State Preps Report

Marvin Makes Good First Impression
Marvin Williams walked into the room Wednesday, playing the role perfectly. A dark blue suit, hanging just right on his lanky frame.

Bremerton's Good Son Lives the Dream
It was past 2 a.m. in NewYork City and Andrea Gittens was back in her room at the Westin Hotel, packing her bags. What an emotional day it must have been. Andrea had received almost as much TV time as her son, Marvin Williams, the second pick in Tuesday's NBA draft.

Local stars run with the Pak
Rittereiser, Sorensen step it up a notch
SELAH - Ellensburg High School graduate Brian Rittereiser (2005) and Kittitas High School senior Eric Sorensen are two baseball players with big futures ahead of them. They are honing their skills this summer against the best competition in the region on the Yakima Valley Pepsi Pak Senior Legion team.

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Harbor wrestlers compete in nationals
ENID, Okla. - Elma's Brandon Truini compiled a 2-2 record and Hoquiam's Spenser Sharp and Brian Skolrood won one match apiece on the opening day of the AAU Junior National Dual Wrestling Championships on Wednesday at Enid, Okla.

High school sports awards
The following are awards presented to participants in spring sports at Chimacum High School, Quilcene High School and Port Townsend High School.

Coach candidates sought
Local public school districts are accepting applications for coaching positions for the 2005-06 school year. Some appointments have also been made recently.

Asics lose two games; top-15 finish guaranteed
RENO, Nev. - The Cowlitz Asics 18s Black club volleyball squad will fall short of the miraculous at Volleyball Festival 2005.

Red Lion sweeps Prairie
Prototypical leadoff man Mickey Polis sparked the Red Lion offense, and the sure-handed second baseman also helped bail out his team defensively during the nightcap

Area football stars to play in Friday's all-star game
Isaiah Taito hasn't played in his last high school football game after all.

Olympia graduate gets his kicks with semipro soccer team
For 75 minutes, David was giving Goliath all he could handle -- and Mark Hogenhout was right in the middle of it.

'Respectful' Williams impresses in Atlanta
ATLANTA -- Ex-Bremerton High School star Marvin Williams walked into the room Wednesday, playing the role perfectly.

Dickson gears up for rodeo nationals
The dates July 18-24 don't mean much to most high school students - except summer vacation - but to one Sequim High School student, these dates mean something entirely different: nationals.

Area golfer completes Amateur
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE — Allison Gillette of Anacortes finished 31st on Wednesday at the Washington State Golf Association Women's Amateur Championship.

Local notes: Bosch, Firman fall short at U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier
Sunnyside's Justin Bosch and Ellensburg's Ben Firman were among the 22 players failing to earn one of two spots in a qualifying event this week for the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.

There's one last test before college
It's only six weeks before he dons pads as a college football player, but Noah Jiles' high school grid career isn't quite finished.

Jiles and four other Yakima-area standouts will be playing in the annual East-West All-Star Football Game, featuring the state's top graduated seniors from Class 4A and 3A schools. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Central Valley High School in Spokane.

Duo qualifies for district
SUNNYSIDE - Walla Walla's Morgan Blackburn and Cody Horton have qualified for the Washington Junior Golf Association's district tournament that takes place in Wenatchee later this month.

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Elma's Green named to all-state team
Elma pitcher-infielder Mike Green was named to an all-state baseball team selected by the Washington State Baseball Coaches Association and the Skagit Valley Herald.

Green, who batted .479 through district competition, was included on the Class 2A all-state team. The association selected all-state clubs only in the 4A, 3A and 2A classifications.

Polis to play two sports for Devils
Lower Columbia College coaches Jim Roffler and Rob Hippi have one common word to describe standout athlete Mickey Polis.

Track and field stars to compete at nationals
South Sound prep track and field stars Zack Midles, Jake Hanson and Jamie Carver, winners of a combined nine medals at state meets earlier this month, will step up a notch in competition Saturday when they compete in the Junior Nationals in Carson, Calif.

All-Region teams: He's Born to Play Baseball

Colleges find needles in small school haystack
BRIAN FITZGERALD/Yakima Herald-Republic
East Valley High School's Ben Reifel, center, limbers up with teammates on the first day of practice for the Class 2A-1A-B all-state football game Monday, June 20, 2005. Team East practices at Eisenhower High School.
DOMINIQUE KEGEL was a solid player for tiny Columbia High School in Hunters, where he earned honorable-mention all-state honors as a defensive back on a team that reached the Class B-8 state title game.

But how does a B-8 kid from eastern Washington become a soon-to-be scholarship athlete at a college in Greenville, Ill.? How did he even find the place?

"Actually, they found me," Kegel said. "They flew me out to see the campus and everything."

Crawford gives up Bellingham AD post
Ken Crawford says he looks at things in five-year increments, and after five years as Bellingham High School's athletics and activities director, he's looking for something new.

Four local track stars named to Pac-10 Conference All-Academic teams
WSU's Gardner all-academic
Washington State's Kaylee Gardner, a 2003 Bellingham High School graduate, was named to the Pac-10 Conference All-Academic first team for women's track and field.

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Marvin Williams impresses Hawks with range
Marvin Williams' youth isn't a concern for the Atlanta Hawks, the team he worked out for Wednesday morning — only three days after celebrating his 19th birthday.

North's Howe Prevails for Jackets
North Kitsap product Kyle Howe made a successful return to a Kitsap baseball diamond by leading the Kitsap BlueJackets to a 2-1 victory over the Spokane RiverHawks at Fairgrounds Field Wednesday night.

Kitsap sports award banquet on tap Friday

EHS grad eyes all-star game
Tyler Bender to walk on at CWU
Tyler Bender missed his chance to compete in the track and field postseason his senior year. He had an appendectomy three days before the district meet - an abrupt end to a stellar season in the throwing events.

It would have been a bitter conclusion to Bender's illustrious high school sports career, but thanks to his exploits on the football field, the 2005 Ellensburg High School graduate will go out on top after all.

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Monte soccer coach named
MONTESANO - Ken Matthews, who has spent nearly 40 years as a player and coach, is the new girls soccer coach at Montesano High School.

Monte soccer coach named
MONTESANO - Ken Matthews, who has spent nearly 40 years as a player and coach, is the new girls soccer coach at Montesano High School.

Rainier grad Kelley named All-American
Rainier High graduate Katie Jo (K.J.) Kelley had a storybook junior season with the University of Massachusetts softball team, culminating with her first-team selection to the Easton All-American squad.

Lacey restaurant will honor legendary coach
LACEY -- The legacy of former North Thurston High School baseball coach Jim Fouts continues to thrive thanks to a new restaurant.

Quick to be replaced at Forks High School, superintendent says
FORKS -- Embattled Forks High School Principal Steve Quick won't be back in the fall, Quillayute Valley School District Superintendent Frank Walter says.

Dailly moves on at tourney
MOSES LAKE — Burlington's Xavier Dailly made the cut Wednesday at the Washington State Men's Amateur Championship.

