West Seattle, Washington
22 Friday
On a sunny spring day – two organizations have signups under way. First, from the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor):
YOUTH BASEBALL/T-BALL: For ages 3-10. Practices start the week of May 4th at Roxhill or Alki Playfields; games are on Saturdays, May 16-June 27, at EC Hughes. You can sign up online here or in person at the Y’s Member Services desk (open to non-members too). Questions? Y sports director Mike Bober, mbober@seattleymca.org
YOUTH VOLLEYBALL: Teams are 4th/5th graders and 6th-to-8th graders. Weekly practices at the Y on Wednesday nights start this week (April 22nd); game locations rotate among four Y’s in the region, including WS. Sign up online here or in person. Questions? Y’s Mary Sanderson – msanderson@seattleymca.org
YOUTH RUGBY CLINIC: New partnership with Serevi Rugby – special 8-week clinic for ages 4 to 12, exploring the fundamnetals. Tuesdays, May 5th to June 23rd, 4:30-5:30 or 5:30-6:30, at Roxhill Playfields. Register online here, or in person. Questions? Mike Bober (info above)
Again, all of the above are via the West Seattle YMCA.
Now to a separate organization, registering youth interested in premier-soccer tryouts:
HIGHLINE PREMIER FC: Registration is open for tryouts starting this week, for players ages 7-19 who want “to develop their soccer playing skills at a higher competitive level than recreational soccer. Tryout registration is now open for existing and new Girls U8 – U19 & Boys U8 – U14 who are interested in premier soccer development and team play. Tryouts are scheduled in late April and May, depending on age group. Tryout fees are $15.00 and payable online via the registration link.” Questions? e-mail tryouts@highlinepremier.com
(WS5K start three years ago, photographed by David Hutchinson)
We’re now less than a month away from the 2015 West Seattle 5K – set for Sunday, May 17th, with co-sponsors including WSB. The WS5K is always the first major 5K fundraising run/walk of the year along Alki Beach, organized by and raising money for the West Seattle High School PTSA. While you can sign up online 24/7, you’re also invited to get one last chance at the discounted early-registration fee by visiting West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) at its new location (2743 California SW) tomorrow, Sunday, April 19th – race reps will be ready to sun you up on Sunday afternoon, 1-5 pm.
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
The final round of games for the first day of the West Seattle Soccer Club‘s spring season is under way, on fields all over West Seattle. We stopped by one of the fields at Roxhill, while players in the youngest division – U-6 – were getting in gear.
With more than 1,400 players and 200 coaches signed up, WSSC has teamed with its counterpart to the south, Highline, for this year’s spring Champions League, with jerseys/team names inspired by the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) Champions League.
Along with Roxhill, fields where today’s 92 scheduled games were played included Alki, EC Hughes, Fairmount, Highland Park, Madison, Riverview, and Walt Hundley, plus several fields on Highline’s home turf south of West Seattle. Next Sunday’s schedule is online here; games are scheduled every Sunday afternoon through June 7th, with the exception of May 24th, since that’s Memorial Day weekend.
P.S. Got a great game pic from today? We’d be happy to add it – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
Three weeks ago, Chief Sealth International High School and West Seattle High School opened the boys-soccer season with a 1-1 tie. Tuesday, they met again, and this time the final was a 1-0 victory for Sealth. #3 in the top photo is the Seahawks’ Abel Kidane (featured in our earlier story about 3 Sealth & WSHS players who helped make history last weekend), who had the assist for Yael Pina‘s goal.
Next on the schedule – Sealth plays Seattle Prep at Magnuson, 3:30 pm Friday; West Seattle plays Roosevelt at Walt Hundley, 3:30 pm Thursday.
This afternoon, when Chief Sealth International High School and West Seattle High School face off in a boys-varsity soccer match at Southwest Athletic Complex (4 pm), keep an extra eye on three players who just scored big at a prestigious international tournament.
