West Seattle, Washington
11 Saturday
Coast to coast tomorrow night, runners are showing solidarity while paying tribute to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing, and one of those runs is planned here. Lori and Tim McConnell of West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), who led an impromptu run hours after last Monday’s attack, invite anyone interested to join them at 6 pm tomorrow (Monday). Their store is on the northwest corner of California/Charlestown. RSVP by joining the Facebook event page.
(Morgan McCullough hits the ball)
Yet another win for the division-leading West Seattle High School varsity baseball team – 17-2 over Franklin on Wednesday afternoon at Hiawatha. Thanks to Greg Slader for the photos and summary:
Ben Wexler (photo above) gets the win by pitching 4.1 innings, with nine strikeouts, holding the Quakers to two runs. The varsity team started off strong, adding four runs in the first inning thanks in part to Sam Hellinger’s continued hot Hitting – 2 for 2, 2 doubles, and 3 RBI. The rest of the team contributed to the offense, as they continue to hit well. The Quakers get another chance on their home turf, Rainier CC, Friday @ 3:30.
Yet another win for the division-leading West Seattle High School Wildcats – now 9-1 in Metro League play – and tonight, you can help supporters raise money for the team. First, the summary from Greg Slader, who also shared the photos:
Sunshine and freshly cut grass welcomed the Varsity Baseball team to Bainbridge island. Sam Hellinger (top photo) enjoyed a nice day, hitting 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs while pitching a complete game (7 innings) and racking up 11 strikeouts. The team was hot from the beginning, scoring three runs in the first inning as Morgan and Spencer were all over the base paths scoring two runs each.
(Jimmy Mai goes for the tag at the plate)
Next game is Wednesday @ Hiawatha, 3:30 pm, vs. Franklin.
Now, the benefit: From 3 pm until close, today/tonight, part of the proceeds from food and beverage purchases at Christo’s on Alki will benefit the team through the WSHS Booster Club. Christo’s is at the beach, 2508 Alki SW.
(Sam Cook, WSHS #30, getting ready to hit)
Second win in a row on Friday for West Seattle High School‘s baseball team over Rainier Beach – this time 13-0. Greg Slader shares the photo and summary:
West Seattle varsity baseball adds to their division lead, now 8-1 in league play. On a very cold and wet day, the entire team contributed to Westside’s effort to complete the sweep of Rainier Beach. Wexler, Rex, & Snook combined for Five innings of shutout pitching. Sam Hellinger hit a long home run into the trees, and the rest of the team added to the offense for 13 runs in Five very cold innings. Did I mention it was cold? ‘ Next game is on Bainbridge Island , Monday @ 3:30.
As spring-sports season continues, with just two months left in the school year, we’ve been tracking a few of the sports – and just got word of another one: Parent Lynda Eronimous e-mailed to let us know about Chief Sealth International High School‘s junior-varsity lacrosse team. She says it’s a partnership between Supersonics Lacrosse and Sealth, started this year “under the coaching of Scott Pattinson, who started SuperSonics Lacrosse two years ago. This is a very young team with kids from across Seattle coming together to play under the Chief Sealth name. They are always looking for more players and have equipment to loan to those that may not have any. Their season is underway and would love more crowd support at their upcoming home games played at SWAC on SW Thistle.” Lynda says you can check them out the next three Fridays at home, 6:30 pm tomorrow (April 12th) vs. Kennedy Catholic JV; April 19th at 6:30 pm vs. Mount Si JV; and 6:30 pm April 26th vs. Skyline’s C team. The Sealth team has a Facebook page, too.
Love to run? Here’s another benefit 5K to add to this spring’s schedule. This announcement is just out of the WSB inbox:
Just wanted to let everyone know that the West Seattle-based nonprofit Orphans to Ambassadors
is hosting the RUN FOR LIGHTS 5k in Lincoln Park on May 4th, 2013 at 10 am. Orphans to Ambassadors provides sustainable technologies and solutions to children’s homes around the globe through the use of solar power, rainwater harvesting systems, water filtration, rocket stoves, vegetable gardens, and animal husbandry. The RUN FOR LIGHTS 5k will benefit a solar project at an orphanage in Uganda this coming summer. Snacks and T-shirts are included in the registration fees: $30 for adults, $20 for those 18 and under before May 1st, or $35 after May 1. Register now to guarantee a t-shirt! Walkers welcome. Tickets can be purchased here.
They’re also looking for sponsors – if you’re interested, e-mail katherine@orphanstoambassadors.org.
