West Seattle, Washington
15 Thursday
(WSB photo, February)
Back in February, we reported on the rapid growth of the relatively new Westside Pickleball League, an all-ages group playing the official Washington state sport. The story noted that the group was seeking Seattle Public Schools permission to add pickleball lines to the district-owned Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex courts west of Southwest Pool. One of the league administrators, Amy Greger, tells us that they have now received that permission, and the league will cover the cost of painting lines for 12 pickleball courts on the six tennis courts. As explained here, the weather has to warm up a bit before the courts can be cleaned and painting can be done. They’re hoping to have the initial league tournament at the NCSWAC courts in June.
ADDED TUESDAY: The league clarifies, SPS has given permission to paint lines for six pickleball courts, while six more will be “marked for taping.”
(WSB photos)
Both Chief Sealth International High School and West Seattle High School are having strong seasons in fastpitch softball so far. Just as school was getting out for spring break, the two faced off Friday afternoon at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex.
(WSHS’s Carmen Cruz)
As one spectator who emailed us postgame described it, this was a “five-inning slugfest with five total home runs and two ground-rule doubles that were centimeters shy of home runs.”
(CSIHS pitcher Delaney Sipila)
West Seattle went ahead early and took the win, 17-7. According to the GameChanger summary, Lane Ryan was the hitting leader, with three hits – including one of those home runs – and five RBIs. Tangerine Zurek was the winning pitcher for WSHS. Starter Sadie Stroud and reliever Delaney Sipila – who also had two steals – pitched for CSIHS. The Wildcats are now 5-2 and next play at Eastside Catholic, 4 pm Wednesday, April 19th. The Seahawks are now 7-3 and next host Roosevelt at NCSWAC, 4 pm Tuesday, April 18th.
It’s National Fish Sticks Day (sort of). But you don’t have to go eat battered, fried seafood to celebrate. You can also buy one or more tickets to game(s) played in White Center by the DubSea Fish Sticks, now exactly two months from their home opener. Here’s the announcement:
The DubSea Fish Sticks summer collegiate baseball team launched its single-game ticket sales for the 2023 season this morning as part of National Fish Sticks Day.
The team hosts their events at Mel Olson Stadium, which is located inside King County’s Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center and is nicknamed “The Fryer.”
The team is known for their crazy antics, including throwing out a ceremonial first fish, where the honoree flings a fish toward home plate instead of a baseball. During non-league games the team also runs an open raffle for a random fan to sign a one-day contract and lead off in the game for the Fish Sticks as the “Fan Batter of the Night.”
The Fish Sticks recruit players from colleges across the country to come and play for the months of June and July. The 2023 summer roster is composed of players from thirty different colleges. The players report in late May and play with the team to hone their skills and hope to one day play professionally.
“We’re not in the baseball business, we’re in the fun business, where there happens to be a baseball game going on. Our goal is that this is the most fun you’ve ever had inside a baseball stadium. From the music, great food, beer and crazy promotions, this will be something you’ll never forget,” exclaimed General Manager Justin Moser.
Single-game tickets for DubSea Fish Sticks games are only $12, and Opening Night on Saturday, June 3rd, is expected to sell out quickly. Flex Ticket Packs with options ranging from three to ten games packages are also available. The team will host 26 home games this summer, including every Saturday night from June 3th – July 29th. The team will host the Battle for West Seattle, a charity softball game celebrating the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce’s 100th anniversary. They have also been selected to host the MLB JR Home Run Derby Regional Competition, where winners will go on to compete at T-Mobile Park as part of All-Star Week.
The Fish Sticks also partner with youth organizations and nonprofits to run ticket fundraisers at every game and sell discounted group packages.
You can find more information and secure your tickets for Opening Night at The Fryer online at GoFishSticks.com/tickets.
(WSB photos. Above, senior Jake Daily)
Chief Sealth International High School lost for just the second time so far this season when Eastside Catholic visited Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex on Wednesday night. In their only home game of the week, the Seahawks fell 7-0.
(Starting pitcher, senior Wyatt Trujillo)
Chief Sealth is now 8-2 for the season. On Friday afternoon, they’ll play at Garfield; next home game at NCSWAC is Friday, April 7th, 4 pm, vs. Sammamish.
(WSB photos. Above, Matthew Henning)
In the third week of the season, the league-leading, undefeated West Seattle High School varsity baseball team just scored their third consecutive shutout victory. Playing tonight at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, the Wildcats beat Franklin, 20-0.