Amanda e-mailed us to let us know about what those three – WSHS goalkeeper Akili Kasim and Sealth players Abel Kidane and Miguel Macias Garibay – accomplished with their premier soccer team Seattle United 98 Copa at the country’s biggest youth-soccer tournament last week:
#winning @FWRL_Northwest @WAYouthSoccer @dallascup pic.twitter.com/Bp9Kbq5eXo
— Seattle United (@SeattleUnited) April 5, 2015
The team won its division (U-16) at the Dr Pepper Dallas Cup, going undefeated all week – the first team from Washington state to win any division at the invitation-only tournament.
We connected with Akili’s mom Nikki to find out more. She shared photos and explained that the Dallas Cup draws “the best teams from across the world, most of them being Academy teams, which Copa isn’t. … When they left, Akili made a promise to his West Seattle soccer team and his classmates, ‘I’m bringing the boot home to Seattle.’ With that, Akili, Miguel, and Abel played outstandingly. I received texts all week about players and here are what some said about these 3:
… Miguel with a beautiful goal, Miguel gets another, Miguel is on fire
… Abel’s footwork is like a pro today, Abel with the best assist yet,
… Akili with a Spider-Man like save, Akili with another amazing save”
A short summary of the final division-title game is on the tournament’s website (scroll down to U-16). It was a 2-0 victory over another team from this state – Eastside-based Crossfire
As the Mariners were wrapping up their Opening Day win downtown, the West Seattle High School Wildcats were taking the field on the road for what turned out to be a big win. Thanks to Caryn Johnson for the report and photo:
West Seattle Wildcats took on the Franklin Quakers Monday afternoon. Freshman Cameron Paskett (#28) started on the mound for West Seattle. Cameron pitched 5 good innings, striking out four, giving up 6 hits and only allowing 3 runs. Senior Daniel Kemp came in to finish up the game, pitching the last two innings and not giving up a hit.
On the offensive side of the ball, West Seattle dominated Franklin’s pitchers. 5 players had multiple hits in the game, with freshman Alex Pastrana leading the way with three. In the end, West Seattle walked away with the victory 18-3. Next game is Wednesday against Garfield, 3:30 at Hiawatha.
As noted earlier this weekend, both local public high schools are hosting basketball camps again this summer, and registration has opened for both. The second announcement is for the camp that has three 1-week sessions at Chief Sealth International High School – the weeks of June 22, July 13, and August 3, for boys and girls entering grades 2-9:
We are excited to host our 18th annual summer of Basketball/Life Skills Camp at Chief Sealth International High School this summer. Last year, we hosted more than 400 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 camp directors Colin Slingsby (Chief Sealth Boys’ Head Coach) and Diallo Jackson (Denny Middle School Boys’ Head Coach) with the help of many high school and college students/athletes 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, Monday through Friday, and each camper will receive a camp t-shirt. Information and registration are available at www.hoops4life206.com. The camp has traditionally filled up quickly…so don’t delay. We look forward to having your child in camp!
Interested in basketball camp this summer? We have two to tell you about this weekend. First, at West Seattle High School, 4th through 9th graders are invited to camp Monday-Thursday, July 6, 7, 8, and 9 at the WSHS gym, 9 am-4 pm each day. Signups are under way – here’s what it’s all about:
Our camp focuses on positive-attitude player development, individual skill development, and team work skills. We embrace all skill levels and experience, adjusting our coaching philosophies to pretain to each individual, but encourage all to work together to be successful. WSHS staff takes pride in working with our community to build positive relationships and better basketball players.
Head coach Keffrey Fazio is camp coordinator. You can contact him with questions at keffazio@gmail.com. Or, if you’re ready to sign up already, you can do it online here, and send camper info via this registration form.
Three scenes and scores from Southwest Athletic Complex in Westwood, where three local varsity teams played ball in the Friday afternoon sunshine:
Something new to look forward to this summer: Seafair has announced the inaugural Seafair Northwest Paddling Championship for Saturday, August 1st, involving the top finishers from a series of five existing SUP (standup paddleboarding) races – and one of them is the Mountain to Sound Outfitters-presented Alki Paddling Challenge, which will happen the same day as the Seafair Pirates Landing on Alki – June 27th – raising the possibility of pirates tangling with paddleboarders. Whether you’re interested as a racer or a spectator, get more info about the series here.