“West Seattle enjoyed a Day at the Beach” is how Greg Slader began his report on the division-leading WSHS baseball team’s 28-0 Wednesday win over Rainier Beach HS. He continues:
The weather cleared up enough for a baseball game, as West Seattle added to their lead in first place. Everyone hit, everyone played, as the team put up a season-high 28 runs. Graham French (#25, top photo) hit a home run to deep center field – 380 feet. Andy Snook (#16, next photo) drove in several runs:
TK Snow pitched a complete game (five innings), giving up only one hit. Next game is Friday against Rainier Beach, 3:30 pm @ Hiawatha.
Thanks again to Greg for sharing recaps and photos from the WSHS games!
It was a crosstown soccer match on Tuesday afternoon at Southwest Athletic Complex – Chief Sealth International High School vs. West Seattle High School. The division-leading Seahawks came away with the win, Sealth over WSHS 5-0. Here’s the scoring recap from our partners at The Seattle Times; ahead – our gallery of scenes from the game, photographed for WSB by Nick Adams:
(Photo by Tino Tran: Rainmaker Reid Koss catching, in preseason matchup vs. Portland)
This spring, you won’t have to go downtown to see professional sports: The Seattle Rainmakers just announced their home games will be at Southwest Athletic Complex in Westwood, starting a week from this Saturday. Here’s the announcement:
Major League Ultimate (MLU) is establishing one of its eight professional ultimate frisbee teams in the Seattle area. The Seattle Rainmakers join the MLU’s Western Conference, and kick off their season on April 20th against the Vancouver Nighthawks.
The Seattle Rainmakers are coached by the highly decorated Ben Wiggins, a participant in, and coach of, elite ultimate in the northwest for the better part of the last decade. Wiggins has won awards at the highest level of collegiate ultimate, taken three club championships with Seattle’s premier club team, Seattle Sockeye, and has two World Championship silver medals to his name.
Another win for the West Seattle High School Wildcats! Greg Slader shares photos and toplines (thank you!) from this afternoon’s victory:
Timely hitting and outstanding pitching keeps West Seattle top of the Metro Sound Division with a 6-4 win over O’Dea.
Sam Hellinger (#20, above) pitched a complete game – 7 innings, 9 strikeouts, five hits, and four runs earned. Bobby Swamy (#23, top photo) had two hits, two runs scored, and Tim Adams (#24) hit a two-run homer as the offense outpaced O’Dea. Next game is Wednesday, 3:30 pm, @ Rainier Beach.
10:25 AM: Rain or shine, the games must go on! Thanks to Tim McMonigle for the reminder that today is the start of West Seattle Soccer Club‘s spring Champions League – and it’s a record-setting season even at the start, with more than 1,400 players and 260+ coaches participating. As Tim explains, the league is so named because the U6-U13 players are organized into “teams representing the current participants in the UEFA Champions League over in Europe.” It’s an eight-game season of Sunday afternoon matches, through June 9th (no games on Mother’s Day and Memorial Day weekends).
3:42 PM: Added photos after stopping by High Point’s Walt Hundley Playfield – one of many fields where play kicked off today.
Not only does 6-year-old Beckett Howard-Kuzma of Seaview play basketball, he loves to watch hoops – and has an extra incentive to be watching as the NCAA men’s tournament plays out with Final Four games today and the championship Monday. As reported last night by our partners at The Seattle Times, Beckett has such a keen eye for talent that his ESPN Tournament Challenge bracket is tied for #6 out of more than eight million entries! Beckett’s proud mom Kelly Howard contacted us to share the news with West Seattle neighbors. She says her son “actually has 3 brackets going. They are all in the top 1% of the ESPN bracket challenge. He did pick Florida Gulf Coast to advance to the 2nd round in his 2 other brackets (but not the bracket that is #6 overall).” And she says the kindergartener “loves math and numbers in general.” Plus basketball – he played this winter via the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) and even plays while visiting his grandparents in Arbor Heights, who put up a backyard hoop in his honor. You can see Beckett’s bracket here. What might he win besides bragging rights, you ask? All entries in the top 1 percent are entered in a drawing for a $10,000 Best Buy gift card.
5:57 PM UPDATE: Beckett’s pick for today’s first game was the winner – and he’s now tied for #4!
Also leading their divisions in the Metro League this spring high-school-sports season: Chief Sealth International High School‘s softball team and soccer team, both notching wins on Friday.
Per the soccer standings in The Seattle Times (WSB partner), the Seahawks are undefeated in the Metro League’s Sound Division, after Friday’s 9-0 win over Rainier Beach. Next game is against West Seattle HS, 4 pm Tuesday at Southwest Athletic Complex.
