La Grande’s Allisa Welberg goes up for a header in the second half of the Lady Tigers’ 2-0 victory over Baker Saturday. With the win LHS finished the Greater Oregon League season with a perfect 9-0 mark. CASEY KELLAS - The Observer

The La Grande girls soccer team finished off the regular season with a 2-0 victory over Baker Saturday, wrapping up the regular-season league title for the Lady Tigers.

LHS finishes with a 12-1 overall record and went 8-1 in the Greater Oregon League.

La Grande’s and Baker played in a muddy and rainy conditions Saturday. BHS won 1-0. CASEY KELLAS - The Observer

The La Grande boys soccer team put themselves in a tough place Saturday. With a 1-0 loss to rival Baker, the Tigers’ playoff fate is now in the hands of the OSAA ranking system, which doesn’t freeze until Tuesday.

Currently LHS is third in the Greater Oregon League and ranked 20th by the OSAA, but the GOL isn’t guarenteed three teams for a play-in game.

STANFIELD — The Union High School volleyball team had a “pretty good weekend,” according to coach Mendy Clark.

The Lady Cats split their games at the Blue Mountain District tournament, falling to Heppner (21-25, 25-22, 25-27, 25-19, 11-15) but beating Grant Union (21-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-15) to finish in third place.

La Grande’s Amanda Welch won the Greater Oregon League district meet Saturday at Eastern Oregon University. Welch won with a time of 18:54.6, beating out McLoughlin’s Josie Lonai (background). BRAD MOSHER - The Observer

After tailing McLoughlin’s Josie Lonai for half the 3.05-mile course Saturday, La Grande’s Amanda Welch made her move.

That move earned Welch the individual Greater Oregon League title and a berth in the state meet — as an individual.

PENDLETON — Katriel O’Reilly led Union/Cove on a dominant performance in the 3A/2A/1A district race that scored just 24 points and put all five of their scorers among the top 13 runners.

Vale edged Enterprise for second place by just one point in the team standings — 72 to 73. That earned the Lady Vikings a trip to the state meet as a team.

Baker’s Nic Maszk ran away from the field early to win the Greater Oregon League individual title Saturdaay at the district meet on the campus of Eastern Oregon University.

The senior built up a large lead in the first mile of the course that makes two laps around the university’s athletic complex during a constant drizzle across wet grass.

EOU’s Haley Hill heads the ball during the Mountaineers’ 1-1 tie with Oregon Tech Friday. The Mountaineers also tied with Southern Oregon on Sunday to finish the regular season. Eastern Oregon wrapped up the year with a 1-13-1 overall record and went 1-6-1 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference. BRAD MOSHER - The Observer

Eastern Oregon University closed out its 2012 season with a pair of ties at home that has first-year coach Jennifer Simonetti looking forward to next season.

“It was a great team effort by our women today. I think we just need to have a little more composure,” she said Sunday after watching the Lady Mountaineers end their home season with a 1-1 tie against Southern Oregon.

Powder Valley’s Alexandra Colton celebrates after the Badgers win the tournament title Saturday. BRAD MOSHER - The Observer

It took five sets, but Powder Valley claimed the Old Oregon League district tournament crown Saturday.

Imbler, the only league team to win any sets against the Badgers this year, made it even tougher for Powder Valley to earn the title and a first-round bye in the state playoffs. 

Powder Valley, Imbler look for district title rematch

With the Old Oregon League district volleyball tournament set for Saturday at La Grande High School, this year’s bracket has a familiar look to it.

Defending district champion Powder Valley enters as the No. 1 seed after finishing a perfect 10-0 in the regular season, while Imbler, who lost in the district title game last year to the Badgers, enter as the No. 2 seed. 

The 2012 3.5 senior national championship team from left to right: Khuelien Dretke, Juday Baston, Debbie Berkowitz, Kathy Mehlenbacher, Jan Hanami, Elaine Chapman, Loretta Gohd, Becky Gardner, Judy Stromberg, Cyd Bothum.

Khuelien Dretke part of national-title winning tennis team 

Tennis may not be the most popular sport in Eastern Oregon, but don’t tell that to Khuelien Dretke.

Because for Dretke, tennis is a way of life.

And the amateur player recently did something that most players won’t ever accomplish in a lifetime of playing the sport.