Thanks to Caryn Johnson for the photo and report on West Seattle High School‘s varsity baseball game on Wednesday:
It was a rough afternoon for the Wildcats. The Crusaders of Eastside Catholic jumped out to an early lead and the Wildcats just could not recover. There were a few highlights in the game, but the key was when sophomore Andrew Burggraff [photo above] came in to pitch midway through the 3rd inning. He pitched the rest of the game, giving up only one hit and not letting in a run. In the end, West Seattle lost 13-2 in five innings.
Next game is against Ballard on Friday at Hiawatha, at 3:30 pm.
Hard-fought win for the West Seattle High School baseball team on Monday, in a road game against Nathan Hale. Thanks to Caryn Johnson for the report:
West Seattle jumped on Hale quickly in the first inning when senior Buick McNamara hit a shot to center field to score Jack Page and Jamie Maples.
Jamie started on the mound for West Seattle and threw four scoreless innings. It wasn’t until the bottom of the 5th that Hale mounted their comeback and tied up the game. In the bottom of the 6th, Hale took the lead by one and then it was up to the West Side offense to produce at least one run to tie things up. Morgan McCullough led off the top of the 7th and reached on a single to right field. Jack Page was next to the plate and laid down a beautiful sacrifice bunt which moved Morgan all the way to third. Jamie came up next and singled, which scored Morgan to tie up the game. West Seattle was able to hold off Hale in the bottom of the 7th to send the game into extra innings.
Top of the 8th, Buick was able to get on base due to an error by Hale’s 2nd baseman. Then with a clutch hit, freshman Alex Pastrana doubled to left field to send Buick home. West Seattle now led 4-3 heading into the bottom of the 8th. To close the game out, West Seattle brought in Morgan to close out the game. He faced three batters and recorded all three outs, two by way of strikeout.
In the end, West Seattle topped Nathan Hale 4-3 in eight tight innings. It was a great battle to the very end, and the boys never gave up.
WSHS is back home Wednesday at 3:30 pm on the field at Hiawatha, facing Eastside Catholic.
(Photo courtesy Betty Bennett)
Meet Max Debiec. He’s 12 years old, a sixth-grader at Holy Rosary – and he just pitched a perfect game!
Max’s achievement happened on the opening day of West Seattle Little League‘s 2015 season – yesterday at Bar-S Fields on Alki Point – as Max’s team, the Coyotes, beat the Orioles, 6-0.
We talked today with the Coyotes’ manager, who also happens to be Max’s dad, Stan Debiec.
It was a six-inning game, Stan explained, with Max throwing 79 pitches and striking out 15 batters. As per the definition of “perfect game,” nobody got on base; three balls made it (briefly) into play – a dribbler back to Max, a grounder to second, and a shallow fly ball caught around second base. Around the fourth inning, Stan said, he started to think Max was onto something.
Unlike the big leagues, he said, the completion of Max’s perfect game didn’t lead to a big show on the field – Stan is teaching the players how to win and lose with dignity. But everyone is certainly proud of him – we’ve received more than a few notes today making sure we’d heard about it so we could share the news with the wider West Seattle communty.
If you want to cheer on Max and his teammates – and the rest of the West Seattle Little League – games are scheduled on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and listed on the WSLL website.
Thanks to Caryn Johnson for the report and photos from Saturday’s High School Baseball Classic game at Safeco Field, with West Seattle HS coming home with a win:
The High School Baseball Classic has been running for 9 years and West Seattle High School has been fortunate enough to have participated in every one.
Sponsored by the Seattle Mariners and Safeco Field, this event gives local high schools the opportunity to please on the “Big Stage.” For most of these boys, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to sit in the dugout, practice and play where of some of their idols do. They are treated like a major league team, with their names being called by the announcer, plays being replayed on the “JumboTron” in center field and even the field crew coming out to drag the field during the 4th inning to make sure they played on the best conditions possible. All in all, the experience is one I know the boys from both teams with forever treasure.
Yesterday, West Seattle High School hosted Sedro Woolley High School. It was a brisk sunny afternoon and a wonderful day for baseball.
Sophomore Carson Wright (above) started on the mound for West Seattle and got things underway. He pitched three great innings of baseball, only giving up one run.