The Seahawks softball team, meantime, are shown in The Times’ standings with one league loss; their Friday win was 14-4 over Sammamish, per the @SealthAthletics Twitter feed. Next game: 3:30 pm Wednesday vs. Nathan Hale, at Meadowbrook.
West Seattle High School‘s baseball team is atop its division and celebrating its latest win, 11-1 over Nathan Hale on Friday afternoon. Thanks again to Greg Slader for game photos and summary:
The varsity baseball team returned home for a rematch against Nathan Hale after Wednesday’s loss. Ben Wexler (#28, top photo) pitched a complete game (six innings) with five strikeouts and one earned run. Graham French (#25, photo below) added to the offense with a double and two runs scored as the team hit very well and scored 11 runs in six innings.
Next WSHS baseball game is also at home, so it’s your next chance to go cheer the team on: Monday against O’Dea, 3:30 pm at Hiawatha (next to the school).
(LeTrey Newsome catches a fly ball)
The West Seattle High School varsity-baseball team is looking to a rematch with Nathan Hale this Friday after a road loss 9-3 on Wednesday. Thanks again to Greg Slader for the update and photos:
The varsity baseball team started off strong with a 3-0 lead through three innings. But too many walks and timely hits by Nathan Hale was too much for West Seattle as they lose their first League game.
(Sam Hellinger hits the ball)
West Seattle is now 5-3 (4-1) on the season and looks to Friday’s game for another chance against the Raiders – 3:30 @ Hiawatha.
APRIL 16TH BENEFIT: Big season thus far for West Seattle High School baseball fans, cheering on a winning team. Kim Gearon sends word that fans can take the next step – helping raise money during the first annual West Seattle Baseball Night at Christo’s on Alki, April 16th. A percentage of any purchase from 5 pm-closing, food or beverages, will go to the West Seattle Baseball Booster Club to help cover operating expenses. Christo’s is at 2508 Alki SW.
BIG FRIDAY WIN: The second straight shutout victory over Ingraham, and first game of the year at Hiawatha:
The final score: WSHS 16, Ingraham 0. The photos and report are courtesy of Greg Slader (thank you!):
The season opener @ Hiawatha was a beautiful day for baseball. The student-filled stands were not disappointed by the offensive output of the Varsity Baseball team. Spencer Elder hit the team’s first home run and Bobby Swamy added the Big Blast with another home run in the First Inning (top photo). Rex Lackey (photo below) pitched very well (three innings, no hits) as West Seattle cruised to its fourth league win.
West Seattle’s next game is Wednesday, 3:30 pm @ Nathan Hale.
(TK Snow, throwing a strike in the 2nd inning)
In the first of two games this week against Ingraham, West Seattle High School‘s varsity baseball team came away with a big win on Wednesday afternoon – a 10-0 shutout. The photos and report are from parent Greg Slader (thanks!) –
Three pitchers combined to shut out Ingraham. TK Snow, Kevin Cuddy, and Andy Snook held Ingraham hitless and combined for seven strikeouts. Spencer Elder went 2 for 3 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. Sam Hellinger had two hits and two RBI, as the defense was solid once again.
(Morgan making the play at second)
The two teams play again at 3:30 pm Friday at Hiawatha.
A Monday win for the West Seattle High School boys-varsity baseball team – 3-2, reports parent Greg Slader, who also shared the photos:
Sam Hellinger pitched a complete game with 7 strikeouts, one walk, and only three hits. Tim Adams supplied the Big Blast with a two-out, two-RBI single ripped down the right-field line.
West Seattle is now 2-0 in League play and heads to Ingraham on Wednesday for a 4 pm game.
Monday’s game was played at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center.
(Photo courtesy Coach Colin Slingsby)
It’s more than a sports camp – and it’s back for the 16th year. You can sign up now for the Sealth Basketball and Life Skills Camp, as announced by Chief Sealth International High School‘s Coach Colin Slingsby:
We are excited to host our 16th annual summer of Sealth Basketball and Life Skills camp at Chief Sealth International High School and Denny International Middle School this summer. Last year, we hosted more than 350 campers in our multiple sessions. The emphasis of our program is to teach the fundamentals of the game in part of a fun and competitive basketball experience, but also to emphasize the Life Skills necessary to be successful in school and life, both intellectually, and socially.