(Tonight’s starting pitcher, Miles Chandler)
According to the GameChanger summary, WSHS really broke things open with a 10-run third inning. Owen Earls was the night’s leader in RBIs, with five; TJ Buehring was right behind with four. Starting pitcher tonight was Miles Chandler, who held Franklin to one hit in four innings; the hitless fifth inning was pitched by John Langen. The Wildcats’ next two games are on the road; they’re back home at 7 pm next Monday (April 3rd) vs. Cleveland at NCSWAC (2801 SW Thistle).
(WSB photos)>
Baseball and softball season-openers continue this afternoon as West Seattle Little League‘s season-opening jamboree concludes, with more than 800 players and 68 teams participating. Saturday we stopped by the softball venue, Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle); this morning, we visited the baseball venue, Bar-S (64th/Admiral) – the photo above is from a juniors (10-year-olds) game, below is from a seniors (12-year-olds) game:
Baseball is scheduled to continue until about 7 tonight, softball until 4:30.
(WSB photos)
This is the second year that West Seattle Little League has included softball as well as baseball, and that means this weekend’s season-opening Jamboree is happening at two sets of fields. We stopped by Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) this morning while 7- and 8-year-olds were playing softball, joyfully celebrating their first game of the year:
Everyone’s welcome to come show their support, for the softball and/or baseball players, who are playing at Bar-S Fields (64th/Admiral) in Alki. Softball games continue today until 5:30, and baseball until 7; tomorrow, the schedule is 10 am-4:30 pm for softball, 9 am-7 pm for baseball, same locations. (Concessions too!) And on Sunday, the Mariner Moose is expected to visit Bar-S – more on that and other Jamboree details here.
(Photo by Lynn Drake)
From left in that photo taken at Alki are Erika Whinihan, Joe Drake, Heather Free, and Gretchen Tapp. They’re celebrating two major marathon-running achievements achieved on one day, thousands of miles from home, as explained in this announcement we received from Joe:
Local residents Joe Drake and Erika Whinihan, both of West Seattle, along with Heather Free (Duvall) and Gretchen Tapp (Auburn), earned their Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Medals in Tokyo on March 5, 2023.
Runners achieve Six Star status, a bucket list item for many marathoners, after completing all of the World Marathon Majors: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. Bagging Tokyo has recently become elusive. In the interest of pandemic safety, the Tokyo Marathon restricted participation such that non-residents of Japan have not been able to run there since 2019. A large backlog developed and as a result, a record number of runners received their Six Star Medals on March 5. These runners are among the 3,033 runners who took home the medal and earned a Guinness World Record in the process for “most people to earn a Six Star Medal at a single marathon”.
For more on the World Marathon Majors, see this link. And for details of the historic Guinness world record in Tokyo, read this blog post from Joe Drake. You can read about his journey to the Six Star Medal in his book “Run With It: A True Story of Parkinson’s, Marathons, the Pandemic, and Love” available on Amazon and at his author’s website.
Joe’s WMM quest was noted here in October 2021.
As a Chief Sealth International High School team parent described it in an email to us, “Huge win for the baseball team last night.” Sealth beat O’Dea for the first time in years, the parent explained – and the Seahawks were the visiting team. Final score Sealth 11, O’Dea 8. The parent added, “Fans were wild with the win! It was about 47 out and with a 7:00 start we all waited for the almost 11:00 finish!” According to the game notes logged with GameChanger, the Seahawks took the lead in the ninth inning, breaking an 8-8 tie when Teo Perala singled to bring in a run. The game’s hitting star for the Seahawks was Seth Clark, going 3 for 5. It’s early in the season but Chief Sealth has a 5-1 overall record and will play next at Nathan Hale, 3:30 pm Friday. O’Dea, meantime, will be visiting West Seattle High School (6-0) at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex at 7 pm Friday. We appreciate sports updates and tips – westseattleblog@gmail.com any time!
Yet another sign of spring – West Seattle Little League baseball and softball teams are about to start playing. You’re invited to the season-opening, two-location jamboree – here’s the announcement:
West Seattle Little League will kick off the season with its annual Jamboree this weekend. Tee ball and baseball games will be held at WSLL’s Bar-S home field, and girls’ softball will also be celebrating the opening weekend with games at Chief Sealth.
