High earlier in the year. This is fantastic, it DOES raise awareness, especially among the younger crowd where early detection is often the road to a longer life and a way to beat this cancer. Thanks to both teams for doing this. Save second base? Oh, now I get it.
I was able to catch most of the first game between Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls today. What beautiful weather! Good softball, too. Looked like the PF CHS baseball game was a good one, I watched Post Falls' catcher nail a CHS base stealer at third. The bats were ringing down there. But there was also some action on the softball field. Trojan catcher Lauran Nagrone threw out a base runner and both team's catcher caught pop ups. Katie Bologna from CHS smashed a triple to the center field fence, that girl can move! She went in head first and when she got up, looked like a ball player should. CHS won the first game.
But speaking of catchers, there are some EXCELLENT catchers around. Start with Nagrone from Post Falls. She can hit, has a great arm, a complete package. Moving over to Lake City, you have senior Janie Ortega who is currently nursing an injury which makes a bit of room for junior Brittani Waide to play. Both of those T-Wolves can play. I'll bet Ortega has a hitting edge, but both a pleasure to watch. At CHS is Lauren Horton. She's so petit, it looks as if a stiff wind could blow her away. But not much gets by her and I watched her pick a base runner off first last week. She's tough!I don't know about Lakeland as I have not been able to see one of their games yet. But man, This is an incredible crop of catchers. Waide will be back next year, but who is going to pick up the slack at Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene? Go see them play this year, it's a treat.
4-16-08 Softball, Lakeland at LCHS
Lela Work and the Lake City Timberwolves took a 1-0 lead into the seventh inning but the Lakeland Hawks found a secret, maybe a weakness in the Lake City defense. Using the old squeeze bunt play the Hawks rallied to take a 2-1 lead. That would have deflated most teams, but this Lake City team is having a lot of fun and with a hot part of their batting order due up anything could happen. It was Work who drove in the winning run in the end and the Timberwolves topped Lakeland 3-2. What a great afternoon of softball!
Lake City beat Coeur d'Alene 3-1 to even the softball season series. Coeur d'Alene jumped out to a 1- nothing lead and had a lot of opportunities but it was the LCHS offense that stole the show. Well, I don't know about stealing the show, because Amanda "Wheels" Krier is the one who stole the show, at least in my book. That girl is something! She beat out line drive SHOTS that caromed off the CHS pitcher twice for base hits. Janie Ortega hit a shot to the outfield and Krier, who was on first, made the trip all the way home. That girl can scoot! The LCHS 6th inning rally took the wind right out of the Viking sail. Great game, pretty nice weather, too.
Well, it's softball season. What that means to me is, that it isn't snowing or raining. turned out to be a fairly nice afternoon yesterday as the Coeur d'Alene Vikings took advantage of a couple Lake City miscues.
Lake City has taken care of their field really well. It looked like a nice playing surface, although a little wet. The infield was great. One thing that stood out to me that I have never noticed is how well I could hear most everything the players said on the field. Especially the middle infielders. Sounded as if they were using megaphones. Interesting banter.
How the dynamics have changed in those two teams! Although CHS only graduated two, it feels like a completely different team. LCHS looks young, but fundamentally sound, although a bit tentative at some positions. Going to be an interesting year.
3-19-08 Some People!
So today a friend had a pizza delivered for lunch and shared it with me. You just can't beat that! Thanks Mike!
I had to go to the market and pick up some essentials, milk, butter, eggs. None of the butter was on sale so I was picking out the least expensive cube when a lady said " I'm not using this coupon, would you like it?" Well sure! So I got Tillamook butter at a really good price. Then she said "If you are buying eggs I have one for that, too." Total stranger. Seems she is a coupon clipper and when she has a coupon she is not using, she takes it to the product and lays it on top so someone can use it. I don't imagine that makes Ron McIntire too happy, but it is a darn nice thing to do. Although Ron probably wouldn't care.
It's my turn now. Can't wait to find a victim!
3-16-08 High School All Star Basketball
Went and watched some of the high school all star basketball game, north vs. south, at NIC yesterday. I went to watch Nick Fromm from Lake City High School possibly one last time and was not disappointed. He was first up in the slam dunk contest, always the kiss of death. BUT, there was no doubt the best dunk was from B. J. Shearry from Timberline High School. What a player. I saw him last year at the state tournament and was hoping to see a Fromm - Shearry match-up in the state championship this year, but we all know that didn't happen. Two great players, a pure pleasure to watch. Thanks to all the athletes for a great year.
Coeur d'Alene High School's advanced drama class performed their interpretation of Thornton Wilder's stage story "Our Town" last night. It was really good! I don't know much about the theater program at any of the schools, but CHS's instructor did mention that there is a full plate of drama, stage drama that is, coming up this spring. Call the school, or your high school, and find out when these productions are. Its a fun night.
3-4-08 Softball?
Uh, does anyone know what is going on with high school softball and baseball? I see the LCHS girls are scheduled to play at CHS Monday afternoon. Last I was by the softball field, there was 6-8 inches of snow on it. Can the field be made ready? are the games postponed? What's up? email me please.
