Tourney brings 57 teams to Sisters

Jim Cornelius, News Editor | Last updated May 10, 2011 12:0pm0

Jerry Baldock count

Every piece of grass in Sisters seemed to be hit with lacrosse action at the SALI tournament last weekend.

Sisters turned into Lacrosse Town, USA last weekend, as 57 teams, some from as far away as Nevada and Montana, took to the fields to battle it out in America's native sport.

Every usable stretch of grass in Sisters seemed to be in use as players from varsity high school programs down to fourth-grade beginners dodged and weaved, passing from stick to stick and shooting for the goal net.

Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD) tournament director Ryan Moffat reported that 31 varsity and JV programs turned out for the tournament, with the balance being junior-high-and-younger programs.

A total of 1,100 athletes played through the weekend.

The Sisters Annual Lacrosse Invitational (SALI) represents a significant economic impact in the community as accompanying family members swell the total visitors in town to about 2,000. Moffat said that models for economic impact of tournaments suggest that the tournament should infuse between $75,000 and $100,000 into the local economy through lodging, meals and shopping.

The tournament has grown over the past four years to become one of Sisters' signature athletic events. Outlaws lacrosse coach Bill Rexford praised SPRD for the quality of the presentation.

"SPRD has really stepped up the organization," he said. "I feel like we have real logistic control here, everything is going very smoothly."

Lacrosse has experienced a surge in popularity across the Western states in the past decade, breaking out from its traditional east coast enclave to become one of the fastest-growing youth sports in the nation.

Rexford noted that the game has a deep tradition in America.

"Lacrosse was first played by Native Americans," Rexford said. "I think of the Iroquois; it was a game of healing and bringing people together and they would set up goals between two villages and they could play for days at a time. In that spirit of bringing people together, I think that's what we have here at SALI this weekend."

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

Email: editor@nuggetnews.com
Phone: 5415499941

Boys lacrosse defeats Bend High

The Outlaws battled hard to record a 6-4 win over Bend High in an extremely physical game on Wednesday, May 4.

Sisters got off to a quick 2-0 start and at the half led by one at 3-2.

"We were feeling good at the half but were really beat up," said Coach Bill Rexford.

Sisters took a 5-4 lead in the second half off a great goal by Michael Williams. Michael skipped a shot off the ground past the goalie and into the net.

"It was nice to see what we practice transfer to the game," said Rexford. "We had three quick passes, and then Michael took the shot from the top of the box from an Akaka assist."

Bend battled back, and Rexford told The Nugget the game turned into a slugfest that the Outlaws were not going to win.

With five minutes left on the clock, Sisters got their biggest goal of the night from Gabe Reitmann and took a two-point lead

at 6-4.

Rexford said, "Gabe sprinted out of the box and across the field and then ran through a gauntlet of Bend defensemen who were swinging their sticks. Without even slowing down one bit, Gabe scooped up the ball, sprinted downfield and threw it to Will Saunders, who gave it right back. Gabe buried it in the back of the goal. It was the best 10 seconds of lacrosse I've seen all

year."

Rexford added, "If we hadn't gotten that goal there would have been no stopping Bend. The only way was to take their energy

away."

Beau Fitzke led the Outlaws with three goals and Scott Nelson, Williams, and Reitmann each scored one.

Attackmen Will Saunders and Jacob Akaka each recorded three assists in the game.

"Bend's physical game kept us to six goals but was also why we won, because they were in the penalty box," said Rexford. "This is the second game in a row where we've been beat up physically but have still won more ground balls and won the game."

Two days later the Outlaws hosted their annual SALI (Sisters Annual Lacrosse Invitational) tournament. Sisters' varsity boys beat McNeary on Friday, and then on Saturday lost to Liberty and tied Roseburg (see story, page 1).

"The whole idea of the tournament is just to let the kids play a lot of lacrosse at a high level and enjoy the weekend," said Rexford. "Our boys do so much to get the fields ready, and the hours they put in is commendable. It was a great

time."

The Outlaws are currently 4-1 in league and 10-4 overall. Sisters travels to Summit on Wednesday, May 11, for their last league game of the season.