Braves Raves
By Amylynn Richards
VOLLEBYALL
Candice Pedroza and Lauren McClung were among 22 of the best Class of 2011 volleyball players competing in the 26th Annual All-State 1B/2B Volleyball game in Fife recently. Both girls competed on the “Red Team,” which won the tournament in 4 matches: 25-7; 25-18; 25-23; 25-17.
FASTPITCH
The girls had a rough start to the season in a non-league game in Brave territory on Wednesday, Mar. 16; Squalicum won the game 5-0. Coach Peg Seeling says the girls “played pretty well defensively, except for the two innings they scored their runs.” Team highlight: Samie Miller began her senior year on the pitcher’s mound with a 7-hitter strike out.
League play proved to be successful for a Friday night double-header against Darrington. The Braves won the first game 16-2 in 5 innings. The Braves earned 16 runs on just 10 hits. Team highlights of game one: Alissa McCoy went 2 for 4 with 2 RBI; Lauren McClung, 2 for 3 with a double and 3 RBI; Taysha James, 2 for 4 with 2 RBI; and pitcher Samie Miller struck out 7 for the second time so far this season.
The Braves won game two over the Loggers 10-0 in 5 innings. The Braves earned their 10 points off of 8 hits. The Loggers managed just 2 hits the entire game. Team highlights: Samie Miller, 3 for 3 with a home run, 3 RBI, walking only one batter and striking out 7 from the pitcher’s mound for the third time thus far this season; Sierra Brown, 1 for 3 with a triple and 2 RBI; Lauren McClung, 2 for 3; Alissa McCoy, 1 for 3 with 2 RBI; and Galena Graham had 10 put-outs while manning first base across both games of the double header.
Coach Seeling has six seniors on her team, no juniors, two sophomores and six freshmen. “We had a chance to get all of our young players into the games,” Seeling said.
BASEBALL
The baseball team is in a state of flux; some new players are coming on board, and Mike Wilbur is out due to injury sustained after the Saturday, Mar. 19 game against Overlake. “He’s in our thoughts, and we hope to see him soon,” said Coach Jeremiah LeSourd.
The Braves made it to Bellevue for a 10 a.m. game against Overlake, after a double header the night before against Darrington.
Overlake won the game 12-6. “The team got off to a fast start, but unfortunately the long week began to catch up to them, said LeSourd, “The braves came up short, but played error free baseball.”
Mike Wilbur had gone 2 for 4 during the Overlake game, with a double. His older brother, Garrett Wilbur also went 2 for 4; Dakota Hartley, 1 for 3 with a homerun; and DJ Carr, 2 for 3;
The Darrington Double-Header was much more successful. The Loggers were saved by the 10-point mercy rule for both games: The Braves won the first game 10-0 and the second 20-10.
In game one, Tyler Howlett pitched a two-hit shutout in only five innings. Other highlights: Garrett Wilbur was 2 for 3 with 2 RBI; Tanner Cyr was 2 for 3 with 1 RBI; and Wil James was 1 for 3 with 2 RBI.
For game two, Coach LeSourd said, “There was lots of scoring in game two. The younger players on the roster got an opportunity, and played well.”
Eight of the twenty points scored in game two were earned in the fifth inning.
Team highlights: DJ Carr, 3 for 4 2B 4 RBI's; Dakota Hartley, 3 for 4 2 RBI; Wil James, 3 for 5 2B; and Kyle McKnight, 2 for 4 RBI.
On Wednesday, Mar. 16, the Braves took on last year’s 2B State Champions, Seattle Lutheran. “The Braves played well had the lead for the majority of the game, just coming up short in the last inning,” said LeSourd. Seattle Lutheran won 8-6. The Braves’ leading hitter was Wil James, who was 3 for 4, a double and 4 RBI.
BOYS’ TRACK
Track and Field had their first meet on Friday, Mar. 18. Cedar Park Christian hosted the event in Brave Territory. Cedar Park, of Bothell, is now the farthest flung member of the Northwest 1B/2B league. Other teams competing on Friday were Grace Academy, Concrete, La Conner, Shoreline and Mount Vernon Christian.