Games will occur on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th of March. Baseball games will occur between 9 am and 7 pm on both days. Softball games will occur between 9 am and 5:30 pm Saturday and 10 am and 4:30 pm Sunday.
Come cheer on our kids, get some pics with the Mariners Moose and DubSea Fish Sticks, learn about WSLL, and grab a bite to eat at the concessions.
The Bar-S fields are at 64th SW and SW Admiral Way in Alki; the Chief Sealth (Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex) fields are at 2801 SW Thistle in Westwood. According to the WSLL website, the Moose will be at Bar-S 10:30 am-2:30 pm Sunday; the Fish Sticks mascot’s schedule is TBD.
Spring means youth sports, and West Seattle Little League is hoping for more volunteer help, of all ages:
West Seattle Little League Needs YOU!
JUNIOR VOLUNTEERS
Our Junior Volunteers keep Bar-S hopping all season long. Cook and sell food in the Snack Shack, prep the fields for games, serve as a Junior Umpire – or do all three! This is a fun opportunity for community members aged 13-18 to gain service skills and volunteer hours. Benefits include tips and free food/beverage each shift. Junior Volunteer applications will be accepted through Monday, March 20th.
Click here to apply to be a Junior Volunteer.
Or contact Jacque at snackshack@westseattlelittleleague.com to learn more.
SNACK SHACK VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We’re looking for adult volunteers passionate about customer service and youth mentorship. Be an integral part of that Bar-S magic! Experience in food service is ideal but not necessary. Training provided. Responsibilities include:
-Lead the Snack Shack Junior Volunteers throughout the season, taking weeknight evening shifts from 5-9 pm, as available.
-Lead the Snack Shack team on Saturdays, with shifts from 7:15-10:30 am, 10:15-2:15 pm, 2:00-5:30 pm, or 5:15-9 pm, as available.
Supervise and support our Junior Volunteers (ages 13-16) in food prep, cleanliness, and cash handling. Help them develop leadership and teamwork skills.
Prepare hot dogs for sale at the Snack Shack and assist with other hot food preparation.
Assist the Concessions Director with managing systems and inventory.
Food handlers permit required (available online), and WSLL will pay the permit fee.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with Jacque by March 20th to learn more: snackshack@westseattlelittleleague.com
Meet Asa Kestner, who’s been playing tennis since he was barely kindergarten age, according to his dad James Kestner, who wants to share the news about the big opportunity Asa’s in the middle of right now:
Asa Kestner, a 7th grader at Madison Middle School, was selected to be a member of the ball crew at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, CA. The BNP Paribas Open is one of the biggest professional tennis tournaments in the world. The tournament runs from March 6-19, 2023. The event features the top male and female players from across the globe.
To join the ball crew, Asa had to complete both online and in-person training. After finishing the online course, Asa attended two training sessions in Edmonds in December and January before being assessed as tournament ready. Asa loves tennis and is excited for the opportunity to be on the court with some of the top players in the world.
Matches from the BNP Paribas Open are being broadcast daily by The Tennis Channel.
Right now, James says, his son is scheduled to work matches through Wednesday (March 15th), though there’s a chance that could extend into the tournament’s final days. He adds, “Being on the ball crew allows him to witness firsthand the many roles people play in hosting a tournament of this scale, from the players, their coaches, and trainers, to the umpires and other officials running the show. Some of his fellow ball crew teammates are current college-level players, so he’s had the opportunity to learn from them about playing college tennis, too.” Though Asa plays at courts around West Seattle, his dad says he’s been taking lessons at the Boeing Employees Tennis Club in Kent, where the family has a membership.
West Seattle High School cheer coach Nadine Nguyen sends word that tryout time is approaching:
Are you ready to become a part of the State-Winning West Seattle High School Coed Cheer Team?
Now’s your chance. Tryouts will be held in person March 28th-March 31st from 4:30 pm-6:30 pm @ WSHS. To try out, you will need to fill out all online forms and provide a current Sports Physical.
* We will also be hosting Cheer Clinics on March 20th and March 21st.
CHEER CLINICS – Learn the cheer basics to help prep you for tryouts!
*For those interested in trying out for our State Winning Competition Team, you are invited to attend our Stunt Clinics where you will learn basic stunt skills. Though stunting is not part of our final tryouts, attendance may or may not benefit your chances on making our Comp Team! Stunt Clinics are on March 22nd and March 23rd from 4:30 pm-6:30 pmTo participate in tryouts on March 28th – Match 31st, Stunt Clinics, and the Cheer clinics, please bring a printed and signed copy of the following items below to the first day of the clinics/tryouts.