The camp is run by the coaching staff at Sealth with the help of many high school and college students who are put through a lengthy mentorship training in order to be prepared to work with our many campers. While we enjoy teaching the game of basketball and providing a positive week on the court, we pride ourselves on our Life Skills curriculum, which includes a classroom session daily, emphasizing the values of our program.
Camp runs from 9 am-4 pm each day, and each camper will receive a camp t-shirt and Camper Handbook which will include hand-outs and topics from our Life Skills classroom sessions. In addition, we are excited to offer an ‘Advanced Concepts’ session this year (August 19th-23rd). This session is geared toward campers 6th grade and up.
Brochure with further information and registration forms are available on the Chief Sealth International High School website link here. Contact Coach Colin Slingsby at caslingsby@seattleschools.org with any questions about the program.
Thanks to Paul Hamaker for sharing the photo; after seeing this mention of the 11-year-old girls’ all-Hiawatha citywide basketball championship game, he sent a note to report “that the boys 11-year-old team from Delridge also won their championship game yesterday, beating Jefferson 28-25 at Rainier CC.” Congratulations to them too!
(P.S. – Thank you to EVERYONE who shares youth-sports photos/reports/tips [as well as the many other types of news reported on WSB] – there’s so much going on in youth sports, that updates from parents and coaches are the best way to let us know what’s up so we can share the news with tens of thousands of your neighbors! E-mail editor@wsb.blackfin.biz any time.)
Thanks to Mike Jensen for sharing that photo and the story behind it:
It was all West Seattle (Saturday) afternoon in the Seattle Parks & Recreation U11 Girls basketball championship game. Hiawatha (green) won a close game over Hiawatha (white). Great season by all the girls!
The Parks/Rec Citywide Athletics programs span a variety of sports/age groups – find out more here.
West Seattle High School‘s varsity baseball team spent sunny Saturday afternoon at The Safe, in the opening weekend of the High School Baseball Classic. Team parent Greg Slader shares the photo and this report:
Perfect day for a game at Safeco Field. The West Seattle baseball team got to enjoy fantastic weather and playing on their Field of Dreams. Unfortunately, the mighty Kentridge 4A proved to be too much, as West Seattle lost 5-11.
Next game is Monday 3:30 at Steve Cox Field in White Center, against Seattle Prep.
“A dream come true” is how a new Southwest Pool women-only swimming program was described at a special event this afternoon thanking Mayor McGinn for supporting it. It was his second stop in West Seattle, after an hour-plus walking tour and roundtable in The Admiral District (coverage of that, coming up). Above, the mayor received a thank-you photo from Denise Sharify of Neighborhood House, which has long supported women’s-only swims (including some held as private rentals), to support women whose culture prohibits mixed-gender swimming. A new program of women’s swims on Saturday afternoons, followed by women’s swimming lessons, starts next month. The staff will be all-female, and the pool windows are covered, as was in evidence today
The lesson component is an important addition – so that more people can learn how to swim, vital, as the mayor noted, in a city surrounded by water. (We’ll add video later with his comments and those of three of the women who advocated for the program.) Parks Superintendent Christopher Williams and other dignitaries including former 12-year State Rep. Velma Veloria were among those on hand for the celebration, which included refreshments.
Here’s a flyer with the schedule for the SW Pool programs as well as two other pools in the city that plan to have it on Saturdays, beginning April 6th. And yes, today’s visit was the reason for this sign outside the pool and neighboring SW Teen Life Center:
P.S. Neighborhood House issued a news release with more background on the event and its pioneering involvement with the swim programs:
Neighborhood House’s Be Active Together (BAT) program and swim participants would like to thank Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and Seattle Parks and Recreation officials for offering single-gender swim programs in 2013. In the spring of 2013, the City of Seattle will begin to offer single-gender swim programs at Southwest, Medgar Evers and Meadowbrook community pools, following BAT’s model of affordability and meeting community needs. A fourth single-gender swim program will begin at Rainier Beach Pool in the fall of 2013.
Neighborhood House’s Be Active Together (BAT) program explored single-gender swim programs at local pools beginning in February of 2010 to help expand exercise opportunities for women who cannot swim in a co-ed environment because of cultural, religious or personal reasons. BAT’s Women of the World Swim has provided access to swimming to over 400 women ages 12 to 70 and who come from diverse cultural backgrounds. The program has greatly contributed to water safety, as a majority of participants didn’t know how to swim when they joined. Some have also registered their children for swim lessons for the first time. BAT’s funding ends in 2013 and this popular program was at risk of being canceled. In response to the need to continue to offer this important program for Seattle’s women, Mayor McGinn decided to adopt it at four of the city’s pools.
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