(Above, Jack Page sliding into 3rd; below, Morgan McCullough at bat)
West Seattle came out strong and scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 1st. Coach Velko Vitalich made many substitutions during the game, allowing several of the boys a chance to play.
(Jamie Maples scoring the 6th run of the game in the bottom of the 6th)
In the end West Seattle won, 6-1. The next game is Monday against Nathan Hale at Meadowbrook at 3:30 pm.
As they look ahead to today’s High School Baseball Classic game at Safeco Field, the West Seattle High School baseball team is celebrating a win. Thanks to Caryn Johnson for the report on Friday’s game:
Under beautiful skies at Hiawatha Field, the West Seattle Wildcats hosted the Cleveland Eagles Friday afternoon. West Seattle started Junior Jamie Maples on the mound. He pitched two full innings, striking out 5 of the 7 batters he faced. Freshman Cameron Paskett and Senior Daniel Kemp came in to pitch the rest of the game holding the Cleveland batters to just 2 hits and 5 runs.
Junior Morgan McCullough started the West Seattle bats will a Home Run blast to center field. He would continue to pile up the hits with another Home Run in the 2nd, a triple and a double. Jamie Maples and Sophomore Jack Page each had three hits. As a team, West Seattle had a total of 18 hits, producing 15 runs, 9 of which were earned.
In the end, West Seattle won in 5 innings, 15-5. Next game is this afternoon at Safeco Field at 12:30. Come on out to cheer on the boys at this free event. The next conference game is scheduled for Monday, vs. Nathan Hale at Meadowbrook, at 3:30.
Thanks to Howard Chilcott for this report on the Chief Sealth International High School Seahawks‘ first week of baseball:
Our Seahawks are off to a nice start to their Metro schedule, posting a 2 win/1 loss record over week 1. That includes strong wins over Ingraham and Franklin and a heartbreaker yesterday vs. Lakeside. Highlights have included strong pitching, increasingly solid defense, and big hits as the team is developing nicely early in the season.
The schedule includes a rematch with Lakeside away on Friday, then Ballard on Monday, 4 pm at SWAC! Also, please join us in supporting the boys at their Annual Spaghetti Dinner & Auction Saturday 4/4 at the School Galleria, 6 pm.
(Sealth is at 2600 SW Thistle.)
(WSB photo from February 2015: Coach Elliott helps cut down net after Metro League title win)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
It’s the epitome of “going out on top.”
After a history-making season in which her team made it to the state tournament and won the Metro League championship, West Seattle High School girls’ basketball head coach Sonya Elliott is leaving.
Elliott, a longtime West Seattle resident, was honored as Metro League Coach of the Year twice, in 2013 as well as this year, a showstopping season that concluded March 7th (WSB coverage here) – a season that, as she remarked at the WSHS pep rally before the team’s first state game, had the whole school (and community!) cheering for girls’ basketball.
She shared the news with WSB via e-mail late last night and said her players already know: “I won’t be coaching at West Seattle next year. It was a really tough decision, because as you know there are some amazing girls on the team and we have all worked hard over the last 5 years to build the program, but it was time.”
2014-2015 was Coach Elliott’s fifth season leading the team. We first checked in with her during the first season – noting that she took over after a season in which the WSHS girls had won a total of three games, and that she brought in new initiatives including a holistic focus on academics as well as basketball fundamentals.
That first 2010 story featured an inspirational guest Elliott brought in to talk with her team; she continued that initiative up through this year, too. Elliott herself proved an inspirational figure beyond her basketball-coaching skills, with a story she turned into a book titled “Back on the Court,” telling how she came back from a life-threatening and heartbreaking tragedy.
We have a followup question out about what’s next for her, and we’re also asking WSHS what’s next for the team; we’ll add updates as we get them.
(2014 photo by Greg Slader)
See a baseball game free at Safeco Field this Saturday – while cheering for local players! West Seattle High School assistant baseball coach Bryan Tupper shares the reminder:
Come out and support West Seattle High School Baseball at Safeco Field. WSHS continues the annual tradition of playing in the High School Baseball Classic for the 9th year in a row! This year, they take on Sedro Woolley from the Northwest Conference. Admission is free and concession stands will be open.