-Student Athletic Registration Form
-Signed Parent Waver
-Both Covid Forms (Screening and Release)
-Up-to-date PhysicalThe Tryout application and required forms are available through the following link tree:
linktr.ee/westseattlecheerFor tips and more information regarding tryouts, follow our Instagram @westseattlecheer
Good Luck and Go Wildcats!! For Questions email: westseattlecheer@outlook.com
If you haven’t seen the team in action, check out their promotional video here.
Hiawatha Playfield turf replacement will start in mid-May, Seattle Parks says. They’re expecting the work to last about three months. As shown above, the new turf will include markings for baseball, soccer, football, and softball. (Here’s a PDF version of the rendering shown above, including the legend explaining the markings.) Parks’ update also says, “Seattle Public Schools will provide safety fencing for the outfield when baseball and softball are in play. This project will include replacing the batting cage and resurfacing the rubberized three-lane running track. Seattle Parks and Recreation is investing in a state-of-the-art synthetic turf system that is safe, playable, durable, and retains less heat in the summer. Our standard is to provide a sustainable cork and sand infill over a cushioned pad system.” The contractor is FieldTurf, which installed the current turf in 2009 (twice, actually). FieldTurf USA was one of five bidders, online documents indicate, winning with a $1.4 million bid.
P.S. This project is unrelated to the other two much-delayed Hiawatha projects, the community center and play area. We’re working on a separate followup about them.
Hours after classes ended for the day, the Chief Sealth International High School galleria had a full house Tuesday night, with students, families, and educators gathered for the winter sports banquet. They celebrated student athletes for a variety of achievements – first, Luke Sketchley and Ryan Moore, signing letters of intent to play college baseball – Sketchley at Bellevue College, Moore at Wenatchee Valley College:
Then came the honors for recipients of the Seahawk Award, which ‘epitomizes attitude, effort, work ethic, and being a total team player.” Violet Beck was honored for flag football:
Valentina Minoprio Boffi, for cheer:
Elsa Chao, for bowling:
Owen Dortero, for swimming:
Declan Golan, for (corrected) basketball (below, with head coach Richard Stephens:
Jay Johnson, for wrestling:
Eden Lopez, for wrestling:
Giana Moore, for gymnastics:
And Maryann Passmore, for basketball:
One more plaque was presented – this one for a 2021 winner – no sports banquet that pandemic year. The honoree was Delaney Sipila, for basketball:
Congratulations to all!
Congratulations to the West Seattle High School boys’ basketball team for their strong season, which ended tonight at Bellevue College.
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
In their first game of this year’s state tournament, the Wildcats fell to North Thurston, 51-34. Half their points came in the final quarter, but they started connecting too late, including this defiant dunk by #23, sophomore Alex Pierce:
The struggle started early – WSHS didn’t get on the scoreboard until a basket by #2, senior Maximus Holliman, more than midway through the first quarter.
He had eight points on the night, as did #5, senior Ryder Mackay:
The Wildcats never did manage to consistently break through North Thurston’s defense, which meant they had to do a lot of outside shooting, without much success, though #3, junior Bo Gionet, got two 3s:
The WSHS boys finished the season 14-12.
Congratulations to the West Seattle High School girls’ basketball team for a strong season. It ended far from home this afternoon, with a 47-45 loss to Lynnwood in a state-tournament regional game at Arlington High School. According to writer Doug Petrowski‘s tweets from the game, WS led 16-7 after the first quarter, with Carmen Cruz netting four 3-pointers; the Everett Herald‘s Evan Wiederspohn tweeted that Cruz led WSHS scoring with 24. The Wildcats finish the season 16-10.
8:21 PM: On their home court, the West Seattle High School girls’ basketball team has just won their opening game in this year’s state tournament, beating Central Kitsap, 48-37. Photos and details after we get back to HQ!
10:48 PM: Though the Wildcats led the Cougars by double digits for more than half the game. it was not a case of coasting to victory. They were behind 11-9 at the end of the first quarter, getting lots of shots but unable to convert many of them. In the second quarter, WSHS suddenly got prolific with three-pointers.
