Category Archives: Softball

SPSCC Swaps Softball for New Volleyball Program

clippers logoSouth Puget Sound Community College announced today that they have dropped softball from their roster of sports offered and will be adding a volleyball program beginning in the fall of 2016.

The announcement ends a tumultuous period in SPSCC softball history. Success came for the program in the 90’s and they were the runners-up for the NWAACC championship in 1992.

But more recently, the team practiced on a neglected campus field that was more often than not a mess due to the weather and they played most of their games across town at The RAC. The 2012 season was cancelled due to a lack of players and since returning in 2013, the Clippers posted a 3-56 record and were outscored 740 to 217. This season came to an abrupt end after an 0-10 start.

While I hate to see a program get the axe, this move makes sense. With the cancellation of the 2015 season, the softball team was left with no coach, no players and no facility. The team was only a team in theory making it very easy to drop. SPSCC will save money on field rental and equipment with the volleyball team and they can likely charge admission to games.

My only reservation comes from the fact that the two established college volleyball teams in town have found very little success historically and if the Saint Martin’s and Evergreen teams have not been able to recruit from a traditionally strong group of local high school players, what makes anybody think that SPSCC can?

Here is the full press release from South Puget Sound:

——————————-

SPSCC Athletics to Launch Volleyball Program

For the first time in 23 years, South Puget Sound Community College Athletics is adding a new intercollegiate sport: volleyball. SPSCC Clipper Volleyball will take to the court for the first time during the fall 2016 season.

“When I was hired, I was given the task of helping to lead a rejuvenation of the department; to not just field teams but to field quality teams in both character and in talent,” SPSCC Director of Athletics Nick Schmidt said. “No one can dispute the quality of talent in Thurston County. With that success came numerous players moving on to college outside of our local area; now we will be able to provide an avenue for those players to stay home.”

Last year, five Thurston County high schools made their respective state volleyball tournaments, with Tumwater winning the 2A state championship and Capital finishing as the 3A runner-up.

Clipper Volleyball will be the eighth team competing in the Northwest Athletic Conference West Region, replacing Clark College, which moves to the South Region at the beginning of this competition year. Schmidt said a coaching search will begin soon, with the ultimate goal of hiring a coach in late fall 2015. That will allow the new coach time to start recruiting in January and play a direct role in all elements associated with starting a program.

“Wanting to make the ‘right hire’, I’ll be consulting with people in the local volleyball community, NWAC and NCAA as we begin the search process,” Schmidt said. “I want to make sure we bring on someone who will not only be a great leader and role model to our players, but someone who can also lay the foundation for a successful program.”

This move follows the decision of SPSCC Athletics to discontinue its intercollegiate softball program, effective immediately. Schmidt served notice to the NWAC Executive Board of the decision on Aug. 5.

“While the overall history of our softball program should never be forgotten, recent history unfortunately left it in an extremely unstable situation,” Schmidt said. “This move will reenergize Clipper Athletics as well as bring more athletic events to campus, allowing us to better engage the students and supporters of SPSCC. I won’t rule out eventually bringing the program back, but it was time that we moved in a new direction.”

For more information about SPSCC Clipper Athletics, visit spscc.edu/campus-life/athletics. Follow Clipper Athletics on Facebook by clicking here or on twitter at @spscc_athletics.

2013-2014 Prep Sports Recap

The high school sports season wrapped up on Saturday so let’s take a look at how everybody fared this season.

There was one team state titles this year, brought home by the Northwest Christian girls cross country team, which shouldn’t be a surprise considering they’ve won eight straight 2B titles.  A few teams took second place in state: Capital volleyball and boys soccer, Timberline girls bowling, Tumwater football and girls track and field.

For individuals, Brooke Feldmeier led the way with three state titles. The Ole Miss bound Tumwater senior won 2A titles in the 100 meter hurdles, the 200 meter dash and the 400 meter dash.