Thanks,
Tom
2-24-08 Lewiston advances to state over Lake City
The Lake City boys played valiantly, but the Lewiston Bengals advanced to state with a one point win over the Timberwolves last night. My heart goes out to all the seniors, especially Nick Fromm. Fromm is and I'm sure will continue to be a role model wherever he ends up. But, hats off to Dave Cornelia and the Bengals. Cornelia is one of the best coaches I have seen since I started following high school sports in 1997. Last year or the year before he orchestrated a win over a better Post Falls team after the Bengals took a 20 point deficit to halftime. I hope Lewiston High School appreciates him.
2-21-08 CHS Championship Book
Check out the CHS championship book we put together. the book can be customized with pictures of you or your player from the game or other games this year. there is an additional cost depending on how many images you choose though. Anyway, congratulations girls!
2-16-08 Coeur d'Alene High School State Champs
The girls from CHS did it! The won the Idaho state 5A basketball championship. Well done ladies. The lead the entire game starting with Sadie Simon drilling a three pointer and ending with Kelsi DeHass hitting a tough jumper in traffic. The Vikings played with grace and poise. Proud to be in the same community as those girls.
2-15-08 Late
See you in Boise! Suzan and I will head down in the morning to catch the the Viking girls in the Idaho state championship game. I'm sorry the game won't be PF-CHS. Oh well. Hope to see you all! GO VIKINGS.
2-15-08 IdahoSports.com
Hats off to Paul Kingsbury, the creator of IdahoSports.com. They are streaming the Post Falls and the Coeur d'Alene games live as they happen. They have very good commentators as well. The Trojans play tonight, Friday, at 5:15 and the Vikings at 7:00.
Good luck to both teams. All the girls are playing well, yesterday Ali Johnson and Katelyn Loper were stellar.
Thanks to Paul Kingsbury and IdahoSports.com. What a fantastic product!
2-12-08 Girl's Districts, Vikings advance to state
When I was a kid, I had to tape my ankles to play football. I played poorly, but still I had to tape my ankles. the thing I remember most about that is ripping off the tape after every practice and every game. Man that hurt. After a few times I figured out that if I shaved my legs, it didn't hurt quite as much.
I noticed a LOT of taped ankles in the Vikings Lewiston game last night. Lewiston seemed to have used more tape, all the teams are banged up this time of year. For a time, I feared the Vikings were going to give the game and a trip to the state tournament away. Lewiston rallied in the second half bringing the game to a tie with just a few minutes left. The Bengals will be a force to be reckoned with in the next few years. The game reminded me of a March Madness game from last year where Gonzaga had UCLA on the ropes, but then played to not lose. It almost seemed that way last night. Free throws made the difference down the stretch and the Vikings, specifically Ali Johnson and Kama Griffitts, made theirs. Good luck at state. I hope there can be a CHS Post Falls final game Saturday night!
2-9-08 Girl's District Champions, the Post Falls Trojans
It was a barn burner at Viking Gym Friday night. The best team won the game, the Post Falls Trojans. Those girls are TOUGH. The game was called extremely well by the officials. I wish I could be at the state championship game next Saturday night. Its high school basketball and you never know what will happen, but it will not surprise me to see Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls matched up in the final game like last year. unless of course, the powers don't want an all north Idaho final again and match the teams to meet before the final. That's assuming that CHS can beat either Lake City of Lewiston, the winner of today's game.
You never know, but I would think it will be either CHS or LCHS. Won't it?
Lastly, what is up with the parking lot at CHS? That is a law suit waiting to happen. Neither Randy Russell or Harry Amend would take responsibility for it not being plowed, I wonder who's job that is?
2-2-08 Girl's District Basketball Post Falls and Lake City
First, the Lake City High School pep band is such a great addition to any basketball game. They are great!
It was a different level of basketball last night at Coeur d'Alene High School. Post Falls came out firing and playing very tough. Katelyn Loper shot the light out in the first quarter, and was the best player on the court. I said was, in most cases she IS the best player on the court. What a great athlete. I'd like to see her play another sport or two. Lake City came out ready to play at a different level, but just didn't have the aggressiveness needed early on. They started to make a game of it late in the third quarter and into the fourth. Within 9 points, the drama began.
Although I think Loper is the best player out there, Lake City's Sydney Butler is right up there. If she continues to play high school basketball, she will be the T-Wolves heart and soul. Her play reminds me a lot of Richelle Fenenbock last year, too bad for Butler they didn't get to play together.
When the T-Wolves were within 9 Butler was mauled by two Post Falls players resulting in a turnover. I thought there should have been a foul called there, but I wasn't on the court either. But LC coach Darren Taylor thought so too and let the referee know it all the way to half court. The ref had no choice but to tee Taylor up. Usually, I'm not for that kind of behavior by a coach. But in this case, I think Taylor saw an opportunity to win the game and was attempting to add just another spark to his team. Unfortunately, it went too far and he eventually was ejected for not substituting for Sydney Butler who had fouled out in the mean time. (Butler left it ALL on the floor!) So, it got a little ugly there. But then something happened that I only thought happened on TV. The crowd behind the scorer's table erupted in finger pointing and malicious rants toward Taylor as he walked off the court. These WERE NOT students, they were people old enough to be parents, so called adults. I think they were parents, although I don't want to believe it. How embarrassing folks. Get a grip. What kind of example is that?!