First one was by #0, senior Lauren Wright, then one by #4, junior Carmen Cruz, and then #22, junior Lucy Larson, netted three triples in the last two minutes before halftime – she was the Wildcats’ top scorer on the night, with 14 points:
Head coach Darnell Taylor‘s team went into halftime up 30-19.
First points of the second half came on a basket by Cruz, the night’s second-leading scorer with 13 points:
In the last minute of the third quarter, a triple by #11, senior Brooke Swanson (WSHS’s third top scorer tonight with 10 points), gave WSHS their widest lead, 42-22:
After that, though, Central Kitsap started a comeback attempt, with 10 unanswered points, halving West Seattle’s lead, until #21, sophomore Alyssa Neumann, broke the spell with a basket at four minutes to go. The Cougars answered with their own, but WSHS didn’t let them get any closer, and finished out the win in their home gym.
Another must-win game is next – the Westside girls (16-9) have to head 50 miles north to Arlington for a noon Saturday game against Lynnwood (16-6).
As noted here Saturday night, both West Seattle High School teams have made it into the state tournament. Tonight, we know when and where they’ll play their first games. As announced by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, here’s the schedule:
GIRLS: Tuesday (February 21st) 7 pm, at WSHS vs. Central Kitsap
BOYS: Saturday (February 25th) 8 pm, at Bellevue College vs. winner of Tuesday’s Everett–North Thurston game
Both are open to the public, with admission charges.
Though their victories last night earned them berths in state-tournament competition no matter what, West Seattle High School‘s girls’ and boys’ basketball teams each had to play one last district game this afternoon at Bellevue College. Both scores are now in: The girls won, beating Eastside Catholic, 60-57, taking fifth place in the district; the boys lost to Rainier Beach, 71-58, finishing sixth. Seedings for the state tournament are due to be announced tomorrow afternoon, so that’s when we should know where and when both teams will play their first games in state competition, which begins Tuesday.
9:29 PM: West Seattle High School is also sending its girls’ team to the state tournament. The Wildcats just beat Holy Names 47-35 to clinch the spot. This game also was played at Bellevue College; details and photos when we get back to HQ.
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
ADDED 3:20 AM: This was a little rough in the early going, with Holy Names’ defense succeeding for a while in keeping West Seattle from getting inside, forcing tough-to-land outside shots. But the Wildcats kept battling back.
That aggressive style, though, got them into foul trouble fairly quickly, giving Holy Names so many foul shots that those compromised much of the Cougars’ scoring. Nonetheless, WSHS stayed in command, with a 22-10 lead at halftime. Scoring leaders were #4, junior Carmen Cruz and #20, sophomore Colby Timmons.
Head coach Darnell Taylor‘s Wildcats play their final district game at 4:45 pm today (Saturday) at Bellevue College (3000 Landerholm Circle SE) vs. Eastside Catholic – winner takes 5th place, but both teans are guaranteed trips to the state tournament, which runs February 21-March 4.n
7:58 PM: The West Seattle High School boys’ basketball team is headed to the state tournament after a big win in districts tonight – 72-49 over Liberty HS at Bellevue College. Details and photos later.
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
ADDED 1:40 AM: The Wildcats took the lead two and a half minutes into the game and never looked back. They just kept building, and Liberty had no chance to even attempt a comeback. By halftime, WSHS was up 38 to 29, then extended the lead into double digits in the second half.
West Seattle had four players with double-digit point totals – #2, senior Maximus Holliman; #3, junior Bo Gionet; #5, senior Ryder Mackay; and #11, senior Luke Wade.
For outside-shooting fans, this game had plenty of threes, and sharpshooting combined with tough defense led WSHS to the big win. Tomorrow, head coach Dan Kriley and the Wildcats have one more game at the district tournament, 3 pm today (Saturday) vs. Rainier Beach, again at Bellevue College (3000 Landerholm Circle SE).
The game is for fifth place in the district, but both teams already are guaranteed a spot at the state tournament, which starts next Tuesday (February 21st) – opening-round matchups and locations are yet to be determined.
When the state 3A high-school diving championships are held tomorrow night in Federal Way, a local student will be there – for the second time! Here’s the announcement we received:
West Seattle High School junior Giovanni Slye will be competing at the state diving championship tomorrow (Thursday) at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. His performance at the Districts meet last weekend guaranteed him a spot at the statewide competition. Diving Coach Stephanie Hunt is proud to take him all the way to state two years in a row.
Event info is here. You can see on page 5 here who he’s competing against.
| 15 COMMENTS