Four individuals won multiple state titles. Capital junior Ryan Chase won two 2A titles for long jump and triple jump, Northwest Christian senior Karen Bulger took 2B titles in javelin and shot put, River Ridge junior Dejuan Frye won the 400 meter dash and was part of the first place 4×100 meter relay team and Tumwater sophomore Peyton Russell took home titles in long jump and triple jump.

And area wrestlers didn’t fare too bad. Jake Grantham took home the 3A 220 pound weight class title for North Thurston, Rochester’s Lucas Eastman won a 1A title in the 152 pound class, Yelm’s Darren Harris won the 4A 120 pound class title and Tumwater’s Megan Johnson won the 155 pound girls title.

Below are all the league champions, teams that participated in state tournaments and individuals that placed 5th place or higher. State champions are in italics.

————–

Black Hills

2A Evergreen Conference Champions: Girls Soccer, Girls Bowling

Girls Soccer: Round of 16
Track & Field:
Sarah McGee – Girls Pole Vault – 4th Place
Gerald Riley – Boys High Jump – 5th Place
Mitch Stone, Mark Melendres, Nick Knittle, Dawun Ray – Boys 4×100 Meter Relay – 5th Place
Katie Zeldenrust, Lauren Furu, Sydney Sauls, Ashley Robbins – Girls 4×100 Meter Relay – 5th Place

Capital

2A Evergreen Conference Champions: Volleyball (tie), Boys Golf, Boys Tennis, Boys Swimming, Boys Soccer, Girls Golf

Volleyball: 2nd Place
Girls Cross Country: Lauren Pierson – 5th Place
Girls Swimming:
Janessa Schulte, Jada Pearson, Madeline Hoffman, Jessica Eidenmuller – 200 Yard Freestyle Relay – Champions and 400 Yard Freestyle Relay – 3rd Place
Jada Pearson – 50 Yard Freestyle – 4th Place
Madeline Hoffman – 100 Yard Butterfly – 4th Place
Boys Soccer: 2nd Place
Softball: Quarterfinals
Boys Tennis: Ty Gentry – Champion
Travis Miller and Doug Doenge – 4th Place
Track & Field:
Ryan Chase – Boys Long Jump and Boys Triple Jump – Champion
Payton McGuin – Girls 800 Meter – 5th Place
Ben Monk – Boys 3200 Meter – 5th Place
Lauren Pierson – Girls 3200 Meter – 3rd Place

North Thurston

3A Narrows League Champions: Girls Swimming, Boys Swimming and Dive, Baseball (regular season)

Wrestling: Jake Grantham – Boys 220 – Champion
Boys Diving:
Tanner Holmes – 1 Meter – 3rd Place
David Wolf – 1 Meter – 5th Place
Baseball: Round of 16
Track & Field: James Jasperson – Boys 800 Meter – 4th Place

Northwest Christian

2B Pacific League Champions: Volleyball

Boys Cross Country: Luke Schilter – 2nd Place
Girls Cross Country: Team – Champions
Kiersten Kimminau – 3rd Place
Anna Brooks – 4th Place
Track & Field: Girls Team – 2nd Place
Luke Schilter – Boys 1600 Meter – 3rd Place
Jonathon Davis – Boys 3200 Meter – 4th Place
Kiersten Kimminau – Girls 1600 Meter (5th Place) and 3200 Meter (4th Place)
Anna Brooks – Girls 3200 Meter – 3rd Place
Heidi Sowers – 300 Meter Hurdles – 2nd Place
Abby McSheffrey – 300 Meter Hurdles – 5th Place
Elizabeth Stottlemyre, Hannah Gabel, Heidi Sowers, Abby McSheffrey – Girls 4×400 Meter Relay – 4th Place
Karen Bulger – Girls Shot Put and Javelin – Champion
Elizabeth Stottlemyer – Girls Javelin – 5th Place

Olympia

4A Narrows League Champions: Softball (regular season), Girls Tennis

Girls soccer: 3rd Place
Wrestling: Logan Pine – Boys 138 – 5th Place
Boys Tennis: Will Berghoff and Kyle Wooten – 5th Place