Dailly shot a 73 at The Links at Moses Pointe for a two-day total 149.

He is in a tie for 21st, 10 strokes behind the leaders, headed into the final two rounds.

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Ferris grad Prugh surges into lead at men's amateur
Spokane's Alex Prugh shot a 3-under-par 69 Wednesday to tie for the lead at the halfway point of the 79th Washington State Men's Amateur Championship at Moses Lake.

Prugh (University of Washington/Ferris High) followed up Tuesday's 70 to tie Othello's Bart Patitucci at 5-under 139, four shots ahead of the field. Patitucci shot a 33, with four birdies, on the back nine.

The field was cut to 60 for today's third round and Friday's final round at The Links at Moses Pointe.

All-Region softball team: Woodward's Team Comes First

Close call
Riley Walker is close. That 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds he's listed at in the program for Saturday's Earl Barden 2A-1A-B All-Star Classic football game? Well ... he's close. Probably. On tiptoes. After a trip to Miner's.

Soccer bridges culture gap at BHS
The boys soccer program at Ballard High School had an international flavor this spring with Erasmo Alvarado Luna and his brother Ivan from Mexico. The two are joined by Mogos Haile from Ethiopa.

Briefs: New football coaches named
New head football coaches for Vashon High School and McMurray Middle School were announced at the June 9 Vashon Island School board meeting. Kyle Martin is head coach at the high school and Clay Eastly is head coach at McMurray.

Future league has a new name: Northwest Conference
The future multi-classification league that includes high schools from Whatcom and Skagit counties has a name: Northwest Conference.

Sports briefs

Clark College to host event in memory of former athlete, ex-Evergreen track star, Kalani Rodrigues died of brain cancer in 2004
An award-winning track star at Clark College, Kalani Rodrigues, loved to run but lost his race against brain cancer. This August, Kalani Rodrigues' family and friends will be running and walking in his memory to find a cure for the disease that claimed his life at the age of 21.

Cle Elum athletic director stepping down
Sherrill remains as teacher, coach

Cle Elum-Roslyn School District Athletic Director Steve Sherrill has stepped down. Sherrill made the announcement at the Warriors' spring sports banquet on June 8.

Sherrill said he wanted to spend more time with his family, including his young granddaughter.

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Briefs: Dougherty released by Calgary
CALGARY - Former Elma High School quarterback Ben Dougherty was among several players released Sunday by the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League.

Dougherty, a rookie, had been attempting to make the Stampeders after a record-setting career at Florida A&M.

Youth coach Smiley dies
SEATTLE - Longtime Montesano youth softball coach Tom Smiley, 40, died Saturday in Seattle following a long battle with leukemia.

Area players stand out in all-star selections
Highline and Des Moines-area players found themselves listed as All-Stars throughout the Seamount League King Division, Nisqually League and Sea-Tac B League.

The following is a listing of the choices (per sport) made by member coaches:

Four of a kind
Yet these four soon-to-be college freshmen wouldn't swap a single moment of their journey through the Cowlitz Volleyball Club together.

Rashelle Davenport, Kaitlyn Senn, Kara VanZanten and Kelsey DeLaGrange have played on the same Cowlitz teams for seven years, seven months a year.

Davenport, a 2005 Kalama graduate, and DeLaGrange (Kelso) will remain teammates in the fall when they join the Mount Hood Community College volleyball program. Senn (Mark Morris) heads to Bellevue CC and will become their NWAACC opponent. VanZanten (Mark Morris) will play volleyball at Northwest College in Kirkland, a four-year school.

LCC duo signs pro contracts
Former Rainier High pitcher Broc Coffman and LCC teammate Jared Joaquin have signed contracts with the Texas Rangers.

Notebook: Bears' Wyckoff earns All-State series honor
Olympia High School's Matt Wyckoff was named offensive most valuable player in the final game of the All-State Baseball Series that concluded Sunday in East Wenatchee.

Sequim basketball coach recommended
SEQUIM -- A North Olympic Peninsula native is coming back to take over the boys basketball program at Sequim High School.

Peninsula High School cheerleading coach named one of nation’s best
Kathy Crowley has a recipe for success. Watch out: She loves to cook. Crowley, the Peninsula High School cheerleading coach, was named one of 15 finalists last month for the National Cheerleading Coach of the Year award.

Sequim hires new Wolves hoops coach
Forget Chimacum blue or the traditional Port Angeles green and white: Matt Thacker is happy to wear Sequim purple and gold.

NOTEBOOK
The coaching carousel continues
Sedro-Woolley to have three new leaders; Mount Vernon, Stanwood also looking for new coaches

Sedro-Woolley High School will likely have new head coaches at the helms of three of its most successful programs next year.

Boys' basketball coach Scott Campbell and softball coach Dan Teeter have both stepped down, and girls' tennis coach Jeff Leer has recently said he will not be returning to that program.

Mount Vernon looking for wrestling coach
Kurt Harvill has stepped down as the head wrestling coach at Mount Vernon High School after nine years at the helm, citing a desire to spend more time with his family.

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G-Prep receives green light
GSL says it's OK for Bullpups to play home football games on renovated school grounds next season
The Greater Spokane League has a new football venue. Gonzaga Prep will play its home games this fall on campus, thanks to new turf and lights on its field, part of a planned $1.5 million renovation of Prep's athletic facilities.

Atlanta girl, Bandea boasts grand plans
ATLANTA – A 15-year-old girl wants to play on the LPGA Tour. And, no, it's not Michelle Wie. Hoping to capitalize on the influx of talented young golfers, Carmen Bandea sent a letter to the LPGA on Tuesday asking for a waiver of its 18-year-old requirement to become a member of the women's tour.

Numbers game leaves GSL in state of flux
The Greater Spokane League will have a new look in the fall of 2006. At least two schools, West Valley and Clarkston, will drop to the 2A ranks when the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association adds a sixth classification in 2006.

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Star prep wrestlers head overseas
Two groups of high school wrestlers from the Pacific Northwest will get the chance of a lifetime to travel and wrestle overseas as part of an international exchange program beginning today.

Corey Carpenter, who just completed his sophomore year at Richland, is heading to Moscow today with the Boxer Club Russian Exchange, a group that includes mostly high school wrestlers from Oregon.

The trip will last five days and will span Moscow and Khabarovsk, where Carpenter will stay with host families.

Cody Bradshaw, a Hanford graduate, and Southridge grad Evan White will travel to Japan on June 26-July 9 on the Washington State cultural exchange, which brought several Japanese wrestlers to the Tri-Cities last December.

The group of 10 wrestlers and three coaches -- including Southridge coach Dave Brown -- will stay in five cities during their stay: Kofu, Inatori, Numazu, Fujisawa and Tokyo.

All-Region teams: Gertsen is Simply the Best

Prep notes: Thyron decides to step down as Prairie boys soccer coach

Local players begin practice for annual All-Star contest
With temperatures hovering around 90 degrees, it might not seem much like football weather, but the pigskin will definitely be in the air this week.

