Grip on Sports: The prep sports season ends its long run with a cornucopia of championships

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Memorial Day weekend is the last gasp of non-summer. The end of the prep sports season. And the beginning of the next. Read on.

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• Football and basketball might just be the big sports on campus, but there are more prep state titles contested in spring than any other time.

Which makes the Memorial Day weekend in Washington the ultimate prep weekend.

The state puts on two state track meets for the six classifications. There are baseball, softball, tennis and boys’ soccer titles decided on Saturday. And this year, unlike many, the weather was perfect.

From Tacoma to Cheney, from Lacey to Spokane, high school athletes took to the field or court or pitch for their last hurrah. Some made it a weekend to remember, others a weekend they’ll try to forget.

Either way, memories were made.

• I was around when Mt. Spokane was born in the Mead school district. It was so long ago, it seems as if it was a different century. Hey, it was 1997, so technically, it was.

With its shiny clean walls, it huge expansive athletic fields and its well-seasoned coaches, it seemed as if it was just a matter of time before state title banners were hung on the wall. It took a while, but the girls’ golf team won a state title a few years ago.

And now the boys track team has a banner to hang.

The Wildcats won the 3A championship yesterday in Tacoma and they did it in convincing fashion, a 29-point win over runner-up Shadle Park.

To add a little icing on the cake, it wasn’t the only state track title the district won yesterday. Mead won its eighth boys title when it took home the 4A crown.

You know how Eugene is known as TrackTown, USA? Well, the Mead school district is Washington’s equivalent in the high school ranks.  

• We are still looking for fishing stories about you and your dad. I would love to share them with the readers of this column. Just as I shared mine earlier this week.

You put your memories down on your computer and send them to my email address – vincegrippi55@yahoo.com. I’ll take care of the rest. Please include your name and a phone number so we can verify them. That’s it.

We’ve already received a few stories but we’re always baiting our hook for a few more.

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WSU: The baseball team finished its season by being swept by No. 8 Stanford. … We linked a story earlier this week, but here is the S-R’s piece on the 2017 Hall of Fame inductees. … Around the Pac-12, USC’s Coliseum remodel is ruffling a few feathers. … There will be a quarterback competition in Tucson. … There now are two Pac-12 schools in the women’s softball college world series, with two more having a shot to qualify today.

Gonzaga: Come postseason time in college baseball, aces are important but pitching depth is even more so, especially in these days of pitch counts and increased scrutiny. BYU seemed to have more depth this weekend as the Cougars came through the losers’ bracket, swept a doubleheader from the Bulldogs yesterday and earned the WCC’s automatic berth into the NCAA tournament. … Kyle Dranginis is doing well in Europe. Jim Meehan has the story. … Jim also has the story on another transfer who didn’t pick GU, though this one was expected. … No wonder John Stockton is so loved in Salt Lake City.

Preps: It’s a full plate, so let’s dig in. Greg Lee was in Tacoma and he has coverage of the 4A track, 3A track and 2A track, which highlights the speed of East Valley’s Rodrick Fisher. … John Blanchette was in Cheney and he has coverage of the 1A/2B/1B girls meet and the boys meet. … In baseball, Colfax coach Mike Parrish rode into the sunset – probably on a John Deere – as the Bulldogs won the 2B state title. We also have a story on the 1A tournament and the 1B title. … Central Valley dropped its final soccer match. … Mt. Spokane fell in a tough 3A softball semifinal. … State tennis also finished up.

Mariners: Another game, another shutout. The M’s have a 20-inning scoreless streak going. Dave Nichols has all that and more in the Mariners Log. We added the links.

Seahawks: There was a bit of a tease we linked yesterday, but Dave Boling’s final News Tribune column appeared today. It’s about Curt Warner and his family. It shouldn’t be missed. … Pete Carroll faces his biggest challenge. … Did Spike Lee reveal an ending early?

Sounders: No matter what the opposing coach says, the Sounders won 1-0 yesterday. The losing team? Archrival Portland. The win may serve as a steppingstone to success this season. … Los Angeles handled San Jose.

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• It’s warm, sunny and dry. Seems like a good morning to see a movie. By the way, tomorrow is Memorial Day. We will memorialize our favorite, no-longer-with-us veteran in this space. Until then …