Rainier

Track & Field: Peyton Dungan – Girls Shot Put – 5th Place

River Ridge

Wrestling:
Daniel Montesa – Boys 132 – 5th Place
Elijah Camacho – Boys 160 – 2nd Place
Track & Field: Boys Team – 3rd Place
Sean Roberts – Boys Shot Put – 4th Place
Dejuan Frye – Boys 400 Meter (Champion), Boys 100 Meter (5th Place) and Boys 200 Meter (3rd Place)
Michael Key, Ika Morton, Chris Leiba, Dejuan Frye – Boys 4×100 Meter Relay – Champion

Rochester

1A Evergreen Conference Champions: Baseball, Girls Soccer

Girls soccer: Round of 16
Wresting: Lucas Eastman – Boys 152 – Champion
Baseball: 3rd Place
Boys Golf: Deric Hawes – 5th Place
Track & Field:
Cody Triana – Boys 110 Meter Hurdles – Champion
Kendra Sanford – Girls 100 Meter Hurdles – 5th Place

Shelton

3A Narrows League Champions: Boys Tennis, Girls Tennis

Baseball: Round of 16

Tenino

1A Evergreen Conference Champions: Football

Football: Round of 16
Baseball: Round of 16

Timberline

3A Narrows League Champions: Football, Volleyball, Baseball (tournament), Boys Golf, Girls Golf, Girls Soccer

Volleyball: 7th Place
Girls Bowling: 2nd Place
Baseball: Round of 16
Track & Field: Javon Watson – Boys Triple Jump – 3rd Place

Tumwater

2A Evergreen Champions: Football, Volleyball (tie), Baseball

Football: 2nd Place
Volleyball: 6th Place
Wrestling: Megan Johnson – Girls 155 – Champion
Baseball: 3rd Place
Softball: Round of 16
Boys Tennis: David Granero – 5th Place
Girls Golf: Kayla Monroe – 4th Place
Track & Field: Girls Team – 2nd Place
Lauren Ericks – Girls 1600 Meter – 4th Place
Peyton Russell – Girls Triple Jump and Long Jump – Champion
Brooke Feldmeier – Girls 100 Meter Hurdles, 200 Meter and 400 Meter – Champion
Emma Furth – Girls Long Jump – 4th Place

Yelm

Wrestling:
Shanelle Berry – Girls 235 – 2nd Place
Darren Harris – Boys 120 – Champion
Brandon Rochester – Boys 152 – 3rd Place
Track & Field: James Rodeman – Boys 110 Meter Hurdles – 4th Place

Saturday Scores: Cougs Fall in Title Game; T-Birds Take 3rd; Mayhem Win First Game

Boys soccer
2A State Championship Game

Squalicum 4, Capital 0 – Photo Gallery and recap
Storm (21-0-2 overall), Cougars (21-3 overall)


High school baseball

2A State 3rd/4th Place Game

Tumwater 5, Anacortes 1
T-Birds (23-5 overall), Seahawks (20-6 overall)

After a 10-1 loss to Lake Washington on Friday to end their championship hopes, Tumwater scored two runs in the first inning and added three insurance runs in the top of the seventh and claimed the third place trophy with a 5-1 win over Anacortes at Yakima County Stadium.

Elijah Hill got the win on the mound for the T-Birds, who finished the season at 23-5 overall.


High school softball

2A State Consolation Round

Anacortes 7, Tumwater 4
Seahawks (20-9 overall), T-Birds (20-6 overall)

An Anacortes six run sixth inning proved fatal for Tumwater as they fell 7-4 to the Seahawks in the consolation round of the 2A state tournament in Selah. The T-Birds finished their season at 20-6 overall.


Semi-pro football

Thurston County Mayhem 20, Snohomish County Thunder 7
Mayhem (1-1 WWFA)

Anthony Parks rushed for two touchdowns and Webster Fepuleai scored a defensive touchdown to lead the Thurston County Mayhem to their first win in team history, 20-7 over the Snohomish County Thunder at Marysville-Pilchuck High School.