Congratulations to the Post Falls Trojans girls. You did a great job.
1-28-08 Snow and Kids
Whew! That's a lot of snow! In fact, the stupid kids in our neighborhood are having a ball. They get a four-wheeler, a snowmobile, or a car and tow their friends around the streets on sleds. It looks like a lot of fun. I say they are stupid, but in reality they are just being kids. Having fun.
The snow plow, which is a road grader, came through once yesterday. The speed limit in my county residential neighborhood is 25 MPH. Neighbors have complained to the Sheriff numerous times about these kids speeding through our neighborhood. I guess the snow grader is immune to speed limits because he plows down our street much faster than any 16 year-old in a souped up car I have ever seen. Yesterday was almost tragic, a stupid kid towing another stupid kid almost was eaten up by the snow grader. I doubt the grader operator even saw the kids. I hope he saw them, as he would have to live with killing a child if he took one out. There is absolutely no reason they have to drive that fast to plow our roads. Of course, the operators have no liability, and I'm sure Kootenai County would claim no responsibility also. I hope to change that.
Yeah, the kids are stupid, they are KIDS. The grader operator should know better. Hopefully, by the end of the day, they will.
Lewiston looked pretty good last night holding the girl's game even until midway through the second quarter. Then Sadie Simon made a steal and took it the length of the floor scoring with a nifty left handed lay up. I thought that was great, but then Whit Heleker made a steal and took it to the basket. Then, Ali Johnson did it. THEN, Amy Warbrick did the same only a Lewiston girl mugged her at the basket, they both went down. She drilled both free throws and it was apparent that Lewiston was done. The Vikings went on to win handily.
I only stayed until half time of the boys game. Every kid on the court at any time was playing with their all. Over 20 fouls by half showed how physical of a game it was. Great evening.
On Monday, I secured my ticket for the Prairie Pig game. YIPEEE! Thanks to Jim Allen from The Spokesman-Review, I'm not going to miss the game and show up Friday night, but will make it Thursday night instead. Jim asked that I provide images for a picture page that will be in the January 24th edition of The Spokesman-Review, so please, go get the paper and look for it. Can't wait to see and photograph all of you screaming Trojans and Hawks at Lakeland's new gym. Should be a scream!
1-11-08 Fight for the Fish Update
Wow. Thanks to all the parents who called and emailed yesterday with offers of tickets. I really appreciate it. After I couldn't get tickets Tuesday, I made an appointment for 5:00 this afternoon in Spokane regarding the Bridal Festival this weekend at the Spokane Convention Center. So, I have to go to that. If I get back soon enough, I will try to talk my way into the games. But, thanks again to all of you who offered up tickets to me.
1-8-08 Sorry Sports fans ....
I tried to get a ticket today, Tuesday, but found that every single Fight for the Fish ticket is gone. So I won't be seeing you there. This is the first fish game I have missed. Going to be kind of strange. So, GO SADIE! GO NICK!
But, Prairie Photography is getting ready for the Bridal Festival at the Spokane Convention Center in , guess where now, Spokane. Come by and see me if you can.
Really sorry about the game. Its pointless to say, but, HAVE FUN!
Best of 2007
Here they are, in chronological order, the bests of 2007 that Prairie Photography saw and photographed!
*Lake City high School Girls basketball - Idaho State Champs!
The T-Wolves pulled off the improbable working hard through districts and the state tournament to win the state championship! Great accomplishment!
* Richelle Fennenbock
Richelle lead the T-wolves to the state title. The gutsy player little guard pulled her team together to beat their cross town rivals in the championship game.
* The Coeur d'Alene Vikings Girls Softball Team, Repeat Idaho State Softball Champions!
* Jenna Delong
One of Tom's personal favorite high school athletes, Jenna pitched the Vikings to a second softball state title.
*Lake City Timberwolves Idaho State Baseball Champions
This picture is of Shea Vucinich and Alex Capaul, childhood friends and baseball competitors. Not to take anything away from the T-Wolves state baseball title, but these two guys are what or at least should be what high school athletics is all about; competition. I'll bet Shea could not have been happier for Alex, and Alex wished Shea could share the feeling.
* Piper Wahlin, Sandpoint High School
Tom's favorite volleyball player, Piper lead the Bulldogs to within one game of the state volleyball championship. A great athlete with much class and spirit, Piper is a pleasure to watch.
* Ben Frisbie
An amazing Lake City High School athlete, Ben was the fist slam dunk I saw in the 2007 basketball season.
* Nate Frisbie
The taller of the two transfers-from-out-of-state brothers, Nate jammed three against the Moses Lake Chieftains in the last game before the new year.