The game is at 12:30 pm Saturday (March 28th).
Thanks to Caryn Johnson for this report on today’s West Seattle High School varsity baseball game on a showery afternoon at Hiawatha:
Sophomore Carson Wright started on the mound and pitched 5 2/3 innings. He pitched well against a big-hitting O’Dea team. Giving up 11 hits, but only giving up 6 runs (4 earned). He struck out 3, hit one, and didn’t walk any. Freshman Anthony Coats came into pitch in the 5th inning and pitched the remaining of the game not giving up a hit.
Jamie Maples led the team on the offensive side of the ball with 4 hits and 2 RBI’s. Morgan McCullough also had a good outing with 3 hits and 1 RBI. As a team they had 9 hits.
Defense had their first test of the season against the big bats of O’Dea. Everyone on the field got into the action and recorded outs. The highlight on the defensive side was a 6-4-3 double play in the top of the 7th inning by Morgan McCullough, Jack Page and Alex Pastrana. This closed out the top of the 7th and gave West Seattle one more shot to score some runs. In the end they fell a little short, losing to O’Dea, 6-4.
WSHS is on the road for its next game, Wednesday against Cleveland at Rainier Beach HS.
Congratulations to The Storm, the basketball team from Hiawatha Community Center that won the 13-year-old Girls Competitive Division Championship on Sunday! Mike Jensen shares the photo, reporting, “They played another team from Hiawatha in the championship game (Sunday) afternoon and won a close one, 22-17 … to cap off an undefeated season.” Left to right in the photo are Cami, Ruby, Hannah, Jackie, Madi, Nina, Jaeley, Maddie, Mikayla.
Know a 7-to-11-year-old interested in rugby? A local coach just arranged to form a “West Seattle practice squad” for the Seattle Vikings Youth Rugby Club, and is hoping to add more participants. They’ve just started practicing, 4:30-6 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays in West Seattle. Coach Skylar Pond notes: “No experience necessary, low cost, (players will) learn safe ‘Seahawks’ tackling technique.” They’re planning “either tackle or two-hand-touch matches every weekend from the end of March through the end of May” – more info in this flyer. You can reach Coach Pond at skylarponddc@gmail.com or 206-552-5750.
Thanks to Coach Rob Wright for sharing news of these girls’ awesome accomplishment:
I wanted to let you know about a great girls’ basketball team that just wrapped up their season.
Our 10-year-old-girls team based out of Hiawatha Community Center had a dominating season, going undefeated in the regular season and a top seed in the playoffs. The girls lost in the city championship today against a much-larger Rainier Beach team that played a great game. We’re very proud of their efforts this season, especially considering a number of the girls have never played basketball before. Quite an accomplishment to reach the city finals out of nineteen teams in our division across the city. Great job, girls! The future of girls’ basketball in West Seattle is really looking great!
From left to right:
Zoey Adams
Wynn Larsen
Hannah Bonsack
Brooke Swanson
Emily Larsen
Josaphine Contreras
Kaylei Campbell
Lauren Wright
Chloe Stephens
Angelina Smith (not pictured)
Coaches Rob Wright & Jeff Larsen
The West Seattle High School baseball team won its first conference game of the season on Friday in a big shutout, 12-0 over Rainier Beach. Thanks to Caryn Johnson for the photo and report:
Jamie Maples #6 pitched the entire game. He struck out 12 and only gave up 1 hit. The West Seattle defense was able to keep Rainier Beach off the bases for the most part, only allowing one runner to reach as far as 2nd base. Lots of offense for the game by West Seattle. In the 2nd inning, they sent 11 batters to the plate.
Next game is Monday against O’Dea, at Hiawatha at 3:30.
Also coming up, the team’s game vs. Sedro Woolley at Safeco Field, one week from today, 12:30 pm on March 28th, admission free! To qualify for the High School Baseball Classic at Safeco again NEXT year, as well as to raise money for the Wildcats’ team, boosters are selling tickets for a Mariners game THIS season – 7:10 pm Monday, June 22nd, vs. Kansas City. You can buy one or more $12 tickets by e-mailing wshsmarinerstickets@gmail.com. (You’ll get a reply with info on what to do from there.)
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