Renton Ravens 54, Washington Cavaliers 0
Cavaliers (0-2 WWFA)

Today (5/31): Capital Criterium; Cougars Play For State Title; Much More

Cycling
Capital Stage Race – Downtown Olympia and Capitol Campus – All-Day

The Capital Stage Race is already underway as I type this. It begins with a time trial down the Deschutes Parkway and continues later today at the Capitol Campus with the Capitol Criterium beginning at 2:30. The pro men’s cyclists will run a 60 minute race around the campus at 6:00 and the pro women will race for 40 minutes at 8:00. For more information, click here.


High school baseball
Radio
2A State 3rd/4th place game
Tumwater vs. Anacortes – Yakima County Stadium – 10:00 AM


High school softball

3A State Tournament – The RAC – 9:00 AM

2A State Tournament Consolation
Tumwater vs. Anacortes – Carlon Park, Selah – 10:00 AM


Puget Sound Collegiate League baseball

West Olympia Linx vs. Tumwater Brewers – The RAC – 11:00 AM
West Olympia Linx vs. Hawks Prairie Cardinals – The RAC – 3:00 PM
Nisqually Silvers vs. Olympia A’s – The RAC – 6:00 PM


Boys soccer

2A State ChampionshipRadio
Capital vs. Squalicum – Sunset Chev Stadium, Sumner – 5:00 PM

Capital hasn’t allowed a goal in five straight postseason matches now but will be thoroughly tested in the state title game against Squalicum, who raced past Toppenish with five goals in the semifinals. The Storm are unbeaten this season at 20-0-2 and have allowed just five goals total. They have outscored their opponents in the postseason 26-0. The Cougars lost just two games but have struggled to score goals in the state tournament winning two 1-0 games and taking another scoreless game to a shootout.


Auto racing

Super Late Models, Legends, Baby Grands, Bumbleeds – South Sound Speedway – 6:30 PM

Weekend Scores: T-Birds Advance to Yakima; Bears, Blazers, Rams Fall

High school baseball
3A State Tournament Regionals

First Round: O’Dea 7, North Thurston 1 – Rams eliminated
First Round: Bainbridge 2, Timberline 1 – Blazers eliminatedPHOTO GALLERY


2A State Tournament Regionals

First Round: Tumwater 3, White River 1 – PHOTO GALLERY
Quarterfinals: Tumwater 8, Centralia 1 – T-Birds advancePHOTO GALLERY


High school softball

4A District 3/4 Tournament

First Round: Olympia 6, Thomas Jefferson 3
Second Round: Puyallup 4, Olympia 2
Loser-out: Tahoma 8, Olympia 3 – Bears eliminated


3A District 3/4 Tournament

First Round: North Thurston 6, Peninsula 5
Second Round: Mountain View 4, Timberline 1
Second Round: Enumclaw 8, North Thurston 0
Loser-out: Aurburn Mountainview 15, North Thurston 12 – Rams eliminated
Loser-out: Timberline 6, Peninsula 5
Loser-out: Timberline 6, Wilson 2
Loser-out/Winner-to-state: Bonney Lake 11, Timberline 8 – Blazers eliminated

Today (5/24): State Baseball, District Softball, Derby and Racing

Schedule for Saturday, May 24th

High school baseball
3A State Tournament Regionals
North Thurston vs. O’Dea – Bannerwood Park, Bellevue – 1:00 PM
Timberline vs. Bainbridge – Wheeler Field, Centralia – 1:00 PM

The Rams, the 3A Narrows League regular season champs, survived three loser-out games in the District 3/4 tourney and draws an extremely tough match-up in O’Dea, the Metro League champion with a 21-2 overall record. The winner will face either Columbia River or Mountlake Terrace on Saturday afternoon.

Timberline knocked off North Thurston in the Narrows League championship game and won three straight games in districts to take the #1 seed to state. The 23-2 Blazers will face Bainbridge at 1:00 in Centralia with the winner moving on to face either Mt. Si or Shorewood at 4:00.