The 11th annual Earl Barden 2A-1A-B All-Star Classic football game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Zaepfel Stadium, and more than five dozen of the state's top small-school athletes are in town for practices all week in preparation for the showcase game.

Hardinger to play in series
Recent Lynden graduate Scott Hardinger was selected to play in the Oregon-Idaho-Washington baseball series on Saturday at Vancouver.

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Marvin Nervous in Bucks Workout
Marvin Williams was impressive despite being off his game during a workout for the Milwaukee Bucks, who are considering making the North Carolina forward the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.

O Captain, My Captain
Talk to any coach that has had Jared Prince on their team and the word leadership is bound to come up. That's probably because Prince, a rare three-year, three-sport varsity letterman, was the captain of whatever team is being discussed.

EHS battles at Central tourney
SFormer coach rejoins Bulldogs volleyball

With former head coach Tara Affholter back on the sidelines, the Ellensburg High School volleyball team is using the Central Washington University volleyball tournament to build chemistry.

"We've had some good matches," Affholter said. "It's good practice. It gives me a chance to see players in other lineups."

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Sports Briefs
Hoquiam tracksters honored

Youth Wrestling
ELMA - Results from the June 14 Elma Summer Wrestling Tournament at Elma Middle School.

Burgoyne inks with Northwest Nazarene
Sara Burgoyne's success playing basketball at Kelso High School and Lower Columbia College is taking her to the next level.

Lifting drives Shelton teen
Ninth-grader's dedication results in junior national championship
Three years ago, Travis Belen had two paths before him.

He could continue a path of failing in school and causing trouble. Or he could agree to improve his grades so he could begin lifting weights, an activity he yearned to do but wasn't allowed because of his behavior.

After getting his priorities in order, Belen realized he wanted to lift weights. Three years later, Belen, 15, has taken his weight lifting to a national level in the form of powerlifting. On June 11, Belen won the Teenage/Junior National USA Powerlifting title in the 148-pound division in Killeen, Texas.

Calling all former HS athletes
Nominate your candidate for summer feature
Last summer, the “Catching up” feature was so successful that I plan to revive it over the coming weeks.
But I need your help.

I’m looking for men and women who were involved in athletics at either Gig Harbor or Peninsula high schools and have since moved on to other facets of life.

2005 Boys' Athlete of the Year
Quarterback at heart: Though a three-sport star, Howland's love is football

SEDRO-WOOLLEY — Tygue Howland tried to see every sport through a quarterback's eyes this year.

On the basketball court, he was a driving, shooting forward who helped Sedro-Woolley to a seventh-place finish in the Class 3A state tournament — the Cubs' highest finish ever.

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This guy was born ready
Spokane Indians' Mayberry has been around baseball all his life
At 18 years old, John Mayberry Jr. apparently had it made. Drafted by the Seattle Mariners 28th overall in 2002, all he had to do was sign a contract to begin his career playing professional baseball.

He decided it could wait three years.

Mayberry Jr. instead accepted a scholarship to Stanford, playing three years for the Cardinal and improving his draft stock enough to be selected 19th overall by the Texas Rangers this June, and begin his professional baseball career in Spokane.

Three Splash teams qualify
For the first time since the club was formed in 1996, Spokane Splash Volleyball Club has qualified all three of its teams for the 2005 USA Junior Olympic girls' championships, which will be held June 30-July 3 at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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Pasco's Allen leaves EWU team
CHENEY -- Skyler Allen, who led Pasco High School to the 2000 State 4A football title, has quit the football team at Eastern Washington.

"It was a combination of a lot of things," EWU coach Paul Wulff said. "He's been pretty banged up ... he's such a competitor, I don't know if it (his projected playing time) was enough for him to keep with it."

Allen saw spot duty as a quarterback, kicker and punter in two seasons at Eastern after redshirting in 2002. He was moved from quarterback to wide receiver in spring practice in 2003 -- "He played very well," Wulff said -- but then he suffered a broken arm.

Wulff said Allen, a two-time All-Big Sky Conference Academic player, plans to pursue a law degree and will dedicate more time to academics. Allen did not return repeated phone messages.

All-Region boys and girls golf teams:

Fun Final Swing for Natwick
Sara Natwick has a picture of runner Steve Prefontaine.
It has a quote, which reads: "to give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift."

The photo was given to Natwick by her coach Scott Allen, inspiring the 18-year-old to give it her all for her final high school season of golf.

It's A Long Wait for State
When Alex Williams won the Class 4A district golf championship in October, it was the beginning of a long wait.

The 18-year-old would have loved to play in the state tournament the following week. The next month. Before the end of 2004, even.

But The Columbian's All-Region boys golfer of the year had to wait until June for a shot at his first state championship.

Local players begin practice for annual All-Star contest
With temperatures hovering around 90 degrees, it might not seem much like football weather, but the pigskin will definitely be in the air this week.
The 11th annual Earl Barden 2A-1A-B All-Star Classic football game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday.

Barbosa third at Outdoor Nationals
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Against the top competition he's faced, Prosser's Nectaly Barbosa was — fittingly — at his best.

The Mustang junior-to-be placed third in the 800-meter run in a who's who of high school runners at the Nike Outdoor Nationals.

Players of the Year: Girls' tennis, golf, Track & Field
Cream of the Crop
Six area athletes honored in their respective sports

Prep notebook: Cubs to play in all-state games
Howland, O'Connor to take part in Wenatchee baseball event

The Columbian's All-Region girls track team
Kelly Saves Best for Last

Local report: DiPietro singles in win
Paul DiPietro's two-out single in the bottom of the seventh gave Luke Zirkle and the Yakima Pepsi Beetles a 4-3 victory over the Kennewick Bandits in the first game of a Central Washington League Senior Legion baseball doubleheader Wednesday night at Parker Field.

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Sports briefs: Smith second at state decathlon
YELM - Hoquiam's Mackenzie Smith finished second in the girls decathlon during the Washington State Decathlon/Heptathlon Championships on Friday and Saturday at Yelm High School.

*Note: not a prep note, but a good story at that, as part of the above-linked notebook which tells of Elma's Scott Green hitting his first career hole-in-one at the 120-yard par-3 No. 12 at Cosmopolis last Sunday. Three holes later, Green holed out on the 110-yard par 3 with the same pitching wedge. His wallet might have been a bit light after that showing.

Orcas graduation ceremony was special in so many ways
The graduation ceremony for the Class of 2005 got off to a rousing start with a back flip by star football player Hunter Easterling as he marched into the Orcas High School gymnasium wearing his cap and gown while the middle - high school band played "Pomp and Circumstance." It marked the first time in memory that live music at graduation was provided entirely by students.

MM snags academic, athletic honors
After claiming top-three finishes in seven sports and activities during the 2004-05 school year, the Mark Morris Monarchs have placed fourth overall in the final Class 3A tally of the Washington Interscholastic Activity Association's Wells Fargo Scholastic Cup competition.

MONDAY
In constant motion
South Kitsap's Brittany Miller just can't sit still - and that's exactly what makes her so spectacularly successful

Pirates split doubleheader with Lynden
The American Legion Pirates had a lot going for them on the mound, but too much going against them in the field, June 11.

