Matt Patten of Edmonds, Wash., stopped by to play Langdon Farms Golf Club during a golfing vacation last week.

By Tom Morlan

For most folks, the thought of going to school on the weekend isn't too appealing.

But for golfers who take the game seriously, a two-day clinic at the Langdon Farms Golf Academy just might be the ticket.

Spring golf schools are under way at the course, located north of the Aurora State Airport. The clinics range in cost from $125 to $215.

Langdon Farms has been the site of golf schools for several years. Chuck Evans, an instructor at the club, used to make a living playing golf, but now he's turned his attention to teaching the game.

In fact, Evans holds a doctorate in golf stroke engineering, known in the trade as a GSED. He said it took him 20 years to earn the designation, which requires extensive knowledge about the physics, biochemistry and geometry of a golf swing.

Evans will be overseeing the clinics with the help of Mike Davis. Both of them played on the PGA tour in the early 1970s.

Evans said Langdon Farms offers a first-class practice facility that features green-side and fairway bunkers, practice greens and a trio of par-3 holes.

"Nobody else I know has that," Evans said. "That's pretty intensive back there."

Golfers also can compete on an all-grass, 18-hole putting course. And when they want to sharpen their long game, they can head to the driving range, which is protected from the elements.

"We have a cover," Evans said. "We don't want to stand out in the rain, and the students don't, either."

The Two-Day Golf School features eight hours of instruction on the game's basic strokes. Students also will learn about the mental side of the game and how to develop a routine that will hold up under pressure.

Players can take their pick of clinics scheduled for April 9-10, May 6-7 and June 3-4. Classes run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. both days. The cost is $125 for juniors and $215 for adults.

The Two-Day Short Game School includes eight hours of instruction as well. Students will focus on improving their touch around the green and thinking creatively.

Clinics are scheduled for April 15-16, May 20-21 and June 10-11. Classes run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. both days. The cost is $125 for juniors and $215 for adults.

For more information, call 678-3297.

One might think that, by this time, Tucker Brack is out of gas.

After all, he did average more than 30 minutes per game in leading the North Marion High School boys basketball team to a 10-4 conference record and a trip to the league playoffs.

And he did quarterback the Husky football team to three winning seasons in a row while also maintaining a 3.9 grade point average in class. By now, he's about due for a little time to relax.

Not a chance.

"Baseball is my real passion," says the Huskies' shortstop. "There is nothing I would rather do than be out there playing baseball."

Brack is playing and playing quite well. Through the season's first three games, Brack had three hits in six trips to the plate and had scored six runs.

That's not surprising considering he returns as the Capital Conference's player of the year after hitting better than .400 last season.

On the baseball field, Brack wears the number of his hero, Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles. Like Ripken, Brack is an iron man in his own right. He has played every down for three years in football and every inning in baseball for four seasons.

"I just want to be in the game every minute I can," Brack said. "This baseball season is a little weird because the fact of this being my last season for any sport in high school is always in the back of my mind.

"I am telling all the underclassmen on the team to take advantage of every minute you are out there because it flies by before you know it," Brack said.

Brack's athletic endeavors haven't flown by without notice, however. Besides being a perpetual selection for the Capital Conference all-league team, Brack has been named the league's offensive player of the year, a second-team all-league quarterback, a first-team all-conference defensive back, an honorable mention all-state defensive back and a third-team all-league player in basketball.

North Marion basketball coach Walt Hamer said Brack was the most game-smart player he had every coached. This came from a man with over two decades of coaching under his belt and 500 wins.

Regardless of the awards, Brack says just being on the baseball field is what he likes most.

"I grew up at the ball park," he said. "My dad has coached for longer than I have been alive and I was always there, watching him. Getting to play for dad for four years has really been great."

Brack's father, Randy said, "I try not to think of Tuck as my kid when he is on the field. I see him as another player on the team. It is only after the play is over that I kinda step back and say to myself, 'Hey that is MY kid that did that.'"

Coach Brack and wife Cindi have been taking both of their sons to the baseball games at North Marion for a very long time.

"Both the boys weren't even walking when they started coming to the games," coach Brack said of Tucker and younger brother Ty. "They certainly learned a lot about the way I coach baseball from that."

"I am usually thinking the same thing on the field that dad is thinking in the dugout," the younger Brack said. "A lot of times he doesn't have to say anything - I'm already there."

Brack now has his younger brother as a double-play partner. Ty Brack is playing second base for the Huskies. The brothers seem to have some unspoken communication while on defense.

"Tucker is always thinking while he is on the field," coach Brack said.