2A State Tournament Regionals
Tumwater vs. White River – WF West HS – 10:00 AM

The T-Birds (20-4 overall) took third in the District 4 tournament after a loss to WF West and an elimination game win over Capital. They face the #2 seed out of District 3, White River (19-5 overall) in the morning game in Chehalis. The winner will face Klahowya or Centralia in the next round at 4:00.


High school softball

4A District 3/4 Tournament
Olympia vs. Thomas Jefferson – Kent Service Ballfields – 1:00 PM

The Bears open district play against a Thomas Jefferson team that is 11-10 overall and has lost three straight games. The winner will face either Battle Ground or Puyallup in the quarterfinals at 5:00 PM while the loser faces the loser of that game in a loser-out game also at 5:00.


3A District 3/4 Tournament

North Thurston vs. Peninsula – Sprinker Recreation Center, Spanaway – Noon
Timberline vs. Mountain View/Auburn Mountainview – Sprinker, Spanaway – 4:00 PM

The Rams face a 9-10 Peninsula team at noon. The winner faces Enumclaw in the next round while the loser will face either Timberline, Mountain View or Auburn Mountainview in a loser-out game at 6:00 PM

The Blazers get a first round bye and will face the winner of Mountain View/Auburn Mountainview. If they win, they qualify for state and will next play on Saturday. If they lose, they fall into a loser-out game against either North Thurston or Peninsula at 6:00.


Roller derby

JBLM Bettie Brigade May-Hem Doubleheader – Bettie Bunker, Lacey – 6:00 PM

The JBLM Bettie Brigade hosts a pair of interleague bouts followed by a concert featuring Mach Society, Mosquito Hawk and Buffalo Skies to raise money for improvements to their Lacey home, the Bettie Bunker. Tickets are $12 at the door. For more information, click here.


Auto racing – Weather permitting

Street, Mini and Hobby Stocks, Vintage Modifieds, Stinger 8’s – South Sound Speedway – 6:30 PM

Friday Scores: Capital Blanks Kingston to Secure Semis Berth; T-Birds Survive to Earn State Trip

Boys soccer
2A State Tournament – Quarterfinals

Capital 1, Kingston 0
Cougars (20-2 overall), Buccaneers (18-3 overall)

Marco Lucero’s goal in the 38th minute proved to be the game winner and Capital advanced to the state semifinals with a 1-0 quarterfinal win over Kingston at North Kitsap Stadium in Poulsbo. Jakob Racimo recorded the shutout in goal and the Cougars won their 20th game of the season.

Next up for Capital: Sedro-Woolley on Friday night at 8:00 PM at Sunset Chevy Stadium in Sumner. Sedro was a 3-2 overtime winner over Archbishop Murphy tonight.

High school softball

2A District IV Tournament – Consolation

Tumwater 8, Centralia 6
T-Birds (17-4 overall), Tigers (13-10 overall)

The T-Birds survived a loser-out game and eliminated Centralia with an 8-6 win in the first consolation game.

Tumwater 11, RA Long 8
T-Birds (18-4 overall)

In a loser-out, winner-to-state game at Fort Borst Park in Centralia, the T-Birds found themselves down 5-1 after two innings but scored the next seven runs and took an 8-5 lead in the fifth inning. The Lumberjills scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to one run but the T-Birds held on a for an 11-8 win and a spot in the state tournament.


2A District 4 Tournament – Championship game

WF West 14, Capital 0
Bearcats (22-0 overall), Cougars (10-12 overall)

WF West blitzed the Cougars in five innings. The Bearcats claimed the #1 seed while Capital took the #2 seed from District 4 to state.

Today (5/23): Cougs Face Kingston in State Semis; District Softball

Schedule for Friday, May 23rd

Boys soccer
2A State Tournament Semifinals
Capital vs. Kingston – North Kitsap Stadium, Poulsbo – 7:00 PM

Capital, who were overtime winners in the first round, now take on a Kingston team that knocked off Orting with a 4-3 shootout win. It’s a match-up of two 2-loss teams. The Cougars, the #5 team in the state according to Scoreczar, moved to 19-2 with their 1-0 win over Anacortes and have now outscored their opponents 73-10. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers, #3 ranked by Scoreczar, have put up 77 goals while allowing just eight en route to 18 wins.