Fortunately, some key hits came through and the Pirates split a double-header with the Lynden Lightning, losing the first game 5-3 and winning the second game 8-5 in nine innings.

Baseball player of the year
A key for the Cubs
Anthony Wade helped Sedro-Woolley become a NW 3A league champion
SEDRO-WOOLLEY — After years of dwelling near the bottom of the Northwest 3A League standings, the Sedro-Woolley baseball team turned it around.

Youth roundup: Skagit Storm claims a victory
Under-17 girls' team beats FC Alliance in tournament

REDMOND — The Skagit Storm under-17 girls' soccer team beat FC Alliance 5-2 Saturday in a ranking tournament match.

Murphy fourth in his racing class
Skipper came up through Anacortes Youth Sailing program

A listing of area sports camps

MONDAY
Washougal's Boothby breaks own state record in hammer

SUNDAY
Baseball coach at Hudson's Bay resigns

Tom Adams, who led the Hudson's Bay baseball team to four league titles, has resigned after six seasons as coach of the Eagles.

Adams has been approved for his administrative internship next year, and he didn't believe he could give his players his full attention.

Adams teaches at Thomas Jefferson Middle School, after leaving Bay's staff after last school year. Next year, he will be teaching and taking classes to pursue his professional goals.

Five locals named to All-State Games
Davis baseball teammates Casey Day and Josh Murillo will suit up together in the 4A/3A All-State Game. From the 2A, A and B feeder game, East Valley's Michael Stobie and Naches Valley's Beau Bogart and Justin Weller were named to the All-State team.

Local report: Brantner, Thorpe win at MC
PORTLAND — West Valley's Ambria Brantner and Ellensburg's Brandon Thorpe were winners Saturday in the fifth annual Washington-Oregon Meet of Champions at Lewis & Clark College.

Brantner scaled 5 feet, 4 inches to win the high jump, edging Class 4A state champ Jasmine Kelly of Skyview on misses. Thorpe captured the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.90 seconds.

SUNDAY
Athletes away at school: Brader helps team reach JUCO Series

Eurotrip worth forgetting
Kyle Bankhead's experience on a German basketball team is not one he will hold dear to his heart.
Kyle Bankhead led the Wa-Hi Blue Devils to the Class 4A Washington state boys basketball championship in 1999.

Local report: Fitterer's USA team reaches semis
SAN DIEGO — Eisenhower boys basketball coach Pat Fitterer has directed the USA White squad into today's semifinals in the Youth Festival International tournament.

Spring prep honor roll
The Yakima Herald-Republic's honor roll is a roundup of the stars of spring, a collection of all-league teams involving local high school teams. All of these all-star teams were selected by coaches within the league. Not all leagues designate all-league teams and/or most valuable players or coaches.

All-star games set for Sunday
The Class 3A-4A baseball all-state feeder games, scheduled for Wednesday at Joe Martin Field, were postponed because of wet grounds.

Brewers draft Sehome grad
Sehome graduate and former Bellingham Bell Dane Renkert was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 29th round of Major League Baseball's draft on Wednesday.

Syvertson makes presence known
There aren't too many soccer players that can score two goals without really kicking the ball at the net.

Sehome senior Steph-anie Syvertson is one of those people.

Hart, Boyd go out in style
Jordan Hart couldn't have asked for a better way to finish his last game as a high school soccer player.

Shannon nets game-winner
Ferndale's Kelli Christianson opened the scoring for the Red team with a goal in the 10th minute. Christianson broke on a pass from Marissa Major to convert a one-on-one opportunity.

West Sound Senior Games a Month Away
Next month seniors from Kitsap County and beyond will converge on Bremerton to participate in athletic events. The Bremerton West Sound Senior Games (BWSSG) will be heldJuly 7-10 at excellent athletic sites in the area.

Kitsap briefs: BT&AC Hosts Top Girls Event
The top 18-and-under girls players in the Pacific Northwest will be playing this weekend in the Girls 18 Endorsement Tennis Tournament at the Bremerton Tennis and Athletic Club.

CKR's student athletes of the year are Kaitlin Poppe and Jerid Sturman-Camyn.

Failed levies, new class sizes to alter high school sports
Next year’s sports landscape could be altered with double levy failures in the Brewster and Republic school districts.
Both districts are trying to figure out ways to raise money to continue their sports and other programs.
The Republic community is trying to raise $120,000 to keep its sports and other extracurricular programs intact.
After next year, the state will move to a six-classification lineup starting with the 2006-07 season. The change was approved in late April by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.

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Awards announced for Hoquiam, Aberdeen and Raymond teams

AHS Hall of Fame class honored
The Kiwanis Log Cabin Pavilion was bulging at the seams Wednesday night as five new members were inducted into the Aberdeen High School Hall of Fame and Senior Athletic Achievement awards were presented to 14 seniors who earned six or more letters during their AHS careers.

Honesty costs Ilwaco golfer a trip to state tournament
Last month at the Class 1A District 4 boys golf tournament in Cosmopolis, Ilwaco High School junior Mike Lambert did something on the 18th hole that might just be more rare than a hole-in-one.

Former Yelm star drafted by Jays
It wasn't as though Jacob Butler wasn't good at sports in high school.

Embattled Forks High principal says he was told not to speak at School Board meeting
FORKS -- During nearly the entire breadth of the Quillayute Valley School Board meeting Tuesday night, Forks High School Principal Steve Quick sat quietly in the front row, taking notes.

Forks High School coaching, athletics staffing changes
FORKS -- Robert King was hired last month as the head football coach and is now conducting spring practices, King confirmed Wednesday.

Carter Avenue athletic fields at impasse
The San Juan Island School Board will have a public meeting June 16, 7-9 p.m., in the high school library to discuss the future of the proposed Carter Avenue athletic fields.

Issues related to access to the site have created an impasse.

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Standards vary when choosing All-Greater Spokane League spring sports teams
If you are wondering how the All-Greater Spokane League spring sports teams are chosen, the simple answer is … well there is no simple answer.

Each sport has a different criterion. For example, baseball, soccer and softball coaches vote for all-league spots. In tennis, any singles player or doubles team that advances to the regional is considered first team. Golf uses year-long results, with the golfers with the lowest stroke averages earning the spots. For track and field, district championship results are used, with the best mark between the 3A and 4A athlete earning first-team honors.

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Marquardt picked by Rangers
Three more players with Mid-Columbia ties were drafted Wednesday in Major League Baseball's first-year player draft.

Busiest of the busy take top honors
Matt Snell of East Valley and Sharelle Wells of Riverside Christian shared a brief respite in their busy young lives on Wednesday.

Snell and Wells were named athletes of the year at the third annual Yakima Valley Sports Awards banquet before a crowd of several hundred at the Yakima Convention Center.

Ex-WV pitcher Johnson drafted by O's
Craig Johnson, a tall right-hander from West Valley High and a former Yakima Valley Pepsi Pak player, was selected by the Baltimore Orioles on the second and final day of Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft.