The Braves finished strong across the board. Senior Conner Anderson earned two first place finishes, taking the 100 meter race in 12.31 seconds, and first place in the 200 meter race, in 25.03 seconds.
In the 800 meters race, Todd Hoagland earned first place in 2:13.47 and Nathan Sybrandy earned second with 2:17.7.
The four-man team of Wylie Thulen, Jamal James, Todd Hoagland and Conner Anderson earned first place in the 4x100 meter relay in 48.04c; the four man team of Nathan Sybrandy; Conner Anderson, Sten Mejlaender and Todd Hoagland earned first place in the 4x100m relay, in 3:46.40c.
Sam Traylor won the 3200 meters in 11:24:22; Sten Mejlaender won first in the 36” 300 meter hurdles. Landy James took first in the 800g javelin with a distance of 149’9.5”, a full 25’5.5” farther than second place winner, and also first in the high jump, leaping 5’10”.
Nathan Parker took third in the 12lb. shot put with a distance of 37’4.25” and also third in the 1.6kg discus, throwing 93’.
BG Miller earned his own personal best with a distance of 19’1.00”, a full 5 inches farther than his previous personal best.
GIRLS’ TRACK
Priscilla Ponce-Venegas won first place in the 33” 100 meter hurdles with a time of 19.56 and second in the 600 javelin with a distance of 82’11”. Kelsie Crawford earned first place with a distance of 13’0” in the long jump, and second in the 100 meter with a time of 14.53. Emily Anderson earned second in the 33” 100 meter hurdles in 19.84 seconds. Freshman Katie McKnight took third in the 600 g javelin with 77’11.5”. Freshman Kirstyn (CQ) Bell took third in the 200 meters in 31.5 seconds.
The girls ran the 4x100 without competition; the team of Kelsie Crawford, Katie McKnight, Emily Anderson and Priscilla Ponce-Venegas got some good practice for the next meet with a time of 56.13 seconds. Mount Vernon Christian attempted to take on the same team in the 4x200 meter relay without success, the Braves won in 1:56.69.
GOLF
The co-ed golf team is now 3-0, having won the matches against Rainier Christian, Friday Harbor and Cedar Park. The latter two are league matches.
Medalist for the home match against Rainier Christian on Wednesday, Mar. 9 was freshman Brandon McCloud, with 42.
Medalist for the second match against Friday Harbor at Similk Bay golf course on Thursday, Mar. 10 was Spencer Novak, with 43. Six Braves qualified for districts during this match: Hillary Edwards, Brandon McCloud, Spencer Novak, Spencer Finley, Travis Silva and Trenton Swigert.
On Monday, Mar. 14 the team went to Cedar Park Christian in Bothell; Jake Silva was medalist with 45.
WRESTLING
The wrestling team had their awards banquet on Wednesday, Mar. 16. Coach Mike Compton said, “We said goodbye to seniors Brandon Drye, Travis Silva, Dan Biladeau and Ashley Norton and look forward to a strong team with three returning State Participants Nathan Parker, Dahlton Zavala and Wil James, as well as State Alternate Cameron Wischhusen.
The night was an opportunity to bestow the plaques earned by Coach Barry Harper, who received the Regional Assistant Coach of the Year award, Nathan Parker, who received his Academic State Champion Award; and also Honorable Mention Academic Award winners Brandon Drye, Cameron Wischhusen, Travis Silva and Ashley Norton.
Special guest Randy Audette, who has officiated for 41 years and is “one of the top wrestling officials in the state,” said Coach Compton, “had some fine words to share about the La Conner wrestling program. All in all it was a good evening, and the food was pretty darn good, too.”
Team awards: Brandon Drye, Brave Spirit Award and Most Outstanding Wrestler; Nathan Parker, Joe Bowen Award; Cameron Wischhusen, Most Inspirational; Ashley Norton, Most Improved; Hunter Johnson, Team Choice Award; Dahlton Zavala, Iron Man Award; and Wil James was named Rookie of the Year.
Team Captains were Brandon Drye and Travis Silva.