"Part of it may be his personality. He has a real aggressive, real competitive personality, but he has been around for so long he knows well what to watch for to gain any advantage on the field, no matter how small it may be."

In the first inning of a recent game against Regis, the Rams opened with back-to-back singles. With runners on first and second, a soft liner is hit to Brack at short and he catches the ball.

"When that happened I said to someone in the dugout that Tuck should have dropped that ball and gotten the double play," coach Brack said. "A few other things happened and I had all but forgotten about it."

''As soon as he got back in at the end of the inning the first thing Tuck said was, 'I should have dropped that ball and gotten the double play.''' "Those are the little things that really make you smile," the coach added.

It was a clean spring break sweep of Arizona for the Canby High School softball team.

The squad, led by coach Charlie Tropp, won two games March 22 to top off a win earlier in the week. The Cougars finished the Tucson tourney 3-0.

The team's tournament ended in a nail-biting, 10-inning 8-6 win in the second game of a double-header against Santa Rita High School of California.

Lisa Allen led the offensive charge, hitting 4 for 6 with three runs batted in. Toni Herman hit an impressive 3 for 4 to back up her pitching performance.

Herman pitched the entire game, allowing six runs on 13 hits. She had five strikeouts, had three base on balls, and allowed four earned runs.

Lisa Ash went 3 for 6, Megan Rock was 1 for 5 (including the game-winning double that drove in two runs), Brea Makin was 1 for 2, Molly Colvin was 1 for 2 with an RBI, Joanna Barstad was 1 for 2, and Tara Cullington was 1 for 4.

"The kids hit the ball really well," Tropp said from Arizona Thursday. "Defensively, everyone made some big plays. We only had three errors."

Tropp said the game was a back-and-forth affair, with the Cougars falling behind on a few occasions but scrapping back to tie the game each time.

"Finally, in the top of the 10th, we got two on base and Megan Rock hit a double," Tropp said. "Then the defense held in the bottom of the inning, and that was the ballgame."

Tropp pointed out great defensive efforts by Kate Allen at third base and Lisa Allen at catcher.

In the first game of the day against the California squad, Barstad, a senior, stole the show and led the Cougars to a 4-1 victory.

Barstad allowed one run on one hit, striking out 12 opposing batters and allowing no base on balls and no earned runs.

The Canby team racked up nine hits, two each on four attempts from Burke, Ash and Kelsey Cutsforth, and a hit apiece from Rock, Herman, Cullington and Shelly Steinke.

Yet another dominating pitching performance carried the softball team to victory March 20 in its opening game of the trip.

Barstad fired a two-hitter and Canby's offense erupted for 13 hits as the Cougars cruised 8-0 over Cholla High School of Tucson.

Steinke went 3 for 4 and teammate Meghan Boeckman was 2 for 2 as the Cougars improved to 3-0 on the season.

"Everyone hit the ball and Joanna was as sharp as ever," Tropp said earlier in the week. "All the girls are having a good time. It's been a fun trip so far."

Tropp said the weather was cool for the area, and a constant wind helped keep temperatures in the 70s.

Upon their return, the Cougars will visit Centennial on March 28 before hosting Gresham on March 30.

By John Sexton

AURORA - Those familiar with track and cross country should not find it surprising to hear of Erin Gerhardt running anywhere - be it over the varied terrain of a cross country course or around a track to set a record in any distance event.

But what about running across the Pacific Ocean? That would be news. No, Gerhardt is not going to attempt to cross the ocean in her running shoes. She will more likely fly.

She has, however, been asked to join a team of American high school runners to compete in Australia this July.

Gerhardt, a sophomore at North Marion, holds school records in 5000 meter cross country and 3000 meter track and field and is the only female from North Marion to qualify for the state cross country meet since 1984.

In fact, Gerhardt is the only girl to qualify for a running event in the state track and field championships from North Marion in 10 years.

According to International Sports Specialists, the 2000 Down Under International Games offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in the event. They compete in front of Australian and New Zealand fans, sign autographs, appear on television and interact with other athletes from across the world.

Gerhardt is not only accomplished in distance running, she also has a 4.0 grade point average and has earned varsity letters in swimming, as well as on the running teams.

The trip to Australia does not come without a price. Gerhardt's parents estimate sending her will cost more than $3,000 to cover airfare, lodging and various expenses, and they are asking the community for help.

Please contact cross country coach Peter Danner at North Marion High School at (503) 678-7123, for more information on how to help.

"I can think of no other athlete that I would recommend more highly than Erin," Danner said. "I am confident she would prove an excellent ambassador for the community."