The 6-foot-4, 235-pounder was selected 13th in the 47th round of the 50-round draft.

Heron qualifies for final in hurdles
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — San Diego State's Heather Heron, a senior from Eisenhower, qualified for Friday's 100-meter hurdle final with a career-best time in Wednesday's semifinals at the NCAA track and field championships.

Wa-Hi gets new baseball coach
Ryan Carter takes over the Blue Devils varsity head coaching position after Bill Plucker steps aside after six years.
For the fourth time in less than a year, Wa-Hi's Don Wilkins has faced a major head coaching vacancy.

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Locals dominate all-league club
Fourteen Grays Harbor players were named to the all-Evergreen League softball team.

Elma awards announced
ELMA - Elma High School athletes in five spring sports were honored in a series of spring sports banquets recently. Award winners:

Capital's Harbour earns Narrows League honor
OLYMPIA --Capital High School student Lisa Harbour has been named the Narrows League's top female student athlete for the spring sports season.

Forks School Board gets earful from community on embattled principal
FORKS -- The Quillayute Valley School Board heard an earful Tuesday night from Forks High School staff members, parents, students and community members who called on them to fire embattled principal Steve Quick.

11-year high school cheerleading coach Kathy Johnson read a long letter citing why she had finally ``had enough'' of trying to establish good avenues of communication with Quick.

Savage wins state javelin title
The last time Sequim High took someone named Savage to a track meet, a young Jason Savage took his sore arm and javelin to Tacoma and threw it more than 160 feet, falling just short of placing.

Lady Wolves fall in 2 fastpitch heartbreakers
This was the year, he thought. All the pieces are in the right place, the right pitcher, the right defense and some hitting, a recipe for a state championship.

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Bjorklund scores 25 to propel Metro to easy win over Region
What Eastern Washington prep basketball fans knew already about University's Angie Bjorklund, North Idaho fans found out firsthand Tuesday.

Bjorklund, a Parade All-American, is rated the best sophomore in the nation by the College Coaches Association. She scored a game-high 25 points to lead the Metro all-stars to a runaway 87-62 victory over the Region all-stars before an estimated crowd of 1,000 at Coeur d'Alene's Lake City High School in the 12th annual Jack Blair Memorial Girls AAU All-Star Basketball Classic.

More school records fall on the state track

Blakey misses state cut
Coach says golfer’s experience will be valuable for next season

TUESDAY

Ridgefield players gain perspective after learning of crash

Class 4A Greater St. Helens League All-League Teams

On Further Review: High school sports

Class 3A Greater St. Helens League All-League Teams

Banquet will recognize athletes, coaches today
After nine months of competition, the best of the best from prep sports will be honored today.
The third annual Yakima Valley Sports Awards banquet, co-sponsored by the Yakima Herald-Republic and KIMA television, is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. today at... More...

West Valley , Selah head up All-State Feeder
West Valley and Selah have five players apiece set to play in the Class 4A-3A All-State Baseball Feeder Games on Thursday at Davis Field.
The all-senior Upper Valley team will also feature selected players from Davis, Sunnyside and Wapato. The Lower.

Ike grad set for third trip to NCAA track & field championship
Eisenhower graduate Heather Heron, a senior at San Diego State University, will make her third appearance today in the NCAA Division I track and field championships in Sacramento, Calif.

Heron leads a contingent of six local athletes, including three women's javelin throwers from the Greater Columbia B League, in the four-day meet at Sacramento State University.

Preps' finest to hit the diamond
The Northwest District's top senior baseball players will take to the field at least one more time on Wednesday.

Bergner in All-Star Challenge
Bellingham's Sara Bergner has been selected for the Senior All-Star Challenge, a four-team, multi-game softball event scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday at Fort Dent in Tukwila.

Steilacoom wrestler Muri earns Morin Scholarship
Bradley Muri of Steilacoom High School has been chosen as this year's recipient of the Graham Baker Morin Memorial Scholarship Award, it was announced recently by the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association and Morin's family.

Top prep players to play at Civic
The top local senior high school soccer players will be featured Wednesday in the Whatcom County Youth Soccer Association Senior Classic at Civic Stadium.

Baumgartner, Henry Named All-Star MVPs
Olympic's Shea Baumgartner and North Kitsap's Jordan Henry were both awarded the Elton Goodwin MVP award at the Snapple Senior All-Star Games Monday at Legion Field.

Jensen named to ESPN academic district team
TACOMA - Erik Jensen, Oroville, was one of three athletes on the Pacific Lutheran University men's and women's track and field teams to be voted to the 2005 ESPN The Magazine academic all-district college division track and field/cross country teams.

GHC men land seven recruits for basketball
Seven highly regarded recruits - including first-and second-team all-state selections - have signed men's basketball letters of intent with Grays Harbor College, Choker coach Leonard Barnes announced.

Aberdeen senior Dane Henze, Mount Baker's Levi Garrett, White Swan's Chris Jones, Columbia River's Sean Price, Goldendale's Callan Wilkins and two players from Ingraham High School in Seattle - Lee Nearing and Carlos Singer - have committed to the Chokers for the 2005-06 season.

AHS Hall of Fame, Senior Banquet set for Wednesday
The Aberdeen High School Hall of Fame/Senior Athletic Achievement Awards Banquet is scheduled for Wednesday at the Rotary Log Pavilion.

Four Bobcats named to all league
Four Aberdeen players earned second-team recognition on the all-Pac-Nine League softball team.

TJ soccer back on top
Raiderrs win seventh state title

Rice wins state tennis championship
Havlii-Liening duo second

Griffey easily runs away with state sprint crowns

Another title on the way for Toutle
Bad news for the rest of the teams that competed in the Class B state softball tournament last weekend: Toutle Lake, your 2005 champion, is already a favorite to repeat in 2006.

R.A. Long assistant coach takes top job with Columbians
Just before Christmas, a reunion disguised as a nonleague boys basketball game will occur at Rainier High School.

Cheerleading coach vows to discuss problems with Forks High School principal at meeting tonight
FORKS -- The veteran high school cheerleading coach says she will openly discuss problems she says she's had with embattled Forks High School Principal Steve Quick with the Quillayute Valley School District board tonight.

Quick has spent most of this spring at the center of protests -- including two student walkouts -- in March and April over what protesters say is an overly harsh leadership style.

SUNDAY
Pirates call up Moses Lake catcher from Indianapolis
The Pittsburgh Pirates recalled catcher-outfielder Ryan Doumit, a second-round draft pick in 1999 from Moses Lake, who has emerged as one of the Pirates' top prospects with a .344 average, 12 homers and 35 RBI at Indianapolis.

Carlton named Coach of the Year
Northwest A/B League softball coaches have voted Friday Harbor's Kevin Carlton Coach of the Year for the third consecutive season.

The league also recognized four of his players.

Selected to the All-League First Team were senior third baseman Lauren Brem, senior shortstop Megan Vynne, junior catcher Natalie Chevalier and junior pitcher Beth Kelsey.

Prep notebook: Mount Vernon softball lands three 4A first-team slots
La Conner, Concrete players named to 1A first-team

MONDAY
Prairie's Aldridge resigns
About 20 minutes after Prairie High School lost in the Class 4A state softball championship game, coach Al Aldridge slowly walked across the field, headed for the parking lot.

Aldridge, who has coached Prairie softball since the spring of 1980, announced after the title game that it was his last season on the diamond.

Aldridge will continue coaching Prairie girls basketball, a program he has led to five state championships.

For softball, he will settle for one state championship in 2000 and second-place trophies in 2003 and 2005.

Athlete of the Year field is complete
With the 59 spring nominations, the Athlete of the Year nominee list is complete.

SATURDAY
Irish make it six in a row
Nick Richard pitches a one-hit shutout as DeSales downs Wahkiakum, 4-0, for its sixth straight state baseball title.

Injury clouds Adelstein's title chances
As the week began, Ari Adelstein's primary concern was whether he could earn a shot at beating a three-time state tennis champion in the Class 3A state tournament in Seattle.

Ferndale rolling into showdown
By time the Ferndale boys soccer team meets Seattle's Lakeside High School in the semifinal game of the Class 3A State Tournament today in Sumner, they will have traveled more than 500 miles in two weeks. All to earn a chance at the state championship.

Heslep fifth in 1,600 at state
CHENEY - Meridian freshman Miranda Heslep finished fifth in the girls 1,600-meter final Thursday night at the Class 2A state track and field championships on the campus of Eastern Washington.

Thunder wrestler to compete in national tourney
Dane Tilley, an eighth grader at Whatcom Middle school, was selected to the national schoolboy dual wrestling team for the second straight year.

Post 7 falls in seventh
Zachary Rockwell had a two-run single sto highlight a sixth-run seventh inning as the Seattle Bombers rallied to beat Post 7 9-6 in American Legion action on Thursday at Joe Martin Field.

State golf results

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Spartans Rule 3A Golf Tourney
Patience, rarely a virtue of young people, proved invaluable Thursday for the Bainbridge boys golf team.

All Smiles for Cheng in '05
Bainbridge's Whitney Cheng tries to keep her undefeated season alive today at the state tennis tournament.

Prep Beat: Best Moments of 2004-05
It's certainly notideal to do the Top 10 moments of a soon-to-be passed high school season when the spring championships are still pending.

EHS golfers struggle at state
Bulldogs misfire on wet course
SPOKANE - Adam Alldredge was frustrated with his performance at the state golf tournament in Spokane on Thursday. The Ellensburg High School senior shot a 43-40 for an 83 at The Creek at Qualchan to wrap up his third and final Class 3A state golf appearance. His two-day stint on the 6,180-yard, par-72 course started with promise - he had a 1-under 35 on the front nine of Wednesday's round - but ended 15-over-par 159.

"Everything went bad," Alldredge said after Thursday's round. "Every time I'd hit a good shot I'd get a bad break."

Thorp player honored
Thorp-Easton pitcher Kyle Hutchinson was voted Central Washington B League Player of the Year by the league coaches, Tigers coach Tim Riles announced on Wednesday. Hutchinson, a senior, posted an 8-2 record with a .150 earned run average. He had 110 strikeouts in 55 innings. He also hit .480 at the plate.

"It was just a great pick," said Riles, who led the Tigers to third place in the league.

Runner completes his comeback
Isak Bergman qualifies for state

Ellensburg athletic information available
The Ellensburg School District has information for Ellensburg High School and Morgan Middle School summer and fall programs available until June 17. Through the summer, information and materials will be available at the school district central office. The high school athletic office will open again on Aug. 15 for fall sport registration and information. The middle school office will open on Aug. 22.

Registration required

Raymond's Runge second at state
Raymond's Chance Runge carded a final round 83, but couldn't gain any ground on first-day leader Marianne Banton, of Bear Creek School-Redmond, to finish second overall in the Class 1A/B state girls golf tournament at Downriver Golf Course in Spokane.

Grannemann sixth at state in 1600m
CHENEY - A limited schedule on the first day saw no state champions for Twin Harbor athletes, but a few will bring home medals at the Class 2A/1A/B state track & field championships on Thursday at Eastern Washington University in Cheney.

PT soccer plays at 10 a.m. Saturday
Ridgefield (19-1-0) edged Port Townsend (14-5-2) in a boys 2A state semi-final shootout Friday morning in Sumner. The final score was 2-1.

Chimacum out of state softball tourney
Chimacum High's fastpitch softball season ended Friday afternoon with two dusty, wind-blown losses at the state 2A tourney in Wenatchee.

Quilcene drops state softball opener
In Yakima, the Quilcene Rangers were blanked 5-0 by Mossyrock in their State B fastpitch tourney opener.

Instant engergy
CLATSKANIE - Tomi Jo Gutierrez has been called a lot of things.

Fun. Crazy. A tough cookie. An original.

But coaches refer to her most often as a spark plug.

It's an accurate description, since the Clatskanie senior has been providing the spark to keep the girls softball, basketball and volleyball teams firing for four years.

MM boys finish fourth at 3A golf tournament
SPOKANE ---- It wasn't what they were after, but the Mark Morris boys golf team nabbed its second trophy in as many years from the Class 3A state tournament here Thursday, bringing home fourth-place hardware from The Creek At Qualchan Golf Course.

Olympia girls aim for state crown
They’re not content with any just-happy-to-be-here spiel. Instead, the Olympia Bears, the surprise winners of the girls 4A West.

Stonecypher takes 3rd
Beth Stonecypher went into the 3A state golf tournament with a goal of a top-3 finish.

Dickson heading to National High School Rodeo Finals
SEQUIM -- Nick ``Bucky'' Dickson's rodeo career began, suitably enough, with a dare.

Birdie in the Nick of time
Central Valley's Nick Grigsby takes Class 4A state title with solid 4-iron that sets up an 8-foot, two-putt birdie on final hole.

Dolbow edges Dahmen by the closest of margins
Clarkston High junior Joel Dahmen came up one shot short in his bid for the State 3A boys golf title. That shot probably could be measured in centimeters.

Dahmen, engaged in a daylong shootout with Ryan Dolbow of Bellevue, came to the 18th green at The Creek at Qualchan on Thursday trailing by one stroke, though he was unaware of the margin because he was playing one group in front of Dolbow.

Fix, Druffel score gold in state 1,600
The senior who knew what to expect really didn't expect to win, but the freshman who didn't know any better didn't expect anything less.

The State 2A/1A/B track meets kicked off at Eastern Washington University's Woodward Field Thursday evening with St. George's senior Kirsten Fix and Pullman freshman Cory Druffel among the winners, grabbing gold in the girls B and 2A 1,600-meter races, respectively.

Filion finds victory; Blaine tops Pullman
On a day when soggy conditions at Liberty Lake Golf Course called for a player to be content with par, it was only fitting the State 2A boys champion was decided Thursday by a birdie putt.

State baseball outlook

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Brains and brawn
The Richland High baseball team compiled a lot of gaudy statistics this season.

Hanford golfer third in 3A boys
SPOKANE -- Alex Moore will have two more chances at the boys 3A state golf championship.

A duel for the ages
Cori Moore has had the best seat in the house for two of the best girls 800-meter races in state history.

Connell soph runs to second in 1,600
CHENEY -- For so many months, Connell track star Cydney Knight has cried with pain.

Shadle's Braman blossoms into one of state's top all-around tracksters
Bryan Braman is what you might call a late bloomer.

Connell, Wahluke, Pasco set for state semis
Hugo Garcia is no stranger to the 2A state soccer semifinals.

Skyview, Prairie on course for another showdown
By winning the West-Central regional softball championship last weekend, the Skyview Storm tagged themselves as a favorite at the Class 4A state tournament.

Doubters provide spark for Walden
Shortly after every college football season, I review local players who have exhausted their eligibility for professional possibilities.

I'd like to say I forgot about Willie Walden, an Evergreen High School graduate. But I didn't. I never thought Walden would ever step onto an NFL practice field.

Ridgefield's Alford is 2A runner-up; Hockinson boys third
SPOKANE -- Ridgefield senior Cole Alford saved his best for last ... and he's always been uncommonly good.

Alford, one of precious few golfers in Washington high school state tournament history to finish in the top six in all four years of eligibility, capped his prep career by finishing second after losing in a playoff at the Class 2A boys state tournament Thursday.

Familiar foes await River baseball
Familiarity abounds for the Columbia River baseball team this weekend.

The Chieftains are back among the final four in the Class 3A state playoffs, and they will face league rival Kelso in today's 1 p.m. semifinal at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma.

Columbia River boys aim for 3A track title
A great season for the Columbia River boys track and field team, which included an undefeated Class 3A Greater St. Helens League season and a dominating victory at the district meet, looks to get even better as the Class 4A/3A state meet gets underway today in Pasco.

Ridgefield coach likes his team's early start
Adam Pearce doesn't know much about the Port Townsend boys soccer team.

But the first-year Ridgefield coach knows his team, and that knowledge gives him confidence entering today's Class 2A state semifinal match against the Redskins. Kickoff is 10 a.m. in Sumner.

State tennis: Local players face tough tests on courts
A year ago, Zillah didn't have a tennis team. Now the Leopards' boys squad is a SCAC District co-champion and will bring three competitors into the Class 1A state tournament, which begins today — along with the 2A and B competitions

State fastpitch: Sunnyside Christian shows determination in
Although coach Sandy Harris doesn't know what to expect in terms of hitting and pitching from her Sunnyside Christian team on a game-to-game basis, she knows one thing will be a lock every time the fastpitch team steps on the field.

State baseball: Up for grabs?
At stake in the three high school state baseball tournaments that will be decided in Yakima today and Saturday:
One dynasty. (The one DeSales has going in Class B is the envy of high schools everywhere.)

State track & field: Sanchey wins 3,200
CHENEY — A month ago, Klickitat freshman Herschel Sanchey carried an extra load — in the form of a forearm cast — to victory in the 3,200-meter run at the Wolftrack Invitational track meet in Wapato.

Gateway Sports Complex on display with B tourney
On display as much as the state Class B fastpitch tournament teams will be Yakima's new softball facility, Gateway Sports Complex at Kiwanis Park.

Those fields, just north of Yakima Speedway, were the reason Yakima was awarded a state softball tournament for the first time since hosting the Class 2A fastpitch event in 1999.

Class B fastpitch team snapshots

State tournament schedules

Local teams finish strong; Park, Torrez in top 10
SPOKANE — It was a banner day for West Valley's girls and Ellensburg's boys, likewise for Zillah's boys and Riverside Christian's boys, and one to remember for Duran Torrez and Minhee Park.

Tale of two runners
DeSales' Andrea Wujek and Janel Sislow take different roles to the Class B state meet.
Andrea Wujek and Janel Sislow have more in common than their impressive track and field resumes.

Wa-Hi goals clear
Yasmeen Colis, Jared Jungmann and the Wa-Hi boys 400 relay team all focus on their best performances at the state track meet in Pasco.
Wa-Hi distance runners Yasmeen Colis and Jared Jungmann and the Blue Devil boys 400-meter relay team have goals clearly in mind for today and Saturday.

Reinland finishes tied for 8th
Wa-Hi's Max Reinland shoots a final-round 1-over-par 73 at the state tournament to end in a three-way tie for eighth.
SPOKANE - Max Reinland's putting style wasn't suited for the bumpy, slow Indian Canyon greens and the Wa-Hi senior had to settle for eighth place here Thursday as the Class 4A boys state golf tournament drew to a close.

Needham, Quinn start strong
SPOKANE - Meri-dian's Evan Needham and Nooksack Valley's Jill Quinn charged to the front of the pack, while Bellingham's Chris Kill-mer faces a long climb today if he hopes to defend his state golf championship.

Ayers, Frolich give Sehome good shots
As far back as Sehome track and field coach Jen Leita can remember, the Mariners have never had a boy and girl win the same event at the state track and field meet.

Mariners entering uncharted waters
Don't tell the Sehome fastpitch team that experience is going to make a difference at the Class 3A state tournament.

Borderites going for second state title
Longtime Blaine baseball coach Gary Clausen says he especially appreciates this year's team for its good-natured attitude.

State-savvy Pioneers face difficult task
On their way to a fastpitch tournament sometime in April, the Nooksack Valley fastpitch team made a stop at Walla Walla Point Park in Wenatchee, the site of this season's Class 2A state tournament.

Optimistic Trojans back at state tourney
The Meridian fastpitch team finished the regular season a few runs short of perfection. It's a trend they don't want to continue at the Class 2A state tournament at Walla Walla Point Park in Wenatchee this weekend.

Locker named to '06 Rivals100 list
Ferndale junior Jake Locker on Wednesday was named to Rivals.com's top 100 prep football 2006 recruit list.

Game of the week: Ferndale vs. Lakeside (Seattle)
When: 4 p.m., Friday, Sunset Chevrolet Stadium in Sumner

Registration required

Life in the Fast Lane
How Mark Ward first became Central Kitsap's track and field coach was sudden and surprising. How Ward has become, more than a decade later, one of Kitsap's most respected track coaches has been about effort and passion.

Bainbridge Threesome Battling for 3A Golf Title
Hans Olson saved the best for last. Next to last, to be precise.

Registration required

Harbor trio set for state
Three Grays Harbor teams will be in the mix in what figures to be a wide-open State 2A Softball Tournament this weekend in Wenatchee.

District IV champion Montesano (16-7) will face Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls in a tourney opener scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at Walla Walla Point Park near the Columbia River.

Evergreen League champ Hoquiam (20-2) meets Orting and Elma (12-11) opposes Colville on adjacent fields at noon.

Runge tied for second in state golf
SPOKANE - Raymond junior Chance Runge is tied for second following the opening round of the State 1A/B Girls Golf Tournament Wednesday at the Downriver Golf Course in Spokane.

AHS Hall of Fame, Senior Athlete dinner Wednesday
Fourteen Aberdeen athletes will receive Senior Athletic Achievement Awards during the AHS Hall of Fame/Senior Athletic Achievement Awards dinner Wednesday, June 8 at the Rotary Log Pavilion.

For Monarchs, it's O'Dea again
Last Thursday was the first real scorcher of the summer. But 93-degree heat didn't keep a Mark Morris senior and freshman from taking an extra 45 minutes of batting practice.

Scots ready to roll with River
When the Kelso baseball team hit its infamous late-season slump this spring, three league losses put the Hilanders' playoff hopes on the brink of death.

Chinooks, Mules hungry for a title
Dave Orzel keeps reading the same chapter of his favorite baseball novel ---- night after night, for the past two months.

WEDNESDAY

North Kitsap’s diamond miracle
TACOMA — As North Kitsap and Decatur were dueling it out for a state berth in the eighth inning of a scoreless tie game Saturday, the Vikings had their chance. With two out and a runner on third base, Coreena Stout appeared on her way to a walk, with a 3-0 count.

One final hurdle
YELM -- Jake Hanson talked as though he had lost.

Capital's Harbour tied for fifth in 4A golf
Blustery weather couldn't dampen Lisa Harbour's day.

Port Townsend School Board rejects football coach hiring recommendation; position will be re-advertised
PORT TOWNSEND -- In a swift 3-1 vote Wednesday night, the Port Townsend School District board rejected a hiring committee's recommendation to replace a popular football coach with a new one from outside the district.

With the board's action, the head high school football coach position will again be opened to new applicants.

That means that Dan Fountain, the interim coach who led the Redskins to a 9-2 record last year, will get a chance to return to the team.

WEDNESDAY
Sequim's fantastic 4 leap, throw, run to state 3A track finals
Allergies, nerves and even a self-admitted poor throwing day didn't stop four Sequim track and field athletes from advancing to the state 3A championships after a successful West Central District meet at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma.

A Fresh Face
Concrete's first-year catcher Kasey Swanson is a force on offense and defense

Prep golf: Three Tigers make the cut
Brock Ingman leads the charge for Burlington-Edison's golf team at state

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Quick hits
Can the Greater Spokane League bring home state titles from spring sports? That question will be answered by Saturday, the final day of competitive sports for Washington's high school athletes.

One final look at the highlights for Handle athletes
The completion of the high school sports year always comes with a bittersweet sigh, writes Greg Lee.

Three's still great
Boardman, University on their way to state again
Reaching one state tournament is a goal for most prep athletes. Two is something that can only be dreamt about. Three is just tilting at windmills.

Class 2A golf: Greyhounds in hunt for title
Last year the Pullman boys golf team sent three players to the State 2A championship and all went home after the first day of competition.

Locals atop leaderboard
Mead's Eneroth, CV's Grigsby lead State 4A golf tournaments
Nick Grigsby shot out to an early lead and Amy Eneroth had to scratch and claw to stay on top, but both find themselves in the same position after one day of the State 4A golf tournament.

State B golf tourney: McPherson, NWC teams start well
Jon McPherson felt the pressure. McPherson, the District 7 B boys golf champion from Lind-Ritzville, finished second twice in the State B tournament before L-R moved up to 1A for the 2004 season.

WEDNESDAY
Girls send Falcons to state track meet
South Whidbey High School senior Kimery Hern continued to rewrite the post season track and field record books last week when she broke a discus record nearly 30 years old.

Hern’s toss of 145 feet on May 25 shattered the District 1 AAA meet record of 140-feet and seven inches set 29 years ago. Her solid performance in field events continued last Friday when she hurled the shot put 35-feet and 11 inches to place second and qualify for state. The toss broke Bree Kramer’s South Whidbey High School record of 35-5 as well.

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Tucker 1 stroke off lead
SPOKANE -- Kevin Tucker doesn't mind an early tee time.
The 4A boys state championship sends the leaders off in the first group today, and that's where the junior from Kennewick belongs after his opening round of 5-under 67 at historic Indian Canyon on Wednesday.

A leap into the annals
Kasey Hostetler is finally where she wanted to be all along.
Sure the Hanford senior leaped her way into the Falcons' track and field record book -- along with the top qualifying jump for the 3A state meet -- with a school-record long jump of 18 feet, 8 inches at the 3A Eastern Regionals at University High School last weekend.

Area boys doubles duos look to place high at state
Alex Hart and Eric Otto would like to improve on their second-place showing at the 4A state tennis tournament from a year ago.

Hotshot Sun
Lori Chafe didn't seem to mind the 97-degree heat that crashed the 4A Eastern Regional softball tournament Saturday at Columbia Playfield in Richland.

Hanford opens 14th straight appearance Friday vs. Sequim
The Hanford Falcons sure know how to go through a rebuilding year.

Athletes of the Week

Rolling with the Tide
Heritage softball star Jordan Praytor lands berth in Women's College World Series with Alabama.

College notes: Patterson wins javelin at NCAA Midwest Regional
Purdue freshman Patterson and Skyview High School graduate will compete at the NCAA Championships, June 8-11 in Sacramento, Calif.

Frimpong selected for U.S. National soccer team
Hudson's Bay graduate Tina Frimpong was one of 24 women selected for the U.S. National Team in preparation for a match against Canada on June 24.

2A golfers shine at state tourney
While Class 4A and 3A golfers from Clark County were left thinking about missed opportunities in the first day of the state golf championships, local 2A boys golfers have put themselves in position for a great day today.

Class 2A/1A/B state track preview

Class 3A/4A state track preview

State soccer: Prime under pressure
Wahluke has thrived as defending champ
Wahluke High School's Rogelio Guerrero plays against Highland High School in a match on Thursday, May 19, 2005. Wahluke beats Highland 2-0 at Highland in Cowiche.
The Wahluke boys soccer team didn't shun the bull's-eye put on its back after winning the Class 2A-1A State Championship last year, the Warriors embraced it.

Reinland in contention
Wa-Hi's Max Reinland fires a 3-under-par 69 to sit in a tie for third at the state Class 4A golf tournament.
SPOKANE - Wa-Hi's Max Reinland overcame a balky putter here Wednesday at Indian Canyon and shot himself into contention after the first day of the boys Class 4A state golf tournament.

Irish look to buck Broncos
DeSales' baseball team faces nemesis Lind-Ritzville in the state semifinals Friday.
DeSales and Lind-Ritzville have gotten to know each other very well during the 2004-05 sports year.

DeSales hopes for rematch
Victories by DeSales and Morton in the first round of the state softball tournament Friday would create a rematch of the opening week of the season.
Rematches are playing a big part in DeSales' postseason softball run.

Camp's season cut short by a shot
Wa-Hi golfer Allison Camp misses the cut at the state tourney by one shot Wednesday.
SPOKANE - Allison Camp's senior golf season at Wa-Hi ended prematurely here Wednesday when she missed the cut by a single shot at Liberty Lake in the girls Class 4A state tournament.