The winner will face the winner of the Sedro Wooley/Archbishop Murphy game in the state semifinals on May 30th at Sunset Chevy Stadium in Sumner.


High school softball – Weather permitting

4A District 3/4 Tournament Postponed until Saturday
Olympia vs. Thomas Jefferson – Kent Service Ballfields – 1:00 PM

The Bears open district play against a Thomas Jefferson team that is 11-10 overall and has lost three straight games. The winner will face either Battle Ground or Puyallup in the quarterfinals at 5:00 PM while the loser faces the loser of that game in a loser-out game also at 5:00.


3A District 3/4 Tournament
Postponed until Saturday
North Thurston vs. Peninsula – Sprinker Recreation Center, Spanaway – Noon
Timberline vs. Mountain View/Auburn Mountainview – Sprinker, Spanaway – 4:00 PM

The Rams face a 9-10 Peninsula team at noon. The winner faces Enumclaw in the next round while the loser will face either Timberline, Mountain View or Auburn Mountainview in a loser-out game at 6:00 PM

The Blazers get a first round bye and will face the winner of Mountain View/Auburn Mountainview. If they win, they qualify for state and will next play on Saturday. If they lose, they fall into a loser-out game against either North Thurston or Peninsula at 6:00.


2A District 4 Tournament

Loser-out: Tumwater vs. Centralia – Fort Borst Park, Centralia – 4:00 PM
Championship: Capital vs. WF West – Fort Borst Park, Centralia – 6:00 PM

Tumwater, the clear second place team from the 2A EvCo, now needs two wins to make it to state. They take on Centralia in a loser-out game at 4:00 and then will face the winner of the RA Long/Ridgefield game in a winner-to-state/loser-out game at 6:00.

Can Capital continue to knock off the heavy hitters? They have already qualified for state but can make a bold statement with a win in the District 4 championship game at 6:00 PM.

Thursday Scores: Cougars Pull a Pair of Upsets to Qualify for State

High school softball
2A District IV Tournament – first round

Tumwater 11, Washougal 0
T-Birds (16-3 overall)

The T-Birds picked up an easy first round win over Washougal to move into the semifinals of the District 4 tournament at Fort Borst Park in Centralia.

Capital 3, RA Long 2
Cougars (9-11 overall)

Rachel Erickson hit a two run home run to lead Capital to a huge upset over the top team from the Greater Saint Helen’s League and set up a semifinals date with Tumwater.


2A District 4 Tournament – Semifinals

Capital 4, Tumwater 2
Cougars (10-11 overall), T-Birds (16-4 overall)

Capital made a statement by putting a run on the board in each of the first four innings to take a 4-0 lead over Tumwater. Alyssa Ubrun led off the sixth inning with a solo home run and the T-Birds loaded the bases with no outs following Ubrun’s homer but couldn’t push any more runs across in the inning. The Cougars allowed one more run in the seventh but held on for the 4-2 win and a spot in the state tournament.

The Cougs will face WF West on Friday at 6:00 PM for the district title while Tumwater will fight for their season with a loser-out game against Centralia at 4:00.

T-Birds and Cougars Open 2A District Softball

Schedule for Thursday, May 22nd

High school softball
2A District 4 Tournament
Tumwater vs. Washougal – Fort Borst, Centralia – 4:00 PM
Capital vs. RA Long – Fort Borst, Centralia – 4:00 PM

Tumwater and Capital open district play with 4:00 PM games at Fort Borst Park in Centralia. The T-Birds finished 14-3 in the 2A EvCo, good enough for second place, while Capital finished in fourth at 8-9.

The winners of each game will meet in the semifinals while the losers will fall into a loser-out game. Both first pitches are scheduled for 6:00 PM.

%d bloggers like this: