-
May25
A GRIP ON SPORTS
An unimportant play in a completely forgettable season. That's what traditionalists – or apologists – might say about another obviously blown call in the Mariners' loss to the Texas Rangers. But there is another view, even if baseball may have trouble seeing it. Read on.
-
TACOMA – Damon Unland knows how to hold an audience until the end. The Ferris senior threw 185 feet, 5 inches on his final attempt to pull off a three-peat as the State 4A discus champion Friday during the second day of Star Track XXXI at Mt. Tahoma High School.
-
After a long, blustery day that had turned somewhat disheartening, Joe Stanton gathered his Central Valley Bears together and instantly knew they weren’t ready to give up. The Bears brought out their bats Friday night and kept alive their drive for the school’s first state softball tournament trophy.
-
Gonzaga Prep’s Alex Marcinkowski won both of his matches Friday on the first day of the Stae 4A tennis tournament in Richland. Marcinkowski will play in the semifinals today against Skyline’s Aman Manji. The winner will advance to the title match later in the day.
-
LACEY, Wash. – Taylor Morales feared her plate appearance was going to be short-lived. The University High junior was late on her swing, foul-tipping the ball high into the air, just beyond first base.
-
TACOMA – Colville senior Joellee Buckner had never thrown a javelin until this year. She set a modest goal coming into the season.
-
SUMNER, Wash. – Few high school boys soccer teams, regardless of state classification, have been as dominant as the Cheney Blackhawks program the last six seasons. Four prior appearances in the state championship game, including three straight trips between 2008 and 2010, with only heartbreak and a quartet of runner-up trophies to show for it.
-
The squall that blew over Roos Field late Friday afternoon was chilling enough. But there was little relief for Whitman County high jumpers Darcy Stamper and Tyler Blakely even after the rain passed, sailing as they were onto a soggy mattress dotted with puddles.
-
Talk about rising to the occasion. By leaps and bounds, Jessica Chrisp and the Riverside girls have moved into contention for a high finish at the State 1A/2B/1B track and field championships at Eastern Washington University.
-
May24
After a long, blustery day that had turned somewhat disheartening, Joe Stanton gathered his Central Valley Bears together and instantly knew they weren’t ready to give up.
-
A GRIP ON SPORTS
It is hard to be labeled. No matter what that label is. But for a professional athlete, one of the hardest labels to live up to is potential. The word may have claimed another casualty yesterday. Read on.
-
Bailey Bergdahl soaked up the scene as Central Valley claimed its first regional softball title last Saturday, realizing that the memory would mean more than the win itself. “My favorite moment of the year was just the looks on all of our faces when we won the regional game,” CV’s senior shortstop said. “The win was good, too, but just looking over at our coach and him jumping high in the air, and all the girls hugging each other. It’s just the cool feelings and moments like that that really make everything worthwhile.”
-
TACOMA – It wasn’t roller derby, but it may have been the next closest thing. Those who watched the State 4A boys 1,600 meter final Friday were treated to a race featuring multiple moments of contact.
-
May23
Bailey Bergdahl soaked up the scene as Central Valley claimed its first regional softball title last Saturday, realizing that the memory would mean more than the win itself.
-
It wasn’t roller derby, but it may have been the next closest thing.
-
A GRIP ON SPORTS
Social media is an interesting beast. Sometimes it can bear sharp teeth, ripping into, say, Sergio Garcia, after his ill-advised comments about Tiger Woods and a dinner entrée. ...
-
Jon Schuh occasionally thinks that he should have introduced himself twice to people connected with University High softball: once as coach of the team and once as parent of one of the players. Schuh’s Titans are preparing for their 10th state tournament appearance since he took over the program in 2000. U-Hi (18-5) will open against Bainbridge at 9 a.m. Friday at Regional Athletic Complex in Lacey.
-
VANCOUVER, Wash. – Lewis and Clark sophomore Sierra Kersten defeated Olivia Benzin of team champion Bellarmine Prep in a one-hole playoff to secure the individual State 4A title with a two-round score of 151 (78-73) on Wednesday at Club Green Meadows. “It was crazy. I had a rough first round,” said Kersten, who finished in a tie for fifth place last season. “And then today, I don’t know, I was just on.”
-
The defining moment in another great Cheney soccer season? It depends on whom you ask. For defender Daniel Bogart, it came during winter workouts, when “we realized that we had lot of potential.”
-
WOODLAND, Wash. – A worthy senior from Columbia River and a steady downpour Wednesday washed away the repeat State 3A girls golf championship hopes of Mt. Spokane junior Sierra Bezdicek. Columbia River senior Chloe Bartek romped to the state title with a 36-hole score of 3-under par 143 at Lewis River Golf Course. Bezdicek was a distant second at 150 after shooting a 6-over par 79 Wednesday.
-
This is the time of year when Sanne Holland makes so much improvement at state track that one wonders if she were running in quicksand during the regular season. The Cheney senior took nearly 20 seconds off her season best last year when she won the State 2A championship in the 3,200 meters in a meet record time of 10 minutes, 48.40 seconds.
-
May22
Jon Schuh occasionally thinks that he should have introduced himself twice to people connected with University High softball: once as coach of the team and once as parent of one of the players.
-
A GRIP ON SPORTS
Want to know when it is going to rain? Just check with me. If I've scheduled a golf outing, it will rain. Been perfect 100 percent of the time this spring. I'm beginning to think the big guy upstairs doesn't like me. Read on.
-
Gonzaga Prep’s Alex Marcinkowski’s stated goal for his final trip to the State 4A boys singles tennis tournament is to bring home the second-place trophy. It’s not so much a lowered expectation as it is an acceptance of reality. The No. 1 singles player in the state, Mitch Stewart of Federal Way, is also the No. 1 singles player in the nation in his age group. To reach his goal, Marcinkowski must reach the singles final Saturday at the end of the 4A singles and doubles tournaments, which will be held in Richland, split between the Columbia Basin Racquet Club and Richland High School.
-
May21
A GRIP ON SPORTS
Three-run home runs are cool, sure, and oftentimes can be crucial to winning a baseball game. But catching a short flip from the first baseman very well may be more important. Read on.
